Luke 13:31-35
One time, some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to Him. ‘Go away from here, go somewhere else, because Herod wants to kill you.’ ‘Herod is a bad man,’ Jesus replied. ‘Tell him this: “I am still causing bad spirits to come out of people. I am still making sick people well again. And I will continue to do all these things for some more days. On the third day I will have finished my work.” Anyway, I need to continue my journey for some more days. If they are going to kill a prophet from God, it has to be in Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Your people have killed God’s prophets. And they have thrown stones to kill other people that God has sent to you. Many times, I have wanted to bring all of your people near to me. A female bird covers her babies with her body to make them safe. But you would not let me keep you from danger like that. So listen! Your great house will now become like a wilderness with nobody in it. I tell you this. You will not see me again until the day when you say, “Great is the man who comes with the authority of the Lord God.” ’
We are easily influenced by difficult circumstances or hostile people. When people threaten us, we get scared and try to adapt. But Jesus was not impressed by anyone. He continued his work undisturbed.
His work had provoked resistance from various sides.
Both spiritual and secular leaders felt threatened in their positions.
In the resistance to Jesus, the Pharisees and Herod stand hand in hand.
Normally, the Pharisees wanted nothing to do with Herod, but now they could use him.
A safe way to defuse Jesus is to take care of his departure.
Seemingly concerned, the Pharisees inform Jesus of Herod’s plan to kill Him. But Jesus does not let himself be driven away by a trick. No king or spiritual leader is able to manipulate Him.
Jesus is the Mighty One, who holds everything in hands. He determines where and how He works and also where He will die. Herod could squeak, but he couldn’t do anything. He does not have the power. The Lion of Judah (Revelation 5: 5; See also Genesis 49: 9,10) cannot be dismissed by a cunning fox.
Luke 13:31-33 AMP
At that very hour some Pharisees came up and said to Him, “Leave and go away from here, because Herod [Antipas] wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox [that sly, cowardly man], ‘Listen carefully: I cast out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must travel on today and tomorrow and the day after that — for it cannot be that a prophet would die outside of Jerusalem.
Jesus sends the Pharisees away as if they were Herod’s messenger boys. “Go tell him what I do: I will cast out evil spirits and heal the sick for a while. Then I go to Jerusalem, for there I will die. “
It is an answer full of irony and seriousness.
The irony is for the Pharisees and Herod: I am quite a threat to you, for I cast out evil spirits and make the sick better. Really dangerous!
But the seriousness is there when Jesus speaks about Jerusalem.
There it will again be shown that man, even religious man, is unable to see what really comes from God (See also Isaiah 30:15).
Jesus so longed to embrace, comfort, and protect the people of Jerusalem… but they went their own way.
Luke 13:34 AMP
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets
and stones [to death] those [messengers]
who are sent to her [by God]!
How often I have wanted to gather
your children together [around Me],
just as a hen gathers her young
under her wings, but you were not willing!
She will soon go her own way in the condemnation and crucifixion of Jesus.
Yet that is also the way that Jesus Himself wanted. And that means hope.
Jesus also died for religious people, who in their blindness, did not recognize what really came from God.
~~~~~
PS. Make it your habit to check out my website, as without any good reason my pages or account on Facebook may be gone again.
Bookmark the devotionals or add it to your homescreen. https://devotionals.harryschoemaker.nl
Internet: http://harryschoemaker.nl
~
ENGLISH
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldwide.ekklesia/
Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
Website: https://devotionals.harryschoemaker.nl
~
NEDERLANDS
(Ligt, doordat het niet meer gelezen werd, momenteel even stil)
Facebook: https//www.facebook.com/wereldwijde.ekklesia/
Twitter: Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
Website: https://overdenkingen.harryschoemaker.nl
About Author
