Matthew
20:17-19, Mark
10:32-34, Luke
18:31-34
Key Verse: Jesus took the twelve aside and told them,
"We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the
prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled."
Luke 18:31
Is it getting a little hard to keep track of all of Jesus'
comings and goings to and from Jerusalem? Well, nothing is certain of course
and every version is open to dispute. Let me try to piece these last few trips
together for you in the way that makes most sense to me. This is not set in
cement. If someone else has a different idea, I'm willing to listen. I'm trying
to create a flow, from the Word that will help us to understand our story.
Obviously, however, God wasn't as interested in relaying some of Jesus'
activities chronologically. That is mostly a characteristic of we westerners
who are sometimes too quick to dismiss what we are being told, if we find one
simple flaw that doesn't compute. So, this is simply for you detail people and
planners who have to work it all out before you can say, "Aha! I get it
now!"
A good, religious Jew would commit to visiting Jerusalem
three times a year for the designated high Holy feasts, Passover in the spring,
Pentecost seven weeks later and almost the entire seventh month, including the Day
of Atonement and the feast of Tabernacles in the fall. In other words, chances
are, Jesus and His disciples went up to Jerusalem a lot.
We are now focusing on the last few months of Jesus’ life.
He attended the feast of Tabernacles and left. Came back for Hanukkah and left.
Came back to Bethany, outside Jerusalem to raise Lazarus and then retreated
again, this time to a village called, Ephraim, with His disciples for a few
more days before the finale, his real purpose for coming. He has a few more
blessings and a few more words of encouragement and wisdom before He is ready
to depart. Remember, Jesus is in control of the time. He is not retreating in
fear, he is not in hiding, nor is He raising a band of supporters to protect
Him in the challenge to come. He is doing what He came to do and He will
determine when events happen keeping in mind the designated feasts and their
meaning.
You can't say that Jesus didn't try to prepare His disciples
for what would happen to Him soon. "I will be handed over to the Gentiles.
I will be mocked, insulted, spit on, flogged, and finally killed. But, in three
days, I'll rise again!" (Luke 18:32-33, adapted) Jesus was embedding
something in their memories that they couldn't yet grasp for themselves.
Perhaps it was similar to preparing a woman for labor, childbirth and
motherhood. How many well-meaning people and instructors take the time to
prepare the woman for the trials and joys that lie ahead? Yet, parenthood,
beginning with labor, to be fully understood, must be experienced. Then, words
come into the conscious mind from what was said and the meaning is fully
comprehended. Jesus knew that, one day, His disciples would understand, though,
sadly, for now, they did not.
What was important for the disciples to hear, again, was
that none of this would be a surprise to Jesus. The prophets spoke about it.
Jesus and the Father had planned it. None of this was out of His control and
none of this could be taken from His control. He is God. From the beginning,
this became the plan to conquer satan and put an end to sin.
This is true for us as well. In the trials we face, we need
to remember who is really in control. Nothing is a surprise to Him and nothing
is out of His control.
Hymn: "I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus"
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