Luke includes a number...
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Object:
Luke includes a number of stories of Jesus' last week that no other gospels contain. He is the scholar who does a lot of research since he was not an eyewitness. He emphasizes the end of Jesus' ministry on earth. I like that word "resolutely." Jesus did not look forward to the end. He knew it would be painful, and he even asked God in the garden if there were any other way! That emphasizes the human side of our redeemer. I can't imagine any human approaching the end that he could foresee without looking for any other alternative! Even though Jesus knew that the outcome would be glorious, it was that last door that caused him to question why he had to go through it. He was God and could have jumped off the temple roof. He could have driven off the Romans. He could have squelched the Pharisees. He could do anything! But he followed the plan that his Father in heaven had laid out for him. He went right ahead with the preliminary preparations.
Who knows why he set up his last meeting in a place where the people hated him? Why didn't he listen to his disciples and rain down fire from heaven? That would have made him many instant converts, and Judas might not have left the group.
Do we ever think about short cuts that will accomplish our goals even if they might be questionable or even openly dishonest? It is easier to attack our enemy than to offer other options -- even at some sacrifice to ourselves. Jesus knew his goal, and the only way to accomplish it was to follow the pattern laid down from the beginning of time and prophesied in the scriptures.
Not just Jesus' goal plan, but he even seemed to be discouraging a possible follower warning him about the price to be paid if he became a follower. The terrible end that came to Jesus' disciples bears this out. In other words, it may not be easy to be a Christian, but the reward can be fantastic. What if Jesus told you to sell all that you had and give to the poor? If that were a requirement would our churches stand empty? He didn't even offer this fellow the option of going home to burn his bridges first!
Once you become a Christian, don't look back. Only look ahead and follow Jesus. Will anyone be in your church next Sunday?
Who knows why he set up his last meeting in a place where the people hated him? Why didn't he listen to his disciples and rain down fire from heaven? That would have made him many instant converts, and Judas might not have left the group.
Do we ever think about short cuts that will accomplish our goals even if they might be questionable or even openly dishonest? It is easier to attack our enemy than to offer other options -- even at some sacrifice to ourselves. Jesus knew his goal, and the only way to accomplish it was to follow the pattern laid down from the beginning of time and prophesied in the scriptures.
Not just Jesus' goal plan, but he even seemed to be discouraging a possible follower warning him about the price to be paid if he became a follower. The terrible end that came to Jesus' disciples bears this out. In other words, it may not be easy to be a Christian, but the reward can be fantastic. What if Jesus told you to sell all that you had and give to the poor? If that were a requirement would our churches stand empty? He didn't even offer this fellow the option of going home to burn his bridges first!
Once you become a Christian, don't look back. Only look ahead and follow Jesus. Will anyone be in your church next Sunday?
