Knowing The Word in Luke 13:31-35

Lament over Jerusalem

13:31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Comments

Did Herod send these men, who came to Jesus, to encourage Jesus to leave his territory so he did not have to experience another John the Baptist disaster at his hands? While we do not know the answer, we do know that Jesus calling Herod a fox was a contemptuous expression meaning Herod has no majesty or honor. Jesus would continue his ministry for a season—“today and tomorrow”—so Herod does have a chance to partake; however, it will come to an end—“the third day”—and be too late for Herod when Jesus goes to Jerusalem, the place where the prophets were put to death.

Luke has a major emphasis on Jerusalem, using the name 90 times in his gospel compared to its use only 49 times in the rest of the New Testament. Jerusalem was the home of the Sanhedrin, the ruling and judicial power of Israel, before which the trials of prophets took place. There the nation’s attitude to Jesus, its Messiah, would take its final shape in his crucifixion.

There is an interesting clue in this section regarding how many times Jesus visited Jerusalem. I think Jesus saying “how often would I have gathered” indicates, as we find in John's Gospel, that Jesus went there several times during his ministry and not just once as we see in the Synoptics. The nation, however, invited the final result in its persistent rejection of God. Being forsaken, God would no longer live there, which was the final disaster. Jesus said, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” from Psalm 118:26, which was what the Galilean pilgrims would say as they entered the city for Passover, as they did when Jesus entered the city on Palm Sunday. But Jesus’ meaning was not that. It was most likely a reference to his second coming when he will ultimately draw this recognition from Jerusalem, however unwilling, of his true Messiahship.

Application

What reasons can you think of why the Jewish leadership was unable to recognize Jesus as Messiah? What concerns do you have about the spiritual condition of our nation today, especially in regard to servant leadership for which Jesus sets the standard?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you came not to be served but to serve. Assist me in serving others today and tomorrow and on the days following as well.