Jesus is Essential
Luke 13:28–33: There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.” On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’ Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.
In response to a warning from some Pharisees … Jesus said that He had to reach Jerusalem because He was appointed to die there. There is debate concerning the Pharisees’ report about Herod wanting to kill Jesus. Throughout Luke, the Pharisees are presented in a negative light.
Why would the Pharisees have wanted to protect Jesus in this instance? It seems best to understand the incident as the Pharisees’ pretext to get rid of Jesus. Jesus had publicly stated that His goal was to reach Jerusalem, and He was well on His way. Thus the Pharisees were apparently trying to deter Him from His task, to scare Him into setting aside His goal. 1
Walking with Jesus
What “goal” has God given to you to accomplish as a Christian? Are you pursuing that goal with consistency, or do you need to be stirred up spiritually?
Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. Psalm 6:8
Make it your aim to pursue Him and bless Him with your daily obedience.
Praying
Lord, thank You for leading me to live for You. Your Word is my lifeline.
1. Walvoord, John F., & Zuck, R. B., Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary.
