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But it came to be, with the day of his taking up being fulfilled, he also set firm his face to go into Jerusalem, and sent angels ahead of his face, and, going, they came into a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for him. And they did not receive him, for his face was going into Jerusalem. (Luke’s AD 60 research report re Jesus: Chapter 9: 51-62) |
Luke, at this stage, records a turning-point in the life of Jesus. Jesus’ “face was going into Jerusalem.” Luke uses the word “face” three times. There he will be rejected, condemned and crucified. However, from centuries earlier, the Samaritans had been at loggerheads with Jerusalem. The rift began around 950 BC when they appointed a rival king to the one in Jerusalem – followed by establishing a rival temple, purportedly to the same God, the Lord God of Israel.
Political and religious strife. Typical of our world today? At that time, around AD 30, political and religious adherents in both Samaria and Jerusalem were opposed to Jesus. Is it significant that the word “face” is used about Jesus? Our judgment is all about “face.” We only see the “face” and ignore the motive. Neither the Samaritans nor the Jerusalemites detected that Jesus was going to the cross for their good – to bless all his enemies.
But the disciples James and John, having seen it, said, “Lord, do you desire that we may say for fire to move down from heaven and destroy them?” But, being turned, he rebuked them and they went into another village.
“James and John” were also religious. But not Jesus. Luke writes of him “being turned.” ‘He did not come to judge the world/ he did not come to blame/ he did not only come to seek/ it was to save he came.’
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And, in they themselves going along the way, a certain one said to him, “I will follow you wherever you yourself may come away.” And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have dens, and the birds of the heaven have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to set down the head.”
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What was the motivation of this person who declared his intention “to follow you wherever you may go”? From Jesus’ response, do you gather that this person had certain life-priorities which he thought that Jesus would provide? Is that, sometimes, what drives religious activity – our own self-interest? It’s pointless to follow Jesus if that’s what we’re after.
But to another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me, coming away, first to bury my father!” But Jesus said to him, “Send away those themselves dead to bury their own dead! But you yourself, coming away, proclaim the kingdom of God!”
Jewish law and tradition today dictate that burial must take place as soon as possible after death, usually within 24 hours. This man was seeking a lengthier, unspecified postponement before following Jesus.
Did Jesus see the motivation behind the postponement request? The man was prioritising the physical and earthly needs of the father he loved. But what really matters to Jesus is that the living hear about, see and embrace “the kingdom of God.” Before they die. Burial of those who have not heard about, seen or embraced “the kingdom of God” can be undertaken by those who are in that same position.
This one to whom Jesus said, “Follow me!” was then instructed by him. He said, “Going out, proclaim the kingdom of God!” The spiritually dead can do the burials. But you are able to proclaim eternal life to the living.
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But also another said, “I will follow you, Lord. But, first, permit me to separate from those in my house!” But Jesus said, “No one setting the hand upon a plough, looking into the things behind, is useful for the kingdom of God.”
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This is a hard saying - “No one who setting the hand upon a plough, looking into the things behind, is useful for the kingdom of God.” Terribly hard. So, please go back to the beginning of this Info. “With the day of his taking up fulfilling, he also fixed his face to go into Jerusalem.” Unlike me, this man did not look back when on his journey to that cross of shame. Such is his love. His "face" was set.
One old hymn says. ‘O give me grace to follow my master and my friend.’
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