Exploring God’s Word with Brad Thurston

Some background

The Passover is one of 3 pilgrimage feasts along with Weeks and booths. Josephus says about 2 ½ million attended and that during Pilate’s term there were riots and unrest throughout Jerusalem. This is about the Exodus and the emergence of a nation from the bondage of slavery.  It is central to the growth from a man to an ethnic group that will have a unique place in history.  Miracles remembered, traditions established, and a hope for brighter future.

For Luke and the Gospel writers, this is critical for the future of the church: the question is, how can Jesus be the Messiah if he suffers and dies on a cross, when according to the Torah (law) his death was cursed? So each of the gospels take pains to explain how Jesus is the Passover lamb, the messiah who was crucified for our sins, once and for all! (1 Cor. 5:7) The meal is alluded to six times in this passage.

The imagery is important. The timing is important because it allows the keen observer to see God’s will, intention and fulfillment of prophecy and all of the preparations for this climatic event. The meal is to be celebrated on the first day of the feast. The death of Jesus is to coincide with the slaughter of the lamb in the temple. So the importance of the prophet issuing his clear directions concerning the upcoming events, proving there is no mistake in any of it.

This is the event of Good versus evil. It is the great victory over sin and it’s result, which is death.  The key is not just greed which is idolatry, but it is the fact that Satan is the prime mover against Jesus.  This is what he sees as his opportune time since the temptations in the wilderness. The devil does not control the events.  If he had known, he would not have crucified the son of God.

Invitation:  the suffering of this world cannot be compared to the events that are to come. We join with Jesus in his mission to bring redemption and reconciliation to those around us. What we experience when we come to Jesus is growth in our own character development and faith.  But there is a purpose to our being on mission with him in this world. We are saved from and we are saved to the purpose God has for us. We are not put on the shelf, we continue to be fruitful for the Kingdom of God!

When these things happen: stand up and lift your heads: A message of courage and hope!

A threefold message here:

1. The Son of Man will return
2. Lift up your heads
3. Guard your hearts

The conditions surrounding the return of the Christ – Repetition of things learned!

1. The devil’s plot to steal, kill and destroy
2. The power of Christ
3. The overwhelming glory of Christ dispels the darkness
4. The preparation for what is to come since they didn’t understand when he said he would die and rise again.
5. The importance of the immediate fulfillment of this prophecy and the long term fulfillment of this prophecy yet to take place

The importance of hope in our lives!

1. Hope inspires confidence
2. Hope builds courage to conquers our fears
3. Hope strengthens our faith in God’s ability and God’s presence in our lives – stand up!

The result:

The necessity of protecting our hearts from the attacks of the enemy – note: there is no time-table and the focus is on moral exhortation 

1. Protect yourself from falling in the deceitful traps of the devil – cares of the world, lust, abandonment of clarity in obeying God.
2. Be alert in prayer – listen to what Father says, grow in your communication with him, your worship of him, and your waiting on him.
3. Escape, run from what is a trap.  

Notice how Jesus uses a normal event to introduce important matters of consequence for the disciples.

3 areas of prophetic importance, only focusing on two this morning: the destruction of the temple and city, persecution of Christians, and the coming of the Son of Man.

The uniqueness of Luke’s perspective is that he is writing a two part book, unlike both Mark and Matthew, he has the benefit of recording the fulfillment of the persecution part of the prophecy. Historically, we know about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, which gives us confidence that the third part of the prophecy will also come to pass.

Notice how Jesus has already clearly prophesied about his own persecution and death as well as his resurrection.  In this context, even if the disciples are having a hard time understanding this, Jesus wants them to know that the same treatment is coming their way, and they need to prepare their hearts for it.

Notice how everything seems to be going very well so the disciples don’t see what is going on behind the scenes.

Jesus begins by focusing on the destruction of the temple, and the events that will take place in the world.

Then he focuses on preparedness that prevents deception: vs 8.

Fearful events, destruction of Jerusalem, famines, wars and plagues – see Agabus and his warning of a great famine – Acts 11:28

Vs. 12 these things must happen first, before the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem: suffering of the disciples. Prophecy and fulfillment:

            Hand you over Acts 8:3 ( also same as Jesus: 9:44, 18:32)

            Lay hands on you Acts 4:3, 5:18

            Persecuting Acts9:4, 22:4

            Synagogues Acts 9:2, 26:11

            Prisons: Acts: 5:19, 8:3, 12:4, 16:23

            Kings: Acts 12:1, 25:13

            Governors: Acts 23:24,26; 26:30

            Account of my name: Acts 4:7; 5:28 

Persecution comes from those we love the most, in the form of betrayal. Vs. 16, the murder of James in Acts 12:1-2

Vs. 17, hated by all, reflects the beatitude: when people hate you. Lives are spared. Endurance and patience is critical.

These things are not just historically fulfilled, but are warnings to disciples today.  Our focus and trust needs to be centered on the one who is the judge of our souls and not on the false promises of those who cannot fulfill them.

Three parts to this encounter with Jesus: the beginning and end are illustrated with money. The middle two focus on the reality of eternal life, and the warning against those who seek earthy recognition as opposed to the rule of God in life..

1. The spies and their craftiness to catch Jesus with an impossible situati
     Jesus response is astonishing, creating a direct confrontation with
     Their hypocrisy in using money while wanting the removal of a god
     Their misunderstanding of the Kingdom of God
     The Kingdom of God: Psalm 24: The earth is the Lord’s and all it contained, the world and all who dwell in it.
2. The bigger issue here is the understanding of what the Kingdom of God is about and why Jesus is about to fulfill all the prophecies. But the expectations of the religious leaders is vastly different.
3. For them the Kingdom of God is linked with political aspirations
   The king is to bring secure borders, prosperity to all the Jewish people
   It is like the Kingdom of David, and thus bringing freedom from the political oppression of a bloodthirsty nation that suppresses them.
4. To this end, the encounter with the Sadducee is critical.  Their belief in no eternity, and no angels was from the time of Zadok the priest, who was an advisor to King David, was the more orthodox position in the philosophical gatherings of messianic understandings.  Yet their concepts blinded them to the reality of who Jesus really was and still is:
   The focus on the resurrection and eternal life is critical to knowing the real purposes of God! So Jesus confronts them while all the people are listening, and not only uses Exodus 3 and the burning bush with their tendency for exact interpretation of words, but also focuses on the prophecy of the son of David being greater than earthly kings!
5. The final bit is, Jesus lifting his eyes and showing that the one who gives all for others has greater understanding of the Kingdom and more faith in the activity of the King than others do. 

1.  The King takes his seat of honor in the temple
   Recall his 12th year when he was about his Father’s business 
   The seat of Godly authority from which the rule of God is to take place
2. The crowds hang on to his every word. Gathering for the Passover and Pentecost (feast of weeks or first fruits)
3. The confrontation continues to escalate between the leaders and Jesus. From this moment through Acts 7 the focus is on Jerusalem and all that transpires here. This is the heart of the Gospel message and it is clearly divisive, especially on the issue of authority in general and the ultimate spiritual authority in particular. One group seeks temporal and immediate authority the other sees a much bigger picture and sees eternal authority. The theme of a divided people continues to escalate.
4. The direct question of authority
   Why is this important to the leaders? The people, the teaching, the disruption of man made traditions that nullified the power and intentions of God
   Their blindness to both the purpose of Israel and God’s plan for all mankind to be blessed by them
   Their losing control of the people and their fear of people.  Their hypocrisy in not answering Jesus – what leaders are supposed to do is bring clarity to understanding the good news of God’s Kingdom
5. The parable that shows the failure in leadership to focus on the God given responsibilities and abusing the temporal for personal purposes of power and or greed.  Taking pride in their positions of honor. All issues addressed by Jesus, both directly and indirectly. He speaks to the people, but about the leaders.  This is clearly understood because of Isaiah 5!
6. The response is clear: and Jesus again quotes Psalm 118 – the cornerstone. Here the same judgement is clearly passed as shown in the parable of the minas, and the destruction of those who did not want the rule of God in their lives. Is it a stumbling block, or is it a judgement that crushes, the only way to see it as a lace of safety and healing is through repentance and faith.  That is the gospel message from both John the Baptist and the good news of the Kingdom that is clearly shown to be the only alternative to the direction the leaders are moving in.
7. Their hearts become hardened with their own blindness to the truth and who Jesus Is.

Application: what happens when we stumble over Jesus and his words? Do we believe in what he says about us? Are we willing to repent of our transgressions? Or does his life and words become a source of destruction to us?

The truth is, there is only one Victor in the world.  To set ourselves against him is both folly and futile. To turn to him and receive him is more that we could ever hope for. Here is the temple, the place where God ruled before the people rebelled against him, here is the place where the final showdown occurs. This is the place where sin will be judged. Either to the destruction of those who set themselves against Jesus or for salvation for those who place their trust in him.  

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?””

John 11:25-26 

Part 1. 28-35

The Prophet calls for the initiation of events

First he returns to the place of beginning to initiate the end: Bethany is the place where Jesus was baptized. The announcement by John of the Messiah coming. See John 1:28

Prophecy is not just the speaking forth of God’s Word as in preaching, though it does include that. There is also the element of proclaiming ahead of time what God will do, and in the process share what will happen before it happens.  The Bible is a prophetic book, showing God’s involvement in the world.  From Noah to Jesus, there are amazing accounts of prophetic utterances that have been fulfilled.  And there are many more yet to be fulfilled.  In the process, God continues to speak and prepare and show his care, provision and protection by letting God’s people know in advance what they ought to do.  

It is a matter of strategic importance concerning the nature of the Messiah, that this journey begins with just such a prophetic event.  This shows the activity of God in all that is to follow.  It builds confidence in the followers, it is more than just a trick, but this humble act of prophecy is ushering in the momentous events that were also prophetically spoken of throughout the Old Testament, but had been hidden from the eyes of the readers.  This small prophetic announcement is different from all others which were concerning others, or the revelation of who God was.  Other prophecies pointed to God, but affirmed Jesus as being a prophet. This prophetic statement deals directly with the arrival of the Messiah and point directly to Jesus.  

Part 2. 36-40

The Procession of the King

Normally such a triumphant entry into the capitol happens when a King is crowned. In this case, the announcement is different that in the past:  “Now it came about after this that Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men as runners before him.

But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’ ””

2 Samuel 15:1, 10 

But this is a messianic announcement: “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD; We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.”

Psalms 118:26 NASB1995. Four verses earlier he cites the Stone which the builders rejected which comes in the next chapter.

In Context, this is a kingship statement! And Messianic proclamation!  Thus the attempt to silence the disciples!

Part 3.  41-44

The Intercessor for the People

Such a mixture of emotions – from joyful exuberance to weeping over the city. This is a pictures of the priest in action.  First of all, he is an intercessor!  He still is! 

His intercession also is prophetic in nature pointing out what will come.  But the key aspect is the recognition of the time of Visitation. There are Kairos moments in God, which we do not want to miss!

All three together create the Messiah proclamation. 

Application:

1. I want to know the times of God’s visitation
2. I yearn to both be obedient and help others discover the rule of God in their lives

I yearn for us to recognize the needs around us and pray this we can meet those needs

This parable sounds very similar to the parable of the Talents in Matthew, and could easily be confused with that one, though there are distinct differences: in particular, in Matthew the parable has a distinct context of a discussion concerning the end times and the second coming of Jesus.

The historical placement of this parable of the Minas in Luke, as well as how the parable is told, is very different, and ought not be confused. The differences relate to: 

            The time factor

            The amount given to the slaves

            The number of slaves entrusted

            Those who are punished

Noting these differences is important because it affects both the meaning and the interpretation of these two similar parables. 

Look at the parable:

Though it uses money as a means of showing faithfulness, it is not primarily a parables about money, but about the nobleman becoming a king.

It is also about the judgement of those who know the nobleman not wanting him to rule over them, though they actually have no say in the matter.

The events do not take a long time, but when they transpire, those who are faithful are rewarded, and even the one who is not faithful is doing all that his lord asked on him, is not removed or punished, he is not made a ruler over cities.  The punishment is reserved for those who do not want the rule of the King in their lives!

This is about the events that are about to take place in Jerusalem when they get there: Jesus will be crowned King as in Philippians 2:8-11:

“Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Those who do not want Jesus to be King in their lives will get what they want – including the consequences of their sin! Others will have various levels of rewards as the King chooses bestows upon them. The promotion from nobleman to King is not just important for the new King, but it has results for the King’s servants as well! Those who know Jesus will all be better of in the new Kingdom that comes with the King.

Application