Jesus the Hero

Who was greater, Jesus, or the 3 powerful rulers listed in Luke 3?  Did their alliance with Rome make them stronger or weaker than Jesus? What did Luke want us to know about them and Jesus? 

Tiberius produced Caligula;  Jesus produced Peter, Matthew, and John.  
Tiberius is the strongest ruler on earth;  but Jesus took his empire down. 
While Tiberius hid in despair, Jesus went everywhere He cared to. 
Who was braver? 

When we realize that Jesus knowingly included His traitor in every sermon, meal, and ministry of His last months, we can appreciate the depth of Jesus' mercy and patience.  

Only the poorest of the poor could glean in other's fields.  Jesus led the 12 to glean near a town so that His enemies could see Him doing this.   He didn't mind being scorned for His poverty if He could make a point that would eventually bless others.  

the 5,000 whom Jesus fed wanted to make Him a king, and rise against Rome. He discouraged them with a truth they could not understand, and they left.  Are we brave enough to take a stand that will cost us offerings and followers?  Jesus was.  (But others blessed His heart; hear who they were.) 

Isaac worried; what sort of bride would his father's ancient servant bring him? Would she be pretty? safe? kind?  Jesus was brave enough to invite gnarly people into His church as the Spirit led Him, trusting that the Father would make it work out well.  

God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Isaac could have run away at any time, but didn't.  Jesus could have run away too, and judged His enemies on His way back to heaven; but He didn't. We can admire Him. 

Abel is the first picture in the bible of Jesus dying for the true way to God. 
Cain and the Pharisees both wanted their own way to God; Jesus and Abel said no. 

David danced with joy when he brought the ark to Jerusalem to reunite it with the tabernacle. 
Jesus was full of the same joy as He brought lonely, fallen people to the Father for real worship. 

David honored his rival's heir, Saul's grandson, by restoring his wealth and inviting him to his table as a guest of honor. Jesus does that for us!