Year 7, Day 222: Luke 13

Theological Commentary: Click Here

It’s easy to see why Jesus is crucified when you read chapters like Luke 13.  I don’t mean that sentence flippantly.  I am very serious about it.  It is chapters like Luke 13 and the teachings contained within that led to the crucifixion of Jesus.  This is important to understand, because if we desire to embrace the teachings of Jesus and then embody them, we need to understand that it may not do any wonders for our popularity, either.

For example, look at what Jesus teaches in the opening section.  There are some people who hear about bad things happening to Galileans and feel justified.  They think that since the Galileans had issues in their moral, ethical, and spiritual codes that they deserved what they got.  Jesus confronts that opinion.  He tells us that we are no better.  He tells us that unless we humble ourselves to the point of genuine repentance, we will perish in a similar manner.  Do most people want to hear that they shouldn’t be smug when their enemies come across hard times?  Do most people want to be told that they are no better than the people upon whom they look down?  No!  Teaching things like this is likely to get us scorned and outcast.

Take the healing of the woman who had a disabling condition for 18 years.  Jesus heals, but it is on the Sabbath.  We know that makes enemies among the religious leaders, who will do anything to stick up for the sanctity of the Sabbath.  But look at Jesus’ response.  Not only does Jesus lower the sanctity of the Sabbath to a position lower than showing mercy upon others, but He turns on the religious leaders and calls them hypocrites!  People in power don’t like being called hypocrites.  People in power don’t also care to have the status quo messed with.  Jesus is doing both of these things here.  Jesus is challenging what true power is as well as challenging the best way to apply true power.  To quote another cliché, Jesus is upsetting the apple cart in more than one way here.

Take the story about the narrow door.  Jesus tells the people that many people will be locked out beyond the narrow door and not allowed into the presence of the Father.  He goes even further than that.  Jesus says that being in proximity to God is irrelevant!  Eating and drinking in the presence of Christ and listening to His teachings isn’t enough!  To be in the presence of God we must actively seek Him out.  We cannot be content being near Christ when He comes to us, we must seek Him out and follow His ways.  Once more Jesus is attacking the status quo.  Remember that the Hebrew people were a people based on lineage – that is, their proximity to Abraham.  Jesus is telling these people who believe themselves to be special because they could tract themselves back to Abraham that their proximity to God through Abraham isn’t enough.  It isn’t good enough to be in the presence of greatness.  We must strive to pursue the greatness ourselves and imitate what we find.

In the end, these passages are difficult passages.  They challenge us to the core of our being.  They force us to analyze what it is for which we stand.  Again, it is no surprise to me that when Jesus taught these things that He was crucified.  It’s a shame; but it isn’t a surprise.

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