The Fox and the Chickens

Luke 13:31-35

“Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”  Death is getting up  close, personal and real for Jesus.  This threat is not surprising given what Jesus was preaching just before this. Jesus is intense - talking to his beloved Jewish brothers and sisters, not Gentiles.  Earlier, in Luke chapter 13, Jesus admonishes,

28 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 you yourselves thrown out.

The not so subtle meaning I’m hearing from Jesus is, “Please, please, please.  People, you have got to listen to me.  Don’t tune me out! I am trying to save you! Pay attention!?” We are the chickens, Jesus wants to protect.   Jesus, now, is deadly serious about his message and mission as he sees his end coming.  Maybe, the human Jesus is feeling a bit desperate.  Think for a minute, you have just a short time left on earth.  What would you do?

What happened to the good news you were bringing us, Jesus?”   The elders and the Pharisees are surely thinking, “This rings of hubris, defiance, rebellion, and blasphemy.   We’re leaders in the synagogue with prestigious and powerful positions. Who are you to tell us we will be thrown out of the God’s kingdom!”

“Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”  It’s remarkable that the Pharisees who have Herod’s ear are the ones to warn Jesus about his plan to murder him. Jesus told them to take back a message to “that fox.”  It seems to me that Jesus, in his name calling, is understating how he truly felt about Herod Antipas, the king who beheaded his cousin John the Baptist.  Even in this instance, Jesus watches his language.

Courageously, Jesus puts Herod on notice, “Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.” (32) He is clear that he still had things to do.  He wasn’t ready to give up.  With only a few days of life left, Jesus has a specific agenda and timing.  It wasn’t on his bucket list to spend time at the Sea of Galilee beach or eat his favorite meals or even visit his family. His life lives solely for others.  His mission? Get rid of evil and heal more people – helping as many as he could – until he couldn’t.

Complex emotions for this human Jesus come up – anger underscored with disappointment and sadness.  He is struggling with many contradictory feelings.  He is lamenting the very people who reject him.  Wow.  As if there was not enough to assure us that Jesus is fully incarnated with God.  Who among us would do this?  All you people who bullied us as kids, or make our lives difficult as adults, we wish we could help you more. Not many of us our jumping on that bandwagon.   Not happening.

We are so far away in our abilities to follow and model Jesus.  There are those, like Martin Luther King, Jr., or Mother Theresa who get closer.  And what about our cities, our society and culture, and our values? Some might say the Devil appears to be winning. The fires and tornadoes, measles, job losses. God have mercy! For most of us sinners, we sure fall well short of the glory of God as Paul reminds us in Romans 3:23.  Thank God for Grace.

Jesus, in today’s scripture, is coming to grips with the reality he is no longer going to be around to safeguard this important city, God’s temple, or his disciples.  We can only imagine the pain and regret he must be experiencing as he prepares to take his leave.  This comes up later in John 14:18.

18 “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.

I am thinking that Jesus, approaching his death, much like us, is looking over his life.  Who he loves and is going to miss, who he can no longer take care of, and what there is left to do that he can no longer accomplish.   This doesn’t even approach his concerns about the amount of pain and suffering he is going to endure before his death.  “God if it is your will, take this cup from me.” (Luke 22:42)

Many aging and dying people I talk to worry about their children, grandchildren, and lucky ones, their great-grandchildren. They wish they had done things differently or had done more.  Hoping, though, that they had done enough. But now they must let go.  Jesus experienced these moments and understands what it feels like to have to let go of life – and not of his own choosing.   Jesus can truly be with us and know what we are going through during difficult times.

Jesus died at age 33.  Three years of ministry.  Ultimately, it was enough.  He accomplished what he came to do.  What is it that we are here to do in our lifetime?  Will God say to us as it says in Matthew 25:23, “Well done, my good and faithful servant?”  We are still here.  We are granted more opportunities to create a purposeful, good, and God-filled life.  What is it than we can still do, so that someday we can confidently say, “I am ready to meet God?”

Jesus closes this passage by offering up a vision of the future when he will see us and we will see him.  “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” Lord, let us be this person. Amen.