A. Text for Today Is Luke 13:31-35 and Our Sermon Is Titled

LOJ #149: ‘Pressing On’

Andover Baptist Church-June 30th, 2012

Opening

A. Text for today is Luke 13:31-35 and our sermon is titled

Pressing On

B. Scripture NET:

“13:31 At that time,some Phariseescame up and said to Jesus,“Get away from here,because Herodwants to kill You.” 13:32 ButHe said to them, “Goand tell that fox,‘Look, I AM casting out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third dayI will complete My work.13:33 Nevertheless I mustgo on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, because it is impossiblethat a prophet should be killedoutside Jerusalem.’13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you!How often I have longedto gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, butyou would have none of it!13:35 Look, your house is forsaken!And I tell you, you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is the One who comes in the Name of the Lord!’”

C. Children’s Sermon: NONE

D. Introduction

1. How far would you go to do what God has told you to

do?

2. What would make you stop and think: 'Do I really want

to continue serving God if this would be the

consequence?'

3. As the years get closer to the return of Christ, regardless

of when it is for it's closer now than 1000 years ago, it

seems to get increasingly more difficult to live a life

focused on the things of God

4. For those of you who struggle with doing the things that

God expects of you, I cannot let you off the hook

5. I can't even let myself off, either

6. Jesus specifically told us that we are to put Him ahead

of all things (even our very family)

7. Why? Because He created us and ultimately because He

went to the cross for us

8. no one else could do that for you

9. Today in the Life of Christ we are going to see a

powerful tactic used against Jesus, one that is almost

daily used against His followers in this country: Fear

10. Jesus was not afraid to do what His Father had called

Him to do, but I ask you today, can the same thing be

said of you?

Sermon

READ: Luke 13:31, 32 (Scripture slide)

“13:31 At that time,some Phariseescame up and said to Jesus,“Get away from here,because Herodwants to kill You.” 13:32 ButHe said to them, “Goand tell that fox,‘Look, I AM casting out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third dayI will complete My work.

A. 'At that time'

1. Jesus had just got done talking about those who would

want to enter God’s Kingdom, but not by the Narrow

Gate (i.e. Him)

2. He has, if you recall, left Jerusalem for the last time to

take a 6 month, or so, missionary journey in the area of

Perea, after which He will return to Jerusalem and be

crucified there

B. 'Some Pharisees came up to Him'

1. These are the dominant religious party leaders in Israel

2. They bring to Jesus a message that Herod is trying to

kill Him and that He should leave

3. Isn't that sweet? Not really, the majority of them hated

Jesus and would just as see Him dead as leaving their

area because He pointed out their hypocrisy

C. 'Get away...Herod wants to kill you'

1. Jesus was not popular with people in religious and

political power

2. The Herod they speak of is Herod Antipas

a. The son of Herod the Great (the one who tried to

kill Jesus as a baby, almost a family business it

seems)

b. Herod's territory was Galilee and Perea and Jesus

had just stepped inside of it

c. Herod had the authority to kill Jesus there (well at

least politically if not actually )

d. It would not be surprising that Herod would want

Him dead, as he had John the Baptist murdered.

e. According to Josephus Herod liked the status quo

and tranquility: i.e. he might be trying to get rid

of Jesus quietly

f. So he may be using the Pharisees to get a message

to Jesus

g. Now it could be a number of things: they could

be lying, right but just wanting Jesus to leave,

working with Herod, or being genuinely helpful

h. Either way we know that Herod was interested in

Jesus

Luke 9:6–9 (NET)“6 Then they departed and went throughout the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. 7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed, because some people were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 8 while others were saying that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen. 9 Herod said, “I had John beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” So Herod wanted to learn about Jesus.”

i. And there is no doubt that this is a political threat

D. 'But He said to them'

1. Jesus flips it around on them

2. Because it appears as Jesus knows that these Pharisees

were in cahoots with Herod

3. Just as this world is in cahoots with its king, the devil

E. 'Go tell that fox'

1. Now if you called me a fox today, that would be two

things 1) first and foremost it would be true 2) a

complement

2. It would not have been a compliment in Jesus’ day

3. Foxes as animals were considered not too bright or

cunning and they were seen as cowards

4. Also foxes would prey on hens (cf. the next few verses)

5. So Jesus was showing the true colors of Herod, that he

was a cowardly, dimwitted insignificant creature in

light of God and His plan

F. Jesus' speaks of His ministry, its effectiveness and its eventual

accomplishment

1. ‘Look, I AM casting out demons and performing

healings today and tomorrow, and on the third dayI will

complete My work.'

2. Two of the staples of Jesus’ Messianic ministry was the

casting out of demons and healings

3. And Jesus was clear that His mission was not done in

the area yet and He will not leave until His work is

complete no matter what kind of threat

4. Makes mention of three days, with the third day will be

the completion of His work, which is a veiled reference

to His death, burial and resurrection that would take

place in a matter of months in Jerusalem

5. You see Jesus knew Who is really in control and

therefore no one could divert Jesus from His mission

6. There is a real temptation here to follow the threats of

people over the message of God (school, work, internet,

circle of friends, etc)

a. The world uses veiled, and sometimes not veiled,

threats to stop the Gospel message

b. They even have these catch phrases to scare us

Christians

1. Sin is personal leave it alone

2. Don't judge me, your judgmental

3. You need to be tolerant

4. Speaking about sin is hate speech

5. That’s not politically correct

6. Say something we don’t like and we will

take away your tax status, regardless of

your first amendment rights

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

c. Then as now the world uses political power (i.e.

China and Islamic countries, and one day I fear

even in the United States) to try and silence the

Gospel message

1. SLIDE: Show the persecuted countries

2. Human opposition will not stop the

Gospel in fact persecution causes the

church to grow, and friends its coming

here in our nation

3. Jesus was not afraid. Jesus never let the

world stop Him from His mission. What

about you?

READ: Luke 13:33-35 (Scripture slide)

“13:33 Nevertheless I mustgo on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, because it is impossiblethat a prophet should be killedoutside Jerusalem.’13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you!How often I have longedto gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, butyou would have none of it!13:35 Look, your house is forsaken!And I tell you, you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is the One who comes in the Name of the Lord!’

A. 'Nevertheless I must go on My way'

1. Jesus is going to reach Jerusalem on His time table and

accomplish what He needs to accomplish

2. Jesus is speaking about His impending death, burial and

resurrection.

B. Jesus makes the statement that it is, 'impossible for a prophet to

be killed outside of Jerusalem'

1. Ironically the place that is the most ‘religious’ is also the

one most likely to kill the prophets of God

2. And Jesus is bluntly stating that His very own death will

not occur away from Jerusalem

3. Why? Because the plan of God calls for Jesus'

crucifixion in Jerusalem and it will not be thwarted

C. Jesus has compassion for those who persecute Him

1. He states that He 'longed to gather your children...but

you would have none of it'

2. The fact that Jesus mentions Jerusalem twice is a

method that was used to indicate emphasis and show

Jesus’ concern for it

3. He says this tenderly and lovingly about a place and a

people that would convene for His death (think about

that Church in how we should deal with those who

would do the same to us)

4. Jesus wants to gather them under His protective love,

but they are rejecting the One that can give them life

5. The imagery here of a bird protecting her children under

her wings is often used as an image of the loving

protection God extends to His people (we see this a

number of times in Scripture)

Exodus 19:4 (NET)“You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt and how I lifted you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.”

Deuteronomy 32:11 (NET)“Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, so the Lord spread out his wings and took him, he lifted him up on his pinions.”

Psalm 17:8 (NET)“Protect me as you would protect the pupil of your eye! Hide me in the shadow of your wings”

Psalm 36:7 (NET)“How precious is your loyal love, O God! The human race finds shelter under your wings.”

Psalm 57:1 (NET)“Have mercy on me, O God! Have mercy on me! For in you I have taken shelter. In the shadow of your wings I take shelter until trouble passes.”

Psalm 61:4 (NET)“I will be a permanent guest in your home; I will find shelter in the protection of your wings. (Selah)”

Psalm 63:7 (NET)“For you are my deliverer; under your wings I rejoice.”

Psalm 91:4 (NET)“He will shelter you with His wings; you will find safety under his wings. His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall.”

6. Jesus applies this divine image to Himself

7. God had sought out those in Jerusalem with the saving

grace of Christ, but they would not have it

8. Jesus wanted Jerusalem to be saved, but they had chosen

to reject Him

9. The whole world is given the same choice

D. Jesus tells them the consequences of their choice: 'your house

is forsaken'

1. The city and the temple would be abandoned by God

2. Their temple would become an empty tomb, without the

slightest presence of God

3. Because of their rejection of Jesus, they would be

rejected by God

4. Eventually they would come to the conclusion of Who

Jesus is

E. This is what is mean when Jesus says: “And I tell you, you will

not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is the One who comes in

the Name of the Lord!’”

1. Jesus quotes here Psalm 118:26 (which is sung at

Passover, the next time Jesus will be in Jerusalem)

2. Jesus would not return to Jerusalem until the final week

3. When upon approaching and entering the city the people

greet Him with the quotation of this Messianic Psalm

4. The people said this when Jesus comes into Jerusalem,

but Jesus is speaking here when all will say this….that

is in the consummation of all things!

Application (slide)

1. One day we too will be before Him at the consummation of all

things

2. One day we will be held accountable for what we did with the

Gospel message

3. First for how we respond to it, and secondly what we did with it

4. What would be said of you today, if today were indeed the

consummation of all things?

Invitation

Let us sing our last song #,

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Lord’s Supper

A. Lord's Supper is open to anyone who is a believer in Jesus

Christ, if you are such and are a visiting guest we welcome your

participation with us (We will take the bread together, and than

the juice together)

B. Prayer

C. Read: 1 Co 11:23 -29

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me. ”25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. ”26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord ’s death until he comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment onhimself.

D After the bread is passed out (hold up the bread)
Lk 22:19 "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. ”

E. After the juice is passed out (hold up the cup)
Mk 14:23 -24 "23 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many, ”

F. Closing prayer (Jim)