Introduction: The initial phrase of this passage does not give a date but it indicates that Jesus was beginning to think about His Crucifixion and Resurrection, Does the phrase “to be taken up’ mean ‘lifted up to be crucified’ or ‘raised from the dead”? At any rate for the next few weeks I will look at a few of the very significant things that happened between this time and Easter.
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.
Comment: The Samaritans did not accept Jerusalem as the centre of real worship. When the northern portion of Israel broke away in rebellion from Solomon’s son the appointed king, because they were still ‘religious’ people they set up their own system of worship. Jesus would have nothing to do with spiteful petulance! A lot of problems and divisions would be avoided if tolerance were practiced. There are, however, heretical and truth issues which are necessary to stand against!
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” – Comment: Are Jesus replies to these people’s commitment to follow Him unreasonable? I think that there was probably a lot more said than is here recorded! And the answers in the end mean that there is no point in committing oneself to whole hearted discipleship of Jesus if we are not 1, prepared to put up with hardship (maybe even martyrdom) 2. If family ties mean more than your obedience to the Master 3. If your following Jesus wavers when there are diversions to the old way of life! It is not recorded that Jesus said that these people couldn’t follow Him. Evangelism is unrealistic and shallow if it doesn’t explain that Jesus calls us to acknowledge Him as both Saviour and Lord!
Proverbs 22: 3 – The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
but the simple go on and suffer for it. – This proverb would seem to be persuading you not to take risks and commit yourself to anything but a sure future and a safe way! Why did I quote it? Following Jesus has future difficulties but it is not ‘simple’ in the sense of ‘stupid’ for the end is glorious! But you must count the cost of following Jesus!
Prayer: I am committed to following You, Jesus. Please help me to persist to the end!
As I read it! 