3-16-25 Luke 13.
By The Rev. Maxine Gray
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to [Jesus,] “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”
Mercy and security be yours from Jesus the Christ, who wants to wrap you in his arms and keep you close forever. Amen
What makes you afraid? When do shivers come and sweat forms on your brow? What makes you want to turn and flee, finding a place that promises safety?
(Yes, I am asking you! Is it the dark, unidentified noises, that scare you; critters – creepy, crawlies -spiders, mice, snakes? Are you afraid of closed in spaces, of falling, or flying; are you afraid of being humiliated, of not knowing and being proven wrong? are you afraid of pain, of ending up alone with no one to care for and help you?) Fear is something we all have known and we try to avoid it. Still, being afraid can be beneficial. If you are fearful of falling you may take precautions to wear good shoes, use a cane or walker for balance, and watch out for dangerous surfaces. If there are things or situations that are worrisome, you may make plans so that you can avoid them. We also know that some fears lead us to foolish solutions, like searching for techniques to calm or mask our fear; like smoking, drugs, alcohol, or crazy living, hanging out with a bad crowd. You will soon discover that such techniques bring other problems and no real lasting relief from fear. When it comes to fear, we need to understand WHY that reaction occurs. Some fears are essential to our preservation, healthy fears keep us from taking foolish risks. Other fears are not rational and need to be and can be overcome.
The Lord came to Abram and told him: “Do not be afraid!” Abram had begun to doubt that God would ever fulfill his pledge to him. For he still had no son to be his heir. Abram had focused his life around God’s word to him that this land and a people would come through him. He had moved from his homeland and away from his family with that expectation. Now he was really worried. What if God had changed his mind, had he or Sarai done something that so displeased God that He was refusing to follow through? The days and years were passing by and age was making their dreams less and less likely. What if God procrastinated too long? All the what if’s were causing fear to grow. Then God had Abram set up carcasses of animals and birds on the ground. Abram spent the day chasing off the birds of prey who swooped down to partake of the array of lunch meat spread out before them. When Abram is totally exhausted the place goes pitch dark and more terror enters his heart. The ceremony that God enacted with the animal sacrifices and flaming fire pot was to serve as God’s personal guarantee to reassure Abram that all would be as promised. It was enacted to seal the oath that God had made. That ritual ceremony may have been more fear inspiring than anything else so far and Abram’s greatest fear may have been in the God who brought this event into being.
So I ask, as we add to the list of what brings fear into your heart, are you afraid of God? It was a well recorded reaction from the men and women of ancient times. God, known as the Almighty, the creator of all things, whose plan is for you and for all the world – that God is beyond our comprehension and is indeed scary. It was believed that coming into the presence of God would bring about one’s immediate death. The God whose authority brings judgment is One whom we have good reason to fear. Then, comes Jesus.
Jesus has courageously headed to Jerusalem, the holy city, with the Temple, THE place of worship of God, Yahweh to the Jews, it was the center of their world. This is Jesus’ place of special worship too, as well as the destination for the plan God has set before him. Here, he is confronted by some Pharisees, the most devout of those who claim Judaism as their religion. Often we have noted how they have opposed Jesus and his approach; but not today, not this group of Pharisees. Which should remind us that within any identified faction of humans there will be individuals who hold varying opinions and differing practices. These men come with a warning: “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” They are afraid for Jesus. They understand the animosity that Herod feels for Jesus, whom Herod is afraid is actually the ‘returned from the dead’ – John the Baptist, whom he had beheaded. Fear bubbles up all over in today’s lessons. Fear leads people to do terrible, foolish, and destructive things.
Jesus will not be swayed from his prescribed itinerary. “Go and tell that fox for me,‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ Jesus the one claimed as Son of God, with whom God is well pleased, is not going to run from fear, he will confront his fears head-on and will continue to move forward on the road He has been given. We learn that there is a sense that directs Jesus, that takes precedence over being afraid and that is love. Knowing what and who is about to confront him in that city; Jesus still makes known the value and feeling he has toward the people who are connected to Jerusalem. How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Jesus knows it is inevitable that the fox will pursue the hen and yet he wants to be in that role of hen so he can gather up those children within his protective arms. Jesus was not just giving a peptalk or delivering a sermon. His was a rescue operation, even when some will always refuse to be freed. As he notes, you were not willing! Still, Jesus came to live and die his message. Even when we let fears overcome us, or when we think we know a better solution, Jesus is willing. Willing to take us into his arms. Willing to offer us forgiveness and grace. Willing to hold us close to his heart. He makes known to us the mercy of God, who fulfills the promise God has made, in the new covenant of His blood.
In spite of fear, regardless of our sin and unwillingness, Jesus died for us. As the psalmist wrote: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid. Take heart and wait for the Lord! (Ps 27)