As we read these chapters, we follow Jesus into Jerusalem
and move closer to that place of destiny, the cross. Jesus’ parables and his ministry actions
establish his authority (King, Lord) and help us understand the fundamental
paradox of the cross – that an all-powerful Messiah is rejected and killed by
his own people.
An Account of a
World-Changing Movement…and the person and power at the center of it
As you read, pay attention to this string of stories laid out by Luke:
- Parable of the Ten Minas 19:11-27
- Jesus entering Jerusalem as King 19:28-44
- The Authority of Jesus Questioned 20:1-8
- Parable of the Tenants 20:9-19
- Paying Taxes to Caesar 20:20-26
Each one contributes to our understanding of the
authority of Jesus, the one hailed as King, fully representing God’s authority
on earth. But more specifically, they
each offer a piece to the puzzle of understanding why this King might be
rejected by his own people and crucified.
Simple reflection questions for all of these sections
might be:
-
How do I/we acknowledge Jesus’ authority?
- How do I/we reject his authority?
In these 3 chapters there are many links to the Book of
Acts and the preaching of Peter and Paul in the early church. Even armed with their testimony of Jesus
rising from the dead, they had to answer the questions about how the powerful Son
of God ended up being killed on the cross in the first place. They continue Jesus’ message found in Luke
19-21. Here’s a specific example: Psalm
118:22 “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” is quoted by
Jesus following the Parable of the Tenants (Luke 20:17) and by Peter in his
proclamation of the gospel (Acts 4:11).
The city of Jerusalem and its fate provides another rich
connection between Luke & Acts in the account of a world-changing movement. Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem (19:41-44) and
his prophecy of the destruction of the temple (21:5-38) give a sense that
Jerusalem’s rejection of God’s Messiah doesn’t work out so well. When Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in
AD 70, the fact that Jesus foretold it no doubt encouraged trust in his authority and further fueled the world-wide expansion of the Jesus movement. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(70). Of course, it was no longer a safe option to stay in Jerusalem and wait for Jesus’ return – they had to move
out and be his witnesses “to the end of the world.”
A Note about Jesus’ Mission to the Marginalized…
This theme continues strong in Luke 19-21, even as Jesus
moves closer to BECOMING one of the marginalized as a rejected ruler killed on
a cross.
Zacchaeus (19:1-10)
In the Sunday School version of this story, the emphasis
is on Zacchaeus being short, a status that reflects being on the lower end of a power
imbalance (a point not lost on the children who hear the story!). Others had a more privileged
view, Z had to make extra effort just to see Jesus, and Jesus privileges him
by inviting himself to Z’s home.
But the primary message of the story of Zacchaeus is to continue the
storyline of Jesus eating and drinking with sinners and demonstrating the
radical change that God’s kingdom brings.
The people notice this aspect when they mutter “he (Jesus) has gone to
be the guest of a sinner” (19:7). And after
Zacchaeus’ commitment to give half his possessions to the poor (another
marginalized group who benefit from God’s kingdom!), Jesus proclaims his mission
to the marginalized once more: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the
lost” (19:10).
Warning Against the Teachers of the Law (20:45-47)
Jesus again challenges the privileged – those “who have
the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.” The punishment is severe for those who “devour
widows’ houses.”
The Widow’s Offering
Speaking of widows, Jesus follows up by pointing out a
widow who gives an offering of two very small copper coins – out of her poverty
giving all she had to live on. She is
the hero of sacrificial giving…more so than the rich people who give gifts to
the temple treasury out of their wealth.____________________
"Lord Jesus, continue to speak your Word to us. By the power of the Holy Spirit help us understand you, your cross, and your message. By this same power direct changes in our lives that reflect the values of the kingdom of God, our heavenly Father. Amen."
Pastor Kurt
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