+ Lent 2 – March 17, 2019 +
Beautiful Savior Lutheran, Milton
Series C: Jeremiah 26:8-15; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Life is full of journeys. Some are grand and spectacular: a 10-day Alaska cruise, a tour of the English countryside, or whatever your dream vacation might be. Most of our travels are the more ordinary, every-day kinds of journeys: home, work, or school - there and back again; to the fridge and back to our favorite chair or spot on the couch. No matter our age or vocation, life is full of journeys: moving, working, vacationing, and so on.
Jesus’ life is no different. Even before he was born, Jesus journeyed with Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem where he was born for us. As an infant he traveled with Mary and Joseph to Egypt and back again, escaping Herod’s wrath that his journey might continue on. As a 12-year old boy Jesus made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover with his family foreshadowing his fulfillment of the Passover yet to come. Jesus sojourned in the wilderness for 40 days just like Israel did for 40 years. Tempted. Tested. Victorious. For us. Like a circuit rider in the old west, Jesus walked from town to town, throughout the regions of Judea, Galilea, Tyre, Sidon, and Samaria preaching the Good News, casting out demons, and healing the sick.
These many and various journeys of Jesus are all a part of the greatest of all journeys, Jesus’ Lenten journey to Jerusalem. To the cross. For you. Indeed, this is why he is born, why he lives, why he grows, learns, teaches, preaches, heals, and everything he does, and says – everywhere he goes. It all leads to Jesus’ destiny in Jerusalem.
So great is Jesus’ Lenten journey to the cross that St. Luke arranges his Gospel around Jesus’ travels towards his crucifixion. In Luke 9, Jesus sets his face toward Jerusalem. Throughout Luke’s Gospel, Jesus repeats his prophetic promise:
“See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon.And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”
Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem is not one of leisure or luxury, but of love. Jesus journeys for you. Jesus is rejected in Jerusalem for you. Jesus goes to the cross for you.
The Pharisees, however, try to dissuade Jesus from going to Jerusalem.
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”
What’s this, the Pharisees looking out for Jesus? Hardly. They’ve been plotting his death for nearly a year, like the devil waiting for an opportune time to strike. And like the devil, trying to keep Jesus from his journey’s end, Jerusalem.
So Jesus said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.
Ever notice how a lot of important Biblical stuff happens on the third day? That’s no accident. Jesus knows where he’s headed, and what will happen. Knew he would die, just he knew how Jerusalem treated his servant Jeremiah. How he was tossed in a cistern and left for dead. Jesus knows the history of Jerusalem is polluted with innocent blood, even as he was about to shed his blood for Jerusalem and for the life of the world. He knew Jerusalem rejected his prophets time and time again and would reject him. Still, he goes anyway. He must go. Like a storm chaser, Jesus knowingly, willingly, and lovingly for you, heads into the storm that awaits him.
Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’
Jesus knew exactly why He had come. Not for popularity, prestige, or power. Not to be like a pez dispenser, popping out miracles whenever someone wanted one. No. Jesus came to die. And by his death gathers his people as a hen gathers her brood.
It is now, as it was for Jesus. It’s always about the death and resurrection of Jesus. Every text. Every Sunday. Because without Jesus’ Lenten journey to the cross for us, nothing else matters.
It’s no wonder Jesus laments for Israel. For Jerusalem. And for all who reject him. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!
Jesus’ words were a warning to Herod who had rejected him, saw him only as some conjurer of cheap tricks. To the Pharisees and Jerusalem who had chosen the broad and easy path away from Jesus’ words of life. It’s a warning for us too. As the proverbs say, there’s a way which seems right to man, but leads only to death. To follow Jesus means following him on his journey to the cross. It won’t give you popularity, prestige, or power. But Jesus’ journey to the cross will give you his pardon, promise, and peace.
I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following. Jesus journeys to Jerusalem for you. Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday for you. Jesus goes to the upper room, the garden of Gethsemane, his trials before the Sanhedrin, Herod, and Pilate; he walks the lonely road to the cross. All for you. By his cross his journey becomes ours. In Holy Baptism, his death is our death, his resurrection becomes ours. As we journey to his altar today, Jesus gathers and feeds us for our earthly pilgrimage.
Jesus journeyed to his destiny at the cross in Jerusalem so that in all life’s journeys, he is with you.
Blessed are you who come in the name of the Lord.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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