Go Tell that Fox

February 24, 2013
Lent 2


GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 13:31-35
31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”
32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ 33 In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!
34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
P: This is the Gospel of our Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.

King Herod wanted to kill Jesus and some kind Pharisees came to Jesus and warned him. “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” This was not an idle threat. Previously Herod had arrested John the Baptist and finally had had him beheaded. The men warned Jesus to flee that place and to be safe. Jesus understood the threat, he took it seriously, but was in no hurry to run away because he had work to do there in the Area of Galilee before going to Jerusalem. There were people to heal, demons to drive out, parables to tell, and good new to be preached. And that work would take a few days.

But Jesus must not be arrested by Herod, because Jesus knew he had to die on the cross in Jerusalem. Herod was not as big a threat as Jerusalem was. Herod had killed John the Baptist, but Jerusalem had a long history of killing the prophets and stoning the messengers of God. You would think that Jesus would fear or hate the people of Jerusalem, but he loved them. He wanted to help and save them, but they would not let him do it. Jesus speaks of that love and that frustration like this, “how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”

So Jesus told the messengers who had come to warn him, “Go tell that fox that I have work to do. Tell that fox not to bother me and let me do the work of God.” Jesus had a mission in life. He was born in order to die in order to rise again. He was born for us, died for us, and rose for us. In his birth we have new birth, in his death he dies with us sinners, in his resurrection he is the first of those who will also rise. But his death and resurrection must take place in Jerusalem, so he must not let Herod prevent that. So Jesus will go to Jerusalem, and when he goes there this time, he will come in on Palm Sunday, riding a donkey, and the people will greet him with Hosannas and palm branches and will sing “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” That song is like “Banzai!” “Long life the King!” They welcomed Jesus. At the end of the week he would be crowned king, crowned with a crown of thorns and set on the throne of the cross.

But before that, Jesus had work to do and would not allow Herod to interfere. “Go tell that Fox that I have work to do.” But Herod was not the only one who tried to interfere with the Work of Jesus. When Jesus foretold his suffering and death, the disciple Peter said, “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you!” But Jesus called Peter something much worse than a “fox.” He said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.” (Mt.16:22-23.)

The Jews arrested and tried Jesus and condemned him to death. They thought that would stop the work of Jesus. But of course they were just putting the plan of God into action. Then the mockers at the foot of the cross tried to hinder the plan of God. They challenged Jesus to come down from the cross.

But even hell, death, and a tomb proved to be no hindrance to the Plan of God . The tomb was opened and Jesus arose. Our sin was forgiven. The work of salvation was finished.

The next phase of the plan of God was the evangelism of the world. In spite of great obstacles, the mission has gone ahead with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Today, as always, the usual things against evangelism are political, economical, social, scientific, and philosophical. There are customs and pagan religions and laziness and hard-hearted and hard-headed ideas. But the biggest problem is now, as it has always been, sin and unbelief.

It is hard even for Christians to grasp and understand the Gospel. We like the idea of resurrection and eternal life and happiness. But it is hard to understand and accept that life is brought through death and that joy is brought through suffering and sorrow. And it is harder to accept that my sin and your sin caused Jesus to die on the cross. It is hard to accept that Jesus had to die on the cross because of me. When we refuse to repent, we are putting up a hindrance to salvation. When we try to live our lives without Jesus, then we are running away from Jesus. But Jesus loves us, and the words he spoke to Jerusalem are the same words of love that he speaks to us and to all sinners. “How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”

The devil is very cleaver and tricky. Satan is very foxy. Sometimes we do not even know that a temptation is sinful. But often we do. Where can we find help to resist the devil? Perhaps the words of Jesus can help us. We can tell that old fox of the devil to leave us alone. We have work to do. There are people to heal and help. There is a good word to be spoken to someone who is troubled by the devil’s foxy mischief. Get out of my way, get behind me Satan. Holy Spirit, please give me strength and help. Jesus, gather me under you wings of protection and salvation.

Amen.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church


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