What Awaits in Jerusalem

Walking the journey of the cross

Luke 12:32-48 | Acts 21:1-17 | Gospels in Lent: Mark 10-12

Both Jesus & Paul are on a journey to Jerusalem late in each of these book by Luke (respectively, his gospel and Acts). Both expect a difficult time and even death. Both are willing to do so for the sake of the gospel. It’s notable for us that neither seems willing to fight, but certainly willing to die.

Lent is a journey to the cross. It’s not likely that any of us reading this is on such a journey as Jesus and Paul by which we expect to die. (Though we are indeed all dying, however fast or slow the process may be.) But walking the path to the cross with Jesus sets us rightly within his person and will.

Let’s be clear: our faith is that Jesus is even now resurrected and alive. The cross is now empty (the tomb, too!). But remembering his suffering and death is integral to knowing him and following him.

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Luke 12:32-48

“Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights in giving you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Make for yourselves wallets that don’t wear out—a treasure in heaven that never runs out. No thief comes near there, and no moth destroys. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too.

“Be dressed for service and keep your lamps lit. Be like people waiting for their master to come home from a wedding celebration, who can immediately open the door for him when he arrives and knocks on the door. Happy are those servants whom the master finds waiting up when he arrives. I assure you that, when he arrives, he will dress himself to serve, seat them at the table as honored guests, and wait on them. Happy are those whom he finds alert, even if he comes at midnight or just before dawn. But know this, if the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he wouldn’t have allowed his home to be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Human One is coming at a time when you don’t expect him.”

Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?”

The Lord replied, “Who are the faithful and wise managers whom the master will put in charge of his household servants, to give them their food at the proper time? Happy are the servants whom the master finds fulfilling their responsibilities when he comes. I assure you that the master will put them in charge of all his possessions.

“But suppose that these servants should say to themselves, My master is taking his time about coming. And suppose they began to beat the servants, both men and women, and to eat, drink, and get drunk. The master of those servants would come on a day when they weren’t expecting him, at a time they couldn’t predict. The master will cut them into pieces and assign them a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but didn’t prepare for it or act on it will be beaten severely. The one who didn’t know the master’s will but who did things deserving punishment will be beaten only a little. Much will be demanded from everyone who has been given much, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.

Acts 21:1-17

After we tore ourselves away from them, we set sail on a straight course to Cos, reaching Rhodes the next day, and then Patara. We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, boarded, and put out to sea. We spotted Cyprus, but passed by it on our left. We sailed on to the province of Syria and landed in Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo. We found the disciples there and stayed with them for a week. Compelled by the Spirit, they kept telling Paul not to go to Jerusalem. When our time had come to an end, we departed. All of them, including women and children, accompanied us out of town where we knelt on the beach and prayed. We said good-bye to each other, then we boarded the ship and they returned to their homes.

Continuing our voyage, we sailed from Tyre and arrived in Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers and sisters there and spent a day with them. The next day we left and came to Caesarea. We went to the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters who were involved in the work of prophecy. After staying there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In Jerusalem the Jews will bind the man who owns this belt, and they will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the local believers urged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

Paul replied, “Why are you doing this? Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I’m ready not only to be arrested but even to die in Jerusalem for the sake of the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Since we couldn’t talk him out of it, the only thing we could say was, “The Lord’s will be done.”

After this, we got ready and made our way up to Jerusalem. Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and led us to Mnason’s home, where we were guests. He was from Cyprus and had been a disciple a long time. When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters welcomed us warmly.

Prayer

God,

Thank you for the cross.

When I think about it, it seems odd to thank you for the cross. It’s a terrible thing, actually. A tool of destruction, meant to instill fear upon everyone who saw it and what it could do to a human.

But you turned that all upside down. And in the midst of it all, you showed your great love for Jesus, for us, and for the whole world.

So thank you for the cross.

Help me as I seek to follow its course, likely not to a brutal death, but to the same formation of will and way. I want to love above chocolate and roses and beyond what gives me warm fuzzies. I want to love all the way to sacrifice for the other, whether it’s my spouse, my children, my neighbor, or my enemy who holds the hammer and nails.

Form in me the same willingness to take that cup, Lord. For others and for you.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.