By Neal Friesen, assistant director of residence life and student activities
Scripture: Luke 13:31-35 (NRSV)
Prophets are not known for their longevity.
On April 3, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. preached to a crowd in Memphis, Tennessee, encouraging them to support the striking sanitation workers. In his reflections on the parable of the merciful Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Dr. King mused that the Priest and Levite may have been afraid for their own lives on such a dangerous stretch of road, but the Samaritan regarded the safety of the bloody and beaten traveler to be of utmost importance: “The question is not, ‘If I stop to help this man in need, what will happen to me?’ The question is, ‘If I do not stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to them?’”
He continued:
“Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!
The following day Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed.
When a prophet is on point, the earthly powers that be will recognize the truth of the prophet’s message and be threatened by it. When earthly power is threatened by God’s truth, it fights back with all of its might. Jesus knew this when “he set his face to go to Jerusalem” (9:51), and reiterated his understanding of where his road was headed in the passage for today (13:31-35).
Jerusalem was not an arbitrary destination for Jesus’ traveling ministry, he was headed to the region’s political and religious hub. Jesus refuses to back down from doing the will of God, even when his life is threatened by the same man who beheaded John the Baptist. Jesus knows what will happen to him when he arrives at his destination. But he presses on. Jesus is not concerned with what will happen to his body when he arrives in Jerusalem, he is focused on what will happen to everyone else if he does not go. Jesus never stops trying to gather the children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, no matter how many times the children reject the messenger.
Scripture: Luke 13:31-35 (NRSV)
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32He 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. 33Yet 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.’ 34Jerusalem, 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! 35See, 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.’”