Luke 13:31-35: Anguish.(please click here for todays passage)

Here is a further example of what we looked at yesterday (22). Jesus would not let Himself be derailed from His God-given purpose (31-33). Naturally speaking, Jesus had every reason to be afraid of a tyrant like Herod. He was surrounded by people who could kill Him, or have Him put to death. But He would not run away in fear. The matter was already settled in his heart. He was ready to die for the sins of the world. People will try to intimidate you with their words. Not all by any means. But some are good at scaring with menacing words. They may not speak of killing you, but they can terrify you all the same, as they try to prevent you doing what you know is right. I confess I’ve been there, and got that tee-shirt. I’ve had phone calls and meetings and the like that made me turn pale with fright. But know this: if you know that God has called you, and you are walking in His way, you need not fear anyone.

The anguished words of Jesus over Jerusalem remind us of the previous paragraph, and the possibility of missing out on spiritual opportunity. They show that although judgment is real and will eventually fall on those who persistently reject God, the Lord’s heart breaks over all those who choose to be without Him and His best. If you walk into Hell, you walk right past the outstretched arms of Jesus who died to keep you out of the God-forsaken state. But you can make this choice or you can line up with those who stone and kill God’s messengers, and who ultimately crucified His Son (34,35) and miss out on the comfort and safety of a beautiful nearness to Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, I know that the fear of man is a trap. May I not fall into it.