The Courage of Jesus
Luke 13:31 – 35
Friends we have been besieged over the last few weeks with images and stories about what is going on in Ukraine. Tragic images and stories of atrocities that seem unimaginable that shake us to the core. For some of us these images and stories remind us of the horrific sights and sounds of previous dark days that we lived through or learned about in textbooks, documentaries, and news videos, or through friends and family that experienced them firsthand.
Some of us in our three churches are haunted by the sights, sounds and smells that are remembered more vividly because they were lived personally while serving God and country, in Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf Wars. We that stayed home owe you a great debt of gratitude and respect for doing those things that others would not and witnessing what the rest could not. God Bless you all for the things that you did as you faced down evil personified, evil and darkness in the flesh.
But invariably it happens in those times, in those places and in those events, that the indominable spirit of man give people the courage to push back against the forces of evil. Though while we have viewed and heard of the terrible things that evil has wrought on the people of Ukraine, we also see glimpses of where humankind has stood up to evil that has come to kill and destroy persons, faith, and hope. To say to evil, you will stop here, no further. In the past many days, we have heard reports of faithful and hope filled souls seeking to deny evil a victory over the light.
In the news reports we saw video footage of a man kneeling in front of a Russian tank that went viral over the weekend, prompting comparisons to the “tank man” of Tiananmen Square. The “brave Ukrainian” blocked the convoy of several tanks “with just his hands,” pushing one until it came to a complete stop. In a separate clip, another man was seen standing in front of convoy of military vehicles, showing the courage that only can come from the protection of God.
There is a video that is circulating online that some of you may have seen on my Facebook page, of Ukrainian Christians worshipping in a subway station in Kyiv, in early days of the invasion, singing “Let My Prayer Flow” asking for salvation, mercy, forgiveness and protection from God. It was the people of God imploring His protection as they sing praises to Him in the face of evil.
When I posted that video on Facebook, I tagged it with these words “Would we be that faithful.” I wondered would we that have so much to be thankful about, would we be that courageous and confident in the protection of God. Would we, you, and I, be that committed to the mission, purpose, and ministry that God has entrusted to us.
How many of us would we be willing to lay down our lives to resist evil in the world, to act even in a symbolic way to halt it is advance into the world and into lives of others? Can we find The Courage of Jesus that we find in our lesson today to answer God’s call on our lives?
Our Gospel lesson today speaks clearly of Jesus’ courage and determination. It starts as Jesus was going through the towns and villages, teaching the people as he made his way toward Jerusalem and His eventual Sacrifice for mankind. Jesus had just finished encouraging the people listening to him to make every effort to resist evil and enter through the narrow door of salvation. We warned them that those that were first would be last and those that had been least in society would receive the most for their willingness to reject what their society and religion were forcing on them.
Then a group of Pharisees come up to him and warned him “Leave this place and go somewhere else because Herod wants to kill you.” There was a sense of urgency as these well-meaning Pharisees come to warn Jesus that he is in danger for criticizing King Herod. These sympathetic Pharisees encouraged Jesus to cool his rhetoric. In fact, they urge him to find a hide away for a while and to not continue to Jerusalem.
But Jesus responds matter-of-factly and without concern. He tells them to tell that old “fox” Herod that he had too many things to do and not much time to complete them. I imagine in my mind’s eye that He pulls out day-planner or maybe pulls up his schedule on his cell phone and tells these well-meaning Pharisees, ones like Joseph Arimathea, who had come to believe in Jesus, and says in effect, “Look, I am casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow and on the third day I will reach my goal! I am too busy with my mission and ministry to worry about what Herod wants to do.” Jesus knows that Herod has the power and authority to kill anyone that he wants to. He had John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, beheaded because Herod wanted to marry his brother’s wife.
Today’s lesson reminds us how Jesus lived on the edge of danger. Controversy is swirling around his feet. His outspoken style and his constant challenge to the established order in Jerusalem have drawn the attention of powerful people and now Jesus has an increasing number of enemies who sought to do him harm, people that sought to thwart his mission and message.
But Jesus had a purpose and would not be distracted by outside threats. Jesus knew why he came into the world and what he needed to do. There was no way he would suspend his work and go into hiding. Since the Transfiguration at Mt Tabor, Jesus had set his face toward Jerusalem, and nothing would deter Him. His relationship and trust in His Holy father gave him the courage to move forward and push aside evil’s intention to stop Him.
Jesus quickly turns His attention away from Herod. Jesus indicates that the main opposition against Him comes not from Galilee and the immediate risks around him but in Jerusalem, the religious authorities who “were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.” Jesus rebuked them. The religious authorities had strayed far from God and were hindering the work of God. Therefore, Jesus uses the image of a hen gathering her brood but Jerusalem seeking to prevent it. Jesus told Jerusalem that “your house is forsaken” because of your stubborn opposition
Jesus faced two main types of opposition during His earthly ministry: worldly and religious. What is remarkable is that Jesus is not concerned about either but focused on continuing to do the work for which he was sent. Jesus was not afraid of Herod, and He was not afraid of the authorities in Jerusalem because He was confident that He was doing the will of God. The only fear that Jesus had was that he would not complete the purpose for which he was sent. But Jesus knew that he had a divine commission and believed it would be completed.
Luke’s Gospel lesson challenges us to emulate the example of Jesus by living our lives with similar courage and resolve. But do we have the Courage and Confidence of Jesus in and for the fulfillment of our purpose? Do we need more courage? Are we doing anything that could incur the wrath or displeasure of the broken secular world around us?
Most of us shuffle along in the shadows of life. When was the last time any of us put it on the full armor of the Lord to engage in a noble struggle? Many people have never done this. If we are honest, I think we would acknowledge the painful truth, wrapped in the old cliché: If you were on trial for your life and the charge was that you are a Christian – would there be enough evidence to convict you! Do you have the Courage of Jesus like the Apostles did to accept that conviction and the personal price that comes with it?
But Hear the Good News my Friends…….
The season of Lent allows us the time and space to prepare ourselves to experience Jesus’ cross. This passage calls us to do this by considering whether our lives lead directly and inexorably to that cross. Can we be confident that our lives are a part of the establishment of God’s kingdom in our world? Are we deterred from our mission by the threats of earthly powers both in the form of man and form of the evil one?
Reflecting on what I mentioned earlier about the acts of faith and courage displayed by Ukrainians, are we willing to stand boldly in front of an instrument of evil and tell it that it will go no further? Would we be willing to leave our homes and gather in the community to sing songs of prayer and protection as evil approaches seeking to destroy us? Would we have the Courage of Jesus?
Moreover, if Jesus were to speak directly to us, what would his message be? How have we resisted God’s call to us to share the saving messages to people around us? How have we resisted our called purpose to the active proclamation of the eternal kingdom that awaits all of humanity because we are afraid of what the world might say to us or what it might do to us?
In our lesson today Like Jesus models for us, that despite the evil that convinces us that we are unable, unworthy, and incapable, we must boldly proclaim the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can and will do this, we have this courage and confidence because we come in the name of the Lord! We are His followers, we have His message, we have His power, and we have The Courage of Jesus. We will finish the work He has called us to do, and we will not stop until it is done despite the evil that lurks! Amen.