Sermons

One of the sources of criticism, grumbling, and complaints about fellow servants of Christ comes from pre-occupation with the many details involved in making His presence known. Obsession over the details is not the point of His presence. ‘The best dish on the menu’ is the end for which we serve, Christ’s word – the Bread of life. That end should not be taken away from those who are feasting upon it, nor neglected by those who serve it.

Luke follows the discussion on spiritual inheritance, humility, and privilege by using Jesus’ response to a lawyer to teach just how one gets one’s name written in the Book of Life. His response to the lawyer, including the parable of the Good Samaritan, are all part of Jesus’ journey toward His atoning work in Jerusalem. The discussion also continues His call to the disciples to follow Him along that journey, resting in Him during their service.

Luke sandwiches today’s passage between the question of the supposedly learned lawyer and Jesus’ radical turning of ‘His face’ toward His atoning work in Jerusalem. Jesus’ call to the disciples to follow Him along that path of work involved faithfully resting in Him during their service. Challenged are their times of faithlessness, rejection of Jesus’ visitation, ignorance of His significance, and misunderstanding of His Kingdom. Their empowerment to succeed in His service pales in the light of the eternal destiny in which their earthly path ends.