Sermons

Jesus returned to the Temple He purified by throwing out those who perverted its purpose for personal gain. On the Tuesday before Jesus’ crucifixion, the Scribes and Pharisees again question Him with the hope of snaring Him. This last day of Christ’s temple teaching would be followed by clarification of what the coming of the Kingdom looks like; then He would pay the price for the Kingdom’s redemption. Today we consider a subtle teaching about Jesus’ authority and what the rejection of that authority looks like.

Jesus prepares for His final entry into Jerusalem in order to open the way to God’s Kingdom. The previous parable did not correct the people’s misunderstanding the nature of the Kingdom and Christ’s initial reign as spiritual rather than political. Jesus will again clarify His Kingdom teaching and then pay the price for the Kingdom’s redemption in the chapters that follow. Today’s reflection makes clear the identity of Jesus as Messianic prophecies are fulfilled.

Luke fittingly concludes his account of Jesus’ last journey from Galilee to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51) with a final parable to dis∙illusion those following Him. This parable follows the redemption stories of short Zacchaeus and blind Bartimaeus. After breaking the illusion of false righteousness and meritorious salvation, Jesus tells a parable to encourage those who follow Him to endure since His return is not as soon as many might imagine. Jesus thus completes His teaching about Kingdom, salvation, and God’s mercy.

Luke continues a theme describing stories about spiritual dis∙illusion∙ment over Jesus’ way and means of salvation. It is part of the warp and weave of similar stories like the disciples’ blindness to Jesus’ work of redemption and resurrection, their demeaning assumptions about children, the misguided conjectures on salvation of the rich young ruler, and the errant self-righteous attitudes of the Pharisees toward sinners. All point to God’s mercy and miraculous work of redemption within the context of humanity’s utterly broken and helpless state.