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Thomas F. Fischer, M.Div., M.S.A., Editor

Lent 2
Series C

Option One: Rev. Kelly Bedard

"Jesus Is No Chicken!"
Luke 13:31-35

A. Licking Your Chops (Fox)

    1. Pompous pretending: saying what you mean but ultimately being inept
and unable to carry out your threat (Herod)

    2. Small fry: living for the life of the chicks

B. Spreading Your Wings (Hen)

    1. Meaning what you say and doing it (Jesus)

    2. Giving your life for your chicks

Notes:

1. "The Lord does not use His omnipotence to force us unwillingly to enter heaven." (William F. Arndt)

2. "How Jesus always yearns to bless and to deliver, and how often he is spurned and rejected by those who need him most!" (Charles R. Erdman)


Option Two: Rev. Wayne Dobratz

"A Date With Jerusalem"
Luke 13: 31-35

Text: "I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day, for no prophet
can die outside Jerusalem!"

A DATE WITH DEADLY JERUSALEM

I. Herod had a guilty conscience
A. Some thought that Jesus was John the Baptist returned to life-Matthew 14:1ff.
B. Herod had in common the attitude of so many today-"No one will tell me what to do!" Cf. Matt 14:3-5.
C. Many today want a Jesus of grace, but not a Jesus who reminds one of our obligation to obey God. By over-emphasizing the grace of God, they "kill" God's justice.

II. The religious leaders were power-hungry
A. The Pharisees wanted Jesus out of Galilee and into Jerusalem where they could kill Him.
B. Fear of Jesus' popularity and of losing their power was their motivation-Cf. John 11:47-48
C. Many today want nothing to do with a Jesus who has authority over their lives. They wish to return to the pattern so often seen in Israel, as recorded in the Old Testament-Judges 21:25 "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit."

III. Sin had to be paid for
A. Instead of destroying mankind and starting over, as the Lord wanted to do in Ex. 32:8-10, the Lord had compassion on them.
B. When Isaiah became aware of His sinfulness in God's presence, the Lord atoned for His sin-Isa. 6:7
C. So Jesus became "The Lord our righteousness". Jer. 33:16
1. He is called "The Righteous Branch"-Jer. 33:15
2. The Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all-Isaiah 53:6
3. He is the Righteousness that comes from God-Rom. 1:17
4. This Righteousness from God becomes ours by faith-Rom. 3:21-22

IV. Rejecting the Savior is an invitation for disaster, v. 34-35
A. For Jerusalem
B. For any nation or people today.

Matthew Henry writes:
Note, 1. The wickedness of persons and places that more eminently than others profess religion and relation to God is in a particular manner provoking and grieving to the Lord Jesus. How pathetically does he speak of the sin and ruin of that holy city! O Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
 2. Those that enjoy great plenty of the means of grace, if they are not profited by them, are often prejudiced against them. They that would not hearken to the prophets, nor welcome those whom God had sent to them, killed them, and stoned them. If men's corruptions are not conquered, they are provoked.
3. Jesus Christ has shown himself willing, freely willing, to receive and entertain poor souls that come to him, and put themselves under his protection: How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen gathereth her brood under her wings, with such care and tenderness! 
4. The reason why sinners are not protected and provided for by the Lord Jesus, as the chickens are by the hen, is because they will not: I would, I often would, and ye would not. Christ's willingness aggravates sinners' unwillingness, and leaves their blood upon their own heads.
 5. The house that Christ leaves is left desolate. The temple, though richly adorned, though greatly frequented, is yet desolate if Christ has deserted it. He leaves it to them; they had made an idol of it, and let them take it to themselves, and make their best of it, Christ will trouble it no more. 
6. Christ justly withdraws from those that drive him from them. They would not be gathered by him, and therefore, saith he, "You shall not see me, you shall not hear me, any more," as Moses said to Pharaoh, when he forbade him his presence, Ex. 10:28, 29.
 7. The judgment of the great day will effectually convince unbelievers that would not now be convinced: "Then you will say, Blessed is he that cometh," that is, "you will be glad to be among those that say so, and will not see me to be the Messiah till then when it is too late."

Rev. Wayne Dobratz  

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