Luke : Chapters 19-24
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LukeSurvey of the New Testament: The Gospels & ActsWinter 2005 |
[Previous: The Son of Man Seeks (Chapters 4-19)] [Next: Bibliography]
The ultimate purpose for the Son of Man is to save the lost. This is shown even early in His ministry as He heals the sick. In most cases, before Jesus heals people, He forgives their sins (Luke 5:20, 7:48). His concern is more for their souls than for their physical ailments.
The focus of the Son of Man's saving mission accelerates, as we get closer to the climax of his death. The acceleration begins in Luke 9:51
(Luke 9:51 NASB) "And it came about, when the days were approaching for His ascension, that He resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem;"
More than the other gospels, Luke shows the resolute focus of Jesus towards Jerusalem and towards His death. He has come not to destroy but to save (9:56).
As Jesus moves from Galilee to Jerusalem, he continues to reveal his true salvific ministry. In chapter 17 Jesus shows them that the Son of Man will come to establish a kingdom eventually, but first the he must, “suffer many things and be rejected by the people of this time (17:25).” In 18:31-34, He tells his disciples just before they enter Jerusalem that he would be arrested and be killed, but then be raised from the dead. But, of course, the disciples do not comprehend this.
This is the focus of Jesus ministry. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
The whole focus of the book of Luke comes to this point of climax as Jesus finally enters Jerusalem. Now Jesus presents himself to the Jews as their Messiah and as their savior. But they reject him.
Jesus knows that they are about to reject Him, for as he approached Jerusalem he sees the city and weeps (19:41). He knows in a few short years this city will be destroyed because they “did not recognize the time of your visitation” (19:44).
In chapter 20 the Pharisees ask Him to present His credentials. But Jesus refuses to do so, knowing that they do not believe in Him. He then tells a parable. The owner of a vineyard rents it to vine growers while he travels abroad. At harvest time the owner sends a slave to collect the rent, but the growers kill him. He sends two more slaves, and they too are killed. Finally the owner sends his son, hoping they will respect him. But instead, the growers finally kill him as well. Jesus asks:
(Luke 20:15b-16) “what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy these vine growers and will give the vineyard to others.”
The Pharisees respond, “May it never be!” The idea that the kingdom would be taken from the Jews and passed to others is revolting to them. Yet because of their rejection, the kingdom is now available to those who would accept Him, be the poor, disabled, women, Gentiles, or tax collectors and sinners. For the “stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief corner stone.” The book of Acts will show the fulfillment of this statement.
From this, the scribes and chief priests begin to plot to have him killed (20:20). The Savior has been rejected. But the scene is set for the Son of Man to save the lost.
During the Lord's Supper (22:14-20), the salvation of the Son of Man is illustrated in the elements. The bread represents the body that is given up for us. The wine, the blood spilled for us so a new covenant can be formed with God.
But even in this passion, Jesus is still the Son of Man, and ordinary human who suffers and is tempted (Luke 22:41-44). Jesus, facing His own death, asks for the cup to pass. In his human agony, his body sweats drops of blood. But, as the extraordinary man, he overcomes the temptation and moves even more determined toward his purpose of saving the lost.
Even on the cross, Jesus is still seeking and saving the lost, not just in the macro sense. With the thief dying next to him, with a dying wish to have forgiveness, Jesus grants unconditional forgiveness.
After his resurrection, the focus of Jesus teaching was explaining why his death was necessary. To the two disciples on the road to Emmaeus he states, “Christ must suffer these things (24:26).” With his disciples, he taught from the scriptures how it was prophesied that Christ would die but rise again (24:46), but that this was necessary (24:44).
But why was it necessary? Why should the Son of Man need to suffer? It comes back to the purpose that the lost may be saved.
(Luke 24:46-48 NASB) "and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."
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