The First Sunday after Christmas (GA)

Luke 13:31-35

³¹ At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” ³² And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. ³³ Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ ³⁴ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! ³⁵ Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

Somebody told me that Prophets do not truly die. The great prophets don’t die. There was Enoch who is not spoken of much in scripture but other more suspect sources seem to say some great things about him. Moses went up on a Mountain to die alone, so nobody really got to see the dead body. God buried him! Then you have Elijah who was taken up into heaven. Then as this person claimed Jesus did not really die. And finally you have Muhammad being taken up into heaven.

But here Jesus seems to claim that all the great prophets really died in Jerusalem. These prophets where killed for telling the truth. They were rejected by the People of Israel and put to death. Well I guess this was attempted against: Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and others. This does not seem like a place where prophets ascend but a place were prophets are persecuted.

God has longed to gather his people. He has longed for his people and even their leaders to listen to his Word. Jesus Christ knows that he is not the first to be rejected or sought for death. Herod is not the first to seek Jesus’ life, not even the first Herod. But thankfully this is what Christ came to do.

His task will be completed upon his crucifixion. Jesus will continue to cast out demons and perform miracles until his death. Then on the third day he will rise from death. He will then continue his mission to call, gather, and enlighten the lost people of Israel. This mission will continue in you with the Power of the Holy Spirit.