Luke 19v11-end. November 2nd. All Age.
What came to mind – to preach the passage but apply it to the persecuted.
So let’s see what happens!
A few brief points.
Luke 19v11-27
A man of noble birth went to a distant country. The parable’s aim is to teach those who expected the kingdom to come quickly. They expect Jesus to go to the city and it all begins.
Instead there is a delay. The return of the nobleman is the Second Advent of Jesus. Jesus left our world. He ascended. He is at the right hand of God, doing the work of the High Priest for his believing people and he intercedes for them. But he will not sit there always. He will come forth. He will come again with power and glory to put every enemy under his feet and to set up his kingdom on earth – as our Revelation 19 reading reminded us.
So first. In all our thoughts about Christ, let us not forget his second coming. As JC Ryle says: ‘’It is good to know that He lived for us, and died for us, and rose again for us; and
intercedes for us; but it is also good to know that He is soon coming again for us!’’ Ryle, p 387.
The noble entrusts his servants with minas – money. And then when he returns his servants are asked to account for what they did. There is reward to come. Those who have been faithful, there is honour to come. Each receives a reward. One was
placed over 10 cities, another over 5.
In this age, many Christians receive little reward in this life, despite their faithful service. They have ‘’praised God as his servants, they have feared God, both small and great.’’
Many Christians currently enter the kingdom through tribulation, as Paul told the first churches planted. It is maybe something for us as a church plant to remember Paul’s words.
There is earthly peace, hope, joy as the Christians believe, but the parable points to eternal rewards to come.
Romans 8v18 says 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18
Paul encourages us to look forward to the good things which are to come.
Luke 19:28-40
Jesus speaks about – go to the village, you will find a colt tied up, he tells them what they will see and hear with as much confidence as if it had all been arranged for them. He speaks like one, from whom nothing in all creation is hidden, all is uncovered, he speaks like one who sees and knows. Revelation is a letter from a persecuted Christian to persecuted Christians.
The opening chapter – he stands among the lampstands, chapter 2, he walks among them. His knows his church. He is present among them. Even the ones who have been suffering, or will suffer. He sees and knows. A Christian in Nigeria said the name for God which gave her most strength – in her own suffering and her support of others who had gone through traumas – it was the name given by Hagar to God in her suffering ‘’You are the God who sees me.’’ Genesis 16.
Yet do we see the persecuted Church? A few of us were discussing this last night after the service – how most Christian persecution does not get mentioned or covered. Now that the United States has pointed to Nigeria and persecution, it will get more attention for a time. But many of these places, people do not see it. God does, but do we? Take one of those magazines all over the building – read this week the stories – see what is
happening / has happened…
Returning to the passage. Jesus enters the city on a donkey. His ministry was almost completed in the towns and villages. Now, his work to be a sacrifice for sin, to be the substitute for our sins, remained to be accomplished. The Lamb of God was about
to be slain. As JC Ryle says: Publicly he rode into Jerusalem a few days before His death; publicly he was seen and heard in the city until the day he was betrayed; publicly he was
brought before the high priests and Pilate and condemned; publicly he was led forth to Calvary and nailed to the cross.’’ JC Ryle, pg 392.
Consider that. And think – the joy that was among the disciples as Jesus entered into Jerusalem, when he came to be crucified, it will be nothing as compared to the joy of his people when he comes again to reign, the joy described in that phrase ‘’the
wedding supper of the lamb.’’ Luke 19:41-48
Jesus lament over the city. His tears and compassion. He saw the city and wept over it.
He knew the character of the people in the city. He knew about cruelty, their self righteousness, their stubbornness, their rejection of the truth; and their pride of heart. None of it was hidden from him. He knew what they were going to do to him in a few days. He knew he would be mocked, insulted, spat upon, and killed – as he had predicted weeks and months before. He knew all this and yet he lamented, he had compassion over Jerusalem. He saw the city and wept over it.
This heart of Jesus is not for only his disciples. He cares for all, his heart is wide enough for all humankind. As 2 Peter 3 says – he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. And that means, he longs for those who persecute Christians to repent and be saved. I remember, again speaking of Nigeria, years ago, seeing a list of prayer points from the Nigerian Bishops. At the top of the list was prayer for the leaders of Boko Haram to become Christians. It was not that God would judge them or simply the army would stop them – but for them to be saved. Not that they would be saved and so stop violence, but that they would become fellow children of
God.
Finally let’s note the cleansing of the temple. The temple was meant to be a house of prayer. Things had come in the way. The passage that Jesus quotes is Isaiah 56 – there is says the temple is to be a house of prayer for all nations. It is a promise that non-Jews will come and worship the Creator God. God will welcome them. And yet the behaviour in the temple, did not support that vision – only the areas where Jews were allowed, were ‘’clear’’ but the court for the Gentiles was cluttered so that they could
not pray or worship.
A reminder that our worship here – we can be a house of prayer for all nations – so all can worship and not only certain groups.
Yet God’s vision, that all would come.
The link to the persecuted church is to encourage to consider visiting persecuted believers and joining them in their houses of prayer. Not only praying for them – as Brother Andrew says, our prayers go where we cannot – but to consider going in person.
There are trips that can be organized / that exist that would allow you to visit and worship with believers. Perhaps this is something we can organize as a church – to go as a group.
I was going on a trip into Central Asia and one of the staff working there, we chatted about what we could bring to them as support and the staff member said – by simply coming to them, would already mean so much. That phrase – house of prayer – God’s vision for all nations to worship him, which is a big thread through Revelation. But why not go and visit and worship with your persecuted brothers and sisters…
Shall we pray…