‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.
But in spite of these strong words Jesus is does not turn aside from his mission to confront with Herod. He knows that his battle is not with him. His "struggle is not with flesh and blood" and he knows it. He draws his "strength from the Lord and from his mighty power" so he doesn't have to prove himself to Herod or anyone. Herod does not distract him from his mission. He is undeterred. He knows his purpose and he knows the real enemy who opposes that purpose.
Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day,
for it is impossible that a prophet should die
outside of Jerusalem.’
Jesus comes for more than healings which are just for "today and tomorrow". He is ultimately here for what he accomplishes on the third day. His mission is specific. When crowds try to kill him he escapes from their midst because it is not yet his time. When Herod tries to kill him he continues on his way because this is not his time. The mission is terribly specific in what it asks of Jesus. The display of God's love to which Jesus is called is foretold for centuries. It is a sacrificial sin offering which can only be made in Jerusalem. It is the culmination of all of the prophets of former times. They are sent by the owner of the vineyard to give him his harvest in due season but they are killed by the unfaithful tenants of the vineyard.
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,
The owner of this vineyard finally sends Jesus. "Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him" (cf. Luk. 20:13).
Jesus has a mission which is specific. It is a culmination of all of God's work with his people. At first glance we might think to ourselves, 'Well, as long as he dies for us, what does it matter who does it or when?' And from a human perspective, it might seem reasonable to go and deal with Herod, the sly fox. If Jesus really does harbor any sort of animosity for Herod he might choose to die at his hands rather than Pilot's as an act of what we can almost imagine to be revenge. If Jesus gives Herod special agency in his death it makes him liable to special judgment, after all. See how subtly our motivations can be twisted? But Jesus knows his purpose. He knows his true enemy. Herod may be a sly fox, but he is not a distraction for Jesus.
Jesus is always fully equipped with the armor of God that allows him to resist any impulse to deviate from the mission. It allows him to hold his ground and to stand fast when his commitment is tested.
In him we see the fullness of all that composes the armor: truth, righteousness, and readiness for the Gospel of peace. His faith in the Father does not waver. He himself is the word of God. He himself is our salvation. By looking to him we learn how to don this armor ourselves.
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.
This armor is the strength of God that allows us to remain focused on our purpose. We wear it because we know our enemy. Just as the Father has a very specific purpose for Jesus so to does he have for us. Turning aside in even small ways can result in something much less than God intends. And what does he intend? He is talking about everyone when he says, "how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings". So let's not be "unwilling".
Instead, let's embrace our part of the mission. Let us "pray at every opportunity in the Spirit" with "all perseverance and supplication" just as Paul asks the Ephesians to do for him. When we show ourselves willing in this way he gathers us in the unity of the Spirit by the bond of peace. And since we know that he is faithful let us praise him.
O God, I will sing a new song to you;
with a ten stringed lyre I will chant your praise,
You who give victory to kings,
and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.
No comments:
Post a Comment