Sermon Luke 13:31-35

In this morning's reading, we are one step closer to Jerusalem, one week closer to Good Friday and one week closer to Easter. In this morning's reading we hear of Jesus beginning his trip to Jerusalem . He is moving out from his ministry on the margins of the empire in Gallillee and moving towards the centre of power, Jerusalem; the big city; the place where the Great Temple; but also the centre of Roman regional control. The place where Jesus will face his death.

It is a debate amongst Christians whether Jesus knows from the beginning whether he faces death upon arriving in Jerusalem and proclaiming the truth. Yet Jesus does seem to know that, at least, when centres of power have the truth proclaimed in them and to them, that they often respond with violence. This morning he seems to know that the Good News will cause the powerful to feel threatened. He knows that his Good News have caused the foreign rulers and his people's religious leaders to want to kill him.

The controversial question of who killed Jesus has returned these past few weeks with Mel Gibson's move, "The Passion of the Christ." Some fear that it will spark anti-semitism; bigotted hatred of the Jews. Some scholar's state that even with an honest telling of the Christians scriptures that there is anti-semitism within them. Perhaps even this morning, our reading could be seen as anti-semitic, since Jesus words focus on the religious authorities being the ones who will kill him.

We must be cautious about anti-semitism, since throughout history, the foolish have used the scriptures to place the blame of Jesus death solely on the Jews. Indeed, the phrase, "Christ killers" developed in the 4th Century, and we know that when German nationalists under the leadership of Adolph Hitle murdered 6 million Jews, most Christians stood back and did nothing to help, or Lord have Mercy, even helped kill them. Beware those who misread the scriptures to foster hatred against the Jewish people, they are far from the truth of Christ.

Did you notice in this morning's text that sympatheic Pharisees were warning Jesus of danger. "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." While the term "pharisee" often referst to those who opposed Jesus mission, we also know that there were sympatheic Pharisees, like Joseph of Arimathea, who would eventually bury Jesus & Nicodemous, who would become a follower of Jesus. These Pharisees have been hearing the rumblings amongst other Pharisees and other leaders, and sought to warn Jesus. They knew that the centres of power are starting to fear Jesus message.

Who is this Jesus in Galilee? What of these miracles we hear him doing. Is it true that he proclaimed that he himself has fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah; what does that mean; is he saying he is the Messiah? Is he going to incite rebellion!? Will this Jesus bring the wrath of Herod and Roman oppression down upon us? What must we do to keep peace.

And upon hearing these concerns, the Pharisee's sympathetic to Jesus, perhaps even disciples of Jesus, passed on what they heard; for they had hear that Herod wanted to kill him. The powers of Herod would be waiting for Jesus when he arrived in Jerusalem.

And Jesus, instead of heading for the hills to hide, sends along a cryptic message to Herod "Go and tell that Fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.'"

Here in the Gospel story the plot thickens. Here the final act begins! Jesus has been warned. The forces of destruction and the powers of this world have warned him. "Do as we say or you will be killed Conform to our rules and our ways or suffer the consiquences".

Now at this point, if this was a typical Hollywood movie, the director would have Jesus break into a long speech about how he is determined to let nothing diswade him. With drums rolling, and a close up of Jesus with clenched jaw and stealy eyes, he would say "Tell Herod, that I have not yet begun to fight".

Yet, Jesus responds in a way that is nothing like what our century expects of a hero. He responds with lament, with tears, with sadness, and with love. Love for the centre of power. Love for the people of Jersalem. Love for the Pharisees. Love for his people.

Jesus says, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!"

Here we see Jesus reaching out to his people, with a motherly love. He reaches out to embrace them to keep them from destruction and harm. Only the truely perverse could use these scriptures for anti-semitic purposes. Only the biblically misguided could blame the Jews alone for the tendency for centres of religion or political power to fear change.

One needs only to look at the history of any country where a few attempt to tell the truth. Asia, Africa, Europe, or the middle east. Centres of power like to be in charge of the truth, control the truth, be the bearers of the truth. There seems to be the blindness in humanity which causes us to hold on to the "truth" we already know, and fear even the mention that we might be wrong.

I learned this myself, in the first church I served in. At the Sunday school committee, I asked that the children remain in worship for an extra 10 minutes since it was important for us to worship together. I also commented that I believed that it was best for the children that we worship in such a way that they need not be sent out of worship at all. Within a week, my comment had turned into a crisis amongst the Sunday school leaders. Some thought this MUST mean that I believed that the Sunday school should be shut down. And at Council, anxious leaders shared their belief that my views were foolish, and unrealistic. "The Church would soon shut down, since all the families would leave." After hearing their fears, I explained my position that children learn to worship by doing worship, and concluded by saying, "I understand that most people don't agree, but this is what I think is the truth."

What I did not realize at the time, is that when we human beings have our sense of the truth challenged, our response is not usually, "Thank God for this opportunity to explore the truth more fully!" Our response is often thinking that disaster will happen. Even when things are not working well in the church, we will often hold onto "the devil we know verses the devil we don't know." We'll one thing I am certain of, after the visioning weekend, is that amongst that gathering, I heard more talk about Jesus Christ and his plans for us, that I have heard for a long time. I heard more talk about being faithful to a future strong in faithful Christian discipleship, than I have heard in many places in the United Church. And, if during that weekend of struggle, if Christ indeed was present, and I believe he was, look forward to some big changes. BIG CHANGES.

Make no mistake, the truth is that when we seek to follow Jesus that things are going to change. When we at last, let go of controlling our own lives, and welcome Jesus Christ into our lives, things must change. For many this is cause for thanks, for others dread. Either way, in the end this is good news.

Remember Jesus central message is about the Kingdom of God. And what is the first thing we must do, in relation to the kindom of God? "Repent ... change directions. And the truth is that human beings don't like change, even if we say we like change, most people like things to remain the same. This is especially true for people and especially institutions. Political and especially religious.

I have compassion for the Jerusalem religious leaders. Imagine, not only having a prophet come to tell you the truth, that much of what you have been doing is contrary to God's way. Now imagine, not only a bearer of the truth shows, up but someone who claims to be The Truth itself. Most of them found this impossible to hear. And the Romans, except for one soldier, I doubt it even occurred to them that one such as Jesus would have any truth worth listening to. To them he was just another trouble maker to wipe off the page of history. If they only knew the ironic truth.

But Jesus is Truth. In numerous places, in Luke's gospel, Jesus says, "I tell you the truth ...". And as we hear in the text, Jesus has no intention of turning back from Jerusalem. And if you understand his cryptic response to Herod, and the reference to "the third day." Of course we know what happens on the third day, the resurrection; Easter. The day when we disciples realized the truth about Jesus; or should we say, that Jesus is the truth.

Through Jesus we see the nature and love of God, but we also see that he exposes the truth about religious and political power. The light of his love also exposes the truth about ourselves, and our complicity with that power. For as we travel towards Jerusalem and the Crucifixtion and Easter we will see the depth's of God's desire to gather us in like a mother hen, along with seeing how vulnerable we human beings, both Jew and non-Jew, are to fear and violence. And thank God, the truth is that, through Jesus, God is ever willing to enter into the depths of human suffering to bring new life, and even eternal life.

I'm planning to see Mel Gibson's movie next week, even though some think it is too gory and Jesus death too brutal, however in today's text, we see that the Gospel is not a comic book story or a sentimenal tale told to children to comfort them in the night.

Maybe Mel Gibson's depiction of the death of Jesus is over-done with violence, however most other depictions of Jesus Story soften this aspect of the story. They soften the brutality of humanities violence that we miss the truth.

You see, the truth that God's love is not something that sits like an idea in the clouds or pretty words on a page. God's love is one that enters into our suffering. Like a mother hen willing to use her body to protect her chicks against danger; to willingly sacrifice herself to the little ones might have life. Such is the nature of the holiness of God, it does not stay in heaven, but comes to amongst humanity, and if we are willing, lifts us up, frees us from the ways of death and destruction, draws us into the Divine life itself, welcomes us into communion and community with God. Welcoming us to share in the divine cross shaped mission of Christ.

One commentator, said this about Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." However strange it may sound, the Gospel's are a love story; a bloody love story. This might sound bizzare to those who are not Christians, but that is the truth."

AMEN.

Scriptures
Genesis 15:1-12
Luke 13:31-35

Hymns
VU#120 O Jesus I have promised
VU#258 O World of God

Call to Worship
Psalm 1 verses 3-9

Offering Prayer
Your promises to us are great, O Blessed and Blessing God. You have granted us access to your Holy Spirit, such that we can grow in the likeness of Christ. With this offering, we bless you for your abundance grace, we know through Jesus Christ. AMEN.

Commissioning and Benefiction
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Go in peace to love and serve our Lord Jesus Christ.