I Will Stop When I Am Finished

Photo Credit - Rob Lee from Evergreen, CO, USA - Sunny Fox,  CC BY 2.0

Go tell that fox that I am busy.

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, "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. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' 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! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'" - Luke 13:31-35

Jesus has been doing some tough preaching on topics like the Kingdom of God, hypocrisy, humility, and power. He has hit hard and he has hit his targets. Now comes an ominous warning:

Get out of here. King Herod is gunning for you. He plans to kill you.

Jesus is not shaken, impressed, or distracted. In fact, he tells them to go back to "that old fox," and let him know what he is up to.

"Tell him what I'm doing."

Jesus was busy and he planned to stay busy. He had more important things and people on his mind than Herod, Herod's threats, or the warnings to play it safe. It is a little unclear if the Pharisees were trying to warn Jesus for his own good or intimidate him.

"I'm casting out demons and curing people, and I am doing it today and tomorrow."

They could not stop him. He knew that. He was heading for Jerusalem no matter what and doing as much good as he could along the way. He knew the third day was coming. He knew he had to be in Jerusalem for the showdown. He was ready. He was willing. He was busy until then.

He knows that, as a prophet, if he is to be killed, he needs to be in Jerusalem. His should bring dread, but, instead, it brought feelings of sorrowful love for the city. How much better it could be if he, like a mother hen, could gather all of the city's chicks around him

But it would not be this time.

There is an eschatological tone to his closing words, an ominous allusion to rejection, suffering, and ultimate welcome. He is purposefully vague enough to cause them to wonder now and reflect later. He is specific enough to let them know he is in charge of his life and ministry.

He sets an example of how we can and must be in the world in the light of opposition, threat, intimidation, insult, and attack. We must be resolute and purposeful with every today and every tomorrow. We may not know exactly when that third day may come for us, but until then, we serve God and humanity.

There is another point, and it requires the whole story be lived out, settled in, told over and over, and reflected upon. It is the allusion to another third day, one that the thousands of disciples who would hear and read the gospel of Luke for the first time would understand. On the side of the cross in the context of this warning scene, the third day is about arrest, trial, and crucifixion. However, for the reader looking back, it is about resurrection.

In that scene, only Jesus understood that, but we can see more.

Whatever the threat or fear we face; we can keep on keeping on. But, when we must face the awful and awesome hours of our lives, there is always another third day coming with hope and life.

That gave Jesus courage. It should give us courage.