Day 28: Luke 13:22-35

22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”

He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’

“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’

26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’

28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

Jesus’ invitation of salvation extends far past the borders of Israel to people “from east and west and north and south.” Take a moment to ponder this truth: no matter your location, background, social status, or place in line, salvation has been offered to you and you are invited to enter through the narrow door of Jesus into “the feast in the kingdom of God.” 

Use this moment to enter that narrow door now with Christ.

The Scripture continues….

31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”

32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ 33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!

34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Jesus spares no words when speaking out against the ruling authorities and laments the state of Jerusalem. Many of the Jewish people were looking for a Savior that met their expectations: maybe someone from a privileged background, or a strong warrior to overthrow their oppressors, or a leader that operated within the confines of their social and religious structure.

Take a moment to think about your expectations of how God should fit into your life. Are there any expectations or views that are not aligning with the Jesus you are reading about?

Regardless of your expectations, leave this time with the picture Jesus gives of himself and his compassion for his people. Jesus said, “How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.”

Spend a moment now resting under the care and refuge that is in Jesus. He longs to protect you and defend you.