Luke 9:51
Notes
Transcript
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-We’re going to be in Luke 9:51 this morning.
I would certainly encourage you...
…to follow along in your own Bibles.
-Originally, I had planned to go down to Verse 56.
But, as I worked through Verse 51...
…I realized that there was just too much there...
…and that, if we were to give it a proper treatment...
…we would have to cheapen our treatment of the remaining Verses.
And, that just didn’t seem like...
…a wise or faithful thing to do!
So, we’re going to focus our entire time...
...on that one Verse.
-Now, I've actually been alluding to it...
…for several weeks now.
What I’ve been telling you is...
…that it brings us to a MAJOR turning point...
…in Luke’s narrative of the gospel.
It really introduces for us...
…the over-arching theme....
…of the next 10 chapters...
...If not, the whole rest of the gospel...
…AND even the book of Acts!
-It really is that significant.
-So, do I have you intrigued?
-Well, let’s read it together:
This is the Word of God
Luke 9:51 (ESV)
51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
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-Let me warn you up front, that...
…we’re going be doing a lot of cross-referencing...
…and reading a lot of commentaries, this morning.
There’s just a ton of material, here.
-But, let’s begin with a basic summary:
Steve Lemke says this:
This unit begins a long section in Luke 9:52–19:44, where Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem and taught the disciples in preparation for His death and departure.
Its organization is unique to Luke....
Many sections unique to Luke appear in this unit, especially many of Jesus’ parables.
(There may be a good reason for that)
It highlights discipleship, that suffering will come with it, as it also details how the Jewish leadership became more opposed to Jesus despite His warnings to them, and His actions that showed God was with Him before them.
This journey is not a straight line trip from Galilee to Jerusalem to meet His death, but a journey of divinely directed events that Jesus had to take. — Steve Lemke
In fact, look at the way Luke, himself...
...would later describe this journeying:
Luke 13:22 (ESV)
22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.
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-Now, Remember, that up until this point...
…Jesus’ earthly ministry had been largely confined...
…to the Northern Palestinian provinces...
…of Galilee and Caesarea Philippi.
There, Jesus (and/or his Apostles) had been going around...
Preaching and Teaching...
Preforming Attesting Signs...
…for (at least) over a year (if not closer to two).
John actually gives us some insight...
...into the reason for that, in...
John 7:1 (ESV)
1 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.
-But, something changes in a big way....
…as we come to these next ten chapters in Luke.
The JFB Commentary summarizes that change, like this:
The work of Christ in the flesh is here divided into two great stages; all that preceded this belonging to the one, and all that follows it to the other.
During the one, He formally “came to His own,” and “would have gathered them”; (sic)
during the other, the awful consequences of “His own receiving Him not” rapidly revealed themselves. — JFB Commentary
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In other words, this semi-final epoch...
…would accomplish a sort of Covenant Prosecution.
One author that I read...
...wrote that, in those coming ten chapters...
…there are at least 27 specific indictments...
…leveled against the unbelieving Jews in Jerusalem...
…nearly half of which...
…are given in the form of a parable.
And, we need to remember...
...as we go through them...
...That these parables are more than just...
...quaint little lessons in morality.
(Because, if we don’t understand that...
…we’re almost certain to misunderstand their meaning).
Remember what Jesus said...
…when asked about his purpose in using parables...
…one time before:
Matthew 13:13–15 (ESV)
13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “ ‘ “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
15 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
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-We’re going to see a lot of that happening...
…in the weeks and months to come.
And it needs to make us aware...
…that something is changing.
A new facet of Christ’s ministry is beginning.
-And, we actually see that...
…in the way Luke begins verse 51.
He begins with the indication of a transition:
Luke 9:51 (ESV)
51 When the days drew near for him to...
We’ll talk about what follows in a minute.
For now, consider that phrase “drew near.”
What does it tell us?
Well, it's root word in the original...
...has the connotation of “fulfillment.”
So, what it’s saying is, that...
...God has decreed something to happen...
…and the days of its fulfillment...
…are really near.
The time to set things in motion...
The time for Jesus to begin working toward that end...
…is now at hand!
-What is it?
What is that decreed event...
…for which Jesus is now charting a new trajectory?
Luke describes it in this cryptic language:
Luke 9:51 (ESV)
51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up...
Here’s what’s interesting in that phrase:
The word behind “be taken up” . . .
…is actually a noun in the original.
(It usually appears in the NT in the form of a verb)
(This is the only place that it is in noun form)
As a noun, it more carries the connotation...
…of an event.
For example, it’s like the difference between referring to...
The act of Christ’s first coming to the earth (Verb)
Referring to his Incarnation (as a thing — Noun).
Likewise, our text is referring to...
…the EVENT of his “up-taking.”
(It even has a definite article attached to it)
Here’s how that helps us.
It shows us that it’s referring to something more specific...
…than just his “going up” (in elevation) to Jerusalem.
-I would submit to you, that...
…given the grammatical structure here...
…there are only three possible options:
The first two use a different word in the Greek...
…but carry similar ideas.
1.) His being lifted up on the Cross:
Remember that Jesus used that language in...
John 12:32–33 (ESV)
32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
John 3:14–15 (ESV)
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
2.) His being raised from the grave...
…in the Resurrection:
1 Corinthians 15:20 (ESV)
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
3.) His bodily Ascension (taking up) into heaven:
For example:
Luke 24:51 (ESV)
51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
(Different word, similar connotation)
Acts 1:9 (ESV)
9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
(Different word, similar connotation)
-So, which one is it?
Well, in a sense, the answer is, “YES”
Because the three are inseparably connected.
But, I’m convinced that...
…His bodily Ascension into Heaven...
…is what is primarily in view.
The NASB Translators were confident enough in that...
…to TRANSLATE it that way!
Luke 9:51 (NASB95)
51 When the days were approaching for His ascension...
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-But, there’s a greater case for it, than even that.
For Starters, remember what we read...
…back in Verses 30-31:
Remember its motif:
Luke 9:30–31 (ESV)
30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah,
31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Departure = Exodus
Accomplish = Fulfill
In that vein, remember the OT backdrop to the Ascension:
Daniel 7:13–14 (ESV)
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
So, a man from the Earth, is coming up to heaven for evaluation
14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
He was judged as faithful
He was enthroned over the Kingdom of God
-Where is the man Jesus right NOW?
Brace yourselves.
This may be like trying to drink from a fire hydrant!
Acts 2:33 (ESV)
33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
Acts 7:55–56 (ESV)
55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Romans 8:34 (ESV)
34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Ephesians 1:20 (ESV)
20 ...he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
Colossians 3:1 (ESV)
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)
3 ...After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Hebrews 8:1 (ESV)
1 ...we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
Hebrews 10:12 (ESV)
12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
1 Peter 3:22 (ESV)
22 ...has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
Revelation 3:21 (ESV)
21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
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Are you convinced of that?
Well, there’s MORE evidence to consider.
-Remember how I said that...
...that noun in our text...
…that’s translated as a verb...
…and only appears in noun form there...
…that it appears in verbal forms elsewhere?
Remember that?
Well, its verbal counterpart is used repeatedly...
…to refer to the Ascension:
Acts 1:1–2 (ESV)
1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,
2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
Acts 1:11 (ESV)
11 . . . “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
And, then there’s this:
Paul’s recitation of...
…what most assume to be...
…an early Christian hymn, or confession of faith:
1 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
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-Notice how Christ’s Ascension...
…is the great crescendo of that creed.
That tells us that the apostolic church...
…put a lot more emphasis on it then we do.
-Now, think about this:
The Ascension was the ultimate destination of Jesus...
…back in our Verse 51 as well.
That shows us that, in a sense...
The Cross...
The Resurrection...
…are being viewed as stops on the road to his Ascension!
-Brethren, that has huge implications:
The Cross was necessary for the Ascension
(It was the Messianic Conquest)
The Resurrection was necessary for the Ascension
(It was the Messianic Vindication)
But, the ULTIMATE goal and decree...
…appears to be his enthronement...
…as the High King of Heaven!
Guys, what should that tell us about theological positions...
…that outright deny...
...that Jesus is already enthroned as the Messianic King?
To avoid them!
I believe that they are why...
…most Christians have lost sight...
…of the primacy of the Ascension today.
They’ve redefined the Kingdom of God in such a way...
…that they can’t understand that...
the Session (enthronement) of Christ...
the Messianic victory...
…WAS/IS accomplished...
...through his suffering, death, and resurrection.
But, that is the CLEAR teaching of the NT
And, the apostolic church knew that...
…at least after they had been given the Spirit at Pentecost.
And, Jesus, knew it all along.
And, YET look what we read...
…at the end of Verse 51:
Luke 9:51 (ESV)
51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
Why Jerusalem?
Because that's where he would suffer...
Because that’s where he would triumph...
And because...
Luke 13:33 (ESV)
33 ...it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’
And yet knowing this...
Luke 9:51 (ESV)
51 ...he set his face to go...
That’s the language of...
unflinching resolve
unwavering determination
He WILL not rest until he has...
Undertaken everything decreed of him...
Accomplished the will of the Father.
-It brings to mind the resolve...
…of the Lord’s Servant in Isaiah 50.
There too, it occurs in the context of an indictment upon Israel (or Judah).
Isaiah 50:1 (ESV)
1 Thus says the Lord: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce, with which I sent her away? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.
In contrast to their rebellion, we read:
Isaiah 50:5–7 (ESV)
5 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward.
6 I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.
7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
That is the Son of Man’s resolve!
-Now, look at this:
Look at the motivation that...
…the Author of Hebrews speak of in...
Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)
2 ...Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Do you see the Telos in that?
Do you see the end goal?
Paul summarizes his entire first advent, like this:
Philippians 2:6–11 (ESV)
6 ...though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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That… is your King, Christian!
That… is the Victory that he HAS accomplished!
-If your faith and trust is in Him...
Then he HAS delivered you...
…from your greatest enemies:
From Sin
From Death
From Hell
And he HAS brought you...
…into the Kingdom of his Father.
That’s what your King...
...”set his face” to do!
That was the joy that was set before him!
And he did it! He accomplished it! To the full!
Let’s thank him for it.