Day 4: Contrasting Responses: Nothing new under the sun
Day 4: Contrasting Responses: Nothing new under the sun. Week 15: 05/04/2023. Wed. https://www.esv.org/Luke21:37–38,22:1–2
Luke 21:37–38 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. [38] And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him. (ESV)
Luke 22:1–2 [The Plot to Kill Jesus] Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. [2] And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. (ESV)
Jesus was teaching throughout the day in the temple, to eager listeners that also came the next morning "to hear him". In spite of the difficulties of Jesus' ministry, He taught regularly with whatever opportunities that avail Him. Terrible times await Him and His disciples in the next few days, and all of His true disciples thereafter. Serve God while you can! Therefore, those who follow Jesus must be mentally prepared to deal with persecutions, false claims of Messiah, false teachings and lawlessness generally. Jerusalem's fall and the destruction of the temple (again) in A.D. 70 pointed to difficult times ahead when God's people must continue to rely on divine guidance, pray for protection, and stand up to injustice and persecutions courageously. But once again, the "Passover" reminded readers that it was back to the basics again–when God's people celebrated the Passover earlier their history (in the Exodus account), such that a new nation consecrated to the LORD was formed. Dr Luke would like readers to know that the church will be under intense pressure once again in the upcoming troubles, but also reminded them that God was still in control, because the One who would be crucified would in God's providential control of the universe, be the one who would faithfully gather His faithful followers one day, on That Day victoriously. Live faithfully, watch and pray with alertness, and look forward to His return as we commemorate Good Friday this week as a "national holiday"! Praise God!
