Chapter 12a

vs 1 – 12

If Jesus had been a mythical character, created by a particular group for their purposes, the Bible would show him being nice to his own people. And as I have written here before, the people he’d be most nice to would have been the Pharisees – all his teaching was in line with their ideas. In fact, Jesus was an extreme Pharisee – he taught that one should go over and above the rules that the Pharisees set.

So in some respects it’s remarkable that Jesus saves most of his snarkiest comments for those who are most like Him in their theology and attitudes!

And boy, doesn’t He ever let rip here!

The metaphor of yeast is particularly stinging to the Pharisees – Jesus is comparing them to something which, during the great festival of Passover, must be eliminated from the cooking! Something that is, in a sense, unclean. Incidentally, this is not the only time Jesus kicks the Pharisees right where it hurts; but it is a very strong rebuke to them.

At the end of Chapter 11 we saw a group of Pharisees muttering together how they could trick Jesus into saying something incriminating. At this stage, at least as far as Luke is concerned, they’re not yet discussing how they could kill Jesus. But He knows it’s not far away. To be blunt, He doesn’t need divine powers to figure this out; any person would be able to see that it’s only a matter of time. Outlining what is going to happen is Jesus’ way of saying that He aims to misbehave, and He won’t be stopping because the Pharisees are offended. Bluntly, it’s a declaration of war, aimed at those whose views are as close as possible to His own.

Jesus ensures His disciples know that they are loved and valued – the famous comparison with sparrows. “You are worth more than many sparrows,” He says.

But often that passage is taken out of context. Although it gets used this way, it’s not just a vague and general statement of the worth of humanity (though God certainly DOES value us!); Rather, it’s something Jesus reminds His people of just before He tells them of the bad situations they will face.

And those situations are indeed bad. He makes it very clear that there will be moments when they will have to stand up for Him, and it will be difficult (this is one test which we know the outcome of – Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, will fail this test; yet he won’t be rejected). Jesus also warns that when they are called upon to show themselves to be His, they MUST hold firm.

He finishes off with an encouraging word – His promise that the Holy Spirit will help them to know what to say during these times. This is a big thing for the disciples – remember, in the Old Testament the Holy Spirit comes on a person only for a brief period, and even then only particular people (like the King or the High Priest). What Jesus is promising is that they – ordinary folks that that they are – will be controlled by the Holy Spirit!

So, in wrapping up, what difference does this passage make?

We all hope it won’t happen – but face it, some Christians DO get called upon to make that big call of declaring themselves on pain of death. Usually this is in other countries, but there was the infamous incident at Columbine High School; When the two boys carrying guns walked into the school, shooting many, they selectively sought Christians and demanded that they declare themselves (and if they did, they’d often shoot them anyway).]

Would we have faced death?

I like to think that I’d be okay in that situation, but who knows?

We need to read this and understand that we too could be the ones in that situation. And just like his declaration of war on the Pharisees, so too Jesus today calls us to be at war with the world.

I’ll finish with a quote I once read:
“If being a Christian were a crime, would there be sufficient evidence for a conviction?”