LUKE 13

 Jesus was asked about the lives of those who suffered and died at the hands of Pilate, and He in turn asked them if they supposed those people were worse sinners than others, because all that mattered was that they repented or they would likewise perish. The same for the people who were killed when a tower fell on them. 

Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

He spoke a parable of a fig tree and, the owner seeing there was no fruit on it wanted to cut it down, but the keeper told him to wait because he will fertilize it and see if it bears fruit. But if not, then he will cut it down. 

Next, Jesus was in the synagogue on the Sabbath and a woman with an infirmity of eighteen years, unable to stand upright, was there; and Jesus healed her. She was made straight and glorified God. But the religious rulers, reminded Him of the six days of work and one day of rest, rebuking Him for working on the day of rest. Jesus called them hypocrites and asked which one of them does not lead his ox or donkey to water on the Sabbath. Therefore, He said the woman should be loosed from the bond on the Sabbath. And the leaders were put to shame, but the people rejoiced.

Jesus asked what the kingdom of God was like, and He said it was like a mustard seed that is planted in a garden that grows into a tree where the birds of the air may rest. Or the kingdom is like leaven, which a woman hid in meal until it was all leavened. 

Jesus went through the villages towards Jerusalem, teaching, when one asked HIm if there were few who were saved. He replied 

Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many...will seek to enter and will not be able...The Master [will] shut the door and you [will] stand outside and knock...saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will...say..., 'I do not know you...' then you will...say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.' But He will say, 'Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.' There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.

Then Pharisees told Jesus to depart from there because Herod wanted to kill Him. But Jesus rebuked Herod and said on the third day He will be perfected. Then He cried out for Jerusalem saying, 

How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! 

COMMENTARY 

The parable of the fig tree, again, represents Israel. When Jesus came, He found Israel not walking in the light, though they were promised blessing if they obeyed God. He would have cut her off, but the keeper of the vineyard said he would fertilize and wait to see if fruit will come, representative of God's patience with Israel. However, Israel has rejected Christ, and they were scattered abroad. Today, those who live in Israel do not live in peace, and there will not be peace in Israel until Jesus returns. 

The parable of the mustard seed serves to demonstrate Christendom. The larger it grows the more it loses its true character. The birds symbolize Satan who is always active in influencing the Church. Furthermore, leaven represents evil (hypocrisy). You can see that a little hypocrisy will infect the truth. Some believe leaven to symbolize the gospel in this parable, and that spreading it will convert and save the whole world. But there will be no peace and no kingdom on earth until Jesus returns to establish His kingdom Himself. The Church cannot bring in His kingdom.

When someone asked if few would be saved, Jesus basically told him that the cost of following Him is great. In the OT, we see the multitudes following Christ and glorifying Him and praising Him, but by the time of His crucifiction, it seemed the multitude turned on Him. That is how finicky people are. But in this moment, Jesus told the man to make sure you are saved; don't just assume because you are a Jew that you will go to heaven. Others who are not sons of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be admitted, while you will be standing outside the door, unable to get in. 

 

John 17

This is a wonderful chapter where Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples, His believers, and the Church. He prayed out loud in front of His disciples for their benefit. 

He lifted up His eyes and talked to God the Father to glorify Him, and that He may glorify the Father, because God had "given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as [He had] given Him...

And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was." 

Then Christ prayed for His disciples. Again, Jesus reminded His disciples that God gave them to Him out of the world. They belonged to the Father, and He gave them to Jesus. 

Jesus prayed for them, not the world, whom the Father had given to Him, because what belongs to God the Father belongs to Jesus; and He is glorified in them. And because Jesus was leaving the world, and His disciples remained, He prayed the Father to keep them for (again) He gave them to the Son. And Jesus prayed that they would be unified, just as Jesus and the Father are unified. 

And again, again, Jesus reiterated that God the Father gave to Him His followers, and Jesus kept them in His name, that none were lost, except Judas -- that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. Jesus prayed that the Father would keep His followers from the evil one. 

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 

Meaning, Jesus is the Word, and the Word is truth; therefore, keep them and sanctify them (set them apart) by the truth of the Word. 

Then He extended His prayer to all believers (the Church), even to today, for all those who will believe through the Word, through the ages; that they may be one in Christ, just as Jesus and the Father, that the world may believe that Jesus came from the Father, that the Father sent the Son, and that He had loved them as the Father has loved the Son.

And finally, Jesus prayed that those the Father gave to Him will be with Him and behold His glory given by the Father before the foundation of the world. 

COMMENTARY

Jesus has power over all flesh! He has power to make every individual bow to Him. He could make us all robots and believe in Him, but He doesn't do that. This chapter brings up the question of Election and Free Will. 

God gave the Church to His Son as a love gift, and the church is made up of all those who believe. Only the Father knows who are His, and He gave them to the Son. God does not reveal to us who they are, which is why we must share the gospel with all. Those who reject the message will receive their  condemnation. Even if we share the gospel with those who reject it, the Lord is glorified when the truth is proclaimed and the gospel is shared. 

According to McGee, election does not shut out certain people, because if you have a desire to know the true God and Jesus Christ, than you will not be shut out. He gives eternal life to all who have heard the call and responded in their hearts. These are the elect. 

Jesus does not pray for the world today. His ministry is for His own who are IN the world, but not OF the world. He prays for the Father to keep us while we are still in the world, that we be sealed by the Holy Spirit. And He prays for unity among believers. These are promises because when Jesus prays to the Father, the Father hears Him and answers His prayers. There may be many denominations of Christianity, but there is one Church, and all believers who are truly His, He knows, and they are baptized by the Holy Spirit into His Church. 

Keep in mind that the Church cannot make the world a better place. Only Jesus can. Remember, the world hated Jesus and the world will hate His believers. If the world flocks to the church, it is because the church is not teaching the truth. The world hates the truth. But believers are sent out into the world to be a witness that those who are already His may believe. 

Jesus prayed that since His followers are in the world, that God would keep them from Satan. Believers will have tribulation, but through trial and tribulation, the Lord is glorified. Nonetheless, this is why believers long for Jesus to come. We long for the Rapture. The Holy Spirit and the Bride are weary of the world. 

But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world!

McGee says Jesus' prayer for the Church has been answered because the Church is an organic unity. Believers are one in Christ, and the moment one believes in the truth, He is in the body of Christ. Again, there are many denominations, but the Lord knows who are His. Amen to that. We don't have to worry about it.

Now, in conclusion, Jesus prayed that His love might be in our hearts and lives. He desires that His love would be manifest in the lives of those whom He redeemed. 

Then McGee wrote an outline of Jesus' prayer:

Believers are given to Christ out of the world, left in the world, not of the world, hated by the world, kept from Satan, sent into the world, and manifest in unity before the world. 

And these are the requests of Christ for His believers:

That they be preserved, have joy (fullness of the Spirit), be delivered from evil, be set apart (sanctified), have unity (be of one mind), have fellowship with Him, and have satisfaction (behold His glory). 

Jesus is our great High Priest and He has all power and loves us completely.

from Bible Study Tools