Kingdom Contrasts • 10.11.26
Kingdom Contrasts
Luke 13:10-30
Recognizing the great reversals of God’s rule and reign
- Jesus alone straightens what is bent
- Jesus alone makes much of what seems small
- Jesus alone saves those who enter the narrow door
Manuscript:
Good morning church family! My name is Jack Flaherty and I serve as one of the pastors here at Harvest. It is a joy to open up God’s Word together this morning. For our 4th-5th graders you are dismissed to class. The rest of us can open up our Bibles to Luke 13. If you need a Bible, the ushers would love to get you one. On Wednesday nights we ask all of our students to have a bible with them and open. We don’t start reading till everyone has one! I wont make you do that, but that’s how important we think the Word of God is. IGet your eyes on it, it has the power to change you.
Speaking of students, it truly is a privilege to serve the students of this church and in our community. Excited for events coming up the next two Saturdays. But one of the best things is that student ministry is full of surprises! Some examples. Last Winterfest it was the junior high girls not high school guys who are the most snacks of anyone. Summer camp student was crying because she didn’t get to eat. When asked why she explained she can’t because she has a small canker sore is on her favorite side of her mouth to chew on. This week a student came over after playing football looking like he was dripping sweat and in distress. Said he couldn’t see and proceed to explain it was bug spray all over his face. Some serious/sweet examples. Our first summer camp where 6th grader led a team building exercise with high school students. A hostile middle schooler who seemed a million miles away is now faithfully following Jesus. A high school girl who was the shyest elementary and middle schooler who became one of the best welcomers of new students into the church and ministry. I could share a million more stories. In this context of student ministry you learn to expect the unexpected.
Well in a similar way our text this morning is full of surprises. As Jesus teaches and demonstrates the power of kingdom of God, we realize this too is a context where we should expect the unexpected. Our sermon title today is Kingdom Contrasts because what we hear and see in the ministry of Jesus shows clear contrasts between the world and the kingdom of God. Not only contrasts, but that the kingdom of God is bursting in on the kingdom of the world and reverses our expectations and experiences. Recognizing the great reversals of God’s rule and reign is what Jesus presents to his disciples and to us. Look for the opposites, reversals, contrast. When Bible reading is difficult, this is a method which helps the Bible make sense and come alive! SO many here! Maybe keep track of them! But all will fall under one of three headings. We find the first as we read Luke 13:10-17. The first great reversal of God’s rule and reign to recognize is that…
- Jesus alone straightens what is bent
Luke gives less geographic context but points us to the theological and narrative happenings. In v10 Luke tells us Jesus is in a synagogue on the Sabbath. This has been an issue in this gospel already and will come up again next chapter. Happens to be a woman there who has disabling spirit and Jesus calls her over. He starts the conflict! He heals her by the power of his Words, then lovingly and with care lays hands on her. Immediately straightens up AND immediately she glorifies God! Makes difference of kingdoms clear and show his rule and reign!
She wasn’t seeking just faithful at synagogue. And she does nothing but walk to Jesus when called and God does the work to free her! Praises show she knows who did the work! But the ruler did not and did not like it. His job is to govern what happens at synagogue and he probably let Jesus talk. But now Jesus crossed a line. Avoids direct attack as v14 tells us “he said to the people.” But message clear that he thinks Jesus broke Sabbath. Tells people, go away come again another day.
He misses at best of avoids at worst the divine work. But Jesus makes it clear. Instead of avoid in v15-16 answers him directly. Remember from Luke 6 he is Lord of the Sabbath! This ruler says it’s fine to free animals to drink but not ok to let a woman, daughter of Abe, who is dealing with 18 years of Satan oppression to experience freedom? Hypocrite! This woman sickness accredited to Satan but not said to be possessed or exorcism. Not that all disablements are Satanic but hers was. Might be something with number eighteen and Greek letters which abbreviate Jesus also standing for eight like his power flips the power of Satan! Regardless, the responses of Jesus in lifts the lifts this up from crossfire of legal debates and puts it in messianic realm. Divine realm. This is picking a fight with God.
Jesus rhetorically fights back to defend his rule on display. His rhetorical question “ought not” this woman be loosed here in v16 directly rebuts the rulers word in v14 “ought” to be working six and resting one. He wanted to make sure they didn’t miss his disagreement. When our oldest was about 2 years old she really enjoyed loud screams in the car for no reason. One day she had let a few out and I said “please you need to stop. Your screaming is not necessary.” Quiet for a few minutes. Then must’ve seen something roll by that warranted it in her mind and blurts out another yell. A brief pause and a calm little voice says “that was necessary.” Jesus says this conflict was necessary to demonstrate his kingdom rule and reign.
What the ruler speaks against is actually the original context of the Sabbath! Ruler thinks he is expositing the law meant to show love of God and others but instead show no concern for either. Consider the purpose of the Sabbath! Deuteronomy 5:12-15 “ ‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.”
It was meant for rest from work and remembrance of deliverance! Ruler missed the point of the Sabbath and missed what the Sabbath was pointing too! That is to the Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus, and what he offers all who rest in him. We’ve already heard that back in ch 4 when Jesus reads from Isaiah 61 in the synagogue. Let’s review. Luke 4:16-21 “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Sabbath is reminder of release from captivity. Jesus’ loosing is a sign of a new Sabbath accomplished by new Exodus! meant to bless people and mark Mosaic covenant. Jesus never broke God’s Law, He kept it! He did not violate it, He fulfilled it!!
Kingdom of God at hand. But this ruler is indignant as God’s power undermined his power. He tried to talk to the crowd and by v17 everyone’s attention captured. ALL adversaries shamed and ALL people rejoiced and ALL glorious things Jesus did! This restoring the bowed down ones is talked about in Ps 19:9; 144:14; 145:8 as something which only God does and brings God glory! Kingdom comes with rule and reign and will provoke opposition and praise.
The question for us is, do we recognize that Jesus is the one to straighten the bent things in our lives? First, he straightens the physical back of this broken woman. Jesus is one who can provide physical healing for us! And even when he does not, he provides the context for care in the local church! Care and healing can be shown by refusing to ostracize those who are ill, empathize with anguish, surround with love and respect. Even Jesus calling her a daughter of Abe shows unique ID. Term of honor! People first not disability first language we can learn from. Lets care in words and actions as Jesus does!
Second, he straightens what Satan broke. Woman’s weakness is not within but without. Don’t think physical struggle is sign of spiritual weakness in fact it’s the often opposite! In fact in this honor shame Roman world Jesus shows weak woman as honor and shames the leaders of power! Not petty vengeance but showing who is really honored, those who follow Jesus! Don’t let your weakness be an impediment for trusting God or for taking God to others. Too young, too old, hindered in some way. You can still trust and praise God
Third, he straightens what Pharisees twisted. Jesus showed compassion to the broken woman, while the ruler was concerned about broken rules. What does this contrast reveal about the difference between Jesus’ heart and a self-righteous heart? Guard against becoming more concerned with being right than loving people! Also, if you’ve been taught wrong, manipulated, mistreated, you are not alone. And yet, Jesus is even today, hear from his mouth!
This is what the kingdom of God looks like: an unnamed woman who has been bent over for eighteen years standing upright in unnamed synagogue proving Jesus’ power over enemy. What feels bent in your life? Nothing is too broken for God to straighten out! And God might just use the hardest thing you’re stuck in to bring himself glory. Jesus is coming to make it all new! Jesus is in direct engagement in cosmic conflict with the purpose of kingdom coming through. He will ultimately straighten out all the sin and Satan and suffering has bent! Wherever the kingdom comes it breaks the power and rule of Satan. Jesus shows however this is not always happening the way we expect it. We see that continue in our next section.
Read Luke 13:18-21. The second reversal of God’s rule and reign to recognize is that…
- Jesus alone makes much of what seems small
We see the word “therefore” in v18 which means Luke is highlighting how Jesus’ teaching is intentionally connected to what came right before. THEREFORE connects us back to all rejoicing at all glorious things.! This teaching is explaining Jesus’ kingdom coming in power to rule and reign over Satan and the kingdom of the world. Jesus has the authority to show what God is like!
So what is that like?! Jesus gives us two pictures to explain the kingdom. One of a man with a seed and the other of woman with bread. Mustard seed. Super tiny not significant. But this things grows. It can be a plant of decent size somewhere from 10-20 feet tall. Mustard Plant. But this is funny as mustard plant is actually hollow and is not a suitable nesting place. Also ALL the birds is exaggeration. Dramatic contrasts! God’s reign is improbably inglorious and humble yet enormously successful
Same thing with this next picture of the kingdom. Leaven loaf. Many of us know someone who got this started in their kitchen! We got a good starter in our fridge! That’s the leaven. It doesn’t take much to put into a loaf and spread through. But it’s a surprising pic in many ways. Such a huge volume for one. That’s roughly 60lbs of dough. Wow! But also an inversion of common images of sacred and profane! From perspective of pharisees Jesus view of God’s kingdom ignores purity concerns, violates, sabbath, and accepts sinners. Corrupting for their world view indeed! BUT its making great God’s true world view. Disorienting BUT focuses on end goal. old is new with continuity. Jesus changing Judaism to something new.
He is helping explain why the kingdom contrasts maybe aren’t fully what we expect them to be yet. Not divine cedar as prophet Ezekiel anticipates but lowly mustard seed. Nonetheless aiding all. Not ruling conquer yet but silently and powerfully interrupts the norm. The kingdom of God breaks in and doesn’t always look impressive. But already present and staring to spread. It looks like a little bent woman, a tiny seed, little leaven. Small and hidden BUT will come in apocalyptic power! This kingdom is both happening in individual lives but also in lives together. This is a team thing! It is spreading and growing and surprisingly making an impact as God works through individuals apart but also even more so together.
This is what the kingdom of God looks like: something that begins like a mustard seed and becomes remarkably large. That is a scoop of leaven that leavens a massive loaf. So what does this mean for us? We can have a confidence that even if we don’t see things now God is on the move! Yes hidden and imperceptible but God is doing something. Church this should pump us up! Watched Remember the Titans this weekend and it’s a slow process of team coming together but then has huge impac ton them and their community and now millions who watch. We join the exciting like Gary Bertier fist pumping! Be excited! Who knows when that invite to church turns up years later. Who knows when those prayers prayed bring conviction & repentance. Who knows how the daily discipline of prayer and Bible reading will produce the exact help you need in time. Or on corporate level who knows when a SG might make a big impact. Or a small church have a large influence. Our church started from a a few hearts stirred, a Craigslist’s add, some living room prayer, and a pastor planning on going elsewhere hearing from the Lord while praying in a closet.
Do we think simple faith and obedience too small that God can’t move in or work through in big ways? When you don’t see big things happening know God is at work. Humble beginnings and seemingly small growth yet there are major things happening! Yes God can bring breakthrough BUT also God works over ordinary daily pursuit of him. This is evident in counseling, in discipleship, in parenting, in student ministry, in our church life. God is not slow but patient not only wishing for all to repent but to build. Do you wish you saw something overcome NOW? Transformation now? Trust the seed the leaven is working also, in both God is the one expanding and raising up. God can work with something that seems small and accomplish much.
If you’re an outsider, the Kingdom is unstoppable. Seems small and insignificant. But if you’re not recognizing how much of a deal this seemingly small thing is, you’re in for a rude awakening. This is not a small piece to add onto your life, this is the whole thing. Like the ruler who wants the kingdom his way, we can’t try to control or keep it to the side. It will become a tree for birds of the heavens. It will leaven ALL the loaf. Will you recognize that Jesus is going to take what seems small now and make much of it? Will you take the little stirrings of faith you feel now and trust the Spirit to fan them to flame? Or ignore and miss out? Let this last section persuade you.
Read Luke 13:22-30 The third great reversal of God’s rule and reign to recognize is that…
- Jesus alone saves those who enter the narrow door
In v22 is a reminder we are still heading to Jerusalem as we have been since 9:51. Reign of the kingdom is not derailed by human hostility or religious hypocrisy! Jesus is multitasking. He is fighting false teachers, he is equipping disciples, and he is heading to the cross. Evidently the judgement and division talk stir up question and in v23 man asks an important question. Probably well-meaning and “Lord” shows he thinks Jesus has some authority to speak. Jesus answer is less worried about numbers but more worried that the immediate audience would respond personally. It’s implied in the verb in v24 but “you” is reiterated much in v24-30. This is Jesus speaking to this man and those around him. But as God’s Word still speaks it’s for you and me today too!
Jesus says strive to enter the narrow door. The word for strive has the connotation and same root as “agonize”! Why? Well this does not mean we work our way to be saved. Jesus already clearly said this even just at the begging of the chapter, REPENT. The woman healed was by God’s word and hand alone. The seed and loaf grew by kingdom work, not ours. We don’t have power to enter the door like woman was unable to stand up. It is an imperative but seems to be more emphasis on struggle than enter. God brings us through, but we still struggle.
We see this in places like Phil 2:12-13 which says work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Or 1 Cor 9:25-27 says we press on in the race to win the prize. Even this is the concept of Hebrews 4 of striving to enter the rest of God. As it quotes from Psalm 95 the message is the same. there is a personal urgency! So salvation doesn’t come from our efforts. Yet just because its not produced doesn’t mean we don’t participate. Salvation is for those who strive to enter!
As I wrestled with this, I can’t help but think of passages like Jesus tell us to take up cross daily or Paul talking about being crucified with Christ. It seems the effort is to stop making it your own effort. Die to self to squeeze through that narrow door! Its agonizing to repent! Its hard to die to pride and admit sin! It takes effort to believe–Lord help our unbelief! It takes effort to stay committed to truth in the face of opposition and persecution. Its not easy to love God more than other people so that love for God makes love for others be like “hate.” Its agonizing to willingly welcome division. It’s not easy to say goodbye to possessions or see ya later finances that I wanted for my purposes but surrender to God.
This striving in participation with God comes from a right recognition of his kingdom bursting onto the scene. Not everyone will recognize this nor make that the motivation for their efforts. Not because it’s not clear, but they miss out on the kingdom. And Jesus warns of this in two pictures.
First in v24 is narrow door. Only right response to kingdom is repent and believe in Jesus. He is the way truth and life no one comes to father except through him! Contrasting hypocritical talk of the day of rule following getting you in. And contrasts our day that religious pluralism. We want to be generous and that’s unloving but it’s from Jesus mouth that entry is narrow! This isn’t church tradition made up. This theme is echoed throughout the Bible! Narrow means its not something you accidentally or casually get through. Agonizing! And after Christ alone!
Second picture in v25-27 is a door that will shut. Wanting is not enough. Closeness not enough BUT it takes repenting and believing in the narrow way of Jesus. See the parallelism.
- v25a master stands and shuts door THEN you stand and knock at door
- v25b you say ___ and he answers I don’t know where you’re from
- v26 you say ___ and he answers I don’t know where you’re from
- v27 DEPART all workers or evil
Again shocking to those who thought religious motions of closeness will get you there. There is no such things as saving faith that is Jesus adjacent. Those who went to church, who had religious parents, who had children dedicated, and prayed at meals. Then in v28-30 we see another contrast of feasting at the table vs in a place of weeping and gnashing teeth. They loved the law but missed what patriarchs and prophets saw! Those expected are shut out and those marginalized are the cause for celebration! The self-righteous will murmur and weep and gnash. These is combo of sorrow and rage. Not remorseful for being shut out of the kingdom as they wish to enter on own terms. They have hardened hearts.
Others “recline at table” in v29 this connects back to 12:37. The Isaiah 25 image of the great feast! Patriarchs and prophets of course make the guest list. but also crowd from all over the world! others outside weeping. Joy for many despair for others. Those near are cast far and those far are drawn near. This preps for whimsical images of banquets with guests of honors coming from everywhere, highways and alleys (ch 14), and far countries (ch 15) Jesus in fight with cosmic power and is putting that on display. Shows mercy of God’s coming reign. foretaste!
Is that where you want to be? Again emphasis on “you.” Don’t wait because there is a day the door will be shut. This is not fear tactics but facts. Again this is Jesus himself speaking. Heaven and Hell aren’t just scare tactics or treats to dangle for motivation. They are real places where you will really end up after your life on this earth ends. Do we believe this? Do we think on this? Don’t go through life as if Hell is something OTHERS gotta worry about. We make ourselves the hero of the story Jesus flips that script. He is the hero saving you in distress! If your stirred lets talk! Don’t wait! Time is not infinite. We know that as we watch it wind down and bodies of us and others grow old. So today is the day of salvation!
If you’re a Christian two things for us. First, this should shake those comfortable in their sin awake! And second it should assure those comfortable in their salvation! That doesn’t mean we need to sit doubting and doubting and wrestling. If you’re trusting actively in Christ alone, he has aleady RSVP’d your seat at the banquet and let that motivate you! And as a part of the kingdom with others, we get to do both these things in community. Call out sin where needed and assure the sensitive conscience where needed. Point one another to Jesus alone! Notice that repetition in each point today is intentional. We cannot straight ourselves out but something’s think we can. We cannot make much of anything lasting in this world. Studying Ecclesiastes with students is reminding me of that. We need to know God for real and let him make broken things whole and tiny seeds into trees. And we need to know him forreal. That means we need be REAL clear on the narrow door which we enter to arrive at the meal. you know him!
Did you count all the contrasts and reversals? Animals bound in stall loosed to drink vs daughter of Abe bound by Satan loosed to praise. Bent made straight and oppressed set free. Lowly woman exalted/honored and mighty rulers shamed/humbled. Small made great and the imperceivable made evident. Those entering in vs those standing near. Outsiders brought near while insiders cast off. Partying now are weeping and weeping now will feast. Last first and first last. And more. Expectations reversed! The Bible is full of reversals! Jesus did it all! Is this true of you?
This is what the kingdom of God looks like: people we expect to be first finding themselves last, and people we expect to be last finding themselves first. The kingdom brings a King who straightens, grows, saves. God straightens what Satan has bent. God makes much of what seems small. And God saves those who enter through the door. So don’t stand near the door. Don’t presume you’ll enter later. Enter now. The biggest reality is that this kingdom paints the bigger biblical theological picture of the grand redemptive narrative. Of beauty of Eden which was wrecked by sin being reversed by the Second Adam. Jesus Christ is the one to rule and reign and he will bring a kingdom that crushes that of the serpent. In the end we will see judgment poured out on all who reject his rule and reign and blessing poured out on all who enter in through Christ. See these contrast and respond now with faith in Jesus Christ for all he has done and is doing for his kingdom.
One of the pictures we get to commemorate this is Lord’s Supper. The bread reminds us of the broken body which makes us whole. The cup reminds us of the righteous blood spilled so the unrighteous might be made clean. We celebrate Jesus reversal of the curse through the cross. We do this together with others who are a part of the kingdom! And we look forward to the day we feast with whim!
Two biblical warnings. First, this is a uniquely Christian act. All believers in Jesus Christ are welcome but if you have not placed your faith in Christ then we ask you take time now to respond or let the elements pass by. Second, Jesus died to deal with sin between him and others and even believers need to examine if we have unrepentant sin. This doesn’t mean worry about if you forgot something BUT ask “Am I you actively trusting God, presenting my life as a living sacrificial and being transformed?” This means dealing with it before God and with others if sin involves another person. Deal with it or make a plan to deal with it. As I invite the ushers forward and worship team up and the elements are passed, I invite you to take some time to reflect and deal between you and the Lord (and others if needed). After all are served I will come up, pray, and then partake together.
PRAY
In 1 Cor 11:23-34, Paul relays to us what he received from the Lord, recalling that night Jesus was betrayed. Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, and breaking it said “this is my body, which is for you. Eat this in remembrance of me.” Let’s eat together. In the same way he took the cup saying “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. As often as you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.” Let’s drink together. Hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus! Let’s stand together and sing to our humbly and loving God.