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Articles
Luke 12:1-12
It is hard to fathom the amount of individuals who would have been following Jesus at this point in His ministry. Jesus had already fed five-thousand men, not including the women and children, with five loaves and two fishes (Luke 9:12-17). He had also fed the four-thousand men, not including women and children, in the region of the Decapolis (Matthew 15:32-38; Mark 8:10). So when we read – “…so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another…” – we should not be surprised or even begin to think this was an exaggeration. There was a charisma that came from being a follower of Jesus, and its newness had not worn off, but rather it continued to attract others with each passing day. The greatest surprise in this text is not the reaction of the crowd, but rather Jesus’ reaction toward the crowd. Jesus did not dilute His message or change its delivery, but rather He continued to hold to the standard without deviation. The crowds would come and go, but Jesus remained a constant throughout His entire ministry.
Jesus warned His audience - “…Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” Jesus did not mince words or say anything ambiguous at this particular point, but rather He called out the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. His audience would typically be captivated by the Pharisees and their perceived “righteousness,” but Jesus bluntly warned them that the Pharisees were not who they said they were. The Pharisees were unclean and filled with “robbery and wickedness” (Luke 11:39). While they enjoyed the praise of their fellowman, Jesus condemned them for their true character and warned their followers.We find a similar atmosphere alive and well in the 21st century - where individuals are followed by thousands on social media and other platforms, but to what end? We must learn from Jesus’ warning and be leery of exalting anyone over the other; instead, we should learn to humbly submit to the authority and example of Jesus our Savior!
Jesus also taught His audience that they were not to worry about those who kill the body, but rather fear the One “who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell.” Too often we allow the appearance of enemies to distract us from being those who are entirely dependent upon God. We must remember the words of David –
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? 2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident (Psalm 27:1-3).
Our enemies may appear to gain momentum, but in the end those who have endured will be saved (Matthew 10:22). Trust in the Lord! He will never forsake us nor leave us (Hebrews 13:5)!
If we find ourselves failing to trust in the Lord completely, may we never overlook the next point of Jesus’ teaching on that particular day. Jesus made a comparison between the cost of a sparrow and the value of an individual soul. If the Creator sustains the birds of the skies, fish of the seas, and all other living things – how much more will He take care of His chosen people? Our God does not work impersonally with His creation, but rather He intimately knows all who are His. Our God knows “…the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” We should not worry about this earth and our physical lives, but rather let us trust in the One who desires for all to be saved!
The final instruction of Jesus’ lesson captures the heart of discipleship. Our confession of Jesus is not a one and done scenario, but rather it is a daily choice to put on Jesus and live for Him. Our confession of Jesus will be manifested continually throughout our lives in a variety of ways – our dress, our speech/vocabulary, our work ethic, our relationships, our home, etc. Confessing Jesus means that we have given Him preeminence in our hearts and lives. It is at this point Jesus requires of His audience complete allegiance and devotion. This crowd of thousands had come to hear the Master teacher and witness one of His countless miracles, but Jesus was more concerned with their transformed and changed lives! Will they be changed by this interaction with Jesus or remain the same?
The Pharisees were notorious of following Jesus only looking for an opportunity to catch Him in something He said or did. They denied His power and went as far as saying – “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of demons” (11:15). Their blasphemy would not be forgotten and Jesus warned them of its eternal consequences without repentance. The crowds who followed Jesus were faced with similar dilemma – will they continue to follow and listen to the words of the Pharisees, or will they submit and obey to the authority of Jesus? This same dilemma continues to face everyone who is alive today. Will we confess our faith in Jesus and live with Him as the preeminent One of our life, or will we deny Him and His authority over our life? May God bless us with tender and good hearts that are receptive to His word and authority in every aspect of our lives!
