You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.
We are back in Luke chapter 13 this morning, although what a great break it was last week
for our Express Grace conference. If you missed the sermon last Sunday about how remembering the
gospel drives us to mission both here and everywhere, or the great panel discussion that
we had with some of our global mission partners, those are both online. You can go hear those. I
encourage you to check those out there. But we've been in a series walking through Luke,
listening right now to Jesus teaching us about his kingdom as he journeys toward the cross.
In the passage we just finished, Jesus taught us about kingdom significance, what matters,
what's important. And this morning, it's about kingdom participation. Who gets to be a part
of his kingdom? As I read, listen to Jesus' passion, his emotional intensity. There's stern warnings,
deep angst and grief at the end. We're going to read it Luke 13 beginning at verse 22. This is God's
holy word. It's the only thing you'll hold this week that is absolutely reliable. The only thing you'll
read that is unfailingly for your good. Luke 13 verse 22. Jesus went on his way through towns and
villages teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, Lord, will those who are
saved be few? And he said to them, strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will
seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door and
you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door saying, Lord, open to us, then he will answer you,
I do not know where you come from. And then you will begin to say, we ate and drank in your presence
and you taught in our streets. But he will say, I tell you, I do not know where you come from.
Depart from me, all you workers of evil. In that place, 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, but you yourselves
cast out. And people will come from east and west and from north and south and recline at table in
the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first. And some are first who will be last.
At that very hour, some Pharisees came and said to him, get away from here for Herod wants to kill you.
And he said to them, go and tell that fox, behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and
tomorrow. And the third day I finished my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and
tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.
Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it.
How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings?
And you would not. Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say,
blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Let's pray together.
Father, we're grateful for your word,
especially because it tells us about Jesus,
your son, our only hope,
our great joy.
Would you show us him clearly
and brilliantly
this morning.
Teach us through your word, Holy Spirit, come
and speak to our hearts, we ask in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Someone was telling me earlier this morning
that there is a football game tonight,
which was really confusing to me
since like some of you,
I was certain that football season ended in early January.
I think that's how it should be.
But apparently,
the Patriots and the Eagles
are playing a game
in Minneapolis tonight
and probably in front of a
close to sellout crowd
in a pretty full stadium.
But imagine
that you actually
flew up there
after this service
in time
to be there
for the game
because the Patriots
are your team.
And so you
fly up there
and you meet all your friends
there
outside the stadium.
You've got your number 12
Tom Brady jersey on.
You put some eye black
underneath your eyes.
You are fired up
for this game, man.
You are,
you're marching toward the stadium
chanting and ready to go
and you get up there
to the gate
and there's this lady
with a scanner
and your friends
are pulling out
these like strange
little rectangular pieces
of paper
and handing them to her
and walking in.
And so you're just
kind of walking along
with all your friends
headed into the game
and she says,
I'm sorry sir,
you don't have a ticket.
Now imagine
that when she says that
you respond this way,
ma'am,
I grew up
a Patriots fan.
I've got a picture
of me coming home
from the hospital
in a Patriots onesie.
All my life
I'm the biggest fan
I have been to
every single game
this year,
home and away.
I haven't missed one.
You don't understand
what a huge
Patriots fan I am.
I'm sorry sir.
You can't come in.
And you start to get
a bit worked up
at this point, right?
Like this is not okay.
But all my friends
are in there
and we hang out
and watch these games
together
and talk football
all the time.
I'm sorry sir.
And perhaps
she would add
if she had heard
this sermon
which would seem unlikely,
association
does not equal
participation.
In other words,
apparently
you didn't consider
thoughtfully
what qualified someone
to be a part
of the Super Bowl.
And that would be
really sad for you,
wouldn't it?
To have made that trip
all the way up
to Minnesota
and be left out
in a frigid winter
listening to the game
in a cold parking lot
on a radio.
But Jesus is cautioning us
in this passage
about an even more subtle
and even more significant
situation
to consider.
And that's not
considering thoughtfully
what qualifies someone
to be a part
of the kingdom of God.
And that would be
so much more tragic
for you to have made
the trip to church
so many times
and end up
missing out
on the glory
of the kingdom.
I think that's partially
why you hear
Jesus' emotions
come out so strongly
in this passage.
He wants you to understand
and experience
what it takes
truly to participate
in the kingdom.
To be a child of God
rather than of Satan.
To be on the side of good
rather than of evil.
To be welcomed into heaven
rather than left out
in hell.
How would you
determine that?
How would you know
if you were in
a right relationship
with God?
Jesus wants us to know.
Let's look at how
he teaches us
in this passage.
At first
he highlights
the importance
of true participation.
Verse 22.
He went on his way
through towns
and villages
teaching and journeying
toward Jerusalem.
He's been headed there
for several chapters now.
He's going there to die.
Right?
He's not been unclear
about that.
And someone said to him,
Lord, will those who are saved
be few?
And Jesus' response,
strive to enter
through the narrow door
for many, I tell you,
will seek to enter
and will not be able.
Hmm.
Not really a
straightforward answer
to the question.
Right?
He answers
this question
from the crowd
with a command
not to consider
how many will be saved.
Seems like that would have
been an easy thing.
Just give us a number.
But rather to consider
whether you
will be.
Now let me remind you
what these crowds
of Jews
following Jesus
would have believed
at this point in time.
Most of the influential
Jewish teaching
during Jesus' day
was teaching
that more or less
all
or at least
most
of the Jews
would be in the kingdom.
They would be saved
a part of the kingdom
of God.
Perhaps a few
of the worst
would get left out
depending on
who you read.
But most or all
would be in.
On the other hand,
most or all
Gentiles
were left out.
Yes,
for most of them
there was the occasional
Gentile
who got grafted
into the family of God,
got through all
the right ceremonies,
could become a part
of that
and be a part
of the kingdom.
But most
of the Gentiles
were left out.
And Jesus
will actually say
in this passage,
in answer to the question
how many will be saved,
fewer Jews
than you expect.
Fewer
of those
who think
they're in
and
more.
More Gentiles
than you expect.
And here goes Jesus
again
turning our expectations
upside down,
right?
Insiders out
and outsiders in.
The religious
missing out
on the kingdom
and the irreligious
walking right in.
Sounds like a warning
for people sitting
in a place like this,
doesn't it?
Jesus says,
strive to enter
through the narrow
door
for many
will seek
to enter
and not be able.
Now he doesn't
mean that very few
people will be saved.
He's actually
just told us
in the previous passage
about the great growth
of the kingdom
and how many
get to be a part of it.
He's going to
say that again
in just a moment.
But he does start
by focusing
on those
who are not
saved.
What does he mean
by a narrow
door with these
many
who are not
able
to get in?
It can be
confusing.
So first,
one thing he doesn't
mean
is this passage
contradicting
the one
where it says,
ask and it will
be given to you.
Seek and you will
find.
Knock and the door
will be opened
to you.
Is this a
contradiction?
No,
it's not.
Jesus is not
painting a picture
here as we
continue to read
through the passage
where these people
are left out
standing,
banging on the
door saying,
God,
we need your
help.
We trust Jesus.
We want a
relationship with
you.
Only to find
God coldly
locking the door
and walking
away,
refusing
them entrance.
That's not
the biblical
picture of
God at all.
These many
instead,
as we keep
reading,
we find out
they're Jews
who are
religious.
They're the
insiders.
They're the ones
who've been around
the things of
God and they
are seeking to
enter the kingdom
of God on
their own
terms.
That's what we
find out as we
keep reading.
They presume,
like the
Super Bowl fan,
that their
association
with Team
Jesus
is enough.
Well,
if that's not
true participation,
then what is it?
What does the
narrow door
mean?
Well,
Jesus has been
teaching about that
every time he's
opened his mouth
in these chapters,
hasn't he?
In chapter 12,
over and over,
he said,
it's your
connection to
Jesus that
saves you.
You have to
trust the king
to be a part
of the kingdom.
Eternity hinges
on your active
embrace of
Jesus.
And in chapter
13, he starts
to show us a
little bit more
what that means.
What does that
look like?
He says,
repent,
or you too
will perish.
And he says
that repeatedly.
Repent.
Turn from your
sin and
yourself and
trust Jesus.
Give up hope
of deserving
salvation,
of earning your
way into the
kingdom,
and trust
the Savior
King.
See, the narrow
door is not
to say how
few are
saved,
but rather
that there is
one way in.
Jesus.
Not knowing
a lot about
him,
not hanging
around his
people,
not talking
like him.
No,
it's easier
than that
and harder
than that
at the same
time.
It's repent
and believe
the good
news.
You must
actually see
your own
emptiness,
which is really
hard,
and embrace
Jesus desperately
and fully
with your heart
and all your
life.
That's true
participation
in God's
kingdom.
But see,
there's a
subtle fraud
out there
that still
lives today,
and Jesus
tells a brief
story to
highlight it,
to highlight
the deception
of mere
association.
Verse 25,
the people
who want in
knock,
and the
master says,
I don't know
where you
come from.
Verse 26,
then you
will begin
to say,
we ate
and drank
in your
presence,
and you
taught in
our streets.
Jesus,
we hung
out.
You were
here,
you were
around with
us.
Remember,
we ate
dinner that
time.
We heard
lots of
things that
you said.
You're
clearly just
confused.
Do you
see the
deception
and the
warning that
Jesus gives
to those
who've been
around him
a lot?
Jesus,
we heard
what you
taught.
We grew
up around
the Bible
all the
time.
We
memorized
a lot
of it.
I mean,
honestly,
Jesus,
what do you
think we
are?
Muslim?
Hindu?
Atheist?
No way!
We must
be Christians.
You don't
remember us?
Check the
Southwood
attendance
register.
We signed
in.
We were
there.
All of
our friends
were there
with us.
You know,
our family,
they're in
there too.
I'm sure
there's just
been a
mistake,
an oversight.
Do you
see how
deceptive
mere
association
can be?
How being
around the
things of
God and
the people
of God
can give
you a
temptation
to believe
there's
something
genuine
happening
when it's
not?
It's a
struggle that
some don't
have.
I don't
know any
atheists in
Huntsville
who are
planning on
explaining to
God how
to get
into
heaven.
That's
not their
intention.
But I
know lots
of professing
Christians
whose answers
sound a
lot like the
people knocking
and hearing
Jesus say,
I don't know
where you
come from.
You never
trusted me.
You never
shaped your
life around
my kingdom.
You just
enjoyed your
coffee,
talked to
some friends,
watched from
a distance,
and were
content in
your own
associations.
It made
you happy.
And so
you plead
your association
with religious
people and
religious
organizations,
and Jesus
says,
verse 27,
I tell you,
I do not
know where
you come
from.
Depart from
me, all you
workers of
evil.
In that place
where you're
going, there
will be
weeping and
gnashing of
teeth.
You're going
to see
Abraham,
Isaac,
Jacob,
and the
prophets
in, but
you yourselves
cast out.
And that's
the devastation
of mere
association.
This is no
football game
that you're
missing out on
to sit in a
cold parking
lot.
It's a lot
more serious
than that.
You can't
just be a
decent guy
in the
middle,
just didn't
get everything
you wanted.
Now, Jesus
says to those
who are not
in the
kingdom,
workers of
evil.
workers of
evil cast
out into a
place with
weeping and
gnashing of
teeth.
That's the
warning.
He wants you
to know the
truth about
the eternal
difference between
mere association
and true
participation,
lest you
suffer eternal
torment.
If you know
you're here
this morning
just playing
a game,
please hear
this warning.
Please consider
your own
heart.
It's a
serious
warning.
So who
gets in?
Boy, we
really need to
know now,
don't we?
Who gets
in?
Verse 28
gives us a
window into
the kingdom
feast.
Who's in
there?
What's the
identity of
the true
participants?
Some of the
ones in the
kingdom are
the ones you'd
expect, the
usual suspects.
Abraham,
Isaac,
Jacob,
all the
prophets.
Hmm.
So,
so religious
association
doesn't
disqualify you.
Those are
pretty religious
people.
Maybe you
have to be a
really holy
Jew.
Maybe it's
all about
one's
performance.
Except that
Abraham said
his wife was
his sister to
protect himself
and violate
her.
And he had a
son by his
maidservant.
And Jacob was
a serial liar
and deceiver.
So,
no.
But,
Abraham
believed
God.
And it was
counted to him
as righteousness.
He was called
a friend of
God.
That's what the
prophets were
famous for,
wasn't it?
Calling God's
people to
repent and
to trust
him again.
So,
being a
Jew is
not enough,
Jesus says.
But even
Jews who
fail can
be saved
by repentance
and faith.
So,
I look in
the stadium,
so to speak,
and sure
enough,
some of my
church friends
are in
there.
But there's
even bigger
news.
There's
unusual
suspects.
I don't
know if
that's a
thing.
But verse
29,
people coming
from east
and west,
north and
south,
and reclining
at table
in the kingdom
of God.
Some who
are last
who will be
first,
and some
are first
who will be
last.
Right there,
as you look in
at the head
of the table
in the kingdom
feast,
Gentiles,
those who
seem the least
likely to be
included,
the unclean,
the ones with
no association
with God's
people at all.
Jesus,
this is not
okay.
They're not
supposed to
be there.
It's not how
we do things.
I thought you
said something
about a narrow
door,
and now there
just seems to
be doors
everywhere.
North,
south,
east,
and west,
come on
in,
everybody.
Can we
go back
to the
narrow one
where only
we get
in?
Come on,
Jesus.
They're letting
anyone in
these days.
People not
even wearing
team colors.
They're Vikings
fans up here
in Minneapolis.
They don't
even root
for the
Patriots.
They have
no connections
at all.
Look what
I'm wearing.
I got the
jersey and the
eye black.
I'm in,
right?
I used to
drive by that
guy mowing his
grass on my
way to church
on Sundays.
She got
pregnant in
high school,
didn't even
keep the
baby.
He's never
been to
Bible study.
How can
someone like
that be in
the kingdom
while a
decent,
church-going
person like
me is
left out?
How are
all these
half-hearted
Patriots and
Eagles and
couldn't-care-less
fans in that
stadium while
I'm out here
in my jersey
and I
black?
Well,
everyone in
the stadium
has one
thing in
common,
a ticket.
They entered
through the
ticket gate,
door,
which is
Jesus,
a door that
requires not
purchasing
qualification in
this case,
but rather
putting down
your own
qualifications
and trusting
his.
It's grace.
That's what
makes you a
participant in
this kingdom.
Kids,
I want to
talk especially
to you for
just a minute.
I know it
can be really
hard to listen
to me for a
long time.
I get that.
I've been
there.
But I want
you to
concentrate for
a minute because
this is God's
word, so it's
really important.
Jesus wants
you to know
what it really
means to be
a Christian.
Because it's
confusing sometimes
to us,
isn't it?
To really be a
Christian, it
doesn't mean
going to church
with your
family, or
even going to
Sunday school
every week, or
even praying a
lot, like when
you eat and when
you go to bed and
other times.
Although those are
good things, and
those are things
that Christians do,
but that's not
what makes you a
Christian.
What makes you a
Christian is not
anything good that
you do.
It's something
perfect that Jesus
does.
Does that difference
make sense?
You can't do enough
good things.
Jesus has done
something perfect for
you.
Jesus lived a
perfect life, right?
And then he died on
the cross to forgive
your sins.
And he rose from the
dead so that you can
live like him.
And that's what it
means to be a
Christian.
Not to do a lot of
good things, but to
trust the one who is
really good and
really perfect.
That you trust him,
that you believe in
him.
Rather than saying to
yourself, I'm really
good, you say, God,
I want to be in your
family, and I know
that the only one good
enough to be in your
family is Jesus.
So I trust him.
If you've never
trusted Jesus, you
don't have to wait.
You can do that today,
right now, and then
come talk with your
parents or with me
after the service about
that, or come to the
communicants class if you
want.
But listen, one last
thing.
Well, you can keep
listening, but for now.
If you think you're a
good kid, you really
need to trust Jesus and
not you.
And if you think you're
a bad kid, and you're
not really good enough,
you can trust Jesus
too.
And he loves you, and he
forgives you, and you
can all be a part of his
family.
That's the good news of
Jesus.
That's what Jesus wants.
Jesus wants to have us in
his family.
This is not a passage about
how Jesus wants to keep
people out.
Look at the end of it,
and this beautiful look
we get at the heart of
Jesus.
Verse 31, at the very
hour, some Pharisees came
and said to him, get away
from here, for Herod wants
to kill you.
And he said to them, go
and tell that fox, behold,
I cast out demons and
perform cures today and
tomorrow, and the third
day I finish my course.
Nevertheless, I must go on
my way today and tomorrow
and the day following, for
it cannot be that a prophet
should perish away from
Jerusalem.
Tell Herod, I'm not afraid
of his threats because I'm
already on my way to my
death.
I'm headed to Jerusalem to
die, right?
And that prompts a thought
for Jesus.
Jerusalem.
The city at the center of
God's people, Israel.
Verse 34, oh, Jerusalem.
Jerusalem, the city that
kills the prophets and
stones the ones who were
sent to it.
How often would I have
gathered your children
together as a hen gathers
her brood under her wings
and you would not.
Behold, your house is
forsaken.
And I tell you, you will
not see me until you say,
blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
There will come a time
later when the Jews
embrace the Messiah.
But as Jesus heads to the
cross, he grieves for the
people of God as he
considers how many of them
are actually rejecting
God.
His heart is for associates
and participants in God's
kingdom, right?
Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
how often I would have
gathered you as a hen
gathers her chicks.
You've been hanging
around me, but I long
to gather you into myself
because it breaks my heart
to see you left out.
It's the heart of Jesus
for those not actively
trusting him.
It breaks his heart.
In Matthew's gospel,
when he says these words,
we're told Jesus is weeping
over Jerusalem.
By the way, is that your
heart?
For those of you who know
Jesus but know others who
don't, is that your heart
for them?
Do you weep more than you
scold?
Do you grieve out of love
for them more than you
lecture out of pride over
them?
Are you truly heartbroken
for them or are you
truly angry at them?
Whether they are Hindus
in India, atheists in
Ireland, nominal Presbyterians
in Huntsville, do you
truly long for them to be
gathered to Jesus?
Jesus does.
He wants them and me
and you gathered to the
one place of salvation.
It's a picture of safety
and refuge and rest,
isn't it?
Get that picture in your
head?
It's the one Jesus gives
us.
It's one used warmly for
God's loving protection
throughout the Bible.
But I've got to be honest
with you, it's not such a
cute, warm and fuzzy
picture in this passage.
The context here is one
of eternal danger.
And Jesus' death, that's
what he's talking about
that he's going to
Jerusalem for.
So when Jesus talks about
gathering us under his
wings like a hen, we've
got to realize that the
picture is a gruesome
reality for the hen.
Hens gather their chicks
under their wings when
there's danger nearby.
It could be a fox like
Herod.
Possibly freezing cold
weather.
Maybe a fire in the barn.
And the hen rushes to
gather her chicks.
While the hen could easily
fly away from danger
herself, she will stay and
endure the pain.
Even at times sacrificing
her own life.
To save the chicks who
stay safe, protected beneath
her wings.
That's the painful picture.
But beautiful picture of our
Savior who endures the pain
of sin's curse on the cross.
That we might be safe.
Protected under his wings.
So of course he grieves
when some of God's people
are unwilling to be
gathered to safety.
Are you willing to be
gathered under Jesus'
protection?
I didn't ask, are you
willing to play church to
make your spouse happy?
Or would you rather be
associated with Christians
than any other religion?
Christian?
My heart for all of you,
I think most of you know
I love you a lot.
And for all of you who are
here and spend any time
with us, my heart, I want
you to be in with me.
Now and in this life, but
especially forever.
That we would together know
that kind of refuge of safety
and joy, resting with Jesus
and serving and enjoying
him forever.
And there's only one way in.
To experience the grace of God.
To despair of your own
qualifications and actively
embrace Jesus.
To run under the loving
wings of Jesus for refuge
and rest.
That's why I'm always talking
to you about Jesus.
Jesus.
Because he's the only one.
The only way that we find
a true relationship with God.
True participation in his
kingdom.
Listen, if you're just here
to make someone else happy.
Just to get your kids
some good morals.
Just to hang out with
some nice friends.
As Derek said earlier,
I'm really glad you're here.
I'm not trying to run you
off at all.
But I want to love you
enough to offer you
the only hope
that any of us has.
To plead with you
to receive the forgiveness
and freedom
and joy
of Jesus.
He wants to gather you in
under his wings.
How tragic it would be
to have spent so much time
around the things of God
and the people of God
and then to spend eternity
apart from him.
I want so much more
than that for you.
Don't be deceived
by good feelings
of association.
Don't assume the door
remains open forever.
Don't conclude
that it is no big deal
where you stand.
Jesus longs to gather
all people in.
Come to him.
Trust him.
Today.
Let's pray.
Jesus, we hear that
in your voice
even as it was sung
over us earlier.
How often I've longed
to gather you
beneath my gentle wings.
Jesus, you longed
to do that so much
that you gave your life
for us.
that you covered us
even as the blows
of the cross
and the nails
pierced you.
You stayed
because you love us.
And so you call us
into that relationship
and Jesus,
as you call young people
and older people
and people who've never
been to church
and people who've never
missed a Sunday
to yourself.
Would we hear your voice
and come and find
rest and refuge?
Do your work,
Holy Spirit,
in our hearts
for the glory of Jesus
and for our eternal good.
We ask in Jesus' name.
Amen.
For more information,
visit us online
at southwood.org.
Good morning,
клад,
sigue ourzla.
Good morning,
good morning,
Vicente,
and again.
Thank you,
as well.
Good morning,
all right.
Good morning,
good morning,
and later.
Good morning,
bye baby.
Good morning,
good morning,
heard about
the Jean,
lossy guys
and challenges,
takish,
you can see
good morning,
and I hope
all for you
for youriliary
Um,
thank you,
and I hope
have the How
the club
and assessment
for you.