Establishing the True Vision of Peace (Luke 13:31-35)

Reformed & Expository Preaching

The city of man will always try and triumph over the city of God. This is seen in the interaction between Christ and Herod. The Pharisees warn Jesus that Herod wants to kill him, but their motives are uncertain. They might be a faction that legitimately cares, or they might be with the rest of the Pharisees who want to silence Jesus. Herod himself represents the worldly pursuit of power, maintaining peace through intimidation by control and violence. John the Baptist is a clear victim of the tyranny demonstrated in the Herodian family.

Christ seeks to confirm and establish the Lord’s heavenly city. Christ seeks to bring the true vision of peace from heaven. This is not a kingdom that is established through fear and threat. No, it is a kingdom where one experiences the ideal of the shalom of God. A kingdom where one takes on the yoke of Christ, is in fellowship with God, and is restored rather than exploited.

So, Christ, being confident about the true vision of peace (Jerusalem), does not cower before Herod. In fact, he makes his opinion known regarding Herod. He does not even address Herod, but instead calls him a "fox," exposing his weakness, smallness, and cunning ability to stand on the coattails of giants. Christ remains resolute in his mission, showing that true peace is not found in earthly empires but in the kingdom of God and entrance through the narrow door.

Christ does not seek safety but willingly moves toward Jerusalem, knowing that Herod is not the threat but the earthly Jerusalem. His ministry of healing and casting out demons demonstrates his authority, yet Jerusalem rejects him because he does not fit their mold of a messianic king. The irony is that while people try to warn and protect Jesus, they fail to recognize that he is the one who has come to protect them, confirming the promise that God is a shield and defender. The ultimate rejection of Christ is not just by political rulers like Herod or Rome but by Jerusalem itself—the very city that should have embraced him as the fulfillment of God's promises. We are so deeply sinful, and it is so deep-rooted that we reject the prophet.

Finally, we are challenged to reflect on the human tendency to resist God’s work, much like Paul before his conversion, who "kicked against the goads." Despite Israel’s rejection, Christ still offers the gospel and calls all humanity to repent. He weeps over Jerusalem, using imagery from the Exodus of the mother hen being like the eagle protecting its young. Christ knows that in order for Psalm 118 to be confirmed, he must be rejected by the builders only to be raised up as the cornerstone.

The call to enter through the narrow door remains open right now. We are called to bow our necks under Christ’s domain, discern what is pleasing to the Lord, and seek to live out his will. Let us mourn how the city of Jerusalem embraced Christ, let us celebrate God’s sovereign will that He overcomes, and let us ultimately long for the vision of peace that comes from heaven. Praise be to God that even in this life, we have a taste of it. Let us walk as living sacrifices to our redeemer, knowing that our lives are hidden and secured in Him.