The Upward Call

The daily news is filled with stories of rioting, destruction and the murder of Christians around the world. This week we explore the persecution of Christians and ask two related questions: Why do so many hate Jesus and his disciples? And why does the Lord permit his children to be so treated?

In John 7 we read:

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. - Jhn 7:1 ESV

Why did the Jews of that day hate Jesus so much? Why did they try to kill a man whose every word and deed was filled with love and mercy? Earlier members of the Jewish party known as the Pharisees told Jesus that Herod wanted to kill him.

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." -Luke 13:31 ESV

The Pharisees were no friends of Jesus and they did not come to him out of concern for his personal safety. Rather, they wanted to lure him south where they had more influence and could arrange to kill him themselves. Galilee was the province of Herod Antipas, the youngest son of Herod the Great, by Herod's Samaritan wife Malthace. All during our Lord's ministry Herod Antipas ruled as tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea (Luke 23:7). He married his half-brother's wife Herodias. Herod threw John into prison because John had been publicly critical of that marriage. At Herodias' instigation, during a birthday party, Herod ordered John the Baptist beheaded (Matt. 14:1-12).

Now Jesus replied to the Pharisees,

"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.' O 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!'" - Luke 13:32-35 ESV

Jesus dared to call Herod a fox! To our modern ears that could sound like a compliment. We speak of women as being foxy. A strategic communications consulting firm even calls itself Smart As A Fox. That is not what Jesus meant. The Hebrew term is sual, a wild animal that infests vineyards and ruins and was much detested. Some believe that the word designates the jackal or does not distinguish between the fox and the jackal. It is as if Jesus called Herod a dirty, rotten, no-good, sneaky thief.

The Lord then goes on to tell them that he is not concerned. He has work to do today and tomorrow. He has a course to follow, a goal to reach, work to finish. It was all laid out. He knew what he was doing and that finally he would end up in Jerusalem. He was a prophet and he spoke God's Word, even though the people of that city and its rulers would not listen to it. The Apostle Paul used similar language as he wrote about his work. 

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. - Acts 20:24 ESV

Is the Lord Jesus and his apostle teaching each of us that we have a course to follow, work to accomplish and a certain ministry or service to perform in this life? The answer is decisively yes! Listen to Jesus again as he prays to his Father.

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. - Jhn 17:4 ESV

And listen to Paul as he speaks about his efforts to follow Christ's leading as if he were in a foot race.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. - Phl 3:13-17 ESV

Runners in a race do not look back. Their eyes are fixed upon the goal and their focus is upon what is happening in the moment. The course is laid out for them. The race is before them. So they eagerly press on (the same verb is translated elsewhere as persecute) with all their might and energy.

Jesus' disciples seek only to obtain the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. What awaits them at the end of the race is the certain promise of the resurrection and the glory of being with Jesus and all those whom Jesus has chosen and called to spend eternity with him in the new creation. This is the inheritance, the prize before us. No more fighting, persecution, suffering, tears and death. Rather what awaits us is peace, rest, harmony, joy, laughter and singing in a new heaven and a new earth. We are heading for home and it won't be long now. So we press on, imitating Paul and all those who have gone before us.

We'll study more about this upward call and why we are persecuted for pursuing our various callings to follow Jesus next time.