"God Pause Daily Devotional" The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, 23 June 2016 with Scripture Luke 9:51-62

"God Pause Daily Devotional" The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, 23 June 2016 with Scripture Luke 9:51-62
Luke 9:51 As the time approached for him to be taken up into heaven, he made his decision to set out for Yerushalayim. 52 He sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village in Shomron to make preparations for him. 53 However, the people there would not let him stay, because his destination was Yerushalayim. 54 When the talmidim Ya‘akov and Yochanan saw this, they said, “Sir, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to destroy them?”[Luke 9:54 2 Kings 1:9–16] 55 But he turned and rebuked them.[Luke 9:55 Some manuscripts have verses 9:55b–56a: . . . and he said, “You don’t know what Spirit you are of; 56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy people’s lives, but to save.”] 56 And they went on to another village.

57 As they were traveling on the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Yeshua answered him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds flying about have nests, but the Son of Man has no home of his own.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me!” but the man replied, “Sir, first let me go away and bury my father.” 60 Yeshua said, “Let the dead bury their own dead; you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God!” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, sir, but first let me say good-by to the people at home.” 62 To him Yeshua said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and keeps looking back is fit to serve in the Kingdom of God.”

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It would appear that a mantle of destiny has been laid across Jesus' shoulders. His face is set. One can imagine a forbidding determination. Does he fully understand what awaits him? Certainly he imagines a legal challenge and a public accounting. Shame and discomfort are assured. But as to the rest, perhaps even Jesus sets his imagination aside for a time; just to keep his feet moving in the right direction. All we can do at this time is watch or, better yet, take up our place just behind him in the grim march forward. Sometimes discipleship calls us to paths unknown. Our only assurance is that we cannot step where Jesus has not first gone or where Jesus will not be with us.
Abiding God, walk with us. The road is often dim, the way uncertain, our part yet to be cast. Walk with us. Stay close. Be our light and the guide at our right hand. Amen.
Chris Bellefeuille
Pastor, Valley of Peace Lutheran Church, Golden Valley, Minn.
Master of Divinity, 2003
Luke 9:51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him;
53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.
54 When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"
55 But he turned and rebuked them.
56 Then they went on to another village.
57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
59 To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
60 But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
61 Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home."
62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." [New Revised Standard Version]
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