Bowling Green Covenant Church

The Traveler’s Advisory

Friday 2 March 2007

“As the time drew near for his return to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” – Luke 9.51 [NLT]

“And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.[1] He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven.” – The Letter to the Hebrews 12.1b-2 [NLT]

One of the more powerful the characteristics regarding God’s word for which we can be especially thankful is what the Reformers called Scriptura ex Scriptura explicanda est (Scripture is explained and must be explained by Scripture). For a case in point we need only look at the two texts above.

When Jesus “resolutely set out for Jerusalem” He was at the pinnacle of popularity. The events recorded in Luke 9 underscore this. Jesus sent out the apostles giving them “power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases…and to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal,” (vv. 1-2). He fed the five thousand, (vv. 10-17). In verse 20, Peter confesses that Jesus is “the Christ of God.” In verses 28-36, Peter, James and John witness the transfiguration of Jesus and hear the voice of God the Father declare, “This is My Son, my Chosen One; listen to Him.” Immediately after He is transfigured, Jesus heals a boy filled with an unclean spirit (vv.37-43). Jesus is so popular His disciples are convinced He will usher in a new monarchal dynasty in Israel. They are so convinced that when the people of a Samaritan village refuse to welcome Jesus they ask if He would like them “to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” Luke tells us Jesus “turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village,” (vv. 54-56).

Jesus had come to rule and to reign. But the path to the throne led through the cross. Jesus determined to go to Jerusalem because that is where prophets go to die. He was determined to gain the crown by enduring the cross. Jesus knew that popularity, like the wind, would eventually change direction. There was only One opinion that mattered, only One voice He had to obey, only One Person He had to impress – His Father. He came to die in Jerusalem and to Jerusalem He would go. Nothing would stop Him. He was determined to keep His obligation to fulfill the eternal covenant existing between Him and His Father (John 12.27-28).

Scriptura ex Scriptura explicanda est. Luke 9.51 is explained by Hebrews 12.1b-2. Jesus “resolutely set out for Jerusalem” knowing He would die the cruelest form of death—and as criminal. But He endured the cross, says the writer of Hebrews, “scorning its shame,” and He did so “because of the joy he knew would be his afterward.” This is a fact in which we need to marinate our soul.

Scriptura ex Scriptura explicanda est. Hebrews 12.1b-2 is explained by 1 John 4.10, “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins,” [NLT].

The time before Easter is traditionally given to thoughts of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We like the resurrection, but avoid deep thinking about the cross. However, without the cross there is no resurrection. Without the cross our sins are not taken away and we cannot be forgiven. Without the cross there is no crown, no being seated with Christ in heavenly places, no promise of life in this life with the hope of life beyond this life. Without the cross there is no Gospel—no good news.

But there is a cross. There is a sacrifice to take away sins. There is life in this life with hope for life beyond this life. There is also, therefore, strength to run with endurance the race God has set before us. It is a strength that comes from One determined to scorn the cross for the joy of wearing the crown and for the greater joy of being seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne.

You think about that.

MM

[1] Or, Jesus, the Originator and Perfecter of our faith.