 |
|
     |
|
|
|
The transition from Luke 6:11 to Luke 6:12ff is highly significant. We know it's significant because it is preceded by a night of prayer, as are many of the milestones in Jesus' ministry. What is at stake in the choosing of the Twelve?
Jesus has come preaching the kingdom, and the year of release. The people of Nazareth try to kill him. Strike one. Then Jesus enacts the year/day of release by healing on the Sabbath, and the Pharisees go out to discuss what to do about Jesus. Strike two. Israel gets only two strikes in this game: Immediately after, Jesus goes to a mountain and calls together the core or foundation of a new Israel. The old Israel has turned hostile to Jesus, proven themselves enemies of the kingdom, and so Jesus begins to carve out a new Israel within. Instead of a program to renew and exorcize Israel, Jesus' ministry becomes a program to form a new Israel.
Another important point is that Jesus gathers the twelve exactly as persecution is intensifying. That is, the Twelve are called to join Jesus not only in His preaching, healing, and exorcism, but also to share in His suffering. The persecution mentioned in the "sermon on the plain" is clearly coming from the Jews: "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day, and leap, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to do to the prophets" (6:22-23).
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Monday, September 08, 2003 at 02:31 PM
Permission is given to use material on this site, provided the source is cited, blog entries are republished in full, and the author is notified in advance.
1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary
The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter
A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons
Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature
Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen
The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism
A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel
From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution
Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy
Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper
A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament
Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature
Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays
Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life
The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
