The Longing Christ
Scripture Reading: Luke 13:22-35
Meditation
The city of Jerusalem is the summit of Jesus’ ministry. It’s the culmination of his redemptive climb. It’s his destination. His goal.
On the peak of that city, he will stake a cross in the ground, climb it, extend his hands in triumph, declare his victory, and—while high and lifted up—invite all people to share in his kingdom.
This invitation is meant for all.
But not all will come.
Because of busyness and distraction, many will decline the invitation. Out of disinterest, some will dismiss it. And still others, unwilling to accept his Messianic claims, will discard it. Many are invited but few will come.
As Jesus makes his way to Jerusalem, a man asks,
“Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”
Jesus honors his question but gives an unexpected answer. He doesn’t tell the man how many will be saved; instead, he tells him who will be saved.
“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.”
The salvation door is narrow. There aren’t many ways into the Father’s house, there aren’t unlimited opportunities, and there isn’t even an unlimited amount of time. There’s only one entrance into the house of God.
As Jesus goes to Jerusalem, he wants everyone to know that he’s left the front door of his heavenly house wide open. He’s the Door. There’s no other entrance. He’s the one extending the invitation. He’s the one who longs to bring his entire family into his Father’s house. It’s his invitation and all are welcome.
As the Longing Christ walks to Jerusalem, he invites. As he suffers, hangs on the cross, and dies, he invites. As he rises from the dead, ascends, and waits for the day of his reappearance, he invites.
He is the one who holds the door open. But one day the door will close and—once that door is closed—it won’t be opened again.
“Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’
But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ ”
Jesus explains to the crowd, that—upon judgment—the salvation door will be closed. After the door is closed, there will be those who will stand outside knocking and pleading with the Longing Christ,
“Open the door for us.”
But the Judging Christ will declare that it’s too late.
“There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”
With every invitation, there is always the possibility of rejection.
“Don’t want it!”
“Don’t need it!”
“Keep it to yourself!”
As the Longing Christ makes his way towards Jerusalem, he laments her spirit of rebellion. Throughout the centuries, she had killed the prophets and stoned the ones sent to her. In a short while when Jesus walks through her gates, she will refuse, resist, and reject him.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”
Though rejected, the Longing Christ holds open the door.
Though his grace and mercy and peace are refused, he still offers. Though forgiveness is resisted, he still persists in extending nail-pierced hands. Day after day he invites. He welcomes those from every nation, from the east and the west, the north and the south. He holds the door open and says,
“Come! You’re invited! There’s a place just for you!”
Prayer
Father,
During his ministry, your Son taught primarily in the towns and villages of Galilee. He always knew, however, that he had to ultimately make his way to Jerusalem, the city that was known for killing the prophets and stoning those sent to it, the city of his lament and longing, the city of the cross.
As he hung on the cross, his beloved city ran from his embrace. She recoiled from his touch and rejected his affection. Even though he wept over her, she still was not willing. She who was first in his eyes became last and those who were last became first.
During this day, I pray that the Longing Christ would open his arms, gather me under his heavenly wings, and lead me through the narrow door into the house of the Father. May I take my place at the feast in the kingdom of God and sit next to all of his children, those from the east and west, the north and the south.
In the name of the Longing Christ I pray. Amen.
Reflection
What does it mean to enter through the “narrow door”?
What sense of urgency is there in knowing that one day the salvation door will be closed?
When the Longing Christ looks at your life, does he mourn?
In what ways does the Longing Christ want to gather you under his wings? Why would you or someone you know be unwilling to come?
All Scripture references in the meditation are marked by italics and are taken from the Gospel reading for the day (Luke 13:22-35). Those verses quoted outside of the chosen reading for the day are noted in parenthesis. All Scripture quoted on this site is taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.