On first glance, a couple of points pop out at me. I’m not sure which one is strongest for me at this time. I compare Jerusalem to the church today. Jew or Christian, it doesn’t matter. It’s the center of religious activity, law, ritual, interpreter of God’s will.
“Surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem” (vs. 33) There’s been a time or two that I’ve wondered, “Do you have to leave the Church to be the church?” Right theology and commandments as the will of God take our eyes off following Jesus into the need of the world. Yet this statement says you have to be inside Jerusalem if you are going to be heard. The problem, for prophets like Jesus, is that when you are heard, you are destroyed. But that’s why he came.
“Go tell that fox…” (vs. 32). A commentary I read taught me something new. Jesus called Herod a ‘fox.’ What’s that about? Randall Buth (“That Small Fry Herod Antipas”) says that Jesus was implying that Herod was not a lion, the king of beasts. Jesus was cutting Herod down to size. In the proper Hebraic cultural meaning, a fox was a pompous pretender, a small-fry in the scheme of things. Jesus had more important matters to attend to. So, who are the ‘foxes’ in today’s church?
That’s a start. Let's meditate on these, and more during the week. PWM
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