The Glory of His Final Journey to Jerusalem
The Kingdom of Christ · AD 30
Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Matthew 24:44
In March of AD 30 the Lord Jesus made His final journey to Jerusalem, teaching all the way about the kingdom of God and how a sinner enters it. He healed ten lepers, explained that His kingdom comes in two phases — inaugurated now in the hearts of His people and consummated at His return — and showed that only the humble, the childlike, and the empty-handed press into it. From the rich young ruler who walked away sorrowful to Zacchaeus who was found and saved, this journey answers the question: what must we do to be ready when the King comes?
Read: Luke 17:11–37; Luke 18:1–43; Mark 10:13–52; Luke 19:1–27
Ten Lepers and the Coming Kingdom
As Christ passed along the border between Samaria and Galilee, ten lepers stood at a distance and cried, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” He told them to go and show themselves to the priests, and as they went they were cleansed. But only one — a Samaritan — turned back, fell at Jesus' feet, and gave thanks. We are spiritual lepers who deserve to stand far off, yet Christ is merciful to all who cry out for mercy.
When the Pharisees asked when the kingdom of God would come, they expected it to arrive all at once, sweeping Rome away and exalting Israel. But Christ taught that the kingdom comes in two phases. At His first coming He inaugurated it, planting it in the hearts of His people through the new birth; at His second coming He will consummate it, judging the nations and making all things new. The first came with little notice; the second will be seen by every eye, sudden and unmistakable as lightning.
His return, He said, will be like the days of Noah and of Lot — people eating, drinking, buying, and building as if the world would last forever, when destruction suddenly falls. Therefore we must not cling to this perishing world. Remember Lot's wife, who looked back; for whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will keep it.
Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
Luke 17:17–18
“Behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
Luke 17:21
Watch, Pray, and Humble Yourself
To teach His disciples always to pray and not lose heart, Christ told of a persistent widow who wore down an unjust judge until he granted her justice. How much more, He said, will the righteous God give justice to His elect who cry to Him day and night? The faith that moves mountains is the faith that keeps us at Christ's feet — yet He asked, “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
To those who trusted in their own righteousness, He told of a Pharisee and a tax collector praying in the temple. The Pharisee's prayer was full of self-congratulation; the tax collector would not even lift his eyes but beat his breast and cried, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” It was the tax collector who went home justified.
When parents brought their little children for Him to bless, the disciples rebuked them, but Christ was indignant. To enter the kingdom, He said, we must become like children — empty-handed, unafraid to ask, willing to believe, with nothing to give but everything to receive.
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:14
“Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Mark 10:14–15
The Rich Young Ruler and the Cost of the Kingdom
A young ruler ran up, knelt, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Two things hindered him: he did not see that he was a sinner, and he was not ready to give up his idol — his wealth. When Christ told him to keep the commandments, he claimed he had kept them all. So the Lord struck at the root: “Sell what you possess and give to the poor… and come, follow me.” The man went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Christ told His astonished disciples how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom — harder than a camel passing through the eye of a needle. But this is true of every sinner, rich or poor, for no one can free himself from the ruling power of sin. When they cried, “Then who can be saved?” He gave the hope of the new covenant.
When Peter said they had left everything to follow Him, Christ promised that no one who leaves home or family for His sake will fail to receive a hundredfold now, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. He then told of laborers hired at different hours who all received the same wage — for in the kingdom, the last will be first and the first last, and God's generosity will confound the self-righteous.
Walking ahead of His disciples toward Jerusalem, Christ warned them plainly that the Son of Man would be delivered to the chief priests, mocked, flogged, and killed, and after three days rise. He marched with resolve to fulfill all that the prophets had written, though the meaning of His words was hidden from the Twelve. When James and John sought the seats of honor, He taught that greatness in His kingdom is servanthood.
But he said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”
Luke 18:27
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:45
Jericho: Seeking and Saving the Lost
Days from the cross, Christ entered Jericho still searching for the lost. Zacchaeus, the region's chief tax collector, had grown wealthy by defrauding his people. Too short to see over the crowd, he climbed a sycamore tree — and the Lord looked up and called him by name: “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” The crowd grumbled that Jesus would honor such a sinner.
But in Christ's presence Zacchaeus was transformed. He confessed his sin and pledged to give half his goods to the poor and repay fourfold anyone he had defrauded. While the rich young ruler had gone away sad, this tax collector was made glad.
On the road out of Jericho, two blind beggars — one named Bartimaeus — cried out over the crowd, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” Though rebuked and hushed, they only cried louder. Christ stopped, called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” He touched their eyes, and immediately they saw and followed Him, glorifying God.
As they drew near to Bethany, and the crowds supposed the kingdom would appear at once, Christ told the parable of the ten minas. A nobleman went away to receive a kingdom, entrusting money to his servants to invest until he returned to reward the faithful and judge his enemies. So too there is an interval between the King's first coming, when He entrusts us with stewardship, and His second, when He rewards and judges. If we would be ready, let us be found faithful.
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Luke 19:9–10
For Reflection
Down, down, down our Lord traveled in His first coming to prepare us for His second. He has made every preparation, but we must respond by making ourselves ready. We must cry out for mercy as unworthy sinners, be found clothed in the robes of His righteousness, and look to Him with childlike faith. He is coming again as a thief in the night; so let us press into the spiritual kingdom He has already inaugurated, watching, praying, and stewarding faithfully all He has entrusted to us until He comes.