"Go tell that fox, 'I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.' In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem! 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, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" (Luke 13:32-35)
At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, "Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you." (Luke 13:31)
Who is the 'fox'?
The "fox" Jesus refers to here is Herod - who felt threatened by Jesus. Herod wanted not only to be the king of Judea at that time. He also wanted to be its spiritual leader. For this reason, he claimed that he was a descendant of King David.This interesting warning from some Pharisees indicates some Pharisees were indeed convinced of the wisdom of Jesus' teachings. This is certainly the case with Nicodemus - who was also a pharisee yet was a follower of Jesus. It was Nicodemus who arranged the tomb for Jesus, and he also brought spices and burial clothe for Jesus.
Thus we can know from this that not all the Pharisees were necessarily against Jesus. Those who were, however, are to be understood as being envious. This is because they saw Jesus with many followers.
This is a common goal among some preachers: having many followers.
Is having lots of followers the goal?
No. And some might try to disguise their seeking of followers as their mission to save people in the name of Jesus. But as we find in so many cases, it is often simply the desire for many followers that drives many of these evangelical teachers.This is why so many appointed, paid preachers will stand up on their pulpit and say the things that people want to hear. They talk about the importance of family and they teach that we can ask Jesus for anything - whether it is getting rich, winning our baseball game or healing our leg - and he will do it.
Saying these things are a sure-fire way to attract followers. Just think about it. Anyone who says that all we have to do is make a request for wealth and we will get wealthy will naturally get lots of followers. But what kind of followers? Those who want to get wealthy. Or otherwise gain something else from prayer.
Did Jesus teach making money from teaching about God?
No. Jesus' teachings were to love and serve the Supreme Being. He did not suggest using God or Jesus as a means to gain wealth and lots of followers. This is why Jesus also said:"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matt. 7:21-23)This is why there were so many people - including Herod, the high priest Caiaphas - who wanted to get rid of Jesus. Jesus was threatening their positions of leadership. They were envious of Jesus because Jesus was teaching the Truth, and deep inside they knew this.
So why is Jesus speaking in this way regarding Jerusalem - using symbolism and such?
Jesus stated clearly that he was sent by God to teach the people of Judea - and Jerusalem was its capital:
“Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” (Mark 1:38)
"I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him." (John 5:43)
"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me." (John 6:38)
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me." (John 8:42)But this was not only Jesus' mission. It was also Jesus' teacher's mission - John the Baptist, about whom it was described:
He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. (Luke 1:16)Thus we know from this that Jesus is carrying on the mission of his teacher, John the Baptist. We also know that this is the same mission of Job, Ezekiel, David, Moses, Abraham and many other prophets: To bring back those of us who have fallen into this hellish material world.
Do God's Names have power?
Furthermore, we see that Jesus is discussing the power of the Holy Names of God:"I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord.'"Jesus is glorifying the Holy Name of the Supreme Being and connecting himself with that. We can see this elsewhere:
“I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth" (Matthew 11:25)He also taught the importance of praising God's Holy Names:
Matthew 5:14-16:
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
John 17:11:
"Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your Name, the Name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one."
And Jesus' activities provoked others to praise God:
Matthew 9:8:
When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God...
Matthew 15:31:
The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
Mark 2:12:
He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God
Luke 2:28:
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God.
Luke 7:16:
They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.”
Luke 13:13:
Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
Luke 18:43:
Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
Luke 23:47:Anyone can come closer to the Supreme Being by simply praising His Names.
The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God...
