Studies by Book
Luke 13 22-30 The narrow door 01 His kingdom and entrance by the way of the cross
📖 Luke 13:22-30
14Oct19 - *His kingdom and entrance by the way of the cross* – Luke 13:22-30_ - Bible reading: _Mark 10:32-34_
_Luke 13:22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem._
Jesus gave us two parables, explaining the kingdom and now He is warning and challenging us of how we must enter through the narrow gate into His kingdom. This is what we will study in this passage.
First, Jesus was teaching in the cities and villages, the good news of His kingdom. _Luke 4:43-44/ Matthew 9:35/ Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people._
As much as He spoke of His kingdom, He was also steadfastly focused to go to Jerusalem. We must keep in mind that Jesus was speaking to a Jewish audience and they were all expectantly looking forward for God’s kingdom. They were naturally, thinking that when God’s kingdom would come, then the Roman rule over them would be over thrown and God would establish His kingdom. They were not able to understand the implications of His kingdom in the way Jesus explained the kingdom, through the two parables, that we just studied.
For His kingdom to be established, Jesus would have to necessarily go to the cross. _Mark 10:32-34 Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: (33) "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; (34) and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."_
The Lord was wanting the disciples to understand that the cross was pivotal for people to enter into the kingdom, prophesied of Him in the Old Testament. _Luke 18:31-33 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. (32) For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. (33) They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."_
*Thought to ponder*
```We too will have to enter His kingdom, through the way of the cross.```