Travel Advisory

What on earth was Jesus talking about now? There they were in Jerusalem, the culmination of the three years of traveling and teaching with the Master. They were in the city that was the center of their universe. Jesus had confounded all his questioners and accusers. The people had hailed him as a conqueror just a few short days ago, when he rode into the city on that ridiculous donkey. They were eating the Passover together. What more could anyone ask for? Surely the moment they had all been waiting for was at hand. Surely any day now he would reveal himself as the long-awaited messiah and king. The entire nation would come together at last, the heavens would open, the Romans would disappear, and milk and honey would flow in the streets of Jerusalem.

But what had Jesus meant by somebody betraying him? “The Son of Man is going as it has been determined,” Jesus had said, “but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!” [Lk 22:22] They must have misheard him. Or maybe it was another one of his little bombshells that he tended to lob into their midst to get them thinking. Jesus probably meant that when he took his rightful place at the head of the restored kingdom, anybody who hadn’t gotten on board would be sorry. They’d be out in the cold for sure.

What a change was coming! Instead of being footsore homeless vagabonds wondering where their next meal was coming from, worrying if the next Roman crackdown was going to drive them back into their villages, they’d be living on easy street, eating at the king’s table and getting the respect they deserved. Finally.

Hey, Andrew, Levi, did you catch what Jesus just said? “You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." [Lk 22:28-30] What kind of organization would Jesus put together? Probably Peter and James and John would be at the top of the list in the new order, after all they’d pretty much been the inner circle all along. But surely Judas would get a top spot, treasury or something. He’d been taking care of the money. And Thomas - Thomas was sharp. But whatever happened, they would all be involved in helping Jesus restore God’s peace and justice - everything they’d been longing for since God promised David a righteous king. Wow! What a time to be alive! Who would ever have thought just a few years ago that they would be the ones to help usher in the kingdom! Judging the twelve tribes! Wouldn’t their fathers be proud of them! Nathaniel promised himself he wouldn’t breathe a word about his mother’s everlasting complaining about how he’d abandoned the family to chase after another itinerant preacher!

“Jesus, you don’t have to remind us again about serving the people, not lording it over them, or grinding the faces of the poor in the dirt. We KNOW we have to behave better than the Greeks and the Romans have, and we will! We promise! We’re not in this to get rich, you know that! And we’re not going to be jealous of each other, truly we won’t, whatever you decide will be fine with us, it’s just fun to dream about the day. When is it going to be, huh? Is it going to be soon?”

“Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” [Lk 22:31-32]

“Jesus, what do you mean? You know I’ll never leave you! Even if they throw you in jail for a few days I’ll be right there at your side! I’d die for you, you know that! And of course I’ll encourage the brothers. Whatever you say, haven’t I always done whatever you asked of me?” Jesus just shook his head. “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” [Lk 22:34] Well, of course that shut Peter right up. Well, he did mutter, “I won’t either. You’ll see.”

And then, abruptly, Jesus changed the subject. And this is what they couldn’t understand. Because they’d been out on missionary trips before. And it had gone beautifully, every time! At first they didn’t understand why Jesus told them not to take money or provisions or even any sandals. But it turned out that the only people who wanted to hear the good news were the ones who didn’t judge by appearances, and who were willing to share what they had.