Today you should read: Luke 13:18-35
Jesus – The King of kings, the Lord of lords, the one by which “all things were created,” the one for whom “all things were created” (Colossians 1:16), the Son of God, and God himself said his Kingdom is like that of a mustard seed. It starts out small and then grows and grows and grows and grows.
This isn’t what a Jew at the time would expect the Kingdom of God to be like. Jesus, the Messiah, was expected to come to earth and become the true Warrior King of Israel who would overthrow the Roman government. I would expect the Kingdom of God to be anything but a mustard seed.
This description of the Kingdom of God drove someone to ask Jesus, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” (v. 23) Jesus’s reply is again not what one would expect. The door to the Kingdom of God is narrow, and only a few will enter. In the end, people will be pleading to enter, but won’t be able to come in. Why? Because Jesus doesn’t know them.
The people that aren’t able to enter into the Kingdom of God were around Jesus. They ate with Jesus and were present when he was teaching, but they didn’t know him. They were close to Jesus in proximity, but not in relationship. This is a great depiction of what happens sometimes in churches today. Someone may visit, regularly attend, or even serve in the church, and still not know Jesus. Attending church is wonderful, but it is not what we do that saves us. It is believing in what Jesus has already done that saves us. It only by repenting and believing the Gospel that we enter into a relationship with Jesus.
One would expect Jesus to overthrow the Romans as a Warrior King. Instead, he died on a Roman Cross. Jesus lived a perfect life that we should have lived, and died on the Cross in our place. He came back from the dead, and in doing so, he defeated death. By believing or fully resting in this work on the Cross for us and repenting of our sins, we can be in a relationship with him. We can know Jesus.
Jesus desires to know you. Jesus longed to gather Jerusalem together into the Kingdom of God like a hen gathers her chicks, but they were not willing. Are you willing to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus?
Questions for today:
Are you close to Jesus in proximity (attend church) or are you close to Jesus in relationship?
If you do know Jesus, what are some ways that you can continue to grow in relationship with him?
By: Lucas Taylor — West Campus Pastoral Ministry Apprentice
JumpstartCPC.com 
Jesus as a symbol for the perfect life that we should have lived – that’s something I had never considered before. Thanks Lucas!
And the substitute! We have right standing with God because Jesus had right standing with God. We don’t face God’s judgment because Jesus did in our place.
And the substitute! We have right standing with God because Jesus had right standing with God. We don’t face God’s judgment because Jesus did in our place.
Great job Lucas for the commentary! Verse 24 gives me just a wake up reminder that I need to be in a relationship with Jesus, just as I am committed to my lovely wife, family, and friendships. If I live my life in a comfort zone with Jesus by just simply reading JumpStart without discerning His Word, I am not growing forward in my relationship with him. Some ways that I try (though I am not perfect) to grow with Him is becoming aware of those that I interact with on a daily basis and taking it as an opportunity to be purposeful to potentially spread the light of the Gospel. I easily fall in to being selfish thus focusing on myself so being purposeful to others focuses my attention to growing with God each day. A couple of verses that come to mind in this is James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” and my favorite John 3:30 ” He must increase, but I must decrease”.
Have a great day everyone! Thanks Lucas for commentary!
I have not been to church in a while due to my third shift schedule of working every Saturday and sunday night. I have felt the absence of my family and Christ’s closeness in my life. My immediate family is experiencing some issues and we are working through them. But, I have begun to sense I need to draw myself back to Christ, even in my absence at church. I dropped off the map with Junpstart for a few months and made a decision this week to draw closer to Him and be intentional about my time with Him. I have actually read 2 jump starts this week and while I don’t deserve an award, I’m taking it one day at a time and trying to start my day off with Him. I’m trying to wean my kids off of secular music and take other practical steps to be Christ to my family. It has to start at home and that is where I am starting. I covet your prayers for God to grow my self discipline so that I continue to intentionally make time for Him every day.
Sarah, praise God for you! When you seek Him, you will find Him! This world just crowds in and is so exhausting! That shift is so hard because it turns your life upside down from your family and your ability to participate in things with others. Christ rejoices over you with singing! He loves you with an everlasting love. His kindness leads us to repentance from sin and trust in Him alone for salvation. Isn’t it amazing! He knows our frame, that we are dust, but He just keeps on loving us!
There is a verse that I love: Philemon 1:6.
and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.
So when we share our faith, the Lord increases our knowledge and understanding of all the wonderful things we have through Christ. A lot of people, unfortunately, will reject the gospel. That’s not up to us. It’s their choice. But when we risk our reputation to share Christ’s love and plan of salvation, the Holy Spirit quickens our hearts to understand more fully how much we need Jesus and how much He loves us. I love God’s mysterious ways!