22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”
He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’
“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’
28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”
Read Luke 13:22-30 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!
In our time focusing in on Jesus’ life and ministry within the gospels, we come to one of the more difficult passages, at least for me, that is included within the gospels. In this passage, we will be looking a little closer at the group of people who are not saved.
The primary descriptive term used in this passage to describe this excluded group is “evildoers”. This tells me that while this group “ate and drank” with Jesus, their time in His presence didn’t do anything to change their hearts away from sin.
Twice Jesus says that He does not know them or where they come from. This also tells me even though Jesus “knows” everything (because He’s God), it is very likely these people have not ever opened their hearts and lives to Jesus.
In both these descriptions, it seems as though some of these people live a double life, and some of these people may also have bought into the idea that salvation equals the freedom to sin because Jesus has already paid the price.
However, in both cases, the people take for granted the need of a personal relationship with Jesus. In a relationship with Jesus, we share our lives with Jesus, and as we grow in our love and respect for Him, we intentionally move away from doing things that don’t please Him (you might call that “sin” or “evil-doing”).
Jesus knows where we have “come from” when we share our past mistakes with Him, and He knows us when we are living our present lives with a regular connection to Him.
This leads us into our big idea for this journal entry: How honest are you with Jesus about your life – both your current and past experiences? Are your current actions drawing you closer into a relationship with Jesus, or allowing you to slip further away?
The best way to connect with Jesus is through prayer, Bible Study, and listening for the Holy Spirit. The next best way, which you can easily do along with the first, is living every minute as though you are with Jesus. Think of it like you are tackling the challenges in your day together.
As we share our lives with Jesus, we grow closer to Him, and the closer we are to Him, the better He knows us.
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
Subscribe to this blog and never miss an insight.