Jesus passed through towns and villages,
teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.
Someone asked him,
“Lord, will only a few people be saved?”
He answered them,
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
‘Lord, open the door for us.’
He will say to you in reply,
‘I do not know where you are from.
And you will say,
‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’
Then he will say to you,
‘I do not know where you are from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!’
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and all the prophets in the kingdom of God
and you yourselves cast out.
And people will come from the east and the west
and from the north and the south
and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last.”    GospelLK 13:22-30

 

Lord will only a few people be saved?

Jesus turns focus from curiosity about the salvation of others to concern about one’s own future

So often we worry so much about salvation of others,

Trying to change people, make them somebody better, take care of their sins,

In some ways it is something good

We pray for others, do sacrifices for them

But in many ways our care for others salvation may become something abusive

We may do too much.. Taking God out of scene

Where what is most important is that we will focus on entering the narrow door in our own daily life

Jesus doesn’t say:

Accept me as your savior and redeemer and you will be saved…

Which is so common approach among many Christian denominations.

Salvation is a free gift but requires our response

Our cooperation, our effort, our work.

There are two terms we need to clarify: Redemption and Salvation.

Jesus Christ redeems us. He died for us. He paid the debt for our sins.

He unlocked for us the gates of heaven. He left us sacraments and church.

He made reconciliation and forgiveness possible again.

We are redeemed by blood of Jesus.

And as a fruit of it he offers us salvation.

Means place in heaven. It’s a free gift.

But it requires our respond and work with Gods grace.

 

Lord will only a few people be saved?

Life is not about living in fear asking am I saved or not. Would I be saved or not

Will I go to heaven or not

This is a wrong perspective, which takes away freedom and our dignity: we are adopted Gods sons and daughters

 

In Jesus’ context narrow gate was his death on the cross. He is going to Jerusalem.

For his people narrow gate was challenge to accept him as their Messiah. Jews people had different expectations. Many of them didn’t accept Jesus.

For me narrow gate are the situations I’m trying to avoid, that are challenging for me.. people I’m not dealing well with, me personal struggles..