Investments

What expectations do you have of Jesus? Are they correct according to

God’s Word? How do you know?

R. Kent Hughes provides a detailed backdrop to the nobleman traveling to

receive authority (Luke 19:12-14). Read this:

“When King Herod died, his will gave Archelaus over half of his kingdom,

but the title could not be passed on. And poor Archelaus’ ego smarted. So

it was that Archelaus assembled an entourage and departed for Rome to

ask Caesar for the title. The group included his mother (Malthace), his

friends (Poplas, Ptolemy, and Nicholas), and other family members

(namely, Solome and her children and various nephews and sons-in-law of

the late king (Josephus, War , 2.1 §14,15). 

But to Archelaus’ surprise, in Rome some of his family opposed his getting

the title, even accusing him before Caesar. Then, even more surprising, a

delegation of fifty Palestinians (amazingly Jews and Samaritans together)

had also traveled to Rome to oppose him before Caesar. Solome’s children

accused him first ( War 2.5 §26–32). And when the fifty Palestinians

arrived, a huge confrontation took place in the lavish setting of the temple

of the Palatine Apollo. The fifty were joined by eight thousand expatriate

Jews living in Rome ( War 2.6,1 §80–83). There, before Caesar and the

vast throng, the Palestinians related that Archelaus had massacred some

three thousand Jews at Passover, heaping the bodies in the temple, and

then tortured others—all to prove he was as powerful as his father

( War 2.6, 2 §84–89). And if this was not enough, they argued that he

was inept, corrupt, and corrupting and was ruining a prosperous land

( Antiquities 17. 11, 2 §304–315). 

Caesar, after hearing both parties, dismissed the great assembly. A few

days later he announced his decision, which satisfied no one. Josephus

records: “He gave half the kingdom to Archelaus, with the title ethnarch,

promising, moreover, to make him king, should he prove his deserts”

( War 2.6, 3 §93–95). All returned to Palestine unhappy. And Archelaus

never did “prove his deserts”—he never was called king. 

All this scandal was tucked into the Palestinian/Jewish mind. It was part of

their lore—“Archelaus the wanna-be.” When Jesus proceeded to give the

parable, he referenced this well-known story line. But his parable took a

different turn than the Archelaus episode because it was not about a

would-be-king but the true King. It was about Jesus himself.”

What tasks has Jesus called you to do? Are you doing them? What stops

you from doing the work He has called you to do?

Thabiti Anyabwile says, “God calls us to live for a reward we cannot

imagine.” Read 2 Cor. 5:10. In what ways are you seeking to be faithful?

How can you be more faithful this week?

Read Luke 19:20-24. Does the unfaithful servant resemble you? Why or

why not?

Read John 19:19-22. What did Pilate do? What did Israel’s religious rulers

want? What did they not want? In what ways do we not want Jesus to be

king over our lives? What do we need to do to change?

Read Luke 19:27 and Revelation 19:11-16. Does God’s slaughter of

rebels offend you? Why or why not?

Have you received Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? If not, you can

make this decision today.

Read Colossians 3:4. Is Christ your life? Where do you spend most of your

time, talents, treasures and thoughts? This will indicate what your life is

about. What will you do this week to make Christ your life?

Have you ever shared the gospel with someone?

Write down some names of people you can pray for this week. Invite that

person or those people to Journey to the Cross on Friday, April 15 from 3-

6p.m. Invite them to the Easter Sunday service on April 17. Follow up with

them and ask what they think about Jesus.

How will you make spiritual investments this week? Make a list. Share it

with a friend who can hold you accountable.