Luke 13:31-33 31At that very hour some Pharisees came saying to him, “Go and leave from here, because Herod wants to kill you.” 32And he said to them, “Going say to that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish. 33Nevertheless, it is necessary for me to be on the way today and tomorrow and the day following, because it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’
This next story illustrates two types of opposition Jesus faced that would eventually lead to his death. The first few verses show the opposition from the political leaders, in particular, Herod. Verse 31 suggests that not all the Pharisees were hypocrites or against Jesus. Some of them had enough concern and interest to warn Jesus about Herod, who wanted to kill him. This was Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. Herod had already killed John the Baptist and now wanted to kill Jesus. Later, Jesus appeared before him in the trial. Herod did nothing to save him (23:6–16). Even though Jesus had this warning, he continued his journey toward Jerusalem because that was his mission and purpose in coming to the earth.
Verse 32 assumes that the Pharisees could somehow get word back to Herod that Jesus was not concerned. The statement could also simply be rhetorical and show that he had power over diseases and demons and held no fear of death. Foxes had a reputation for being tricky and deceitful, which is what Herod was like. The reference to a third day could be a veiled allusion to Jesus’ resurrection or simply just a rhetorical reference indicating that Jesus had some more ministry to complete and then would head to the finish line of his death. He would face death at his own good time. He was in complete control of his destiny, not Herod or any other person.
Verse 33 implies the necessity of Jesus to head to Jerusalem and the cross. It was God’s will, something that was determined before the world even was created. The central act of all creation was soon to take place. This is the second time Jesus mentioned his death in Jerusalem (9:51). The idea of a prophet dying in Jerusalem has Old Testament allusions where prophets like Jeremiah faced death threats from the authorities in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 26:20–23; 38:4–6).
Jesus did not let religious or political leaders stop him from his mission. These leaders may have thought they were doing their own will, but they were actually fulfilling God’s plan. We can find assurance and strengthen our faith knowing that the power of the cross came because of the sinlessness and faith of Jesus, the Son of God who became a man and faced the same challenges we face yet put his focus on the will of his heavenly Father.
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