JesusX30 Challenge—Scene 20: THE DISCIPLES’ RECKONING
@TysonPutthoff | #JesusX30Challenge #JesusX30 #JX30Challenge
1. Key Texts
• John 11 — Lazarus raised
• Luke 14–19 — Teachings in Perea
• Luke 15 — Parables of the lost
• Luke 19:1–10 — Zacchaeus
• John 11:45–53 — Plot to kill Jesus
2. Date & Place
• Winter 28–Spring 29 AD, between Hanukkah and Passover.
• Jesus withdraws from Jerusalem into Perea, the Judean Desert, and parts of Samaria.
• This is a tactical retreat: not fear, but regrouping, recalibrating, and forming the disciples for what’s next.
3. Main Account
A. Teaching at the Pharisee’s Dinner (Luke 14)
• Jesus heals on the Sabbath and confronts honor culture.
• “Take the lowest seat” — greatness = humility.
• Parable of the Great Banquet: the invited elites refuse; the poor and excluded rush in.
• God’s guest list overturns human hierarchy.
B. Counting the Cost (Luke 14:25–33)
• Following Jesus requires deliberate choice and total reorientation.
• Discipleship is not convenience — it’s commitment.
C. Parables of the Lost (Luke 15)
• Lost sheep, lost coin, prodigal son.
• Heaven celebrates restoration, not perfection.
• Jesus defends his mission to tax collectors and sinners by showing God’s heart for the overlooked.
D. Wealth, Justice, and Spiritual Sight (Luke 16)
• The dishonest manager: use resources wisely for eternal impact.
• Rich man and Lazarus: compassion withheld becomes judgment.
• Wealth is a test of vision — whether we can see the person at our gate.
E. Lazarus: The Turning Point (John 11)
• Jesus delays intentionally; arrives after four days.
• “Lazarus, come out!” — a public confrontation with Death.
• The miracle sets off alarm bells in Jerusalem: Caiaphas declares Jesus must die for the nation.
• From this point, the plot against Jesus becomes irreversible.
F. Encounters in Jericho & Perea (Luke 18–19)
• Jesus welcomes children, heals the blind, and calls Zacchaeus down from the tree.
• Zacchaeus’ response is tangible repentance: generosity, restitution, justice.
• Jesus: “Today salvation has come to this house.”
• Salvation appears as transformed economic ethics — mercy embodied.
4. Main Point
• This season is Jesus’ training ground for the disciples.
• Momentum slows, pressure rises, and Jesus shifts from public action to deep formation.
• The Kingdom’s pattern emerges: life where there was death, mercy where there was exclusion, justice where there was greed.
• Faith matures not through hype but through endurance.
5. Exegetical Insight
• “Lazarus, come out!” uses the Greek kraugazō — a commanding shout, not a plea.
• Parables in Luke 14–16 echo prophetic critiques of pride, wealth, and religious self-protection.
• Zacchaeus’ fourfold restitution aligns with Exodus 22 — true repentance is restorative.
6. Reflection Questions
• How do I respond when the excitement fades and discipleship requires endurance?
• Where is Jesus asking me to take the “lowest seat”?
• Who is at my gate, unnoticed?
• Where might God be reframing a setback as preparation?
7. Action Step / Challenge
• Identify one hard area of your life and ask: “How is this forming me?”
• Practice Kingdom humility this week — take the lower seat, listen first, elevate the overlooked.
• Look for a “Lazarus moment”: somewhere God might be bringing life out of loss.
Buy the books!
This 30-day challenge is based on my book trilogy entitled Jesus: The Strategic Life and Mission of the Messiah and His Movement (3 Volumes, Hekhal Publishing Co., 2025).
You can buy or borrow the trilogy at:
Hekhal Publishing Co. (look for free samples of each book as well)
Amazon (print or ebook)
Barnes & Noble (print or ebook)
Hoopla (borrow)
Many more booksellers worldwide!
