As the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth was drawing nearer, large crowds of people followed Him from each town and village. So the question someone raised in Luke 13:23 may seem unusual: “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”
Jesus had spent time with the crowds. He had fed them, taught them, and healed them; yet He knew that relatively few would follow Him as true disciples. He knew He would ultimately be rejected by the crowds.
Jesus said that the gate is narrow, and few will find it. Most people will not taste and see that the Lord is good. The simple answer to this probing question is, “Yes, the number of people who will be saved is significantly less than those who will not.” Many people knew about Jesus. They had shared meals with Him and listened to Him, but they did not know Him personally as Lord and Savior.
Jesus was clear that being a Jew by birth or a zealot for the law was not enough to enter God’s kingdom. God’s heart is both for Jews and Gentiles. Jesus’ honest response offers hope to those who will hear. He tells them that no matter the numbers, make every effort to be one who enters that narrow gate. You do not want to be left outside the entrance.
We are surrounded by people who wonder about this very same thing. Who will be saved? Though we are not armed with the eternal knowledge of God, we do have pictures like this in Scripture that remind us to point to the hope of Christ in all things. We don’t know the future—and it’s not for us to know—but we do know where hope is found. The subject line of our message should be as hopeful as the gospel that saved us. The invitation to God’s kingdom is for all to place their trust in Christ, the One who was rejected and killed on a cross—so that we may be justified and fully accepted by His sacrifice on our behalf.
FAMILY TALKING POINTS
CHRIST CONNECTION
This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
- Babies & Toddlers: Everyone who trusts in Jesus will enter God’s kingdom.
- Younger Preschool: Everyone is invited into the kingdom of God, but not everyone will go in. People are saved only by trusting in Jesus.
- Older Preschool: Everyone is invited into the kingdom of God, but not everyone will go in. People are saved only by trusting in Jesus. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him.
- Kids: Everyone is invited into the kingdom of God, but not everyone will enter. People are saved only by trusting in Jesus. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER
This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
- Younger Preschool: Why do people not choose Jesus? People choose what they want rather than what God wants.
- Older Preschool: Why do people not choose Jesus? People are born with sin and choose what they want rather than what God wants.
- Kids: Why do people reject Jesus? People reject Jesus because all people are born with a sin nature and want to please themselves rather than obey God.
KEY PASSAGE
This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.
- Babies & Toddlers: People were unkind to Jesus. Isaiah 53:3
- Younger Preschool: People turned away from Jesus and were unkind to Him. Isaiah 53:3
- Older Preschool: He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him. Isaiah 53:3
- Kids: He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him. Isaiah 53:3
** Next week: Jesus Raised Lazarus (John 11–12)