The Twelve asked Jesus this question (Luke 13.23).
His answer is surprising, in that He said that some who might be expected to be saved are not. Others (Gentiles) will come from the east and west and north and south and will enjoy the eternal kingdom of God.
The New Testament answers the same question with the word ‘many.’ The number who will enjoy God’s eternal kingdom will be huge.
Paul uses this word in Romans 5.15, 19:
“But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! … For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”
John’s visions in Revelation tell a similar story. The apostle is transported in space and time, we might say. At times he looks back from the far future. He sees a great multitude that no-one can count (Rev 7.9). These are those who are ‘saved.’
Sometimes we hear a teaching that suggests that very few will be saved, that Heaven will be sparsely populated. These verses seem not to reach that same conclusion.
Back to Paul. He boldly states: “”Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children, break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labour pains; because more are the children of the desolate women than of her who has no husband.” This is Gal 4.27, quoting Gen 21.10. He is referring to the children of Sarah, but says that we are also like Isaac, children of promise. Could it be that more will be saved than lost?
In bringing the Twelve some reassurance, Jesus told them that He is going to prepare a place for them (John 14.2-3). The Greek word (MONE) is a dwelling place. Apparently, our English words ‘manor’ and ‘manse’ are derived from this word. Heaven, it seems, will be full but not crowded. We will be able to truly enjoy God in a spacious place (Psalm 18.9).

Psalm 75.7 reads: “But it is God who judges. He brings one down, He exalts another.”
On reading these words, my mind goes to two prayers, one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament.
Hannah prayed; “The Lord sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap” (1 Sam 2.7-8).
And Mary prayed; “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty” (Luke 1.52-53).
It would be possible to conclude that God is capricious. But we know from scripture that this is not true. For He is good. So, when He exalts one and humbles another, it cannot be some divine thrown-of-the-dice, not an act of pure caprice or mean-ness.
We do not always know the ‘why’ of God. Why does He exalt one and humble another? Yet that is to do with His judgment, His drawing of a line, His changing of human circumstances.
We may miss a spiritual truth by seeing only the short-term circumstances. It was Esau who despised his birthright (Gen 25.34). Esau failed to look beyond the immediate circumstances, and his own hunger and weariness after a hard day’s work.
The Psalmist responds to God’ justice by gratitude (Ps 75.1), by praising Him (Ps 75.9). We praise Him for the fact that He is good and unchangeable. The thought of omnipotence without goodness is simply too awful to contemplate.
And, running through the Psalm is a theme of submission. To truly trust God is to submit to His will, whatever the circumstances. And we learn not to fear His justice.

These are the words of Mary to the servants at the wedding in Cana, the place of Jesus’ first miracle (John 2.5).

Mary gave no more explanation. Perhaps she did not know precisely what her son would do.

But this is the constant command to followers of Jesus Christ; “Do whatever He tells you.” Do it without seeking explanation, without asking ‘why?’ That is the way of faith. This is echoed in this incident from C. S. Lewis’ The Silver Chair, “Aslan didn’t tell Pole what would happen. He only told her what to do. That fellow will be the death of us once he’s up, I shouldn’t wonder. But that doesn’t let us off following the signs.”

The Lord Jesus shows an uncompromising firm-ness. He requires much of us. In fact, everything. Matthew records that He made His disciples get into the boat, sending them into a storm (Matt 14.22).

He calls us to a high standard of character and commitment. Jesus passed on to the Twelve, and to us, “everything I have learned” from the Father (John 15.15). And He commanded the Twelve, and us, to make disciples “teaching them to obey everything” (Matt 28.20).

Whilst our obedience might lead to unexpected destinations, we can never say that He has failed us.

We have a lifetime to explore and enjoy Christ’s commands. Meditate on them, discuss them, share them.

In the Old Testament, the Lord God commanded the nation of Israel to keep His words close, on their foreheads, on their doorposts (Deut 11.18-20). The people of God were to reflect the character of God in every aspect of their lives. This is not ‘religion,’ this is a way of life.