Tag: Luke

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Luke: Jesus Prays, Exhausted from Sorrow

Read: Luke 22:39-46

Have you ever been exhausted from sorrow? In this passage, Luke provides a brief glimpse into the garden where Jesus often prayed.

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. Luke 22:39

For Jesus to go out an pray was not unusual. For His disciples to follow Him was routine. The occasion, however, was anything but normal, but the disciples didn’t know.

This time would be the last time that Jesus would pray at the Mount of Olives. No more teaching, just an admonishment to avoid falling into temptation, though He knew they would fall asleep. I wonder if they typically snoozed while Jesus prayed? Is sleep a temptation?

He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:41-42

The ultimate Passover lamb submits to God.

Jesus prays so hard that his sweat was like drops of blood. Have you ever prayed that hard? At that moment, were you willing to say, yet not my will, but yours be done? Complete surrender.

There are times, even recently, when I’ve prayed so hard that it felt like the tears were drops of blood. The most sincere, deepest, hardest prayers are typically for my children. As a dad, I want them to live life to the fullest, to experience joy in this world with the assurance of the next. I hurt for them in ways that they don’t even see. In these moments I’ve found that my prayers often have no words if that makes sense. In the deepest, darkest moments there are few words that express my heart’s desire and I cry out for the Spirit to speak on my behalf.

All this pales in comparison with what Jesus is praying for and the path that is set before Him, but I like to think it gives me a small, minuscule perspective into that moment in the garden. In my limited human capability, I understand being exhausted from sorrow.

When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Luke 22:45-46

The disciples don’t get it, they simply don’t know that they just experienced the Last Supper, nor do they know this is the Last Prayer in the garden with Jesus.

Luke chooses words that are not harsh. I don’t get any sense of anger or rage, but maybe that’s just my own bias. He knows what they cannot possibly understand. All will become clear in a matter of days, though the ensuing hours will cause Peter to deny and the others to scatter.

Lord, we have the privilege of reading these words with a historical perspective. Help us to pray and not fall into temptation. Spirit, give us words to say or simply supply the utterances that express the desires of our heart for Your glory!

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Luke: The Last Supper – Part 2

Read: Luke 22:21-38

The second half of the Last Supper narrative in Luke is much more controversial. Jesus starts out by talking about the betrayal that has been planned for some time, then the disciples quibble over designated parking spots followed by Peter’s bold assertion, Jesus’ prediction of his denial, and then some final warnings. Whew! There’s a lot going on in this section.

Betrayal

Jesus tells this small group gathered in a private room for the Passover meal that His betrayer is there amongst them.

But woe to that man who betrays him!” They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this. Luke 22:22-23

It’s not a large crowd, so why the confusion? Was Judas playing along with the “who me?” game?  In reading Luke’s narrative, this debate doesn’t seem to go on for very long. The very next verse changes to a discussion about who will be the greatest among the disciples.

Not So With You

Jesus attempts to adjust the focus of the discussion. His Lordship is not like that which we see in the world. In fact, it’s pretty much upside down. The greatest will be the least, the first will be last, etc. To hammer home the point, He tells His disciples, and us by inference, that His kingdom is different.

But not so with you. Luke 22:26

At Exponential earlier this year, Andy Stanley made this one of his most important points: Not So With You. If I were ever to consider getting a tattoo, this would be high on the list of words to engrave on my body. I must not be like others in society. Leading as a servant is counter-cultural, but it is what Jesus calls us to be, demands this is what we do, then sends us out to go and make it happen.

Denial

Peter’s boldness is often talked about when we study his character. I love the guy! We think he’s all about, speak first, think later, but I like to think he is just in high gear all the time. He’s not concerned about what people think about his actions — only that he would serve Jesus first.

But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Luke 22:33

Prison in those days was not a joy ride with 24-hour TV. And the thought of being put to death was not a surgical process, to say the least. Peter’s statement here is a confession of his willingness to suffer greatly for Christ, even if he doesn’t quite get it all right at this point.

Once again, Jesus peeks into the future and explains what Peter will actually do, the infamous 3-time denial scene, but Jesus doesn’t tell people not to be bold. He does reset reality, but it’s not because Peter acts first and thinks later. I would rather have Jesus reset my expectations than any human. How about you?

Swords

Jesus warns them that times are about to get rough. He explains the challenges that will arise by reminding them of the previous times when they were out spreading the gospel. They didn’t need anything, but very soon this will all change. Jesus paints a picture that the disciples take literally.

The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That’s enough!” he replied. Luke 22:38

Enough! The night is not over, but the teaching session has ended. I picture Jesus letting out a sigh as He knows the hearts of those who will lead the world into a new day.

This crazy band of disciples who seem to get it wrong so often are Jesus’ select few. This is the group He chose. The handful He used to change the world. In each was planted the seed of greatness for the Kingdom.

I truly believe that within each of us is the capacity to do wonderful things for the Kingdom. The great tempter would like us to remember how we got it wrong last time, but Jesus does not give up on us. He continues to explain that it will not look like the world expects.

Don’t back off of the vision God has planted in your heart. Not so with you!

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Luke: The Last Supper – Part 1

Read: Luke 22:7-20

The first part of the Last Supper in today’s reading includes preparation for the meal and the serving of the bread and wine. The gospel writers each give us a different perspective on events during this significant evening and there is much to consider. I hope you find some time and space to linger in the upper room for a moment.

Celebrations of the Passover are significant, this is a huge part of Jewish culture. Luke tells us the disciples are separating themselves from their families to celebrate the day of Unleavened Bread. Imagine a dozen families whose father is absent on Christmas day because he was celebrating with a famous teacher. That might sound a bit trite, but I wonder what the families thought about the disciples’ personal commitment to Jesus.

Jesus asks His two closest disciples to go and make preparations, a process they all knew well. Ask yourself why Luke included verses 10-12 in his rendering of the narrative surrounding the Last Supper.

He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.” Luke 22:12

Mark’s version is similar: Mark 14:13-15, while Matthew’s is only one verse, Matthew 26:18. Luke promised to give us an orderly account of events to help us understand all the Jesus did. In this case, it seems he wants us to know once again that Jesus can see into the future, that events which are about to unfold are clear to Him. This is significant since He’s about to tell them some other news that’s not so good in Part 2.

They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. Luke 22:13

“Just as Jesus had told them.” It’s interesting that we don’t read words counter to this anywhere. For example, there’s nothing that implies Jesus is ever surprised at any event. Sure, He is emotional at times, but that’s not the same as being surprised.

Jesus told them many things. We get to flip back through pages and check the notes, the disciples were living through all that Jesus told them in real-time. All this is in preparation for the next few verses:

And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” Luke 22:15-16

I’m sure it took a while for the disciples to appreciate the significance of this statement, so don’t feel bad when it has to swim around in your mind before it makes sense. Jesus is about to pay the final price for which the entire sacrificial system was created. That might not resonate with us, but this is a complete change for the Jewish nation. This is significant.

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Luke 22:19-20

In a moment, a handful of words spoken in a room separated from families and followers, Jesus changed the course of history.

No more Passover sacrifices will be required. He is about to become the perfect sacrifice.

I’m sure I still don’t appreciate the weight of this moment, but I will continue to try as I read more, as I play songs that honor Christ, as I fast and pray.

Lord, make this moment real for all of us who call ourselves Christ followers.

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Luke: Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

Read: Luke 22:1-6

Luke describes this disturbing scene with a few words that should stop us in our tracks:

Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. Luke 22:3

 

What has been going on in the mind of Judas for this seminal moment? What would be that last straw that convinced him that he would give into Satan’s plan?

Jesus knew this would happen, that it must happen, yet He did nothing to prevent it. That alone should make us stop and wonder when non-believers ask us to explain why God allows bad things to happen.

Matthew’s account (Matthew 26:14-16) includes the price that was paid, though this is trivial and certainly insignificant compared to the cost for humanity. Yet this is important. Money is involved. Satan entered Judas.

They could have offered Judas a seat on the council, or a private parking spot for a month, or any number of honors, but somehow this came down to a payment. John’s gospel is much more critical of Judas in reflecting on his behavior. We’ll discuss that in the coming weeks, but it makes me wonder about this chink in Judas’ armor.

Another thought about the use of money by the chief priests is that it reveals their heart towards managing the offering. Just a few verses ago Luke reminded us of the poor widow’s offering, of how those in lofty places looked down upon her. The chief priests’ demonstrate their misuse of temple treasure here, to put it mildly.

Seth Godin’s blog this morning, The Moment of Maximum Leverage, reveals the myth about the tipping point,

that split second where a little effort can make a big differenceSeth Godin

It seems like a split second, but it’s really the result of much preparation, perhaps years of work.

Betrayal is at its worse when it comes from a close friend. The word alone is the epitome of disloyalty, but though the moment of the action is a fleeting few minutes, when we look back, it’s the result of much preparation, as Godin describes above.

One other note here: this happens before The Last Supper. The arrangement was made and Judas was poised to look for that moment when the crowds would be absent to deliver Jesus to the authorities. Lots of planning and preparation by the elite of Jewish society to maintain their perfect order.

He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. Luke 22:6

 

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Luke: Destruction and Encouragement

Read: Luke 21:5-38

The balance of chapter 21 is titled, The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times. Mostly red letters, the words of Jesus, are meant to motivate us to be courageous as the world falls apart. Mostly. Some quotes make me pause. Entire books have been written on the Olivet Discourse, so many details and much to debate. I’m not trying to add to that discussion here and I’m not about to explain pre-, post-, a-millennialism in this brief post! What I hear from this morning’s reading is that things are going to get much worse before they get much better. If we stick with Jesus, we will ultimately win. If we choose to ignore His words, we will suffer greatly (to put it mildly).

The disciples are in awe of the beauty of the Temple and make some comments about the beautiful stones and gifts. In my imagination, I can see them looking up and smiling as they express the wonder of the place where God is honored. The music swells, then Jesus throws a wet blanket on the whole group.

“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” Luke 21:6

And so the story begins. The Temple, the pride of the Jewish people, will be destroyed. For the Pharisees and Sadducees, this was ludicrous talk! Tantamount to blasphemy. Here’s a thought: when we begin to worship buildings, we’re probably not focused on God. Just sayin.

Jesus goes on to provide a lot of details. I hope He laid these out one at a time because each is heavy and take time to process. For example,

You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. Luke 21:16-17

If I were there, I’d probably try to get Jesus’ attention and say, “WAIT! What did you say? Put some of us to death? Can you explain how you want us to stand firm and win life?”

He’s on a roll, there is much more to be said. As He spoke these words, I envision a somber atmosphere where each is leaning in to hear as they sincerely try to comprehend what is being said.

Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Luke 21:24

These are not words that Jesus provides out of pride, He is sad about the reality that is about to be imposed on His friends and on the world. Remember His entry to Jerusalem just a few chapters ago:

As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it Luke 19:41

Jesus wept over the vision of what was to become of this most sacred place. So much of the Old Testament was about the Temple. David wanted to build it, but God said no. Solomon built it but got lost in the plethora of wives and concubines. Back and forth we watched as Israel was split and ultimately dispersed. In Jesus’ day, the Jewish community was going through a massive redecorating program where the Temple was once again looking nice. Unfortunately, it appears this was all in vain because those in charge missed the most important event in history: The Messiah was right in front of them. They were so focused on themselves, they missed Jesus. Let that thought sink in for a while.

The Encouragement

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Luke 21:28

When these things take place, not if. Lift up your heads, not with pride or arrogance, but with the assurance that you have chosen well, you have seen beyond the fog of this present day and to the future that holds eternity.

I leave you with a glimpse of John’s revelation:

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. Revelation 22:17

Be strong and courageous. Seek the lost as one who is found.

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Luke: The Proud and a Humble Offering

Read: Luke 20:45-21:4

Mark and Luke both provide two brief stories to contrast pride and arrogance versus humble obedience. The former will be severely punished while the latter is honored far above the proud.

The Proud

Jesus holds no punches in revealing the proud and arrogant Pharisees, the teachers of the law, that go about in flashy robes, long prayers, and seats of honor. We see this in a lot of different venues, especially in the entertainment business which, in my definition, includes sports. A pro basketball player makes the game-winning buzzer-beater then runs around beating his chest, standing on tables, making sure everyone knows he is the hero.

In this first story, Luke lets us know that the Pharisees’ actions will have consequences:

These men will be punished most severely. Luke 20:47c

Their punishment, however, is not so much because of their boasting, their buzzer-beater pride, it’s because of how they mishandle an important responsibility for the temple: offering, especially from those who are widows.

They devour widows’ houses Luke 20:47a

Widows and orphans have a special place in God’s heart. As we read through the Bible we see references to the fatherless and widows quite often, each time to make a point that we have a responsibility to care for those who are seen as the least in society.

Jesus makes the point that those responsible for the temple offering are abusing their position by taking advantage of widows. The crowd would certainly agree, but what can be done? No solution is offered except this important perspective: Jesus knows.

The Humble Offering

To hammer the point home, Jesus looks out over the area where the offering is rendered and notices a poor widow.

he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. Luke 21:1-3

No doubt the temple coffer keepers looked down upon the widow for her insignificant gift, but Jesus sees something completely different. He uses this as an example for us to follow as well as some assurance that the inappropriate behavior of those in charge is seen by the Father. He will not let this go unpunished.

Our Response

We know the story well. I hope this reminder helps us to pause when we interact with the waiter at a restaurant or friend or neighbor.

Jesus knows the hearts of mankind. He will avenge those who cannot speak for themselves. Have faith. Don’t be like these people. Learn the art of servant leadership as demonstrated by Jesus. We don’t need fancy titles or reserved parking spaces. All of that stuff is temporary anyway.

Lord help us to see the widows of this world, those who are fatherless, those who are far from You. Help us to see the hearts of all we interact with and humbly offer our very best to advance Your kingdom.

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Luke: Whose Son Is the Messiah?

Read: Luke 20:41-44

Chapter 20 seems to be a chapter of questions and answers, some of the FAQs for our edification as we grow in our knowledge and faith in Jesus Christ. The Pharisees ask about Jesus’ authority,  and whether it’s right to pay taxes. The Sadducees try to find support for their short-lived movement by talking about marriage at the resurrection.

In this passage, Jesus adds His own question for people to consider:

Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? Luke 20:41

Matthew 22:41-46 and Mark 12:35-37 both include this brief narrative, three of four gospels compel us to dig into this question, so let’s take a moment and see why this is so significant.

  • Matthew’s angle reveals a group of Pharisees gathered, perhaps trying to figure out who Jesus is or since we know the rest of the story, they may just be looking for ways to trip Him up. Matthew 22:46 lets us know they had no answer.
  • Mark 12:37b points out that there was a large crowd that heard this question along with its answer and responded with delight.
  • Luke chooses to let the rhetorical question linger, no response, no details about who heard the question.
  • All three consistently point to Psalm 110, Jesus’ most quoted psalm in the New Testament.

The Problem

The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.
Luke 20:42-43

If the Lord is speaking to David’s Lord, He must be of significant authority since David is historically known and the greatest king in Israel’s history. No one would argue that any king is greater, so we have to wonder about this Lord.

The Question

David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?” Luke 20:44

From the most superficial perspective, Jesus had to be a man that absolutely amazed the learned scholars in the audience. In the previous section, He hushed the Sadducees with His answer about the resurrection. Now He pinpoints a riddle that it’s doubtful the scholars ever wrestled with, let alone had an answer for.

Jesus isn’t showing off, nor is He trying to intimidate these people, He’s trying to move them from their high places of authority to a higher place of understanding. We all have room to grow. The Bible gives us a leg-up on the challenge, but there is so much more to learn than just the text in front of us.

Our goal should be to learn the how and why more than the chapter and verse. In this case, I suspect the Pharisees could grab the scroll that contained Psalm 110 with ease and precision, but they had no idea about the weight of the few words quoted above.

The Answer

King David points to the Messiah as his Lord, the one who will sit at the right hand of God. He is “priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4), the One to be revered. See, you knew the answer was Jesus!

For those in the audience, the question essentially points out that since the Messiah is Lord of the Lord, the one who sits on His right with ultimate authority, why don’t you respect Jesus Christ who is standing right in front of you?

Wake up, people! He’s right in front of your eyes.

 

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Luke: Who’s Wife Dilemma and the Sadducees

Read Luke 20:27-40

Enter the Sadducees. Luke inserts the memory of a conversation that includes the Sadducees, along with others. They don’t believe in the resurrection, life after death, spiritual battles, or anything not explicitly written in the first five books of the Old Testament. Their impact on Jewish culture was significant during the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, but they ceased to exist as a group when the Romans destroyed the Temple in A.D. 70., about the same time Luke was writing his gospel.

I don’t want to get side-tracked in discussing the Sadducees, but it’s important to dwell on them a bit to appreciate the question and answer to their “who’s wife” dilemma they pose to Jesus.

Consider this modern example. If someone from a highly politically motivated group came to a debate at a church and asked a question that was meant to support their radical beliefs, how would you respond? To make the example a bit more poignant, let’s say the group is a Pro-Life, abortion advocate, trying to secure more funding for Planned Parenthood. Is your blood pressure rising a bit now? In my mind, this is what the Sadducees represent. At this point in history, they had significant political clout. It’s an interesting study, but I’ll hold off for the moment and simply provide a link below if you’re interested.

The Resurrection

The fundamental question in this discussion is that of the resurrection. Is there life after death? Jesus answers the Sadducees question with an argument that undermines their basic belief system. By pointing to Exodus 3:2-6, the burning bush, where Moses hears the voice of God proclaim,

I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Exodus 3:6

Jesus soundly proclaims there is an afterlife.

He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive. Luke 20:38

This has to put them on their heals, scratching their heads, as they wander off, dismissed by the Son of God.

Is there marriage in heaven? Was that really the question? For those who are with Jesus, He provides some insight, even though it is hard to understand beyond some practical reasoning.

But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels
Luke 20:35-36

Since we can no longer die, it makes sense that we don’t need marriage in heaven, nor do we need to continue procreation. Sorry. It’s different in eternity!

But don’t miss the beginning of that quote, “those who are considered worthy…” That had to sting a bit for all to hear.  At first, I suspect the Sadducees were glad to hear that heaven was for a select few until Jesus explained the resurrection in terms of Moses as mentioned above.

There will come a day of judgment, a time we don’t like to dwell on when there will be a separation between those who believe in Jesus and those who do not.

Lord, help us to be a people who are not dissuaded by powerful political people inside or outside of the church. Help us to be a people that are drawn to You, who hear Your message of salvation and the hope You taught in the resurrection for all.

 

 

 

See https://www.gotquestions.org/Sadducees.html for more details.

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Luke: They Ask About Paying Taxes

Read: Luke 20:20-26

Eight times in this short passage we see the words “they” or “them” as Luke refers to those conspiring to kill Jesus.

Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. Luke 20:20

At the beginning of this chapter Luke identifies those who are leading the conspiracy as a band of self-righteous religious leaders, “the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders” (Luke 20:1). This time, instead of looking for a lesson on biblical authority, they want to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes.

Their Plan-A is to find something Jesus says or does that would be illegal so the government would get involved. The word sedition comes to mind as I think about them in this story. If they could paint Jesus as one who is leading a cause against Roman authority, the governor would quickly and decisively remove Jesus.

It’s a great plan, but not God’s plan.

He saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” Luke 20:23-24

First of all, Jesus saw through their thinly veiled plot to trap Him. Whoever drew the short straw and got the dubious honor of asking Jesus this question had to feel like an idiot. Jesus played along with a twist:

He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Luke 20:25

They might have suspected Jesus would publicly announce something along the lines of paying what you owe to the government to avoid a rather obvious illegal position, but He added “and to God” to the discussion. This put them squarely in their place and sent them running for cover.

In essence, Jesus quickly calls them out for their lack of integrity and their plot is ruined. Not only did Jesus squelch their not-so-crafty trap, He points out it’s important to be responsible in both realms: support those in civil authority and give back that which belongs to God.

If I understand the ancient practice, carrying a Denarius with Caesar’s image was evidence that I would be seen as a law-abiding citizen. Not much argument there. Here’s the question, are we carrying a coin with God’s image? Can we produce evidence that we are God’s people?

This goes far beyond pulling a church membership card or WWJD bumper sticker. In a simple phrase, Jesus commands that we pay God that which is already His. The religious leaders of the past got the point and quickly backed off. How about us?

Lord help me to lean in when I hear these challenges and do that which Jesus is clearly demanding. Help me figure out how to work within the system of government while focusing on the greater mission: spread the gospel to all parts of society.

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Luke: Parable of the Tenants

Read: Luke 20:10-19

The way Luke presents the narrative, Jesus simply keeps going after denying the chief priests an answer to their insidious question about His authority. This time, the parable is directly aimed at those who are still trying to figure out how to trap Him. One important lesson to draw from this chapter is that Jesus is not marching around with His nose stuck up in the air, He is bold and confident, not arrogant. Yet He does not change His story to appease those who oppose Him.

The parable reads like a horror movie, one that could easily be produced in this modern age where villains are heroes. A man plants a vineyard then goes away on a long trip. If you’ve never planted grapes you need to appreciate that it takes a very long time before the vines start producing fruit, let alone a harvest big enough for wine. Planting is just the first step.

After some time, the owner sends a servant to retrieve a sample, a sensible step for a winemaker. Instead of welcoming the servant and providing a reasonable response, they beat him and send him away. They repeat this action when the second and third servant arrives, the last one being injured in the process. Choice words come to mind to describe these tenants, none of which will be posted here!

But the worst is yet to come. This is where the chief priests and teachers of the law lean forward to hear the rest of the story. The owner decides to send someone who can best represent himself:

I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him. Luke 20:13

This action probably sounds familiar to you, but keep in mind those who were listening had no idea what was going to happen in the next few days. The next two verses contain the key to this parable:

“But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Luke 20:14-15

The tenants talked it over amongst themselves. As tenants, they have a responsibility to care for that which the owner has provided, yet they respond with arrogance and audacity as if the vineyard was their own to do with as they pleased. They gathered together to conspire against the master with brutal force — they killed his son.

Then comes the question: what should the master do? Ha! That’s easy, load up the 50-cal, we have a simple solution for you! Jesus provides the rhetorical question for consideration:

“What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” Luke 20:15-16

The people are enraged by the story, “God forbid!” is their response. Absolutely! No one in his right mind would support the tenants in this story.

Jesus makes sure the point isn’t missed. I love the next line that emphasizes how He explained the parable, “Jesus looked directly at them…” Ouch! In my mind, He paused to let people soak in the story before continuing, making sure everyone was paying attention.

Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? Luke 20:17

Psalm 118 and Isaiah 53 come to mind as Jesus explains. Yes, we have the Bible to lean on, but I’m sure the temple leaders were familiar with both references, even without a smartphone. They knew what Jesus was talking about. Anyone who opposes the master will be severely dealt with. They will be broken to pieces, crushed, done.

Still afraid of public outcry, the priests back off, but their minds are completely set on killing Jesus as if they needed yet another reason.

We are the tenants of this parable and we have a choice to make. We can act like everything we have is ours for our own benefit, hold tight and say, “mine!” Or we can honor the Master who freely provides everything we need, who only asks for that which we can give.

Lord help us to be the people who not only say, “God Forbid!” but live lives that draw people to You, that reveal Your truth and Your desire for an eternal relationship filled with joy. May we be known as the people who sing Psalm 118 and boldly proclaim,

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Psalm 118:29

 

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