Tag: Luke

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Luke: Lessons on Faith

Read: Luke 7:1-17

Wouldn’t you like to have the faith of the centurion in this story? Or perhaps the widow who has no words to even ask Jesus for the impossible, yet receives her son back alive?

Luke provides these two vignettes to highlight the love of Christ for us and to emphasize, at least from my point of view, that faith can be something seen internally as well as externally. Yesterday’s post included Luke 6:27-49, all red letters in my Bible, the very words of Jesus. Today, in these 17 verses we see just 23 words in red. Interesting.  Let’s take a quick look at these two stories.

The Centurion: Luke 7:1-10

This great story of the faith of a Gentile is one for us to consider as we reflect on our own faith, having received the Holy Spirit. Here we see a prominent figure, likely a wealthy man, who’s heard stories about Jesus. He has a problem that only Jesus can solve: his highly valued servant is dying. He appeals to Jesus through those with whom he associated:

But say the word, and my servant will be healed. Luke 7:7

This is interesting on many levels, but let me highlight a few. The centurion must have confided with the Jews he asked to reach out to Jesus, they had some conversation. I wonder if the Jews suggested he consider asking Jesus or if the Centurion asked the Jews for their thoughts. You see the interaction? Some conversation took place well before the meeting with Jesus.

It’s these conversations that I’m looking for each day. How do I get myself integrated with society to such a degree that someone would ask me for advice. I’m not talking about some lofty position, but from a relationship that’s been built over time. You don’t get to be a Centurion by accident and Jewish elders only earn their positions through time. Together, these people know each other and have established some level of respect that leads to the event Luke captured.

The envoys for the Centurion are quick to point out that he loves Israel, that he even contributed to the building of their synagogue. There’s no indication that the Centurion is opting for the religion of the Jews, but he is obviously willing to support their customs. Up to this point I suspect his allegiance was fairly practical, that is, a peaceful coexistence was maintained by contributing to the temple and establishing relations with the Jews. But I think the particular event, his favored servant on his deathbed, changed the Centurion’s heart. He was moved from a sympathizer to a believer.

This is crucial: the relationship that the Jews had with the Centurion allowed room for his conversion.

We can’t force religion down anyone’s throat. Waving Bibles and passing out tracts is fruitless compared to loving people the way Jesus demonstrates over and over again.

The Widow: Luke 7:11-17

Luke puts these two stories together for a reason, and even though this post is getting too long, I think it’s important to consider both at the same time. Story One: rich man, commander of military strength and might. Story Two: widow, most likely poor, only son is dead, she is on the verge of becoming one of the least of these, the outcasts, the needy in society.

The Centurion has friends to send along to find Jesus. The widow has many friends helping her to mourn the loss of her son, but has few words and does not even attempt to seek out Jesus.

Here’s something you don’t read every day:

The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. Luke 7:15

Jesus did the unthinkable, He touched the bier they were carrying the dead man on — thus He would be unclean by Jewish laws. The bearers stood still. This was not normal! But wait, if he’s not dead, He’s not unclean. No one expected that.

The widow didn’t ask for anything, at least not verbally. Jesus intersected her procession to restore her place in society with little fanfare.

Jesus shows no partiality to the rich or the poor. From one extreme to the next, He knows no boundaries. He looks beyond the outside and speaks to the heart. May we go and do likewise.

One final note: Death is not the end of life for those who are in Christ. The number of those not miraculously healed, even children with cancer or victims of horrible accidents, still haunt us, our friends and our families. May we find ways to reassure them that death is not the final answer.

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Luke: What Credit is That to You?

Read: Luke 6:27-49

Love your enemies, don’t judge others, the mouth speaks what the heart is full of, here the words and do what Jesus commanded.

Somewhere there’s a sign for the wall with these short phrases that summarize so much of Jesus’ teaching. The original audience that heard these words for the very first time were amazed at the teaching and very likely confused by the concepts. I’m confident that Jesus unpacked each point carefully with the crowds of people gathered around.

Here’s the main point: The love that Jesus is preaching is a love of action, not merely words. We are to take action and do what He says, not just sit and take notes.

You can stop reading now. That’s the gist of this post.

Love Your Enemies Luke 6:27-36

There are those who love you, who are good to you, and those who you will lend things to — even those who are completely evil. Big deal! Jesus makes it clear: we are to love our enemies.

If He said this just once, or with some caveats, we could walk away from the idea, but Jesus makes it clear that His ministry is about action, about doing things that are uncomfortable by earthly standards.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Luke 6:35

Jesus sets the bar high. It’s no wonder that the number of disciples thinned out as He preached. But to those who heard these edicts and responded, life on earth changed. What if a group of people decided to adopt these principles as they went about their daily routines? Could we change the culture around us?

Judging Others: Luke 6:37-42

Don’t judge or condemn. Practice forgiveness and give generously. Rest assured that your reward is greater than you can appreciate. This is easy to type, much harder to put into action because these are essentially responses to events.

Easy to do if we stay at home, surround ourselves with friends and family, avoid those who are difficult to get along with. That’s the secret, right? Nope. I don’t believe we were called to live the “safe” life. I think we were meant to get dirty, to go out and change the world by getting into the mess, joining the fray, making mistakes, risking too much for the sake of Christ — all based on love of others.

It’s much harder to withhold judgment when we get out into the real world where sinners outnumber the saints. But isn’t this what Jesus expects us to do?

A Tree and Its Fruit: Luke 6:43-45

Right after talking about judging others, Jesus is careful to remind us that our actions reveal our heart:

Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. Luke 6:44

It doesn’t do any good to wear a shirt that says, “I’m not judging you!” What we do will ultimately be seen, the results speak for themselves.

The standard is high, some days too high for me. We sang the song, Seasons, yesterday. It reminds me that we go through times of trial, cold winters that linger far too long. I needed to hear that…well, perhaps not past tense, I need to know that. Winter can be hard. Branches are bare, nothing green in sight. We need to be confident that the roots are being nourished even when the branches are brittle, that spring is sure to come–eventually. Accept this promise, help me to know Jesus is always faithful.

The Wise and Foolish Builders: Luke 6:46-49

There is a way to build a house, to create anything that will last. It requires digging deep and starting with a solid foundation. Sometimes this isn’t as easy to do as we would think. Some people keep digging deeper, looking for the rock, caught up in the effort, but getting nowhere. Perhaps we dig in the wrong place at times. Lord, help me to know when it’s time to relocate the building!

Lots of words. Random thoughts. Now it’s time for action. Lord, help us to be a people of movement, confident You are there to support and guide us. Jesus, we love You. Help us to go and share that with others, especially those who are not like us!

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Luke: Sermon on the Plateau

Read: Luke 6:17-26

Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount is probably another time when Jesus preached to a large group, this time on a level place, a plateau, if you will. This passage provides both blessings and woes in comparison, first the blessings, then the woes. Luke leaves us with the opportunity to sense Jesus’ compassion for people, His love and desire to see people satisfied beyond measure.

I wonder about the pace and presentation, which version of ProPresenter He used, who was in the band, and all that important stuff. Did they end on time? Did they remember to pray before the offering? Hmmm. My weird sense of humor and somewhat critical spirit sneaks in. Back to the narrative.

A large crowd of His disciples

My first mistake is to refer to the twelve He chose in the verses prior to this one as disciples. They were disciples, but even more to the point, they were anointed as apostles. There were lots of disciples, but only Twelve Apostles. An important distinction to be sure, but I don’t think this was meant to be exclusive, just orderly.

The people came to hear Him and to be healed. I wonder if we could be healed just by hearing Him. Would we change our ways? Would our hearts be moved in a different direction? The healing I need most often has little to do with physical ailment, much more to do with a troubled spirit.

The Sermon

Here’s the sermon in parallel, one phrase at a time with its blessing and opposing woe. Interesting, yes?

“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
Luke 6:20, 24

The poor, not just those below the poverty income level, but those that are poor in spirit. When I am downcast, troubled, blue, defeated, lost, lonely, even depressed, I need to hear these words from Jesus. As I started to say earlier, I wonder how long Jesus waited after saying this sentence. Did He elaborate? Or did He just let the thought sink in?

The rich, those who have plenty, who do not remember what it is to be in need and are blinded to those around them.

Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Luke 6:21, 25

The hungry, not just those who skipped breakfast, but those who desire to know more, who ache to be filled, they will be satisfied. Like the rich, those who have forgotten what it’s like to be hungry will discover starvation awaits. This is not an easy sermon to process. I imagine Jesus telling them to gather around in groups and talk about this for a minute before moving on to the next point. I would certainly want to be the obnoxious student that says, “Wait, please explain that before moving on!!”

Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
Luke 6:21, 25

It’s significant that Jesus begins with a blessing before the woe. If we get nothing else out of this lesson, may we learn to look and emphasis the positive before hammering our point home with the negative.

We will laugh. O God, I can’t wait! Can that be today? The featured image on this post is one I’ve used before, but one I really like. The child’s innocent eyes are probably looking up to their loving parent. May we look to Jesus and laugh with our whole body! May our eyes glow, lips stretch, face light up with the thought of seeing Him face to face.

The proud may laugh today, but they will weep. It’s not my job to put them in their place. Lord, don’t let me wander in that place alone.

Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.
Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
Luke 6:22, 26

Being insulted because of Jesus, being hated on and ostracized, will have it’s reward. I think it’s important that we don’t misread this statement like many we know of in Christian circles. This doesn’t say, be a jerk for Jesus and make people hate you–then God will reward you. That kind of thought process drives church people to do stupid things.

In contrast, we need to check our pride at the door when people say great things about something we’ve accomplished. The paradox is quite troubling when you think about it. I want to do that which pleases Jesus, even when it’s not popular, but I really appreciate it when someone agrees with me. I don’t want to be a false prophet, but I do want to be in the company of those who spread the Gospel. Quite challenging.

Lord, may we look forward to the day when we rejoice in heaven with You, when we leap for joy beyond human comprehension. Some days I pray that will be sooner than later, but Your will before my pitiful desire.

 

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Luke: Legalism Concerns – Fasting and the Sabbath

Read: Luke 5:33-6:11

“They said to Him…” begins the reading for today and one of my recurring nightmares: will I be counted as one of them? Am I in the “they” group? Jesus wants us all to be part of His family, but He is not about checking boxes to gain acceptance, that would be easy, He is about transforming hearts. The transformation begins with the one I see in the mirror.

This morning, we’ll pick on the Pharisees and teachers of the law for a bit. They don’t get it at all. They’re caught up in their world of legalism even more than we’re caught up in our church world that’s so focused on the Sunday production that at times, sometimes far too often, we have no clue. The animosity between Jesus and the religious right begins to simmer in these passages. Luke will shift to teaching for a while, but wants us to see that at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, “they” were watching, taking notes, and building their case. They’re always looking from the outside.

My prayer is we don’t become they.

Jesus Questioned About Fasting: Luke 5:33-39

This starts off with a simple question for clarification about fasting, or so it seems. Those who were being faithful to following their list of rules knew that fasting was something you were supposed to do, so they ask Jesus why His disciples are disobeying rule #___.

Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.” Luke 5:34-35

Ok, that just went right over their heads! They were looking for something more concrete and Jesus starts to explain something about a wedding celebration. They are scratching their heads, so He explains with a parable.

No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. Luke 5:38

My strange sense of humor sees them nodding in agreement: yep, that’s how you work with wine and wineskins, makes sense. But what about the fasting question? Luke lets that just slip on by. As we will see, their question is irrelevant, yet reveals their heart, their motivation. I think that’s the main point.

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath: Luke 6:1-11

One Sabbath, then another, and another. Luke likes to point out when Jesus is teaching on the Sabbath, healing, loving, doing life on the day which is supposed to be a day of rest.

Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Luke 6:5

I’m confident that God is serious about taking a day off, no doubt; otherwise, it wouldn’t make the top-ten list. We know from those who have invested a lot of time into researching the ways of the Pharisees, they had hundreds of rules about everything. I’d love to see a mindmap about these rules, how they centered on the Ten Commandments and branched off into rules about rules, etc. The geeky part of me would be fascinated by looking at 600+ segments. I can easily get distracted!

In this passage, Jesus makes a point of teaching the Pharisees in particular that He is above their rules. He can sense their confusion, so He heals a man with a shriveled right hand in front of everyone. No hiding, no call to step behind the curtain. Jesus wants to make a point.

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” Luke 6:9

I really think He’s really giving them a chance to see the err of their ways more than poking them in the eye. Their reaction reveals their heart, they become furious about Jesus’ actions and miss the fact that this man has been healed and quite likely can now begin to provide for his family.

Are we they?

I hope not, but don’t be too quick to answer. This is why we have each other, to hold each other accountable, but not a checklist. Checklists are for the head. Please tell me when I’m acting like a Pharisee! Let me know when I’ve slipped into Sunday production mode rather than being the hands and feet of Jesus for the lost, the lonely, the least! You are my brother and sister in Christ, don’t be afraid to call it like it is. My commitment to you is to do likewise. Don’t wait for Sunday.

Luke is carefully selecting stories that speak about transforming the heart. May our hearts be changed.

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Luke: When Jesus Saw Their Faith

Read: Luke 5:12-26

Consider two phrases in the passage we read today: Lord if you are willing and when Jesus saw their faith. Both demonstrate an unusual faith in a man they hardly knew.

They had heard about this preacher that was going from village to village, town to town, teaching good news, adding wisdom to wise sayings with a practical message for common people to hear.

Perhaps the most amazing thing they heard was His ability to cast our demons and heal people of sickness. This wasn’t normal by any stretch of the imagination. They seem to say, If Jesus could do that, I’m in! And they showed up in these stories.

My belief is these are just two of the many stories Luke had to consider when writing his narrative to share with others. In my imagination I can see him with a table full of newspaper clippings, reports from villages all over Judea about healing and restoration. Miracle after miracle. All with some common elements: Jesus was the rabbi at the center of all the news and He was trying to keep these incidents quiet.

I believe that Luke intersperses these miraculous events inside the details about calling the disciples to make this point: He wasn’t trying to draw followers, He was looking to make disciples.

Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Luke 5:14

It’s interesting that Jesus points the cured leper back to the priest, that He keeps the focus on God’s system of sacrifice.

In a much more public miracle, the faith of friends is rewarded with healing a lame man.

So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Luke 5:24-25

Right in front of the pharisees and teachers of the law! This troublesome event (for the religious leaders) causes them to stumble and provides another teaching point for Jesus:

Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Luke 5:23-24

Which is easier? Hmm…so I think I’ll just do both! The religious right have no idea how to respond.

The people were filled with awe and wonder (sounds like a song!). But Jesus isn’t trying to create a show, instead He’s trying to demonstrate the love of the Father for His people. In a way, He can’t not heal those who are sick because of His unbounded love and compassion.

It’s this deep-seated heart for people that I long to have, that I pray for consistently. Jesus sees their faith, sees their desire and looks beyond outward appearances — straight to their heart. Perfect discernment that is unencumbered by biased perspective based on human standards. It may be a stretch, but I believe we too can see the hearts of those seeking to know the love of Christ if we would let go of worldly desires.

Yesterday, the word contentment drove me to look for scripture about being content. Now I think I understand why. If I can be content, my own selfish desires disappear and I can see people as Jesus saw them–at least to a greater degree. If I am content, I don’t need anything from any interaction with someone else. My only aim is to point them to Christ.

My desire then becomes one of great compassion. When I see a brother or sister in pain, my prayer is to reach out and help in any way I can. All from a place of love, not from a desire to tell someone else about the wonderful things I have done.

Jesus points them back to God, the source of His power and strength.

Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” Luke 5:26

As a result, they gave praise to God. That the result I’m hoping for.

Oh, one other thing:

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16

I find it interesting that Jesus withdraws to lonely places to pray. He seeks solitude to quiet His human heart. Seriously. If Jesus needed to do this, how much more should I? No, I’m not advocating seclusion in a monastery, but we all need a place where we can hear from God.

When I searched for images for the featured image on this post, I used the term lonely. Literally hundreds of photos showed up. Yes, I want to find a place of solitude, but the fact that so many photos are tagged “lonely” points to a culture that is seeking what we have to offer. Please don’t get lost in the lonely place — just use this for meditation and prayer, not a hiding place!

I pray you can find your place today. Listen well my friend. God wants to speak to you, I’m sure of it.

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Luke: Jesus Begins With Disciples

Read: Luke 5:1-11, 5:27-32, 6:12-16

The readings this morning jump around a bit as I attempt to collect Luke’s writing about Jesus calling His disciples. Luke chose to weave the story of how Jesus called Peter (Simon) with the Zebedee brothers, James and John, and Matthew (Levi) in chapter 5, then provides a pivotal moment in chapter 6 when Jesus picks His team. It’s interesting to see how He chooses His disciples, especially when we consider our charge is to go and do likewise.

Trying to understand Luke’s perspective, I get the idea that Jesus invested time with people, challenged them to reveal their true character, then choose them individually. Of course this included Judas Iscariot, the betrayer, but we’ll leave that discussion for another time!

Jesus Calls His First Disciples: Luke 5:1-11

Luke begins with a story:

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, Luke 5:1

Jesus was teaching the people who were working their trade. I suspect He was looking for those who were paying attention, the few that showed some interest beyond a casual glance.

He got into one of the boats, Luke 5:3

Honestly, I don’t think Jesus just randomly picked a boat. I’m not sure how it worked in ancient times, but today, you don’t just walk down to the marina and jump in someone’s boat and suggest we go fishing. Not at all. Jesus is teaching those who were listening with interest, so he tests them a bit and Peter’s response is important for us to wrestle with:

But because you say so, I will Luke 5:5

Ah yes, because you say so, I will. It’s pretty clear when Jesus speaks we should obey. In this story, Peter explains they’ve finished fishing in the area, but doesn’t hesitate to do what Jesus said. I love this! Years ago, I wrote a song for Vacation Bible School based on this verse. I’ve probably told you the story behind the song before, but it’s fun to recall the process. My initial attempts at writing the song was a rock-n-roll, driving beat, BECAUSE YOU SAY SO I WILL!!! kinda song. All of that failed to connect. Instead, if you listen, you’ll hear a very different kinda song that’s led by a mother of six with a gentle voice and a flute part played by a high school senior. Totally different than I intended, but I wish I could explain how beautiful it was to hear 300+ children (no exaggeration) sing this at VBS.

I still believe this was what Jesus wanted, His words, my attempt to obey.

Simon Peter’s response was to fall at the knees of Jesus, unworthy, humbled — called by Jesus Himself. How about you?

Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners: Luke 5:27-32

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Luke 5:27-28

The way Luke writes this, the event sounds totally random, but once again, in my opinion, this was not arbitrary. I believe Jesus is teaching us to look beyond outward appearances when we see people. I know that discernment is a gift of the Spirit that is stronger in some than others, but I believe we all have the ability to see with the eyes of the Spirit if we pray and slow down long enough to listen for the answer. Those whose top-3 gifts include discernment don’t have to try very hard…others might have to be a bit more assertive.

My point is this: look beyond the trappings of the world and pray for discernment.

Matthew’s response is to throw a party! Jesus must think this is a great idea–to have a house full of people that know nothing about God’s plan of reconciliation. What an opportunity for sharing the Gospel!! The Pharisees and Teachers of the Law had some discouraging thoughts (why were they there??), but Jesus shuts them down quickly:

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31-32

Terse words for those who’ve fallen into the trap of a legalistic religion. Makes me think about the Pharisaic Survey again, the one we haven’t written, that reveals just how much of a Pharisee I am!

The Twelve Apostles

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them… Luke 6:12-16

The implication of this text suggests that Jesus called many to follow Him, like Peter, James, John, Matthew, etc., but here we see a select few are named as His disciples. The distinction is important. These will be the few He will pour into collectively and individually.

Jesus took time to choose these guys. It didn’t happen while walking in the marketplace or marina. As we are reminded of Jesus’ habit, He went to a quiet place to pray. If Jesus needed to quiet His human mind and pray, I’m convinced this is something we need to do quite often.  Whether we meditate during Yoga, running, walking, or sitting quietly, we need to stop and pray.

After a night of praying, Jesus picked the twelve.

Lord, help us to learn from Your example, Your way of making disciples. Teach us to not be biased, to get distracted by outward appearance. Show us how to build relationships that advance Your kingdom here on earth.

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Luke: Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit, Heals Many

Read: Luke 4:31-44

Rejected by His hometown, Jesus goes to Capernaum, some 40 miles (a 9-hour walk according to Google Maps). Luke surrounds these two miraculous interventions with observations about the spreading of Jesus’ ministry. Don’t miss the detail that Jesus is not only teaching on the Sabbath, but He is also “working” by casting out demons and healing people. Somehow the religious leaders have outlawed such activity. Strange.

It seems Jesus is recognized by the rabbis in the area since we find He is teaching on the Sabbath he taught the people (Luke 4:31) in the synagogues. Interesting. It doesn’t take long for His fame to rise as He begins to demonstrate His authority over impure spirits, sickness, etc.

And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area. Luke 4:37

Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit

“Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. Luke 4:35

I wish I could say I understood this passage, and other references to Jesus’ ability to see impure spirits, to command them, and at least for the moment, set people free. Those from the cessations camp suggest that all miracles cease to exist today. Other suggest this still happens, but we are blinded to the power of the Spirit because of our own shortcomings.

Rebuking demons:

Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. Luke 4:41

From my perspective, we must not limit God in any way. I’m caught up in this world as much as anyone in society, so there’s no doubt in my mind as to why I seem to be unable to speak and command demons, but I would not conclude this is impossible. To suggest such would put God in a box. I’m not about to do that! Nor would I want to hear stern words from Jesus!!

Jesus Heals Many

Moving on to Peter’s home, we see his mother-in-law is sick, something that Luke (the doctor) tells us includes a high fever.

So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. Luke 4:39

Her reaction is to turn and serve Jesus and the others present — perhaps it’s her love language!

Side-note: Don’t miss the mother-in-law title. This means that Peter is married and likely has a family to consider as his call to ministry begins as well.

At sunset, many are brought to Jesus and He heals them all. What an amazing, miraculous sequence of events!

Jesus knows His time on earth is limited, so he tells the people:

“I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” Luke 4:43

Why were you sent? What is your main purpose for the brief time on this planet? What if your time were limited? Would you make different choices if you knew you only had 3 years to minister to those you see in your path?

Lots of unanswered questions to consider. Here’s my advice: Ask God. Ask your closest friends. Pray about it, but don’t be obsessed by it because you are not Jesus! I am not Jesus, but I am His adopted heir. He cares about my ministry and understands that I am fully human. The key difference is the Spirit lives within me. The more attune I am to the Spirit, the more effective my ministry.

The song, So Will I, is constantly playing in the background as I type this.

If the stars were made to worship so will I
If the mountains bow in reverence so will I
If the oceans roar Your greatness so will I
For if everything exists to lift You high so will I

Thanks Beth for sharing the song, for tilling the soil and leading us on this journey to Christ, with Christ, and His desire for our lives. May we grow and learn to say, So Will I.

 

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Luke: Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

Read: Luke 4:14-30

Back from the desert temptation experience, Jesus’ ministry is now set for launch. Not surprising, His teaching is exceptional and people are amazed. They were amazed when He taught as a 12-year old (Luke 2:47), I can’t even fathom what another 18 years of life on earth added to His sermon archive!

In this passage, Jesus quotes Isaiah and declares He has come to fulfill the prophesies that begin with five specific proclamations:

  1. proclaim good news to the poor.
  2. proclaim freedom for the prisoners
  3. recovery of sight for the blind,
  4. set the oppressed free,
  5. proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

He does a lot more than that! This is just the beginning.

Soapbox Begins

Forgive me for getting on my soapbox to preach this lesson once again, but I can’t help myself! One thing I want to specifically draw your attention to is #1 on the list. We often think about poor as those who are homeless, financially challenged, etc., but I hope you will consider the term poor in a much broader sense. Those who have not been adopted into the family of Christ are all poor. They might have great earthly wealth, but we all know that passes in a blink. Yes, those who have no earthly possessions, those who struggle day to day for a meal or a place to stay warm know that they are poor. We are obligated to care for the fatherless, the downcast, those who can’t care for themselves.

Somehow we have to learn to look beyond outward appearances and see people the way Jesus sees them. Those who are the pious poor are probably much more challenging to minister to, but that doesn’t let us off the hook. Lord, I pray for discerning eyes and ears to see and hear people they way You see them. Open doors that we might minister to them in ways that please You.

End of Soapbox

You would think that people would hear His teaching and get excited, right?

He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. Luke 4:15

The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:20-21

Everyone praised Him, eyes and ears glued to His teaching. Then some of the pious rich make the observation:

“Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Luke 4:22

Hold everything! The people remember this was the little boy that grew up down the street. Surely He cannot be who He claims.

“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. John 1:46

Jesus selects a few examples for the self-righteous to hear. He picks two of the all-time favorite prophets of old: Elijah and Elisha. Those hearing these words would know of the references and we are privileged to have the Old Testament to understand their significance. Here are a few main points to consider:

  • Prophets were rarely welcome in their home towns; their ministry was consistently harsh and not welcomed
  • The examples of Elijah and Elisha pointed to helping Gentiles, not Jews
  • Elijah and Elisha prophesied during some of the worst times in Israel’s horrible history

Their reaction:

They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. Luke 4:29

Miraculously, Jesus simply walked away from the crowd and went on to continue His ministry.

This is a rather troubling text to consider. Those who wanted to throw Jesus off the cliff were the established church of their time. They couldn’t hear His message, though it was obviously presented in a compelling and exciting manner. People got the message. Religious leaders wanted to kill Him.

Jesus was not affected by their misgivings. He walked away and sought those who wanted to learn about adoption into the royal family — His kingdom. Lord, help us to do likewise!

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Luke: Temptation of Jesus — Three Tests

Read: Luke 4:1-13

Tempting Jesus has always seemed like a moot point to me. Each time I read this passage, it seems there’s no way Jesus would actually be enticed by Satan’s offers. The highlight reel of this extended time of fasting includes three specific temptations:

  1. prove God is the ultimate provider
  2. bow down to Satan
  3. test God, make Him prove Himself

Jesus is filled with the Spirit and led by Him into the desert for 40 days of fasting.

where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. Luke 4:2

In contrast, my submission to temptation would probably take about 40 seconds, 40 minutes on a good day, 40 hours on an exceptional week — no way would I last 40 days in the desert!

One commentator on this passage makes a very interesting observation:

Jesus’ testing takes place in an environment opposite to the one Adam faced.NIVAC (see footnote)

This isn’t a lush garden where He is surrounded in comfort–this is a harsh place, void of life, dusty and dirty. Adam’s temptation came during a time of luxury. Life was great! What harm could there be in doing one thing that was off limits?

Jesus’ temptation comes on the heals of His baptism and complete submission to God at the beginning of His ministry. The desert provides a distraction-free zone, no doubt Satan loves to work in places where we feel alone, empty, and hungry.

Prove God is the ultimate provider

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” Luke 4:3-4

Later we read about Jesus feeding thousands with morsels of food, so this must not be about having breakfast. This temptation suggests that God is not enough, that His provision will not happen on time, Jesus should take charge of the situation Himself. Jesus points to God’s word as the source of understanding. Yet another reason to immerse ourselves in the Bible.

So many times I look at a situation and wonder if this is God’s will or my will. Should I wait or act? Do I fully understand that God will provide? I’ve watched God take care of our family in so many situations, some extreme, some subtle. It’s hard to call them miracles, but I’m most thankful for the times when I feel like I’ve completely let God direct my steps.

Bow down to Satan

The temptation of power, position, and prestige. Satan often tempts us with recognition, filling our egos with fame and fortune.

If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” Luke 4:7-8

Satan deceives himself by thinking he is actually in control. God is ultimately sovereign. Honestly, I don’t understand why He allows Satan to have any dominion, but He is God, not me! The assertion that “it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to” (Luke 4:6) is a scary thought to say the least. The kingdom-sized ego of Lucifer would love nothing more than to see people falter.

The solution: let go of worldly recognition. Draw near to God, listen for His voice, go and do what He says — only.

Test God, make Him prove Himself

Ah yes, cherry-picking scripture to make your point! Here we see a perfect example of taking scripture out of context to make a point. If nothing else, perhaps we can learn from this example.

“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. … Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Luke 4:9, 12

It’s interesting that Jesus doesn’t correct Satan here. He doesn’t engage in a theological debate about misuse of the quote. Instead, He simply ignores the indiscretion and makes the stronger point that we should not test God.

The Lesson

The primary lesson I draw from this passage is to spend more time in God’s presence in order to discern His voice, His desire, and His direction for my life. Lord, help us to surround ourselves with like-minded people continuously. It’s not a once-a-week solution! The indwelling of the Spirit in each of us means we have the ability. May we remind each other as a community of believers, the thing You call church.

 

Note: Wilkins, Michael J.; Garland , David E.; Bock, Darrell L.; Burge, Gary M.; Fernando, Ajith. NIVAC Bundle 6: Gospels, Acts (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Location 46740). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

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Luke: John the Baptist and Jesus

Read: Luke 3

We fast-forward to somewhere between A.D. 25 and A.D. 26, when John the Baptist, and his cousin Jesus, were about 30 years old. John preaches the need for repentance through baptism and even baptizes Jesus. Luke covers the story of John the Baptist differently than the other Gospel accounts. His intentional process of identifying key moments and details gives us some interesting insight into John’s ministry, then shifts to Jesus for the rest of the writing. We also get a snapshot of the genealogy of Jesus to affirm His position in history.

John the Baptist

After all, he was born for this role! John announces something the people have been waiting for, someone they have long talk about. This baptism leads to salvation — not just a temporary fix.

He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Luke 3:3

Jews were quite accustomed to repeated acts of sacrifice, but John is pointing to the Messiah. This baptism is part of the preparation for the coming King, the hope that “all people will see God’s salvation” (Luke 3:6; Isaiah 52:10).

John’s ministry is revealed in some detail here. To begin with, John explains that you can’t rely on your ancestry for salvation:

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. Luke 3:8

Just because your father’s father, etc., and you, follow the ordinances of Judaism, you are not guaranteed salvation, your heart must change. We must change our ways and produce fruit.

Tax collectors and soldiers, notoriously wicked people, heard the message and were moved. Their response wasn’t merely to agree, they wanted to know what to do next. John didn’t shy away from giving them direction:

  • Tax Collectors: don’t collect more than required
  • Soldiers: don’t extort money or accuse falsely
  • Herod: you are a sinner.

In these two examples, John calls them out–their actions are visible to God and they will be held accountable. The third bullet will eventually get him beheaded.

The thrust of the message is clear: Jesus, the Messiah, is coming. Get ready!

It’s no surprise that the people think John is the Messiah. His message is unique and fresh, his resolve is unprecedented. He is filled with the Holy Spirit and people can discern the difference in his preaching versus the typical Levitical homilies. John is quick to let them know he is not the One.

John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Luke 3:16

Jesus Baptized

Luke quickly covers the baptism of Jesus by John. Though He was baptized “when all the people were being baptized,” Luke doesn’t record any reaction from the crowd or John. From Luke’s perspective, it seems there are two main points: Jesus acknowledges John’s ministry and God announces this is indeed His Son.

and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:22

Jesus’ ministry on earth will now begin!

Genealogy

Luke takes us all the way back to Adam in his recording of the lineage of Jesus. I love the idea here:

Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, Luke 3:23

Luke makes a special note: “so it was thought.” In other words, here’s the Jewish lineage for all those who want to affirm the bloodline of Jesus, but make no mistake, Joseph is not the one who participated in conception of Jesus. The miracle of Jesus’ birth is hard to wrap my mind around and I’m sure it was helpful for the Jews of Luke’s day to have an account through genealogy.

Matthew’s account was quite different (see: Matthew’s Genealogy of Jesus — The Women). The differences are in conflict with one another, but it’s interesting to see how each addresses a different audience in an effort to include as many people as possible.

Luke’s orderly process of covering events and details prepares us for the rest of the story. I especially appreciate the call to action, not just hearing the message. John the Baptist is unafraid to say that something needs to happen, that we need to do something. It’s not about sitting and listening in agreement, though that’s a good start, we actually need to do something in response.

Lord, help us to hear your word and respond appropriately as you have uniquely called us to do. Help us to hear and know what our next steps need to be. Jesus, we want to be walking in your will, doing that which best serves you today. The world would prefer that we get wrapped up in trivial pursuits, but I pray we would hear Your voice beyond the noise!

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