Wise by the Spirit

I Corinthians 2:And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

We saw yesterday that Paul was addressing this church plagued with division. Part of the problem was that some people thought they were so smart - that they knew more than others and experienced more than others, therefore everyone should listen to them. It was especially bad because they had divided into little camps of opposition.  Paul starts right out in this chapter contrasting that with His approach.  The key is to make sure our trust is in God, and the power and wisdom of His Spirit, not in men.  He goes on to show that it is only by the Spirit that we can know the heart and plan of God. Spiritual things cannot be comprehended or apprehended by men without the Spirit of God within, and that only happens when we have humbly put our trust in Christ, Who humbled Himself on our behalf.   

Not So Smart

I C

orinthians 1:26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

As Paul wrote to this troubled church at Corinth, be began as usual with what He was thankful for: that God by His grace had poured a lot into that church.  But he also wasted not time addressing his concerns about their disunity.  He appealed to them to prevent divisions by focusing on the wisdom of Christ. They had been choosing sides in a debating match between various parties, and things were beginning to smell very arrogant. Just as fractured marriages are due to selfishness and pride, so are divided churches. Paul told them that they had nothing to be proud about or take trust in except for Christ. Given that fact, they were to stop and consider what He had called them to: humbly following Christ and His wisdom; taking the humble path, and working together with fellow believers. May we do the same. 

What He Had Said All Along...

 Luke 24:44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.

This chapter is Luke's account of the resurrection.  He pictures the followers of Jesus as bewildered after the events surrounding the Crucifixion, and even lacking clarity after the Resurrection.  The fog was lifted after Jesus appeared to the two on the way, and later to the fuller gathering of disciples.  Jesus not only reminded them of what He had been saying all along, but also helped them put more pieces of the puzzle together concerning His life, ministry, and atoning work. This helped them understand what they were to do. In the same way, the more we allow Him to teach us and trust Him to lead us, we will know what way to go.

To the Everlasting God

 Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord! How long?
    Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

This psalm by Moses begins a new section of The Psalter.  He begins with reflecting on the eternity of God and the brevity of life here on earth.  God is rightfully angry at man's neglect to recognize His eternal power and glory, let alone his refusal to live by His rightful instructions for His creation. That all leads to the request above: for God to give us perspective, wisdom, and most of all, contentment with how and why He made us in the first place.  The goal is for us to live life under God's favor and blessings, trusting that He knows what is best and truly has good in store, both in this life and throughout eternity. 

The Song of Steadfast Love

 

Psalm 89:13 You have a mighty arm;
    strong is your hand, high your right hand.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
    steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
    who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
16 who exult in your name all the day
    and in your righteousness are exalted.

Psalm 89 is a major musical masterpiece, one of the longer of the psalms. It begins with a chorus of praise to the Lord for His steadfast love. The writer then goes on to call the heavens to join him in praising God for all his demonstrations of that steadfast love, which reveal His very character. Included are the ways God has gained victory for His people, and especially His choosing the line of David for His blessing. But in the middle of the psalm, the psalmist transitions to the "but ifs..."  The people could forfeit all these blessings by their disobedience and rebellion.  In fact, that is exactly what they have done, so the psalmist concludes by calling out to God in the midst of their suffering and asking that He once again show His steadfast love. 

"Teamwork"

Luke 23:6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

The Jewish leaders had brought Jesus to Pilate to seek a legal conviction and sentence, but Pilate found no reason for one.  But he was more than willing to jump on the bandwagon and mock Jesus, a Jew. He also offered Herod a part in the fun.  But then the Jews demanded more than Pilate had gambled on, demanding Jesus' death. Pilate was hesitant to join with them, but, to be a good "team  player," ended up doing so.  The crowds seemed more than happy to join in, cheering for their team... and against Jesus. One exception to this teamwork was the one criminal, who refused to join in the mocking with his cohort, and instead asked for forgiveness.  Finally, the torture and the cross did their one-two punch and Jesus died.  Following His death some friends and some women joined together, as a team, to make sure Jesus received a respectful burial.  

Plotting and Planning

Luke 22:35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” .

Jesus had shamed the Jewish leaders in their attempts to shut Him down, and He was ever increasing in popularity and influence with the people, so they began to plot and plan a way to get rid of Him once and for always.  The paragraph shows how they pulled Judas into their plan, leading to Him making plans of his own. But Jesus had also been planning a plot of His own: how to picture for them what He was about to do; the Passover served as the best backdrop for understanding His sacrifice for our sins. Meanwhile, the rest of the disciples were plotting and planning how they could have highest position in the Kingdom, and Peter was sure he could outdo them all.  In the passage above, Jesus points them to the Master plan, the plan of the Father: it would supersede any plans of the disciples or Jesus' opponents. Jesus then went to the garden, where He talked with the Father, fully submitting to that plan. The Jewish leaders then carried out their plot, taking Him into custody, allowing their officers to carry out their plan of humiliating Jesus until they could carry out their planned fake trial the next day. Things were going according to plan...

At the Temple...

 Luke 21:37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.

During the last week of His ministry, Jesus spent a lot of time at the temple. The chapter begins with his comments about the widow giving all she had for the poor, leaving her with less than enough for herself. She had come to the temple to truly worship God and demonstrate her faith in Him.  Jesus wanted them, and us, to think about the purpose of the temple and our responses there.

The discussion then turns to the temple itself and its grandear. Jesus shocks his followers when He announces that in the not-so-distant future Jerusalem would be invaded and the temple leveled.  In a description that is paralleled by the wearing out of our bodies, Jesus talks about the signs of this coming destruction and then of His coming again. Just as signs of His coming increase, the signs of our temple-our bodies- falling apart increase.  We should take these signs not as a reason to fear and flee, but to prepare and trust in God. 

Who's in Charge around here?

Luke 20:41 Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? 42 David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:

    “Sit at my right hand

43 until I make your enemies

    a footstool for your feet.”

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

We saw yesterday that when Jesus came into Jerusalem, He made one grand entrance, with the cleansing of the temple as the icing in the cake.  This challenged the authority of the temple leaders, so this chapter begins with them asking Jesus Whose authority He had to do so.  He first used a question about John the Baptist to silence them, then He set out to denounce their authority one by one. In His Parable of the Tenants, He illustrated how ungrateful and rebellious they had been against in their responsibilities as keepers of The Covenant; they knew He was talking about them. He then answered a question about the giving of taxes to Rome in such a way thet proved they had over-extended their authority. Next, He put the Sadducees in their place, refuting their rejection of the resurrection, showing they were not the superior rational thinkers they considered themselves to be.  Next, using the quote above, He put a plug in for His own authority as the promised Messiah.  Finally, He points out the self-centeredness and self-righteousness of the majority of the religious leaders, pronouncing God's judgment on their arrogance.

The Grand Entrance

 Luke 19:41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

We have seen Jesus making His way towards Jerusalem: refuting His opponents, healing the sick, telling His followers what it really means to be His disciple. He is now on the last leg of the journey. The chapter begins with Him entering Jericho, where announces that both He and salvation will be staying at the house of Zacchaeus, a sinful tax-collector. He then tells the parable of the ten minas, about a landowner/king who entrusts his estate to some stewards, while he goes away on business.  There are also many in His kingdom who do not want Him to be King. When He returns, He rewards those who have handled their trust well, while punishing those who have remained rebellious against Him.  Next is what we refer to as The Triumphal Entry, where the people bow down and sing His praises as the long- awaited deliverer. Again, there are those who refuse to accept Him as King. It is that fact that moves Him to make the statement above, as He mourns their rejections.  The final paragraph of the chapter is His dramatic cleansing of the temple, driving out the money-mad merchants and rebuking the poor management for allowing the place to go downhill so far.  Everywhere Jesus went, He made quite an entrance. 

The God of Zion

 Psalm 87:1 On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
2     the Lord loves the gates of Zion
    more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3 Glorious things of you are spoken,
    O city of God. Selah

Psalm 88: 13 But I, O Lord, cry to you;
    in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 O Lord, why do you cast my soul away?
    Why do you hide your face from me?
15 Afflicted and close to death from my youth up,
    I suffer your terrors; I am helpless.
16 Your wrath has swept over me;
    your dreadful assaults destroy me.
17 They surround me like a flood all day long;
    they close in on me together.
18 You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me;
    my companions have become darkness.

Psalm 87 is a psalm of corporate praise, lift up Zion as the City of God. the rest of the psalm goes on to proclaim that it is the city of cities, because God's presence is there and everybody knows it. the opening words of the next psalm immediately take us back.  Noted in the psalm title is the name Heman, mentioned in I Chronicles 6 as one appointed by David to lead in worship. Asaph, who is listed in many psalm titles, was assistant to Heman. This Psalm is filled with darkness and discouragement. It is a personal cry of being all alone - not in the temple, the glory of Zion, but in a fearful place, with no one there to support him.  The last phrase is literally "darkness is my companion." What agony there is when we feel like God is not with us.  There is nothing this man who led worship in Zion wanted more. 

Show Us Your Steadfast Love!

Psalm 85:5 Will you be angry with us forever?

    Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again,
    that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.

Psalm 86:3 Be gracious to me, O Lord,

    for to you do I cry all the day.

4 Gladden the soul of your servant,

    for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,

    abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

These two psalms were written by two different people, with the first being a corporate call to God and the second being a personal plea.  In the first one, the psalmist refers back to God's answering in the past, asking Him to show the same kind of love and faithfulness, depending upon His goodness and righteousness.  In the second one, David refers to God's goodness and forgiveness in the past as a basis for believing God will do it again.  Both psalms express a dependence upon God to do what is best and a willingness to accept His way of answering.  That is a key element whenever we call out to Him.

Keep Crying Out

Luke 18:15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

Often we fail to connect words of Jesus to the actions and reactions which surround them. Luke 18 is full of principles about prayer. It begins with this introduction: And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.  Jesus goes on to tell about the persistent woman who kept crying out to the judge until he gave her justice; we need to persist that way in prayer. In the next scene, He compares and contrasts the Pharisee who snobbishly brags on himself to the tax collector who beats on his chest and cries out to God for mercy; we need to be like the latter.  Next, we find children crying because the disciples were keeping them away from Jesus, until Jesus commands them to let them come. Then, the rich young ruler comes asking what he can do to receive eternal life, but never willing to ask for help to do what he cannot; we need to realize that we must ask in faith, not just do the right things. After that Jesus repeats the announcement of HIs impending death, but rather than asking for clarification, they remain confused.  Finally, a blind man cries out to Jesus to be healed, annoying everyone around him, but that is exactly what Jesus wants from all of us; Jesus joyfully did so. 

Looking to the Right Place

Luke 17:20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

Jesus continues to respond to the false ideas of the Pharisees, which had greatly impacted the thinking of the people.  In the first paragraph He addresses temptations to sin, and the one thing He pulls out is failing to forgive; the Pharisees were bent on making people pay for their sin, not have it forgiven.  The people were always looking for big signs of faith, but He told them to plant the mustard seed.  We always want people to thank us for doing something for them, but Jesus said to serve God with hearts of thanksgiving and not to expect Him to thank us, as we are the servants. He then followed that by healing the ten lepers and revealing how prone we are to not turn and give God thanks.  Next Jesus made the statement above, about not looking for the Kingdom "out there," but within our hearts. Finally, Jesus addressed the search for the Kingdom of God again and all the vain attempts to find it; however, it will be very clear when He comes suddenly and observable to all. What are we looking for? Where are we looking for it? Why are we looking where we do?

Doing God's Business

Luke 16:10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Jesus' parables and illustrations came from every part of human life: family, nature, even business. In this chapter Jesus uses some principles and practices to compare and contrast concerning the Kingdom of God: doing business for and with God.  In the opening paragraph Jesus calls His disciples to be shrewd (but not dishonest), considering at all times how their actions affect the trust and respect others have for them. Here He makes it clear that honesty and sincerity are not negotiables: they are a must. He then goes on to rebuke the Pharisees with how poorly they had "done business" with the Prophets in the past, rejecting them as God's negotiators.  Finally, Jesus confronts them with both their poor estimation of marriage (which is God's glowing illustration of relationship with Him) and their extreme love of material things and horrible neglect of the poor, which will lead them to break off business ties with God altogether.  

Hangry or Humble?

Luke 15:28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

The above is the conclusion to the three parables of the "lost": the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son. In each of them, when someone found what they had lost, they rejoiced and asked people to rejoice with them. But Jesus extended the last parable becauase now He was talking about people with an eternal soul. The father rejoiced, but his other son did not. He had been out working hard and came home to everybody eating.  Of course, in context, Jesus was picturing the response of the religious leaders to Jesus; rather than rejoice over the salvation He had brought to the world, they were angry because they did not control the situation; they did not get to determine who was worthy to receive it.  That would take humility.  Do we, deep down, want to see people pay for their sins(especially against us) or receive God's grace in Christ?

Invited to Join...

 Luke 14:12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

This statement is made in between Jesus' two parables about wedding celebrations.  The chapter actually begins with Him once again being scolded for healing on the Sabbath: Jesus viewed the man with dropsy as an invitation to heal a member of the family and for the people to demonstrate faith, but the religious leaders refused the invitation. So Jesus began with the first parable about wedding feast, where the moral of the story was to demonstrate humility and thankfulness that one was even invited to the wedding. It was here that Jesus inserts the statement above - to demonstrate mercy and grace by inviting those who would typically be ignored. He then goes on to talk about The Great Banquet that God was (and is) announcing. Many will not respond or refuse the invitation. This of course referred to the self-righteous who refuse His invitation to salvation.  Jesus then turns and discusses His invitation for them(and us) to follow Him. It is a call to deny oneself, count the cost, and take up a cross.  It requires a willingness to accept God's plan for our lives. Finally, Jesus concludes with a statement about saltiness, which at first glance seems misplaced, but what He is talking about is making a difference. Jesus is inviting us to join Him in a life that makes a difference. Will we accept His offer?

Longings

 Psalm 83:

13 O my God, make them like whirling dust,

    like chaff before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest,
    as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15 so may you pursue them with your tempest
    and terrify them with your hurricane!
16 Fill their faces with shame,
    that they may seek your name, O Lord.

Psalm 84

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,

    O Lord of hosts!

2 My soul longs, yes, faints

    for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and flesh sing for joy

    to the living God.

3 Even the sparrow finds a home,

    and the swallow a nest for herself,

    where she may lay her young,

at your altars, O Lord of hosts,

    my King and my God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,

    ever singing your praise! Selah

The above two psalms reveal and different, yet similar kind of longing. The first, a psalm of Asaph, is a plea for something to do with the fact that the surrounding nations of Israel are harassing her, stealing territory, making her shiver with fear.  The Psalmist pleads for God to deal with them as He had done previously during the time of the Judges.  Eventually he comes back to true perspective, asking God not just to punish them, but to bring them to a realization of Who He is and to worship Him. The second one, a psalm of the Sons of Korah, resembles something we would expect from David, with a longing to be in God's house worshipping Him.  For whatever reason - possibly also outside interference - regular worship was not taking place. Throughout the psalm the plea resounds: even a bird has a place for rest; so should we.  The psalm ends with some beautiful lyrics you may recognize. Both are worth the read.  

Please Listen...

 Psalm 81:8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
    O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god among you;
    you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
10 I am the Lord your God,
    who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
    Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
    Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
    to follow their own counsels.
13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,
    that Israel would walk in my ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies
    and turn my hand against their foes.

Psalm 82: 2 “How long will you judge unjustly

    and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;

    maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

4 Rescue the weak and the needy;

    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

In these two psalms of Asaph we find pleas on the part of God for His people to be just.  In the first psalm it is for them to deal justly with God.  He had delivered them from the land of bondage(Egypt), yet they rebelled against Him and served other Gods, refusing to listen to His beckoning to return. In the second psalm above God calls them to act justly toward the weak and oppressed, rescuing them as they had been rescued by Him. They stand in His courtroom guilty and unrepentant. Like the two tablets of the Ten Commandments these twin psalms stand as a complete complaint from God against His rebellious people. In both the question hands: "How long until you repent?"

One Foxy Move

 

Luke 13:31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

As Jesus' ministry increased, so did the ire of the Pharisees and other religious leaders.  He told them that they were no better than the pagan cities surrounding Israel, but were like a barren tree with no fruit. He then rebuked them for saying that healing on the Sabbath was bad and described the way to heaven as a narrow door through which many of them would not make it.  Here, at the conclusion of the chapter, He deflects an attempt from them to scare Him away with from Judea with the fear of King Herod, saying he was out to get Jesus. Jesus says "Go and tell that fox..."  What a wise move. Jesus knew they were afraid of Herod and would never deliver the message.  What He goes on to say was directed at them - they were the ones out to get Jesus, rejecting His miracles and message, just as they had the prophets before Him.

What NOT to Have

Luke 12:35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Yesterday we finished chapter 11 with Jesus calling out the religious leaders for their self-righteousness. This chapter begins with Him telling His followers to not have the same hypocrisy those leaders had. He then goes on to tell them (and us) to have no fear when it came to proclaiming the Good News about Him. He next used a debate over an inheritance to warn them(and us) not have a focus on material possessions. Following that He told us to not have anxiety about whether we will have what we need: God will provide. We come now to the paragraph above where He warns us to not have any excuses why we are not ready for His return: they will not be accepted. Finally Jesus goes on to say that living without all of the above will not necessarily make life pleasant and easy all of the time: others will not understand and we will have to do some hard things.  Do not have unrealistic expectations.

Calling Out!

 Luke 11:27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

This chapter is all about "calling out."  It begins with Jesus' disciples asking Him how to pray, and His responding with what we commonly call "The Lord's Prayer," instructions on calling out to God, and His exhortation for us to ask, seek, and knock.  Often when Jesus came across demon-driven people they would call out in agony and Jesus would call on the demons to come out.  He gets in quite a debate here with his opponents, who accused Him of calling them out by calling on demonic powers, but He clearly and cleverly refutes them.  He then refers to the self-righteousness of Jonah and calls on the hypocritical religious leaders to call out in repentance.  One of the leaders then called Jesus out for not properly washing his hands before dinner, to which Jesus replied that inner cleansing was much more important than outward, ceremonial washing.  Jesus then called them out for all of their self-righteous actions and rebuked them for being a roadblock to those who were truly calling out to God for salvation.  May we be found doing the right kind of "calling out."

Something Worth Shouting About

 

Luke 10:17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

The chapter begins with Jesus sending out the seventy-two, much like he had the twelve.  Having given them detailed instructions and pronouncing woes on cities that would not receive them and repent, they went out and came back would glowing reports of their mission.  Jesus too rejoiced, but not over their great signs and wonders, but their salvation.  He goes on to rejoice not over making a name for Himself, but the privilege of carrying out the Father's will.  He then is confronted by the religious lawyer who came wanted to justify himself. He bragged about how well he had obeyed all the law of God.  Jesus, of course, knew the full story and revealed a gaping hole in his argument: the man was proud and greedy. Jesus applies the story of the Good Samaritan to show what is really important. Finally in the chapter, Jesus goes to the home of Mary and Martha. Martha is making a big fuss about a big meal. That is all well and good, but Jesus is much more excited by Mary's pursuit of spiritual truth. That was something worth shouting about.

It's Not What You Think...

Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

In this long chapter Luke presents scenario after scenario where the disciples are learning what it means to follow after Jesus - primarily by addressing what it is not. First, he sent his disciples out two by two, sharing the good news of the Gospel. Rather than having everyone respond positively, many would refuse them. Next, Herod "wanted" to see Jesus, but did not have the courage nor desire to make it happen.  The feeding of the five thousand was not a promise of a free lunch, but a call to trust him for all things. Peter figured out and publicly proclaimed Christ to be the Messiah, only to have Jesus respond by saying He would die before begin able to take the throne. We then come to the above statement about discipleship being self-denial. Following this, Jesus rebukes them for their lack of faith, tells them not to "grow up," but become more like a child, rebukes them for seeing the unsaved as their enemies, and turns away many who say they want to follow after him... but just not yet nor to the degree that He requires. Jesus seems to be giving more reasons to not follow Him than to do so, but really He is just saying: "It's not what you think."

A Restored Vine

Psalm 80:14 Turn again, O God of hosts!
    Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
15     the stock that your right hand planted,
    and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.
16 They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down;
    may they perish at the rebuke of your face!
17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
    the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
18 Then we shall not turn back from you;
    give us life, and we will call upon your name!
19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts!
    Let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Like the psalm before it, this psalm laments the devastation of Jerusalem, having been invaded, defeated, leveled, and left by the exiles.  The psalmist looks back on the Exodus and Entrance into the land, when God planted Israel as a vine there, flourishing and surrounded by neighboring nations that held them in awe.  Now they are mocked and scorned.  The psalm has a messianic tone, as the psalmist calls out to God: let Your hand to be on the Man of your right hand, the Son of Man Whom You have made strong for Yourself. Three times in the psalm he repeats the chorus, including the final verse: Restore us, O Lord God of hosts!  Let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Productive Groaning

Psalm 79:8 Do not remember against us our former iniquities;
    let your compassion come speedily to meet us,
    for we are brought very low.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation,
    for the glory of your name;
deliver us, and atone for our sins,
    for your name's sake!
10 Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”
Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants
    be known among the nations before our eyes!

In the paragraphs before and after this one it is apparent that the psalmist is writing during the time of exile.  The Holy City has been laid in ruins, many killed, and the rest taken away into captivity. The enemy has won and the rest of their enemies celebrate their defeat.  What we find here is a clear-headed and clean-hearted plea for God to come down in mercy and compassion to not only deliver, but to take care of their sins which caused this all in the first place.  What matters most of all is God's glory before the nations.  May we have that same perspective: that it is not our deserved suffering but His glory that we should be most concerned about.

A Place for Women...

 Luke 8:1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

These opening words of Luke 8 really set the tone for more of what is said later on in the chapter. Notice that many of them had been touched by Jesus' healing ministry. After introducing Jesus' method and reasoning behind teaching in parables. Luke comments about the visit of Jesus' physical family and His comment about his real family including both women and men of faith; it is a distinct statement including the place of women.  Finally, at the end of the chapter Jesus performs a double miracle, the recipients being a young girl and a woman worn old by all her suffering.  Both were worthy of Jesus' focus and touch. If one goes through the Gospel to study the place of women, you will find Jesus held them in high regard and there are many who are key characters in God's plan of redemption in Christ. 

The Overlooked

Luke 7:11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

As we follow after Jesus in this Gospel, we find that he had a knack for interacting with those whom others would tend to ignore.  The chapter begins with Him healing the servant of a Roman Centurion without even being in the room.  Most religious leaders would have avoided such a Gentile. In the paragraph above, we find him taking time to interact with a widow He did not know, having compassion on her, and raising her son from death.  Anyone else would have viewed her as "someone else's responsibility.  Following this, Jesus is met by servants of John the Baptist, viewed by many as crazy, and He speaks up in John's defense and chastises them for ignoring him.  Finally, in this chapter, when Jesus is in the home of a pharisee, he is anointed by a woman with a bad reputation.  When she, and Jesus, are criticized for such behavior, Jesus rebukes His host for his poor hospitality and comes to the defense of the woman. Jesus went out of his way to look for those who are overlooked.  Do we?

Sabbath Stuff

 

Luke 6:1 On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” 3 And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” 5 And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

Early in His ministry, Jesus dealt with a major stumbling block in people understanding what He had been sent to do: misunderstandings about the Sabbath. It was not a day to instill fear, but to restore relationship. The next paragraph after the one above talks about another Sabbath when Jesus healed, which those who opposed Him classified as "work," thus violating the Sabbath. Again, Jesus came to restore broken people. His next step is choosing the Twelve, with whom He would live life in close relationship for the next few years. The rest of the chapter is Luke's account of the Sermon on the Plain, beginning with the Beatitudes. He again hits on restoring relationships: not living selfishly, loving your enemies, not judging others, and building a life based on faith, not trying to look good.  The Sabbath is simply renewing life for every day. 

Totally Different...

Luke 5:36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

Having established His ministry well, Jesus began to call His first disciples, beginning with the fishermen in the boat, including Simon Peter, James, and John.  When he called, they dropped their nets, changed their whole life, including their work schedule, and followed Him.  Next, Jesus encountered a leper, whom He healed, changing his life from one of exclusion to one where he was free to go tell the priest and anyone else he wanted to.  This also changed Jesus' ministry, and the crowds increasingly pressed in upon Him.  He then healed a paralytic, but first announced the man's sins were forgiven. This changed the nature of His ministry to spiritual more than physical, though in reality that is what it was always about. Following this, Jesus called Levi(Matthew), the tax collector to come follow Him. This was a whole new way of living, both in the way he treated people, and in how much (less) money he had to live on.  Finally, Jesus told them that life with God was not what they had always pictured: long gowns with long faces, trying to suffer enough to please God.  Rather it is living with Joy and thanksgiving over all God has done.

Truth Twisting

Luke 4:31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 

This chapter is full of accounts where those who encountered Christ tried to twist the truth. First, when he was out in the wilderness(desert area), Satan tried to tempt Jesus, using as justification Old Testament truths taken out of context and twisted to make sin sound good.  Next Jesus went to Nazareth, where He had been raised, and preached an amazing message.  People twisted the "fact" that Jesus was the son of Joseph to mean that He could NOT be a prophet, let alone the Messiah.  Finally, in the above passage, He came to what would become his headquarters for ministry, when he is taunted by this demon-possessed man.  The demon rightly identified Jesus as "the Holy One of God," but twisted Jesus' intentions, accusing Him of coming only to destroy.  But Jesus did not. Instead He healed many and proclaimed the news all around the region. Yes, Jesus is the Judge, but He also came to seek and save the Lost. The response to truth-twisting is important: Jesus could have chosen second-best; the people of Nazareth could have become the home-base for the ministry of the Messiah; Capernaum could have missed out on the same opportunity and many there would not have heard His message or received His miracles.  Beware of truth-twisting; you never know what you will miss by accepting it.