Luke

 

The Gospel of Luke

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 1. Here we have the first book Luke writes to Theophilus with a well-ordered account of things so that he can have a firm grasp on what he has already been told about Jesus. This is a very long chapter but much of it may be familiar as it gets retold during the season of Advent. Reading it this time I noticed the Holy Spirit being present in more places than just the baby John jumping in his mother’s womb.

   The story starts by telling of Zechariah and Elizabeth and though they are older they do not have a child. Later in verse 25 she will comment about having felt disgraced by this in the culture of her day. But here in the telling Zechariah meets the angel Gabriel in the Temple while going about his duties and the angel tells him they will have a child and that they will have joy and gladness. His name is to be John. That sounds much better than disgrace or shame! But Zechariah questions and seems to doubt so he is then unable to speak until the child is born. Elizabeth sure enough does conceive and hides the fact for five months. Why do you think she would do that?

   Then the scene jumps to Mary in Nazareth and Gabriel comes and tells her that she too is to have a baby. His name is to be Jesus. She questions how this will happen and is told the holy Spirit will come upon her. She is told about Elizabeth’s condition with an affirmation that nothing is impossible to God. The angel leaves and Mary leaves to go see Elizabeth. And notice in verse 41 Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesies a blessing on Mary and her baby as her own baby leaps for joy.

   Mary then shares her song of praise, not just for her baby but what he shall become. Reread all it says about turning the world upside down in verses 51-53. Then after three months Mary left. I think this is out of order as I cannot imagine here staying until right before John’s birth without waiting for it to happen and to celebrate with her cousin. But I wasn’t there – but then again neither was Luke! Anyway, the baby is born and is named John and then Zechariah could once again speak. The people pondered and wondered what this child would become!

   Once Zechariah could speak, he too is filled with the Holy Spirit (3 months after his wife) and he too begins to prophesy. And in the midst of all he said he foretells what John will become as a prophet of the Most High preparing the way of the Lord. The people will hear words of salvation by the forgiveness of sins. Light will shine in the darkness and guide the people on the path to peace. The story ends with John then growing up in the wilderness. Please realize that this is a connection with the ancient ancestors Abraham, Israel and Moses who all grew up through there own wilderness experiences. Where all have you grown up in your faith journey? Have you felt the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins come upon you? What’s your story. Who needs to hear part of it today? Go share it.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 2. Here we begin with a very familiar story of the birth of Jesus. As we have heard many Christmas Eve services about the first 20 verses, let me skip over those and talk about things in the rest of the story of Jesus - the early years.

   Eight days after Jesus was born, he was circumcised and presented in the Temple with the appropriate sacrifice being offered to God. What I focus on is the mention of two elderly people. The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah. And upon seeing Jesus, he scoops him up and praises God, that now he can die in peace. Simeon had a bucket list or maybe a bucket thing as there was one thing he wanted to experience before he died, and here he did. In my elder years I have been working on my list, and checking a few off each year and then adding a few new ones. (Writing this daily blog/commentary on the whole Bible will take me the better part of the next four years to complete.) Do you have things you would like to do in your lifetime? Don’t wait too long!

   After Simeon we read about Anna who was also a prophet. Though Luke maybe never heard what she said, we get the gist that she too praised God and spoke about Jesus to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. With that declaration Luke is setting up Theophilus to hear the Good News starting in the next chapter with Jesus’ ministry. Then the family goes back to Nazareth where Jesus grows up and grows in favor with God.

   Another familiar story is then told about a mishap when Jesus was twelve and on the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem that year, Mary and Joseph lose sight of him for three days. I wonder if this is a coincidence or if Luke is preparing his reader for the story of the disciples who will later lose sight of Jesus in the tomb for three days! Thank God, he is found and with a little discussion with his mother we receive a couple insights. At first his parents did not understand, much like the disciples who will not understand much of his parables and sayings at first. But his mother pondered or treasured all these things in her heart. Mom’s do that. What does/did your mother remember and treasure about you? What do you remember and treasure? I wonder if Luke interviewed Mary for this section of the gospel? If I were to interview you about what you treasure about Jesus, what would you say?

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 3. Though we have already been introduced to John before and after his birth, here we see him as a young man ready to take on the world with a mission of proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Luke quotes from the prophet Isaiah about the one to come from the wilderness with such a proclamation to prepare the way of the Lord. I see this much like a warmup act that performs before the headliner comes to the stage. He is the cheerleader making the introductory speech for the One to come. Notice even though he is not the Messiah, he has words of instruction for how people are to live. As you read this, what might John be saying specifically to you today?

   Though the opening remarks end with King Herod putting John in prison, evidently that has not happened yet. As here we have Jesus coming and being baptized. This is the short version with no dialogue between Jesus and John. And though others will remember the voice of God speaking to the people telling them that, “This is my beloved son,” here the words only seem to be spoken to Jesus. And here once more in this gospel we see the presence of the Holy Spirit as it descends upon Jesus.

   As Luke goes into a genealogical lineage for Jesus he is the only gospel writer to give Jesus’ age. Last chapter he was a week old and then twelve. Here he is about thirty, a young, but  in that culture not too young of a young man. What were you doing when you were about thirty? I was finishing seminary and going to serve my first church as a pastor.

   I do not know most of the names in Jesus’ family tree. But then again I do not know much of my own back before my grandparents. Do you know much about your ancestors and from where they came? The piece I love here is the connection to some names in ancient history like King David (though not through King Solomon!) and of course Noah and Methuselah and Adam, and then the son of God. As you remember your family tree remember that you to are a child of God! What does that say about you – and all of the other children of God out there?

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 4. This chapter begins right after being filled with the Spirit, Jesus is led into the wilderness for forty days of fasting. Reading closely the temptations all come at the very end after the forty days, perhaps at Jesus’ weakest point. Be careful during your weakest points during the day, week or year. You might be tempted to give up or take an easier course. Remember that Jesus resisted and stayed the course he believed God had set before him and had scriptures to back it up. What are your back-up scriptures? Repeat them often and especially during times of temptation! Note at the end of the story the devil or tempter departs, but the empowering Spirit remains with Jesus. Luke indicates that the devil’s temptation would return at an opportune time. Let’s watch for that.

   Empowered by the Spirit Jesus returns to Galilee and teaches in the synagogues. Notice by the end of this chapter that changes as people in the synagogues become angry with his message and he starts gathering crowds outdoors. Sometimes the same has happened and happens today with different reactions inside and outside the church. Jesus, like John the Baptist, seems to be an outsider!

   I find the story of going home to Nazareth and the change of the people’s reaction. He is given the scroll of Isaiah to read. (I am thinking of reading Isaiah once we finish Luke so we can see the back story to the back story to the book of Acts!) There is a powerful proclamation to bring good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight to the blind, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. I pray that this is a year of the Lord’s favor because people are still oppressed and need the freedoms Isaiah and Jesus preached. Notice inverse 22 how impressed people are by what he says.

   Then he says a little more noting that prophets are not accepted back home. And his prophetic words and actions, similar to the words and actions of Elijah and Elsisha helping foreigners raises nationalistic anger against him and by verse 28 they are filled with rage! That must have been some sermon! It gets so bad they try to kill him, but miraculously Jesus slips away.

   Next, he goes to the nearby city of Capernaum where the people are likewise astounded by his message but more than that a man, with an unclean spirit, rails against Jesus and even declares he is the Holy One of God. Jesus rather than taking it as free advertising, rebukes the demon who came out of the man without harming him and the people are even more astounded. The news about him spread throughout the region.

   Luke is the only gospel writer to tell the story of the healing of Peter’s (Simon’s) mother-in-law. And this story comes before Simon and Andrew, and the others are called to be disciples in the next chapter. Jesus already knew them and they knew him before they were called and followed in this gospel. Not only is Peter’s mother-in-law healed but word spreads and by evening all caregivers are bringing others to be healed. And more demons are cast out and some of these claim Jesus is the Son of God.

   At daybreak he tries to get away to a deserted place, maybe he was hoping for another 40 day break like at the beginning of the chapter, but the people follow and try to keep him from leaving. Maybe like his discernment in the wilderness before leading him into his ministry here it leads him into an itinerant ministry to go and spread the good news about the kingdom of God and he leaves Galilee and then goes throughout the region of Judea.

   Find sometime today to sit and talk with God. Listen for clarification of god’s mission in the world today and the unique mission God has for you given your set of unique spiritual gifts. I will continue to use mine to spread the good news through Bible reflections, sermons and Bible studies. How about you?

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 5. This may not be the shorter story you remember of Jesus calling the fishermen in Matthew or Mark where Jesus just walks up and calls them to follow and they quickly leave their family fishing businesses. As we have already read, Peter knew Jesus as a healer of his mother-in-law, and here as a preacher to a large crowd from his boat. And to top it off Jesus knew a good fishing spot which yielded a huge catch! In each telling of the story the sons leave the business and their families short-handed, but here it is compounded when they leave this great catch of fish on the shore for someone else to clean them and get them to the market. And notice James and John are mentioned but not Andrew.

   Next there is a story of Jesus healing a man, and though he was ordered not to tell anyone, the fact that a miracle had occurred was obvious and the word about Jesus and his abilities spread. Crowds were showing up to hear him and be healed by him. Luke then simply states that Jesus would slip away to deserted places and pray. When you are overwhelmed with work or life’s demands, let me encourage you to follow Jesus’ example and take time to renew yourself by getting away and spending time in prayer.

   Then we hear another healing story with some interesting pieces. Some men bring a paralyzed friend and to get him to Jesus past the large crowd they take him up to the roof and open a hole to lower him down in front of Jesus. Luke tells us that Jesus acknowledged their faith (the friends’ faith) that he tells the paralyzed man that his sins are forgiven. What I hear is that your and my faith can help others and we can help bring others to Jesus by our faith. The other thing I see is that Jesus can forgive sins. I know all Christian believers believe this and tie it to his death on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice by Jewish law for sins to be forgiven. But notice here, he does not say to the man, just wait until I get to Jerusalem and die and then your sins will be forgiven! No, Jesus had the power before the crucifixion.

   What I just said might cause a stir among some Christians. Well, what Jesus said caused a stir for some of the Jewish leaders in the crowd. They thought it was blasphemy because only God can forgive sins. (Please remember when you pray the Lord’s Prayer which we will read in chapter 11, that we are to forgive people their sins, or trespasses, or debts depending on your translation.) Rather than getting into a theological debate, Jesus gets practical and translates his original affirmation to a command to stand up and get moving – which the man does and he glorifies God as he goes. What might happen if you go and forgive other people’s sins? Might they be freed from their paralysis caused by fear or lack of faith? Miracles can still happen in the name of Jesus.

   Luke then has Jesus call a tax collector named Levi to follow. (In Matthew he is named Matthew.) Before Levi leaves and follows Jesus, he gives a large banquet with a great number of fellow tax collectors in attendance. This causes another controversy with the Pharisees and scribes who wouldn’t be caught dead eating with such sinners. Jesus may have answered with a longer parable about physicians and patients, but here in Luke’s retelling of the story Jesus identifies himself as a healer not just of the sick and paralyzed but a healer of sin-sick souls. But that is not the end of it as they press on noting that John the Baptist’s disciples and others regularly fasted, but Jesus and his disciples did not. Jesus shares another would be parable about feasting at a wedding party while the groom is in the room. There will be time for fasting when the party is over and the groom is gone. (At that point in time they would have no clue about the death and resurrection to come.)

   This chapter finally ends with a parable, or maybe portions of three of them about cloth, wineskins and wine. The first two note that it is not good to try to fit something new into something old. Might this be a reflection on what has already been said about what Jesus is doing that was not and has not been done according to the old traditions and ways of the Jewish faith? If his is true the last line pointing out that old, aged wine is better than new seems t contradict that and also the story in John’s gospel about the new wine Jesus changes from water being better than the old wine served at the wedding in Cana. My belief is that both statements are and can be true. There are times when I experience new things being new and improved, but I have also experienced old things that are tried and true are true, too. What do you believe about all of this. When you figure it out for yourself, find someone to share it with!

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 6. Luke packs a lot in this chapter! There are a couple stories about the controversy over the strict observance of the Sabbath as a day of rest. The disciples are chastised for plucking a few stalks of grain and eating them as they walked. Jesus replies with a story of David feeding his troops with bread unlawful for them to eat and then notes that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. Then another Sabbath he heals a man with a withered hand after asking if it is lawful to do good or harm on the Sabbath? Some become furious with him and begin to plot against him for this.

   Then Jesus chooses the twelve apostles and offers a sermon on the plain (verses Matthew’s sermon on the mount.) The Beatitudes are similar here but more down to earth as he speaks of the poor or the hungry rather than the poor in spirit or those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. And here not only are those who are on the bottom blessed, but those who are on the top are cursed. He goes on to teach us about blessing those who curse us and to love our enemies. This is actually in there twice in verses 27 and 35! The line many people have heard and memorized is what has been termed the Golden Rule in verse 31. Do you try to live that way? How about turning the other cheek, not judging others, and all the other things he says here?

   Jesus has a few short mini-parables including one you might have heard about seeing a speck in another person’s eye without seeing the log in your own eye. Do we judge and see the smallest wrongs that others commit while casting a blind eye on our own sins? He calls us to look for good fruit and good trees and to bear good fruit out of the good treasure of our hearts. He finishes up with a familiar parable about building good or bad foundations. The good ones are based on Jesus’ teachings and remembering them and learning to live that way. The bad foundations are those who heard the teachings but did not put them into action and then lost everything when life got tough and the flood waters washed them away. As you read and reflect on these scriptures each day, do you feel your faith getting stronger and fortified? Keep reading, reflecting, putting into practice, and growing.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 7. As Jesus’ ministry continues there is a mix of miracles and messages. Here we start with a miraculous healing that leads to reflection and a message. A centurion hears about Jesus’ healing abilities he asks the local Jewish elders to go to him and ask for him to heal the valued slave who was near death. As Jesus approaches the centurion sends out friends to say that he does not feel worthy for Jesus to come to his house. His request is that Jesus just say the word and the slave will be healed. He offers that that is the way it works for him as an officer. He says things to people and those things are done – no ifs, ors, or buts! Therefore, Jesus does not need to physically come and heal the slave, just say the word and it will be done. And Jesus is amazed by his faith in him and points out to the people that he has not seen faith like this among the people of Israel.

   I see a couple things here. The more obvious is that Jesus does not need to physically be present for miracles to happen. But even bigger than that in this story I am taken back to the first creation story where God speaks and things happen. From the beginning of John’s gospel we hear of Jesus being the Word that was spoken when all that happened. Here in this story the Word is still happening. And today things, too are happening in the name of the Word. We can pray for miracles to happen around God’s world without our having to be there physically. Who are the centurions in need of the word you might pray on their behalf?

   Then Jesus goes to another town and discovers a funeral procession and learns the dead man leaves a widowed mother with no one to care for her. With compassion Jesus performs another miracle – this one in person as he raises the man from the dead. In the reaction Jesus is described as a great prophet, which leads us into the next story.

   Speaking of great prophets, next we hear what John the Baptist was wondering when some of his disciples tell him of what all Jesus is doing. I would have expected him to say something like, “That’s my cousin! My mother always told the story of how I leapt in her womb when his mother came to visit us when she was pregnant with him…oh, and did I tell you about the day he came to be baptized?” But, no! He sends his disciples back to question Jesus whether or not he is the real deal or should they wait for someone who does some real Messiah-like stuff? Perhaps he, like others, was looking for the one who would act like a king and overthrow the Romans to restore the glory days of King David. That attitude seems prevalent in Israel today as some seek to overcome and purge their enemies.

   Jesus’ reply to John offers a different perspective of God’s will and God’s way. These come from the prophesy of Isaiah Jesus first preached in the beginning of his ministry that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor hear the good news! We do not hear what John replies to that, but we hear what Jesus says about John. He describes him as a great prophet – the prophet who was sent to prepare the way for Jesus to come. And then he points out as great of a great prophet as John was the least of them who were following Jesus into God’s realm were even greater.

   The parenthetical note that Luke adds here describes those who believed in and were baptized by John, now were believing in Jesus and what he was doing as “the justice of God.” Whereas, the Pharisees and others who did not believe in John nor were baptized by him, rejected Jesus and “God’s purpose.” Then Jesus closes this section about John noting an observed difference between them and their followers who in one case were fasting and in the other case were feasting. In either case the non-believers rejected both.

   The chapter ends with a lengthy story of Jesus going to dinner at the house of a prominent Pharisee. And we see a contrast between the way he treats Jesus verses a woman describes as a sinner who comes and washes Jesus’ feet with her tears and anoints them with oil. In the various gospels this story is told of Jesus’ anointing, and they are slightly different with different explanations and sometimes noted as a preparation for his death and burial anointing. But here Luke shares with us a time for a lesson in this anointing, as Jesus talks about forgiving debts and speaks to the woman about the forgiving of her sins. Those around the table then begin to question Jesus’ ability and authority to forgive sins. They seem to doubt it, and in the end though she is sent away in peace knowing she has been forgiven, they are left grumbling and complaining in sin. In the name of Jesus, your sins are forgiven. Do you believe it? Then go in peace and act that way – forgive in the name of the one who has forgiven you.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 8. Here we have an eclectic collection of parables and miracles. Luke affirms that Jesus did not just have twelve disciples with him, but they had other ministers with them. As Luke named the disciples, here he names some of the women who were with them and took care of them – my translation says they ministered to them. Sometimes we think that only pastors are ministers, but we all have ministries, things we do for Jesus. What are yours and how might you minister to others today?

   Jesus did not usually interpret the parables he taught but here in this gospel he shares a familiar one and what it means. Where do you see yourself in the story? Perhaps at different times you have seen yourself in various places and ways plants grew or were choked or withered. As you reflect on this parable and your experiences in it, with whom might you share it? Welcome others to hear and become a part of the ongoing story.

   Then Jesus offers a short parable about a hidden lamp and notes how things that are hidden will be disclosed or exposed. It causes me to wonder about what he says here when the next line talks about the haves and the have nots. Will something be revealed about how the haves have taken from those who have not? I expect all will be revealed when we get to heaven!

   When Jesus’ mother and brothers come to see him, he takes it as an opportunity to define the believers as a family and points out that in our relationship there is a combination of listening and doing. What are you hearing and what are you doing these days? Whom might you welcome into the family?

   Then we have the story of Jesus calming the storm on the sea. The disciples are amazed that he can command the winds and the seas and they obey him. I’m amazed that they didn’t note that the One who can calm the winds and the seas can also calm us. If you are in the midst of frightening situations today, call upon Jesus to calm the storms in your life.

   The chapter ends with two stories of three miracles. A man possessed by demons is healed when Jesus casts them out, a woman suffering from a bleeding disorder is healed when she comes and touches the hem of his robe, and a girl who has died is brought back to life. If Luke were to write a story about what Jesus has done for you, how would that go? Luke is not writing stories anymore. You might try writing your own and giving thanks to Jesus by sharing it with others.

  

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 9. At the end of the gospel of Matthew after the resurrection Jesus sends the disciples out to spread the good news in what we call the Great Commission. Here I see a pre-commission. They are sent out maybe like student teachers or student nurses/medical students to teach and to heal. It is not mentioned here but there would be a process for them to return and share what they had learned by doing this. He empowers them to go and gives them a packing list and instruction about what to do in a worst-case scenario that they are not well received. What do you hear Jesus empowering and calling you to do today? Shake the dust off your sandals and get out there.

   I find it puzzling that Luke describes how King Herod tried to see Jesus, but evidently failed. I wonder who failed to make this happen? I doubt that it was Jesus as in the story of his mother and sister. If that were the case Luke could have written about Jesus asking, who are all the kings and royalty and lifted up those who listen and follow. But he evidently didn’t. So, it must have been the king. If he really wanted to see Jesus, he could have sent soldiers to go and find him. His father tried that after the magi left but Mary and Joseph fled as refugees to Egypt. Maybe with all the disciples going around from village to village in Jesus’ name the soldiers got confused following reports that he might be here or there. What I think is much more likely, the king said it but didn’t really mean it. I believe there are people today who might say they want to meet Jesus they just don’t, or they don’t know how or where to look. And Jesus’ followers aren’t out there doing a good job of directing traffic.

   After this we have the popular story of Jesus feeding 5000 men, and presumably even more when you add the women and children. Notice that here there is not a little boy with the loaves and fishes, but it seems to be what the disciples had. In any case Jesus blesses it and breaks it. I expect he sends the disciples out with it to serve the crowds that he has asked to sit in small groups. Some believe they do not have enough to make a difference. The gifts are small and the need is great. Does Jesus give us an example to breaking down the problem as he breaks the bread and freely gives? Some see this as Jesus following that temptation in the wilderness by turning a few loaves into many or maybe doing it with stones or mirrors. I believe Jesus shared faith along with the food that day and taught people to have faith to share what they have. Out of 5000 men did no one else think to bring along some food for the day? They maybe did not believe the little they had could do much, but when Jesus and the disciples gave away all that they had, did the others discover they could do the same? By faithfully sharing altogether, miracles can happen. What if we could learn that lesson today! What do you have to share? And Luke notes that they collected twelve baskets of leftovers. I wonder who brought the twelve collection plates?

   Jesus takes a survey, or more accurately askes what the disciples are hearing on the streets as to who people think that he is. Then he gets real and asks those who are closest to him who they think he is. We hear what Peter says, but I wonder what the others were thinking or said that did not get into the record. The real question, reader, is who is Jesus for you? Then Jesus tells them about his death and resurrection. In other gospels Peter will speak up here to try to object, but not here. A week later Peter, James and John experience the transfiguration and gain new insight as to who Jesus is. Without being ordered not to, in this gospel they just don’t talk about it even with the other disciples. Jesus then performs another healing and tells again of his coming death.

   Then an argument arose among them about who is the greatest. I cannot imagine a context for this unless it was who got to walk beside Jesus or sit at the table beside him. I appreciates how Jesus dismisses it by putting a child by his side. He focuses on welcoming the child in Jesus’ name. The greatest thing might be welcoming the children or the least, for Jesus sees the least as the greatest. Who are “the least” for you? Sit next to them and welcome them in Jesus’ name.

   The chapter ends with three problems with three answers. The disciples get upset when someone else is casting out demons in Jesus’ name. They want to stop him. But Jesus points out that whoever is not against us is for us. Elsewhere we find the opposite noting that whoever is not for us is against us. How do you perceive people in the silent majority? The Samaritans would not receive Jesus as he was set to head to Jerusalem. Maybe they wanted him to come and stay longer and not just for the night! In any case James and John forgot the rule of shaking off dust in such situations and thought fire from heaven would be preferable with those people. Think about your interactions with some people. Are you easily able to shake it off or does it usually set you off? Finally, Luke tells of some would-be disciples who had big buts. They would, but…now, think of all your excuses and big buts. Don’t look back but look ahead and follow. Get off your buts and follow Jesus.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 10. After the successful mission journeys of the twelve disciples in the last chapter, here Jesus sends out seventy-two (or seventy) others to places he intended to go. These would go two by two to share the good news and heal people and prepare them for Jesus’ arrival almost like advance teams today. We hear a familiar acknowledgement and plea about the harvest being plentiful but the laborers are few. The instructions to these are a bit longer than those to the twelve perhaps based on feedback learned from the disciples.

   Jesus had instructed them to shake off the dust of the streets of any communities that did not welcome them and here he names a few of them that did not seem to be receptive. We do not hear if Jesus went there. Maybe he just went to the communities that were receptive to the envoys? When the seventy-two return with joy exclaiming the results of their journeys, Jesus shares a vision of seeing Satan fall and everything changing as they now are on a roll with power over the enemy and they are unstoppable. Jesus rejoices and reveals to them that they have experienced and seen what prophets and kings long ago desired to see but never did. What have you seen and heard in your faith journey?

   Next, we have a telling and explaining of the Great Commandment. In other gospels Jesus will be asked and tell what it is but Luke has an expert in the law recite it and Jesus confirm it with the call to just do it – Love God and neighbor. And then comes the follow-up question - who is my neighbor? This then allows Jesus to tell the parable we know as the Good Samaritan in this gospel. In the telling of this story to the legal expert Jesus tells notes the actions of two other legal experts or practitioners of the law of Moses, a priest and a Levite. Their laws prohibit them from going near the man let alone helping him. But the Samaritan is not so constrained and instead operates under the law of love and compassion. In the end when the legal expert affirms that this Samaritan acted like a loving neighbor to the man injured by the side of the road, Jesus simply tells him and us to go and do likewise. Go and do likewise today.

   This chapter ends with a story of Mary and Martha. Other gospels will speak of them in the telling of the raising of their brother Lazarus from the dead. But here we have the two sisters doing their own thing. I have preached on this many times and reflect that there are usually many Marthas in the various churches I have served. They are busy with many of the physical needs of the church or community. But there are also a good number of Mary’s among us who spend time in Bible study, discernment, and prayer. Most of us are a little of both. But if you lean one way or the other, are you more like Mary or Martha? Try reading this story from your weaker side. How does it sound to your other sister’s ear? Though we may think what we are doing is more important, can you see the importance of the other side? What might Jesus be trying to say to you today? Don’t be distracted but choose to focus on what one thing you can do for Jesus today. Go and do likewise.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 11. Here Luke begins with some things about prayer. The disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. Prayer seems to be more important to the students than to Jesus, most times he had gone off alone to pray rather than teaching them how to or modeling it to them. The other interesting things is that besides what we now call the Lord’s Prayer there seems to have been a John the Baptist’s Prayer that he taught his followers. I wonder how that went. Anyway, here we have a short version of the prayer. What is similar (and different) from the version you pray? Some things were evidently added later – like an Amen. I like this version without an ending and hanging up because the prayer line remains open all day! And that leads us into a parable and teaching about being persistent in prayer.

   The notion of asking and receiving can be mistaken for God acting like Aladin’s genie granting wishes. But read and reread verse 13 and realize Jesus is teaching that God will give us what God wants us to have – the Holy Spirit. This is not a teaching to how to get my will done but to teach how we can truly ask that God’s will be done.

   Then a controversy arises as some declare that Jesus’ ability to cast out demons because he has the power from the ruler of the demons. Jesus disputes this by pointing out the fallacy that if that was the case then Satan’s rule would be defeated because a divided household falls. This is a word of caution for us all when we become more divided than united! Then Jesus asks about where their own exorcists get their powers. He will use this same argument when he is asked about his authority, and he asks about John the Baptist and where he got his. The last line talks about those who are for Jesus and against him. Let us be gatherers and not scatterers!

   There is a little parable at the end of this discussion about demons to tell us that just because the demon is cast out of a person does not mean their problem is done and gone. If the person does not fill his or her life with the Holy Spirit and starts living in the spirit, there is a possibility old habits and old ways will return and may be even worse than before.

   When a woman in the crowd shouts out exclaiming about how blessed his mother is, Jesus replies to point out how blessed are all who hear the word of God – and do it! It is not just hearing about it. It is doing something about it. What are you hearing in this chapter? What are you doing or will you do with it when you are done reading, reflecting, and praying about it?

   Then Jesus tells of a couple signs. The first we maybe expected was the sign of Jonah and immediately the other sign of Jonah is recalled about the three days in the belly of the fish foreshadowing the three days Jesus would be in the tomb, but surprise that is not the sign Jesus tells here. Not it is what happened after the fish story when Jonah went to Ninevah and as he preached people believed and repented. Then he mentions the queen of the South who came and heard the wisdom of Solomon. Then he notes that these will rise up condemn the people who listen to him but still don’t believe.

   Next Luke includes a few short parable notes about lamps, eyes, light, and darkness. Jesus contrasts lamps on lampstands to lamps under bushel baskets as well as eyes that see and let light in and eyes that are blind that keep us in darkness. These speak to us of opening our eyes to really see what Jesus is revealing and once seeing that we are to share the light we have received.

   Then when Jesus goes to have dinner with a Pharisee who notices Jesus does not perform the ritual handwashing prescribed by the law, Jesus uses it as a teachable moment to reiterate what was just said by pointing out how the Pharisee and legalists are blind to God’s grace as they are so bound up with the legalities. Hear how many times Jesus proclaims, “Woe to you…” For what biases and prejudices might Jesus say the same to us? What blinders do we have on that prevent us from truly seeing and living into the life Christ offers?

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 12. Jesus shares a warning about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees being like yeast that expands. He adds words that I perceive as the enlightenment of heaven when all will be revealed. Not only before all our eyes will our sins be revealed, but to all, especially to those to whom we have sinned. In glory I can see not only the great forgiveness of God, but the forgiveness of others and our opportunity to forgive ourselves and others as all is revealed. There is also one mentioned who has power to cast us into hell whom we are to fear. Many see this as the devil or Satan, but I see it in our worst selves. What if we go back and see the yeast of the Pharisees as their tendencies to look for sins everywhere and point out and focus on all of those sins. Are they not already living in a world of sin, and death, and hell? Is Jesus warning the disciples not to live in that judgmental world and thus judge ourselves into hell? Let me remind you that in the name of Jesus you are forgiven. Live that way now and into eternity. Jesus says, do not be afraid.

   Jesus goes on to warn the disciples not to deny him for then they will be denied. Peter evidently forgot this one, and when truth be told we might all have been in that same boat at times. And then Jesus is magnanimous as he says that those who speaks against him will be forgiven, but not those who speak against the Holy Spirit. I get it and it might be clearer to say you can say anything against me but don’t say anything about my mother! Each of us may have heard or uttered words like this in the midst of a heated argument. Unfortunately, Luke does not give us a context behind most of these sayings. What does this say to you? It does not fit with my theology. I believe in a God who is omnipotent and almighty, rather than semi-potent or almost-mighty. The yeast of the Pharisees might limit God’s forgiveness, but I do not. In the name of Jesus you are forgiven.

   Luke does give us a context for the parable of the rich fool which is someone in the crowd wanting Jesus to be an arbitrator over an inheritance dispute between two brothers. As he tells the parable of the rich farmer with a huge crop thinking he will just rest on his laurels, but instead he dies. God calls him foolish because now his heirs will fight over his stuff. I wonder how different it would have turned out if he spent less time working the fields and more times working with his children to learn about sharing with one another and sharing with God and others. What practical lessons are you learning as you study your Bible?

   Then Jesus tells them not to worry and talks about birds and the flowers of the field who do not worry but God cares for them. Jesus was trying to increase their faith in God. We can either worry about the worst or have faith in the best. Don’t worry, have faith, and watch how you grow into God’s blessing. Ultimately it comes down to what do you treasure most? Is it something worldly or heavenly?

   In this section Jesus seems to focus on the future rather than today. These instructions are to help us to live today as living into the eternal future. Jesus speaks about watching and waiting for the master’s return. This must have been confusing for this disciples who as yet did not know Jesus was going to die, be resurrected, and ascend to heaven to then return again. As he mentions it, Peter gets confused and asks if this is just for them or for everyone to know? Jesus talks as if it is to Peter as the leader of the church, and perhaps this is a good word for all of us as leaders to care for those for whom we are to care and help them to stay focused, to watch and be ready. Jesus teaches that we who have received much will have much more required of us. What do you think God requires of you today?

   Jesus then points out a contrast to our general perception. We may remember a description of Jesus as the Prince of Peace and during worship share the peace with the words, “The peace of Christ be with you.” But here we have Jesus bringing division or conflict which divides households and generations. It was happening during Jesus’ lifetime as we see with the division with the Pharisees and chief priests culminating in Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion. But by the time Luke is writing this gospel there is a separation between the Jews and the Christians, that I can only imagine literally divided families as some went one way and others the other way.

   The chapter ends with the opportunity for the disciples and us to learn a new skill. As we might have learned how to interpret the changes in the weather, can we learn how to interpret the changes in the world? Where do you see God directing you through the changes and challenges of life? Did anything in this chapter open your mind to what God is saying to you today? Notice that the chapter does not end with the paragraph about separation and division but rather with another practical example of settling things out of court. Where are things unsettled or unsettling in your life, in your world? How might you learn from this chapter to seek and offer forgiveness? In the name of Jesus, you are forgiven. In the name of Jesus you are to be forgiving!

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 13. Jesus starts off this chapter with some insight on disasters and death. There was bad news then like there is now. Today we may think that it just happens, but back then the prevailing thought was that these were what we used to call “acts of God.” There was a belief in a supernatural cause and effect. If someone did something wrong, God would punish them. And then if something bad happened someone must have deserved it. The book of Job had a lot to say about that and maybe we should look at that book next. But here Jesus addresses this by pointing out that this was not the case, but he also used it as a teachable moment to call the concerned listeners to repent and change from that belief and focus and focus on really living and not dying.

   To illustrate this, he has a parable of a fig tree. It is not producing and so it is worthless to the owner and should just be cut down. But the wise gardener had another solution. Give it some care for a year and see if it repents and changes and begins to grow. If so, it will live, if not then it can be cut down. I find patience in this story to allow us a year to make a significant change in our lives. But note that it happens by some change or intervention today. What change might you begin today that will grow into a meaningful transformation by next year?

   Once again, we find Jesus healing a woman on the Sabbath. And when the leader of the synagogue gets indignant about work not being done on the Sabbath. Jesus points out that people do the work of leading their animals to water on the Sabbath. Why are we to rest on the Sabbath? Scripture tells us two reasons in the two tellings of the Ten Commandments that tell us to. In Exodus we are reminded of God working six days and resting on the seventh day. But Deuteronomy tells us to rest because we were slaves in Egypt and never got a day off so take a day of rest because we are free to do so. As I watch Jesus, I do not see him working at ministry. It comes naturally. He does not take a day off from living. He takes a little time here and there to eat and sleep and rest, but mostly he lives his faith daily. I try to live my life by that example. When you need to rest, rest. When you don’t need to rest - live life to the fullest.

   Then Luke returns to a couple short parables that I see similarities to the one about the fig tree. With both the mustard seed and the yeast, with a little time they grow abundantly. Jesus was planting little parable seeds that began to grow in the followers who not just listened but reflected and acted upon them. I am writing a little commentary that I pray does the same for readers and reflectors today. What little seeds are you planting?

   The chapter ends with a couple warnings not about not resting on the Sabbath, but about not receiving the good news. Someone asks if only a few will be saved. And I am puzzled by what Luke writes here. I prefer to believe what Matthew wrote in the sermon on the mount, “knock and the door will be opened.” Perhaps Luke put this in for Theophilus whom he was writing to in order that he would not dismiss the good news and miss out on the new life Christ offers. I tend to see it as I have often seen it in pictures on church walls of Jesus standing at the door knocking and it is up to us to welcome Jesus into our lives rather than the other way around. Today, be open.

   This is then reiterated with Jesus coming closer to Jerusalem and lamenting over it. Jesus’ desire is not to shoo the pesky little chicks away but to gather them like a mother hen does safely under her wings. How do you see Jesus – like one who shuts and bolts the doors or one who opens wide his arms? How do people see you and see Jesus through you?

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 14. Yet one more time the issue of healing on the Sabbath is written about. I expect that it was big in Jesus’ day, but maybe even more so in Luke and Paul’s day. The practical explanation this time is if a child or ox falls in a well will you wait a day to pull them out or would you do beneficial work on the Sabbath?

   Observe that Jesus was observant. He watched people and noticed how they chose the best seats up front. He then interprets and comments on what he sees. He calls his followers to be humble and give up the best seats and take the seats in the bag. I am amazed at how many humble people come to church just to sit in the back! But the admonition from Jesus is true, we are not to exalt ourselves but humble ourselves like Jesus did in coming to be among us and even taking the towel and basin and washing the disciples’ feet. Today, be humble and be in the background and see what you see.

   Talking about the seats at a banquet leads to a parable when someone comments about eating at the heavenly banquet. But rather than talking about taking the best seats, here he talks about those who don’t even come to the banquet because they have other things that they think are more pressing to do. Those who were invited made excuses. Have you ever done that when God has invited you? I believe we all have at one time or another. There is a warning here that by not responding we will somehow miss out. We will miss the banquet as those in the story did, or we will miss out on what God had intended for us if we had just accepted the invitation. Don’t miss out today. There is also a note that when those invited do not come that others are invited. For Jesus it would have been the Pharisees who declined and the sinners and tax collectors who accepted him and his invitation. For Luke and Paul, it was the Jews and the gentiles. Who is it we might invite today when others refuse?

   Reflecting back on what Jesus said about not bringing peace but a sword, here we find where it cuts. It cuts people off from their biological families and former lives. For many of us who grew up in the church, this does not seem right. But for those who live outside of the faith or church sometimes in some situations they find they have to leave the old life of drugs or drinking or destructive behaviors behind to embrace a new life of love and grace. This is similar to the banquet parable and those who said no who could not leave the old priorities behind versus those who said yes and left everything behind. This ends with a call to poverty and giving up everything. Again, this is not often done but there are some who have made that vow and chosen that lifestyle. I would ask us to unlearn what we learned when we were two and grabbed everything and called it, “Mine!” Today I ask you to take hold or behold all you have and offer a one-word prayer and simply pray, “Thine.” For you and I know we belong to God and all we have belongs to God.

   The chapter ends with a short parable about salt. Jesus us calls us to be salt of the earth. But what happens when we lose our saltiness? For Jesus here and maybe more importantly for Luke it is worthless and thrown away. Now I believe in Jesus as a great shepherd who does not throw away lost sheep (but that is in the next chapter). I ask you to come up with an answer to the question about what can be done to restore saltiness. I believe there are many people and congregations that have become bland over the years. Are we just going to let them waste away or do something new and renewing today. We have an opportunity here to write a new parable and live into it today.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 15. This is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. It consists of three parables, two short ones and a longer one, with different characters but virtually the same message. I refer to this as the U chapter, not because it is about you (though maybe it is) but because of the letter “U” in Morse code is two short dots and a long dash. You may have a different title for the third one, but for me these are the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. As Luke is the only writer to put these together in his gospel, I believe he may have heard the parable from different sources using these different images, but then for his gospel he pulls them all together here.

   It starts off with a controversy. This was not about healing on the Sabbath or preaching on the Sabbath it was about eating with tax collectors and sinners, heaven forbid! And with that background Luke has Jesus respond by telling a parable over and over and over again to drive down the point.

   In the first version Jesus tells of a shepherd having a hundred sheep and losing one, and shares that the natural thing for that shepherd to do would be to leave the 99, perhaps in a pen, and go searching for the lost one. And as it is described here, I see it in my mind’s eye in the famous painting of Jesus with that little sheep on his shoulders bringing it back to the flock. Though parables are often given without explanation, in this chapter they each have one and it is the same one. The shepherd gathers his friends and says rejoice with me for the lost is found and explains how there is joy in heaven when a “lost sinner” is found and brought back into the flock. I believe for Jesus this is the lost sheep of Israel – the sinners and tax collectors shunned by the ultra-righteous religious folks who look down on them. Do you know any lost sheep? In most of the congregations that I have been blessed to be the pastor/shepherd there were always more lost sheep than found sheep. It was never 99 to 1, usually those who showed up in the flock on Sunday morning were less than a third of what they claimed as the total membership of the church. And if you count all of the unchurched sheep in any community around those churches the parable would be about the 1 found sheep and the 99 that were lost. Maybe we need an updated parable about the 99% today.

   The percentage is a little closer in the second parable where a woman lost 10% of her coins. (I don’t think I have ever seen a picture of her in any of the churches where I have been.) For me this happens a lot. It usually is not a lost coin, I don’t usually have many coins anymore as I use a credit card for most payments, but it did happen recently with a specific coin in my coin collection that I misplaced before seeking, finding, and securing it. For me it usually is a lost report or piece of paper that is somewhere on my messy desk and like the woman I have to sort and file and clean off my desk to find it buried somewhere down in the pile. But unlike the woman or the shepherd, I never call my friends to rejoice with me. No, I am too embarrassed that I lost it and have a messy desk in the first place. But I do remember these parables and rejoice with God about yet another reminder of seeking the lost and being found. How about you? Doesn’t this parable cause you to desire to go clean your desk or house?

   And then we have the longer, and often the favorite yet misnamed parable. We have called it the “Prodigal Son” but when I have preached about it I ask people if they know what the word prodigal means? We do not use it today though for some reason we use it’s opposite – frugal. Prodigal means to squander or lavishly spend all your money and that is what the younger son does. But I have sometimes named this as the “Prodigal Father” for that is what the father does, not waiting to give an inheritance to this son in his will, but gives it while he is still living. (And notice in the end of the story he is still giving. There is a ring for the son’s finger, a robe, and a lavish party to celebrate welcoming home this lost son!) P.S. whereas I see Jesus in the shepherd’s and the woman’s story, here I see a lavish God who gives everything to us and then just keeps on giving. God is not frugal – God is prodigal!

   The explanation of this parable is within the telling of the parable! The father explains to the other son about why we should celebrate. Did the Pharisees from the beginning of the chapter hear what Jesus through the words of the father was saying to them? Do you hear it? So, who might you go looking for and find today? Bring them back with you on Sunday and let’s celebrate!

  

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 16. Luke puts three more teachings in this chapter but only the first and last are parables. All three stories focus on wealth. Perhaps that is why they are together here. I see the first one about the dishonest manager, like an actual parable because when we first read it, it makes no sense. Why would the master give the manager more time to cheat him and then commend him for his dishonesty? This sounds like a puzzle to be solved and understood rather than an obvious story with a clear meaning. In pure form the parables would have required the listeners to figure out the point they are trying to teach, like finding the lost person in the last chapter. Here Jesus gives the point in the end. In this life we do not make money to make money or to make a better life for ourselves. We use the money or wealth to make friends here in this world and then they will welcome us into the next one. Then it boils down to the last line about serving God or serving wealth. May we always choose God and use our wealth to serve God.

   This seems to trigger the next series of sayings that are not parabolic. Luke first notes that the Pharisees love money. Jesus adds a new element to the familiar history. The Jews knew their history of the law and the prophets. That is what they lived by as well as a few psalms. But then that period ended when John the Baptist came and called the people to repent and change. And John was a Jew and affirmed the adherence to the scriptures. Then in verse 18 Luke drops a clue. John was upset that King Herod was committing adultery by marrying his brother’s wife. This would cause him to be beheaded later.

   Then we wrap up the chapter with another parable. This one we can understand. There is a rich man (unnamed) and a poor man (named Lazarus). This was not the brother of Mary and Martha. In the telling of the story their roles reverse from this life to the next. The rich man is tormented and Lazarus is in the bosom of Abraham. O, rocka my soul! When the formerly rich man finds out that Lazarus cannot not help him then and there, so he asks Abraham to allow Lazarus rise up from the dead and to go and warn his brothers who might suffer this same fate. (It does sound like the other Lazarus raising up from the dead! But it is not). However, notice how the stories come around and reiterate when Abraham reminds the rich man that they have Moses and the prophets to teach them. And then almost ironically here says people won’t believe even if a person rises from the dead. Luke was aware of this because by his time people were being told about Jesus being raised from the dead. But some still did not believe it.

   I find hope in this chapter which sometimes comes across negatively against wealth or living one’s life faithfully. What helpful word might we hear here? I believe we should look for the Lazaruses in this life and help them with all the dishonest, disgusting money we can accumulate. We should not desire money for money’s sake but use it to help others, for their sake and ours!

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 17. In this chapter Luke tells more sayings of Jesus about sins, causing others to sin, and forgiveness. It seems too much for the disciples who ask him to increase their faith to be able to forgive someone seven times a day. Jesus responds by saying that faith the size of a tiny mustard seed can move a mulberry tree. (It is not quite the same as moving a mountain in other gospels but the same general idea of doing something thought impossible.)

   Jesus compares our role of servants to the role of slaves who are to do what they are told and not to expect special treatment for just doing their job. And so it is for us. We are simply to do what God wants us to do and not to expect special credit or favors for doing the job. Why do you do what you do? Today, just do it all for the glory of God who created you.

   Then Jesus heals ten men with leprosy while he is on the way to Jerusalem. This story is often read at Thanksgiving as at the end we see only one of the ten returning to thank Jesus. It is noted that this one was a Samaritan. What do you thank Jesus for today? What all did you forget to thank Jesus for over the last week? Reflect and repent and thank Jesus for all of that today.

   When some Pharisees ask about when the kingdom of God was coming expecting a sign Jesus replies and implies it is already here. Jesus has come to bring it about already. They just could not see it or believe it. This leads to Jesus telling the disciples a sign of what is coming with his death and resurrection. He compares what will happen to things that did happen. In the story of Noah and the flood, all the other people were just going about their daily routine while Noah built the ark. And then the days of rain and floods came and washed all the people away. In the story of Lot and Sodom the same happened when Lot left and Sodom was destroyed by fire.

   Verse 33 seems odd as it is the exact opposite of what these stories said. Noah by building the ark and Lot by leaving secured their lives. It may fit better for some who died for their faith and went on living life beyond this life, but Luke puts it in this chapter of sayings.

   The chapter ends with telling of what may happen during the time when some are raptured up to heaven and seemingly randomly some are taken and others are not. And once again an odd comment at the end. The question is not how but where. And to me the response from Jesus makes no sense here based on what had just been said. Or when the people are taken up are the bodies or corpses left behind? I thought it was their clothing left behind.

   So, what do you make of most of this chapter. I do not focus on the end times. They will come when they come. What I can and do focus on is what I can do today, this week, this year, and then leave the further future in God’s hands. Lord willing, God will help us do what we should be doing today. Go do something for God, and remember to give thanks for all that God does!

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 18. This is another favorite chapter in Luke. It begins with a parable about praying which we will find in other places in this chapter. Here Jesus teaches the disciples about constantly praying and believing that God will answer. He tells a parable of a widow of seemingly low status coming daily and pleading for justice from an unjust judge. We do not get an insight as to why she keeps coming day by day, but we do hear an explanation from the judge who finally grants her justice so she will not keep pestering him. I do not think that we pester God with our prayers, not with our open and honest prayers. God desires to hear from us as Jesus said, “night and day.” So, if an unjust judge finally does what this widow asks, Jesus implies that a just God will grant justice to those who pray for it. Once again Jesus ends the lesson with an odd and challenging question about whether or not he will find any faith on earth when he returns! Will believers still believe will pray-ers still pray? How is your prayer life today?

   Then there is a parable about a couple pray-ers at the Temple. One is a self-righteous Pharisee who prays and pats himself on the back giving thanks that he is not like other people, but he is so righteous. In his prayer he does not ask God for anything for he believes he already has everything. But there is a tax collector (one of those people) who does not lift his eyes to heaven but beats his own breast humbly asking for God’s mercy for his sins. It is this man whose prayer will be answered, who will find justice and be justified and not the other. He closes this parable with a quotable quote about the exalted being humbled and the humble being exalted. Be humble in your prayers. And if you mention others in prayer, don’t put them down but lift them up in prayer.

   At first, it seems odd to have a little story about parents bringing little children to Jesus. We love this story and have probably heard many sermons about it. The disciples seem to want to prevent them, but Jesus welcomes them and then points out that to the little children the realm of God belongs, and we all should receive it like little children. But it sheds light on the previous parable about the humble being lifted up. Children are dependent. Children are open and receptive. As you pray today, pray that you will feel the welcoming mercy and grace of God on which you depend. Pray that others might come to feel the same.

   Next comes a rich young ruler wanting to get into heaven or inherit eternal life? In the brief conversation he knows and lives by the great commandments. He reminds me of the fortunate Pharisee and when Jesus says there is one more thing to give up his fortune and become unfortunate, it is too high a price to pay and he goes away. Jesus then shares a short parable about the difficulty of the wealthy getting into heaven being like camels passing through the eye of a needle. (I am reminded of this whenever I try to carry too much stuff and have difficulty getting through the doorway.) When the disciples cry out about who then can get through, Jesus replies that though there are impossibilities for us, for God all things are possible. And when Peter points out what he and the other disciples have given up, Jesus affirms that they will receive more in eternal life. What might you give up in order to spend more time with Jesus? Let it go.

   Then Jesus tells the disciples a third time about his death and resurrection but again it seems to go over their heads. A few chapters later after the resurrection they will finally understand what he was saying. Perhaps like the widow at the beginning of the chapter, praying for wisdom and understanding!

   The chapter ends with a persistent beggar calling out to Jesus for help. Even when others try to quiet him down, he shouts even louder, and his persistence pays off. Jesus calls him over and responds to his request by granting him the answer to his prayer. With all of these stories and parables is there something you want to pray to God about? Let us pray.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 19. In this chapter we find Jesus entering Jericho and then Jerusalem. You may recall Jericho as the ancient city that Joshua first defeated when the Israelites entered the land. Here as Jesus enters there is a crowd crowding the streets to the degree that Zaccheus has to climb a tree in order to see. But there he is also seen by Jesus who stops and invites himself to Zaccheus’ house. As we have seen before there is a negative reaction to his going and eating with a tax collector. But Zaccheus has a “Jesus moment” and his reaction is to give away half of his wealth. You may recall the story from the last chapter when Jesus asked the young ruler to give up all of his wealth to become a flower, but Zaccheus get’s a 50% discount and receives salvation and a blessing from Jesus as one of the lost who was found that we read about in chapter 15. Let me say this about giving or specifically about the idea of tithing or giving 10% to God (or the church.) I do not believe it is fair or right. For poorer people who cannot even live on 100% of what they make giving any of it is a true sacrifice because they will have to give up something else to do that. For the richest among us they can give up 50% or more and still live a life of relative luxury. So, I call people to give sacrificially what they can give.

   Speaking of money, Jesus continues with a challenging parable of a wealthy nobleman who leaves various servants with various amounts of his money to invest while he is gone. This may not be the more familiar version of the story you remember. Here there is an undertone of dislike for the wealthy man. Here it fits if it might reference the people’s dislike of tax collectors like Zacchaeus or more likely a dislike of Jesus. As the setting speaks of people anticipating God’s realm coming soon. Jesus foretold of his death and resurrection maybe alluding to his ascension and ultimate return with the authority of God. Hence in this story the nobleman goes to receive royal power and returns with it.

   In the meantime, the three servants in their own way do something with what they have been given. The first two do well and are rewarded when their master returns. But the other out of fear does nothing and suffers the consequences. The original amount that he was given was now given to the one who had done well. And we hear a pronouncement from Jesus in essence saying the rich will get richer and the poor will be poorer. This has become an important verse for those who preach a “prosperity gospel.” The ruler then judges and slaughters the opposition. This might have been a story told by the Zealots who wanted to overthrow the Romans and restore the imperial kingdom of Israel, but this does not sound like Jesus who taught us to turn the other cheek and forgive. I prefer the simpler understanding of this parable to use the gifts God has given us to share the good news with more and more people rather than to make more and more money and eliminate the competition. What do you believe?

   Then we get the triumphal entrance into Jerusalem we celebrate on Palm Sunday. The versions and nuances are different in the gospels. I like the last verse here as Jesus points out that if the followers are silenced the stones would shout. In the world around you, which are louder the silent majority or the stones? What will it take to help people to find their voice?

   The chapter ends with quite a contrast as Jesus weeps over Jerusalem foreseeing its destruction by her enemies. (Much of the city including all but one wall of the Temple were destroyed in CE 70 when the Romans crushed a rebellion.) When he enters the Temple, he drives out those who were selling things, proclaiming that it is to be a house of prayer not commerce. (Once again, money is brought up in this chapter.) Then every day he is there teaching the people as the leaders begin to conspire against him. What did you learn in this chapter and how will you put that learning into action?

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 20. One day while Jesus was teaching in the Temple the authorities question his authority to teach and preach. Jesus answers their question with a question about John the Baptist and where his authority came from. This caused them a dilemma because if they said from God, he would ask why they did not believe him and if they said from a human origin the people would be angry because they believed John was a prophet. So, they reply that they do not know, and Jesus replies that he would not tell them where he got his authority. Do you know you have the authority to share your faith? Where does your authority come from? I believe mine is a combination of both. Ultimately my authority comes from God, but it also comes from my years of seminary training, ordination, Bible study, research, preparing for sermons, and doing things like this commentary.

   Perhaps still thinking about John who was beheaded by King Herod, Jesus then tells a parable of the wicked tenants who beat and kill the vineyard owner’s messengers. Then the owner sends his beloved son who is also killed and Jesus asks what then will the owner do? He will come and destroy the tenants. Then Jesus offers a quote from Psalm 118 about the stone the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone and asking what that means to them. What does it mean to you? Despite what other people believe, who is your cornerstone?

   The authorities wanted to lay hands on Jesus and maybe try him and execute him, but they do not because of fear of the crowd. Others may be afraid to act on their beliefs but let us hold firm to the cornerstone of our faith and speak and act on behalf of Christ.

   Another tricky question is asked about the legality of paying taxes to Caesar, which was an unpopular thing with the people. They thought they had him between a rock and a hard place, for if he said yes, the people would be angry and if he said no, he would get in trouble with the Roman authorities. Jesus asks for a coin and for the name on the coin. When they reply that it is Caesar’s, he replies with words that we have heard quoted before about giving Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and giving God the things that are God’s. That seems to impress and quiet his accusers, but it causes me to ask what does it mean to you? Some see it as affirming that we should pay taxes and we should give a portion or a tithe to God also. But I see it differently. When Jesus talks about what is God’s, go back to the vineyard owner’s parable and all belonged to the owner. Everything belongs to God. We do not own anything we are stewards or caretakers. Give it all to God and ask God how you might take care of it and what you might do with it.

   Then some Sadducees ask a question about a given scenario under the law that if a married man dies without having children his brother is to marry his widow to produce children for him. Well in their scenario it happened to a man and his six brothers with all of them dying and no children. Since they did not believe in eternal life they could not figure out in the next life whose wife she would be. Jesus replies that marriage is an earthly practice but in heaven we will become like angels. Notice we will not become angels but like angels and children of God. Then he points out from the answer given to Moses at the burning bush God declared that “I am the God of Abraham” etc. (not “I was”) revealing that the patriarchs are not dead and gone, but dead and alive.

   When he is affirmed for answering well, he asks a question of his own about the Messiah being David’s son. Quoting from Psalm 110 this time he asks about King David writing “The Lord said to my lord” and besides God who is lord over the great king, surely not a descendant. As great as King David was, for Jesus the Messiah is not lesser but greater. For Christians likewise we would see Jesus even though descended from the house and lineage of David is yet greater than the ancient king. As a biblical scholar I would point out that there was a time when King David had a king. David before he became king served King Saul and may have written this psalm about God taking with him. But none of the ancient authorities arguing with Jesus must have thought of that. When we read Isaiah, we will read of the Messiah as Lord of lords and talk more of this then.

  This chapter ends with a warning to beware of the religious authorities who lord it over people as they walk the walk and talk the talk of their out self-righteousness while doing nothing to help but inflict harm upon poor widows in the process. Showing our faith is not done by showing off. What might you humbly do today to show your faith?

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 21. This chapter is mostly a series of warnings about the difficult times ahead in what is referred to as the end times. But it starts off with a familiar story of an observation Jesus makes when he notices a poor widow slipping to small copper coins into the offering. She is probably invisible to most people who are watching the large bags of coins being donated by the rich people. The first thing I want to point out is that Jesus notices and that here Jesus also comments and makes the point that it is not about the size of the gift but the attitude of the giver. Some seem to give for show, reluctantly, out of obligation, or whatever, but this woman gives sacrificially. This is done out of love and you have probably seen it in sacrifices parents make for their children. Here she does it for God. What sacrifice might you make for God today? See if you can do it without drawing any attention to it.

   Jesus then tells of the destruction of the temple, which would occur by the Romans about forty years later and was probably already done by the time Luke writes this gospel. This causes people to question him about when this will happen and he offers warnings about false prophets and false timelines and predictions. Then he warns the believers that before the end happens, they will be arrested and this will give them an opportunity to testify at their trials. They need not worry because Jesus will give them the words to say. Let me suggest that when you might not know what to say to people about your faith, know that you can pray and ask Jesus to tell you what to say!

   Then Jesus tells of the destruction of Jerusalem. This reminds me of the prophet Isaiah telling about it before the city and country fell and many were carried off as slaves to Babylon. Isaiah got in trouble with the authorities back then and Jesus likewise gets in trouble here. As I read these words I am reminded of the fears I have lived through from nuclear destruction, the Soviet Union, terrorists, etc. In the midst of fear where do people find hope?

   For Jesus there is hope for the people in his return as he describes his coming in a cloud with power and glory. He offers that when this happens believers are to rise up knowing their redemption is near. He tells a parable from nature as people watch and see signs of the changing of the seasons like leaves sprouting out on the fig trees showing that summer is coming. In the same way as they see the various destructive things taking place they will know the end is near. He even gives a timeframe that this will take place before the current generation passes away. This must have been a strong belief that it would all be over soon. But as we know, it did not happen back then or for the last two thousand years. I do not believe this will happen in my lifetime but for those before and for each of us our own end time will come with our death and rebirth into the life beyond this life. This paragraph ends with words that may be familiar about heaven and earth passing away but that Jesus’ words will never pass away. I believe two-thirds of this, for I believe heaven is eternal. The earth will pass away through an apocalypse like this or when the sun burns out and goes supernova on us. But I do not believe that neither heaven nor our souls will pass away. So, hang on through the tough times for a glorious day is coming for us. Jesus calls us to watch and be prepared. Are you ready?

  

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 22. Luke next tells of the preparation for the Passover and also the story of the betrayal happening at the same time. As you read through the story, you might notice this is not the way you remember parts of it. Each of the gospels tell it differently but they all do tell it in their own way. What do you hear here that speaks to you? Here we read that Satan enters Judas, so is it Judas who betrays Jesus or Satan?

   Peter and John go to prepare the Passover meal. They find the man and the large upper room as Jesus had told them. Luke points out it is already furnished and then that Peter and John prepare the meal. Do you think they cooked the meal themselves or got takeout? Did they hire a caterer? Think about the times you feel Jesus is asking you to do something, do you think you are to take it on all by yourself or ask for others to help?

   During the supper Jesus says that the cup is the new covenant of his blood. This contrasts to the old covenants of the Old Testament. The old covenant was with the descendants of Israel specifically and the Passover was to give them freedom from slavery in Egypt. Jesus is offering in this covenant freedom from sins for all who believe and receive the cup.

   Somehow a dispute arises about which of the disciples is the greatest. I wonder if that had to do with Peter and John preparing for the meal. Did they set up the seating arrangements with little name tags? Have you ever been somewhere when you were assigned a seat at a particular table arranged around the banquet hall? How did it feel to be seated up front or way in the back? Here Jesus uses the opportunity to teach them to be humble servants, and offers them a glimpse of a heavenly banquet and their sitting at table with him.

   Then Jesus predicts Peter’s denial even though Peter declares he will stay with Jesus even if it means his own death. But Jesus knows. I find his words comforting for Peter to hear that Jesus has faith in him that even after his betrayal he will come back to holding firm in his faith and strengthen the others struggling with theirs. Jesus had faith in Peter and the other disciples. Jesus has faith in us, even when we falter and fail sometimes. Jesus has faith in you!

   Then they pack up to go to the Mount of Olives and Jesus calls them to pack up what they have which includes a couple swords. They go to pray and Jesus asks them to pray that they will not be tried or tested, and he went on and prayed that God’s will and not his be done. As he asks that the cup be removed from him do you think he is asking God for another way besides his death? When he returns to the disciples, he finds them sleeping. This always makes me wonder who heard what Jesus was praying when he was alone and they were asleep?

   Then Judas and the crowd arrives to arrest Jesus and there is a skirmish and a slave’s ear is cut off. And though it is glossed over with everything else here, Jesus performs his last healing miracle. Then trough the night while Jesus is on trial so is Peter. And as predicted Peter fails by denying Jesus three times. Have there been trials when we might have said something or did something and we didn’t? Welcome to the club. We have all been tried and failed. But what matters is what have we learned from it, and how has it strengthened us and prepared us for the next time?

   The chapter ends with Jesus being mocked and beaten. And in the morning before the council Jesus is questioned about being the Messiah and the Son of God. As we draw to the end of this gospel, what has it said to you? Who is Jesus for you as portrayed by Luke?

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 23. Here we have Luke’s version of the Good Friday story. Jesus is brought before Pilate by the high council for trial and condemnation on trumped up charges. But Pilate, after talking with Jesus, sees no case against Jesus. But the chief priests are insistent and state that he has been inciting the crowds everywhere starting with Galilee. This opens the door for Pilate to pass the buck to King Herod who ruled over the region of Galilee. And Herod had heard about Jesus and the miracles he had performed so he wanted to see Jesus and to see him perform. He asked many questions of Jesus who for some reason said nothing (or at least Luke did not know that he said anything). Herod and his soldiers mistreat Jesus, and the buck passes again as he sends Jesus back to Pilate. And then Luke notes that Herod and Pilate became friends that day. I wonder if that might have been a part of Pilate’s reasoning for sending Jesus there in the first place?

   Pilate a second time finds no reason to execute Jesus and offers to placate the religious leaders by having him flogged and released, but they would not have it. They call for him to be crucified and that Barabbas be released. There is no explanation here about the tradition of having one prisoner released during the Passover. Maybe Luke did not know that detail or thought he did not need to add that explanation to Theophilus.

   Then Jesus is led and Simon of Cyrene is pressed into service to carry the cross. Luke notes that a great crowd follows him and though it may have been a mixed crowd of supporters and accusers, Luke focuses on the former and has Jesus speak to them. He offers a warning to the women that they should weep for themselves not him. His concern is for them and for what will happen to them in the coming days and years.

   Luke then notes that two others who were in fact criminals were led away with him, and for Theophilus who may not have understood Hebrew he translated Golgotha as the place that is called the Skull. Jesus is crucified with a criminal on either side. Then Jesus speaks not to the women and supporters, but perhaps to the accusers and the soldiers asking God to forgive them because they do not know what they are doing. Now there may have been people who thought they knew what they were doing. They were eliminating a teacher who was stirring up trouble or who believed things differently than the way they believed. The soldiers might have thought they were just doing their job. I hear Jesus’ prayer as being all encompassing that is prayed for you and me. There are times we find ourselves in need of a reminder that Jesus prayed this prayer. If today is one of those days, hear it and believe it.

   In this version of the story words of the two criminals are remembered and it is noted that one asks Jesus to remember him. And we remember him as well along with the words Jesus said to open the gates to paradise to him. Luke gives us a time reference that it was about noon and looking back over the chapter I think that was a very busy morning of trials and buck passing. Then there are three hours of darkness while Jesus hung on the cross, and then he speaks his last words in this gospel. (In all the gospels he says seven different things. None of them have them all but each has a few.) Here Jesus offers his spirit to God as he takes his last breath. Spirit and breath are the same word in Greek and so he breathes out these words as he breathes his last breath. According to the first creation story in Genesis and John’s take on it in his gospel this same Jesus who speaks God’s creation into being now speaks his final earthly words to God. What might be your final words? Maybe like the one crucified with Jesus ask that Jesus remembers you, forgives you, or receives your spirit.

   For Luke the last words at the cross are not from Jesus but from the centurion in charge who declares that he believes this condemned man is innocent. Joseph, a good and righteous man, goes to Pilate asking to take Jesus’ body to bury it in a new tomb. By now it must be getting close to sundown and the start of the Sabbath. The women who had followed Jesus stood and watched and then went home to prepare spices for the proper anointing of the body after the Sabbath day of rest. Take time to rest and reflect on the actions and the words spoken on Good Friday. What speaks to you?

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Luke 24. After the grief and trauma of Good Friday and the restless day of rest on the Sabbath, finally Easter morning arrives and the women arrive at the tomb to finish the job of embalming Christ’s body with the balm and spices they had brought. The piece that is unique in this version is some insightful words from the angels questioning the women about looking for the living among the dead. Where might you look for Jesus among the living today? And they asked the women to remember what Jesus had said about his death and resurrection. What words, instructions, and commandments of Jesus do you remember? In this version there are several women and Joanna is mentioned along with the Marys here. Notice the reaction of the disciples who heard from the women. They thought it was a tall tale and did not believe them. There is no Doubting Thomas here, there is the Doubting Dozen! And here only Peter runs to the tomb. Please note that he only sees the linen cloths not Jesus!

   Then only in this gospel we have the familiar story of the Walk to Emmaus with Jesus opening up the scriptures to a couple disciples. Take time to reflect on who all has helped open your eyes to the scriptures. I hope I have done a little of that for you through writing this commentary. Then when they stop for this night and invite Jesus to stay with them, their eyes are opened to see who he really is in the breaking of the bread. And as soon as they see, he disappears! Though they were so tired they could not walk on a little earlier, after this revelation they rush back to Jerusalem and discover that Peter has also seen Jesus. When did that happen? Remember, at the tomb Luke wrote that he only saw the linen cloths. Somehow Luke overlooked telling us that part of the story in the telling of the rest of the story.  

   Just then, there Jesus is, big as life, offering the words, “Peace be with you.” Do you hear those words spoken by Christ to you today? In the midst of all the struggles in your life and in the world do you hear those words? The same Jesus who could calm the storm on the sea can calm the storm in your heart. Peace be with you. Here again he opens the scriptures for the believers to believe what was written about him, his death, resurrection and instruction for the disciples to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name. Unlike Matthew’s gospel that sent the disciples back to Galilee, here they are to stay in Jerusalem and Luke’s first book ends with Jesus blessing them in Bethany just outside the city and ascending into heaven. It closes with their response to continually bless God. Might that be our response today? Look for Jesus among the living and bless God when you catch a glimpse of glory. Bless God as you bless the world with the Peace of Christ. Peace be with you.