Luke 12:54-59

“Notice what you notice.” Today, judging and judgment… A number of translations (NKJV, NASB) use the word “judge” in today’s first paragraph. Others (ESV, NIV) use the word “interpret”. I’m guessing that the Hebrew or Aramaic or Greek had only one word for both meanings. Here, however, I think “interpret” is a better word for evaluating the west and south sky and wind.

But we can extend that confusion to the use of the word “judge” in verse 57, with Jesus speaking: And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? A man and his adversary are headed to court. Jesus is asking why the man does not figure out a way to resolve the issue (“judge for yourselves”) without taking it all the way to court and possibly losing the decision. Again, “judge” in this situation seems better translated as “evaluate” (or interpret).

Finally, “judge” in the rest of this selection refers to the person on the bench making the decision. But beyond the civil case issue that Jesus lays out, there is the question of what Jesus is trying to say spiritually. Who is this “adversary”? And who is the “judge”? We know that Peter referred to the devil as our adversary: Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) But I don’t think Jesus wants us to cut a deal with the devil. He’s got too many cards up his sleeve and too many worldly judges on his side.

No, what Jesus wants for us is to get right with the judge before we ever get to court. If we are right with Jesus, the eternal Judge, the case will never see the light of day. We simply plead guilty, fall on our knees, and ask for mercy from the only Righteous Judge. Jesus Himself has paid the price that our adversary charges, even to “the very last penny”. GLORY!!

Slava Bohu!

Luke 12:49-53

“Notice what you notice.” I tend to like symmetry and balance. So today’s last verse threw me a bit. Jesus is talking about creating division and he mentions three within a family: father and son, mother and daughter, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. So immediately I’m wondering, what about father-in-law and son-in-law. Then I remember that in those days a daughter left her family to be joined to her husband’s family. So there would never be a household of father-in-law and son-in-law. Jesus has it right, again.

But there remains the issue of peace vs. division. Jesus is on both sides of this issue. Clearly He came to bring peace to His followers, to those who truly followed Him: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. (John 14:27a) But He goes on in that verse to say Not as the world gives… (14:27b). So He brings both peace and division.

Finally, the word “distress” (or “distressed”) in verse 50. It’s troubling to think that Jesus was distressed about what He knew was coming. But He also knew that His time had not yet come (John 2:4, 7:6) and that He was obeying His Father’s wishes. Still, it’s troubling…

Slava Bohu!

Luke 12:35-48

“Notice what you notice.” Two items of note today… First, …he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. (v. 37b) I found it strange that the master would be waiting on the slaves, especially since the master was just returning from a (his?) wedding feast. But then I take it a second step and consider Jesus as the Master Who is returning for His people, after the wedding feast of Him and the church. But what is not strange is that Jesus will be the One girded and serving – just like He did at the Last Supper. That’s Jesus, ever serving!

The second item… From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. (v. 48b) I can’t recall that I ever noticed this two-step expectation, “given much” and “entrusted much”. If you’ve been given much, yes, much will be required. We’ve seen that expectation before. (Matthew 13:12, 25:29; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18) But being “entrusted with much” is going a step further. I think of clergy vs. laity – much more will be expected of our ordained leaders than the rest of us. But that’s also true of any situation where we have leaders and followers. For example, even as I lead this RTB, you have entrusted me with much and there is every expectation, from Jesus’ words, that I will deliver much. That keeps me going day-by-day this year, knowing that it’s my responsibility to set an example. And it’s been an enormous blessing…!! GLORY!

Slava Bohu!

Luke 12:13-21

“Notice what you notice.” Today’s parable hearkens back to discussions within our Men’s Group about our own finances. All of us have been the primary “bread-winners” in our home. And over time we have tried to be good stewards of our finances, including our retirement income. Now most of us are retired or nearing that age and have some “nest egg” stored up for our retirement. For some, that nest egg could feed hundreds of people in poor countries for years to come. So what is our responsibility?

And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” (v. 19) I daresay the men in our Men’s Group do not buy into the Epicurean philosophy where “Pleasure is the beginning and end of the blessed life.” Most of us are serving the church one way or another, in leadership or servant positions, and I feel like all of us are seeking the Lord, wanting to be closer to Him. But that money question is always there. How much is “enough”? How do we provide for ourselves in our later years without being a burden for our kids? Do we concern ourselves with leaving something behind for our kids? If we are tithing, is there more that we should do? What about the Bruners, the Harkonens, the Petersons…? Or Eva and her two young children in our own congregation?

Ours is a wealthy congregation. We meet our needs and reach out to those around us. But is there more that we should be doing? We are blessed, but let’s not live with “blessings guilt”!!

Slava Bohu!

Luke 12:1-12

“Notice what you notice.” I’ve never been called before the rulers or authorities (vv. 11-12). In my time teaching at EKU I would often quote Scripture – in the context of the lecture – but never got called out for it by any students. It probably would have been different if I had been teaching at UK!

Our focus on the Holy Spirit during Creative Arts Camp has stayed with me. I regularly recall what Jesus told His disciples at the Last Supper, the many items that the Holy Spirit is and does. Here they are, FYI:

1. He is the Spirit of truth … who abides with and in the disciples. (John 14:17)
2. The “world” cannot see Him or know Him. (John 14:17)
3. He will teach you, He will remind you. (John 14:26)
4. He will testify about Jesus. (John 15:26-27)
5. He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:8)
6. More specifically for the disciples (John 16:13-14)
   • He will guide the disciples into all the truth.
   • He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak.
   • He will disclose to the disciples what is to come.
   • He will glorify Jesus.
   • He will take Jesus’ words and will disclose it to you.

So there is one more to add to the list: …the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. (v. 12) GLORY!!

Reality set in for that claim in the book of Acts (Acts 3-4) with Peter and John before the Sanhedrin. Check it out! Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…(Acts 4:8), ff.) and When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13) GLORY, GLORY!!

Slava Bohu!

Luke 11:45-54

“Notice what you notice.” The lawyer (scribe) could have just sat there watching Jesus denounce the Pharisees. But he had to join in, somehow feeling the same rebuke – which he then got, full force!

I’m confused about Jesus’ comment …that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation… (v. 50). “This generation”… That’s the confusing part. I can understand that “this generation” is the generation in which Jesus is personally ministering and thus His listeners have a greater responsibility to hear Him and heed His words. But I also wondered if the “blood…charged against this generation” would be His own blood that He shed on Good Friday, since He would be dying for all the sins and sinners who had ever lived or would ever live, even those who were his most forceful enemies in “this generation”. That is, “the blood of all the prophets…” would be charged against “this generation”, but He Himself would then shed His own blood in His substitutionary death. Therein is that mix of love and reproach that I was looking for yesterday. But I remain confused…

Slava Bohu!

Luke 11:37-44

“Notice what you notice.” …you Pharisees are full of greed and wickedness (v. 39b) and …you neglect justice and the love of God. (v. 42) Sounds like a lot of today’s businesspeople and politicians!

No doubt Jesus was speaking truth, but as a dinner guest He was less than courteous in His speech. More to the point, it was outright condemnation that He spoke. Surely there was love in what He said, but He comes off in the same judgmental tones as an Old Testament prophet. I’m not surprised at the Pharisees getting defensive and quickly turning on Him. I wonder how I would have reacted at Him “painting with a broad brush” toward me and my colleagues. Probably every bit as defensive…

Slava Bohu!

Luke 10:38-42

“Notice what you notice.” I never thought about it before, but Martha must be the older sister. I noticed it first when Martha was the one who welcomed Jesus into “her house” (v. 38). Then she takes responsibility for all the preparations (first-child syndrome). Yes folks, I resonate with Martha.

There are a couple of incidents where I have difficulties with Jesus’ teachings – the “Laborers in the Vineyard” story being the most prominent. The Martha-Mary story is another. But in both cases, Jesus has chosen the higher ground. In both cases, I am “of the world” and have the world’s perspective while Jesus is “other-worldly” in His focus. He is right, of course, but He leaves me shaking my head, wondering about my own priorities in life… Wondering about our wealth, as a nation and as a family, compared to poverty worldwide… Wondering about how I spend my time and what else I could or should be doing… Wondering about Carol’s and my next “calling” (if there is one)… Wondering!! And you…??

Slava Bohu!

Luke 10:25-37

“Notice what you notice.” I was born in Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Indiana, so from my earliest memories I have enjoyed this story.

Ever since Carol shared with us about how the Pharisees tested “would-be” messiahs, I’ve been more aware of the scribes and Pharisees and their discussions with Jesus. Today Luke has the lawyer (scribe) directly putting Jesus to the test. It’s not about His miracles, however, but more about His theology. My Study Bible pointed out that the lawyer, since he was an expert in the Law, would clearly have known how Jesus should have answered his first question, as to how he could inherit eternal life. However, Jesus avoided answering his question by turning the question back to the lawyer. The lawyer gave the right answer, but then, having failed to “test” Jesus, went one deeper in trying to find some offense that he could charge Him with. Thus began Jesus’ gift of the parable of the Good Samaritan!

The Samaritan was generous well beyond my prior understanding. I have often glossed over the “two denarii” that the Samaritan left behind. But that amount, two days wages back then, was equivalent to roughly $360 in today’s United States (U.S. BLS). So it was a hefty chunk of change – enough (again from my Study Bible) to put someone up along that road for up to two months’ lodging! So Jesus is making this Samaritan quite generous, in addition to his obvious compassion.

The contrast with the priest and the Levite grows with every facet of the story:

1. The Samaritan used his own personal belongings (bandages, oil, and wine, in addition to his own time) to treat the wounded man;
2. He put him on his own animal to take him to the inn;
3. While at the inn he “took care of him”;
4. He delayed his own trip and spent the night at the inn (possibly to watch him overnight?);
5. As he left he gave the innkeeper enough cash to house the man for two months;
6. He promised to pay more on his way back, if needed.

Unpack this parable and it’s so much more than just a nice story!! GLORY!!

Slava Bohu!

Luke 10:13-24

“Notice what you notice.” Today’s first four verses should have been added to yesterday’s reading – Jesus is still instructing His disciples before sending them out. Verse 17 reports their return.

…many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (v. 24) Jesus makes this amazing statement at the end of today’s reading. Let’s name some names here: David, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos…, and more! These are folks who were seeking the Lord the best they knew how, in the context of their Old Testament laws and traditions. What joy they must have felt in Heaven to see these events in Jesus’ life finally come to pass. And Jesus honors them and their past history by making the statement that He does.

Although Jesus is speaking to his 1^st-century disciples, we would do well to embrace His words in our 21^st-century lives, to dwell on it, to fall down in humble adoration for what we are able to see and what we are able to hear. Jesus here was speaking before His cross and resurrection. We also have those two items in our toolkit, plus the writings of the authors of the Epistles to guide us further. That is, we have SO MUCH to share. And as we learn in Luke 12:48, “…to whom much has been given, much will be required.” Let’s not waste opportunities before us!

Slava Bohu!