Luke 14:25-35

Let’s continue to remember to pray for Jim and Marty – Debbie and Julie also!

“Notice what you notice.” So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (v. 33) So, what does it mean to “renounce all that we have”? I can mostly understand the hyperbole of “hating” the members of one’s family – since I understand the “hate” relative to one’s love for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And I can understand “counting the cost” of being a disciple, even though those costs at the outset may be largely unknown. But “renouncing all that I have”…?? Here’s how The Message interprets verse 33: Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple. I don’t think I’ve ever been tested to any length that is even close to the challenges that Jesus sets forth. Your thoughts…??

Slava Bohu!

Luke 14:15-24

Let’s continue to remember to pray for Jim and Marty – Debbie and Julie also!

“Notice what you notice.” I’m sure that when most of us read these words that Jesus speaks, we expect that He is speaking to the lawyers and Pharisees without naming them by name. That is, in today’s Parable of the Great Banquet, we imagine that those who were initially invited to the Banquet were the Jewish leaders. But each of them had an excuse for not coming to the Banquet – that is, for not listening to Jesus’ words and following Him. We saw a similar outcome yesterday, when the Pharisees were choosing the places of honor and Jesus chastised them for seeking honor and not being humble.

But I’m sure that many of us also look to ourselves and our own behaviors and attitudes when we read Jesus’ words. I mentioned yesterday my own problem of “self-seeking”. Today I have to ask myself whether I am making excuses for my behavior in my relationship with our Lord. Or better put, what excuses AM I making? …in my prayer life? (I’m too easily distracted.) …in my personal evangelism? (I’m nervous about sharing my faith.) …in my ministry? (I’m just too busy to take on that chore.) …in my use of my personal resources? (I’m saving for retirement; I don’t want to be a burden to my kids.) What could (or should) I be doing differently in all these activities? Jesus’ words force us to do some serious soul-searching. But as my dear wife is prone to say, “It’s a good thing.” Glory!

Slava Bohu!

Luke 14:7-14

Let’s continue to remember to pray for Jim and Marty – Debbie and Julie also!

“Notice what you notice.” OK, I have to be careful here not to exalt myself in telling a story. For many years I have loved this incident in today’s reading – since Carol and I lived something of the sort.

We were on a short business/educational trip to Slovakia and had been invited by the Dean of the College to a reception. There were a number of tables set in an open rectangle, enough seating for about 20 to 30 guests. When Carol and I arrived we set our “things” (purse, phone, etc.) down in the middle of one of the long rectangular sides, got drinks and stood in the area where our seats were located. Soon thereafter the Dean recognized us and came over to greet us. When he saw our “things” he told us to pick them up and he escorted us to the head table, to sit beside him and his wife. Immediately today’s reading came to mind! Yes, we were honored – and also humbled!!

I personally have a problem with self-exaltation. Years ago our Bible Study leader referred to my problem as “blowing your own horn”. There are roots for this character defect deep in my childhood, but that does not excuse the behavior. It’s something I am constantly working on. Today’s reading comes to mind – a lot!! So please pray for me in this area. Ask the Holy Spirit to help me become truly humble.

Slava Bohu!

Luke 14:1-6

Let’s continue to remember to pray for Jim and Marty.

We had a phone and Internet disconnect this past Monday, with only spotty Personal HotSpot connections for the entire week. So my Internet posts and e-mail notes have been challenged and have been, at worst, only delayed. We are now again hooked up and are back to our horrible Windstream service.

“Notice what you notice.” Today is now at least the third occasion where we have Jesus dining with a Pharisee. See also Luke 7:36 and Luke 11:38. So why are they inviting Jesus to dinner? Two possibilities immediately come to mind, that they are truly seeking Him or that they are testing Him. I lean toward the latter, especially since Carol informed us all about the Pharisees and their intensity toward rejecting false messiahs. In addition, it often seems that the invitation is less than genuine – there is often a “plant” in the room, some way to test Jesus. For today’s reading, the “plant” is a man with dropsy. And it’s a Sabbath meal…!!

So the man with dropsy is there on the Sabbath, very possibly so the Pharisees can challenge Jesus for whatever He might do. But Jesus gets the drop on the lawyers and Pharisees by asking them if it’s lawful to heal on the Sabbath. When they have no response, He heals the man. He then explains logically what they misunderstand theologically.

So, a takeaway from this incident… Jesus is a Master at asking questions, by reversing “the test”, if you will. In our Gospel sharing sessions, maybe it’s better if we learn from Him to ask questions instead of stating facts. Asking “What do you believe?” might be a better ploy than stating “This is what I believe.” It’s also simple, common courtesy – letting the other person know that we care about who they are, where they are coming from, and what they are thinking. But we have to be genuine about it! Help us, Holy Spirit!!

Prayers for Debbie and Julie also!

Slava Bohu!

Luke 13:22-35

Let’s continue to remember to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” Just two days ago I commented on Jesus saying the exact same words twice in one setting. Today He has done it again, with a scary thought for many Christians: I do not know where you come from. (v. 25b, ESV, NASB). The NKJV has even stronger wording: I do not know you, where you come from. Even though they ate and drank with Him and listened to His preaching, He does not know them. Or US…??!! A very scary thought…! Then He goes on to tell them that they will see themselves cast out – His Chosen People! – replaced by Gentiles from all over the world, …from east and west, and from north and south… (v. 29).

It seems appropriate to quote Matthew 7:21-23 here: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

He also repeats Himself in the next paragraph: …today and tomorrow and the third day… in verse 32, then …today and tomorrow and the day following… in verse 33. Interesting…

I’ve kept this open for hours looking for something else to say. With Internet down I can’t do much research, so we’ll sign off for the day.

Prayers for Debbie and Julie also!

Slava Bohu!

Luke 13:10-17

Let’s continue to remember to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” …all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced… (v. 17) It would be nice sometime to go through all the Gospels and find each occasion where Jesus “violated” the Sabbath. It’s clear that on each occasion He wins the day with His logic – and makes further enemies of the Jewish leaders. But seldom is that outcome expressed as clearly as in verse 17, with His adversaries shamed and the people rejoicing.

One wonders at this woman appearing in the synagogue. Was that common? I looked online and found this comment: “At the Temple in Jerusalem, women were restricted to an outer court. In synagogues they were separated from the men and not permitted to read aloud. They were not allowed to bear witness in a religious court.” (https://www.franciscanmedia.org/jesus-extraordinary-treatment-of-women/) So somehow this woman appears in a synagogue and Jesus calls her over when He sees her (literally, When Jesus saw her…, v. 12a).

The picture in my head is similar to the one we have for the woman with an issue of blood. She was hesitant, but determined. Each woman showed up and did what she was not supposed to do – in the first case touching the hem of Jesus’ garment and in the second appearing at the synagogue door.

So what to take away from this incident? For me, if I am confident that I am taking the same position that Jesus would take, then I should not be afraid to speak out. Naturally I have to trust that I have “Holy Spirit truth” on my side. This is not just a theoretical or theological matter for me. Back in 2003-2004 I was Assistant Treasurer for the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington. During that summer and winter there were three occasions when I stood up to Bishop Sauls (the Diocesan Bishop at the time of St. Andrew’s split from the Episcopal Church) and on each occasion I was rudely shut down. But even after the first and after the second slam, I continued to speak out because I knew that “it was the right thing to do”. If you feel Holy Spirit nudges in some direction where you might feel uncomfortable, don’t be afraid to move forward. As Jesus said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20, NASB).

Slava Bohu!

Luke 13:1-9

“Notice what you notice.” Intriguing to me – Jesus says the same exact words twice: No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. (vv. 3, 5) Offhand I cannot recall any other section where Jesus repeats Himself, word for word, one sentence closely following another, in the same incident. Yes, Jesus repeats His basic message of repentance many times on many different occasions. He also repeats details of His forthcoming death, but again on a number of different occasions. But to say the same words in the same setting – I can’t recall any other such incident. But if He says something twice, it must be something we need to hear!

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree is, I think, a two-fold message, both messages implied and neither fully stated. First there is a call for us to bear fruit, to repent and turn to the Lord. He has waited three years to see fruit on the tree (and in our lives), but He will not wait forever. Don’t let yourself be cut down (like the fig tree) because of your stubbornness or pride – do it now!

Second, I think there is a message on the power of prayer. Clearly the owner has the final say on whether the tree should be cut down, but he has listened to the vinedresser and the vinedresser has put forth a good argument. There is no closing statement that the owner listened to the vinedresser, but in my mind I can see him giving a quiet nod and then walking away. God listens to prayer. The Lord listened to Abraham when he tried to negotiate over the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 18). He also listened to Moses when He was ready to destroy the Israelites over the Golden Calf incident. He granted Hezekiah’s request for a longer life. Finally, Jesus listened to His mother at Cana. Our Lord listens to our prayers!

Slava Bohu!

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!