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!

Luke 10:1-9

“Notice what you notice.” Today’s reading is Luke 10:1-9; then we skip three verses and tomorrow’s reading is Luke 10:13-24. So I looked back and we had read Luke 10:10-12 back in April along with corresponding verses in Matthew and Mark. So I’m changing the listing for the next time we do this and also reading today through verse 12.

Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. (v. 1) Little items are intriguing to me. The little item in this sentence is the word “others”. At the beginning of the previous chapter Luke had Jesus sending out the twelve apostles. Now Jesus sends out 70 (or 72) “others”, presumably disciples outside the twelve. I had always imagined a large crowd traveling with Jesus. This item provides confirmation of that thought. Another item different in this “sending out” is that the disciples were told to go to cities and places where Jesus Himself would be going. Since He is now on His way to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51), He may be sending them into Judea – but we don’t know that for sure. What we do know is that Jesus has an itinerary that includes 35 or 36 “cities and places” where He intends to teach. And Luke’s got another ten chapters to fill before we get to Holy Week, so Jesus will be on the move.

In verse 12 Jesus compares unrepentant cities with Sodom, a city that God destroyed back in Genesis 19. He made a similar comparison of Capernaum to Sodom in yesterday’s reading. I’m afraid today’s America is looking a lot like Sodom, a city that has given us the word “sodomy”. I don’t like the comparison.

Slava Bohu!

Matthew 11:20-30

“Notice what you notice.” Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done… (v. 20). Now having done the readings as we have, in “short form”, day by day, chronologically, I have a new sense of what is meant by the cities where most of his mighty works had been done. Most of our time this year has been spent in those boundary cities on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. And a number of the healings we have seen – the paralytic through the roof, Jairus’ daughter, etc. – have been done in Capernaum. In the past I’d have just glossed over these early verses in today’s reading, but now I have a much greater appreciation for Jesus’ tirade against these cities. And this is Galilee, friendly territory… What happens when He gets to Jerusalem!!??

Hidden in plain sight: I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children… (v. 25). These things were “hidden” from the scribes and Pharisees because of their own blindness. They were too locked-in to their own traditions and beliefs that they could not accept Jesus’ alternative teachings, even when He backed His words up with Scripture. Their arguments were consistently targeted to their own justification, which necessitated condemnation of Jesus’ words.

There is still a lot hidden in Scripture that we are constantly digging to find. But as I learned during “Holy Spirit” week at Creative Arts Camp, as we seek to learn, the Holy Spirit continues to unlock the meanings behind what Jesus has said and done. That has clearly happened to me during this year in the Gospels! We just need to keep seeking.

Slava Bohu!

Luke 9:51-62

“Notice what you notice.” When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem. (v. 51) The Chronological Study Bible points to this verse as the beginning of Jesus’ final trip to Jerusalem, whether in fact it was His second or third (with His early Judean ministry being His first). Notes in my Study Bible, however, point to this verse as the beginning of His second trip to Jerusalem. They argue that Luke 9:51-13:21 and sections we just read in John 7:10-10:39 constitute His second journey to Judea and Jerusalem, with a third beginning at Luke 13:22 and John 10:40. I tend to believe the former, that all that we will read from now to the end of the year is part of Jesus’ final journey. To me, … He set His face to go to Jerusalem is pretty strong!

Two reflection items on the following verse: Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. (v. 58) First, I’ve always felt sorry for Jesus, not having His own home or a place to stay. But we have learned in our first few months of this study that Jesus was a regular at Peter’s house (or “the house”). So in Capernaum He did have a place to stay. Still, when He was traveling in Galilee or Judea or wherever, His lodging was at the mercy of the townspeople. And if He had quite a band of followers, housing all of them would have been a challenge.

Second, I mentioned yesterday that I had looked at The Message for Eugene Peterson’s “take” on Matthew’s verses. Since some of the same verses are repeated here, it’s worth looking at his “translation” of verse 58: Jesus was curt: “Are you ready to rough it? We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.” Yes, it’s a bit over the top, but still worthy of a note! Time for a nap in my comfortable recliner…!

Slava Bohu!

Matthew 8:18-22

“Notice what you notice.” As is my wont, I often look at other translations when I want to get some sense of how others have interpreted Jesus’ words. The Message is particularly good for that, but Eugene Peterson often goes to extreme lengths with some of his wording. Today I also looked at the Good News Translation. While the more traditional translations titled this passage “The Cost of Following Jesus” (ESV) and “Discipleship Tested” (NASB), the GNT titled it “The Would-Be Followers of Jesus”. That, I thought, is a very good title!

The “would-be followers”… None of the translations tell us of the final decisions of the scribe or the disciple in this passage, as to whether they followed Jesus or not. On another occasion we know the outcome of the “rich young ruler”, how …he went away grieving (Mark 10:22). The scribe and the disciple started from opposite paths, one already a follower, the other one of the Jewish leaders. By approaching Jesus with his “I will follow you wherever you go” comment, the scribe had “laid his cards on the table”; he would have had a hard time going back to his scribe and Pharisee colleagues. The disciple, however, had already been one of the many who had been following Jesus. He could easily have simply drifted away, thinking he would catch back up with Jesus later. (Did that ever happen…?) So I tend to think that the scribe continued to follow Jesus, but that the disciple went back to his family.

It makes me wonder about the people in my life with whom I have shared Jesus. Are they “would-be followers” who found the demands of following Jesus too great, given where they were in life? Or would they follow along a bit with a “wait and see” attitude? Bottom line: it doesn’t matter. My responsibility is sharing the Gospel; the rest is up to the Holy Spirit. End of story.

Slava Bohu!

John 10:1-21

“Notice what you notice.” These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind? (v. 21) The previous two verses pointed to a division among the Jews (the Jewish leaders) in their reaction to Jesus’ parable of the Good Shepherd. What’s interesting about the quote above is Jesus’ two-fold witness to those who might believe – His words and His actions.

First, Jesus’ words were not the same words being spoken by the Jewish leaders. My guess is that their focus was on preaching the Law and maintaining their adherence to the Law – and castigating others whom they might suspect of breaking their rules. Jesus’ words, however, were based in love, in protecting His own and in calling others to Himself. In His words He was not breaking the Law, but He was certainly putting a new twist on it, or speaking words completely outside any Law discussion, and the Jews had no answer for Him.

Second, Jesus’ actions — in this case healing a man born blind… I have already commented extensively on my own perspective on this miracle. Clearly some of the Jewish leaders and crowd followers were equally astonished at this outcome, with a beginning and an ending (“I was blind, but now I see”) that they could not refute. Powerful!

We also have the same two-fold witness, our words and our actions – our walk and our talk. I am proud to be connected with you folks for whom I see Jesus within.

Slava Bohu!