Luke 13:1-17

Dear RTB’ers,

Jesus speaking: “No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 12:3,5) It’s a small thing, but I can’t recall any other incidents in the gospels where Jesus message is “repent”. He often speaks of “the Kingdom” and He has various ways where He speaks of “salvation” (or being saved) or forgiveness of sins, but if I think of a message of repentance, I think of John the Baptist. Small item.

Today’s incident of Jesus healing this woman (Luke 13:10-17) appears only in Luke’s gospel. There are other incidents in all four gospels of Jesus healing on the Sabbath, and there are other incidents of Him healing someone while He was in a synagogue, and there are various physical maladies that He healed, but the woman doubled over stands unique. There are a couple of interesting features about this incident. First, the woman did not ask specifically to be healed; Jesus simply called her over. Naturally she may have been in the synagogue on that Sabbath day hoping for healing (see the synagogue official’s comment in v. 14b), but we do not see her seeking Jesus out. Second, Jesus somehow knows this woman, knows that she has been doubled over for eighteen years. Third, the contrast of this incident with that of the woman with the hemorrhage (Mark 5:25-34) is striking. That woman sought Jesus out specifically; He appeared to be surprised at her touch: “Who touched My garments?” (Mark 5:30b); and He responded further to her about her faith (Mark 5:34). The woman doubled-over is simply here and gone. Following Jesus’ words of healing, His attention turns to the synagogue official.

What I take from this incident is that we are (I am!) also unique. God knows each of us in His own special way. He knows our needs before we ask and He provides for us in ways that we do not even recognize. He calls us and it’s our choice to respond or not. I find in my heart a new love for this “here and gone” woman doubled over. I hope each of you does also!

Blessings!

Luke 12:35-59

Dear RTB’ers,

“Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”(v. 48b) There is two-step expectation here, “given much” and “entrusted much”. If you’ve been given much, yes, much will be required. But being “entrusted with much” is going a step further – much more will be expected of leaders than followers. We can apply these expectations individually and corporately. Individually, we’ve all been given much, both physically and spiritually, and much will be required of us. And many (all?) of us are leaders in our households, our ministries, our regular activities. Here Jesus “demands the more”. What is that “more” that is expected of each of us?

Corporately, I think of our church. We at St. Andrew’s have been given and entrusted with much, with a committed, corporate expectation to “glorify Jesus Christ as a community of disciples on mission”. We are Anglicans, members of ADOTS and ACNA. We’ve all left something behind in order to follow our St. Andrew’s, our ADOTS, and our ACNA leaders. We are each serving those St. Andrew’s, ADOTS, and ACNA visions in our own way and as a body. And we have to ask ourselves if we, individually and corporately, are giving “the more”. Again, what is that “more” that is expected of us? More…?

Blessings!

Luke 12:13-34

Dear RTB’ers,

It is hard for me to post a comment on a daily reading when almost the entire reading is Jesus’ teachings. Today we have more of His teachings that are parallel to Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount. Matthew’s gospel has this Sermon isolated into three chapters (Matthew 5, 6, and 7), whereas Luke’s gospel has similar teaching spread around in various chapters (6, 11, 12, 18). Scholars have argued that Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount could well have occurred as described in Matthew, but also that this Sermon constituted the core of Jesus’ teachings, and that He probably spoke these words on many occasions in His travels. Luke having these teachings spread through many chapters supports this latter supposition.

Many of us are retired, with a “nest egg” of retirement savings stored up for these later years. So naturally from today’s readings we ask what Jesus is asking of us. In today’s reading Jesus tells us to “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy.” (v. 33a)  Later Jesus responds to the “rich, young ruler” with an even stronger challenge, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Luke 18:22b) So what is His charge to us, here in Versailles in 2024? It’s a good discussion question (witness many Men’s Group discussions on this topic), but in the end it’s a question we each have to ask ourselves.

Blessings! 

Fred 

Luke 11:53-12:12

Dear RTB’ers,

In yesterday’s reading Jesus connected his listeners, the Pharisees and lawyers, back to the Old Testament, “…so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.” (Luke 11:50-51a). Today He takes us forward to the New Testament: “And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:11-12) Many weeks down the road we will read in Acts 3-4 of an incident that has Peter and John before the Sanhedrin. Jesus’ words are fulfilled in the following verse, Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them… (Acts 4:8a). Peter then goes on to connect the healing of a lame man, not with their own power, but by the power of Jesus’ name. The summary statement from the leaders of the Sanhedrin is telling: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13) I am confident that Holy Spirit words are available to us today when we are sharing our faith. Take advantage of every opportunity, folks. What we have to offer about our life in Jesus is greater than any other gift we could ever give!

Blessings!

Luke 11:37-52

Dear RTB’ers,

In 2019 our RTB group focused solely on the gospels. I looked back at what I had posted back then: “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…”

I sounded pretty harsh to Jesus’ words in that post, and I felt the same way at first glance this morning. But then in re-reading the passage I noticed that the Pharisee had brought it on himself by first attacking Jesus: The Pharisee was astonished to see that He did not first wash before dinner. (v. 38) So today I see Jesus’ words as simply a response to the Pharisee’s charge that becomes a fundamental teaching, a response that we hearken to still today – what’s inside a person is more important than what’s outside!

But the thing I love most about today’s reading is the lawyer jumping into the fray: One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” (v. 45) Like shaking your finger in front of a rattlesnake – of course he’s going to bite!! So Jesus deals with lawyers just as he had done with Pharisees. “Woe to you Pharisees!” (v. 42a) “Woe to you lawyers as well!” (v. 46a) So if I find myself disagreeing with Jesus, I don’t bait Him. He’s God, I am not!!

Blessings!

Luke 11:14-36

Dear RTB’ers,

A mix of topics today. Jesus casting out a demon leads to a long discourse from Jesus about demons and unclean spirits, then more teaching from Jesus, much of which is also covered in Matthew and Mark.

I don’t have much to say about demons, other than trusting what Jesus says. We believe that Satan and his demons are alive and at work in our world today. We can’t see their actions, but sadly we can see their outcomes. We read in today’s passage how Jesus was more powerful than these evil forces when He walked the earth and we know that we have the Holy Spirit to do battle for us today. But it remains a mystery area for me, personally, and I pray that I never have to deal with demonology beyond the tools of confession and repentance that we’ve been given.

Jesus’ teaching on the return of the unclean spirit (Luke 11:24-26) is interesting. I’ve always been fascinated with the truth of Jesus’ words. It’s great to see someone turn away from a past life and accept Jesus as his/her Savior. But there’s more in making Jesus as Lord in our lives. I mentioned confession and repentance yesterday, I mentioned it above today, and now it pops up here. Confession and repentance form the beginning of a new life. But that new life needs to be filled with something more. All this really points to an area where Ben is focusing these days – discipleship. He has chosen the book, Deeper as a Lenten study book. The title alone tells us where the author is headed – we need to go deeper into Jesus, to be filled with that “something more”. I hope that everyone of you has bought the book and joined a Deeper group. I see change on the horizon!!

Blessings!

Luke 11:1-13

Dear RTB’ers,

Prayer, specifically the Lord’s Prayer, persistence, and asking. The Lord’s Prayer also appears in a somewhat different, more familiar form in Matthew 6:9-13, during Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The persistence portion of today’s reading (Luke 11:5-8) is similar to the widow’s testing of the judge in Luke 18:1-8. Finally, the asking portion in today’s reading (Luke 11:9-13) is also found in Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:7-11.

Prayer. It’s never enough in my life; it’s the toughest discipline that I need to incorporate more fully. The big take from today is “ask”. Yes, repentance is important – crucial, even! And yes, intercession is important. But God wants us to ask. It’s easy enough, if we just do it. Our kids ask. Our grandkids ask. They don’t wait to do it (or try it) on their own. Yet so often we are relying on our own abilities, our own work, when God wants us to ask. So often in Freedom Road our conversation moves to “control”. How much are we trying to control outcomes instead of first seeking God’s will? ASK! It’s not that hard…!

Blessings!

Luke 10:25-42

Dear RTB’ers,

Two familiar stories today, the parable of the Good Samaritan and Jesus with Martha and Mary. I daresay that the parable of the Good Samaritan is the most well-known of all of Jesus’ parables. Yes, surprisingly, this parable appears only in Luke’s gospel. Both Matthew and Mark have a lawyer asking Jesus which commandment was the most important of all (Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12: 28-31) and Jesus has this interchange in today’s reading where the first of these two great commandments is quoted (Luke 10:27). However, only Luke has Jesus following up with this parable. Rather than commenting further on this very familiar parable, I’d love to hear your comments on it.

As to Martha and Mary… I’ve always sided with Martha in this incident, and Jesus shuts me down every time with His response, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42) He makes me think about my own priorities in life. Am I really seeking Him, as He asks in Matthew 6:32-33, “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” It’s an ongoing struggle!

Blessings!

Luke 10:13-24

Dear RTB’ers,

Woe to you, Chorazin! … Bethsaida! (v. 13) … Capernaum! (v. 15) … USA! … Western Europe! Yes, us and our closest allies! I can remember growing up that Italy, Spain, France, and Ireland were all strong Catholic countries, that Germany was Lutheran, and that the United Kingdom was Anglican. Now that faith in those “pillars of democracy” seems to have evaporated. Giant cathedrals stand only partially filled for religious services, where tourists far outnumber the faithful attendees. I fear for judgment on us and our friends. We mourn the fire that took down Notre Dame. Or was that a sign of things to come? But France is building it back up. Another Tower of Babel story…? Yes, I fear the future.

Yesterday I mentioned Jesus giving the 70 …power and authority over all the demons… (Luke 9:1). In today’s reading we see a similar promise from Jesus to the 70: “Behold, I have given you authority to walk on snakes and scorpions, and authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.” (v.19) How much untapped Holy Spirit power is available to me/us today?! We on this side of the Cross and Resurrection and Pentecost – something is missing in our lives. A year ago we were watching and celebrating an “awakening” at Asbury University, an event covered by news media around the world. Have I, have we retreated back to our normal lives, whatever that is?? Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent 2024. Let’s make this Lent a Holy Spirit “awakening” in our lives! Come, Holy Spirit, come!

Blessings!

Luke 9:57-10:12

Dear RTB’ers,

We return to the New Testament, back to Luke’s gospel. When we left Luke almost three weeks ago, we saw that Jesus was leaving Galilee and headed toward Judea: When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51) Today we see Him sending 70 (72?) disciples out to cities in Samaria and Judea where He planned to go. Their task was simple, to heal the sick and to preach His message, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” (Luke 10:9) You may recall earlier in Galilee that Jesus had sent the twelve: Now He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and the power to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. (Luke 9:1-2) So the charge and the message are the same. Although it is not mentioned in chapter 12, we presume that Jesus sent these 70 out with the same tools that He had given the twelve, power and authority over all the demons, since He had charged them specifically to heal the sick.

As Jesus sends out these 70 He tells them to travel lightly, “Carry no money belt, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one along the way.” (Luke 10:4), even as He had earlier charged the twelve (Luke 9:3) I think it’s common for us to see these words as applied to missionaries that we send out, with the reality that their financial support will come from people to whom they have reached out – their friends, their home churches, and other connections that they have made. But others ask if this message is for all of us, to be missionaries in our own lives and to live simply. I think there’s some truth in that supposition. Fundamentally, I like John Wesley’s words on this matter, offered here together with commentary from a writer from the United Methodists of New Jersey:

Earn all you can, save all you can, and give all you can are the three basic points of John Wesley’s famous sermon entitled, “The Use of Money.” Wesley made note in 1789 that the Methodists of his day were ignoring the third part of his sermon. In fact, Wesley argued that the primary reason for the ineffectiveness of the Methodist movement was due to their failure to give all they could. Wesley came to the profound conclusion that “If Methodists would give all they can, then all would have enough.” Wesley’s admonition for Methodists to give all they can was no pious rhetoric designed to increase contributions to the church budget. It was a plea for generosity and a plea for compassion for the poor and needy.

https://www.gnjumc.org/earn-all-you-can-save-all-you-can-and-give-all-you-can/

Imagine the change in our world if we all followed Wesley’s advice.

Blessings!