Dei Time NT

You can Forecast the Weather but...

Luke 12:35-59

"Be dressed in readiness, and your lamps lit." Jesus' instructions may seem a little odd, and to some a little scary. Jesus' explanation to the disciples' question (vs.41) helps.

Jesus was speaking to His disciples and to the unbelieving religious leaders who were plotting His death. For those leaders the message was clear--they had not handled their Lord's treasure properly. They (vs.47) will be greatly punished for their arrogant assumption that the Master was not returning, and that they could do as they pleased. They had been entrusted with much, and had failed.

For Jesus' disciples then and now, these verses have a different message. We are the faithful servants entrusted with the Gospel. We know that He is returning and it is our calling to keep on working; keep on telling the world about Jesus. Jesus may return at any time, so we keep steadily working so that as many as possible will be saved.

The Gospel message for each of us as we work is the assurance that even when we fail in our calling, we will still be loved by our Savior; we will still spend eternity with Him.

Then (vs.51) in this Christmas season of wishing Peace and Joy to all, we read Jesus' words, "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division;..." As in the previous section, the message is different for each of the groups listening--believers and non-believers. Just as in His earthly ministry, Jesus will continue to bring conflict among people. His truth is too revolutionary to allow people to sit on the fence. Families split over belief in Him. Friends fight over whether or not He was the Son of God. Many are divided as to whether Jesus was telling the truth when He said, "No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6) Jews converting to Christianity are shunned by their friends and family.

Peace is already real for believers. Peace will finally and totally become a reality when Jesus returns. For now, the Gospel unwillingly, but necessarily, causes division.

Chapter 12 finishes with Jesus' pronouncement on a crowd of unbelievers who can analyze the weather by watching the clouds and feeling the wind, but are too willingly blind to see the Son of God when He appears.

Is Your Bus Backing Up?

Luke 12:11 - 34

If I had been there to hear Jesus' words in verse 11, I would have thought, "Whoa, back the bus up!" because Jesus did not say, "If they bring you before the...authorities." He said, "When...." If there is one thing that we modern Christians cringe from, it is taunting, publicity, or trouble resulting from our faith in Jesus. In fact, we even applaud the world's old saying that we should never talk about politics or "religion". Yet, Jesus has just told His followers that they will get in trouble for serving Him. It would seem that we want to be like the disciples, except for that one little detail, even though Jesus promises, "the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."

In verse 15, Jesus' words should place a loud caution in our minds. "...not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." That doesn't sound much like today's American dream. Oddly, even the rest of the world seems to see us as a nation that has fallen into the trap of which Jesus warns, but it is like we cannot stop our eagerness to acquire "things". It is as if we are seeking confidence from our income and retirement plans rather than from God.

Verses 22-34 are a wonderful assurance that we are God's children and He does care for us. The verb at the end of verse 29 should be translated "do not keep worrying" and which of us doesn't have trouble stopping the worry? Jesus knew that and emphasized that incessant worry is not of God. One of the most powerful verses of assurance (at least for me) is verse 26. Jesus says that extending our life is "a very little thing" to God. How foolish we are to try to wrest control of our lives and futures from such a powerful God who loves us unendingly.

Hypocrisy and Tombs

Luke 12:1 -10

While Jesus' admonitions recorded in the gospels are guideposts for all Christians to consider in our behavior and attitudes, remember that Jesus was often speaking to people who had grown up believing that they had to work their way to heaven. Jesus presented a new concept to them--heaven (salvation) is a free gift. I mention this because it is easy to read into Jesus' words the idea that if we are not perfect we will anger Him. Jesus presented the ideal of perfection as He did in order to help people realize that they could not meet God's standards; to realize that they needed a Savior to be perfect for them; to die for their sin because they could not please God on their own. Should we strive to meet Jesus' ideal? Of course, but also realize that we will not be able to do it. That's why Jesus died for us. He forgives us and loves us even when we do not meet the criteria of a perfect life.

The hypocrisy of the Pharisees concerned, among other things, their assertion that they were able to please God while they in fact created loopholes in their hundreds of laws so that they wouldn't have to obey them. Jesus called them "whitewashed tombs" looking clean on the outside but filled inside with "dead men's bones and all uncleanness" (Matthew 23:27). They professed to follow God when they actually followed only their own rules and desires.

Verses 6 and 7 are an encouragement to us to stop fearing. If the hairs on our heads are numbered in God's mind, then how could we think that He will not take care of us?

Verses 8 through 10 bring up what has come to be known as the "unforgivable" sin. I have known wonderful people who wasted much of their lives worrying that they would unknowingly commit the unforgivable sin and God would be forced to send them to hell. What a tragic misunderstanding. Jesus was speaking to men who would deny the truth that the Holy Spirit was urging on their hearts until their deaths. They would deny Jesus even though they knew that this Man was much more than a prophet. They would kill Him in order to protect their own power and way of life. One can only commit the unforgivable sin by denying Jesus to his or her death. Then it is too late to understand the truth.

Inseparable: Love and Truth

Luke 11:37-53

This meal with Pharisees and Lawyers doesn't seem to have been set up as another trap for Jesus. Perhaps this Pharisee thought that his visitor would be interesting, or wanted his friends to meet this new teacher. However, the differences between Jesus and the others present almost immediately became clear.

The host is surprised that Jesus ignores the traditional ceremonial cleansing rules. Perhaps Jesus did this so that He could begin to challenge the guests, giving them an opportunity to understand themselves and change (see the response to Peter's hard statement--Acts2:36-37).

Jesus reminded the Pharisees that a man's inside should match the outside. This was the great hypocrisy of the Pharisees. Formula religion is worthless if worship is not from the heart. Jesus then attacks their arrogance and pride (vs.43). They are "concealed tombs..." (vs.44).

Then the Lawyers speak up, protesting that Jesus' remarks to the Pharisees reflect on them too. Jesus turns to the Lawyers and tells them the truth of who they are. They build memorials to the honored prophets, yet applaud their ancestors who murdered God's prophets for speaking His word. Not only do they deny the truth themselves, they hinder those who want to believe (vs.52). The bloody crimes of past generations would fall at the feet of "this generation" (vs.50). Their rebellious attitude against God and His prophets was about to climax in their rejection and murder of God's Son.

Luke says that after this encounter the scribes and Pharisees "began to be very hostile...." Jesus was tough on this group, but He was also about to die for them. He really did love them. We have a hard time with God's Love and Justice working together. We prefer to apply only loving forgiveness in all situations without thought of justice, but that isn't real love. If we never discipline our children, they run amok and expect all things to go their way at all times, regardless of their actions. The result is generally not good. God loves us and all sinners, and He expects us to love everyone honestly. Speaking in hatred or anger never works; speaking the truth while loving whomever we are speaking with is God's way to change hearts. He will instill in us such a love for one another if we let Him.

Prayer, Demons, and Signs

Luke 11:1 - 36

As chapter 11 begins Luke cites the introduction of the Lord's Prayer, but Jesus goes on to teach the disciples about prayer.

Yes, God wants us to be persistent in prayer, but Jesus did not mean (vs.5-8) that we must nag God in order to have our prayers heard. Jesus was pointing out that even a man unwilling to help will eventually assist a persistent friend. So then, how much more will God, who loves us more than any human could, gladly answer our prayers? After all, Jesus did NOT say in verses 9 and 10 that one should "knock lots of times because you have to get God's attention."

Ironically, the ones watching Jesus casting out demons were guilty of the blasphemy of which they accused Jesus. They attributed the power of God to Satan. Jesus answered them with an unexpected question about their own sons. Most commentators agree that the "strong man" in verses 21-22 is Satan and that the "stronger" man is Christ.

Verses 24-26 remind us of facts that are now known by psychologists, but have been known forever by God. When we wipe our mental slates clean and restart our lives after coming to faith or enduring any momentous, life changing time, it is important to fill our newly cleaned minds and souls with the good news of God; to see things from His positive perspective.

Satan loves an inactive and empty mind willing to be filled with anything handy. This is especially dangerous in our culture of "anything goes so long as it pleases you." We seem to have forgotten the perhaps overused phrase of the '70s and '80s—"Garbage in, garbage out." (This also relates to 11:34-36.)

Jesus was not belittling His mother in verse 28. He was proclaiming that the good news of salvation was more important even than His own mother.

Seeking a sign (vs.29-32) is not always bad. Jesus was speaking to those who demanded that He prove that He was the Son of God; the Messiah. Believers who are sincerely seeking God's will are a different matter. For example, Gideon (Judges 6:36-40) asked for two signs from God which were granted without question or reprimand. Gideon was not asking for proof that God was God, but only that he was indeed following God's will.

"Who is my neighbor?"

Luke 10:25 - 42

How often do we ask God what we should do, and upon understanding His answer, respond like the lawyer who approached Jesus. His response to Jesus' clear direction was to question who his neighbor might be. The lawyer, according to Luke, was trying to justify himself. We do the same thing.

When we ask God for direction, we really want to hear from Him that we are doing great, no change needed. When His word tells us that we are not doing what we should, we immediately begin to find justifications for ourselves--justifications that prove in our own minds that we really are doing as well as God expects.

In response to the question, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan, a very unlikely hero to use in a story for Jews. Samaritans were hated half-breeds--the nation originating from the marriage of local inhabitants and colonists after the fall of the area to Assyria in 722 B.C. After the exile or execution of any potential troublemakers, new colonists from the Assyrian empire moved in, bringing along their religion that became mixed with the Judaism of the local inhabitants, who were already worshiping differently from their brothers to the south. When the Southern Jews returned from their own exile in Babylon, they denied the Samaritans a part in rebuilding the temple. In response the Samaritans tried to block the project.

By Jesus' time no Jew would associate with a Samaritan. A good Pharisee would walk all the way around the border of Samaria on his journey to wherever in order to avoid touching Samaritan soil. Yet, in Jesus' parable, a hated Samaritan was the only person willing to help a wounded man. The message was clear—contrary to popular belief, all men were neighbors to one another.

Luke ends this chapter with the story of a visit to Jesus' friends, Mary and Martha. In today's busy world we are admonished to "stop to smell the roses". Jesus' words to Mary and Martha are a reminder to us to not get so wrapped up in our day-to-day worries and responsibilities that we fail to spend time with our Lord--who is the only one who can make life make sense.

    

“Rejoice that your names…”

Luke 10:1 - 24

Chapter 10 begins similarly to chapter 9, except that the seventy were chosen from among the many disciples following Jesus. Like the apostles, these men were just like you and I. While we like to pretend that the apostles were somehow different from us, that claim is harder to maintain when it comes to the seventy. We, too, are sent out to make a difference in the world.

In verses 5 through 16, Jesus declares the seriousness of telling and listening to the gospel. He tells the missionaries that if they are rejected, they should move on. They were not to waste their time on those who did not want to hear—there were too many hungering for the truth and eagerly waiting to hear.

Jesus cites Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum as towns who rejected great miracles done in their midst. The first two would fare less well than Tyre and Sidon (in Syria) on the judgment day. As for His own home, Capernaum, "You will be brought down to Hades." Jesus adds as He speaks to the seventy, "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."

Only Luke tells about the seventy. He also tells about Jesus sending out the twelve, so this is not a mistaken account of the same event. Seventy laymen were sent out to tell the world of Jesus' coming. Upon their return, their excitement overflowed and Jesus' must have laughed with them at their joyous return as He assured them that He even saw Satan fall from heaven. Then in a more serious moment He reminded them that it was even more wondrous that God had chosen to write their names in His list of the redeemed.

Verses 17-24 reflect a moment of absolute joy in the life of our Lord. His disciples were excited and joyous at their ministry, and the ministry of suffering in the future was set aside for a little while. He concludes, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."

While Heading for Jerusalem

Luke 9:51-62

It's hard to imagine how Jesus' demeanor and determination may have changed as He approached the time of His execution. By that I do not mean that He may have become sullen, or withdrawn, or "grouchy". But, Jesus was human as well as divine. How did He react as the end of His earthly ministry approached? Did He become more determined to reach as many communities as possible? Did He appear more serious to His disciples as they observed Him? Did He become less apt to rest, or withdraw to teach the twelve? What do you think? The early verses of today's reading indicate that we can assume that Jesus' love and patience did not dwindle in the face of His approaching execution.

The particular Samaritan village mentioned did not welcome Jesus because "he was heading for Jerusalem." The animosity between Jew and Samaritan went both ways.

James and John seem confident of their ability to carry out any command of God, including calling fire down from heaven on the unwelcoming Samaritans, but Jesus chided them for the thought, and they moved on to another village.

How often we would like to "call down fire" on those who offend our faith or the name of our Lord. Jesus seems to be saying that this is not our business, but God's. We are to continue seeking those who will listen and leave behind those who refuse to hear.

Jesus then (vs.57) is met by several people. To one He states that life with Him is not easy. To another He says "Follow me", but the man wants to bury his father first.

At first glance it seems unkind of Jesus to tell the man to leave that task behind (vs.60), but what the idiom here says is that the man wanted to take care of father until the time of his death—whenever that might be. Jesus says that we do not have the luxury of putting off spreading the Gospel until a more convenient time.

Verse 62 sounds a little like the story of Lot's wife, who longed to go back to Sodom and was turned into a pillar of salt. The road of following Jesus is not easy. As He says in another passage, we should count the cost before beginning a life of making Jesus obvious in our lives; of living in such a way that everyone will know Who we serve.

What these men whom Jesus encountered decided to do in response to His words is not recorded. What do you think that they did? What would your responses to Jesus' challenges be?

Stop Causing God Grief

Luke 9:49 – 50

Many churches should seriously consider verses 49 and 50. Jesus did not create denominations within the Christian Church, we did. How wonderful it feels to think that only our denomination has a 100% correct understanding of everything taught in God's word, and how sad it really is.

There is a story that I'm sure you have heard, but here it is anyway: A certain Christian entered heaven and was excited that Peter himself was going to give him a tour. The Christian's excitement grew as they traveled along. People were singing praises throughout heaven. Then they came to a high wall, and Peter told the Christian to be very quiet as they passed. Puzzled, the Christian asked, "Why?" Peter replied, "Well, we want everyone to be happy here, and the Christians living behind that wall are [name your denomination], and they think they're the only ones here."

We live in a time when it is absolutely essential that Christians stand together and show the world the love of Christ as it really is. Instead, we spend our time criticizing the doctrinal differences between Baptists and Lutherans, Methodists and Catholics, Episcopalians and Presbyterians. The world looks on and laughs at the idea that our God is a God of love and understanding because we appear to prove by our actions that the opposite is true. Oddly, some Christians who accept the world's view that all religions are equal will still argue that another denomination's doctrine is incorrect.

As we continue to reject one another, how can we claim to accept those who come to us seeking God? How can we not see the sadness in our actions and words against one another?

I'm sure that many will disagree with this post, but I think it is essential that, whatever our affiliation, we reevaluate the animosity amongst the denominations of our Christian faith that is holding us back from facing together the real threats against the Church, and working together to spread the Gospel that salvation is by God's grace, and faith in the Son who sacrificed Himself for us.

The Patience of Christ

Luke 9:37 – 48

The apostles could not heal the demon-possessed boy, so his father rushed the boy to Jesus to see if the Master of the twelve could perhaps do better.

Jesus' words in verse 41 may have had a tinge of frustration, but more probably they had the sound of a father's love for the child who just can't seem to understand what his dad is trying to communicate. One commentator says that Jesus' was disappointed that still His disciples could not function faithfully in their mission without His physical presence. This would fit well with Jesus' comments from time to time concerning the disciples' lack of a strong faith. Whatever the reasons for His words, we can be certain that Jesus did not give up on His followers, nor does He give up on us.

In verse 44 His words were intense—a good translation would be "Let these words sink into your ears." (NASB) He knew that the apostles would not yet understand them, but would have to wait until the Holy Spirit explained it all in their hearts. Until then, they would have to remember and wonder. Luke says that they were even "afraid" to question Him about their true meaning. As we are at times, perhaps they didn't want to know what might be coming.

Verse 46 begins the story of the argument of who would be the greatest. As you read this remember that everyone, including the disciples still believed that the Messiah would be the military and political conqueror of Rome; that he would deliver Israel and restore the nation to its former greatness. So, being human, the disciples wondered who would hold the highest positions in the new government.

Jesus' reply to the disciples' thoughts was simple. In the Jewish culture of the time, caring for a child was left to the servants or to the women. Jesus makes the point that in His kingdom serving the needs of even a child was the goal. Political importance or prestige would have no part there.