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Category Archives: Luke

Passion Week – The Triumphal Entry: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-16

14 Apr

The image above is from Revealed: A Storybook Bible for Grown-Ups by Ned Bustard. The image is called “The Triumphal Entry” and was created by Diego Jourdan Pereira.

—

Matthew 21:1-11

As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.’” The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!” The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked. And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

—

Mark 11:1-11

As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, ‘What are you doing?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it soon.’” The two disciples left and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside the front door. As they were untying it, some bystanders demanded, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They said what Jesus had told them to say, and they were permitted to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it. Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!” So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples.

—

Luke 19:28-44

After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. As he came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?” And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on. As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”

—

John 12:12-16

The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s cold.” His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.

Dear God, I want to spend some time with the Triumphal Entry today. It is Palm Sunday after all. My wife and I went to a special church service this morning where a man who is with “Jews for Jesus” came to walk the congregation through the different parts of the Passover meal. So now, as we enter Passion Week, I want to take some time to really sit with this week in a different way than I ever have before. Of course, that starts with Revealed: A Storybook Bible for Grown-Ups and what I’ve been getting out of the different artists’ interpretations of the stories.

So here I am with the Triumphal Entry. The first thing I did was look to confirm that the story shows up in all four Gospels. It does, although John seems to have a different focus than the other three. The first three give a lot more backstory, but John focuses on the crowds, the excitement, how the prophecy angle impacted the disciples after it was all said and done, and the Lazarus connection (remembering that one John gives us the Lazarus resurrection story).

So what did Diego Jourdan Pereira notice in this story? First, this image is a little difficult for a left-brained person like me to decipher. It’s hard to tell what I’m seeing here. I see the donkey with its head down. I see Jesus, who appears to have his head down. Are those lines in the background palm branches? I ended up having to go to the commentary on this piece a little sooner than I like. Here’s what Ned Bustard said about the piece, including a quote from the artist:

According to Jewish tradition the glory of God appeared through the Beautiful Gate and will appear again when the Messiah comes (Ezekiel 44:1-3). And it is said that Jesus entered through this gate on Palm Sunday. But the gate, disciples, crowds, cloaks, palm branches, and hosannas are all missing from this depiction of the Triumphal Entry. All that remains is a downcast donkey and a sorrowful Jesus. The artist explains, “The more I thought about it, the more it seemed to me that while everyone else was celebrating around him, Christ’s mind was elsewhere. He was thinking about the destruction of Jerusalem and his own impending fate on the Cross. His tears are internal as well as external.” But Jesus would not turn aside from the path. Luke 9:51 says, “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.”

I’m having so many thoughts, it’s hard to sort through them. I guess my day started with a revelation that might have been more obvious to other Christians–you intentionally made Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection part of Passover. Jesus could have been killed any time and in any way, but your plan was to have his death and resurrection exactly coincide with the Passover celebration in Jerusalem that year. Why had I never thought of that? I guess I can be a little dense.

Then I have the thought from Luke 9 that Bustard brings out in the end of his description–that Jesus “set his face to go to Jerusalem.” We’ll see the emotions of Jesus play out over the next few days. In fact, he probably shows more emotion during this week than he does in the rest of the stories about him. He clears the temple out of anger. He curses a fig tree. He sweats blood. But when it comes down to it, he didn’t have to do this. He could have bailed, except for the fact that he was following your will, and your will was for him to walk this path. He was to be our Passover lamb.

Father, hep me to sink into this week. Help me to spend this week worshipping you–every aspect of you. You are GREAT and yet you are humble. You are all powerful, yet you are sacrificially loving. You can look through the screaming crowds of the Triumphal Entry and see the wickedness in each of us, and yet you proceed. You knew better than to believe the love you were getting from the crowd. You knew that some would turn on you and some would simply disappear. The more I sit with these ideas the more humbled and thankful I am.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 14, 2019 in John, Luke, Mark, Matthew, Passion Week, Revealed: A Storybook Bible for Grown-Ups, Uncategorized

 

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Mary & Martha — Luke 10:38

12 Apr

Luke 10:38 [NLT]
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.

Dear God, it’s time to give Martha some props. I might be reading too much into this story, but it appears to me that they didn’t know Jesus before this visit. It looks like Jesus came to town and Martha was the one who invited him over. What I’d like to say in support of Martha is that sometimes it takes the “doer” to get the job done. Yes, the “doer” can get distracted in the midst of beauty, but the “appreciator” often won’t be in the midst of the beauty unless the “doer” helps make it possible.

My wife and I were talking about how we are like these two, with me being like Martha and her being Mary. An example of this is how we approach something as simple as a bike ride. We will both take the same 30-mile bike ride (separately because of how differently we ride), but we will approach it differently. She cruises and looks around, enjoying the country roads and beauty. The wild flowers. The pecan orchard. The new house that was just built in that pasture. I don’t see any of that. But I can tell you how long the ride took me. I can tell you the distance, the elevation gain, my average speed, and my max speed. I know every part that requires extra effort and where I can rest a little while going downhill. One could read the story of our bike riding and say that I need to learn from her (and I do), but without me there would be no ride for her because I am the one who makes sure her bike is ready to go for each ride, including making sure her brakes aren’t rubbing and airing up her tires each time.

Father, it is obviously true that I have a lot to learn from the Mary’s of the world and that you have given me a perfect example to use in my wife. But it’s also true that there are the Martha parts of me that bring something to the table as well, and I shouldn’t forget that. Please help me continue on this journey so that I can die to my strengths by sacrificing them to you and embracing the lessons you have to teach me.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 12, 2019 in 2 Chronicles, Luke, Mary & Martha

 

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Luke 12:39-48

29 Mar

Luke 12:39-48
39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

41 Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?”

42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.

47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

Dear God, maybe I’ve noticed verse 41 before, but if I have I’ve forgotten it. Peter’s question is interesting, but Jesus’ answer is also interesting. Peter is trying to figure out how big this readiness responsibility is, and Jesus’ limits it in his reply more than I would have expected him to. I would have thought Jesus’ answer would be, “It’s for everyone.” But his reply basically refers to leadership being accountable.

Of course, we are all leaders in our own areas of life. We all have responsibilities when it comes to impacting those around us. Business managers have their employees. Pastors have their churches. Sunday school teachers have their classes. Parents have their children. There aren’t many of us who do not have some amount of responsibility for how we affect others’ lives. Whatever that area of responsibility is, that’s where our accountability to you lies.

As for me, you have given me several responsibilities. I am responsible for loving my wife and, even though my children are now grown, I still have a fathering responsibility with them. I am a manager at work, and I have a responsibility to lead our organization and manage the staff. I also have a responsibility to be accountable to the board of directors. Then there are societal responsibilities. You have put certain issues on my heart. You have touched me like you did Nehemiah and given me specific issues about which I feel like it is my responsibility to respond. And then there are the personal nudgings you give me when it comes to my writing and even public speaking. Am I living up to your expecations in those areas as well?

Father, help me to be found faithful. I hate to ask this, but please correct me where I am in error. I don’t know what you correction will look like, and I am loathe to ask for it, but the truth is that I just want you to be able to look back and know that I didn’t let you down. You have done so much for me, and, out of my love and appreciation for you, I want to make the most of what you’ve given me.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 29, 2019 in Luke

 

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Luke 15:25-32

28 Mar

Luke 15:25-32 [NLT]
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’ “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

Dear God, the older son won’t understand until he’s a father himself. Being the father of two children, I see this parable a little differently now. Granted, these aren’t real people, and Jesus is only giving us the details he wants us to know to make his point about God’s love for the most, but I still have to wonder what the relationship like between the boys? Did the older brother have bitterness towards his brother that had nothing to do with the father’s actions? He probably did.

I also wonder what the older son was seeing in his father while the younger son was still gone, and if his father’s obvious love for the younger son angered him. Did the older son see his father as naive? Weak? Foolish? Again, I’m looking at a literal family dynamic here and not at the relationship we have with you.

But now that I say that, do those of us who are Disciples and believers get angry with you over what you allow our sinful world to get away with? Do we hate our sinful brothers instead of waiting on the porch with you, watching for them to come home? Do we secretly resent your plan for the world and think you foolish?

Father, thank you for what you’ve taught me through being a father. Thank you for the pain and strain. Thank you for the redemption and growth. It’s been hard, it’s been great, it’s been fulfilling, and it’s ripped my heart out. I’ve needed all of those things to happen to shape me into who I am becoming through your guidance. Help me to continue on this journey as a father, as a brother, as a friend, and as a Disciple.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 28, 2019 in Luke

 

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Luke 15:11-24

27 Mar

Luke 15:11-24 [NLT]
To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

Dear God, I know this isn’t an actual story, but a parable so I should be careful of how much I read into people’s motives in it. However, this story is a representation of you and some of the children you love (possibly me, although I am more likely the older brother), so perhaps I should consider some aspects of this that I haven’t considered before.

The big one is, as a father of grown children, I now wonder more about this son. What drove him? What motivated him? I’ve always just seen him as greedy and selfish, but as a dad I try to consider what is driving the actions I see from my children. Do you consider the same thing when you see us wander (or run) away from you?

For example, in this case, when you see one of your children running after self-indulgence, do you consider their past when assessing your response? Do you look at trauma done to them? Do you consider addiction? Do you think about how they never learned to live their neighbor as themselves? I think the answer is obvious. Of course you do. I do it when I look at my kids, and you know all of us better than I know my own children, or even myself.

Father, in the end, the answer still comes back to the same place where this part of the parable ends. Each of us has to come to the end of ourselves. Some of us have lower boiling points than others. We get there quicker. But my prayer for my own children is that you would be with each of them on their journeys through life and please keep me from doing things that will hinder you from molding each of them into the people you know they can be. And do everything so that all of us might decrease and you increase.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 27, 2019 in Luke

 

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The Prodigal Son — Luke 14:11-24

20 Jan

Luke 15:11-24 NIV
[11] Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. [12] The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. [13] “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. [14] After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. [15] So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. [16] He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. [17] “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! [18] I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. [19] I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ [20] So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. [21] “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ [22] “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. [23] Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. [24] For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Dear God, before I get into this story, I want to do my best to identify all of the art panels, small as they are, in the border of this artwork. Starting at the top left:

  • Broken chains
  • “HOME” or, if you look at it the right way, “LOVE”
  • Two arrows pointing to the cross
  • U-turn
  • Cross
  • “My son was dead and alive again”
  • “He was lost and is found”
  • “!!!!!!!!!!” [kind of cool to have those following the two lines from the father.]
  • “You went after worth [??] and become worthless”
  • Star of David [before a psalm]
  • “Before I formed you in the womb I knew year”
  • “Only remember and be satisfied.” [this seems to be the last of three messages from God to the son.]
  • Three tears
  • A dove [images of God’s forgiveness and of the Holy Spirit before the son’s response]
  • “We believe and we are blessed.”
  • A running figure
  • “If I ascend to heaven you are there. If I make my bed in hell you are there.” [YOU ARE THERE emphasized both times. Interesting that he is bringing the psalms into the son’s thoughts with this and the part about the womb.]
  • Crown
  • “The children the promise [??] as offspring” [couldn’t tell what that third part said, but I think it comes from “The children of the promise are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.”]
  • A key
  • A lock
  • “And I run down that aisle”
  • Musical notes
  • Regular star surrounded by circles [other stars]
  • “[??] mute or deaf or seeing or blind” [I think this is a reference to Exodus 4:11 Exodus 4:11 NIV
    [11] The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?]
  • Alpha and Omega in Greek letters
  • “The greatest of these is LOVE”
  • Heart with an infinity sign in the middle of it.
  • “Wonderful counselor, almighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace.”
  • “No!”
  • “Please” [If read clockwise, No! is first. If read left to right, please is first.]
  • Broken heart
  • “And I will make a new covenant with you.”
  • “!” [exclamation points on opposite corners of the border]
  • Crying eyes
  • ?? [Can’t tell if this is dove or flame, but I’m pretty sure it is the Holy Spirit either way]
  • “And those he predestined he also justified and those who he called he also justified and those whom he justified he also glorified [Romans 8:30]
  • “And the curtain of the temple was torn in two”
  • Clock pointing to 3:00
  • A cross and I think it says, “Here!!” across it.
  • Arrows all pointing to the middle of the image
  • A heart that says, “Give,” in the middle
  • ??satisfied by the call of others less wild.” [I think I found this reference. It’s from a song called “Wedding Dress” by Derek Webb. The phrase from the song is, “I am so easily satisfied by the call of lovers less wild.” The chorus says, “I’m a prodigal with no way home…” so I’m pretty sure this is the artist’s reference.”] [a second note is that this part about being satisfied is across the image from the part about being “satisfied” on the other side of the border.]
  • “Son you are always with me and all that is mine is yours.”
  • A flower
  • A cross in the middle of something I can quite make out
  • An image of crying eyes that says, “Tears stream down your face,” with an arrow at the bottom of the image pointing upwards and the word, “UP!”

So that takes care of the border. Now what did this artist decide to show me in the image itself?

  • A lot of triangles over the house [I wish I knew if there is a significance to the triangles over the house. A bunch of representations of the Trinity?]
  • The father’s house [It’s a fairly modern representation of a house. I’m surprised it doesn’t have a more prominent front porch.]
  • There are several people cheering
  • The father seems to be represented in motion with arms outspread and then arms around the boy
  • It almost looks like there are angel wings as part of the father’s arms.
  • The boys hair melds into the father’s beard
  • The boy is in modern clothes
  • The boy’s jeans are dirty and the bottoms are frayed.
  • I think the boy is barefoot.
  • The boy’s head is buried in the father’s chest.

What the artist has done to communicate so much through not only the main image, but also through the border is great.

It was about 17 years ago that I sat down and tried to find a father/husband in the Bible who was worth emulating. After looking at all of the men I could find, I ultimately landed on Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, and the father in this story. Since this is a parable in which the father represents you, I just focused on Joseph. But maybe I should focus on this father since it gives me an insight into you and your nature.

As I look at this story, I notice the part where Jesus says, “Not many days later.” I know this isn’t a real story–it’s a parable–but I wonder what those days between the bequeathing and the leaving would have been like. Was the money not enough for the boy? Did it not bring him the happiness he thought it would.

Ultimately, the story is about the father letting the boy go. That is one of the hardest things to do as a parent. Let them go and then wait. And sometimes we have to wait a long time.

There is a DC Talk song called “The Hard Way” that’s chorus says it all: “Some people gotta learn the hard way. I guess I’m the kind of guy that trying to find out for myself. I had to learn the hard way, Father. I’m on my knees and I’m crying for help.”

Father, for the prodigals out there, make their paths to you as straight as possible. And for the fathers (and mothers), help them to believe.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 20, 2019 in Luke, Revealed: A Storybook Bible for Grown-Ups

 

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Luke 10:25-37 – The Good Samaritan’s Perspective

19 Jan

Luke 10:25-37
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”[c]
28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant[d] walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins,[e] telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Dear God, I’m not sure if many people have ever told this story from the Samaritan’s perspective.

—

Once upon a time a Samaritan was walking down a mountain road from Jericho to Jerusalem. He was traveling home to his family in Sychar. Since most of the people on this road were Jewish, if they knew he was a Samaritan they would instantly disdain him, perhaps even calling out insults to him. The best way to survive on this road was to walk with confidence, keep to himself, and even try to come across as a little angry or intimidating.

As he walked, he overheard two men talking. He couldn’t make it all out, but he heard something about a man up the road and they were saying there was nothing they could do. Intrigued, he continued his journey, kind of keeping an eye out for what the two men had seen.

Then he saw the victim. He assumed he was a victim of a crime because he was lying between two boulders with no clothes on. He was bloody and severely injured, but the Samaritan knew someone must have done this to him because of the missing clothes. Surely, no one would have stolen the clothes after this had happened because they would have been too bloody to be desirable.

The Samaritan looked to see if there was anyone else nearby who might help the man, or at least help him help the man. But no one was there. His first thought was to pray. “Father, I don’t know if this man even has a chance of living. Please help him and show me what to do.”

He approached the man and, though he was bloody and beaten, his breathing was strong. It looked like all of his injuries were on the outside. He tried to figure out a way to help the man without touching him because touching him would mean getting bloody and being unclean for days. That would impact how he celebrated the Sabbath. Maybe he could just give the man some clothes and water and let him get himself to Jerusalem. No, the man to too beaten for that. The Sun was too hot and he wouldn’t be able to recover enough on his own. He needed help.

It was only then, as he started to bandage and clothe the man in clothes from the Samaritan’s pack and prepare him to be put up on his donkey that it occurred to him that this man was Jewish. Would he be angry that a Samaritan Was helping him? Would he come to and be angry? Maybe he should clothe him, make him easier for someone else to stop and help, and then move on.

No, this man needed help. The Samaritan put the man on his donkey just as two other travelers walked by. He shook his head as the travelers never made eye contact and obviously went out of their way to ignore him. Then they started to Jerusalem. Luckily for the Samaritan, that was his destination, and, at this point, it was closer than Jericho.

When he got to Jerusalem, he went to three inns before he finally found someone who was willing to deal with both a Samaritan and a man who was nearly dead. They checked into the room and the Samaritan placed the injured man in the bed. He took off the bandages he had placed on the victim out on the road and redressed his wounds. By now, the man was coming around and talking a little, though he was very confused. The Samaritan told him to just rest. Don’t try to talk. Just rest.

They spent the night together, with the Samaritan making a makeshift mattress on the floor while the victim was in the bed. The next morning, the Samaritan had to strike a deal with the innkeeper, who himself seemed to be a good man. “Please care for this man until he is well enough to go out on his own,” he pleaded with the innkeeper. “Here is enough money to cover what it should cost, but I come through Jerusalem often so if it ends up being more, I’ll come back by and settle up with you then.”

The innkeeper agreed and took charge of the victim. With that, the Samaritan packed his things and continued his journey back home to Sychar. As he made his way through the city, he prayed, “Father, please take care of that man. Thank you for keeping him alive and for the provision of an innkeeper who would continue his care. I’m sorry for judging him and so many others like him. I’m sorry for being afraid of him and of you. Thank you for changing my heart through this experience. May my life be a prayer to you. Amen.”

—

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 19, 2019 in Luke

 

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Joseph of Nazareth

08 Dec

Matthew 1:18-25 [NLT]
18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
23
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Matthew 2:13-15 [NLT]
13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14 That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, 15 and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”

Luke 1:26-28 [NLT]
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

Luke 2 [NLT]
2 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
The Shepherds and Angels
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14
“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
Jesus Is Presented in the Temple
21 Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.
22 Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23 The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.” 24 So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
The Prophecy of Simeon
25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
29
“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,
as you have promised.
30
I have seen your salvation,
31
which you have prepared for all people.
32
He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
The Prophecy of Anna
36 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38 She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.
39 When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. 40 There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.
Jesus Speaks with the Teachers
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. 43 After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, 44 because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.
45 When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. 46 Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48 His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”
49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant.
51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.
52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

Dear God, I just love this man. Greatest man of the Bible? I’d put him in the running. Like the Heisman Trophy voting, he might not win the award (that might go to Paul or David), but he would certainly be invited to New York. Why? Because he did all of the little things that don’t show up in the box score (another sports metaphor). He sacrificed his dreams, reputation, and comfort for the call to live a simple, poor yet unbelievably important and critical life. How much of Jesus formation as a human involved watching his earthly father?

Of course, I could go through each part of the story right now, but I’m not going to. I mean, yes, he decided to do the most honorable thing he could think to do BEFORE he got an angel visit in deciding to break with Mary quietly because “he did not want to disgrace her publicly.” He takes the pregnant wife to Bethlehem (it would have been a whole lot easier to go through the census without her being pregnant). He escapes to Egypt with her on the command of an angel. He goes through losing God’s son in Jerusalem later. And no earthly reward for him is ever recorded. Just one life, submitted to you. He lived and he died and history moved on, but the dominoes he was part of knocking over changed the whole world.

So what do I expect of my life? Do I look for greatness? Do I look for importance? Do I look for wealth and comfort? Or do I simply look to you for my sustenance and daily bread? The answer is yes to all. I confess to you that I want people to think I’m great. My ego is huge and I’m sorry for that. I want to be important and get love from people. My insecurity drives me in that way. I want to not have to worry about money and purchase the things my heart desires. My greed and covetousness can be insatiable. And then there are times like this when I repent of this and just look to you for your direction and your daily bread. I remember that you are my provider and my deliverer. You give me what I need and what I need to have to be the most effective part of your plan that I can be.

Father, I would not get invited to New York for the Heisman ceremony like Joseph would, and that’s okay. In fact, it is probably better for me to live the smallest life I can because my ego has a hard time handling any widespread acknowledgment or acclaim. So do with me what you need to do. Use my life to knock over at least one domino in your plan so that your kingdom will come and your will will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

[As a P.S. to anyone who might be reading this, here is a link to one of my favorite Christmas songs. It is about Joseph and what it must have been like for him. It’s called “Strange Way to Save the World” and it’s sung by 4Him,]

 
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Posted by on December 8, 2018 in Luke, Matthew, Uncategorized

 

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Peter & John — Luke 24:8-12

13 Nov

Luke 24:8-12 NASB
[8] And they remembered His words, [9] and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. [10] Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles. [11] But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them. [12] But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.

Dear God, this time must have still been so foggy for Peter and the rest of the disciples. In this telling of the story, the others don’t believe so Peter goes alone. In another telling, Peter and John both go. Either way, there are no examples of the story where they all go. Maybe they were afraid of being caught. And maybe it would have been bad for all 11 of them to be seen at an empty tomb.

Now that I think about it, it was a brave thing for Peter and John to come out of hiding and go to the tomb. I wonder if Peter’s regret from Friday had grown into determination on Sunday. He was still in the fog and trying to make sense of everything that was happening to himself. I’m sure he was trying to think back and remember everything Jesus had said that Peter didn’t understand at the time. Could this really be true?

Father, help me to know and understand from moment to moment the things that you need me to know and understand. And for those things that knowing and understanding would hold me back and keep me from pursuing you and found your work, keep me intentionally ignorant and give me peace in that ignorance.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on November 13, 2018 in Luke, Peter and John

 

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Peter & John — Luke 22:54-62

12 Nov

Luke 22:54-62 NASB
[54] Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance. [55] After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. [56] And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” [57] But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” [58] A little later, another saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” [59] After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” [60] But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. [61] The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” [62] And he went out and wept bitterly.

Dear God, I wonder what it would be like to have my biggest (or at least one of my biggest failures) recorded multiple times for all time. Poor Peter. I am grateful here for his example. I’ve always like Peter more than Paul because his weaknesses are on full display, as opposed to Paul who never seems to make any mistakes after his conversion.

One thing I have to be willing to do is show my weaknesses and let others see my mistakes. I am not any good to others when they aren’t able to see what I do wrong, where I am weak, and when I suffer. And it has to be in real time. It can’t always be examples from the past that I’ve cleaned up now, but I have to let people know who I am and my weaknesses in the moment. At the same time, I need to also show them how you are helping me to work through my weaknesses and challenges. I should be sharing from the perspective of having a pity party for myself, but as an encouragement to others.

Father, teach me to love. That includes being a humble example for others so that they might be encouraged in their journey. I don’t want people to feel judged by me, but to feel your grace, love, and acceptance through me. Do all of this, Lord, for your glory.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on November 12, 2018 in Luke, Peter and John

 

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