The Empty Tomb

Luke 24:1-12

The empty tomb is a question for each of us. Will we believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, thus fulfilling all of God's promises and demonstrating the victory over death, darkness and the forces of evil? Or will the empty tomb signify doubt, skepticism and leave us with unanswered questions?

The women who came to the tomb on that first Easter morning faced their own choice. They arrived to further prepare Jesus' body for burial. They came to offer him one last humble act of service and love. They find the tomb empty and two angles who ask them:

Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Luke 24:5

The women then remembered Jesus' words about his death and resurrection and went back and told the disciples everything. The women make the choice to believe and to tell the story. The disciples reacted differently: "but these words seemed like an idle tale, and they did not believe them." (Luke 24:11) They did not believe it was true. They chose to harden their hearts to what God was doing and it kept them from remembering what Jesus had told them and from seeing what was happening.

Easter asks each of us a question: who do you say that Jesus is? With eyes of faith we can see that Jesus is the Son of God and the savior of the world. When are hearts are hardened and closed we cannot see. Jesus made his choice; to go to the cross for all of humanity. What will your choice be?

On the Sabbath

Luke 23:47-56

On the sabbath they rested according to the commandments. Luke 23:56

I have often wondered what the followers of Jesus were thinking and feeling after Jesus' death. It was nearly two full days between Jesus' death and the discovery of the empty tomb.  The scriptures say they rested on the sabbath. What was that like? Did they offer praise and thanks to God that day? Did they see the events that led to Jesus' death as part of God's work? Did they still believe he was the one? Did they share their questions and fears with one another or remain silent? What did they think would happen next?

Even after the death of Jesus, the followers of Jesus remained faithful to God. They may not have had answers or understood what God was doing, but they observed the sabbath and were faithful. In the midst of the trials and difficulties of life may we have the strength to remain faithful to God who is always faithful to us.

A Perversion of Justice

Luke 22:54-23:46

Jesus is betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, and handed over to the religious leaders. Everything about Jesus infuriated the leaders. He was popular among the people in ways they never could be. He taught with authority that was astounding as he proclaimed the kingdom of God. He healed people, performed miracles, fed the hungry, and fulfilled all the promises of the messiah. The chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees hated Jesus and finally had their chance to kill him. As they brought Jesus to be questioned they asked him: "are you then, the Son of God?" to which Jesus replied "you say that I am." (Luke 22:70) This was enough testimony for the religious leaders to condemn Jesus. He does not admit anything nor deny anything. He has not incited riots nor disturbed the peace. Yet, at this point his fate is sealed. The leaders have committed themselves to Jesus' death. They had him over to Pilate and then Herod for questioning and neither finds any cause for punishment. Yet the leaders persist in finding Jesus guilty. They stir up the crowd to ask for Barabbas' release and to crucify Jesus. Finally Pilate grew tired of debating and gave into their demands.

But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. Luke 23:23-24

It did not prove to be overly difficult to convince Pilate to condemn an innocent man to death. He went along with it and released Barabbas.  Jesus had done nothing worthy of punishment, let alone be sentenced to die. He was accused out of jealousy and spite. Pilate orders his death like it was nothing more than a minor inconvenience in his day. Jesus' death was a perversion of justice and a moral failure for all involved. Yet, Jesus remains ever faithful and ever obedient and even asks God to forgive them all. "Father forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) Indeed, they did not know what they were doing. It was they, and us, who deserve condemnation. It was they, and us, who deserve punishment and death. Yet, Jesus says nothing of our sins, nothing of our failures. He accepts the blame and takes the pain. Jesus takes our place and asks God to forgive us. We have sinned and fallen short in so many ways, yet Jesus offers us a reprieve. We can proclaim today Good Friday because of it.

Come to the Table

Luke 22:1-53

As Jesus gathers with his disciples for the last time he must have been filled with mixed emotions. He knew the time had come to go to to cross, he knew God's plan was about to be fulfilled, but he also knew this was the last time he would have with the disciples. As they gathered together Jesus offered last minute words of wisdom and instruction (see John 13-17 for the extended version). He specifically tells the disciples to remember him by celebrating what we today call holy communion.

Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”²⁰And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Luke 22:19-20

Jesus knew how difficult the life of faith would be.  For the disciples this would mean hardship, persecution,and martyrdom.  Jesus commands them and us to remember him by coming to the table. We come to the table to remember all the Jesus has done for us, we come to be fed with the bread of life, we come to be filled with the presence of Christ.  We come to the table as individuals but we leave united as God's people.  Through Christ we receive our salvation and it is at the table the we receive a tangible sign of God's amazing love and grace. 

Jesus knew we would need to come to the table. Jesus also knew that not everyone at the table was faithful, that his betrayer was also seated among the faithful.

"But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table.²²  For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!”²³Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this. Luke 22:21-23

Judas is at the table.  Jesus knows he has already betrayed him but he does not exclude him from the last supper.  This is important for us to understand. We are not required to be perfect to come to the table. We are not required to even be faithful.  Jesus allows Judas to come and receive.  This is good news for us.  We are called to the table regardless of who we are or what we have done. We are called to the table to receive God's grace and forgiveness. For the Judas in each of us, this is good news.

The Widow and the Mighty

Luke 21:1-38

In Holy Week, Jesus spent a great deal of time at the temple. He attracted large crowds as he taught about the kingdom of God and spoke out against the hypocrisy and abuses of the religious leaders. When a poor widow comes forward and places two small copper coins in the offering Jesus is moved by her faithfulness and genorosity.

Truly this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on. Luke 21:3-4

The widow's gift demonstrates a complete trust in God.  She gives everything, knowing and believing that God will meet her needs. The others who come forward may have given larger gifts but she was more generous and more trusting.  The widow is faithful and trusting giving all she has to live on, while the rich givers give only out of what they do not need. 

If all the people of Israel had been as faithful as the widow then perhaps the gloom and doom scenarios Jesus outlines afterward would seem less foreboding. Jesus speaks about the coming calamity for the temple and Jerusalem. He speaks of destruction, persecution, wars, natural disasters and more.  Much like the Old Testament prophets, these events serve as an indictment against the faithlessness of the people. Jesus also speaks of the coming of the Son of Man in an apocalptic conclusion to the world. Jesus tells us: "Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:36) May we be like the faithful widow who trusted in God's grace and knew that God would be good and merciful, despite a chaotic and unpredicable world.

Resurrection Marriage?

Luke 20:27-47

Jesus was an equal opportunity offender. He offended the Pharisees, the scribes, the chief priests, the Levites, and the Sadducees. In Jerusalem, all of these different religious groups are present and they all have urgent questions and points of debate for Jesus. The Sadducees were a group that only believed the first five books of the bible (the Torah) were authoritative. Finding no explicit reference to the resurrection in the Torah they denied it. Their question for Jesus seeks to reinforce their non-belief in the resurrection by coming up with an exaggerated example of a woman who married 7 different brothers because they all died: "therefore, whose wife will she the woman be?" (Luke 20:33) Jesus answers that in the earthly realm people are given in marriage but in the age to come this will no longer be necessary. And he adds: "Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection." (Luke 20:36)

Jesus' response illustrates the idea that in the life to come much of what we worry about will no longer matter. The issue with marriage, and being given in marriage, was directly tied to children. Having children was the point of marriage in Jesus' day, but in heaven there will be no more children born.  The resurrection does not mean that all of our human relationships are disintegrated but it does mean that the relationships will be transformed. Marriage was largely transactional in the ancient world, but in heaven all people will be children of God with no power differentials. This is a wonderful hope and beautiful vision. One to which the Sadducees had no response.

Truth and the Status Quo

Luke 20:1-26

After Jesus entered Jerusalem during the first holy week, the tension and conflict with the Pharisees and other religious leaders reached a fever pitch. Jesus continued to speak out against the abuses and hypocrisy of the leaders, and they were conspiring to kill him. Whereas, their previous interactions were heated, in Jerusalem everything is magnified. More people are hearing Jesus' message, more people are seeing the Pharisees put to shame. The interaction over his authority and paying taxes to the emperor exemplify this heightened tension.

The chief priests, scribes,and elders approach Jesus and ask: "by what authority are you doing these things? who is it that gave you this authority?" (Luke 20:4) Their question assumes that the teachings of Jesus are only legitimate if they are authorized through the religious system. Jesus was not educated by the Pharisees or scribes, he did not serve as an apprentice, nor was he given authority to speak. Yet, Jesus' teachings resonated with the people and were powerful. Jesus is authorized by God to speak, but the leaders cannot see it and will not recognize his legitimacy. They are more concerned with right order than righteousness, proper authority than the author of life, maintaining power than serving others. Jesus challenges the leaders worldview and authority and publicly shames them through his rhetorical genius. When Jesus returns their question of authority to a question about the origin of John's baptism he exposes the true heart of the leaders.

They discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” Luke 20:5-8

The leaders are more interested in saving face than engaging in a true conversation with Jesus. They would rather say nothing to his question and look foolish than actually share what they truly believe and risk alienating the people. Similarly, those who asked Jesus about paying taxes find themselves exposed: "and they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent." (Luke 20:26) It is this kind of political expediency that Jesus rebukes. By contrast, Jesus speaks the truth and is willing to face the consequences.

It is not a mistake that Jesus' journey leads him to the cross. Like the ancient prophets before him, Jesus speaks God's truth to the people. He is willing to challenge the powerful and the status quo. He is willing to speak out and face the consequences. Good Friday is the temporary victory for the forces of this world, but Easter is the ultimate vindication.

Donkey or War Horse?

Luke 19:28-48

Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Luke 19:38

As Jesus rode into town, on the day we now call Palm Sunday, he was received as a king by the Jewish people. Many had been with Jesus throughout his journey of healing, preaching, and teaching and saw in this act the fulfillment of messianic prophesy (Zech 9). God's promises were coming true! They had hoped the messiah would re-establish the rule of God, restore the reign of David, and depose all foreign invaders. The messiah would be a great leader who would rule with divine power.

Meanwhile on the other side of town, Pilate and his army come to Jerusalem for the festival of Passover. He came with warhorses, soldiers, armor, and weapons. Pilate comes to town to keep the peace through intimidation and force. The Romans were quite aware of all the Jewish customs and hopes and wanted to keep everything calm.

Jesus of course does not come as conquering hero, but as a humble servant. He came to redeem and restore God's people, but not by force or might. Jesus came to transform a nation through love of God and love of neighbor. Jesus came to town on a donkey and not a warhorse. It would have been easier to see Jesus as the messiah if he had seized earthly power; it would have improved living conditions for the Jewish people if he had expelled the Romans. But God was up to something quite different in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

It is How You Use It

Luke 19:1-27

Jesus talks quite a bit about wealth and how we can faithfully use our money. More precisely, Jesus consistently warns his followers of the difficulty of being wealthy and faithful. The story of Zacchaeus and the parable of the pounds are illustrative of Jesus' perspective. Zacchaeus is a tax collector who makes his money not only collecting taxes for the Romans, but also by adding "graft" onto the tax for his own income. Tax collectors were hated because they cheated people and were understood to be immoral. When Zacchaeus encounters Jesus he is overwhelmed by Jesus' acceptance and vows to make amends for his exploitative ways:

Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Luke 19:8

 

Zacchaeus vows to live a changed life and Jesus declares that "salvation has come to this house." The story tells us that it is not ever too late for those who live dishonestly to change. It is not ever to late to repent and receive forgiveness.

The parable of the pounds, like other parables, can be interpreted in multiple ways. The most common interpretation is to assign the role of the nobleman to either God or Jesus, and the slaves as those who receive Jesus and those who do not. In this interpretation the third slave is chastised because he did not utilize his gifts and share the message of salvation. The other slaves were able to multiply the money of the master through their effort and thus grow the estate--grow the kingdom. This interpretation encourages us to take advantage of opportunities to share God's love and not to hide our faith or be timid.

Another interpretation of this parable sees Jesus not as a character in the parable, but as one who names and unmasks the exploitative economic system of his day. The master is quite wealthy and is hated by the people because he has gotten rich at their expense. When he leaves to continue to grow his empire and employs his slaves to grow the business, he is not moved by benevolence but by greed. The slaves who multiply the money no doubt mimic the exploitative methods of their master and grow the business at the expense of the people. The third slave is a hero because he stands up to the master and names the exploitation and immorality. 

Then the other came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth,for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ Luke 19:20-21

The third slave is a whistleblower who has the courage to name the evil ways of the master. He is punished for his honesty and the master then orders that all others who oppose him will be slaughtered. The story illustrates the necessity to stand up to evil and the price that is often paid by those who speak the truth. Jesus is heading to Jerusalem and will be speaking truth to power. He will not play the religious game, he will not endorse the Roman empire, he will not back down. For this, Jesus will be treated like the third slave in the parable.

Either interpretation can be edifying for our faith. We should look for opportunities to share God's love with others, we should use all the gifts we have been given to God's work in the world. But, as people of faith we are also called to stand up against injustice and evil. The world needs people of faith who are bold and who are willing to risk.

The connection between these stories lies with the different ways that Zacchaeus and the master respond to the challenge of their wealth. Zacchaeus acknowledges his sinful ways and seeks forgiveness. The slave master doubles down on his choices and seeks to eliminate any truth tellers or opponents. There is no remorse and no transformation. For those who have power and wealth and have gained it by exploiting others, these stories frame the spiritual choice: repent and be forgiven, or continue to perpetuate evil. Let us pray for more like Zacchaeus.

One Thing Lacking

Luke 18:18-43

When Jesus heard this, he said to him "there is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."

Luke 18:22

Jesus' conversation with the rich ruler goes to the heart of what it means to be a disciple. The man wants to know "what must I do to inherit eternal life" (Luke 18:18). Jesus then turns the question back to the ten commandments as a way of telling him that he already knows what to do--he just needs to do it. By the way, if this questions sounds familiar it is the exact same question that a lawyer asked Jesus in Luke 10:25 to which he responds with the story of the Good Samaritan. In both stories, Jesus responds to the question by putting forth a prophetic and challenging word. In one case, that a Samaritan was most faithful and in this case that a rich man must sell all his possessions and give them to the poor. Both stories imply that the person who thinks they are faithful lacks one thing: either acting to help others or putting God first.

Jesus' challenge to the rich man is a first commandment challenge. The man is focused on himself--what must I do to inherit eternal life. He doesn't ask Jesus "what must I do to be faithful to God" but is only focused on the reward of eternal life. The rich man has spent his life accumulating wealth and putting wealth above all things. The challenge Jesus gives is to sell it all and then come and follow is devastating for the man. He does not know who he is without his wealth. His wealth has become his god and it is idolatrous.

Becoming a follower of Jesus requires complete obedience. We cannot put anything else before God in our lives. This is incredibly difficult for all of us, not just those who are wealthy. We can be tempted to put our family, career, or desires before God and they can become gods in our lives. No doubt, like the rich man, we will then convince ourselves that we are not making these things above God but if we are honest and look at our behavior we can see that we all have room to grow in our obedience. Putting God first is a daily decision and requires a faithful and humble heart. May God grant us the strength.

Learning to Depend

Luke 18:1-17

Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it. Luke 18:17

We are told that in order to be considered a successful adult you must be independent. Independent from our parents and not needing any assistance. In fact, the most desired state to be in is "independently wealthy" which means you have done so well at being independent that you no longer even depend on a job for money. Materially, being independent and taking care of our own needs is a good thing; we should encourage our children to work hard and seek to be self-sufficient. But, if this mentality of independence seeps into our spiritual lives we will have real trouble.

Jesus tells his disciples that anyone who wishes to enter the Kingdom of God must do so like a little child. A child of course is completely and unapologetically dependent upon his/her parents. Children depend on their parents for everything and it is only as the grow older that they begin to think about separating themselves. We must re-learn dependence on God in our lives. We must learn to trust God to take care of our needs and our difficult situations. We must acknowledge the extent to which we already completely depend on God's grace. This is not easy for adults who are independent. We would much rather only use God as divine safety net, only praying when we really need it. But God not only wants our hearts when we are in trouble, but to learn to depend and trust God in all ways.

Jesus not only uses the example of a little child as a model of faithful dependence, but a widow and a tax collector as well. The widow persistently comes to the judge seeking justice. She will not take no for an answer and truly believes she will prevail. Jesus tells this story as a way to illustrate the tenacity needed for a robust prayer life. "Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not lose heart." (Luke 18:1) He also tells the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector who go to the temple to pray. The Pharisee thanks God he is not like the lowly sinners who surround him, but that he is righteous. He depends on himself for his righteousness and not God. The tax collector bows before God and seeks forgiveness.  Jesus concludes by stating: "all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." (Luke 18:14)

Being dependent on God requires humility, it requires that we confess that we cannot do everything and we need help. What the world might call weakness, God calls strength.  We are called to humble ourselves are learn to trust God. We are called to stop trying to control everything and let God lead. We are called to pray without ceasing and believe that God hears our prayers, listens, and will creatively and powerfully respond. We are called to let God be God. So may we learn to depend and grow spiritually strong.

The Kingdom of God

Luke 17

Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed;²¹nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.” Luke 17:20-21

When the Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God was coming, they were really asking about the end of time. When would God return to bring all of creation to its end? They were talking about judgment and apocalyptic scenarios. Jesus talks about this as "the coming of the Son of Man."  He does not reject God's end time coming and judgment, but he does differentiate it from the Kingdom of God.

Jesus tells the Pharisees that the Kingdom of God is "among" or "within" you. They must have been totally confused. They were waiting for God to come back and establish God's rule on earth. Jesus is telling them that they/we have access to God's rule already--it is within us. The Kingdom of God, according to Jesus, is not something we have to wait for it is already here. When God rules our heart and lives, we begin to see and experience things differently. When God is leading my life I experience joy, peace, and hope. The Kingdom of God is already here and we can experience the fullness of God in this life.

This is a radical and life-changing idea. God will return at the end of time to bring creation to a culmination, but God is not absent from our lives today. We can experience a foretaste of the feast to come by living our lives with and for God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we can be inspired to live life God's way, faithfully serving the Lord, and loving our neighbors. God can reign in our hearts. I pray it to be so for you, me, and all people.

Concern for the Poor

Luke 16:19-31

The story of the rich man and Lazarus speaks to the heart of what it means to love our neighbor. The rich man "feasted sumptuously every day" and wore the finest clothes, while Lazarus lay at his door step starving and ill. Not only does the rich man do nothing to help Lazarus in his earthly life, but in the afterlife he still demands that Lazarus serve him. This is a clear example of Jesus setting up polar opposite to make a larger point, but it carries a prophetic word for those of us who are blessed with possessions, good health, and a comfortable lifestyle.

How do you feel about the poor? If you are honest, do you believe that they deserve their place in life? That somehow they are poor because of their own choices or lack of hard work? Or do you have compassion for the poor, believing that regardless of how they got where they are they deserve to be treated like a human being, are worthy of respect, and are loved by God? I think this is a question for us to think deeply about, and examine not only our beliefs but our actions. There is, however, no question about how Jesus feels about those who are poor and those who are rich.

 

Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Luke 6:20

Woe to you who are rich, for you have receive your consolation. Luke 6:24

God has a heart for the poor that is rarely exhibited by the world. The Lazarus' of our world are largely ignored and made invisible. In today's political climate we treat programs for the poor as disposable and refer to them as "entitlements."  I wonder what Jesus would call them? Would he think that we should cut programs that help the most vulnerable live with dignity? Would he cut funding which feeds children and single mothers?  Would he cut funding for medical care for those in poverty?

When the rich man is tormented in Hades he begs Abraham to send Lazarus to him to relieve his suffering.  When Abraham refuses to send him back, he then begs for Lazarus to be sent back to warn his brothers. "Abraham replied, 'they have Moses and the prophets: they should listen to them." (Luke 16:29) The scriptures and Jesus are quite clear about loving our neighbor and having a heart for the poor. It is not a lack of knowledge which prevents us from following God's instructions, but a lack of will. This teaching from Jesus should be convicting for all who, like me, have their basic needs met and more. And while as individuals we cannot personally eradicate poverty or hunger, we can act. We can make a difference, however small it might be. We can have a heart for Lazarus. The choice is ours.

Dishonest Wealth

Luke 16:1-18

Sometimes scripture is confusing. Parables in particular can be difficult to decipher and this parable is one which faithful followers of Jesus and even scholars have troubled over. Jesus tells the parable to the disciples (rather than the Pharisees) which is important to note because it lets us know he is in teaching mode. He tells the story of the manager of a rich man's property who is accused of dishonesty. The master tells the manager to "give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any more." (Luke 16:2) The manager then goes to the various debtors of the master and lowers their debts. This action of course will cost the master wealth, so he should be furious. But the master praises the manager for being shrewd. "And the master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their generation than are children of the light." (Luke 16:8) It would appear that the manager's actions are for the sole purpose of self-protection. He will lose his job but gain new friends with the debtors, who may offer commensurate benefits to the manager at a later time. Perhaps the master was so impressed that he will hire him back. So, what is the point of this parable? Is Jesus praising dishonesty? Or he is making some other kind of point?

It would be shocking if Jesus were endorsing the dishonest way the manager handled this situation. Jesus speaks repeatedly against those who put wealth ahead of God. (see Luke 6:24, 12:34, among many others) The interpretation of the parable in part depends on who we assign to the role of the master.  If the master is God (as we often assume) then it would seem that Jesus is endorsing dishonesty in a way which directly contradicts his teachings. But if the portrayal of the master and the manager are meant to be a description of the corrupt economic system of Jesus' day, then the parable is an indictment against greed and dishonesty. I believe this interpretation is most helpful and is validated by Jesus' statement: "No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." (Luke 16:13) The master and the manager were both focused on wealth and Jesus calls us to put God first in our lives. While, the dishonest and money obsessed may achieve some form of earthly success, they do so at the expense of their relationship with God. For those who strive to be faithful, the earthly sacrifice of material wealth will be rewarded with riches in heaven and the presence of God in their life.

The other dynamic at play in this parable comes from a field of biblical study called redactive criticism. Redactive criticism is focused on the continuity within a particular scripture passage and tries to discern whether a particular passage has been edited or added to by scribes. Some scholars would argue that the parable itself ended after verse 8 and the rest was either added later or spoken at a different time. Other scholars believe that the parable ends with verse 9. What we need to understand as readers of scripture is not only have faithful people often disagreed about the meaning of the text, but also the composition. The fact is that the scriptures were written without punctuation and without header titles or verse numbers. The work of scholars sometimes requires them to make interpretations of when a passage might start and end. In most cases this is not a difficult decision and does not affect the meaning of the text. In this parable it does matter and there historically has been spirited debate which remains unsettled. Ultimately, the interpretation of scripture requires each individual believer and community to discern the meaning of the text. The Holy Spirit is our guide and will help us see when our limited human skills are inconclusive.

Lost and Found

Luke 15

There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7

What does it mean to be lost?  Last summer as I was visiting my parents I went running in the woods on an unmarked logging trail. As I went deeper and deeper into the woods, the inevitable happened...I began to lose my bearings and became more and more lost. It is a scary and helpless feeling to be lost; when you don't know which way to go or how to get out. You cannot get yourself un-lost, someone needs to rescue you. I eventually found my way out the woods that day, but there are many people who are spiritually lost who cannot find their way. 

To be found implies that a person needs help to get un-lost. If you find your own way out you do not need to be found, but needed more time. Spiritually, many of us prefer to find our own way out. Self-help books and a culture which glorifies personal independence lead us to believe that needing help is a sign of weakness. But our self-reliance is an illusion which leads us away from God's loving grace. We think we can do it on our own. We think we do not need God. What makes the prodigal son such an endearing story is that it exemplifies an absolute dependence on God's mercy. The son has no illusion about his situation. He has no hope but the mercy of his father. The older son however cannot see his father's graciousness, he only sees what he perceives as fairness; he only sees himself and what he feels he deserves. The older son is deluded and lost and cannot see that he too is completely dependent on his father's grace.

The truth is we are all lost without God. Some of us can just see this more clearly.

The Cost of Being a Disciple

Luke 14:25-35

Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26

Seriously? Does Jesus really mean that?

Do we really have to hate our family in order to follow Jesus? Or is this some kind of hyperbole that while not literally true points to a deeper meaning? I suppose I am inclined to believe that Jesus does not really require us to hate our family in order to follow him. But his strong statements about following due imply that there is a cost to being a disciple. So many of us want everything in life to come without a cost. We want to be perfectly successful in our career and have a strong home life. We want to be economically content but have time with our children. We want to be close to God but are unwilling to sacrifice anything to make the time. We want pleasure without pain and life does not really work that way. Anything worth living for is worth sacrificing and suffering for. Are we willing?

Many people cannot differentiate between priorities and in the end accomplish little. There is a cost in saying "yes" to anything. A true "yes" in life means that a priority is established and may require a "no" in another part of my life. If you cannot say "no" you cannot say "yes." Jesus is telling his would be followers to think about what a "yes" to him will imply and what the cost could be. He is telling his followers that they cannot be "part time" disciples, but must be willing to go all the way.

If you are signing on to following Jesus be prepared to go where Jesus calls you to go and to make serious time commitments for serving others and loving others. Following Jesus is not one among many things on our list, it is the center and top priority. To be a disciple is a serious choice and one which will transform your life.

Humble Thyself

Luke 14:1-24

When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. Luke 14:7

There is a fine balance between having a healthy self-esteem and being full of oneself. Many people go through life being told and feeling that they are inferior. Feeling this way distorts the God-given reality of who we are as children of God, beautifully made and with gifts to offer the world. For those who see themselves as less-than, what is needed is to continually be reminded  how much they have to offer. The reverse is also a distortion. When a person feels they are superior to others and no longer can see their faults, they have a false understanding of self. To be faithful we need both healthy self-esteem and healthy humility. We need see ourselves as children of God and worthy of the divine inheritance we share through Jesus Christ. We also need to see that others are children of God are deserving of respect and honor.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem

Luke 13:18-34

Jerusalem was and is the center of the world for the Jewish people. It is the holy city, the city of David, and the location of the temple. When Jesus speaks of Jerusalem he is speaking not only of the city, but all it represents. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus repeatedly is characterized as being on "his way to Jerusalem." (Luke 13:22) Jesus' journey will lead him to Jerusalem where he will fulfill all of God's plan. Everything has been leading up to Jerusalem and will culminate there.

When Jesus talks about Jerusalem it also represents the Jewish people and specifically those who have not accepted him as messiah. Jesus laments the rejection of the Jewish people and cares deeply for them. He came to usher in the Kingdom of God for all people; for the Jewish people and Gentiles. It broke Jesus' heart that not everyone received him as Lord. Jesus is not indifferent to those who reject him but heartbroken.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Luke 13:34

At some level Jesus knows that he will be rejected and killed in Jerusalem because people will turn against him. But Jesus is devastated by this rejection. He compares his love for the people as a hen caring for her brood, covering them up and protecting them. Jesus loves all people because God loves all people. God's deepest desire is to call all people to Godself, bringing redemption and wholeness to a broken world. But God does not force it. God will not make people believe or be faithful. The choice is always ours to make. When we reject God, it is heartbreaking for God.

Patience

Luke 13:1-17

Are you a patient person?

It is sometimes very easy to become impatient in life, particularly when we have things to accomplish. Jesus of course was trying to accomplish very big things. He was proclaiming the Kingdom of God, healing people, feeding people, giving hope, and changing lives. Yet, at nearly every turn Jesus faced resistance. The Pharisees and religious leaders resisted Jesus' teachings. The disciples were often slow to understand. The crowds were fickle. Jesus showed incredible patience in his ministry and just kept at it.

 

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.⁷So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’⁸He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it.⁹If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:6-9

Jesus was dealing with many people who had been watered, cared for, and cultivated by God for years who bore no fruit. People did not receive Jesus' message because he broke the rules, because he did not have the right schooling, because he hung out with sinners, because he was disrespectful. Others perhaps did not reject Jesus outright but nonetheless had hard hearts and did not receive. The parable suggests that Jesus offers us more time when we deserve to be cut off. After three years the tree should have bore fruit, but rather than giving up on it the farmer decides to give it extra time and manure.

God's response to our resistance is more love. God's patience with us is amazing because we do not often bear the good fruit we were designed to produce. God might be frustrated with the lack of love we display, lack of progress in our faith, or resistance to following, but praise be to God we worship a patient and loving God. Let's us be patient with one another.

Jesus is Lord

Luke 12:35-59

Jesus does not fit into easy categories. Jesus is a healer, comforter, teacher, friend, and savior. He also challenges us, calls us to repentance, and at times scares the daylight out of us. It is no longer happy, loving Jesus when he says things like: "that slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating." (Luke 12:47) A severe beating for not being obedient and ready. What do we do with this? How do we reconcile a loving and gracious Lord with these kinds of statements? Some people choose to ignore the apocalyptic and final judgment Jesus. They simply focus on God's grace and assume that all people will go to heaven. I cannot take scripture so lightly when Jesus speaks relatively clearly about the consequences of rejecting God.
Jesus is Lord. This was the first creedal statement of the early church. Jesus is Lord means that he is in charge and we are not. Jesus gets to decide who is in and who is out. Our faith teaches us that through Christ's death and resurrection we have the promise of eternal life. This promise is real, it is true, and can be trusted. But, outside of the promise...we should approach these topics with fear and trembling. It is God's business to decide the eternal fate of each person. Through faith and by the grace of God we can be assured of our salvation. But I cannot so easily dismiss the tough teachings in scripture which imply dire consequences for those who reject God. Jesus' message for us is to be ready. Be ready to stand before the Lord. Be ready to decide whether you stand with or against God. This Jesus makes me nervous and reminds me that following Christ is of cosmic importance and not simply a life-style improvement decision. Jesus is Lord and the Lord is in charge.

The Last Place of Conversion

Luke 12:22-34

Where do you place your trust? Do you trust yourself more than anyone? Is there anyone you are completely dependent on?

I have heard it said that the wallet is the last place of conversion for a Christian. In my experience as a pastor, I have known this to be true in some cases. People who are otherwise faithful in serving others, developing a devotional life, etc. are just not able to become generous givers. I have seen this. But far more frequently, the inability to be a generous giver is more broadly linked to a fundamental lack of trust in God. I would like to suggest that the wallet may be the first place of conversion. Without trusting God financially, we are really just trusting ourselves.

Jesus offers insight into the nature of trusting God when he links anxiety about our material needs to a lack of trust. "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing." (Luke 12:22-23) Many of us spend a great deal of time worrying about whether will be able to provide for the needs of ourselves and our families. We worry about our finances, our future, our health, our children, and many other important issues of life. In fact this anxiety can become so prevalent that it inhibits our ability to function effectively.

Anxiety at a spiritual level is the opposite of trust. If we truly believed God would provide for our needs, if we truly trusted that God will continue to bless us, then what is there to worry about? Worry is connected to a deep need to be in control. We want to control the outcomes, we want to control our future. In reality, there is very little that we actually control in life. We cannot protect our children from all harm. We cannot prevent a financial crisis or world events or whether or not we get sick. Most of what we worry about is beyond our control and yet we literally worry ourselves sick. Jesus sums it up nicely: "And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?" (Luke 12:25)

The spiritual antidote to anxiety is trust and trust is based upon our depending on God. One of the most effective ways to build trust in God is to become a generous person. If I give my money away generously then I have less for myself. If I give in a sacrificial way (the bible talks about 10%) then by saying "yes" to God by being generous, I must say "no" to some of the things I want. I can no longer strive for the empty high of material possessions but must learn to be content with what I have. Being generous requires that I trust that God will continue to provide for my needs and actually produces trust and contentment. A generous person then begins to function out of a mentality of abundance, believing that God has and will bless our lives. Instead, if I believe that I must only depend on myself, I will hold back and not be generous. Holding back produces anxiety because a person is operating out of a mentality of scarcity.

Generous financial giving is a spiritual issue. How we spend our money is directly connected to our relationship with God. Jesus understood this in his day and it remains true today. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12:34) Where is your treasure? Do you trust God enough to be generous?

Masking Agents

Luke 12:1-21

You can't keep your true self hidden forever; before long you'll be exposed. You can't hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known. Luke 12:2

Jesus offers these words of advice to his followers, specifically cautioning them against the "yeast of the Pharisees." Essentially he tells them, and us, not to fall for the lie of self-righteousness. The Pharisees try to look good in public, always standing up for what is right, but in reality they do not love God or neighbor. Jesus calls this (with help of Eugene Peterson) a "religious mask" which is worn to hide one's true self. For Jesus this is tremendously damaging. Yet, don't we all wear a mask? Don't we all hide behind pretense and image in order not to have our true feelings or selves revealed?

Very few of us live life as a completely open book. It can be too painful to open ourselves up to be judged. So, we sometimes put on what I like to call our "church face." Church face is when we pretend we are OK when we aren't. When we mask over the problems in our personal or family life in order to protect our image of ourselves. We all do it and to a certain extent it is harmless. We can't be completely emotionally vulnerable all the time. We would cease to function.

The problem comes when we no longer know we are still wearing a mask or when the mask never comes off. Sometimes the most seductive lies are the ones we tell ourselves. We can convince ourselves, justify ourselves, for any number of things. We can pretend and hide, eluding others and deluding ourselves. But God cannot be fooled. God cannot be tricked. Your mask will not work with God. And as long as we are wearing our masks God cannot get into our hearts. It is when we are open and vulnerable that God's love brings healing and restoration. When we let our guard down, God's love and grace surround us. The mask-wearer in all of us secretly believes that if we remove our mask and reveal who we really are, we will be rejected. But God's love for us is not based on what we have done or who we have been. God's love for us is a gift of grace given through Jesus Christ. We are not judged. We are not condemned. We can be ourselves and be accepted and loved by God. This is good news for us; it is liberation. We can remove our masks with God and over time learn to remove our masks with each other. We can begin to trust and believe that we can be accepted and loved by others for who we really are.

The Angry Jesus

Luke 11:37-54

When I try to visualize the type of person Jesus would be I typically imagine a loving, accepting, generous and kind person. I do not think of the someone who is aggressive and angry. Yet, this is part of who Jesus is too. Jesus got angry; he raised his voice; he made enemies. At every turn during Jesus' ministry the Pharisees, scribes, and religious leaders were there to offer their critique and judgment. They were his nemesis, trying to undercut his message and eventually seek ways to turn him over to the Romans. Eventually Jesus has enough and lets loose a barrage of vitriol that is prophetic, unexpected, and shocking.

Jesus is invited for dinner at a Pharisee's house and when he is judged for not washing his hands properly, he finally loses it.

“Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.⁴⁰You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?⁴¹So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you.⁴²“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others.⁴³Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces.⁴⁴Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it.” Luke 11:39-44

Jesus calls the religious leaders of his day: greedy, hypocrites, spiritually superficial, and spiritually dead. He calls them out and names all the ways in which they are full of wickedness and evil. Jesus is not comforting he is confronting; he is not merciful but merciless; he is not gracious and forgiving but incredibly harsh.  How do we feel about this Jesus? Can we handle a Jesus who gets angry and calls people out? Or do we prefer a cuddly Jesus who brings comfort and placates us? Of course it is not an either/or proposition. Jesus offers both love, mercy, and forgiveness AND challenge, confrontation, and truth.

Jesus does not get angry without reason. His anger is righteous and directed specifically at those in power who are not faithful to God. Jesus' anger is for those who abuse others, pretend to be something they aren't, and those who exploit and oppress. These are things worth getting angry about! These are things worth fighting against. The question for each of us is: what makes you angry? Is it trivial an inconsequential things (traffic, inconvenience, etc) or injustice? Jesus gets angry about things that matter and works to make a difference. We are called to do the same.

The Power of Jesus

Luke 11:14-36

A large portion of Jesus' earthly ministry was spent casting out demons and dealing with the dark side of life. To be demon-possessed means that you no longer control yourself or your choices. While today we do not typically talk about being possessed by demons in the same way of Jesus' time, I do believe this phenomenon does exist. Today we might use the language of mental health to discuss the forces which hold people captive and keep them from being themselves. Whether we are discussing the reality of addiction or mental illness, there are people whose lives are beyond their own control who need healing and transformation.

Jesus consistently has a heart for these people and casts out their demons and brings restoration to their lives. The power to cast out demons both attracted new followers for Jesus and raised fears about exactly who Jesus was and where he got his power. As Jesus healed a man from a demon which was keeping him mute, he was accused of possessing evil and dark powers: "he casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of demons. others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven." (Luke 11:15-16)  Some people believed in Jesus because he could cast out demons and others were fearful because he could cast out demons. Jesus' response is simply that the power of the Kingdom of God is much stronger than the powers of darkness and magic. "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder." (Luke 11:21-22) Jesus is the strong man and has the power to overwhelm the demonic powers because God is stronger than Satan, good is more powerful than evil, life is stronger than death. The power of Jesus, the power to heal and redeem, is awe inspiring and deserving of respect. But the power of Jesus will be triumphant over all earthly powers because it is derived from God and God's power will be victorious. The powers of darkness may achieve temporary victories in the earthly realm, but Jesus' ministry of healing tells us that God is more powerful and his death and resurrection provide us hope that in the end darkness and evil will be defeated.

Persistent Prayer

Luke 11:1-13

When Jesus teaches the disciples the Lord's prayer he not only instructs with words they should pray with, but the manner and spirit of prayer. Jesus tells them that to: "ask, it will be given you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you." (Luke 11:9) We need to be dogged and persistent in our prayers, knowing that God who loves us will not ignore our cries. We cannot become discouraged when our prayers do not seem to be answered, but keep praying in hope and faith and allow God to hear your voice.

Prayer is essential to the life of faith because it connects us to God in such a direct and intimate way. Our relationship with God is cultivated through a life of prayer. God wants to hear from us when we struggle and when we are filled with joy. Our prayers do not always get answered with the outcome we want, but they are heard by the God who loves us. When we pray our hearts are connected to God in a powerful way, we place our trust and hope in God's saving power. God will not disappoint or ignore our cries. As Jesus reminds us: "If you then who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father, give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" (Luke 11:13) So keep praying and trusting that God hears your prayers.

Mary or Martha?

Luke 10:38-42

Are you a Mary or a Martha?

When Jesus came to town, sisters Mary and Martha invited Jesus over for dinner. As Martha busily prepared dinner and did all the kitchen work, Mary soaked up all of Jesus' teachings: "Mary sat before the master, hanging on every word he said" (Luke 10:39) Martha become angry that Mary wasn't helping her and asked Jesus to tell her to help. But Jesus rebukes Martha saying: "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it--it's the main course, and it won't be taken from her." (Luke 10:41-42)

So are you a Mary or a Martha?

Do you find yourself, like Martha, busy running around taking care of everything for everyone? Do you feel you don't have time for yourself because you are always taking care of others? There are many wonderful and commendable things about the Marthas of the world. They serve others, multi-task, balance home and work, raise children, and run around constantly. The thing they do not have is time and space to breathe. Jesus tells Martha she needs to learn to slow down and experience the God moments in life. Marthas need to realize they will never ever complete their to-do list. There will always be work to do. But, if we become so consumed with our doing we lose our sense of being. Mary gets this and soaks up the moment.

We would all do well to help the Marthas in our life slow down by telling them to rest and helping them. Give your spouse a night off from whatever household chores and duties they perform. Give yourself a true sabbath day and do not feel guilty! If we do not take time for God, time will pass us by. If we do not make time for God moments or enjoy them when they present themselves, we will lose ourselves.  I pray we can all balance our Martha-like tendencies with some Mary time.

Who is My Neighbor?

Luke 10:25-37

 

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "and who is my neighbor?" Luke 10:29

The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the most well known stories in the bible. It is inspirational because it calls us to each look after the needs of those who are hurting. Jesus uses the story to make the point that we need to love not only those who are like us and believe what we believe, but we are to love all people, even our enemies. The Samaritans and the Jewish people were mortal enemies so when Jesus makes a Samaritan the hero of the story it would have been shocking for people. The underlying ethic is that we are to love all people, regardless of who they are. This is a powerful and relatively simple lesson. But like many of Jesus' teachings, just because something is simple does not make it easy to follow.

Understanding the context of this story is just as important as the story itself. A pharisee, or lawyer, was trying to test Jesus' knowledge of the bible and asked him: "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 10:25) He asks this question not because he doesn't know the answer, but because of the ongoing tension and hostility between Jesus and the religious leaders. Jesus turns his question around and asks the lawyer to tell him the key teaching of the law. The lawyer responds with love God and love neighbor, to which Jesus responds: "do this and you will live." (Luke 10:28) Simply reading this exchange loses some of the power that must have been present in this moment.  The lawyer got up and was trying to publicly shame Jesus, but instead got a verbal smackdown. He ended up looking rather foolish compared to Jesus. But rather than conceding rhetorical defeat the lawyer, wanting to justify himself, asks who is my neighbor? It is this inclination, of self-justification, and this question that get to the heart of the parable of the Good Samaritan.

The concept of love all people because all people are our neighbor is very simple to understand, but rarely lived out. We often make excuses for not helping or simply turn a blind eye to the hurting neighbors that surround us. Rather than love others, we seek to justify ourselves. We often blame those in poverty or addiction or oppression for their situation rather than helping. We congratulate ourselves for being faithful to God but we neglect the needs of others. Jesus' words to the lawyer are challenging because they cut to the heart of human nature: we are much more interested in ourselves than anyone else. The priest and the levite walk past because it would be ritually unclean to touch a dead body or contact blood. They can't help because they have more important things to do! Jesus' message is that nothing is more important than loving others. Nothing is more essential than helping those in need. Loving God requires loving others. We are all like the priest and the levite, convincing ourselves, justifying our behavior, that we have done all that we can and that someone else should help.

The parable of the Good Samaritan is not a feel good story of someone who does the right thing. It is an indictment against our sinful and selfish human nature. Jesus is calling us out. Will we repent and seek a more faithful way forward or will we seek to justify ourselves? Or perhaps we will do both.

Sheep Amidst Wolves

Luke 10:1-24

Part of Jesus' ministry is sending his disciples out into the world to try their hand and healing the sick, proclaiming the word, and healing demons. No doubt Jesus sends them out before they feel ready or prepared, but he sends them out saying: "see, I am sending you out likes lambs into the midst of wolves." (Luke 10:3) Much like he had done with the 12 apostles, Jesus sends 70 followers into the world without money, food, clothing, and other provisions. He sends them out knowing full well that in many cases they will be treated harshly or rejected. Like lambs sent to the wolves. Does Jesus intentionally send us out into a hostile world knowing that some of us are going to be prey? Or is there something about being a lamb sent into the world that is important?

I will never forget my first week of being a pastor. I was fresh from seminary, full of energy and idealism and of course naive. I was called as an associate pastor of a large church that was just entering the public phase of a 7 million dollar relocation campaign. I sat in on over a dozen meetings that first week with all sorts of movers and shakers from the congregation. I had no idea who anyone was, the nature and history of conflict n the congregation, or what their agendas were. I was a lamb in the midst of wolves, and I, like all new pastors, got beat up in my first call. Would it have been better for me to know everything and be more cautious, studying the self-interests of each person? Perhaps I could have been more effective if I had been less naive, perhaps I would handle a few situations differently now, but the wisdom of Jesus sending us out before we are ready, is it forces us to rely upon God and not our worldly wisdom and personal strengths. I quickly learned in my first call that serving a church was very hard and that I needed divine assistance to survive. I was a lamb sent amidst the wolves who survived by trusting God and believing that even when rejected, I can grow in faith and obedience to Christ.

I believe sometimes our worldly caution and fear keep us from taking necessary risks. Sure there are wolves in the world, and we can and will be get hurt, but God will also help us learn and grow from our hardship. Plus, if we waited until we were ready to go out into the world no one would ever go!

No Lukewarm Followers Need Apply

Luke 9:49-62

On of the most thought provoking and interesting movies of the past 15 years was Fight Club, which depicts a group of men who band together to beat each other up. Strange? Yes. But one particular scene comes to mind when considering Jesus' challenging words to his would be followers. In the movie, before any new recruit is admitted into the house where the fight club is held, they must stand outside for days while members of the club periodically come outside to insult the person mercilessly. Since the whole concept behind the fight club is rather juvenile, we may miss the power behind such initiation rituals.

For the fight club or any other intense group of people, the order and confidence of the group can only be maintained when deep dedication is present. At this point in Jesus' ministry, he and his disciples have been proclaiming the word, healing, and traveling the country repeatedly. There would have been opportunities for people to "sign on" to team Jesus for some time. So now that Jesus has become more popular more people want to join the movement. Jesus however is not interested in gathering huge numbers of lukewarm followers, rather, his goal is to bring God's kingdom into the world, and he needs fully dedicated disciples. His words are harsh and difficult:

 

To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”⁶⁰But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”Luke 9:59-60

 







Let the dead bury the dead is tremendously harsh and difficult and certainly undercuts the "family values" that so many Christians attribute to Jesus. Make no mistake, following Jesus is challenging and requires us to sacrifice and suffer on his behalf. Jesus knows that Satan will pounce on our point of weakness and challenges us there. If our families, our jobs, our earthly plans, our selfish ambitions, or our fear prevent us from being faithful, Jesus will challenge us to grow there. Following Jesus requires all of who we are; it requires us to truly put God first and submit our lives to God. We cannot be lukewarm.

What are you holding back? Where is Jesus challenging you?

Stumbling and Bumbling Faith

Luke 9:37-48

But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying. Luke 9:45

The disciples had just been to the mountaintop, they had heard God's voice; Peter confessed Jesus as the messiah, they were truly understanding what God was up to in Jesus....then they come down....hard. The disciples do not always get it right, they are not always the perfect model of faithfulness; they often stumble and bumble their way through. It is easy to sit back and read the scriptures and see their imperfect faith and criticize. But the fact is that their stumbling actually is quite hopeful for us. Because Jesus did not give up on them and continued to encourage them in their process of discipleship, we know there is hope for us too.

When Jesus and the disciples first come down the mountain they are met by a man whose son was possessed by a spirit that convulsed him uncontrollably. The disciples apparently tried to cast out the spirit and failed. Jesus then reprimands them: "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with and bear with you?" (Luke 9:41) He then casts out the spirit. Next, Jesus explains for a second time (cf. Luke 9:21-22) how the Son of Man will suffer and be betrayed. This too was beyond their understanding as the scriptures say "the meaning was concealed from them" (Luke 9:45). Finally, the disciples complete fall from grace was completed by an argument between them over who was the greatest disciple. Jesus must have felt totally exasperated! The disciples completely forgot everything he had been teaching them! These same disciples who got everything right on top of the mountain get everything wrong on level ground.

These stories teach us that being a disciple is a long process of peaks and valleys. We will have our moments when things click together and we understand and follow, while other moments we will revert to our very human natures and stumble. The good news about the life of faith is that God will work through us even though we are sometimes thick-headed about our faith. God works through ordinary people to do extraordinary things. God works through our imperfect lives to bring health, wholeness, and redemption into the world.  We will occasionally fall short and mess up, but God will continue to be faithful to us even when we are not.

Who Do You Say I Am?

Luke 9:18-36

As the ministry of Jesus continues, the subject of his identity becomes more and more pressing for his followers and his opponents. The disciples and other followers of Jesus had a front row seat to the everyday miracles that Jesus performed. Furthermore, many of them had decided to follow Jesus believing that he may be the messiah they were waiting for. Jesus opponents witnessed many of these same events, but instead of becoming his followers they became more and more convinced that Jesus needed to be stopped. The life and ministry of Jesus confronts us all with the question: who is Jesus?

When Jesus poses the question to the disciples: "who do the crowds say that I am?" (Luke 9:18) they offer the rumors and speculations they must have heard throughout their journeys: John the Baptist, Elijah, a resurrected prophet, etc. But then, Jesus turns the question to the disciples personally and asks: "who do you say that I am?" (Luke 9:20) Peter answers correctly that Jesus is the messiah. It must have been a proud moment for Jesus! His disciples were beginning to truly understand what God was up to.

With this foundational knowledge, Jesus then proceeds to share the next stage of their development: a life of self-denial and sacrifice.

If any want to be my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.  Luke 9:23-24

 

Now that the disciples began to understand who Jesus is, they needed to more deeply comprehend what following him would really entail. For the disciples and us, following Jesus will not involve worldly benefits like riches and power. It will not involve a comfy cozy bourgeois lifestyle in the suburbs; no following Jesus means we must die to self and rise to Christ daily. We must be willing to put our own agendas and sinful desires in their rightful place, and put God's vision for our life first. This is tremendously difficult and many Christians have attempted to soften Jesus' words, thinking that self-denial and taking up one's cross are only metaphorical. For me, I believe the life of discipleship is tremendously challenging and rewarding. In some key decisions in my life and ministry I have had to deal with this call of discipleship. When I have humbly stepped back from what I wanted or was convinced was right and trusted God to lead, things went much better. When I insist on going my own way it has been an uphill battle. The key in Jesus' teaching here is the word "daily." We must daily, by the grace of God, deny ourselves and seek God's will. It is not easy, and the disciples failed many times, but it is a beautiful way of life.

The question of Jesus' identity remains one we each must answer, a question that no one can answer for us. So, who do you say Jesus is?
The second question becomes: what difference does it make for you? How will you live your life in response to who Jesus is?