 Prepare to Listen. The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
Prayerfully Read Luke 20:27-40 27Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him 28and asked him a question, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; 30then the second 31and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32Finally the woman also died. 33In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.’ 34Jesus said to them, ‘Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; 35but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36Indeed they cannot die any more, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.’ 39Then some of the scribes answered, ‘Teacher, you have spoken well.’ 40For they no longer dared to ask him another question. Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect This is the only time Jesus taught about the resurrection of all people. What surprised/confused you about it? Sadducees were from the wealthy priestly class. They controlled the temple, and only accepted the five books of Moses as Scripture. Since Moses, they maintained, never mentioned the resurrection, they didn’t believe in it. My childhood Bible teacher loved to say that was why they were sad, you see! Arguing about the resurrection, using clever what if problems like this one, was common. For once Jesus answered the question with two reasons why they were wrong. First, resurrection life isn’t like present life. People become, like angels, immortal, therefore it’s unnecessary to marry and have children. His second reason came from the only Scripture Sadducees accepted. They knew the story of the burning bush when God told Moses he was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Ex. 3:6). God is the God of the living, not the dead, therefore the three patriarchs are alive and in God’s presence, waiting with all creation, the final resurrection. Some scribes commended Jesus. However, writes Luke, “they no longer dared to ask him another question.” His critics were silenced, but they still looked for a reason to kill him. Jesus’ teaching affirms that our primary hope is the resurrection, but he doesn’t explain what happens between death and resurrection. We live with not knowing and thus must live with trust. How might Jesus’ teaching encourage/discourage you? Prayerfully Respond Lord, you leave so many questions unanswered about life after death and the resurrection. Help me walk by faith, not by sight. Amen. Live obediently. Trust God for present and future life.
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 Prepare to Listen. The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
Prayerfully Read Luke 20:1-8 One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders 2and said to him, ‘Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?’ 3He answered them, ‘I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: 4Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ 5They discussed it with one another, saying, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say, “Why did you not believe him?” 6But if we say, “Of human origin”, all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.’ 7So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8Then Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’ Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect The story begins with Jesus “telling the good news” to lay people. It ends with him saying to clergy, “Neither will I tell you.” Why do you think lay people accepted his teaching and authority when their leaders didn’t? The Jewish clergy, the chief priests, scribes and elders were rattled. Jesus, ignoring their authority and rights, took over the Temple, first to drive out legitimate traders and then to tell the good news to the people who gathered around him. In their minds what he did to the traders was bad; what he taught the people, the good news that the old was about to be replaced with the new, was worse. It conflicted with what they taught the people. And that’s why the rulers were mad and demanded that Jesus reveal his authority. It was a legitimate request. They were charged with ensuring that the truth was taught, and people weren’t being led astray. It’s what good religious leaders do. Before inviting someone to preach, they check the guest preacher’s credentials. Jesus ignored their right to an answer and responded with his own question about the authority of John. He wasn’t being evasive. He was testing their willingness to hear the truth. If they weren’t open to the truth, then no answer would satisfy them. They weren’t open and evaded Jesus’ question by claiming not to know. What they really meant was, ‘We dare not say.’ And that’s when Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you.” They didn’t want the truth, dared not speak the truth and Jesus refused to tell it to them. He was willing to tell the good news, the truth to the people, but not to his questioners. What challenged you about this story and why? Prayerfully Respond Lord, don’t ever let me get so closed that you’d have to say, Neither will I tell you. Amen. Live obediently. Be open to hear Jesus’ truth.  Prepare to Listen. The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
Prayerfully Read Luke 19:45-48 45Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; 46and he said, ‘It is written, “My house shall be a house of prayer”; but you have made it a den of robbers.’ 47Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; 48but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard. Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect All four Gospels tell this story. Like’s is the briefest and least dramatic. What stood out to you as you read it? Jesus, writes Luke, “began to drive out those who were selling things there.” How and what things is left unsaid. Two things matter to Luke: what Jesus said as he drove people out, and what he did afterwards. First, because of Luke’s low-key, undramatic account, our attention is drawn, not to what Jesus did, but what he said, quoting Isaiah and Jeremiah[1]: “‘My house shall be a house of prayer’; but you have made it a den of robbers.” From the beginning, prayer was central in Jesus’ ministry. He’d “withdraw to deserted places and pray”, he taught about and urged his disciples to pray.[2] Unlike the visual drama of the ‘den of robbers’ in the temple, prayer is hidden, less visible. It rejects outward symbols of religion used only to attract attention to ourselves. Prayer is about the heart, which is what God looks at. As an unceasing practice (1 Thes. 5:17), prayer trains our heart, shaping how we live. Since our body is the temple of the Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19), we ought to make it a ‘house of prayer.’ Second, having cleansed the temple, Jesus spent everyday teaching there, his last great act before his arrest. What he taught, Luke doesn’t say. It was his teaching, not the temple cleansing, that made the chief priests and scribes determined to kill him. But the people, those on the margins, with little power, were spellbound and this made the chief priests and scribes hesitate to arrest Jesus. What do you think Jesus taught about that upset the Rulers? How can you make your body “a house of prayer”? Prayerfully Respond Lord Jesus, help me avoid meaningless outward symbols. Help me keep praying so that my heart and my life is shaped to be more like you. Amen. Live obediently. Be a house of prayer. [1] Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 17:11. [2] Luke 5:15; 11:1-13; 18:1-8.  Background. The story begins in v. 18 when a rich ruler approached Jesus about inheriting eternal life. Jesus told him to sell all he had and follow him. The ruler was saddened because he was very rich.
Prepare to Listen. The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. Prayerfully Read Luke 18:24-30 24Jesus looked at him [the rich ruler] and said, ‘How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ 26Those who heard it said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ 27He replied, ‘What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.’ 28Then Peter said, ‘Look, we have left our homes and followed you.’ 29And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.’ Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect When Jesus said it was hard for the wealthy to enter God’s kingdom, those who heard him asked, “Then who can be saved?” What might you have asked? Jesus’ ministry of lifting up the lowly, the least and despised (such as widows, tax collectors, children) and bringing down the powerful, is the focus of the stories in Luke 18. This one, the 4th story, is of a rich ruler whom Jesus brought down. He’d kept all the commandments Jesus named, the ones related to outward morality, but when Jesus challenged him about his idolatry and covetousness, he rejected Jesus’ way. [1] That’s when Jesus said it was hard for the rich to enter the kingdom and his shocked listeners protested, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus responded with an ancient truth: “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.” Abraham and Sarah learned that lesson when they waited for a promised son. Mary heard it when she wondered how a virgin could conceive. We think we have control over our destiny by following good moral codes. Not so, says Jesus. It’s out of our hands. Peter, half-questioning, half-bragging, said they, the disciples, had done what he told the rich ruler to do. What do they get? That’s what we too want to know. What’s in it for me? Jesus didn’t let up on his standards. There’s more you could give up, he says to Peter—house, wife/husband, brother/sisters, children. Let’s face it, it’s an alarming list that most of us ignore. We hope Jesus didn’t mean it or that it doesn’t apply to us today. But what if it does? What do you think? Prayerfully Respond Lord Jesus, your standards are high and yet your welcome is to all peoples and your love is always forgiving. When I fail, as I know I will, help me to accept your love and forgiveness and try again. Amen. Live obediently. Trust the impossible to God. [1] You can read the story in verses 18-23.  Prepare to Listen. The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. (Ps 126:3)
Prayerfully Read Luke 17:20-37 20Once 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.’ 22Then he said to the disciples, ‘The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23They will say to you, “Look there!” or “Look here!” Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. 24For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 25But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation. 26Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. 27They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. 28Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from heaven and destroyed all of them 30—it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back. 32Remember Lot’s wife. 33Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. 34I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left.’ 37Then they asked him, ‘Where, Lord?’ He said to them, ‘Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.’ Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect The story begins with the Pharisees asking when the kingdom was coming. It ends with the disciples asking where? What’s your question about the kingdom and Christ’s coming? Every age has had preachers who claim to know when and where Jesus will come. They say, “Look there!” or “Look here!” And many follow them not heeding Jesus’ warning, “Do not go, do not set off in pursuit.” Jesus’ teaching is puzzling, but two things are clear. First, Jesus says do not go, that is, don’t be fooled by populist preachers who claim to know. We don’t need them. The days of the Son of Man will be as obvious as “the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other,” and just as unexpected. Jesus’ death was unexpected yet inevitable. Scripture teaches that the son of man will be vindicated by God after suffering.[1] Jesus suffered and his vindication is victory over all who oppose God and God’s ways. We live in hope of this final victory and mustn’t be fooled by false pundits who think they know when and where. Do not go after them, says Jesus. Don’t believe or listen to them. Second, trust Jesus’ victory. “Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it.” Even though Jesus won the victory, suffering and hardship continues and we’re tempted to protect ourselves and our loved ones with means within our grasp. We live in a tension between the already (victory won) and the not yet (we wait to experience it). We will know suffering and death, but Jesus promises, we’re safe if we trust him. How do these challenging words of Jesus comfort or disturb you? Prayerfully Respond Jesus, help me trust you despite not knowing when and where you will come. Keep me alert to see the obvious when you do come. Amen. Live obediently. Do not go until Jesus comes. [1] Daniel 7, for instance.  Prepare to Listen. I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Prayerfully Read Luke 16:13-17 13‘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.’ 14The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him. 15So he said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God. 16‘The law and the prophets were in effect until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force. 17But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one stroke of a letter in the law to be dropped. Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect Sandwiched between two parables, both beginning with, ‘there was a rich man’ (vv 1 & 19), is this odd assortment of Jesus’ sayings. What did you think about them? What most challenged you? Wealth and poverty are frequent topics in Luke’s Gospel and always Jesus sides with the poor, the have-nots. He lived what Mary sang—“he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty” (Lk 1:53). These short sayings are directed at the Pharisees whom Luke accused of being “lovers of money.” They developed a theology that joined God to money, justifying their love of money, and ridiculed Jesus’ teaching. They thought they had the law on their side, since Moses implies that prosperity was God’s blessing on the obedient and suffering God’s curse on the disobedient. This view about wealth still makes the rounds today, and it’s easy to fall into the temptation of thinking we can serve God and wealth, join God and money. Jesus warns against this: “God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God.” We might think we can find biblical justification for our love of wealth, but God knows our hearts, where our true love is. Jesus hasn’t cancelled the law. It won’t pass away. The law and the prophets “are a true signpost to what God is going to do, even though they cannot themselves bring about the new day, the new world, that God is creating through Jesus.”[1] God, in Jesus is doing a new thing, building on what has gone before. Our task is to read and understand the law rightly, prayerfully discerning where and how our views are the exact opposite of, or even in conflict with what God requires. God knows your heart. What about this comforts and/or challenges you? Prayerfully Respond Lord, help me to get it right about money, wealth and loving you. Amen. Live obediently. God knows you heart. [1] Wright, N. T. Luke for Everyone. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press. 2001, p. 197-198.  Prepare to Listen. I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Prayerfully Read Luke 15:25-32 25‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” 28Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” 31Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.”’ Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect This parable was directed at Jesus’ critics, the Pharisees and scribes (v. 2). It ends, not with a warning, but with words of assurance (31-32). Imagine how the critics felt on hearing this grace-filled conclusion. I don’t blame the older brother for being angry. No slave was sent to give him news of his brother’s return and the celebration party. When he got near the house, he heard music and dancing. He had to ask a slave what was going on and that’s how he learned of his brother’s return. He was angry at the grace the father gave to his profligate and undeserving son. Grace offended his sense of fairness, forgiveness condoned his brother’s sin. In his anger, he refused to go in. But “his father came out and began to plead with him.” When the younger son left home, the father never went after him, or pleaded with him to stay. When the older brother refused to join the celebration, the father went out and pleaded with him, urging him to rejoice at the brother who “was dead and has come to life; was lost and has been found.” He was assured that the father’s forgiveness for his wayward son, didn’t dimmish his love for his elder son. Jesus’ critics were like the elder son. They too were upset with the grace and welcome Jesus gave the undeserving. However, “The embrace of the younger son did not mean the rejection of the elder; the love of tax collectors and sinners does not at all negate love of Pharisees and scribes.”[1] God’s grace, which seems to overlook sin, may appear offensive to some, but God truly is a prodigal father, able to love us all. Of the three characters, father, older and younger sons, with whom do you most identify? What do you think about God’s extravagant grace? Prayerfully Respond Lord, your grace crosses all boundaries and sometimes offends us. Please help me to accept your embrace that welcomes all sorts. Amen. Live obediently. Be as gracious as God. [1] Craddock, Fred B. Luke. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press. 1990, p. 188.  Prepare to Listen. I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Prayerfully Read Luke 15:1-2, 11-24 1Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ 11Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. 13A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’ ” 20So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” 22But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate. Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect Imagine how it felt for the returning son when his father ignored his confession and gave him an unmatched generous welcome. How would you feel? Prodigal, in the parable’s title, has both a negative meaning—reckless, wasteful extravagance—and a positive one—giving generously on a lavish scale. We mostly focus on the negative. The son was prodigal because of his reckless, wasteful extravagance. His bad behavior began when he asked his father for his share of the inheritance, shamelessly implying he wished his father was dead. The inheritance was land, not cash in the bank. He promptly sold it and went into a far country where he wasted it all. We know the story well. The father is prodigal. When his son approached him with his outrageous demand, he didn’t rebuke or try to change his son’s mind. He gave him his share of the family land. He knew he’d end up in trouble, but the father let him go anyway, and patiently waited for his return. He knew his son would one day come home. When he did, the father never asked to hear his story, never even listened to his confession. He acted in his own prodigal way, welcoming his son with lavish, gracious generosity that ignored all the son had said and done. The past was wiped away and the son was restored to full sonship, no demands made. Instead, he was celebrated with a joyful, exuberant party. I wonder how this made the son feel. What do you think? God has done the same for us, generously forgiven us, asking for no repayment. How does this make you feel? What does it make you want to do in response? Prayerfully Respond Jesus, your stories keep challenging and amazing me. Your grace truly is all-sufficient, and I praise you. Amen. Live obediently. Live in gratitude for God’s prodigal ways.  Prepare to Listen. I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Prayerfully Read Luke 14:12-24 12He said also to the one who had invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbours, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’ 15One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, ‘Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’ 16Then Jesus said to him, ‘Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. 17At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for everything is ready now.” 18But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my apologies.” 19Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my apologies.” 20Another said, “I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.” 21So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, “Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” 22And the slave said, “Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.” 23Then the master said to the slave, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. 24For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.”’ Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect Parables are intended to make us think, especially about ourselves. What does this make you think about yourself? His host, said Jesus, had invited the wrong people, his own kind who could repay him. Instead, Jesus said, invite “the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind,” those who can’t repay you, and you will be blessed. One of the Pharisee guests spoke up for his host, correcting Jesus: “Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” Jesus could have argued with him, proving his point with Scripture, such as, “Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor” (Proverbs 22:9). Or Isaiah, who maintained God expects us to share our bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into our homes (58:7). Instead, he told another parable. Someone, probably a wealthy landowner, invited his rich neighbors, the sort Jesus warned his host not to invite to a great dinner. Thus, the someone isn’t God or Jesus. We know these men were rich from their excuses. They all rejected the invitation, infuriating, even shaming the host. But it also dramatically changed his heart. He sent his slave to “bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame,” the very people Jesus said should have been invited. The slave had already done so, but the table still wasn’t full. He was sent out again to compel, coerce people to come in and fill the house. The parable concludes with a dire warning, left unexplained, “For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.” Unlike Matthew’s similar parable (22:1-14), Luke’s isn’t about the kingdom, a wedding banquet or final judgment. Put yourself in this parable. Who are you and what is the challenge for you now? Prayerfully Respond Lord Jesus, your ways are always more demanding than the ways of the world, and always more difficult to live. Show me who I am in this parable and how I can live more in line with your ways. Amen. Live obediently. Practice welcoming the outcasts. |
AuthorI was 8 when I began reading the Bible. At 76 I’m still reading it and still learning new and surprising stuff. Writing on Luke’s Gospel has been challenging, surprising and eye-opening. Read with me in these 47 day of Lent and Holy Week and experience your own encounters with Jesus. Archives
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