OCTOBER 18-19 LUKE 7-9

October 18-19, 2014

Luke 7-9

 

Although Luke retells a number of the accounts of Mark and Matthew (He may have had them as some of his sources!), Luke uncovered a number of things we don’t read about in the first two gospels. Here’s a sampling from today’s readings:

 

• Only Luke tells us of the Widow of Nain, and how Jesus raised her son from the dead! (7:11-17)
• Only Luke tells us of how Jesus was anointed by a sinful woman (7:36-50; This is not to be confused with a later, grateful anointing at the hands of Mary, the sister of Martha.)
• Only Luke gives special mention of the women who followed Jesus (8:1-3).
• Only Luke tells us of the Samaritan opposition to Jesus, and the disciples’ offer to call down fire from heaven on those Samaritans (9:51-56)
• And only Luke records Jesus famous but troubling words in Luke 9:62, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

I thank the Lord for Luke’s careful research, without which, we’d had lost these, and many other glorious details. Here are some of the parables only Luke records: The Rich Fool (12:13-21), the Lost Coin (15:8-10), the Prodigal Son (15:11-31), the Shrewd Manager (16:1-15), and one of my favorites: The Rich Man and Lazarus (16:19-31). All these we’ll read next week!

 

Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,

 

Pastor Gary

OCTOBER 17 LUKE 3-6

October 17, 2014

Luke 3-6

At the beginning of chapter 3, we read more of the content of John the Baptist’s preaching than we find in any of the other gospel. At v. 12, the fully grown Son of God appears for baptism, with both God the Spirit, and God the Father in attendance. Luke’s version of Jesus’ genealogy completes chapter 3. It’s different form Matthew’s by going in reverse order all the way back to Adam. The names after David differ as well, some say, because Matthew traces Jesus legal lineage through Joseph, and Luke traces Jesus blood lineage through Mary.

Beginning with chapter 4, Luke’s content looks more like Matthew and Mark’s: the temptation, healings and exorcisms, the calling of the disciples, the questions of the Pharisees, and an extended except of Jesus’ teaching. Luke 6 is like the Sermon on the Mount in miniature, and, because of Luke 6:17, is sometimes called the Sermon on the Plain. Read the beginning of it (Luke 6:20-23) and note how it’s different from Matthew 5:1-12. I don’t have a problem with this. I just imagine that sometimes Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” and at other times he simply said, “Blessed are the poor!” Both are true.

The other unique account in these chapters is back in Luke 4:14-30. There, in his home town, Jesus identifies himself as the Messiah, the one who fulfills Isaiah 61:1-2. All his “homeys” seemed fine with this, yet wonder, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” But when Jesus calls them on their doubts, and reveals his plan to reach out to Gentiles, they tried to kill him! If Jesus was rejected in hi home town, how would he be received in Morton, were he to show up?

Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,

Pastor Gary

OCTOBER 16 LUKE 1-2

October 16, 2014

Luke 1-2

Already, we can see that Luke is significantly different from either Matthew or Mark, and one of those differences becomes evident in the first four verses. Matthew was one of the disciples. Mark writes with Peter’s memories, and may also have been a young tag-along to the band of brothers we call the disciples. But Luke had never met Jesus. And the only apostle with whom he had a relationship was Paul—he was Paul’s doctor, and even Paul did not know or follow Jesus until long after Jesus had ascended into heaven. 

So what are Luke’s qualifications for writing a gospel of his own? He was a learned man and had excellent language skills; true. He also had an opportunity and a need: a friend named Theophilus, who wanted to know more about Jesus. But most importantly, he was a digger, a researcher. The first four verses of Luke’s gospel give strong indications of this.

In the first two chapters, there is much material that does not appear in the other gospel. Without it, we would not know John the Baptist’s birth story, Gabriel’s announcement to Mary, Mary’s time with Elizabeth, Mary’s magnificent prayer of praise, or Zechariah’s powerful prophesy. And what’s worse, we’d know very little about that holy night of our Savior’s birth: the manger, the swaddling clothes, the shepherds, the angels, and their glory-filled song! Without Luke, we could only assume his parents had him circumcised and dedicated at the Temple. We’d never know about Simeon and Anna, and we’d never have imagined the 12-year old Jesus in the temple “schooling” those elders.

Where did Luke get all this stuff?

Research. Interviews. Digging. Spirit-led hard work. I can imagine Dr. Luke, attending Paul, while Paul ministered in Ephesus, the same city that John and Mary, the mother of Jesus, migrated to after Pentecost. I believe that Luke interviewed Mary, and got much of what is now Luke 1-2 straight from her!

Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,

Pastor Gary

OCTOBER 15 MARK 14-16

October 15, 2014

Mark 14-16

With today’s reading, the briefest of the gospels is completed.

We begin in Bethany just outside of Jerusalem, where Jesus and the disciples lodged when in the big city. John tells us that the woman who anointed Jesus with expensive perfume was Mary, Martha and Lazarus’ sister. This sacrificial act of worship is a sharp contrast to the suspicion and hatred of the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem, but may have been what pushed Judas into his betrayal.

Mark then takes us through the Lord’s Supper, the betrayal, the prediction of Peter’s denial and the walk to Gethsemane. Jesus’ agony and prayer of submission to the Father’s will are interrupted by Judas and the armed mob. At the scene of the arrest, Mark adds one detail not mentioned by any of the other gospel writers: A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving the garment behind (Mark 14:51-52). John Mark, Peter’s younger cousin, lived in Jerusalem with his mother. Their home may have been the site of the “upper room” and the Last Supper. Mark’s reference to this young man may be his only reference to himself, as if saying: “I was there, too.”

Mark moves us quickly through Jesus’ trial before the Jewish leaders, Peter’s denial, and his presentation to Pilate. Very quickly, the crowds choose Barabbas over Jesus, and the Lord is turned over to be crucified. Like Matthew, Mark records only one of Jesus’ statement’s from the cross: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus is buried and the women watch where Jesus’ body is placed, so that they may come back after the Sabbath.

All the most ancient copies of Mark agree; that Mark should end with Mark 16:8, without any appearance, as yet, from Jesus; only the word of the angel, “He is risen!” This does not mean that we should throw Mark 16:9-20 away, for it reflects a very early oral tradition of the church. What it does mean is that Mark actually ends literally waiting for the next shoe to drop. “They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid!” 

We readers say, “Wait a minute! The greatest moment in the history of the world has just taken place, and the disciples are speechless? Absolutely; they would need to see the risen Jesus for themselves. They would need the power of the Holy Spirit, as well. Are we too afraid to tell people about Jesus? Fill us with your Spirit, Jesus!

Tomorrow, we begin Luke!

Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,

Pastor Gary

OCTOBER 14 MARK 11-13

October 14, 2014

Mark 11-13

So soon have we reached “holy week.”

As Jesus rides into Jerusalem, the people shout bits of the psalms and proclaim the restoration of David’s kingdom. And the next day, Jesus seems to flex the muscles of his authority when he drives the “money-changers” out of the temple, shouting, “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations!” Jesus quotes scripture as if it were his own! And, once again, he demonstrates authority over nature by withering a unfruitful fig tree with a curse!

This is too much for the Jewish leaders; they demand to know the source of Jesus’ authority. Jesus sidesteps their question.

Chapter 12 describes Jesus’ tug-of –war with these Jewish authorities. He tells a story, the parable of the wicked tenants, which is obviously designed to convict them. He deftly fields their trick questions. At the end of a long day, he sits down somewhere in the temple to “people-watch” as the crowd give their offerings. Finally, he sees a widow. Knowing she has put in all that she has, he draws his disciples’ attention to her, the most generous of givers.

In Chapter 13, Jesus covers much the same ground as he did in Matthew 24-25. Mark’s version of Jesus Olivet discourse taught the disciples and teaches us to be watchful and ready for the second coming. For Christ could come...

At any moment!

Tomorrow, we finish Mark!

Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,

Pastor Gary

OCTOBER 13 MARK 8 - 10

October 13, 2014

Mark 8-10

My goodness! Does Mark move quickly! As of today, we’re already more than half-way through his gospel!

Mark zeros in on the key indicators of Jesus true identity. “Who is this man...?” the disciples asked. And we want to know, too.

Mark 8 begins with Jesus’ less famous feeding of the 4000; just as remarkable as the first! He heals the blind man as Bethsaida using some of his own saliva. Then, while traveling through the villages up north of the Sea of Galilee, he asks the disciples to tell him who they think he is. Peter answers: “You are the Christ (that is, the Messiah)!”

In Mark 9, God the Father confirms even more on the Mount of Transfiguration: “This is My Son, whom I love!” And when they come down the mountain to find a demon-possessed boy, Jesus takes authority of the devils, as well!

So, how does one follow this man-who-was-also-God, this Son of God, this Messiah? What would Jesus say? He made it clear, that it wouldn’t be by arguing over who was the greatest (9:33-37; 10:35-45). It wouldn’t be by worrying about what other people do (9:38-41). It wouldn’t be through sinning or causing others to sin (9:42-50). Or by denying the resurrection of the dead (10:1-16). 

No, the way to follow Jesus is by welcoming little children (I9:37), by becoming like them in the simple faith (10:15), by simply turning from the distractions (10:23) and giving our lives in service to the one who gave his life as a ransom for us (10:45).

Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,

Pastor Gary