October 25/26, 2014
John 1-2
Now we begin the most unique of the four gospels. Without John, the title “most unique” would apply to Luke. Yet, even with all the wonderful material we only find there, Luke holds hands with Mark and Matthew; they are called the “Synoptic Gospels,” because they each give a “synopsis” or a comprehensive outline of Jesus’ ministry.
John, however, breaks this pattern. He selects from the many events we’ve read about in the synoptic gospels a comparative few. He omits, almost entirely, the parables. And John himself teaches, and recounts much of Jesus’ own teaching that we find nowhere else, especially Jesus’ claims to divinity. In John, we see most clearly, that Jesus is the God/man, one with the Father and one with us!
We see this from chapter 1, verse 1; John says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” That’s divinity! A little later in the prolog, John says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14) That’s humanity! We see this juxtaposition al through the gospel. But perhaps the most vivid picture of it comes at the end of John 1, in verse 51. Jesus tells Nathaniel, who was impressed at Jesus’ foreknowledge, that there would be even more impressing things to come: “You will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Here Jesus is recalling Jacob’s dream of a ladder that sits on earth and reaches up into heaven with angels ascending and descending upon it. Jesus is saying, in essence, “I am Jacob’s ladder; I connect earth to heaven and God to human beings; I am the God/man.”
John the Baptist saw it. He pointed at Jesus and used another Old Testament image: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29) As we will learn, only a God/man could accomplish that!
In John 2, the God/man goes to work. First, at the urging of his mother, Jesus turns the water into wedding wine. There’s a miracle and a message. Jesus’ first sign occurs at a wedding. When he returns, he will come as a Groom for His Bride! Then, Jesus clears the temple. Commentators argue about whether Jesus cleared the temple once or twice, but because John places it so near the beginning of his ministry, and the other gospel writers place it at the end, I believe he did this daring thing twice!
Already, in just the first two chapters, we are seeing what the God/man can do!
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Friday, October 24, 2014
OCTOBER 24 LUKE 22-24
October 24, 2014
Luke 22-24
As with much of the gospel of Luke, we’d be very much poorer without Luke’s account of Jesus’ passion. Though Luke does not seem to be concerned for strict chronology at the Lord’s Supper, all the important elements are there. Though Luke’s account of Gethsemane is not as long as Mark’s or Matthew’s, the critical moment is there: “Not my will, but yours be done.” (22:43)
At the arrest, only Luke tells us that Jesus’ healed the man (Malchus) whose ear Peter cut off. During the night of trials, only Luke tells us of Jesus’ audience before King Herod (23:6-12). On the way to the cross, only Luke quotes Jesus’ words to the weeping women (23:28-31). At the cross, only Luke relates Jesus’ words of forgiveness for his tormenters (23:34), of assurance for the repentant thief (23:42), and of commitment to His Father (23:46).
On Easter, only Luke recounts the story of two weary and saddened disciples along the road to Emmaus, who are joined by Jesus. They do not recognize the Lord, but Jesus listens to their grief, instructs them in the all that the scriptures say about Him, and accompanies them to their destination. As Jesus breaks the bread, He disappears, and the disciples finally realize who He was, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the scriptures to us?” (24:32).
Luke ends his gospel with Jesus’ promise to “clothe” His followers with power from on high! Then, He ascends into heaven. What will this “clothing with power” look like? We’ll have to wait until Luke second book: the book of Acts!
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Luke 22-24
As with much of the gospel of Luke, we’d be very much poorer without Luke’s account of Jesus’ passion. Though Luke does not seem to be concerned for strict chronology at the Lord’s Supper, all the important elements are there. Though Luke’s account of Gethsemane is not as long as Mark’s or Matthew’s, the critical moment is there: “Not my will, but yours be done.” (22:43)
At the arrest, only Luke tells us that Jesus’ healed the man (Malchus) whose ear Peter cut off. During the night of trials, only Luke tells us of Jesus’ audience before King Herod (23:6-12). On the way to the cross, only Luke quotes Jesus’ words to the weeping women (23:28-31). At the cross, only Luke relates Jesus’ words of forgiveness for his tormenters (23:34), of assurance for the repentant thief (23:42), and of commitment to His Father (23:46).
On Easter, only Luke recounts the story of two weary and saddened disciples along the road to Emmaus, who are joined by Jesus. They do not recognize the Lord, but Jesus listens to their grief, instructs them in the all that the scriptures say about Him, and accompanies them to their destination. As Jesus breaks the bread, He disappears, and the disciples finally realize who He was, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the scriptures to us?” (24:32).
Luke ends his gospel with Jesus’ promise to “clothe” His followers with power from on high! Then, He ascends into heaven. What will this “clothing with power” look like? We’ll have to wait until Luke second book: the book of Acts!
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Thursday, October 23, 2014
OCTOBER 23 LUKE 19-21
October 23, 2014
Luke 19-21
On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus healed a blind beggar, whose name was Bartimaeus Mark tells us. Matthew, too, reports this healing. But only Luke tells us of the diminutive Jericho tax collector name Zacchaeus, who climbed a sycamore tree to get a better look at Jesus, and who was joyfully surprised by the Lord’s attention. How much poorer our Bibles would be without this account! Zacchaeus’ house is the setting for Jesus parable of the Ten Minas (very much like the parable of the Ten Talents), which contains this punchline: “To everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.” (Luke 19:26) Is this another way of saying: “Use it or lose it?”
Midway through Luke 19, Jesus enters Jerusalem, but not before he pauses to weep over her: “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.” (Luke 19:42)
Luke then recounts many of the same events as Mark and Matthew during Holy Week: the cleansing of the temple (Luke 19:45-46), the trick questions of the Jewish leaders, and some wonderful posers from Jesus back at them (Luke 20:3, 41-44). But Jesus’ most devastating words come in the form of the parable of the Wicked Tenants. It didn’t take the ruling Jews long to figure out who those wicked tenants represented! Finally, Jesus withdrew from the fray and played one of my favorite games in any busy place: people-watching. He watched them give their temple offerings, but complimented only one: the widow who gave all she had (Luke 21:1-4).
The rest of Luke 21 contains much of part we have come to know as the Mt. Olivet Discourse from Matthew 23-24; Jesus’ words about the destruction of Jerusalem and the events of the end times. Knowing what was coming may have triggered Jesus’ laments over the city in Luke 13:34-35 and Luke 19:41-44.
If Jesus wept so for faithlessness of lost people and cities, shouldn’t we?
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Luke 19-21
On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus healed a blind beggar, whose name was Bartimaeus Mark tells us. Matthew, too, reports this healing. But only Luke tells us of the diminutive Jericho tax collector name Zacchaeus, who climbed a sycamore tree to get a better look at Jesus, and who was joyfully surprised by the Lord’s attention. How much poorer our Bibles would be without this account! Zacchaeus’ house is the setting for Jesus parable of the Ten Minas (very much like the parable of the Ten Talents), which contains this punchline: “To everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.” (Luke 19:26) Is this another way of saying: “Use it or lose it?”
Midway through Luke 19, Jesus enters Jerusalem, but not before he pauses to weep over her: “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.” (Luke 19:42)
Luke then recounts many of the same events as Mark and Matthew during Holy Week: the cleansing of the temple (Luke 19:45-46), the trick questions of the Jewish leaders, and some wonderful posers from Jesus back at them (Luke 20:3, 41-44). But Jesus’ most devastating words come in the form of the parable of the Wicked Tenants. It didn’t take the ruling Jews long to figure out who those wicked tenants represented! Finally, Jesus withdrew from the fray and played one of my favorite games in any busy place: people-watching. He watched them give their temple offerings, but complimented only one: the widow who gave all she had (Luke 21:1-4).
The rest of Luke 21 contains much of part we have come to know as the Mt. Olivet Discourse from Matthew 23-24; Jesus’ words about the destruction of Jerusalem and the events of the end times. Knowing what was coming may have triggered Jesus’ laments over the city in Luke 13:34-35 and Luke 19:41-44.
If Jesus wept so for faithlessness of lost people and cities, shouldn’t we?
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
OCTOBER 22 LUKE 16-18
October 22, 2014
Luke 16-18
Many people scratch their heads over the parable of the Shrewd Manager. How can Jesus use such a cheat as a positive example? But I love the punchline: “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves (like the crafty manager did), so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” Read this closely; it’s the Lord telling us to use our money to win souls. They are the friends we win; they are the ones who will welcome us, one day, into heaven. If you haven’t read it in a while, find Vachel Lindsey’s poem, “General William Booth Enters heaven.” It’s a great example of the truth of this parable.
I also love the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Isn’t it great that the rich man is nameless, and the no-account poor man has the name of one of Jesus’ best friends? What a powerful story!
Early in Luke 17, we read the account of the ten lepers who were healed. Is it true that only one in ten people would return to say thanks for such a gift?
Luke 18 begins with two more wonderful parables not found elsewhere. The parable of the Persistent Widow teaches us to keep on praying, even when we don’t see the answer. The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector teaches us that God gives grace and mercy to the humble, not the prideful! Luke 18 ends with material we’ve read in the first two gospels: the Rich Young Ruler, Jesus’ predictions of his death, and the healing of a blind beggar.
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Luke 16-18
Many people scratch their heads over the parable of the Shrewd Manager. How can Jesus use such a cheat as a positive example? But I love the punchline: “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves (like the crafty manager did), so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” Read this closely; it’s the Lord telling us to use our money to win souls. They are the friends we win; they are the ones who will welcome us, one day, into heaven. If you haven’t read it in a while, find Vachel Lindsey’s poem, “General William Booth Enters heaven.” It’s a great example of the truth of this parable.
I also love the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Isn’t it great that the rich man is nameless, and the no-account poor man has the name of one of Jesus’ best friends? What a powerful story!
Early in Luke 17, we read the account of the ten lepers who were healed. Is it true that only one in ten people would return to say thanks for such a gift?
Luke 18 begins with two more wonderful parables not found elsewhere. The parable of the Persistent Widow teaches us to keep on praying, even when we don’t see the answer. The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector teaches us that God gives grace and mercy to the humble, not the prideful! Luke 18 ends with material we’ve read in the first two gospels: the Rich Young Ruler, Jesus’ predictions of his death, and the healing of a blind beggar.
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
OCTOBER 21 LUKE 13 - 15
October 21, 2014
Luke 13-15
Luke 13 opens with something unique: the only time Jesus is recorded to have commented on the current events of his day. He mentions two: Pilate’s brutal slaughter of Galileans and the tragic collapse of a tower in Siloam. Jesus says, in essence, that tragedy does not necessarily mean that victims are guilty!
Luke goes on to describe Jesus’ healing of a crippled woman on the Sabbath. Jesus named the synagogue leaders who complained about it, “Hypocrites!” After telling two short parables, Jesus encourages his listeners to “make every effort to enter through the narrow door.” The life of a disciple may not be easy. The chapter concludes with Jesus’ first lament over Jerusalem. (Luke records another in Luke 19:41f)
The setting of Luke 14 is a dinner at a Pharisee’s house. Jesus uses a teachable moment to talk about humility and tell one of his most famous stories: the Parable of the Great Banquet. Those invited to it (the Jews) refuse to come, and offer any number of excuses. The Master of the Feast then sends the servants out to bring anyone and everyone into the feast, “so that his house may be full!” (14:23) The door is opened to Gentiles! At the end of Luke 14, Jesus encourages potential followers to “count the cost.”
Luke 15 is one of the most beloved chapters in Scripture; it contains the three “lost” parables:” the stories of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son. Ah, but which of the sons is truly lost? At the end of the story, it’s the elder, not the prodigal! It doesn’t take much for us to see both the Pharisees and our judgmental selves in that older brother, does it?
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Luke 13-15
Luke 13 opens with something unique: the only time Jesus is recorded to have commented on the current events of his day. He mentions two: Pilate’s brutal slaughter of Galileans and the tragic collapse of a tower in Siloam. Jesus says, in essence, that tragedy does not necessarily mean that victims are guilty!
Luke goes on to describe Jesus’ healing of a crippled woman on the Sabbath. Jesus named the synagogue leaders who complained about it, “Hypocrites!” After telling two short parables, Jesus encourages his listeners to “make every effort to enter through the narrow door.” The life of a disciple may not be easy. The chapter concludes with Jesus’ first lament over Jerusalem. (Luke records another in Luke 19:41f)
The setting of Luke 14 is a dinner at a Pharisee’s house. Jesus uses a teachable moment to talk about humility and tell one of his most famous stories: the Parable of the Great Banquet. Those invited to it (the Jews) refuse to come, and offer any number of excuses. The Master of the Feast then sends the servants out to bring anyone and everyone into the feast, “so that his house may be full!” (14:23) The door is opened to Gentiles! At the end of Luke 14, Jesus encourages potential followers to “count the cost.”
Luke 15 is one of the most beloved chapters in Scripture; it contains the three “lost” parables:” the stories of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son. Ah, but which of the sons is truly lost? At the end of the story, it’s the elder, not the prodigal! It doesn’t take much for us to see both the Pharisees and our judgmental selves in that older brother, does it?
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Monday, October 20, 2014
OCTOBER 20 LUKE 10-12
October 20, 2014
Luke 10-12
Back in chapter 9, Jesus had sent out the 12 Disciples on a short-term mission trip, which is described in Matthew and Mark as well. But only Luke tells us of the mission of the 72 disciples here in chapter 10. 72 disciples; did this number include women? Samaritans? Perhaps, for only Luke preserves for us the parable of the Good Samaritan in the same chapter.
In Luke 11, Jesus teaches on prayer. We see a version of Jesus’ model prayer, followed by Jesus famous teaching: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (11:9) Then God the Son encourages his disciples to ask the God the Father for the greatest of all gifts: God the Holy Spirit (11:13). That’s right; just ask! This chapter concludes with Luke’s version of Jesus’ harsh words against the Pharisees in the form of “six woes.”
Luke 12 has a special place in my heart. The night my brother David was asked Christ to come into his heart, my dad had asked me to find something to read for our family in the Bible. I had been studying Luke 12 that day, so I turned to it and read it aloud to Mom, Dad and David. It’s a very long chapter, but they listened intently to the many warnings Jesus gives us concerning the Second Coming:
“Whoever disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God,” (12:9) Jesus warns.
When tribulation comes and you are brought before rules, don’t worry about what you will say, Jesus promises, “for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (12:12)
Don’t cling to things, Jesus says, for you do not know the time of your death (12:20).
In fact, don’t worry about stuff, at all (12:22f).
Be ready for the Master’s return, for “the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (12:40)
When Jesus does return, he will bring not peace, but division (12:51).
Be able to interpret the times, Jesus says (12:56)
After I finished reading Luke 12, we stood in a circle and prayed. Dave, for the first time, invited Christ into his life, and our family was never the same!
Your fellow traveler through the Gospels,
Pastor Gary
Luke 10-12
Back in chapter 9, Jesus had sent out the 12 Disciples on a short-term mission trip, which is described in Matthew and Mark as well. But only Luke tells us of the mission of the 72 disciples here in chapter 10. 72 disciples; did this number include women? Samaritans? Perhaps, for only Luke preserves for us the parable of the Good Samaritan in the same chapter.
In Luke 11, Jesus teaches on prayer. We see a version of Jesus’ model prayer, followed by Jesus famous teaching: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (11:9) Then God the Son encourages his disciples to ask the God the Father for the greatest of all gifts: God the Holy Spirit (11:13). That’s right; just ask! This chapter concludes with Luke’s version of Jesus’ harsh words against the Pharisees in the form of “six woes.”
Luke 12 has a special place in my heart. The night my brother David was asked Christ to come into his heart, my dad had asked me to find something to read for our family in the Bible. I had been studying Luke 12 that day, so I turned to it and read it aloud to Mom, Dad and David. It’s a very long chapter, but they listened intently to the many warnings Jesus gives us concerning the Second Coming:
“Whoever disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God,” (12:9) Jesus warns.
When tribulation comes and you are brought before rules, don’t worry about what you will say, Jesus promises, “for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (12:12)
Don’t cling to things, Jesus says, for you do not know the time of your death (12:20).
In fact, don’t worry about stuff, at all (12:22f).
Be ready for the Master’s return, for “the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (12:40)
When Jesus does return, he will bring not peace, but division (12:51).
Be able to interpret the times, Jesus says (12:56)
After I finished reading Luke 12, we stood in a circle and prayed. Dave, for the first time, invited Christ into his life, and our family was never the same!
Your fellow traveler through the Gospels,
Pastor Gary
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