Text: Acts 11-12
OBSERVE: Within these two chapters we observe the following:
INTERPRET: After initial opposition from the chief priests and then persecution by a zealous young Pharisee, the followers of Jesus have now come to the attention of Herod. Herod Agrippa 1 begins to persecute the church to gain favor of both the religious leaders and the Romans. Herod either saw, or wanted people to think he saw this new Jesus movement as a political threat. So he took action at Passover time which was thought of as the time when God delivered his people from slavery. Things appear to be going badly for the church on all accounts. Yet, the God who has revealed himself in and through Jesus remains sovereign, and his purpose is moving forward no matter what efforts attempt to stop it. Even the puppet king (Herod Agrippa 1) is unsuccessful at his attempt at killing off the church’s main leadership, and he himself is suddenly cut down with a swift and fatal disease. APPLICATION: Despite the efforts of the most powerful authorities of the time, the church continued to grow and fulfill its purpose. When persecution arose, we see a new church emerging in another place. When an effort took place to get rid of the leadership of the church, we witness God providing a miracle; that even the faithful believers had a hard time believing. In addition, we see barriers being removed (Herod) and God carrying His church forward. This is emphasized in the text when we read that the Word of God increased and multiplied. The church has continued to face opposition for its entire existence. Despite all the trials, the Lord Jesus has continued to increase and multiply his church. These stories in scripture along with the last 2000 years of history; should provide us with great hope that Jesus will continue to help His church overcome all obstacles. Not only will Jesus help us overcome adversity; He will continue to increase and multiply. REFLECTION: Do the stories of the early church facing persecution help you to face your current hardships and obstacles? Are you praying regularly for the persecuted church around the world today? How does their witness encourage you in your daily walk? PRAYER: Lord Jesus; time and time again you have shown us that your church will not be overcome. Help me to trust in you and your promises more and more each day. Empower and equip all of those in the persecuted church to stand firm in the face of persecution. May you use their faithful witness to increase the Word of God and grow your church. AMEN. SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3NmQQoDSaU Acts Ch. 5-6
Observe: Acts chapter 5 begins with a well-known (aren’t they all well-known?) story of Ananias and Sapphira, a husband and wife who sold a portion of their property and conspired to lie about the amount it sold for when they claimed to give the entire amount to the Apostles. Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, knew that Ananias was lying, and pointed out to him that it was a senseless lie. After all, Ananias didn’t have to sell the field, and if he sold it then he didn’t have to give the full amount if he were to donate anything. Instead, Ananias and Sapphira claimed to be giving the full amount when they were really holding some back for themselves. As a result, Peter charges first Ananias and then Sapphira with lying to God, at which point both of them are struck down. The Apostles continued doing many signs and wonders, with great multitudes flocking to them for healing and to listen to them preach the Gospel. In their classic style, the high priest and the Sadducees arrested the apostles and put them in jail, only for the apostles to be met by an angel of the Lord to open the doors and charge them to “go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” The jail was visited the next day but the Apostles were nowhere to be found until they came to the temple. They were not arrested again, but instead charged not to preach the name of Jesus, to which they answered “We must obey God rather than men … And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Those of the council who heard this became enraged, but the Apostles were beaten and released when a certain Pharisee, Gamaliel, said that if the Apostle’s efforts were merely of human origin then they would fail, but if they succeed then they are doing the work of God and woe to those who may be found opposing God! Some conflict arose upon hearing of the neglect of Hebrew widows. The Apostles resolved to pick seven men of good repute to take care of these people so that the preaching of the word would not be hindered. One of the men selected for this task was Stephen who would become the first New Testament martyr. He was a man full of grace and power who fell victim to a conspiracy of the Freedmen who charged Stephen with fabricated claims of blasphemy. Stirring up a crowd, these people took Stephen and brought him before the council, where “all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.” Interpret: What are we to take from these two chapters? Let us first consider the name of this book. Acts is most frequently referred to as the Acts of the Apostles, but reading even these two chapters, we see that it is so much more than that. I believe a much more fitting name would be the Acts of the Holy Spirit whose hand is seen clearly at work all throughout these pages. What is incredible about the account of Acts is not simply what the Apostles did, but the fact that God has clearly revealed that His new, holy temple is not a place of brick and mortar, but of flesh and blood. It is God the Holy Spirit that makes these Acts happen in the first place and He does it using sinful and ordinary people – now that is incredible! It is because of what God is doing through these ordinary men and women that makes the book of Acts such an epic read. Keep in mind, too, that God doesn’t make waste. There is nothing written in these pages that is there for no reason. Every revelation, every miracle, every Holy Spirit-infused speech given before furious opposition is intended to point us towards Christ and His mighty work on the cross and in the grave. What is written is intended for historical accuracy, true, and to inform us future readers, but it is also an account of a living and active God and is therefore intended to bring us into His living and active work. Knowing that God doesn’t make waste and that He is residing in us as His new temple, we can deduce that the account of the Acts of the Holy Spirit are not actually over – they’re an introduction! They are a blueprint. They are not meant to be read as a neat story or an interesting narrative, but as a prescription for our walk with Christ. The believers in Acts prayed for boldness, they rejoiced in their suffering for the Gospel, they stood firm and, full of the Holy Spirit, reasoned and debated and preached for the sake of the Gospel. They fulfilled the charge of the angel of the Lord to “go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” Application and question: My friends, none of these should be absent in our lives! We should be so surrendered to God that He has free reign of our wants, our will, our pride, our decisions, our thoughts, our words. We cannot live as a (fill in the blank) Christian, a lukewarm Christian, a fair-weather Christian, or a part-time Christian. You may be saying to yourself that it’s all well and good for the Apostles to do those things because God was setting up His new church in a new way and had a very specific plan for them and was empowering them for it – but what difference is there between you and them? Were you not called? Were you not washed, sanctified, and justified? Do you not have works put in place ahead of time that you may walk in them? Do you not have that exact same Holy Spirit within you in a world that’s arguably way more in need of the Gospel than ever before? What are you doing with that Holy Spirit? We must not be content to pull Him off the shelf on Sundays, or to persuade ourselves that we’ll get to know Him later. We must not treat Him as confined to the pages of Scripture as if it were another temple – you have the Holy Spirit within you, right here and right now, eager to get to work not only in your life but the lives of others! Remember, God does not make waste, so any time spent with Him trying better to deny yourself, time spent learning to bear your cross to follow Him is time very well spent. You must pray for boldness, for courage to follow and speak and witness. Though this will look different for everyone, nobody is exempt from this charge to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age,” (Luke 28-19-20). Prayer: Lord God our Father, we thank you for free access into your presence through Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. Please awaken us from our comforts and our slumber that we might tread the narrow path with diligence and integrity. Please set us free from the prison of our comfort zone that we might fully rely on you and the power of your Holy Spirit, and so fill us with that Spirit that we might exude Christ in everything we say and do. Please forgive us our sins and renew in us a new heart! Amen. Song: Oceans - Hillsongs UNITED Text: Acts 3-4 (Ps 120)
Observe Some days after the astonishing events of Pentecost, Peter and John, enroute to pray, encounter a lame beggar, hand out and eyes hopeful, near the temple’s Beautiful Gate. Peter gives him something unexpected – healing in the Name of Jesus! This Name utterly changes the man’s life: “… leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.” (3:8) The onlookers are agog. Peter tells them strongly that Jesus, who died at their hands and rose from death, healed the man. Encountering a captive audience, Peter seizes the opportunity to witness to the Lord Jesus, in all the power the Spirit gives. The encounter with temple VIPs and Sadducees is less salutary -- they arrest Peter and John. Standing before the Council next morning, Peter has another opportunity to boldly proclaim Jesus, reminding them the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. (4:11; Ps.118:22) Hearing an untrained fisherman speak with such conviction and wisdom, seeing the former beggar healed, they are silenced. To show them who’s boss, they sternly warn Peter and John to speak no more to anyone in this name (17). As if that would stop them! Meanwhile, 5000 who heard the disciples encountered Christ that day. Returning to their new gathered community, praise and heartfelt petitions for more boldness, healings, signs and wonders in Jesus’ name invite a fresh, powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit. Luke beautifully portrays the unity and amity, generosity, witness and grace in the newborn church (32-37). We encounter Joseph Bar Nabas, a Cypriot (who later accompanies Paul in spreading the Gospel): he sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. (37) Interpret Actions demand explanations, which Peter provides in his second major sermon to the crowd awed at God’s work. He exhorts them to repent of rejecting Jesus as the Messiah – his sermon theme in Acts. ‘Name’ – one’s identity – reveals Jesus as healer (Yahweh Rapha), by Peter’s faith in Him. Peter makes no bones about their complicity in Jesus’ crucifixion. Their ‘ignorance’ in rejecting Jesus as Messiah doesn’t let them off the hook. The Sadducees ‘worked closely with the Romans to protect their own political and economic interests’ (ESV Study Bible, note, p. 2087); their ignorance of the immense compassion of God erases any concern for those outside their privileged circle. Torah is their rule book, but they have never encountered the living God. (Jn 5:42,44) The swift growth of the church by the power of the Holy Spirit is staggering. Generosity characterizes the believing community; no one is needy. Barnabas (‘Son of Encouragement’) exemplifies this voluntary sacrificial giving, impelled by the love of Jesus in the Spirit. Apply Jesus asks, “What do you want?” (Jn 1:38) Hmmm. Well … Boldness in witnessing as the Spirit fills us with passionate love for God. Fearlessness in speaking truth out of love. Gentleness in the face of mockery. Trusting in God as we encounter roadblocks. Loving despite others’ anger or contempt. Risking rejection as we urge repentance. We so need to be an engaged, active, Christ-centred church, learning to encourage, pray, love, reach out, share the love of Christ. We so need to know Christ. Ask In encountering people who don’t believe, would You give me the opportunity and the words to speak You, Jesus? Would You remake me emboldened, fearless, passionate, vulnerable, risking all for You? Best ask Your Spirit for His power and Your love, yes? Pray Let me cling to You, living God, so that Peter-like I courageously witness to Your transforming love, forgiveness and ever-new life. I put away my ‘private religion’ that has silenced me for too long. When I open my mouth, Lord, fill it with Your words of love and compassion, in Jesus’ holy name. Sing Ps 120: A song of ascents Autumn Dawn Leader Ps. 120: When I was in Trouble I Called on the Lord Ps. 120: I am a Man of Peace Jason Coghill “ ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”
Acts 1: 8 Acts 1-2 (Psalm 119: 153-176) Observe
Interpret The Church comes ALIVE! The Risen Jesus leaves His followers to enable the arrival of the Holy Spirit and His Kingdom’s power, for all in this present age. He left in Glory, He will return in Glory. His Body is now the Church, with a purpose to live as witnesses to His glory and truth. This Church, founded on Christ, the Chief Cornerstone, was then to be built around the Apostles. The Apostles had two qualifications: they were actual witnesses to the resurrection; and they knew Jesus, not just knew about Him (in short they were companions of Jesus). Matthias replaced Judas. In the Anglican Church, Bishops are viewed as being in an ‘Apostolic succession;’ an uninterrupted line of continuity from these Apostles. The Day of Pentecost, the Feast of Weeks – fifty days after the Passover, a week of weeks. The feast had two main significances: it commemorated the law given to Moses on Mt. Sinai; and it gave thanks to God for ingathered harvests. The Holy Spirit arrived on this day, empowering the Kingdom Jesus brought to earth within the New Covenant (Christ fulfilling the Law). A spiritual harvest was immediately gathered in with 3000 souls reaped through the Spirit enabled preaching of the Apostle Peter. This preaching was an announcement which included teaching, exhortation and application. It concluded with a statement of salvation through Christ alone and gave direction for response. The Church was born and immediately grew! Application There are many areas for application that we could focus upon. In this era of pandemic though, I want to focus on the characteristics of the early church; there is much for us to compare in context. 120 became 3120 in one afternoon with no building to call their own; the Temple courts and homes sufficed. There was much to work out in leadership, communication, teaching, structure, care and fellowship. In isolation, reduced corporate numbers, Cords and Small Groups we can empathise and learn. So, the characteristics to emulate: the early Church was a learning church that dedicated herself to the Apostles teaching; she was a praying Church that sought the Lord in all situations; she was a church that partook in fellowship working out how to stay together; she was a worshipping church ‘breaking bread' together (probably corporately and in homes and probably with meals); she was a sharing church where needs were met by one another; she was a church where things happened, the Holy Spirit was active; and she was a happy church. This Church was on fire, people came to look; they joined! The Question of Application How might these characteristics be nurtured and grown at St. Aidan’s or in your home Church? What might you do to enable this? Prayer Lord, help us to wait upon you, so as to be filled with your Holy Spirit. Empower us and motivate us to learn, pray, worship and share in joy filled fellowship where you are active. In so doing may we give glory to you and be a light to our world. In the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen. Praise Come, Blessed Spirit (SATB) - Johann Wolfgang Franck, arr. Douglas E. Wagner Spirit lead me by Michael Ketterer Text: Luke 23-24
Observe: We reach, at last, the denouement of Luke’s Gospel. The Jewish leaders have done their worst in convicting Jesus on their trumped up charges, and have taken Him to governor Pontius Pilate for punishment. After questioning Jesus, Pilate concludes that He has done nothing wrong. The Chief Priests continue their accusations of falsehoods, but since Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate sends him to King Herod for trail. But, Herod is disappointed that Jesus would not perform any “tricks” for him, and despite the leaders’ vehement accusations against Him, finds no fault in Jesus and sends Him back to Pilate. Once again, Pilate finds nothing wrong with Jesus, but he offers to punish Him and then release Him. That’s not good enough for the Jewish leaders, and they demand that Barabbas be released instead, and that Jesus should be crucified. A third time Pilate says he can find no grounds for the death penalty that the crowd is now clamoring for, but his reasoning is rejected by the people, and so he relents and gives the orders for Jesus’ execution. Jesus is led away, and as He carries the cross, Simon of Cyrene is conscripted to help Him carry it. As they walk along the way, Jesus tells the women crying out not to weep for Him, but to weep for themselves and their children, because difficult times are coming for His followers. Nailed to the cross, Jesus is mocked by the people, by the soldiers, and even by one of the two criminals crucified alongside Him. The other criminal, however, acknowledges that they are deserving of death for their crimes, but not Jesus who did nothing wrong. After his confession, Jesus forgives the man and tells him that he will enter paradise (the kingdom of God) with Jesus. When Jesus breathed His last, the temple curtain was torn in two, and a Roman centurion praised God and declared Jesus a righteous man. Then Joseph of Arimathea placed Jesus’ body into his own tomb so the body could be properly prepared for burial after the Sabbath. On the first day of the week, the women came to prepare Jesus’ body for burial but found the stone at the tomb’s entrance had been rolled away and two men in brightly shining clothes inside. The men told the women that Jesus was not there, that He was risen, just as He had foretold them. When the women told the rest of the followers what they had seen, no one believed them, so Peter went and looked for himself. Sure enough the tomb was empty and Peter went away wondering what it all meant. Later that day, as two of HIs followers were walking along the road to Emmaus, Jesus Himself came alongside them and they had a long conversation about what had happened to Jesus in Jerusalem, but at first they didn’t recognize Him. When they reached their destination, the two men convinced Jesus to stay with them for the evening. It was during supper when Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread and gave it to them that they finally recognized who He was, and then He disappeared from their sight. Amazed and excited the two men hurried back to Jerusalem to tell the others what they had seen. As they were telling the story, Jesus came and appeared in their midst and said, ”Peace be with you”. The disciples were afraid and thought He was a ghost, but Jesus calmed their fears by showing them the holes in His hands and feet and inviting them to touch His flesh. As final proof, He ate a piece of fish to show that He really had risen. He then opened their minds to the full truth of the scriptures, and confirmed that they were witnesses to all these things. He said they would receive what He had promised them, but they should wait in the city until they had been clothed in power from on High. After leading His disciples outside, where He gave them their final blessing. And while Jesus was blessing them, He was taken up to heaven, and they returned to the city praising God with great joy. Interpret: Nobody wanted to take direct responsibility for Jesus’ death. The Jewish leaders had condemned Him, but had no authority to execute Him, nor did they desire to have His blood on their hands. So they sent Him to Pilate. Pilate could find no guilt in Jesus under Roman law, and didn’t want to execute Him just because the Jews had asked him to. He wanted to demonstrate that he was in charge, not them. But he was a weak man, and when he discovered Jesus was from Galilee, he sent Him to King Herod to execute. But Herod had no desire to kill Jesus either because he didn’t take Him seriously and thought He was just a performer. When Jesus wouldn’t perform a miracle for Herod’s entertainment, he was disappointed and sent Jesus back to Pilate. Once again, Pilate could find no fault in Jesus, but not wanting to start a riot among his subjects, caved in to the demands of the leaders, and handed Jesus over for crucifixion. As this unjust scene was played out, the hypocrisy, deceit, and self-centered character flaws of each of these so-called leaders was exposed for all of us to see, and it was a pathetic display. Only Jesus’ followers showed any sign of compassion or sorrow, and even among them, only a few remained to the very end. Yet even as Jesus was mocked on the cross, the most fundamental promise of the Christian faith was demonstrated. One of the thieves crucified alongside Jesus confesses that he had done many wrongs and deserved his punishment, but in the final moments of his life, he asks Jesus to remember him when He comes into His kingdom. This is not just lip service by a criminal, with no real love for Jesus hoping to buy his passage to heaven, but a genuine moment of self-reflection and true sorrow for his sin, accompanied by real faith. This is a man with only a few breaths left to live, struggling to speak to Jesus, whose earthly mission is about to end in apparent abject failure, professing his faith in Christ’s heavenly kingdom. And mercifully, Jesus responds by telling him that He would see the man in paradise. The man’s faith in the salvation bought by Jesus is a Divine promise which is good to the very last moment of life. Jesus brings the parable of the Vineyard Workers (Matthew 20) into real life. Regardless of when we come to true faith in Jesus during our lives, whether early in life or at the very last moment, the gift of eternal life is given freely by our gracious God. After Jesus’ resurrection, we see Him appear to people who knew Him intimately and yet they did not recognize him at first. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus didn’t recognise Him until He opened their eyes at the supper table, even though they had spent much of the day in deep discussion of scripture with Him. The eleven remaining disciples in Jerusalem thought they were seeing a ghost when Jesus appeared in their midst. They had to see the holes in His hands and feet, touch His skin and watch Him eat a piece of fish before they could believe He had actually risen, just as He had told them He would. Luke’s Gospel ends with Jesus blessing the disciples and rises up to heaven. Application: An interesting little feature of the resurrection stories in each of the Gospels, including Luke, is the huge stone that was rolled away from the entrance to the tomb. Why was the stone rolled away before the empty tomb was discovered? Surely, it was not needed to be rolled away by the angel just to let Jesus out. The Lord of Creation, who had performed so many healing miracles, calmed the storm, fed the five thousand, returned Lazarus to life, and defeated death itself, would not, could not be prevented from leaving the tomb by a mere rock no matter how big and heavy it was. The stone was rolled away not to let Jesus out, but to let us see in. The truth of the resurrection, and indeed all of scripture, was laid open before us. God Himself removed the final barrier between Himself and us by paying the ultimate price for our sins, and rising to eternal life. The light of His truth can now flood into the darkest recesses of our lives. In freeing Himself from the tomb of rock, He has freed us from the death of sin. All we have to do is believe in the salvation that Jesus Christ bought for us on the cross. And we will see Him in paradise. Questions: Is there a stone of unbelief rolled across your heart? Do you believe that Jesus could love you at least as much as the repentant criminal on the cross next to Him? How much proof do you need? Prayer: Father God, we pray that your Holy Spirit might roll away the stone of doubt in our hearts. Help us to give ourselves to you as freely as the condemned prisoner, that we might work for your glory in all that we do in the work that you have planned for us. In the name of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. Song: God’s Not Dead: Newsboys Text: Luke Chapters 21-22
OBSERVE: Within these two chapters we read about Jesus foretelling about the destruction of the temple, the coming of wars and persecution and the destruction of Jerusalem. This is followed by the signs of the second coming of Christ and a warning to be alert. We then read again about the plot to kill Jesus and the involvement of Judas. After the institution of the Lord’s Supper; we come across the following statement: The night that he was arrested, Jesus told his disciples, “The time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: “He was counted among the rebels.” Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true” (Luke 22:37). INTERPRET: This prophecy about Jesus from Isaiah 53:12 was also foreshadowed in the experience of Joseph in the book of Genesis. Just as Joseph, though completely innocent, was cast into prison, so Jesus was falsely accused, lied about, and unjustly sentenced to death. There on the cross, Jesus was flanked by two notorious rebels. The gospel of Luke records that one of the rebels scoffed at Jesus while the other rebel embraced Jesus. Just as Joseph would be a means of blessing to one companion but the pronouncement of judgement to the other, so Jesus gave life to the repentant thief while the other thief perished. Joseph asked the cup-bearer to “please remember me” to Pharaoh because he was innocent. The repentant thief asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his Kingdom because he knew he was guilty. Christ, the truly innocent One, had taken on his guilt. Jesus was counted among the rebels, so that even the real rebels can be counted as innocent. APPLICATION: Luke 23:39 records that one of the rebels hanging beside Jesus scoffed at him saying “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself – and us, too, while you’re at it!” The other rebel protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he turned to Jesus: “remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23: 40-43). Jesus was fulfilling prophecy and his purpose by dying the death of a rebel in order to make intercession for the real rebels – those with rebel hearts. Jesus has taken on our guilt and was counted as a rebel so that we can truly be innocent and free. But we have to choose to accept this wonderful gift. We can choose to resist this wonderful gift just like the scoffing rebel. Or we can choose to hand over our rebellious hearts and surrender all to our Victorious King. REFLECTION: Have you handed over your rebel heart and surrendered all? PRAYER: Victorious King; because of my sin I was counted among the rebels. But Jesus, you have taken my place there. You were counted among the rebels so that one day I will be counted among the vast crowd, too great to count, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. AMEN. SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOigUnIUWIY Luke chapter 14-16
Observe: These two chapters of the Gospel of Luke are largely all parables, though they begin with Jesus being closely observed while attending a dinner at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees. A man came in with a bodily ailment and Jesus, under close scrutiny, asked if it was legal to heal on the Sabbath. Having no answer, Jesus healed the man and sent him on his way. Jesus then noticed the disparity in how different people at the dinner were given different places of honour and tells the Parable of the Wedding Feast. Going further, Jesus tells the Parable of the Great Banquet, Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Prodigal Son, and the Dishonest Manager. He also speaks on the cost of discipleship saying “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple,” (14:26). He also mentions divorce and remarriage, followed by the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Interpret: It is no question that the Gospel of Luke is full of parables, indeed some of the most famous parables known not only to those who have read the Bible but those who have never opened the book. The story of the Prodigal Son permeates even secular media with it’s beauty and loving message, along with countless other parables. It is impossible to interpret even one of these parables in one blog or a thousand blogs, so instead we’ll stay focused on the big picture. We can find ourselves so familiar with these parables that we can read them and gloss over their significance, missing their value. Something I noticed that helped me get a fresh read on what Jesus said and taught was the setting in which this all took place, a dinner with the Pharisees! When we remember to hear these teachings as pointed directly at the religious elite, they take on an entirely different meaning and tone. The Pharisees were sticklers for rank, order, dress, prestige, the law, and so much more. They loved being seen as the most zealous and religious, but Jesus continually lambastes them for following the law so closely that they actually miss the Spirit, the over-all picture of what God is all about. Jesus goes out of His way to make sure that He describes in great detail the nature of God and His Kingdom, pointing directly to the Pharisees saying “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your heart. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God,” (16:15). The point of these Parables is to reveal to us the Kingdom of God, so let us read them again with fresh eyes! Application and Question: Picture the setting in which Luke 14-16 took place. Put yourself at the lowliest place at the table at which Christ and the religious elite ate and sense the tension in the room as a group of over-zealous elders try and trap the Messiah in His own words. Take note of the mix of tender love and frustration in the voice of Christ as He is spelling out what should be obvious to the people of Israel – the rebuke and the care. Smell the food being passed around in silence as one man or another speaks, decades and generations of religion and law being stood on its head by this simple tradesman from Galilee. With all this in mind, read the words of Jesus slowly and imagine just how much He would have made some of the Pharisees bristle with indignation while others fall into deep thought. In such a great time of social pressure, Jesus doesn’t back down but instead lays out some of the most beautiful parables in the Bible; the Lost Sheep, the Prodigal Son, would have stricken the heart of some and hardened the hearts of others. The stern and simple rebuke quoted above would have provoked an outcry from those who thought themselves justified by the law, yet are revealed to have gained nothing by it. Read all this – take a bit of time and use the imagination God gave you and know that Jesus spoke these words not just for them but for you today. Soak yourself in the beautiful and humbling truth that you are a sheep on the shoulders of the Good Shepherd, the Son or Daughter that was still a long way off when you see your Father running to you, and at the end of it all, let us pray to go the way of Lazarus, despising the things of this world and clinging only to the hand of God Almighty. Prayer: Father God, I thank you for the words and example of your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for revealing the Kingdom of Heaven to the broken in heart and spirit. I pray that everyone who reads these incredible parables will approach them with new eyes and a fresh heart, rinsed well in prayer and repentant of all sins. Please walk with us today and let us be an example of the only Truth and Reconciliation that can make a difference – that is, a new life and new heart in Jesus Christ. Amen! Luke Chapters 12-13
OBSERVE: In chapter 13, we come across a story of Jesus healing a crippled woman on the Sabbath. This story is only found in the gospel of Luke: On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath”. The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her? When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. (Luke 13: 10-17). INTERPRET: The synagogue leader is not suggesting here that it is a bad idea for Jesus to heal the suffering woman. The issue that the synagogue leader has is the timing – being on the Sabbath day. The synagogue leader contends that healing on this day is violating the Sabbath because the healing requires “work”. Because the healing requires work it is therefore preventing the Sabbath day from being holy in his opinion. The response of Jesus implies that it is not about what constitutes as work but rather it is about the kinds of activities and aims that truly reflect the purpose of the Sabbath. By pointing out that people rightly care for their livestock on the Sabbath, how much more should they have compassion on people on the Sabbath. Nothing in the law forbids the act of compassion. Rather, compassion upholds the foundational principles of the Sabbath laws which is rooted in God’s commitment to bring people out of bondage (Deuteronomy 5: 12-15). APPLICATION: Although seen as a rebel by many; this was just another case of Jesus coming to fulfill the Law. Not only was Jesus the fulfillment of the Law, he lived out the Law to perfection. To Jesus, it was a good thing to set free a human being on the Sabbath in order to restore them. Although the Sabbath commandment was rooted in God’s commitment to free people out of bondage, the essence of this law was lost over time. The additional bridge rules and the enforcement of them overshadowed and blurred the real purpose of the Sabbath. It is easy for us today to let rigid rules prevent us from acting in a compassionate way. We often miss the real purpose behind the rules which then puts up barriers. This story of Jesus on the Sabbath helps us to pause and reflect. Any rule that prevents us from acting with a compassionate heart should be deeply examined. Any rule that inhibits another from being restored needs a complete makeover; just like this example from Jesus. REFLECTION: Have you embraced others with a compassionate heart the same way that Jesus has embraced you? PRAYER: Lord of the Sabbath; give me a heart of compassion; give me hope for the lost. I ask for a deep passion for those who are broken. Enable me your beloved servant; to put your Word into action. AMEN. SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taluSSa9vYo OBSERVATION
INTERPRETATION
QUESTION Do I model my life after Jesus in his practice of prayer and praise to God our Father? PRAYER Dear Lord Jesus, we are so thankful you came to our world to show us what God the Father is like. Remind us to always choose the true and right path to follow you. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we might do the good tasks you’ve given us to do. SONG. Lead on Lord – Bruce Moore, Jennifer Manhas Text: Luke 8-9
Observe: In these chapters we find Jesus doing what He does best, teaching the people about the kingdom of heaven, healing the sick, and performing miracles. Chapter 8 opens with Jesus traveling with His followers from town to town, and He tells them the parable of the sower. The seeds are the Word of God, and the different types of soil upon which the seeds fell are the people who hear the word and how they respond to it. He warns them to listen carefully and take heed of what He says. The crowds are so thick around Jesus that His mother and brothers are not able to get close to Him, but Jesus tells the disciples that His family is actually those who hear God’s word and obey. Jesus takes His disciples across the lake, and takes a nap. While He is sleeping, a fierce storm kicks up and boat is in danger of being swamped, so the disciples wake Jesus and alert Him to their fear. At that, Jesus gets up and calms the wind and the waves, and asks them what happened to their faith? Still, the disciples ask themselves how it is that Jesus can accomplish these things. Having sailed across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes, Jesus encounters a man possessed by many demos. The demons immediately recognize Jesus as the Son of God, and plead with Him not to be tortured, and would rather live in a herd of nearby pigs. Jesus grants their request and drives them into the pigs, who immediately run into the lake and are drowned. Once the people see what has happened, they demand that He leave their area at once, so once again, He crosses the lake to the other side. Upon arriving, Jesus is called to heal a dying young girl, but as He’s on His way, a sick woman touches His robe to be healed of her 12 year-long affliction. When she confesses to being the one who touched Him, He tells her that her faith has made her well. This short delay was enough for the young girl to die, but that’s no obstacle for Jesus and He raises her up again. In Chapter 9, Jesus sends out the twelve on a mission to preach the good news of the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick and drive out demons. They are to take no provisions whatsoever, and only accept whatever hospitality they are offered on the way. The apostles return and report everything they had done. These miracles make the people, including King Herod, wonder about Jesus teachings. The crowds follow Jesus wherever He goes. At Bethsaida, Jesus teaching and healing lasts long into the afternoon, and the disciples ask Him to dismiss the people because they were in a remote area and without food and lodging. When Jesus tells them to feed the people, they ask Him with what? They only have 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and there are more than 5 thousand people in attendance. Jesus takes the food, gives thanks to heaven, breaks it into pieces and miraculously, there is more than enough to feed everyone. Later, in a private moment with His disciples, Jesus asks who the people think He is, to which they tell Him, John the Baptist, or Elijah, or one of the old prophets come back to life. Then He asks who they think He is, and Peter says “God’s Messiah”. Jesus declares Peter correct in his declaration, and then predicts His own death, and says that if they want to follow Him, they must deny themselves and take up their crosses daily. Shortly thereafter, Jesus took Peter, John and James and went to the mountains to pray. While there, He was transformed into a bright shining figure and two other men, Moses and Elijah, appeared with Him to discuss His coming departure. As the dazed disciples looked on, a voice from heaven declared, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” And all at once they were alone with Jesus again. When they returned to town, Jesus healed yet another demon-possessed boy whom the other disciples were not able to help because of their inadequate faith. While the people were marvelling at this, Jesus predicted His own death to His disciples. Still they didn’t understand, and argued among themselves about who would be the greatest, and Jesus indicated that it was the least of them who would be the greatest. As they were walking through Samaria, they were prevented from staying in one of their towns, so James and John wanted to bring down fire from heaven to destroy them, but Jesus said no, and they continued on their way. As they walked along various people asked to follow Him, but when Jesus said “follow me”, they all had other things to do first before they could do that. Interpret: Jesus’ opening parable about the sower is brought to vivid life in these ensuing two chapters. Wherever He went, He told the people about the kingdom of heaven and spread the good news of salvation. These were the seeds the sower spread, the word of God, and we can see in this narrative how the various people responded to the word. Those that heard the word of God but didn’t let in take hold I their heart were like the owners of the herd of pigs, who only saw their financial investment drowned in the lake and drove Jesus away. They saw the cost of following Jesus and decided it was too much in earthly terms. The demons were able to recognize Jesus on sight as the Son of God, but most of the people, including the disciples, didn’t fully understand who Jesus really was, even after hearing His teachings and witnessing His miracles. But those who heard the word and believed, they were the ones who were blessed with being released from their demons and physical afflictions. As Jesus travelled about the countryside, He spoke the words of life and healed the people who believed in Him, yet He never, ever forced anyone to accept Him. He always allowed them to believe or not as they wished, even though as God, He could have made them do so. When He sent the 12 out to spread the word, He told them to stay where they were welcomed, and to leave if they were not. When the Samaritans refused to allow them to stay in their town, rather than destroy them, Jesus simply left them in peace and went on His way. He always let people decide for themselves if they would follow Him or not. Even His disciples, who were with Him almost constantly, didn’t always get it. They were first-hand witnesses to His healing and miracles, and were given more in-depth teaching than the crowds, yet they often failed to understand what He meant or who He actually was. Yet with infinite patience, Jesus continued to teach His disciples by word and example. Application: Just like with the people of His day, Jesus allows us to decide for ourselves whether we will follow Him or not. He taught them. He fed them. He healed them. And then He said to them, “Follow me.” Today, the physical Jesus may not be walking and talking among us, but we can still read of His ministry. We can read the scriptures and see the truth of what He said. Today, Jesus continues to sow the seeds of the gospel of salvation, and we must decide for ourselves whether there is good soil in our hearts, or if it is hard-packed, rocky and full of weeds. When we spend time with Him in prayer or in scripture reading, we allow Him to work the soil of our hearts and allow the seeds to take a better hold of our thoughts, our intentions, our being and our doing. Like His disciples, we may not always get it, but Jesus was patient with them and He is patient with us. Questions: Do you think you would recognize Jesus if He walked through your neighbourhood? Would you follow Him, even if it cost you everything? Prayer: Father God, we pray that by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit, our hearts may be filled with good soil, so your word can take root in our lives, your good works can be undertaken by our hands, and the story of salvation can be shared by our lips. May everything we think, say and do bring honour and glory to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Song: Here’s my Heart: Casting Crowns |
Preachers BlogIn 2024, each week's blog is a follow-up reflection written by the preceding Sunday’s preacher to dig deeper into the sermon topic and explore engaging discussion questions. Archives
June 2024
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