Reading Luke at Christmas, chapter 7

In chapter 7, Luke tells us about an important Roman who examples tremendous faith and respect.  He did not demand Jesus to come, but reached out to Jesus to bring healing to someone under his care.   Intercession.

The Roman centurion could have sent the sick slave to where Jesus was.  He could have demanded Jesus be brought to him.   But this Roman recognized the authority of Jesus and simply made a request on behalf of another.

According to Luke, Jesus not only healed the Romans servant,  but restored life to a widow's son.

Luke goes on:

  “The disciples of John reported to him about all these things.  Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?" ( verses 17-19 NASB) 

There is a lot that has been said about John the baptizer questioning Jesus, some of it critical and negative.  I am thankful for the inclusion in scripture of John voicing his question.   


It would be easy to judge quickly and pronounce that John should have known better, that he was wrong to have any questions about who Jesus was, that he had little faith.   

(Jesus has just taught me in chapter 6 of Luke’s account to extend grace in my judgment of others in verses 37, 38 )




John sat in prison.   It sure didn’t look like he might have expected.  He had proclaimed the arrival of the long awaited Messiah, the king of Israel.  And Jesus was not coming to his rescue, not delivering him from imprisonment.   In fact, John would be beheaded....

John did not accuse, was not disrespectful...he was honest.  He didn’t try to fake it til he made it, he didn’t put on his church face and bury his questions within.  He took it straight to Jesus.  

“He sent two of them to the Master to ask the question, "Are you the One we've been expecting, or are we still waiting?"

The men showed up before Jesus and said, "John the Baptizer sent us to ask you, 'Are you the One we've been expecting, or are we still waiting?'"

“In the next two or three hours Jesus healed many from diseases, distress, and evil spirits. To many of the blind he gave the gift of sight.

Then he gave his answer: "Go back and tell John what you have just seen and heard: The blind see, The lame walk, Lepers are cleansed, The deaf hear, The dead are raised, The wretched of the earth have God's salvation hospitality extended to them.” ( verses 19-22 from The Message) 

When Jesus read in the Nazareth synagogue (chapter 4), He read the words of the prophet Isiah about Himself.   “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners...” ( Isaiah 6:1 NASB) 

Jesus then proclaimed to those hearing Him that the scripture had been fulfilled in their hearing. The Messiah would do miraculous things.  And He was the fulfillment of the prophecy.  

Here in Luke 7, after hearing the message about John’s questions, it seems Jesus was very purposeful in His answer to John. 

“ At that very time Jesus healed many people. They had illnesses, sicknesses and evil spirits. He also gave sight to many who were blind.” (Verse 21 NIrV) 

Then he sent His answer by those who had witnessed His miracles.  

“Jesus replied to the messengers, "Go back to John...” (Verse 22 NIrV).  The very prophecy spoken by Isaiah was unfolding that very moment.  

“Yes, John...it’s Me.”  That is what Jesus made John to know.  

I take such encouragement from this.  Certainly it is right to be respectful of the deity and holiness of God.  But He IS approachable, even with our questions and struggles!  Even John the Baptist had questions and needed clarification. 

This is one of many examples where I believe scripture encourages us to be honest with our own selves before God.  

Search the scripture, prayerfully asking that He will reveal Himself.

Face the truth about our own hearts, and ask.  Anything!  

Not demanding, but honestly seeking clarification and assistance in our obediently following after Him, even if we are waiting in a situation that looks hopeless.  

John did.   

Reading Luke at Christmas, chapter 6

Reading Luke at Christmas 
Chapter 6
December 6, 2019

I remember a sermon a very long time ago about fruit inspecting.  

“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  So then, you will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:17-20 NASB)

Those are the words of Jesus recorded by Matthew, not Luke.  

How many times remarks are made about judging!

  “Leave the judging to Jesus.” 

I’ve heard it so often, probably have said it....

It is a very rich topic, certainly too much for a short little essay by a formally untrained Bible student.   I have, however, read a lot and studied a lot...and each time I hear scripture speak about this topic, I have one personal reprimand within.   Grace.  

Yes, I can see the fruit in your life, good or bad, or the lack of it. And you can see mine.

Yes, we should exhibit visible evidence (fruit) in our lives. And you should be able to see mine.

And yes....we should extend the grace to others that we so need ourselves!  I surely do want it, need it, and appreciate it being given.  

Luke gives us this:  "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned” (verse 37 NASB)

The Message says it like this: "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier.” 

I could write twenty essays on Luke 6.  There are dozens and dozens of rich lessons for us from Jesus’s  teaching.  

Blessings and woes. 

Instructions to love.

Solid foundations. 

Trees and fruit.

And judging others.....

What is in my heart will come out in my speech and in my behavior.  Rather than looking at your fruit, I’d best be looking at my own.  

Reading Luke at Christmas, chapter 5, third post

“Some men arrived carrying a paraplegic on a stretcher. They were looking for a way to get into the house and set him before Jesus. When they couldn't find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right in front of Jesus....” (verses 18-19 The Message) 

This struck home.  

Just weeks ago, we carried one of our own family and set him before Jesus.  

Prayerfully begging God for guidance, to open doors, and slam the wrong ones, begging Him to grant life and restoration....

“....he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen remarkable things today." (verses 25-26 NASB)

We saw remarkable things.  Someone reading this may have prayed with us for the healing that came.  

I hope both of these healed paralytic will be in heaven and will meet up to discuss their experiences. 

 And I hope I can sit in a corner and listen....

Reading Luke at Christmas chapter 5

”When he finished teaching, he said to Simon, "Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch."

 Simon said, "Master, we've been fishing hard all night and haven't caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I'll let out the nets."  

It was no sooner said than done—a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch..”

 (verses 4-7 from The Message)

When Jesus noticed the boat at the edge of the water where a crowd had surrounded Him, He chose to use it by pushing out onto the water a distance and speaking from there.

Fishing was not for fun with these guys, it was work...a long unproductive night of it.  I wonder if they weren’t ready for a hot meal and a long nap.  But this Teacher was here on the beach...

Not only did Jesus want to use the boat to speak from, He wanted a little fishing excursion!

Jesus was a carpenter, not a fisherman.  Simon, on the other hand, did it for a living.  In fact, he had fished all night, which was routine. But they caught nothing.  The fish would go to much deeper water in the heat of coming day.  Further work was futile in his experience.

It is interesting that Simon addresses Jesus as “Master”.   Was it purely respect?  Or could he have had a little attitude?  “OK, boss...we fish all the time, we fished all night, they aren’t biting...but we will do it just for you...just so you know.”

Maybe not.  

That would have been my attitude I’m afraid.   But I’m probably the only one with an attitude problem.  

??? 

Reading Luke at Christmas, chapter 5, second post

“...there was a man covered with leprosy..” (verse 12 NASB)  

Leprosy was deadly, contagious, and ugly.  

Luke was a doctor and he tells us that this man was covered.  The original word means just that. 

plērēs...covered over, fully covered. 

There were strict laws concerning lepers.  If you got leprosy, your life as you knew it was pretty much over.  You were unclean.   You could no longer live like before, no touching, no spreading your disease. 

Leviticus 13 is full of the rules about it.

I think it might have been even worse than hearing the word cancer today.  Hope would be hard to hold on to.  There were no medications like are available today,  no hospitals that specialized in care for that disease.  

“...when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can.....” (verse 12 NASB)

When he saw...

If You are willing...

You can...

When we are utterly helpless and hopeless, may we all be like this leper. 

Oh that we would see Jesus, know that He can, and trust that He is willing!

“...when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." And He stretched out His hand and touched him..”  (verses 12, 13 NASB) 

This leprous man, who had been secluded and untouchable to all others, felt the touch of Jesus   

And was healed.   

Reading Luke at Christmas, chapter 4, third post

I have an afternoon at home, nothing pressing left that I need to do.  Solitude.... some people don’t seem to enjoy it.  I crave it.

“...Jesus left and went to a secluded place...” (verse 42 NASB)

As I read thru the fourth chapter again, This one sentence grabbed me.   Jesus Himself needed a little time of solitude.  

Certainly He was in prayer...but I wonder if His humanity didn’t need the same thing I do?  Time to clear the mind, dump the trash from the brain, unwind the mayhem, and reflect on the events of the time passed. 

If Jesus searched out a quiet place to prayerfully process and regroup, who are we to think we can push thru, day after day, without some moments of solitude with our Creator?  

Maybe the reason some people don’t enjoy solitude is because they do the wrong thing with it?  Perhaps some people just don’t enjoy their own company, refusing to face realities, they do as scripture says not to do...

“ Do not quench the Spirit..” (1 Thessalonians 5:19 NASB) 

There sure have been times when I did not want to hear what that still small Voice was saying! But I know this....He is always always right.  

I am never, ever really alone, but I have felt the most alone in the busiest, most crowded place.  Sitting in my home alone this afternoon, with only this sleeping poodle, it’s just me and Jesus.  

Praise God for Luke and his detailed account of Jesus’ life lived in flesh.  I am so thankful for scripture that comes to life and so vividly applies itself to my own struggles and gives me encouragement that I have a Savior and Friend Who knows just what it is really like...

Reading Luke for Christmas, Chapter 4, December 4, 2019, second post

 “When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.” 

(Verse 14 NASB)

Jesus was assaulted by the enemy’s lies and manipulations, He was made aware of alternate courses of His life, and He walked that time without falling prey to the devil. Forty days!   

I would have felt like “whew..! I’m glad that’s over!” 

But it was not.  

We all go thru seasons of extreme difficulty.  As for me, I doubt I have ever gotten thru them without falling into wrong and sinful behavior.  When things get better, answers are obvious, I rejoice that it’s over.   And then BAM.  Another battle, on the same field of life or a different one.   Or even BOTH,  

Jesus knows what that’s like.  After forty intense, lonely days, it was not over.  

I wonder how often Satan tried again.  Daily?  Hourly? 

We know we have a Friend Who knows the battle ground well.   

Reading Luke for Christmas, chapter 4, December 4, 2019

"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness  for forty days, being tempted by the devil."
(Luke 4:1,2 NASB)

This is hard. There is no warm fuzzy feeling thinking about Jesus fighting the devil, alone, for 40 long days. FORTY.

Certainly, God Himself has no capacity for evil, and James tells us plainly, " Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.  Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death."
(James 1:13-15 NASB)

Jesus has just been introduced by the very Voice of Father God, and now subjected to a long difficult  period, 40 days of it!

I remember a song years ago, "I never promised you a rose garden."  Indeed.




John had made the path ready, God had spoken, a dove had descended, it was public.  No turning back.

Unless.....

Jesus could have chosen the way of Satan just as Adam and Eve had.  He could have because He was fully man. (a hard concept for us because He alone was fully human while still fully God).

He did not succumb to the devil's lies.  How?  Luke tells us that Jesus was full of The Holy Spirit, and he tells us Jesus' method as He faced Satan's attack.

IT IS WRITTEN.





It is a devil's lie that being a follower of Jesus Christ makes life a rose garden.  We quote Psalm 23 and feel so comforted that "He makes me to lie down in green pastures, and leads me beside still waters. " (Ps. 23:2 NASB)   And He does!  But not always!

Sometimes our Father God allows hard things to come against us.  He allowed His own precious Son to be alone with the enemy for 40 long days!  FORTY.

 At every calculated attack, Jesus responded with what God had said. 

Most assuredly, every single one of us should be following Jesus.  It is absolutely worth it.

But it absolutely will not always be easy.  Just ask Him.  We can not look at Jesus and say 'You don't know what it's like' because He does.  Full well.

Let us purpose to know what scripture says, to prayerfully search it and know it, because it is the only weapon suitable for fighting Satan. 

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Reading Luke for Christmas, chapter 3, December 3, 2019

After Luke has told us the story of John's birth in Luke chapter one, he now gives precise historical information about John as an adult.


Priests were all from the lineage of Aaron, Moses' brother.  There were many priests with different responsibilities, but there was always only one high priest, and he held his position until his death.

The religious system of the day had become very corrupt and the Roman government put in place it's own religious leaders to maintain control over the Jews.  No matter who the Romans called in, the Jews would have recognized Annas as still being the high priest, no matter what the Roman government said.

Facts like Luke gives us most often can be directly verified by other historical sources of times, events, and people.  The Bible always validates itself, but I find it fascinating when there is ancient world history that agrees in every detail.

Isaiah had foretold about John.  "...the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord'..." (Isaiah 40:3)

John had been set apart from his birth. Luke 1:80 tells us that he became strong in spirit.  He lived outside political influences, even religious or cultural influences were held far off.

He lived in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel. He was born to parents much older than normal, so he could well have been left on his own at a fairly young age.  But in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar's reign, "...the word of God came to John in the wilderness and he came...preaching a baptism of repentance..."  (Luke 3:3 NASB)

 However it looked, John knew he had been given a message and he knew the calling on his life.  John knew it was NOT all about John. In the wilderness of John's life, he got the message from God.  He wasn't putting on his church face, was not looking to make a name for himself, or get people's attention.  But when he spoke, people realized the state they were in.  "What shall we do?" (vs. 12)

The listening audience had heard about the Messiah coming.  All their life they had been taught this story.  "...the people were in a state of expectation....wondering...whether he might be the Christ.." (vs. 15)

John could have had a megachurch.  People crowded to hear him, stood in line to be baptized by him. but still he pointed them to someone else.  "...One is coming who is mightier than I.." (vs. 16)

Greater indeed.





From the heavens a voice announced and introduced the beloved Son of God and Jesus' public ministry began.  (vs. 22)

There would be no waiting, no turning back.  He had been introduced by Father God Himself.

Reading Luke for Christmas, chapter 3, second post

Reading through Luke for Christmas

Chapter 3

#2

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“When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God's judgment?

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 It's your life that must change, not your skin. And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as 'father.' Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants.

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 What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire."

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 The crowd asked him, "Then what are we supposed to do?"

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 "If you have two coats, give one away," he said. "Do the same with your food."

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  Tax men also came to be baptized and said, "Teacher, what should we do?"

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 He told them, "No more extortion—collect only what is required by law."

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Soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He told them, "No shakedowns, no blackmail—and be content with your rations."

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 The interest of the people by now was building. They were all beginning to wonder, "Could this John be the Messiah?"

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But John intervened: "I'm baptizing you here in the river. The main character in this drama, to whom I'm a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out.

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He's going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He'll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he'll put out with the trash to be burned." (verses 7-17 from The Message) 

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Being born into the right family, a part of the right religious heritage was not sufficient for the people standing before John, and it is not enough for us.  

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These people who came to hear John’s message heard words that pointed out areas of sin that needed to be addressed. Being plunged in water had no effect without a true change of heart followed by life actions.  And even the decision and intention to do just that would be futile without the power provided by the One Who came after John.  Messiah, Jesus the Christ.  

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John pointed out the characteristics of the sin in each class of persons who came to hear him, challenged them to stop that sinfulness, awakening the realization that they were helpless to overcome it all, which would in turn urge them to seek divine help.  We all need power outside ourselves for true and complete obedience to God.  

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Thank You Lord Jesus for leaving heaven to provide just that.  

As we look day after day at Luke’s recorded words, we read about Your birth, and your life....a perfect life lived in human flesh, we look at Your holiness and see our utter filth.  We can’t wash it off, we can’t even will to change it, we need You to come in and do that for us.  You can, you desire that.  

Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts that are receptive as we allow You to be borne within.

Reading Luke for Christmas, chapter 2, December 2, 2019

The second chapter of Luke gives us information about Jesus from his birth to twelve years old.

Government requirements are the pits.  I complain regularly about them.  Mary was due with her first baby soon, and government required that she travel with her husband back to the city of the family's origin.  That meant Bethlehem.

Mary was still only engaged to Joseph.  (verse 5)  An engagement in their culture was binding and required a divorce decree to negate.  Luke doesn't tell us all about Joseph's visit from the angel of God, but he had one.

Matthew tells us "...an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21 NASB)

Joseph took his pregnant fiance' and traveled some seventy miles walking or riding an animal just to do what the government required.  Be counted.

I would have complained every step of the way.  I have been pregnant.  Twice.  Poor Mary. I know it must have been a miserable several days.

I think we look at the beautiful nativity scenes and the pretty cards and think of these people as super-saints.  There are no super-heroes in the Bible.  They are flesh and blood people, just like you and me.  Just as apt to complaining, getting weary, discouraged, frightened...

It is possible that Mary and Joseph went on to Bethlehem early, to make the trip easier and to be sure they weren't stranded along the way to deliver a baby on the road.  They obviously had arrived in Bethlehem,  Luke says "WHILE THEY WERE THERE, the days were completed for her to give birth." (Luke 2:6 NASB my emphasis)

It is also possible that the 'inn' was not what we think of as a motel.  Katáluma is the word in the original language that our translators have translated as 'inn'.  The word is also used in Mark 14:14-15 but there, it was translated as  'guest room' and 'upper room'.  (" ...Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'...he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready...")



The word that is translated as "inn" in Luke 10:34 is pandocheús, a completely different word.  (The Samaritan found the injured man, "....came to him and bandaged up his wounds... he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn...")  So, it is likely that Mary and Joseph were turned away from staying in the guest room of a house.   My mind questions if the people shunned Mary because she was with child but not yet married.  There was no room in the house, but they were permitted to stay in the area where the animals were sheltered.

Luk 2:7  And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 

Culture customs would have had travelers coming into Bethlehem staying with relatives. The guest rooms and extra spaces would fill up quickly with close relatives, and even those not so closely related.  It was not uncommon for animals to be kept in the lower levels of houses, especially at night and in cold weather.   Maybe they were inside, maybe not...but there was a feeding trough there.  A manger.  Jesus' first crib.

The nativity plays we see may not portray accurately how it happened, but the important thing is that it DID happen.




Luke also tells us about the shepherds.  Every family had them.  It was usually the youngest boy of the family who became the family shepherd.  If another boy was born into the family, that boy would soon take that position as family shepherd. When the sky lit up with angels that night, there were likely several young boys in the group of shepherds.  A sight like that would be shocking for a grown man, imagine a young boy!

After the angel "...stood before them.." (vs.9) and gave them the information about the Messiah having been born, "...there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God.." (vs. 13)   Then "...the angels had gone away from them into heaven.." (vs. 15)

These shepherds did just what many of us would have done.  "...let us go....and see..." (vs. 15)

Can you imagine the conversation?  I think when you have seen a messenger of God, you KNOW you have seen a messenger of God!  They didn't have to be convinced...they didn't doubt what they had seen and heard, and they said. "Let's go see!!"

Just like a child runs expectantly into the living room on Christmas morning, they "...came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph and the baby as He lay in the manger." (vs. 16)



Luke 2:19 is one of the most profound verses in scripture to me.  "Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart."

Mary knew she had seen God's angel.  She had heard the message he delivered to her.  Now, she found herself with a newborn baby.  She knew that God had promised a Messiah.  And she had just given birth to the embodiment of that promise.

I don't think my mind could ever have stopped the 'what ifs'. As a new mother of an entirely human baby, I felt so very inadequate!  Imagine knowing that you are responsible for the care of the infant Son of God!




Twelve years later, they traveled to Jerusalem for Passover.  The family had set off to go back home and at the end of the day, Jesus wasn't in the group.  I would have been doubly frantic with the 'what ifs' then!

Oh my...I have lost the Son of God!!  What if someone hurts him?  Or worse!!

But when they traveled back looking for Him, they found Him sitting with the teachers in the temple participating and "...all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding..." (vs. 48)

Then there are more years of silence.  "...Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (vs. 52)


My curiosity is peeked.  I want to know about the toddler years, the years before he was twelve and sitting in the temple with the grown men, learning and even participating in their discussion.

I want to know about those years between twelve and thirty.  What about the teen years?  The awkward years when a boys voice changes and his body begins to look more and more masculine.

Those will be topics of conversation on the other side of eternity.  Those are some of the things Mary surely pondered in her heart.