Category: Gospels
He is Risen!
Scripture reading for April 6th: Luke 24
On the Sunday after the crucifixion and burial of Jesus on Friday, the women who were close to Jesus went to the tomb to anoint His body with spices. On arrival, they found the stone rolled away. When they entered, they did not find a body there. As they were pondering what might have happened, two men in shining clothes appeared to them and stood beside them. “. . .the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'” “Then they remembered His words.” (Luke 24:5-7)
At least five women were at the tomb that Sunday morning and found it empty! They went and reported to the apostles, but were met with skepticism. The men who had witnessed the crucifixion and death of Jesus thought that the women were speaking nonsense! Peter did run to the tomb to check out their report and pondered what he found there–the stone rolled away and grave-clothes but no body!
Jesus appeared later that same day to two disciples who were walking on a road about seven miles outside of Jerusalem. They rushed back to Jerusalem and were telling the other apostles about their encounter when Jesus appeared saying, “Peace be with you.” “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself! Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” (Luke 24:36-39) Understanding the mystery of the resurrection was difficult even for those close to Him!
Weep for yourselves and your children!
Scripture reading for April 3rd: Luke 23
Jesus was betrayed early in the morning by Judas, who gave Him a kiss of greeting to identify Him to the soldiers. He was tried before the council of elders, the Sanhedrin, and condemned when He admitted to being the “Son of God.” (Luke 22:70)
They then turned Him over to Pontius Pilate, the Roman magistrate. The Jews charged Jesus saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king.” So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.” (Luke 23:2-3) Jesus truthfully told the Jews and this Roman magistrate who He was. In the end, Jesus was turned over to the Jews to be crucified by the Gentile judge.
As Jesus was being led away to be crucified, a large crowd was following Him. Simon of Cyrene was forced to help carry His cross and wailing women’s cries filled the morning air. “Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that have never bore and the breasts that have never nursed!” Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”” (Luke 23:28-31)
Jesus warned the women who were weeping not to weep for Him. He was innocent and had willingly taken the sentence and punishment as a part of God’s plan to save mankind. Those who kept their guilt without repentance, would be without hope when judgment comes! Where do you stand with Jesus?
Get up and pray!
Scripture reading for April 2nd: Luke 22
The first followers of Jesus as His disciples were called by their master to watch and pray during an all-night prayer vigil following the last Passover meal. They had come to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. “On reaching the place, He said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:40-42)
Jesus knew that the temptation to run and deny Him would attack His followers. He knew that they needed the Father’s help, as He did, to stand against the temptation. He simply called them to watch and pray. He went further by Himself and prayed earnestly. The Scripture says that His sweat became like “drops of blood falling to the ground.” (Luke 22:44) He desired to be released from the cup of suffering that had been given to Him, mirrored by the cup He had given His disciples a few hours earlier. It was a cup representing His blood, shed for the forgiveness of sins. Angels came and strengthened Jesus as He prayed!
“When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” He asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Luke 22:45-46) Jesus, Himself, had pressed through in prayer, but the disciples had fallen asleep. We are really helpless to save ourselves by our own efforts. Jesus’ prayed for them that their faith would not fail as He now intercedes for us. We also must watch and pray as He taught us: “Lead us not into temptation, ” (Luke 11:4)
Widow’s mite
Scripture reading for April 1st: Luke 21
“As He looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “I tell you the truth,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:1-4)
Many people wonder if God knows about their giving. But I find it interesting that Jesus was watching people put their money into the offering box. He does know what we give and our motives for giving.
As Jesus watched, He offered some insight about those who gave that day. He saw the rich giving out of their wealth. It was not bad that they were giving and Jesus never condemned them for doing that. But whatever the amount they gave, they still had plenty left over to live on. They really did not need to have ‘faith’ that God would meet their needs. As a percentage, it may have been ten percent or more, but the ninety percent that they had left was left for their use.
Jesus then noted the poor widow who came and placed two small copper coins in the offering. He marveled at her generosity, knowing that she had just given all she had to honor the Lord. His estimate was that she had given more than all the rest! They had give out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty and desperate need for God’s supply.
God’s eyes are on our giving and He keeps careful records. He always honors faith! Some give out of abundance, others out of need and in faith. Which are you?
The Son of David!
Scripture reading for March 31st: Luke 20
The week before Jesus’ last Passover, He went into the temple and was questioned by the religious leaders. They were trying to trap Him so that they could have an excuse to kill Him. They had already decided to do it, but were looking for the right opportunity. As they asked Him questions, He answered them with such skill as to silence them. (Luke 20:26, 40) Coincidentally, this was the same time that the Israelites were to be examining the Passover lambs that would be slain for their families!
Jesus then turned the tables on these leaders. He posed a question to them concerning the Messiah. “How is it that they say the Christ is the Son of David? David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord; “Sit at my right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for your feet.” David calls Him ‘Lord.’ How then can He be his son?” (Luke 20:41-44) The leaders were unable to answer His question. Jesus used the Old Testament Scriptures to show that the Messiah was also David’s Lord!
“While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”” (Luke 20:45-47) Jesus knew the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. He spoke plainly to His disciples warning them. He also warned the people who would soon be tested as well. The Son of David was Lord of all!
Seek and save the Lost!
Scripture reading for March 30th: Luke 19
When I was very young, my mother loved to tell Bible stories with a flannel board. I remember her telling me the story of Zacchaeus, the little man who had to climb a tree to see Jesus. This story interested me, because I was short and had a desire to see Jesus too!
Zacchaeus was a tax collector. He was a Jew who worked for the Roman government collecting taxes. His salary came from adding onto the tax collections, often using fraudulent means. People holding this job were considered by the Jews to be the worst of sinners! But Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus and climbed up into a tree to get a better view. “When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, com down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”” (Luke 19:5) This caused people to mutter about Jesus eating with sinners!
“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:8-10) In the presence of the lover of sinners, Zacchaeus had true repentance! He turned from his deceitful ways and was willing to follow God’s instructions. He wanted to give to the poor and to restore money he might have taken by cheating. Jesus declared that salvation had come to his house! After all, Jesus came to save sinners like me and the short man up in the tree!
Confident in your own righteousness?
Scripture reading for March 27th: Luke 18
“To some who were confident in their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayer about himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men–robbers, evildoers, adulterers–or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'” (Luke 18:9-13)
Jesus had a way about telling stories that got a hold of the hearts of people. As we listen to the story, we can identify with the characters in the story and the story ends up reading us! This is the nature of Jesus’ parables. Jesus had noted that some ‘religious’ folks were not coming to the temple before God with the right attitude. Some felt that they were doing God a favor and boasting that they did not do some of the bad things that they knew the Law of God commanded. Religion always likes to do works and boast about it, But God looks at the heart. Pride in our accomplishment leads to self-righteousness and a judgmental attitude that holds us in sin.
Jesus pointed out that the tax collector went home justified in God’s eyes. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14) The person who humbles himself before God ends up being justified by his faith in God’s mercy. (2nd Corinthians 5:21) The one who exalts himself gets no reward! Lord, help me to stay humble!
Watch yourselves!
Scripture reading for March 26th: Luke 17
“Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves.” (Luke 17:1-3) Jesus was concerned for His disciples and their walk with their fellow men. People have strong opinions and often get into conflicts with one another or offend each other. Offense is Satan’s trap to divide people from God and His grace. Disciples of Jesus must be watchful for each other concerning offenses.
“If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” “The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:3-4) Jesus knew the hearts of men. Offense often causes thoughts of revenge and avoidance of the offender. Gossip about the offense causes more troubles and leads to people stumbling into Satan’s trap of offense. Jesus taught open confrontation of the offender by the one offended. This was among brothers in the faith. This gives the opportunity for the offender to repent and ask for mercy. If there is humility and mercy is sought, believers always forgive, even seven times in a single day by the same person!
The disciples were aware of how difficult this teaching was to put into practice! They asked Jesus to increase their faith! Jesus replied that if they had only a mustard seed of faith, they could move a mulberry tree! This was to be normal kingdom living for those with faith in Jesus! Lord Jesus, help me to be watchful!
God’s value system
Scripture reading for March 25th: Luke 16
“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” “Now the Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.” (Luke 16:13-15)
The world’s values are different than God’s! Money can easily take first place in the life of a person, rich or poor. Jesus taught that no servant could successfully serve two masters. His teaching brought mockery from the religious community leaders who really loved money. They believed in a type of ‘prosperity’ gospel that said those who had money were favored by God. Jesus did not appear to have much, living off the land without a place to lay His head. (Luke 9:58) To them, poor people were under God’s curse.
Jesus told them a story about two real people. (Luke 16:19-31) There was a rich man who lived in luxury and had plenty of everything but failed to help his poor neighbor, Lazarus, who was covered with sores. Both these men died but there was a great reversal! The rich man ended up in Hades, the place of torment and the poor beggar went to Abraham’s bosom to be comforted and cared for. Though both died, they were alive in the next world and had feelings and could express desires. The rich man wanted Lazarus to come and bring him a small drink to cool his tongue. Father Abraham explained this was not possible. Money is worthless in the place of torment!
Lost and found!
Scripture reading for March 24th: Luke 15
Jesus loved to tell stories that had practical basis in everyday life but spoke to the spiritual life of individuals as well. We call these ‘parables’. Luke 15 contains three ‘lost and found’ parables that Jesus used to respond to the religious leaders who mocked Him for spending time eating with ‘sinners’.
The first story Jesus told was about a shepherd with 100 sheep. One sheep was lost, so the shepherd left the 99 and searched until he found the lost sheep. He carried the sheep back and called his friends for a celebration! “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who don’t need to repent.” (Luke 15:7)
The next story involved a woman who had ten silver coins and lost one in her house. She searches for the lost coin until it is located and calls her neighbors for a celebration! “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)
The last story involved a man with two sons. The younger son asked his father for his share of the inheritance and left home to end up wasting the money. The older son stayed home and worked. When all was lost, the younger son repented and decided to return to his father and ask for mercy. The father saw the boy coming, and was filled with compassion and ran to meet him. His son confessed his sin and asked for mercy. The father restored the boy and called for a feast. “For this son of mine was dead and is now alive again; he was lost and now is found.” (Luke 15:24)