Luke 15: The “Lost” Stories

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Jason

Reading for Friday, March 23: Luke 15

This is another one of those “mountain peak” sections of Scripture, one that seems to tower over the others in terms of its resonance with us: the “Lost” parables of Luke 15.

Note the setting that prompts these teachings: “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’ (vv1-2)”

The common man is drawn to Jesus.
The “righteous” man is appalled by this.

Jesus seems right at home in the presence of these thieves and gamblers and prostitutes. But as we’ve seen, He directs some pretty scathing comments to those who seem to have forgotten that they, too, were once lost. More pointedly, Jesus has a problem with those who fail to realize that they ARE STILL LOST WITHOUT HIM.

The story of the lost sheep: Jesus describes the action of a loving shepherd who pursues his lost sheep. It’s not that He has no regard for those who remain “in the fold”; not at all. But in this setting, Jesus seems to be saying, “God has a heart for those who are far off, so much that there is tremendous rejoicing in heaven when one of these lost sheep comes home.” Tax collectors needed to hear that message. Pharisees did too, but their own self-professed piety was like cotton in their ears. It kept them (or at least most of them) from hearing the glory of this Good News.

The story of the lost coin drives home the point even more. When that which was lost is suddenly “found”, there is great joy in heaven.

Sunny and I had been married a few months when we went out to Colorado with our best friends, Corey and Alisha. One afternoon, we decided to drive up to Pike’s Peak to take in the scenery. We pulled the car over at a little place to get out and take pictures and somewhere along the way, my wedding ring slipped off my finger. I realized this just as we were getting into the car…and I got a sinking feeling in my stomach. We all got out of the car and spent the next few minutes scurrying around on our hands and knees, scooping up snow and dirt and mud looking for my ring. Somehow, Alisha spotted my ring near the rocks where we took our pictures. Needless to say, dinner was my treat that evening. We rejoiced over this precious item that had been returned to us!

Wedding rings, coins, sheep…these material possessions mean a great deal to us. They’re part of the fabric of our lives. But how much greater is the rejoicing, Jesus says, when a LOST SOUL returns home! This is the impact of His final story, His most beloved parable: the lost son. In the ancient world, it would’ve been a sign of disrespect to say to one’s father: “Gimme my inheritance now.” (Who are we kidding? This would be disrespectful TODAY too!) In essence, the son is saying to his father, “I can’t wait for you to die. I want what’s mine now.” Amazingly, the father gives in to the son’s request. And of course, the boy squanders it all away. Destitute, he returns home, practicing his apology as he nears his father’s house. But the image that stands out to me is this father, a wealthy man, leaping off the front porch and running to embrace his son while he was still a long way off. In the ancient world, rich people didn’t hurry anywhere. They didn’t have to. Whatever you were doing, wherever you were going, you didn’t hurry if you were rich. They’ll wait on you; no way anybody is going to start without you. But this father loses all inhibition when his son nears the homestead. In that moment, he wasn’t a “rich man” with rings and cattle and land….he was simply a lovestruck father, rushing headlong to meet his boy whom he loved.

This is the portrait of our Father in heaven Jesus leaves for us.

To the Pharisees, he adds one final character: the older brother, the faithful son who resents his younger sibling. But the father teaches this son, too. The joy of the Gospel should never be lost upon us — for we, too, were once lost. Praise God for His unfailing love!

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Luke 14

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Jason

Reading for Thursday, March 22: Luke 14

A Sabbath meal is the setting for this chapter. Jesus refuses to overlook the opportunity to do good, healing a man with dropsy to the chagrin of the Pharisees and lawyers. But He also uses this as an occasion for teaching, telling a story to His fellow dinner guests.

Hospitality was an essential characteristic in the ancient world. In particular, the Jews believed the Messiah would someday invite the faithful to join Him in a great Messianic feast — a table over which He would preside. The Pharisees propagated the notion that only righteous, pious, Law-observant Jews would receive such an invitation. But Jesus assaults this by encouraging His followers by inviting the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind to their table “for they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just,” (v14). He also teaches His disciples to shun the position of superiority, instead opting for the lowest place. By this, others will see Jesus in us — through hospitable humility.

But moreover, Jesus teaches us to associate with “the least of these” because He chooses to align Himself with members of this crowd. Jesus positions Himself in “the highways and hedges (v23)”, inviting the downtrodden and the weary to sup at His table. He clearly means to expand the prevailing notions of righteousness of His day…but He also wants to open our eyes to the people around us, those to whom He calls us to be conduits of grace and God-presence. By dining with these, we follow the example of the One who takes us in and offers us a seat at His table — the One who by all accounts should NOT want to associate with us in our sinful state, yet He willfully chooses to do so anyway.

We would be wise not to forget that we were once “alienated and hostile in mind (Col. 1.21)”, yet He chose to reconcile us, bringing us near to His table through His blood. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ,” (Eph. 2.13).

Accepting His invitation becomes our most important commitment. As such, we should count the cost (v28), for He commands us to a life of “saltiness”, distinctly bearing witness to the One who has done so much on our behalf. But this requires humility: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted,” (v11).

Will you humble yourself before Him and accept His gracious invitation? This is the question of our lives.

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Luke 13

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Jason

Reading for Wednesday, March 21: Luke 13

Luke begins this next chapter with a discussion of a Jewish massacre at the hands of Pilate. Jesus uses this as an opportunity to teach repentance: “Unless you repent, you too will all perish,” (v3). Jesus seems to be saying, “If these things happen to the innocent, what do you think God will do to the guilty?” As He teaches in the next parable, God has been more than patient with His people. A day of judgment is surely coming.

Judgment continues to permeate this chapter: Jesus heals a disabled woman on the Sabbath and He is immediately put in conflict with the ruler of the synagogue. But this is yet another opportunity for Jesus to shame His critics (v17), revealing their hypocrisy to the people. Jesus preaches in the towns and villages, but His message is striking: “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able,” (v24). Weeping and gnashing of teeth will accompany the great reversal of fortunes when first becomes last and last becomes first in God’s Kingdom. These are pointed comments, directed squarely at the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. But they also speak to us, reminding us of the call of discipleship.

By chapter’s end, Jesus has also taken aim at Herod and Jerusalem itself. His resolve is firm and clear: He will arrive at Jerusalem to suffer, die, and rise again. This is God’s will for Jesus, the singular act by which all humanity will be judged.

Those who receive this Kingdom are likened unto:
– A mustard seed, taking root slowly, growing over time into something wondrous, a blessing to the world.
– Leaven, permeating the whole slowly, until it completes its transformative work.

Jesus calls us to nothing less than all-consuming devotion and Kingdom growth.

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Luke 12

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Jason

Reading for Tuesday, March 20: Luke 12

Jesus continues to expand our definition of discipleship with His teaching in this chapter. We might outline the chapter this way:

vv1-3: Disciples are authentic (contrasted by the hypocrisy of the Pharisees)
vv4-7: Disciples are fearless (fearing only God, who can cast our souls into hell)
vv8-12: Disciples speak boldly (acknowledging the name of Jesus)
vv13-21: Disciples enjoy spiritual riches (Eph. 1.3, contrasted with material wealth)
vv22-31: Disciples are not anxious (countering worry with faith)
vv32-34: Disciples live generously because their treasure is in heaven
vv35-40: Disciples live in readiness (serving God in anticipation of Christ’s return)
vv41-48: Disciples will be held accountable (“Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required,” v48)
vv49-53: Disciples are committed (even to the point of division within families — discipleship trumps all other commitments)
vv54-56: Disciples demonstrate discernment (knowing how to interpret God’s Kingdom in their midst)
vv57-59: Disciples seek reconciliation (2 Cor. 5)

A few of these verses especially stand out to me:
v2 – “Nothing that is covered up will remain hidden.” A sobering reminder of the judgment that is to come. In the context of Jesus’ discussion, the specific point is about guarding against hypocritical speech.

v8 – Acknowledging Christ before men comes with a promise: Christ will acknowledge us as well. In Luke, Jesus says He will acknowledge us before angels; in Matthew, the promise is even stronger, as Jesus says He will acknowledge us before God the Father.

v15 – “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” You are more than your designer jeans and your iPod. Be rich toward God.

v32 – “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” You can put this one on my tombstone. Love it.

v51 – “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Jesus DOES bring peace (see Luke 2.14; Micah 5.5) but He is also the decisive event in human history. Fred Craddock puts it this way: “The moment of truth Jesus calls us to is akin to the gable of a house. Two raindrops strike the gable and that moment could conclude with their being oceans apart.” This is what Jesus means when He says He brings division.

What stands out to you as you read Luke 12?

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Luke 11

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Jason

Reading for Monday, March 19: Luke 11

I’m late making today’s post, so I’ll keep it short.

By now in Luke’s Gospel, we’re accustomed to the emphasis he places on Jesus’ prayer life. So it’s no surprise that Jesus teaches his followers the importance of prayer. I’ve never noticed before that his disciples are prompted to ask Jesus about prayer because John taught his disciples to pray (v1).

Jesus teaches his disciples to call God “Father” as they pray, a familial, intimate term. But He also instructs them to keep the name of the Lord hallowed, revered. These two polarities are brought together in the prayer for the Kingdom to come, a cry for the holy to come near, intersecting humanity.

As Jesus continues to cast out demons, some begin to question Him, even turning on Him as if He were casting out demons in the name of Satan. But Jesus rejects this notion, challenging the crowd with the following words: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters,” (v23). In Jesus, God’s decisive victory over the powers of hell, there is no middle ground. To not be with Jesus is to be against Him.

Jesus continues to throw down challenging words in this chapter. A woman in the crowd tries to lavish Him with words of praise, but he rebuffs her, saying, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (v28). He condemns the crowds for being part of “an evil generation”, (v29) seeking signs and wonders. And He reserves His harshest words for the Pharisees and lawyers here, referring to their inner greed and wickedness. “For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God,” (v42). “For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it,” (v43-44).

Although these words sound harsh, they show us the full character of Jesus. Not only does Jesus bring a word of comfort and hope, He also brings judgment. He speaks the hard truth about sin and it’s effect in our lives. He doesn’t just tickle the ears; He convicts the soul. This, too, is part of His faithfulness to God’s call. This is part of His work as the Messiah of God.

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Luke 10

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Jason

Reading for Friday, March 16: Luke 10

Luke 10 begins with Jesus commissioning 72 of His followers to move out for a time of healing and evangelism. We have probably heard His refrain many times in our lives: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few,” (v2). But have we heard what Jesus says next? “Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Jesus isn’t just bemoaning the condition of the world; He is calling His followers to prayerful, God-directed action to stem the tide of evil, wickedness, and sin.

Jesus instructs these 72 evangelists to preach the nearness of the Kingdom of God (v9). But He also issues fair warning that not everyone will be receptive to this Message. He tells His disciples not to concern themselves with this; judgment is reserved for those who reject God’s Gospel. These evangelists are responsible only for sharing the Good News. “God’s Kingdom is here!”

The second half of the chapter gives us two demonstrations of what it means to receive / reject this Kingdom. In the first teaching, Jesus is approached by an adversary, a lawyer seeking to test Him. The lawyer asks about the path to eternal life; Jesus puts the question back to Him; and the lawyer answers with Deut. 6 — Judaism’s Greatest Command — and the importance of loving one’s neighbor. Jesus agrees and seems ready to move on…until the man asks, “And who is my neighbor?” The question is intended to set parameters, establish limits. “And just how far do I need to go with this whole ‘love others’ thing?” This prompts one of Jesus’ greatest teachings, a teaching we refer to as “The Parable of the Good Samaritan”. But it could just as easily be called “The Parable of the Hypocritical Priest and the Spineless Levite”. In Jesus’ story, the preachers and religious leaders are the villains; the unchurched, irreligious Samaritan is the good guy. On what basis? On the grounds that his actions demonstrated true love for his fellow man, irrespective of creed, ethnicity, politics or social class. To receive God’s Kingdom is to love without parameters. A rejection of the limitless love of God inevitably leads to questions like the one the lawyer asks, questions of restriction that aim to finitize the infinite.

In like manner, the story of Mary and Martha recorded here demonstrates one who has received the Kingdom as the “one thing” (v42) that truly matters. This is a contrast to Martha, who is unable to receive what Jesus has in store for her because of her distractions (v40), her “many things” (v41). To receive the Kingdom is to reject the siren song of “many things” for the solace of the one true reality that will endure into eternity.

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Luke 9: The Cost of Discipleship

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Jason

Reading for Thursday, March 15: Luke 9

Luke 9 is really a pivot point in Luke’s Gospel. We find Jesus doing many of the same things Luke has already recorded: teaching, healing, casting out demons, performing miracles. But we also find Jesus resolutely turning His face toward Jerusalem (v53). Jesus reveals to His disciples God’s ultimate plan of redemption: “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised,” (v22). And he says it again: “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men,” (v44). The remainder of Luke’s Gospel will focus on Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem and, ultimately, His death and resurrection.

Along the way, Jesus is going to give us some of His most profound teaching on the nature of discipleship. Look at what Jesus has to say about what it means to follow Him:

In vv1-6, He commissions His followers to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Following Jesus necessarily entails a life of proclamation.

In vv18-20, Peter confesses Jesus as Christ, God’s Messiah. Following Jesus necessarily entails a life of confession, both in word and deed.

In vv23-26, Jesus calls His followers to take up their own crosses. Following Jesus necessarily entails daily, willful recognition of the call to self-sacrificial living.

In v43, the crowds are astonished at the majestic power of God at work before them. Following Jesus leads to a life of wonder and awe.

In vv46-48, Jesus acknowledges the lowly position of a child, teaching them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,” (v48). Following Jesus requires a posture of humility to receive the least over against self-advancing appeals to the greatest.

In vv51-56, Jesus and his disciples are rejected by a village of Samaritans. Following Jesus means responding to rejection in love rather than hate.

And finally, in vv57-62, Jesus offers some “hard sayings” on the cost of discipleship. Following Jesus is to pledge ultimate allegiance to Him, committing oneself to His way no matter the cost.

Sandwiched in between these episodes is the glorious Transfiguration account of vv28-36, culminating in God’s declaration: “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” (v35). Following Jesus is the ultimate recognition of God’s willful interaction in human history, the fulfillment of every promise of the Law and the Prophets.

Following Jesus is a life of listening to Him, accepting His lordship, recognizing Christ as the defining center of history and, moreover, the defining point of our lives.

This is what it means to follow Jesus.

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Good Habits = Long Term Results

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Jason

This year has been a year of learning discipline for me. Let me explain.

At our church, I started a year-long study of the New Testament called “Mayfair Project 3:45”. The idea is simple: it takes, on average, about three minutes, forty-five seconds to read a chapter of the New Testament. Rather than setting out to read the entire Bible cover-to-cover in a year’s time, we decided to try to read more slowly, favoring quality over quantity. When you think about it, what real benefit is there in reading through the entire Bible in a year? Now, don’t get me wrong: I know plenty of people who do this and these individuals are no doubt blessed by reading through God’s Word in this way. But what I’m getting at is this: isn’t it a bit arbitrary to read the entire Bible in a 12-month span? Why not 24 months? Or 36? Or 72? What’s the rush? Coupled with the fact that most people’s fervor wanes somewhere around Leviticus 5 and…you get the point.

So instead, we decided to read more slowly, beginning in the New Testament. Most people I know can find four minutes to read their Bibles every day. So we set up a reading plan that breaks up the New Testament by chapter and the idea is that we read one chapter each week day (Mon-Fri) and by the end of the year, we’ll have completed the entire New Testament.

And so far, this has been a very rewarding experience. I’ve set up a Facebook page (aptly titled “Mayfair Project 3:45”) where I post a few reflections from that day’s reading. Other people are free to read along, share their own comments, insights, questions, etc. There’s a synergy that comes from reading God’s Word in community. But there is also a rich blessing of discipline that many of us have discovered: training ourselves to read the text each morning or evening and spend time reflecting on what we’ve read.

All of this has led me to reflect on the importance of discipline in our lives. As Christ’s disciples, we discipline ourselves by consuming His teaching and seeking to apply it to our lives. We’re seeing connections in God’s Word that we’ve never noticed before. Slowly, over time, all of this is starting to come together for many of us. Disciplined exposure to God’s Word is making us better Christ-followers.

And you can extrapolate this to other areas of our lives as well. The discipline of prayer is something I hope to discuss more in the coming months, both on this blog as well as on our Facebook page. (Feel free to join us if you’d like. No exclusivity.) For the first time in my life, I’m enjoying the benefits of physical discipline as it pertains to my diet and exercise. In the last year, I’ve lost over 30 pounds by watching what I eat and exercising routinely. Over time, these habits have contributed to a greater sense of health, both physically and spiritually.

I know we normally reserve the language of “resolution” for New Year’s, but I want to encourage you today to consider some healthy habits, for both your body and your soul. Good habits lead to long term results. Whether you’re an athlete, a coach, a teacher, a business professional, a minister, an administrator, or something else, we could all use a little discipline in these undisciplined times.

May God’s blessings rest upon you. And may your habits of mind, body, and soul reflect the goodness of our great God.

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Luke 8

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Jason

Reading for Wednesday, March 14: Luke 8

The theme of this great chapter is the power of the Word of God for those who believe.

Luke records one of Jesus’ most well-known parables, the teaching of the sower and the seeds. As Jesus explains to His disciples, the seed represents the Word of God. People receive this Word differently; some receive it only to fall away, others never fully hear the Word because of the circumstances of life. “As for the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience,” (v15). The Word’s power is demonstrated most fully in patient hearts that are “honest and good”. There’s a teaching here for those of us who are journeying with the Lord to be patient, trusting in His power to sustain in times when we wish it would bear fruit immediately. As with most situations in life, the patient path is the prudent path. The same holds true as we walk with Jesus. Our part to play is to patiently allow his Word to illuminate our path (vv16-18), echoing Ps. 119.105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

The next episode was surely heartbreaking for Mary: she and her children approach Jesus, only to find the multitudes surrounding Him. As they attempt to draw near to Him, Jesus uses this an opportunity to exhort the crowd to greater faithfulness: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it,” (v21). James apparently takes this to heart, for he later echoes the teaching of his Brother: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only,” (James 1.22).

And the further episodes in this chapter continue this thread: Jesus calms the storm by speaking peace into turbulence; Jesus heals the Gerasene demoniac through the power of His Word; the impaired woman is healed by reaching out to Jesus in faith, yet she receives confirmation of this blessing by Jesus’ spoken words, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace,” (v48); and finally, Jairus’ daughter is miraculously reanimated through the glorious demonstration of Christ’s command, “Child, arise,” (v54). In each of these encounters, it is the Word of God that leads to healing, restoration, and new life. In the case of the previously demon-possessed man, Jesus sends him back home with a new declaration: “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you,” (v39). No doubt Jairus’ daughter and the bleeding woman also become ambassadors for Christ, living emblems to the power of God’s Word at work in our lives.

And, of course, the same is true for us as well. When we receive God’s Word, we respond in like manner: with hearts full of joy and thanksgiving, moving forward to declare to others the power of this One who has brought us new life, both now and into eternity.

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Luke 7

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Jason

Reading for Tuesday, March 13: Luke 7

This chapter has several key episodes: Jesus’ healing the centurion’s servant; raising a widow’s son; forgiving a sinful woman in the home of a Pharisee. But each of these episodes involves an “outsider” of sorts: a poor widow, a non-Hebrew centurion, a publicly recognized sinner — all of whom stand outside the “in crowd” of power players in Jewish life. Contrast this with Simon’s judgment of both Jesus and the sinful woman in his home. As we’ve mentioned several times, the Gospel of Luke is the Gospel for the underdog, the displaced, the outsider. In this Gospel, Jesus preaches an overt message of acceptance and forgiveness for these overlooked outcasts. The composite view is instructive: faith in Jesus (as demonstrated by the centurion) and humility of spirit (as demonstrated by the sinful woman) unleash the transformative power of the Kingdom of God (as experienced by the widow in Nain). Jesus ushers this Kingdom into reality, God’s domain come near: “God has visited his people!” (v16)

But all of this doesn’t look much like Messiah-ship, at least not to the people of Jesus’ day, particularly John the Baptist. Listen to the unmet expectation in John’s question: “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (v19). John apparently struggled with all of this. Maybe he expected Jesus to come with guns blazing and trumpet blaring. Maybe John couldn’t understand why Jesus would traffic with such Gentile riffraff. Maybe he thought the Kingdom would have already come in fullness by now. Whatever the case, he sends disciples to ask Jesus about His identity. The response Jesus gives is consistent with the message He preached in Nazareth, recorded in Luke 4, quoting from Isaiah 61. Jesus tells John’s disciples to go back and tell the Baptizer what they’ve witnessed: “the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them,” (v22). On the basis of these things, John should have his answer.

This chapter is a reminder that Jesus usually defies our expectations of Him. The militaristic expectations of Messiah in Jesus’ day were pervasive. But Jesus defies these expectations, preaching a Kingdom of love and mercy and obedience to God’s Word. Rather than heaping condemnation on these “outsiders”, Jesus warmly receives them and takes aim at the establishment that would improperly label God’s image-bearers as anything less than fully human. And in our own time, we struggle with our own expectations of Jesus — expecting our prayers to be answered a particular way, expecting Him to dislike the same people groups we disapprove of, expecting Him to move and work in ways that comply with my limited perspective and understanding. And yet, Jesus continues to defy those expectations, remaining God’s faithful Messiah and transforming my understanding of His true mission. The message of the Gospel is that you can’t put God in a box. (Literally. As we’ll see, they tried killing Him and putting Him in a tomb, to no avail.) All of this leads us to the point of humility where we ask, just as His tablemates in Luke 7 asked, “Who is this?” (v49).

This, as we’ll see, is the most important question of our lives.

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