September 7, 2014
by julie
Comments Off on We played the flute, but you didn’t dance.
The next thing in Luke 7 is Jesus addressing His relationship to John the Baptist. First, John himself wants clarity: are You the Messiah? Was Jesus the One prophesied, or just another prophet? John asks this from his jail cell. … Continue reading
September 5, 2014
by julie
Comments Off on God has visited His people.
The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited His people.” [Luke … Continue reading
September 4, 2014
by julie
Comments Off on Just say the word and I know…
Well, as it turns out… starting school puts a major damper in my writing time (not to mention brain energy). HMM. But, today, Luke 7:1-10: one of my favorite, favorite passages in the whole Bible. I remember the first time … Continue reading
August 29, 2014
by julie
Comments Off on The Tree and the Storeroom
Luke 6 concludes with Jesus reinforcing this idea of those whose blessings depend on heaven, and those whose blessings are built on earth. He begins by talking about trees. “Each tree is known by its own fruit,” Jesus says; good … Continue reading
August 28, 2014
by julie
Comments Off on The Business of Judging
One of the most commonly quoted passages, I think, by those who claim the name of Christ if not the substance, is Luke 6:37-42: thou shalt not judge. It is in the clear context of enduring persecution, following closely on … Continue reading
August 27, 2014
by julie
Comments Off on Love your enemies.
So, following up on the two categories of people in the beatitudes, in Luke 6:27-36 Jesus turns His attention exclusively to “you who listen.” The true prophets, the poor, the slandered. And what response does He say to make to … Continue reading
August 25, 2014
by julie
Comments Off on The beatitudes: where are my blessings?
Ah, the beatitudes: I’ve heard so many completely different interpretations of these scant handfuls of words. “Blessed are the poor.” Does this mean 1) God saves the materially poor to make up for their poverty on earth; 2) Christians should … Continue reading
August 23, 2014
by julie
Comments Off on Christ and the Sabbatarians
In Luke 6:1-11, we find two more instances where Jesus tangled with the Pharisees—this time, on the issue of the Law. This passage is much more fleshed-out in Matthew 12. Underlying Christ’s views are two key parts of Judaism. First, … Continue reading
August 17, 2014
by julie
Comments Off on The business of Jesus.
Luke 5:29-39 is full of many hard sayings! Three, I think: first, that Jesus didn’t come to call the righteous (v 32); second, that the disciples of Christ shouldn’t fast until He is gone (v. 35); and third, that you … Continue reading
August 15, 2014
by julie
Comments Off on Lord, You can make me clean.
Luke 5:12-26 has two accounts of Jesus healing people, and it makes very clear that there were two kinds of healing Jesus was doing: physical and spiritual. The plea of the leper struck me especially tonight: he falls facedown and … Continue reading