Gospel Meditation

Luke 10:28–11:13

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture. Two stories now.

1.         The first story: As Jesus was entering an unknown village (could it have been Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus?) a woman named Martha invited Jesus into her home. There is no evidence to suggest the Twelve were there as well.

2.         Martha was bothered that her sister Mary did not help with serving a large meal to Jesus. Very gently Jesus tells Martha that her sister has chosen to do well, not better, and Jesus politely says He will not stop her.

3.         The second story: After Jesus was away praying, His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. (It was customary for Rabbi’s to teach their followers a special prayer.)

4.         Early on Jesus, as part of the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 6:5–13, had instructed His followers how to pray, and this known as The Lord’s Prayer.

5.         Here now, in a setting different from that of Matthew’s, the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. The result is a shorter and slightly different form of prayer than found in The Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew’s Gospel.

6.         Jesus relates a parable or story about a person who goes to a neighbor requesting help in feeding guests who had just shown up.

7.         The neighbor in need does not give up easily despite the rejection from the neighbor.

8.         Jesus then tells His disciples not to give up in their asking, seeking, and knocking–all referring to prayer, and the reason is that the Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.

9.         Students of the Scripture, over the centuries, have given a number of different, even conflicting, explanations for the final verse, verse 13. And we likely will as well.

Luke 10:21-37

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         At the return of the 72 disciples, and hearing of the success of their mission, Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit.

2.         His rejoicing is not in the numbers of those who received the 72 but in the fact that those who were reached was on the basis of nothing more than grace, something that could only come by means of revelation.

3.         At that point, it would seem, a lawyer (read scribe belonging to the Pharisees), in testing Jesus, asks Him how one can inherit, or receive, eternal life. The reason for and behind this query is not certain. It could be a taunt, an accusation, or a sincere longing.

4.         Jesus asks the scribe about what is written in the law and the response from Jesus is the two great commandments, love God fully and love one’s neighbor.

5.         Jesus proceeds then to tell a story, or parable, whether based on fact or fiction is unknown.

6.         It is the story of a certain man, most likely Jewish, who is robbed and beaten on the Jericho Road, not an unusual event, and left for dead.

7.         First a scribe (a descendant of Aaron), like the scribe Jesus is telling the story to, then a Levite (a descendant of Levi), sees the man and passes on without giving aid, likely to avoid becoming ‘unclean’.

8.         A Samaritan then comes along, and at considerable expense to both reputation and material possession, assists the helpless man.

9.         Jesus then asks which of the three was a neighbor to the robbed and beaten man. Of course, the answer is the Samaritan, the one who showed mercy.

10.       Jesus then says, “go and do likewise.” And we must ask, “Would the scribe standing before Jesus be able to do this?”

Luke 10:1–10

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passages of Scripture.

1.         Is it 72 or 70 that were sent out? Manuscripts differ, my guess it was 70, and these went out two by two, to areas where Jesus Himself would soon be coming to.

2.         There was a major harvest just ahead, but the workers were few. In addition, the work would not be easy, rather it would be dangerous, and as an example Jesus says it is like sending lambs out to wolves.

3.         The 70 were to travel lightly and accept whatever help people in the towns they would enter provided.

4.         At the heart of their work was healing and proclaiming that the kingdom of God would be coming near to them.

5.         Jesus issued a word of “woe” or dreadfulness on those cities who rejected His word. In fact, it would be better for cities like Tyre and Sidon, pagan areas, modern Syria, along the upper eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, than for those of the House of Israel.

6.         Lastly, Jesus states that those who will listen to the 70 are really listening to Jesus. But also that those then that reject the message of the 70 are in reality rejecting both Himself and the one who sent Him, that is, the Father.

Luke 9:49–62

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.   While Jesus and the disciples are traveling south to Jerusalem, now in Samaria, see a man casting out demons in Jesus’ name.  And they attempt to stop him because is not one of them. Jesus says, “Do not stop him.” Thus, he is not against you but for us.

2.    Along the way, Jesus sends messengers, some of His

apostles, into a city to “make preparations” so they may

 refresh on their journey. But they are denied such, as

 Samarians, and for many centuries, held to a rival faith and

 had a rival temple in the capital city, Samaria.

3.    James and John (the sons of Thunder), after being

 refused accommodations by the Sarmatians, asked Jesus if

 they could cast fire from heaven upon them. Jesus

 thereupon rebuked these brothers.

4.    Along the way a Samaritan wanted to go with Jesus,

that is, become one of His followers. Jesus, however,

 warns him of the troubles that he would encounter if he

did so.

5.    And there were more of these would-be followers, and

 in each case Jesus warns them of the “cost of discipleship,”

 as Diedrich Bonhoeffer so eloquently put it.

6.    The passage ends with Jesus making reference to a

 farmer who while ploughing a field, and that he must not

 look, evidently in order to plough a straight line, but if he

 did, he was not fit or qualified for the kingdom of God.

Luke 9:37–48

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.        Among those who had heard of the healing power of Jesus was a man with a son who had a series of difficulties, one of which was possession by a demon–he sought Jesus to heal this son. The disciples of Jesus, the nine who had not gone with Jesus up on the mountain, could not cast the evil spirit out but Jesus did.

2.        Then, Jesus for a second time (there would  be one more) told the twelve that He would be “delivered into the hands of men.” However, they did not understand Him, and Luke says this was due to the fact it was “concealed” from them.

3.        And of interest here, Luke reports that they were afraid to ask Jesus about what He meant.

4.        It is of interest also that Matthew’s (Matthew 18:1–6), and Mark’s (Mark 9:33–37) account of the twelve arguing about who is the greatest amongst themselves, both differ from Luke’s.

5.        Jesus’ reply to His disciples is that the one who receives a child because the child believes in Him, this one is the greatest and receiving the child is the same as receiving Jesus, and whoever receives Jesus receives the one who sent Him.

6.        This one, who is faithful in the small and seemingly unimportant ministry, is the greatest.

Luke 9:28–36

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passages of Scripture.

1.         This passage has been referred to as “The Transfiguration” for many centuries and it refers to the fact that Peter, James, and John saw that the appearance of Jesus was altered or changed.

2.         The trio, known as the “inner three,” went up into a mountain to pray. We are reminded that Moses went up into a mountain to receive the Ten Commandments. There was something about this going up that is difficult to understand, but it could be so that the four would be alone.

3.         Suddenly two “men” appeared with Jesus and were talking with Jesus. These men were Moses and Elijah, but we do not know how the three disciples knew this.

4.         Their appearance was “in glory,” and they were talking with Jesus about His departure, which likely would have included his death, resurrection, and ascension. And it would all happen in Jerusalem.

5.         The three disciples were sleeping apparently, and also it is likely this event took place late at night. When they awoke, at some unknown point, they saw both the glory of Jesus and also Moses and Elijah standing with Jesus.

6.         Peter wanted to provide a way for the two visitors to remain with them there on that unnamed mountain, but just then they were enveloped in a cloud, which proved to be a fearful event for the disciples.

7.         Out of the cloud however came a dramatic message:

“This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” After the message concluded, they were alone with Jesus.

8.         It would be a long while before the three spoke of this.

Luke 9:21–27

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         Peter, stating that Jesus is “the Christ of God” after the feeding of the 5000, prompts Jesus to strictly charge and command the Twelve to tell this to no one. It is thought that Jesus’ concern is that the remark might be taken politically by both Jewish leaders and Rome.

2.         He goes on to state that He must suffer many things, even rejection by Jewish religious leaders, and be killed, yet on the 3^rd day rise.

3.         With that reality now in the minds of the Twelve, He goes on to state that those who follow Him must deny themselves and take up His cross, that horrible instrument of death, and follow Him, daily.

4.         This ‘full disclosure’ is followed by Jesus saying the ultimate reality, namely, that denying Jesus results in losing one’s life, but following Him results in saving their lives. This is the monstrous difference between heaven and hell, both of which are eternal.

5.         A metaphor for not following Jesus, shame, means rejection when Jesus returns in His glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.

6.         Then Jesus states that even among the Twelve were some who would not “taste death until they see the Kingdom of God.” This statement has puzzled Christians throughout history, and it is thought Jesus is referring to Peter, James, and John who would be present at the transfiguration.

(see Matthew 17:1-13)

Luke 9:1–20

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         The early part of Jesus’ ministry was focused on what came to be called the Twelve apostles. After some period with Him, He gave them power and authority to cast out demons and to heal.

2.         Jesus sent the twelve out then to first proclaim the kingdom of God, which is what the faithful Jewish people were looking for, and also to heal people of diseases.

3.         They were to travel ‘light,’ depending on God to supply their needs. He prepares them for not being received by all.

4.         Herod, a son of Herod the Great, heard about the activity of Jesus, and some thought Jesus was actually John the Baptist come back to life, as Herod had earlier beheaded John. Some thought Jesus was Elijah or another one of the prophets of old.

5.         When the Twelve returned from their mission, Jesus and the Twelve went out into a desolate area, and a large crowd followed them there. Well along in the day, Jesus’ disciples suggest He send them on their way home, but Jesus has something else in mind.

6.         He instructs the disciples to divide the thousands of people into groups of 50. Then with only 5 loaves of bread and two fish, the host of people are feed.

7.         At some later point following the feeding of the 5000, Jesus is alone with His disciples, and He asked them who the crowds think He is. John the Baptist, Elijah, or another of the prophets are mentioned by the disciples. Jesus however asks them who they think He is.

8.         Peter, likely speaking for them all states, “The Christ of God.” Or, to put it another way, The Messiah.

Luke 8:40–56

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         Jesus sails west with His disciples across the Sea of Galilee, and a crowd is waiting for Him. Among these was a man named Jairus, an elder in the local synagogue. He implores Jesus to come to his house because his twelve-year-old daughter is dying.

2.         On their way, a seriously ill woman determines to touch Jesus as He is going toward the house of Jairus. As soon as she touches one of the four tassels hanging from the cloak of Jesus, she is completely healed.

3.         Jesus knows that He had been “touched” and at that moment the now healed woman understood that she could not slink away from the crowd, thus she comes to Jesus and falls at His feet. Jesus tells her, “Your faith has made your well; go in peace.”

4.         While this is all going on, a person comes from the house of Jairus and reports that to him that his daughter is dead. However, Jesus, overhearing the report, encourages Jairus to continue to believe that his daughter will be well.

5.         Upon arrival at the home, Jesus allows no one into the house except for Jairus and his wife, along with Peter, John, and James.

6.         Mourners were already weeping but Jesus says to not mourn, which mourning would be typical, but that the daughter is not dead but sleeping, at which the mourners literally laugh in Jesus’ face.

7.         Jesus says to the daughter, “Child arise.” She does, and Jesus asked that she be given something to eat. Everyone is astonished and Jesus asked them to tell no one what happened.

Hello Everyone, this email was written to someone in our congregation concerning abortion. I thought that others might want to read it as well. It begins with the my saying that this person’s questioning of abortion was not in error.
Your understanding of the Scripture is not wrong. However, please consider the fact that the Old Testament is an eastern mindset document, not like our western mindset, which takes all points literally. And this results in some really awful theology. The two mindsets, eastern and western, is a major study, and one of the realities is that everything need not be taken literally. We especially find this in the first 11 chapters of Genesis. Solid Bible scholars through the ages will view these differently, and the dangerous mindset insists that everything is to interpreted all literally or the way they see it. Christians have long experienced this, which is why there are so many different interpretations. I commonly talk with or meet with those who are interested in our church and want to be sure I agree with what they believe, and more of it having to do with politics than points of theology. This is common, too common, and every pastor has to face this, and it so often involves politics, and so many other issues that are not even bibically oriented. Got to tell youI must say, anyone who desires to be a pastor these days ought to have their heads examined. This is how bad it is.

The reason I mention the Talmud is because it reflects the way the ancient Jewish scholars viewed things. It is not from the Christian community, but helps often to reveal how Old Testament passages were interpreted by those people then.

I hate abortion, and much of this has to do with the reasons some seek it. There are tragic stories out there, everything from incest, dieases, threats from others, sex traffiking, prostitution, complete ignorance, mental illness, criminality, poverty, hate and rejection, to . . . , and I could go on. 

I remember when I was in high school in the 1950s, it was not uncommon for teen girls at our Verdugo Hills High School in Los Angeles to go to Tijuana, Mexico, for an abortion. At the time we idiots laughed about it all. A couple of these teenagers I knew did not survive, and a couple were rendered sterile. Yes, they could have given birth and had these babies adopted out, but who knows what goes on within families. I will not act the judge. And we cannot forget that some abortions are done to save the mother’s life. Things can get really complicated.

My concern is that much of the press has managed to blame Christians for overturning Roe v. Wade, and it is causing havoc in churches across America. “Look at what those awful Christians are doing now, pretty soon they will ban contracepion.”––you can almost hear it now. And this whole thing will get worse and worse. I see it all as a fulfillment of 2 Peter 5:8. We cannot forget the bottom line, and that is the preaching of the Gospel that others might be saved. My concern is not so much about abortion, but the impact we are seeing now as a result of the ruling. I present no position at all. Frankly, I am not sure what the truth is. Way too complicated for a guy with my bandwidth. 

As followers of Jesus we want to let others work things out for themselves and not demand they adopt our positions. I want people to hear the Gospel and not package it with political and ethical positions. The Apostles’ Creed says enough. There are so many different reasons that compel a person to one position or another, and much of it is often emotional with very unpleasant personal experiences in the background. And by the way, I have found people will begin with a particular ethical or moral position, and over time will change their minds.

Everyone has to be free to make up their own minds. Abortion is a very complex issue, and I doubt that anyone grasps all of the complexities. I only object to villifying anyone who has a different point of view or who is simply puzzled by it all and is therefore unable to state what they think. 

As I like to say, we must agree to disagree and depend upon the working of the Holy Spirit to bring about righteous change.

Kent