Luke 17-18
People at a distance
Today's write-up is from Pastor Rock's message in church. Contrary to our usual understanding of the story of the ten lepers, Pastor Rock took a different route. He brought the teaching of the social gospel through this story. Let me introduce some of his thoughts:
1. The lepers were referred as 'men' here. Unlike several other instances, were they were dehumanized. The author portrays them as real men, and not just based on their infirmity. Those devoted to God will see both the struggles and possibilities of others. Those devoted to themselves will see few struggles but their own.
2. Godly sight is enhanced when we view people in light of divine creation, rather than their difficult condition.
3. When we view people in light of their condition we lose sight of their humanity and easily devalue them.
4. When we view people in light of their condition, we lose sight of what they could be.
5. When we view people in light of their condition, we see sin and need as something residing in others than in us.
6. Suffering can easily lead us to feel distant from both God and Hope.
7. Jesus' followers look where others look away. When we heed the bible, we lose our blinders.
8. God does not draw us close so that we might escape the pain around us but so that we might see it even more clearly.
9. When we see others as Jesus sees them we will speak as Jesus speaks
10. Jesus heals us by enabling us to both see and feel the pain of people at a distance
11. When we see people at a distance as God sees them we decrease the distance between our own heart and the heart of God.
Please note that only one of the leper returned to thank Jesus - the samaritan man.
Also, their healing happened only with them showing the faith.
Additional points:
- Jesus does all these miracles on route to Jerusalem - on his way to die for us. Despite that, he spares time for miracles, parables and teachings. Even for kids. Amazing isn't it?
- Psalms 22: Jesus' crucifixion prophesied.
- The kingdom of God is within you = accurately read as - kingdom of God is in your midst. It's already here.
- Why did Jesus say to the rich young ruler "No one is good, but God? Why do you call me good?"
Jesus is actually telling him, if you are calling me good, you are essentially recognizing me as God.
By the way, why does Jesus use the mustard seed to describe both the Kingdom of God and the faith that he expects in a follower?
From http://www.gotquestions.org/mustard-seed-faith.html
The key to understanding the passages is the nature of faith, which is a gift from God. The power of faith reflects the omnipotent nature of the God who bestows faith on His own. The mustard seed is one of the tiniest seeds found in the Middle East, so the conclusion is that the amount of faith needed to do great things is very small indeed. Just as in the parable of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31–32), Jesus uses rhetorical hyperbole to make the point that little is much when it comes from God. The mustard seed in the parable grows to be a huge tree, representing the tiny beginnings of Christianity when just a few disciples began to preach and teach the gospel. Eventually, the kingdom grew to huge proportions, encompassing the entire world and spreading over centuries.
So, too, does the tiniest bit of faith, when it is true faith from God, grow to immense proportions in the lives of believers and spreading out to influence all they come into contact with.
Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/mustard-seed-faith.html#ixzz3VuxycpOi
People at a distance
Today's write-up is from Pastor Rock's message in church. Contrary to our usual understanding of the story of the ten lepers, Pastor Rock took a different route. He brought the teaching of the social gospel through this story. Let me introduce some of his thoughts:
1. The lepers were referred as 'men' here. Unlike several other instances, were they were dehumanized. The author portrays them as real men, and not just based on their infirmity. Those devoted to God will see both the struggles and possibilities of others. Those devoted to themselves will see few struggles but their own.
2. Godly sight is enhanced when we view people in light of divine creation, rather than their difficult condition.
3. When we view people in light of their condition we lose sight of their humanity and easily devalue them.
4. When we view people in light of their condition, we lose sight of what they could be.
5. When we view people in light of their condition, we see sin and need as something residing in others than in us.
6. Suffering can easily lead us to feel distant from both God and Hope.
7. Jesus' followers look where others look away. When we heed the bible, we lose our blinders.
8. God does not draw us close so that we might escape the pain around us but so that we might see it even more clearly.
9. When we see others as Jesus sees them we will speak as Jesus speaks
10. Jesus heals us by enabling us to both see and feel the pain of people at a distance
11. When we see people at a distance as God sees them we decrease the distance between our own heart and the heart of God.
Please note that only one of the leper returned to thank Jesus - the samaritan man.
Also, their healing happened only with them showing the faith.
Additional points:
- Jesus does all these miracles on route to Jerusalem - on his way to die for us. Despite that, he spares time for miracles, parables and teachings. Even for kids. Amazing isn't it?
- Psalms 22: Jesus' crucifixion prophesied.
- The kingdom of God is within you = accurately read as - kingdom of God is in your midst. It's already here.
- Why did Jesus say to the rich young ruler "No one is good, but God? Why do you call me good?"
Jesus is actually telling him, if you are calling me good, you are essentially recognizing me as God.
By the way, why does Jesus use the mustard seed to describe both the Kingdom of God and the faith that he expects in a follower?
From http://www.gotquestions.org/mustard-seed-faith.html
The key to understanding the passages is the nature of faith, which is a gift from God. The power of faith reflects the omnipotent nature of the God who bestows faith on His own. The mustard seed is one of the tiniest seeds found in the Middle East, so the conclusion is that the amount of faith needed to do great things is very small indeed. Just as in the parable of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31–32), Jesus uses rhetorical hyperbole to make the point that little is much when it comes from God. The mustard seed in the parable grows to be a huge tree, representing the tiny beginnings of Christianity when just a few disciples began to preach and teach the gospel. Eventually, the kingdom grew to huge proportions, encompassing the entire world and spreading over centuries.
So, too, does the tiniest bit of faith, when it is true faith from God, grow to immense proportions in the lives of believers and spreading out to influence all they come into contact with.
Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/mustard-seed-faith.html#ixzz3VuxycpOi
Luke 15-16
The ‘Lost’ & ‘Found’
Luke has 28 parables (16 unique), Matthew has 23 (11), Mark has 9 (1) and John has none.
The three lost parables talk about one thing. God loves the sinner. The first two probably shows the great joy that Jesus has when he finds us again. The prodigal son story also talks about the issue of repentance. Only when the younger son repented was he able to get back to his father’s arms.
Homework: Why does Jesus use a scoundrel as the main character in the parable in Luke 16? What is he teaching us through this story? Is he condoning dishonesty?
Luke 16:19-31
This is the only parable where Jesus refers to someone who is real - by name - Lazarus. In fact, what is more interesting is the fact that the rich man does not have a name. Isn't it great to know that if we are suffering, Jesus knows us by our name?
Luke 13-14
A potpourri of teaching
Luke has more parables than any other gospel. In these chapters, Jesus teaches on a lot of things.
1. Repentance – the disasters happened not because of someone’s sins. It is a warning for us, to repent. Or face perish.
2. Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It grows into a large tree, from a small tiny seed. In the same way, like a yeast, it enriches the dough and works all through it.
4. The feast parables (Luke 14:1-24) teaches us that the kingdom of God is for everyone. It’s for the Jews, the gentiles, it’s for the Pentecostals, catholics, marthomites, non-christians and everyone.
5. Jesus heals on Sabbath day – those who opposed him gets rebuked. He hates people who stick on to traditions, without seeing the meaning of it.
6. Salvation is certainly free. But there is a cost of discipleship. You should hate your family, but love your enemies. There are similar paradoxes in bible. If you cannot see the true meaning in them, they will remain paradoxes. For instance, ‘hate your family’ means, consider family not as equal to your relationship with Jesus. It does not mean HATE them. Hope you understand that it is not a paradox anymore, once you understand what Jesus is saying.
7. Salt without saltiness are worthless. Christians without Christ are useless. Are you a Christian with a K?
Luke 12
Accountability
Jesus talks about accountability in this chapter. One has to be accountable in all that he does – work, faith, words, deeds, everything.
1. Jesus warns that there is no neutral position when it comes to him. You either know him as God, or not (Luke 11:23). He also warns that his followers must expect to be persecuted. You cannot be comfortable with life, if you are a follower of Jesus. Disown him and face the consequence (Luke 12:8,12:51).
2. Jesus believed in a literal Hell. The bible does not give any evidence that there is not a place called Hell. There is a popular theology out there that it does not exist. Wrong teaching.
3. The rich fool is a classic materialist. If you are one, be warned. Jesus is talking about YOU.
4. The story of the servants waiting for the master may not be about the second coming of Jesus. He has not introduced that teaching yet, if you consider this parable was chronologically in order. It appears that he is teaching about accountability instead. Be accountable in your work.
5. If you have been entrusted with much, more will be expected of you. He may not be talking about one’s talents. Instead, he maybe talking about the revelation of God (Hebrews 12).
6. But don’t get stressed out. He will help you. The Holy spirit will teach you what to say when it matters (Luke 12:11-12; 22-34). He hears your every heartbeat. Don’t worry!
Luke 11
The Lord's prayer
After two years of close observation, the disciples now venture to ask Jesus how he prays. They must have noticed that most of Jesus' works happens after a time of prayer. Two lessons for us:
1. The way to teach is to model it.
2. He didn't teach them how to pray until they asked him for it.
Let your mentee set the agenda. Don't force feed them, or set their agenda for them. Do like Jesus did.
Snippets about the Lord's prayer:
1. Calling God as 'father' was truly revolutionary. Up until then, he was God. Jesus revolutionized our relationship with God.
2. Appreciating God's glory should come before our petitions and intercessions.
3. The Lord's prayer covers our past sin, present needs and future trials.
About the ask-receive comment by Jesus. He is talking about the Holy spirit. But in any case, if you wish to ask for something, ask in accordance with his will.
The Lord's prayer
After two years of close observation, the disciples now venture to ask Jesus how he prays. They must have noticed that most of Jesus' works happens after a time of prayer. Two lessons for us:
1. The way to teach is to model it.
2. He didn't teach them how to pray until they asked him for it.
Let your mentee set the agenda. Don't force feed them, or set their agenda for them. Do like Jesus did.
Snippets about the Lord's prayer:
1. Calling God as 'father' was truly revolutionary. Up until then, he was God. Jesus revolutionized our relationship with God.
2. Appreciating God's glory should come before our petitions and intercessions.
3. The Lord's prayer covers our past sin, present needs and future trials.
About the ask-receive comment by Jesus. He is talking about the Holy spirit. But in any case, if you wish to ask for something, ask in accordance with his will.
What does Jesus mean by the ‘Sign of Jonah’?
- Like Jonah, Jesus, the son of man, would be missing for three days, buried in the earth, and would live again. If the people of the day cannot fathom this sign, there is nothing more greater than this.
6 things that Jesus hates – The 6 woes (Luke 11:37-52)
1. Showing a hypocritical zeal over the little things while neglecting the important things that matter to God
2. A selfish pride – a fight for positions and fame
3. Hiding one’s own sins, while judging others
4. Imposing certain standards and expectations on people without fulfilling them yourself
5. Honoring prophets of yesteryears and yet, destroying today’s saints
6. Using peripheral issues and traditions to distract people from the real relationship with Jesus
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