April 29

Update

I have been so scattered in my disciplines that I have not been writing in my blog.  I am still reading a chapter a week of Luke-Acts though I did get behind.  I am trying to get caught up.  In doing so I will try to write insights that strike in my readings. So stay tuned.

I did want to write about some rambling thoughts that I have had.  It is the time of political mayhem.  I sometimes wonder if those who are running for office really want to be elected or do they just want to criticize one another and those who were duly elected into office.  I am amazed of the energy they spend putting each other down and how they avoid speaking to what they stand for and will attempt to do. Personally I would rather if someone is going to be critical that they offer up an alternative solution to what they object.  Occasionally, I have seen some of that but mostly not.  I guess that it is easier to say nothing of substance so that they will not have to be held to promises.  I should know better as those even I have supported in the past fail to follow through with what they said they were going to try to accomplish.

While I am rolling along, there is another thing that causes me to pause.  That is those who post quotes on Facebook.  The quotes are often good especially if one is quoting some famous person or family therapist.  Somehow that is less impressive to me than does the person quoting someone else actually are changed by what they have put there. When I was a therapist in the mental health center, I would often have clients who would develop insight to what they were experiencing.  My comment to them was knowledge is maybe the start but if this doesn’t lead to some sort life change, it is useless.  I would rather see someone choose to behave differently than someone who can quote the latest self-help book or even the Bible.  We are called to be transformed not just in our knowledge but to live that out in the world.

I know that I will not influence those who continue to put out those quotes and not saying that they should not share.  I pray that what they put out is what they are willing to do in their lives.  By the way, I include myself.  As I said in a recent sermon, how we act toward others and toward God tells more about our true beliefs than our words.

Luke 6

I am amazed when I am preaching on the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew and reading last week on Luke 6.  There are many similar ideas found in both gospels. Last Sunday I was preaching on the ethics of being a Christian and that Jesus did not come to do away with the Law (Torah) but to fulfill it.  The first section on Luke 6 presents two stories of Jesus actions on the Sabbath.  The consequences for the Pharisees and scribes who believed in the literal words of the Torah without understanding the heart of the Law were appalled that Jesus would violate the basic principles of Sabbath.

I was reading from the Message regarding the healing of the man with a withered hand.  The Pharisees and scribes were trying to get Jesus to heal on the Sabbath.  Jesus confronts them with the statement, “What kind of action is better for the Sabbath to do good or to do evil?  Is it better to help someone or leave them helpless?”  Once again Jesus takes their literal translation of the word and goes to the heart of God’s Will.  I can only imagine them in the parking lot of the synagogue talking about this upstart who is doing away with tradition and does not care to follow the literal words on a scroll but instead will do what he wills in as far as healing someone who is hurting.  I would suggest that at times we all can become such literalists that we forget the underlying purpose of the law and of God’s Word. Even today we continue to value words on paper over the heart of God.

The chapter continues with the choosing of the 12 apostles.  Jesus then begins to train them into what it means to be a disciple.  This is the Sermon on the Plains.  There are similarities with Matthew but some significant differences.  Luke has instead of the Beatitudes, the blessings and woes.  He emphasizes not the poor in spirit but the poor.  As the Message says blessed are you when you’ve lost it all.  Blessed are you who are hungry (not for righteousness but actual hunger).  Then he goes on to woe onto you who are rich, well fed, and think you have it made.  This takes us back to Mary’s song in chapter 1 about God lifted up the poor and helpless and bringing down the rich and powerful.  This also reminds us of Jesus talking about his mission in chapter 4.

The rest of the chapter parallels Matthew.  I particularly like what the Message says about building your house.  Verse 48-49, “If you use my words only for a bible study and don’t work them into your life, then you are like a dumb carpenter who builds a house without building a foundation.”  How true that is.  Being a Christian is more than memorizing bible verses, it is about using those verses as a foundation in the way we live.

Luke 5

Following Jesus’ reception for his sermon, we begin for the next two chapters to see the call of the disciples.  The author practically quotes Mark 1-2 in chapter 5.  He does expand on the stories as well as share healing stories as well.

5:1-11 is the call story of Peter.  What is striking is how quickly Peter (Simon) recognizes Jesus.  Peter was likely the owner of several fishing boats as John and James were partners with him. So their willingness to pick up and leave their jobs and income makes the call story more powerful.  Remember that these men had done nothing outstanding to make Jesus call them to follow him.  They were not particularly astute, educated, and belonged to a lower status.  We continue to see the reversal of what the world would value and what Jesus values.  They would leave what little they have and to go into the future without knowing where it may lead.  Also in this section is the first miracle that did not involve healing or exorcism.  Jesus did not command the sea to produce the fish but like stories of manna in the wilderness, Elijah using oil and grain, he took the normal activities of the fishermen to produce abundance in extreme.  So it is with God using ordinary people, situations and settings to accomplish his purpose.

5:12-16 Healing of the Leper.  I would refer people to read Leviticus 13-14 to understand with greater depth about what is happening.  The first is that what we are talking about can be any kind of skin disease not just Hansen’s disease.  Because of the illness one was exiled outside the city.  One could not be with their family, could not worship in the synagogue or temple, and could not approach others.  Often they had to wear a bell or something to warn people that they were coming.  They depending on begging to be able to survive.  If they touched another person, than that person becomes unclean as well.  So when Jesus touches him, this was scandalous for not only healing and declaring him healed for only a priest could do that but it also made Jesus unclean so that he could not enter cities and had to remain in the wilderness for the set period of time.  So Jesus in his action so identifies with the leper, he is willing to suffer the same estrangement that the leper had suffered.  Another point in the healing stories is the estrangement that the sick or possessed suffered.  Healing was more than curing but also, and more importantly, involved restoration to family, community, and to worship.

5:17-26 Healing of the Paralyzed.  Following the healing story of the leper, we have yet another healing story.  Jesus was in a house with the Pharisees and the scribes teaching.  While there many came for healing.  This story has some significant themes regarding the ministry of Christ.  First the paralyzed man was unable to come to Jesus.  So four of his neighbors carried him so that he could be healed.  Jesus is amazed at their faith and the willingness to carry their friend.  Today we marvel at those who are willing to go the extra mile for others with no expectation of receiving anything in return.  No wonder Jesus was moved.

The second theme is that the one who can heal can also forgive.  Jesus is in the presence of the leaders of the church and yet they are unable to heal or be instrumental in forgiveness. So they react to Jesus’ statement “Your sins are forgiven.”  Note first the man never asked to be healed or forgiven.  Jesus is responding to his friend’s faithfulness.  Jesus responds to his critics by demonstrating that forgiveness is in the authority of the Son of Man (found in Daniel) and that forgiveness leads to healing.  When seeing the power of Jesus, they are amazed and glorify God.

Because the friends would not allow any obstacle to impede them, they received the blessing.  While the Pharisees and scribes were more concerned with the letter of the law they were frustrated.

Luke 5:27-32 Calling of Levi.  We have another call to story this time to Levi (Matthew).  Levi was a tax collector and often treated by his fellow Jews as a traitor working for the oppressors.  Sometimes we may have similar feelings toward IRS workers who work for the government.  Tax collectors made their living by not just collecting what was owed to Rome but also would charge more and keep the difference.  Thus they were seen also as sinners.  So those who wanted to be pure would not associate with them.  So anyone who would eat with them would be considered impure because of sharing a meal with them. Once again Jesus does the unthinkable.  He who was pure ate with sinners.  So the criticism made was Jesus being judged by the company he keeps.  So Jesus responds about that “those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

This call story is not just about Levi.  It is about Jesus’ call to all of us.  It matters not who we are or what we have done.  What matters is are we willing to surrender to Jesus?  Jesus did not handpick the righteous, most virtuous, or most popular to follow him. What is scandalous is that Jesus’ style of discipleship is not built on separation from sinners but by association with sinners.  Where do you think churches today would fall on the continuum of separation or association?

Luke 5:33-39 Fasting.  Fasting is an important spiritual discipline but again Jesus drives a wedge between the letter of the law and the heart of the law.  He goes on to add that there is something new that is happening and that the new will supersede the old.  He is stating that the Kingdom is greater than anything that has gone on before.  What does that say to us today as we look at our churches?  Do we worship our tradition so much that we lose sight of the continuing presence of God amongst us?  Do we so prefer the “old wine” that we are unwilling to see the “new wine”?  Jesus declared in chapter 4 that “the year of the Lord” is upon us.  So today how do we respond to Jesus?