Thursday 31st December 2009

Luke 7.6-10

6 Now Jesus went with them. And already not being far away from the house the centurion sent his friend saying to Him (Jesus): “Lord, don’t bother (to come). I am not worthy that you should come under my roof.

7 I reasoned that I am not worthy for you to come to me, but just say the word and my servant will be cured.

8 For I am also a man appointed to be under authority, also having soldiers under me, and I say to this one: “Go” and he goes, to another one: “Come” and he comes, and to my slave: “do this” and He does it”.

9 And hearing these things Jesus admired him, and turning to the crowd following Him He said: “I tell you that not in Israel have I found so much faith”.

10 And the ones who were sent, going back into the house found, the slave being in good health.

The first thing that we notice is the response of Jesus. He went with them. He was eager to help, He was keen to display that He came to break down the barriers that mankind erects, that sets nation against nation. He came to show that the good news of God is for everyone, both the conquered and the conqueror.

Therefore, He sets out with the Jewish leaders to go to this centurion’s home. We have a gospel to proclaim that is for the whole world, it is for all peoples of every race and colour. As we are called to continue the ministry of Jesus He will call us to go to people who may be considered as enemies, to those who may appear to be unlovable, to those who are engaged in a life style and sins that repulse us. We learn that our Heavenly Father does not show favoritism – Romans 2.11.

Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the whole world, for the greatest and the least of sinners. Each one of us needed and needs His sacrifice on the cross; none of us can claim to be any better than anyone else through our own efforts. Jesus had to come and pay the price for each one of us. This He has done and in doing so He has broken down the barriers that mankind builds.

Just as Jesus was prepared to go to this man, this Gentile, this conquering enemy, so also must we carry the good news of Jesus wherever we go, to those whom we find agreeable and to those who we find it hard to accept and get along with. We can do so, but only in the power of His Holy Spirit.

Let the coming New Year be one where, in the name of Jesus, we are involved in breaking down the barriers of man.

Wednesday 30th December 2009

Luke 7.2-5

2 Now a certain centurion had a precious slave who had an illness and was about to die.

3 Now hearing about Jesus he sent the Jewish elders, seriously asking (praying) that He might come and make his slave perfectly well.

4 And they came to Jesus, and earnestly implored Him, saying that this man is worthy that you should grant this.

5 For he loves our nations and built the synagogue for us. 

It is often assumed that the Roman centurion was the commander of 100 men. However, this number could vary from 80 to 100, usually 83 men. Also there were occasions when a centurion would command a half strength century or a double strength century.

The centurion was a man who would lead his men into battle as an example of how to fight; because of this a centurion’s life could be quite short. He would also be a man who could inspire the soldiers under him.  W Barclay tells us that a Roman historian, Polybius, said that a centurion had to be steady, reliable, not over anxious and be prepared to stand at their post and die there.

It was this type of man who came to Jesus; a hard and strong individual, used to receiving and giving orders, knowing what the heat of battle was like, seeing death all around him and facing it himself. Yet there is in him a compassion for a slave who means a great deal to him. We must remember that generally slaves were discarded and left to die if they could not work.

The centurion would have had a great deal of influence over those under his command and his household. This particular one had an influence for good within the local community, having built a synagogue. Perhaps we can see this as an action that illustrates the command of Jesus to love our enemies. The Jews and Romans were enemies. The Jewish elders described him as a man who loved their nation. His influence was one of love.

Each one of us has been placed in our situations to be an influence. Every action that we take is an opportunity for us to demonstrate the love of Jesus. Each word that we say is an occasion for displaying the grace and compassion of our Heavenly Father. God has entrusted us with the job of making an impact on this world.

Tuesday 29th December 2009

Luke 7.1

1 He (Jesus) had completely finished saying all these words to the people. He went into Capernaum.   

In the previous chapters we learn a lot about the teaching of Jesus. It was time for Jesus to move on to other spheres of His ministry. This teaching of Jesus was a real contrast from the traditional teaching and understanding that the Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees had been giving.

We have seen that Jesus taught about the kingdom of God, whereas they taught about the rules by which the people should live. Jesus taught and displayed the life of the kingdom of God, whereas they taught about the things that gave sin the power of death. Jesus said that He was the Lord of the Sabbath, making it a benefit to people. The Pharisees gave teaching that bound and restricted people.

Jesus displayed the power of the Kingdom of God, bringing release from demonic possession and healing to broken bodies. The Pharisees were powerless to effect any change in people’s lives. Jesus taught about the joy of the Kingdom of God and the radical difference of Kingdom living from that taught by the Pharisees. He implied that the Pharisees were the blind guides of the blind, and that He was the good tree producing good fruit, whereas they were the bad tree producing bad fruit.

He finished His sermon with the illustration of those who hear and do His word being like the person who builds on Him, the solid rock. Whereas everyone who hears but doesn’t build on Him are like those who build on sand, the teaching of the Pharisees and the tradition of the elders. Having finished all this it was time for Jesus to move on, and time for the people to consider carefully what He had said and make a decision.

Over our life time Jesus has spoken to all of us in many ways, and every time He has done so He gives us the time to consider carefully what He has said, leaving us to make the decision as to what we are going to do with His words. Let us all choose today to hear and obey so that we can move on with Him.

Monday 28th December 2009

Luke 6. 46-49 cont.

46 Now why do you call me: Lord, Lord, and do not do the things I speak?

47 I will show you whom everyone is like who comes to me listening to my words and doing them.

48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on rock, when a flood and came and broke against that house the river was not strong enough to shake it, because it had been well built.

49 But the one hearing and not doing (what I say) is like a man who built a house on the earth without any foundation, when the river broke against it, it collapsed at once, and the ruin of that house was great.

Most parents will always look to build good foundations into their children, so that as they grow those foundations will stand them in good stead. We all know the importance of having our life founded on firm and solid foundations.

Jesus says that the builder who takes the easy way to build his house has stopped listening to Him. It is true that when everything is going well for us and all things are fitting into place, that it is easy to ignore the future possibilities of storms. However, it is in these times that Jesus comes alongside and warns us not to build on the basis that everything will always be calm and sunny. The summer season only lasts for a while, to be replaced by the storms of winter.

It can be very easy for new Christians to have sandy foundations, where there is very little depth in their relationship with Jesus. Unless guided to build on the solid rock of Jesus we can soon build on the sand of worldly foundations, such as custom, culture and social acceptability. There may be nothing wrong with these things, but they are not lasting and sooner or later the storms will come against us. If all we are built on are the things of this world, then we will be washed away in the torrent of the storm. We will have become like those who hear what Jesus says, but do nothing about it.

As we look to the beginning of another year let us be a people who are determined to continue to build on the everlasting words of Jesus. In this we will continue to be rock solid, immovable. Paul wrote these words to the Corinthians: So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless – 1 Corinthians 15.58.

Sunday 27th December 2009

Luke 6. 46-49

46 Now why do you call me: Lord, Lord, and do not do the things I speak?

47 I will show you whom everyone is like who comes to me listening to my words and doing them.

48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on rock, when a flood and came and broke against that house the river was not strong enough to shake it, because it had been well built.

49 But the one hearing and not doing (what I say) is like a man who built a house on the earth without any foundation, when the river broke against it, it collapsed at once, and the ruin of that house was great.

Matthew also recounts this parable of Jesus in chapter 7.24-27. It is helpful for us to get some background information on circumstances that Jesus is referring to. During the summer months, when the weather was fine and there was hardly any rain, many of the rivers in Israel dried up. The same is true of a number of Mediterranean countries today. These dried up rivers left a sandy river bed, which was easy to dig into and build a house upon.

There were some people, who instead of looking for firm rock to build upon, saw the attraction of an easy build upon sand. This would be particularly true of certain parts of the River Jordan, which after the September rains could be a mile wide when in flood. Those who built their houses in these sandy areas soon discovered the errors of their building plans when the rivers became swollen torrents, washing away their homes. We see much the same thing happening in these days, when new homes are built on flood plains and the occupants are in constant fear of flooding and the misery that it brings.

One of the first things for us to note is that again Jesus draws a distinction from His teaching and that of the Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees. This parable is a clear reference to the fact that His words are the truth and will remain forever, whereas the words of the Pharisees etc will be swept away.

In Matthew 24.35 Jesus said: “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever”. The most important words in the entire world are the words of Jesus. It is good to be familiar with them and moulded by them. John describes Jesus as the ‘Word’ who took on human likeness and came and lived amongst as.

Saturday 26th December 2009

Luke 6. 45

45 The good man brings good treasure from his good heart, also the evil man brings out evil, for it is out of what the heart is full of that a man’s mouth speaks.

It is said that Christmas time can be an occasion for family arguments to flare up. For those who have long holidays it means spending time with family, which can be quite trying. It is with family members that people are more likely to say what they think, instead of holding their tongue. In doing this people are more likely to be speaking from what is in their heart.

As we spend time with our loved ones this Christmas it is important that we bring out of our mouth the treasures that are in our heart. A mind that is daily being renewed by the Holy Spirit will invest into the heart the treasures of Jesus. It is from these treasures that we want our mouth to speak. The secret of doing this is to hear and learn the way in which Jesus speaks to us, and then to speak the same way to those who we love, and everyone else.

He speaks to us words of love; words of encouragement; words that may bring correction, but always filled with the grace and strength for us to come into line with His attitude. We know that our tongue can be a wonderful force for good, it can also be a terrible force for evil.

Perhaps James was recalling these words of Jesus when he wrote: [9]  Sometimes it (the tongue) praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against those who have been made in the image of God. [10]  And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! – 3.9-10. This Christmas time let us make sure that all our attitudes and words are seasoned with the salt of God’s Kingdom.

Friday 25 December 2009

A Very Happy Christmas to you all.

Luke 6.43-44

43 For a good tree does not produce bad fruit, again neither does a bad tree produce good fruit.

44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, neither are grapes picked from a bramble bush.

When Jesus refers to the good tree He may be referring to Himself. The bad tree would be all those who are not joined to Him, such as those Pharisees, scribes and Sadducees who were against Him.  We can confidently say that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecy from Isaiah 11.1-2: [1]  Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. [2] And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

The picture is of a tree that has been cut down and only the bare stump remains. Yet it is from this stump that the shoot, Jesus, has grown. He has become the good tree, bringing the fruit of life. The bad tree could only bring death. Paul says that the law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature – Romans 8.2. Salvation cannot come from a bad tree, it can only come through Jesus, the good tree. As the good tree He brings the fruit of fellowship with God. On this Christmas Day we see that Matthew recalls the words of Isaiah (7.14): “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Immanuel (meaning, God is with us)” – 1.23.

Jesus is our Emmanuel. Christmas is the time to appreciate that we are not alone, because Jesus is here with us by His Holy Spirit. In John 15 Jesus says that He is the Vine and that we are the branches and that if we remain in Him we will produce a lot of fruit. That will be good, because we remain in Him the good tree. Let us look forward to 2010 to be a year of remaining in Jesus and producing His good fruit.

Thursday 24th December 2009

Luke 6.41-42

41 Now, why do you see the small speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the log in your own eye?

42 How can you say to your brother: “Brother, let me remove the speck from your eye”. When you have a log in your own eye and cannot see? Hypocrite, firstly remove the log from your own eye and you will see clearly to remove the speck in your brother’s eye.

Jesus continues with the theme of those who are blind not being able to lead others who are blind. When someone has a major issue in their life that has not been dealt with and which they do not recognise, then they are not in a position to help someone who has a minor problem in their life. 

The Pharisees were so blinded by their rigid observance of the law and traditions that they could not possibly see to help others. The log in their eyes blinded them so they could not see the need to be compassionate, nor could they see the need for change in their own life. The message is clear for every follower of Jesus, that we must first of all remove the log that is in our own eye, before we can be of any assistance to anyone else. Perhaps there is a tendency within most of us to point out the faults of our brothers and sisters, whilst not seeing that we may have strayed a long way from the straight and narrow.

Sometimes it can be that we are keen to point out the faults of others in order to deflect attention from those areas in our own life that we don’t want disturbed. We must always allow ourselves to be under the microscope of the Holy Spirit, so that He can highlight the ‘logs’ in our own eyes. In this He will lead us to confession and repentance. Paul writes these words: Dear brothers and sisters, if another Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself – Galatians 6.1. We can only help others when the log(s) have been removed from our own eyes. Let our prayer be that He would guide us along the right paths to bring honour to His name – Psalm 23.3

Wednesday 23rd December 2009

Luke 6.40

40 A disciple (pupil) is not above the teacher. When he is fully educated he will be like his teacher.

During my time as a driving instructor I have been privileged to teach quite a number of people to become driving instructors. All of who were already good drivers, some being police trained and others being members of the Institute of Advanced Motoring. Both of these groups had already been taught to drive to a high standard. However, I had to change their way of driving so that they could drive to the high standards of the Driving Standards Agency. On rare occasions some would find it difficult to change their driving attitude to come in line with the standards I would teach. They did so by realizing that I was teaching them to drive so that they could pass the very exacting exam of the DSA. Most did and started their own driving schools. It was when they passed that they were fully educated and trained, like me.

This illustrates what Jesus was saying that a pupil is not able to teach his teacher. Since the context again involves the Pharisees and scribes, we must consider this to be a reference to the fact that they were not able to teach anything to Jesus, or His disciples. What they were teaching was the old ways of doing things, which was not suitable for the new ways of the Kingdom of God. Jesus has already spoken about this after the Pharisees confronted the disciples about fasting: “new wine must be put in new wineskins. And no one who has drunk the old wine has any desire for new wine, because he says: “The old is good enough”” – Luke 5.38-39. What they were teaching was not based on any experience of God, but on the law and the binding tradition of the elders.

Jesus said in Matthew 5.17: “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. The Pharisees could not possibly teach Jesus about the law, since He alone kept and fulfilled the law in every respect. He was the only non lawbreaker, keeping it perfectly. In humility we must always be the pupils of the Holy Spirit, who will teach us about Jesus – John 16.12-15.

Tuesday 22nd December 2009

Luke 6.38

39 He also told them a parable: “Is a blind man able to guide a blind man” Will they not both fall into a ditch?”

Most will have heard the expression of the blind leading the blind. I remember when I was on my very first shift at a busy signal box. I had another signalman with me who was there to learn the working of that box. Since we were both new in that signal box he used this expression of it being like the blind leading the blind. We got through without causing any mishaps. Looking at the context in which Jesus used these words it would seem that He is aiming His comments at the Pharisees.

In Matthews’s account of Jesus saying this is a reference to the Pharisees, where He calls them ‘blind guides’ – Matthew 15.14. No doubt there is some humour in what Jesus said, and we can imagine that the crowd would find the illustration funny. The object of leading a blind person is to keep them safe, but if the one doing the leading is also blind, both are likely to end up face down in a ditch! If a non driver tries to teach another non driver how to drive, disaster is the likely result for both of them, and possibly others. The point of the words of Jesus is that those who have no revelation of the things of God cannot show or explain the things of God to anybody else. Somebody may know all the theology and be able to teach on this, but if that person does not have a personal relationship with Jesus they are no more than blind guides.

In the first few verses of his letter John writes: We are telling you about what we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ – 1 John 1.3. It is the testimony that each of us has of our relationship with Jesus that brings life to one another. As we approach Christmas we celebrate the fact that He came as the Light of the world to lead us out of darkness. Isaiah prophesied: The people who walk in darkness will see a great light—a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow – 9.2.