Saturday 31st July 2010

Luke 13.22-25

22 And He travelled throughout cities and villages teaching and making His way to Jerusalem.

23 Now a certain man said to Him: “Lord, how is it that only a few are being saved?” And He said to them:

24 “You must endeavour to enter through the narrow door, because, I tell you that many will seek to enter in, but will not be able to.

25 Whenever the house master should get up he might lock the door, and you who have stood outside might knock, saying: “Lord, open up for us”, and replying he will say to you: “I do not know you or where you come from”.

In verse 22 Luke tells us that Jesus was moving towards the climax of His time on earth. The words: ‘making His way to Jerusalem’ are packed with the awesome nature of what Jesus had come to do.

He was fast approaching ‘the hour’ for which He had come.

As He purposefully made His way to Jerusalem and the greatest event in history, He still had time to go into other cities and villages and teach the Kingdom of God.

We again see that Jesus always had time for those He came to save; He always had time to bring in the Kingdom of God. He might have been passing by on His way to His death and resurrection, however, He still had the time to stop and minister to people.

Today we can be assured that Jesus will not pass us by, we can be encouraged in the knowledge that Jesus will not overlook us. Daily He knocks on the door of our heart and if we stop to listen we will hear Him knocking. Then we are the ones who need to be still and know His presence with us.

The man who appears to interrupt Jesus on His journey asks a question, the context of which we need to understand.

He would ask it having the assumption that salvation and the Kingdom of God were for the Jews alone. All the other nations of the world had no hope, and as we have seen before, the Jews regarded the other nations as fuel for the fires of hell.

As far as the man was concerned, the few being saved would have been the nation of Israel, whereas the many, all other nations, had no hope of entering the Kingdom of God.

We are very blessed to know John 3.16: “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life”.

Friday 30th July 2010

Luke 13.20-21.

20 And again He said: To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?

21 It is like yeast, which a woman takes and hides in three measures of flour until the whole batch has risen.

Yeast was commonly used to illustrate the evil influences that come upon us all. Therefore, it might seem unusual for Jesus to use yeast (leaven) as an illustration of how the Kingdom of God grows.

When growing up at home with His mother and Father, Jesus would have seen Mary making bread. He would be familiar, as are many of us, how great changes are brought about by a small amount of yeast.

In this particular instance Jesus is using it to show how massive is the influence of the yeast in comparison with the small amount used.

Jesus says that the amount of flour used would be equivalent to 9 gallons (42 litres), but the amount of yeast would be relatively small.

How are we to understand what Jesus means in this parable?

In the whole of history it may appear that the death of Jesus was just one of thousands of crucifixions that have taken place. Yet it is His death and resurrection that has turned the world upside down. The influence and effect of His death and resurrection changed the whole course of history and eternity.

Paul puts it this way: The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over us, but all who receive God’s wonderful, gracious gift of righteousness will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ – Romans 5.17.

The transforming power of Jesus changes individual hearts, which makes a massive impact on society.

The death and resurrection of Jesus may have seemed foolishness to the Gentile world, however, it brought about a revolutionary change in that society.

W Barclay tells us that the Roman thinker, Seneca, wrote these words: “We strangle a mad dog, we slaughter a fierce fox; we plunge a knife into sickly cattle lest they taint the herd; children who are born weakly and deformed we drown”. This was the normal way of living in Roman society in the New Testament. It was the yeast of Jesus that radically changes that society, and His power is still the same today. May the world experience the yeast of Jesus in us.

Thursday 29th July 2010

Luke 13.19 cont

19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man takes and sows (throws) in his garden. It grows and becomes a tree, and the birds of heaven make a nest in its branches”.

Luke seems to emphasize the potential that can be developed in believers. The mustard tree is generally thought to be the black mustard tree and it grows to approximately nine feet tall. It is generally thought that it was mostly grown in the fields, because it grew so large. However, Luke places it within someone’s garden.

This fact gives us another insight into what Jesus may have been saying about the Kingdom of God, which is that God plants His Kingdom in unlikely places. That is, unlikely from our human perspective.

Since the whole earth is His, we should not be surprised at where He chooses to plant the seeds of His Kingdom.

Another thing to notice is that His Kingdom grows. Isaiah prophesied: Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end – Isaiah 9.7.

In the light of this our general expectation should be that we live in a time of the expansion of God’s Kingdom. It would seem that this is one of the major themes of this parable.

Evangelism, the preaching of the gospel and ministering to the needs of people are for the purpose of seeing the Kingdom of God increase to such an extent that people are able to come and find the rest for God amongst us.

Everyone who is born again is a part of the expansion of the Kingdom of God. Jesus has called us to be part of His answer to a world lost in the darkness of sin. Jesus calls us to be His influence to as world caught in Satan’s deathly trap.

It is good for us to know that God’s Kingdom is not shrinking; it is encouraging for us all to be part of His expanding Kingdom. Let us pray that we shall more and more see Him adding to the church each day, those who are being saved.

Wednesday 28th July 2010

Luke 13.19

19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man takes and sows (throws) in his garden. It grows and becomes a tree, and the birds of heaven make a nest in its branches”.

In the gospels of Mark and Matthew Jesus says that the mustard seed is the smallest of seeds. Luke does not record this emphasis on smallness. However, it is good for us to look at what Mark and Matthew record and learn from it.

In Zechariah 4.10 The Lord tells us: Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.

Insignificance is no barrier to our God. He has plans to bless us and use us, no matter what our background, culture, or status in this world. Someone may start out in life with every worldly advantage it is possible to imagine, and someone else may begin life with none of advantages of this world. It makes no difference to our heavenly Father.

Jesus took 12 men, recognized as uneducated, and transformed them into world changers.

He’s still doing that.

David was a shepherd boy, whom God anointed to become the King of Israel. It is His anointing on our life that causes us to grow into the person He wants us to be.

Jesus takes the smallest to make the greatest.

Jeremiah doubted God’s calling on His life because he was only young. This is God’s reply: But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you – Jeremiah 1.7.

In 1 Corinthians 1.27 Paul tells us: God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful. He did this so that no one can boast of their own achievements. Paul had already told the Corinthians that not many of them were wise, powerful or wealthy when God called them, but that is no obstacle to God. In grace and mercy He reaches out to us all, the least and the greatest in the eyes of the world.

Tuesday 27th July 2010

Luke 13.18

18 Then He said: “What is the Kingdom of God like, and to what shall I liken it?

In everyday life everyone uses illustrations and stories in an effort to explain something to someone else. Our language has many short word pictures that instantly give others a description of the point we are making. One such saying is: “a stick in time saves nine”.

Every preacher will know the purpose and usefulness of illustrations that are used to illuminate some aspect of our teaching about Jesus.

In this verse and in verse 20 Jesus Himself asks how He can best describe the Kingdom of God.

His point is to open the eyes of people to see the wonderful nature of God’s Kingdom.

Here we can learn a very valuable lesson. It is that all our illustrations and analogies must have one aim and that is to highlight and emphasize that aspect of the gospel that is being preached.

Mostly every story and illustration will be to bring honour and glory to our Lord Jesus.

Some people have a gift for telling a good story, they can make it interesting and draw their listeners into the events they are talking about. However, if the story so captivates people that they only remember the story and not what it points to, it remains only a story with no relevance.

A good story will always be a servant and not the master of the house.

The parables that Jesus told always served His purposes. It is true that people, including His disciples, did not always understand them. However, this led them to ask what the parables meant. In this way the parables served the Master, giving Him the opportunity to lead His disciples into a greater understanding.

As we witness to others about Jesus it is good for us to ask what word pictures we can use that will lead others to see Jesus.

Monday 26th July 2010

Luke 13.14-17. Cont.

14 Now the ruler of the synagogue was angry that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath so he answered and told the crowd that there are six days in which work must be done, therefore, you must come then to be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.

15 But the Lord replied to him: “You hypocrites! Will not everyone of you release his cow or donkey from the stall and take it out to give it a drink?

16 and she being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound for eighteen years, was it not necessary to release her from this bond on this Sabbath day?

17 And by saying these things all those opposing him were put to shame, and the crowd rejoiced of all the glorious things that He did.

One of the purposes for the Sabbath day was so that people could be released from the burden of work and be refreshed ready for the next working week. This also gave the time to devote the day to God in accordance with God’s commands: [8] “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. [9] Six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work, [10] but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any kind of work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you – Exodus 20.8-10.

Since the Sabbath day gave people release from the burden of work, it was a good day for this woman to be released from the burden and bondage of sickness.

We can see that, by healing the woman, He was stating that healing could not be classed as work. Therefore, the Jewish regulation was at fault for saying that it was.

Maybe there comes a time in our life when Jesus prompts us to re think the things we do so that we can realign ourselves with His will and purposes.

Jesus also stated that the woman’s sickness was a bondage that Satan had kept her in for eighteen years.

It is a sad fact that Satan still keeps people in bondage. For some it may be sickness of the body or mind or spirit. From this incident we can be encouraged to keep praying for Jesus to release people from the clutches of Satan.

For other people the bondage of Satan may be loneliness, abuse, addictions, and hopelessness. Again we can be encouraged to know that Jesus came to bring release to people, and this is the gospel that He calls us to live and proclaim.

Sunday 25th July 2010

Luke 13.14-17. Cont.

14 Now the ruler of the synagogue was angry that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath so he answered and told the crowd that there are six days in which work must be done, therefore, you must come then to be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.

15 But the Lord replied to him: “You hypocrites! Will not everyone of you release his cow or donkey from the stall and take it out to give it a drink?

16 and she being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound for eighteen years, was it not necessary to release her from this bond on this Sabbath day?

17 And by saying these things all those opposing him were put to shame, and the crowd rejoiced of all the glorious things that He did.

Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of the synagogue ruler, and all those who were in agreement with him.

Jesus uses the simple logic that every one of them would take care and help one of their livestock; therefore, they should want the very best for another human being. This would be especially so for one of their own kind, a daughter of Abraham.

In the heat of zealousness it can happen that we may lose sight of what is important. The flames of dedication can easily consume compassion, creating within us a hardness that prevents us from seeing the real needs of people.

The wonderful thing about Jesus is that He is a demonstration of the whole gospel, impacting both the spiritual and physical lives of people.

In these days we hear a lot about the need for the social gospel, meeting people’s needs in a practical way, helping people in the diversity of their problems, circumstances and concerns.

This is good and right, and Paul encourages us to: Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ – Galatians 6.2.

James tells us that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless – James 2.20.

However, there is a real danger that in by providing, helping and caring for people who are hurting, the good news for people’s souls is neglected.

We have been saved to accomplish the good works that God has planned for us: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago – Ephesians 2.10.

As we look at the ministry of Jesus we see that He did both, caring for the whole person, body (as He healed people), mind (as He delivered people from demonic forces) and spirit (as He brought salvation through His death on the cross).

We are His Body, His team, called to proclaim and live the whole gospel.

Saturday 24th July 2010

Luke 13 14-17.

14 Now the ruler of the synagogue was angry that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath so he answered and told the crowd that there are six days in which work must be done, therefore, you must come then to be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.

15 But the Lord replied to him: “You hypocrites! Will not everyone of you release his cow or donkey from the stall and take it out to give it a drink?

16 and she being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound for eighteen years, was it not necessary to release her from this bond on this Sabbath day?

17 And by saying these things all those opposing him were put to shame, and the crowd rejoiced of all the glorious things that He did.

We cannot fail to see that where the Kingdom of God is, there is also conflict. Jesus had just displayed the power of God’s Kingdom, He had just released a woman from eighteen years of torment, He had delivered her from the bondage that Satan had held her under. However, this powerful demonstration of the Kingdom of God caused indignation and anger in the synagogue ruler.

He was roused to anger because he believed with all his heart that the Sabbath laws had been broken, he was convinced that healing, no matter how good, was work and, therefore, should not have taken place on the Sabbath.

His fury led him to confront the crowd. It is interesting that he speaks to the crowd and not to Jesus, though, no doubt he intended Jesus to hear him.

The sad thing is that it was the religious leader, the spiritual guardian of the people, who was so offended.

Here is a lesson for each one of us. It is very easy to become offended, even by the things of Jesus. There lurks within each of us the possibility of being miffed by the works of Jesus.

Satan is able to cause indignation to be roused within us over some of the most wonderful things that Jesus does amongst us. This can soon lead to us be jealous of what Jesus does in others.

Let us be on our guard against such schemes of Satan to divide us, and we will if we rejoice in the mighty works that Jesus does in others. As we do so we may find that He leads us into being used in similar ways.

As Paul told the Philippians (4.4): Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

Friday 23rd July 2010

Luke 13.10-13.

10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

11 And, see, there was a woman there who a spirit had kept her ill for eighteen years, she was bent over, not being able to stand completely upright.

12 Then, seeing her Jesus called to her and said: “Woman, you have been released from you sickness”.

13 And He laid His hands on her, and instantly she straightened and, and she gave God the glory.

We know that Luke was a doctor; therefore, when describing this woman’s condition he uses a medical term. He describes her as having curvature of the spine. There are two types of this: one where the spine is curved from one side to the other (scoliosis) and the other where the spine is curved from back to front (kyphosis). It was this later form that she suffered with.

We also gain this from Luke’s description that she was bent over.

This condition usually begins between the ages of 12 to 14. From verse 16 we learn that she had suffered with this problem for 18 years. Therefore, it is probable that she was in her early thirties.

Whether or not Jesus could see her, He called out to her and brought healing to her.

The woman may have thought that there would be no possibility of being healed, since she had to be hidden away in the women’s section of the synagogue.

From this we learn that Jesus is not restricted by the conventions of man. If we ever feel that He is too busy to notice us, or that we are not visible to His eyes, then we can be encouraged by this incident.

None of us is ever out of His sight, or beyond His reach.

The words of David in Psalm 139.7-12 are appropriate:

[7]  I can never escape from your spirit!

I can never get away from your presence!

[8]  If I go up to heaven, you are there;

if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there.

[9]  If I ride the wings of the morning,

if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

[10]  even there your hand will guide me,

and your strength will support me.

[11]  I could ask the darkness to hide me

and the light around me to become night—

[12]  but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.

To you the night shines as bright as day.

Darkness and light are both alike to you.

In this incident Jesus lives out what He had already said: we are more important than the sparrows. He loves us, and He wants the best for us. 

Thursday 22nd July 2010

Luke 13.10-13.

10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

11 And, see, there was a woman there who a spirit had kept her ill for eighteen years, she was bent over, not being able to stand completely upright.

12 Then, seeing her Jesus called to her and said: “Woman, you have been released from you sickness”.

13 And He laid His hands on her, and instantly she straightened, and she gave God the glory.

This may have been the last time that Jesus was seen in a synagogue. Such was the radical nature of His preaching the Kingdom of God and His Kingdom lifestyle that He was not welcomed in the synagogues.

Verse 12 tells us that Jesus saw this sick woman. This is an interesting comment, since the women were generally out of view, either behind a curtain or on a second floor balcony. This raises the question as to how Jesus saw here, since the men and women were separated, with the men not being able to see the women (although the women could see the men).

The meaning of the word ‘to see’ can also mean to perceive with any of the senses.

We cannot discount the fact that Jesus may have perceived in His spirit that she was in the women’s section and was in need of healing.

It is possible that before hand, through prayer the Father may have revealed to Him that she would be there. John tells us that Jesus said that He never did anything without He saw His Father doing it - “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” – John 5.19.

We should consider that this may be an occasion when Jesus was displaying the gift of knowledge.

As we are filled with the Holy Spirit we also can receive this gift. The Holy Spirit knows everything about every situation and He will show us those things that we need to know. Therefore, it is good for us to spend time listening to what the Holy Spirit says to us.

We must also recognise that Jesus may have seen the woman going into the synagogue and that during the time He was teaching He called out to her.

It is interesting to note that Jesus did not call her to the front of the building, as he did with the man who was suffering from a withered hand – Mark 3.3. The reason for not doing so was because the women took a non active part in the service, being kept separate.

Jesus was sensitive to the woman and Jewish convention.