An Open Door...

Thursday, April 14, 2011: Luke 19: 1 - 27

I’ve always loved the Zacchaeus story. First I loved it because of the song I sang in Sunday school about him. The song had cool motions to go with it…such fun to sing! Second I loved it because who doesn’t love to hear of a grown man being so excited that he climbs into a tree in order to see Jesus. Third, I loved it because Jesus sees Zacchaeus up in the tree and goes to Z’s house to eat. The chief tax collector hosts Jesus…most of Jesus’ followers didn’t see that one coming! Zacchaeus is an incredible story of a man choosing to believe in Jesus no matter how ridiculous he looks or how much restitution he needs to be make to others in order to be a faithful disciple.

The parable of the ten minas is similar to the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14 – 30. Many scholars understand the parable to be first and foremost about the delay of Jesus’ return. Disciples of Jesus need to be faithful and productive for the kingdom of God. Faithfulness is the key.

We do not want to be like the person who fearfully hid the money and showed no gain in the amount of money which was entrusted to him. While we wait for Jesus’ return, we want to be faithful and fruitful disciples.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011: Luke 18:18 - 43

In high school I played a baritone in marching band. In my junior and senior years, I worked up challenging pieces of music for baritones and played them at Solo & Ensemble contest. I did well and friends wondered if I would pursue playing the baritone in college. I knew that I had reached a degree of skill with the baritone, but my skills had also reached a plateau. To improve further would take incredible work and discipline on my part. I chose to walk away. I was unwilling to continue working and growing as a baritone player.

The ruler in today’s passage walks away from Jesus. He had faithfully observed the Ten Commandments since he was a kid. He wants to know what he has to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him to sell everything he has, give the proceeds to the poor and follow Jesus. The guy is rich and will not do what Jesus said. So he walks away unwilling to do what was necessary to inherit eternal life.

Mark tells the same story but adds this bit of information:  “Jesus looked at him and loved him.”(10:21) It is after this that Jesus tells him to sell everything and give to the poor.  Mark writes that the man’s face fell and he walked away sad. Jesus watched the young man walk as he chose to not follow Jesus.

Sometimes we are like the man with his money and me with my baritone…unwilling to do the difficult work for something we value and want

Sometimes we have, like Jesus, watched as someone we love…someone we admire walk away from us and walk out of our lives. Our hearts break a bit or a bunch as we watch the person leave. We are able to understand some of what Jesus felt that day…and perhaps we find comfort in the knowledge that Jesus understands some of what we feel when someone walks away from us.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011: Luke 18:1 – 17

The widow’s persistent coming to the judge to ask for justice, eventually, results in the judge deciding that she is not going to stop until he does indeed grant justice. So he grants justice.  Is God like this unjust judge? NO! Jesus says that God will see that those who ask for justice will get it and quickly. From this viewpoint, the story is not about human persistence. The story is about God’s quick response to those who cry out.

With the Pharisee and the tax collector and their prayers, I usually relate to the tax collector who feels unworthy and simply asks for mercy. I mean, I wouldn’t ever talk out loud and say things like the Pharisee says! Yet, if I’m honest, I know that I judge myself as being ‘better’ than others at times. So, I have bits of the Pharisee in me…I just don’t like to think that I do!

I love it that Jesus was laying his hands on the babies being brought to him. I’m glad he called the children to him and insisted that his disciples let the little ones come to him. It’s a ‘two thumbs up for Jesus’ story!

Monday, April 11, 2011: Luke 17:20 – 37

The question was ‘when will the kingdom of God come?’

Jesus’ reply was interesting. He said the coming of the kingdom of God was not something that can be observed because the kingdom of God is in their midst or, sometimes translated as within you. The kingdom is present now. It is not something in the future, but is in the here and now within and among us.

Jesus said they would long for one of the days of the Son of Man/Jesus. People will think they know where he is or when he’ll return. Jesus says it will be clear and evident to all. He also says, that prior to it, life will be normal and ordinary. So relax. The kingdom is present. The days of the Son of Man will be obvious, not hidden. The time is unknown. Therefore,  we live today knowing that the kingdom of God is all around us and within us.

Sunday, April 10, 2011: Luke 17:1 - 19

The chapter begins with four sayings of Jesus. The first deals with being careful. The disciples are to watch themselves so that they are not the cause of someone stumbling. People are bound to stumble. So take care that you are not the cause.

Forgiveness is the second saying. When the disciples are sinned against they are to confront the person. If the person repents, the disciples are to forgive the person…even if the person repeats the sin seven times in a day.

The disciples ask to have their faith increased. In the third saying, Jesus says mustard seed faith is enough.

Humility is a key component in the life of the disciples. Jesus lets them know that when they have been obedient in everything, rather than being proud and self-satisfied, they are to simply say, “We are unworthy servants, we have only done our duty.”

Jesus’ healing of the ten men with leprosy closes out today’s reading. They evidently know who Jesus is because they call out to him to help them. He sends them to the priests, which was required by law. They could not re-enter society without a clean bill of health from the priests. As they go, they are healed of the leprosy. One man rushes back to Jesus, throwing himself at Jesus’ feet, praising God and thanking Jesus. One out of ten said ‘thanks.’

Saturday, April 9, 2011: Luke 16:19 - 31

Jesus’ story of the beggar, Lazarus, and the rich man is an example of a theological reversal…a reversal of how the people/culture interpreted God’s activity in the lives of humanity.

The culture assumed that because Lazarus was a beggar, God was giving Lazarus what he deserved in punishment as an evidently sinful…perhaps even evil man. Conversely, the culture assumed that because the rich man was rich and lived well, God was blessing him…rewarding him with what he deserved because he was a good man. AND, it was thought that these earthly, present-day conditions for each man would be mirrored in the life to come: Lazarus in a ‘bad’ place and the rich man in a ‘good’ place.

This is where Jesus does a theological reversal when, in the story, Lazarus ends up beside Abraham and the rich man ends up in torment. The story was shocking! Jesus was saying that this present world’s circumstances do not necessarily mirror our spiritual circumstances and relationship with God in this life or in the life to come. Just as the rich man desperately wanted someone to go warn his five brothers so they could change their selfish ways, so Jesus’ listeners needed to quickly change selfish ways.

Friday, April 8, 2011: Luke 16:1 - 18

There are times when I don’t know how to explain a scripture passage…today is one of those days. After researching commentaries and reading each commentator’s PAGES of explanation about the Unjust Steward whose story opens this chapter, I don’t know how to simply explain what is going on with the passage.

Yet, this passage holds a favorite verse, v. 10: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” This has guided me in my life. I look at the little things…the small events in my life and do my best to live them faithfully and honestly.

I also pay attention to people around me to see if they are people who can be trusted with a lot because of how they handle small things. And, I take a step back to evaluate situations when someone is deliberately dishonest in a small thing…makes me keep watching to see if the person is going to be dishonest with larger things.

Integrity and character are built in the small places of our lives.

Thursday, April 7, 2011: Luke 15:11 - 32

Like yesterday, we are in the material that we worked with in worship this past Sunday with the story of the third ‘lost’…the lost son. We looked at it on Sunday, but one item continues to ‘knock my socks off’!

I am overwhelmed with the incredible magnitude of the father’s love for his sons. If the father in the story references God and God’s love for us, I’m wonder-struck!

I’ve heard the father called overindulgent or, worse, a patsy! The father was called these names because of the extravagant, loving, merciful relationship with his two sons. (And, let’s face it, neither of the two sons are that great based on their behaviors, choices and attitudes). The father clearly sees the flaws in his sons and clearly chooses to love them. Wow! How wonderful would it be to have a dad like that!?!

Better yet…how wonderful to have a relationship with a God like that! How wonderful to know that God clearly sees our flaws and clearly chooses to love us. Wow! I’m truly wonder-struck!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011: Luke 15:1 - 10

I am a silent mutterer. I mutter to myself and wait for others who are more vocal to be the actual mutterers. So, I know some of what it feels like to be a mutterer filled with frustration and disapproval.

Today’s passage has the Pharisees muttering against Jesus because he is with the tax collectors and sinners. Later, in Luke’s gospel in chapter 19, the people mutter against Jesus because he is going to the house of the tax collector, Zacchaeus.

The Greek work for mutter means ‘to murmur either of a whole crowd or among one another, always used of many indignantly complaining’. When they mutter against Jesus, they are somewhere between upset and outraged with him and his behavior.

Jesus addresses these situations by pointing out the joy in heaven over one sinner repenting and by pointing out that the Son of Man/himself has come for the very reason of seeking and saving those who are lost. The muttering doesn’t deter Jesus…doesn’t make him stop…doesn’t make him lose his temper.

He just addresses the root issues of the muttering and goes on his way.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011: Luke 14:25 - 34

July 18, 1975 was ‘D-day’ for me…decision day. The retreat leader had chosen this passage as the text for the evening’s teaching time. I was 17 and knew that my commitment to Jesus was weak even at its best. I knew that to follow him meant to take on/take in his teachings into my life and live them. I hadn’t been willing to do that in the past and would have honestly admitted it.

That night I decided. I counted the cost to my best 17-year-old ability. I repented of my hate and anger which were crushing me under their weight in my heart. I said yes to following Jesus. I said yes to taking on his ways as my ways…his values as my values. Each day thereafter, I have both succeeded and failed as his disciple. Each day thereafter, his grace has upheld me and sustained me.