November 7

The Perean Ministry - Luke 13:22-35, 14:1-35, 15:1-32, 16:1-31, 17:20-35, 37, 18:1-14, Matthew 20:1-16

Imagine Jesus coming to eat with you and He makes the whole meal an object lesson. He comments on the place of honor at the table and how you shouldn't seek the chief seat but humble yourself. I wonder how the guy in the place of honor felt?

Then Jesus looks around at the guests and councils them that when they give a banquet they should invite the poor and crippled and blind and lame. I wonder if He ever got invited to that man's house again?

Jesus' idea of propriety and decorum was/is different than ours. Reminds me a bit of Calvin's sermon at North Boulevard this past Sunday. You could be outraged and think Jesus' behavior is offensive while He thinks the real offense is how we throw parties and lavish blessing on our friends and family and those who don't truly need it while the poor go without. Which is the greater offense?

So many of the parables and lessons in this reading revolve around our use of resources. The Parable of the Banquet [Luke 14:25-33], Parable of the Lost Coin [Luke 15:8-10], Parable of the Lost Son or what we more commonly refer to as the Prodigal Son [Luke 15:11-32], Parable of the Dishonest Manager [Luke 16:1-13] a hard one for me to fathom, Rich Man and Lazarus [Luke 16:19-31], Vineyard Worker [Matthew 20:1-16].

Basically, money isn't the object. The heart is the thing of concern. We express our heart through our use of resources. A man might build a big house at God's expense just as a congregation might build a big church at God's expense. What if we were satisfied with a humble home and a small church that planted other churches as it grew?

"So the last will be first, and the first will be last?" Matthew 20:16

Lord knows.

November 6

Ministry from Galilee to Judea - Matthew 19:1-2; Mark 10:1; Luke 9:51-56, 17:11-19, 10:1-42; Matthew 11:20-30; Luke 11:1-13 In Jerusalem for Feast of Dedication - John 10:22-42

One of the more impactful stories in scripture to me is in this reading - the story of Jesus healing the 10 lepers and only one returning to thank him. I think gratitude and expression of gratitude are such an easy thing, such a powerful thing and yet so overlooked. I try to say thank you often. I want the people I work with to know me as person that thanked them.

Lord knows.

November 5

In Jerusalem for Feast of Tabernacles (Cont) - John 8:12-59, 9:1-41, 10:1-21

The muppet version of Pharisees...

The Pharisees continue to challenge Jesus again and again. How frustrating is that? He's come to save. He knows the price He will pay because He's already talking about it. I wonder at what moment specifically in His life did Jesus understand that saving the world would require a sacrifice and that sacrifice would be Him? Did He regret leaving? Had He grown so close to the people here - to Peter, James and John, to Mary and Martha, Mary Magdalene - that He was sad to go? Did He fear the pain and the shame? I would like to know the heart and soul of Christ. I know - that requires reading and prayer and serving, walking in His steps to know His heart. But in addition to that, I would like a vision and a voice. But wouldn't we all?

The essential story in this reading - sad, funny and poignant - is the story of the blind man healed by Christ. It seems unfeeling that instead of asking Christ to heal the man born blind they seem to clinically ask whose sin caused him to be blind - his own or his parents? Are people just projects to Christians? They are people to Christ. Jesus says its not their sin, "this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." A hard teaching...but there are some challenges in our life that are there to point to God. So Jesus heals him.

The the fun begins.

The people can't believe it. They don't think it's the same man. The Pharisees question him and his parents. The parents are afraid of the Pharisees and their motives. The man is very, very cool. He's bold, sarcastic even funny with the religious leaders. I like this guy.

When they question him again, he says, "I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become His disciples, too?" John 9:27

lol I just love that. He throws them into a conniption fit. This lowly blind man against the establishment. And then what a testimony follow from this man blind from birth to the well-educated and powerful Pharisees who have lived with every advantage and, yet, who don't know where Christ comes from.

The man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not fro God, he could do nothing." John 9:30-33

For his faith and boldness, this former blind man will see not only the truth but the Truth. Jesus will make another appearance to him and reveal to him who He truly is, let him see what the Pharisees are blind to see.

Lord knows I'm blind and want to see, too.

November 4

In Jerusalem for Feast of the Tabernacles - John 7:2-53, 8:1-11

November 3

Preparation of Apostles for the End - Matthew 16:13-28, 17:1-27, 18:1-35; Mark 8:27-38, 9:1-50; Luke 9:18-50, 17:1-10

Jesus is never what we expect. And that's a good thing...or rather, a God thing.

So much here. I'm sure the apostles heads are in a whirl. Jesus trying to explain His death and resurrection. The transfiguration on the mountain with the mysterious appearance of Moses and Elijah and the second pronouncement of God that Jesus is His son. Their attempts to heal a demon-possessed boy and failure because they don't believe. And the everyday sorts of surprises that living with Jesus just naturally crop up. Did they ever get used to Him knowing what they were thinking and saying? He answers the question about the Temple tax before Peter asks Him about it. He knows they've been arguing over who the greatest is and so He uses a child to explain. I don't think He picks a child because of their humility and innocence as many have suggested. I think He picks a child because they are insignificant and unimportant and overlooked. That would be consistent with the way Jesus did things. It would be surprising that He held something up someone non-important as important to Him.

But in all of this, the story that has always reached out to me is Jesus words on those outside the perceived chosen group -- the people driving out demons in Jesus name that John wants to put a stop too because "he was not one of us." Mark 9:38-41 Lol. First of all, here's someone with enough faith -- a greater faith than the apostles -- because they had tried and failed to heal a demon-possessed boy and this person was succeeding. Christ views them as one of His. The way God views His people is different than how we view His people. He draws His circle of the saved differently than we would draw it.

Lord knows.

November 2

Extensive Tour Throughout Galilee - Matthew 15:21-39, 16:1-12; Mark 7:24-37, 8:1-26

Is there some irony here that Jesus asks the deaf mute He heals not to talk to anyone about what has happened? Surely He already knew they couldn't keep a secret. So why does He say it? Is it His human side trying to avoid the inevitable?

There's a lot of faith shown on the part of the people here. The woman who begs Jesus for the scraps from His table and the 4,000 who have been with Jesus for three days without benefit of food. Jesus shows compassion and feeds them.

Then there's the curious story about the blind man who Jesus has to heal twice. Why does Jesus have to touch him twice? Why didn't He heal the man with one touch? Why did it require Him to touch him twice? Was it for the man's benefit? To give him time to acclimate? Did Jesus make a mistake the first time around? There's a lot of scholarly debate about what's going on or not going on here. Was it Christ's human side showing itself again?

I don't know. But I love the line:

...Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" He [the blind man] looked up and said, "I see people, they look like trees walking around." [Mark 8:23-24]

People looking like trees walking around. Love that image. Lord knows.

November 1

Miracles and Multitudes - Matthew 14:14-36, 15:1-20; Mark 6:34-56, 7:1-23; Luke 9:11-17; John 6:2-71, 7:1

There's a lot in this reading but I want to focus on just one miracle. One of the often-cited miracles in Jesus' ministry, a miracle that continues to captivate and intrigue us -- Jesus walking on the water. What was that like? Did his feet fall the waterline or step along the surface of the raging, hilly, storm-tossed sea? Jesus walks on the water for three or three and a half miles. Were His feet wet when He finally climbed into the boat? Wouldn't you like to walk on water? It was so amazing, so shocking, so other-worldly, that the apostles in the boat think He's a ghost.

You have to hand it to Peter, even though he eventually sinks and Jesus has to help Him back up, Peter shows incredible daring by stepping out of the boat in the first place.

Lord knows.