Category: LUKE

Re:Verse passage – Luke 5:33-39 (day three)

“No one puts new wine into old wineskins.”

Much has (rightly) been made of this parable – or more correctly, collection of parables. Is the gospel “new wine?” Is Jesus’s way of practicing faith a “new wineskin?” Is the old wineskin the establishment Pharisees? Maybe. Varying interpretations abound. So what’s one more? Here it is: What if Jesus is simply saying that life with him is a life of learning to pay attention to what fits the moment you’ve been given? Jesus says in essence, “Just as everybody has learned that new wine requires new wineskins, so my disciples are learning what is required by the circumstances in which they find themselves.” Feeling overwhelmed by the moment is a point of great pain for you. Jesus can teach you to understand what is most needed in that moment. What a joy.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 5:33-39 (day two) And they said to Him, “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciplesof the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink.” vs. 33

The Pharisees are in the weeds. Just a few verses prior to this passage they are complaining to Jesus about who he eats with, and here they are concerned with whether he eats. As is often the case in these exchanges these religious leaders they have missed the point entirely. This tactic is not unknown to us. If we find that we cannot argue from a strong position, we attack peripheral or petty things. We focus on shallow unimportant areas that don’t ultimately move anyone forward. The next time you feel the need to push back on someone consider your position first. Are you operating out of love, and does it ultimately matter. Otherwise you’re just in the weeds.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 5:33-39 (day one)

Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty, and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Luke 5:33-39 in our Winter  Re:Verse Series: “LUKE – Learning from the parables of Jesus.”

Re:Verse reading–Luke 24:1-12, 33-49 (day seven)

We all know the Great Commission.  As Matthew records Jesus’s words in chapter 28 they are sweeping and grand.  Jesus empowers the church to go and disciple all.  It is beautiful, but it does not tell you what the disciples taught baptizing throngs of people.  Surely, they taught Jesus Christ and Him crucified, but there was a highly specific reason Jesus went to the cross that must be conveyed.

Hear Luke’s version of the Great Commission:   and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  Luke 24:47.

The content is to repent.  The message is Christ crucified, our response is repentance.  The power of the cross is that we can now be reoriented back to God.  Our lives have strayed many miles away from God’s intention.  Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we can come back and be made right before our Heavenly Father once again.  When we knell before God in confession the cross is glorified and all is made right in our world.

Re:Verse reading–Luke 24:1-12, 33-49 (day five) 

There are several times mentioned that the disciples were scared, troubled, afraid, and confused. However, the most terrifying thought comes at the end of this passage in verse 45 (Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures). These were not new converts or people mildly interested in Jesus and His teaching. These were the close followers, the ones who didn’t drift away, the ones who left their nets. Yet, they still had not understood the scriptures and words of Jesus, even after three years of watching, listening, and walking with Jesus.

If their understanding was lacking and needed supernatural help and encouragement, then our own faith and understanding probably does too. Each and every time we read the scriptures, hear a sermon, or pray, we must ask and beg the Lord through the Holy Spirit to help us understand and apply the truth(s) God would have us realize and practice. “A humble and prayerful spirit will find a thousand things in the Bible which the proud self-conceited student will utterly fail to discern”- J.C Ryle

Re:Verse reading–Luke 24:1-12, 33-49 (day four) 

The angels spoke to the women at the tomb…”Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee,“  In verse 8 it says, “And they remembered His words.”  On the road to Emmaus, Jesus spoke to the two men.  Verse 27 says, “He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”  These are exactly what the Holy Spirit does for us today.  The Spirit causes us to recall the words of Jesus.  With divine timing, we are reminded of things Jesus has said.  The Spirit also explains the words of Scripture to us.  Our eyes are opened and we see new truths in the pages of Scripture.  Verse 45 says, “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”  Just as the followers of Christ received peace from the words of the angels and from Jesus, we have peace when hear from the Spirit.  Thank you Lord for the gift of the Spirit and the truth of the Word.

Re:Verse reading- Luke 24:1-12, 33-49  (day three) 

“They did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.”  Did people back in the (ancient) day more readily believe claims of supernatural occurrences than people now? Is the Bible full of the accounts of gullible people?  Thank God for the doubters. Peter and his peers-and later the wider Greek culture-had to burrow their way through doubt and skepticism in order to arrive at a faith strong enough to face suffering death.  If you’re using your energy running away from doubts rather than facing the questions that doubt raises, how will you grow strong enough to stand?

Re:Verse reading–Luke 24:1-12, 33-49 (day two) 

While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” vs. 41

I am constantly amazed at how much God cares about details, and how the writers of the Gospels were able to capture the small nuances that helped relate those details to us. Whether it be what the rich man was wearing, the kind of robe they placed upon Jesus and how it was divided, or simply that he was hungry after the resurrection-details matter. They matter because they are the small things that we can get our minds around. We may struggle with the the hows and whys of God’s plan, but we understand small symbols that add up to the tapestry God is weaving. Jesus knew that. That is why he told stories. That is why he used bread and wine. Jesus’ hunger was another sign that this walking miracle was alive. Re-read his stories. Marvel at the small things and how they point to the big ones.

Re:Verse reading–Luke 24:1-12, 33-49 (day one)

“Two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing. . .’Why do you seek the living One among the dead?  He is not here, but He has risen.  Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee?’ “–v 4-5

It was a mild rebuke, an expression of the amazement and frustration angels often have with us.  Why don’t humans listen to Christ?  Why don’t we trust Him?  These angels remembered  exactly where Jesus was when He said the words.  How could the disciples have missed it?

The Bible speaks often of the careful attention angels give humans.  “We have become a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.”–1 Corinthians 4:9.  Part of God’s purpose in the church is to demonstrate His wisdom to “principalities and powers in heavenly places.“–Ephesians 3:10.

It is one more reason for me to be brave.  At all moments, all choices and opportunities, angels are watching.