Deuteronomy 31:7-13, 24-32:4; Romans 10:1-13; Matthew 24:15-31
Moses told Joshua (Jesus in Greek)
"Be strong and of good courage; for you shall go with this people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them; and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you; He will be with you, He will not fail or forsake you; do not fear or be dismayed."
Chaos is ever gnawing at the ropes of the tent of order. God's creation is in flux globally and locally. "Law and order" go together. Moses, the Law Receiver and Law Giver, has reminded the Children of Israel that their God is faithful, but that so they must also be. The Law is the tent which makes life possible.
Paul's take on the Law in Romans seems to negate the Law completely (contrasting it to faith), but that is too large to address here. Suffice to say that Paul says many other things which includes a reminder that we are not freed from the Law to sin. And Jesus in Matthew speaks of the coming day when the world "disintegrates" (whether the reference is the pending fall of Jerusalem or the end of the world). It seems chaos is always gnawing at the ropes...
Chaos gnaws away at the tent ropes and the collapses around us are a reminder that order is always at risk. Our society, like Jesus' society, can be swept away (by external or internal means) in the blink of an eye. Some day it will. All we know and hold dear will be turned upside down eventually.
Joshua (Jesus in Greek) is commanded to go forth where God would have him go and do what God would have him do. So shall we also go forth if we know what is best for us. Courage and trust sustain us because that is how the world works. It is a law of life that courage and trust are needed to accomplish anything worth doing. It is also a law of life that God is with us, that He does not fail us or leave us in the lurch, that God goes before us and behind us. Whatever else is going on in the world around, God is with us...
Prayer
Jesus Lord, lead us into the true land of promise. Jesus Lord, lead us into the place of order and law. Jesus bring us into your Kingdom! Save us from our sins and the sins of others. Save us from the sins of our neighbors and the sins of our government. Save us from ourselves. Save us.
Holy Spirit fill us with courage and trust on the way.
Holy Three, faithful Three, thank you for being with us and going before us. amen
Friday, July 8, 2016
Thursday, July 7, 2016
reminder: it is all passing away
Mt 24:1-14
Jesus left the Temple and was going away, when His disciples came to point out to Him the buildings of the Temple. But He answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly I say to you, there will not be left here on stone upon another that will not be thrown down..."
Prophets declare God's word. "When we encounter God it is judgment on our lives. Always." These words from a book (Beginning to Pray, Bloom) I recently started has given me a different angle on every word I read in Scripture. Judgement means salvation or condemnation, life or death, redemption or loss. Jesus' prophetic word is that God is coming to the Temple in condemnation because when God (in Jesus) came tot he Temple with salvation He was rejected.
Our response is a corporate response, too. The world and our own cities are in relationship with judgment each day as God (emmanuel) comes among us. The rural folks marvel at the big city and the huge buildings. Jesus reminds them that it is all passing away. God's Temple will be destroyed and to this day it is gone. The amazing structures of our own day, far surpassing the Temple in size and scope, will also pass away. It is all temporary. Except God, and us. And our encounter with God is judgement: life or death, salvation or destruction...
Prayer
Keep my eyes from what is false, by your word give me light. Help me to focus on what matters most, Eternal Lord, and make me your holy dwelling and a temple of your presence that will not pass away. Thank you. Glory to you. Forgive and Heal us. amen.
Jesus left the Temple and was going away, when His disciples came to point out to Him the buildings of the Temple. But He answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly I say to you, there will not be left here on stone upon another that will not be thrown down..."
Prophets declare God's word. "When we encounter God it is judgment on our lives. Always." These words from a book (Beginning to Pray, Bloom) I recently started has given me a different angle on every word I read in Scripture. Judgement means salvation or condemnation, life or death, redemption or loss. Jesus' prophetic word is that God is coming to the Temple in condemnation because when God (in Jesus) came tot he Temple with salvation He was rejected.
Our response is a corporate response, too. The world and our own cities are in relationship with judgment each day as God (emmanuel) comes among us. The rural folks marvel at the big city and the huge buildings. Jesus reminds them that it is all passing away. God's Temple will be destroyed and to this day it is gone. The amazing structures of our own day, far surpassing the Temple in size and scope, will also pass away. It is all temporary. Except God, and us. And our encounter with God is judgement: life or death, salvation or destruction...
Prayer
Keep my eyes from what is false, by your word give me light. Help me to focus on what matters most, Eternal Lord, and make me your holy dwelling and a temple of your presence that will not pass away. Thank you. Glory to you. Forgive and Heal us. amen.
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Praying Scripture for July 10
Sunday School
Periodically I will be trying to post short reflections on a verse (or concept) from the daily readings and a prayer. It is intended to help jump start your own meditation on the word of God.
Sunday July 10 we pray Psalms 148, 149, 150 and we read Joshua 1:1-18; Acts of the Apostles 21:3-15 and Mark 1:21-27
Briefly, one model of prayerful reflection I offered a couple of weeks ago.
Always begin with prayer for the Holy Spirit to guide you!!!!
1. Read and summarize the scripture passage before you. (This may reveals something about your focus and thought processes too)
2. Read the passage a second time, underlining key words or phrases. Spend time with the words and let God speak to your soul (mind, heart, desire, will). If you have time, do a search on the blue letter bible to see other places that word shows up.
3. Read the passage in the context of the Biblical book. What takes place just before and just after the particular section you are reading. [this is more time consuming but it is a valuable tool for understanding]. Another context is other readings which are bundled together by the Lectionary. How do the text interpenetrate one another? (I plan to model that today)
4. Pray. Ask God to place the Scripture in your heart and life. What do I "do" now? Let it impact your thoughts or behaviors.
Joshua
This is a remarkable book on many levels. Jesus?Joshua is a major "type" of Christ, and the name being the same was certainly not lost on the early church. The time setting is "post-Moses"--he is dead, there is "a new sheriff in town." (Ponder the flow of history) There is a promise (to be with you as I was with Moses; the Lord regularly renews a covenant promise with the next generation, think of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). The centrality of the Law is emphasized. Obedience produces blessing (a Deuteronomic theme). The recurring command "be strong and of good courage"
words
'abar "pass" the same word used in Ex 12:12, 23 for the angel of death passing through Egypt is used for Joshua passing over the water (another Exodus image) to the other side.
"Be strong and courageous" (repeated four times 1:6,7,9,18), also see Deuteronomy 31:6,7,23 for a similar pattern). chazak/strong is one of the words used to describe Pharaoh's heart (translated hardened but actually means strengthened) while 'amats (courage, strength) is used in a similar way of King Sihon (who would not allow Israel "abar/to pass!).
The emphasis on courage is not so prevalent today. We speak much of love and faith, but courage and strength are almost viewed with suspicion. Are such too manly? Certainly, we have learned the futility of war and the costs often outstrip the value, but even as we look at contemporary Israel one is reminded of the six million Jews rounded up and exterminated. Is courage needed to fight in the face of annihilation? Is it kill or be killed? The Book of Joshua raises existentially relevant and difficult questions. The Jesus ethic and the Joshua ethic are not easily reconciled. It is why prayer with the Scriptures takes us to places we would rather not go.
Mark 1
I mentioned above that one context is lectionary groupings and today we see it. Jesus (New Joshua) was baptized in the river Jordan, spent forty days (years) in the desert being tested and now He comes to Galilee. The tribe of Naphatali had this partition of the Promised Land, which is the northernmost part of Israel (above Samaria) and includes Mount Carmel. Jesus is teaching (recall Torah, usually translated as "Law" really means "instruction"). Jesus is a teacher. Part of His mission of salvation is instruction. We learn by listening and taking His words to heart. In addition, there is warfare of a spiritual type. Jesus cleans out the demons infesting the land (as Joshua "cleaned" the land of the "demonic" Canaanites). The Kingdom is always judgment; when we meet God we receive either salvation or destruction. The Exorcism is every bit an act of battle and spiritual battles are at the heart of all war.
How does Jesus see the world? Are we "modern" people allowed to ignore His view of things and simply side step the issue of the demonic? How would the call to strength and courage factor into Mark 1 and the mission of Jesus?
Another direction is to focus on the amazement of the people in response (or reaction?) to Jesus. The narrative is filled with questions and that is always a wonderful source of direction for meditation.
What have you to do with us Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
What is this (new teaching with authority)?
How is our view of Jesus impacted by the answers to those questions? How is our response to Jesus as disciples following and apostles sent out in His Name?
What is the content of our teaching?
Where is the power and authority manifest in our lives?
What demons are we casting out?
Periodically I will be trying to post short reflections on a verse (or concept) from the daily readings and a prayer. It is intended to help jump start your own meditation on the word of God.
Sunday July 10 we pray Psalms 148, 149, 150 and we read Joshua 1:1-18; Acts of the Apostles 21:3-15 and Mark 1:21-27
Briefly, one model of prayerful reflection I offered a couple of weeks ago.
Always begin with prayer for the Holy Spirit to guide you!!!!
1. Read and summarize the scripture passage before you. (This may reveals something about your focus and thought processes too)
2. Read the passage a second time, underlining key words or phrases. Spend time with the words and let God speak to your soul (mind, heart, desire, will). If you have time, do a search on the blue letter bible to see other places that word shows up.
3. Read the passage in the context of the Biblical book. What takes place just before and just after the particular section you are reading. [this is more time consuming but it is a valuable tool for understanding]. Another context is other readings which are bundled together by the Lectionary. How do the text interpenetrate one another? (I plan to model that today)
4. Pray. Ask God to place the Scripture in your heart and life. What do I "do" now? Let it impact your thoughts or behaviors.
Joshua
This is a remarkable book on many levels. Jesus?Joshua is a major "type" of Christ, and the name being the same was certainly not lost on the early church. The time setting is "post-Moses"--he is dead, there is "a new sheriff in town." (Ponder the flow of history) There is a promise (to be with you as I was with Moses; the Lord regularly renews a covenant promise with the next generation, think of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). The centrality of the Law is emphasized. Obedience produces blessing (a Deuteronomic theme). The recurring command "be strong and of good courage"
words
'abar "pass" the same word used in Ex 12:12, 23 for the angel of death passing through Egypt is used for Joshua passing over the water (another Exodus image) to the other side.
"Be strong and courageous" (repeated four times 1:6,7,9,18), also see Deuteronomy 31:6,7,23 for a similar pattern). chazak/strong is one of the words used to describe Pharaoh's heart (translated hardened but actually means strengthened) while 'amats (courage, strength) is used in a similar way of King Sihon (who would not allow Israel "abar/to pass!).
The emphasis on courage is not so prevalent today. We speak much of love and faith, but courage and strength are almost viewed with suspicion. Are such too manly? Certainly, we have learned the futility of war and the costs often outstrip the value, but even as we look at contemporary Israel one is reminded of the six million Jews rounded up and exterminated. Is courage needed to fight in the face of annihilation? Is it kill or be killed? The Book of Joshua raises existentially relevant and difficult questions. The Jesus ethic and the Joshua ethic are not easily reconciled. It is why prayer with the Scriptures takes us to places we would rather not go.
Mark 1
I mentioned above that one context is lectionary groupings and today we see it. Jesus (New Joshua) was baptized in the river Jordan, spent forty days (years) in the desert being tested and now He comes to Galilee. The tribe of Naphatali had this partition of the Promised Land, which is the northernmost part of Israel (above Samaria) and includes Mount Carmel. Jesus is teaching (recall Torah, usually translated as "Law" really means "instruction"). Jesus is a teacher. Part of His mission of salvation is instruction. We learn by listening and taking His words to heart. In addition, there is warfare of a spiritual type. Jesus cleans out the demons infesting the land (as Joshua "cleaned" the land of the "demonic" Canaanites). The Kingdom is always judgment; when we meet God we receive either salvation or destruction. The Exorcism is every bit an act of battle and spiritual battles are at the heart of all war.
How does Jesus see the world? Are we "modern" people allowed to ignore His view of things and simply side step the issue of the demonic? How would the call to strength and courage factor into Mark 1 and the mission of Jesus?
Another direction is to focus on the amazement of the people in response (or reaction?) to Jesus. The narrative is filled with questions and that is always a wonderful source of direction for meditation.
What have you to do with us Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
What is this (new teaching with authority)?
How is our view of Jesus impacted by the answers to those questions? How is our response to Jesus as disciples following and apostles sent out in His Name?
What is the content of our teaching?
Where is the power and authority manifest in our lives?
What demons are we casting out?
Meditation on Deuternomy 1
Today we read Deuteronomy 1:1-18; Romans 9:1-18; Mt 23:27-39
A verse from Deuteronomy "Behold I have set the land before you; go in and take possession of the land which the Lord swore to your fathers..."
God promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their descendants the land. However, the possession of the land comes centuries later. It is the "next generation" of the Hebrew slaves who escaped from Egypt which stands poised to enter the land.
The gift of the land is from God. But the reception of the gift, the actual "taking possession" is an active process. The men of Israel fought the inhabitants of the land and there was great slaughter on every side. The reign of God in the holy land does not come in the blink of an eye. Receiving the gift feels like going to war. Hand to hand combat. Amazing grace indeed!
At times it is tempting to think that God at work among us is a call to passivity---that God's promise means we need do nothing but sit back and wait. That is not what it meant to the desert wanders of ancient Hebrews. The entry into the land promised by God was also an invasion. The gift was also a task. It was no easy task, which is why God often told them "do not fear. be brave and courageous."
prayer
Lord, I trust you for all things. You are the faithful creator and redeemer, the covenant God who loves His people. Sometimes I find it hard to "fight the battles" of my life. Sometimes I want to receive the promise with out having to go in and take possession of it. Forgive me that and help me to trust you and act with courage and loving fidelity.
A verse from Deuteronomy "Behold I have set the land before you; go in and take possession of the land which the Lord swore to your fathers..."
God promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their descendants the land. However, the possession of the land comes centuries later. It is the "next generation" of the Hebrew slaves who escaped from Egypt which stands poised to enter the land.
The gift of the land is from God. But the reception of the gift, the actual "taking possession" is an active process. The men of Israel fought the inhabitants of the land and there was great slaughter on every side. The reign of God in the holy land does not come in the blink of an eye. Receiving the gift feels like going to war. Hand to hand combat. Amazing grace indeed!
At times it is tempting to think that God at work among us is a call to passivity---that God's promise means we need do nothing but sit back and wait. That is not what it meant to the desert wanders of ancient Hebrews. The entry into the land promised by God was also an invasion. The gift was also a task. It was no easy task, which is why God often told them "do not fear. be brave and courageous."
prayer
Lord, I trust you for all things. You are the faithful creator and redeemer, the covenant God who loves His people. Sometimes I find it hard to "fight the battles" of my life. Sometimes I want to receive the promise with out having to go in and take possession of it. Forgive me that and help me to trust you and act with courage and loving fidelity.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
The Lord Giveth, the Lord Taketh Away. Blessed be the Lord!
Kissed some friends good-bye today. Special people who have been personal friends and key church members for my entire time here. They joined the church the first day I preached here. A few weeks before that I buried another dear friend. Death is more final than moving, but the latter is still a serious loss and life changer. In the last five years the losses have outnumbered the gains by a wide margin. Moving is part of living. Dying is part of life. Life is not always pleasant.
The Christian believes in redemption, not prosperity. The blessings from God are not always what we mortals have in mind. In a success culture it is hard to sit on the fringes and see failure. It is hard to be a loser when winning is the goal. Living with less when you want more is not easy. Too often we think blessings are an entitlement and the default option for existence. Not so. We are not owed anything. We are gifted beyond what we deserve.
So what is the response to the pain of personal loss? Faith. Faith is not the belief that everything will be okay. It is trusting God is there when everything is not okay. It is trusting God when your list of friends lost is longer than your list of friends still here. It is standing with Jesus in the Garden and saying "Amen" when He prays, "Not my will, Father, but your will be done."
It is hard to know what the future holds. It is not easy to be enthusiastic or optimistic many times. But faith is not optimism. Revelation is not optimistic. Revelation is a promise that God will redeem the future, no matter how negative. Pessimism is not the calling either. In some ways, our responses determine if things are good or bad. We tend to find that for which we look after all. Look at losses or be thankful for the blessings which make the parting painful. Look to the absence or look ahead to the next presence. Focus on what is gone or on what is provided? In the end, our task is more to focus on the Giver and Redeemer. Focus with a heart on fire with loving trust and gratitude
The Lord gives
The Lord takes away
In all times and circumstances, we bless the Name of God. In all times and circumstances means when we win and when we lose, when we are on top and when we are on the bottom, when we have much or when we have little. This is to see as God sees, not the world. It is to receive new eyes. It is a grace.
Remember: We always have our Lord. Always. And having Him what do we lack?
The Christian believes in redemption, not prosperity. The blessings from God are not always what we mortals have in mind. In a success culture it is hard to sit on the fringes and see failure. It is hard to be a loser when winning is the goal. Living with less when you want more is not easy. Too often we think blessings are an entitlement and the default option for existence. Not so. We are not owed anything. We are gifted beyond what we deserve.
So what is the response to the pain of personal loss? Faith. Faith is not the belief that everything will be okay. It is trusting God is there when everything is not okay. It is trusting God when your list of friends lost is longer than your list of friends still here. It is standing with Jesus in the Garden and saying "Amen" when He prays, "Not my will, Father, but your will be done."
It is hard to know what the future holds. It is not easy to be enthusiastic or optimistic many times. But faith is not optimism. Revelation is not optimistic. Revelation is a promise that God will redeem the future, no matter how negative. Pessimism is not the calling either. In some ways, our responses determine if things are good or bad. We tend to find that for which we look after all. Look at losses or be thankful for the blessings which make the parting painful. Look to the absence or look ahead to the next presence. Focus on what is gone or on what is provided? In the end, our task is more to focus on the Giver and Redeemer. Focus with a heart on fire with loving trust and gratitude
The Lord gives
The Lord takes away
In all times and circumstances, we bless the Name of God. In all times and circumstances means when we win and when we lose, when we are on top and when we are on the bottom, when we have much or when we have little. This is to see as God sees, not the world. It is to receive new eyes. It is a grace.
Remember: We always have our Lord. Always. And having Him what do we lack?
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Tenacious
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 Galatians 5:1, 13-25 Luke 9:51-62
Elijah and Jesus are both “to be taken up to heaven.” Their stories are deeply connected.
Elijah has been a mighty prophet. His job is done, now he begins the last journey. It is a thirty mile trek, and he is followed all the way by the tenacious Elisha. "I will not leave you!" Elisha repeats to Elijah at each stage of the journey. Tenacious. He has a desire: "Grant me a double share of your spirit." A double share is the first born son's share. He wants to be made the heir.
They go to the land where Moses died. Another Exodus reference is the parting of the waters. The mantle is a symbol of Moses' staff. Suddenly, Elijah, “the prophet like Moses” is gone with swirling wind and chariots of fire. Elisha, like Joshua, replaces the master. His tenacity pays off. Elisha takes up the mantle of Elijah.
We are all tenaciously seeking something. If your deepest desire is the Holy Spirit then the fruits identified in Galatians will be manifest. What are the fruits in your life?
Jesus is also tenacious. His face is set firmly to go to Jerusalem. It takes courage to face death, even more courage to face death by torture. Jesus is tenacious in love and faithfulness.
Luke 9: 51-62 is full of allusions to Elijah and Elisha. Elijah called down fire on the prophets of Baal. Elisha left his plow when Elijah called him. The work of a disciple is prophet work. It is more important than family responsibilities. Family, for Jesus, is based on faith, not biology. The ancient Christians were vilified for that scandalous idea. They were considered impious because they chose loyalty to Jesus over family or Emperor. One must be tenacious to follow Jesus. One must be tenacious to make His church the true family.
"Come follow Me!" demands a tenacious response of faith and love.
But remember God is the Holy Tenacious One. We were created in love and for love, but we rejected love. We are tenacious in sin. We reject God. We walked away and chose death.
God is tenacious. Though we wander far from Him, He seeks us like a shepherd He hunts lost sheep. He offers us life....
Jesus is tenacious because the Father is tenacious. The Holy Spirit is tenacious because the Father is tenacious. Tenacious in saving love, tenacious in redeeming faithfulness. Tenacious and committed whatever the cost. Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem because the Father had set His face toward us.
Tenacious Love and mercy.
Never forget who seeks whom. It is God who seeks us. And if it seems that your response is demanding great tenacity, remember. He is the Tenacious One and we are made in His image.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Praying with Luke 13 (for Sunday School 6/26)
[Lectionary texts are Numbers 21:4-9, 21-35 and Luke 13:10-17]
This week I want to demonstrate a process of prayerfully interacting with the Scripture text. I want to differentiate this from Bible study. We will focus only on Luke. The questions in Bible study include what does the story tell us about Jesus and His ministry. On a second level we can compare Luke to the other Gospels and discern what Luke is trying to communicate. Commentaries would be needed to provide other information which is pertinent (and not readily available to us). Thirdly, we bring it into the "Church" context (the faith of the Body of Christ) and lastly we would analyze it for our own purposes. Other disciplines (social sciences, theology, mission, etc.) would be vital tools for deeper knowledge and insight. Prayer and the Holy Spirit would be included as well.
This is not a Bible study model but a prayer model. It is asking what God is saying in this particular collection of verses. [fyi, I am using the RSV so a different translation will be different in places!]
Pray. Seek God, open your heart, thanks and praise are best. Open to the Holy Spirit. Ask the Father to speak into your heart in the Word.
Read Luke 13:10-17
1. Read and Summarize
My initial reading is this is a conflict story. Jesus healed a woman. I notice He initiated it--He saw her, He called her, He declared her free and He put His hand on her. She stood up straight and praised God. The leader of the synagogue was agitated and began reminding people that the Sabbath is a day of rest and they should be healed on the other six days. Jesus seems perturbed and calls them hypocrites who take better care of their animals than they do God's people. It ends with a declaration that Jesus shamed His adversaries this is contrasted with the people rejoice at what He can do.
Generate Questions
[here it is easy to move in the direction of Bible study. How widespread was this attitude? Why would Jewish leaders be led to this sort of thing? What about the actual healing itself? What are contemporary parallels?]
The questions that jump out at me:
+ How does this inform my understanding of the "healing protocol"? Is God saying sometimes He starts it?
+ What is my response to God's gracious saving/healing work in my life? Are there things I need to be praising and thanking God for?
+When am I the 'adversary' of Jesus, blocking ministry because my personal beliefs are out of line with His? Who is trying to cut me off from His healing word and touch?
+ Where are my priorities out of line (animals over people)? Where am I blind?
Pray. Holy Spirit guide and open us!
2. Read and 'circle' key words. This is more about what jumps out at you. Remember it is a talking with God thing not a Bible study/teaching thing...
For me the words that I heard most loudly were
* a spirit of infirmity
*you hypocrites
*shame
Having done that the Blueletter Bible (on line) is my resource to see what these words might mean and where else they appear (once again there is a temptation to slide into Bible study and lots of analysis!)
"spirit of infirmity" is a weakness/illness caused by a spirit. Luke has this language four times. Matthew once, and there it is connected to the Isaiah quote (He bore our infirmities). This reminds me that the healing is Jesus doing just that--spiritual warfare to take away our illness and weakness. It also reminds me that illness is multi-dimensional (physical, spiritual and psychological) and I have to be aware of the 'spirit of infirmity' bending me over double (Early this morning I went to the hospital today and literally saw a man walking to his car bent over double).
"hypocrites" literally means stage actor and is a word Matthew uses much more than anyone else. This causes me to ponder the tendency of humans to "act" a part for the world. We put "our best face" on and convey "an image" so that we are well thought of. Jesus was a big advocate of being genuine. My own hypocrisy is under the spotlight in prayer now...
"shame" catches my attention because in my studies I have learned that this is a shame/honor culture. The idea of shaming his opponents is part of why Jesus died. The enemies of Jesus are competing with Jesus for honor. The leader has shamed Jesus by his critique but Jesus' answer turns the tables. His clever riposte brings Him honor and status (as a prophet) and brings God honor (as He is the Son). While we have shame in our culture, shame is different from guilt (just as being unclean is different from being sinful). It is hard for me to grasp the serious nature of honor/shame in the middle eastern view, but I can think about feeling shame. I can also pray over the conflicts in my life and ask am I standing for God values or asserting myself? I can pray over my debates and arguments.
Pray again. Read
3. Broader Context
What is going on in the whole chapter? Just before this there was a question about victims of evil. Jesus seems to negate that bad things are a punishment from God, but He then turns the event into a reflection on eternal death if one fails to respond to God. "Something worse" is in store for those who walk the wrong path. Then the story today. Then a couple of Kingdom parables (God starts with the small things) ending with another warning about salvation and eternal loss. In this context perhaps Luke wants us to understand the healing as a "grain of mustard seed" (a small thing) which is the Kingdom of God breaking in. But the presentation of the kingdom is an invitation/demand for response. All over this chapter we see salvation and eternal loss contrasted. In our story today the woman is healed/saved and the leader appears to be headed into oblivion for failing to see the Lord Jesus as God's offer.
Pray, listen to Holy Spirit, respond.
*What is God teaching me here? How does this impact my thinking?
*Am I called to do something? Or stop doing something?
The three areas of prayerful reflection may take us somewhere most unexpected. That is fine. It is why we prayed over and over for the Spirit to guide us. This approach to prayer is very focused on listening and opening to God. It would also be hard to do in less than ten or fifteen minutes. I hope it is useful. I will be guiding our class in this on Sunday.
This week I want to demonstrate a process of prayerfully interacting with the Scripture text. I want to differentiate this from Bible study. We will focus only on Luke. The questions in Bible study include what does the story tell us about Jesus and His ministry. On a second level we can compare Luke to the other Gospels and discern what Luke is trying to communicate. Commentaries would be needed to provide other information which is pertinent (and not readily available to us). Thirdly, we bring it into the "Church" context (the faith of the Body of Christ) and lastly we would analyze it for our own purposes. Other disciplines (social sciences, theology, mission, etc.) would be vital tools for deeper knowledge and insight. Prayer and the Holy Spirit would be included as well.
This is not a Bible study model but a prayer model. It is asking what God is saying in this particular collection of verses. [fyi, I am using the RSV so a different translation will be different in places!]
Pray. Seek God, open your heart, thanks and praise are best. Open to the Holy Spirit. Ask the Father to speak into your heart in the Word.
Read Luke 13:10-17
1. Read and Summarize
My initial reading is this is a conflict story. Jesus healed a woman. I notice He initiated it--He saw her, He called her, He declared her free and He put His hand on her. She stood up straight and praised God. The leader of the synagogue was agitated and began reminding people that the Sabbath is a day of rest and they should be healed on the other six days. Jesus seems perturbed and calls them hypocrites who take better care of their animals than they do God's people. It ends with a declaration that Jesus shamed His adversaries this is contrasted with the people rejoice at what He can do.
Generate Questions
[here it is easy to move in the direction of Bible study. How widespread was this attitude? Why would Jewish leaders be led to this sort of thing? What about the actual healing itself? What are contemporary parallels?]
The questions that jump out at me:
+ How does this inform my understanding of the "healing protocol"? Is God saying sometimes He starts it?
+ What is my response to God's gracious saving/healing work in my life? Are there things I need to be praising and thanking God for?
+When am I the 'adversary' of Jesus, blocking ministry because my personal beliefs are out of line with His? Who is trying to cut me off from His healing word and touch?
+ Where are my priorities out of line (animals over people)? Where am I blind?
Pray. Holy Spirit guide and open us!
2. Read and 'circle' key words. This is more about what jumps out at you. Remember it is a talking with God thing not a Bible study/teaching thing...
For me the words that I heard most loudly were
* a spirit of infirmity
*you hypocrites
*shame
Having done that the Blueletter Bible (on line) is my resource to see what these words might mean and where else they appear (once again there is a temptation to slide into Bible study and lots of analysis!)
"spirit of infirmity" is a weakness/illness caused by a spirit. Luke has this language four times. Matthew once, and there it is connected to the Isaiah quote (He bore our infirmities). This reminds me that the healing is Jesus doing just that--spiritual warfare to take away our illness and weakness. It also reminds me that illness is multi-dimensional (physical, spiritual and psychological) and I have to be aware of the 'spirit of infirmity' bending me over double (Early this morning I went to the hospital today and literally saw a man walking to his car bent over double).
"hypocrites" literally means stage actor and is a word Matthew uses much more than anyone else. This causes me to ponder the tendency of humans to "act" a part for the world. We put "our best face" on and convey "an image" so that we are well thought of. Jesus was a big advocate of being genuine. My own hypocrisy is under the spotlight in prayer now...
"shame" catches my attention because in my studies I have learned that this is a shame/honor culture. The idea of shaming his opponents is part of why Jesus died. The enemies of Jesus are competing with Jesus for honor. The leader has shamed Jesus by his critique but Jesus' answer turns the tables. His clever riposte brings Him honor and status (as a prophet) and brings God honor (as He is the Son). While we have shame in our culture, shame is different from guilt (just as being unclean is different from being sinful). It is hard for me to grasp the serious nature of honor/shame in the middle eastern view, but I can think about feeling shame. I can also pray over the conflicts in my life and ask am I standing for God values or asserting myself? I can pray over my debates and arguments.
Pray again. Read
3. Broader Context
What is going on in the whole chapter? Just before this there was a question about victims of evil. Jesus seems to negate that bad things are a punishment from God, but He then turns the event into a reflection on eternal death if one fails to respond to God. "Something worse" is in store for those who walk the wrong path. Then the story today. Then a couple of Kingdom parables (God starts with the small things) ending with another warning about salvation and eternal loss. In this context perhaps Luke wants us to understand the healing as a "grain of mustard seed" (a small thing) which is the Kingdom of God breaking in. But the presentation of the kingdom is an invitation/demand for response. All over this chapter we see salvation and eternal loss contrasted. In our story today the woman is healed/saved and the leader appears to be headed into oblivion for failing to see the Lord Jesus as God's offer.
Pray, listen to Holy Spirit, respond.
*What is God teaching me here? How does this impact my thinking?
*Am I called to do something? Or stop doing something?
The three areas of prayerful reflection may take us somewhere most unexpected. That is fine. It is why we prayed over and over for the Spirit to guide us. This approach to prayer is very focused on listening and opening to God. It would also be hard to do in less than ten or fifteen minutes. I hope it is useful. I will be guiding our class in this on Sunday.
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