Category: Luke - Wittenberg Door Campus Ministry

Luke 24:1-12 - Lectionary for Easter Day, Series C

4/18/2019

4/18/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Gospel this week points out the message of the resurrection. It’s decidedly one of the most controversial issues of Christianity. Or at least it should be.

We notice that the first witnesses to the resurrection were women who had come to make sure all the elements of an appropriate burial were completed. They found that the tomb was open and that Jesus was not there. The reason was given to them by an angelic appearance. These first witnesses, we should remember, would not have been considered qualified to give testimony in court. But God in his grace chose them to be the first to give testimony to his resurrection. He speaks to and through even those who would otherwise be ignored.

The angelic message reminded the women of what Jesus had already said. Despite the fact that Jesus had told his followers of his death, burial, and resurrection several times, they were unable to grasp the idea and had neglected it. With Jesus’ death, their hope also died. But with Jesus’ life, their hope could come to life again. Christianity is all about the resurrection of the dead. We who believe in Jesus, though we die, yet we will live. He shows himself to be the resurrection and the life. And he does exactly what he promised. Jesus promised many other things as well. We do well if we believe he will keep those promises also.

Some of those people to whom the women reported, “to the eleven and to all the rest,” believed their report. Others thought it was some sort of nonsense. Yet over the forty days to follow, they saw Jesus with their own eyes, risen from the dead. Our first reaction to the Gospel may be negative. Yet given time and exploration, we find that the claims of the resurrection are true. Jesus is the Lord of resurrection.

Christianity is the only major world religion based on an actual historical event and on definitive truth claims. The event of the resurrection and the truth claims of Jesus, not our history, not any moral stance, not any testimony about how we feel in Christ should run the show. Christianity is built on the truth of God, just as real today as it was to those women at the tomb.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 23:1-56 - Lectionary for Sunday of the Passion, Series C

4/11/2019

4/11/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

The evangelist Luke, when telling about the crucifixion, notes a period of darkness, approximately three hours’ worth, followed by the veil in the temple being torn, along with Jesus’ calling out to the Father that he was surrendering into the hands of God. He breathed his last and died. Luke 23:47-48 record the centurion in charge of the death squad being amazed, along with all the crowds. They saw what had happened and they understood it, no doubt better than we possibly can.

I’d like to mention just a few of the surprising factors. First, though both solar and lunar eclipses were understood in antiquity, we have no record of a solar eclipse in or around Palestine in the years surrounding Christ’s death. A solar eclipse doesn’t really last very long, but this period of darkness lasted for several hours. Luke and those he talked with interpreted this as a sign from God, not as any sort of natural phenomenon. Second, the veil of the temple was torn in two. This was a tremendously large piece of cloth-work, dividing the outer court from the very holy place. It would not pull apart easily. There’s no record of anyone actually doing it. The accounts given by the evangelists don’t have contrary evidence, such as letters saying it remained intact. There was no natural phenomenon which could have caused this to happen. Yet it’s reported. Again, the impression the witnesses at the time received, the impression we are to receive, is that God is doing a sign. Third, though Jesus was in the same kind of intense suffering which kills people in crucifixion, he had been talking reasonably about forgiveness just moments before. The process which would normally take several days to kill someone did not kill Jesus. Because people typically die of asphyxiation and dehydration in a crucifixion, they don’t have much of a voice. But he called out with a loud voice, then died. The only reasonable conclusion the centurion could have come to was that Jesus didn’t die of being crucified. He died because he surrendered his life. This would also have been evident to the onlookers.

What do we make of this account? Our reasonable conclusion is that God is doing something he wants us to notice. He is opening the holy place. He is making his work obvious to everyone who knows what time it is and that it is normally light in the middle of the day. He is showing that Jesus, the Christ, does have authority to lay down his life, as he said he did, and that he will presumably have the authority to take up his life again.

The Gospels give very real, believable accounts of real events. They were published early enough that readers and hearers could bring contradictory evidence. They show Jesus speaking and acting like the very God who is giving his life to redeem others. Based on these accounts, we should have the same, very reasonable, response to the events. Indeed, Jesus is innocent, indeed he is the Lord.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 20:9-20 - Lectionary for Lent 5C

4/4/2019

4/4/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Gospel reading this week, from Luke 20:9-20, consists of the parable of Jesus about tenants who despised their landowner, who used his messengers badly, and who finally decided to kill his son and keep the vineyard for themselves. The owner, in righteous anger, will wage war against the tenants.

The Jewish leaders, as we read in verses 19-20, were offended because the parable was clearly pointed at them. From then on, they waged a campaign, spying on Jesus and trying to get him to say something self-incriminating. They really wanted to get rid of Jesus, no matter the cost. Their conflict, in short, became personal rather than theological.

What happens when we engate in a personal battle rather than seeking a genuine understanding of the truth? The truth finally becomes obscured. It can be swept aside in the burning desire to rid ourselves of our opponents. That’s precisely what happened to the scribes in Jesus’ time. They were intent on rejecting him, so they also rejected the words of forgiveness, of reconciliation to God, and of peace with one another which Jesus was delivering. They were so zealous for their party line it never crossed their minds that Jesus might just be the one who fulfilled the Messianic prophecies and would rescue them from sin and death. They rejected him out of hand, to their own destruction.

How do we deal with the message of hte Gospel? Are there some who reject it because they are busy rejecting its messengers? Are there messengers who are provoked to come off message and engage the “scribes” in a fist-fight, verbally or otherwise? How did Jesus deal with it? He told the truth, lived the life he was given, and died his death even on behalf of those who attacked him. Like him or not, he showed he was the one who could reconcile the world to God.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 - Lectionary for Lent 4C

3/28/2019

3/28/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Gospel for this week, from Luke 15, is focused on the fairly well known “parable of the prodigal.” Here, the younger son of a living father persuades his father to give him his inheritance. He departs and manages to run through all his money, ending up in very humble circumstances.

While many will shoose to focus on the younger son’s offensive behavior toward his family or on the plan for restoration, or maybe the restoration itself or the older brother’s reaction, I’d like to take al ook at the trouble the young man found himself in. We may remember that pigs are considered ceremonially unclean by Jews. They will not raise them or eat them. How, then, does this young man end up helping someone who keeps pigs, and wishing for a share in the pigs’ food? He is far from home, taking despreate measures in order to stay alive, and engaged in activity which provoked him to guilt and shame on a daily basis.That’s about as far from home as you can be. It’s a profoundly sad place.

How did the young man get there? He had purposely thrown off the shackles of restraint provided by his family and his culture. In asking for his inheritance, he was declaring his father dead. He left home, the place of security, and tried to make his own way, according to his pleasures. By departing from the structure and restraint of his culture, he was faced with the monumental task of re-inventing it all, in a way that would work. This is a recipe for failure.

Many in our current Western world are, sad to say, not like the prodigal. Yes. Not like him. Our culture ran away from those reasonable foundations in the past. Different people will place different dates on the departure, but no matter how you stack it, we are very unlikely to be the first generation in this exodus. Our parents, grandparents, or even earlier generations made the shift. We were born in the foreign country, starving, and feeding pigs, which is loathsome but we were never told why. It’s a sorry state of affairs.

Jesus’ message is the same for us as for the young man. God stands ready to welcome those who have wandered, even those who have never known him. He calls us, by His Word and by the community of Christians, to be restored, to be clothed, to be fed, and to see that He is very much alive. He himself is our everlasting inheritance. This is the good news for us who are far away and starving. We are welcome home.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 13:1-9 - Lectionary for Lent 3C

3/21/2019

3/21/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our reading from Luke 13:1-9 confronts us with an unpleasant reality. While we might want to get what we deserve, and hold out some hope that we would get something good, Jesus reflects upon some who were apparently killed while making sacrifice to God. He points out to his questioners that they themselves are no more righteous than those victims of what seems an unjust death. People die, whether of illness, accident, or violence. We cannot hope for better. This earthly life will come to an end, whether we like it or not.

That’s a sobering thought. All our righteousness, all our civic good, all our attempts at caring for ourselves will pass away, if we are looking only at this mortal life. The mortality rate for humans throughout history remains 100%. The Bible mentions a couple of people who were taken up to heaven without dying and one who was raised from the dead. Out of all human history, we are left with a 100% mortality rate.

Jesus gives us some hope in verses 6-9. He calls his people to hear him, to repent and believe. And then he gives a lesson about a man who has a fig tree. It isn’t productive. It should probably be cut down and thrown in the fire. But the vinedresser persuades the owner to leave it for another year in hopes of producing fruit. The tree will receive care and nourishment. Maybe it will produce.

In the end, we don’t find out whether the tree produces fruit or not. We don’t find out whether the people listeniing to Jesus repent or not. We don’t know any of that. But we do know that God’s call to us is crystal clear. He calls us to believe in him. He calls us to change our attitudes so that we are not in line for execution. He invites his people to receive not what they deserve, but the good they need.

The people who were killed are not greater sinners than we are. However, God graciously offers his forgiveness to all who believe. We’re all sinners, in need of forgiveness. In Christ we can receive that forgiveness, not by our righteous works, but by Jesus’ forgiving grace.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 13:31-35 - Lectionary for Lent 2C

3/14/2019

3/14/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Gospel reading for this week shows an uncharacteristic view of Jesus. Luke portrays him as, on one level, not caring about people. Normally we are struck by how much Jesus cares. But here, we see that his care for his own people provokes his disregard for those who have rejected him. He calls Herod “that fox,” indicating he is a conniving person who shold be disappointed (v. 32). Despite what the religious leaders think, he’s going to go ahead to heal people and cast out demons. He doesn’t care what the authorities say or do, he is on his own timetable to go and die in Jerusalem (v. 33). And, although it is a matter of sorrow that Jerusalem will not receive his care, in the end he leaves it desolate (v. 35). Those who would oppose Jesus have condemned themselves. He allows them this. They will have to deal with it as well as they can.

How do we deal with this concept? The fact is, Jesus genuinely calls all people to trust in Him. He is not changing that call. Yet the call tells the world to trust in Jesus or to work out its own salvation. Do we trust in Him as he has said, and add to heavenly joy? Do we trust in ourselves and go to our destruction? Jesus has done all that is needed for life and salvation. If we depart, woe to us. Let us rather be gathered in Christ, as the hen gathers her chicks, to a place of peace, rest, and safety.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 4:1-13 - Lectionary for Lent 1C

3/7/2019

3/7/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Gospel passage from Luke 4 describes Jesus’ temptation by the devil. We see three basic areas of temptation. In verse three, routine physical sustenance - bread. In verse six, recognition and glory. In verses nine and following, protection from deadly harm. All of these areas of temptation are common to humanity. We want to eat, we want to be accepted and honored, and we want to be protected from violent harm. There’s nothing wrong with those desires. In fact, when someone doesn’t make reasonable efforts at any of them, that person is considered to have some sort of disorder. It’s not normal to try to starve oneself, to seek to be an outcast, or to live in such a way as to provoke harm.

Jesus answers each of the temptations with God’s Word and promises. Why is this? The simple answer is that Satan’s promises will not be kept but God’s promises will.

Does God provide what we need to eat? Yes, he does it through our work and the work of many others. In normal circumstances, the vast majority of people on this planet can secure adequate food supplies, particularly when they are not interrupted by wars or corruption. This is a gift of God. Oftentimes we have seen starvation ensue after others have arisen to take the place of God. The physical provisions promised by the corrupt government are not reliable. Neither are the provisions offered by the devil. We need to trust the God who keeps his promises.

Does God provide society in which we can give and receive appropriate honor, care, affection, and respect? Yes. Even in some secular societies we find such a thing. But in the Scripture we have a description of a Christian community in which people of greatly different backgrounds, of different social standings, of different ages, of different sexes are all able to come together in unity, receiving from God in Word and Sacrament. That’s a community of care. Almost without exception, the people I have met who feel abandoned and neglected are being abandoned and neglected by people and organizations which do not build their care for others on Scripture. Sadly, some of those people and organizations take the name “Christian.” But they have fallen short of Scripture in this. They have taken the enemy’s promises rather than God’s promises.

Does God protect us from death? He says that believing on him is eternal life. End of story. He is the one who can keep his promises. If in this life only we have hope, we are of all to be pitied. May the God who keeps all his promises bless you now and forever.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 9:28-36 - Lectionary for Transfiguration C

2/28/2019

2/28/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

On Sunday of the Transfiguration we often think about how Jesus has changed our world, how He uses us as agents of change, how we are personally changed into His image, and other similar ideas. These are well and good, make no mistake. However, I question whether they are the main point of the event, recorded for us in Luke 9:28-36. To dig into that, I’d like to ask what Jesus was talking with Moses and Elijah about. Actually, as I let you peek behind the curtain of my writing just a little bit, let’s revise that careless statement. I’d like to ask what Moses and Elijah were talking with Jesus about. That’s where the focus is.

Moses and Elijah were talking with Jesus about “his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem” (v. 31b, ESV). This is a very literal translation of the Greek. However, the word “accomplish” might have more of a sense of “fulfill.” In fact, that’s the word which is used, but it doesn’t make very good English. Jesus is about to go to Jerusalem and from there he will complete his journey and fulfill his purpose. In a certain sense, his earthly work will have been accomplished. This doesn’t mean, of course, that there’s nothing else to be done. After all, he continues to use his people and to work in them, changing them into his image. Yet the essence of what he came to do - living a perfectly sinless life, dying in the place of sinners, and rising again from the dead - all that is accomplished. There’s nothing more to be done. That’s what Jesus was talking about when, on the cross, he said “it is finished.”

I encourage you, in this season when we remember Jesus, transfigured, shining bright, to give thanks to him for knowing his mission and completing it. Truly, he accomplished his departure. We have no need to worry about anything being forgotten, because he has done every last step needed for us and for our salvation, to purchase our forgiveness, and the forgiveness of the whole world.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 6:17-26 - Lectionary for Epiphany 6C

2/14/2019

2/14/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

It’s so easy for us to misplace our priorities, isn’t it? We want to do well at work, in business, in school, in our families. We want to be healthy, wealthy, and wise. Then again, maybe we’re ready to settle for healthy and wealthy. In Luke 6:17-26 many people have come to hear Jesus and be healed (v. 18). Folks are being healed right and left. The power of God is there.

Make no mistake about it. This is definitely a good thing! Jesus doesn’t like you to have diseases any more than you like it. Trouble with unclean spirits troubles Jesus too, so much that, at least in this passage, when he is confronted with the spirits he casts them out. God does delight in bringing healing and life to his people.

How about that little element of wisdom? Let’s take a look at the content of the teaching here. There’s a significant content parallel in Matthew 5, though the discourses seem to take place at a different time and place. This is in a level place and is accompanied by healing beforehand. The passage in Matthew 5 is on a mountain and doesn’t have healing beforehand. But it shouldn’t surprise us that Jesus frequently talks about the same kind of issues in different places and at different times.

When Jesus teaches here, he tells about how his followers are blessed whether they are poor, hungry, sorrowful, or hated. Those who are confident in themselves will face troubles, but those who are looking to him will receive blessings. Do you notice how much Jesus talks about healing? About wealth? His only mention of wealth here has to do with the implication of not depending on it. He doesn’t mention healing physical maladies at all.

Jesus attracts people to him by doing things which are for their genuine momentary good. He then gives them words which they can live by forever. There’s the priority. May the Lord give us right priorities, that we can enjoy his blessings now and forever.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 5:1-11 - Lectionary for Epiphany 5C

2/7/2019

2/7/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Experts hate to be shown that they are wrong. Really. Take it from me, since I’m an expert, and I think I’m right about it. We hate to be shown that we are wrong. In our Gospel passage from Luke 5 Simon Peter is the expert. He’s a prosperous fisherman, with a well established business. He knows fish and fishing. And he knows that, at least on this day, the fishing is really bad. They worked all night and it was a failure. No fish to sell today. Perhaps that’s why he was willing to let Jesus stand in the boat and use the lake water to help boost his voice and teach the people. He might as well get some use out of that boat.

We don’t know specifically what Jesus was teaching in verses three and four. The Bible doesn’t give us any clue at all. Apparently the content of Jesus’ teaching is not the important element in this passage. What does Luke want us to know? He wants us to know that Jesus showed himself in his power to Peter, James, and John, as well as to some other onlookers. He told them, the experts, to get their nets wet again, even though they had finished a long and frustrating night’s work and had finally managed to get everything in order again.

Simon Peter, the expert fisherman, knew it wouldn’t be worth doing. But he eventually agreed. All the while, he knew he was right. They weren’t going to catch anything. It’s a waste of time and effort.

How many times are we convinced that whatever we do will be a waste of time and effort? After all, we’re the experts! We know what we are doing. We have our priorities. We know the rhythm of our work. Yet sometimes, by his grace, the Lord puts us in a situation where we go against our instincts. Surely it’s worthless to go here, there’s no point in making that phone call, a visit to her will be useless. Suddenly, in the Gospel, the Lord provides a great catch of fish. And in our lives? He may take what seemed meaningless and promised no fruit and use it for the good of His kingdom. We never know what the Lord will accomplish.

We hate being wrong. What does Simon Peter realize when he is shown to be wrong? He confesses to the Lord that he is a sinful person. He contradicted God.

Here’s the good news. Jesus restores Simon Peter. He takes the sinful man who would argue with God about fishing, and he uses him to gather people into the kingdom of God. The Lord knows exactly what he is doing. And he does it for the good, not only of his disciples, but for the good of the whole world. Thanks be to God.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 4:31-44 - Lectionary for Epiphany 4C

1/31/2019

1/31/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

In our Gospel passage from Luke 4 we see two examples of Jesus healing people by His word. The first has a demon, the second has a fever. Thanks to popular culture, many in North America just now think of an exorcism and they think of someone who shows all sorts of supernatural powers and who attacks the exorcist. Maybe we can add eerie voices, pictures on the wall spurting blood, and things bursting into flame. We think of the exorcist and picture someone who is feebly hoping that God might be powerful enough to make a difference.

The pattern in Scripture is nothing like this. What does Jesus do when he confronts the evil spirit in the man in the synagogue? He tells the spirit to be quiet and come out the the man. Even if we picture a more extensive and forceful encounter, with the command repeated or with considerable noise while the man is being bothered by the spirit and thrown down on the ground, we still have a remarkably orderly encounter. It’s more like telling the family dog to get off the couch and go outside than it is like telling an invading pride of lions to get off the meatloaf. Jesus has power and authority that we can hardly imagine.

Likewise, when Jesus visits in Peter’s household and Peter’s mother-in-law has a fever, Jesus tells the fever to go away and it does. No fuss, no muss, no elaborate ritual. The illness obeys Jesus’ command.

One of the rituals I have conducted on several occasions is a house blessing. By the way, for local people, if you have moved or if you want to keep with the historic tradition held by many of asking for a house blessing every year or so, let me know. I’d be happy to come by. In this blessing, we call upon the Lord of all, asking him to protect the home and its occupants from any sin and evil, to expel any evil spiritual forces, and to lay his blessing on those who live and visit the house. We go around, room by room, and ask the Lord to use the home and family for his purposes. It’s an exorcism, among other things. No fuss, no muss, just asking the Lord of all to guard and protect the dwelling and the people for his purposes.

What if there evil spirits acting where we are? There certainly seem to be some people and places where there’s something that appears demonic. It’s maybe more common in some parts of the world than others, especially in cultures where people give more credence to folk religions, earthly spirits, and the like. The encounter may just get a little more heated. It may need to be repeated more. In some instances, it can look like someone trying to get the pride of lions off the meatloaf. But we trust that as we are people who have been baptized into Jesus we are also acting in His name and authority when we ask His will to be done where we are.

Why do we let Hollywood govern our expectations about spiritual things? Let us rather trust the Lord of all to have His way in our midst.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 4:16-30 - Lectionary for Epiphany 3C

1/24/2019

1/24/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Gospel reading this third week in Epiphany is a bold revelation of Jesus. Here, in the synagogue, Jesus reads the words of Isaiah where God proclaims the day of salvation. Jesus then boldly says that this word is fulfilled in him. What is Jesus saying here?

How did the people who heard him respond? They understood Jesus to be claiming that he had divine authority to forgive sin, to set captives free, and deliver God’s free grace. They understood that Jesus was saying he had the power and authority of God. They understood this so very well that they tried to execute him for making himself out to be God.

What did Jesus do in this instance? He continued to show his divine power, first by his proclamation, then by keeping the people from throwing him off a cliff. He continued then to proclaim the day of deliverance from God. He healed the sick. He cleansed the lepers. He gave sight to the blind. He raised the dead. He took the sins of the world onto himself, died the death we deserve, then rose from the dead as the firstfruits of the resurrection.

May this same Jesus, the risen Lord, reign in our hearts and minds, proclaiming the day of salvation to each of us. This is the day of salvation. God’s Word is fulfilled in Jesus.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 3:15-22 - Lectionary for Epiphany 1C

1/10/2019

1/10/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Most of us who are beyond a certain level of maturity have faced a problem of this type. There’s a mess that needs to be cleaned up. It might be physical, mental, emotional, relational, you name it. But it’s a mess. It isn’t going to go away. It might get worse if it isn’t addressed. And we hate to approach it because we fully expect it will get worse before it gets better.

In Luke chapter three the people have heard John’s preaching about righteousness and the kingdom of God. They were looking forward to God’s kingdom. Won’t it be great? He’s going to usher in peace and prosperity. But John compares the coming one, who is greater than John, to a man with a threshing floor, a farmer. What’s the farmer going to do? He’s going to take care of his harvest. It provides food for the coming year. It provides a product to sell and buy other needed things. It provides seed for planting in the future. This is a sign of prosperity. All will be well, everything will be taken care of.

What does the farmer do in verse 17? He separates the grain from all the other parts, which he considers useless. In this arid climate, the chaff and stalks won’t be of much use for composting, since there isn’t really enough water. The farmer doesn’t have the mechanical devices to spread leftovers from grain processing onto the field and plow it in again. But he does have a big pile of husks, straw, and the flammable, even explosive dust that accompanies them. Should he leave this in his barn? We think not. He sweeps it up and sets it on fire, when he wants to, where he wants to, so as to prevent it from causing any harm. It’s a mess, a big mess. But he needs to take care of it or he risks losing everything.

John the Baptist says that Jesus is the one coming to baptize in the Holy Spirit and in fire. With the comparison to the farmer, our prayer is that we will be baptized by the Holy Spirit and not by fire. The elements of this world which are not pleasing to God are destined to be burned up. But those who turn to God in repentance, who belong in God’s kingdom by grace through faith, those are baptized in the Holy Spirit. They are washed. They are redeemed. They will be kept in the storehouse, not burned in the rubbish heap.

We don’t always know our destiny as those who have turned to the Lord. Will we provide food for others? Resources? Future generations? We have no idea. But the Lord, whose sandal we are not worthy to unstrap to wash his feet, has welcomed us into his kingdom and will use us for good. This is the hope of the Christian in this world. And in the future? We know that God has promised an everlasting kingdom, where his people will dwell with him. He’s the one who is cleaning up the mess of this world so as to protect it from the danger of the worthless chaff. Our response should be similar to that of God the Father. He is “well pleased” with the Son (v. 22). May we also be well pleased with the work of God in Christ.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 2:22-40 - Lectionary for Christmas 1C

12/27/2018

12/27/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

In our Gospel reading for this week we go with Jesus, Mary and Joseph to the temple, as Jesus is to be presented to the Lord, the firstborn male born of Mary. While Jesus is in the tmeple, he is taken up by Simeon, who praises God and prays that he may now die in peace.

To our current sensibilities, this seems out of place. Really? A baby is being presented in the temple and you are saying you can now die satisfied? You aren’t supposed to talk about death at any time, especially when a newborn is being brought to be dedicated to God! Why, nowadays, it’s hard to get people to speak about death even at a funeral, as they are often re-titled as a “celebration of life” rather than a “tucking in to await the resurrection of the dead.” What’s going on here in Simeon’s prayer?

Simeon recognizes that it is God’s salvation, prepared for his people and for all the world, in the infant Jesus, that allows us to face death without fear. He realizes that the Lord has given life and salvation through Jesus so he can have absolute confidence forever. Jesus is the one who conquers death, so Simeon will no longer have to worry about it. And he does it not only for Israel, but also for all nations.

This is the tremendous good news of our current season, the Christmas season. It is because of the Christ that all who believe him have life. Without that baby being born we have no hope. Because he is there, a very real baby, truly man and truly God, we have hope for life and salvation forever.

I think it’s instructive that there are two times that this passage of Scripture is typically used, aside from this Sunday. One is after a celebration of communion. Our sins have been forgiven by the true body and blood of Jesus, the very same one who was held in the arms of Simeon. Because of that forgiveness, we can pray with Simeon and say we are ready to die in peace. The other time we use this passage is in a funeral service, when, again, we proclaim, for ourselves and especially also on behalf of the person who has died, that the dismissal is in peace which the Lord has prepared.

There’s no fear left. Jesus has come into the world.

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Luke 1:39-56 - Lectionary for Advent 4C

12/20/2018

12/20/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Gospel reading this last Sunday of Advent draws us into the time of Mary’s pregnancy. It’s a very fitting preparation for the celebration of Christmas to begin in just a few days. Very shortly after Mary received word from the angel about her miraculous child, she hurried to her cousin Elizabeth, who was also miraculously pregnant, being past childbearing age and never having conceived before. Elizabeth was about six months farther along than Mary, so this encounter would be relatively early in Mary’s pregnancy. For what it’s worth, it would possibly make more sense to read this passage near the end of April, but today we can consider it a little flashback.

Lukes narrative suggests that Elizabeth would not have had prior knowledge of Mary’s story. Mary entered the house and God gave some prophetic gifts all around. John, in Elizabeth’s womb, leaped for joy, and Elizabeth knew why. It is because the Lord, the Messiah, the Savior, has just walked into the house, inside his mother.

We see that Mary’s response is all about God’s mercy. It’s all about how God is coming to save the world, to redeem those in bondage, to bless people, to exalt the lowly, to care for the poor. Once in a while we see signs that our world really doesn’t understand this view of God. There’s a cute cartoon that circulates every year around this time. It’s got people riding camels that have bumper stickers on their back ends. Honor student, soccer star, etc. Then there’s one that says something like, “My son is God.” The other parents are, of course, at least a little jealous. While it’s a cute idea, notice the way Mary seems to view the coming of the Messiah through her. It’s an honor that she could never deserve. And the work of the Messiah is to redeem people, to bring care where it is needed. Frankly, Mary would probably be offended by people thinking she was exalting herself. She was astounded that God would visit his people in this way.

Mary stayed with Elizabeth, according to verse 56, for about three months. We have no idea what else they did or talked about, but it would make a lot of sense that Mary would stay until a little while after the birth of John, so as to help her cousin. That attitude of mercy and service is, after all, one of the Lord’s priorities.

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Luke 7:18-35 - Lectionary for Advent 3C

12/13/2018

12/13/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Gospel reading from Luke 7:18-35 has a good deal of variety. John, in prison, sends disciples to find out if Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus doesn’t answer the question, but leaves them to make up their minds. Jesus sings the praise of John. He speaks of the utter failure of the Pharisees and scribes. This passage seems to be all over the place.

It’s this last portion, though, that I would like to visit today. In our day, much of the secular world treats Jesus and His people in this same way. They have rejected Jesus without ever considering his claims (v. 30). Jesus observes that they act like children. Whatever the setting, they affirm Jesus and his children to be useless. If he fasts, he has a demon. If he eats, he is a glutton. In every instance, his response is wrong.

What answer does the Church give? I often give no answer at all. After all, it would be the wrong answer. Rather, we go on doing the good the Lord has prepared for us. Heal the sick, give people the good news, feed the poor, care for God’s creation. We let our world make up its mind about Jesus. Sure wish it would be right!

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Luke 3:1-20 - Lectionary for Advent 2C

12/6/2018

12/6/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Gospel reading from Luke 3:1-20 gives us not only insight into the work of God, not only into the identity of John the Baptizer, but also into the author Luke and the kind of critical response he expected.

Observe how carefully Luke dates this event. He doesn’t give a month and day, but he identifies the various political leaders of the time, whose terms of office overlap. He also identifies the various political leaders of the time, whose terms of office overlap. He also identifies both the person recognized by the Jews as their rightful high priest as well as the one who was a political appointee. Luke here is making sure his readers can place the event clearly in time and space. For what it’s worth, for much of the time since these events, everyone accepted the reality of the account. It was not until the late 18th century that some scholars suggested these people may not have been real, as they were not clearly identified in historical sources. Since that time, archaeology as confirmed the identity and time frame. The account seems quite reliable in its details.

Some of these details are of great importance. What does John identify as God’s priority? His people are to be recognized by repentance which leads to just and charitable actions. In short, they are to beh onest, share with others, and not seek their own profit in such a way as to harm others. That’s a very good summary of the Christian life. In light of the goodness of God, we live lives which value the same kind of charity God has given.

There’s something more to this passage, though. Is John the Messiah? He is not. The Messiah is more worthy than John by far. Notice the work of the Messiah in verses 16-17. He pours out the Holy Spirit and cleans things up, gathering wheat for good use and burning up the chaff. Metaphorically, he gathers his repentant followers for the good of the world but he will sweep the rest into a pile destined for destruction. John calls his hearers, and us, to a life as repentant followers of Jesus, trusting in him rather than ourselves. May we be found in him this way.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 21:25-36 - Lectionary for Advent 1C

11/29/2018

11/29/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

With the start of Advent, on the Sunday after St. Andrew’s Day (11/30), we begin a new liturgical year. For the next twelve moths we will walk through biblical accounts of the coming of the Christ, his revelation to this world, the world’s rejection of him, his death and resurrection, his ascension into heaven, and the life of his people in this world. Then, in a year, we start all over again. There’s a stability that we can find in such a church calendar. Not only have countless people used these resources in the past, but to this day many millions of people use the calendar as a framework for their lives. So I want to take this opportunity to welcome my readers to join with me in our walk through the life of Christ. My afternoon posts normally follow the three year ectionary as tweaked by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, but I do them early. For instance, today I have posted some notes about the Gospel for this coming Sunday, December 2, rather than last Sunday.

What’s happening in our Gospel reading? We have jumped into Luke’s Gospel at chapter 21, starting at verse 25. Jesus is speaking about the time when he will come in glory to gather his people and bring judgment on the world. Verse 28 says this is a time when his people will find redemption delivered to them. They are not to fear. For those who have not believed Jesus, it will be a time of fear. They will know they are unable to stand in God’s judgment.

How are we to know the coming of Christ is near? Jesus has spoken of signs of his coming, but most of them seem pretty commonplace. By doing this, he is establishing the idea that he can and will come for his people and we are to be on alert. Just as the person waiting to board a bus or train needs to watch for the right time, we also wait for his return. If not, if we are dulled, as in verse 34, we will not be ready for his arrival.

In our alertness, in verse 36, we are told to pray for strength. The world is a troublesome place, full of wars, diseases, disappointments, and distractions. We should not be called away from our vigilance, but sould pray the Lord would make us expect him even in this time of trouble.

When he comes, I pray all my readers will be waiting eagerly, knowing that Jesus is the one who has redeemed them from sin.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke

4/19/2018

Thursdays are for the New Testament
4/19/18
Carson, D.A., and Douglas Moo An Introduction to the New Testament - Second Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005. "Luke" Carson & Moo pp. 198-224

CONTENTS
p. 198 "Luke's gospel is the longest book in the New Testament. Like Matthew, Luke follows the basic outline of Jesus' ministry established by Mark."
1. The Prologue (1:1-4)
2. The Births of John the Baptist and Jesus (1:5-2:52)
3. Preparation for the Ministry (3:1-4:13)
4. The Ministry of Jesus in Galilee (4:14-9:50)
5. Jesus' Journey to Jerusalem (9:51-19:44)
6. Jesus in Jerusalem (19:45-21:38)
7. Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection (22:1-24:53)

LUKE-ACTS
Luke and Acts are recognizably written by the same individual, addressed to the same individual, and related to one another. however we do need to realize that the books seem to fit into different genres, with Luke following the pattern found in the other gospels and Acts following a pattern of a historical text.

AUTHOR
Internal evidence points to an author who is not an eyewitness of Jesus' ministry (1:1-4) but who is familiar with many events. The "we" passages in Acts identify the author as someone who is frequently a companion of Paul. The statements of chapter 1 indicating an author who performed research prepares us to expect someone who would have drawn information from a variety of sources, including from those he accompanied. Early church authors identify Luke as the author, also claiming that the author was a physician. There are indications, particularly in Colossians 4:10-14, that Luke was a Gentile.

PROVENANCE
The location of the writing is unclear. Antioch, Achaia, and Rome have all been suggested. All are speculations.

DATE
Carson and Moo give a good deal of evidence that tends to point again and again to a date around 62 for the final work of Acts. Acts presupposes that the gospel has been written, but does not suggest that it has been in existence for long. Carson and Moo also list numerous suggestions for later dates, after 70, but none of those suggestions are conclusive.

ADDRESSEE(S)
The gospel is written to one "Theophilus" which means "lover of God." This could be anybody, including a noble person (see the "most excellent") using a real or assumed name, or could be an example of a person to whom Luke purports to write. The content of the gospel seems to indicate it is written with a recent convert in mind.

PURPOSE
Luke states his own purpose of writing in the prologue, to assure the reader of the certainty of what he has been taught. p. 212 "By the time Luke wrote his gospel, the early church had separated from Judaism and was, indeed, experiencing hostility from many Jews. at the same time, the new and tiny Christian movement was competing with a welter of religious and philosophical alternatives in the Greco-Roman world."

COMPOSITION
If we assume that Luke drew heavily on other written sources, it would seem that he takes about 55 percent of Mark's material (p. 212). Some suggest that Luke has borrowed a great deal, about 20 percent of the non-Markan material, from Matthew. This does leave a significant portion of the gospel without parallel. p. 213 "most scholars are persuaded that Luke and Matthew have independently used a lost source, called "Q." we think this hypothesis is likely, though the exact nature of Q must be left open." Yet we observe that Luke says he gathered information from a variety of sources. It must be allowed that some sources were written and that some were oral, gathered in the time he spent accompanying Paul and possibly other apostles.

TEXT
The text of Luke and Acts is difficult as there is a significant difference between Western and Eastern text traditions. Carson and Moo lay out a fairly detailed argument on p. 215. They tend to think that the Western text passages which are found in addition to the Eastern text are less likely to be original, while the passages which exist in the Western text but are omitted in the Eastern text are fairly likely to be original.

ADOPTION INTO THE CANON
Luke was clearly accepted as canonical by the mid-second century. There is some evidence that it was cited earlier, even in the first century. It has been universally accepted as authoritative for as long as canonicity has been articulated.

LUKE'S GOSPEL IN RECENT STUDY
In recent years text critics have suggested a variety of sources for Luke's information. They have also tended to suggest that Luke was interested in explaining eschatology to dispel the idea that Jesus' return would have been expected more or less immediately after his ascension. Narrative critics have focused on Luke-Acts as a two volume whole. pp. 218-219 "Luke is not creating a work of literature from whole cloth as a novelist might go about his or her work. He is narrating events that transpired in a particular time and place; and these "historical constraints" must be recognized."

THE CONTRIBUTION OF LUKE
Carson and Moo identify four major themes in Luke which can inform all our understanding of Scripture. First, Luke is interested in God's overall plan. Second, Luke has a focus on salvation. Third, the Gentiles are the special recipients of salvation. Finally, Jesus is the one who shows care for outcasts of all sorts.

Luke 24:36-49 - Lectionary for Easter 3B

4/12/2018

4/12/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

During approximately three years of walking around with his disciples, Jesus consistently showed them that he was the Messiah. He fulfilled prophecy after prophecy. He worked miracles. He received worship. And he warned them several times that he would be killed and that he would rise from the dead again.

Despite all of this preparation, the disciples really weren’t ready for what happened at the Passover. They were terrified when Jesus was actually arrested. It made them run away. When they heard the details of the trial from Peter and John, who had followed Jesus, they didn’t know how to react. By the time Jesus was led out to be crucified, John was the only one of the apostles to be an eyewitness. After his death, it was two members of the Sanhedrin who actually took his body and entombed him.

Not one of the disciples expected Jesus to rise from the dead. They weren’t waiting for this news. The women had gone to take care of anything that was overlooked in his very hasty entombment. All their expectation was that they would find his lifeless body laid out on a slab.

The news which arrived to the disciples during the day of resurrection was also unbelievable. The body was gone, there was some sort of angelic apperance, maybe Jesus had appeared to someone, but maybe not. Peter and John had verified that the body was missing. And the disciples, disconsolate, had gathered together in a locked room, hoping that nobody would arrest them also. They were hiding.

What could change their minds? It didn’t seem likely that anything would persuade them that Jesus had risen from the dead. That wasn’t even on their radar screens. Then, without even seeming to open the door, without knocking, Jesus appeared among them. Distance, doors, locks and bars mean nothing to the risen Lord. He can come and be with his disciples. He shows that he is not a ghost by eating something and demonstrating that he is absolutely a living person.

We notice now that Jesus gives more instructions to his disciples. He tells them that they will receive power from the Holy Spirit to continue their work. Now, maybe, just maybe, they will be able to take his promises seriously. We know, of course, that in just seven weeks’ time they will receive the power they need. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to give the disciples hope and trust.

In every age, Jesus, in his resurrection, confronts our sinful unbelief. He shows that he is, in fact, the one who always keeps his promises, even if it requires him to do impossible miracles, such as rising from the dead. It’s when we find Jesus in our midst that we are able to take him at his word and believe him. May the Lord continue to come into our midst in ways that we can recognize.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 2:22-40 - Lectionary for Christmas 1B

12/29/2017

12/29/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Shortly after the birth of Jesus, the Scriptures remind us that Joseph and Mary were committed to their faith. As observant Jews they brought him to the temple on the eighth day to bring the prescribed sacrifices. This was no random action. They didn’t go whenever they felt like it. They didn’t bring some sort of gift which occurred to them. It was not a time to show individuality or to celebrate their child’s personality.

Jesus was presented in the temple according to the Law of Moses, with the sacrifices prescribed. What would set him apart? The Holy Spirit moved two people at the temple to recognize him as the one who would redeem Israel. And this was no passing comment by a senile crackpot. We normally assume both Simeon and Anna are old. The Bible says Anna is old. As to Simeon, we know tht he is in the habit of spending a lot of time in the temple and is waiting for God’s redemption. He suggests age by saying that he can die in peace now. But that is no certain indicator of his age. Rather, these two people are presented as being entirely in their right minds and certainly energetic enough to engage the family, stop them, take the baby from his mother, and make a prophecy.

What kind of child is this? He is the one who is to redeem Israel. He doesn’t appear any different from any of the other babies presented in the temple. To all appearances, he is the child of a working class family. Yet the Holy Spirit makes it clear to some who meet him that he is in fact the savior.

May the Holy Spirit speak to many hearts as they are confronted with this Jesus, brought up according to God’s Law, but who shows himself to be the consolation of all who trust in him.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 1:26-38 - Lectionary for Advent 4B

12/22/2017

12/22/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Luke 1:26-38 describes the conception of Jesus. The evangelist has already set the stage by describing the miraculous pregnancy of Elizabeth, a relative of Mary. Elizabeth had first conceived at an old age. Now an angel comes to Mary and tells her about the son she will bear.

The angelic description makes perfect sense. There will be a Messiah. His name will mean “God saves.” He will be in the lineage of David and will be the king of God’s people. All of this sounds fine and good. But, of course, Mary knows where babies come from. How is this going to happen? As Mary receives God’s word and believes it, she will have a child. Her chances of pregnancy were even more remote than Elizabeth’s. But, in accord with God’s promise, she would conceive and bear a child, who would be the Messiah.

The news of the Incarnation is entirely mind-boggling. First you have a virgin who conceives. The one born is the Messiah. We find out later that he is not broken by a sinful nature like the rest of the world. He alone will be able to rescue humanity from sin and death. This is great news indeed. What is Mary’s response? May it be according to God’s will. May that also be our response to divine intervention in this world.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 24:13-35 - Lectionary for Easter 3A

4/27/2017

4/27/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

In Luke 24:13-35, Jesus appears to some disciples who have left Jerusalem. They departed after the Sabbath was over, having realized that the one they thought was the Messiah had been killed. Their hopes were crushed. time to pack it up and go home.

The discussion along the road centers on this person they had hoped would be the Messiah. Jesus explained about himself from all the Scriptures as they walked. This was encouraging to them. However, they didn’t identify this person as Jesus. He was just a person who encouraged them.

In verse 28 Jesus acted as if he would go on, but they urged him to stay. Then, in verse 30, he took the role of leadership. He blessed and broke the bread. He gave it to them, and they knew who he was. This is certainly Jesus. He has risen from the dead.

Immediately, Jesus showed them that he was not bound by time and space. He disappeared. They, however, returned to Jerusalem immediately and went to find the eleven apostles, along with others who were with them.

Jesus’ appearances after his resurrection are no hallucinations. He is see multiple times by people who are together with one another, in their right minds. He does things that defy explanation other than being done by someone with a supernaturally enabled body. But what is most important is the purpose of Jesus’ appearances. He shows that he is the Messiah, the one who would come and rescue Israel from bondage to sin. He shows that he is the one his people can believe in. He shows that the resurrection is very real and is the source of hope for the Christian.

Blessed are those who saw Jesus in his resurrection. Even more blessed are those who have believed, not seeing.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 2:21 - Lectionary for the Circumcision and Naming of Christ

12/29/2016

12/29/16
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

The Gospel for the Circumcision and Naming of Christ is very brief - Luke 2:21. Here Jesus is circumcised and given the name commanded by the angel at the time of his conception. Why would this detail be saved for us in the New Testament? Very simply, Joseph and Mary valued God’s commands. God the Son also values the commands given through the Holy Spirit. After all, as we confess, there is one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with one will. This one God has given us His word and looks for us to trust his will to be revealed in his word.

Jesus, the Savior, born under the law, come to complete the demands of the law on your behalf, submitted to those demands. He was circumcised on the eight day, according to the law and also in accord with God’s promise to lay his covenant blessings upon Jesus.

Are we willing to trust that God in his Word has given us what we need to live as partakers of his promise in Christ? This is a great blessing. May the Lord use us as we seek to live in accord with his will.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 23:27-43 - Lectionary for the Last Sunday of the Church Year, Cycle C

11/17/2016

11/17/16
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

In Luke 23:27-43 Jesus is mocked all the way to his death. As he goes to the place of execution, however, he has encouraging words for those who are lamenting his sentence. The time is coming when Jesus’ followers will also be mocked, scorned, beaten, and executed, for his sake. This is a sorrowful time indeed.

Why is Jesus treated this way? It is because of sin in the world. From the first sin to the last one described in the Bible we are bent on rejecting and abusing Jesus. All sin is, in one way or another, a rejection of the person and work of God to create, sustain, and redeem his people.

Even as he is dying on the cross, see Jesus’ compassion. The criminal who confesses he is guilty and deserves to die but that Jesus is innocent receives a great promise. “You will be with me this day in paradise.” What hope do we find then? Whatever the sin, Jesus’ forgiveness is present for us. We can trust in his mercy. He has indeed done all that is necessary for our redemption.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.