Week 25

 Monday, June 16

Luke 7:1-23

         

Commentary

Today’s reading details three occasions of Jesus’ healing miracles: the healing the deathly ill daughter of a Roman commander, the raising of a widow’s son, and in answer to the query of John the Baptist. The Roman centurion has great humility, approaching a rabbi for help despite being Roman, and has remarkable confidence in Jesus, knowing that Jesus could heal his daughter simply by giving the word. Jesus’ raising of the widow's son reveals Jesus’ miracle-working power a great crowd of witnesses who were sure the boy was dead.

The followers of John the Baptist report these miracles to him in prison and John sends two of them to ask Jesus if he is truly the promised Savior. Before we look down on John for his uncertainty after he knew even in the womb who Jesus was, we should note that in the verses we will read tomorrow, Jesus commends John as the greatest of men. John was arrested for his preaching shortly after Jesus’ public ministry began. John saw little impact of what Jesus was doing and like everyone but Jesus, John was fallible. To put it crudely, I would imagine that from John’s perspective, all Jesus seemed to have done was leave John in prison, Rome on the throne, and the Pharisees in Jerusalem. He doubted, yet Jesus cared enough to answer and abate his doubts rather than merely rebuke him.

These miracles serve three purposes: they show Jesus’ divine authority, emphasize his compassionate nature, and represent his salvific work. Only God has dominion over death itself, so only God or those he is with can raise the dead. Jesus genuinely cared about the distress of the people involved in each of the three situations where he healed in this passage. These miracles create a beautiful picture of our salvation. We are also dying, for the wages of sin is death and only Christ’s gracious help can deliver us from this death.

 

Application/Discussion

1. There is a story in the Old Testament about a widow’s son who is raised from the dead by a prophet. Do you remember who is involved in the story, or where it is found?

2. John’s doubting of Jesus reminds us that even the best of us make mistakes. How can we learn from our fellow man but make Christ our greatest hero?

 

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for sending Jesus as the sinless, miracle-working, compassionate, and gracious Savior.

Confession: Confess any ways you have doubted God’s promises recently.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for delivering his people from sin and death through Christ.

Supplication: Pray for the Holy Spirit to move the lost in your community to desire the counsel and community of godly churches.

 

Tuesday, June 17

Luke 7:24-50

 

Commentary

In the rest of Luke 7, Jesus commends John the Baptist and a sinful woman who anoints him. When John’s messengers leave, Jesus asks the crowd that had gathered why they were interested in John three times, emphasizing the importance of the question and Jesus’ answer. The people were not interested in John because he was timid and frail or because they wanted to see some cushy aristocrat in fancy clothes, they wanted to hear from a prophet. John indeed was a prophet, the divine messenger promised to prepare the way for the Lord to save his people. The common folks flocked to John, though perhaps for the wrong reasons, but the religious elites adamantly opposed both John and Jesus. Jesus proclaims that while John was the greatest of mere humanity, anyone who belongs to the kingdom of God has far greater merit than John.

Luke then tells us of an occasion when a woman humbly anointed Jesus’ feet with a costly ointment. Simon, the Pharisee hosting Jesus, quietly remarks that Jesus must not be a prophet or he would know not to deal with such a sinner. Jesus replies to him with a parable illustrating that great love flows from great forgiveness. As John A Martin explains, in this act, “She was evidencing that she loved Jesus for she realized that she had been forgiven much. She realized that she was a sinner and in need of forgiveness. In contrast, Simon saw himself as pure and righteous and therefore did not need to treat Jesus in a special manner… he did not even extend to Jesus the normal courtesies of that day: greeting a male by a kiss on the cheek, and anointing a guest’s head with a small portion of oil… Her faith brought her salvation [and] in turn caused her to respond in love. The other dinner guests wondered who Jesus is since He forgave sins (cf. 5:21). Though Jesus in this interchange with Simon never explicitly stated His claim to be the Messiah, He spoke as He did because He is the Messiah.”^[1]

 

Application/Discussion

1. Have you received God’s forgiveness and salvation? Why or why not?

2. What has God forgiven you of? How should motivate your love and obedience to God?

 

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for his exalting of the humble and shaming of the proud.

Confession: Is there sin you need to confess, or temptations you need God’s help in overcoming?

Thanksgiving: Thank God for loving us so much that he sent Jesus to die for our sins and thank God for personally forgiving you if you have received his forgiveness.

Supplication: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in sanctifying and uniting your church to love and serve each other as family and welcome others into the family.

Wednesday, June 18

Luke 8:1-21

 

Commentary

          Luke tells us one of Jesus’ most famous parables against the backdrop of the ragtag band of folks that began to follow him. As Jesus explains, the word of God is spread and takes root and grows in some hearts, but not all. Jesus’ followers illustrate this, as far more people heard Jesus than devoted their lives to him. Jesus’ next saying reminds us that we should be good stewards of what we know of God, shining the light of the gospel to all. As David Gooding noted, “It is impossible anyway permanently to hide where one stands in relation to the gospel. What is hidden will come out sooner or later—that is, it will if it is really there. The danger is, as 8:18 points out, that the man who thinks he has received the gospel, and keeps it hidden and never lets the fact be known, may find one of these days, when he comes to look for the reality of the gospel within him, that it is not in fact there—and never was.”^[2] Those who do receive and believe Jesus’ teachings become part of his family. The call to discipleship is dangerous and self-sacrificing, but it is the only way to eternal life. Jesus has paid the greatest price already, for our sakes!

 

Application/Discussion

1. You may not have grown up in the best family environment or have many family members now, but if you are a believer, you are part of God’s eternal family. How can you love and support the believers in your local church family?

2. If we do not know whether people will respond affirmatively to the gospel, why should we do evangelism? Is it a waste of time to share the gospel with someone who will turn out to never believe in the gospel?

 

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for his goodness, wisdom, and perfection.

Confession: Ask God’s forgiveness for your own hard-heartedness to his Word.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for the privilege of being in his family and inviting others to the family.

Supplication: Ask for the Spirit to move in the heart of someone you know who has heard the gospel yet persists in unbelief.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday, June 19

Luke 8:22-56

 

Commentary

In our reading for today, we see Jesus exert his divine power over nature, demons, and death. Jesus rebukes a great sea storm so powerfully that the water even calms immediately, frightening and astonishing his disciples. Jesus casts the demons out of a man and sends them into a flock of pigs. This man had been a complete outcast so when Jesus heals him, he understandably wants to follow Jesus rather than go back to town. However, Jesus instructs him to go back to those folks to tell them how his life had been changed. Many of us have mistakes, but we should remember that every mistake is accompanied by the opportunity to ask for the forgiveness of God and our neighbors. A sincere apology is a great witnessing tool to lost friends or coworkers. Rather than avoiding the people we have wronged or embarrassed ourselves in front of, we can take these chances to tell even more folks about Jesus.

Jesus is then approached by a synagogue leader who begs Jesus to heal his dying daughter. While on the way to help, Jesus is interrupted by a woman with a bleeding disorder who has found no relief, even after spending all her money on doctors. She had spent years without relief and without a break to her ceremonial impurity and subsequent semi-quarantine from society. She dared just to touch the hem of his cloak to be healed, trusting that alone would be enough. Jesus calls her out and commends her for her faith. Jesus then heals the ruler’s daughter, raising her from the death that had overtaken her since Jesus talked with her father. Both miracles serve as metaphors for Christ’s redemptive work – he brings us purity, restoration to the community of God’s people, and new life.

 

Application/Discussion

1. Jesus allowed himself to be interrupted on his way to save this dying girl so that he could do the miracle of raising her, not just healing her. How does this story help us see appreciate God’s wisdom in giving us what we need rather than everything we want in the moment?

2. How can you be a better ambassador for Christ in the next week?

 

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for his divine power and sovereign rule over all of creation.

Confession: Ask for forgiveness for and help to avoid succumbing to fear rather than trusting in his strength.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for the new life, healing, and family he gives us through the work of Christ.

Supplication: Pray for God’s comfort and relief for two church member who suffer from a long-term physical ailment.

 

Friday, June 20

Luke 9:1-17

 

Commentary

At the start of this new chapter, Jesus sends out the apostles for a preaching circuit, giving them the authority to do the kinds of miracles Jesus did. Note that this power is given by Jesus. It is not a toy to be used for personal gain nor is it rooted in human ability. Jesus himself gives the apostles what they need to reach people for him. As the apostles make their rounds throughout the land, Jesus’ fame increases. Herod, hearing of this, wonders who could be so influential and controversial since he put John to death. The commonfolk hear of Jesus as well. Eventually, a crowd follows Jesus for so long and so far that they need food and have no way to get any. Jesus amazingly turns just a few fish and loaves into a meal for thousands – and has leftovers! The disciples do not know what to do or how to help, but Jesus himself manifests the provision. Similarly, we cannot help ourselves but Jesus helps us by giving of his own body for our sake. This passage reminds us that on our own we are hopeless, but that Jesus himself is our hope.

 

Application/Discussion

1. What details in this story are new or stand out from what we have read in the other gospel accounts this year?

2. Are you ever tempted to trust in your own power and wisdom rather than God’s? What passages of Scripture would be helpful to dwell on during those temptations?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for the perfect satisfaction of his justice in the cross and perfect mercy shown to the repentant because of the cross.

Confession: Ask God’s forgiveness for any times you have trusted in your own wisdom or the world’s wisdom rather than his wisdom.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for the abundant and freely offered help he gives through the work of Christ on the cross and the Spirit in our hearts.

Supplication: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help for your church to recognize God’s great strength and wisdom and lean on him to evangelize, disciple, and commission the lost.

Saturday, June 21

Luke 9:18-50

 

Commentary

Luke’s narrative has been gradually climbing up to the top of the rollercoaster, now we are speeding down and through the life of Jesus with both a quick pace and thorough detail. These scenes are familiar by now – Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, Jesus predicts his death and resurrection, Jesus describes following him like taking up a cross, and Jesus takes his closest three disciples to pray on the mountain and is transformed to radiant glory, Jesus heals a deeply tormented demon-possessed boy, and the disciples foolishly squabble about who is the best and whether people besides them can help others for the Lord. Much of what is described in this chapter was not fully understood by the apostles initially, but in retrospect, we can see how Jesus was predicting his death and training the apostles to lead the church.

One of the marks of authenticity of the New Testament is that the apostles were fine to be painted as so oblivious to or slow to understand even the most vital truths Jesus taught. If they were making all of this up, surely they would have made themselves look better suited to lead a religious revolution! We can trust the Bible is true for many reasons, but the frank honesty about the disciples in the gospels is one of them. Fortunately, God is wiser, more loving, and more gracious than us, or we could never be saved!

Application/Discussion

1. How does Jesus’ gracious help to those around him and his predictions of his death contrast with the disciples’ bickering about prominence in the kingdom and jealousy towards other ministers?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for his perfect goodness, wisdom, and knowledge.

Confession: Ask for God’s forgiveness and help for any ways you put yourself first.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for his forgiveness and sanctification.

Supplication: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help for your church members to humbly desire to please God and serve others rather than their own comfort, tradition, and preferences.

 

 

Sunday, June 22

Luke 9:51-10:20

 

Commentary

The first verse in our reading today marks the decisive turn of Luke’s narrative towards the crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus attempts to stop in Samaria on his way to Jerusalem but given the hatred between Jews and Samaritans and Jesus’ obviously Jewish pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover, the Samaritans did not receive him. The disciples, overeager and misunderstanding, ask if they should call down fire from heaven but Jesus rebukes them. They do not have that authority on their own and it is not the time or place to judge those Samaritans. Jesus has a bigger task before him, completing his journey to the cross.

Jesus encounters three men who say they want to follow him but cannot give up their comforts. The first man does not want to have no home or bed, the second man wants to wait until his father dies (perhaps to cash the inheritance) to follow Jesus, and the third man is too attached to his life and home. It seems harsh for Jesus to exclude these men but remember, Jesus said that following him means taking up your cross and denying yourself. There is no half-hearted conversion or half-hearted discipleship; you are either for Jesus and all in or you are out.  Jesus then sends 72 of his followers out on a preaching tour. They see remarkable things and can rebuke the demonic, but Jesus tells them what they should value more than anything is their salvation.

 

Application/Discussion

1. Jesus rebuked the disciples for wanting to immediately destroy the Samaritans for rejecting Jesus. Remember that you and I are not God; we should not usurp the place of God, and government to a lesser extent, to punish evil. He will handle it completely and perfectly one day. Until then, be patient, share the gospel with your enemies, and pray for God’s help.

2. Are there places in your life where you withhold obedience to God? What is keeping you from being fully faithful?

 

Points of Prayer

Adoration: How can you praise God based on what you just read?

Confession: Is there unconfessed sin in your heart today?

Thanksgiving: How can you thank God based on what you just read?

Supplication: What can you ask for God’s help with based on what you just read?

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^[1] John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, vol.2, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 224.

^[2] David Gooding, According to Luke: The Third Gospel’s Ordered Historical Narrative, Myrtlefield Expositions (Coleraine, Northern Ireland: Myrtlefield House, 2013), 143–144.