trying to find His way
“They can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.” (Luke 20:36) For the Sadducees, death was the ultimate reality.Faith in God only mattered for this life, because death was final.Jesus challenges their “this age” thinking about God and life.God is the God of…
“The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. In the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead (people) will neither marry nor be given in marriage.” (Luke 20:34) This verse has always perplexed me, since I was told God designed marriage.If redemption is the restoration of creation, why not the…
“Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Luke 20:25) Jesus answers their trick question with a trick answer.If Caesar had heard Him, he would not had a problem with Jesus.The answer sounds like Caesar is being affirmed as ruler.Some people say that Jesus is teaching submission to all rulers.But there…
“Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” What strikes me in Jesus’s parable is how weak the Owner is with the stewards. Again and again he sends servants, and even his son, to his rebellious stewards! They reject them all… like builders reject…
“Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things” (Luke 20:8). Jesus has just cleared out the temple, and the religious leads demand answers.‘What gives you the right to do these things’, is what they are asking.Jesus does not answer them directly, but asks His own provocative question.The religious leaders hated John,…
“’My house will be a house of prayer’…” (Luke 19:46) God did not live in the temple as a house.But it did symbolically remind the people God was with them.Prayer is more than talking to God, it is our whole relationship.It is how we live and fellowship with God, with or without words.God is more interested…
“If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.” (Luke 19:42) Jerusalem is the center of God’s covenant people, the ‘church’ of that day.Jesus knows what is happening, how the religious leaders are conspiring.They think they are serving and protecting religious and political…
“If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:40) Those who put their hope in Jesus were crying out with hopeful praise.They were offending the religious people, who want to keep them quiet.Here the hopeful kept crying out, but it doesn’t always end this way.Sometimes the religious put the pressure on, with threats or…
“If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.” (Luke 19:31) The prophet Zechariah promised Messiah would arrive on the colt of a donkey.“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of…
“I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given…” (Luke 19:26) This story Jesus tells is based on a true story.When King Herod died in 4 BC, his sons went to Rome to be appointed king.Caesar ended up dividing the region between three: Archelaus, Antipas and Philip.Each one went back and rewarded their…