trying to find His way
When one of my children was young, they struggled with their sense of value.At bedtime we would repeat, ‘you are a precious, much-loved child of God!’To which they replied, ‘no I am not!’We did this regularly, and urged them to say it back to us.One time in grumpy reluctance they mimicked it back, not meaning…
You can read about the history of Herod Antipas and Herodias here.Herod Antipas was a cruel person, as husband, father and leader of the Jews.John is calling out Herod for his corrupt ways, and Herod has him arrested.Luke describes this as just one more corruption added to the list. It was not Herod, but Herodias,…
John is proclaiming the good news to the people (Luke 3:18).This is the same good news that Jesus preaches.The good news of the kingdom of God (Luke 4:43).The kingdom of God is this world under God-like human leadership (Genesis 1:26-28).It is “very good”, which means there is no badness in it. John uses the analogy of gathering the…
John was not rebuking the crowds, but the religious leaders (Matthew 3:7).But it was the crowds who responded to John’s message.The crowds were probably shocked how John challenged their leaders.If the ‘most holy’ among them are rebuked, how about the rest of them? John’s experiences was to be repeated with Jesus.The crowds, including Gentile soldiers and…
John is preparing the way for Jesus, God’s salvation.But he does not seem very welcoming to the crowds when they come.Luke doesn’t specify who John calls a brood of vipers.Matthew specifies that it is the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 3:7).John says these leaders were sent to question him (John 1:24-25).The non-religious were coming with open hearts, eager…
Is God’s salvation for all people, or only for some?For the Jews of Jesus time, they understood salvation as for them.They understood God’s election, being set apart, as a special privilege.All the nations had their gods, and Israel had YHWH God as theirs.God was their God, and they were God’s chosen people. On the one…
There are some children that become somewhat predictable.Like the child who loves basketball who is always throwing balls.Or the child who loves reading who is always in their room reading.If a parent is looking for that child, there’s a place they will go first.‘First check and see if they are on the computer…’‘First check with…
Luke makes this observation about Jesus twice.He was filled with wisdom, and He grew in wisdom.Wisdom looks at the facts, understands their meaning, and lives accordingly.It sees beyond what is, to what it means, and what we should do in response.We all have the ability to think wisely, but it is a muscle we need…
These words of Simeon reflect what actually happens when Jesus shows up.Jesus brought salvation, light and glory for Jews AND Gentiles.But He was spoken against because His words and ways cut to the heart.Mary was not spared this either; everyone was affected. To encounter Jesus is both exciting and unsettling.The light of Jesus’s love exposes…
Sorry, my reflections today take the long way around to make my point.As I read these verses, my questioning mind is activated.Why was a woman considered ‘unclean’ after childbirth, needing purification?You can read about uncleanness for women in Leviticus 12 and 15.To be unclean means to be unfit for the worship of God.You could not approach…