THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 20:27-40 “Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question.” (Luke 20:36) Death is such a ‘normal’ part of life for us, we cannot imagine no death. We know and are learning many things about this life. But the life that follows the final resurrection is beyond our…
The best citizens of all!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 20:20-26 “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Luke 20:25) Jesus did not advance the kingdom of God by advocating rebellion or revolution. Caesars were unrighteous leaders, but they were God-appointed. (Romans 13:1-2) Our focus should not be to displace governments, but to demonstrate goodness. We need…
What kind of tenant am I?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 20:9-19 “So they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard.” (Luke 20:10) Jesus uses this parable to describe how God set up the kingdom of this world. God is the creator, and the owner, and we are the entrusted tenants or stewards. God wants to share the blessings with…
Trusting God with our questions!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 20:1-8 “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” (Luke 20:8) Why doesn’t Jesus answer their question, why is He evasive? His response reveals something about God for us as well. Jesus senses that they are not seeking wisdom or genuine understanding. They are on the attack,…
To actually see God’s glory!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 97 “The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory.” (Psalm 97:6) If we look upwards, we see (with limited sight) a vast universe. The depth and mystery of the ‘heavens’ reveal something awesome and glorious. I’ve always been struck when experts say that the universe is expanding. My response…
Insisting on our own way!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Jeremiah 9-10 “Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts.” (Jeremiah 9:14) When children are young, they can have an independent streak. They want to do it their way, even if you know it won’t work. They can become angry and insistent, ‘I do it!’ At a certain point we normally grow…
Which way am I growing?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Jeremiah 6-8 “They went backward and not forward.” (Jeremiah 7:24) These chapters from Jeremiah review how messed up God’s people had become. They still worshiped, they still went to the temple, they still made sacrifices. But they were also falling deeper into sinful, shameless and cruel immorality. They were even sacrificing their children…
My heart, His home!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 19:45-48 “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 that He was with them. Prayer is more than formally talking to God, it is our whole relationship. It includes any heart interaction between…
Our only source of peace!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 19:41-44 “If you had only known on this day what would bring you peace…” (Luke 19:42) For Jews, peace was not just the absence of war or violence. Shalom meant peace with God, with humanity, with creation, and with ourselves. Having lost our connection to God, everything else has unraveled. God knows…
Not the king we wanted?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 19:28-40 “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:40) In Genesis 3:15 God promised a human serpent-crusher and curse-ender. He would resist Satan, stay true to God, end the curse and restore creation. The Jews were eager for this coming anointed one (messiah). Here the disciples are singing because this…