Chapter 4 showed what happens when someone is empowered by the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit; Jesus can withstand the devil, Jesus can heal, Jesus can relieve people of the burden’s of demons. He has this power, however, it isn’t a magical power, but a power with a purpose, and that purpose is God’s purpose. “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” Now this purpose is about to be seen as Jesus moves out from the Synagogues, where he has been teaching, into the countryside to come into contact with “others,” who are not of the “inside” group, but are “outsiders” according to those in the Synagogues (churches).
Luke 5:1-11 – Jesus calls the first Disciples
Jesus now is not in the synagogue. In fact, he is back in Galillee, rather than Capernaum and Judea. The “Once” possibly signifies that this isn’t necessarily chronological in terms of time, however, what Luke is showing is that Jesus is going forth from Synagogue to Outsiders, this is the progression of Jesus in Luke.
“The crowds” are pressing him to teach them. The crowds want more from Jesus, and they do not care that he is not in the typical teaching location. In order to teach the crowds Jesus chooses to get into a boat? Does he not want them to try to throw him off a cliff like the crowds tried to do in Capernaum? Jesus has certainly seen that the fishermen are frustrated by their lack of catching any fish. Jesus is going to use this difficulty and the next miracle in order to translate his message to this group of people. The miracles are then actually a means to an end, not an end in themselves. Here certainly many fish are caught, and people will eat, but the importance here is to make Simon fully understand the importance of who Jesus is, and what Jesus is about to call him to do also.
Simon seems a bit perturbed, but has learned enough in his short time with Jesus, and the healing of his mother, that even though he has doubts he should listen to Jesus. But he doesn’t do so without at least a minor protest. Their catch of fish on momentous, their nets are breaking, they call other boats over, both boats are full and sinking. Jesus knows how to fish, knows where the fish are, and knows how to get them! This is a good guy to know! This is the first non-healing miracle. Jesus here shows he is beginning to bring a time of grace and abundance to the world.
Simon immediately understands what has just happened. He is in the presence of something greater than himself; his understanding is now beyond Jesus being just a miracle worker, and healer. Peter gets down on his knees, and utters the words all of us should utter in the presence of God, in prayer. If we get close to God we are in deep trouble, because “I am a sinful man!” What is the typical response to people when they are in the presence of God (angels), they are afraid. Jesus knows Simon has figured it out, and thus needs to set him at ease as the angels always do!
Jesus doesn’t contradict Simon; he doesn’t tell him he is not a sinful man. Jesus knows that Simon speaks truthfully, however, the call of Simon (nor anyone else) is not based upon Simon’s goodness, or anything else, but possibly in this instance simple obedience to listen to what Jesus said to do and to do it! This for Luke is the essence of discipleship. Listen to Jesus, do what he says, and follow!
James and John are mentioned here briefly as Simon’s partners, they do not enter into the story, but they do seem to be called along with Simon, or at least they think they are because they seem to follow also!! It seems there is a larger crowd who witnessed this, but the ones who are named appear to be the only ones called, or the only ones who think they are called. This leaves an interesting thought, would Jesus have taken anyone one who followed him after witnessing this event, as he seems to have taken James and John, and only 3 followed him after this?? “They” (Simon, James & John) left everything and followed Jesus. They left all the fish they caught, they families, their lives, etc.?? How willing are we to do this? Now it doesn’t say anything about them being married, so they probably just left their families like parents, brothers and sisters, etc. They are commissioned, taken away from their regular jobs, and given a new, though similar one.
Luke 5:12-16 – Jesus Cleanses a Leper
Leviticus 13-14 shows what the requirements under the law are regarding Leprosy: Examination by a priest; quarantine for 7 days; check by priest; extension of quarantine or clean. The person with leprosy must wear torn clothes, have disheveled hair, live alone or with other lepers, and if approached by someone they must shout out, “Unclean! Unclean!”
As Jesus approaches the Leper breaks from what he is supposed to do, obviously having heard about Jesus, and believes Jesus can heal him. This is more than what the priests could do. Jesus also breaks from what he is supposed to do (stay away from Lepers), and he reaches out his hand to touch the Leper. This is a problem because it was thought that if you touched a leper when you were clean, you would become unclean. Here the exact opposite happens. Jesus is able to touch and make clean! Jesus is even more powerful than Elisha, who needs Naaman to wash in the river 7 times. There is no waiting period, no seven days, the healing is instantaneous. Jesus then instructs him to go show himself to the priests, and make an offering for your healing. Jesus doesn’t want them to know how it took place before they pronounce him clean! Jesus still wants him to follow protocol with the temple priests.
The Leper is a prime example of “the poor” whom Jesus came to help, and his faith, his humility (similar to Simon kneeling earlier) before Jesus depending totally on God’s mercy and care. The Leper recognizes his need for God’s help, and he pleads for it! (Ask and you shall receive, Luke 11:9)
Now Jesus is even more famous, word spread, and many crowds come to Jesus. Jesus would take frequent breaks to separate by himself and pray.
Luke 5:17-26 – Healing of a Paralyzed Man (not a Paralytic)
Jesus is again teaching, and the Greek text only mentions the Pharisees and teachers of the law being in attendance. This is the first time they show up in the story. And they have come from all over the area. A number of firsts in this story: a specific charge is mentioned (blasphemy), first time faith and forgiveness of sins are introduced.
In this story we are going to show the difference between the previous healing of the leper, this paralyzed man, and the Pharisees and teachers of the law in attendance. The power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal those in attendance (namely the Pharisees and the teachers of the law). However, unlike the leper earlier they do not ask Jesus for healing. They are just sitting listening to him. He has power at the ready, but no one seeking yet. In steps people who are seeking healing from Jesus. They can’t get in through the doors because there are too many Pharisees and teachers of the law lounging around, not wanting healing, so they try the roof. The remove the tiles, & send their friend down to Jesus.
The focus of the story is on the men carrying the paralyzed man, and only shifts when Jesus turns to the paralyzed man. Jesus seems to see the faith of the men carrying the paralyzed man, not the paralyzed man faith, or at least it is unclear if the paralytic is included here. Jesus proclaims that the paralyzed man’s sins are forgiven. He doesn’t seem to actually do the forgiving, but seems to pronounce something that has already happened. Is this the healing they were seeking? The reader had assumed that the healing wanted was that the paralytic would be able to walk! Here the scribes and Pharisees have a problem. Healing is OK, however, forgiveness of sins crosses the line. Forgiving sins is God’s territory. The experts that are gathered around Jesus begin a discussion over Jesus proclamation, and it seems that Jesus knows that they are all having the same questioning going on in their hearts.
Jesus confronts them. Which is easier to say?? Here is a question that has multiple answers. First, theologically the Pharisees are saying that only God can forgive, so obviously it is harder to forgive sins. However, you can’t tell if someone’s sins are forgiven until the end of time, so no one can prove they are or aren’t. Practically speaking it is harder to say stand up and walk because it is very easy to verify if you have done what you have said. In truth the Pharisees are correct that only God can forgive, and Jesus is showing them that He is standing right in their midst!! To prove that he does the practically harder thing, and heals the paralytic so he can walk. Jesus again seems to proclaim something that has already happened. He doesn’t touch the paralyzed man, but says “take up your mat,” meaning the healing has occurred already, and the man can go! The paralyzed man obeys Jesus and takes his mat and heads out. This is obedience, and possibly if he hadn’t obeyed he wouldn’t have been healed. I wonder if this is the state of everyone who doesn’t know who Jesus is, who hasn’t heard the story, or is unwilling, or unable to believe that Jesus has the power to heal/forgive. The paralyzed man glorifies God. Everyone is amazed (seized by amazement), and all glorify God. The Pharisees, scribes, teachers of the law are filled with awe. Here we have the term “son of man” used for the first time. Whenever this term is used it seems to have an apocalyptic flavor, meaning that it is focused on the end times, judgment day.
Luke 5:27-39 – Call of Levi & his Banquet
Here we have tax collector who is called by Jesus to follow. Tax collectors have a bad reputation, not well liked in the Jewish community, and considered swindlers, cheat, who collude with the Roman government to take money from the Israelites. The call story is very short, and to the point, but Levi’s response is profound. He is called, and so he gets up and follows!! Jesus uses the same words that Elijah uses to call Elisha, “follow me.” There appears to be nothing of value to Levi to calling him, except his willing response. This is sheer grace. Levi would be the low of the low in terms of position in Israel. He would be despised as a great sinner, not worthy of eating at the table of a Pharisee and yet Jesus calls him to be a disciple!!!!!! Levi rises similarly to the way the paralyzed man rose when healed. Levi is healed/transformed as well.
Eating is very important to Luke, meals are a social gathering time, a time to pull together as a community, and to really get to know each other. The Pharisees had strict rules about dining, and what you do, and would not each with others who did not follow such rules. Jesus, in Luke, is practically always coming from meal, or going to a meal.
Levi responds to Jesus call by throwing a banquet, and as the fishermen were charged with fishing for people, Levi is already bringing them in. The Pharisees have a problem because Jesus seems to be eating and drinking with “sinners” without requiring repentance before sitting down with them. Jesus answers their charge with a proverb. The mission of those who are righteous (supposedly the Pharisees, or so they think) is redefined. It isn’t to stay righteous (and clean) by not associating with the sinners, but rather to live with the sinners, and thus transform them (making them clean) by living with them, touching them, and loving them!!! Repentance and transformation occurs, but is not the precondition for Jesus’ fellowship with sinners, but rather occurs specifically because Jesus is fellowshipping with sinners. This then calls all who are followers of Jesus to radically change our method of discipleship. We are not called to be separate from a sinful world, but to fully engage it with the full realization that we have the power of God at work in us, and because of this power by our associating with the world God will transform people. It calls us to be as inclusive as possible giving up our comforts, our ideas of what is good, our ideas of how things should be in the world.
Debate about Fasting??
Jesus is asked a question about fasting, and why the disciples of John, and the Pharisees fast, but Jesus’ disciples do not. Jesus relates the question to a wedding feast. This is a time of feasting not fasting; when Jesus leaves the fasting will commence. Then Jesus compares what he is bringing about to something new, coming into the old practices. They do not fit. The old practices do not jive with the newness that Jesus is ushering in. If Jesus’ new were to be used to patch up the old, then it wouldn’t work. Here is a commentary on those thinking that Jesus is here to fix up the broken relationship of the Israelites. Jesus is bringing something newer than that. This is not just a patch, but an entire transformation. The metaphor of the old/new wineskins is that new wine must receive a new wineskin (transformation, requires a fully renewed life to mature in). You can’t just put the new ways into the old skin, there must be a total transformation. The difficulty is that the old wine is a tonic and it placates those who drink it because it is good. The old wine is more expensive, is better tasting, and lull to sleep those who partake of it, and prevents them from being transformed into the newness that Jesus is bringing.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Gospel of Luke Study – Chapter 5 - Vicar Peter M. Horn, Seminary Intern
As Jesus continues with his ministry, we see more interaction on a personal level, moving out of the synagogues and into the countryside. We learn of Jesus’ disciples, their call stories, who they were, and how that relates to their new vocations. Two groups of people begin to surface. The first we see is the “outsiders.” These people respond to Jesus with openness and willingness to serve. The fishermen and the other sinners to follow are the objects of God’s grace and whom Jesus heals and dwells with in his ministry. The second group is the “insiders.” These are religious officials respond to Jesus with suspicion and hostility.
Luke 5:1-11 – Jesus Calls the First Disciples
Again, we see the appropriate response to the ministry of Jesus. Simon (Peter) is the example we are to follow while we are on this earthly journey. His obedience is a response similar to that of Mary in the earlier chapters of Luke, as well as the other players in the story around the births of John and Jesus. Here Luke adds more than just a song to the mix, but an action as well to give us an example. Simon, James, and John “left everything and followed.” Just as simple as that, the gospel does not add anything more. They left their boats, their nets, their family, and the boats full of fish!
Jesus is also being followed by a large crowd and shows the amazement of what Jesus is saying and what he is doing and he does not even have disciples yet! This chapter begins with a wide view of what is going on. This shows us the popularity of Jesus’ words. The use of the first word in the chapter, “once,” implies that this was a typical scene in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus uses the boats on the shore to address the crowd, which sets the stage for the interaction between Simon, who we have already encountered, and Jesus.
The vision of the story narrows in verse 4 from the crowd to Peter’s conversation with Jesus. Jesus’ instructions to Peter are out of the ordinary. The nets being used were only good at night when the fish could not see them, so fishing with them in day light would produce no fish. Even so, Peter obeys and casts the nets. This obedience, along with Peter referring to Jesus as “master,” shows Peter’s recognition of Jesus’ power and the change in leadership and authority roles. This leads Peter to his profession of faith. “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” This contrasts the story of the people of Nazareth who wanted Jesus for their own. Instead, Peter feels unworthy. Yet, Peter later becomes one of the leaders of the early church, as well as John and James. This confession of Peter being a sinful man begins Jesus’ ministry of forgiveness and his reputation of a “friend of sinners.”
Jesus uses the famous words of discipleship “from now on you will be catching people.” This word “catching” can also be translated as “capture alive” or “spare life.” Here we see the nuance of catching fish to die to sell at a market to that of catching people to free them from the bonds of sin and death. Peter, James, and John will no longer be fishermen; they leave their vocation and their socioeconomic status behind.
“Do not be afraid.” We have seen these words before from the Angelic Proclamation of Jesus’ birth to Mary and later to the Shepherds. Something special has happened here. God has been revealed to Peter, James, and John in catching of fish and the change in vocation. When the world seemed to be turning on its head, God’s words of comfort come again…“do not be afraid.”
Luke 5:12-16 – Jesus Cleanses a Leper
Again, this section begins with the word “once.” This shows us that healing, similar to what took place in chapter 4, is a common theme in Jesus’ ministry. There are many hands on ministry opportunities occurring in the first few chapters of Jesus’ ministry and there is more to come.
We have seen much of the healing and cleansing ministry already in chapters 4 and 5 and Luke presents the events in a similar fashion. Using similar words or phrases, we can see how the events connect with each other. The use of the words “once,” “one of the cities,” bowed, “Lord,” stretched out his hand/touched, a disease or demon “departs,” growing reputation, combination of word and deed, and wilderness. With this format, Jesus is reminding us of his reading while in Nazareth and compares himself to Elisha (4:27). This shows us that Jesus’ mission is proceeding as promised and we see the characteristics of Jesus’ mission as these patterns are repeated.
After the leprosy left the man, Jesus gives his usual command to not tell anyone. Just as Jesus silenced the demons in the last chapter, here again Jesus is keeping his identity secret. Action was not stopped, however, as Jesus tells the man to go to the priest and give an offering and a testimony. We are not told that the man talked about his experience of healing but we are told that the word about Jesus spread abroad and more people and more diseased people came to him.
Again, Jesus, instead of staying, takes time for himself. There are many people coming to see Jesus but he takes time away to be apart and to pray. This is the first occasion that we are told about him retreating to pray. The next comes in 6:12, when he leaves the crowd again for rest but also for the decision of naming the twelve disciples. The third one is in 9:28, just before the transfiguration when Jesus shows himself to be the Son of God to Peter, James, and John. Prayer in secluded places is a pattern for Jesus, just as healing is. Taking time for himself where he is strengthened for his divine service.
Luke 5:1-11 – Jesus Calls the First Disciples
Again, we see the appropriate response to the ministry of Jesus. Simon (Peter) is the example we are to follow while we are on this earthly journey. His obedience is a response similar to that of Mary in the earlier chapters of Luke, as well as the other players in the story around the births of John and Jesus. Here Luke adds more than just a song to the mix, but an action as well to give us an example. Simon, James, and John “left everything and followed.” Just as simple as that, the gospel does not add anything more. They left their boats, their nets, their family, and the boats full of fish!
Jesus is also being followed by a large crowd and shows the amazement of what Jesus is saying and what he is doing and he does not even have disciples yet! This chapter begins with a wide view of what is going on. This shows us the popularity of Jesus’ words. The use of the first word in the chapter, “once,” implies that this was a typical scene in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus uses the boats on the shore to address the crowd, which sets the stage for the interaction between Simon, who we have already encountered, and Jesus.
The vision of the story narrows in verse 4 from the crowd to Peter’s conversation with Jesus. Jesus’ instructions to Peter are out of the ordinary. The nets being used were only good at night when the fish could not see them, so fishing with them in day light would produce no fish. Even so, Peter obeys and casts the nets. This obedience, along with Peter referring to Jesus as “master,” shows Peter’s recognition of Jesus’ power and the change in leadership and authority roles. This leads Peter to his profession of faith. “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” This contrasts the story of the people of Nazareth who wanted Jesus for their own. Instead, Peter feels unworthy. Yet, Peter later becomes one of the leaders of the early church, as well as John and James. This confession of Peter being a sinful man begins Jesus’ ministry of forgiveness and his reputation of a “friend of sinners.”
Jesus uses the famous words of discipleship “from now on you will be catching people.” This word “catching” can also be translated as “capture alive” or “spare life.” Here we see the nuance of catching fish to die to sell at a market to that of catching people to free them from the bonds of sin and death. Peter, James, and John will no longer be fishermen; they leave their vocation and their socioeconomic status behind.
“Do not be afraid.” We have seen these words before from the Angelic Proclamation of Jesus’ birth to Mary and later to the Shepherds. Something special has happened here. God has been revealed to Peter, James, and John in catching of fish and the change in vocation. When the world seemed to be turning on its head, God’s words of comfort come again…“do not be afraid.”
Luke 5:12-16 – Jesus Cleanses a Leper
Again, this section begins with the word “once.” This shows us that healing, similar to what took place in chapter 4, is a common theme in Jesus’ ministry. There are many hands on ministry opportunities occurring in the first few chapters of Jesus’ ministry and there is more to come.
We have seen much of the healing and cleansing ministry already in chapters 4 and 5 and Luke presents the events in a similar fashion. Using similar words or phrases, we can see how the events connect with each other. The use of the words “once,” “one of the cities,” bowed, “Lord,” stretched out his hand/touched, a disease or demon “departs,” growing reputation, combination of word and deed, and wilderness. With this format, Jesus is reminding us of his reading while in Nazareth and compares himself to Elisha (4:27). This shows us that Jesus’ mission is proceeding as promised and we see the characteristics of Jesus’ mission as these patterns are repeated.
After the leprosy left the man, Jesus gives his usual command to not tell anyone. Just as Jesus silenced the demons in the last chapter, here again Jesus is keeping his identity secret. Action was not stopped, however, as Jesus tells the man to go to the priest and give an offering and a testimony. We are not told that the man talked about his experience of healing but we are told that the word about Jesus spread abroad and more people and more diseased people came to him.
Again, Jesus, instead of staying, takes time for himself. There are many people coming to see Jesus but he takes time away to be apart and to pray. This is the first occasion that we are told about him retreating to pray. The next comes in 6:12, when he leaves the crowd again for rest but also for the decision of naming the twelve disciples. The third one is in 9:28, just before the transfiguration when Jesus shows himself to be the Son of God to Peter, James, and John. Prayer in secluded places is a pattern for Jesus, just as healing is. Taking time for himself where he is strengthened for his divine service.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Gospel of Luke Study – Chapter 4
Following Jesus’ Baptism we know of Jesus’ parentage in two ways. First, we know he was the son of Joseph & Mary, and in the line of David, which is the line of the Messiah. Second, we know that this is God’s son, conceived through the Holy Spirit coming upon Mary, named at birth by the name given by the Angel Gabriel, at his Baptism the Holy Spirit descends upon him (God’s Spirit) and the voice of God is heard proclaiming that Jesus is HIS son!! This is the final step towards our understanding of Jesus as God’s son. In the world then the main way people knew you were the father of a child is by your naming the child, and by your public confirmation that this is your son/daughter. Otherwise, it was impossible to really confirm parentage of the father. No DNA tests back then.
Luke 4:1-13 – Temptation in the Wilderness
Now Jesus is sent off for training. He is old enough to go into his mission. He has been commissioned by God. He now needs to be toughened up, or we need to see that Jesus can handle everything that Luke has built up for him to this point. Jesus, as a figure in a story, has been lauded beyond our imagination. He has big shoes to fill. How is he going to be able to do everything everyone has said he is going to do?? He needs to learn to rely on the Holy Spirit, to trust in this Spirit that is with him. We will see Jesus relying on the Spirit in sparing with the enemies of God, and even while these enemies are cunning in themselves Jesus with the Spirit will easily overcome their temptations. This part of the story is crucial for us as readers to get the sense that Jesus can do what has been said about him, and that his life is one that his followers can follow, but in following we must learn to rely on that same Spirit rather than being overcome with our own emotion, fear, and anxiety in the face of sin and evil!! We will see starting with this story that Jesus never shirks away from sin/evil, but rather always engages it, and almost befriends it (while never condoning), and transforms it in people’s lives so that the sin/evil is separated from the humanity. Luke begins with this story to show the role of the Messiah to usurp the kingdom of the Devil/sin/evil in the world. Jesus is here to usher in a New Age, where God’s reign is active and alive (through the agency of the Holy Spirit, which will continue and explode in the sequeal, Acts).
“40” days is obviously paralleled in many places biblically: The story of Noah and the rain that fell on the earth 40 days and 40 nights, with a sense of purification of the earth for the evil deeds of the inhabitants. Moses spent 40 days up on Mount Sinai as he was receiving instructions from God, seeing God face to face, returning to the people with the commandments of God. Israel spent 40 years wandering in the desert, a way of testings, purification of a people (having a generation die off) before entering the promised land. It is during the 40 days that Jesus fasts, eating nothing. In Luke, the temptations don’t start until these 40 days are over, which means that Jesus is quite weak (physically) at this point, thus the devil strikes when Jesus is at his most vulnerable point. In fact, since the 40 days are over, Jesus probably could eat now. If this was his time of purification, this would be the opportune time for him to eat, to “break the fast.” As the temptations are presented there really isn’t a dialog between the devil and Jesus. It seems rather one sided. The only thing Jesus speaks is scripture, the word of God.
The first temptation then is for food to satisfy hunger. A most basic, human need that we all have each and every day!! Most of us fail at such discipline when if comes to something this basic (gluttony is probably one of the most widespread sins of our age, and one most often accepted and condoned). The bread image also evokes for us the images of Israel wandering in the desert and God providing Manna from above to eat. Jesus response (Deut 8:3) comes from this time in Israel’s history when the purpose was teaching Israel that our sustenance comes by God’s hand, not by our own!! As the temptations begin the devil wants Jesus to “prove” who he is; Though in Luke the ones who really do know who Jesus is are the devil, and the other demons. The temptation is for Jesus to use his powers and his position for personal gain. This is a typical temptation for those in power, and we see this one succumbed to all too often. This is a prime human failing for which there is only one way out! Jesus’ lack of succumbing to this temptation gives all the more power to the “miracle” of his feeding the 5,000 in chapter 9. Do you love satisfying your hunger more than you love God?
For the second temptation the devil takes Jesus “up.” In Matthew its up on a mountain (Matthew likes mountains). This is the temptation of MORE POWER than you currently have. Here the concept of “authority” starts, and it will be a major them, and the exercise of that authority, and from where we get authority. The Son of God has authority, for sure, but it is an authority that comes from God. The devil is offering something that looks appealing on the outside. Jesus’ authority and from where it comes will be witnessed throughout the gospel. The devil is claiming to have vast authority. But who has the greater authority? Jesus response is Deut 6:13. Do you love power, authority, how people view you more than you love God?
For the third temptation the devil takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the Temple. To this point Jesus has given up satisfying a personal human need, has given up personal gain in terms of power and authority, and so now the devil attempts to play with Jesus’ concept of who he is. Does Jesus really think he is the Son of God? Is there a shred of doubt the devil can play against? Wouldn’t Jesus want to be sure if he is going to go spend his life following God’s ways? Why not test it out? This is a good scientific experiment. Since Jesus has been using scripture to combat the devil, the devil now uses scripture and suggests this experiment (Psalm 91:11-12). Again the devil tries to combat Jesus’ self-image as the Son of God, and to put God’s promises to the test. The temptation here was to see if God would really keep Jesus from dying. Jesus will die in Jerusalem later, and this prefigures what will happen, and the reason Jesus allows it to happen. Jesus response (Deut 6:16) gives the reason for Jesus’ submitting to God’s will, and not testing God’s promises. Do you love your life more than you love God? Jesus answers this question more intensely at the end of the Gospel!!
The scripture Jesus uses are for all of us as well. Submission to the will of God is important in our lives, even when we don’t understand what is going on, or why things are happening the way they are. God is in charge, the goal of life is not our physical needs (or wants), the goal of life is not power and prestige, the goal of life is worship of God. Two of Jesus’ responses come directly after the Jewish “shema” (Deut 6:4-9) in Deuteronomy, which was to be recited by Jewish people in the morning and the evening, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.* 5You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” Through his responses Jesus shows himself to be a faithful follower, a faithful Jewish person, the ultimate in submission to God’s will. Jesus does love God with all his heart, sould and might!! The temptations begin in the wilderness and end in Jerusalem. This is the same progression of Jesus’ ministry in Luke.
Chapter 4:14 -9:50 – Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee
Now Jesus’ ministry can begin. He has been fortified with the Holy Spirit, and shown that he can withstand the evil forces that he will face, and remain faithful relying on the Spirit and God’s Word.
Luke 4:14-30 – Jesus in Nazareth (Hometown)
As chapter 4 began we heard that Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit,” we again hear this similar refrain. Here Jesus is “filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.” He begins to teach, and “everyone” praises his teaching, so much so reports are spread and people gather to hear Jesus. In Nazareth Jesus does what he usually does. He has been teaching and continues to do the same here. The scroll was given to Jesus, but it seems like he chose where he was going to read. The verses chosen are from Isaiah 61:1-2. Luke adjusts this a bit, omitting “bind up the brokenhearted,” adding “let the oppressed go free (Isa 58:6),” and stops the quote short leaving out, “and the day of vengeance of our God,” thus staying very positive.
Jesus has been anointed by God, we have witnessed that in the story already, so it is easy for the reader to connect these verses with Jesus now. The “year of the Lord’s favor,” is a connection to the Jubilee (Lev 25:10), the fiftieth year, following seven sevens, when everything was restored to the way God had originally set it up for Israel. This would be seen by everyone who is oppressed (oppressed here can include those who have not fared well economically so that they have had to become servants of others, at the Jubilee all of this is reversed) as really good news.
For Luke this is the key event of Jesus proclaiming himself to be the Messiah, and this will be evidenced by everything he does falling in line with the prophet Isaiah. At the beginning those who have listened to him don’t really understand that he is doing this, and are thinking well of him, however, this will change quickly!! The people are amazed at first, and wonder about him being Joseph’s son. This is his hometown. Their question can be taken several ways. One, fascination that a hometown boy has grown up and become such a great teacher!! Two, unbelieving that this hometown boy has made good. Jesus seems to push them to their worst possible and quickly. They were speaking well of him, but then he starts to push their buttons with proverbs. They may have wanted to see Jesus do the things he was doing elsewhere. They wanted some benefit from the hometown boy made good, or made famous. The proverb, v24, appears in various forms in all the Gospels. Jesus lets them know that he is not going to do any of these things and he expects them to reject him, and they oblige!! In doing this Jesus aligns himself with Elijah & Elisha, two of the greatest prophets. However, to do this he is showing his hometown that he hasn’t really come just for them, but for others who aren’t even Israelite. Elijah is the example of Jesus helping those who respond in faithfulness, not too different from John’s rebuke to the crowds at the beginning of his ministry. Rage seems to be an emotion that gets the best of us sometimes. At Jesus words the people are filled with rage, and want to throw him off a cliff. However, even they cannot stop what God is doing in Jesus, and he continues on his way.
The group that reacts this way is reading scripture differently than Jesus. They understand that the covenant is exclusively theirs, and no one else’s. Here Jesus is extending the covenant towards those who are in the Isaiah prophesy: the poor, the oppressed, etc. Like John the Baptist, it doesn’t matter who your father was, or that you lived in the same town as the Messiah!! Because they were not open to the possibilities that God was doing through Jesus, they became unable to receive anything Jesus had to give.
Luke 4:31-44 – Jesus in Capernaum
Jesus moves on to Capernaum, and continues teaching in the Synagogue like he had been doing, and the reaction is the same, people are amazed at his teaching. This time we hear a reason, he teaches as one with authority. We already know what authority Jesus has, his authority is from God, so the people are definitely correct! As readers we may wonder if the same thing is going to happen here as happened in Nazareth?
Exorcism
Here Jesus meets a demon possessed man, and we will experience the power and authority of Jesus’ words! The demon recognizes Jesus as a threat, calls him by name, mentioning the town that just tried to kill Jesus (possibly a slur, knowing Jesus was not treated well in his hometown). The demon knows exactly who Jesus is, “the holy one of God,” knows that Jesus has power over the demon. Demon possession was known to throw people to the ground injuring them, so it is notable that as Jesus exorcises the demon the man is thrown to the ground, but is not injured. The people wonder about the power and authority in the words of Jesus, and they began spreading the news. It is important here to note that the response to Jesus here is amazement and questions, not praise and submission. Therefore, the crowds treat Jesus as a rock star, rather than the Son of God. They are seeing him have power and authority, they aren’t connecting that to God.
Healing
Jesus leaves the synagogue and goes to a friends (Simon) house, whose mother is ill. The understanding of illness then was more along the lines of being possessed (similar to a demon) of this illness that needs to be eradicated (viruses, bacteria, etc. today also could be considered similar). Note what happens to the sin/evil each time Jesus speaks. They go away; Jesus doesn’t go away from them. Being cured Simon’s mother begins to serve them, which is the correct response to healing, and to the Son of God. This is a submission to the Son of God!
As word got out many others came with illnesses and demons, they come after sundown because that was the end of the Sabbath day, and they could carry someone around then, and Jesus laid hands on them and healed them. Again, the demons know who Jesus is! In this Jesus heals with laying on of hands, and casts out demons (including illness of fever) with words.
Jesus then tries to get away, but the crowds find him, and want him to stay with them. They want him to themselves, which was also part of the problem in his hometown. They want to keep Jesus’ powerful words to themselves. The word of God cannot be contained, and is not limited to only a select few. Jesus stresses his purpose is to proclaim the good news in other places also!! In Luke Jesus’ ministry is spreading out. And the good news obviously includes freeing people from debilitating, and dehumanizing ways of life that God did not intend for us!
Luke 4:1-13 – Temptation in the Wilderness
Now Jesus is sent off for training. He is old enough to go into his mission. He has been commissioned by God. He now needs to be toughened up, or we need to see that Jesus can handle everything that Luke has built up for him to this point. Jesus, as a figure in a story, has been lauded beyond our imagination. He has big shoes to fill. How is he going to be able to do everything everyone has said he is going to do?? He needs to learn to rely on the Holy Spirit, to trust in this Spirit that is with him. We will see Jesus relying on the Spirit in sparing with the enemies of God, and even while these enemies are cunning in themselves Jesus with the Spirit will easily overcome their temptations. This part of the story is crucial for us as readers to get the sense that Jesus can do what has been said about him, and that his life is one that his followers can follow, but in following we must learn to rely on that same Spirit rather than being overcome with our own emotion, fear, and anxiety in the face of sin and evil!! We will see starting with this story that Jesus never shirks away from sin/evil, but rather always engages it, and almost befriends it (while never condoning), and transforms it in people’s lives so that the sin/evil is separated from the humanity. Luke begins with this story to show the role of the Messiah to usurp the kingdom of the Devil/sin/evil in the world. Jesus is here to usher in a New Age, where God’s reign is active and alive (through the agency of the Holy Spirit, which will continue and explode in the sequeal, Acts).
“40” days is obviously paralleled in many places biblically: The story of Noah and the rain that fell on the earth 40 days and 40 nights, with a sense of purification of the earth for the evil deeds of the inhabitants. Moses spent 40 days up on Mount Sinai as he was receiving instructions from God, seeing God face to face, returning to the people with the commandments of God. Israel spent 40 years wandering in the desert, a way of testings, purification of a people (having a generation die off) before entering the promised land. It is during the 40 days that Jesus fasts, eating nothing. In Luke, the temptations don’t start until these 40 days are over, which means that Jesus is quite weak (physically) at this point, thus the devil strikes when Jesus is at his most vulnerable point. In fact, since the 40 days are over, Jesus probably could eat now. If this was his time of purification, this would be the opportune time for him to eat, to “break the fast.” As the temptations are presented there really isn’t a dialog between the devil and Jesus. It seems rather one sided. The only thing Jesus speaks is scripture, the word of God.
The first temptation then is for food to satisfy hunger. A most basic, human need that we all have each and every day!! Most of us fail at such discipline when if comes to something this basic (gluttony is probably one of the most widespread sins of our age, and one most often accepted and condoned). The bread image also evokes for us the images of Israel wandering in the desert and God providing Manna from above to eat. Jesus response (Deut 8:3) comes from this time in Israel’s history when the purpose was teaching Israel that our sustenance comes by God’s hand, not by our own!! As the temptations begin the devil wants Jesus to “prove” who he is; Though in Luke the ones who really do know who Jesus is are the devil, and the other demons. The temptation is for Jesus to use his powers and his position for personal gain. This is a typical temptation for those in power, and we see this one succumbed to all too often. This is a prime human failing for which there is only one way out! Jesus’ lack of succumbing to this temptation gives all the more power to the “miracle” of his feeding the 5,000 in chapter 9. Do you love satisfying your hunger more than you love God?
For the second temptation the devil takes Jesus “up.” In Matthew its up on a mountain (Matthew likes mountains). This is the temptation of MORE POWER than you currently have. Here the concept of “authority” starts, and it will be a major them, and the exercise of that authority, and from where we get authority. The Son of God has authority, for sure, but it is an authority that comes from God. The devil is offering something that looks appealing on the outside. Jesus’ authority and from where it comes will be witnessed throughout the gospel. The devil is claiming to have vast authority. But who has the greater authority? Jesus response is Deut 6:13. Do you love power, authority, how people view you more than you love God?
For the third temptation the devil takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the Temple. To this point Jesus has given up satisfying a personal human need, has given up personal gain in terms of power and authority, and so now the devil attempts to play with Jesus’ concept of who he is. Does Jesus really think he is the Son of God? Is there a shred of doubt the devil can play against? Wouldn’t Jesus want to be sure if he is going to go spend his life following God’s ways? Why not test it out? This is a good scientific experiment. Since Jesus has been using scripture to combat the devil, the devil now uses scripture and suggests this experiment (Psalm 91:11-12). Again the devil tries to combat Jesus’ self-image as the Son of God, and to put God’s promises to the test. The temptation here was to see if God would really keep Jesus from dying. Jesus will die in Jerusalem later, and this prefigures what will happen, and the reason Jesus allows it to happen. Jesus response (Deut 6:16) gives the reason for Jesus’ submitting to God’s will, and not testing God’s promises. Do you love your life more than you love God? Jesus answers this question more intensely at the end of the Gospel!!
The scripture Jesus uses are for all of us as well. Submission to the will of God is important in our lives, even when we don’t understand what is going on, or why things are happening the way they are. God is in charge, the goal of life is not our physical needs (or wants), the goal of life is not power and prestige, the goal of life is worship of God. Two of Jesus’ responses come directly after the Jewish “shema” (Deut 6:4-9) in Deuteronomy, which was to be recited by Jewish people in the morning and the evening, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.* 5You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” Through his responses Jesus shows himself to be a faithful follower, a faithful Jewish person, the ultimate in submission to God’s will. Jesus does love God with all his heart, sould and might!! The temptations begin in the wilderness and end in Jerusalem. This is the same progression of Jesus’ ministry in Luke.
Chapter 4:14 -9:50 – Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee
Now Jesus’ ministry can begin. He has been fortified with the Holy Spirit, and shown that he can withstand the evil forces that he will face, and remain faithful relying on the Spirit and God’s Word.
Luke 4:14-30 – Jesus in Nazareth (Hometown)
As chapter 4 began we heard that Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit,” we again hear this similar refrain. Here Jesus is “filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.” He begins to teach, and “everyone” praises his teaching, so much so reports are spread and people gather to hear Jesus. In Nazareth Jesus does what he usually does. He has been teaching and continues to do the same here. The scroll was given to Jesus, but it seems like he chose where he was going to read. The verses chosen are from Isaiah 61:1-2. Luke adjusts this a bit, omitting “bind up the brokenhearted,” adding “let the oppressed go free (Isa 58:6),” and stops the quote short leaving out, “and the day of vengeance of our God,” thus staying very positive.
Jesus has been anointed by God, we have witnessed that in the story already, so it is easy for the reader to connect these verses with Jesus now. The “year of the Lord’s favor,” is a connection to the Jubilee (Lev 25:10), the fiftieth year, following seven sevens, when everything was restored to the way God had originally set it up for Israel. This would be seen by everyone who is oppressed (oppressed here can include those who have not fared well economically so that they have had to become servants of others, at the Jubilee all of this is reversed) as really good news.
For Luke this is the key event of Jesus proclaiming himself to be the Messiah, and this will be evidenced by everything he does falling in line with the prophet Isaiah. At the beginning those who have listened to him don’t really understand that he is doing this, and are thinking well of him, however, this will change quickly!! The people are amazed at first, and wonder about him being Joseph’s son. This is his hometown. Their question can be taken several ways. One, fascination that a hometown boy has grown up and become such a great teacher!! Two, unbelieving that this hometown boy has made good. Jesus seems to push them to their worst possible and quickly. They were speaking well of him, but then he starts to push their buttons with proverbs. They may have wanted to see Jesus do the things he was doing elsewhere. They wanted some benefit from the hometown boy made good, or made famous. The proverb, v24, appears in various forms in all the Gospels. Jesus lets them know that he is not going to do any of these things and he expects them to reject him, and they oblige!! In doing this Jesus aligns himself with Elijah & Elisha, two of the greatest prophets. However, to do this he is showing his hometown that he hasn’t really come just for them, but for others who aren’t even Israelite. Elijah is the example of Jesus helping those who respond in faithfulness, not too different from John’s rebuke to the crowds at the beginning of his ministry. Rage seems to be an emotion that gets the best of us sometimes. At Jesus words the people are filled with rage, and want to throw him off a cliff. However, even they cannot stop what God is doing in Jesus, and he continues on his way.
The group that reacts this way is reading scripture differently than Jesus. They understand that the covenant is exclusively theirs, and no one else’s. Here Jesus is extending the covenant towards those who are in the Isaiah prophesy: the poor, the oppressed, etc. Like John the Baptist, it doesn’t matter who your father was, or that you lived in the same town as the Messiah!! Because they were not open to the possibilities that God was doing through Jesus, they became unable to receive anything Jesus had to give.
Luke 4:31-44 – Jesus in Capernaum
Jesus moves on to Capernaum, and continues teaching in the Synagogue like he had been doing, and the reaction is the same, people are amazed at his teaching. This time we hear a reason, he teaches as one with authority. We already know what authority Jesus has, his authority is from God, so the people are definitely correct! As readers we may wonder if the same thing is going to happen here as happened in Nazareth?
Exorcism
Here Jesus meets a demon possessed man, and we will experience the power and authority of Jesus’ words! The demon recognizes Jesus as a threat, calls him by name, mentioning the town that just tried to kill Jesus (possibly a slur, knowing Jesus was not treated well in his hometown). The demon knows exactly who Jesus is, “the holy one of God,” knows that Jesus has power over the demon. Demon possession was known to throw people to the ground injuring them, so it is notable that as Jesus exorcises the demon the man is thrown to the ground, but is not injured. The people wonder about the power and authority in the words of Jesus, and they began spreading the news. It is important here to note that the response to Jesus here is amazement and questions, not praise and submission. Therefore, the crowds treat Jesus as a rock star, rather than the Son of God. They are seeing him have power and authority, they aren’t connecting that to God.
Healing
Jesus leaves the synagogue and goes to a friends (Simon) house, whose mother is ill. The understanding of illness then was more along the lines of being possessed (similar to a demon) of this illness that needs to be eradicated (viruses, bacteria, etc. today also could be considered similar). Note what happens to the sin/evil each time Jesus speaks. They go away; Jesus doesn’t go away from them. Being cured Simon’s mother begins to serve them, which is the correct response to healing, and to the Son of God. This is a submission to the Son of God!
As word got out many others came with illnesses and demons, they come after sundown because that was the end of the Sabbath day, and they could carry someone around then, and Jesus laid hands on them and healed them. Again, the demons know who Jesus is! In this Jesus heals with laying on of hands, and casts out demons (including illness of fever) with words.
Jesus then tries to get away, but the crowds find him, and want him to stay with them. They want him to themselves, which was also part of the problem in his hometown. They want to keep Jesus’ powerful words to themselves. The word of God cannot be contained, and is not limited to only a select few. Jesus stresses his purpose is to proclaim the good news in other places also!! In Luke Jesus’ ministry is spreading out. And the good news obviously includes freeing people from debilitating, and dehumanizing ways of life that God did not intend for us!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Chapter 3 - Gospel of Luke Study
Chapter 3 – 4:13 – Preparation for Jesus’ Ministry
Here now begins the set up for what the book is really going to be all about. Chapters 1 & 2 we can count almost as prelude, and now begins the story of Jesus’ ministry. The separate stories of John the Baptist and Jesus will once again come together at the end of this chapter, and then one of the threads will disappear, while the other thread will gain prominence and continue.
Here now begins the set up for what the book is really going to be all about. Chapters 1 & 2 we can count almost as prelude, and now begins the story of Jesus’ ministry. The separate stories of John the Baptist and Jesus will once again come together at the end of this chapter, and then one of the threads will disappear, while the other thread will gain prominence and continue.
Proclamation of John the Baptist – Chapter 3:1-20
3:1-6 – John’s Ministry Begins
Luke begins the description of John’s preaching with numerous notes indicating when this took place within Greco-Roman history, and within the Jewish religious community. These are two of the two foils for Luke’s Jesus: Roman rulers & Jewish religious rulers; and we note here in this intro that at times these two are mixed together as is the case with Herod a Jewish ruler appointed to a Roman position within Jewish lands, done obviously to appease the Jewish people who were being occupied by a foreign government.
Precise dating is difficult because of the uncertainties of ancient calendars. There were numerous calendars in use (Julian, Jewish, Syro-Macedonian, Egyptian) and we don’t know which Luke is referring to, and how Luke is counting years would make a difference. Lysanius is the only one that scholars can’t link to a known ruler in other historical sources. Of the rulers mentioned Pilate, Herod, and Caiphas (High Priest) will be important in the story later on. The others show how the Kingdom of God is coming in relation to the reign of human rulers. The only one of these who has contact with John is Herod, so bringing all these up at this point is linking together the stories of John and Jesus, who will indeed face similar fates.
This opening is also typical in stories of the “call of a prophet.” Here John “as prophet” is being introduced, and so we hear how: the word of the Lord came to John; his family background (son of Zechariah); at a certain time set within history, location and king’s name(s). It is also fitting that we hear of all these powerful people, and then we hear that the Word of the Lord doesn’t come to any of these powerful people, but comes to the one who is in the wilderness. The wilderness was not a pleasant place to be, and respectable people are not in the wilderness. We hear John is still in the wilderness, which is were we left him in 1:80, and here is his public appearance! Here Luke uses material found in Mark & Matthew also, with a few adjustments. Luke expands the use of Isaiah to include not only v.3, but also vs.4-5. This expansion seems to continue Luke’s theme that this is God’s salvation for ALL PEOPLE, which will carry through Luke-Acts. Luke’s focus is that God salvation breaks down all the barriers and boundaries we create. Jesus in Luke, and the Apostles in Acts are continually reaching out to those who are outside the norms of what we normally consider to be God’s concern. For Luke God is concerned with ALL!!
Luke seems to take out the matter about John eating locusts and wild honey wearing a leather belt, which seems odd, because it seems like it would fit into his description of John as prophet.
John’s message was a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Thus John is fulfilling the words of the prophet Isaiah. This is the message of preparation for the “way of the Lord.”
3:7-9 – Warnings of the Coming Judgement
Here we have a classic example of prophetic speech, and an example of why prophets are not usually liked too well (Isaiah, Amos, Zephaniah). John is addressing the crowds here in Luke (in Matthew it’s the Pharisees & Sadducees). John is calling everyone in the crowd to repentance, true repentance, which has evidence in our lives (fruit). Lutherans have long focused on God’s gift of forgiveness being GRACE, and thus unearned, and given freely, this of course is given in Jesus Christ; here, however, John is focused on a repentant heart that turns to God and for such humility of life there is evidence in how we live, our lives bear fruit of our obedience to God’s way. Our lives show forth LOVE. The brood of vipers is only out for themselves, and may be approaching John with hearts that are selfish; they want to be cleansed not in humility to God, but out of selfish concerns. For John repentance leads to a changed life, one focused on God and God’s ways rather than our own.
John seems to perceive the people who are placing their hope on their lineage, rather than their faithfulness. John doesn’t like that. How do we rationalize ourselves, and not seek true repentance? The reference to stones goes to Isaiah 51:1-2 where the people of Israel are stones hewn from the rock of Abraham. John reverses this and says God can raise people from stones if necessary (lots of stones in the wilderness). The image of the people of God as growth on a tree, or a vine is common imagery. Good fruit is always expected, otherwise what is the point of the tree or vine? In that day fasting was an outward sign of repentance and mourning. John seems to have fasted to the extreme, and probably expects this of those who are coming for Baptism as a sign of their repentance.
John’s baptism was different than the regular baptism for making one clean. John was saying that his was a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This means that his baptism not only cleansed from ritual impurities but removed sin also. This is what the sacrifices in the temple did. Thus John was pitting himself up against the financial system of the religious authorities. John provided ritual cleansing, and freedom for Judgment Day in a guilt-free cleansing. If you were poor you may already be fasting, but couldn’t afford the animal for acrifice!! John provides a way, and people flock to him.
3:10-14 – Call for Ethical Reforms
The people seem taken aback by John’s outburst, and appeal to him as to what can they do. John certainly is suggesting there are concrete expressions of repentance that we are called to perform, and he will give us some examples of what these concrete expressions would look like. John’s examples are responding to three groups. John suggestions are to actually live out loving your neighbor.
The first response is to the crowds. His first example seems straight out of the kindergarten handbook! Ask a young child, what would you do if you had two coats and your friend didn’t have any and you were both about to go outside in the cold?? DUH!!! Sadly John is absolutely right, as adults we don’t do this, and we need to remember that God’s kingdom is for everyone; therefore we are called to look into our closets and our wallets and our bank accounts, etc.!!!! Jesus will have his own version of this in chapter 6. John’s version sounds very equitable. Share what you have when its not in use (you can’t wear 2 coats!). Stop being selfish!!
The second response John is talking to the tax collectors. These are Israelites in positions of power within the Roman government, called to collect taxes from their own people. The tax collecting system was somewhat complicated and had many levels. The wealthy would buy the contract from the government, and then manage that contract adding on to the tax whatever profit they could collect. The larger the system the more taxes there were to sustain the system. John is talking to the front line people in this system. There are two possibilities to what John says and both may be accurate and meant by John. First, John tells them to only collect what they are supposed to collect. Meaning they aren’t to gouge their fellow countrymen for their own gain! However, John could be going further and suggesting that not only should they not gouge, but they should only collect what the Romans are requiring, not all the additions, which would mean that no one would want that job when you don’t get paid!! In this second scenario John would be taking on the whole taxing system of the Roman government and going above and beyond the first response he has to the crowds above. Jesus will transform a tax collector later who shows us what real fruit worthy of repentance is, a changed life (Zacchaeus). Stop cheating others!!
The third response is to the soldiers. Again these are probably Israelites who have been recruited for service to the Roman government in keeping the peace in these lands. Soldiers typically would use their power to get what they wanted whenever they wanted it, similar to the way armies would invade a city and plunder its goods. If an army would occupy a city, they would need provisions, and those provisions came from the people you were occupying. Similar things happened in the US during the Civil War, and probably all wars. John tells the soldiers to live with what they are paid, be satisfied (which is a strong rebuke for us today!!), and do not extort more from the people you are supposed to be protecting!! Stop abusing your power!!
3:15-17 – Announcement of the Messiah
Given his proclamation John has given the people lots to think about. His preaching is prophetic, and leads the people to wonder if John is the Messiah. This is something that the reader may have pondered already given the birth narratives, but each time you think the story is about John the next part of the story says, NO, it is about someone else. “The People” are the ones who are wondering, not “the crowds”. “The crowds” are the ones who are the wishy-washy group. “The People” on the other hand are expectant, and open to the workings of God here in the person of John the Baptist. It is “the people” who are baptized by John.
John is very faithful to his placement as the forerunner, and deflects the questions away from himself. He is clear that he is not the Messiah. The Messiah is coming! But John never says the word Messiah. He always talks about one who is coming. John shows his place in relation to “the coming one” in that he isn’t worthy to untie His sandals. Untying sandals was a job for slaves, not even for disciples, thus John is comparing himself to be even lower than a slave when compared with “the coming one.”
John’s baptism is different from the baptism of the coming one. John’s is water. He will baptize with the Holy Spirit & fire! Two-fold description of this baptism, in a sense a blessing to receive God’s Spirit, but with that Spirit comes the fire of destruction to remove all stain of sin and evil!! This coming one will harvest, and will gather the grain, and burn the chaff!! A thresher would pitchfork the grain/chaff and throw up in air. The wind would blow the chaff away, and the grain would fall to the ground to be gathered up. John’s baptism helps by removing the chaff from your life, and leaving the grain so the Messiah can harvest YOU!!
3:18-20 – Conclusion of John
John has 3 emphases: 1) a prophetic warning about the judgment; 2) call for justice and compassion (love); 3) confession of “the coming one” (Messiah), a pointing away from himself to Jesus. Now, John’s work is complete, he has prepared the way for “the coming one.” Herod is fed up with John’s preaching, and doesn’t want to hear anymore, because he is “evil,” he puts John in prison (shuts him up).
3:21-22 – The Baptism of Jesus
The actual baptism is not reported, rather only the events following the baptism are reported. Did John baptize before going to prison? Was everyone Baptized and John wisked away to prison while they were praying? Jesus’ baptism seems to serve as his taking on the mantel that was John’s; similar to Elijah/Elisha. After the baptism Jesus was praying, the heavens open, this happened before with the angelic choir. Now the Spirit descends in bodily form. This body sounds similar to the resurrection accounts of Jesus later in Luke. This bodily form is like none other on earth, it can be touched and felt, but it has other peculiarities as well. This Spirit is very important for Jesus’ ministry, and in Acts it is extended to the Church. It is what empowers God’s people to do God’s work. It was taught by the rabbi’s that the Spirit of God departed with the last of the prophets, but occasionally there was a voice from heaven. Luke doesn’t tell us the voice was heard by all, or only Jesus, but it doesn’t seem to matter. For Luke we have Spirit and Voice!!! This is God’s acknowledgement of His Son!! The mantel has been passed, and this one has the Spirit of God and God’s pleasure!!!
3:23-38 – Jesus’ Genealogy
The only gospel to give us Jesus’ age. This genealogy goes backwards, which is unusual. There are some differences with Matthew’s version, and in Luke there are a lot of persons who are unknown. One biggy is tracing through David’s son Nathan, rather than Solomon, and the Davidic Kings. Also, unknown are the names from Joseph to Zerubbabel. From Joseph to God there are 77 names. 21 before Abraham; 14 Abraham to Jesse; 21 from David to Neri; 21 from Shealtiel to Joseph. Jesus is the culmination of God’s plan to redeem the world, 77 reflecting perfection.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Luke Chapter 2 (continued)
2:21-40 – The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
As in the story of John, Jesus’ family waits the 8 days for the circumcision to happen as according to the law, and he is named at this point in the same manner. There is no problem with the naming as was the case with John. No one needed correction at this point. All is going according to what the angel told Mary, God’s Word is being fulfilled! We hear that Joseph and Mary also do everything according to the law for purification offering sacrifices. The consecration of the first-born is a reminder of the EXODUS. Jesus’ presentation at the temple has close similarities to the presentation of Samuel (1 Sam 1:24-28; 2:20-22). There were two different task to be obedient to the law, first redeem the first born (Ex 34:19-20; Num 18:16), 5 shekels required. Second, Mary’s purification (Lev 12:1-8). The sacrifice given was for a relatively poor family. Everything happens here according to the law, Mary & Joseph are faithful, devout, with no problems or excitement of any kind, yet.
Simeon, devout, righteous, counterpart to Zechariah, told by God, through the Holy Spirit “resting” on him, that he would see the Messiah before he died. Here we have a fulfillment of the prophetic word to Simeon, who then is God’s prophet about who this child is, and what this child will become. Simeon is introduced in typical biblical pattern. Simeon represents the exemplary response to Jesus that we and the world should have. This child is the fulfillment of all God has said and done in the past!
The meeting in the temple is no accident, but a carefully choreographed meeting by the Holy Spirit! This is the 3rd mention of the HS in this scene, and thus it is clear that God’s hand is carefully making all of these things happen!! Upon meeting Simeon takes the child in his arms, and breaks into song praising God. Simeon’s job is done, he can leave his post, he is witnessing what God told him to witness. He is now going in peace. He sees God’s plan unfolding in this child for salvation, revealed to the Gentiles and Israel alike. The Gentiles who were in darkness will be able to see this light, and Israel will be filled with Glory!!
Joseph & Mary are amazed, and Simeon continues with a rather strange blessing to Jesus’ parents, and specifically to Mary. Jesus will cause the great reversal in the world. He will be opposed, the inner thoughts of many will be revealed, and a sword will pierce Mary’s soul. Jesus’ words will not be comfortable for many to hear. It will be judgment upon their actions, their lives, etc. Mary will share in the pain that Jesus will bear when many will not listen to his words.
Anna, old, constantly in the temple worshiping God, fasting & prayer, counterpart to Elizabeth, and as Zechariah & Elizabeth are paired, so to Anna & Simeon. Anna exemplifies the pious widow in both Old & New Testaments. Widows are mentioned 9 times in the Gospel. We are not given Anna’s words, but it sounds like she confirms Simeon’s earlier statements.
The scene at the temple concludes with the statement that they finished everything required by the law, and then return to their hometown of Nazareth. We hear the similar words said of John, grew, became strong, additionally Jesus grew in wisdom, and the favor of God was on him. (wisdom – Sophia; grace – Charis.
2:41-52 – The Boy Jesus in the Temple
This is the only story of Jesus’ childhood in scripture. This serves as a bridge between the birth stories and the ministry of Jesus. This story shows the wisdom he is growing into. This isn’t a miracle story, and so does not really show forth Jesus’ power. It is rather restrained in that. Rather, Luke seems to be focusing upon Jesus’ connection with God, the Father, and it being a conscious connection that Jesus chooses, but he is also feeling the necessity of this choice.
Jesus’ parents are devout Jews, and go to the temple every year. If they travelled at 15 miles/day it would have taken 4-5 days to make the trip. Since Jesus was 12 he was still considered a child, at age 13 he would become man. Jesus’ parents don’t seem to be blamed for him being left behind, as we might think today. It seems that Jesus’ is blamed, certainly by Mary, but also at the end, when we are told he was obedient from that point on, with the little connotation that he wasn’t really too obedient in this story. However, the point is the Jesus is going to be doing his father’s business, and its not woodworking!! Jesus is found in the temple listening to the teachers and asking questions. Mary’s response is our response. Then Jesus provides his first words. Even as a child Jesus is perceiving an imperative in his life. He “MUST” be doing God’s will, God’s business, in God’s house. The point of this story is that Jesus’ life is going to be divinely inspired, as has been everything in his life up until now.
Jesus goes back with his parents, is obedient, and again Mary has things to “ponder” in her heart. V52 is similar to v40 in telling us he is increasing in wisdom, and grace both divine & human.
As in the story of John, Jesus’ family waits the 8 days for the circumcision to happen as according to the law, and he is named at this point in the same manner. There is no problem with the naming as was the case with John. No one needed correction at this point. All is going according to what the angel told Mary, God’s Word is being fulfilled! We hear that Joseph and Mary also do everything according to the law for purification offering sacrifices. The consecration of the first-born is a reminder of the EXODUS. Jesus’ presentation at the temple has close similarities to the presentation of Samuel (1 Sam 1:24-28; 2:20-22). There were two different task to be obedient to the law, first redeem the first born (Ex 34:19-20; Num 18:16), 5 shekels required. Second, Mary’s purification (Lev 12:1-8). The sacrifice given was for a relatively poor family. Everything happens here according to the law, Mary & Joseph are faithful, devout, with no problems or excitement of any kind, yet.
Simeon, devout, righteous, counterpart to Zechariah, told by God, through the Holy Spirit “resting” on him, that he would see the Messiah before he died. Here we have a fulfillment of the prophetic word to Simeon, who then is God’s prophet about who this child is, and what this child will become. Simeon is introduced in typical biblical pattern. Simeon represents the exemplary response to Jesus that we and the world should have. This child is the fulfillment of all God has said and done in the past!
The meeting in the temple is no accident, but a carefully choreographed meeting by the Holy Spirit! This is the 3rd mention of the HS in this scene, and thus it is clear that God’s hand is carefully making all of these things happen!! Upon meeting Simeon takes the child in his arms, and breaks into song praising God. Simeon’s job is done, he can leave his post, he is witnessing what God told him to witness. He is now going in peace. He sees God’s plan unfolding in this child for salvation, revealed to the Gentiles and Israel alike. The Gentiles who were in darkness will be able to see this light, and Israel will be filled with Glory!!
Joseph & Mary are amazed, and Simeon continues with a rather strange blessing to Jesus’ parents, and specifically to Mary. Jesus will cause the great reversal in the world. He will be opposed, the inner thoughts of many will be revealed, and a sword will pierce Mary’s soul. Jesus’ words will not be comfortable for many to hear. It will be judgment upon their actions, their lives, etc. Mary will share in the pain that Jesus will bear when many will not listen to his words.
Anna, old, constantly in the temple worshiping God, fasting & prayer, counterpart to Elizabeth, and as Zechariah & Elizabeth are paired, so to Anna & Simeon. Anna exemplifies the pious widow in both Old & New Testaments. Widows are mentioned 9 times in the Gospel. We are not given Anna’s words, but it sounds like she confirms Simeon’s earlier statements.
The scene at the temple concludes with the statement that they finished everything required by the law, and then return to their hometown of Nazareth. We hear the similar words said of John, grew, became strong, additionally Jesus grew in wisdom, and the favor of God was on him. (wisdom – Sophia; grace – Charis.
2:41-52 – The Boy Jesus in the Temple
This is the only story of Jesus’ childhood in scripture. This serves as a bridge between the birth stories and the ministry of Jesus. This story shows the wisdom he is growing into. This isn’t a miracle story, and so does not really show forth Jesus’ power. It is rather restrained in that. Rather, Luke seems to be focusing upon Jesus’ connection with God, the Father, and it being a conscious connection that Jesus chooses, but he is also feeling the necessity of this choice.
Jesus’ parents are devout Jews, and go to the temple every year. If they travelled at 15 miles/day it would have taken 4-5 days to make the trip. Since Jesus was 12 he was still considered a child, at age 13 he would become man. Jesus’ parents don’t seem to be blamed for him being left behind, as we might think today. It seems that Jesus’ is blamed, certainly by Mary, but also at the end, when we are told he was obedient from that point on, with the little connotation that he wasn’t really too obedient in this story. However, the point is the Jesus is going to be doing his father’s business, and its not woodworking!! Jesus is found in the temple listening to the teachers and asking questions. Mary’s response is our response. Then Jesus provides his first words. Even as a child Jesus is perceiving an imperative in his life. He “MUST” be doing God’s will, God’s business, in God’s house. The point of this story is that Jesus’ life is going to be divinely inspired, as has been everything in his life up until now.
Jesus goes back with his parents, is obedient, and again Mary has things to “ponder” in her heart. V52 is similar to v40 in telling us he is increasing in wisdom, and grace both divine & human.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Gospel of Luke Study – Chapter 2
2:1-20 – The Birth of Jesus
Here we have the fulfillment of the second announcement by the angel Gabriel. In society first is always most important. Biblically first seems to be inferior to second, especially in relation to birth stories (Esau & Isaac). Here the birth of Jesus is told with a minimum of detail. We hear a placement within world history. Emperor Augustus & Quirinius are mentioned to fix a date and time for this birth to take place, also setting up who is in charge of the worldly realm at this time. The power of Rome is clear. When they say move, everyone moves, just like on a chess board. There is irony here also, that the moves of such a powerful government are actually exactly what is needed for the Messiah to be born in Bethlehem. Augustus was also claimed to be the good news for the world, and the divine savior of the Roman world. Here we have a dramatic contrast between worldly power, and God’s power.
Historical dating is a difficulty here though. Augustus reigned from 44/42BC – 14AD. Quirinius was governor beginning 6 AD, at which time he took a census of Judea. There is no other historical record of a worldly census, and some of the other historical records that we do have make no mention of this at this time (Josephus). Also, the Roman system of registration didn’t require returning to your homeland. Therefore, if history doesn’t help us here there must be some other reason for Luke to present this story in this way. Luke’s mention of these names does provide the contrast, and people would remember the misery that the Romans brought to Palestine.
Luke is clear in wanting to link the census with the birth of Jesus. Luke frequently wants to link the gospel story with significant historical events and rulers. It is clear that this Gospel story is going to have profound effect upon not only those who believe, but upon the worldly powers as well. Augustus was acclaimed as the “bringer of peace.” Here we begin to see Luke pitting Jesus against Augustus (this will continue), and who truly is the “bringer of peace!” Joseph and Mary are shown as those who are obeying Roman Law, they are not shirkers. The Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem, and Jesus grew up in Nazareth, this helps explain how that was possible. Matthew resolves this dilemma with the fleeing into Egypt, and the later return not to Bethlehem, but Nazareth. The census is also a good way for Luke to explain Jesus’ family lineage, and how he is descended from the house and family of David (Messiah).
Mary & Joseph are engaged, and Mary is expecting a child at this point. The announcement by Gabriel has come true. Mary is still in an unusual position, being not married and pregnant. It is clear that Mary & Jospeh have not consummated the marriage yet, thus still only engaged. Mary is pregnant through the Holy Spirit, not Joseph. Two verses then tell us the birth story. The time came, she gave birth, first-born son, wrapped in bands of cloth (typical motherly care, providing comfort for the child), laid in manger (feeding trough, not unusual for the poor), no place in inn. (what is not here?). 1st century people in Palestine didn’t keep animals in barns.
Angelic Pronouncement
The shepherds in the field are the first to hear of this event taking place. The angels come to them. Shepherding was a despised job in this day. Shepherds were thought of as dishonest who grazed their flocks on other people’s lands. They were outcasts of this society, and obviously cast out of the town, “living in the fields.”
Shepherds are in the field, then an angel appears, and the glory of the Lord shines around them, terror fills their hearts. First words from the angel? “DO NOT BE AFRAID!” Contrast the humble setting of the birth, and the humble setting of these shepherds in the field, with this rather dramatic pronouncement by the angel, and then the “multitude of the Heavenly Host!!” Here we have a fulfillment of Isaiah 9:2, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.” In this scene we have the shepherds, in actual darkness (nighttime), with the actual real light from the angel, glory of the Lord shone upon them. You also have Shepherds, considered those who were walking in darkness, not following faithfully, who have the Light of the World literally shown to them by the angels. Here is a foreshadowing of what Jesus is going to do, and even on the night of his birth he is already bringing people into the light both literally and figuratively.
The angels bring good news of great joy!! The response to the gospel is JOY!!! The announcement makes clear that this is the long awaited fulfillment of the Messiah; city of David, savior, Messiah/Christ/Lord. The shepherds receive a sign, go see the child, wrapped, lying in a manger. Jesus is the only child lying in a manger!! Then the heavens burst open, and the Shepherds must have been in awe. The song of the angels is the angelic song of the choirs of heaven, proclaiming glory to God always, and showing that God is the one who brings peace!! As instructed the shepherds go, thus the shepherds are actually redeemed already, no longer are they good for nothings, but actually dutiful servants who obey and do as they are told.
They go quickly and find everything as was told to them. They passed on to Mary and Joseph everything that took place to them, thus making them the first evangelists, telling their story. Mary treasures these words, and ponders them. This is what she did when the Angel Gabriel told her what was going to happen, and she continues to take in these words from God and ponders them. The shepherds then leave, but they leave in great joy, worshipping God. The shepherds are the premier example of what our response to Jesus really should be!! The shepherds pass on the story “as it had been told them.” This is exactly what Luke is doing. Luke may very well see himself in the Shepherd role here of passing on the Angelic pronouncement through his writing.
Contrasted in this birth story of the Messiah is with the Kings of the earth. Jesus is born in a small place, not in home, but in purely humble surroundings, and the only visitors for Luke are shepherds, despised people, who hear God’s calling. This certainly foreshadows Jesus as coming for the lowly and despised people of this world. This is the way true peace comes to earth, not with the power and majesty of earthly kings.
Here we have the fulfillment of the second announcement by the angel Gabriel. In society first is always most important. Biblically first seems to be inferior to second, especially in relation to birth stories (Esau & Isaac). Here the birth of Jesus is told with a minimum of detail. We hear a placement within world history. Emperor Augustus & Quirinius are mentioned to fix a date and time for this birth to take place, also setting up who is in charge of the worldly realm at this time. The power of Rome is clear. When they say move, everyone moves, just like on a chess board. There is irony here also, that the moves of such a powerful government are actually exactly what is needed for the Messiah to be born in Bethlehem. Augustus was also claimed to be the good news for the world, and the divine savior of the Roman world. Here we have a dramatic contrast between worldly power, and God’s power.
Historical dating is a difficulty here though. Augustus reigned from 44/42BC – 14AD. Quirinius was governor beginning 6 AD, at which time he took a census of Judea. There is no other historical record of a worldly census, and some of the other historical records that we do have make no mention of this at this time (Josephus). Also, the Roman system of registration didn’t require returning to your homeland. Therefore, if history doesn’t help us here there must be some other reason for Luke to present this story in this way. Luke’s mention of these names does provide the contrast, and people would remember the misery that the Romans brought to Palestine.
Luke is clear in wanting to link the census with the birth of Jesus. Luke frequently wants to link the gospel story with significant historical events and rulers. It is clear that this Gospel story is going to have profound effect upon not only those who believe, but upon the worldly powers as well. Augustus was acclaimed as the “bringer of peace.” Here we begin to see Luke pitting Jesus against Augustus (this will continue), and who truly is the “bringer of peace!” Joseph and Mary are shown as those who are obeying Roman Law, they are not shirkers. The Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem, and Jesus grew up in Nazareth, this helps explain how that was possible. Matthew resolves this dilemma with the fleeing into Egypt, and the later return not to Bethlehem, but Nazareth. The census is also a good way for Luke to explain Jesus’ family lineage, and how he is descended from the house and family of David (Messiah).
Mary & Joseph are engaged, and Mary is expecting a child at this point. The announcement by Gabriel has come true. Mary is still in an unusual position, being not married and pregnant. It is clear that Mary & Jospeh have not consummated the marriage yet, thus still only engaged. Mary is pregnant through the Holy Spirit, not Joseph. Two verses then tell us the birth story. The time came, she gave birth, first-born son, wrapped in bands of cloth (typical motherly care, providing comfort for the child), laid in manger (feeding trough, not unusual for the poor), no place in inn. (what is not here?). 1st century people in Palestine didn’t keep animals in barns.
Angelic Pronouncement
The shepherds in the field are the first to hear of this event taking place. The angels come to them. Shepherding was a despised job in this day. Shepherds were thought of as dishonest who grazed their flocks on other people’s lands. They were outcasts of this society, and obviously cast out of the town, “living in the fields.”
Shepherds are in the field, then an angel appears, and the glory of the Lord shines around them, terror fills their hearts. First words from the angel? “DO NOT BE AFRAID!” Contrast the humble setting of the birth, and the humble setting of these shepherds in the field, with this rather dramatic pronouncement by the angel, and then the “multitude of the Heavenly Host!!” Here we have a fulfillment of Isaiah 9:2, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.” In this scene we have the shepherds, in actual darkness (nighttime), with the actual real light from the angel, glory of the Lord shone upon them. You also have Shepherds, considered those who were walking in darkness, not following faithfully, who have the Light of the World literally shown to them by the angels. Here is a foreshadowing of what Jesus is going to do, and even on the night of his birth he is already bringing people into the light both literally and figuratively.
The angels bring good news of great joy!! The response to the gospel is JOY!!! The announcement makes clear that this is the long awaited fulfillment of the Messiah; city of David, savior, Messiah/Christ/Lord. The shepherds receive a sign, go see the child, wrapped, lying in a manger. Jesus is the only child lying in a manger!! Then the heavens burst open, and the Shepherds must have been in awe. The song of the angels is the angelic song of the choirs of heaven, proclaiming glory to God always, and showing that God is the one who brings peace!! As instructed the shepherds go, thus the shepherds are actually redeemed already, no longer are they good for nothings, but actually dutiful servants who obey and do as they are told.
They go quickly and find everything as was told to them. They passed on to Mary and Joseph everything that took place to them, thus making them the first evangelists, telling their story. Mary treasures these words, and ponders them. This is what she did when the Angel Gabriel told her what was going to happen, and she continues to take in these words from God and ponders them. The shepherds then leave, but they leave in great joy, worshipping God. The shepherds are the premier example of what our response to Jesus really should be!! The shepherds pass on the story “as it had been told them.” This is exactly what Luke is doing. Luke may very well see himself in the Shepherd role here of passing on the Angelic pronouncement through his writing.
Contrasted in this birth story of the Messiah is with the Kings of the earth. Jesus is born in a small place, not in home, but in purely humble surroundings, and the only visitors for Luke are shepherds, despised people, who hear God’s calling. This certainly foreshadows Jesus as coming for the lowly and despised people of this world. This is the way true peace comes to earth, not with the power and majesty of earthly kings.
Chapter 1 - Continued
1:39-56 – Mary’s Visit with Elizabeth
Here the two stories converge for a moment to show they are not really two, but are really part of one story, but they will separate again for the births, and then return together at Jesus’ Baptism. Following the meeting with the Angel, Mary shows her willing obedience by doing exactly as the angel instructs, she goes to see her cousin with haste! Here we are going to have a traditional older woman teaching a younger woman the ropes sharing her story, but we will also have Mary teaching Elizabeth (more unusual). She enters the house and greets Elizabeth, and immediately we have confirmation that what the angel has said is coming true. John leaps in the womb, and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit (Elizabeth here is a prophet), and speaks the Word of God. Elizabeth is the first person to call Jesus LORD, and the first woman to give beatitude. She speaks a blessing upon Mary, upon what is happening even now, and she confirms that the child that this lowly peasant woman is carrying is GREAT as she is flabbergasted that, “The mother of my Lord comes to me?” Those who are great do not visit those who are less great. It is always the other way around. Does this signify the great reversal that God is bringing about through Jesus? Jesus calls the disciples to be servants of others. The blessing of children is always the highest blessing for women in scripture, but Mary has an even greater blessing that she is blessed among women.
Elizabeth comments on John leaping for joy at the sound of Mary’s greeting. Gen 25:22-23 here the unborn twins of Rebecca “struggled/leaped” in her womb, it was a sign of that they would be at odds. Here we have a sign that John is expectantly awaiting Jesus, and that at Jesus presence John is already pointing to him even from the womb. Elizabeth knows that John is leaping for JOY! The angel told Zechariah that he would have joy, now joy comes to Elizabeth & John. Mary/Jesus bring JOY. Joy is another recurring theme throughout Luke. Finally a blessing is spoken over Mary, and proclaims her faithfulness, her obedience to God’s word an amazing and wonderful thing!! This testifies to the fact that God never fails those who are so faithful, and could possibly contrast with her husband Zechariah’s less than faithful response to the angel.
The Magnificat – (v46-55)
Here is the first of Luke’s strong, powerful songs sung as pronouncements of what God is going to do, prophetic utterance, something far greater than the scene it is in. These songs in Luke very possibly were being used in Worship already, and he weaves these pieces in to his story to lift up the significance of what is happening, and as a powerful way to shape his telling of this story. None of these prophetic songs are in the other gospels.
Mary’s song here proclaims that what God is doing is going to change the world forever. God is the Savior. It is in Jesus that the role of God as Savior becomes visible to the world, actually very sacramental. This focus on God as Savior means that nothing else can save us, and we are to look nowhere else. Mary begins by focusing on what God has done for her, and then moves to what God is doing for all people.
Similar to Hannah’s hymn of praise (1 Sam 2:1-10) as she presented Samuel to the temple for service after the Lord granted her a son. Begins by praising God, and how Mary is filled with an amazing sense of gratitude towards God. She is amazingly humble, and recognizes how incredible all of this is. Mary seems from the very beginning to really understand what is happening. Mary is the first, in a sense, to truly feel the impact of salvation for humanity. What she is experiencing is what all humanity will experience. This song proclaims what God is doing through her, and she is allowing this to take place, and is embracing God’s will for her completely. God cares for the lowly, and has even selected one for this great honor. Mary will be remembered, revered, and surely known as blessed by God. But it has nothing to do with what Mary has done; it is because God has bestowed this upon her.
Starting at v50 we begin to hear a prophetic utterance of how what God is doing is going to go global. God has mercy on those who fear God. Here are the themes of the Gospel: In this birth God is showing his strength (although in an unusual way), he is going to scatter the proud (those not fearing God), bring down the powerful, lift up the lowly, fill the hungry, sent the rich away empty. This is the great reversal; all things will be turned upside down in Jesus. This is God helping Israel, fulfilling the covenants he made with Abraham and his posterity. This is the Messiah!! God is fulfilling the covenants he made forever! In this we have a sense of Judgment as well as Salvation. Those who are not following God will not fare well. God knows our hearts!! Luke for sure wants the readers to know that God has not forgotten his promises, and God is making good on his promises through Jesus.
At this time the Roman Empire was extremely powerful, the most powerful force on earth (or so thought). These words of Luke take on even greater significance if this writing was actually composed after the fall of Jerusalem (around 70AD) as a way of saying to the people that God is doing something greater than what the Roman’s can do!!
Mary is the perfect disciple. She listens to God’s word, submits to it, and follows. This theme continues that Mary is to be a premier example of us of discipleship. Mary stay’s 3 months, probably learning about carrying a child, and seems to leave just as Elizabeth is about to give birth. However, it seems strange that she would leave to this point. Why not stay for the birth and see what you need to do??
We are Zechariah, we are called to be Mary
1:57-65 – The Birth of John the Baptist
We’ve had the two announcements by the Angel Gabriel, and the confirmation of the Angel’s announcement in the meeting of Mary & Elizabeth. The two stories diverge again, and we hear the fulfillment of the first, which gives a clue that the fulfillment of the second will follow shortly. We begin with the birth, circumcision, and naming of the child. These parents surely follow God’s law, and do everything in proper order. The fulfillment happens: a son is born, many rejoice at the birth, the name will be John (despite others who wanted a different name, God’s word is followed). As God’s word is followed in obedience (contrast with Mary’s willing obedience from the beginning) Zechariah’s curse is lifted, Zechariah while not as obedient and faithful at first turns out faithful and righteous as was stated earlier about both Zechariah & Elizabeth.
A strange occurrence in the crowd “motioning” to Zechariah, suggesting either that Zechariah was deaf as well as mute, or that maybe since the crowd is trying to go against God’s name for the child that maybe they were just struck mute and couldn’t communicate with Zechariah without motioning with their hands?? Zechariah’s head seems much clearer at this point, and he asks for a way to write what he wants to communicate. Naming falls to the father, in naming the son the father claims the son as his own. As his tongue is freed his first words are to praise God. God’s power is perceived and fear strikes the hearts of those who have witnessed this event take place. Fear is a common Lukan response to God’s power being shown. The people ponder what this man will become, since God’s power has been evident in this birth!! This pondering is similar to Mary’s pondering later, it is a “placing in their hearts,” referring to something that they want to remember and refer back to later, a significant event, even if the significance isn’t readily interpreted.
1:66-80 – The Benedictus (the first words – Blessed be the Lord God of Israel)
As Mary broke out in song when meeting Elizabeth, we have Zechariah breaking out in song here at the naming of his son, and as his tongue is freed. He is filled with the Holy Spirit, thus this is prophetic utterance of God’s word. This song can be seen as God’s answer to the question uttered by the crowd, “what will this child become?” Through v75 the song focuses on what God has done.
Starts blessing God. God has blessed the people redeeming them, fulfilling the covenant made with David and the prophets of old. God is saving his people from enemies, showing his people mercy (not deserved, but God saves anyway), because he remembers his covenants to Abraham. The purpose of this salvation, this mercy, is that we might serve God without fear (our normal response to angels), and in holiness and righteousness. Thus God is setting his people free in order that they may worship God completely.
V76 and on speak of what John is going to do that is going to set this plan in motion. John is the premier prophet of God, who is going to prepare the way, going ahead of Jesus. John is Jesus’ snowplow!! John is going to present the concept of salvation through forgiveness of sin. John is going to begin the way for this sun to shine his way into the darkness of our souls in order that we may live in peace. This imagery is a reference to Isaiah 9:2 “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.; 42:6-7. In peace we will be able to worship & serve God. This reference to peace at the end is one of 14 references to peace in Luke. Peace cannot come without redemption/salvation. God is at work here bringing peace to earth – we will hear this again! The problem we will see is the when God brings peace, the world goes to war against God. Closes with John growing up, being strong in spirit, living in the wilderness, similar to Elijah & Moses, not a part of the religious authorities, until he was made public.
Here the two stories converge for a moment to show they are not really two, but are really part of one story, but they will separate again for the births, and then return together at Jesus’ Baptism. Following the meeting with the Angel, Mary shows her willing obedience by doing exactly as the angel instructs, she goes to see her cousin with haste! Here we are going to have a traditional older woman teaching a younger woman the ropes sharing her story, but we will also have Mary teaching Elizabeth (more unusual). She enters the house and greets Elizabeth, and immediately we have confirmation that what the angel has said is coming true. John leaps in the womb, and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit (Elizabeth here is a prophet), and speaks the Word of God. Elizabeth is the first person to call Jesus LORD, and the first woman to give beatitude. She speaks a blessing upon Mary, upon what is happening even now, and she confirms that the child that this lowly peasant woman is carrying is GREAT as she is flabbergasted that, “The mother of my Lord comes to me?” Those who are great do not visit those who are less great. It is always the other way around. Does this signify the great reversal that God is bringing about through Jesus? Jesus calls the disciples to be servants of others. The blessing of children is always the highest blessing for women in scripture, but Mary has an even greater blessing that she is blessed among women.
Elizabeth comments on John leaping for joy at the sound of Mary’s greeting. Gen 25:22-23 here the unborn twins of Rebecca “struggled/leaped” in her womb, it was a sign of that they would be at odds. Here we have a sign that John is expectantly awaiting Jesus, and that at Jesus presence John is already pointing to him even from the womb. Elizabeth knows that John is leaping for JOY! The angel told Zechariah that he would have joy, now joy comes to Elizabeth & John. Mary/Jesus bring JOY. Joy is another recurring theme throughout Luke. Finally a blessing is spoken over Mary, and proclaims her faithfulness, her obedience to God’s word an amazing and wonderful thing!! This testifies to the fact that God never fails those who are so faithful, and could possibly contrast with her husband Zechariah’s less than faithful response to the angel.
The Magnificat – (v46-55)
Here is the first of Luke’s strong, powerful songs sung as pronouncements of what God is going to do, prophetic utterance, something far greater than the scene it is in. These songs in Luke very possibly were being used in Worship already, and he weaves these pieces in to his story to lift up the significance of what is happening, and as a powerful way to shape his telling of this story. None of these prophetic songs are in the other gospels.
Mary’s song here proclaims that what God is doing is going to change the world forever. God is the Savior. It is in Jesus that the role of God as Savior becomes visible to the world, actually very sacramental. This focus on God as Savior means that nothing else can save us, and we are to look nowhere else. Mary begins by focusing on what God has done for her, and then moves to what God is doing for all people.
Similar to Hannah’s hymn of praise (1 Sam 2:1-10) as she presented Samuel to the temple for service after the Lord granted her a son. Begins by praising God, and how Mary is filled with an amazing sense of gratitude towards God. She is amazingly humble, and recognizes how incredible all of this is. Mary seems from the very beginning to really understand what is happening. Mary is the first, in a sense, to truly feel the impact of salvation for humanity. What she is experiencing is what all humanity will experience. This song proclaims what God is doing through her, and she is allowing this to take place, and is embracing God’s will for her completely. God cares for the lowly, and has even selected one for this great honor. Mary will be remembered, revered, and surely known as blessed by God. But it has nothing to do with what Mary has done; it is because God has bestowed this upon her.
Starting at v50 we begin to hear a prophetic utterance of how what God is doing is going to go global. God has mercy on those who fear God. Here are the themes of the Gospel: In this birth God is showing his strength (although in an unusual way), he is going to scatter the proud (those not fearing God), bring down the powerful, lift up the lowly, fill the hungry, sent the rich away empty. This is the great reversal; all things will be turned upside down in Jesus. This is God helping Israel, fulfilling the covenants he made with Abraham and his posterity. This is the Messiah!! God is fulfilling the covenants he made forever! In this we have a sense of Judgment as well as Salvation. Those who are not following God will not fare well. God knows our hearts!! Luke for sure wants the readers to know that God has not forgotten his promises, and God is making good on his promises through Jesus.
At this time the Roman Empire was extremely powerful, the most powerful force on earth (or so thought). These words of Luke take on even greater significance if this writing was actually composed after the fall of Jerusalem (around 70AD) as a way of saying to the people that God is doing something greater than what the Roman’s can do!!
Mary is the perfect disciple. She listens to God’s word, submits to it, and follows. This theme continues that Mary is to be a premier example of us of discipleship. Mary stay’s 3 months, probably learning about carrying a child, and seems to leave just as Elizabeth is about to give birth. However, it seems strange that she would leave to this point. Why not stay for the birth and see what you need to do??
We are Zechariah, we are called to be Mary
1:57-65 – The Birth of John the Baptist
We’ve had the two announcements by the Angel Gabriel, and the confirmation of the Angel’s announcement in the meeting of Mary & Elizabeth. The two stories diverge again, and we hear the fulfillment of the first, which gives a clue that the fulfillment of the second will follow shortly. We begin with the birth, circumcision, and naming of the child. These parents surely follow God’s law, and do everything in proper order. The fulfillment happens: a son is born, many rejoice at the birth, the name will be John (despite others who wanted a different name, God’s word is followed). As God’s word is followed in obedience (contrast with Mary’s willing obedience from the beginning) Zechariah’s curse is lifted, Zechariah while not as obedient and faithful at first turns out faithful and righteous as was stated earlier about both Zechariah & Elizabeth.
A strange occurrence in the crowd “motioning” to Zechariah, suggesting either that Zechariah was deaf as well as mute, or that maybe since the crowd is trying to go against God’s name for the child that maybe they were just struck mute and couldn’t communicate with Zechariah without motioning with their hands?? Zechariah’s head seems much clearer at this point, and he asks for a way to write what he wants to communicate. Naming falls to the father, in naming the son the father claims the son as his own. As his tongue is freed his first words are to praise God. God’s power is perceived and fear strikes the hearts of those who have witnessed this event take place. Fear is a common Lukan response to God’s power being shown. The people ponder what this man will become, since God’s power has been evident in this birth!! This pondering is similar to Mary’s pondering later, it is a “placing in their hearts,” referring to something that they want to remember and refer back to later, a significant event, even if the significance isn’t readily interpreted.
1:66-80 – The Benedictus (the first words – Blessed be the Lord God of Israel)
As Mary broke out in song when meeting Elizabeth, we have Zechariah breaking out in song here at the naming of his son, and as his tongue is freed. He is filled with the Holy Spirit, thus this is prophetic utterance of God’s word. This song can be seen as God’s answer to the question uttered by the crowd, “what will this child become?” Through v75 the song focuses on what God has done.
Starts blessing God. God has blessed the people redeeming them, fulfilling the covenant made with David and the prophets of old. God is saving his people from enemies, showing his people mercy (not deserved, but God saves anyway), because he remembers his covenants to Abraham. The purpose of this salvation, this mercy, is that we might serve God without fear (our normal response to angels), and in holiness and righteousness. Thus God is setting his people free in order that they may worship God completely.
V76 and on speak of what John is going to do that is going to set this plan in motion. John is the premier prophet of God, who is going to prepare the way, going ahead of Jesus. John is Jesus’ snowplow!! John is going to present the concept of salvation through forgiveness of sin. John is going to begin the way for this sun to shine his way into the darkness of our souls in order that we may live in peace. This imagery is a reference to Isaiah 9:2 “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.; 42:6-7. In peace we will be able to worship & serve God. This reference to peace at the end is one of 14 references to peace in Luke. Peace cannot come without redemption/salvation. God is at work here bringing peace to earth – we will hear this again! The problem we will see is the when God brings peace, the world goes to war against God. Closes with John growing up, being strong in spirit, living in the wilderness, similar to Elijah & Moses, not a part of the religious authorities, until he was made public.
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