Tag Archives: Gospel of Luke

True Blessedness

When Jesus cast out the mute demon from the man, enabling him to audibly praise the Lord, the people marveled and then grumbled. Some alleged that his miracles were the work of the devil. Others argued they weren’t enough. No one in that moment spoke up in his defense (as if the word and works of God need defending). But Luke tells us that there were more marvellers than the antagonistic and skeptical.

What Does Following Jesus Look Like?

Jesus traveled from region to region, from town to town primarily on foot. And he didn’t travel alone. At this point in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus had a large following, made up not only of his chosen twelve but many more, some of whom he would commission into vocational ministry, as we will see in the next chapter. And as he traveled, he conversed with those who followed him as well as those who would, such as the three types we find our passage today, whom I call the naive, the preoccupied, and the half-hearted.

From Mountain High to Valley Low

Have you ever had an experience that could be described as a “spiritual high”? Perhaps it was one summer after church camp (or every summer after church camp). Perhaps it was after a conference or during an especially uplifting Bible study. Or, perhaps it was a seemingly inexplicable time of spiritual growth. Whatever the case, you remember it, and then it went away, as if descending from mountain high to valley low.

Who Is Jesus?

In Luke’s Gospel, at every paramount point of Jesus’ life prayer shows up. For example, there was prayer at Jesus’ baptism, prayer at his selection of the twelve apostles, prayer at his transfiguration, and of course he taught his disciples how to pray, and we find it here, among other places: “he was praying alone” (Luke 9:18).

Peace! Be Still!

While Jesus had been ministering throughout Judea, he decided to take a trip to the land of the Gerasenes by direct route, across the Lake of Gennesaret, also known as the Sea of Galilee. Traveling with a select group of disciples by boat, Jesus boarded and went to bed. Perhaps telling of his fatigue, Jesus slept through what likely began with the serene sway of a rocking boat into a stormy squall, as the cooler air from the surrounding mountains collided with the warmer air of the sea. So fierce was the storm’s surge that the boat began to fill with water. If there were a time for panic, this was it—even for a crew of salty fishermen. Meanwhile, Jesus slept soundly in the stern.

The Sown Word

In the tenth chapter of Romans, the apostle Paul describes the necessity of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, as “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” One cannot believe the gospel if one does not hear it, in various ways and various forms, and one cannot hear it unless it is shared or proclaimed. Hearing then is necessary for salvation, but hearing is not enough. The gospel must be truly believed, yet not all who hear believe.

The Conviction of Things not Seen

Of course, you don’t have to be a serious military man to have faith in Jesus, but you do have to take him at his word, believing that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). This is the testimony of the Word God has given. Don’t make it harder than it is. As a matter of fact, in it we are assured and by it convicted, and Jesus is Savior and Lord of all who believe.

Pointing to Christ

For those who had ears to hear, John called to repentance, but for those who would not, he promised judgement. To some the seismic message of the gospel was indeed good news, evidenced by the multitude of people who were repenting of their sins and being baptized. But others were merely present, not repenting but observing, neither hearing nor believing.

Gloria in Excelsis Deo

Luke tells us that it was neither leaders of church nor rulers of state who received the angelic announcement but shepherds in a field near Bethlehem, “keeping watch over their flock by night” (2:8). Who are these shepherds? What are their names? We do not know. They are remembered not for who they are but of whom they hear and who they will worship. Their identity is revealed only in the revelation of God to them of the incarnation of the Son of God.