Tag: Luke

Scripture Focus: Luke 18.35-43
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 
38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 
39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” 
“Lord, I want to see,” he replied. 
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. 

Reflection: Types of Blindness
By John Tillman

Impairment of visual acuity means people need to be closer to something to see it clearly than those with normal vision. Impairment of one’s field of vision can mean blind spots or tunnel vision. These occur to different degrees, and some forms of blindness are temporary.

On Jesus’ final trip to Jerusalem, he healed a blind man. Right before this, Luke described the disciples as having a type of temporary blindness. Jesus spoke very clearly about what would happen to him in Jerusalem, but his meaning was hidden from them. (Luke 18.31-34)

We sometimes over-analogize Jesus’ healings to the point where we almost forget about the people he healed. We can also draw wrong conclusions when we let the analogies escape the context of scripture. Jesus’ miracles are not all soteriological analogies, and we can make mistakes when we apply them that way. That being said, Jesus and the gospel writers who tell us about him applied meaning and symbolism to many of Jesus’ miracles.

Jesus’ healings and miracles indicate his identity, mark his mission, and prove his promises.

John the Baptizer questioned Jesus’ identity, asking, “Are you the one?” (Matthew 11.3). Jesus told John’s messengers to describe his actions, beginning with healing the blind. Jesus listed the healing of many other types of impairments, ending with the dead being raised and the gospel being proclaimed to the poor. Both Jesus’ identity and mission are revealed in these actions.

Mary and Martha questioned Jesus when he delayed coming, allowing their brother Lazarus to die. So did the crowd. They muttered, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” (John 11.37) Jesus promised Martha that he was the resurrection and the life. Lazarus’ resurrection was a preview of the ultimate proof of Jesus’ promise to her, which was his own resurrection just a few days later.

Even those who already believe can be blinded. The blind man already believed. Before his healing, he called Jesus “Son of David.” The disciples believed, but they had blind spots and a tunnel vision focused only on political salvation.

There are many types of blindness. Jesus heals them all.

Do you have tunnel vision, focused on one narrow definition of Jesus’ kingdom? Do you have blind spots of doubt? Are you blinded by loss or pain? Call out to the Son of David. Come closer to him and be healed.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting
Be exalted, O Lord, in your might; we will sing and praise your power. — Psalm 21.14

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

​Today’s Readings
Zechariah 9 (Listen 3:01)
Luke 18 (Listen 5:27)

Read more about The King We Want
I’ve sent a king, God says
He rode in on a donkey
My servants prophesied him
You rebels crucified him

The King We Want

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Scripture Focus: Luke 15.17-20
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. 

Reflection: The Far Country and the Father’s Field
By John Tillman

What is the purpose of the trio of “lost things” parables—especially the third and longest in the series, The Lost Son? Why did Jesus tell these stories?

Some interpreters focus on the prodigal’s sins and poor decisions, making the story a preventative tale to scare prodigals straight. Was Jesus trying to scold or scare prodigals? 

From medieval morality plays to modern “Hell Houses,” scaring prodigals straight has a poor history of long-term success in either evangelism or discipleship. It doesn’t do much to cultivate a growing, vibrant, and enduring faith, and it doesn’t seem to have been Jesus’ goal.

Jesus told many stories about punishments in this life and the next. (Matthew 18.6-9, 24.48-55, 25.26-30, 25.41-45; Luke 16.19-31) However, the “sinners” these tales aim to “scare straight” are the wealthy, who fail to be generous, and the powerful, who fail to help the weak.

These three stories answered an accusation. Religious leaders muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15.1-2) They were suspicious of the crowds Jesus attracted and of Jesus by association. “There must be something wrong with his teaching if he spends time with those people!”

The “Lost Things Trilogy” has two simultaneous audiences: the “sinners” and the “righteous.” Jesus extends his hands to both groups, focusing on welcoming rather than warning. To the sinners, these stories say, “You are valued, and God ‘celebrates you home,’ no matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done.” To the “righteous,” they demonstrate God’s heart for the lost and they call them to join the celebration.

One group is the brother lost in the far country. The other is the brother lost in his father’s field, refusing to enter his father’s happiness. Both brothers have a distance to cross to come home. The brother lost in hedonism in the far country, makes it home to the father’s embrace ahead of the brother lost in jealousy in his father’s field. (Luke 15.28-30)

We all may be or become one or the other of these brothers. We may become lost in a far country or our father’s field. Whatever lures you away, whether the pleasures of wickedness or the pleasures of self-righteousness, let them go and come home. We have things to repent of, things to leave behind, and things waiting for us in the arms of a loving father. 

Come home to the father, whether you are lost in the field or the far country. Come home and celebrate.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence
I have said to the Lord, “You are my God; listen, O Lord, to my supplication.” — Psalm 140.6

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

​Today’s Readings
Zechariah 6 (Listen 2:08)
Luke 15 (Listen 4:19)

​This Weekend’s Readings
Zechariah 7 (Listen 1:57), Luke 16 (Listen 4:27)
Zechariah 8 (Listen 3:33), Luke 17 (Listen 4:22)

Read more about Prayer for Older Brothers
One son refused to stay in the home due to sinful rebellion.
One son refused to enter the home due to sinful unforgiveness.

Prayer for Older Brothers — Guided Prayer

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Scripture Focus: Luke 12.41-48
41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” 
42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. 

Reflection: Friendly Neighborhood Christians
By John Tillman

In Spider-Man’s origin story, Peter’s uncle, Ben Parker, tells his super-powered nephew, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Versions of this idea floated around our culture for many years. Before Ben Parker, Churchill and both Roosevelts said similar things. There’s even a version in an early Superman film.

However, Stan Lee cemented “with great power” into our culture through Spider-Man comics of the 60s and 70s, and it became a defining theme for Peter Parker’s moral compass and the Marvel universe. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, the aphorism is a good paraphrase of Luke 12.48.

Ben Parker shared his wisdom with Peter at a moment of confusion in his life. Jesus shared his version with Peter, his often confused disciple. Peter was confused about the parable of watchfulness. Who was Jesus saying should be watchful?

Jesus answered by continuing the parable, starting with a question, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager…?” (Luke 12.42) Jesus says the faithful manager feeds the other servants and cares for them. This is echoed later when Jesus commands Peter to “Feed my sheep.” (John 21.17) By contrast, the wicked manager feeds himself to excess and abuses both men and women.

Many people love to costume themselves as heroes, but they have no humility and serve only their own interests. These fake heroes are wicked managers who demand loyalty and immunity rather than taking responsibility or submitting to accountability. In society and the church we have many leaders who dominate and abuse rather than serve and feed. Jesus warns, they will be harshly judged.

So, are these warnings just for powerful people? Just for the world? Just for the disciples? They are for “everyone who has been given much.” (Luke 12.48)

Jesus’ disciple Peter had little power or influence. Perhaps you feel the same. However, we have been “given much.” Neither Peter Parker nor Peter the disciple knew what was in store for them or what power was at work in them. Don’t forget what we’ve been given. 

We have the Holy Spirit of God within us, the gospel to take with us, God’s word to guide us, and a world in need before us. Don’t try to be a hero. Just be a faithful manager of what you have and where you are. You don’t need to be a “hero” influencer or leader. Don’t underestimate the power of being a “friendly neighborhood Christian.”

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading
Jesus taught us, saying: “Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves. You will be able to tell them by their fruits. Can people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, a sound tree produces good fruit but a rotten tree bad fruit. A sound tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a rotten tree bear good fruit. Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire. I repeat, you will be able to tell them by their fruits.” — Matthew  7.15-20

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.


​Today’s Readings
Zechariah 3 (Listen 1:48)
Luke 12 (Listen 7:42)

Read more about Christ, the True Hero
“With great power comes great responsibility” is a rephrase of Luke 12:48.
The deeper truth of Spider-man’s proverb is that the powerful are seldom responsible.

Christ, the True Hero

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Scripture Focus: Luke 11.5-8, 11-13
5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” 

Reflection: Reluctant and Evil Givers
By John Tillman

Jesus often highlights reluctant or evil givers when teaching about prayer. 

The unjust judge (Luke 18.1-8) doesn’t care about God or humanity. He is not motivated to establish justice or righteousness as we hope our judges would be. Instead, only the widow’s relentless pestering finally gets him to rule in her favor and, even then, only because he fears she will resort to violence.

Today’s passage gives the example of a friend and neighbor. The friend would presumably help his neighbor in normal circumstances, but the request is inconveniently timed. He and his family are already in bed. He’s tired. It’s late. He doesn’t even want to get out of bed, much less come to the door. And he certainly doesn’t want to rummage in the dark for the food his neighbor requests.

Jesus also theorized about an evil giver, a father who, instead of giving something good to his children, gives something awful. Jesus says that even though his listeners are evil, they still give good gifts to their beloved children. But the evil giver offers a snake instead of a fish or a scorpion instead of an egg. He gives harm instead of health or help.

Jesus acknowledges that our experience of the world includes evil and injustice. He knew very well, and so do we, that sometimes fathers, mothers, or authority figures give harmful things to those in their care. The evil giver in Jesus’ parable is theoretical. However, sexual and spiritual abuse survivors have directly experienced this kind of evil.

These negative examples provide contrast to God’s generous nature. God is not a reluctant giver, an evil giver, or one who gives only when it is convenient for himself. When we come to God in prayer, we come to a good father who rejoices to supply our needs and never rebuffs our requests.

When we wait or do not get what we ask for, we can shamelessly keep asking in faith, knowing that God has what is best for us in mind. To paraphrase Tim Keller, if we knew what God knows about what is best for us, that’s all we’d ever ask for. The Holy Spirit’s intercession makes up this gap on our behalf.

And when we suffer from evil in any form, Christ not only suffers with us but promises that all evil will be turned to serve a good purpose or utterly destroyed.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy before the Lord when he comes, when he comes to judge the earth. — Psalm 96.12

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.


​Today’s Readings
Zechariah 2 (Listen 1:41)
Luke 11 (Listen 7:33)

Read more about Equally Skilled Hands
The good shepherd will defend his flock and put an end to evil, crushing sin like a snake underfoot.

Equally Skilled Hands

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Scripture Focus: Luke 8.17-18
17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

Reflection: The Unhidden Agenda
By John Tillman

I still remember the first time I saw the music video for Michael W. Smith’s “Secret Ambition” at a summer youth camp in Glorieta, New Mexico. A Christian music video? We were mesmerized. 

Our generation was still singing, “Video killed the radio star,” and now we saw a high-production-value video of Jesus being killed. The song emphasized that Jesus went to his death purposely and resolutely. It brought the dusty theological concept of the messianic secret to life in a slickly produced video. “Nobody knew his secret ambition was to give his life away.”

The messianic secret is the idea that Jesus kept his true identity and mission a secret from the wider public. This fulfilled prophecy, as Jesus points out in Luke 8.10, but it also made his mission possible. He had to be rejected, betrayed, and crucified. So he hid his teaching in parables and only allowed “those with ears” to hear. He scattered seed on hardened, stony, or thorny ground, knowing it would not survive or sprout.

The parable of seeds and soils can sometimes make us think one’s soil is their destiny and nothing can change it. We can become fatalistic and cynical and doubt the gospel’s power.

However, a related parable follows the parable of the seed and soils. After speaking about closed ears that cannot hear the truth and hardened hearts that cannot receive the seed, Jesus speaks about light and sight.

Christ’s secret ambition was to go to the cross, but now, his public command is to take the light of the gospel to all places. The messianic secret was never meant to stay secret. These hidden things are meant to be discovered, and these concealed things are meant to be revealed.

Jesus hid his victory in the suffering of the cross and his indestructible life in the shroud of the grave. For a time, Jesus was the light hidden in a clay-jar tomb. But now, like Gideon’s torches, the clay pot is shattered, and the light is revealed. (Judges 7.16-20) The cat is out of the bag, and he’s the Lion of Judah.  

What was once the messianic secret is now the unhidden agenda of the gospel. Now is the time when the light of Christ shines openly. Come to him while the light shines.

Lift up his light so that he may draw all humans to himself.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading
Jesus taught us, saying: “The lamp of the body is the eye. It follows that if your eye is clear, your whole body will be filled with light. But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be darkness. If then, the light inside you is darkened, what darkness that will be! — Matthew 6.22-23

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.


​Today’s Readings
Haggai 1 (Listen 2:39)
Luke 8 (Listen 8:09)

​This Weekend’s Readings
Haggai 2 (Listen 3:49), Luke 9 (Listen 8:05)
Zechariah 3 (Listen 3:37), Luke 7 (Listen 5:40)

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Read more about An Amazed Faith :: Worldwide Prayer
Help me, my Lord, to always carry in my body
Your death, so that your life may be revealed
In me daily…

An Amazed Faith :: Worldwide Prayer