Luke 24 "But on the first day of the week, at early dawn... " 

The women came to finish laying His body to rest.. but.. the stone was rolled away.. the tomb was empty.. and then angels appeared! "Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen.." 

Jesus had told them.. but they didn't understand.. didn't believe.. didn't know that God would do this impossible thing...until now.  That very moment "they remembered".  They knew.  They returned "and reported all these things to the eleven and to the rest."  No one believed..but.. Peter "arose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went to his home, marveling at that which had happened." 

Luke takes us quickly through the next events.. Jesus walking with the two disciples to Emmaus. Jesus meeting with the apostles in the upper room.. and Jesus ascending into heaven. 

They were "slow of heart to believe.."  Jesus said. They were needlessly troubled. They needed to understand all that the Scriptures had said about Him. "Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures." 

When the Holy Spirit came upon them the would be "clothed with power from on high".  They would proclaim "that repentance for forgiveness of sins... in His name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem." 

Sorrow was washed away.. great joy filled their hearts.. and they were "continually in the temple, praising God." 

We celebrated Easter.. or Resurrection Sunday.. in so many ways yesterday.. all over this world.  So much of the "celebrations"  have nothing at all to do with the joy that the disciples found with the Living One during those days.  It was a joy that changed their lives and changed the world.  It is a joy unspeakable that changes every heart that will choose to believe. 

Father in heaven,  we rejoice that our Savior lives!  May our hearts stop being slow to believe.. may our minds be opened to understand.. may we be filled with the Holy Spirit.. clothed with power from on high! May we be faithful to proclaim the good news of repentance in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. Thank You for the wonderful celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. We praise You! Amen and amen. 

 Luke 23  I will go back to chapter 19 next week, but for today, Good Friday, I want to visit the events of that day.. the day that Jesus suffered. 

It started the night before, after the Passover Meal, when the group headed to the Mount of Olives, and Jesus fell to His knees and began to pray, "Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will but Thine be done."  As He prayed, His disciples slept. The multitude gathered and the betrayer came. 

Jesus was brought before the high priest... mocked, beaten, and blindfolded.  On that Friday morning the Council of elders came. "If You are the Christ," they said, "tell us."  But.. when He told them, they would not believe and brought Him before Pilate. 

Three times Pilate found nothing to convict Jesus of and was willing to release Him.  Three times the Sanhedrin insisted that Jesus be crucified.  They were insistent. They would not quit. And they prevailed. 

Jesus was led away, so weak from the beatings that He had endured.. that Simon of Cyrene was enlisted to carry the cross behind Jesus. 

"And when they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left." 

The soldiers divided His garments. 

The people stared at Him. 

The rulers sneered. 

And Jesus prayed for the Father to forgive them. 

"And it was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, the sun being obscured, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus crying out with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into Thy hands I commit My Spirit.' And having said this, He breathed His last." 

The centurion praised God, for he understood that Jesus was innocent and that His death was far from ordinary ..  The multitudes.. began to return, beating their breasts. His friends and His mother and the other women, stood at a distance, watching. 

Joseph of Arimathea received permission to take the body of Jesus and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock. 

And it was done. 

Father in heaven, we call this day "good" not because Jesus suffered such cruelty and horror.. but because He did so for us.. that we might be saved by the One sacrifice that can wash us clean of all our sin. The One sacrifice that was enough, once for all, to pay the high price for the redemption of mankind.. for all who will believe in Him. You asked Your Son to lay down His life and He humbly and willingly suffered and died on a cruel cross that day.. that Good Friday.  How can it be?  What is impossible for man.. is possible with God.. and by Your grace we are saved. Thank You Lord!  Let the glory and grace of Jesus Christ our King be made known in our country and in this world today we pray.  In Jesus' Name. Amen. 

 Luke 18:28-43 ; 19:1-10

Peter.. just as astounded as the others that Jesus said it was hard for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God.. made a simple statement, "Behold, we have left our own homes, and followed You."  Was he wondering if it was worth it?  Was he wondering if that got him into the kingdom?  Jesus reassured him and the rest of the disciples that "there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life."   Yes.. it is worth it all!

Things were about to get bad.  Jesus tells them again that He is going up to Jerusalem to die. All that the prophets had said about Him would be done.. including mocking and mistreatment, scourging and death on the cross. But.. they still did not understand and "this saying was hidden from them.."  

As the group proceeds towards Jerusalem they come upon a blind man who begins to yell out, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"  Even when others tried to quiet him, the man continued to cry out.  And.. Jesus stopped.  

"What do you want Me to do for you?" He asked.  

"Lord, I want to regain my sight." Bartimaeus answered.  

And Jesus spoke to him, "Receive your sight, your faith has made you well."  

No mud.. not even a touch..  just a brief conversation..  a few words from Jesus changed that man's life.. "And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him and glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God." 

The next stop that Jesus made is underneath the tree where Zaccheus had climbed in order to see Him.  Jesus called him to come down so that He could stay at his house.  Zaccheus was ready to receive Jesus.. in his home and in his heart.  The people complained but Jesus welcomed Zaccheus into the kingdom, "Today salvation has come to this house because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." 

Both Bartimaeus and Zaccheus received Jesus that day.  Both had been lost but now were found. Both of their lives were changed.  Bartimaeus, the blind beggar.. and Zaccheus, the rich tax-gatherer went from death to life that day.  Both of them knew that God had done the impossible work of salvation in them.  Indeed, "the things that are impossible with men are possible with God" !

Father in heaven, we give You glory, for You have done the impossible things in our own lives.  You have healed sicknesses, You have redeemed sinners.  You have given to us a Savior who came to die on a cruel cross so that we might know You.. to know that it is worth it all because we have received eternal life.. and in this life we will see Your greatness, goodness, and glory.  King Jesus, we bow before You and receive You as our Lord and Master. Come and fill us once again  Holy Spirit so that the Name of Jesus will be on our lips and His light will shine brightly in our lives. Do the impossible once again, Lord God so that more eyes will be opened and more people will be saved to the glory of Your Holy Name.  Amen.

 Luke 18:18-27   The young man saw Jesus and ran up to Him.  Mark tells us that he even knelt before Him. His question seems sincere, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 

Jesus saw this young man. He asked a question in return, " Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone."  Then Jesus gives the man a reminder of what God calls good.. " Do not commit adultery, Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honor your Father and Mother." Matthew adds, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Mark adds, "Do not defraud." 

Why would Jesus speak only of these 5 commandments?  These all focus on relationships with others.. and the young man is confident that he has kept them.  But.. what of the first 4?  Did he have  "no other gods"?   Had he made himself an idol? Had he used God's name in vain? Was he observing the Sabbath to keep it holy?  And what of the last commandment?  Did he covet what belonged to his neighbor? The young man wanted to justify himself..yet... it seems that he knew something was lacking.  But he didn't like what Jesus had to say, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess, and distribute it to the poor and you shall have treasure in heaven, and come, follow Me." 

"But when he had heard these things, he became very sad; for he was extremely rich."  He turned away. He rejected the eternal life that he wanted so badly.. it was right there in front of him and he let it slip away.. His wealth was his god and it was too much to surrender.  He would rather have treasures on earth that would not last than treasures in heaven that will never perish. 

Jesus made a statement that shook them all.. "How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God."    Over and over Jesus taught that humility and trust in God are what is "good".  Oh, the way is narrow that leads to God's Kingdom!  It is hard to choose it.. but thankfully Jesus adds, "The things impossible with men are possible with God"!   

This is why He came.. to do the impossible.. to save the lost.. rich and poor.. Hallelujah!

Father in heaven, we come with grateful hearts to thank You for making a way when there was no other way.. and that way is Jesus!  King Jesus, we will follow You.. we will surrender all.  Help us to do the will of the Father, to exalt His Name, and to keep choosing the narrow way every day.. running the race set before us with our eyes fixed on You.  We ask this is Your Holy Name. Amen. 

 Luke 18:9-17  Jesus tells a second parable about prayer.  The first one emphasized how necessary it is for us to be persistent in prayer for we have a God who will hear and provide for those who continue in faith.  This one teaches about the attitude of prayer. 

The two men who go up to the temple are opposites in every way. The first is a Pharisee. The second is a tax-gatherer.  One would be considered "righteous" because of his position, his outward behavior, and his own testimony... "The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, 'God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people; swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get' "    He never acknowledged his sins, his failures, or his need for God's grace. 

The tax-gatherer was automatically judged to be evil. They all thought that the tax-gatherers were crooked, corrupt, and unclean because of their job.  This man, however, was "unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' "  All he asked for was mercy. With every word he confessed his unrighteousness and his need for a Savior.

Jesus says that it is the tax-gatherer who left the temple "justified".  The Pharisee was not repentant and  remained unforgiven.  The one who trusted in himself, thinking he was righteous was far from it.  The one who was held in contempt, despised by the Pharisee.. is the one who is made truly righteous by the Lord.  

Jesus says, as He had said before, "everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted." 

Luke gives us another glimpse of this truth in the next few verses.  The people were bringing their babies to Jesus "so that He might touch them".  The disciples tried to stop them, but Jesus "called for them".  He said "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all." 

The Message says it this way, " Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child you'll never get in." 

 With simple faith, a  humble heart, and an honest confession of sin.. we come to the only One who has mercy to give, grace to bestow, forgiveness to offer and love to complete it all so that we can receive His Kingdom.  Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Father in heaven, we exalt Your Holy Name and we praise the Son of righteousness!  Hold us in Your Hands today we pray. How we need You every hour! Thank You for showing us mercy and forgiving our sins, for making us whole and clothing us in the righteousness of Jesus our Lord. Amen. 

 Luke 18:1-8  Luke says that this parable about prayer was to "show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart." 

The parable is about a judge and a widow.  The judge, we are told, "did not fear God and did not respect man." What a description!  None of us would want to willingly go before such a man.  No goodness is attributed to him.. he had power over others, but no mercy, no love.. and not even any regard for anyone but himself. 

The widow was a different character altogether !  She was relentless in her pursuit of justice.  She was bold to keep coming to this godless judge in an effort to find relief from her "adversary". 

Because of the widow's persistence she was finally granted justice in her case.  It was not goodness that caused the judge to finally relent and help her.. it was his selfish desire to just be done with her that he granted her request. 

The point of the story, Jesus says, is that if an unjust judge would help the widow because of her persistence.. that how much more our God.. who is good, who is gracious, and who is merciful and full of love.. a Just and Mighty God.. "bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night and will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will bring about justice for them speedily." 

What a wonderful promise!  Our God hears our prayers.  He sees our need.  He will act on our behalf.  He is able to do all things!  Our part is to keep praying, to keep trusting, and to be people of faith until Christ returns again. 

Prayer matters.  Persistent and consistent prayer matters.  Urgent prayers matter. Humble, honest prayers matter. 

Jesus says we "ought to pray" .. at "all times".  It is necessary.  It is needed. It is vital.  He also says that we should "not lose heart".. we should not "faint".  Don't grow weary. Don't give up.. don't fail.  Be like the widow.. bold, persistent, and relentless.  We have a good, good, Father who will not fail. May we be found to have the kind of faith that persists until the coming of Jesus. 

Father, may it be so! 

Amen. 

 Luke 17:20-37  

The Pharisees questioned Jesus about the coming of God's Kingdom.  They were still looking for signs.. they were still wanting proof that Jesus was Who He claimed He was. They still had a narrow definition of God's Sovereignty and Greatness.  They still had no clue what God's Kingdom was. 

Jesus answered the Pharisees, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed." In fact, He tells them, it is not something they could see or point to.. "Look, here it is!"  The truth, Jesus tells them, is that "the kingdom of God is in your midst."  The Kingdom of God was right there in front of them. They just couldn't see it. Their spiritual eyes were blind. They rejected the One who will bring the Kingdom to earth. 

Jesus preached continually about God's Kingdom.. it was His theme and His greatest desire.  He taught His disciples to pray, "Thy Kingdom Come".  He now gives them some more teaching about the Kingdom coming.. 

First, He tells His disciples that they would long for the Kingdom.. "the days of the Son of Man".. but they would not see it.  They wouldn't have to run here and there when others try to point them in a different direction. But.. when the Kingdom does come to earth.. when Christ returns "in His day".. there will be no doubt that it has come.. the whole world will know. 

Secondly, He tells them that before the Kingdom comes.. before He can return.. He will suffer. 

Jesus compares the coming of His Kingdom to the days of Noah and the days of Lot.  Life was going on ...In both cases people were just doing what they do.. eating, drinking, getting married.. building, planting, selling and buying. But, when Noah entered the ark with his family and when Lot left the city of Sodom with his family.. all those left behind were judged and destroyed. 

Those "taken" and those "left" in the next few verses represent those who are ready for the Kingdom and those who are not.  This is not arbitrary.  If a person seeks to "keep his life ".. if he is holding on to the things of this world and rejecting God's salvation.. they will lose everything.  But, those who "lose" their lives.. for the sake of the Kingdom..will live. 

The Kingdom of God is so near.. Christ has invited us in  and paved the way for us by His own death on the cross.  But.. some still choose their own way.. and no matter how good we think we are.. it is not enough.  Only Jesus saves and cleanses us from the thing that blocks our way to the Father.. sin.  Big sins, little sins,, unknown sins.. it doesn't matter. We are all in the same boat.. or if we think of Noah.. we are all outside the boat and only Jesus can open the door and let us in.  

Father in heaven,  Let Your Kingdom Come and let us be ready!  Open blind eyes today, Lord Jesus, so that the lost will call upon Your Name and be saved.  We know there is a Day coming when You will come again and reign on this earth.. and we pray that we will be ready!  We pray for the lost ones in our families.. those working beside us, those sharing our homes, those who are our neighbors ...will receive the Good News that You are able to save them and bring them into the Kingdom if they will just humble themselves and give their lives to You.  Our prayer lists are long, Lord. We bring each one to You right now and ask in the Name of Jesus.. in agreement with Your Will,  that many more will be saved. Amen