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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (8/18): John 17:20-26

Aug18

Read and believe in Jesus

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who WILL BELIEVE IN ME through their word.” John 17:20

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REVIEW – Jesus continued to pray for His disciples (including those believers not in the upper room, and women followers too). Jesus emphasized that these believers belonged to God first, and that God gave them to Jesus (as a reward for his work on the cross).

Then Jesus asked His Father to “keep them in His name” after He leaves the world. He also asks the Father to “keep them from the evil one.” And He prays that God will “sanctify them.” (Remember, Jesus is praying this for US BELIEVERS too.)

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John 17:20-26.

And then that wonderful verse that shows that Jesus was thinking and praying for YOU and me, while He knelt in the upper room among the eleven disciples.

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may ALL be one, just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in us … so that the world may believe that You have sent me.”

Our unity with fellow believers in the love of Jesus and the Father helps unbelievers see that Jesus really is the Christ, the Savior of the world.

Jesus said in chapter 15 that the world will know we are Christians (believers in Christ) because of our love for one another. Now He says that our love and unity with each other and with Him is what will stir up a hunger for faith in the people around us.

“Then Jesus shows His eagerness for all His disciples to one day be with Him in heaven, ‘to SEE My glory that You have given me because You loved me before the foundation of the world.”

Wow, if Jesus is so eager for US to be with Him in heaven, how much more should OUR hearts long for Him, and for “that day.” (Even so, LORD, come quickly!)

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Then Jesus summarizes His prayer in the last two verses of chapter 17, emphasizing the strong connection between God, Himself, and all true believers in both knowledge and love.

“O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know You, but I know You. And these disciples KNOW that You have sent Me.”

“I made known Your name to them, and I will continue to make it known.”

“May the love with which You have loved Me be in them, and I in them.”

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(AMEN!)

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (8/17): John 17:6-19

Aug17

Read and believe in Jesus

“I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom You have given me, for they are Yours. “ John 17:9

REVIEW – After the Passover meal and a time of intimate teaching with His disciples, Jesus then turned to His Father in prayer. What a priviledge to hear their Master pray like this, as He praised and glorified His Father and spoke of them as chosen of God and given to Jesus, and granted eternal life.

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John 17:6-13

And now, you hear Jesus as He “reports in” to His Father.

“I have manifested (made known) Your name to the people (women too, although they were not present) whom you gave me out of the world.”

“I have given them the words that You gave me, and they have recived them and have come to know in truth that I came from You, and they have believed.”

“I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom You have given me, for they are Yours.”

“I have guarded them and not one of them has been lost … except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.”

(Psalm 41:9, Psalm 109:6-8 fortell Judas’ treachery. And John 13:18 reveals that while Jesus DID choose Judas, He KNEW he would be the betrayer from the beginning. See Matthew 10:4, Mark 3:19, and Luke 6:16.)

“But now, I am coming to You…” (Can you feel His eagerness to be “home”?) And Jesus prays that THEY may have His joy fulfilled in them.

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John 17:14-19. Jesus prays earnestly for the disciples (and the other believers not present in that upper room – including we who believe.)

“I have given them Your word, but the world has hated them because they are not OF the world.”

Jesus acknowledges that the situation for His followers will be hard. The world will hate and abuse them. And so, Jesus prays specifically for them (and us).

“I do not ask that You take them OUT of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.”

“Sanctify them (cleanse them and make them holy) in the truth; Your WORD is truth. As You sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.“

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(What joy to hear Jesus PRAYING for His disciples – all of us.

Doesn’t that give you comfort when you experience ridicule and persecution for HIS sake?.

Think: Jesus is praying for me right now, as he stands beside the Father. He is also protecting me from the devil, the evil one, who causes others to want to harm me, but also brings doubts inside to my very soul.

In a quiet moment, stop and thank Him for His love and protection, for the truth He’s given us in His word, and for the Joy He has promised as we hear and obey Him.)

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (8/14) John 17:1-5

Aug14

Read and believe in Jesus

“And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 15.3

The Gospel according to John

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REVIEW – Jesus seemed to speak in riddles to the disciples. “In a little while” this, and in another “little while” that. Some of the disciples asked, “What does He mean?” and “What is He talking about?” Jesus had already referred to His death and resurrection, when they would be sad, but the world would rejoice, and then the opposite when He lived again. But now Jesus tells them about a longer period without Him, for He would be returning to Heaven to His Father. BUT! He would send the Holy Spirit in His place, who would be in them ALL, to help, teach, comfort, and empower. He assured them that their joy would be full! And He WOULD return!

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John 17:1-5.

And then the teaching was finished, and Jesus lifted His eyes to Heaven to pray. He knew their hearts and minds were in turmoil, and He wanted to pray for them. He began by speaking to His Father in an intimate communion of mutual knowledge and praise.

“Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him.

“And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

“I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in Your own presence with the glory that I had with You before the world existed.”

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Such intimate prayer between Father and Son. It makes me want to kneel and bow in their presence.

You can feel the bond that they had before the world was created, united as One in the pre-knowledge of the Fall and man’s separation. They were also united in one plan: the redemption of mankind through the willing sacrifice of the Son, and the grace and mercy of the Father as He chose His redeemed and drew them to the Savior, with the Holy Spirit convicting and giving the needed faith.

You can also feel Jesus’ eagerness to be back with His Father. And so, “for the joy set before Him, He would endure the cross” and all that led up to it.

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Jesus’ prayer will continue in the next reading.

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (6/3) Luke 23:26-43

Jun3

A 5-day per week study.

June 3 – Reading Luke 23:26-43

 

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”  Luke 23:43

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The Gospel according to Luke 

Review – Jesus stood under the interrogations of Pilate, of Herod, and of Pilate again.  The Roman governor declared him not guilty of anything worthy of death. But the religious leaders and the incited crowds demanded crucifixion.  Pilate gives in and delivers Jesus to their will (not knowing it was GOD’S will for Jesus to die).

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Vss. 23:26-32.

As they led the weakened Jesus away from the court and up the hill to Golgotha with the heavy cross on His bleeding back, He stopped, unable to continue.  A Roman soldier grabbed the nearest strong-looking guy and made him carry Jesus’ cross the rest of the way.

(Not what HE expected to do on Passover morning! Did he stay and watch Jesus crucified and hear Him speak?)

(Simon of Cyrene evidently told this experience to his sons, Alexander and Rufus.  Paul later references them as believers.)

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A great multitude followed the procession up the hill. The women in the crowd were mourning and lamenting for Jesus.

Jesus turned to them with this warning.

“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for ME, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’  At that time, they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’

For if they do THESE THINGS when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

(These women were not necessarily believers. More probably, they were professional mourners who attended “high-profile” executions. Jesus’ words to them were a prophetic warning about what was coming to their city and nation.)

Two other criminals were led away as well, to be put to death with Jesus.  We will hear more of them later.

 (NOT the murderer Barabbas, however. He got off scot-free. He was like us.  We were sinners, condemned to death. But Jesus became our substitute, dying in our place.  The sinless for the sinful.  His death and resurrection made it possible for us to then be declared righteous by God when we trust in Him.)

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Vss. 23:33-38.

(Such a horrible scene, I can hardly write about it.)

When they came to the top of the hill, a place called ‘The Skull,’ they stripped Jesus and the others and nailed Him to the wood. Then they raised those instruments of torture and dropped them into prepared holes.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” Jesus cried out.

Beneath His cross, the soldiers picked through His clothes and cast lots for them.

(Pitiful garments of His earthly journey.)

People stood around watching.

  • The rulers scoffed at Him, saying, “He saved others, let Him save Himself, if He is the Christ of God, His Chosen one.”

(Such blasphemy!)

  • The soldiers also mocked Jesus, coming up and offering Him sour wine and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!)

(Pilate had put a placard over Jesus’ head with that inscription.)

  • One of the criminals who was also hanged on a cross railed at Jesus, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself AND US!”

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(Luke gives three of the horrible verbal assaults thrown at Jesus. They remind me of the mocking assaults Satan hurled at Jesus after His 40 days of fasting in the desert.  And, indeed, these, at His crucifixion, were inspired by the devil himself, trying to cast doubt on Jesus’ heredity and mission – the “seed of woman” who would “crush the head of the serpent.” Genesis 3:15.)

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Then we meet the second of the two criminals on the crosses on either side of Jesus.  He said to the scoffing one, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds, but THIS MAN has done nothing wrong!”

And turning to Jesus, he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

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(Did you see that beautiful conversion?  A confession of sin and acknowledgment that he deserved death.  A declaration of who Jesus was (sinless, the King of the Jews). A plea for remembrance and forgiveness.  And then …  Jesus’ beautiful acceptance of the saved sinner. 

(And this is how people are born again today, too!  GLORIOUS!!)

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (5/12) Luke 18:1-14.

May12

A 5-day per week study.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”  Luke 18:1

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The Gospel according to Luke 

Review – In the last lesson, Jesus talked about His coming in glory, how it would be similar to two Old Testament judgments, and what to look for beforehand. “Remember Lot’s wife,” Jesus cautioned them.



Vss, 18:1-8a.

Jesus says that men (all of us) ought always to pray and not to lose heart. In these verses, He tells a parable about persistent prayer with an encouraging ending.

But why would someone ‘lose heart’ when they pray?  Maybe because after praying for a long time, they still saw no answers. Sound familiar?  I have a couple of prayers that I’ve been praying for seemingly forever.

The Apostle Paul encouraged prayer, too. (And remember, Dr. Luke probably heard these as he traveled and worked with the apostle.)

For example, here are a few of Paul’s exhortations.

  • Romans 1:9 – “…without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers…”
  • Romans 12:12 – “…be constant in prayer.”
  • Ephesians 6:18 – “…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.”
  • 2 Thessalonians 1:11 – “To this end, we always pray for you…”

And so, Jesus tells this little parable that reflects those times well.

Judges were often corrupt, or at least self-interested.  Widows were “on the bottom of the pile” in Jewish hierarchy.  A woman without a husband or son had no standing, no voice at all in the community.

And yet, in Jesus’ story, there is a very persistent widow.

“In a certain city, there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.”   He was a thoroughly wicked, selfish, and unrighteous man.

“And there was in that city a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’”   The woman had a legitimate grievance. A person, probably a man, was harassing her unjustly. As a widow, she had no one to turn to except this vile judge.

“Go away, woman!”

“Stop bothering me!”

“You?? Are you here again?  I said, stop bothering…  Oh, give me your problem. I’ll deal with it, so you will STOP. BOTHERING. ME with your continual coming!”

So… was the widow’s problem solved?

Yes. But not because the judge had any compassion.  He was selfish. He helped her to get some relief for HIMSELF.

But our Father in Heaven is not like that.  

Jesus said, “Hear what that unrighteous judge said.  And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to him day and night?  Will He delay long over them?  I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily.”

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Vss. 18:8b.

Then Jesus asks what seems to be a rhetorical question.  “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes (back), will He find faith on the earth?”

Jesus had earlier been telling them of His return, comparing it to the judgments in Noah’s and Lot’s times.  In the first instance, ONLY Noah (with his family) had faith and was saved. (Hebrews 11:7)  In the story of Sodom, ONLY Lot (with his daughters) had a semblance of faith. (2 Peter 2:7-8)

So, today?  Soon, when Jesus returns?  How many will He find and take away who TRULY BELIEVE?  (Matthew 7:14, “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”)

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Vss. 18:9-14.

Perhaps thinking of who HE considered righteous (like Noah and Lot) and who others thought were righteous (religious leaders), and maybe even who was outright Unrighteous (that judge), Jesus told another parable.

It was shocking to the Pharisees who listened. The point of the story was to point out “those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and who therefore had contempt for all others.”

 (But I bet it made Matthew’s heart joyful.)

“TWO men went up into the temple to pray, a Pharisee and a tax collector.”

(Right, you could already see the sneers on the faces of the listening Pharisees.)

“The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men … extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 

“I fast TWICE a week.  I give tithes on ALL I get.”

(Can you see this man parading around, chest out, eyes peering down over his nose to the “low-life?”)

However, Jesus goes on with His story, aggravating His pompous listeners.

“But… the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”

Jesus then probably looked deep into the eyes of His listeners, and said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house JUSTIFIED, rather than the other, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Everyone vs the one.

In this one parable, Jesus taught His listeners HOW to pray, and WHO will have faith when He returns.

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (5/8) Luke 17:1-19

May8

A 5-day per week study.

May 8 – Reading Luke 17:1-19

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Lord, increase our faith!” “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed…”  Luke 17:5-6a

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The Gospel according to Luke 

Review: Jesus told the story of the rich man and Lazarus, who both died and had very different fates.  The rich man wanted to warn his brothers about that horrid place, but Father Abraham told him, EVEN IF someone would return from the grave, they would not listen.”  We have such hard hearts!

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Vss. 17:1-5.

“Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come.”

Jesus states a fact: we will all face many temptations every day. Some will come from within ourselves, from our sinful desires, and should be resisted. But many subtle or even gross temptations to sin will come via the ungodly people around us. It’s a given.

However, what Jesus adamantly forbids here is for a believer to tempt someone to sin.  He’d be better off dead!

We say, “I’d never do that!” But think about it. What about those “innocent” fun activities that escalate into sinful indulgence or gross misconduct?

Jesus then turns the picture around from temptations to your reactions.  “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.  If he sins against you seven times a day, and turns to you in repentance, YOU MUST forgive him.”

And what was the disciples’ reaction?  “Lord, increase our faith!” They weren’t sure they could do what Jesus said.

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Vss. 17:6-7.

Jesus reacted by telling them they didn’t need MORE faith. They need to USE their faith, not desire MORE.  What they had already possessed would move trees and mountains elsewhere. No, the faith they had at that moment was sufficient.

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Vss. 17:8-10.

Next comes a curious example that falls crookedly on our modern-day sensibilities. We have people who work for us, but most of us do not own servants and/or slaves.  We pay our workers for their jobs, and don’t really expect them to go over and beyond what they’ve been hired to do (without negotiating).

So, put your imagination back to Jesus’ day, and see what you can learn about “unworthy servants.”  (Meaning US????  Whoa!!!)

“Will any of you (speaking to a broader audience now)  say to your servant who has been plowing or keeping sheep and has come into the house, ‘Come at once and recline at the table?’”

Can’t you almost hear them laughing at such a notion?

“No, you will rather say, ‘Prepare supper for me. Dress properly and serve me while I eat and drink.  After THAT, YOU will eat and drink.’ Does he then thank the servant for doing what was commanded?”

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Wow.  Doesn’t this go against our natural inclinations, especially in the U.S.?  Your hardworking man slaves all day in the heat, and THEN he’s supposed to come in, cook your meal, and serve you BEFORE he can take a bite???  Yes.  And he doesn’t even expect a ‘thank you.’

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So, what was Jesus saying?

The point is that a slave/servant should not expect special reward for doing what his duty in the first place was.

Now recall the standards Jesus set for believers in verses 1-4.

  1. Believers had better not tempt others to sin.
  2. Believers must forgive a repentant brother AS MANY TIMES as he sincerely repents.
  3. Believers should USE the faith they already have rather than ask for more.

The above “duties” are the minimal things that believers are expected to do. No special merit for obedience should be expected.

Whoa.

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Vss. 17:11-19.

(This incident happened sometime later, maybe after He’d raised Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus from the dead, and He had retreated into the country to avoid the Jerusalem authorities who wanted to kill Him right then.  Luke 19 tells of Jesus’s triumphal entry at Jerusalem and His subsequent death, at His OWN timing.)

Anyway, when Jesus and His disciples entered a village, they were met by TEN LEPERS who stood at a distance calling.

“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

These men believed Jesus could heal them if only He would.  Jesus saw their faith.

“Go and show yourselves to the priests.” He called to them.

Huh?

A strict law was established for dealing with “healed” lepers.  They had to go to the priest, show them their now clear skin, and do some tests. In a certain time, they’d return, and if they were still healed, the priest would take them through the ceremonial cleansing ritual and then give them a clean bill of health.

These men knew the routine and left, believing Jesus had healed them.

Then, one of the men looked down at his hands and feet and SAW the miracle. Gratitude and worship filled his soul. He turned back, praising God with a loud voice, and fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks.

He, among the ten, was a Samaritan.

Jesus was amazed that the Samaritan, among the Jews, had returned to thank and praise God.  A foreigner, and one hated by Jews at that.  HE had been “converted,” I am sure.  Not only a “clean body,” he now had a “clean soul” as well.

Jesus looked at him and said, “Rise and go your way, your FAITH has made you well (“saved you” like the woman with the issue of blood. See Mark 5:34).

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(What a glorious story! “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one may boast.? Ephesians 2:8-9.  Others look down on this man with disdain.  A Samaritan, pooh!  But this man received Jesus AND healing: a double miracle.  And he praised and worshiped God.

Wow.  When is the last time I fell to my knees and proclaimed my worship and praise for my Savior and God loudly?)

 

 

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (4/17) Luke 11:1-13

Apr17

A 5-day per week study.

April 17 – Reading Luke 11:1-13

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Lord, teach us to pray…”  Luke 11:1

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The Gospel according to Luke

Review – Last time, Jesus visited two sisters in Bethany. Martha is anxious because there is “so much to do.” She commands Jesus to tell Mary to help her! Jesus, kindly but firmly, says no. Mary’s choice to sit and listen to his teaching was a good one. Rebuked … what did Martha do?

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Vss. 11:1-4.

We don’t know where this happened, but somewhere, the disciples quietly watched Jesus as He prayed. After He finished, they asked Him to teach them to pray.  And Jesus did.

This is a shorter version of the “Lord’s Prayer” that Jesus taught the crowds in the Sermon on the Mount. At that time, He’d instructed them…

  1. NOT to stand up to pray in the synagogues or on street corners to be seen by others, but to go into their room, shut the door, and pray to God in secret. God will hear that prayer.
  2. NOT to “heap up empty words” when they prayed as the pagans did. God knew what they needed even before they asked.

Here, Jesus gave them a simplified version.

  • Whom to pray to: the Father,
  • Worship/adoration: hallowed (holy) is Your name.
  • Humble submission to His will: (may) Your kingdom come.
  • Looking to Him for our needs: give us each day our daily bread,
  • Confession: forgive us our sins
  • Repentance: as we forgive everyone indebted to us.
  • Dependence on Him for holy living: lead us not into temptation.

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Vss. 11:5-7.

Jesus encourages His disciples not just to recite a prayer, but to be serious and urgent in their praying. We aren’t to kneel for a 5-minute morning prayer and a few “table graces” and think that is all we need.

Jesus then tells the disciples a parable to illustrate the persistence they should have in prayer.

The scenario Jesus paints is that of a man surprised by a friend who arrives very late at night from a long journey. The man wants to feed this tired and hungry traveler, but there is nothing in the “fridge.”

Even though it is late, he goes to his neighbor, who is also a friend. And, although this neighbor and his entire family have long since blown out the lamps and gone to bed, our guy pounds on the door.

“Please lend me three small loaves for a surprise visitor!”

“What? Are you serious? We are all in bed! I can’t get up to give you any bread!”

Knock, knock, knock. “Please! Just a few loaves!”

“Go away!”

Knock, knock, knock. “Please, I have nothing to give him at all!”

Silence.

Knock, knock, knock. “Please, neighbor! I am desperate. I have nothing!”

Silence.

Then a click and a creak as the door is opened.  A basket of bread is shoved out. Our man takes it and begins to thank his neighbor profusely, but the door closes.

Nevertheless, he joyfully returns home. He has something to feed his exhausted and hungry long-distance visitor.

(No, this is not teaching us to simply “bother God” with constantly repeating requests. Or that God is begrudging with His answers.  But with another’s need in mind, and with a selfless, dependent attitude, we are to be persistent before the throne of grace.)

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Vss. 11:8-10.

So, Jesus encourages His disciples in TWO WAYS to –

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 

“For everyone who asks, receives, and the one who seeks, finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened.”

That almost seems like ‘carte blanche’. But note the examples of requests that Jesus gives in the next section.

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Vss. 11:11-13.

“If a son asks for a FISH (to eat), will the father give him a snake instead?

If a son asks for an EGG, will the father give him a scorpion?

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give THE HOLY SPIRIT to those who ask Him?”

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (4/8) Luke 8:40-56

Apr8

A 5-day per week study.

April 8 – Reading Luke 8:40-56

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Do not fear, only believe.”  Luke 8:50

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The Gospel according to Luke 8:40-56

Review –

Jesus reacted to family (natural & spiritual). Jesus slept during a storm but awoke and calmed the wind and sea. Across the Lake, Jesus calms a different kind of whirlwind and raging sea, that of the demon-possessed man. Pigs are involved, and a former demoniac becomes an evangelist in his hometown.

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We’ve already studied these next two side-by-side incidents in Mark.  Let’s see how Dr. Luke tells them.

It’s interesting how he writes the stories in pairs.  First, the Centurion’s servant and the widow’s only son were cured/resurrected. Then the raging wind and sea calmed, mirroring the raging madness and deliverance of the demon-possessed man.  Now two “daughters” are cured and restored to “life” at twelve years.

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Vss. 40-42.

Jairus’ VERY sick daughter.

As soon as Jesus crosses back over the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, a prominent, important leader of the synagogue falls at His feet, begging him to come heal his daughter of 12 years, who is at the brink of death.

“I will,” says Jesus, and goes with Jairus.

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Vss. 43-48.

A VERY unclean “daughter” of Israel.

But He is stopped by an unnamed woman who has been ceremonially unclean with an “issue of blood” for as long as Jairus’ daughter has been alive.  She cannot worship in the synagogue, be among “clean” women, or be touched by anyone without infecting them with her “uncleanness.”  And she is now destitute because she’s spent ALL her money on doctors to cure her, but NONE were able to help her.

(I bet that made Dr. Luke feel bad!)

In the crowd following Jesus, this “outcast” woman sneaks up and touches the fringe of Jesus’ prayer garment – one of the four corner tassels with blue threads woven through it. IMMEDIATELY, healing power flows into her, and she is HEALED!

Healed, yes.  But NOT RESTORED (cleansed) in the eyes of Israel.

“Who touched me?” Jesus asks.

“Are you serious, Jesus. All these people are crowding around you. EVERYONE is touching you!” says Peter.

“Someone touched me for healing, for I perceive that POWER has gone out from  me.”

Then Jesus SAW the woman.

She saw she could not hide and came trembling to Jesus. And IN THE PRESENCE OF ALL THAT CROWD, she declared WHY she had touched Jesus, AND that she’d been cured.

(Even today, those who are redeemed by the grace of God should not remain silent, but testify to all how Jesus saved them!)

Not in a rush, not stressed by the anxious Jairus pacing nearby, Jesus looked at the woman and said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

Daughter. No longer an outcast. She now has the same standing as Jairus’s own innocent little girl.

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Vss. 49-56.

A VERY dead little girl.

Jairus is torn apart with anxiety and dread while Jesus ministers to the woman.

After all, HIS DAUGHTER is more worthy of Jesus’ attention; she’s an innocent little girl.  And HE, the leader of the synagogue, is surely more important than that woman. His daughter deserves Jesus’ attention more than she does.  HIS situation is more dire. That woman has waited twelve years; let her wait a few more minutes!!!

“I’m sorry, Sir,” whispers one of his servants. “Your daughter has died.  Bother the Master no longer.”

And like that, this important man’s world has ended. He falls to his knees with a deep wail of sorrow and “if only…”

Did he now feel the hopelessness and loss of all joy that the woman had felt for twelve years?

“Do not fear, only believe, and she will be well,” came Jesus’s words through his bitter anguish. He looks up through tears.

Numb, he stumbles along beside Jesus and approaches his house – so very close! (if only…)

Already, the paid mourners are weeping and wailing out front.

“Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping,” Jesus said.

And taking Peter, John, and James along with the girl’s parents, Jesus goes into the house, where the body of the little girl lies. He takes her by the hand.

“Child, arise,”  Jesus says, and the little girl’s spirit RETUNS to her. (Yes, she WAS dead.)  She sits up at once, and Jesus directs that some food be brought to her.

(If she’s been sick a while, she NEEDS food.  But also, at least with Jesus and the disciples after HIS resurrection, eating food is proof positive that indeed the dead one has been brought back to life.)

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And so, there was joy in two households that day. Two daughters had been restored to life. One goes back to a normal way of living, loving, enjoying fellowship, and the other goes back to literal breathing and eating.

JESUS IS the Resurrection and the LIFE.  PRAISE HIM!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (3/25) Luke 5:12-26

Mar25

A 5-day per week study.

March 25 – Reading Luke 5:12-26

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Lord, if You will, you can make me clean.” “I will. Be clean.”  Luke 5:13

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The Gospel according to Luke 5:12-26

Review – In the last study, we saw Jesus in an empty, cleaned fishing boat.  He taught the crowd, then told Simon Peter to “catch some fish.”  But they’d fished all night with not a sardine! Nevertheless, Peter pushed out into deep water and threw the freshly washed nets over the side.

And fish!!! So much so that, even with the help of other boats, they couldn’t hold them all. A picture of evangelism in Jesus’ Kingdom, when obedience is before human wisdom.  You will be “fishers of men,” Jesus told them.

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Vss. 12-16.

Jesus is now teaching in another town. A leper approaches Him, saying,“If You will … You can make me clean.”

Those with leprosy in that day had to stay far away from healthy people.  They had to cry out, “Unclean, unclean!” whenever people passed by as a warning of their contagion.  Dr. Luke describes this man as being “full of leprosy,” so this was an advanced case. 

The man had been suffering for a long time. He was desperate.  He’d heard one of the “reports” about Jesus, how He was healing ALL diseases and casting out demonic spirits.  A glimmer of hope had sprung up.  And then He SAW Jesus.

He didn’t run to Him; perhaps his feet were so diseased that he couldn’t.

He simply fell … on his (mutilated) face … and begged.

“Lord! IF YOU WILL, You can make me clean.”  There was no doubt of Jesus’ ability. Leprosy was no match for this Healer.  But WOULD He? Would He have mercy? 

And then came the TOUCH.  Jesus TOUCHED the fully leprous man.

“I will,” Jesus said.“Be clean.”

Four words, and the leprosy was gone.  Such power in the WORDS of Jesus.

Leprosy (a picture of sin in the world) did not infect Jesus. His cleanness “infected” the man.

Oh, what grace! Oh, what deliverance! Oh, what joy!

(This is such a vivid picture of a sinner coming to Jesus. He’s heard that He CAN save sinners, that He DOES save sinners, but WILL He save this one?  Will He save me?  [See Romans 10:9-13, John 3:16-19, Acts 16:30-31)

Jesus instructed the man to do what the Law of Moses demanded when a person was healed/cleansed of leprosy. They were to go to a priest, show their “clean” skin, wait a period, and be examined again. And if the priest declared it so, they would offer a sacrifice. (Leviticus 13:1-46)

Luke doesn’t say that the man didn’t tell everyone he knew that he was healed.  But they could SEE. The formerly leprous man had clean, whole skin. He again had fingers and toes, ears and nose.  Amazement abounded.

And the “report” of Jesus’ teaching, healing, and casting out demons expanded to include the cleansing of leprosy.  Great crowds of needy, hurting people gathered to hear Him and be healed.

And Jesus withdrew to desolate places to pray.

(Wow. If the perfect, powerful, sinless Son of God found the time, place, and opportunity (and the NEED) to quietly pray to His father … how much more should this be true of us.)

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Vs. 17.

On another occasion, as Jesus was teaching … Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there.  They’d come from every village of Galilee, Judea, and even Jerusalem to “check Him out.” The reports of Jesus were spreading. These “hawks” were watching Him critically.

We don’t know exactly where Jesus was, but He was inside a building, maybe someone’s house, large enough to hold such a “convocation” of Jewish hierarchy.

“And the power of the Lord was with Him to heal.”

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Vss. 18-20.

And still, the needy crowds flocked to Jesus.  A group of men, friends of a paralyzed man, heard where Jesus was and loaded up their friend on a stretcher-like mat.  The house was crowded, and people massed outside, listening to Jesus teach.  How would they reach Him with their friend?

  • Four sets of eyes raised to the roof, and the stairs leading to the “outdoor” room behind the parapet.
  • They carried their helpless friend up, laid him down, and began dismantling the roof.
  • Tiles were pried up and carefully laid aside, exposing the wood rafters.
  • Eventually, dust and pieces of “grout” filtered down inside the house.
  • All inside looked up, and the men lowered their friend’s mat, JUST IN FRONT OF JESUS.

Jesus looked UP and saw THEIR faith, and said to THE MAN, “Your sins are forgiven.”

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Vss. 21-26.

Of course, the hyper-religious Pharisees jumped on these words. In their hearts, they were condemning Jesus of blasphemy. WHO can forgive sins but God?  Is this man saying He is … GOD??

“Why do you question in your hearts?” Jesus knew their thoughts.

“Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ Or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

But so that you may KNOW that the Son of Man HAS authority on earth to forgive sins…”  Jesus turns to the man who was paralyzed and says, “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”

Immediately, the formerly paralyzed man rose up, picked up what he’d been lying on, and went through the door and home, glorifying God (with his four friends, I’m sure). 

(Yes, I believe that later, they returned and, when the house was empty, repaired the roof.)

And amazement seized all who witnessed and heard of this miracle, and they glorified God, and were filled with awe, saying, ”We have seen extraordinary things today.”

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(Did the religious leaders also glorify God?  Or did they feel outrage at Jesus’ words and actions? Was the darkness of murder already filling their hearts and minds? This was only the beginning of clashes between Jesus and those who were supposed to lead Israel in holiness.)