Tag Archive | The greatest

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (4/13) Luke 9:46-62

Apr13

A 5-day per week study.

April 13– Reading Luke 9:46-62

Read and believe in Jesus.

“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”  Luke 9:62.

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The Gospel according to Luke 9:46-62

Review –

REVIEW – Last week, we ended with the three witnessing Jesus’ transfiguration. Only Jesus could heal the demon-possessed little boy. The disciples did not comprehend His upcoming death and resurrection, nor what it meant to take up one’s cross, deny self, and follow Him.

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Vss. 46-48.

When the disciples began arguing as they walked along, about WHO WAS GREATEST among them, Jesus gave them that “Seriously?” look.

Of course, they still thought Jesus was on the way to becoming an earthly king and chasing out the Romans for them.  (They were thinking of the O. T. prophecies about the reigning Messiah and had forgotten those – especially in Isaiah – that talked about the “suffering servant” who came first.)

Jesus saw a little kid in the crowd that followed them, stopped, took the little one, and stood him right beside Him.  A clear picture of a taller adult, and (perhaps even) a toddler. Jesus rested His hand on the boy’s head.

“Whoever receives this child in my name receives Me, and whoever receives Me, receives Him who set Me.  For he who is LEAST among you all is … the one who is great.”

Huh?

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Vss. 49-50.

Next, one of the “sons of thunder,” John, came to Jesus with a self-important attitude. “Master, WE saw someone casting out demons in YOUR name, and WE tried to stop him, because he does not follow US.”

Can’t you just picture John preening, expecting an “Atta boy” from Jesus?

“Do NOT stop him,” Jesus rounded on John, “for the one who is NOT AGAINST you is FOR you.”

Huh?

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Vss. 51-56.

The time had come for Jesus to take that final walk to Jerusalem. (He would accomplish much along the way, and indeed, take short trips to Galilee (although his headquarters would no longer be there.)  He would do a lot of teaching and remonstrating in Jerusalem during several “Feasts” and before that final holy week.

BUT His face was now “set like a flint” towards “His hour” and the cross.

However, there is always Samaria.

On the main road from Galilee to Judea, there is a block of land known as Samaria, which must be traveled through – or else avoided by a long roundabout route (the seacoast, or east of the Jordan River).

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 NOTE: Long ago, some destitute Jewish farmers were abandoned there when the Assyrians took Israel captive. Later, Assyria sent a bunch of pagans to the area so the land could be farmed, and produce could be sent back.  These “foreigners” eventually intermarried with the Jews and mixed their idolatrous religion with the one true God’s. They kept ONLY the five books of Moses, plus other pagan nonsense. They even had their own “temple” on Mount Gerizim.

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Jews hated Samaritans and, if possible, avoided them at all costs. That space in the land of Israel was a bone of contention.   However, if one HAD to travel through the area, one COULD sometimes find lodging in a town for a night.

(Remember that John’s gospel tells of Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at the well. She was converted, and many in THAT town had also come to believe in Jesus.) 

Perhaps THIS was a different town.  In any case, when Jesus sent a couple of disciples ahead to make a reservation at the local Motel 6, they were rudely rebuffed.

Again, those “sons of thunder” disciples, James and John, got their dander up.  “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

Could they even do that???

Jesus must be very frustrated with his disciples by this time.  He was seriously thinking of His death by torture, and they were fooling around with petty, prideful nonsense!

He turned on them and REBUKED THEM.

Whoa!

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Vss. 57-62.

As they walked on – the disciples now silent – several people approached Jesus (or He called them over).

  • “I will follow You wherever You go!” proclaimed someone.
  • “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (a slam on that Samarian town?)
  • No word from the person, as he faded away.

 

  • “Follow me,” Jesus said to a promising young man. (Just like He’d said to Peter, James, John, Levi, and the rest.)
  • “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” (who was probably not even dead!).
  • “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God,” Jesus told him, seeing just another excuse to put off following Him.
  • Did the man obey?

 

  • “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home,” said another, who was probably thinking of a few things he wanted to do first, and the big farewell party to be planned.
  • “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God,” Jesus said.
  • Did he decide it was just too much to ask of him right now?

So, did the group increase as they walked towards Jerusalem, or did the eager wannabes turn back?

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What is keeping ME from forsaking all and wholeheartedly following Jesus? 

Is it my family with its responsibilities, a fear of losing comfort and convenience, or some bucket-list things I want to do first?  

When will I let go, and seriously give the rest of my years, means, and strength to HIM?

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 295

Oct22

  Day 295—We are in the TENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

    Day 295 – Matthew 18 (parables, temptations to sin, forgiveness, when a brother sins)

Jesus’ disciples are at it again after Jesus tells Peter to fish for a coin out of a fish for the Temple Tax for Peter and Himself.  The rest want to know, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom?’

Maybe they were thinking that Peter was most favored; maybe they were thinking of the late, great Baptist…. or someone else.  Jesus surprised them by picking up a little child and perhaps settling it on His lap. 

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn (repent) and become like children, you will never ENTER (let alone be greatest) in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the “greatest” in the kingdom of heaven.”

(NOTE: I need to be repentant and humble; childlike, not childish.)

Verse 6. “One of these little ones who believe in Me,”  Jesus warns them never to cause one to sin. 

Verse 10. “One of these little ones,”  Jesus says, “See that you do not despise one.”

Verse 14. “One of these little ones.” Jesus states firmly, “It is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one should perish. Their angels always see the face of my Father.” He illustrates this by telling a story where a man leaves 99 sheep to find a lost little one.

Verses 15-35.  Jesus teaches about sin and forgiveness; 1) what to do if a brother sins against you, 2) how many times are we to forgive a brother who sins against us, 3) the parable about being forgiven much and forgiving others, and 4) HOW to forgive one who sins against you. 

  1.  The steps of reconciliation with a Christian brother who sins against you are: First, go to him privately and talk about it. Second, take a couple believers with you and talk about it. Next, if it’s not resolved, tell the congregation of believers. Finally, if he still refuses to listen, separate him from the group of believers — until he repents — so the discord won’t spread.
  2. When Peter asks Jesus, ‘How many times do I have to forgive a brother who sins against me, seven times?’  You can almost hear Jesus sigh. Oh, Peter, how many times have I forgiven you just this week??  But He doesn’t say that. Instead, Jesus says a number – 490 times – which would be impossible to keep track of.  The point is, don’t keep track. Just forgive! Always.
  3. Jesus then tells them a parable about a servant who is forgiven a vast amount of money by a king ($4-6 million today), who then goes to a fellow servant who owes him a mere pocketful of cash.  The forgiven servant has no pity on the man and has him thrown into debtor’s prison till he can pay.  The king eventually hears what he did and rescinds his forgiveness, calling him “a wicked servant.” Then, this formerly debt-free but unforgiving man is jailed for about 150,000 years until he can pay HIS debt.  
  4. Jesus then looks around at his shocked disciples. “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”