Luke 19:28-44
Jesus’ Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem 
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2019%3A28-44&version=NRSVUE
 
The traditional reading for this upcoming Sunday stops at verse 40, in which Jesus told some of the Pharisees that there’s no stopping his movement of peace and love. No one will remain silent about Jesus. If they would remain silent, “the stones would shout out” (v.40). The moment had come when God’s reign could not be squashed. Creation will sing God’s praises if the people can’t. That typically sounds like a great end to the story, but the Spirit nudged me to keep reading this week.
 
The next four verses were like a gut punch. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem did not end with cheering and celebrating. There was more to the story. According to the gospel of Luke, after Jesus’ processional, Jesus wept. Jesus wept over Jerusalem – again. This is the second time Luke shows us how emotional Jesus was. He lamented over Jerusalem in Luke 13 when some of the Pharisees were not willing to see Jesus for who he was. Now, Jesus wept when Jerusalem would not recognize “the things that make for peace” (v.42). He knew that within a generation, the city would be destroyed. Rome’s army would surround Jerusalem and destroy it in AD 70, and the people would be lost. This brings Jesus to tears.
 
The gospel of John adds to Luke’s depiction by telling us that Jesus wept over the death of his friend, Lazarus (John 11:35). Jesus was not afraid to show his emotions and wept over the loss of his people, which is opposite of the image depicted in the fundamentalist “bro culture.” Young men are attracted to this idea that manhood is a strong arm that rules by force and violence, so they can reclaim positions of power in the name of Jesus. This depiction does not represent who Jesus was. Perhaps the “colonizer Jesus” was made into that image, but the gospels do not show us a “king” who ruled by force. The gospels show us a deeply emotional, loving man who resisted with nonviolence and protested their harmful discriminatory purity laws by healing the sick, welcoming the outcast, and eating with sinners. 
 
Some men in power prefer the “King Jesus” image they created because they get to rule over the people by force in the name of religion. If we truly read the gospels, we would see that the Roman tyrants fit closer to this image, not Jesus. This image describes Herod who oppressed the people and occupied Jerusalem. Jesus tried to show them a different way, than fighting violence with violence, but they did not recognize Jesus’ way of peace. Jesus even said that perhaps things could have been different if they recognized “the time of [their] visitation from God” (v.44).
 
If the people had been willing to see that God was present among them in the person of Jesus, perhaps the story would have a different ending. If the people could have embraced the vision of the kingdom Jesus offered, perhaps they would receive God’s peace instead of destruction. If the people had been willing to change their minds about their understanding of God, and open themselves to a God of love and peace, then perhaps we’d be telling a different story of the gospel.
 
But they didn’t, and that grieved Jesus. He wept over the loss of the people. He wept over people’s stubbornness that caused their demise. He wept over their unwillingness to see that God is always doing a new thing that is rooted in love. He wept when the people tried to force their own way instead of embracing God’s way.
 
I think it’s important for us to see that there’s always more to the story. Tears behind the crowd’s cheers show us the real Jesus. We see the One who wept because he will not be able to save them from Rome. We see the One who cared deeply for their loss and destruction and who was not afraid to show his emotions. We see the One who showed us that manhood brings peace not force. His tears do not make him weak. His tears bear God’s heart for his people.
  
Reflection Questions:
What is your image of Jesus? Is it rooted in your own image or the gospels?
What do the tears of Jesus mean to you?
Are you willing to embrace Jesus’ kingdom of peace? What does that look like in your life?
How do you see the end of the story?
 
Pray:
May your way of peace, O God, usher us into your dream for our world.
 
Act:
Allow your tears to fall like Jesus'. Weep for those who do not see Jesus’ way of peace.
 
 
*New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

John 12:1-8
Mary anoints Jesus
 
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2012%3A1-8&version=NRSVUE
  
When one walks into a room, and notices an unusual aroma, one begins to question, “What’s that smell?” When the aroma is sweet, the tone in the room is pleasant and uplifting. When the aroma is foul, the tone is one of disgust. Whether a good scent or a bad one, the sense of smell sets the tone of the room.
 
In biblical times, the sense of smell was used as a means of divine communication. The scent of the anointing oil was a reminder that God’s presence was with them whether the anointing was for ordained service or the sick and dying. A fragrant incense offering made the lifting of prayers an act of worship as the sweet-smelling prayers wafted up to God.
 
Paul teaches in Ephesians 5:1-2 that Jesus’ sacrificial offering smelled sweet to God, so we should also strive to present ourselves as a similar “sweet-smelling aroma” in the way we live our lives. Mary’s sweet-smelling act certainly pleased God. Her extravagant gift filled the room with the fragrance of devotion that carried Jesus through his final week.
 
What other fragrances filled the room? Judas opposed her sacrificial gift by saying it was a waste of money. Instead of offering this gift to Jesus, he said it should have been used to care for the poor. The narrator quickly told the reader that his intentions were not pure, as he frequently stole from the common purse. He saw “denarii signs” on what he could have purchased with that money. His greed filled the room as he voiced his opposition.
 
The room was also filled with the fragrance of tension and anticipation. The anointing of Jesus is a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. This dinner followed shortly after the raising of Lazarus, which was the event that set things in motion for Jesus’ walk to the cross. Many people believed in Jesus after witnessing Lazarus’ resurrection, and some ran to the Pharisees to tell them what they saw. The Pharisees called a special meeting of the High Council to determine what to do with Jesus. Jesus’ death was quickly approaching, so the stench of death also hung in the air.  Perhaps Mary hoped to cover the foul aroma of greed, plotting, and death with her extravagant fragrance of devotion.
 
Her devotion sprang from gratitude for raising her brother and from belief in seeing with her own eyes who Jesus is. She knew he could have healed her brother, but seeing that he was also able to raise him from the dead confirmed for her that Jesus was the Son of God. She was eternally grateful to be in God’s presence, so the anointing was an act of worship.
 
Mary demonstrated her worship and devotion by lowering herself to anoint Jesus’ feet. Only servants touched people’s feet. She also sacrificed a year’s wage for the cost of the perfume to show that Jesus was worth the sacrifice. Using her own hair, which would normally be covered, suggested a tender moment of offering her whole self. She gave everything to Jesus.
 
Mary’s offering matches Jesus’ offering. In just a few short days, he would give his whole self. He gave everything for us as his act of devotion. Our lives are filled with the fragrance of his never-ending love, and it continues to linger through our sweet-smelling acts of faith. Our devotion to Christ through acts of service certainly set the tone for living a life that is pleasing to God. The tone in the room at Jesus’ anointing included many things, but the one Jesus sought to prioritize was Mary’s devotion.          
 
Reflection Questions:
How do you express your devotion to Jesus?
Do you prioritize it in your life?
How can you express more devotion to Jesus?
 
Pray: Loving God, we want to live a life pleasing to you. Give us courage to live out sweet-smelling acts of faith.
 
Act: Express one act of devotion this week, perhaps one that you have not done before or one that you have not done in a long time.
  
*New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

Luke 15:11-32
The Parable of the Forgiving Father
 
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015%3A1-3%2C%2011-32&version=NRSVUE
 
Last week, Jesus taught the importance of repentance in our lives if we want to receive new life. The blog did not dig deep into what repentance actually means, but my sermon from last Sunday did. If you’d like to listen or watch the sermon, you can find those links on the home page https://www.kristiegrimaud.com/.
 
The Greek word for repentance is metanoia, and it literally means “change your mind.” Jesus tried to get the crowd to change their minds about God in last week’s scripture, and we actually see the younger son in this week’s passage change his mind. Verse 17 phrased it as “when he came to his senses.” The younger son kind of “lost his mind,” making poor life choices and squandering his early inheritance. We’re all young and dumb at some point in our lives and make bonehead decisions.
 
But when a famine came, and the younger son found himself in need, he went to work to feed pigs. He probably had never fed pigs before since he mentioned that his own father’s hired hands had it better than him. He was so hungry, he would’ve eaten the pig slop. When we suffer, we tend to change our minds about what we want out of life. We learn lessons the hard way before we come to our senses.
 
When the younger son came to his senses and had a change of heart, he sincerely repented. He planned to say to his father, and he followed through with it: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son. Take me on as one of your hired hands’” (v.18-19). He didn’t try to manipulate his father nor did he ask to come back to take his entitled place over the hired hands. He accepted responsibility for his actions, and his changed heart and mind brought him back to his father. That’s the true definition of repentance – a change that causes us to come back to God.
 
The father’s response is a beautiful display of what forgiveness looks like. He hoped his son would return and looked for him in the distance. If the father had written off the son, he wouldn’t have seen him coming. When his father saw him “still a long way off,” he “was moved with compassion. His father ran to him, hugged him, and kissed him” (v.20). Then the father ordered the best celebration they had ever experienced. The father’s heart was so filled with love for his son, he couldn’t contain it. That’s what forgiveness looks like.
 
There were no “I told you so’s” or “I knew you’d be back’s.” There were no questions about how he wasted his hard-earned money or shaming him for making dumb decisions. He genuinely forgave his son and welcomed him home with open arms. If the son had not genuinely repented, things might have been different.
 
Repentance and forgiveness are deeply connected, like two sides of the same coin. Repentance is the heartfelt turning away from sin — a change of heart and mind that leads us back to God, which is what the younger son did with his father. It’s not just about feeling sorry, but about seeking transformation and renewal. Forgiveness, in turn, is God’s generous, loving response to our repentance, which is what the father displayed in this parable. When we genuinely turn from wrongdoing, Christ meets us with mercy, wiping the slate clean and restoring our relationship with him. This relationship reflects the grace-filled truth that while repentance opens the door, forgiveness is what welcomes us home. The father’s forgiveness is what welcomed his son home, and it was a beautiful display of love.
 
Reflection Questions:
Have you ever received forgiveness like this?
Have you given forgiveness like this?
What does forgiveness look like to you?
 
Pray: Father, we have sinned against heaven and against you. We no longer deserve to be called your children. Forgive us and take us on as your beloveds.
 
Act: Forgive someone who has hurt you, even if only in your heart.
 
*New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

Luke 13:1-9
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2013%3A1-9&version=NRSVUE
 
The word that drew my attention in this passage is “manure” (v.8). Not because I find the word funny, but because I immediately wondered if that was the word used in the original text. Did Jesus actually use the word “manure” (or its equivalent in his language) when telling this parable?
 
The Greek words used for “manure” is ballō koprion. Ballo is defined with these words: “to throw, pour; to put, set,” and koprion is defined as “fertilizer or manure.”[1] Many of the current translations use a verb form of “fertilizer” instead of the noun form. My curiosity sent me to the King James Version, which rarely happens, to see how it was translated there, and it reads: “I shall dig about it, and dung it.” I confess that did make me chuckle a bit.
 
So, I suppose Jesus did use the words that could closely translate to what we know as manure. Manure is a powerful, natural fertilizer that enriches soil with essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which promotes healthy plant growth. It improves soil structure, enhances moisture retention, and encourages beneficial microbial activity — all vital for turning poor, barren ground into fertile, productive earth. Though it’s messy and odorous, its transformative effects offer the best chance for new life to struggling plants and gives them the strength to grow and bear fruit.
 
What I found most interesting was the action form of “putting” manure around the fig tree to help it grow. Jesus expressed the importance of the gardener’s actions, not that manure was simply there. It was the gardener who put, threw, poured, or set manure around the tree to nourish it.
 
The gardener also pleas for the fruitless fig tree to be given time to grow after the appropriate attention is given to it. The gardener promises to do the work – to dedicate the time and attention it needs to be nourished. There isn’t a guarantee that it will grow since the gardener can’t force the tree to bear fruit, but the gardener is the one who provides the best opportunity for it to bear fruit.
 
The gardener in this metaphor can be understood as God, who provides the resources, the love and care for us to be nourished in an appropriate environment conducive for growth. God is the one who dedicates time and attention to nourish us, and also doesn’t want to just cut us down. God doesn’t give up on the fruitless tree and even offers mercy to save it from the brush pile. What often nourishes us seems a lot like manure.
 
Sometimes what seems unpleasant or undesirable is exactly what’s needed to nourish and revive our spiritual roots. The manure represents the messy, uncomfortable, yet necessary parts of growth: repentance, discipline, and even suffering. Just as the fig tree receives extra care and nourishment instead of immediate judgment, we, too, are given time and divine intervention to transform our barrenness into fruitfulness.
 
Reflection Questions:
Have you ever felt covered in manure, but later learned it was needed for you to grow into the next stage of life?
 
Does repentance and discipline seem off-putting like manure to you? What area of your life do you need to repent and receive God’s mercy?
 
What does repentance mean to you?
 
Pray: Forgiving God, we’re sorry for the times we try to grow in inappropriate areas that cause us to be stagnant and barren. Forgive us and nourish us with your healing grace. Dig around us and pour your nourishing grace upon us. Amen.
 
Act: Commit to one act of repentance this week.  
 
*New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 
[1] NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek, Zondervan, 2019.

Luke 13:31-35
The Lament over Jerusalem 
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2013%3A31-35&version=NRSVUE
 
Was Jesus a chicken? A cowardly person, that is. One who allows fear to keep from action. The Pharisees were hoping that he was. They tried to scare him into leaving Jerusalem by telling him that Herod wanted to kill him. Jesus steered clear from Herod Antipas, but it wasn’t out of fear. He knew the real fox, a known predator to chickens, was not Rome.
 
In fact, Rome ruled by force and violence. Perhaps those two things could describe a fox’s actions during attack, but foxes are more known for being sly, cunning, and clever. We don’t see Herod Antipas being those things in this passage, but we do see the Pharisees trying to trick Jesus into leaving.
 
After many very convicting sermons about the kingdom of God, the Pharisees tried a different tactic to get rid of their Jesus problem. Jesus was courageous and did not show signs of backing down from preaching his message of inclusivity and equity. In fact, right before this passage he said in God’s kingdom, “the first would be last and the last would be first” and that “people will come from east and west, from north and south, and take their places at the banquet in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:29-30). The Pharisees had heard enough of this message. After all, they did not want to give up their place in the “first” position.
 
After many challenging conversations with Jesus and even trying to throw him off a cliff, the Pharisees knew they had to up their game. Jesus knew it too. He knew his movement within the Jewish faith would fall on deaf ears in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the center of their faith, where the Temple was, the actual dwelling place of God. The Pharisees controlled the Temple and the priesthood, and debated other religious groups there. The Pharisees were very influential in their faith, so Jesus realized that the group in general would not join his movement. In fact, they would be the ones who would cleverly concoct a plan to have Rome crucify him.
 
This realization grieved Jesus, and he did not hide his grief. In his lament over Jerusalem, he grieves that they will never be willing to listen to this new thing that God was doing in their religion. He wasn’t afraid of expressing his grief to the very ones who caused it. He was brave enough to show his vulnerability: “How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings” (v.34). In his mourning, he compares himself to a chicken. Not a rooster, but a mother hen.
 
A hen gathers up her chicks under her wings. Hens are fierce protectors who use her own body to thwart enemies. When a hen’s brood is most vulnerable and unable to protect themselves, there is power in gathering together. The brood comes together and functions as one, one family sheltering together under the wing’s protection. It is as if the chicks are so close they become part of the hen’s body. They are so near their protector, that they function as one. This is Jesus’ desire for Jerusalem, for the world, and for us. This is the perfect image to illustrate Jesus’ message of inclusivity and equity.
 
During Jesus’ ministry, he encountered many things, but fear was not one of them. Threats would not keep him from accomplishing his work. As he told the Pharisees, “I’m busy clearing out the demons and healing the sick; the third day I’m wrapping things up” (v.32, MSG). There’s no time to waste on being afraid of idle threats. He’s got work to do and very little time to do it. Jesus would not coward away from the Pharisees nor his message. Jesus knows the end to this story. Jesus knows the fox will be outsmarted, and the hen will gather her chicks together under her wing.
 
Reflection Questions:
Have you ever felt like you were under the wings of Jesus when you were vulnerable? Do you feel like you are under his wings (outstretched arms) now? 
Have you ever been unwilling to accept Jesus’ message of inclusivity and equity? 
What grieves you about people’s unwillingness? 
Where in your life do you need to be more willing?
 
Pray: Jesus, show us where we need to be more willing and open to listen to you. Draw us closer to you and shelter us under your protective wings.  
 
Act: Express your grief in a vulnerable way like Jesus did.
 
*New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 

Luke 4:1-13
The Testing of Jesus
 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%204%3A1-13&version=NRSVUE
 
What is the difference between a test and a temptation? The Greek word used in this passage, peirazō, can mean “to test, tempt, trap, or examine (oneself),” suggesting a close relationship between the two. While nuanced, the distinction lies in intent. A test is meant to refine and reveal character, while a temptation seeks to lure someone away from their purpose. A test challenges a person to grow; a temptation entices them to stray. In the wilderness, Jesus faced three temptations from the devil—each part of a greater test to prepare him for his ministry.
 
The temptations were testing Jesus to see if he would exercise his power for personal gain. The first was to satisfy his own hunger, the second was to enter the political realm of Rome to rule over the empire, and the third was to show-off to stoke his ego. Hunger, oppression, and the potential for grandstanding were very real human temptations that Jesus faced and would continue to face in his ministry. Would he take his eyes off God when things got hard? Would he take matters into his own hands? Will he snap his fingers at a moment’s notice to make his challenges more comfortable for himself? Would he try to satisfy his own hunger, place himself in a position of power and authority, and become famous for doing it? Jesus had to work out all of these temptations before he entered into his ministry.  
 
No one enjoys the gnawing ache of hunger or the helplessness of oppression—especially when they have the power to change their circumstances. It is human nature to seek comfort and recognition, yet these very desires can distract us from God’s work. Jesus faced the same temptations. During his time of preparation, he had to confront the reality that, while he possessed great power, he could not use it for self-serving purposes. His mission was not about personal comfort or status but about something far greater—God’s work. As Jesus declared in Luke 4:18, he came “to bring good news to the poor…to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, [and] to set free those who are oppressed.” Jesus’ calling was not to serve himself, but to serve and liberate others.
 
Even though we covered this passage weeks ago, it is the backdrop of the gospel of Luke. The entire context of Luke is set during the Roman empire, and is considered a very political gospel. We have to keep in mind that behind every story of healing and challenge in this gospel runs this clear message of what Jesus came to do. He came to serve, free, and heal others, not himself.
 
These temptations could easily be justified as noble pursuits. After all, Jesus was starving after his fast, oppressed as a poor Jewish citizen under Roman rule, and virtually unknown from an insignificant town. He could have reasoned that turning stones into bread would keep him alive to continue God’s work. Gaining fame might have drawn more people to hear the good news. Seizing political power could have allowed him to establish a just and righteous kingdom. But even when cloaked in good intentions, these choices would have led him away from God’s true purpose. Jesus came not to rule over people but to set them free. No matter how it is framed, empire stands in opposition to the kingdom of God. These temptations tested whether Jesus would remain faithful to God's vision or be swayed by appealing but misguided alternatives.
 
The difference between a test and a temptation lies in the intent behind it. The devil tempts Jesus with the hope that Jesus will fail to fulfill his calling. But Jesus recognizes what is happening and responds, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test” (v.12). In doing so, Jesus exposes the devil’s true motive—not just to tempt, but to test God’s faithfulness. Rather than falling into the trap, Jesus clings to scripture for strength and refuses to manipulate God or abandon his mission. Unlike the devil, God does not test Jesus to watch him fail. Instead, God allows Jesus the space to wrestle with his purpose, to stand firm in his identity, and to trust in the power of the Holy Spirit. Through this testing, Jesus gains the confidence that he is ready for the hard work ahead—so long as he keeps his focus on God.
 
Reflection Questions:
What is the difference between a test and a temptation in your own life, and how can you discern the difference when facing difficult situations?
 
In what ways do you, like Jesus, face temptations that seem rational or even good on the surface? How do you ensure your choices align with God's purpose rather than personal comfort or recognition?
 
How does the political and social context of Jesus’ time, as seen in the Gospel of Luke, challenge us to approach power, service, and justice in our own world today?
 
Pray: Oh God, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Act: Anchor yourself in scripture like Jesus did to overcome this time of testing.
 
*New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 

Luke 9:28-36
The Transfiguration 
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%209%3A28-36&version=NRSVUE 
 
Has anyone ever asked you, “Why do you pray? Prayer doesn’t change anything.” I had a pastor once who always prayed for world peace. Another parishioner asked him why he always prayed for world peace because prayer wouldn’t change the conditions in the world. My pastor said, “Maybe not, but prayer changes me.” The Transfiguration shows us how prayer changes us. Verse 29 says, “While [Jesus] was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.” Jesus experienced a physical transformation to reveal the spiritual power within him. The glory of God was revealed through Jesus. We receive the same power that Jesus did when we pray. People should be able to see a change, God’s light, within us when we are transformed as disciples.

What were the three disciples, Peter, James, and John, doing during Jesus’ transformative spiritual experience? Sleeping. Jesus prayed. They slept. The NRSV translation phrased it as they were “weighed down with sleep” (v.32). The CEB translation said they were “almost overcome by sleep.” The Message said they were, “slumped over in sleep.” The disciples were not having a little power nap after their mountain climb. They slept deeply and almost missed God’s glory shining through Jesus.

This seems to be a trend with them. They slept again in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus takes them there to pray prior to his arrest. Jesus prayed so fervently that he changed again: “his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground” (Luke 22:44). Yet, the disciples missed this transformation too because instead of praying, they slept. Again, they had not just nodded off, as we might do in church while the pastor prays. They entered a deep sleep brought on by something. In this case, it was grief (v.45). Perhaps they were so overcome by grief that they could not bring themselves to pray.

When Jesus found them sleeping, “he said to them, ‘Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray…’” (v.46). From his own experience, Jesus knows that prayer changes us. It may not change the outcome of our situation. Jesus was still arrested and killed. But prayer changed his heart to be able to make it through his suffering. Whatever caused the disciples to be “weighed down with sleep,” prayer can change them.

Jesus consistently prayed throughout his time on earth. His physical appearance didn’t change every time he prayed, but over time, he transformed. God’s light visibly shone through him, and people around him saw a difference in him. People should be able to see a difference in us as disciples. When we are in times of trial, we don’t just sleep through them. We pray fervently for God’s strength and perseverance. When the people around us are suffering, we’re not slumped over or weighed down by what is happening to them. We pray for them. God’s light shines through our prayers and makes a difference.

The Transfiguration was important because through Jesus’ transformation, our own transformation is possible. Our transformation is an ongoing process of listening and receiving strength through prayer. People will notice a difference in us, as we carry out the work God has called us to do. Prayer changes us because God’s light changes us when it shines through us. 
 
Reflection Questions:
Do you feel that prayer changes you? 
Can people see a difference in you because of your faith? 
Have you ever been sleeping when you should’ve been praying? 
Jesus shines with God’s glory, and then gets back to his work of healing. How might God transform you to sustain you in your calling?
 
Pray:
Transform our hearts, Lord, to shine your light. Help us to make a difference by shining your light.

Action:   
Make an intention to pray fervently every day this week. (Resist the urge to fall asleep!)
 
*New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

Luke 6:27-38
Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain Continues
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%206%3A27-38&version=NRSVUE
  
Jesus continues the Sermon on the Plain to “you who are listening” (v.27). Remember from last week’s passage, there were different groups of people who had come to hear Jesus: a crowd of disciples and a multitude of people who came to hear him and to be healed (v.18). With a multitude of people, it would be difficult for all of them to hear him, so some scholars think Jesus is referring to the disciples as the listeners. In the previous passage, he was speaking to the disciples, and so we can assume they were the listeners.

I’m not so sure that’s a safe assumption. How many of us stop listening to a sermon when it gets a little too challenging? Why do we tune out those closest to us when they lovingly point out our faults? Recently, I took one of my children to the doctor for an annual physical. Before he was given a hearing test, the medical assistant asked, “How’s your hearing?” I was tempted to say, “Selective.” I can’t tell you how many times my children stop listening when I ask them to stop doing something really annoying like singing “Baby Shark” for the millionth time or aggravating their brother. They don’t want to stop. They enjoy it too much, so they pretend they don’t hear me. My children are also notorious for tuning me out when I ask about school, homework, or chores. But the moment I whisper something to my husband about ice cream or Christmas presents, they all of a sudden have supersonic hearing. We hear what we want to hear. We listen when it’s something we desire.

The multitude of people came to hear Jesus because they desired to listen. It could have been just to hear all the hubbub about this man called Jesus or it could have been because the people were desperate for healing. The disciples listened because they had just experienced a life-changing moment when Jesus revealed his glory and called them to follow him. They don’t exactly know what they’ve signed up for, so they are probably hanging on Jesus’ every word. They are compelled to hear what comes next.

The listeners listen, even when it’s something they don’t want to hear, like “love your enemies” (27). This teaching is contrary to Rome’s standards just like the previous teaching about blessings and woes. Jesus continues the same thread in this sermon about going against the world’s standards. In Rome, it was more like “kill your enemies,” if they posed a threat, or “crush your enemies” to show you are powerful and they are weak. “Avenge your enemies,” for sure, to show that they may have won the battle, but you have won the war. “Love your enemies” was not in their mindset, but this teaching from Jesus is so important to being a Christ follower. They will certainly encounter enemies.

These words are so full of wisdom. Life-transforming, heart-changing words that are the key to following Jesus and a fulfilling life. We can’t hold on to hate or lash out even when someone deserves it. Hate poisons our hearts, and we become more like the world, instead of more like Christ. This teaching is hard to hear when we’ve truly been hurt or what we’ve cherished most has been taken from us. So, we don’t always listen. We tune it out or have selective listening, listening to only Jesus’ easy words or the ones that benefit us. We listen to Jesus’ healing words, but, these words, truly heal us.

Loving our enemies sets us free from the hate and hurt caused by others, and the hate and hurt we have inflicted on others. Hate and revenge continues the cycle of hate, just as love continues the cycle of love. Jesus calls the listeners to live to a higher standard because love always wins. Love is the standard in God’s kingdom.
 
Reflection Questions
Do you listen to Jesus? Even when it’s something you don’t want to hear?
What challenge is Christ calling you to do? What enemy is Christ calling you to love / pray for?
How have you been someone’s enemy? What have you done or become that would make it hard for someone to love you? How can love resolve this?
How do you respond to Jesus’ call to love your enemies?
How does your community of faith follow this gospel teaching?
 
Pray:
Help us, Lord, to love our enemies. We cannot do it without your love flowing through us.

Action:   
Do a tangible act to show your love of an enemy.

*New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 

On a Level Place
Luke 6:17-26
Jesus Teaches About the Kingdom of God
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%206%3A17-26&version=NRSVUE
 
Prior to this passage, Luke tells us that Jesus “went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer.” (v.12) He prayed about whom to call as his apostles, the first followers to take Christ’s message into the world. He then called the twelve, and “came down with them and stood on a level place” (v.17). Jesus is high on a mountain alone, he calls the apostles to join him, and then they come down together on a level place. They were equal and balanced with Jesus. What drew my attention was the logistics, really, and how these details communicate Jesus’ upcoming teaching.

This passage also tells us that they stood “with a great crowd of disciples,” and a “great multitude of people” (v.17). There is a distinction between the people on this level place. The crowd of disciples are followers who chose the way of Jesus, yet there are others there, Jew and Gentile, who came to hear Jesus and to be healed. Some may have come to hear this great preacher that they’ve heard so much about. Some may have come just to be healed or blessed. Some may have come to see the spectacle of it all. Some were there because they had decided to drop everything and follow Jesus. Even though there are differences in why people are there, there is one unifying aspect: “All were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all” (v.19). Christ’s healing presence knew no distinction. It didn’t matter why they were there. They showed up and received healing by being in Christ’s presence.

After this, Jesus teaches the disciples about the kingdom of God, and the life-changing work they were embarking on. Scholars refer to this teaching as the Sermon on the Plain, as they were on a level place, and well, Jesus speaks plainly to his disciples. Verse 20 tells us that “Jesus looked up at his disciples and said…” This teaching was not for the multitude of people, but delivered specifically to the disciples, the ones who would be doing this work. Jesus sat down when he preached, so this might explain why he looked up at his disciples. They were probably standing around him, and he lowered himself to them when he “leveled with them.”

Jesus did not mince words and tells them exactly the kind of work they will be doing. They are disrupting the status quo of their hierarchal structure.  To carry out the message of Christ’s love will go against the world’s values and hierarchal structure, particularly Rome’s since that was their current political power. Rome valued wealth and did not value nor take care of their poor. The poor were exploited and ignored. The hungry, the widows, and the orphans were not valued nor seen, as caring for them would take away from Rome’s stockpiling. The Roman soldiers were not afraid to use violence to yield their power, so if someone went against them, they could lose their life. The people may not want to do something that would make someone hate them. It would be much safer to lay low, keep their head down, and their mouths shut. Choosing to follow in the way of love instead of the way of Rome would be very risky, yet Jesus promises that they will be blessed in God’s kingdom.

God’s way of seeing the world is different from how we see it. What the world values is different from what God values. The pursuit of happiness usually means striving for and gaining material wealth, which purchases possessions that we think make our lives more comfortable and easier. There are those who get rich over night, but most of us spend our whole lives producing and accumulating. During that time, the changes in our hearts are subtle. Then, one day, something happens, perhaps the loss of our stockpile, or our ability to provide for ourselves, and we realize that we’ve put our trust in ourselves. Jesus said that the poor, hungry, and grieving are blessed because they trust in God to provide. They have tried to overcome their situations to no avail, and have learned that God is the only one who satisfies their needs.

Author and public theologian, Brandon Robertson, said, “The way God sees and has organized the world gives blessing to the humble, those who serve others, those who walk with others through dark valleys. As subservient as it sounds, those are the only ways to experience the life we were created for.”[1] Jesus levels himself with the disciples as he invites them – and us -- to join with him in the leveling of a more equitable kingdom. This is the life and work disciples were created for.
 
Reflection Questions
Where do you see yourself in this passage? Are you in the crowd of disciples or the multitude of people? Does that matter? 
How do you understand the paradoxes of Jesus’ blessings and woes?
Rewrite a modern version of the “Blessings and Woes” that is relevant in our culture today.
Where might Christ be calling you to create a more equitable community as part of your discipleship?

Pray:
Give us the strength, O God, to continue your work to offer compassion to those whom society overlooks, even in the face of conflict and outrage.

Action:   
Do one thing this week that blesses someone who is woeful.

*New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 
[1] Disciplines: A book of daily devotions 2022, Upper Room, 62.

uke 5:1-11
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
 
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%205%3A1-11&version=NRSVUE
 
Jesus continues his ministry and begins to build momentum. He goes to the shore at the Sea of Galilee and sees a large crowd has formed. The people are pressing in on him to hear “the word of God” (v.1). Jesus had to think on his feet to accommodate the crowd. So far, according to the gospel of Luke, he had taught in synagogues and healed in small villages, but God was about to grow his ministry exponentially.
 
At the shore, Jesus knew by the size of the crowd that not everyone would be able to hear him, so he looked around to see what resources were available to him. He saw “two boats” (v.2). The fisherman had gotten out of them while they were washing their nets. The all-night fishing trip was over, so now the boats were available to be used for Jesus’ purposes.
 
Jesus got into Simon’s boat and asked him to push off from the shore. Jesus wasn’t alone in the boat. It’s not quite clear in the beginning, but in verse 4 Jesus asked Simon to “go deeper” and let down his nets, after Jesus finished speaking to the people. We can assume that when Jesus got into Simon’s boat, Simon went with him. Jesus probably needed someone to help row it as well to get to the desired location where his voice would carry across the water.  
 
However, Jesus saw Simon as a resource too, someone who could do more than just row the boat. Jesus saw him as a partner in his ministry because he took him out deeper to show him what they could do together. When Simon fished without Jesus the night before, he came back with empty nets and a deflated attitude. With Jesus, they caught “so many fish” (v.6).
 
Yes, Simon expressed his doubt, his frustration, and his reluctance to follow what Jesus instructed. After all, he was tired and had just washed the nets. He was just ready to go home and sleep. He didn’t want to have to wash the nets again. Simon had just fished this lake, all night in fact, when fishing is typically more successful. How could dropping the net now receive a different outcome? Listening to Jesus, when the instructions are counter to what we know or have experienced, is really hard to do. Yet, Jesus showed Simon what can happen if we listen to him and what happens when we surrender our doubt, frustration, and reluctance. We get to a point where we just need to do what Jesus asks us to do.
 
A lot happened in that first boat with Jesus. So much so, that it required an additional boat. Verse seven tells us: “So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.” The other boat belonged to Simon’s partners, Zebedee and Sons, who came to help them, but instead of helping, their boat began to sink too because of “so many fish” (v.6). Our work with Jesus will require partners to help us. None of us can accomplish the work we are called to do alone. When Simon’s partners come to assist him, they are mutually blessed. They become more than helpers. They become partners with Jesus.
 
Jesus started with one boat, then two boats, then four partners who dropped everything to follow him and to catch people. Jesus multiples and repurposes the available resources for his ministry. He welcomed partners in his ministry who will experience unbelievable possibilities with him. They may have dropped everything to follow him, but they will soon learn that they gained more than they could imagine.     
 
Reflection Questions:
What do you have that Jesus can repurpose for his ministry?
Who are your partners? Who helps you accomplish Jesus’ work?
Are each of you mutually blessed? In what ways?
Where can you go deeper with Jesus?

Pray:
God, show us the work you are calling us to do.

Action:   
With faith and trust in God, do not hesitate to do what God asks of you, even though it may run counter to public opinion.

*New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.