Tag: immerse

Immerse Day 8 Observations

More than 3500 people at  Scottsdale Bible Church are reading through the New Testament together over 8 weeks.

Text: Acts 13:5 – 19:29 (pp. 82-94)

  • Saul and Barnabas returned to Antioch, bringing John Mark with them (from Jerusalem).
  • Back in Antioch, the two leaders were set apart and sent out by the Holy Spirit to a special work. This was the first missionary journey and John Mark was their assistant.
  • This first journey led them to Salamis on the island of Cyprus, where Saul preached in the synagogue there. They covered the island.
  • It strikes me (uniquely in my history) that I have read this New Testament many times, and never think twice about the synagogues existing all over these Mediterranean communities. I’m unfamiliar to their histories and ignorant of the advance of Judaism into this region prior to the New Testament.
I have some learning’ to do…
  • In the Cyprian town of Paphos, they met the governor name Sergius Paulus and a false prophet named Bar-Jesus (“son of Jesus” – he wasn’t). He is indicated as being a man who “attached himself to the governor” (who himself is described as “an intelligent man” who had called for the disciples to come to him expressly because he had wanted to hear their message) and attempted to distract the governor from listening to them. He is indicted (scripturally, that is) for trying to keep the governor from believing.
  • Saul, through the Holy Spirit, recognized the evil tactics being employed, and stuck the evil-doer with blindness. This made an immediate impact on the governor, who believed.
  • Here, Saul is indicated as also being known as Paul. It has been suggested that this is a “name change” reflective of a new identity as a follower of Jesus. This is unlikely; rather, just as Bar-Jesus also had a Greek name (Elymas), “Paul” is the Greek “common name” of “Saul.” Here is a good article on the topic. There is interesting conjecture if the prioritization of Paul over Saul from this point on in Luke’s Gospel reflects Paul’s primary ministry to the Gentiles, and Luke’s awareness of his letter’s reader, Theophilus, himself being a Gentile.
Saul? Paul!
  • Their next stop on this first journey was Pamphylia, where they landed in the port town of Perga. We read that John Mark returned to Jerusalem, but we don’t read more about this until a bit later. Paul and Barnabas proceeded inland to Antioch of Pisidia.
    • fun fact: the founder of this Antioch is Seulucid, who was a general under Alexander the Great. When Alexander died and his kingdom was divided amongst his generals, Seleucid found 16 Antiochs, all in honor of his father, Antiochus, who himself was a general under Philip II. Seleucid also named a son Antiochus.
    • Following their patterned practices, they went to the synagogue, and in the “open mic” time, Paul addressed the crowd, giving them a brief history lesson then pointing to King David’s descendant Jesus as the Messiah (“God’s promised savior of Israel!”)Paul addresses the crowd, and deliberately including “Sons of Abraham” and “God fearing Gentiles” as “Brothers,” (demonstrating again the inclusivity of the Gospel), telling them that, in the person of Jesus, the message of salvation has been sent. Paul then recounted the false charges, fraudulent trial, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, all of which were fulfillment of the prophetic Scriptures.Paul then told the audience that this message was good news for them, that Jesus offered them the forgiveness of their sins, and that anyone who believed could be “made right in God’s sight,” and pointed out this was something that Moses could not do. Many people believed and begged them to stay. The following week, they returned to a much larger crowd, but some of the Jewish leaders present became jealous of the men because of the massive attraction these two had brought. Because of their jealousy, they slandered Paul and and argued against him. With their rejection, Paul explained how they were taking the message to the Gentiles.
      • Interestingly, Paul explains their rejection as a self-judgment of being unworthy of eternal life. This indicates that the Gospel is objectively available, but rejection is a self-determined rejection and self-incriminating judgment that God acknowledges, respects, and holds in account. He will not force salvation upon a person who has resolved to reject his grace.
    • The Gentiles were overjoyed at this invitation and many believed.
      • Interestingly, the Scriptures read, “all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.”
      • understated point: the question about free will/predestination is not an “or” question as much as it is an “and” question. This passage affirms both, and we are well-served to appreciate that both are involved in the matter of salvation (or the rejection of that salvation).
    • The Lord’s message spread through the region. The jealous religious leaders took the tactic of stirring up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and fomented a mob against Paul and Barnabas. What they couldn’t accomplish by reasonable discourse, they accomplished through violence.
    • Even so, the violence couldn’t deny the believers being filled with the Holy Spirit’s joy.
  • The same thing happened at Iconium, their next stop.
    • This pattern became typical. Crowds came. Many were saved, Jew and Gentile alike. Some Jewish leaders were incensed, and plotted and conspired to undermine the work. Paul and Barnabas persevered. They provided miracles. Response was divided. Mobs formed. Violence ensued. Paul and Barnabas escaped and moved on.
  • At the town of Lystra, they encountered a man who had never walked. Paul recognized his faith and healed him.
    • The people mistakenly interpreted this miracle as evidence that Paul and Barnabas were Hermes and Zeus, respectively (the Greek gods were worshipped there). Accordingly, the people brought them offerings of devotion.
    • Paul and Barnabas were quick to decry this attempted devotion, deliberately and overtly pointing people back to Jesus.
    • understated points: opportunities to rob God of his glory are everywhere. By nature, people are inclined to mistakenly attribute the work of God to lesser sources. Discipline and humility are necessary to direct accolades to the lone source worthy of all praise.
    • Some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium (they followed behind to challenge the advance of the Gospel?). They persuaded the crowds and stoned Paul, leaving him for dead.
    • understated point: people with faithless eyes and ears are fickle and easily swayed.
    • Paul wasn’t dead. He got up and returned to town.
Paul still had some work to do
  • The next day, Paul continued on to Derbe. #derbedays (this hash pun has an admittedly limited audience)
    • With only a summation of having success there, Paul and Barnabas have a 2.0 tour back through the prior communities they visited and did important work, strengthening believers by:
      • Encouraging them to persevere
      • Reminding them that suffering was part of the disciples experience
      • prayerfully appointing spiritual leaders (elders).
    • Concluding this, they continued their travels to Attalia and then returned to Antioch in Syria, having completed their appointed work.
  • They gave a report of all that had happened, staying in Antioch for an extended time.
  • While in Antioch, Judeans arrived, teaching that men weren’t true believers unless they submitted to being circumcised (as required by Old Testament law). Paul and Barnabas sharply protested this false teaching. To resolve the conflict, the church sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to hear from the Apostles on the matter.
    • Along the way, they saw Gentiles being converted in Phoenicia and Samaria. Paul and Barnabas were welcomed by the Apostles and elders, and despite the good report of lives being changed, the Pharisaic believers reiterated the call for new converts to be circumcised.After discussion, Peter declared that Gentiles need not be circumcised, because salvation was by grace of God alone through faith in Jesus alone. Paul and Barnabas shared more about how God was saving Gentiles.James then gave judgment that the Gentiles would be expected to abstain from eating meat dedicated to idols, sexual immorality, eating meat of strangled animals, and consuming blood. The statement that “these have been preached in the synagogues in every city on every Sabbath…” reflects moral prohibitions that exist to facilitate fellowship between Messianic Jews and Gentile believers – these are prohibitions against idolatry, sexual immorality, and bloodshed (murder – strangling is violence, and “consuming blood” is probably better understood as “shedding blood”). The judgment to teach these moral prohibitions to the Gentiles is to say, in a sense, “in addition to salvation being a grace gift from God through faith in Jesus, we can agree that God wants us to flee idolatry, immorality, and violence.”Delegates from Jerusalem (Barsabbas and Silas) joined Paul and Barnabas in taking this message back to Antioch. They brought with them a letter from Jerusalem that:
      • affirmed them in the fellowship of authentic faith.distanced themselves from the Pharisaic believers who had infiltrated Antioch with bad teaching. Clarification on the issues in question.
    • The letter was well received. The Jerusalem delegates then preached and strengthened the faith.
    • understated point: hearing from other authoritative voices in the greater Kingdom of God can be encouraging and instructive.
Paul’s first missionary journey, with notes, courtesy of conforfingtojesus.com. click link for larger map
  • The Jerusalem delegates stayed for a bit and then returned home. Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch for some time, but…
  • After a while, Paul floated the idea of a reunion tour.
Paul, to Barnabas, probably.
  • Alas, like Eddie Van Halen having a sharp disagreement with David Lee Roth about whether or not Michael Anthony should play bass, Paul and Barnabas had a unresolvable conflict regarding whether or not to bring along John Mark on this journey (with Paul against and Barnabas for, respectively).
    • They separated over this disagreement.
    • understated point: sometimes disagreements exist within the Kingdom, and it doesn’t necessarily mean one is right and one is wrong.
    • Barnabas took John Mark and they sailed for Cyprus.
    • Paul teamed up with Silas and they traveled through Syria and Cilicia (arriving back at Derbe and Lystra).
      • It can’t be assumed that Barnabas was wrong or that his ministry apart from Paul was ineffective. Paul is the focus of this letter, and therefore attention remains with him in terms of the narrative. Tradition shares that Barnabas had a fruitful continuing ministry that concluded with his own martyrdom.
      • At Lystra, we meet a young man named Timothy (who will become increasingly prominent as the narrative continues). Timothy is the son of a Jewish believer (mom) and a Greek father (whose belief is not affirmed here). He was well thought of among believers. Paul wanted to bring him along to join in the work. So he had him circumcised.
wait…I thought we decided that wasn’t necessary?!?
  • The understanding of this decision regarding Timothy is found in the context. Having a Gentile birth father, Timothy would not have been considered a Jew among the Jews. So the circumcision addressed this. And if Timothy had not been circumcised, he would have been more closely identified with the Gentile believers than with the Jewish believers. There was also ministry strategy employed here, as well, since Paul’s practice was to appeal to the Jews first. And we later read that no partner in ministry was more present or participatory in Paul’s work than Timothy. This was indeed a sacrificial action that ended up being beneficial for long-term effectiveness. Finally, there is the consideration that Paul, serving as a spiritual father to Timothy, and himself never having “done away” with his own spiritual heritage, saw this as important for Timothy to have done as a Jewish believer (as compared to if he had been a Gentile convert which would have rendered the action unnecessary).
  • Regardless, as a result (not of the circumcision, but of Paul’s Spirit-led efforts and Silas’ and Timothy’s inclusion in it), the church was strengthened.
  • Paul and Silas continued on through the region, but were denied by the Holy Spirit northward passage into the region of Asia. They were similarly frustrated at Bithynia to the North, so they went South to Troas.
    • There, Paul had a vision that a Macedonian man in Northern Greece (south, relative to where their efforts and been denied) was calling for help to preach the good news there.
    • The next day, they sailed south and west and reached Philippi (a Macedonian Roman colony).
    • I’m repeatedly struck curious by the person-shift that takes place here from third-person to second-person. It is speculated that this may be an indirect self-revelation as the recording physician Luke as the famed “Macedonian man.” Hard to say, but suddenly for whatever reason, Luke definitely makes a shift from “they” language to “we” language.
hmmm…
  • At Macedonia, they met Lydia, who was known in the area for being a merchant of expensive purple cloth. She heard the message and believed, and she and her household were baptized. They opened their home to the missionary contingent.
  • Next they met a slave girl who had an ability to prophecy. She tagged along and kept vocalizing that the men were servants of God and could tell people how to be saved.
  • Interestingly, this girl exasperated Paul, and he commanded the possessing spirit to leave her. It did.
  • Paul’s action was bad for business for the girl’s enslavers. They maligned Paul and Silas and lied, saying they were teaching illegal customs.
    • Again, “mob rule” prevailed and the two were severely beaten with wooden rods and thrown into prison.
    • understated point: Jealous religious leaders hold no monopoly on violent, murderous mentality. Every person has the capacity to objectify and de-humanize another, apart from the Spirit of God and provoked by the right cunning tactic.
    • That night in prison, the earth quaked and brought down the prison, freeing the chains of every prisoner.
      • The jailer assumed the prisoners had escaped and was about to kill himself (yeesh…harsh overlords in this region)
      • Yet, Paul and Silas stopped him, and in doing so, showed the jailer unfamiliar compassion. As a result, the jailer believed.
      • note: it is worth noting the recurring theme here that “and his household,” because it could be incorrectly understood that a person’s belief is salvific for an entire household. As this Scripture makes clear, because the jailer believed, the Gospel was shared with the entire household and the entire household, in turn, believed as well.
      • The next morning, the city officials freed Paul and Silas, telling them to go in peace. They were hoping for a low-key disappearance.
      • Paul, though, demanded that they come issue the release themselves. To expedite this, Paul articulated his identity as a Roman citizen, which alarmed the local leaders.
      • The leaders acquiesced and then begged them to leave. Which they did, after a little more time encouraging Lydia’s household.
  • Travels next brought Paul and Silas to Thessalonica, where they went to the synagogue and began reasoning through the Scriptures with the locals. Believers there included Jewish people, God-fearing Gentile men and “quite a few prominent women.”
    • Big shock, local Jewish leaders were jealous. Formed a mob. Started a riot.
    • Took control of a man named Jason, who had shown the missionaries hospitality.
    • Accused the missionaries of causing trouble all over the world, disturbing the city, and being guilty of treason.
Stirring up accusations, hoping something sticks
  • The city was riled up, Jason was forced to post bond. The end. (kinda)
  • Paul and Silas went to nearby to Berea, where as they shared, they encountered open-minded people who searched the Scriptures to verify what was being taught.
  • As a result, many believed (over several days)
  • However, the contentious Thessalonians sent a contingent to stir up trouble. The believers sent Paul to the coast, leaving Silas and Timothy behind.
  • Paul went all the way to Athens, leaving instructions for his partners to rejoin him as soon as possible.
    • In Athens, Paul observed the pervasive multiculturalism, and addressed it by speaking both in the synagogue there (to the Jews), and in the public square (to the Gentiles). He debated Epicurean and Stoic philosophers.
    • Those in the audience described his teachings as strange and provocative. They wanted to understand more.
    • So, Paul contextualized the Gospel, using their frames of reference and understanding to connect their erroneous world view to a Jesus-conforming understanding.
    • Many believed as a result.
  • Paul proceded to Corinth, where he stayed and worked with Aquila and Priscilla. The Jews there opposed him, so he focused his efforts on reaching the Gentiles.
  • Paul stayed there, preaching for a year and a half.
  • I love that Jesus told Paul in a vision, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! For I am with you and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” I think that Jesus tells us the same thing now, and we need to heed his word and obey!
    • After this time, a new leader came into authority. The opposition brought new accusations against Paul to the governor. They lied that he was telling people worship God in ways that are illegal.
    • Interestingly, Gallio (the governor) wouldn’t hear the case because it was a religious, not civic, matter. As a result the crowd gave the synagogue leader a public beating.
Sosthenes’ plot, backfiring, 1st C. (colorized)
  • Paul stayed a bit longer, before departing for Cenchrea. Paul shaved his head, marking the end of a vow. Speculation is that it could be reflective of the Nazirite ceremony, perhaps giving thanks for the success of his Spirit-led travels and ministry advances. Regardless, the act is demonstrative of Paul’s ongoing fidelity to his Jewishness.
  • He proceeded back to Syria, bringing Priscilla and Aquila with him. They stopped at Ephesus, were his companions remained. He then went on to Caesarea, the Jerusalem, then returned to Antioch, for a time. Then he went back through the regions of Galatia and Phrygia. Paul was a man who obeyed the Spirit promptly and God faithfully kept him as a man in motion.
  • Here, we are introduced to Apollos, a believer originating from Alexandria, Egypt. He was a faithful preacher, but knew only about John’s baptism. Priscilla and Aquila heard his teaching in Ephesus, and Brough him up to speed. He was receptive to the Holy Spirit, and they commissioned him to continue in his good works.
  • Apollos’ experience is couched next to Paul’s similar experiences in Ephesus, where the distinction between the baptism of John and the baptism of the Holy Spirit if differentiated.
  • “Speaking in other tongues” is again referenced. There is no explicit reason to interpret this to mean “unknown” languages.
  • Paul preached in Ephesian synagogues for three months, and eventually met opposition. So Paul moved his efforts to the lecture hall. And he kept at it there for two years.
  • Commentary is offered here about Paul’s ability to perform “unusual” miracles. and then shares the anecdote of a local priest who tried to usurp the authority of Jesus bestowed to Paul. It didn’t end well for him, leaving him naked and afraid.
  • Making matters worse (for him) news of his failure went viral, but it only made the name of Jesus bigger (and more honored). Many who had been in dark pagan practices turned to Jesus.
  • Though the journey doesn’t officially close until tomorrow’s reading, the map below shows the totality of his second journey, with highlights, courtesy of conformtojesus.com (click link for larger map)

Immerse Day 7 Observations

More than 3500 people at  Scottsdale Bible Church are reading through the New Testament together over 8 weeks.

Text: Acts 6:1-13:5 (pp 70-82)

  • This reading opens with introducing us to Stephen, described as “full of God’s grace and power.” The miracles accomplished through him demonstrate both of these traits.
    • Men from the “Synagogue of Freed Men” began to debate Stephen. These were Greek Jewish men who had been slaves and were now free, or are descendants of people having this experience. Commentaries suggest that they were known for being more fanatical and regimented about their religious practices because of their exposure to other world views and religious systems, as compared to the norms of the indigenous Jewish believers.
    • In the context of debate, they “couldn’t stand” against Stephen’s insights and arguments. The Scripture is clear to point out that these Freedmen were really arguing (in futility) against the Spirit.
    • So, they employed lying as a tactic.
    • Interestingly, they accuse him of blaspheming not just God, but also Moses. This means that Moses was regarded as sacred, and they were interpreting anything that Stephen said that challenged their established views about him as blasphemous.
    • How tragic to be recorded in biblical history as “lying witnesses.”
    • These opponents made false statements about Stephen regarding Moses and Jesus. Ultimately, they lied about Jesus!
    • When pressed by the leaders, Stephen’s countenance reflected the glory of God and he eloquently responded.
      • He didn’t answer their question. He instead simply gave an oral recitation of Jewish history.
      • Using Abraham, Joseph, Moses and Joshua, and David as references, he made the case for Israel’s pattern of behavior of first rejecting (and even defying or opposing) God (and God’s prophets) before ultimately turning to him (and them).
        • Stephen showed them that their rejections had been faithfully judged by God, often at great consequence to the people of Israel.
        • He made it clear that God’s judgment against Israel for their sin was often to turn them over to their sin and to allow them to persevere in their rebellion.
        • He then issued a polemic that they not only killed the prophets who pointed to the Promised One, but that they also murdered the Messiah.
      • They responded, enraged. In this, I see God again turning them completely over to their sin, and even their subsequent conduct is their condemnable judgment against them.
      • Stephen saw the heavens open and Jesus receiving him.
      • His declaration inflamed them further. They took him out of the city, and began to stone him.
      • Stephen’s last recorded words were an intercession forgiving his murderers.
  • A little out of order here, but the murdering accusers laid their coats at the feet of “a young man named Saul.”
    • I wanted to read this “laying of coats” as some sort of picture of their putting this at his feet in terms of authority. But the commentaries don’t suggest it.
    • Rather, their “taking off their coats” demonstrates that they were stripping off their robes to be more murder-y.
    • This was mob rule, unsanctioned violence illegal by the Roman standards that governed the Jewish people of Jerusalem.
    • Laying it Saul’s feet merely introduces him to the reader. That he approved this mayhem tells us much about him (along with what is still to follow).
      • Saul was a witness to this crime, and was in complete agreement with it.
  • Stephen’s martyrdom was a catalyst to a wave of persecution that scattered all the believers out of Jerusalem (except the Apostles).
    • Saul was a key contributor of this onslaught of ethnic cleansing. His purpose was to destroy the church, literally dragging men and women out of their homes and imprisoning them.
  • As believers dispersed through the region, they brought with them the Gospel of Jesus. They didn’t abandon, conceal, or compartmentalize their faith in Jesus.
    • The deacon Philip is exemplified, preaching and providing miracles in Samaria. His good words and deeds brought people great joy.
    • A local, self-proclaimed “great” sorcerer named Simon was amazed at what he beheld in Philip. He became a believer and was baptized. He is a super-interesting personality, in whom it could be inferred that he followed Philip not because of true belief, but more so out of a charlatan’s awe over the unexplainable feats that he witnessed being performed by Philip.
    • It was a big deal for Samaritans to come to belief in Jesus because of their historic, generational opposition to Israel. So the Apostles sent Peter and John there, where they prayed for the new followers to receive the Holy Spirit.
      • There is much discussion about this baptism of the Holy Spirit among the Samaritans. Some attribute it as a “Samaritan Pentecost” reflective of a development of the Gospel being extended to a new audience. It does appear to be communal in expression, at the revelation of teaching of the Holy Spirit by Peter and John.
      • The laying on of hands should be seen as descriptive, rather than prescriptive (since we see the Holy Spirit bestowed upon belief without the laying on of hands elsewhere in Scripture.)
    • Simon the sorcerer saw this take place and offered to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit from Peter and John.
To suggest Peter reacted strongly would be an understatement
  • Peter told him his heart wasn’t right for making such an offer and directed him to repent of his wickedness.
    • Simon’s offer is indicative of the magicians’ practice of exchanging trick secrets for payment.
    • Peter diagnoses Simon’s offer as an expression not of awe, reverence, or devotion to God, but of bitter jealousy and being gripped by sin.
    • Simon asks for prayer for him, but we don’t get indication that he himself prayed. We don’t hear from him again in Scripture (and history’s accounts are not inclining toward an interpretation of repentance.
  • Attention returns to Philip, being instructed by an angel to leave the good work being accomplished in Samaria to a dirt road. Philip obeys.
    • On this route, he encounters a prominent Ethiopian eunuch, a treasurer in the court of Ethiopian queen Kandake.
      • He had come to Jerusalem to worship, and was returning home.
      • As Philip encountered him, the Ethiopian was reading out loud from the scroll of Isaiah.
      • Philip offered to help him, and the Ethiopian welcomes his assistance.
      • Using the Isaiah scripture as reference, Philip begins teaching him Jesus and sharing the Gospel with him.
        • This exchange confronted virtually every taboo of the day that would have existed as ample reason for the conversation never to happen:
          • racial, social, ethnic, economic, and what we might identify today as gender identity (or perhaps divergent sexual ethics).
          • understated point: yet, these two people saw in the other humanity and a divine appointment. That was enough (and bigger than any human-constructed barrier that otherwise would have prohibited their interaction).
          • The result of this conversation was belief! (reflected in the Ethiopian’s interest in baptism, and Philip’s inclination to proceed with it).
        • The baptism itself should be viewed as prescriptive, rather than merely descriptive.
          • It follows the patterns established elsewhere in Scripture, namely:
            • belief preceding baptism
            • going down into the water, coming up out of the water.
            • a mode of baptism representative of the meaning of the word baptism, that is, “to immerse.”
I suspect Philip’s baptism of the Ethiopian was less aggressive.
  • As the Ethiopian emerged from the water, Philip had been taken away by an angel to northern locations (where he continued to advance the Gospel). The Ethiopian himself returned to the queen, where he is largely credited with bringing Christianity to Northern Africa.
  • The narrative returns to Saul, who is reported to have an eagerness to kill the Lord’s followers (and uttering threats left and right)
  • He receives permission from the high priest in Jerusalem to take his pogrom to Damascus, where he could root out more Jesus followers to be imprisoned back in Jerusalem. He was given the permission and he embarked.
  • Along the way, he was struck by a bright light that knocked him off his feet, asking “why are you persecuting me?”
    • Paul asked who had confronted him.
    • The voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.”
    • Interestingly, in the next breath, Jesus gave him a command to follow. And he would.
    • understated point: Jesus is Lord, and his authority is objective reality.
    • Saul was escorted into the city by his companions (who heard but didn’t see Jesus).
    • Saul remained blinded for three days, and didn’t eat.
    • I’m assuming Saul had a lot of time to reflect and consider what transpired.
  • As Saul was waiting, Jesus brought a vision to a Damascus believer Ananias (not the same Ananias from earlier, you know the lying-and-now-dead one).
    • Jesus instructed Ananias to go to Saul and revealed he had been sent by Jesus, and to lay hands upon him and return sight to him.
    • Jesus revealed that Saul was his chosen instrument to take the Gospel to the Gentiles and that he would suffer for the name of Jesus.
    • Ananias obeyed, despite his fears over what he had heard about Saul.
    • Ananias brought sight back to Saul.
    • Saul was baptized, and for the first time in days, ate.
  • Saul remained in Damascus, and within a few days, began preaching Jesus in the synagogues. All who heard him:
whaaaa….
  • Amazement soon turned to murder plots, because they couldn’t refute Saul’s evidence that Jesus is Messiah.
  • Saul escaped the murder plot by being lowered out of the city in a basket by dark of night, where he then traveled to Jerusalem.
  • At first, the believers were afraid of him, but Barnabas vouched for him, and upon their respect and trust for him, allowed Saul into their company.
  • Saul stayed with the Apostles, and preached all over Jerusalem. He debated some Greek Jews, and guess what? Yep, they wanted to kill him.
  • At this news, the Apostles sent Saul to Tarsus, his home town.
meanwhile…
  • Peter healed a paralytic in Lydda, which led many to believe in Jesus.
  • Then, he went to Joppa, where he raised Dorcas/Tabitha from the dead. Again, many came to faith.
  • In Caesarea, God brought Peter together with Cornelius (and his family). Cornelius is explicitly described as a devout man, whose actions demonstrated his authentic faith (as compared to ineffectually trying to manufacture faith).
    • As Cornelius’ party was approaching Peter, Peter had a vision (repeated multiple times) that showed Peter that he could no longer call “unclean” the things God had made (and, accordingly, were clean). This was a new revelation for Peter and challenged his traditional appreciation of different things (namely food, but also people, places, circumstances, etc).
    • Peter went with Cornelius’ crew to his house in Caesarea, where the Apostle was received with generous hospitality.
    • This opportunity was Peter’s first opportunity to apply the vision God had given him to his ministry (Such meetings in the past were forbidden).
    • There, Peter preached the Gospel, explaining that God’s salvation in Jesus is available to all people, not just the Jews.
    • The Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and his household. Now…we have seen God’s Holy Spirit gifted to Jew, Samaritan, and now Gentile. Cornelius and his household were baptized, to no objection. Peter remained in his home for days afterward.
  • When Peter returned, the Jewish believers criticized him for his ministry to the Gentiles. So he recapped for them the events. Their criticism quickly turned to praise.
  • Focus shifts to the broader advance of the Gospel. Other disciples shared with Gentiles, too. Barnabas went to Antioch, where he enjoyed great success. He went to Tarsus and brought Saul back with him to Antioch. They stayed there a year (and there the term “Christian” was coined).
    • It was also in Antioch where the Jerusalem drought was prophesied and it was determined to take up a collection for the Jerusalem congregation to meet the needs as a result of it.
  • In passing detail, readers are informed that Herod Agrippa ramped up his persecution, killing John’s brother James and imprisoning Peter. On the night before Peter’s trial, he was miraculously delivered from prison by angelic escort.
  • No small detail: Herod put to death the guards who weren’t able to subdue God’s angel guarding and guiding Peter.
  • Then, this reading closes with Herod receiving the praise of people of having godlike status, which he was proud to receive.
  • So God struck him with a disease, he was consumed by worms, and died.
  • But the word of God spread, and people get getting saved.

Immerse Day 6 Observations

More than 3500 people at  Scottsdale Bible Church are reading through the New Testament together over 8 weeks.

Text: Acts 1:1 – 7:1 (pp. 61-70)

Overview: Moving from part 1 of Luke’s letter to Theophilus to part 2, we transition from the life, ministry, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus to (briefly) the post-resurrection activities of Jesus and the impartation of the Holy Spirit upon Christ’s followers (which is the birth of the Church).

Observations:

  • The book opens with Luke recapping for Theophilus the events that were recounted in the letter that we know as the Gospel of Luke.
  • understated point: Jesus walked among the population for 40 days after his resurrection, using many ways to prove that he was alive.
  • One time while eating with them (something a person who is alive does), Jesus told them not to leave Jerusalem, because God would soon be sending them the Holy Spirit (as a gift…not a reward. This is a blessing of grace, not a payment for labor).
  • He told them they would be baptized by the Holy Spirt….literally, immersed in the Holy Spirit. This was not a symbolic or ritual, this was a new experience where they would be spiritually “quickened” through their impending, immersive relational existence within the ongoing presence of God’s Spirit.
  • The Apostles were still fixated on an earthly vision – they were looking to this resurrected Jesus to help them overthrow their Roman occupiers. They asked if the time had come for them to free Israel and “restore our Kingdom?”
  • Question – Did the disciples really appreciate Jesus’ resurrection? They witnessed his tortuous death. They had no doubt about it. They also were experiencing him first-hand resurrected. But they were still processing all these events in the scope of their cultural tensions, pressures and interests. To maintain or persist in this perspective, they had to disregard all the teachings Jesus had given…even his initial call that they would be “fishers of men,” not “overthrowers of governments.”
  • Jesus’ non-answer answer: Only God sets the dates and times, and they aren’t for you to know. Then…one of my favorite passages in Scripture…Jesus answers the question they aren’t asking, saying, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere.”
    • you will receive power – up to now, they’ve been walking in the shadow of Jesus’ power. They’ve been using the power he had delegated or given them. Now, though, they’d be experiencing a new source of power. This also highlights that, on their own, they’d be without power.
    • when the Holy Spirit comes upon you – Jesus returns their attention to what he had been talking about (our human nature regularly takes what God is directing us to and turns it to the things that interest us). Jesus is reiterating that the Holy Spirit will come upon them, and they will experience unprecedented power as a result.
    • and you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere – the proper use of this power is not to throw out occupying governments, but to tell people everywhere about Jesus. Jesus’ agenda (Kingdom) is bigger than Israel (and certainly, Jerusalem, or Judea, or even Samaria…even to the ends of the earth).
  • After saying this, Jesus ascended to heaven. The disciples watched, amazed, until he disappeared.
well, there’s something that’s never happened before.
  • Two angels said to them that Jesus has been taken to heaven, but he will return the same way you saw him go.
  • The Apostles returned to Jerusalem and returned to the upper room where they had been meeting. Roll call (showing us that everyone except for Judas was still present).
    • Note that several women were present, including Mary, the mother of Jesus. She had been there from the beginning and her inclusion here is a testament to her faith in God and her belief in what God had revealed to her about her son.
    • Also present were Jesus brothers. First, don’t miss that Jesus had brothers. Mary had other kids with Joseph. So technically, half-brothers. But close kin nonetheless. Family. And this was family that formerly didn’t believe in (or follow) Jesus, but now were found in the community of believers.
  • Peter takes the initiative to replace Judas (noting that Judas’ death fulfilled prophecy), and that he needs to be replaced.
    • Criteria for replacing Judas are given: someone who had been there from the beginning, a witness to everything that had happened.
    • Two finalists – Matthias and Joseph (aka Barsabbas aka Justus; he had multiple known monikers/nicknames – Barsabbas means “son of the Sabbath, perhaps indicating his love for worship; “Justus” was a gentile nickname or equivalency of his Hebrew name).
    • They prayed. Then they cast lots. And Matthias was selected. The best I understand this is that in praying, they believed that either man would have been appropriate or fitting, and that whoever was indicated on the lot that was first chosen was determined by God, and reflective of his choosing.
    • Interestingly, little is mentioned of either of these men after this event.
  • Pentecost had arrived (50 days after the 2nd day of Passover). Coincides with the Jewish Festival of Weeks (Shavuot), which as a harvest festival commemorates the giving of the Torah.
    • All the believers were still meeting together in a single place.
    • Inference is, here, that they were continuing in the traditions of their faith
  • Suddenly, the Holy Spirit arrived, as a roaring wind from heaven, filling the house where they were (immersed, baptized, if you will).
    • What looked like flames or tongues of fire settled upon each of them.
    • Each of them was filled with Holy Spirit.
    • The first expression of the Holy Spirit’s filling was that they could speak in “other languages.”
  • “Devout Jews from every nation” were living in Jerusalem, and were drawn to witness the loud noise they had heard. They were bewildered to hear their own languages spoken by the believers.
    • the languages spoken were known languages. They were not indiscernible.
    • The foreign Jews were amazed that the Galileans were speaking in their native languages.
    • They attributed this feat to God, and asked each other what it could mean.
    • When skeptics tried to dismiss it all as public drunkenness among the followers of Jesus, Peter stepped up and spoke out.
      • It was only 9 AM, these people weren’t drunk.
      • This was a fulfillment of prophecy from Joel.
      • He issues the clarion call, “whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!”
      • understated points: Peter did, in fact, receive the Holy Spirit’s power, as promised. The power of the Holy gives people their voice.
      • He points people specifically to Jesus, and shows God’s handiwork in the details of Jesus’ betrayal.
      • He unabashedly indicts all the Jewish people in their complicity in the Jesus’ murder and tells them that death cannot contain or impede Jesus (again connecting David’s prophecies to Jesus).
      • Peter preached Jesus resurrected and ascended, then testifies that it is God’s Holy Spirit poured out upon the believers as the crowd has seen and heard, thus articulating the reasonable conclusion that Jesus is both Lord and Messiah.
  • God empowered Peter’s message to have effect. It pierced hearts and they asked what to do in response.
    • Peter instructed them to repent and be baptized and to turn to Jesus.
      • This instruction illustrates that repentance isn’t just “turning away” from sin and self, it is also “turning to” Jesus alone.
    • Peter says if they do this, they, too, will receive the Holy Spirit.
    • Peter continued to preach, to great affect – about 3000 people responded to the message that day.
remember that time that Marvel stole from the Bible?
  • This massive, sudden growth of the community of faith is the birth of the Church.
    • These people are marked, set apart by their common belief in Jesus as Lord and Messiah, and their unity in the experience of being baptized in the Holy Spirit.
    • This community immediately began activities that drew them close together and set the template for the Kingdom of God going forward:
      • They devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching – They submitted themselves to the teachings of this revelatory spiritual experience, no longer content to subject themselves to the religion and empty traditions of their past generations.
      • They committed to fellowship (living in community with each other – they didn’t compartmentalize their faith to one small aspect of their life…their faith gave definition to every other aspect of life)
      • They met together and shared everything. They had a shared identity, and selflessness was a prevailing principle.
      • They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. These are principles that Jesus had taught while living, and with the power of the Holy Spirit, their attention was to sacrificially love and support one another rather than simply look to their own interests.
      • They worshipped together in the Temple. They didn’t abandon their faith….in fact, they continued in it, now with new, fulfilled meaning.
      • They met in their homes for the Lord’s Supper. They remembered the words, teaching, and promises of Jesus, and kept him at the forefront of their faith activities.
      • They shared their meals with great joy and generosity – Their attitude was defined by the presence of God’s Holy Spirit.
      • They praised God and enjoyed the goodwill of the people and each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. People flock to life, and God is actively in the business of rescuing people from death and transporting them into life (life that is experienced in the context of those who are spiritually alive in the Kingdom of God)!
  • On their way to the Temple for prayer, Peter and John were engaged by a paralytic who was begging for money.
    • Peter didn’t have money for him, but instead provided him with healing.
    • The man immediately was healed (from an infirmity that had hindered him since birth).
    • He jumped up, and praising God, entered the Temple with them.
      • For his entire life, he had been relegated to the outside of the Temple, and reduced to begging.
      • His first act of wellness was to enter the Temple to worship!
    • These events created a clamor, and Peter used it to preach Jesus.
    • He reminded them who Jesus was (and their role in putting him to death), and Jesus’ power to overcome that death
    • That same power was the applied to the infirmity of the man, and he was healed.
    • Then he issued a call to repentance, giving references to Samuel and Abraham.
    • Peter and John were confronted by the chief priests, the Temple guard captain and Sadducees for their message, and they were arrested and held overnight.
    • Total count of followers was more than 5000 men…the congregation was huge.
  • The Jewish religious leaders all met the next morning and confronted Peter and John and questioned their power/authority.
    • Peter…filled by the Holy Spirit…reminded them that they were being questioned for performing a miraculous work…a good work.
    • Then he proclaimed Jesus as the source of his good work.
    • He glorified Jesus as the only source for human salvation.
      • God’s Holy Spirit was giving focus and clarity to Peter in the articulation of the Gospel.
    • The response of the religious authorities was amazement.
      • These men were ordinary and without special training.
      • But they had been with Jesus.
      • And the evidence of the healed man was undeniable.
      • After a private conference, they called the disciples back in and forbade them to speak of the name of Jesus.
Peter, in reply to the edict
  • This was an easy call for the disciples, who had no fear in disobeying man in deference to obeying God.
    • They said, “We can’t stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”
    • understated point: we should be of this same orientation, where we can’t stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.
  • Ultimately, despite further threats, they let them go because they couldn’t punish them further without starting a riot, due to the widespread positive report of the healing of a man who had been crippled for more than 40 years!
  • Peter and John returned to the other believers and reported on the events.
    • The believers’ response was to pray.
    • They rhavecalled prophecies of David, and saw them fulfilled in Jesus.
    • They asked God for boldness and power to continue to be faithful.
    • God’s answer to prayer was a fresh indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
    • understated points:
      • God often answers prayer with a fresh provision of himself.
      • These aren’t second anointing, but replenishment (of sorts).
      • it isn’t a matter of God’s spirit depleting in us, but more of a renewal of our awareness of and reliance upon his faithful indwelling spirit. (a lot to unpack here, to be sure)
  • The testimony recapitulates the selflessness, magnanimity, generosity, and unity prevalent within the Church community.
    • This is exemplified in the person Joseph (nicknamed Barnabas, meaning “son of encouragement”).
      • He was a Cyprian Levite. Atypically, he was a Levite who actually had land, which makes it even more provocative the he selflessly sold the land and gave the proceeds to the Apostles.
  • Barnabas’ practice is juxtaposed to that of Ananias and his wife Sapphira, who are indicted here for the crime of lying to the Holy Spirit. They, too, sold some property, but lied about the proceeds and wittheld some of the money. They also lied to the Apostles, but the indictment is for a crime against God.
    • Peter makes the point that the land was theirs to keep or sell…there had been no pressure for them to sell it. Likewise, they could have kept all the money for themselves. The crime was against God because they took the initiative to do these.things but misreport the result and withhold some of the blessing. Ultimately, stealing the money was a representation of the larger crime of attempted theft of God’s glory. Peter said, “you lied to God.”
    • Ananias immediately fell dead.
    • Three hours later, Sapphira was brought in, and (ignorant of her husband’s death), she perpetuated the lie, repeated the offense.
    • Again, Peter re-framed the offense as a conspiracy against the Holy Spirit, and she, too, fell dead.
    • As a result, great fear gripped the church and all who heard
      • this reminded me of an adage: “fear as a byproduct of faith is a tool fit for constructing a right framework of devotion, while fear as a byproduct of doubt is tool useful only in constructing idols.
  • The ministry flourished, miracles abounded, people were healed. Teaching continued. Salvations accumulated.
  • Even as people were freed from evil, the high priest his officials were filled with jealousy. They jailed the Apostles at night. An angel freed them before daybreak.
  • The Apostles obeyed the angel and proceeded to teach in the Temple the next morning, where they were re-arrested. They were not trying to hide from or even avoid the Jewish authorities. Their accusations:
    • You are teaching what we forbade you from teaching.
    • You are holding us responsible for his death.
  • The Apostles’ reply:
But did we obey God?
  • They affirmed they obeyed God rather than men.
  • Their testimony was true. Their assignment of guilt was accurate.
  • Their witness is affirmed by the Holy Spirit – who is given by God to those who obey him.
    • This incited the high priests…they were ready to kill the Apostles.
    • A respected leader amongst them Gameliel spoke, and told them
How ’bout we consider something less…murder-y?
  • Gameliel reminded them of earlier revolutionaries whose followings fizzled out, and advised to let this play out, too.
    • If it isn’t of God, the movement will fade.
    • If it is of God, though…watch out. Not only will it not fade, but you may find yourself fighting God!
    • They accepted this…but still had the apostles flogged.
    • The Apostles left the temple….PRAISING GOD…that God found them worthy of suffering disgrace for the name of Jesus. And they kept teaching every day.
    • While I’m inclined to think people are “soft” today, it could be that I feel this way because we don’t face this risk in my context.
  • This segment closes with an account that as the congregation rapidly grew, a complaint arose that the Greek-speaking widows were being discriminated against in deference to the Hebrew-speaking widows.
    • The Apostles, recognizing that this conflict (while important) was a distraction from their primary responsibility to teach the Word, convened and determined to appoint 7 respected, wise, Spirit-filled men to address this need and the emerging practical ministry challenges.
    • These men were the first deacons.
obligatory Deacon photo (portraying 1st century widow)
  • They were effective, for the final statement here is direct: The number of believers greatly grew in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.
  • Understated points: God’s Word not only confronts and changes the irreligious, but it also impacts those who are familiar with faith. God convicts and saves whoever he wants. NOBODY is beyond the reach of his gracious message of love and relationship.

Immerse Day 5 Observations

Immerse is an 8-week (40 day) reading campaign, Scottsdale Bible Church is reading through the New Testament together. To date, more than 3500 people are participating.

Text: Luke 19:18-24:53 (pp. 47-59)

  • Jesus proceeds to Jerusalem. He tells the disciples how to prepare and informs them exactly what to expect. It unfolds precisely as he says. These not only demonstrate his omniscience, but also validate Old Testament prophecies.
  • As Jesus enters Jerusalem, the crowd entering the city to commemorate the Passover acclaim Jesus as Messiah, laying their coats and palm branches before him (as a sign of acknowledgement of his regal standing)
    • Lingering Pharisees tried to shut down the fanfare, admonishing Jesus to rebuke the followers from their Messianic praise.
    • Jesus replied that there was no denying who he is. All of creation testifies to the deity of Jesus.
    • Jesus wept upon seeing Jerusalem, pained over her rejection of him (and the subsequent judgment that would inevitably follow).
  • Jesus entered the Jerusalem Temple, driving out the commercial interests there.
    • He taught daily in the Temple, and the people swarmed to him.
    • The Pharisees plots turned murderous. Still, they couldn’t rightly accuse him of wrongdoing.
    • He foiled their efforts to challenge his authority, using the deft skills of logic and reason.
  • Jesus shared a provocative parable of a man (God) who leased his land to farmers (Israel). He sent servants back to the land (prophets) and the farmers beat every servant. So the man sent his cherished son (Jesus)…and the farmers killed the son to take the land for themselves.
    • He then connected the dots with prophecy, identifying himself as the rejected stone that would be the chief cornerstone (who would overcome all efforts to oppose him).
    • The Pharisees caught the teaching’s meanings, and despite worries about upsetting the masses of followers), moved forward with their plot.
  • They failed in a plot trying to pit Jesus against Rome, but Jesus responding to “loaded questions” by telling people to respect and obey their earthly authorities (as well as their divine authorities).
  • Jesus is challenged by the Sadducees using a hypothetical dealing with marriage and the resurrection. He answers authoritatively on both.
  • Then Jesus turned the tables and asked them a question they could not answer. He then warned the crowd to be on the watch for their false teachings.
  • Jesus commended the widow for her sacrificial giving, in contrast to the publicly extravagant gifts of the Pharisees that had been taken from their excesses.
  • Jesus talked extensively about the commencement of the end, and not to worry.
  • Framed by the setting of the approaching Passover Feast, The Pharisees benefited from the willingness of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus.
  • The time for Passover had arrived. Jesus told the disciples to make preparations. Again, all occurred exactly as he told them it would.
    • At the Passover meal, Jesus reiterated his impending persecution and suffering.
      • He institutes the Lord’s supper.
      • He reminds them of the servanthood imperative.
      • He tells Peter that Satan has asked permission to sift Peter and that Jesus intercedes for him.
        • He foretells Peters failure
        • He predicts Peters denial
        • He also foretells Peter’s repentance.
      • He then sets out, for the events that must take place.
  • They are greeted in the garden, where Judas identifies Jesus with the betrayer’s kiss.
    • The disciples prepare for conflict, but Jesus de-escalates it (heals the wounded Roman slave) and allows himself to be arrested (despite the lack of credible charges).
  • He is taken to the High Priest’s home. In the courtyard, Peter denies Jesus three times. Rooster crows. Peter runs away in bitterness.
  • The soldiers begin to mock and beat Jesus.
  • Under questioning, Jesus responds to accusers by attesting to his identity as the Son of God. They accuse him of blasphemy.
  • He is taken to Pontius Pilate, who finds no reason to charge him. Jesus is dispatched to Herod Antipas as a matter of protocol. Herod and his guards beat and mock Jesus, too.
    • Interestingly, Herod and Pilate become friends over this abuse of Jesus.
  • He is sent back to Pilate, who still finds no offense in him.
  • In expressing intent to release him, the Jewish leaders instead clamor for the release of Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and accused murderer.
  • Pilate gave in to the demands of the people and sentenced Jesus to die.
  • Jesus was led to Golgotha and crucified there.
    • He was placed between two thieves.
      • One thief worshipped him.
      • The other mocked him, telling him to free himself (a fulfillment of one of his earliest prophecies at the onset of his ministry).
  • The midday sky went dark for three hours
  • At 3 PM, Jesus gave up his spirit and died.
  • The veil in the temple separating people from the Holy of Holies was torn.
  • Joseph (a wealthy, respected Jewish man) received permission to have Jesus’ body brought down before the Sabbath, and placed in his own tomb.
  • Jesus’ female followers prepared the spices and funerary ointments, and finished before the Sabbath.
  • On Sunday dawn, the women went to the tomb, and found the tomb’s entrance stone rolled away.
  • They encountered two men (angels) who announced that Jesus was alive, as he had been telling them would happen.
  • The women ran back and told the men. The men were unconvinced.
  • Peter ran to the tomb, found it empty, and was stymied.
  • Later that day, 7 miles away, Jesus appeared on the road to Emmaus while two disciples were discussing all these events.
    • They didn’t recognize him at first.
    • They recounted to him everything that happened. They invited him in, and at dinner, they recognized him.
    • He proved himself to be no ghost. He ate with them.
    • He opened their mind to the Scriptures for understanding.
    • He promised the soon arrival of the Holy Spirit.
    • Jesus led them to Bethany, blessed them, then ascended to heaven.

NEXT UP: Acts!

Immerse Day 4 Observations

Immerse is an 8-week (40 day) reading campaign, where we (our church, Scottsdale Bible Church) is encouraging everyone to read through the New Testament together. To date, we have approximately 3500 people who have expressed intent to participate.

Text: Luke 13:33-19:39 (pp. 37-47)

  • Jesus makes his way to Jerusalem, undeterred by the Pharisees threats that Herod has Jesus targeted.
    • Jesus identifies Jerusalem as “the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers.” The tourism commission voted against adopting it for an ad campaign.
    • Jesus laments his heart for saving Jerusalem is unrequited; consequentially, the city will face judgment. Nonetheless, hope remains that Jerusalem will one day joyfully announce the coming of the Lord.
  • Jesus has yet another tense conversation about “working” (doing good) on the Sabbath. This exchange is highlighted by the Pharisees refusing to answer the questions, on the grounds that doing so would self-incriminate them as stupid and hypocritical.
    • The person in question was a man with fluid buildup (edema). This used to be called dropsy (and is rendered as such in other translations). “Dropsy” is how I would diagnose chronic clumsiness. Sometimes I get distracted by details such as this.
  • Jesus tells the egomaniacal guests at the party that they should instead pursue humility, and that the host should invite more “undesirable” people to his parties.
    • A guest exclaimed “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!” In other translations, this sounds more reverent. Here, it reads more sarcastic, like he was seeing Jesus’ challenges as inviting a “Dinner for Schmucks” type vibe.
  • Jesus replied, telling a story to make the point…the Kingdom banquet will be filled with the outcasts, downtrodden, forgotten, and marginalized….and that none of the elite (in this world) will be there. Surely, this left the snooty guests feeling…
  • Jesus talked to the crowd about the cost of following him.
    • Condition 1: loving Jesus above all else, even family and self. Love for Jesus must be such a priority that other affections would be thought of as hate by comparison.
    • Condition 2: surrender to suffering.
    • Condition 3: sacrifice comforts.
    • “Unsalty salt” in this parable is the “unconsidered decision” to follow Jesus.
    • understated point: truly following Jesus includes thoughtfulness and consideration.
  • Jesus’ message was attractive to notorious people. You know, lost people who knew they were lost. This greatly irritated the lost people who mistakenly thought they weren’t lost (the religious elite). So Jesus told 3 stories to help the elite get the point:
    • He told them about the joy a man has in finding his 1 lost sheep out of the flock of 100.
    • He told them about the joy a woman has in finding 1 lost coin out of 10 silver pieces.
    • He tells the extended story of the prodigal son who returns
      • the lost son became lost as a result of his own foolish choices
      • he came to the end of himself and thought to beg his dad to let him be a servant (which would’ve been better than his current mess)
      • he went home, but his dad was on the watch for him and saw him coming.
      • The father ran out to the son and embraced and kissed him.
        • The father immediately clothed with a robe of honor
        • The father immediately gave him a ring of authority
        • The father shod him with sandals (provision as family)
        • The father had the fatted calf slain (feast of celebration)
      • The older son was not happy with news of these developments
        • he exaggerates his own labors
        • he understates his dad’s generosity and provision
        • he indicts his brother and his father
      • The dad corrected the orders son’s misperceptions and returned to the celebration.
      • point: Finding lost people is a BIG deal to God, and he (and all of heaven) celebrates when the lost are found!
not actual footage of heaven cutting footloose
  • This following passage is difficult (for me). Jesus tells the story of a dishonest, shrewd manager who gets commended for selfish, shrewd behavior in preparing to be fired. The lesson, read in context to the story, seems very troubling (anti-biblical in terms of ethics)
  • I think the lesson is better, more biblically consistent if detached just a bit from the story.
    • This is possible by just reading it this way – that the lesson, rather than serving as a conclusion to the story, serves as an introduction to the principle that follows.this requires shifting the “they” in “they will welcome you to an eternal home,” away from the worldly friends to heaven’s citizens (angels). The idea, therefore changes…
      • The story is of an shrewd manager (worldly) commended by rich man. Our tendency is to think of the rich man as God.However, if we see the “rich man” as the world, then “management” of the world’s resources is “worldly wealth.”Jesus’ instructions, then, are to spend worldly wealth on worldly concerns (friends for the ‘here and now’) because that wealth will come to and end.At death, there is no worldly wealth. Wealth in life offers no privilege in heaven. So…when your possessions are gone (at death), they (heaven’s citizens) will welcome you to an eternal home.”
      • what do you think?
    • Now, this principle ties to Jesus’ teaching about being faithful in small things, being entrusted with bigger things.
    • Jesus’ bottom line: you can’t serve God and be enslaved to money. (I wonder if Judas was in the audience).

  • In a not-an-all-awkward transition (and by that I mean, totally deliberate), the Pharisees are described as a group who “dearly loved their money.”
    • This exposition directed at the Pharisees reveals the eternal truth of the laws of God, and the wisdom in living now with an eternal intentionality (and how that affects thoughts on wealth and marriage)
  • Jesus “unpacks” this teaching using the story about the rich man and Lazarus.
    • Rich man had everything in life.
    • Lazarus was pitiful.
    • Yet at death, this was inverted.
      • Truly amazing to me is that even from hell, the rich man looked at Lazarus and had no regard for him, other than how he might be useful to serve his selfish needs. He even assumed Abraham considered Lazarus the same way.
    • Abraham responded to the rich man’s requests with some harsh truths
      • these destinations were permanent and unbridgeable.
      • still-living loved ones who were resolute in unbelief wouldn’t be persuaded by a supernatural visitation if they hadn’t been convinced by Moses and the prophets.
        • We will see this to be true in how the Pharisees react to God raising his friend Lazarus from the dead (and the common name is possibly not coincidental, either).
  • In rapid-fire succession, we read quick teachings on:
    • Don’t tempt others (lead others into sin). That’s bad. you’ll regret it
    • Forgive others. a lot. as often as needed. You’ve been forgiven for more.
    • a response to the request to “teach us how to grow our faith.”
      • Jesus doesn’t really honor their request, as much as he exhorts them to use the faith they already have.
      • It’s not so they could work wonders (like relocating a tree)…but that they can do the things Jesus is leading them to do if they’ll rest more in the faith that he has given them to do the things they’re commanded to do.
    • A seeming warning to not get boastful about what they do. Remember, this is tied to the faith question, and the point is faithful service, not accomplishment of boast-worthy feats. Jesus’ exhortation is for followers to do their duty, relying upon the faith given to them to do it.
  • Jesus then healed 10 men with leprosy. Only one came back to thank him.
Solo gratitudo
  • Jesus addresses the Pharisees interest in the coming Kingdom of God.
    • He says, “It’s already among you!” He is clearly associating himself with the Kingdom of God.
    • He tells them he’s about to depart and they will long for the day when he returns, but they will not see it. (Yikes!)
    • He foretells his own suffering and rejection.
    • He compares this time with the days of Noah and the days of Lot. The phrase “destroys them all” is repeated.
paddles will be in short supply
  • There will be no shortage of signs indicating that things are wrapping up here (and none of them are good).
  • Hard pivot: Jesus tells followers to pray and never give up. God is good and likes to answer prayers (caveats: on his time, and according to his will. These caveats may be challenging to reconcile to your experience from time to time).
  • Jesus uses an arrogant Pharisee to teach humility in prayer.
  • understated point: God hears the prayers of the humble, and resists the blathering of the prideful.
God, when prideful person prays
  • Jesus chastises the disciples for scolding parents of kids rushing Jesus.
    • He says to receive the Kingdom of God like a child.
    • I think this is more about eagerness and total dependence than about innocence.
  • Jesus talks with the rich man about eternal life. He calls Jesus good, which Jesus points out attests to his divinity.
    • Jesus tells the man to obey the 10 commandments. Check.
    • Jesus tells him to sell all possessions and follow him. Oops…problem.
    • Jesus points out that wealth is a problem for a lot of people.
    • He also points out that God can overcome that problem, and that anything given up for Jesus is rewarded.
  • Things are picking up…Jesus tells the twelve that they’re heading into Jerusalem, and that everything promised will start to play out. Including his sham arrest, torture, and murder. But also his resurrection.
    • They missed the point.
not the actual disciples
  • The blind man shouted to be saved. Jesus saved him. Everyone rejoiced
  • Jesus went in Jericho. Met Zaccheus. He was wee. But his faith was big.
    • “Sin-sniffers” grumbled. Jesus saved him anyway.
  • Jesus told the story about the nobleman whose son was going to be crowned king. This story is known as the parable of the talents, and the message is that Jesus was going away, that he’d be returning, and there will be an accounting of the investments he makes in his followers and how those investments were used.
  • understated point: use the gifts God has given you to make a Kingdom impact.

Immerse Day 3 Observations

Immerse is an 8-week (40 day) reading campaign, where we (our church, Scottsdale Bible Church) is encouraging everyone to read through the New Testament together. To date, we have approximately 3500 people who have expressed intent to participate.

Text: Luke 9:51-13:33 (pp. 28-37)

  • “As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven…” A subtle reminder that an important appointment had been set and would not be rescheduled.
  • All these events (thus far and to come) were also appointed.
  • The Apostles experienced an inhospitable response at the Samaritan village. They asked to rain down fire from heaven.
When the crew redefines ‘lets get lit’
  • Jesus shut down that nonsense and they went do a different village. The Apostles’ response shows we have the propensity to misuse power and authority.
  • Jesus talks with three who are interested in following Jesus, and in doing so explains the cost of discipleship – abandoning earthly comforts, prioritizing God’s agenda, and not lingering in the past (or even present).
    • I think this is largely lost or re-contextualized in modern, Western culture. Our frame of reference struggles to appreciate this call and the demands biblically associated with following Jesus.
  • Jesus pairs up 72 disciples and sends them out as advance teams, saying, “The harvest is great but the workers are few…”
  • understated points: there will always be more people to be saved. We will never run out of the harvest. We must never stop harvesting.
  • Jesus tells us to ask the Lord to send out more workers into the harvest.
    • I think we have the habit of making workers and praying for the harvest, rather than praying workers and sending them out into the harvest.
  • Jesus instructs his team to accept hospitality because those who work deserve their pay.
    • This verse is a line of tension for me because my family has lived on the generosity of faithful givers over the course of my ministry, but I also acknowledge this is a misused/abused verse.
  • Jesus repeatedly tells his crew that their message is “The Kingdom of God is near.”
    • It is inadequate to just think about this prophetically, or eschatologically.
    • understated point: The Kingdom of God is never nearer in the relational proximity of Jesus Christ through the indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit.
  • Jesus’ dis on the various cities highlights that not everyone was on board the Jesus Express. Though he had a significant following, his was a minority and not embraced by the whole.
  • shoutout was a head-scratcher because good things happened there. Looking around, I read that it suggests that perhaps there was thought that Capernaum would be “elevated” because of the early miracles that Jesus performed there. Jesus was saying that not only would they not be elevated, but the unbelievers there would be judged just as impartially as everywhere else.
  • Jesus mentions, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning.” This reiterates the eternality of Jesus, and that when the angelic fall occurred, Jesus sat on his throne in heaven.
  • “Satan” is the term representing the totality of the angelic rebellion…not a singular spiritual foe of God.
  • “Like lightning” explains the swiftness and magnitude of God’s judgment against the angels who rebelled. It was no slow roll eviction. Sudden, swift, and total.
  • Jesus makes it clear that bigger than having spiritual authority over evil spirits is that the names of his true followers are registered in heaven.
  • understated point: your salvation is a bigger deal than your spiritual giftedness.
  • Jesus prays to the Father, detailing again his total one-ness with the Father.
  • Jesus tells his disciples that they are experiencing something truly unique in history and divine revelation. What was the hope and promise of the ancestral prophets and kings was the daily reality of these in Jesus’ audience.
  • Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan in response to the “set up” question being asked about how to inherit eternal life, and specifically the question of “Just who is my neighbor?”
  • understated point: neighborliness is characterized more by compassionate relationality than by locational proximity.
  • Jesus has meal at Mary and Martha’s house. Martha is frustrated by Mary’s lack of help in preparing. Jesus corrects her, saying Mary had figured out the only thing that mattered: just enjoying being in the presence of Jesus.
  • Jesus then taught the disciples how to pray. Principles to remember:
    • God is our perfect, heavenly father
    • He is holy
    • We should be wanting and expecting his Kingdom to come soon.
    • He provides for our day-to-day needs
    • He forgives graciously
    • He empowers us to be forgiving
    • He helps us overcome temptations
  • He also encourages us to never stop asking and seeking in prayer. God isn’t withholding.
  • This is challenging. I believe it with all my heart. I know it to be true. I also know of prayers that have been prayed for extended times that have not yet been answered. I know that it is hard to persevere in prayer when it feels like the prayers aren’t being heard.
  • Jesus casts out the demon from the mute man, and gets accused of doing the miraculous through the power of Satan.
God-glorifying miracles, powered by God-hating demons?
  • Jesus points out their flawed thinking, pointing out…IF (and “if” really meaning “since,”) demons are cast out by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God HAS arrived among you.
  • understated point: Jesus is the kingdom of God.
  • From this, he basically says, if you’re not for me, you’re against me.
  • In response to the “calls for a sign,” he tells them he will give them the sign of Nineveh, meaning his three days in the tomb. The point escaped them.
  • He also pointed out that the Queen of Sheba and the Ninevites would stand in testimony against the unrepentant crowd because they both sought and listened to wisdom (in contrast to the hard-heartedness of the crowd’s unrepentant).
  • Jesus then accepted another meal with a Pharisee and corrected the Pharisee’s mistaken obsession over external cleanliness at the neglect of internal corruption. He called them hidden graves. They found that insulting.
Jesus was just getting started.
  • If they thought that was rude, surely they didn’t like him reminding them that they had built monuments to the prophets that their ancestors had killed, joining in their crimes and perpetuating them!
    • fun fact: it is here where we see Abel revealed as history’s first prophet. (remember that for your next Bible trivia night)
    • Jesus tells them that not only do they not contribute positively to the Kingdom, but that they take away the key to knowledge, and they keep people out of the Kingdom! Yikes.
    • The Pharisees and experts had become hostile, (gee, you think?!?) and tried to provoke him, trying to trap him with his answers. Worst dinner party ever.
  • Meanwhile…crowds kept growing.
  • Jesus warned the crowd to be wary of the “yeast” of the Pharisees, comparing their hypocrisy to yeast that works its way through the dough (of the Kingdom). He declared that their hidden plots would soon be revealed.
  • He told the crowd not to fear death more than they feared God, then gave analogies that demonstrate the love and care and attentiveness of God.
  • He also makes it clear that nobody is permitted to be an “undercover” believer. Our faith and belief should be on display for others to see.
  • Jesus promised that Holy Spirit would empower every person to witness faithfully in the faith of persecution.
  • Jesus warned against greed. And worry.
  • Jesus said “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need,” and “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart also will be.”
  • Understated point: treasuring God causes you desire God, which is seeking God. Ample provision accompanies a God-focused life.
  • Jesus gives some extended/ connected analogies to “unpack” this God-focused life that is characterized by preparation, expectation, faithfulness, responsibility, and reward.
  • Jesus then says some hard things about coming to set the world on fire and dividing people against each other.
Wolverine walking away from an explosion is as close as I could get to the point, here
  • His point is that judgment is coming, and that the Gospel is divisive, because some will reject it (and him).
  • He told his crowd that they should recognize the day they’re in, and notice the signs of the times.
  • Using the sad news of Pilate’s murder of worshippers, he pointed out that people living in a sinful world die every day. Accordingly, the need to repent and get right with God is timely.
  • Jesus talks about cutting down an infertile fig tree. The story speaks of patience…but also of eventual judgment. This is particularly interesting in light of John 15 where Jesus identifies God as the Vinedresser (gardener) and talks about pruning.
  • We now read another “healing on the Sabbath” conflict. The Pharisees were really dogmatic (and wrong-spirited) about this.
The Pharisees were missing the point about the Sabbath.
  • So Jesus healed the woman, the Pharisees were shamed, and the people rejoiced.
  • Jesus now began speaking provocatively about the Kingdom of God (in terms of what it is like here on earth).
  • It’s worth further study to consider a what a mustard bush should look like, birds and yeast as a type or symbol in scripture.
  • Jesus pressed on toward Jerusalem. He was on a mission!
  • Jesus talked about the path to heaven having a narrow gate.
  • Jesus mentioned that there would be people who were in locational proximity to Jesus, but will be excluded because they are relationally alienated from him (by their own choice, or fidelity to evil).
  • YET, despite the path being narrow, the Kingdom of God will welcome people from all directions, from all over the world.

(I’ll comment on the last content on pg 37 tomorrow because it fits with tomorrow’s content).

Let me know if you have comments or observations of your own!

Immerse Day 2 Observations (part 2)

Immerse is an 8-week (40 day) reading campaign, where we (our church, Scottsdale Bible Church) is encouraging everyone to read through the New Testament together. To date, we have approximately 3500 people who have expressed intent to participate.

Text: Luke 4:14-9:50 (pp. 13-27) Part 2 of this recap will cover 19-27

Read part 1 here. Continuing on…

  • Jesus is now in Capernaum, a slave of a Roman officer fell ill.
    • the Gentile officer sent respected Jewish elders (who went).The Roman’s love for the Jewish people is highlighted.Jesus is greeted by the Roman’s humility.The Roman declared faith in Jesus by expressing his understanding of Jesus’ authority (as one himself under authority). Question: Do we today fail to appreciate Jesus authority because we don’t experience authority in this way in our daily life? Jesus affirms the Roman (Gentile) faith, saying basically, “he gets it!”The slave is completely healed.
  • Jesus travels to Nain – heals the dead.NBD
    • They responded in fear.They called him a prophet. News of Jesus spread.
  • John the Baptist asked for confirmation that Jesus is the promised Messiah.
    • Jesus confirmed that he is the Messiah.
    • Jesus affirmed that John is fulfilling his prophesied role.
    • John’s greatness is affirmed, but clarified…human greatness can’t compare to Kingdom “lowliness.” Like the difference between Pee Wee Ball and Major Leagues.
    • Pharisees heard this…and chose not to repent. Jesus again calls them out.
      • they are indicted for rejecting the message of the Kingdom of God, presented both by Jesus and by John.
      • understated point: wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.
  • Jesus dined with a Pharisee(!), when a prostitute showed up, and made a scene.
    • Question: is this another setup (using her as a pawn).
    • Again, Jesus is criticized for not expelling her based on external considerations.
    • Jesus responds with a smack-down parable.
      • He tells the Pharisee her many sins are forgiven
      • More important, he turns and tells her she’s forgiven.
      • Because she’s forgiven, she can go in peace (with God!)
      • The Pharisees cannot reconcile what they’ve just observed. They don’t have room in their understanding for the Messiah to be God himself.
  • Jesus goes on tour (p. 22)!
    • women are included, mentioned by name. This is a big deal.
    • He teaches the parable of the soils…and tells everyone with ears to listen & understand.
    • He explains to followers that parables are meant to give insight to the followers and obscurity to the enemies.
    • He explains the parable, that there will be different people in the crowds who will hear and receive and respond differently.
    • Understated point: “So pay attention to how you hear.”
      • listen and you’ll learn
      • Don’t listen and you’ll not only not learn, but you’ll become more foolish.
  • Jesus explains that his family is not only blood kin…but all who hear and believe.
  • The Kingdom of God is the most inclusive community that ever has or ever will exist.
  • Jesus and crew cross Galilee. Meet the Gerasenes demoniac. He’s a mess.
  • He confronts Jesus, then demon complains, “Why are you interfering?”
    • Illustrates human/demonic interaction/turmoil.
  • Demons beg not to be tortured, thrown into bottomless pit.
    • They know it exists
    • They know it’s their destiny
  • Jesus sends them into the swine. They commit mass pig-suicide.
  • the people’s reaction is amazing, like not in a good way.
    • They see the demoniac clothed and sane at Jesus’ foot, and they are all afraid.
    • They begged Jesus to leave them.
Wait. What?
  • So he left them.
  • But he left behind this sane man who now went through the whole town with the message of deliverance from the Son of Man who had terrified them with his holy power (when they hadn’t been at all troubled by the man’s demonic possession/oppression).
  • The crowd back on the other side of the lake welcomed him.
  • Jairus, a Jewish synagogue leader, rushed to him because his 12-year old daughter was dying!
    • Crisis strips away religiosity.
  • Along the way, his hem is touched by a woman with a 12-year blood issue.
  • young v. old, Jew v. Gentile (speculation); clean v. unclean.
  • Touching Jesus hem healed the woman. He was aware.
  • She couldn’t hide. Jesus’ healing is a public testimony.
  • Her “interloping” couldn’t derail Jesus from his plan to heal the girl.
  • Jesus healed the woman of her blood issue. He healed the girl of death.
  • News of her death had already got out. So even though he instructed her parents to be chill…news still went viral.
I’m so hip in how I explained that
  • Jesus sent out the apostles to extend his ministry, advance his gospel. They did.
  • Herod Antipas was hearing the buzz….couldn’t make sense of it because he had already beheaded John the Baptist (and, by the way, nice passive sharing of *that* news. Yikes!)
  • Jesus was on the big wigs’ radars.
  • The Apostles returned. The crowd amassed. Jesus fed them. Miraculously.
  • Jesus asks the Apostles who they think he is.
    • Peter says definitively, “You are the Messiah sent from God.”
    • Jesus affirms it, then immediately foretells that his is going to be rejected and killed. Wow.
    • He tells them to take up their cross…this stood out to me. He hadn’t yet mentioned the cross, prophetically. Question: was this a retrofit colloquialism? or foreshadowing?
    • and tells them that a few of them will get a sneak peak of the Kingdom of God in short order.
  • 8 days later – so specific! James, John, Peter & Jesus on a mountain to pray…transfiguration occurred.
    • Moses appeared (representing the Law), Elijah too (representing the Prophets). They were glorious to see. This is their eternal reality, reflecting the glory of God.
    • They were talking with Jesus…relating with Jesus as friends!
    • When the Apostles woke, they saw Jesus in glorified appearance.
    • Peter throws out a bad idea. God shuts him down. Graciously, but still…
Peter’s second suggestion didn’t go over any better…
  • God appeared (in an encompassing cloud) and said, “Let’s let Jesus be the idea man of this group….”
  • The Apostles didn’t tell anyone at the time what they had seen. I can think of several reasons why this made sense for them not to do so.
  • A few days later, a troubled person came forward, saying his problem was too big for the Apostles.
  • Jesus was critical…revealing that the complaint said more about the complainer than it did about the Apostles.
  • Jesus healed the man anyway (showing that God’s healing is about faith in God…he wants us to have faith in him, and our faith in leaders should always be about trust in God working powerfully through our leaders, and not in the leader him/herself.)
  • This reading closes with Jesus announcing again he was about to be betrayed. They were afraid to press him on it, so instead started talking about which among them was the greatest.
  • Jesus course corrects them using a child as an object lesson…
  • understated point: the least among you is the greatest.
  • Jesus closes the exchange by telling Apostles not to be harsh with an “outsider” using Jesus name to do good work.
  • understated point: anyone not against you is for you.
  • <whew>

Immerse Day 2 Observations (part 1)

Immerse is an 8-week (40 day) reading campaign, where we (our church, Scottsdale Bible Church) is encouraging everyone to read through the New Testament together. To date, we have approximately 3500 people who have expressed intent to participate.

Text: Luke 4:14-9:50 (pp. 13-27) Part 1 of this recap will cover 13-19

Before beginning, the detailed observations, an overview: Wow! Talk about jumping in the deep end! We meet the protagonist (Jesus), the antagonist (Scribes and Pharisees) and the drama gets underway. Healings, miracles, teachings all commence, as does the conflict and conspiracy. So much happens in these 14 pages…my habit is to want to camp out at each passage, so it’s a new effort (of sorts) to read it all in context together. I’m really appreciating how reading it this way gives a “30,000-foot view” of Jesus’ efforts and interactions. The perspective is refreshing and challenging.

Observations:

  • Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit’s Power. Boom! There is no mystery of why or how Jesus does what does…He has total unity with the Holy Spirit.
    • He taught regularly and was praised by everyone. At the onset, when he taught about God, the people universally loved him.
    • He went “as usual” to the synagogue. Jesus’ spiritual disciplines were genuine expressions of his authentic life.
  • “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…” – Jesus reads the first two verses of Isaiah 61.
    • He is announcing himself as the fulfillment of this prophecy.He is revealing the good work that is accomplished in him.He explains this prophecy as fulfilled, not “going to be fulfilled.He puts a period here, where in Isaiah there is not one. (Indicating to me that he will fulfill verse 3 in his return, and that we’ve been living in this white space of Scripture for 2000ish years! )
    • Everyone still spoke well of him after this pronouncement…”the world” can get behind a gracious message that intends to make the world a better place.
  • Then he said, “You will undoubtedly quote this proverb, ‘Physician heal yourself.'” All the warm-fuzzies are about to shift. He’s telling them that the same ones smiling at him today will be in 3 years telling to bring himself down from the cross. He’s not mesmerized by their praise.
    • He then gives them the history lesson of Elijah and Elisha, and angering them by pointing out how only foreigners (Gentiles) benefited from their ministry.
  • This infuriated the synagogue. The love affair….brief as it was…was over.
    • They went from love to hate in an instant. They “connected the dots” and caught the dis.
  • Question: Was Jesus’ mentioning the heavens being closed 3 1/2 years an oblique reference to his own impending ministry and the Jewish leadership’s rejection of him (and it)?
  • Jesus went to Capernaum….and he taught with authority. He was no wallflower.
    • There, he was in the synagogue and confronted by a demon-possessed man. It is possible for evil to be found in spiritual places. The demon publicly testified to the divinity of Jesus. The spiritual beings had no confusion about who Jesus was.Jesus cast out the demon. The demon obeyed Jesus. He was powerless in Jesus’ presence.
  • Jesus then “rebuked the fever” in Simon’s mother-in-law. So in back-back-anecdotes, we see Jesus’ power of the spiritual realm and the physical realm.
  • The people of Capernaum begged Jesus not to leave. “But I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God.” This is Jesus message.
    • The synagogues were his primary (but not exclusive) mission field.
  • Preaching on the shore of Galilee, he now showed his power over nature (with the fish/boats). This was no small miracle…he showed his provision of abundance.
    • Simon’s response was one to the external righteousness that had been ingrained in their culture…that favor only fell to those who earned it. He knew is own sin was unfamiliar with grace.Jesus’ response was evocative of Gabriel’s to Zechariah and shepherds: “Don’t be afraid.” Grace not only blesses, but extends the invitation to be included in the work God is doing.Their invitation to join in fishing for people is being heard in the context of their seeing boats FILLED with fish.
  • Jesus met a man with leprosy. The man said, “If you’re willing…” He didn’t question if Jesus was able.
    • Jesus showed he was both willing and able.
    • Jesus sent him to the priest…not the doctor…and to bring along the offering associated with healing. Here, Jesus is tying the physical healing to the spiritual approval of God. Jesus was fulfilling the law, not challenging it.
    • Jesus told him not to tell anyone, but that his offering would be the testimony.
    • DESPITE the effort to downplay, the good news spread. That’s what good news does…it spreads.
  • Here…almost out of place…a statement that Jesus often withdrew to pray. The world is noisy. Even amidst good things happening. Solitude helps us hear God’s voice for the context of life.
  • Continuing…in the context of teaching, we are introduced to the Pharisees.
Meeting the Pharisees.
  • Continuing…in the context of teaching, we are introduced to the Pharisees.
  • They’ve joined the following…but for different reasons than the rest of the crowd.
  • They’re witnessing the pressing crowd where a paralyzed man is lowered through the hole in a roof.
  • Jesus says, “Your sins are forgiven!” instead of “Be healed!
  • Jesus knows their thoughts, so calls them out, and then heals the man of paralysis to prove his point!
  • Everyone was all…
  • (pg 16) – Jesus called Levi (Matthew) to follow him.
  • Levi had a banquet, filled with tax collectors.
    • Pharisees griped about it…that this holy man Jesus hangs out with sinners.
    • Interestingly, they complain to the disciples…like they think they can “hem them in” or corral them back by shaming them into compliance.
    • Jesus tells them, basically, “my message isn’t for you. It’s for the people who know they’re sick and need to repent to be healed.”
  • Jesus explains why his followers aren’t being as “externally religious” as other followers.
    • It’s interesting to me that John’s followers are more closely identified in conduct with the Pharisees than they are with Jesus, though he clearly pointed to Jesus and not the Pharisees.
    • Jesus explained that his followers were celebrating, and that fasting was an expression something other than celebrating. Then, explained further by using the illustrations of the new patch on an old garment and new wine in old wineskins. His point: the old can’t contain the new. Trying to meld/merge the new into the old destroyed both.
    • understated point: the new isn’t for people satisfied with the old.
  • Jesus and crew scrounge up some grains on the Sabbath. Get accused of harvesting on the Sabbath.
    • Jesus responds to the accusation by both pointing to King David as historical precedent and then identifying himself as the Son of Man, Lord over the Sabbath.
  • At a later Sabbath, a man with a deformed hand was in the crowd.
    • “The Pharisees watched Jesus closely.”
    • Is the deformed man “a plant?” Not that he’s a conspirer, but that he’s a pawn being used by those who want to invalidate Jesus.
    • Again, Jesus upsets their apple cart, reveals their motives, and heals the guy any way.
    • This further enrages the pharisees…who begin to conspire against him.
  • Jesus went up on the mountain to pray – not to be closer to God, but to be in solitude.
  • He prayed to God all night. He was in perfect relationship with the Father…and they stayed up all night talking together. WHAT A CONVERSATION that must have been.
    • The next morning, he called the 12 up to the mountain…chose them to be his apostles. The first ministry retreat! Bonding experience!
    • The parentheticals give relational context to Theophilus (and us). Judas Iscariot known historically as the betrayer of Jesus…also intentionally included from the onset. No effort to scrub him from the historical account.
  • They came down from the mountain, and was met by a multitude. The people came to listen and to be healed.
  • People clamored to touch him, because his power went out from him. He healed everyone.
  • He preached to the multitude (“Sermon on the Mount”).
    • Blesses theses who are poor…the Kingdom of God offers material provision that is greater/better than worldly materialism.
    • Blesses the hungry…God promises to satisfy physical need.
    • Blesses the sorrowful…God promises emotional provision.
    • Blesses those who are:
      • hated
      • excluded
      • mocked
      • cursed because of Jesus
        • – They will be rewarded
        • the ancestors of the guilty have been behaving this way for generations.
        • To this group, God promises relational provision.
    • Then Jesus flips the script, addressing these same four areas, promising judgment upon those who are living carnally – materialistically, gluttonously, hedonistically, and relationally indulgent.
    • Jesus challenges the audience to divest in worldly ways:
      • love your enemies
      • respond to violence with peace
      • return curses with blessings
      • Intercede for oppressors
      • Give generously to the takers/greedy.
      • This ethic undergirds “the golden rule.”
        • Living this way reflects your relationship with God, or more important, how God relates with you.
        • This compassion exemplifies God’s compassion.
      • More manifestations of this:
        • Do not judge
        • Do not condemn
        • Forgive
        • Give
      • We can’t get this from the world (“blind leading the blind”)
Me helping others with their splinters.
  • Don’t be distracted (“speck in the friend’s eye”)
  • further explains that living this way isn’t external effort, but natural “fruit” from being rooted in God. “Good fruit” comes from a “good heart.” God alone is good, and God alone makes bad people good.
  • Closes this sermon with the challenge to apply what they’ve heard.
    • Don’t call Jesus “Lord,” and live disobediently.
    • A disobedient hearer is a person who willfully lives foolishly.

Read part 2 here.

Immerse Day 1 Observations

Immerse is an 8-week (40 day) reading campaign, where we (our church) is encouraging everyone to read through the New Testament together. To date, we have approximately 3500 people who have expressed intent to participate.

Can’t promise I’ll be able to do this every day, but I’ll try to do so as often as I’m able…

Text: Luke 1:1-4:13 (Immerse introduction – p. 12)

  • Acts (to be addressed after Luke, paired with Luke’s Gospel in Immerse) reveals 6 barriers of Gospel advance (1 linguistic, 4 geographic, and 1 cultural).
  • “Many people” acknowledged by Luke wrote alternative accounts of the events detailed in his writing. These events were widely-known and reported. Luke himself undertook a thorough investigation, and his account is attested to be accurate.
  • His account was written so Theophilus could be certain that everything he had been taught was true.
  • Framing the events in the time of Herod was a time frame, a political frame, and a cultural frame.
  • Zechariah’s placement in the Temple was the result of casting lots. It seems random, but the events that unfold reveal that randomness is a phenomenon often attributed due to a lack of perspective.
  • Zechariah was a holy man. Righteous in God’s eyes. YET…he was shaken and overwhelmed with fear at the sight of Gabriel. We scarcely fathom the significance of holiness.
  • The Holy Spirit is mentioned…a lot…in these first pages. He is at work, a co-agent in the activity of the Lord.
  • John is revealed prenatally to be about the work of preparing people for the coming of the Lord….this work that would transform hearts and restore relationships is in harmony with the will of the Lord and the way of the Lord.
  • John, Gabriel promised, would be filled with the Holy Spirit for his task. John did nothing on his own, apart from or independent of God’s Holy Spirit.
  • Zechariah was more concerned about the birth of John than of the ministry or blessing of John. His response is judged as non-belief.
  • Gabriel recalibrates Zechariah…reminding the man of the angel’s proximity to and delegation by God…and of the certainty of what is prophesied.
  • Gabriel then visits Mary; her response is of confusion and disturbance. Yet, her response is not credited as disbelief. Perhaps a good explanation is that “opening the womb” was not unprecedented, while a virgin birth absolutely is.
  • When Mary visited Elizabeth, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and received divine insight to the nature and personhood of the baby in Mary’s womb. Mary’s response is fully of faith.
  • Zechariah and Elizabeth’s naming of John went against cultural expectation. John’s name (in Hebrew) means “God is gracious.” This man’s name was his message.
  • Zechariah, suddenly able to speak, prophesied about John. Interestingly, his prophecy focused primarily on Jesus, and only later on John’s role in preparing others for the Messiah.
  • The story transitions to the birth of Jesus. Shepherds are mentioned being “terrified” by the appearance of Gabriel. God’s holiness is unmatched in our human experience.
  • Jesus’ birth was received with great joy by Anna and Simeon…two people whose lives had been devoted to spiritual awareness.
  • Little is mentioned of Jesus’ youth/adolescence. This isn’t the stage of life that matters most…only a single anecdote to affirm that his attentions to God were consistent and increasing. He was unique.
  • Luke’s extensive list of Roman authorities and Jewish religious leaders offers a precise triangulation of the historicity of Jesus.
  • John (now an adult) is seen fulfilling the promises that had been foretold of him. Jesus inaugurates his ministry by being baptized. Not for need, but to exemplify the salvific nature of his ministry.
  • His genealogy offers a clear trail of his origins to Adam. Jesus is fully man.
  • This reading closes with Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, having been led by God (!) to it. He resists and overcomes his adversary solely through the power-filled Word of God. God’s truth overcomes all carnal assaults.