Luke in 33 Days - Luke 24:13-53

Saturday 30 March

Read Luke 24:13-53

Think

Lk 24:13-35 – It seems these disciples thought it had all ended in the tomb.  There was no way they could believe this stranger walking with them was Jesus; until, in his breaking of bread – they recognized him.

Lk 24:36-49 – When Jesus meets his disciples in the upper room he reminds them why he came.  “Repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”  We can know that we are forgiven, and we can tell others that they can be forgiven to – because of Jesus.

Lk 24:50-53 – Jesus was taken up to heaven; the disciples returned to the temple to worship and wait – for the Holy Spirit to give them power.

Pray

Thank God for the gift that he has given us in inspiring Luke to tell the story of Jesus.  Pray for the Spirit’s power to help you to go out and continue telling this story to the world.

Don’t forget (if you’re in Paarl) to come and worship on Easter Sunday at 06h30am!

Luke in 33 Days - Luke 23:50-24:12

Friday 29 March

Read Luke 23:50–24:12

Think

Lk 23:50-56 – I like the line about Joseph of Arimathea: “…he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.”

Lk 24:1-12 – It might seem strange to read about Jesus’ resurrection already on Good Friday; but we go through Good Friday remembering the hope of Sunday.  That is our sustenance.

Pray

Pray for more hope in a world that sometimes seem to be stuck on Good Friday.

Luke in 33 Days - Luke 23:1-49

Thursday 28 March

Read Luke 23:1–49

Think

Lk 23:1-5 – “He stirs up the people by teaching…” (vs 5); are you stirred by Jesus’ teaching?

Lk 23:6-12 – Herod bullies and humiliates Jesus with the help of his soldiers.  When you are bullied and humiliated is it helpful to know that Jesus has been there?

Lk 23:13-25 – In this passage the ‘blame’ for Jesus death is put on the crowd shouting “crucify him.”  Somehow it helps us to see that no one person was responsible; we are all responsible.

LK 23:26-49 – Let reading this passage be a time of worship.

Pray

Spend some time meditating on Jesus’ suffering and death.  Remember what it means.

Luke in 33 Days - Luke 22:35-71

Wednesday 27 March

Read Luke 22:35–71

Think

Lk 22:35-38 – On Jesus final day he begins to make the disciples more aware of the future that they can anticipate.  In the past they could expect hospitality; but after this moment they will begin to experience hostility.

Lk 22:39-46 – Jesus prays in Gethsemane. 

Lk 22:47-53 – The temple guards come to arrest Jesus.  Jesus points out the dishonesty in their action – why must they do what they are doing at night?

Lk 22:54-62 – Jesus’ prophesy is fulfilled; Peter denies him, and yet we read earlier that Jesus prayed for his restoration even before his failure.

Lk 22:63-71 – When Jesus on trial we see his faithfulness; he could have denied his vocation, he could have lied about who he was – but he held true.

Pray

In Gethsemane Jesus emerges through his time of trial victoriously saying to God; not my will but yours be done.  Pray for strength in times of trial.

Luke in 33 Days - Luke 22:7-34

Tuesday 26 March

Read Luke 22:7–34

Think

Lk 23:7-13 – Passover meal is a great tradition.  How are you at keeping traditions that remind you of your freedom in God?

Lk 23:14-23 – Jesus institutes The Lord’s Supper; such a simple meal that speaks of such freedom and grace.

Lk 23:24-30 – “The greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves.”

Lk 23:31-34 – Before Peter fails, Jesus counsels him; reminding him that he will be called back.

Pray

Read this passage again prayerfully.  Hear Jesus speak to you in the words written; hear especially verse 32:  “I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail…”

Luke in 33 Days - Luke 21:7-22:6

Monday 25 March

Read Luke 21:7–22:6

Think

Lk 21:7-19 – Can you think of any of the 12 disciples who died natural deaths?  In these verses Jesus warns of persecution and promises that ‘by your endurance you will gain your souls.’  I guess we’re a bit soft when giving up sugar for lent seems like hard work.

Lk 21:20-24 – The persecution of those who follow Jesus was followed by the fall of Jerusalem; in 70AD the Roman armies ransacked Jerusalem taking many prisoners.  Remember Jesus’ mourning in Lk 19:42.

Lk 21:25-33 – We’ve been reading about a day of justice; and it sounds quite fearful.  But it is better to look forward to a day of justice; to be one of those ‘lifted up’ rather than ‘brought down’.

Lk 21:34-22:6 – Jesus calls us to be alert, to persevere even when being faithful is difficult.

Pray

Lk 21:36: “Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Luke in 33 Days: Luke 20:27-21:6

Sunday 24 March

Read Luke 20:27–21:6

Think

Lk 20:27-40 – The Sadducees try to catch Jesus out on the question of resurrection.  His answer is to show that everlasting life existed (although obscurely) even in the first five books of Moses.  The Sadducees accepted the first five books but not the works of the prophets in which we find more explicit references to life after death.

Lk 20:41-21:6 – Jesus again warns the people against ‘false religion’. He points out a widow offering her last coins; condemns the injustice of her exploitation and prophesies the destruction of the temple.

Pray

Pray that we wouldn’t be like the scribes.  Convinced of our own self righteousness and negligent of our own brokenness.

Week 5's Readings - 33 Days of Luke

Here are the readings for week 5, sorry I didn't post them yesterday but I had internet problems.

Luke in 33 Days: Luke 20:1–26

Saturday 23 March

Read Luke 20:1–26

Think

Lk 20:1-8 – The Pharisees are looking for a way to discredit Jesus.  Often we discredit Jesus ourselves when we say things like “He said x, but he really meant y…”

Lk 20:9-19 – Jesus tells this parable ‘against the Pharisees’ who never bother to listen to the prophets.  It's a frightening challenge to us to pay attention.

Lk 20:20-26 – The Pharisees try to trap Jesus again.  Remembering the belief that people are created ‘in the image of God’ Jesus asks his hearers to give to Caesar that which is Caesar’s and to God that which is God’s.  Take your money – we belong to God.  Who do the Pharisees belong to?  Who do you belong to?

Pray

Who do you belong to?

Luke in 33 Days: Luke 19:11–48

Friday 22 March

Read Luke 19:11–48

Think

Lk 19:11-27 – Three servants receive three amounts of money while a noble man goes away to become king.  When he returns the servants have managed their gifts differently according to the amount they were given and according to their opinion of the master.  The first took great risk and it bore a return; he entrusted himself to the master.  The last was afraid and didn’t invest at all.

Following Jesus into Jerusalem is not for the faint hearted.  Are you willing to risk it all for the Kingdom of God?

Lk 19:28-40 – We celebrate this procession on Palm Sunday, Jesus and his disciples march in to Jerusalem where Jesus should be anointed King.

Lk 19:41-44 – Jesus weeps over Jerusalem.  They should have made him King but he knew they wouldn’t – Jesus knows that this rejection will inevitably lead to Jerusalem’s destruction.

Lk 19:45-48 – ‘My house shall be a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers.’ Jeesus is quoting from Jer 7:11.  The temple has become a place where criminals attempt to hide from the consequence of their actions.

Pray

Pray for the grace to let Jesus be king.

Luke in 33 Days: Luke 18:15-19:10

Thursday 21 March

Read Luke 18:15–19:10

Think

Lk 18:15-17 – If children are brought up with the values of Jesus’ Kingdom living the kingdom life will be completely natural to them.  On the other hand – each of us need to receive the kingdom as ‘children’.

Lk 18:18-30 – Following the thought of Lk 16:1-13 Jesus counsels those who have resources to use them to bless others.  If they do they will get back more than they lose.  The rich man goes away sad because he was very attached to his possessions.

Lk 18:31-34 – When we read 18-30 we think how hard it would be to share what we have.  When Jesus tells how he will offer his life; no one understands.  Jesus’ graceful generosity is such a foreign concept that we are often blind to it.

Lk 18:35-43 – Jesus’ healings are miracles that heal people’s body – but they are also the easiest way to describe the healing of souls.

Lk 19:1-10 – When Zacchaeus meets with Jesus he makes a lot of changes.  Giving some of his possessions to the poor and promising restitution for those he might have defrauded.

Pray

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Luke in 33 Days: Luke 17:20–18:14

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Wednesday 20 March

Read Luke 17:20–18:14

Think

Lk 17:20-37 – Its easy to get distracted by verses 34-37 and some of the other ‘end days’ phrases of this passage.  All of this has to do with Jesus’ phrase: “The Kingdom of God is among you” (Verse 21).  The Kingdom of God is where God is King, and where God is King; justice is done.

Lk 18:1-8 – After the warning about judgment Jesus tells a story about how even an unjust judge can be convinced to do what is right in the end.  How much more will God bring justice to the earth?

Lk 18:9-14 – ‘God be merciful to me, a sinner!’

Pray

Pray the tax collector’s prayer of verse 13.

Luke in 33 Days: Luke 16:14–17:19

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Tuesday 19 March

Read Luke 16:14–17:19

Think

Lk 16:14-18 – Verse 18 is not about divorce, it seems to be about the love of money.  Jesus seems to be accusing the Pharisees of leaving God (the first wife) and marrying money.

Lk 16:19-31 – How seriously are you willing to take the Bible’s command to care for the poor?

Lk 17:1-10 – Sometimes when we do good we feel insulted if no one praises us or thanks us.  In fact we sometimes seem to think that God should bless us when we do all that is expected of us.

Lk 17:11-19 – Only one leper bothers to give thanks for what was done.  Do you complain more than you give thanks?

Pray

Spend some time giving thanks.

Luke in 33 Days: Luke 15:11-16:13

Monday 18 March

Read Luke 15:11–16:13

Think

Lk 15:11-32 – The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the parables told in response to the Pharisees grumbling: “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (2&3).  These stories were told by Jesus to help us to understand God’s heart.

Lk 15:20 – How does it feel to know that God rushes forward to welcome you with open arms?

Lk 16:1-13 – Part of being a Christian is striving to be more like Jesus; this story illustrates the importance of showing grace.  Do you have a generous and forgiving heart.

Pray

Give thanks to God for his grace made known in these stories.  Pray about the ways in which you have not been generous in your heart; ask for help to be more generous.

Luke in 33 Days: Luke 14:15-15:10

Sunday 17 March

Read Luke 14:15–15:10

Think

Lk 14:15-24 – How quickly did you respond to Jesus’ invitation to give yourself to him?

Lk 14:25-33 – “None of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.”  What does this mean for you?  How do you live this command practically?

Lk 14:34-15:10 – Are you a lost sheep?

Pray

Pray for a willingness to respond to Jesus' invitation to live in the kingdom and taste the feast that God has prepared for us.

Luke in 33 Days: Luke 13:18–14:14

Saturday 16 March

Read Luke 13:18–14:14

Think

Lk 13:18-21 – These two passages speak of the Kingdom of God and how it subtly changes the world.  If we live as citizens of the Kingdom the whole world will be improved.

Lk 13:22-30 – Many of the words that we read when we read through every part of a gospel are more challenging than the words we get used to – the safe ones that we choose to read.  Do Jesus words of judgment make you anxious?

Lk 13:31-35 – This passage is a reminder of the direction Jesus’ journey is taking him in.  To the cross; to Jerusalem.

Lk 14:1-14 – The passage speaks for itself.

Pray

Luke 14:10 – What would it mean to you to hear Jesus say, “Friend, move up higher.”

Luke in 33 Days: Luke 12:41–13:17

Friday 15 March

Read Luke 12:41–13:17

Think

Lk 12:41-48 – Jesus continues teaching on the parable we read yesterday; challenging us to faithful obedience.

Lk 12:49-53 – The gospel that Jesus preaches is bound to cause division and persecution; it will not be easy to be obedient.

Lk 12:54-13:9 – In this passage Jesus again warns his hearers about the coming day of justice and our need to ‘repent’ which means to ‘change our ways’.

Lk 13:9-13:17 – The above passages have called us to change our ways, to repent, to be healed – but we don’t know how; we haven’t got the power within ourselves. In this passage Jesus heals a crippled woman with a word.  Maybe we don’t need our own power to change us.

Pray

Meditate on Lk 13:12: “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.”

Luke in 33 Days: Luke 12:13-40

Thursday 14 March

Read Luke 12:13–40

Think

Lk 12:13-21 – A warning against storing up treasures for ourselves, but not being rich toward God.  How are you being selfish at the moment?  How can you be more generous?

Lk 12:22-34 – Jesus instructs his followers not to worry too much about providing for themselves he encourages them to live generously and trust in God for provision.  How can you live more simply?

Lk 12:35-40 – This passage reminds me of school, the teacher would leave the classroom but the class would remain silent in the knowledge that his/her return was imminent.  If Jesus were to return today; how would he find you?

Pray

Pray for perspective when it comes to looking after your own wealth and posessions.  Ask God to help us let go a little of our desire to control so much.  Spend some time listening; perhaps imagining what Jesus would have to say to you if he returned today.