The good news of Luke

  Luke 23:5-7 Pilate didn't seem to know what to do.  The Jewish leaders wanted Jesus dead but Pilate found Him innocent so Pilate came up with a plan...send Him to Herod...who just happened to be in Jerusalem that day.  God is amazing; He covered all levels of authority!  There can be no blaming one over the other.  All had a chance to release an innocent man.  Lord Jesus, please give us Your wisdom.  Help us not to condemn innocent people and when we are blamed for things we didn't do show us how to best respond and then give us the courage and faith to do so.  Amen

  Luke 23:1-4 The Jewish leaders wanted Jesus dead but they had no authority to kill someone so they went to the court that did but this time around Pilate heard Jesus's response "you say I am" not "I am" so Pilate says he finds Him innocent.  Yet, Pilate knew that wouldn't be enough for the mob at his door so he looked for a way out and discovered He a Galilean. This is a classic story of peer pressure.  What do you do when the majority is wrong! Do we look for a way out?  Do we take a stand?  Do we crumble under pressure?  Lord Jesus, please give us wisdom when the majority are wrong.  Show us how to stand up for what is right in Your eyes.  Amen.

  Luke 22:66-71 The leaders want Him out of the picture so they try to trap Him and they crucify Him for answering their question  “Are you then the Son of God?” H e replied,  “You say that I am.” He didn't even claim to say that He was...but because they thought He was they crucified Him. In this case it's hard to see that God is in charge when you don't know the ending to the story.  Yet God is still on His throne through all of this.  Lord Jesus, when we don't see You in action please help us to continue to believe that You are still on the throne planning better purposes for us than we ever dreamed of; and help us to remember satan asks to sift us at time.  Lord Jesus, during the times of sifting may the fruit of Your Holy Spirit show in incredible ways.   Amen.

  Luke 22:63-65 It is interesting that Jesus didn't respond to the mockers.  He could have named who was hitting Him but He didn't.  It's like the times when we feel our prayers go unanswered or the times when others mock us for our faith.  At least we know He can relate to this.  Lord Jesus, please help us to remain faithful when things don't seem to be Spirit filled.  Help us to remember  "  our struggle is not against flesh and blood,  but against the rulers, against the authorities,  against the powers  of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms " and then give us to tools we need to fight this spiritual battle . Amen

  Luke 22:54-62 Jesus was nothing like Peter expected.  Jesus expected to go to the cross without a fight yet Peter was there ready to fight for Him.  Jesus healed the very man Peter cut his ear off of.  Jesus had warned Peter that satan wanted to sift him but Peter had no idea what it would be like to have Jesus "turn against him" and support the enemy and as a result Peter denied Jesus. Lord Jesus, in our strength we stand for You but in our weakness we are weak.  Please "lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil for Yours is the power and the glory forever"

  Luke 22:52-53 When it is our hour will we side with the power of good or the power of darkness?  Jesus questioned those arresting Him asking why they didn't arrest Him in the temple; especially since He didn't have a sword.  Then He answered the question " but this is your hour, and the power of darkness"  Jesus, knew He was fighting a battle against satan and He also knew God always wins the war.  The issue is He also knew His disciples and Himself would be put to the greatest test of their lives.  There is a reason He taught us "Father, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil"  Lord Jesus, You are amazing!  Please continue to lead us not into temptation (gluttony, selfishness, pride...) and deliver us from evil (self doubting, God doubting, the battle of our mind...) for Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory.  Amen.

  Luke 22:49-51 When an injustice is being done we have a choice; to fight or not to fight.  This is the question the disciples asked Jesus and without a response one of them fought but Jesus had a better solution; instead of fighting He healed.  Lord Jesus, when we are faced with an injustice please give us  wisdom so we can be healers not fighters. Amen

  Luke 22:47-48 This portion of scripture challenges what it means to love!  Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.  Lord Jesus, please help us to acknowledge intimate moments as Holy moments and not moments of betrayal.

  Luke 22:45-46 One of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control yet I ask; do we have it?  In Jesus hardest time His disciples couldn't even stay awake to pray with Him. Yet, in Jesus disappointment, He didn't rebuke them but instead He taught them that they should pray so they don't enter into temptation.  Lord Jesus, help us to live in a state of prayer so we may not enter into temptation (gluttony, pride, selfishness...).  Fill us with Your Spirit so we see the fruit of self control, patience, love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, goodness and faithfulness ( Gal 5:22-23 ) growing in our lives.

  Luke 22:41-45 It is interesting here when the disciples couldn't do it; stay awake and pray with Him, God sent an angel to Him.  It is also interesting to note that this didn't stop the physical and emotional agony He was going through. Lord Jesus, help us to stay focused on You during the tough times.  Help us to understand how You feel about the world around us.  Give us Your love and compassion and help us to stand strong even when we're exhausted from sorrow.  Refresh us with a new understanding of Your love and sacrifice.  Amen

  Luke 22:39-40 It is interesting that Jesus not only gave the disciples the Lord's prayer He also told them to pray so they won't fall into temptation.   "Lead not into temptation but deliver us from evil"; at least twice they were told to pray that they don't fall into temptation...we should take this seriously.   We could ask the question why pray at all given that God knows everything.  I believe it's because it's voicing to satan that we're welcoming God's work in our lives.   Lord Jesus, we're on Your side please help us not to fall into temptation (gluttony, pride, selfishness....) but deliver us from evil. Amen

  Luke 22:35-38 These are fascinating verses because they share what Jesus told them as He prepared His disciples for the charges that would be coming against Him.  It makes me ask "How do you prepare for the case when the tide of popularity changes?"  Everyone took care of His disciples when He was popular but now, when the tide changes who will watch out for them. It seems that Jesus has mixed feelings about the sword.    He said " if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one."  Yet when they presented Him with two He said "That's enough" and to Peter He said   “Put your sword back in its place,”  Jesus said to him,  “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword." Matthew 26:52   Lord Jesus please help us to be agents of peace.  Show us how to solve problems with our words and loving actions and not with violence 

  Luke 22:31-34 Wow!  Satan has to ask for permission but permission is granted to test us!  To sift out what is really, real in our lives.  In these verses we see Jesus appointing Peter as leader; after his time of sifting.  We can take heart, if we overcome the sifting there is a job for us in God's Kingdom.  Notice also, that everyone will under go a time of sifting.  Lord Jesus, please help us stay strong during the times of sifting so what is valuable stays intact. 

  Luke 22:24-30 If you want to be great in God's Kingdom learn to be the servant of all.   This is Jesus message to His disciples as they were vying for the greatest position in God's Kingdom.  Jesus implied that all of His disciples would be great in God's Kingdom.  Lord Jesus, help us to see each other as equals with unique contributions to the Kingdom. Amen.

  Luke 22:21-23 At this intimate fellowship Jesus reveals that one of them will betray Him.  I find it interesting that they all question each other.  In other words, they all had the capacity to do it.  I also find it interesting that Jesus choses to reveal this at this intimate time and that He doesn't take the person aside privately.  We need to watch how satan works during intimate times.  Lord Jesus, help us to be on our guard so that we find ourselves working for You not satan during intimate times.

  Luke 22:14-20 Jesus knew this was His last meal with His disciples before He died so He wanted it to be a special time.  He highlighted that the Passover would be fulfilled.  It is like Jesus is the Passover lamb, where God's first born son was not saved.  What a gift to the Egyptians...God's son died like theirs did.  This is God opening up the doors to the world!  Jesus explains it's about a new covenant.  It is no longer a lamb's blood but His blood; and He asks us to share the bread and wine with each other.  Lord Jesus, please help us to develop intimate fellowship with You and with each other as we share over food and drink.

  Luke 22:7-13 It was important for the disciples to celebrate Passover together but they had no place to do this.  In a surprising move Jesus tells them how to find a place.  The question for us is are we ready for Jesus to come to our house to celebrate Passover?  In this gift of hospitality the owner of the house only provided the space; the disciples prepared the rest.  What is our expectations of others?  Do we expect them to provide everything or just the space, or just the meal preparation, or just the... Lord Jesus, please help us to honour You by working together to prepare a place for You in our homes, hearts, and lives.

  Luke 22:1-6 I find it interesting that the church leaders were afraid of Jesus.  Sure He challenged them intellectually but He never harmed anyone.  This fear then caused them to do something that did hurt some one.  Lord Jesus, please help us to have courage; especially when You are working beyond what we have control over. Then we have Judas who did have the courage to betray Jesus.  Lord Jesus, please give us wisdom to handle what comes our way so we aren't destructive but fruit producing vessels. Note here, it's in the intimate moments, when no one else is around, that Jesus is setup by satan.  Lord Jesus, help us to watch out for our alone moments; that they all honour You because we don't want satan taking advantage of us.

  Luke 21:37-38 After all the issues Jesus had between the Temple leaders and Himself I find it interesting that Jesus preached at the temple for, at least, a number of days.  I don't know if He was paid to do this but it doesn't seem that He was taken care of because He stayed on the Mount of Olives at night.  When I think of the Mount of Olives I think of it as Jesus' favourite spot to pray.  I imagine that He went there to hear from God as to what His teaching would be the next day.  What a treat it must have been to sit under Jesus' ministry. To met Jesus in a real and personal way I recommend watching  The Chosen  or taking an  Alpha course .

  Luke 21:34-36 Jesus warns us to be careful.  Careful of carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life.  We'll if we look around we can see a lot of this in our world.  We're concerned about covid yet more people are dying from drug overdoes than covid.  I'm told anxiety is the biggest mental health issue in North America right now.  So how can we be careful?   1)  Know these are traps. 2) "Be always on the watch" 3) "Pray  that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

  Luke 21:32-33 These words are hard for me to understand.  Jesus is so certain the end will come...and it did for the disciples.  Jesus was killed, the temple was destroyed...Yet the end of the world still hasn't come.  Jesus says in another passage even He doesn't know when the end of the world is.  This is God's grace in action.  As long as there is hope God continues to let us live.  Lord Jesus, please help us not to take God's grace for granted.  Help us also to raise the bar.  The pandemic  is really in the world of mental health and addictions not covid.  Please help us to help each the other so that Your Kingdom comes and Your will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

Luke 21:29-31   Jesus just finished describing the tough times we will have but then He highlights the fig tree and says you recognize spring by the leaves on the branches; in the same way we'll know the end is insight.  Lord Jesus, please help us to stay faithful to You during the tough times.  Whether it's the end of the world or the end of our time on earth help us to focus on You and Your truths.  Amen.

Luke 21:5-28   This passage can cause great fear amongst the people.  It's describing an awful time here on earth.  It goes from the disciples observing how beautiful the temple is to war and destruction yet Jesus is there.  Describing the situation ahead of time so it's not a shock when it comes.  The beautiful temple will be destroyed. (it was destroyed on the 9th/10t of AV, 70 CE.)  Yet Jesus warns us not to follow others claiming to be Him. He also tells the disciples they will be arrested but not to worry; He will give them the words to say and it will allow them to testify to those in authority.  He says they will be protected if they stand firm.  Jerusalem will be trampled on until the time of the Gentiles (Is it now, given that the USA declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel?)  Jesus also says when the tough times come He will come.  So let us stand firm.  27  At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a ...

Luke 21:1-4   Have you ever wished you could give more than someone else?  Jesus saw lots of money going into the plate but He also saw that those giving a lot gave out of their abundance.  He then saw the widow give out of her poverty and noted that her sacrifice was greater.  Lord Jesus, please help us not to become proud of what we give when we give out of our abundance.  Help us to recognize and appreciate the sacrifice of others. Amen

  Luke 20:45-47 Jesus warns the people about the leaders at the temple because they seemed to like their position but didn't walk the walk.  Lord Jesus, help us to obey the next little thing You tell us to do.  Give us faith and courage to represent You well in Your Kingdom. Amen

  Luke 20:41-44    The question to be asked is is Jesus the Messiah? The Jews and Muslim are divided because of a step brother issue (Isaac and Ishmael) and now we have the question of Jesus's family?  Is God His Father?  Does He come from the roots of David?  How does God's Lordship come into play?  These are important questions from a Christian perspective because we believe Jesus is God; the Messiah and this is what distinguishes us from the Jews and the Muslims.  For me, Jesus Lordship comes through the proof of His resurrection.  We know He died...when He was stabbed in the side the liquid coming out is the proof of death.  We also know He rose again because they never produced a body after His body disappeared...and they would want to to stop the persecution and/or the rise of Christianity.  Lord Jesus, please help us to find common ground with the Jews and Muslims but also help us never to surrender the Lordship of Jesus. Lor...