Questions or Conflicts about the Sabbath – Luke 6: 1- 11
Is keeping the Sabbath day not important? When not keeping the Sabbath day holy we are breaking one of the 10 commandments. Are laws and commandments not important?
I think Jesus was arguing that the letter of the law, but the Spirit of the law. I think what Jesus was trying to get the Pharisees and us to see is that God’s intentions or desires for us, must consist of something other than endless debates, rule setting, and discussions. Sabbath keeping was important not because it was a rule, but because it helps foster our relationship with God.
Jesus and his companions receiving nourishment was more important than following the law. God’s desire is not a group of people that know how to say all the right words or follow a set of rules perfectly. God desires our relationship. God desires right relationships with him, others, and creation.
I am not sure the point was as much about the law, but the arguments around the law. If you think about it, debates sometimes constitute ways to avoid the difficult task of actually helping people. Moreover, if we are not careful our talk about an issue might get confused with work. For example, we might confuse our talking or arguing about the poor the same as involvement with the poor. A debate about what may be done on the Sabbath does not mean the same as helping a crippled man on the Sabbath. Our words are not always the same as our actions.
I think Sabbath keeping is important. Yes, but not to the extreme level the Pharisees were seeking. Plus, I do not think it is important because of a list of rules. I hold the conviction because it is important and beneficial to be connected to God and to find rest. I also would say relationships, healing, and care for neighbors are not to be avoided, just because it is Sunday. Sabbath keeping is giving a whole day to allow God to restore you, like Jesus restored the man’s hand. And it might just happen when you are doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God.
Some questions to answer and comment upon:
What if Jesus did not heal the man?
Would Jesus not healing the man change our understanding of God? (Jesus came so we might have a living, breathing, and visual understanding of God… Emanuel – God with us. Jesus was God incarnate.)
Does God only work 6 days a week?
What do you think is most important for us today, with what Jesus was teaching in this passage?
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Day 4 of the Journey
Two individuals received forgiveness from Jesus in the readings…
Healing the Paralytic - Luke 5: 17-26
I have always imaged this story as one of healing, but I also have been amazed by the determination and care of the paralyzed man’s friends. He does not come alone, but is brought by his friends.
Do you know someone who needs to be carried to Jesus?
Another thought came to me about this healing story. Forgiveness and paralysis are intertwined. Now we know that today persons who become paralyzed because of medical and human actions have nothing to do with their sins. There are medical reasons they are unable to walk and God is with them.
I am talking about another form of paralysis.
It struck me, when sin pervades our lives we do become paralyzed. Do we not? Sin sucks us into habits, choices, and actions, which can paralyze us to the point we are unable to function or feel worthy of God’s love. The paralysis keeps us from coming close to Jesus or willing to even come close. One example is addictions. Over coming addictions takes healing, forgiveness, and changing of our lives.
Eating with Levi (someone detested in society) - Luke 5: 26 - 32
Have you ever thought about how forgiveness can be misinterpreted as condoning the wrong committed? When someone receives forgiveness, the people who have done the forgiving don’t stand off at a distance either physically or emotionally.
Jesus was in the home of a tax collector, Levi. I can image Jesus sitting in the living room of Levi’s home and other religious folks walking and seeing the two of them having dinner together. The dinning table was in front of the big picture window. I could see how those who walked by might confuse Jesus forgiveness as somehow approving Levi’s past. It was powerful to watch. Jesus had a lot of courage. Jesus dared to sit with, break bread with, and talk with someone whom others detested. At the same time, I also imagine myself worrying and wondering if his bold actions might affect his reputation.
Some Questions for reflection and comment:
Is the company he is keeping challenging Jesus character?
How hard is it for us to reach out to others who society detests? Why?
Healing the Paralytic - Luke 5: 17-26
I have always imaged this story as one of healing, but I also have been amazed by the determination and care of the paralyzed man’s friends. He does not come alone, but is brought by his friends.
Do you know someone who needs to be carried to Jesus?
Another thought came to me about this healing story. Forgiveness and paralysis are intertwined. Now we know that today persons who become paralyzed because of medical and human actions have nothing to do with their sins. There are medical reasons they are unable to walk and God is with them.
I am talking about another form of paralysis.
It struck me, when sin pervades our lives we do become paralyzed. Do we not? Sin sucks us into habits, choices, and actions, which can paralyze us to the point we are unable to function or feel worthy of God’s love. The paralysis keeps us from coming close to Jesus or willing to even come close. One example is addictions. Over coming addictions takes healing, forgiveness, and changing of our lives.
Eating with Levi (someone detested in society) - Luke 5: 26 - 32
Have you ever thought about how forgiveness can be misinterpreted as condoning the wrong committed? When someone receives forgiveness, the people who have done the forgiving don’t stand off at a distance either physically or emotionally.
Jesus was in the home of a tax collector, Levi. I can image Jesus sitting in the living room of Levi’s home and other religious folks walking and seeing the two of them having dinner together. The dinning table was in front of the big picture window. I could see how those who walked by might confuse Jesus forgiveness as somehow approving Levi’s past. It was powerful to watch. Jesus had a lot of courage. Jesus dared to sit with, break bread with, and talk with someone whom others detested. At the same time, I also imagine myself worrying and wondering if his bold actions might affect his reputation.
Some Questions for reflection and comment:
Is the company he is keeping challenging Jesus character?
How hard is it for us to reach out to others who society detests? Why?
Friday, February 8, 2008
Day 3 of the Journey
A Fishing Story – Luke 5: 1-11
First, can you imagine being a professional (insert your job) fisherman and a carpenter walking up and telling you how to do your job. How that make you feel? What might have been your response? Think about working all night to catch some food and coming up with nothing and then Jesus comes along and wants you to go back out again. How would you have felt then?
Even if Jesus was my friend, (which I think is safe to say he was friends with these men by this time in his ministry) I am not sure I would have liked being told how to do my job. I can imagine they must have put up a few objections before they gave in to Jesus instructions.
Once they went, they were rewarded. How is Jesus urging or instructing you?
A Healing Story Luke 5: 12-16
When I read this passage this morning, I was wondering, how could Jesus do anything else but heal this man with leprosy? The man actually told Jesus he could heal him if he wanted to. Why wouldn’t he want to? Was the man trying to make Jesus feel guilty? It was obvious that the man need to be healed. Why couldn’t he just say so?
How did Jesus feel?
Other Questions to think about and comment upon:
Why did Jesus tell him not to tell?
Also why did he send him to the priest?
He was already cleans, why did he need the priest to sign off on things?
Did the healed man follow Jesus command?
Did he go and tell others?
Did he ever get to the priest?
One last idea:
The disciples initially balk at Jesus instructions to go out to deeper water. Jesus is urging you today... so what keeps you from go to the deeper water?
First, can you imagine being a professional (insert your job) fisherman and a carpenter walking up and telling you how to do your job. How that make you feel? What might have been your response? Think about working all night to catch some food and coming up with nothing and then Jesus comes along and wants you to go back out again. How would you have felt then?
Even if Jesus was my friend, (which I think is safe to say he was friends with these men by this time in his ministry) I am not sure I would have liked being told how to do my job. I can imagine they must have put up a few objections before they gave in to Jesus instructions.
Once they went, they were rewarded. How is Jesus urging or instructing you?
A Healing Story Luke 5: 12-16
When I read this passage this morning, I was wondering, how could Jesus do anything else but heal this man with leprosy? The man actually told Jesus he could heal him if he wanted to. Why wouldn’t he want to? Was the man trying to make Jesus feel guilty? It was obvious that the man need to be healed. Why couldn’t he just say so?
How did Jesus feel?
Other Questions to think about and comment upon:
Why did Jesus tell him not to tell?
Also why did he send him to the priest?
He was already cleans, why did he need the priest to sign off on things?
Did the healed man follow Jesus command?
Did he go and tell others?
Did he ever get to the priest?
One last idea:
The disciples initially balk at Jesus instructions to go out to deeper water. Jesus is urging you today... so what keeps you from go to the deeper water?
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Day Two of The Journey
What did you image as you read Luke 4: 31 - 44 today?
I imaged myself as someone in the crowd seeking Jesus after he withdrew from the city. Jesus was healing and curing people. Jesus I am sure had gotten frustrated with the large crowds and the large number of requests for healings. He is only one man. He can not heal everyone. I imaged how people might have gotten upset because Jesus left town and because they had not gotten a chance to have him meet their needs.
I imaged the deserted place Jesus withdrawing to was the old part of the downtown city. I imaged that he thought by getting into a part of town where people do not like to go at night he might find some peace and quiet. I image him warming himself by a 50-gallon barrel that has trash in it burning. As I arrive on the scene, I see the line has begun to wrap around the city block. I watch as Jesus welcomes each person. I watch as he touches, prays with, and listens to each person. This goes on through the night.
I notice that as each persons walks away they are changed… They are different because Jesus has touched them.
Then morning comes. The line is still long, but Jesus leaves. Jesus makes an announcement. He says, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities.”
Questions for reflections…
When you read this story where were you?
Are you one of the people who needs Jesus?
Are you one of the family members who experienced Jesus work within your loved ones life?
As you think about all the miracles being done how do you feel?
Can you believe what you are seeing?
How do you react when Jesus says he must move on?
What about all the people who were still in line, what are they thinking?
I imaged myself as someone in the crowd seeking Jesus after he withdrew from the city. Jesus was healing and curing people. Jesus I am sure had gotten frustrated with the large crowds and the large number of requests for healings. He is only one man. He can not heal everyone. I imaged how people might have gotten upset because Jesus left town and because they had not gotten a chance to have him meet their needs.
I imaged the deserted place Jesus withdrawing to was the old part of the downtown city. I imaged that he thought by getting into a part of town where people do not like to go at night he might find some peace and quiet. I image him warming himself by a 50-gallon barrel that has trash in it burning. As I arrive on the scene, I see the line has begun to wrap around the city block. I watch as Jesus welcomes each person. I watch as he touches, prays with, and listens to each person. This goes on through the night.
I notice that as each persons walks away they are changed… They are different because Jesus has touched them.
Then morning comes. The line is still long, but Jesus leaves. Jesus makes an announcement. He says, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities.”
Questions for reflections…
When you read this story where were you?
Are you one of the people who needs Jesus?
Are you one of the family members who experienced Jesus work within your loved ones life?
As you think about all the miracles being done how do you feel?
Can you believe what you are seeing?
How do you react when Jesus says he must move on?
What about all the people who were still in line, what are they thinking?
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Ash Wednesday - Day one of the journey
Can you believe what Jesus just did?
While reading Luke 4: 16-30, I imaged myself being in the congregation where Jesus was reading from the Prophet Isaiah. Jesus was always in worship and we all lived in the same small town (Nazareth) together. Today was different. Jesus did something I was not expecting.
It was so different that it made me feel uncomfortable. At the same time it made a lot of people around me angry. I'm not sure exactly sure why I felt this way or why people got so upset.
All he did was read the scripture for the day.
The only thing I can think of was the Jesus put the emphasis on me and not on the Spirit of the Lord. All the other rabbies always put the emphasis on the Spirit of the Lord.
I guess it was his personal identification that he was the one the Prophet Isaiah was talking about. That made people so upset.
I was also amazed at how quickly the congregation turned on Jesus. So many were talking about him positively before the service started, but at the end of it they were following him out in to the street and wishing him harm.
I do not understand why this would have been so radical… Can you?
Here are some other questions to reflect upon and comment upon…
Where were you in the story as you read the scripture?
Can you believe he did this so early in his ministry and in his hometown?
What questions does this scripture bring up for you?
What do you understand this scripture saying to you as someone looking in from the outside?
What does it say to you as someone who wants to follow Jesus?
While reading Luke 4: 16-30, I imaged myself being in the congregation where Jesus was reading from the Prophet Isaiah. Jesus was always in worship and we all lived in the same small town (Nazareth) together. Today was different. Jesus did something I was not expecting.
It was so different that it made me feel uncomfortable. At the same time it made a lot of people around me angry. I'm not sure exactly sure why I felt this way or why people got so upset.
All he did was read the scripture for the day.
The only thing I can think of was the Jesus put the emphasis on me and not on the Spirit of the Lord. All the other rabbies always put the emphasis on the Spirit of the Lord.
I guess it was his personal identification that he was the one the Prophet Isaiah was talking about. That made people so upset.
I was also amazed at how quickly the congregation turned on Jesus. So many were talking about him positively before the service started, but at the end of it they were following him out in to the street and wishing him harm.
I do not understand why this would have been so radical… Can you?
Here are some other questions to reflect upon and comment upon…
Where were you in the story as you read the scripture?
Can you believe he did this so early in his ministry and in his hometown?
What questions does this scripture bring up for you?
What do you understand this scripture saying to you as someone looking in from the outside?
What does it say to you as someone who wants to follow Jesus?
Are you ready? Will you join in the journey?
Ash Wednesday
Lent begins…
Will journey to the cross with me?
I am following Jesus as shared in Luke’s gospel…
Join the conversation by reading the daily scripture and posting your comments and reflections.
I hope we can walk together for the next 40 days.
Lent begins…
Will journey to the cross with me?
I am following Jesus as shared in Luke’s gospel…
Join the conversation by reading the daily scripture and posting your comments and reflections.
I hope we can walk together for the next 40 days.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Use Your Imagination...
Imagination helped me as a child make a refrigerator box into a fort, my bicycle into a motorcycle, or a broom into a sword. Do you remember those days?
Why & when did we grow up and think we had stop using our imagination? Why does everthing have to black and white? Or why do we think we can not use our imagination when we read the bible?
Would it be so bad, if we let our imagination go to work when you read scripture? What might happen if we allowed ourself use our imaginatoin when we are reading or listen to scripture?
I would invite you to engage your imagination as you read and listen to the scripture readings. Allow your self to become a person within the text. Jesus' ministry was surrounded by friends, family, and strangers. People observed him and becuase of their observations we have accounts of his life. What if you were to put yourself in the story.
Take the story of Jesus at the temple as a boy (Luke 2:41-52). As you hear or read the story, imagine you are one of the church members watching this young boy (Jesus) setting and asking questions or imagine you are one of Jesus’ parents freaking out that he has come up missing. Allow yourself to be a member of the crowd that witnessed the life of Jesus.
Don't be afraid to imagine or wonder at what was happening. Ask questions like, how did I feel as I watched this child with the priest and leaders of the temple. Wonder and imagine what was going on around the temple. Imagine or wonder how other people were reacting to this young boys questions.
You could also imagine what questions Jesus was asking. Allow yourself to brought into the presence of Jesus. Seek hear how God might be trying to speak to you, where ever you might be in the crowd.
So what did you experience? What questions do you have now? How might your understanding of Jesus be different? I would love to hear how this experience works for you... I will be doing this for the 40 days leading up to Easter this year, as I journey to the Cross by reading The Gospel of Luke, and seeing Jesus journey to the Cross.
Have fun, enjoy, and I will hope that your journey might be richer no matter where you are in the crowd, because you have encounter the living God, through Jesus Christ.
Why & when did we grow up and think we had stop using our imagination? Why does everthing have to black and white? Or why do we think we can not use our imagination when we read the bible?
Would it be so bad, if we let our imagination go to work when you read scripture? What might happen if we allowed ourself use our imaginatoin when we are reading or listen to scripture?
I would invite you to engage your imagination as you read and listen to the scripture readings. Allow your self to become a person within the text. Jesus' ministry was surrounded by friends, family, and strangers. People observed him and becuase of their observations we have accounts of his life. What if you were to put yourself in the story.
Take the story of Jesus at the temple as a boy (Luke 2:41-52). As you hear or read the story, imagine you are one of the church members watching this young boy (Jesus) setting and asking questions or imagine you are one of Jesus’ parents freaking out that he has come up missing. Allow yourself to be a member of the crowd that witnessed the life of Jesus.
Don't be afraid to imagine or wonder at what was happening. Ask questions like, how did I feel as I watched this child with the priest and leaders of the temple. Wonder and imagine what was going on around the temple. Imagine or wonder how other people were reacting to this young boys questions.
You could also imagine what questions Jesus was asking. Allow yourself to brought into the presence of Jesus. Seek hear how God might be trying to speak to you, where ever you might be in the crowd.
So what did you experience? What questions do you have now? How might your understanding of Jesus be different? I would love to hear how this experience works for you... I will be doing this for the 40 days leading up to Easter this year, as I journey to the Cross by reading The Gospel of Luke, and seeing Jesus journey to the Cross.
Have fun, enjoy, and I will hope that your journey might be richer no matter where you are in the crowd, because you have encounter the living God, through Jesus Christ.
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