Preparations

Luke 12:39-48 brings up the matter of just who needs to make preparations. This study begins with the statement: “If the goodman of the the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.” So, I begin with these questions: Who is the goodman of the house? Is he the owner or the watchman? Does 'his house' refer to ownership or the responsibility of a servant?

Recall from the previous study that Jesus had spoken of the preparations of a landowner who pulled down his small barn to build a bigger barn. Jesus indicated these preparations were not of the best inclination. Recall, also, that Jesus said such things (concerning the best inclination) as, “ Let your loins be girded about and your lights burning.” He admonished them to, first and foremost, 'seek the kingdom of God.' What does that say to us? It says 'make the proper preparations.'

Within the context of this present study, Jesus speaks a parable and Peter asks a question. The parable was about the goodman of the house. The question was this: “Speakest thou this parable unto us,” (the disciples) “or even to all?” Jesus had just issued a challenge: “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”

In response to the question – 'is that for everyone or just for us?' – Jesus asked Peter a question. It went like this: 'who is the servant entrusted with the care of the master's house?' In other words, 'who is the goodman of the house?' Jesus dropped two clues about the identity of this servant, and also described the servant's duties. First, the ones to whom the parable was intended, aside from being servants, were supposed to be both 'wise' and 'faithful' – stewards in the truest sense of the word.

A steward is a top-level servant. There is usually only one per house, and that servant oversees the duties and needs of all who reside in the master's house. That includes the master, the heir of the father, guests, and others servants. To each of those in the list, the steward is charged to give them their portion of meat in due season. Everyone has a place and a position and a season. First is the master and his family. Next, come the guests and friends of the master. Last to be served are the steward and his fellow servants.

In all the house, this one servant bears the most comprehensive responsibility. It is actually a position of trust. Everyone depends on the steward. He can ill afford to let anyone down; he must wear whichever hat he is handed. The steward is the goodman of the house and is even responsible for household security. This individual must be faithful enough to stand for the whole house, ensuring all are encompassed in the will of the master. This individual must be wise enough to prepare for all eventualities.

Like the subject of this study, the subject of stewardship is wise and faithful preparedness. Yes, Jesus directed this parable to his disciples – as if he had said, “Yes, Peter, I mean this one for you.” Those who take to themselves the responsibilities of stewardship must be able to devote themselves to it wholeheartedly. Stewardship cuts two ways – like a shiny new knife. It rejoices the heart, and it is good and useful but it can also make a grievous wound with one careless slip.

Jesus indicated that there are great rewards built into the service: do good and the master, himself, will come forth and serve you your portion. A great honor, but not only that – a relaxed and confident mindset that frees one to commit one's full attention to the job. Jesus also indicated severe penalties for those who violate their trust in any way.

The failure of a steward may include sleeping on your watch, hoarding, withholding, late fulfillment of duties, or anything from inappropriate behavior to blatant abuse of those in your charge. You can expect exactly what Jesus described. You will be cut into pieces. There will be no part of you that may depend on another part of you. Severed from any help you might provide for yourself, you will also be on the outside of all others when it comes to helping or even caring. You will be appointed your portion with the enemies of the house. You will be both an enemy of the house and an enemy of the enemy, for they will despise you as well.

So, what is the difference between “unto us”, (disciples, servants, stewards) and “even to all”? Jesus put it this way in verses 47-48: “And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.”

The reasoning follows, and it is a thing our own life-experience can validate, “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

We know from other parables that the master of the house is a king who utterly destroys his enemies. We know also that talents given to servants will be required again with interest. Stewardship is not an occupation to enter into lightly. The question we must ask ourselves is this: are we prepared? We may also rightly ask ourselves: do we even know what the preparations are?

Do you doubt yourself? Have you concerns? Compare yourself to Jesus. Jesus is the heir to the father and himself said in John 10:30 “I and my Father are one.” If we know one thing about the son of his father, we know this, Jesus was a people person. His people skills were second to none. He was inclusive; he loved and forgave, but like his Father, he laid into his enemies without hesitation, without pulling his punches. Be like Jesus; Jesus was the model steward.

This study should stand as a stark warning to the governments of this world. A government is no more than a steward, a servant of the people. Governments are not here for themselves. They may not abuse the people in any way. Penalties await the failed steward. Good advice: unearth the preparations you need, realize them faithfully and wisely.

Rich Toward God

I continue here in Luke, chapter twelve. There are many verses to consider in this study; they are verses 15 through 38. I hope to condense these verses and wring from them a more concise sense of meaning.

Here are the verses of main import:

Luke 12:15, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions.”

Luke 12:21, “So is he that lays up treasure for himself, but is not rich toward God.”

Luke 12:38, “And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.”

Between verses 15 and 21, Jesus told them about covetousness in the parable of a farmer who already had plenty for himself, but desired more. That 'more' was the fruit of his own labors. Everything he possessed or worked to manage, he himself had labored to obtain. The fact is, the man in the parable did not covet anything that belonged to other people, he was simply trying to get things set up for his retirement.

The man in the parable pulled down his old small barns and built new larger barns so that there would be room for his continuing harvests. Perhaps the man was old, and after working all his life, looked forward to a time when he could have the things he needed, but no longer had to work. He just wanted to enjoy life.

This story strikes a chord with me, and might for others as well, as I work my final few years toward retirement. I've worked away my life and good health; I've paid my dues. I look forward to my golden years in which I may draw my checks and no longer have to work for other people.

The man in the parable set up his larger barns and thought to himself that he was finally set – he could now take his ease. That very night, after all of his hard work, and as if to spite his well-laid plans and earnest hopes, he died. Everything he owned went to others. It happens to the poor and to the well off. After we die, all we possess goes to other people. I have known people who hoped to finally take it easy, only to die a month or two into their retirements.

The man in the parable, in order to have so much, surely hired laborers to achieve the possessions he hoarded. There was excess. He could have blessed the less fortunate with it. He could have handed out holiday bonuses to his workers.

The point here is not that we are condemned for having stuff in this life. The point is that our life here cannot be the limit of our concerns. God is a spirit, and like a farmer who has planted his spirit within us, he expects a harvest. Like a lender, God expects a return on his investment. Many of us hope to lay his harvest before him, with joy at his return.

We can either be rich toward ourselves, or we can be rich toward God. We cannot be both. Being rich toward God is a mindset that is more open and free than being rich toward ourselves. Getting our fair share from this world is a limited way of thinking. It is an exclusive mindset.

Between verses 21 and 38, Jesus made several good points:

He revealed the hallmarks of an exclusive mindset and limited world view.

He suggested a winning strategy for the inclusively inclined.

He revealed the place, in these truths, of the returning God.

The inclusive mindset is just like the mind of God. It is a spiritual match to the returning God, and what he is returning to receive. It is important to recall that God is returning from a wedding. It is the wedding of his son. That wedding, itself, is a spirit of inclusion and represents a sort of melding or fusing of like to like.

God provides the needs of all from the right-minded man to the man who has crippled his mind and limited his thinking. God even provides the needs of the animals who cannot think beyond the moment of their physical urges. God knows what we need and is inclusively inclined. If we do not ignore the needs of other people (and that does not mean that we must be itinerant and possessionless) then we are on the same page with God. It's a match.

The inclusive mindset has much to look forward to and much to hope for. Those who make a point to be on the same page with God know that all the goods of this world will be added. On the other hand, the exclusive mindset, in its self-limitation, cannot look past the moment of its physical urge. It refuses to see anything but fleeting worldly goods – and its need to get it's fair share before they are gone. These have nothing to place their hope in but rust and moth and loss.

Those who are a match with the spirit that is God, who make a point to be on the same page with him, and place their hope in his inclusive return, know the joy of such a meld. It is always on their minds and in their thinking. They are vigilant and watchful. They make it their business and go about it with determination. They have a practice and they have their sights set on the culmination, not of their own labors and rewards, but those of the returning God.

Watches are mentioned in connection with the return. Watches were three-hour divisions of the night. Watching, in general, implied being alert. The second and third watches were the period of the night when most people were asleep and unaware. Those who watched were able to sound and alarm in times of need or trouble. Just as posted sentries might watch for the accepted approach of the enemy, the servant will await the accepted return of the Son of God who will include those happy souls as adopted children of the Father.

I did not give attention every verse in this study. I am trusting that you will read them for yourselves. I hope that you will do more than simply read them. Study them, reread them, compare them to my assessment. Know with all the certainty you can muster that God returns for you. If you seek the Kingdom of God, if your heart is in it, then you are rich toward God.

A Message for 2017

Jesus came away from his luncheon with the 'big boys' and warned his disciples of their hypocrisy. This is a message for the year 2017. We find this amazing note in Luke 12:1, “In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, beware ye the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites. He described hypocrisy as leaven – a thing that swells, getting bigger and bigger. Two synonyms for the word hypocrite are 'fraud' and 'pretender'. The object of fraud is personal gain. Many accuse Christians, and the church in general, of hypocrisy while maintaining that they are spiritual, that they are believers, that they have a connection to God, vicariously, through concepts such as 'nature' and attitudes such as 'live and let live'. That, in itself, is hypocrisy.

We of our day and age may clearly see hypocrisy at work in Muslim radicals who claim the will of their God, yet murder, rape destroy, and pillage. The three major religions of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam share the same ten commandments with one exception, that the Sabbath observance is held by the Muslims to be a matter specific to the Jews. It is the core law of all three faiths and includes prohibitions on murder and theft. When terrorists and extremists use their faith to justify their bloodlust and many crimes what is evidenced is clearly hypocrisy.

I take this excerpt about the core laws of faith from an article in the Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc.; the article is authored by counselor Ahmad Kutty:

The Ten Commandments—with the exception of the fourth one, which deals with observance of the Sabbath—in essence and spirit constitute an integral part of the Qur’anic ethics and laws. The Qur’an presents itself as a book through which Allah has guided humankind to the noble ways of the previous prophets and messengers, who are to be emulated as the perfect role models of humanity. (See Qur’an 4:26; 6:90). Also, in a more fundamental sense, the Qur’an stresses that all the prophets and messengers, speaking different languages and raised in various times and places, taught essentially the same perennial religion (core religion called deen), although their precise promulgation of the laws of religion, responding to extremely divergent historical circumstances and milieu, assumed different forms. However, these fundamental commandments, in essence and spirit, belong to the perennial religion that allows for no abrogation or alteration. Although one hardly finds these commandments enumerated in a single place in the Qur’an as they are listed in the Torah, nevertheless, all of them with the exception of the rule to observe the Sabbath— which, according to the Qur’an, was specific to the Jews, and, therefore, has only a rather limited significance—are enumerated in various places with varying emphases in the Qur’an; hence one can safely conclude that these commandments are of universal relevance meant for all times and places. Here is a listing of these commandments as enumerated in the Bible with their parallels in the Qur’an:

1. In Bible, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20: 2-3); in the Qur’an: (Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him) (Al-Isra’ 17: 23).

2. In the Bible: “You shall not make unto you any graven image … You shall not bow down to them or worship” (Exodus 20: 4–5); in the Qur’an, (Therefore keep away from the defiling idols.) (Al-Hajj 22: 30).

3. In the Bible: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Exodus 20: 7); In the Qur’an, (Make not Allah, by your oaths, a hindrance to your being righteous) (Al-Baqarah 2: 224).

4. In the Bible: “Honor your father and mother” (Exodus 20: 12); in the Qur’an: ((Your Lord has decreed) that you show kindness to your parents) (Al-Isra’ 17: 23).

5. In the Bible: “You shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13); in the Qur’an: (And kill not one another) (An-Nisa’ 4:29).

6. In the Bible: “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20: 14); in the Qur’an: (Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts… And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts.) (An-Nur 24: 30-31)

7. In the Bible: “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20: 15); in the Qur’an: (They shall not steal) (Al-Mumtahanah 60: 12).

8. In the Bible: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20: 16); in the Qur’an: (You shall shun false testimony) (An-Nisa’ 4: 29).

9. In the Bible: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, you shall not covet you neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is your neighbor’s” (Exodus 20: 17); in the Qur’an: (Do not desire the things which Allah has given to some of you in preference to others) (An-Nisa’ 4: 32).

I added the above excerpt to make a point. That point is the core law. That law is now just as it has always been. It is the law for all three faiths. We should remember, as the Pharisees should have remembered, that we must not assume the name or faith of our God in vain. If we claim a connection to our God, his will must come before our own. Bloodlust or personal advantage of any stripe – these are of men, not God. If God sends a message, we should listen. If God sends a savior, we should seek him out. If God sends a bridge to a real connection, we should avail ourselves of that bridge. If we are given only one door, we should seek the key.

It is a sad testimonial that we who live in 2017 are not breaking down the doors to get close to Jesus. Any one of us who has walked the Avenue of the Americas at lunchtime knows with certainty just what an innumerable multitude of people is like. So – what, we can walk all over each other for a bite to eat, but not to get closer Christ? Who are we anyway? Those people in Luke 12:1 were poor, humble, and illiterate, but they knew enough to try that much to be near him. We, on the other hand, have substance, pride, and a surfeit of smarts. I wonder – have we out-smarted ourselves?

Of all the people who tried so hard to get next to Jesus, his disciples had to really work overtime to keep their place in the shadow of the son of God. They were so close they all but stepped on his toes. But, here is a secret about their closeness – their desire was shared by Jesus; the disciples desired to remain close to Jesus, and Jesus wanted them in just that place. When he came out, he spoke to them “first of all.” Folks were tripping over each other to be close to Jesus, and he could have spoken to all of them, but he did not.

Why were they the closest to Jesus? All of them believed and all of them desired to hear Jesus speak, but the disciples, above all others, desired to learn from Jesus a particular truth – one they could adopt and practice. That truth was how to be like Jesus. That truth was how to become the truth – how to approach and achieve the nature of the son of God and the relationship with God that Jesus was willing to teach.

Jesus does not exist to justify anyone's opinion of how the world should be, or who is right and who is wrong. He is not presently the judge of any one of us. That will happen when he returns as King. He said this in Luke 12:14, “Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?” Who, indeed? God did not send him as a judge or divider but chose for him the role of teacher and example, of door and bridge. God sent Jesus as the one and only way that man could escape his self-induced exile and come home.

Will you get close to Jesus? In the year of our Lord 2017, will Jesus speak to you first of all? Will this be the year you open the door and cross over the bridge. Or, will you remain like the Pharisees – hypocrites?

Building Graves

In Luke 11:37-52, we find Jesus having been invited to dine with Pharisees and lawyers. Sort of a business luncheon. In the end, they were scheming to trap Jesus in his words, but I get the sense that in the beginning, the meal was no more than a polite courtesy. This kind of thing: 'Hey Jesus, you seem well received by the people; come and rub elbows with the big boys.'

Now, we are well accustomed to the bad blood between Jesus and the church authorities, but on this particular occasion, Jesus really laid into them. It was not just Jesus and the Pharisee who invited him, nor do I get the sense of a simple meal at home. There was more than one Pharisee and there was more than one lawyer in attendance. All the authority figures were there. It was practically a convention.

We may view the incident as a contest of wills – God's way versus man's way. And Jesus told them all they were doing in opposition to the will of God. In a sense, we are as guilty as the men Jesus spoke to. We embrace the customs of men, viewing them as common and ordinary. That's just how we do things; that's how we roll.

For anyone who claims a real connection with their God, not doing things the way their God wants them done is a no-no. “And many such things ye do,” said Jesus in Mark 7:13. Thus we nullify the word of God by our traditions. If we want to be right with God, we do not want to be those people. We may avoid sharing the guilt of those people by getting on the same page with God, by thinking and acting just the opposite of those Pharisees and lawyers who placed their authority above the authority of God.

What did they do that was against God? Mom always taught me to wash my hands before I eat. At work, as a cook, I am expected to have clean hands and wear sterile gloves when handling food. Makes perfect sense as bacteria are passed from dirty hands. But, I don't see those Pharisees as walking around touching things that were dirty. The Jewish rule was two-fold, don't touch things that are unclean, for one and for two, wash your hands anyway.

For the Pharisees, hand washing was a ritual matter. It was a practice meant to associate them with their God. Even today, we have a popular saying that goes, 'cleanliness is next to Godliness'. Jesus told them that the way of God was completely the reverse. First, make yourself clean in your heart and mind, then every other cleanliness will follow. The “inward part” of a human being, verse 39, can harbor a lot of awful uncleanness.

Synonyms for the word awful include disgusting, horrible, terrible, dreadful, ghastly, nasty, vile, foul, revolting, repulsive, repugnant, odious, sickening, nauseating and too much more. In fact, Jesus described them as unmarked graves that men walk across unawares. If men knew the dead were beneath their feet, they wouldn't stand on them and be made foul. Normal people, even without religious restrictions, simply don't like to touch what they consider nasty. It's like the Jew or Muslim that discovers someone secretly slipped pork into their mutton. There is a certain retroactive gag reflex.

Jesus laid it all out for them – every advantage they reserved for themselves was at the expense of someone else – whether cajoled or robbed or bullied into compliance. Every good thing withheld belied a willfully mean and stingy spirit. Every item given was a cheap and showy veneer meant to hide a multitude of weightier omissions.

Now, 'whoa!', said the lawyers, 'we all know that the Pharisees are a bunch of misfits, but you're slamming us as well.' Jesus told the lawyers (who were like teachers or philosophers of religion) that they were just as guilty – and Jesus had enough 'woes' to go around. Lawyers were the go-to people for facts and figures regarding how the law of God should be defined. They were like exalted scribes who got to pal around with the big boys.

Someone who gets to say what's what is always at high risk when in close proximity to power. Basically, this type is found among many races and tiers of society – both religious and non-religious. They try to limit those around them, impeding spiritual progress. Those things which lawyers push off on the common man are burdensome and grievous, yet lawyers are as guilty as the Pharisees for reserving a place of advantage for themselves at the expense of those they place beneath them.

Many people of our own day and age have the same spirit as a Pharisee or a lawyer. They share the same guilt for displacing God and doing their own thing, bringing those around them into subservience to a will that is theirs and theirs alone. In verse 47, Jesus accused the lawyers of building the graves of their prophets, as if a chess move destined for a heavy-handed checkmate. The prophets were their claim to fame, but it was their own fathers, as the lawyers of a former age, who killed them. Their words and actions, in effect, were self-damning.

Fast forward to our day and age where Catholics claim this saint or that – but who was it that killed Peter or Paul but the same central authority mindset seeking self-promotion and absolute advantage? Personally, I am put off by anyone who makes such a lofty claim. The saint of one man or the prophet of another matters not in the long run. The things that damn us are our own words and deeds. This is true because our own words and deeds are set against the will of God.

The Jew, the Christian, the Muslim and atheist are all the same. We have a penchant to war against and subjugate anyone unfortunate enough to stumble across our shiny new super highway. To anyone with the strength of heart to open his eyes, the picture ceases to be the super highway and proves itself to be just another variation of the small dirt path.

There is no standard among us; we know only our own willful sense of self. It's 'me, me, me, and damn the contrary opinion'. One and only one standard may be found in the will of God. This is not open to the viewpoint of any one religion, and it is certainly not meant to be interpreted as the will of God apart from man. It is the will of such a spirit that would take on our very face to explain those things we need to know. It is the will of such a God who would send mankind a savior – not a savior who derides or destroys, but one who at great personal risk demonstrates the greater power of love and redemption.

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Christmas 2016

O the pageantry! O the parades! My how the world loves Christmas! It is such a worldwide phenomenon that even non-Christians celebrate the event. Today in the news, an article appeared on CNN.com entitled 'Christmas reborn in Iraqi town freed from ISIS.'

We all love Christmas. The lights, the gifts beneath a Christmas tree, money in the bank. Christmas is the most lucrative of all the holidays, and a yearly boost to business in general. It is encouraged and advertised by business. It is practically shoved down our throats. While suicides do not increase at Christmas, the expectations placed on some is a burden that causes stress, grief, and many family quarrels.

Mainly, however, Christmas is 'the' Christian holiday, and Christians will defend it for many reasons. I will not put forth that one defense of Christmas is 'it is for the kids', that defense is used for Easter and Halloween as well. When Christians defend Christmas, they are in effect defending their faith in Christ.

Christians, however, are to be lumped together with all who celebrate Christmas – whatever the reason or defense may be. For the reveler, it is merely another occasion to revel. To those who party, it is another occasion to party. Those who drink will not dismiss the opportunity to raise a glass with or without friends, as the case may be. The entire package of stringing up lights, erecting pine trees indoors, indulging, imbibing and giving gifts is a spirit shared in common between Christians and non-Christians alike.

Are you a Christian celebrating Christmas? Are you doing that for Christ? Have you taken it upon yourself to honor the son of God, to remember his birthday, with symbols and tokens from a usurped pagan festival? This opinion piece is more a question than an argument or accusation.

Jesus never had a portrait painted or a statue made. His exact date of birth is a matter that even experts may only guess at. In all of his short life on earth, Jesus only asked to be remembered for one thing. That one thing was not his birthday. What Jesus asked to be remembered for may be found in Luke 22:19, “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.”

If Jesus has asked that any particular day or event be remembered, it is the Passover rather than his birthday. The Catholic church would have us remember crackers and wine, but I think that Jesus wanted more than that. I think that rather than have us celebrate worldly tokens and symbols, he wanted us to celebrate our connection to God through the salvation of our spirits. We were saved from the worldly spirit in man and that was accomplished through the sacrifice only Christ could effect.

Christ ransomed our spirits from the world. My question is this – what is your spirit connected to? Is it connected to partying or revelry? Is it connected to pagan practices? Is it connected to commercially procured gifts? Is it anchored in the customs of man rather than the will of God?

God placed his spirit in his son and sent him as a messenger to man. The message sent was the will of a spiritual God. Should we not rather celebrate the redemption of our spirits from the world?

The Spirit/Body Connection

Luke 11:34-36 begins with the physical human eye. Consider what your eyes actually do. They perceive patterns of light and dark, then send information to the brain. The brain is the physical vehicle for the mind. In other words, your brain is owned and operated by your mind, and as I hope you recall, mind and spirit are one and the same. It stands to reason that our spirits are affected by the physical eye. How our spirits are so affected is a matter of personal choice.

This is what Jesus said: “The light of the body is the eye.” Obviously, light does not enter physically into the body; the eye is more like a window into the world around us, allowing our bodies to better navigate. This access is via the mind. Jesus was keen to qualify that statement with this warning: “Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.” Again, it is shown that the information we send to our spirits is purely a matter of choice.

It is interesting to note the two opposing eye actions as put forth by Jesus. The eye is either 'single' or 'evil'. One would assume the opposite of evil to be 'righteous' or at least 'good', but that is not the case. To get a clear picture of what Jesus means here, we must fully understand the application of the word 'single'. Most of us have two eyes, so, what's the exact application here? What is a single eye as regards the mind, or spirit?

When a marksman looks down the sights of his gun, when he takes a bead on his target through his scope, he closes one eye. He narrows his field of vision to lessen the input of distracting information. In a word, he 'focuses' on one thing. He concentrates his attention and effort on what he deems most important. It follows, then, that the meaning of the word 'evil' as an opposite to the word 'single' would be the opposite of concepts such as focus, concentration, and singular importance.

What we end up with is a singular window on the world as opposed to multitudinous windows on the world. To esteem a thing as important, in actual practice, sets that thing above other things. The opposite of this – to hold all things at the same level, ascribes importance to nothing, and is the practical application of the word 'profane'. The choice of information we pump into our spirits affects our ability to navigate both physically and spiritually.

Then, there are the applications of 'light' and 'dark'. Jesus made these distinctions: “Therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light.” Note that Jesus is not repeating himself here. 'Thy whole body' and 'the whole' are two separate concepts.

'Having no part dark' necessarily presumes that there are, indeed, parts. I would hazard there are only two main parts we must consider – the spiritual part and the physical part. Under these two headings may be listed the likes of mental parts, emotional parts, etc. The meaning we may derive from this is simple: focus on one important thing. Having too many windows on the world may be equal to not seeing the tree for the forest.

Choosing wisely is the wisest choice. Anyone who seeks a goal must, first of all, be able to focus on it. If the oak is hidden behind a multitude of pine, the acorn is lost. All information from the eye is filtered through the spirit, and while we may have ample light to navigate this physical world, what choices have we made that will help us navigate the spiritual realm once our bodies fail us?

The Finger Of God

We find ourselves in the eleventh chapter of Luke between the verses fourteen and twenty-seven. Along the way, we have been impressed by the multitude of people who followed Jesus. We have also been impressed by his many believers, disciples, apostles and volunteers. However, not everyone believed Jesus. Many were suspicious of him and not a few were downright hostile.

Case in point: Jesus cast out a devil (defined as a “dumb” devil) and the person was able to speak – only some people weren't buying it. They accused Jesus of being in league with Satan, or Beelzebub. They reasoned Jesus was only able to cast out devils if the devil in charge allowed it as if it was all for show.

The “house divided” speech, of course, is what follows, but our take on that particular speech is what matters. As explanations go, many people have, through the ages, had a rather large blind spot in regard to it. Many people only receive the part about Satan divided against himself, but really, there is more to it than that.

We have to admit that 'a house divided' is general at worst and slightly less than precise at best. Jesus spoke of a broken nature both in a house and a kingdom. He spoke of an absence of unity and solidarity. His words were pointed at those he spoke to. As he had passed through Samaria and was a mere stone throw away from Jerusalem, we must recognize that Jesus spoke to Jews. Those who accused him of using the power of a devil to cast out devils themselves claimed to be part of God's kingdom and house.

Obviously, they were not on the same page with God. To claim such a close association to God while being unable or unwilling to see God's nature, power and work clearly indicate a division and loss of unity. Jesus was quick to point out that their own children also cast out devils. He asked them by whose authority their children cast out devils. He assured them their own children would judge them in that matter.

We get this from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible: “Now since the Jews pretended to do these things, Christ asks them, by whom they cast out devils? Whether by the Spirit of God or by Beelzebub? They would doubtless say by the former, and not the latter, which would show their great partiality; for admitting that the like actions were done by them, as by him, why not by the same power? Why should their ejection of devils be ascribed to God, and his to Beelzebub? Therefore they shall be your judges; who will rise up against you, and condemn you one day, for this unequal judgment.”

What I find particularly interesting here is the expression Jesus employed for his proof positive that they were witnessing the very power of God. 'The finger of God' – where have we heard that before? What association does that phrase possess?

I found this explanation at stackexchange.com under Biblical Hermeneutics. “Jesus thus said to the Pharisees that "the Kingdom of God was nigh." He implied therefore to his listeners who were familiar with the Hebrew Bible that the "mighty hand and outstretched arm" of God was next since the "finger of God" was now presently evident to them. In other words, when Jesus had mentioned that the Kingdom of God was at hand, he signaled the imminence of the return of the Kingdom of God to earth (just as the Exodus in Egypt resulted in the visible theocratic Kingdom at the giving of the Ten Commandments on Sinai). Please note that the Ten Commandments (Old Covenant) was given 50 days (Shavuot) after the Exodus from Egypt in the same way that the New Covenant was given 50 days (Pentecost) after the resurrection of Jesus the Nazarene.”

We associate the finger of God with the writing of the law of God – in other words, God's will. We also associate the finger of God with judgment, as when a hand appeared in midair to write upon a wall, “You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.” We find that in Daniel 5:27. The choice of 'finger of God' for 'spirit of God' is interesting, to say the least.

We also find the finger of God mentioned in Exodus 8:19 when Moses bested the Pharoah's magicians. Moses, in effect, stripped Pharoah of his armor, bound him and spoiled his goods. Jesus explained it this way in Luke 11:22, “But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.”

Jesus was that stronger man where Satan was concerned. Jesus cast out devils by the power of God – he did not need to turn to a lesser power to achieve that end. That was what Jesus told the people. He told them they were on the other side of the dividing line, and then he told them this in verse, “He that is not with me is against me.” That is a warning to be taken seriously.

All of this occurred around the man who had been dumb and was now able to speak. Jesus did not forget the once possessed man. He got back to him – and this was still part of his warning to the divided. He said to them in verses twenty-four through twenty-six, “When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house whence which I came out.’ And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then he goeth and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in, and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

Division from God, by its very nature, is a state of possession. While many of them were responsible for the sweeping and garnishing, that is, making themselves attractive and available for evil spirits, most of them, like the king in Daniel five, were unable to read the writing on the wall.

One Thing Is Needful

This study is taken from Luke 10:38-42. I had placed Jesus around the sea of Galilee at such locations as Tiberius and Bethsaida. Then came an open area where Jesus fed five thousand people, and about a week later, a mountainous area, possibly Tabor. After coming down from the mountain and healing a boy, Jesus approached the border of Samaria. After sending his disciples to secure a place in one of the Samaritan villages, and being denied access, Jesus was found in the 'way' as he traveled toward Jerusalem.

As he moved forward, he sent seventy volunteers ahead of himself to heal and preach the gospel. Still in the 'way', those volunteers returned with joy to report their successes. Also in the same 'way' and in the company of his disciples and volunteers, among many other followers, Jesus prayed openly before speaking privately with his disciples. It was, then, on the next leg of their journey that they came to stay in the home of Martha and Mary.

Many learned people believe this Mary and Martha to be the sisters of Lazarus, which puts the location at Bethany. Jesus' march toward Jerusalem would have been nearly complete as Bethany was about 1.5 miles east of Jerusalem. In the context of this timeline, the story of Martha and Mary lies between Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the palm-leaf-gathering mission of the seventy volunteers.

We know little about this family. Let us take our clues from the text. The fact that Mary sat at Jesus' feet to hear him speak might suggest the choice of an older sister. A person with seniority might well use said seniority to their own advantage. The complaint of Martha is not unlike that of any adolescent. As a younger sister, Martha would have found herself in the position of having to work her way up along the ladder rungs that prove one through the experience of hard work and learning. Many of us can look at our pasts, within the ranking of our families, and feel a certain kinship with Martha and her complaint.

The fact that Jesus was speaking in his usual manner suggests that there were more people in the house than just the family of Martha and Mary. Martha's “much serving” suggests preparations for such a meal as might be served for many people. I would think that besides Jesus and the family of Martha and Mary at least the disciples were included. A conservative estimate would place between sixteen and twenty people at this event.

The typical home in Jesus' time was somewhat spacious and could easily accommodate a small crowd. The fact that Jesus was speaking and almost all the other people present were listening suggests a length of time suitable to Q&A and making points. Issues discussed in such a context may range from an hour to several hours.

So, what about all the other people who had been traveling with Jesus? I suppose some of the multitudes and some of the seventy were camped around the home of Martha and Mary. I don't think all of them were there; by necessity, some of them would have gone into the town for their needs.

So, Jesus spoke, all plus Mary listened, and Martha was left with all the work. Had Lazarus been a younger sibling and not, as I suspect, an older head of the house, he might well have found himself assisting Martha. Most agree that the relationship Jesus had with Lazarus Mary and Martha was more than mere acquaintance. They were close friends. As I look at their relationship, I must confess that one thing I have never seen is mention of parents. Only the three are ever mentioned – no parents, no wife or children for Lazarus, and obviously no servants since Martha seemed to be doing all the work.

There have been many sermons about that one needful thing that would not be denied Mary; I am not here to preach. The image portrayed in this account does, however, present us with some idea of how included Mary was among a predominantly male following. Indeed, many see Mary as a disciple of equal standing with the twelve.

What was that needful thing, then? As I can speak for none save myself, my opinion is that it is receiving the bread of life. That is, seeking the truth and growing spiritually. Was Jesus so uncaring, then, about Martha's plight – the pain and frustration of a dear friend? Did he care if the people listening to him ate earlier rather than later? Did he so much as tell Martha that she was making a mountain out of a molehill? Or, did Jesus simply invite her to take time out from her worries to sit and refresh her spirit?

Luke Ten Twenty Two

When the seventy returned to Jesus, thrilled by their success, Jesus claimed that he saw Satan fall from heaven suddenly in a flash, as if a bolt of lightning. That statement could have been one of two things. Either Jesus used it as praise for the success of the seventy, or Jesus made the statement as a one-up – as if to tell them he was around back in the day and saw the original devil subjected to the will of God.

Then Jesus prayed openly. Both the seventy and the disciples heard the prayer, after which Jesus turned to his disciples to speak privately. Between the prayer and turning to his disciples, Jesus made a statement, and it is that statement I wish to examine here. I find it difficult to place that statement either fully with the prayer, or yet again, fully with his private words for his disciples.

If it may be a part of either, it is more likely to belong with the prayer. Yet, it does not seem to me to be a part of the prayer. It seems altogether a stand-alone statement. Perhaps it was a statement of exaltation (Luke 10:21, “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit”.) More than the realization of success in part of the plan, there was a more nearly complete realization of the full will of God.

Here is the statement: “All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.”

The statement may be divided into three sections. In the first, it is as if Jesus realizes, or claims for the benefit of the listeners, heirship to the Father. According to the dictionary, that is the position or rights of an heir; the right of inheritance. I think all of us can get behind such a claim with a fairly complete understanding.

The remaining sections are what I find most deserving of closer inspection. I would like to contrast the sections against one another. There are two types of knowledge here, or revelation. First, knowledge of the Son of the Father is revealed only to the Father. God alone knows who his Son is. The fact that we use a capital 'S' in son should be kept in mind. It is developmental in the sense of one who has come into one's own – someone who has finally 'arrived'.

There is no addendum to this statement. It is simply a knowledge that is revealed to the Father alone. Second, knowledge of the Father is revealed only to the Son of the Father. This second statement, reverse in the sense of a mirror image, does have an addendum. Not only to the Son of the Father is the Father revealed, but also to whoever the Son will share the knowledge.

Shall we consider the difference between the two revelations as insurmountable? Is it that Jesus will tell us who God is, but God will not tell us who Jesus is? Well, that's just confusing! As I have stated earlier, Jesus is God's communication of self to mortal man. In that sense, God does reveal the knowledge of his Son. The Son also, as the message, reveals knowledge of the Father . . . that's sort of the point I think.

So, is there anything really withheld? I am mindful of some other things revealed by Jesus. In the prayer he had just prayed for all to hear, he said this – “thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” I am also mindful that the truth of parables was revealed to some and withheld from others.

I guess it all boils down to a single fact: some people get it and some people don't. Revelation is not some random bit of trivia available for public consumption. Spiritual knowledge is subjective rather than objective. Synonyms of the word 'objective' include detached, neutral, dispassionate, uninvolved, and disinterested. Revelation of the Father is personal. Revelation of the Son is personal. Revelation of heirship is personal.

Where Will You Find God?

This is a short opinion piece. Consider these questions. Do you know someone who places God fully in the old testament, that is, so far back in history as to be inapplicable to modern issues? Do you know someone who believes God is some white-bearded sky daddy so far up in heaven as to be ineffective? Many people dismiss God from their lives in sweeping generalizations. But, where is God to be found?

We must not be too quick to set ourselves apart from God. God is found neither in the past nor the future, nor again in some inaccessible realm. Where God is found is in the hearts and minds of his children – right here and right now. Jesus told us that God is a spirit. Whether or not God lives in our spirits is up to us.

This opinion piece is drawn from Psalms 22:3 and Romans 10:8. My take on the matter is that God lives in his praises, and both God and Jesus are as close to us as the words we speak. In that God inhabits His praise, each time one of us lifts Him up, He becomes stronger and more alive – not only in our spirits but also in the world we share with other people.

The communication of God to man is His only begotten son. Jesus stood upon this Earth not only as that message, which from the beginning has been that God inhabits man but also as the prime example of living praise. A father never exists apart from his children; the real connection between father and child is that message that has come down to us through the ages. It is a beautiful message.

Each of us has the power. If any of us prays for God's presence in the world, the answer to that prayer may be found in praise. Let us continue the communication of praise. Let us share it between ourselves and abroad. We have it within our own power to take on the mantle of living praise, of spiritual father inhabiting mortal child.

This opinion piece is praise. By this praise, I lift up my heavenly Father – right here and right now. It is my assertion here that God's mighty presence in this world depends on our humble praises. Like Jesus, we have both the power and the choice to stand as living praise: God in man. God lives here. I share myself with you. It is a beautiful communication. Will you share yourself with another?

The PR Crew (Part Two)

So, here we are at the instructions. Jesus had picked his crew. He did not send them out unprepared. Before he let them go, he gave them a set of instructions – PR crew protocols, if you will. Jesus described circumstances they would encounter, but also gave them a way to act and things to say for each of them. Let's examine them.

Let us first list the circumstances they would encounter. They would go their ways: verse three. They would enter the homes of other people: verse five. They would find themselves in different cities: verse eight. They would encounter sick people: verse nine.

As to the sick, the seventy were instructed to heal them. The healings were performed in Jesus' name and were so successful that the seventy returned in verse 17 with “joy” and amazement. These were seventy ordinary people living and conducting their daily affairs in the name, that is in the stead, of the only begotten son of God.

About that Jesus said in verse 21, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes . . .” To which “things” did Jesus refer? He referred to the fact, and the seventy were amazed by it, that they knew for a fact, as per verse 17, that “even the devils” were subject to seventy ordinary people through the name of Jesus. The wise and prudent just didn't get it.

About the cities the seventy entered, Jesus gave these 'follower protocols' – if a city rejected them, as per verse 10 and 11, they were to go out into the streets and make a public proclamation for all to hear. The words were these: “Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.”

There was a real connection between the words and actions of the seventy and the concomitant judgment passed down from spiritual realms. The same people, the same message of truth, the same kingdom came to all the cities Jesus sent his followers to. Some cities rejected the messengers – in doing so they rejected Jesus and thus God. Mighty works of healing were performed in these cities no less than Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. Even the devils were subject to ordinary people of the kingdom of God. These cities saw it all and still rejected the kingdom.

As to the cities that received the seventy, the same communication of the kingdom went forth. “The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” However, there was an additional protocol regarding the cities that received them. The seventy were instructed to eat whatever was set before them. That was an issue for practicing Jews. Many of the cities between Jesus and Jerusalem were located in the region of Samaria, in the bacon belt. They were warned not to go from house to house as if they could pick and choose. They had to find one good household for their base of operations.

Then, there was the matter of their preparations and travel. They were instructed to prepare nothing. Carry no extras was the plan. All of their provision was to be found in the cities and homes that received them. As to each journey, we may consider two points. Either each pair was given a set destination, or else, each pair, when the were told “Go your ways”, was actually sent where they originated from. Home towns first. They were instructed to focus on the mission and not be distracted by folk they met along the way.

In that Jesus claimed they were lambs among wolves, I am impressed with his genuine concern. These were the 'babes'. They were humble, simple folk who, in their zeal and love for Christ, had garnered a place near and dear to him. The road can be a dangerous place.

Finally, Chorazin mentioned with Capernaum and Bethsaida, one of three cities cursed by Jesus, was only an hour walk north of Capernaum. While no Bible expert seems quite certain which of the 'mighty works' were performed in Chorazin, some possible miracles may have included the healing of the leper, the healing of the man with the withered hand, and the raising to life of the daughter of Jairus.

This study does seem to sprawl, with its many overlapping concepts, but there is definition to be found. We may also find definition of self. Many of us, you and I included, are humble, zealous, ordinary people. We love Christ; we share our love. You and I are one with the messenger of God, one with the messenger of the kingdom. This, then, is the definition. We are the message; we are the kingdom.

The PR Crew (Part One)

So, Jesus had been walking in the way. His sights were set on Jerusalem. As he walked, he talked to this or that person – all very casual and relaxed. The beginning of chapter ten must be imagined as nothing is written save the action Jesus took and the words he spoke. For my part, I can imagine more open countryside. I can picture in my mind a time to stop and rest from the march.

I want to look briefly at the first two verses in chapter ten of Luke. Verse one declares an action. Verse two declares a rationale. A rationale is defined as 'a set of reasons or a logical basis for a course of action or a particular belief'.

While verse one precedes verse two, it is verse two that explains or leads into the action. We would not be amiss to assume that all the talk came before the action, that Jesus first sat and talked these matters over with the people before the mobilization of a team some seventy men strong. I can imagine folks lifting their hands to volunteer: “Oh! I'll go! Pick me!”

Let us look first at the second verse and second at the first verse. In other words, let us examine the rallying call that brought together a group of seventy willing volunteers. What was the reasoning that Jesus employed? This is what he said in verse two, this was his summation, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.”

They were sent to gather. That was the purpose of their work. They were an extension of the ministry of Christ, an extension of both his healing and his preaching. These seventy people were not the disciples – obviously, neither were they the first to be sent ahead two by two. The words used to describe these people were “other" and "also.”

Now, let's look at the action. Jesus appointed seventy volunteers to go ahead of him into every village or town that he, himself, would go to on the way to Jerusalem. This group of seventy appointees was divided into pairs. That is exactly thirty-five duos. That would give us an initial estimation of thirty-five preliminary towns and villages.

I would very much like the reader to see this as more than aimless wandering through towns and villages. I want you to hold in mind both the beginning of the task and the completed goal. See them both at the same time, as two sides of one coin. When Jesus finally arrived in Jerusalem, the seventy were already there – along with the fruit of their labors. Or did you think the multitudes just grabbed a handy palm branch and started singing an impromptu Hosanna?

The seventy appointees were a public relations crew of sorts. They had gone ahead of the Lord of the harvest for the sole purpose of gathering his harvest to him. They brought it all together. Initially, Jesus had preached to them the gathering of the harvest. They went two by two into every town teaching what they had been taught. Like a snowball rolling downhill, they were a movement that gathered both momentum and mass. They were the Jesus movement.

In part two of this particular study, we will look at the instructions under which this PR crew operated. We will note the correlation between physical actions and words and actual spiritual fact.