trying to find His way
“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32) Jesus was with these disciples, though they didn’t realize it.Totally unaware to them, they were being discipled by Jesus.And when they broke bread with Jesus, they still did not realize it.But through that…
“He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27) Jesus is alive, and is still teaching His disciples.He walks them through the Jewish Bible to show them how it points to Him.I believe we still need Jesus to explain this to us.This is why I spend most of my time…
“Then they remembered his words.” (Luke 24:8) On multiple occasions Jesus explained what would happen to Him.They heard Him say that He was suffer, be crucified, and then rise on the third day.Yet for some reason they did not, or could not, hear what He said.It went totally against what they were expecting, and so they…
“He himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 23:51) What does it mean to ‘wait for the kingdom of God’.If I wait for the bus, I sit at the bus stop and anticipate that it is coming.If I wait for the light to turn green, I am in the lane, ready to proceed.Waiting is…
“Surely this was a righteous man.” (Luke 23:47) Christians have speculated about the divine nature of Jesus from the beginning.But the really significant thing about Jesus is what kind of human He was.The Roman soldier sees the uniqueness of Jesus as a righteous man.In Mark’s account, the soldier says ‘Son of God’ (Mark 15:39).Luke also uses the…
“Today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43) Jesus came as a new Adam to restore God’s creation paradise.By refusing Satan’s lies (unlike Adam and Eve), Jesus beats Satan.He reclaims Adam’s position (Genesis 1:26-28), and therefore God’s kingdom.Jesus now reigns over all creation, though Satan is not giving up without a fight.Jesus assures this criminal…
“Along with the criminals — one on his right, the other on his left.” (Luke 23:33) During His ministry Jesus was accused of being with the wrong people.He associated with tax collectors and ate with sinners.It is fitting then that he also died with criminals.Everyone knew that ‘bad company corrupts good character.’ (1 Corinthians 15:33)What is important to…
“Do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.” (Luke 23:28) What Jesus experienced was horrific and evil.Weeping for this is not wrong, but there’s more reason to weep.Yes, it was bad that this happened to someone so loving and God-like.But God’s children experience horrific evil all the time.Jesus entered human depravity and…
“He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder.” (Luke 23:25) Forget church, christians, religion and church history for a moment.Just focus on Jesus and ask yourself, ‘what can we say against him?’Pilate concluded that Jesus had done nothing to deserve death (v.15).I would make that even stronger: what he did…
“I find no basis for a charge against this man.” (Luke 23:4) Pilate does not see Jesus as a real threat to Caesar’s throne.If Jesus, weak and pathetic, is the best the Jews can do, then Caesar need not fear.Herod comes to the same conclusion, when he lets the soldiers mock him.Neither of them are troubled…