This section of Luke provides a plethora of topics for discussion. Rather than attempt to take the entire section on, I’ll highlight a few aspects that struck me, and then allow the rest of you to either expand upon or add to those ideas via comments. Please feel free to do so, especially on Luke’s view of Jesus’ resurrection and subsequent appearances to believers.
I’ll begin by taking note of what has been said about Luke in some of our previous discussions. As Daniel noted in the last posting, geography is very important to Jesus’ journey, particularly his last week in Jerusalem. We celebrate these important places and landmarks during Holy Week, which is evidence of their continuing significance in the realization of the prophecy of Jesus as Saviour.
Fellowship with others takes place often through sharing meals, culminating in the Last Supper, which we celebrate regularly in our own worship services.
Luke's gospel pays special attention to Jesus' relationships with others, including the miracles he performs (I thought the soldier's sliced-off ear was a cool one). In characterizing Jesus in each gospel, Luke's gospel shows Jesus as the social justice advocate. Jesus ministers to all, men and women, poor, despised, ill, sinful. Even at the very end, when one of the criminals on Golgotha with Jesus displays forgiveness and faith, Jesus welcomes him into paradise.
Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem is an incredibly complex story. As Christians in the 21st century, we have the advantage of viewing those events in light of Jesus’ resurrection and the proliferation of his ministry thoroughout the world. We are able to look beyond the physical events to their symbolic and spiritual meaning. To the participants in the story however, their base understanding of Jesus’ prophecy limited their view of what was to come and even turned some against Jesus as events progressed through the week.
The reading begins with Jesus’ triumphant arrival in Jerusalem, riding upon a donkey among waving palms and cries of welcome. The manner of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem intentionally fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 as the King of the Jews. Many followers who honored Jesus’ arrival believed that he would be the political leader of Israel who would bring the downfall of the Romans. When Jesus shows his physical limitations as man in the abuses suffered at the hands of the Romans (soon to be superseded by his spiritual power), some followers lose their faith as they see him struck down by the Romans. The part I love about this story though, is that is also like a study in literature - looking for elements and greater themes than the plotline. In many instances, something that may appear to signal defeat is actually a symbol of God’s triumphant and power. In 23:38, the soldiers mock Jesus by posting “This is the King of the Jews” over him on the cross. Rather than signal a defeated king without a kingdom, Jesus inverts this slander by proving that he is truly the King of the entire universe. There are many examples of Jesus turning the wisdom or ideas of the world upside down and creating something much more powerful out of them. The cross is the most famous example of this - and I challenge you to look for such instances in both the readings and in your own life. Jesus triumphs over death, turning an initially horrible event into the greatest event in history.
I agree with Gabe that there should be a Luke-Acts continuum study. It would be convenient if the two were set next to each other or at least colour-coded to show that Acts is a sequel.
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I apologize for the lengthiness of the quotations below, but these passages serve as preemptive commentary on Christ's Passion. Enjoy!
Isaiah 50:4b - 7
The Lord has opened my ear. For my part, I made no resistance, neither did I turn away. I offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore at my beard; I did not cover my face against insult and spittle. The Lord comes to my help, so that I am untouched by the insults. So, too, I set my face like flint; I know I shall not be shamed.
Wisdom 1-3:12
Love virtue, you who are judges on earth,
let honesty prompt your thinking about the Lord,
seek him in simplicity of heart;
since he is to be found by those who do not put him to the test,
he shows himself to those who do not distrust him.
But selfish intentions divorce from God;
and Omnipotence, put to the test, confounds the foolish.
No, Wisdom, will never make its way into a crafty soul
nor stay in a body that is in debt to sin;
the holy spirit of instruction shuns deceit,
it stands aloof from reckless purposes,
is taken aback when iniquity appears.
Wisdom is a spirit, a friend to man,
though she will not pardon the words of a blasphemer,
since God sees into the innermost parts of him,
truly observes his heart,
and listens to his tongue.
The spirit of the Lord, indeed, fills the whole world,
and that which holds all things together knows every word that is said.
The man who gives voice to injustice will never go unnoticed,
nor shall avenging Justice pass him by.
For the godless man's deliberations will be examined,
and a report of his words will reach the Lord
to convict him of his crimes.
There is a jealous ear that overhears everything,
not so much as a murmur of complaint escapes it.
Beware, then, of complaning about nothing,
and keep your tongue from finding fault;
since the most secret word will have repercussions,
and a lying mouth deals death to the soul.
Do not court death by the errors of your ways,
nor invite destruction through your own actions.
Death was not God's doing,
he takes no pleasure in the extinction of the living.
To be - for this he created all;
the world's created things have health in them,
in them no fatal poison can be found,
and Hades holds no power on the earth;
for virtue is undying.
But the godless call with deed and word for Death,
counting him as a friend, they wear themselves out for him,
with him they make a pact,
and are fit to be partners.
For they say to themselves, with their misguided reasoning:
"Our life is short and dreary,
nor is there any relief when man's end comes,
nor is anyone known who can give relief from Hades.
By chance we came to birth,
and after this life we shall be as if we had never been.
The breath of our nostrils is a puff of smoke,
reason is a spark from the beating of our hearts;
put this out and our body turns to ashes,
and the spirit melts away like idle air.
In time, our name will be forgotten,
nobody will remember what we have done;
our life will pass away like wisps of cloud,
dissolve like the mist
that the sun's rays drive away
and the heat of it overwhelms.
Yes, our days are a passing shadow,
from our death there is no turning back,
the seal is set: no one returns.
"Come then, let us enjoy what good things there are,
use this creation with the zest of youth:
take our fill of the dearest wines and perfumes,
let not one flower of springtime pass us by,
before they wither crown ourselves with roses.
Let none forgo his part in our orgy,
let us leave the signs of our revelry everywhere,
this is our portion, this the lot assigned us.
"As for the virtuous man who is poor, let us oppress him;
let us not spare the widow,
nor respect old age, white-haired with many years.
Let our strength be the yardstick of virtue,
since weakness argues its own futility.
Let us lie in wait for the virtuous man, since he annoys us
and opposes our way of life,
reproaches us for breaches of the law
and accuses us of playing false to our upbringing.
He claims to have knowledge of God,
and calls himself a son of the Lord.
Before us he stands, a reproof to our way of thinking,
the very sight of him weighs our spirits down;
his way of life is not like other men's,
the paths he treads are unfamiliar.
In his opinion we are counterfeit;
he holds aloof from our doings as though from filth;
he proclaims the final end of the virtuous as happy
and boasts of having God for his father.
Let us see if what he says is true,
let us observe what kind of end he himself will have.
If the virtuous man is God's son, God will take his part
and rescue him from the clutches of his enemies.
Let us test him with cruelty and with torture,
and thus explore this gentleness of his
and put his endurance to the proof.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death
since he will be looked after - we have his word for it."
This is the way they reason, but they are misled,
their malice makes them blind.
They do not know the hidden things of God,
they have no hope that holiness will be rewarded,
they can see no reward for blameless souls.
Yet God did make man imperishable,
he made him in the image of his own nature;
it was the devil's envy that brought death into the world,
as those who are his partners will discover.
But the souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God,
no torment shall ever touch them.
In the eyes of the unwise, they did appear to die,
their going looked like a disaster,
their leaving us, like annihilation;
but they are in peace.
If they experienced punishment as men see it,
their hope was rich with immortality;
slight was their affliction, great will their blessings be.
God has put them to the test
and proved them worthy to be with him;
he has tested them like gold in a furnace,
and accepted them as a holocaust.
When the time comes for his visitation they will shine;
as sparks run through stubble, so will they.
They shall judge nations, rule over peoples,
and the Lord will be their king for ever.
They who trust in him will understand the truth;
those who are faithful will live with him in love;
for grace and mercy await those he has chosen.
But the godless will be duly punished for their reasoning,
for neglecting the virtuous man and deserting the Lord.
Yes, wretched are they who scorn wisdom and discipline:
their hope is void,
their toil unavailing,
their achievements unprofitable;
their wives are reckless,
their children depraved,
their descendants accursed.
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