Luke 22:14 - 23:56

22:14 When the hour had come, he sat down with the twelve apostles. 22:15 He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, 22:16 for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” 22:17 He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, “Take this, and share it among yourselves, 22:18 for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God comes.”
22:19 He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” 22:20 Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 22:21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22:22 The Son of Man indeed goes, as it has been determined, but woe to that man through whom he is betrayed!”
22:23 They began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing. 22:24 There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest. 22:25 He said to them, “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 22:26 But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. 22:27 For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn’t it he who sits at the table? But I am in the midst of you as one who serves. 22:28 But you are those who have continued with me in my trials. 22:29 I confer on you a kingdom, even as my Father conferred on me, 22:30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. You will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
22:31 The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat, 22:32 but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn’t fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers.”
22:33 He said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!”
22:34 He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will by no means crow today until you deny that you know me three times.”
22:35 He said to them, “When I sent you out without purse, and wallet, and shoes, did you lack anything?”
They said, “Nothing.”
22:36 Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet. Whoever has none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword. 22:37 For I tell you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’* For that which concerns me has an end.”
22:38 They said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.”
He said to them, “That is enough.”
22:39 He came out, and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples also followed him. 22:40 When he was at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you don’t enter into temptation.”
22:41 He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed, 22:42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
22:43 An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 22:44 Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.
22:45 When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief, 22:46 and said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
22:47 While he was still speaking, behold, a multitude, and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him. 22:48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
22:49 When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 22:50 A certain one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
22:51 But Jesus answered, “Let me at least do this”—and he touched his ear, and healed him. 22:52 Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 22:53 When I was with you in the temple daily, you didn’t stretch out your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
22:54 They seized him, and led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed from a distance. 22:55 When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard, and had sat down together, Peter sat among them. 22:56 A certain servant girl saw him as he sat in the light, and looking intently at him, said, “This man also was with him.”
22:57 He denied Jesus, saying, “Woman, I don’t know him.”
22:58 After a little while someone else saw him, and said, “You also are one of them!”
But Peter answered, “Man, I am not!”
22:59 After about one hour passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Truly this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean!”
22:60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 22:61 The Lord turned, and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how he said to him, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.” 22:62 He went out, and wept bitterly.
22:63 The men who held Jesus mocked him and beat him. 22:64 Having blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?” 22:65 They spoke many other things against him, insulting him.
22:66 As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away into their council, saying, 22:67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.”
But he said to them, “If I tell you, you won’t believe, 22:68 and if I ask, you will in no way answer me or let me go. 22:69 From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
22:70 They all said, “Are you then the Son of God?”
He said to them, “You say it, because I am.”
22:71 They said, “Why do we need any more witness? For we ourselves have heard from his own mouth!”
23:1 The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate. 23:2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”
23:3 Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
He answered him, “So you say.”
23:4 Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
23:5 But they insisted, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place.” 23:6 But when Pilate heard Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean. 23:7 When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.
23:8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him. 23:9 He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers. 23:10 The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. 23:11 Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate. 23:12 Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other.
23:13 Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 23:14 and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one that perverts the people, and see, I have examined him before you, and found no basis for a charge against this man concerning those things of which you accuse him. 23:15 Neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him. 23:16 I will therefore chastise him and release him.”
23:17 Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast. 23:18 But they all cried out together, saying, “Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!”— 23:19 one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder.
23:20 Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus, 23:21 but they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
23:22 He said to them the third time, “Why? What evil has this man done? I have found no capital crime in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him.” 23:23 But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. Their voices and the voices of the chief priests prevailed. 23:24 Pilate decreed that what they asked for should be done. 23:25 He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will.
23:26 When they led him away, they grabbed one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it after Jesus. 23:27 A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him. 23:28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 23:29 For behold, the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 23:30 Then they will begin to tell the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and tell the hills, ‘Cover us.’* 23:31 For if they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in the dry?”
23:32 There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death. 23:33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.
23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots. 23:35 The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!”
23:36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar, 23:37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
23:38 An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
23:39 One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”
23:40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 23:41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 23:42 He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
23:43 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
23:44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 23:45 The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 23:46 Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last.
23:47 When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” 23:48 All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their breasts. 23:49 All his acquaintances, and the women who followed with him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
23:50 Behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man 23:51 (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was also waiting for the Kingdom of God: 23:52 this man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body. 23:53 He took it down, and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was cut in stone, where no one had ever been laid. 23:54 It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near. 23:55 The women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid. 23:56 They returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

The road to Easter goes through Good Friday.
The joy of celebration has its roots deep within the agony of defeat.
There is no resurrection without a cross.

This is the beginning of the most horrible and the most glorious week in human history.
We hear the words “Crucify him, crucify him!” before we hear “Alleluia, He lives!”

Douglas John Hall - “When the crucified Jesus is called ‘the image of the invisible God’, the meaning is that this is God, and God is like this. God is not greater than he is in this humiliation. God is not more glorious than he is in this self-surrender. God is not more powerful than he is in this helplessness. God is not more divine that he is in this humanity.”
“God And Human Suffering’” p. 112

This is the way of redeeming love -” love so amazing so divine I demands my life, my soul, my all.”

John 12:1-8

2:1 Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 12:2 So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him. 12:3 Mary, therefore, took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. 12:4 Then Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said, 12:5 “Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?” 12:6 Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it. 12:7 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial. 12:8 For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me.”

Extravagant Love

The prayer of the Day gives us a clear hint what this text is all about: “Open our hearts to be transformed by the new thing you are doing, that our lives may proclaim the extravagance of your love given to all through your Son...”

There are times and places for extravagance - even when there are plenty of poor who also need our attention, and our help.

Jesus words - “you always have the poor with you” were not spoken as a “prescription not to care. He meant it as a description about a reality that we should address even if we don’t get any results.” Timothy Shapiro

But not at the expense of extravagance in celebrating the love we feel, both human and divine.

We can do both! Be extravagant in our celebration of life and be equally extravagant in our care of the poor!

Do not eliminate celebration - to be able to compassionate towards those who have little to celebrate. It is both/and not either/or.

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him. 15:2 The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”

15:3 He told them this parable: “A certain man had two sons. 15:12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ He divided his livelihood between them. 15:13 Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living. 15:14 When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. 15:15 He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 15:16 He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. 15:17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger! 15:18 I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. 15:19 I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’
15:20 “He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 15:21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
15:22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 15:23 Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate; 15:24 for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ They began to celebrate.
15:25 “Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 15:26 He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on. 15:27 He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’ 15:28 But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him. 15:29 But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 15:30 But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
15:31 “He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 15:32 But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”

“A Man Had Two Sons”

Luke 15 is one of the greatest chapters in the Bible. It contains three parables which tell us all we need to know about God’s awesome love. The parable of the Prodigal Son - or better titled, the Waiting Father is the most well known and profound.

The setting is the Pharisee’s and teachers of the Law - the prominent religious citizens of the day. They have been unhappy with Jesus for not being as ‘religiously correct’ as they are, for “he receives sinners and eats with them.”

The rebellion of the youngest son is reason for the Father to disown him. Cast him out!
Forget that he ever existed! This the Father cannot do.
There is no way God will disown any of his children! That just isn’t in the books! Not since Jesus! God doesn’t close his heart to anyone - ever!

Upon his return, hoping to be a hired hand in his fathers house the younger son discovers the second great truth about God hidden in this story - he can’t be a hired son; he can only be a son! Love demands it! Grace fulfills it! He is a son again for love will have it no other way! Indeed, ‘love so amazing, so divine, demands our life, our soul, our all.”

The elder son stayed home. As Bailey says in “The Cross And The Prodigal”,
“His heart is full of envy, pride, bitterness, sarcasm, anger, resentment, self-centeredness, hate, stinginess, self-satisfaction and self-deception. And he probably sees his own actions as a righteous search for honor.”

It was his job to serve as ‘head waiter at the banquet. This he could not do. So the Father must go out a second time to try show his elder son that he is loved too - just as much as the younger. This time it ends up with his love being rejected.

Whenever we, like the elder son, get arrogant about how it should be with God, and think we know how, who and when God should love we will be lost in our own arrogance and way off base in our lack of compassion.

When ever we find ourselves begrudging God’s generosity - God’s grace at work in the lives of sinners - we part company with God and dwell in our own religiosity.

How great indeed is our God and how great is God’s love for all - ALL - God’s children.

Luke 13: 1-9

13:1 Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 13:2 Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 13:3 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way. 13:4 Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them; do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem? 13:5 I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”
13:6 He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none. 13:7 He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why does it waste the soil?’ 13:8 He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it, and fertilize it. 13:9 If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’”

Whatever else this parable is about, it is about grace - God’s grace.

We have only once place to stand in this parable - we are the barren fig tree.
And the meaning is that no matter what, God is first, last and always a God of grace;
“whose love will over rule his anger and whose mercy is stronger then her logic.”

Grace means “God never lets us go; God never lets us down; God never lets us off.”
I can blow it but I can’t lose it!

We are to live as those who have be so graced; we are to be graceful in all that we do.