Luke 16:16-18 (winter, AD 29) There are still those who, while calling themselves Christians, insist that we need to keep to the civil and ceremonial code of Old Testament Law. And yet, throughout the gospels Jesus made it clear that those codes were done away with, and no longer acceptable because the prophesied Messiah had … More Day 87: Old covenant drugs and new covenant cure
Luke 16:1-15 (winter, AD 29) “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (v.10-11) When I was young(er!) I … More Day 86: What’s your legacy?
Luke 14:25-35 (winter, AD 29) Many moons ago an evangelism team came to the school run by our church. After a clear and engaging gospel message, the speaker called for a show of hands: ‘Who wants to accept Jesus into their hearts today?’ (not that Jesus ever told us to do that, but moving on…). … More Day 84: Hands up if you love Jesus
Luke 14:1-24 (winter, AD 29) Imagine the scene in the Pharisee’s house (v.3-6). Jesus, seemingly energised rather than cowed by the presence of a hostile audience, confronted the religious leaders with a couple of questions. Sympathetic members of the public were mixed with Jesus’ opponents as they scrutinised him. Faced with a seemingly straightforward legal … More Day 83: Dumb(struck) Pharisees
Luke 13:22-35 (winter AD 29) A paraphrase: Will only a few people have their sins forgiven and go to heaven? Make every effort to approach God in the less popular way. The way that involves admitting you cannot be good enough for God, and cannot do anything to earn your ticket to heaven. The way … More Day 82: Making God in your own image
John 10:22-42 (winter AD 29) Many people say that Jesus never claimed to be God. Islamic doctrine states it. Muslims respect Jesus as a great prophet, the way Christians might respect Elijah – a man who did great things and never suggested he was more than a man. This is one of many passages showing … More Day 81: Jesus claimed to be God
Day 80: Luke 13:18-21 (AD 29) Jesus had just ‘humiliated’ his opponents (v.17) through showing the hypocrisy of the synagogue ruler who was trying to prevent people from being healed by Jesus. It was abundantly clear to the crowd in the synagogue that Jesus was on the side of righteousness, and the religious leaders were … More Day 80: Of mustard seeds and yeast
Luke 13:10-17 (AD 29) What makes you feel ‘indignant’? What gives you the feeling of, ‘This should not be’, ‘This is an offense against what is right and good’. Not merely, ‘I’m not sure this is the best’, but ‘Yuck, no’. The OED defines it as, ‘feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is … More Day 79: Hard-wired hatred
Luke 13:1-9 (AD 29) You are not here on a divine whimsy. You do not exist under the shrug of a creator who doesn’t care you do with your life. You are alive because God gave you breath and the opportunity to become reconciled to him. You are the fig tree of verses six through … More Day 78: Repent
Luke 12:49-59 (AD 29) “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (angels in Luke 2:14). “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division” (Jesus, in Luke 12:51); after which, Jesus went on to talk about families … More Day 77: Peace and division through Jesus
Paul T Reynolds 