Luke 15 (résumé): 3 Parables

Jesus was being criticized by the Pharisees for welcoming sinners and eating with them, so he told the Parable of the Lost Sheep in which a man loses one of his flock of 100 sheep and goes searching for it until he finds it. (1%) Then he rejoices with his friends as there is rejoicing in heaven over the repentance of one sinner. Next Jesus tells the Parable of the Lost Coin in which a woman had 10 coins and lost one of them. (10%) So the woman searched everywhere until she found it and rejoiced with her friends upon finding it. Such will be the rejoicing over one repentant sinner. Finally Jesus tells the Parable of the Lost Son in which the prodigal son went away leaving his father with his only other son. (50%) Eventually the lost son returned and there was great rejoicing and a banquet (about which the faithful son wasn't happy) for which the fatted calf was slaughtered. The father said we had to celebrate because my son was dead and is alive again, was lost and is found.

Luke 14 (résumé): Jesus at a Pharisee's House

Jesus went to have a meal at a prominent Pharisee's house and was being closely observed as he was faced with a man with dropsy or fluid retention. Jesus preempted their question asking them if healing on the sabbath was permittable, and they remained silent. So Jesus healed the man saying that if your son falls into a well on the sabbath don't you rescue him? Then Jesus criticized the vying for seats of honor in the banquet saying that people should humbly take lower seats "because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled". Jesus said don't just invite the rich to your dinners, but invite the poor, crippled, lame and blind... and you will be blessed". Then Jesus told about a banquet with many invited guests, but when the time approached the guests all started making excuses not to go. So the master sent out his servant to the streets and alleys and invited the poor, crippled, blind and lame. When there was still space he sent out again to compel people in the country lanes to come in "so that my house will be full". Finally Jesus said that to be his disciple you had to be willing to abandon your family... because if you're going to build you work out the budget first... and if you're going to war you assess the enemy first... so salt without flavour is worthless". 

Luke 13 (résumé): Repent or Perish!

Luke 13 commences with Jesus' call to the people to repent or perish! Jesus reacts to news of the tragic deaths of some Galileans who "were not worse sinners because they suffered in this way... but unless you repent you too will perish". He then told a parable of a fig tree given a 4th chance to produce fruit! So repent or perish! Then Jesus healed a woman who had been crippled and bent over for 18 years and the synagogue ruler was irate because he had done it on a sabbath! Don't you give water to your donkey on a sabbath, asked Jesus? So this woman could be set free from Satan's bondage on a sabbath. Then with the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast Jesus showed that the kingdom of God's silent small beginnings had dramatic far-reaching effects and results. Jesus went on to teach that the door of salvation was a narrow door and "many will try to enter but will not be able to... and once the owner of the house closes the door there will be no entry... and there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth... though many will come to the kingdom from east, west, north and south... but the first will be last and the last first". Then the Pharisees told Jesus that Herod wanted to kill him so Jesus said: "Go tell that fox... I will reach my goal... O Jerusalem who kills the prophets... I have longed to gather you under my wings but you were not willing... you won't see me again till you say blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord".

Luke 12 (résumé): Warnings & Encouragements

Jesus starts Luke 12 warning the disciples about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees saying: "There is nothing concealed that won't be disclosed". "Fear him who can send you to hell... and he who disowns me will be disowned before God... and he who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven". Then Jesus told the Parable of the Rich Fool who after a good harvest decided to "take life easy, eat, drink and be merry... without realizing that "this night your life will be demanded from you". Jesus then went on to say that "Life is more than food... why do you worry about what you need in life... God provides for the ravens and cares for the lilies... so trust God, sell your possessions and give to the poor... for where your treasure is there will your heart be also". Jesus then goes on to speak about watchfulness. "It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night... you must be ready... because the Son of Man will come at an unexpected hour... the servant who knows his master's will and doesn't get ready will be beaten with many blows". Jesus then declares that he hasn't come to bring peace, but division. This division will be seen within families. Then the chapter closes with Jesus criticizing people for perceiving signs of the weather yet failing "to interpret (the signs of) this present time".

Luke 11 (résumé): Prayer + Beelzebub + 6 Woes

One of Jesus' disciples asked the Lord to teach them to pray and Jesus said they should ask God the Father for the kingdom to come, for daily bread, for forgiveness, for distance from temptation and the disposition to forgive. Jesus taught persistence in prayer, "ask and it will be given to you" because if you ask for fish you will not be given a snake, so God will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. Next came accusations that Jesus was driving out demons by Beelzebub after he had delivered a mute. Jesus of course refuted this showing that  "Satan divided against himself would not stand". Then Jesus said, "He who is not with me is against me". He then warned about post-deliverance care which can produce a situation where "the final condition is worse than the first". Jesus then criticized "this wicked generation for asking for a miraculous sign" whereas the only sign that would be given was "the sign of Jonah". Jesus says Jonah's generation would condemn the current one and "one greater than Jonah was here". Jesus then says that no-one lights a lamp to hide it... so "if your whole body is full of light... it will be completely lighted, as when the lamp shines on you". Finally Jesus is criticized by a Pharisee for non-ceremonial washing but Jesus criticizes the man for external ritual lacking in internal virtues. Woe to you Pharisees, declares Jesus, who pay tithes but neglect justice and love; who covet the best seats in the synagogue; who burden the people with insupportable rules; who build tombs for the prophets that your own forefathers killed; and "have taken away the key to knowledge". 

Chess

Yesterday early in the evening we went out to Green Pastures where Philip, Gylmara and family are for the weekend with Gyl's parents, and her sister and her son, from João Pessoa. Philip and I then enjoyed eating hotdogs together prior to launching into a duel of two games of chess which we won one a piece. It was a lovely evening with Luis scaring his sister with a nice toad he found! 

Luke 10 (résumé): Jesus send out 72 + the Parable of the Good Samaritan

 Now Jesus sent out 72 followers two by two saying "the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few... I am sending you like lambs among wolves... heal the sick... and shake the dust off your feet when rejected... but "the kingdom of God is near you" should be your message... and judgement will be ruthless like at Sodom for such towns that reject the Gospel. "He who listens to you listens to me"". So the 72 returned from mission with joy and thrilled that evil spirits submitted to them. However Jesus told them not to rejoice about that, but rather that their names are written in heaven. Then Jesus praised God for having revealed the truth to little children and he also rejoiced over his intimate relationship with God the Father. Then Jesus said to the disciples: "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see". Jesus was then tested by a legal expert as to "who is my neighbour?" after they had agreed that to inherit eternal life you should love God with everything and love your neighbour as yourself. To answer the query on "neighbour" Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan in which a man was left half dead by robbers on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho. A priest came past and ignored the man. Next came a Levite who looked and avoided getting involved too. However then came a Samaritan who took pity on the man, bandaged his wounds, poured in oil and wine, and put him on his donkey and took him to an inn for him to be taken care of. He even paid for his care and promised to pay for any expenses incurred! Who was the neighbour? asked Jesus, and the legal expert replied: "The one who had mercy on him". Jesus then told him: "Go and do likewise". Finally Jesus and the disciples were cared for at Mary and Martha's house. Mary was enthralled by Jesus and sat at his feet listening to him. However Martha complained that Mary wasn't helping her with the work, but Jesus took Mary's side saying she had "chosen what was better".