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".

Luke 9 (résumé): Jesus sends out the 12 + Feeds 5,000

Luke 9 starts telling us that Jesus sent out the 12 with authority to drive out demons, cure diseases and preach the kingdom. They were to take nothing with them for their travels and to shake the dust off their feet if they were rejected. Herod became inquisitive about Jesus as he heard about Jesus's exploits. Jesus then fed 5,000 men with 5 loaves and 2 fishes after teaching them about the kingdom, and they even collected 12 baskets of left-overs afterwards. Next Jesus asked the disciples who people were saying he was and they answered John the Baptist, Elijah or another of the prophets. "But what about you?" Jesus asked, and Peter said that Jesus was "the Christ of God". Jesus told them to repeat this to nobody, and proceeded to repeat to them that he was going to die and then rise again. And he said that to follow him would demand taking up the cross daily... and that some of them wouldn't die before seeing the kingdom. 8 days later Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain where his clothes became as bright as lightening and Moses and Elijah appeared. Then a cloud enveloped them and a voice told them to listen to Jesus. Following this a man asked Jesus to heal his son suffering with constant convulsions as the disciples had tried unsuccessfully. Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed him and returned him to his father, before again warning the disciples of his impending betrayal, but they didn't grasp what he was saying. Then the disciples argued about which of them would be the greatest and Jesus said that "he who is least among you is the greatest". Then they told Jesus how they had tried to stop someone driving out a demon because he wasn't a disciple. Jesus stood against this saying he who isn't against us is for us. Then there was a clash in a Samaritan village and Jesus rebuked the disciples' intended aggression against the people. Then a man promised to follow Jesus wherever it takes, but Jesus said "foxes have holes, birds have nests, but the Son of Many has nowhere to lay his head... then Jesus called another man to follow him but he asked for time to bury his father first... so Jesus said let the dead bury the dead". Then Jesus called another to follow him and he asked to go and bid farewell to his family first. Jesus said "no-one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in God's kingdom!"

Sacha's Birthday

Last night we had a family get-together for our youngest daughter Sacha's 40th birthday with her husband Biba and their two daughters Alice and Bia. We took the opportunity to get a photo of us with all 4 of our children and all 9 of our grandchildren. It was a lovely evening together around a light meal.

Yesterday our church band guitar player Rogaciano and his wife Monyque had their first baby which was a lovely little girl called Allana. 

Our late EAB supporter Sid Wilder's celebration of his life will be held at 1 pm on Friday, September 11th, at the St John's Church, Southend-On-Sea, SS1 2AL. Sid was 93. 

Luke 8 (résumé): The Parable of the Sower & more miracles

 Jesus went from place to place proclaiming the Gospel, the 12 were with him and so were some supportive women such as Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna. Then Jesus told the Parable of the Sower to the crowd saying a farmer went out to sow, and some seed fell on the path where the birds ate it (Jesus says the birds represent the devil's opposition to his word), other seed fell on rocky ground and soon withered for lack of roots (Jesus says this represents those who initially accept the Gospel but don't last), further seed fell on thorny land and the thorn choked the plants (Jesus said they represent those who accept the words but then get choked by the pressures of life), and finally seeds fell on good soil which produced much fruit (Jesus says this represents those who receive the word and persevere). After this Jesus says nobody lights a lamp and puts it under a bed. Rather they put it on a stand. So Jesus says that "there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed". Then Mary and the family came to visit Jesus, but couldn't reach him because of the crowd, but when someone told Jesus his family was there he dismissed this saying that his mother and brothers are those who practice God's word. Then Jesus and his disciples were crossing the lake in a boat and Jesus dropped off to sleep as he was very tired. However a storm came putting them in danger so they woke Jesus telling him they were going to drown! Jesus immediately calmed the storm and asked the disciples what had happened to their faith? Next Jesus set free a demon-possessed unstoppably-strong man possessed by a "legion" of spirits. These spirits fled into a herd of pigs and killed them! However the man now sat peacefully at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind. Finally a synagogue leader called Jairus asked Jesus to go and cure his 12-year-old daughter, but on the way Jesus got delayed curing a woman who suffered from non-stop bleeding. By the time Jesus got to Jairus's daughter she had died, but Jesus said to him, "don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed". Jesus then said to the girl, "My child, get up! Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up".