April 5, 2024
“Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls” (Luke 11:17 ESV). Jesus responded to those who accused him of casting out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, with the irrefutable logic that a divided kingdom or house falls. His response showed that not only was their accusation false, it
April 4, 2024
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42 ESV). Martha was working hard in the kitchen while her sister, Mary, sat at the feet of Jesus listening. Martha was hurt, feeling that
April 3, 2024
“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it” (Luke 10:23-24 ESV). Jesus told His disciples that they were blessed because they were privileged
April 2, 2024
‘And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”’ (Luke 9:58 ESV). Luke listed three people that expressed a desire to follow Jesus, yet all three turned aside when they considered the cost. The Lord challenged the material
April 1, 2024
“And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:30-31 ESV). Jesus took His inner circle of disciples, Peter, James and John, up on a mountain to pray. As usual, they fell asleep, but they
March 30, 2024
‘But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat’ (Luke 8:55 ESV). Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, fell down at the feet of Jesus begging him to come to his house.
March 29, 2024
‘And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”’ (Luke 8:25 ESV). A fierce storm blew down onto the Sea of Galilee threatening to sink the boat with Jesus and His disciples aboard. Even the professional fishermen like
March 25, 2024
“After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum” (Luke 7:1 ESV). The fishing village of Capernaum was strategically located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The major highway carrying trade between Egypt and Damascus called the “Via Maris” (“Way of the Sea”) passed through
March 24, 2024 | Luke 23:32-46 |
Although Christ entered Jerusalem on a Sunday to adoring crowds waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matt. 21:9), Christ exited Jerusalem on a Friday to an angry crowd shaking their fists and yelling, “Crucify him!” The crowds in Jerusalem were divided in their response to Jesus. They had different views of Jesus and took different sides. The message of Christ and His cross still divides people today. It still calls people to choose sides.
You and I weren’t in Jerusalem when Jesus made his triumphal entry on Palm Sunday 2,000 years ago. Nor were we there when He was hung on a cross between two criminals. We may not have been there, but the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross calls all of us to answer: “Which side of the cross are you on?”
In the gospel according to Luke, he recorded that Jesus was crucified between two criminals, one on the right side and one on the left side. They were both criminals facing death, both seeing and hearing how Jesus faced death. Yet they chose different views of the cross of Christ. They chose different sides. We are faced with the same choice. Which side of the cross will you choose?
March 24, 2024
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27-28 ESV). These are the words of Jesus from his Sermon on the Plain, describing the new way of living in the Kingdom of Heaven. Instead of