Hope Christian Fellowship

Almost everyone believes that secrets can keep them safe. If you are doing something wrong, all you need to do is keep it secret and you will be safe. But life never actually works like that. Somehow, you always reap what you sow. Jesus uses an opportunity to talk to those following Him to warn them and to encourage them. Let’s take a look at both and let His words speak to us.

There’s an idea of Jesus that He was always accepting and that He never told anyone things that they did not want to hear. But that image does not match what we read in His story. In fact, Jesus regularly went hard after those who thought they had it all figured out. In a shocking scene (for that time), Jesus lays out His critique of those that seemed most spiritual and religious. Instead of genuine faith that drove real obedience, these people hid their sin and blocked the path to God for others. Their reaction to Jesus’ words was not humble repentance. They wanted to keep up their hypocrisy and to silence the Lord.

Buying a used car can be an adventure. They generally do not have a warranty, so you have to decide if you believe that the car isn’t hiding some expensive problems. If you’re a mechanic, you know how to look inside and see for yourself. But for most of us, we have to do our best to asses from the outside. Jesus talks with religious people about this dynamic in the spiritual realm. Many people live like the outside appearance is what matters. But Jesus came to tell them that real transformation happens from the inside out.

There is no end to laundry. We all know it and somewhat resent it – especially if we are the ones responsible in the home for making sure there are clean clothes. You wash them only to see them get dirty again and need more washing. In Jesus’ ministry, He is calling people to come and be washed. He uses a few images to describe how this washing is eternally different than the way their religious experience has taught them to think. He even refers back to a powerful revival among heathens to warn those listening that it isn’t enough to simply get rid of what is wrong. They also need to embrace what Jesus is teaching and let it change their lives. Ultimately, we don’t want to be people in an endless cycle of trying to clean up our lives. We want our lives filled with the presence and power of Jesus!

If you drink bottled water, you may be someone who cares about the source of the water you are drinking. Regulations require that something labeled as “spring water” must come from directly from an underground water source. If your bottle says “purified” instead of “spring water”, then it was taken directly from a municipal tap water source and put through a purification process. Maybe it makes no difference to you, but the labeling requirements make it clear where the water in the bottle originated. As people watched Jesus’ ministry, they had to decide where they believed His power originated. Skeptics tried to undermine His work by claiming that it came from demonic forces. Jesus confronts this idea and demonstrates that our answer to this question very much determines whether the power He brought impacts our lives.

One basic of following Jesus is prayer. Of course, all religions have a form of prayer. Many in certain forms of Christianity think that you need to recite prayers or that the prayers of certain people matter more than others. Jesus actually taught on prayer and gave an example of how to do it. In Luke, His sample prayer is followed by some very important ideas on the topic. As we think about our own prayer lives, Jesus’ words give us a strong foundation so that we stay grounded in our understanding and so that we pray the way that Jesus invites us to.

In our lives, we consume information and surround ourselves with noise and stimulation. We know that we can’t possibly take in everything available, but we join the chase anyway. Many times, becoming a part of a church just changes the list of the things we’re trying to know and do. But there is a really important truth that Luke shows us in an episode around a couple of Jesus’ close friends. One of them thinks that getting stuff done is most important. But the other is just listening to Jesus. Jesus uses this moment to speak to us across the centuries.

Many people believe that being a Christian is an exercise in rule keeping. Make sure you do all of the right things and avoid all of the wrong things. Jesus famously uses the Sermon on the Mount to demonstrate the real problems with that way of thinking. In this episode, Jesus has someone come to ask what the most important rule is. And Jesus pointedly turns away from rules to a mindset and value system. But the rule-keepers would not be dissuaded so easily, so they tried to figure out exactly where the boundaries were. In response, Jesus tells a very famous parable that has come to define and demonstrate what it means to love God and love our neighbor.

What makes you happy? Many people spend their free time chasing the answer to this very question. In fact, it is very common to justify choices by asserting that a specific choice “makes me happy.” Luke stitches together a few statements by Jesus that talk about great joy, full joy, and being blessed. The thread through all of them is that we can find true joy in some things that last. Jesus even makes the point that this joy is greater and more lasting than some joys from spectacular signs. Maybe we all should take a minute to ask ourselves if what Jesus says brings great joy does in fact bring joy to our lives. If He’s correct, it would mean that joy is always available to the people of God. And wouldn’t that be awesome?

Jesus came to give an invitation to every person on earth. He gave His very life so that they could be redeemed, forgiven, and have eternal life. The restoration of God’s original design and the desire of His heart is made possible by Jesus’ sacrifice. But most people reject this offer. Somehow, they believe they are better off without Jesus. As Jesus sends out His messengers to share this news (with some amazing power), He warns them that they will face rejection. He tells them what is at stake for those who turn away from this offer. This is a sobering truth that we don’t often want to see, but it is clear from Jesus that there is a destination for anyone who pushes away what Jesus came to bring.