Seven Mile Road

 On the Sunday following Jesus' death, a group of women shows up at his tomb to anoint his body. Upon arrival, they found the tomb open and empty, before being told to remember by two angels. They are to remember Jesus' own words about his life, death, and resurrection. As they remember, these women respond to this good news that death could not hold Jesus and begin sharing it with others.

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Jesus turns from his conflicts with Temple authorities to warn his disciples: Beware of Living like the Scribes. The scribes want to be first, to be publicly recognized and honored. They willingly harm those most in need of support to advance themselves. Jesus then tells his disciples to pay attention to the widow. Her poverty was not a barrier to honoring God. Her generosity revealed her deepest love: God. This Sunday, we will hear from God’s Word and see that Jesus looks beyond appearances to reveal our deepest love - and that he does this to free us to love God and our neighbors.

Identity brings many things into focus. Knowing who someone is gives context and helps you to know how to interpret intentions and behavior.

Jesus turns the table from the last few stories in the Gospel of Luke and begins asking the religious leaders questions. He is on the offensive asking important questions about the identity of the Jewish Messiah.

No question is more important than asking, how the Messiah could be both David’s son & David’s Lord?

Luke 20:41-44

For a third time, Jesus faces opposition in the Temple seeking to challenge his authority. This time it is the Sadducees bringing a question about marriage and the resurrection with the goal of discrediting Jesus. Again, Jesus avoids the trap and proves from the scriptures that resurrection is real and hope is certain.
Luke 20.27-40

Jesus’ popularity and presence in the Temple threatened the Temple leaders, the scribes and the priests. They feared losing their position, status, and power to Jesus.

They withdraw and send spies to try and trap Jesus. Their methods reveal their motivation to remove Jesus; they want another king to worship.

This Sunday, we will look at Luke 20:19-26 and see that the way we accomplish something matters, even if its a good goal, even if its a God-goal.

The methods we choose reveal the king we worship.

Knock, knock. Who’s there? The Landlord. The Landlord, who? Precisely. Israel knew they were God’s possession, that they were the people made for His good pleasure, and yet throughout their long history they continually turned away from Him and rejected those who were sent to call them back to Him. Through their actions they denied God as their loving Landlord, and because of this they incurred His just judgement. This Sunday we see in Israel’s history our own, and the same heir of the Landlord that was offered to Israel is offered to us.

Listen to an update on the life of Seven Mile Melrose for March 2023.

Jesus goes to the temple in Jerusalem and acts as a prophet decrying the misuse of the place. Then with teaching and action depicts a new and better worship of God.To challenge a national identity and to call everyone back to God begs the question of what right does one have to do this? Who has the right to command belief? Who can transcend ethnicity and rivalry in authority? How does all this relate to us?

Luke 19:45-20:8

As Jesus approaches Jerusalem, everything is pointing toward him being King. Everything. He’s in control. His donkey is brand new. The crowd is cheering. The King is here, and just when you’d think everyone should be excited ... we find out that what is plain to some is hidden from others.