Luke 22:35-38 – What I get from this is not that Jesus wants us to be armed, rather that he was communicating to them that things are about to change. While he’s here, he’s setting the stage for the kingdom, soon the kingdom will be established. Until it’s been established, it cannot really be attacked. When it is established, it can and will be attacked. They need to change their mindset and be prepared.
Luke 22:39-46 – This small paragraph only scratches the surface of what Jesus was going through here. Every once of his humanity was fighting against what had to be done, yet his soul longed to fallow the father’s will. The battle between soul and flesh was so intense he was sweating blood. Jesus did not simple walk into the hands of the Jews and on to the cross, he battled his flesh to force it into the father’s will, just as we do on a lesser scale all the time. It’s so easy to gloss over this small paragraph and miss the agony he went through as he faced the decision point – submit or run.
Luke 22:45 – It’s easy to dismiss the disciples here as clueless be cause they slept. But here it says they were ‘sleeping for sorrow’. As Jesus battled his will, as he sweat blood and his anguish was so great, an angel appeared to comfort him, how do you think that effected the disciples? Can you imagine, not really understanding what’s going on but knowing that your teacher and friend was wrestling deeply, battling his will and hurting. It would take a toll on you. You’d weep, wanting to comfort but not knowing what to say. The helplessness of being present but disconnected from understanding would be draining. As you hurt and Jesus fought, sleep would overtake your weary soul.
Luke 22:60-61 – And there it is, Peter’s denial. The emotions and fear of the moment were too great and he forgot Jesus’ warning. Three denials, and then the rooster. “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered … and wept bitterly.”
I wonder why Jesus used the rooster. He could have used anything. The rooster crowing was a disconnected event from what was happening. Like an alarm clock or a warning siren. When that happened, he would be snapped out of the emotions of the moment and brought back to Jesus’ words. I imagine that glance from Jesus felt like a sword through his heart. And think of this – each morning for the rest of his life, he’d be taken right back to that spot. A daily reminder of his biggest failing. The morning rooster crow, and he’d see those eyes again, and be reminded of the time he had denied his friend. I wonder if Jesus knew that Peter would need that reminder to stay faithful. Every. Day. Don’t forget, you once deserted him. Don’t forget, the hurt in his eyes when you did. Don’t forget how it felt to be apart from him. Don’t forget.
In the musical Upside Down about the book of Acts, Peter comments something like “I must have killed 30 roosters those first couple of years.” I wouldn’t doubt it.
But over time, he would remember this day less and the day that Jesus cooked him fish on the beach more. The failure would fade, except that with would continue to stand in stark contrast to the grace of Jesus taking him back and leaving him to lead this new church. He would remember that Jesus knew ahead of time, but had also said then “but when you return …”

Luke 22:3-6 – I wonder, sometimes, what Satan was thinking. Did he think that God didn’t know what was up? That he could pull an end run on Him? Doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Luke 22:15 – This was not the first passover he had eaten with them, but this was the one he had eagerly desired to have.
Luke 22:19-20 – It’s hard to read this passage and not hear a communion message or ritual. Growing up, it was the same every time and though we only took it quarterly (I think) I can still hear it in my mind. Today, we take communion each week and a different brother shares something every time. Still, this passage and the similar passages in the other gospels are shared a lot.
I want to, in some way, distance myself from those memories and put myself at the Passover table, having this traditional mean that I had over and over and hear Jesus reconfigure it for the new covenant. His words are too familiar to me, but to them they were radical and fresh. The Passover meal would have likely been too familiar, its meaning faded with use.
The Passover was about remembrance of the lambs that had given them safely. Jesus was now saying from here on out, I am the lamb that gives you safety. Remember me instead. What a bold statement to make. Thousands of years of God commanded tradition are now replaced by me.
Luke 22:24 – I can imagine, as they are trying to decide who was the betrayer, one would say “Well, it’s not me, I’m his closest friend.” Then another states, “You?! I’m the one he took to the mountain.” and so on. Jesus gently redirects them. I need His patience. I would have blown up, and too often do with my kids. Just like the 12, they need constant and often immediate redirection, and it’s frustrating. Even at this climactic hour, when they’re still oblivious and time is running out, Jesus patiently instructs.
Luke 22:31-34 – I wonder how that effected Peter. He denied that he would turn his back, but Jesus knew better of course. Even as he did deny him, he forgot the Lord’s prediction until that rooster crowed. Even in this dire prediction, Jesus gives hope and expresses faith in him. “But when you have turned again …” he says. Words to cling to. Jesus wasn’t’ concerned about the denial and the betrayal. He’d come back.

Luke 21:1-4 – There’s a lot of commentary on wealth in Jesus’ message in Luke. Maybe I’m just sensitive to it now, but it’s standing out to me.
Luke 21:9 – The end of this Jesus says “… but the end will not be at once.” Taking this as not only the prediction of the fall of Jerusalem form around 70 AD, but also as an end of times prophesy, what could that mean? It sort of negates one view that someday – POW – Jesus returns and it’s all over. Then again, he did say it’ll come like a thief in the night too …
Luke 21:13 – Jesus says “This will be your opportunity to bear witness.” Great! Wait, what will be our opportunity? Persecution, accusation, seizure, prison, hatred and death. Oh.
Luke 21:18-19 – But wait, there’s more:

But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.

They were told that they would be hated, seized, persecuted and some even killed, yet they stuck with him. At this time, I think it was simple They didn’t quite get it, but it couldn’t be what it sounded like after all he’s the savior! It’ll sort it out later. After the cross, however, it was all clear. It was exactly what it sounded like, yet they forged ahead anyway. Why? What could emboldened simple men to rush headlong into certain harm, likely death?
An empty tomb.
A risen and living, yet crucified Lord.
Not only did he promise them death, he had promised them life everlasting afterwards. At the time, they didn’t understand that either, but on Easter morning he showed them exactly what he meant.
Death is not final. It’s painful and traumatic, but not permanent.
And he proved his point with his very life. Seeing Jesus risen, not only finished his work of redemption, it was the final proof of what he had been saying all along. It now made sense and they could carry on, into an uncertain, but definitely challenging, Earthly fate because they knew that wasn’t their ultimate fate. That fate was absolutely certain, and proven.
For us here and now, it means the same thing. We can forge on, no matter what lies ahead, because what lies ahead is small compared to what lies beyond.
“By your endurance you will gain your lives.”
Luke 21:25-28 – I’m sure some see the results of global warming in these verses. Of course, I’m sure at any given point in history, some see the events of their time in this chapter. Nonetheless, should we be discouraged or fearful? No:

Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

Luke 20:1-8 – The implication in the challenge as to where Jesus’ authority came from was that the chief priests were the ones who granted such authority. They certainly didn’t, so what was he doing here? Jesus asking the question about John’s baptism was to answer their challenge with his own. If you think you should have the power to remove my authority to speak, show me that you’re worthy of it. They could not, so Jesus wouldn’t answer to them.
Luke 20:16 – I don’t get it – Why were the people shocked when Jesus said that the owner would destroy the wicked tenants who beat and mistreated 3 of his servants and killed his son? To me, that’s justice and I would have thought the crowd would have thought so too.
Luke 20:17-18 – I also don’t understand the connection of this OT scripture to the parable.

Luke 19:1-10 – As if to prove the point of the rich finding the kingdom, here’s the story of Zacchaeus. How did he find salvation? Through giving away half of what he had. Half. and beyond that, he promissed out of the remaining half to repay anyone he had defrauded. Was it in the act of giving away his wealth that he found redemptions? It’s not possible to say definitively from the text, but I’d say yes and no. The simple act of giving does not save. In other words, the rich who give to seek redemption will not find it. It’s the heart change that made the act not only possible but natural that brought salvation, I think.
Luke 19:30-34 – I love this story. Imagine going into town and finding a convertible along side the road. You hop in to go and bring Jesus into town. The owner comes how, and wonders what’s going on. “The Lord needs it”, you reply. Can you imagine them being fine witht hat explination? 😀
Luke 19:37-40 – This always made me wonder, in light of how in only a few days they would be calling for his death. It makes more sense to me in light of verse 11:

As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.

They had been following Jesus, amazed at what he had done, and they expected as he entered Jeruselem to usher in the kingdom. So as he entered, they couldn’t help but rejoice.

Luke 18:1 – The NIV here says “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.“, the ESV says “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” Give up or loose heart? At first glance, the difference seems subtle, but I find it profound. The NIV’s “never give up” implies effort, striving, work toward a goal while the ESV’s “not loose heart” implies hope, faith and confidence. I find the ESV’s translation closer to the message of Christ. He did not come to give us a goal to shoot for, rather he came to accomplish that goal and in that give us a reason to hope.
Too often I’ve been taught to “never give up” instead of to “not loose heart.”
This gives new light to the parable as well, and better gels with Jesus lament about finding faith when he returns. If even an unjust judge can be prompted to act, have faith for God cares about you and he will not leave your prayers unanswered.
Luke 18:24 – Living in the USA with my 4 bedroom house, my high-speed Internet, my patio and my toy car, this verse scares the willies out of me. I wonder, how many in the USA, confident of their standing with God, are actually far, far from Him? I wonder sometimes if we can actually see through our wealth and grasp how far we are from where he would have us be. This has to be one of the scariest verses in all the Bible for folks in the first world.
Luke 18:27 – In light of verse 24, this verse gives us hope. God is able. Able to teach us, to enlighten us and to help us see through the blindness that our wealth gives us. We cannot see
how far we are away, but he is able to bring us back.
Luke 18:31-34 – Knowing what happened to Jesus, it;s easy to see how plainly he told the twelve what was to happen (for the third time), yet they didn’t understand. How could they not? It’s easy, however, to have an idea in your head that is so entrenched, it blocks out even the most plain description of something else. Jesus was to be their savior from the Romans, him being beaten and killed didn’t fit with that, so Jesus must be speaking metaphorically. We’ll understand later, I bet is what they thought.
I call this tendency to believe what we already believe Intellectual Inertia, and it’s all over the gospels. People think they know what Jesus is about, or what he should be about, and then act on that misinformation. Sometimes, they just get redirected, sometimes they are rebuked (like Peter). In this chapter alone, the disciples assume that Jesus doesn’t want to be bothered by the children (Luke 18:15-17), the rich ruler thought he knew where he stood (Luke 18:18-23) and those at the front of the crowd assume Jesus doesn’t have time for a blind beggar (Luke 18:39)
Today, it leads folks who claim the name of Jesus to do a lot of stupid stuff in His name, because they assume they know what he wants them to do and can’t see his plain teachings to the contrary all over the Bible.

Luke 17:3 – Jesus here says “Pay attention to yourselves!” That makes me think that I need to watch out for my own sin, but immediately following he says “If your brother sins, …” Clearly the ‘yourselves’ was a collective one, not individual. We are our brother’s keeper. If we sin in another, we are obligated, frankly commanded, to confront it. Not something we like to hear. We like to think of ourselves as having a personal relationship with Jesus. Our actions are between us and him. There’s truth in that, but that’s not the whole truth. Jesus here says that our sin is our brother’s business.
It’s challenging because it puts our relationships on the line. Wouldn’t we rather just walk away, mulling over their failings in our mind? Or worse, gossiping about it with others. This command to rebuke sin is born of love and all the other teachings of Jesus about how to treat people on still apply. We cannot just say “Jesus said to rebuild you, so here it comes.” But we are not to simply let sin go by in each other unchallenged.
Luke 17:5 – The disciples ask Jesus (perhaps in response to his call to confront and forgive) for more faith. Jesus response indicates that they don’t need more faith, but perhaps a better understanding of what faith can do. It only takes a little to do a lot. Isn’t that proven over and over in Jesus’ ministry? Think about the woman who only needed to touch his clothing and was healed, or the man who didn’t even need Jesus to come to his home for his servant to be healed, or the thief on the cross who only needed to humbly acknowledge who Jesus was. All these did was believe that Jesus was who he said he was, and they received huge changes in their lives.
Luke 17:22-37 – This passage brings to mind a familiar image of the rapture. Life going on as normal, the suddenly Jesus comes with a blinding flash. Don’t go back for your stuff! Some will be taken, some will be left behind. I have to wonder if we really understand it at all. I’m sure there are hundreds of interpretations and explanations, but somehow I suspect they all miss the mark. What’s the point? Be ready. Live for God, all your days, as if he were around the next corner or in the next room listening. Because we don’t know. Whether by death or the return of the savior, we don’t know when it will be our time. We ought to be ready to meet him now, rather than looking for signs that he’s near.
But the passage ends with one of those weird Jesus twists that really make me think I don’t get it. After all of this talk of being ready and that some will be taken, the disciples ask “Where, Lord?” Why did they ask ‘where’? All this talk about ‘when’ and they ask ‘where’. It doesn’t follow, it seems disconnected somehow so I wonder what I’m missing. Jesus’ response is even more odd:

“Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

Mmm-kay, that clears things right up then. Anyone have any insight on this?