Luke Chapter 18

Luke Chapter 18

JC told them… another… parable! Men ought to always pray but don’t faint!  I think that is faint more of a shy away.  There was a city judge, who didn’t fear God or hold men in high regard.  A widow came to him asking him to avenge her of her adversary.  The judge wouldn’t do it but eventually the widow wore him down with her requests.  This unjust Judge told her; shouldn’t God take care of his people, who cry day and night to him?

I tell you he will avenge them quickly.  When the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?

He spoke a parable, to some people with thought they were righteous but despised others.  Two men went to the temple to pray one was a Pharisee and the other was a publican.   The Pharisee prayed to God thank you, I’m not like other men, not the extortionists, unjust, adulterers or even like this publican.  I fast twice a week, and I tithe. 

So the publican standing far off wouldn’t even ift his eyes up to heaven.  He beat his breast and said, God be merciful to this sinner! 

I’m telling you the publican was more justified, because if you brag about yourseif you’ll be brought down, and if you humble yourself you will be exalted. 

Some people would bring their babies for JC to touch but his disciples didn’t love this practice.   JC told them to put up with the little kids that come to him, such is the kingdom of God.  Really I’m telling you if you don’t receive God like a child you won’t enter the kingdom of God. 

A certain ruler asked JC, what should I do to earn eternal life?  Oh man, I feel like we’ve covered this before.  JC answers, Would you call me good?  No one is good except God.  You know the commandments, don’t commit adultery, don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t lie, and honor your parents.  The certain ruler tells him he’s done those things since he was a kid.  JC tells him he lacks one thing.  He should sell all of his stuff and the money to the poor and follow him.  Then he will have treasure in heaven.   That made him sad because he was really rich.  JC saw that he was sad and told him, it’s hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of heaven.  It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

The other folks listening asked who can be saved.  JC tells them that things that are impossible for men, are possible for God.  Peter mentions that they have left everything behind to follow him.

JC tells them truly, there is no man who left his house, parents, brethren, wife, or children for the kingdom of God’s sake, who will not receive even more in the world to come, of life everlasting.  Which as we all know isn’t always the best deal.   I wouldn’t give up my one super awesome sister just to get five other sisters. 

 Looked at his chosen dozen and told them we are off to Jerusalem, and all the prophecies are about the Son of man will be accomplished.  And I like that he says accomplished rather than fulfilled.  JC seems to go about accomplishing prophecies rather than fulfilling them.  For he will be delivered to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and treated spitefully and spit on, and they will scourge him and put him to death and on the third day he will rise again.  

Of course the they didn’t understand any of this, mostly because no one told them any of this. 

When they came to Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging. He heard the ruckus of everyone passing, and asked about what was going on.   They told him Jesus of Nazareth passed by.  He cried Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!  The folks scolded him but he just kept crying for the Son of David to have mercy on him. 

JC commands them to bring him over and asked what he should do for the man.  The blind man asked to return his sight.  JC does it and tells him his faith has saved him.  He immediately gets his sight back and started glorifying god and every one praised God.  Hurray!