The teachings of Philip G. Roets & Lois Roets
The Journey to Jerusalem, the Passion, and the Resurrection
Commentary by Philip G. Roets STL, SSL
Luke followed the time structure of Mark and Matthew. He presented only one trip to Jerusalem in the public ministry of Jesus. Jesus would arrive in Jerusalem, work there for a while, and then would follow the condemnation, suffering and death. John seemed to indicate that this public ministry lasted two or three years.
The disciples stopped at a Samaritan village to make preparations for Jesus to stop there. The townspeople would not accept him because he was on his way to Jerusalem. James and John immediately offered to call down fire from heaven to burn the town to a cinder. Jesus told them to hush up and they set out for another village.
Luke put together the stories of three different men who wanted to follow Jesus and work with him. None of them was willing to give up everything. The first was willing to go along until he heard that they were totally dependent on the charity of those for whom they work. There was no money in the work. The second was ready to come as soon as he had finished burying his dad. The third would come but he had to bid farewell to his family first.
Jesus' answer to all of them was the same. Once you put your hand to the plow, you can't look back. This work demanded total giving.
Jesus intended to blanket all of Israel. He picked out 72 disciples and sent them in pairs to get the people ready for his coming. Here is a list of the demands of the job and the traits of the workers.
1) The harvest is rich and the laborers are few so they have to ask the Lord of the Harvest to send more laborers. 2) The disciples are going like lambs among wolves. 3) They are to take nothing extra for the trip. They are to stop and talk with no one along the way. 4) When you enter a house, offer the people "Peace." 5) Stay in that house and be content with the food, drink and lodging put before you. The laborer deserves his hire but he should not waste time looking for the best. 6) Offer everything you have to the people who receive you. If a town does not accept your presence, leave that town and shake its dust off your shoes. When the Kingdom of God arrives, it will be worse for that town than for Sodom. 7) The people who listen to you, listen to me. The people who reject you, reject me.
The 72 disciples finished their mission and came back all aglow. They had great success. Even the "demons" listened to them when they invoked his name. They shared in the powers of Jesus.
The Good Samaritan
As Jesus listened to the report he was filled with the Holy Spirit. This is the Spirit that filled the father of all the prophets, Elijah.
The point that struck Jesus most forcibly was the caliber of his helpers. They were not the so-called educated and clever. They were the ordinary people of the times who had accepted the Good News that Jesus had brought. They went out and spread the news and prepared for him.
Jesus was really overcome by the fact that he was effecting what all the prophets and kings had been striving for. The Kingdom of God was truly being established by him and his disciples.
Then a lawyer came front and center and tried to make Jesus look bad. "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus knew what he was trying to do. He turned the tables right back on him. "You can read," he said. "What is written in the Torah?"
The lawyer answered: "You must love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole soul, your whole strength and with all your mind. You must love your neighbor as yourself."
"That's the right answer," said Jesus. "Do this and you will live."
The lawyer didn't like the way this incident had ended. So he asked another question. "Who is my neighbor?"
Jesus told one of his most quoted stories. It was a story called the "Good Samaritan." A certain man was on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell in with a band of robbers. They took everything he had, beat him up, and left him half-dead alongside the road.
A priest came along. He saw the man, crossed over to the other side and kept going. A Levite came along. He, too, saw the man, crossed over and kept going. Then along came a Samaritan who was on a business trip. He saw the man and felt sorry for him. He bandaged his wounds, using his own oil and wine for the job. He put the man on his donkey and took him to the nearest inn. He left him there and gave the innkeeper two denarii (two days' wages) to take care of the man. He said he would be back and if there was any further charge, he would take care of it.
"Now," said Jesus, "who was friend to him who fell among the robbers?" The lawyer said, "The one who took pity on him." Jesus said, "Go and do likewise!"
Some social notes must be added here. The man who helped was a Samaritan. The man who was wounded was a Jew. Samaritans were absolutely hated by the Jews. If the Jew had been conscious he could very well have demanded the Samaritan's death for daring to touch him. The Priest was a Jew. The Levite was a Jew. They were men who were finishing their stay at the Temple and going home. They actually looked right at their fellow Jew, turned and walked away.
The story has power and where these ideals are lived, the society is successful, peaceful, and growing. This is the ideal of love as Christ presented it to us.
This is a short human interest story that packs a wallop. It can be easily misconstrued and the wrong conclusions drawn.
Two women, Martha and Mary, lived in a village. They were the sisters of Lazarus as we know from other incidents. However that fact is unimportant here. Martha was a marvelous housekeeper. When anyone came to visit, she felt obliged to be doing something for their comfort — at all times. Mary preferred to sit and visit.
In this case, Martha was scrambling to make Jesus' visit pleasant and Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus visiting with him. Finally, Martha stopped in front of Jesus and said, "Mary is leaving all the work to me. Tell her to give me a hand." Jesus smiled and said, "Martha, Martha, you worry and are so busy about everything and yet so little is needed. Mary has chosen the better part and it shall not be taken from her."
Jesus certainly appreciated the concern of Martha for his comfort. He wanted to stress that he was there on a visit. Mary was visiting, and therefore, she was doing exactly what she was supposed to.
This is not a condemnation of those who are busy and who keep the home rolling smoothly. However, they are reminded there is more to life than wearing yourself to a frazzle to get all the little details done. Enjoy people and life and do what is necessary to make things comfortable.
Jesus was praying and one of the twelve asked him to teach them how to pray as John Baptist had taught his followers. Jesus said, "When you pray, pray thus: Father, Holy be thy name, Your Kingdom come, Give us, each day, our daily bread, Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive all who are indebted to us, And lead us not into the test."
The format is a bit different from that of Matthew, but all the essential elements are here. It is worthy of note that this is not presented as a prayer to be said. Rather it is a summary of the qualities of all prayer. It shows the kind of life a person must live in order to be able to approach God in prayer of any kind.
The first and most important quality of prayer, as Jesus saw it, was persistence. He told a story. A person came to the door of a friend in the middle of the night. The first man was a visitor from a long trip and he needed food. Jesus said the man on the inside was apt to be irritated but he would give the man what he asked. His reason may not be friendship but he certainly knew that his whole family would be awakened by the noise if he did not get up immediately and answer the request. Jesus drew from this that all prayer to God needed this kind of persistence.
Secondly, he said no human father was going to give his son something that was harmful, just to get rid of him. He would give the child something that was good for him. Then how much more would the heavenly Father answer our prayers in a way that was good for us.
Luke stressed that the best gift of the Father is the "Holy Spirit." Again I think it is very important to keep in mind that this refers to a mental attitude that is necessary to establish the Christian community. All the Gospels talk about this Holy Spirit but for Luke it is a central theme. It is the spirit of Elijah brought to fullness in Jesus and carried on by his followers. It is the spirit of zeal, cooperation, fervor, kindness, generosity and all that these entail.
This "holy spirit" also goes back farther. In the creation of Adam, we are told that Yahweh had a lump of clay. He breathed into it the "living breath" and that clay became a living being, the first man. Hence breath is the symbol of the origin of man and the creative power of Yahweh.
Jesus was the "second Adam." He was to restore all that was lost by the first Adam and his rebellion. So he gave us the "holy breath" to become a member of the "second Adam" and his family.
The prince of demons or devils was known as Beelzebul or Beelzebub. The "Beel" is a form of "Baal" meaning lord or prince. "Zebul" means the city dump and "Zebub" means the flies that are found in the city dump. So there is no doubt the use of this name in this incident was intended to be ridicule and insult.
This is the story of a man who was mute. When the devil was cast out, the mute man could speak. Some of the people admired Jesus for the cure that he had effected and others sneered at him. They said he was able to cast out these demons or devils because he received power from Beelzebul, the prince of demons.
Jesus took them up immediately on this point. He said that a "house divided against itself cannot stand." If he was doing his work by the prince of demons, the prince of demons was working against himself.
He carried his remarks farther. If he was doing his work by the power of the demons, by whom did their experts do their works? "But," said Jesus, "if I am doing my work by the power of God, then the Kingship of God is present among you." Jesus drew the conclusion that he and his power were superior to the power of Satan.
Luke 11:23–28
Jesus said there was no possibility of standing on the fence with regard to him. Either they accepted his teaching and lived by it or they were opposed to his teaching and worked against him.
When an unclean spirit is driven out of a person, that spirit roams the earth looking for a place to light. He finds none, so he decides to go back to his previous dwelling. When he gets there, he finds the person is healed and strong. So the demon gets seven other demons worse than himself and they come back and infest the man. The second condition of the person is worse than the first.
As Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd praised Mary, the mother of Jesus. Jesus accepted the praise but he added, "More blessed still is the person who hears the word of God and lives by it!" This, of course, is an even better description of Mary.
Luke 11:29–36
Jesus recalled a couple of heroes from the Old Testament: Jonah and Solomon. Jonah went to the people of Niniveh. This in itself was unusual since they were not members of the chosen people. He preached to them and they listened and converted from their evil ways. Solomon was so well known for his wisdom that the Queen of Sheba came to see him on a trade mission. What she saw so amazed her that she said he was greater even than the reports. (1 K. 10:1-10)
Jesus used these men and the incidents to point out that he was even greater than they, and yet he was not being accepted.
Why does a person light a lamp? Jesus said no one was so stupid as to light a lamp and then put it in a hidden place or under a tub or basket. You light the lamp and put it on the lamp stand so that everyone can see.
Jesus compared this lamp to the eye of the body. The purpose of the eye was to look around and come into contact with things and people visually. If the eye was working well, the whole person benefited. If the eye was dark or blinded, the whole person suffered. The blindness that Jesus was discussing in this passage was the deliberate refusal to let the teachings into your life, or the distortion of these teachings according to prejudices and preconceived ideas. The conclusion was very strong: Listen, with an open mind and heart, to everything that was said and accept it willingly and live by it generously.
This is one of the strongest attacks that Jesus made in his public life. He is so often presented as the meek and mild person who got along with everyone. He is shown with a benign smile for everyone. Hence we forget how tough Jesus really was toward willful opposition.
In this case, the opposition was coming from the Pharisees and the lawyers. The Scribes were included because they worked closely with the Pharisees. Jesus used the word, "Woe," to start each of his condemnations. This word is so powerful and meaningful that it would not appear in modern literature if fully understood.
The incident that started this condemnation was that Jesus sat down to eat without first washing. When the guest arrived he was expected to be clean. However there would be the dust of travel, especially on his feet. The host was expected, according to the rules of social etiquette, to meet the guest and wash his feet. To refuse this social action was considered a deliberate insult to the guest and an "action-way" of saying, "you are here, but you are not welcome."
This Pharisee was not smart enough to let well-enough alone. He drew attention to the fact that Jesus was at table without washing. Jesus brought the point out into the open. He said the Pharisees were so stupid that they washed the outside of the cup or dish and left the inner part dirty from previous meals.
Woe 1: They keep every tiny ritual prescription but ignore justice and love. Woe 2: They look for all the empty signs of honor on the streets and in the synagogues. Woe 3: They are unmarked tombs. People stumble against them and are ritually unclean. Woe 4: They load unbearable burdens on the shoulders of others but do not lift a finger to carry the burdens themselves. Woe 5: They build monuments to their ancestors whose lives were filled with crime. Woe 6: They take away the key of knowledge and are too stupid to use the key for their own betterment.
Conclusion: The Pharisees and lawyers were furious and tried to trap Jesus with all kinds of tricky questions.
Jesus stressed that the teachings and ideas of the Pharisees were like a leaven. If you accepted them, they began to grow from the inside and gradually poisoned the whole being. Everything that was said would ultimately be proclaimed from the rooftops. Everything would be brought out into the open.
Don't be afraid of the people who can do you physical harm. Be afraid of the people who can make you an outcast in Gehenna. God takes care of even the little sparrows. He will certainly take care of you.
Followers of Jesus are expected to show their allegiance to him and his teaching. If people fail against Jesus, they will be forgiven. But if they fail against the Holy Spirit, there is no forgiveness.
This Holy Spirit (holy breath) is the breath of the new creation. In the Genesis story of creation, God fashioned the lump of clay and then "breathed into it the breath of life and this lump became a living being."
Jesus was the second Adam. He was picking up the pieces of the first story and brought them to fulfillment. His work would continue through the "Holy Breath" or the "new creation."
This Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of Elijah — the spirit of zeal and love, fulfilled in Jesus and shared with his all followers. This Holy Spirit is the source of strength, courage and accomplishment in the midst of all difficulties. If you fail against this Holy Spirit, there is no place to turn for help. When you are arrested and dragged before the tribunals, the Holy Spirit, Spirit of "koinonia" — sharing — will show you exactly what to say.
Luke 12:13–34
A man in the crowd wanted Jesus to decide on a money disagreement he had with his brother. Jesus said that he did not come to take care of such trivial problems. Then he drew a general application in a parable.
A man had harvests so large he had no room for storage. So he tore down his barns and silos and granaries and built bigger ones. Finally, his crops were all stored away. Then he relaxed to have a good time. Jesus said: "You fool! Tonight, you will die and then who gets all the things you slaved for? If you want to store treasure, do it with God where it is always safe and waiting for you."
Why worry? What can you accomplish by worrying and fretting? Look at the crows. They neither sow nor reap. They have no storehouses or barns. Yet God sees to it that they have plenty to eat. Look at the flowers. Is anything more beautiful than one of these? Yet they do not toil or spin and they are more beautiful than Solomon in all his splendor. Set your sights on the Kingship of the Father and all else will be added. The Kingship of the Father is at your disposal.
Lay up treasure that will last. For where your treasure is, there is the center of your life also.
Luke 12:35–63
This story or parable contains some outstanding truths. First of all, it stresses the fact that death or the end of this life always appears to be sudden. Therefore we should always be ready to give an account of our stewardship at a moment's notice.
This story also stresses how much each person will have to answer for. The basic principle is: you will have to answer according to the talents or gifts you have received. This means that each person has responsibility according to what he/she has received by way of talent, trait, or gift.
If people say, "This person will really be missed!" then his/her life was probably a success. These people were in the midst of life doing their share in a responsible fashion. If your presence will not even be missed, you should take a check to make sure the reason is not because you have contributed nothing.
Jesus saw his life and work as a fire that had to be kindled in each person until the whole world was ablaze with his work. He also saw it as a "baptism," that is, something in which he was totally immersed. He knew it would be difficult but he was burning up with eagerness to get it fulfilled. The word used in Greek is "tetelestai" which means "finish," in the sense of "bringing something to complete fulness."
Jesus made an unusual statement here. "I did not come to bring peace on the earth, but division!" These words seem almost to contradict the whole message of the Gospel. However, if we read it carefully, we shall see it is just a practical statement of reality.
As the ideas and demands of Jesus are spread around the earth, family after family will hear them. Some members in the family will embrace the truths and the duties that follow. Other members will see the whole plan as idiotic or idealistic or interfering with their plans for life. Hence there will be division within the family itself.
Jesus said this division was not surprising. In fact, he said, it was necessary if we were to keep the essential quality of freedom in this whole picture. People are all free to choose or reject the plan of Jesus. The outcome of their lives depends on this choice.
He stressed one particular custom. As soon as there was a dispute, they did not try to settle it among themselves. Instead, they ran to a lawyer and the court. Lawsuits were as common as they are today. Jesus said this had to stop. People had to learn to settle their differences among themselves. This was a very important part of the sharing he was here to establish.
Luke 13:1–17
A group of Galileans came to Jesus to tell him about some outrageous conduct of Pilate. Pilate was the Roman Procurator of the time. He hated the job in Palestine and hated Jewish people. He seemed to take special delight in irritating them and especially in mistreating them physically.
Jesus told the Galileans not to get carried away with pointing the finger of blame. The lesson they should draw from all of this was to repent of their own failures and lead lives that were worthy of God. This would not stop the persecution, but it would give them a clear conscience with God.
A man had a fig tree planted in his orchard. For three years, he had looked for fruit. The tree had borne none. He told the gardener to cut it down because it was wasting space. The worker asked for one more year and, if there was no fruit, he would cut it down. There was no explicit moral drawn from the story. However, in the setting, Luke seemed to infer, either bear fruit or be cut down and cast out.
This woman had been crippled for 18 years. She could not even lift her head up. Jesus saw her, placed his hands on her, and cured her. She immediately started to praise God.
The leader of the synagogue was outraged. This was the Sabbath. There were six other days in the week when she could have been healed. Why didn't she come and get her cure on one of those days?
Jesus was angry: "Hypocrites!" He said, "Your donkey or your ox is tied to the manger. It needs water. Do you untie it and bring it to water on the Sabbath?" Of course, they did. Yet, this woman was a daughter of Abraham and she was not to be cured on the Sabbath. The adversaries had no answer and the people rejoiced.
Luke 13:18–33
There are two parables in a succinct form. The morals are not explicitly stated. Luke seemed to have presupposed that the readers or listeners could draw their own conclusions.
The comparison to the mustard seed stressed that the Kingship of God is to be established in the smallest of actions or people. The comparison to the leaven or yeast brings out that the Kingship of God works from the inside out. It is not an external coat but internal being.
No one is going to fall into the Kingdom of God. Even after climbing the narrow path to the door, the door itself is narrow and you have to go through one at a time. You can't lay any claim to favoritism because you were of a certain people, a certain place, or a certain family. The whole of salvation will depend entirely on the life you have lived and whether you have earned entry into eternal happiness.
Some of the Pharisees brought a message to Jesus that he should leave immediately because Herod was seeking to kill him. Jesus sent back a clear message. "Tell that 'fox' to crawl into his hole. I have a certain amount of work I have to do. I'll do that and then he can put me to death. It is not right for a prophet to die outside of Jerusalem."
Luke 13:34–14:24
Jerusalem was the queen city of the kingdom of Yahweh. The leaders felt that it had some kind of divine privilege because it was Jerusalem. Jesus left no doubt about where he stood on the topic. Jerusalem had murdered prophets and missionaries all through its existence. The time was coming when the city would be totally demolished. Actually, it was to happen only a few years later, in 68-70 A.D.
Jesus said, "I'll be back in my triumphal procession." He was referring to the triumphal entrance a week before he died.
Jesus was at the house of a leading Pharisee for dinner on the Sabbath. A man with dropsy was in front of him. They were waiting to see whether he would cure the man. Such an action on the Sabbath was illegal according to their interpretation. Jesus faced them openly. "Is it against the law to cure a man on the Sabbath?" They kept total silence so they could not be blamed. Then Jesus asked, "Which of you, if his son or his ox falls into a well on the Sabbath, would not pull him out immediately?" They gave no answer because no matter what they said they would be trapped.
Jesus gave them a point of etiquette first. When they are invited to a wedding banquet, don't take the best seats at table. Otherwise, the host will have to tell you, "Move down, sir, and make room for this person." Then, in embarrassment, you will go to the lowest place. Rather, when you go to a banquet, take the lowest place and the host will come and say to you, "Friend, move up higher," and you will be honored by all present.
When you invite guests to your house, don't invite only those who can invite you back. Look around and find the poor, the crippled, the lame, and all those who could expect no invitation. Invite them, knowing they cannot invite you back. You will be repaid in the resurrection.
A certain man had a big banquet planned. He had sent out invitations and they were all accepted. When the banquet was ready, he sent the servants out to bring the guests. They all made excuses for not coming. The servants told the master and he was furious. The banquet was ready. The guests did not come. He sent the servants out into the streets to bring in all the people they could find. But not one of those who was first invited would get into the banquet.
Luke 14:25–35
Jesus stressed that following him was going to be a way of the cross. This meant it would be tough for many reasons. The main reason for those first Christians was isolation from their families. So often one person would become a convert and the rest of the family would disown him/her and throw the person out.
Following the ideas and ideals of Jesus is a choice. It must be a mature choice. No one can say it was foisted on him/her. The choice must be made with eyes wide open and with full realization of the burdens and responsibilities.
Salt is a valuable seasoning. If salt loses its power to season, it is good for nothing. There is nothing that will restore its seasoning. It cannot be thrown into the ground or a compost heap. It can only be tossed on a path or a road to be walked on.
The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, the Lost Son
These stories are referred to as the "Lost Sheep," the "Lost Coin," and the "Lost Son." They have been topics of sermons for centuries and subjects of art for even longer times. The stories were told to emphasize a point. Jesus was accused of welcoming sinners and eating with them. No Jewish teacher would dare even think of such conduct. Jesus told the stories to show that his selection was deliberate and in perfect harmony with the action of God.
These stories can be given two titles according to the point of emphasis. They could be called: "Where did that sheep go?" "Lady Loses Social Security Check!" "I Wanna Go Home!" These titles stress the problem in each of the stories.
We can also stress the successful outcome and give different titles. "Lost Sheep Returned to Flock and Fold!" "Social Security Check Found and Lady Happy!" "Wayward Boy Home in Father's Arms!"
The stories all stress the same idea: happiness and joy at finding something or someone that was lost. They are all extremely appropriate to our society today. When driving through the farm country, we see many a herd of cattle or sheep or pens full of hogs. On any given day if one of the animals is lost or stolen, this would be a huge loss to the farmer or owner.
Social Security Checks arrive in the mail at the same time each month. On those days, people are flocking to the Post Offices or hovering near their doors to make sure they get the check immediately. For many people, this Social Security check is the difference between comfortable living or hunger and need.
Runaway young people are one of the serious problems of our society. These teenagers just pick up and go. They are sure they can make it on their own. Most of them have not finished High School and frequently have no training for any job. They hesitate to approach authorities for help because they will be sent home again. They drift into some group and easily fall victim to alcohol, drugs, or crime. Some few will hit bottom and finally decide to go home.
When they come back, some of them receive the glad hand of the story in the Gospel. Others find the same distasteful situation from which they ran in the first place.
The stories are still very appropriate but they have to be given a modern ring to see the necessity of the lessons they teach.
Luke 16:1–31
This story is given many titles. It has many different conclusions or morals in Luke. Rather than tell the story again and again, the writers merely told the story once, and then attached five different endings.
The story is about a foreman or manager who was dishonest and wasteful. His boss heard the accusations so he called the man in for an accounting, then told him to get the books in order because he was being fired.
The manager left the room and began to ponder. What was he going to do for a job? He certainly would get no good references from this present boss. He didn't feel strong enough to take any hard labor job. He was ashamed to go on the streets and beg. Then he thought of a scam that would be sure-fire security when he was fired.
He reviewed the accounts of people who owed his boss money. He took each bill and cut a sizeable amount off the bill. Then, when he was put out on the street, he was sure he could expect help from these people.
Now come the varied conclusions: 1) The boss praised the cleverness of the crooked manager. He did not consider the action praiseworthy, but he said that these crooks work harder to commit their crimes than good people do to follow the law. 2) The second conclusion sounds like a bit of irony or sarcasm. He told people to use money so that when they no longer had it, they would be welcomed into the eternal dwellings. Money did not last and neither did the favors it could buy. 3) If you want to be trusted, you have to earn it. If you can't be trusted in little things, how will anyone trust you in the big things? If you can't be trusted with money, who will trust you with anything that is truly valuable? If you can't be trusted with someone else's property, how will you be trusted with your own? 4) You cannot serve two masters: in this case, you cannot serve God and money. You can use money in the service of God but you can't use God in the service of money. 5) Then Jesus hurled an application directly into the faces of the Pharisees. They laughed when they heard Jesus talking about money because their whole lives were bound up with skimming off the profits for their pockets. Jesus told them that some people judge them by their external deportment, sham piety and holiness. God looked at their hearts: they could not fool Him. They were detestable in the eyes of God.
One particular application was about divorce. Divorces were allowed at the time for any tiniest reason. Jesus said, the marriage bond is sacred and the person who breaks that bond is guilty of adultery. You have to remember that this was not the final word on this topic in the early Christian community. Matthew made the same statement with one exception. (cf. Mt. 5:32; 19:9)
This is another of the great stories of Jesus. A certain very rich man wined and dined himself and his friends all through his life on earth. He died and went to Hades or Sheol. There was also a poor, outcast beggar who lay at the gates of this rich man hoping to get the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. He died and went to the Bosom of Abraham.
The rich man was languishing in Hades and saw Abraham far off in the distance. He saw the poor man, Lazarus, enjoying himself in the company of Abraham. The rich man cried out to Abraham for help. He even asked that Lazarus dip his finger in water and just bring him a drop of water. The plea did not work, and finally he asked that Lazarus be sent back to his five brothers still alive on earth. He was to warn them so that they would not end up in this place.
Abraham's answer was: "They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them." "They do not listen," said the rich man, "but if someone returns from the dead they will listen." The conclusion is succinct and powerful: "If they won't listen to Moses or the prophets, they will not listen even if someone comes back from the dead."
This is a truth that has to be revived in our world, today. People, young and old, waste their lives in frivolous and sinful living. People wonder if there is not some startling, astounding or miraculous way they could be reached. The answer is "no." They have the wisdom of the ages at their disposal. The number and kinds of communication media today are almost unbelievable. If they do not want to listen and change their ways now, they will not listen to anything else.
The basic principle is: no one can enter into the mind and will of any person unless he/she lets them in. People have to convince themselves that they need the help of others. They have to listen and be convinced. They have to turn convictions into real living, each day. They have to say, "AMEN!" — honestly!
Scandal, Forgiveness, Faith, Service, Gratitude, the Kingdom
Scandal means a stumbling block that causes a person to trip as he/she walks along. At times people become a source of scandal or stumbling to other people. This is too bad! It cannot be stopped as long as people are free. However, the one who is the source of scandal is in real trouble. Jesus suggested that the scandal-giver tie a huge millstone around his neck and then be thrown into the middle of the sea. He would plummet straight to the bottom, but this judgment would be easier for him than the punishment for scandal.
If someone does a wrong against you, there is nothing wrong in pointing this out to the perpetrator of the evil. However, after you have told him about the harm he has done to you, forgive him if he is sorry. How often do you forgive him? You forgive a person as often as he is sincerely sorry.
The apostles could see immediately that they needed a deeper faith. Remember what Biblical faith means. The word is the Hebrew "Amen" and it contains four steps or stages: UNDERSTANDING — CONVICTION — COMMITMENT — ACTION. All four steps are necessary before a person can say he/she has faith. The word "Amen" is a statement of all four of these stages. This is the reason the response "Amen" is used over and over again in the liturgy. Jesus said this kind of faith is so powerful that even the smallest act of faith, if sincere, can do wonders.
Jesus stressed the idea that there must be a true sense of humility in all the work that we do. No matter how important the work or essential the service, you must always remember that someone else can do the same. You are not essential to the plan.
In other words, a follower of Christ must realize that he/she is important enough to be loved and saved by Jesus and yet, at the same time, he/she is no more important than anyone else in the community. The importance of this notion is not quite as apparent in our society as it was at that time or as it is in some societies today. In a society where there are slaves or castes or classes, there is danger of looking down on or snubbing some people as beneath you. This is intolerable for a truly Christian community.
Jesus was traveling on the border between Samaria and Galilee. A group of ten lepers approached him. They begged that he help them. Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests. On the way, their leprosy was removed from them. Nine of them kept right on going and did not even come back to thank Jesus. One of the cured men came back, praising God and thanking Jesus loudly.
Jesus looked at the man. His question was spontaneous. "Were not ten made clean? Where are the other nine?" This man was a Samaritan. If he had not returned, no one would have been surprised. Jesus commended him and sent him on his way.
The phrase that is used here is a puzzler: "entos hymon." The question is whether it means that the Kingship of God is within each person individually — an internal quality which motivates all actions. Or does it mean that the Kingship of God is a trait that permeates the whole group and is manifested by their "koinonia" or sharing? Both aspects of the answer are possible and make good sense.
The point that Jesus made here was that the Kingship of God is not something that can be pinned down to a particular spot. It is not something that can be contained in a given area. In some sense, this Kingship is as big as God Himself. We are dealing with a fact that is beyond total human comprehension. It is a truth which will grow and grow and always be out in front to attract the believer to follow.
Luke 18:1–30
This judge was an unscrupulous man who did as he pleased. He cared not for the laws of God or the feelings of man. Then this widow came along and demanded justice against her enemy. The judge tried to put her off but she stayed before him. Finally, he said to himself, "I am not afraid of God or man but this woman will pester me to death. I'll give her an answer just to get rid of her and get some peace."
Jesus said that God is going to see justice done. At that time the persecution of the Christians was beginning to run full force. It looked as though the faithful Christians were treated the worst. Jesus said that the Father would see to it that justice was done — provided the faith was persistent. Luke did not allow the Christians to think that salvation was some kind of magic formula. It is a way of life in the midst of harsh reality.
This is another story told by Jesus. A certain Pharisee and a tax collector went up to the Temple to pray. The Pharisee stood out in the open for all to see and hear. He prayed aloud and explained his good qualities. He stressed that he was not greedy, unjust, and adulterous like the rest of mankind. Especially, he was better than the despised tax collector who was considered unjust and unfair by everyone. The Pharisee continued: I fast twice a week and pay tithes on all that I get.
Meanwhile the tax collector did not even dare to look up to the heavens. He bowed his head and said humbly, "Be merciful to me, O God, a sinner!"
Jesus concluded: This tax collector went home justified in the eyes of God. Everyone who puffed himself up would be humbled and he who humbled himself will be lifted up. The key point is to be your real self and to grow from that height.
In the society of the time of Jesus, children were not to be seen or heard. Public life was a place for adults, especially adult men. Now the people were bringing their children to Jesus and urging him to lay his hands on them in blessing.
The disciples saw this as a nuisance and tried to fend the parents and children off to the side. Jesus saw their actions and said to all: "Allow the little children to come to me. Don't stop them. The Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Anyone who does not accept the Kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it."
Jesus was stressing the dispositions that were necessary to establish the Kingship of God in this life. There had to be the eagerness, the dedication, the cheerfulness, the effort of little children. In short, all adults should study children to see what traits should be present in their lives if they intend to establish the Kingship of God on earth.
Is material wealth good or bad? In the Christian ideal, it is neither. Wealth is what you make it. Material wealth cannot be the sole goal of your life. Living in utter poverty is not necessarily good. Everyone should strive for the material things that are necessary to live life in the society of their times. But this pursuit of wealth must never interfere with their pursuit of God.
The danger of too much wealth is that these possessions can easily become the sole pursuit of life. Jesus compared it to a camel trying to go through the eye of a needle. The image was one of utter impossibility. This was exactly what Jesus wanted to teach. Attachment to wealth makes salvation almost impossible.
The attitude that is stressed is the proper use of all material things. They are means to live in this world and a help toward sharing with each other. However, they must never become the goal of life. This danger must be carefully avoided at all times because it can creep up on a person so easily.
Luke 18:31–19:27
This is the third time Jesus had talked about his suffering and death. Each time, he got more specific and the time for death got closer. This did not take special insight. He knew what he was teaching. He knew how opposed his ideas were to the teachings of the leaders of the Jews. He knew how fickle was the dedication of the crowds to him. So he knew he would be taken. He would be handed over to the Romans. He knew from visual experience what this entailed.
As they neared Jericho, a blind man sat by the side of the road begging. He heard the crowd and asked what was happening. He was told. The blind man cried out to Jesus for help. The people told him to be quiet so they can hear Jesus. Jesus had the man brought to him. He cured his blindness.
Several characteristics are given to make Zacchaeus a real man for the readers. He was a senior among tax collectors and a very wealthy man. Keep in mind the Roman system. They hired tax collectors from the conquered people. They assigned tax districts and amounts to be collected. They did not care how much the person collected or how he got the job done, as long as he turned in his quota to Rome regularly. Naturally, tax-collectors were not liked by their people and were considered by the leaders as public sinners.
Secondly, Zacchaeus was a short man and could not see over the crowd. So he went ahead and climbed a sycamore tree. Jesus came with the crowd and stopped under the tree. He called to Zacchaeus. "Come down from the tree. I am going to stay in your house, today."
Zacchaeus was elated, and the leaders of the Jews were more convinced than ever that Jesus was a fake. Zacchaeus let his joy take over and become ideal generosity. He promised half of his property to the poor and anyone whom he had cheated would get four times the amount in return. Jesus looked around and said: "Today, salvation has come to this house because the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost."
This is another story told by Jesus. A certain Jew was going to a foreign country to be appointed king. Many of the people did not like him and tried to block this appointment. However he became king.
Before he left, he gave ten of his servants each a pound of money. When he returned he asked for an accounting. The first came in and said: "Sir, your one pound has made ten." The king was pleased and said, "Since you have been faithful in a small thing, you shall be given something big. You shall be the governor of ten cities." Another servant had made five pounds profit and he in turn, was put in charge of five cities. Finally came one servant, who had the initial one pound. He said he was afraid of the king because he was such an exacting man. He was afraid he might lose it so he wrapped the one pound and hid it. He offered the same pound to the king. The king was angry. He had them take the one pound away and throw the man out. Then he gave the one pound to the man who already had ten.
The conclusion is important: "To him that has, more will be given. To him that has not, even that which he seems to have, will be taken away." The application is important. Jesus was talking about the abilities that each person has received. You will not be judged on what you received, but on what you did with what you received. Talents and abilities are gifts that are to be used. If they are neglected or lost, you will have nothing.
Triumphal Entry, Temple, Authority, Tribute to Caesar, the Widow's Offering
Jesus was going into Jerusalem for his last visit. He was near Bethphage and Bethany. He sent the apostles in to borrow a colt. Apparently, Jesus knew the owner and he had agreed to let him borrow it. Jesus mounted the colt and the procession started. The people were convinced that Jesus was about to establish his kingdom in a physical sense and they began to shout their jubilation.
The song that Luke recorded was identically the same in content as the song of the angels at the birth of Jesus. Jesus was coming to establish peace on earth and manifest the glory of God in heaven. The Pharisees were really upset because they feared the reprisals of Rome. They told Jesus to quiet his followers down. Jesus said, "If they don't sing out, the very stones will sing for joy."
As they drew near the city, Jesus was overcome with emotion and began to weep. He recalled the glory of this city and all that it was supposed to be as the center of the Kingship of God on earth. Here it was completely controlled by the Romans and, in just a few years, would be totally destroyed. The reason for all this destruction was the failure of the leaders to understand, to accept and to carry out the plan of God.
Jesus came to the Temple. There he saw all the buying and selling and haggling over prices that were going on as the people bought their victims for sacrifice. All the deep significance of sacrifice and religion had been forgotten, and ritual and externals had taken their place. The devotion to Yahweh, love of his plan, and zeal for their mission as People of Yahweh were completely forgotten. Jesus let his anger take over and he drove the buyers and sellers out of the Temple.
Finally, the leaders decided to form a coalition against Jesus and face him in front of the people. They commanded him to tell them by what authority he was acting as a leader and where he got this authority. Jesus, as usual, turned the tables on them. He asked, "Where did John's baptism come from? Heaven or man?"
This reply they had not expected. They saw their dilemma. If they said it was from heaven, Jesus would ask why they did not believe him when he pointed out the role of John. If they said John's mission came from man, the people would turn on them and stone them because they believed John was truly a prophet from Yahweh.
The leaders tried to sneak out by pleading ignorance. Jesus replied, "Then neither will I tell you the source of my authority."
Again the leaders thought they had Jesus in an impossible dilemma. They acted as though they really admired his great honesty, wisdom, and forthright speech. They just wanted to know whether it was licit to pay taxes to Caesar or not.
This was a loaded question. If he said they should not pay the taxes, they would turn him over to the Roman authorities. If he said they were bound to pay the taxes, they would turn to the people and show that he was not loyal to their position as the Chosen People.
Jesus, again, tripped them up out of their own pockets. He asked one of them to hold up a denarius. "Whose image and name is that?" They answered, "Caesar's!" Then said Jesus, "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."
Jesus watched as the people put their offerings in the public treasury box. Then a poor widow came up and put in two tiny coins. Jesus called attention to her. "This poor widow has given more than all of them. They gave only of their extra wealth. This poor widow gave from the tiny portion she had to live on."
Luke 21:5–38
Some of the people were admiring the Temple, its beauty, size, architecture, and age. Jesus said, "The time is coming when there will not be a stone left on top of a stone. Everything will be wiped out."
The apostles were stunned by the prediction and asked for a sign. As an answer, Jesus combined several events into one time sequence.
First he talked about the siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 68-70 A.D. This was truly bad. It looked like nothing could be worse. Then Jesus talked about the early days of the apostles up to the conversion of Constantine in 313 A.D. Finally, Jesus talked about the end of time and the coming of the Son of Man on the clouds of heaven. He would lead the loyal followers in triumph and reject the unfaithful.
Some of these ideas Jesus could easily have known from the works of the prophets, and the evidence of the Roman armies and their destructive powers around him. Some of it would be the effect of a vivid imagination coupled with a clear understanding of the loyalty of human beings under stress. The end of the world picture is one that came over from the prophets and was corroborated by the punitive power of the Roman armies. Gradually, the picture became clearer.
The end of the world was to be completion, not destruction. People would be given the opportunity to do the work of God in developing this world and themselves to their full potential. Those who cooperated would be given their reward in their identity as members of the Kingship of God. Those who failed to cooperate would have no identity and would be abandoned as unknown people.
The evidence for all of this is found in the going and coming of the seasons, each year. With spring, we see the beginnings of new life and the promise of a rich harvest. With summer, the crops mature and with fall, they are harvested. Winter comes and everything looks bleak and dead but for those who know the rhythm of nature, they know that spring is not far behind.
Such is the destiny and development of this universe. It will all work forward under management of human beings until it becomes the universe God intended from the beginning. Jesus offers solemn warning to be on the alert to do your part in your daily life to cooperate in this plan of God.
Jesus spent his days in the Temple teaching. At night, he went to a hill, called the mount of Olives. Each morning, the people came to listen.
The Role of Judas, the Passover Meal, the Mount of Olives, the Arrest
Luke presented this betrayal as a plot in which both sides were ready but had made no contact as yet. Then the opportunity came. Judas, one of the twelve, saw a way to make some extra money. There was no indication he was going to keep it for himself or that he actually expected Jesus to die. In fact, the indications in the text seem to say that Judas figured on selling Jesus for some money. After he had collected the money, Jesus would disappear as usual. He would be safe. The coffers would be richer at the expense of the leaders and Judas would be praised for his cleverness.
Peter and John were sent by Jesus to get a particular room and make the preparations for the Passover meal. The details they were given were so explicit that it seemed as though this man was a special acquaintance or friend of Jesus.
Jesus carried out the entire Passover ritual. He told the apostles how anxiously he had been looking forward to this particular Passover because he would fulfill his whole purpose in life in those few days.
Luke mentioned the initial cup of wine which signified that all the people present were friends and united in love. Then at the end of the meal, again Jesus took the ritual (friendship) cup and gave it a special significance. He had them all take a piece of the bread that he had broken off. Then they all dipped it into the cup of wine. This was regular procedure among the Jews at Passover and it signified the unity that was present and would grow among all the people through the next year.
This bread and cup were given a new meaning. The Old Passover was finished. The new Passover began. The Paschal Banquet, from now on, would commemorate the deliverance from the reign of sin and death. They signified the body and blood of Jesus which would be offered on the Cross in death the next day. Jesus knew it would happen because he knew of the betrayal of Judas and that he intended to let himself be captured.
The apostles got into a silly argument about who was the greatest and most important among them. Jesus laid down the rule for Christian greatness. The greatest is the person who SERVES others.
Jesus did not have his head in the clouds. He knew that one of the twelve had sold him for the price of a slave. He knew that Peter was going to deny him publicly, again and again, that very night.
According to Luke, this Mount of Olives was a regular place for Jesus to go in the evening. When they arrived, Jesus warned them to pray that they would not succumb to any temptation.
Then he went away about a hundred feet and knelt down to pray. His prayer was a request to be delivered from the ordeal that was coming. Yet he was willing to accept it. Then Luke mentioned the arrival of an angel from heaven to give him strength. He also mentioned that his anguish became so great that he broke out into a sweat of blood.
Jesus was still speaking when a group of men appeared, with Judas in the lead. Judas walked up and kissed Jesus. Jesus asked Judas: "Do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" The implication was obvious. Judas used the normal sign of friendship to make sure that the murderers got the right man.
It is important to note that Judas was not as callous as art and literature have portrayed him. He did not expect Jesus to remain a captive. That was why he wanted to make sure they got the right man. Judas had seen Jesus walk away from his enemies before. Judas expected Jesus to do the same this time. However, Judas would be thirty pieces of silver ahead and would be praised for his shrewd bargaining by Jesus himself.
The other apostles saw what was happening and wanted to take their swords to defend Jesus. Luke did not give the name, but one of the twelve struck the servant of the High Priest with his sword and cut off the right ear. Jesus told him to put the sword away and healed the wounded man.
Then Jesus faced his captors. "Am I a criminal that you come after me with swords and clubs? I was among you in the Temple, day after day, and you never made a move against me. But this is your the hour of the powers of darkness."
Luke 22:54–23:25
They dragged Jesus away and Peter followed at a distance. It was a cool night and there was an open fire in the middle of the courtyard. Peter went over and sat among the people. A servant girl looked at him carefully and then announced, "This man was one of the group too." Peter denied any knowledge of Jesus. Shortly afterward, someone else accused him of being a part of Jesus' company. Peter denied the accusation again. An hour later, another man insisted that Peter was a Galilean and had definitely been with Jesus. Peter became adamant in his denial and at that moment the cock crowed. Jesus turned and looked straight at Peter. Peter recalled the words that Jesus had spoken at the supper table, and he went outside to weep bitterly. (Many private accounts hold that Peter wept every day for the rest of his life over this act of cowardice and betrayal.)
The guards had a helpless man. They knew how much Jesus was disliked and feared by the leaders. They decided to make sport of him. They did this by insulting his real powers as prophet and teacher.
The Sanhedrin was the supreme court of the Jews. Originally it had the power of life and death over all the Jews. The Romans had taken away this right to the death penalty and made it dependent on their judgment.
The members of the council were all there and all wanted to see Jesus condemned and killed. He admitted that he was the Messiah and the Son of God. This was the blasphemy they wanted to hear. The whole assembly rose and took him to Pilate, the Roman procurator.
Pilate held a hearing and could find no reason to condemn Jesus. He told the leaders of the Jews this. They mentioned that he was from Galilee and Pilate saw an easy way out. He sent them to Herod who was in Jerusalem at the time.
Herod was really glad to get in on this farce with Jesus. He had heard a lot about the man and hoped he would do something unusual or dramatic in his court. Jesus did not even deign to give him an answer. So Herod and his court made fun of Jesus and then Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. Luke stressed that the hostility between Pilate and Herod was removed by this action.
Pilate was really at a loss as to what to do. He said openly that he knew Jesus was innocent. He should simply have declared him free. But this was not politically expedient so he had Jesus scourged, Roman fashion. Then he was going to set him free, knowing he would die from the scourging. But the leaders and people demanded that Barabbas be set free and Jesus be crucified. In the end this was exactly what Pilate commanded.
Luke 23:26–49
Luke mentioned that Simon of Cyrene was forced to help with the cross. Large crowds went along. Luke gave special mention to the women and said they were weeping for sorrow. Jesus turned and spoke to them: "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but for yourselves and for your children." Then he went on to tell them of the terrible fate that was in store for them in the near future.
Luke also mentioned the two criminals who were led to their execution that day. On top of the hill, called "The Skull," they crucified all three — one criminal on either side of Jesus.
The first words of Jesus were: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Then the soldiers cast lots for his clothing. This was an accepted practice of the times.
The leaders jeered at him. "He saved others. Himself he cannot save." They offered him the sour wine which was supposed to deaden the sense of pain in the crucified person. Then they put the title on the cross: "This is the King of the Jews."
One man who was crucified with Jesus joined the crowd in making fun of Jesus. The other man told him to hold his tongue. He said they were on the cross because their lives deserved the punishment. But Jesus was innocent. Then he said to Jesus: "Jesus, remember me when you come in your Kingdom." Jesus said: "I tell you solemnly, this day you will be with me in paradise."
Many a point has been made of this scene. This man had been a thief. He was dying because of thievery. His last act was to "steal" heaven. He was the first beneficiary of the act of redemption and salvation.
At noon there was a major eclipse. The whole earth was darkened until three. The veil of the Temple was torn from top to bottom. Jesus cried out in a loud voice: "Father, into your hands I commit my breath." With that cry, he breathed his last. The second Adam gave back the breath of the first Adam to his maker. When he comes again, on the third day, he will have the breath of the second Adam. It is that breath, the breath of the new creation — the Holy Breath, that will inaugurate his kingdom on earth on Pentecost.
The centurion had followed each detail and his reaction was, "This was truly a just man!" The people who had gathered for the spectacle went home beating their breasts in sorrow for what they had witnessed. All the friends of Jesus and the women who came with him from Galilee saw all this happen.
One member of the Sanhedrin had objected to the conduct of all the rest but his protests went unheard. He was Joseph from Arimathea. Now he went to Pilate and asked for the body. He took the body down, made a hasty preparation for burial, and then placed it in a new tomb which had not yet been used.
The women took careful note of the tomb and the place of the body. Then they went home and prepared the spices and ointments used in a regular burial and waited for the Sabbath to pass.
Thus ended the saga of Jesus the Messiah as far as the world was concerned. A few women thought Jesus deserved better treatment.
The Empty Tomb, the Road to Emmaus, Jesus Appears, the Ascension
On Sunday morning, the first day of the week, the women came to the tomb with their spices. They were going to give Jesus proper burial. When they got to the tomb, they saw that the body of Jesus was gone. Suddenly two men in brilliant clothes stood beside them. They were properly scared. But the men said. "Why are you here looking for Jesus among the dead? He has risen as he told you he would." Then the women remembered what Jesus had said.
The eleven apostles refused to believe the women. They took the message as the prattling of women.
Peter went to the tomb and looked down. He saw the clothes all folded up. He went back home puzzled and amazed.
Two disciples were on the road to a city about seven miles from Jerusalem. The name of the city is not certain. Many think it was Emmaus or Amwas. One of the men was Cleopas. As they walked along they were joined by Jesus but they did not recognize him. He asked them what they were talking about.
They were amazed. They figured he was the only person in the world who did not know the whole story. Then they repeated all the details and especially the empty tomb, the message of the angels, and the visit of the apostles to the empty tomb.
Jesus gave them a strong speech. He called them fools for taking so long to accept the obvious truth. When they arrived at the village, they urged Jesus to come in and he entered the house with them. Then he took the bread and broke it — and their eyes were opened. They recognized Jesus in this action and he disappeared.
Now they started to reassess the whole event, and they felt they had some inkling that it was Jesus. They did not want to appear as total fools.
The apostles were still talking about all these events when Jesus appeared in their midst. His greeting: "Peace to you!" This is the new "Shalom" — the sum total of all that is good. This is the peace that is to be the fruit of the new age of Christian life.
The apostles were still afraid so Jesus pointed out that he could be no ghost since he had a body just as they did. He asked for food and ate some grilled fish. Finally they were convinced. It is important to note what the risen body is like. It is different and yet has all the qualities needed to recognize each individual.
Jesus spent the time recalling what he had said and done. He showed how all the promises were fulfilled. Their work was to spread the teaching and life of Jesus. The heart of the Christian message is the complete change of outlook (metanoia) and the forgiveness of all sin. They will receive the power from on high to do this work. It will be the Holy Breath, the Breath of the New Creation, given to and by the Second Adam.
Jesus blessed the apostles and then was lifted out of their midst. This time they were not sad or distraught. They went back to the city, full of joy, to begin their new life's work.
So many times as we start the comments on the Annunciation and birth passages in the gospels, we fail to recall the numerous precedents for these passages in the Old Testament. Something special is said about the conception and birth of Old Testament leaders. This does not mean that all of these births were difficult or impossible without the special intervention of God. It means only that from the very start of their lives these men were destined by God to have a special role in his plan.
This is characteristic of the lives of heroes in every age and every civilization. Take the two great heroes, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, as examples. These men were little known until their adult public lives. Washington is honored as the great founding father of this country. Abraham Lincoln is noted as the savior of the country when it could easily have been destroyed by a fratricidal war.
Gradually, because of the magnitude of their contribution to the welfare of this country, stories about their early lives as young boys and young men are told and retold. Did all these things happen? Who knows. It would be impossible to verify the incidents now. But they glorify the men who are truly important for the foundation and preservation of the country and so they are told and retold. Everyone is free to accept the stories as historically accurate or mere folk-tale.
Biblical examples are found in the story of Abraham and Sarah. When Abram was first told of the great future Yahweh had in store for him, the patriarch said to Yahweh: "This all sounds good but I do not have even one son to carry on my name. Any greatness I achieve will be short-lived." Then followed the mysterious scene of the sacrifice Abram offered to Yahweh. In this event, or literary embellishment, Abram was told that he would have descendants as numerous as the stars in the heavens.
When Sarah heard of the promise, she realized she was getting old for childbearing so she would have to follow the custom of the times. She would give Abram one of her maids, have a child by her, and claim it for her own. This was done and Hagar gave birth to a boy, named Ishmael. Then Hagar began to make fun of Sarah.
Yahweh struck the covenant with Abraham and they sealed it with the circumcision. This hardly seemed the start of a great people. Then Sarah did have a son. She called him "Isaac" which means "He laughs" in Hebrew. Sarah said she had reason to laugh with joy because she had given birth to the son of promise in her old age.
Did all these details take place as they are recorded? If they did, who recorded them and carried them along with the nomadic life of the people? Or are these stories developed to indicate that this person or child was important in the plan of Yahweh from the very beginning of his life?
Isaac and Rebecca had no children. Again it looked like the promises of Yahweh would end. However, Isaac prayed for Rebecca and she conceived. Then as she carried the child, the pains really became intolerable. Rebecca complained. She was told that she carried two nations in her womb. And sure enough, when the time of birth arrived, there were twins.
The circumstances of their births were unusual and a foreboding of their futures. The first baby was very red and covered with hair over his whole body. Hence the name Esau or "Hairy." The second twin was born hanging on to the heel of his brother. He was called "The Gripper" or "Jacob." Esau became a great hunter, loved the open country, and was the favorite of his father. Jacob was a quiet retiring lad who preferred to stay home among the tents, and was the favorite of his mother.
One day Jacob had just made a bit of soup. His brother came from the hunt empty-handed and his stomach growled with hunger pains. He asked Jacob for a bit of lunch. Jacob, quiet but sly, agreed to furnish dinner if Esau would give him his birthright.
As the older of the twins, Esau was the firstborn and therefore had a right to a double portion of the family heritage to carry on the family name. The double portion was to make sure family problems were settled. Esau was a bit shallow in his thinking. He said, "What good is the birthright if I die of starvation?" So he made the agreement and got the soup.
Now all he had to do was convince his father, Isaac, and the birthright was in the bag. The opportunity soon came. Isaac was old and sick. He summoned Esau and told him to make his favorite wild meat dish. Isaac would eat the meal and then give his special blessing to Esau.
Rebecca heard what was going on and, while Esau was out on the hunt, she made a special dish for Isaac and told Jacob to carry it to Isaac's bedside and get that blessing. Jacob knew it was a lie and knew it was risky because Isaac might detect the deceit and curse him rather than bless him.
Again, Rebecca was ahead of the game. She covered Jacob's neck and arms with the skins of young goats. Then she sent him in. Isaac was a little surprised that Esau was back so soon. Jacob said he was very lucky. Then Isaac asked him to come near and let him feel his skin. Isaac, of course, was blind. When he touched, he still has doubts. He said, "Your voice is the voice of Jacob. But you feel like my son, Esau. You certainly have the smell of Esau." So he ate the meal and gave Jacob the blessing. Jacob was now the official firstborn of the family.
Esau came in later. Isaac and Esau realized they had been duped but according to custom, the deed was done. There was no recourse. Esau would be second to Jacob in his lifetime, as will the descendants of Esau to the descendants of Jacob. Esau's name would be changed to Edom. His followers were the Edomites and they would be subjugated in a brutal war. There was always hatred between the Israelites and the Edomites.
Again we have an elaborate story to explain the historical relationship of two peoples through the centuries. Is this the beginning of the story or were these details worked out centuries later to explain that all of this is in the plan of Yahweh?
The story did not stop here. Jacob was still not done with intrigue. Isaac called Jacob to him and told him he was not to marry anyone from the land of Canaan. Esau had done that and the results were not palatable. Jacob was to go back to the land of Rebecca and there pick his wife.
This time, Jacob met someone who was almost his match in conniving and deceit. It was Laban, the brother of Rebecca, and thus, Jacob's uncle. Laban had a beautiful daughter, named Rachel, with whom Jacob fell in love. Jacob had left home in a hurry to save his life and had failed to bring along the dowry to buy his wife. So Jacob agreed to give seven years as Laban's herdsman to get Rachel as his wife in return. When the seven years were up, Laban gave Jacob the older sister, Leah. Jacob complained. Laban just said, "We have a custom that the younger sister cannot get married until the older sister is wed." So Jacob had Leah as his wife. He wanted Rachel, so he worked another seven years and then married Rachel. Then he worked another six years for his flocks and property.
The amazing part of this whole picture is that no matter what Jacob does, he seemed to prosper above all of Laban's boys. They were on the verge of setting the slate straight when Jacob learned of the animosity and the danger. He realized that he could lose everything.
Finally, it dawned on Jacob that he could be here working all his life for his father-in-law and never become an independent man. So without a word to anyone, he took all his wives, children, herds, flocks and property and set off. Laban learned of the flight and took off in hot pursuit. There was quite an altercation when they met but no war because the sides were about equal. So they drew up a treaty and Jacob took his family and property and moved off.
As he drew near the old homestead, Esau came out with his men to meet him. Jacob put all his wives and children and property in a protected zone and got his men ready for full scale war. Then he worked out an elaborate system of bribes and they set off. Jacob had his famous wrestling match with God or with a representative of God and receives the new name "Yisra-el," "He who had wrestled with God." From that incident and name comes the name for the whole people, Israel and Israelites.
Joseph was Jacob's son by Rachel — his favorite wife. The boy in turn became the favorite son. Jacob gave him a beautiful coat that he wanted all to see. When the other boys saw this coat, they were jealous, angry, and envious. Joseph added to the problems. He was quite a dreamer and talked about these dreams. In the dreams he was always coming out ahead of his brothers.
The older boys were doing the work and the younger boy was getting all the breaks. The younger boy was sharp and "mouthy." The stage was set for an explosion and it came.
The older boys were with the flocks, far from the home place. Jacob wanted to know how things were going so he got some things together and sent Joseph to pick up a report. The brothers saw the "little pest" coming. They decide to take care of their problem in a sure but final way. They would kill him and tell Jacob that wild animals got him. Reuben objected, not because he loved his younger sibling but because he was responsible for anything that happened. He convinced the brothers that they should toss Joseph into a deep well. Then they took his cloak, dipped it in sheep's blood, and told the dad that Joseph had been killed on his way to the fields. Jacob was inconsolable.
Meanwhile, some traders came, got Joseph and took him to the slave market in Egypt. They sold him to the Pharaoh's daughter and Joseph became a member of the Pharaoh's household. He grew up and continued to have dreams and interpret the future.
Then Pharaoh had dreams that no one could interpret. The head of servants or slaves remembered Joseph who was brought to the Pharaoh to interpret his dreams. There would be years of prosperity and good crops. Then there would be years of famine. The Pharaoh must save during the prosperous years and have plenty for the time of want. Pharaoh did exactly that and put Joseph in charge of the whole plan since he devised it.
As time went on, the neighboring countries and peoples ran out of food and hear about the prosperity of Egypt. They went to get supplies in Egypt and all negotiated with Joseph. Then came Joseph's brothers, except for Benjamin. Joseph recognized them but they do not recognize him. He took care of their orders and asked about his Dad and younger brother. He told them not to return without Benjamin. Jacob said — absolutely not. But as their stomachs growl, Jacob relented and the boys came back to Egypt with Benjamin.
Joseph was hit very hard when he saw his brothers and went off to express his emotion in private. Then he had to prove to himself that these men were sorry for what they had done to him. So he put a special cup in Benjamin's sack. After they were gone he sent his police out to catch them. He accused them of stealing this cup. Reuben said they would turn over anyone who had that cup. It was in Benjamin's sack. Then Reuben offered to die in Benjamin's place, rather than sadden their father a second time as they had done in the incident with Joseph.
Joseph now saw that his brothers were sincerely repentant. He revealed himself to them and they brought Jacob and everything they own to Egypt. They were given a special place to live and they prospered in this foreign land.
Every detail of this story could have happened exactly as it is written. However, it was not all written at the same time but over a period of centuries and in a series of editings. The point is that it is a beautiful epic story exactly like those among the people around them — with one exception. These stories honor Yahweh, the God of Israel, and there was not a hint of idolatry or fertility worship in any of the details.
There are more details that could be included from the Bible stories. I suggest that you read them as they are in the Bible account. What we have here is sufficient to show how masterful are the literary artifices to give background to the great Patriarchs whose lives will be fulfilled in the life of Jesus.
These stories can be followed by the extraordinary details of the preservation of baby Moses and his introduction into the home of the Pharaoh. Then we have a fine story to explain how Moses lived in the Sinai desert to prepare him for his role as liberator of the people from Egypt.
The first Christians grew up with all these stories and this rich tradition. They had seen what Jesus had done in his lifetime and what the apostles and their successors did in those first years of the Christian Era. They had learned some details from Mary about those early years but their imaginations and their Old Testament background were even more fertile sources for their ideas. These were put together and we have three different accounts of the conception, birth and early days of Jesus.
Mark has nothing. He starts with Jesus as a grown man in his public life. Luke tells us the stories that stress the shepherd and king. Matthew tells the stories that stress the queen mother, wise men (Magi), and the king. John wants us to know that the creative Word of Yahweh that was manifest in the opening days of the universe, is being manifest in its fulness in the New Creation in Jesus.
Luke was a medical doctor and convert of Paul. Luke became Paul's personal physician and companion on his missionary journeys. In fact, Luke probably came into contact with the Christian ideas and ideals because he was called on to tend Paul in one of his bouts of sickness.
Paul had a recurring sickness. Guesses have been made as to what was the problem but they remain guesses. He needed a doctor and Luke became his attending physician. Knowing Paul's intensity, he probably began to talk to Luke about Jesus, his teaching and his mission. Luke was caught up in the new ideas and ideals, became a convert, and stayed with Paul until Paul died.
Tradition tells us Luke left us three writings. Two we know for sure because they are in the Canon and claimed by him. One is this Gospel and the second is Acts of Apostles, which is primarily the story of some of the work of Peter and Paul, and ends before the death of these two men. The third work is not known. This seems really unusual, to say the least. For a man so important in the Pauline communities, for a man who had left such important writings, to have a whole writing lost without a trace seems almost impossible.
We do know that Luke edited some of the letters of Paul to remove the rough, insulting language that often appeared. At times this was an almost impossible task. Sometimes Luke succeeded very well in this work. At other times, even the genius of Luke could not remove the coarse bullying language of Paul.
My own theory is this: The third writing of Luke is the editing of all the letters of Paul as they are in the New Testament today.