#disciplemaking
#adventcalendarday13
#willyoujoinme

Here we are in Luke chapter 13.

It’s been much heavier going from the latter half of chapter 11 onwards, hasn’t it? And I’m afraid it will continue to be – interspersed with some of the more wonderful accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry. You see what’s happened? Luke has portrayed Jesus’ life and ministry as evidence or proof of who he was. What we’re discovering now are the various responses to Jesus and listening as Jesus reveals the consequences of those responses.

Again, Jesus has basically said to everyone, (including us), “You’ve seen and heard what I’ve done and said, now you need to make up your mind about who I am – and live accordingly, as evidence that my words are bearing fruit in your lives”. And this chapter starts off with the very strong words, (vv3 & 5) “unless you repent, you too will perish!” Or in my words, “Unless you start living Jesus’ way, (instead of your own way), you will find yourself outside the kingdom of God”. This should give us all pause! But actually, the parable of the fig tree inserted right after those stern words help us to realise that God will keep giving everyone chances to bear fruit – and so should we!

None the less, it’s a religious leader who, again, is the one who is put to shame. Imagine berating a woman who’s been crippled for 18 years for being healed! It’s preposterous! Instead of praising God and acknowledging Jesus’ lordship over physical health, he grasps at his own puny authority as keeper of the law in the synagogue. All of this illustrates what Jesus is meaning in the teaching about the “narrow door and the wide door” and his lament over Jerusalem – not everyone will be saved – but not for lack of trying on God’s part!

And lest we get discouraged by this, vv18-20 see Jesus illustrating that though the efforts of the Kingdom sometimes appear to be small and insignificant, actually they’re having a huge influence. I think it takes faith and experience to grow in confidence about kingdom work. The first time you plant a seed, it seems amazing that eventually it sprouts and becomes infinitely larger that it was. Likewise the first time you bake something, you follow the recipe (or someone’s verbal instructions) trusting that it will work out, that they know what they’re doing.

• Remember your person of peace? What might God be doing in their life that should be celebrated? “Watered”, (like you would a seed)? Nurtured? Dug-up and Fertilised?
• Is there any element of your own life that you have not surrendered to God? Ie, have you repented of everything? Everyday? How might concentrating on walking in Jesus’ way help you re-route your life?
• Why not ask Jesus to set you free from what currently binds you? (Ask a trusted Christian friend, or a willing Person of Peace to help you with this).