Plymothian

Trinity means that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are God.  When Jesus was close to his death he struggled under the stress of what was about to come.  I do not mean that Jesus was afraid of dying.  I think that there was a desperate sense of despair at the alienation coming.  Again there is mystery, how can God who is infinite and indivisible become alienated from himself.  If we take a humanist approach, this is just contradictory and impossible.  However, humanists are fine with the concept that light behaves as a wave and a particle in seemingly contradictory ways.  The physics of subatomic particles is paradoxical.  However, the universe reflects the mysterious diversity of its Creator.  God sweat blood and lacked support from his friends.

Luke 22:39-46

³⁹ Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” ⁴¹ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” ⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.^[c]

 ⁴⁵ When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶ “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Questions

1. How is the depth of Jesus’ struggle at his impending death emphasized?
2. How is Jesus supported by his friends?
3. What act does Jesus engage in to overcome hardship?
4. My Uncle is facing death and it is affecting him deeply.  Please pray for him.
5. How is your prayer life when you face difficult times?

Ricky Gervais is the creator of The Office.  It ran for a few seasons in the UK before being converted into the massively popular US T.V. show.  Ricky Gervais just wrote the following article for the Christmas season.  It is called: A Holiday Message From Ricky Gervais:  Why I Am An Atheist.  http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/12/19/a-holiday-message-from-ricky-gervais-why-im-an-atheist/ It saddened me profoundly on a number of levels.

1. The arguments he makes are old and have been refuted by Christians for centuries on levels that he is obviously unaware of.
2. Christians in Britain are largely unable to defend their faith because it is blind and shallow.
3. Atheists assume that they are smart because of an ironically blind faith in science.
4. Religion is presented as something one grows out of and that is acceptable as long as you keep it private.
5. I like Ricky Gervais.  I wish he had thought beyond the faith of his childhood.
6. I want to stop the world from walking away from God with a sense of academic superiority.  I need to accept that I do not have control over such things.
7. If I have faith, I need to live by it and trust that somewhere people will be reading books by Christian intellectuals that push back against the New Atheism that is becoming increasingly popular.

At this time of year it is good to remember some of the evidence that Christians do have.  The Gospel of Luke was compiled by someone who gathered eye witness accounts.  If the accounts in the gospels were not so remarkable they would not be so controversial.  They are evidence or proofs in the historical sense of an event that happened 2,000 years ago.  However, because of their remarkable testimony they have been rejected by skeptics since their beginnings.  Atheism is not something new.  There are those who are willing to follow the evidence wherever it leads.  Those who have faith in God follow a path to life and light.  It is in the Christmas season that we remember the Truth, or The Proof, of God coming to us. 

Luke 2:1-21

 ¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

 ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

 ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

 ²¹ On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Questions

1. Which historical figures are present in the narrative?
2. What do the angels announce?
3. What do people assume that makes them discount the story as myth?
4. Is there a spiritual reality?
5. How can you have a soul if you do not have a spiritual/metaphysical reality?
6. How can you have free will if you have no soul?
7. How can Ricky Gervais trust his thoughts as true if all that he is is a collection of hydro-carbons?  How can matter have moral processing or any standards at which to aim?  Surely matter just ‘is’!
8. If you believe there is more to this life than matter, science is insufficient.  If there is more to life than science …

Okay, I’ll stop.

Jesus prepares the disciples for the clamity and confusion that is about to fall on them.  After The Last Supper he talks to them of betrayal, who the greatest is, of denial, and the need to prepare for battle.  The last element is of particular concern.  Jesus in the garden rebukes Peter for using a sword, but here he talks about taking them.  Surely Jesus is self-contradictory and imperfect, etc. etc.  He says that two swords are enough and allows the disciples to take them.  However, in context he is not planning an armed defence.  Jesus was talking to the disciples in metaphor and they did not understand the illustration.  This is what happens when abstract thinkers like Jesus communicate in non-literal language with concrete, sensory thinkers like many of his disciples.  I can imagine him shaking his head in dismay as they pick up two swords, “Yeah, sure, two swords are plenty.  Now let’s get moving or we’ll miss my betrayal!!!’ 

Luke 22:21-38

²¹ But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. ²² The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” ²³ They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

 ²⁴ A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. ²⁵ Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. ²⁶ But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. ²⁸ You are those who have stood by me in my trials. ²⁹ And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, ³⁰ so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

   ³¹ “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

 ³³ But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

 ³⁴ Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

 ³⁵ Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”

   “Nothing,” they answered.

 ³⁶ He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. ³⁷ It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’^[b]; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

 ³⁸ The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”

   “That’s enough!” he replied.

Questions

1. What does Jesus talk about in his after-dinner conversation?
2. What do the disciples bring up?
3. How is Jesus preparing his disciples?
4. How have you been unprepared?
5. How can you better be prepared for the spiritual growth that God wants for you?

Jesus took the Jewish Passover and used it to institute a ritual that Christians still do today.  Should we do it each week, each day, each year?  I don’t think that the frequency is clear.  I do think that we must, as Christians, remember what Jesus did in sacrificing himself.  The ceremony that he set up tells us that he died ‘for you’.

Luke 22:7-20

⁷ Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. ⁸ Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

 ⁹ “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

 ¹⁰ He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, ¹¹ and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹² He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

 ¹³ They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

 ¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. ¹⁵ And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

 ¹⁷ After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. ¹⁸ For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

 ¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

 ²⁰ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Questions

1. What do the disciples ask Jesus about the coming feast?
2. What do you know about te Jewish Passover that Jesus was eating?
3. How did Jesus give lasting personal significance to the bread and the wine?
4. How often do you attend Eucharist, take the Lord’s Supper, or Break Bread?
5. What is its significance to you?

‘Judas’  – The name is synonymous with ‘betrayal’.  This shows that not all those who follow the crowd are part of that crowd.  Judas was not some kind of salivating maniac foaming at the mouth.  He was a disillusioned follower who had a love of money.  We see all the time that divided loyalties lead people away from the truth.  In this case the Jewish leaders receive an opportunity that they had not anticipated.

Luke 22:1-6

¹ Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, ² and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. ³ Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. ⁴ And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. ⁵ They were delighted and agreed to give him money. ⁶ He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

Questions

1. Which festival was approaching?
2. How did the Jewish leaders feel about Judas’ proposal?
3. What was Judas’ motive?
4. How have divided loyalties ruined churches, relationships, and careers?
5. How does one remain faithful to Jesus when there are so many other important things to focus on?

I went with a group to Israel in 2008.  I saw Jerusalem and Bethlehem.  I traveled north and south.  I believe that God is not done with that land.  At this time of year we think of Israel and the events that took place there 2000 years ago.  Jesus spoke about plans for a future Israel and I do not think he was speaking of a metaphor for the church.  There will be a Second Coming of Jesus and it will be terrible and awesome.

Luke 21:5-38

⁵ Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, ⁶ “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

 ⁷ “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

 ⁸ He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. ⁹ When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

 ¹⁰ Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

   ¹² “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. ¹³ And so you will bear testimony to me. ¹⁴ But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. ¹⁵ For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ Everyone will hate you because of me. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹ Stand firm, and you will win life.

   ²⁰ “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. ²² For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. ²³ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. ²⁴ They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

   ²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶ People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. ²⁷ At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

 ²⁹ He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. ³⁰ When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. ³¹ Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

   ³² “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

   ³⁴ “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

 ³⁷ Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, ³⁸ and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.

Questions

1. What were the disciples remarking about?
2. How can impressive architecture give an air of invulnerability?
3. How does Jesus highlight God’s sovereignty and man’s frailty?
4. Do you believe that Jesus will establish a future kingdom with a role for Israel?
5. How can scientific technology and modern architecture cause us to lose sight of Jesus’ return?

The story of the widow’s mite is often used to drum up generosity at the annual church meeting.  We should all give in the self-sacrificial way that she did.  There may be some truth to that, but that is not the main thrust of her story.  She is used as an illustration of Pharisees dwvouring all that widows have.  If we ignore the way that the chapters have been divided and look at the story in context we see that the previous section has been a war of words between Jesus and the Jewish authorities.  Here Jesus is speaking to everyone about the Jewish rulers of his time and he sees how they strip widows of everything they have.  I do think that ur hearts should be the same as the widow, but the thrust is that we should be wary of in any way supporting corrupt religious authorities who use their power to take money from the poor.

Luke 20:45-21:4

⁴⁵ While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, ⁴⁶ “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. ⁴⁷ They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

¹ As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. ² He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ³ “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ⁴ All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Questions

1. What do teachers of the law love?
2. What do the teachers of the law devour?
3. What does the widow give according to Jesus?
4. In your opinion, does Jesus condemn the teachers of the law, commend the widow, both, or neither?
5. How is your attitude distinct from the widow and the teachers of the law?  How should it be modified?

Going Deeper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD3JxBYElsA  Is this pastor telling the truth about gaining wealth?  How do you know?

A father in ancient culture rarely payed great respect to his son.  He might admire his son.  He might lavish gifts on him.  However, a father would not often call his son ‘sir’, ‘master’, or ‘Lord’.  This is the theological puzzle that Jesus puts before the Pharisees. How can David call the future Messiah of Israel ‘Lord’.  If Jesus has inherited the throne of David (which Jesus has recently proved to be true), then he is more than just another in a line of kings.  Jesus is the Lord of even the great king David.

Luke 20:41-44 

⁴¹ Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? ⁴² David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:

   “‘The Lord said to my Lord:
   “Sit at my right hand
⁴³ until I make your enemies
   a footstool for your feet.”’^[c]

   ⁴⁴ David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

Questions

1. What is Jesus’ initial question?
2. From which Psalm does Jesus quote?
3. What is the problem?
4. How do different people treat Jesus as Lord today?
5. How should Jesus be treated as Lord?

Going Deeper

Some people think that Jesus can be accepted as saviour and later as Lord.  Some people think that to be a Christian you must come to Jesus in humilty and acknowledge him as Lord.  The debate about this is called the Lordship Salvation debate.  Which side would you take?

To read a little further check these out:

http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/2263

http://www.freegracealliance.com/pdf/Lordship%20Salvation%20Response_Hosler.pdf

Sadducees were the materialists of Jesus’ time.  They were focused on the hear and now.  They thought that belief in spiritual reality and the afterlife were absurd.  This is what their question to Jesus below is meant to highlight.  They do not really expect Jesus to answer because it is absurd that if there was an afterlife one woman would be shared between seven husbands.  The absurdity proved that there was no afterlife.  Jesus exposes their question as a pseudo-question and the spontaneous response of ‘Amen’ from watching Pharisees is ironically refreshing.

Luke 20:27-40

²⁷ Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. ²⁸ “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. ²⁹ Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. ³⁰ The second ³¹ and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. ³² Finally, the woman died too. ³³ Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

 ³⁴ Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. ³⁵ But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, ³⁶ and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. ³⁷ But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’^{[b] 38} He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

 ³⁹ Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” ⁴⁰ And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Questions

1. What did Sadducees say?
2. How many dead husbands did the woman above eventually have?
3. What might husband #7 have thought as he got married?
4. Why do many think that spiritual reality and thoughts of resurrection are fairy tales and deluded thinking?
5. How is science limited in its scope to answer life’s questions by the nature of the discipline?  Why do so many trust in science and technology?

There are two extremes to be avoided in politics.  The first, less common approach, is to change Jesus into a primarily political figure.  I played cricket in England with a communist who claimed that Jesus was a communist.  He said that when Jesus wanted to bring about change he formed a committee.  The second, more common, approach is to say that Jesus and therefore his followers had nothing to do with politics. These people see a divide between their provate lives of faith and their daily, public responsibilities. What do you think Jesus advocates?

Luke 20:20-26

 ²⁰ Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. ²¹ So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. ²² Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

 ²³ He saw through their duplicity and said to them, ²⁴ “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”

   “Caesar’s,” they replied.

 ²⁵ He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

 ²⁶ They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

Questions

1. What kind of people were sent to Jesus?
2. What was the question that they asked Jesus?
3. How was this a trap?
4. How should Christians view taxes?
5. How is a Christian’s faith related to public life?