To be sure, we can get an idea of his thinking by what he was teaching his disciples, the crowds, Jewish leaders, individuals who came looking for him, and those he seemed to happen upon.
Luke gives us clear insight what was on Jesus' mind as he was making his way to the cross: "And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said."1
Remember - when reading and seeking to understand Scripture, context is key. We learn here that Jesus has the cross on his mind; so the things he teaches are particularly critical in view of that.
**Hmmm... If you knew your life was about to come to an end, what things would you say to those you love?
Jesus talks about
>prayer,
sayingpray persistently, because your Heavenly Father is good. Luke 18.1-82
pray specifically - Jesus asks the blind beggar who cried out to him,
What do you want me to do for you?3
give thanks to God - When Jesus healed the ten lepers, only one returned to
thank him, though in reality, their lives were redeemed, relationships reestablished.4
>The condition ofour hearts is also truly important to Jesus; consider the simplicity of this parable, and the stark difference between these two men who came to pray:
“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."5
What a contrast between these two men! But--was Jesus talking about prayer here? Maybe in part, because he uses the setting and practice of prayer to show the differences in the men, but I believe it is more about the heart of these two men that Jesus is pointing out. God values when we come humbly to him, not full of pride, and certainly not thinking we are more righteous than another person.
More on the heart: Jesus says come as children, simply, honest and humble.6
And finally,
Jesus wants you and I to
be ready to tell someone about Him.
--like Zacchaeus.7You just gotta love Jesus, don't you? He knew that all the muckety-muck Jews were going to have a fit about his going to eat at Zach's house. Jesus did not care - he was interested in the dishonest rich tax man's soul and eternal destiny.
For those of you new to the Bible, Zacchaeus was not like an IRS employee; no, while he was likely a fellow Jew, he colluded with the Roman government, got whatever he could out of people, adding a surcharge to what Rome required; hence the reason he was rich and the reason the Jewish leaders faulted Jesus for going to his home.
So, as we make our way to Jerusalem with Jesus, we learn what he is thinking about: prayer, the condition of our hearts, and our willingness to share the gospel with others, whatever it takes.
Heavenly Father, I pray that you will make me even more grateful for the gift of prayer - that we can talk to you, that you listen and answer. Would you give us greater desire to spend time daily in prayer and getting to know You? Remind us to come humbly, authentically to you. And Lord, help us notice and look for opportunities to talk about just how great it is to know You! So many people are running scared, feeling empty and we have what they are looking for--a way to know and have relationship with You!
Maybe you want to know Jesus, but don't quite yet.
This song, "Believe on Jesus, let him save your life..." it is all in the song!
Insight into Jesus' thinking.
by Christine
yesterday
Listen here: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/258a3629/what-was-jesus-thinking-luke-55
Jesus was a keen thinker.
To be sure, we can get an idea of his thinking by what he was teaching his disciples, the crowds, Jewish leaders, individuals who came looking for him, and those he seemed to happen upon.
Luke gives us clear insight what was on Jesus' mind as he was making his way to the cross: "And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said."1
Remember - when reading and seeking to understand Scripture, context is key. We learn here that Jesus has the cross on his mind; so the things he teaches are particularly critical in view of that.
**Hmmm... If you knew your life was about to come to an end, what things would you say to those you love?
Jesus talks about
>prayer,
saying pray persistently, because your Heavenly Father is good. Luke 18.1-82
pray specifically - Jesus asks the blind beggar who cried out to him,
What do you want me to do for you?3
give thanks to God - When Jesus healed the ten lepers, only one returned to
thank him, though in reality, their lives were redeemed, relationships reestablished.4
>The condition of our hearts is also truly important to Jesus; consider the simplicity of this parable, and the stark difference between these two men who came to pray:
“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."5
What a contrast between these two men! But--was Jesus talking about prayer here? Maybe in part, because he uses the setting and practice of prayer to show the differences in the men, but I believe it is more about the heart of these two men that Jesus is pointing out. God values when we come humbly to him, not full of pride, and certainly not thinking we are more righteous than another person.
More on the heart: Jesus says come as children, simply, honest and humble.6
And finally,
Jesus wants you and I to
be ready to tell someone about Him.
--like Zacchaeus.7 You just gotta love Jesus, don't you? He knew that all the muckety-muck Jews were going to have a fit about his going to eat at Zach's house. Jesus did not care - he was interested in the dishonest rich tax man's soul and eternal destiny.
For those of you new to the Bible, Zacchaeus was not like an IRS employee; no, while he was likely a fellow Jew, he colluded with the Roman government, got whatever he could out of people, adding a surcharge to what Rome required; hence the reason he was rich and the reason the Jewish leaders faulted Jesus for going to his home.
So, as we make our way to Jerusalem with Jesus, we learn what he is thinking about: prayer, the condition of our hearts, and our willingness to share the gospel with others, whatever it takes.
Heavenly Father, I pray that you will make me even more grateful for the gift of prayer - that we can talk to you, that you listen and answer. Would you give us greater desire to spend time daily in prayer and getting to know You? Remind us to come humbly, authentically to you. And Lord, help us notice and look for opportunities to talk about just how great it is to know You! So many people are running scared, feeling empty and we have what they are looking for--a way to know and have relationship with You!
Maybe you want to know Jesus, but don't quite yet.
This song, "Believe on Jesus, let him save your life..." it is all in the song!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utRI-Ip1Vkk
Jesus is not about religion; he is about relationship,
Christine - PastorWoman.net
Luke, 55
'Want to read each passage for yourself?
1 - Luke 18.31-34, above
2 - Luke 18.1-8, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke 18.1-8&version=ESV
3 - Luke 18.35-43, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke 18.35-43&version=ESV
4 - Luke 17.11-19, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke 17.11-19&version=ESV
5 - Luke 18.10-14, above
6 - Luke 18.15-17, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke 18.15-17&version=ESV
7 - Luke 19.1-10, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke 19.1-10&version=ESV