Luke 1:49-50
Posts Tagged ‘Luke’
What is peace?
What does peace mean to you?
Is it a time without war or conflict, a time of freedom from strife? Or does it mean more of a state of mental calm and serenity, a time of freedom from anxiety?
I think that both these descriptions of peace are correct, but there is also a third description. This is one where we are in union and harmony with Jesus Christ.
We need to strive for all three versions because I don’t see how we can live without all three being present. Let me try to explain.
1) Freedom from strife, war or conflict.
As human beings and members of a community we need to work hard at living in harmony with other members of our society. If we don’t do this we will become an outsider, one to be avoided at all costs, a troublemaker.
As a Christian this is the last thing that we would want because it goes against all the teachings in the bible. Most religions of the world teach peace but as we know some people want to ‘make people believe in their peace’. We need to try to understand other people and their point of view so that we can, if necessary agree to disagree. It is not right, in my view, to force people to believe what you believe. I do believe in discussion and dialogue that leads to understanding other people’s points of view. We may not agree with everything that they believe or do but I believe that there are other ways of solving differences of opinions without conflict or violence.
2) A state of mental calm and serenity free from anxiety.
This is, or can be, a difficult state to achieve. In today’s busy world of hustle and bustle, we have noise everywhere, everything needs to be done yesterday, we have deadlines to meet, and if you cannot multitask then you are no good.
This is not a recipe for calm and serenity, rather the opposite. I believe that it is only by having God’s peace that we can attain this mental state. By reading God’s word and praying to Him we can put things back into perspective and see what is important ant what isn’t.
Our reading in part 14, “And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.” from Paul’s letter to the Philippians tells us that for us to achieve this peace and understanding we cannot do it on our own. This is because the peace, which comes from God, is ‘far beyond human understanding’.
In the message bible it says this “Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life.” (Philippians 4:7 Message)
I like the last part of that verse; it’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life. Only when Christ is at the centre of our life can we know that real calm and serenity that is God’s peace. All our anxiety will fade as a new perspective comes into view. Problems that seemed like mountains in front of us become achievable goals, worries about material things fade.
If I may indulge in a personal experience, many years ago, when the family was young, I became ill and was off work for over 2 months. As you can imagine, the only wage (mine) became less and less. When the food cupboard was looking very bare and we were wondering what to do for meals, a knock came at the door and a friend of ours came in with a shopping bag of groceries. She said, “I hope you don’t mind but I have brought you these to help you out” She did not know what our financial position was, but God did. Since then I have tried never to worry about things that I cannot change. God knows my situation and as long as I speak to Him about it He will never let me down.
Thank God for friends.
I have many more stories of how the Lord has helped my family and me in times of need but they will keep for another time.
3) Being in union and harmony with Jesus Christ.
When we come to faith in Jesus Christ, we begin a journey. I can explain it best by saying it is like meeting someone new who becomes a very close friend, but it takes time and sometimes-hard work.
When we meet someone for the first time we do not know all about them, here lies the difference between human friends and God, because He does know all about us already. He is prepared to listen, forgive and help us even though we don’t deserve it.
What He asks from us is to try to live a life that is pleasing to Him and reflects His glory and nature. This is not an easy thing to achieve as it takes time and sometimes-hard work. We need to study His word and talk to him on a regular basis so that we know what He wants us to do.
The other main thing that He wants us to do is listen. This is possibly the hardest part. As I said earlier we all live busy lives where we learn to multitask so that we can achieve more. Now we need to set a time aside to be quite and listen. I find this the hardest part of worship.
Turn off all thoughts.
Sit down in a quiet room and switch off all thoughts, all the things that you have done today, all the things that still need to be done, all the concerns for your family, friends and colleagues, all the concerns about money, car service due, and be quiet.
We do not need to think about anything because when we switch off our thoughts and clear out the unimportant clutter, our spirit can then commune with God on the spiritual level.
How can I explain what to do and yet find it so difficult? Well mainly because I am human, when I get to this state I have fallen asleep because of the busy life I mentioned earlier.
Lord forgive my weakness. As He said to the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane, Rising from his prayer, he went back to the disciples and found them asleep, worn out by their grief. He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
Luke 22:45-46 GNB
When we attain this He will keep our “spirit, soul, and body — free from every fault “ until “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
What Is Peace?
Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in everything we do and say.
May the peace of our lord Jesus Christ be with you all forever.
We continue our series of thoughts of peace with this reading:
But Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:50 GNB
The angel came to her and said, “Peace be with you! The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!”
Luke 1:28 GNB
How many times have we all needed to be reminded that the Lord is with us and has blessed us? It is hard to remember this when times are bad, but even in the bad times we are blessed and the Lord never leaves us.
30 He sat down to eat with them, took the bread, and said the blessing; then he broke the bread and gave it to them.
31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight.
32 They said to each other, “Wasn’t it like a fire burning in us when he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up at once and went back to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven disciples gathered together with the others
34 and saying, “The Lord is risen indeed! He has appeared to Simon!”
35 The two then explained to them what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized the Lord when he broke the bread.
Luke 24:30-35 GNB
The disciples did not recognize Jesus until He ate supper with them. It was when He took the bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to them. It was just an evening meal but this simple act opened their eyes so that they recognized that it was Jesus.
What does Jesus need to do for you before you recognize Him?
“Besides all that, this is now the third day since it happened.
22 Some of the women of our group surprised us; they went at dawn to the tomb,
23 but could not find his body. They came back saying they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he is alive.
24 Some of our group went to the tomb and found it exactly as the women had said, but they did not see him.”
25 Then Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, how slow you are to believe everything the prophets said!
26 Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and then to enter his glory?”
27 And Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures, beginning with the books of Moses and the writings of all the prophets.”
Luke 24:21b-27 GNB
Easter is a time of great expectation. Life after death. Spring after winter.
In this reading we see two of the disciples walking along the road discussing the events of the day and the past few days. A ‘stranger’ who wanted to know what they were discussing joined them. They were happy to tell Him but were unsure of what to believe.
When we are doing our everyday jobs or walking to or from the office do we discuss the events of the day. I’m sure that you like to discuss the news or sport. Do we discuss our faith? If someone came and joined in the conversation would we be able to, or willing to discuss the faith that we have in Jesus?
Should we treat everyone as though they are Jesus?
The two disciples did not recognize Him; would we?
What happened?
The Resurrection
1 Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared.
2 They found the stone rolled away from the entrance to the tomb,
3 so they went in; but they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 They stood there puzzled about this, when suddenly two men in bright shining clothes stood by them.
5 Full of fear, the women bowed down to the ground, as the men said to them, “Why are you looking among the dead for one who is alive?
6 He is not here; he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was in Galilee:
7 ‘The Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and three days later rise to life.’ ”
8 Then the women remembered his words,
9 returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven disciples and all the rest.
10 The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; they and the other women with them told these things to the apostles.
11 But the apostles thought that what the women said was nonsense, and they did not believe them.
12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; he bent down and saw the linen wrappings but nothing else. Then he went back home amazed at what had happened.
Luke 24:1-12 GNB
Easter is one of, if not the, most important events in the Christian calendar. It is the time of hope, new life and praise. Jesus broke the power of sin and death.
The great hymn writer Robert Lowry penned these very familiar words of joy and hope,
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph over His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
With a mighty triumph over His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
I would like to look briefly at the human side of this Easter story to see what we can learn from it for ourselves.
The women, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; were on their way to the tomb to complete the burial process of preparing His body with spices and oils. This was their custom. Understandably they were upset and very sad at the loss of their friend, teacher and most importantly, son.
We have seen on TV, or may even have experienced it first hand, the despair of families who loose a child. It is even worse when this is through violent means. I cannot imagine the pain and suffering that Mary must have gone through. The pain, the sadness, the anger at the authorities, the anger at God, how could He allow this to happen?
When they arrive at the tomb to lovingly attend to His body, they realize as they approach that something is not right. The tomb is open. Oh No, what have the authorities done now? How much more pain and suffering can they make the family and friends endure? Who could do a thing like this? Who would want to steal His body?
The tomb was empty. No one can imagine what this would be like.
In verse 4 we read: “They stood there puzzled about this,”
I think that this may have lost something in translation. “Puzzled’ seems an understatement. It is not long though that their despair is changed to ecstasy. The two men asked them the question, “Why are you looking among the dead for one who is alive? “
Now they would be puzzled, because once again Jesus had surprised them.
Being human and in such a grief-stricken state they had forgotten the words of Jesus.
The men said to them:
6 He is not here; he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was in Galilee:
7 ‘The Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and three days later rise to life.’ ”
8 Then the women remembered his words,
In an instant great sadness became great joy. They remembered His words. They remembered that He was the Son of God. Human but Divine.
I am sure that the journey from the tomb to the disciples was completely different from the one to the tomb.
Sadness had turned to joy, despair to hope, and heavy heart to joyful expectation. They could not wait to tell their friends.
As we celebrate Easter and the completion of a divine plan, let us also remember that the plan had a human element to it. Jesus suffered, died and as we celebrate today rose from the dead to defeat death and give us hope of eternal life. His family and friends also suffered as they watched and waited helplessly on the sidelines.
Let us remember on this day of celebration, people who are suffering, the people who have no hope only despair. Let us pray that they will find Jesus, as the family and friends of Jesus found Him in the garden. Let us pray that they realize that there is hope for the future, there is someone who cares and understands the pain and grief they have today. Then they will be able to have their sadness turned to joy as they realize that death is not the end.
Death cannot keep its Prey, Jesus my Savior;
He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!
He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph over His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Thank the Lord today and celebrate
Luke 1:46-48
Holy Saturday.
Also wrongly called as Easter Saturday
Also wrongly called as Easter Saturday
This is the Jewish Sabbath, so according to the law, the people rested.
54 It was Friday, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 The women who had followed Jesus from Galilee went with Joseph and saw the tomb and how Jesus’ body was placed in it.
56 Then they went back home and prepared the spices and perfumes for the body.
On the Sabbath they rested, as the Law commanded.
Luke 23:54-56 GNB
I am sure that the disciples and friends of Jesus were very anxious on this day. They probably were eagerly waiting for the next day so that they could go to the tomb and finish the burial and anointing of the body of Jesus. They wanted to do the best for Him.
Waiting patiently can be a very hard thing to do. We get impatient because we don’t know what is going to happen next. We can anticipate, but we don’t always get it right. The women who were anticipating Jesus being in the sealed tomb could not have expected that His body would not be there.
Sometimes after a traumatic event we need to stop, wait, pray and rely on God that He knows best. He knows what is going to happen next and will let us know in His time.
Make today as a day of rest, reflection and anticipation.
Good Friday
The Bible quotes seven last sentences that Jesus spoke from the Cross-
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.
Luke 23:34
Truly I tell you; today you will be with me in paradise.
Luke 23:43
Woman, here is your son… Here is your mother
John 19:26
Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani? (My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?)
Mark 15:34
I am thirsty
John 19:28
It is finished
John 19:30
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit
Luke 23:46
Which of these sentences means the most to you and why?
For me the first two mean the most.
The first because Jesus is asking for forgiveness for the people like me, who did not realize what they were doing when they wrongly accused Him, beat Him, mocked Him and crucified Him. They were unaware of whom He was and what He was trying to do for them.
The second, because even though I have done many things wrong in the past, He is willing to forgive me and I can be with Him in paradise.
