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Tag: Luke

Loneliness in the Solitary Confinement || Distanced from Friends
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Story of a man awakened

I’d like to continue from what I told you last time. You need to know what happened after a rude awakening from my dream of when my wife and I were in Eden walking with God as if HE Who Created All was my friend!

You know of course that I awoke to this day and not a time before Abraham and you may have heard or read my story, but I wanted to tell you how I felt at the time.

A Knock at the Door

We lay intertwined embraced in warmth flowing from fingertips to toe. Our paradise shattered as I awoke to a loud knock on the door…

“David! . . . Lend me three loaves!”

Who is this at this late hour, I thought? Then as I recognized my neighbor’s outcry at our door,

“Shaul, is that you?” I inquired.

“Of course it’s me. Who else would it be at this hour?” my neighbor responded as he continued,

“A friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.”

We had just fallen asleep and I retorted,

“Do not bother me. As you can plainly see the door has already been shut and we are all in bed.”

“Come on, David, I have nothing to eat for my friends who have just arrived,” he replied.

“I cannot get up and give you anything,” I again said even though my wife and I were awake by now.

Shaul again began shamelessly knocking at our door as my wife looked toward me with that look.

“Alright, my friend,” I shouted over his knocks as I headed to the door.

“I will give you your bread.”

A Parable of Separation

You know this story.

Perhaps the characters are purely fictional as in most parables; but like many of Jesus’ parables, He probably retold it in many places to different crowds in various ways.
- Can you identify with the family behind locked doors in the darkness, separated from friends and seeking peace?
- Or perhaps you can imagine that you are the friend of Shaul, who has traveled a day’s journey and arrived unexpectedly late.
Your good friend didn’t even know that you were coming to him in person. And all of you were overjoyed for this personal reunion!

Friends — no longer separated by distance.

AND your friend is even willing to go to his friend and neighbor for something to eat while rejoined in communion with each other.

Picture Paradise when Heaven’s Door | of Separation | is Opened

I have just illustrated Jesus’ parable with names of appropriate symbolism as the Lord occasionally does. [i.e. Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham]

שאול
Shaul

Shaul means, “borrowed.” http://blb.sc/000vVY

“Lend me three loaves,” he begs his beloved friend.

דָּוִד

David

David means, “friend” or “beloved.” http://blb.sc/001ccS

“This is my beloved and this is my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem.” – Song 5:26b NASB

and behold, a voice out of the heavens said,
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
says the LORD, the God of Israel – Gospel of Matthew 3:17

The Gospel of Luke 11:

It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray…

We know it as:

The Lord’s Prayer

Jesus’ Disciples were already isolated ‘in a certain place.’

No show here for church friends

or ritualized rote of memorized obligation.

Father, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins…
Gospel of Luke 11:2b-4a NASB

Christ’s application in an isolated place

Jesus, of course, is talking about prayer – petitions of a sinful man to a Father God | separated from man | by holiness.

Here is a man alone secure in his home praying – spirit to Spirit.

Perhaps he does dream of Paradise | personal relationship with the Lord God | as it was in the beginning.

Jesus invites His followers to a place | separated and distanced from others in this world.

The call to prayer is to the Father of His beloved children.

a friend at the door | to a Friend inside

I’ve told you this parable from a perspective of the FRIEND INSIDE.

The Lord Jesus speaks to each SINNER as a friend knocking | adam knocking repeatedly on the DOOR | of Heaven through prayer.

Jesus says of the FRIEND inside who I have just described in this parable:

8 I tell you, even if he will not get up and give him anything just because he is his friend, yet because of his shamelessness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
- You and I are Shaul, the borrower of bread.
- Our Heavenly Father is David | our beloved friend with the bread of Heaven, which He now has given to us after having answered a knock at His door.
It is His story I have just told!

Our beloved Heavenly Father and Friend invites you to share the Bread that came down from Heaven – the Bread of Life, Christ Jesus Who IS the Son and | Door to eternal life.

Jesus answers disciples asking about prayer with a parable of the Father | who once again desires the Personal Face-to-face fellowship of Eden.

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you;
seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives,
and the one who seeks finds,
and to the one who knocks, it will be opened.
The Good News of Luke 11:9-10 NASB | Jesus on prayer to the Father

NEXT: A look at Social Distancing of the Church in a 1st century world of violent upheaval.
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To be continued...
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January 13, 2021
Witnesses to Jesus Risen! – Mary Magdalene
John’s Gospel – Witnesses to Jesus’ Resurrection!
Understanding John’s Good News
John 20:
Mary Magdalene
Luke 7:
From Magdala to Jerusalem
Luke 8:1-3
John 20:
Jesus’ Resurrection Appearance
John’s Gospel – Witnesses to Jesus’ Resurrection!

Understanding John’s Good News

of Christ Crucified, Risen, Ascended & Returning

Without dwelling on detail, note that:
- Jesus was crucified around the year AD 30
- The last surviving Apostle John lives until about AD 90
- John writes his Gospel to the churches in about AD 85
Some who witnessed the risen Jesus fifty years earlier still lived! Many more had confirmed the truth of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection to their families and nearly everyone else they encountered (the beginning of the great commission – Mark 16:15).

Many of these persecuted saints insistently witnessed Christ Crucified and risen in Body and Spirit to all until their own deaths.

They too suffered and died, either by the hand of Roman rule or result of persecution by zealous leaders of Jerusalem (until Rome sacked it in AD 70), a major event which had already taken place when John wrote his Gospel, letters and the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Today we begin John’s accounts of the Resurrection not chronologically (for the events had already taken place a half-century before), but from the witness of individuals, beginning with Mary Magdalene.

“..we know not where they have laid him.”

John 20:

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already removed from the tomb.

Recall from before the day of preparation for the Sabbath that Joseph had sealed the tomb. Matthew tells us that as Joseph walked away:

‘And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulcher.’

Now, early on the first day of the week, John and Peter first hear Mary’s alarm.

²So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them,

They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
John 20:2b KJV

Mary the mother of James and John was likely with her once again hoping to finally complete their task of embalming Jesus’ corpse.

We will forego the likely familiar account of Simon Peter and John for the moment and focus on the witness of Mary Magdalene.

10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

Mary Magdalene
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Μαρία Μαγδαληνὴ 
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Mary Magdalene is from the town of Magdala, a fishing town on the western shore of the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee). She is known by several names and sometimes confused with many other Mary’s of the Bible. Here are her common names:

Mary of Magdala

Miryam from Magdala

Maria Magdalene (even Saint Mary, which is not proper)

Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ

also, the “apostle to the apostles,” which inappropriately elevates these important women who followed Christ to ‘Saints.’
Jesus first encountered her during His teaching in Galilee.

Luke 7:

1 When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.

(We know it as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and Capernaum became Jesus home.)

And a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. (A local Roman Centurion’s personal servant, perhaps a Jew.)

When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave.

(Here is a Roman Centurion sending an envoy, a sort of ambassador sent from him to Jesus, comprising of Jewish officials of a local synagogue.) We’ll get to the local connection to Mary in a moment.

7:11 Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her…

And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying,

“A great prophet has arisen among us!” and,

“God has visited His people!”
Luke 7:16 NASB – reaction of the crowds in Nain after Jesus raised a young man from death

This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district.

(Reports on into Judea, even though Nain lies in Galilee, north of Samaria, some 144 km or about 90 miles by road from Jerusalem.)

At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.
Luke 7:21 NASB

From Magdala to Jerusalem

Luke 8:1-3

Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God.

The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses:

Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.

.. she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.

Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” – Luke 7:49
- Did Jesus heal her of these demons as she worshiped Him?
- Was it Mary who had entered the house of a Pharisee in the city of the Synagogue where Jesus reclined at table with this Jewish official?
  - Mary was from Magdala, a major Jewish city on the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee) where a archeological remains of a synagogue were unearthed just a decade ago.
John 20:

10 So the disciples went back again to their homes.
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This continuation in John 20 uses language from multiple versions or translations linked above. - RH
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Jesus’ Resurrection Appearance

11 but Miryam stood outside crying. As she cried, she bent down, peered into the tomb, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Yeshua had been, one at the head and one at the feet.

“Why are you crying?” they asked her.

She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they put Him.” As she said this, she turned around and saw Yeshua standing there, but she didn’t know it was he.

15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

Turning, she cried out to him in Hebrew, “Rabbani!” (that is, “Teacher!”).

17 Jesus saith unto her, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”
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To be continued...
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December 6, 2020
Another Day of Silence at the Grave of a Loved One
It’s a familiar scene — loved ones mourning their loss in silence once the dead body can no longer be embraced by eyes or arms.

All that remains are our fleeting memories of a life which has passed into lifeless dust. I have been there. Likely you have as well.

It happens that the Beloved Body laid to rest previously is Jesus Christ.

Perhaps you missed these mourners outside the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea where the remains of Jesus were sealed. In our own grief we lament how such a public spectacle of Jesus’ Crucifixion on a Roman Cross could have been inflicted on the Son of God.

A Day of the silence of the Passover Lamb

“An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away.
Matthew 16:4 CSB

Now the LORD had prepared a great fish…

(Certain death: Three days & three nights away.)

Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the stomach of the fish.
Jonah 1:17 – with commentaries

Perhaps the bereaving Apostles or distraught mourners had recalled this and other sayings of Jesus.

“A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.”
John 16:16 NASB
Christ :: The Three Days and the Three Nights

Don't become too immersed in the discussions of 'days' or 'dates' of Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection, but for the curious here is an article discussing some of the Jewish calendar issues involved.

After a brief time of carrying His pierced body from the Cross, Joseph and the others must wait until the completion of the Passover feast and until the day after the Sabbath to return and dutifully complete their burial task.
We noted several witnesses to Jesus’ crucifixion previously in It is finished.. + Death’s witnesses. John does not list everyone nor does the Apostle include some additional events.

John has not mentioned Judas Iscariot since his betrayal of the Lord in Gethsemane. Yet Matthew’s Gospel reveals the death of Jesus’ betrayer, the 30 pieces of silver purchasing the field of blood and how it fulfills prophesy.

3 When Y’hudah, who had betrayed him, saw that Yeshua had been condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the head cohanim and elders..

“I sinned in betraying an innocent man to death.”
the confession of Judas Iscariot – Matthew 27:4 HNV

5 Hurling the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, he left; then he went off and hanged himself.

From Crucifixion until Christ’s Resurrection

Before we proceed to John’s witness of Christ’s Resurrection, let’s linger just one more day to note events and witnesses beyond the tomb where Jesus’ body lay.

Matthew 27:

59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

What a sorrowful scene…

And Matthew records:

62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate..

64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day..

65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” And they went and made the tomb secure with the guard, sealing the stone.

Luke 23:

And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God; this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes.

(Note the brief amount of time these women John names had to see the tomb, return with spices and just begin the wrapping of Jesus’ slain body.)
- Luke tells us (Luke 23:56b) why they had to leave Jesus’ body until later.
And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
Luke 24:1 NASB
The Apostle Matthew tells how Joseph wrapped Jesus’ crucified body in a clean line cloth and laid the Lord in a place he had prepared for his own death.
Then Matthew tells us (27:60b NASB):

and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.

Matthew, the Disciple of Jesus also records the sad scene of silent mourning, where Joseph must have recalled these two women who lingered there.
⁶¹And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

Joseph rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed.
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To be continued..
.. at dawn the first day of the week ...
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December 4, 2020