Luke 14:25-34
Observations
Jesus tells us two parables. Why is Jesus trying to tell us in these two parables? Jesus gives his explanation in v 33 by saying "In the same way(**the words "in the same way" are our clue that it is an explanation) any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." WELL, HOW DO THOSE WORDS OF CHRIST EXPLAIN THE PARABLES???
I think Jesus' explanation is actually instruction on how to follow the lessons from the parable. If the builder doesn't not consider the cost, he will be ridiculed, if the king does not first consider the power of 10,000 men, he will be defeated, and if a disciple doesn't consider giving up everything (i.e. hating his family) he must not be able to finish. This is awesome. Jesus knows that no disciple can stay the course and remain on the straight and narrow path unless he forsakes everything else. Just like the parable of the sower when the word gets choked by the world. The person in which the word gets "choked" out of must not have first considered giving up everything. If he had, there would be nothing to choke it out. Is there a consequence for not finishing. What happens to salt that loses its saltliness? V35 says that salt which loses it's saltiness, is thrown out.
Questions I have?
Why does Jesus urge the churches in Revelation 1-3 to persevere? Seems pertinent to this passage...
Application is my prayer
Jesus seems to promote forsight. Can I think of something that exists in my life right now in which could pull me away 5 years down the road? A wife, a child? Do I have any ambitions for my later life that takes the focus off Jesus? What have I not forsaken? What competes with my passion for God and his glory? If God calls me to a remote people group in Papua New Guinea, but in order for my child to live through malaria, we have to leave permanently. What do I do? If God sends me to a hostile country where they treat their women terrible and my wife gets beaten, do I leave? What do I do? Will I persevere in a distant land? Or have I not given up everything? Have I given up health? Have I given up safety? Have I given up my family?
Father in heaven, maker of heaven and earth, you save the humble and bring low those eyes who are haughty. Oh Father reveal to me by the power of your Holy Spirit what may hinder me from persevering? Is there anything in my heart in which I do not hate in comparison to you. I forsake such things in the name of Jesus. You alone are my portion. You alone are my shield. Jesus I am committed to following you all of my days. As a priest of God and a heir I forbid anything of this world to take me off the narrow path in the name of Jesus. Father protect me from evil, deliver me from temptation. Do not let my eyes depart from your word. I love you Jesus. I submit my entire self to you. My hunger, my pain, my health, my comfort, my shelter, my thirst. Those who come to you will never go hungry and those who believe in you will never be thirsty. My confidence is in you and you alone. Because of Jesus' finished work on the cross I can pray. Amen
Luke 14-16, in my opinion, contains some of the most difficult parables in the Bible.
Did anyone learn from the shrewd manager???
Friday, January 25, 2008
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3 comments:
I broke down the parable of building the tower and going to war with 10,000 men as well. As a Civil Engineering student, I thought it was interesting that Jesus chose a tower as the building project; it seemed kinda random. Which probably means it's in there for a reason.
The definition for "tower" in verse 28: "a fortified structure rising to a considerable height, to repel a hostile attack or to enable a watchman to see in every direction." Sounds like more than just a place to live or a place to promote community. It's for war.
In talking about the result of the lack of foresight, it literally says "did not have power to finish," where power can mean "to exert, wield power, to have strength to overcome."
All that to say, what I see here is more than just an unfinished home improvement project. If I could some up what I feel Jesus is about here, it would go something like this: If you want to overcome and stand firm (in your struggle against sin, for instance), there's no base defense mechanism, the flesh can't fight off sin. So by the power of God you can draw a line in the sand and set that foundation, a place from which you can resist. But that's not the end, unless you are able to finish the watchtower AND stand on guard, manning the battlestation, the world will just scoff and say this man had no power.
The gospel is the POWER of God to be SAVED (Rom 1.16). By God's strength we can exert this power and make His name look glorious, so that the world will not scoff but "they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Let's carry it on to completion. He is able. Man the battlestations.
I lvoe it when you said, "it seems kind of random. Which probably means it's in there for a reason." I love that about the Bible that everything is in there for a reason!
I think it's a beautiful part of the story when the Father runs to the child when he realizes his sin and repents of it. I really do think that's the way God relates to us. Not running to catch us and convince us that we need to come back to him. But running to us, because he's so ready to receive us back. I get the picture in my head of a sprinter in the blocks, ready for the gun to fire. Leaning over the line to be as ready as possible for the chance to go. It seems like when we're away from God, God is leaning towards us. He's in the blocks, ready for us to fire the gun. Ready for us to say, "God, I accept your grace." With that, he takes off towards us, running to give us grace he was so eagerly and easily poised to give out to us. How loving God is. Seriously.
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