Luke
21:1-38 - The ‘poor widow’ gave her ‘all’ to the Lord (1-4). True giving is a response to ‘the grace of God’. Learning to appreciate ‘the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ’, we will learn to give with ‘abundance of joy’ and ‘wealth of liberality’ (2 Corinthians 8:1-2, 9). Let us give ourselves to our Lord. True Christian living will not be easy (12; 2 Timothy 3:12). The Lord will be with us in all our difficulties (15, 18-19). Christ will return ‘with power and great glory’ (27). For some this will be a time of ‘distress... perplexity... fear... foreboding’ (25-26). For others, it will be the Day of ‘redemption’ (28). To all, there is the warning: ‘Take heed to yourselves... watch at all times’ (34-36). Let us restore Him to His rightful place in our lives - ‘...all the people came to Him...’ (38).
21:1-38 - The ‘poor widow’ gave her ‘all’ to the Lord (1-4). True giving is a response to ‘the grace of God’. Learning to appreciate ‘the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ’, we will learn to give with ‘abundance of joy’ and ‘wealth of liberality’ (2 Corinthians 8:1-2, 9). Let us give ourselves to our Lord. True Christian living will not be easy (12; 2 Timothy 3:12). The Lord will be with us in all our difficulties (15, 18-19). Christ will return ‘with power and great glory’ (27). For some this will be a time of ‘distress... perplexity... fear... foreboding’ (25-26). For others, it will be the Day of ‘redemption’ (28). To all, there is the warning: ‘Take heed to yourselves... watch at all times’ (34-36). Let us restore Him to His rightful place in our lives - ‘...all the people came to Him...’ (38).
22:1-38 - Jesus’
enemies were ‘religious’ men but they were not God’s men (2). Behind
the scenes, there was the activity of ‘Satan’ (3). He ‘disguises himself
as an angel of light’ - Judas Iscariot was ‘one of the twelve’! (3; 2
Corinthians 11:14). In reality, Satan is ‘a roaring lion, seeking
someone to devour’ (1 Peter 5:8). Jesus was in complete control of the
situation. He allowed Satan to carry out the plot which would lead to
his own defeat - at the Cross. As the whole situation gets darker, never
forget the purpose of Christ’s death (19-20). Jesus was suffering - the
pain inflicted by His enemies (2) and the agony brought on by his
‘friends’ (21,31-34). His suffering was for us: ‘Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed for us’ (7; 1 Corinthians 5:7). In His suffering is our salvation.
22:39-71 - Jesus
was ‘greatly distressed... troubled... very sorrowful... ’ (Mark
14:33-34). ‘Nevertheless, in obedience to His Father’s will, He chose
the way of the Cross (42; John 10:17-18). Satan - ‘the power of
darkness’ - would have his ‘hour’, but Jesus was to be ‘seated at the
right hand of the power of God’ (53,69). Jesus suffered much persecution
(63-71). He endured it ‘for the joy that was set before Him’, the joy
of ‘bringing many son to glory’ (Hebrews 12:2; 2:10). The way of the
Cross is never easy. It involves death to self (2 Corinthians 4:10-12).
Do not ‘sleep’. Pray (45-46). Don’t ‘follow at a distance’ and deny your
Lord (54, 57-58, 60). Keep close to Jesus. Let the ‘rivers of living
water flow’ (John 7:37-39; Acts 1:8). When you sin, let His ‘Word’ lead
you to repentance (61-62; Psalm 119:11).
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