Luke 18:43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
 
WHEN we first met this blind man of Jericho two lessons back, we saw the evidence of his faith. He believed testimonies of Jesus’ preaching and healing. Then he eagerly responded to the news “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” to call out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” The Lord was in his presence, and the man faithfully called to him.
    Jesus, indeed, had mercy on the blind man and re-formed his eyes to see. The good news is that Jesus has mercy on all who call on his name.
    Yes, sometimes the mercy is quickly visible. He heals physically as with this man. Then even more, the Triune God manifests his eternal mercy to those who call on his name to be healed from sin.
    That’s right. Each time someone calls on Jesus to faithfully, “confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Think of it! Such faith is granted to mankind to respond to the Lord’s presence in our lives. We get to open our mouths and call out to Jesus, the Savior. How great is the love that flows from heaven unto the repentant soul! As the blind man became new physically, all who call on Jesus in faith become new spiritually.
    What, then, did the man do? Notice how he “followed Jesus, praising God.”  What joy! Transformed and made new in Christ’s power, he didn’t just sit and dwell in his blessing, did he? He got up to go with the Son of David to praise God’s saving grace. Let’s be this way, too. Let’s get up and follow our Savior with praise on our lips and passion in our hearts.
    Then receive one more beautiful point to this story. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. The one created new in Christ became a living testimony to God’s power come to earth. The crowd who blindly tried to keep the man from Jesus now had eyes, also, to see the reality of Jesus who had come “to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18b-19)
    How about it, Christian? Do you call on Jesus to answer your prayers? What do you do with your salvation? Are you praising God as he desires? Are you causing others to praise God with your testimony? If not, what do you still need to see?
    Tomorrow we’ll meet another man who wanted to see Jesus.
 
Prayer: Forgive me, Father, as I keep my needs, your healing and your salvation to myself. Loosen my tongue to praise you and testify of your great mercies. Amen.

Luke 18:40-43 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. 42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”
 
IT seems that most of us are reluctant to pray for ourselves, particularly when it involves healing. Even after all these years, I feel a bit embarrassed about having low vision and telling God, “Lord, I want to see.” Perhaps I think it too large a task for him. Or I don’t want to impose on the One who has blessed me so abundantly. And, too, isn’t this physical limitation good for me? Surely God has used this to teach me to be less of myself and more of him. He had much work, and still does, to do in that regard.
    We have seen throughout Luke how multitudes of people had to press against Jesus to be healed. One man had his friends break through a roof to get to Jesus. A woman went merely to touch his robe. And a synagogue ruler sought Jesus for his daughter’s healing. From far and near, the poor and rich people went to Jesus to be healed.
    Sickness, limitations and disabilities can cause us somehow to feel shame. Perhaps we get in the way. Or we cause others to do extra things to help us. Maybe we don’t like to talk about it. Ignore our problems, and they’ll disappear, right?
    Not so. Know the Lord is asking, “What do you want me to do for you?” Will you tell him? Regardless of the issue, learn from the blind man to directly answer Jesus’ question. Learn from Jesus he will stop to hear you. He will show you in some way he loves and honors you.
    Yes, I have told the Lord, “I want to see.” He hasn’t changed my eyes, but he’s changed and is changing my heart. That is a powerful healing that causes me to praise God.
    Be humble and honest before your Father in heaven. Hear through the Son of his great love for you. I pray you all will see how God answers your honest prayers, so you will praise him, too.
 
Prayer: Lord, I want to see. I want my eyes opened to you to know all the healing you want to do in me. In your name I pray, amen.
 
 


 

Luke 18:35-39 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
 
EIGHT days ago, we wrote of Jesus’ teaching on prayer and spoke of being one who prays persistently. Here is a great example of a faithful man persistent to call on Jesus.
    See his quick response to Jesus’ presence, “Jesus, Son of David.” Hear his faithful petition, “Have mercy upon me.” Apparently, people have witnessed to him of a healing, life-transforming teacher come to the Jews. The good news of the great miracles Jesus of Nazareth has done and the soul-changing teachings he has spoken has stirred his heart to hope!
    This faithful man is not like the disciple Nathanael who first said of Jesus, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” (John 1:46) He is not like the “learned” Pharisees who asked, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy?” (Luke 5:22) The Spirit has anointed the blind beggar with eyes to see and ears to hear know the Living God’s power has come to earth.
    About 500 years before this, God spoke to the prophet Ezekiel regarding spiritual sight and blindness with these words. Ezekiel 12:2 “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.” As they did Ezekiel, rebellious people mocked and surrounded the blind man. Also in the manner of his touch on Ezekiel’s prophetic vision, God opened the blind man’s spiritual eyes to see the Lord’s glory among the Jews. 
    The beggar in the street of Jericho id s perfect example of faithful, persistent prayer. Let’s be as he was. 
 
Prayer: Jesus of Nazareth, Son of David, have mercy upon me. Amen. 

Luke 18:28-30 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” 29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.”
 
PETER and his fellow disciples have quickly become anxious. Surely a few minutes before this, they were feeling satisfied as they heard Jesus tell a wealthy man, “Sell everything you have and give to the poor. Then come follow me.” That is exactly what they have done! Peter and his brother Andrew left the family fishing business as did James and John. Matthew left his prosperous tax-collecting business. Peter also left his wife for a time. But he did not abandon her. Later she is with him as he ministered the gospel. They gave it up for Jesus. Surely they were on the right path to the kingdom of God!
    But then Jesus said one more thing: Luke 18:25 “Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Do you feel the disciples’ anxiety? Is there suddenly something more?
    Do you ask the question, too? You listen to the Bible and obediently “leave” things of this world you enjoy to more closely follow Jesus. you strive to be faithful and be a good disciple. But little changes. Life goes on with its struggles and battles. Even reading the Bible or perhaps these lessons, you might anxiously feel, “There’s always something else I need to do.” How do you know you are truly following Jesus?
    The answer comes when you ask, “Why am I Jesus’ disciple?” Jesus assures his disciples that they have, indeed, demonstrated a true faith as they gave up “home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God.” This heart sacrifice is the true path to abundant eternal reward. Other than Judas Iscariot, who did not give up himself, the disciples follow Jesus “for the sake of the kingdom of God.” They have given up their former lives to step into a new life in Christ.
    As in other gospel teachings, Jesus calls us to the first commandment: Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.” The Living Word means what he says. No family relationship is to determine our relationship with him. Even in this, Jesus is your example. He left his own brothers and mother to minister the gospel “for the sake of the kingdom of God”.
    Many men and women whom God has called have heard from family and friends, “Don’t do that. It is foolish to give up all you have worked to accomplish.” But isn’t it true? Giving up becomes your life for Jesus transforms into abundant reward. Your call may be on a factory floor, in an office, on a farm or traveling the road. You may be in a classroom, in an athletic arena or on a desert plain. Wherever God leads you, be committed to tell him, “Yes, Lord. I give up myself to follow you. After all, you have given up your life for me.”
 
Prayer: If I have not given up all for you, Lord, show me. In Jesus’ name, amen.  

Luke 18:26-27 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”
 
HAVE you ever listened to someone describing a process when suddenly you hear an extraordinary, unbelievable statement? Likely, you respond with, “Really? That’s impossible!” That would have been the response a few years ago if I told someone, “I can put words onto a machine; then with a touch of a button, I can send those words around the globe.” Researchers are working now toward such impossibles as driverless cars. Thinking, problem-solving computers are in our very near future, too. To those living in 1900, who would have perceived the impossible-sounding technology miracles of the 20th and 21st centuries?
    Where do all these “impossibles” originate? They ultimately come from the Crater. From a formless void, God formed a glorious universe. Then he made mankind in his image. That means all our attributes come from God. He gave to us the brains to visualize new realities and minds to make the unbelievable become real. We humans are very, very good at solving technology “impossibles”.
    But no one can invent a machine to solve our impossible soul problem. Daily, I consider my sins and wonder, “How is it possible God allows me into his kingdom?” In a like manner, the disciples and other bystanders who listened to Jesus’ conversation with the wealthy ruler had the same question. Our Lord urged a wealthy man to give up his riches to follow him. You can hear the man say, “Really? That’s impossible.”
    Then Jesus compared salvation to a full-grown camel going through a needle’s eye. Jesus had raised the “impossible bar”! In response, his “congregation” snapped to attention. Suddenly the conversation was about them!
    Immediately, and I believe fearfully, they asked, “Who then can be saved?”  Jesus was a great preacher. He made his main point. The disciples needed an answer. As good disciples do, they went to the Preacher to get the answer. Even more they needed comfort and hope for their lives.
    Jesus then assured his followers, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” Once again, he’s calling his disciples to, “Follow me.” (Luke 9:23) “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29) “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalms 46:10)
    Do you remember, too, how Jesus’ mother needed to know how the impossible could be real? Luke 1:34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”  And the angel’s assurance: Then the angel Gabriel said, “For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37) We are the same as the disciples and Mary. When we hear “impossible” words from God, we need to believe all things have come from him, especially our lives now and forever.
    Created in God’s image, mankind can make machines to do “Impossible” tasks. But we cannot make ourselves right with God. Thankfully, “because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5)  
    What “impossibles” are in your life this day? Are you seeking artificial intelligence to resolve your dilemmas? Or are you seeking God’s eternal truth?
 
Prayer: Give me faith, Spirit, to believe that all things, even my salvation, is possible with God. Amen.
 

Luke 18:23-25 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.
 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
 
TO begin, Jesus is talking about a real camel going through a real needle’s eye. This is his use of an overstatement to make a point. His point is that wealth is an enormous barrier to faith. Subtly and surely, our comforts will become so large in our lives, we will say, “It’s impossible!” to sacrificially follow God.
    That is what happened to the wealthy ruler. As we look at part three of Jesus’ conversation with this wealthy man, we consider the man’s sad response. See how it was not love for Jesus, but it was the money that forced his sad response. One would think, though, he would be eager to do anything Jesus required! After all, in God’s benevolent care, the ruler used his knowledge and skills to accumulate wealth. And because the man asked the kingdom question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 18:18) apparently he believed in God. Likely, he would have studied and believed the words of the Law from Deuteronomy 6:4-6 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
    Yes, perhaps he had faithfully attended the synagogue each Sabbath. He had believed in the words and praised God for such call to hear God, love God and have a heart commitment to God. But what was his response when God’s Word confronted his wealth? Sadly, he was not truly willing to hear Jesus’ answer to his question: Luke 18:18 “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” In truth, he was only willing to do what was comfortable for him.
    Are you that way? Do you faithfully attend church to enjoy and find strength in the beauty and power with which God speaks? But what happens when you ask, “What must I do? Does this apply to me?” Do you believe God’s Word enough to the point it changes your life? Or do you sadly go your usual way?
    On that day, the ruler of all things confronted the rich ruler. The man was given the opportunity to respond with joy to the Master’s call. But he could not offer to the Lord what the Lord had so graciously offered to him.
    How hard it is, indeed, for our sinful souls to respond to the holy God. The more you treasure the world, the greater grows the “camel”. It remains an impossible barrier until you give it to God.
 
Prayer: I want to let go of myself, Lord, and come fully to you. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Luke 18:15-17 People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
 
IN our culture, it seems difficult to believe Jesus’ disciples tried to keep children away from the Teacher. Are we not in our churches always eager for our children to know the pastor? Surely we want them to come close to one who teaches God’s Word.
    But such familiarity from a child with a rabbi or any adult was frowned upon in Jesus’ day – and in many cultures, still. Our Lord, though, took a moment, as he often did, to change the cultural mindset and give value to his creation. He welcomed the children, and he affirmed them. The disciples even learned they needed a child-like faith! Imagine the radical sound those words would be to the adults present. Isn’t faith about learning all the law, history, prophecies and religious rules? Isn’t faith about remembering complicated worship forms, attending the festivals and wearing the right clothes?
    No, faith is believing as a child that Jesus is Lord, Savior, Redeemer and King. Faith is surely believing in God and believing God. Faith does not come from the religious activities. Faith comes from God’s Spirit to generate a human heart to live into God’s heavenly directives. Faith is about coming to Jesus with excitement and joy in our hearts, prepared to enjoy a close relationship with him.
    I pray you are not hindered from being child-like in your faith. Enjoy the Lord. Seek him with a smile. Expect his love to come pouring out on you. Rejoice in the time he comes to sit with you. Trust the Lord for all aspects of your life, and you will feel his welcoming arms wrap around you.
 
Prayer: Abba Father, keep my faith child-like that I may eagerly run to you each day, loving you and being loved by you. In Jesus’ name I come, amen.

Luke 18:9-14 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
 
THIS lesson is evident, isn’t it? God has no room in his house for people who think themselves more righteous or sinless than another. Such words as the Pharisee uttered will bring sure judgment. Even such words in our minds, unspoken from our lips is sin. God is righteous. We are not. Be humble to know your sin and to know your Savior.  
    Does this mean we are to be silent amid sins swarming around us? Do we refuse to correct people from their destructive habits? Certainly not. We cannot obey Jesus’ command to “make disciples” if we do not speak of his disciplines. We will reject, too, Jesus’ command to “love your neighbors as yourself” if we allow people to unknowingly sin. Holding Scripture to ourselves, it becomes a selfish possession instead of God’s gracious gift that is “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the people of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Remember these three points: 1) Someone has loved you enough to tell you wrong and right. 2) When someone corrects you, you receive their words with humility and submission. 3) Love others enough to guide them Jesus.
    Yes, I know it is common for people to reject your loving words with, “You are not my judge!” But this is another door opened for you. Simply respond with, “You are correct. I am not your judge. But I love you enough to prepare you to stand before the Judge of your eternal soul.”
 
Prayer: Lord God, holy and true, teach me each day to submit to your love, to speak your truth to guide people to your useful, true and saving Word. Amen.

Luke 18:1-8 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
 
MORE than 500 years ago, theologian John Calvin wrote: “Treachery, cruelty, imposture, deceit, and violence, abound on every hand; there is no regard to justice, and no shame; the poor groan under their oppressors; the innocent are abused or insulted; while God appears to be asleep in heaven.” Little has changed. Is God as the unjust judge who disregards righteous pleas and looks only to his own purposes? Is Jesus’ parable comparing the unjust judge to the Father? 
    Sometimes we can best see the truth when contrasted with evil. Jesus uses the unjust judge as an opposite of God in order to display God’s perfection. First, to affirm God’s pure justice, Jesus uses the unjust judge’s selfish motive (She’ll stop bothering me!) for granting the widow’s request. Our Father in Heaven will respond to your faithful prayers to draw you more purely into his protection and care. His will is for his glory and your blessing.
    Second, Jesus urges persistent prayer to build our faith. Seldom will the Lord quickly answer our prayers. He is the parent or mentor who holds back a problem’s solution in order to teach you perseverance. With such encouragements as, “Keep at it. See the solution. You’ll learn through your mistakes.” one who stays in the struggles will grow in wisdom and experience. Such Is our heavenly Father’s method. Patiently persevere as the widow, and you will hear from your just Father in Heaven.
    Think of the Bible accounts of people transformed into God’s purpose. Such change almost always took years. Consider, too, the Jews’ awaiting a Savior and the church now awaiting the Savior’s return. Jesus affirms the Father will avenge the unjust decrees.
    Each day and each hour, consider God will avenge wrong. Remember he has been patient with you: 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
    Trust God. Be persistent and patient to move through your trials toward God. Pray urgently for the worldly that they will be saved unto Heaven.
 
Prayer: Lord, you are holy, just and true. Grant me patience to await your justice on earth. Grant me love to pray for your world. In Jesus’ name, amen.  

Luke 17:34-37 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.” 37 “Where, Lord?” they asked. He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”
 
ONE view of God’s plan to judge and restore the world to his glory is called premillennialism. This isn’t really a big word. Simply put, this is a belief that before (pre) Christ’s final judgment, he will establish a 1,000-year (millennial) period from which he will take his believers to save them from the great trials that will then occur. During that millennium, those not saved in faith will still have time to repent and be saved. Popular fictions have been written about one will be taken and the other one left. But we must be careful to look closely at Jesus’ words here to know Jesus’ judgment is final.
    These verses teach that those who believe in Jesus when he comes will be with God. Those who do not will be separated from him. Two people may share the same bed as in marriage (In Jesus’ day and in some cultures, sharing a bed is very common.), but only one may be a believer and be saved. Others work together with much in common. Friends enjoy time together. But when Jesus comes, time is gone, and his decrees are final. He draws his own to him. The unfaithful are cast into Hell.
    The disciples then asked where this would happen, hoping to also understand when it would happen. They had not yet conceived of the Kingdom of God consuming the entire world. And certainly they were eager for this to occur, sure they would be taken. “To answer the disciples’ question, Jesus quoted a familiar proverb. One vulture circling overhead does not mean much, but a gathering of vultures means that a dead body is nearby. Likewise, one sign of the end may not be significant, but when many signs occur, the Second Coming will be near.” (from The Life Application Commentary)
    Throughout his ministry, Jesus preached the necessity of being in a personal relationship with him. Neither your relationships with friends, the rules you follow, your church membership nor your relatives from the past, will alone save you. You must be in a right relationship with Jesus to know he is the Son of God now. Do not wait for “someday”. The most horrible fate of all (Read again Luke 16.) is to live eternally separated from God.
    Call on his name and be saved. Rejoice in the incredible, eternal friend we have in Jesus!
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that these words from Luke and other scriptures are your loving words to warn us of your ultimate judgment on our lives. Move this day, Holy Spirit, to draw those who are separated from the Father into a holy, eternal union with him. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.