The Pharisees are shown as villains throughout the gospels since they have Christ arrested and crucified. In Luke 13, however, we have them warning Christ to get out of Jerusalem since Herod wants to kill him. Is this good will on the Pharisees’ part or do they just want to get him out of town or maybe they themselves want to kill Jesus – only God knows. Herod is an enemy of the Jews and Jesus calls him a “fox.” This is interesting since he talks about wanting to be like a hen and gathering them up in safety from the “fox” Herod. Christ hasn’t been able to do so since the Jews of Jerusalem have killed the prophets and those sent to them and will do so to Christ. Jesus wants to protect them and give them new life through him, but they are not willing. In Psalm 27 we see those who are willing – those who seek the Lord’s face. The Psalmist acknowledges that this is the God of my salvation – the one true God. Though Luke uses the image of a mother hen protecting her chicks, the P...

  Lent has begun and many of us have given up things like eating sweets, drinking coffee, even chocolate. Some even go on fasts during this time. However, some will find sights of sweets, chocolate brownies, and smell of coffee to tempt them away from their promise of withholding. Our Luke 4 passage talks about another forty-day period of fasting that Jesus went through. If this wasn’t enough, at the end of it, the devil comes to tempt him. First, he tempts his hunger, his human need for food by telling him to use his power to turn a stone into bread. Jesus answers, “Man does not live by bread alone.” He is talking about the spiritual needs that bring true life. The devil tries again by tempting him with power by offering him authority over the whole world if Jesus will bow down and worship the devil. Again, Jesus quotes scripture. “We shall worship only the Lord your God.” Being denied by Christ quoting scripture, the devil uses scripture itself to tempt Jesus. It is from ...

  Today we study the Transfiguration. Jesus takes Peter, John, and James up to a mountain to pray. Now while they are praying, Jesus’ face and clothes become dazzling white. Also appearing in glory is Elijah who was known for not dying but riding a chariot up into heaven. Then there is Moses that was known for having his face shine so bright after being with God making the Ten Commandments that he had to cover it with a veil to not make the Israelites afraid. But here the two of them, long gone, are seen in glory. Why did they return to earth? To discuss what Christ was going to achieve in Jerusalem – salvation for all. Peter decides this is great and wants to preserve it by setting up three dwellings, but Christ’s time hadn’t come. In order for us to fully behold his glory he needed to go to Calvary to achieve salvation for all. Paul in II Corinthians 3 tells how we are no longer under the old covenant – Moses’ Ten Commandments. Do you think this was what Moses was discussin...