Will Jesus come?

After the raising of Lazarus, Jesus’ life was in danger. Would he keep the passover in Jerusalem?

John 11:55-57, 12:1, 12:9-11

• Crowds had gone to Jerusalem ahead of the feast to purify themselves (v. 55).
• Their question: would Jesus risk his life by coming? (v. 56)
• The official ruling that anyone who knew his whereabouts should report them so that he could be arrested (v. 57).
• About a week before the feast, Jesus returned to nearby Bethany, the place of the raising of Lazarus (v. 12:1).
• Many people gathered in Bethany, not only to see Jesus but also to see the resurrected Lazarus (v. 9).
• The infuriated the chief priests all the more because the resurrection of Lazarus was drawing masses to Jesus (v. 10).

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Parable Of The Pounds

Because he was near Jerusalem, and because some thought that the kingdom of God would shortly appear, Jesus told this parable about faithfulness til the end.

Luke 19:11-28

• A nobleman, 10 servants (3 of which are key to the story), and a citizenry.
• The nobleman must go away to receive great honor; but he will return.
• Before he goes, he gives each servant responsibility to conduct business on his behalf. Each servant has the same obligation.
• In his absence, the citizenry declares its animosity toward the nobleman and its desire to be free from his authority.
• On his return, he calls his servants to give account of their stewardship, and his dealings with three of them are noted.
• The first servant’s business has increased the 1 pound to 10 pounds. The second has increased his 1 to 5.
• But the 3rd, fearing loss and retribution, hid his pound and presents his 1 with, what he thinks, a reasonable explanation for not having any increase.
• The nobleman is well pleased with the first two servants, and he rewards them with much greater responsibilities.
• The nobleman is seriously displeased with the third servant, and chides him for not even making a low-risk, low-interest bank deposit. Moreover, the 3rd servant loses his minimal responsibility.
• As for the rebellious citizenry, they are to be executed.

Meditation Points:

1. How does this parable answer the question about the immediacy of the Messianic kingdom? The nobleman (Christ) will go away for an unannounced period of time; and then he will, also unannounced, return.
2. And what should his servants be doing until he returns?  Trade. They must use the time and world that God has given them to increase His kingdom. Perhaps something could be said for each servant having an equal responsibility. Consider what God has given to each of us in equal shares. Time comes to mind first. We each have 24-hour days that disappear like clockwork. Never was there a more level playing field.
3. He who is faithful in little will be given responsibility over greater things. Will our greater responsibility be in proportion to our faithfulness?
4. What of the 3rd servant, the one who was afraid to fail? Failing in action is no sin; failing to act is.
5. And the rebellious citizenry? Do you see the rebellious Jewish leaders here, with they utter contempt for Jesus?

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Zacchaeus

Who hasn’t heard the tune “Zacchaeus was a wee, little man”? But the lesson of the story is that his small stature did not prevent him from exercising great faith—great faith which Jesus recognized.

Luke 19:1-10

• The blind beggar mentioned at the end of the previous chapter was near Jericho (18:35). Zacchaeus was from there, too (v. 1).
• Zacchaeus was a tax collector; in fact he was the chief tax collector. And he was rich (v. 2). In those days tax collectors controlled the movement of commercial goods through their area, and they often charged more than the law required and pocketed the excess. For the unscrupulous it was a money-making opportunity.
• Zacchaeus climbed a tree to gain a better vantage point from which to see Jesus (v. 3-4).
• His effort paid off, for not only did he see Jesus, Jesus saw him also. And Jesus announced that he was going to visit Zacchaeus at his house that very day (v. 5). Zacchaeus joyfully accepted the offer (v. 6).
• On-lookers wondered that Jesus would dine with “a sinner” (v. 7). But as we well know, “the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (v. 10); and we are not surprised by Jesus’ rendezvous.
• In his defense, Zacchaeus announces that he will give half of his money to the poor and that he will repay 4 times the amount he had defrauded any man (v. 8). This was in keeping with the Law (Ex 22:1; Nu 5:6).Apparently Zacchaeus was convicted by the murmurs.
• Jesus accepts this offer of charity and restitution as evidence of repentance and declares that Jewish Zacchaeus was saved (v.9).

Meditation Point:

One visit with Jesus and the cheating tax collector is converted, changed forever. Have you ever visited with Jesus?

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A Certain Blind Man

Interpreter’s Note:

Was there one man or two? Is this Bartimaeus? Expositors have disagreed.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, has an interesting explanation:

From Jericho (??? ??????). So Mr 10:46. But Luke {Lu 18:35} places the incident as they were drawing near to Jericho (??? ??????). It is probable that Mark and Matthew refer to the old Jericho, the ruins of which have been discovered, while Luke alludes to the new Roman Jericho. The two blind men were apparently between the two towns. Mark {Mr 10:46} and Luke { Lu 18:35} mention only one blind man, Bartimaeus (Mark). In Kentucky there are two towns about a half mile apart both called Pleasureville (one Old Pleasureville, the other New Pleasureville).

Luke 18:35-43

• A blind man begging.  What else could he do in an agrarian economy? How helpless and useless he must have felt.
• Sightless, but hearing, he knew that a crowd was passing by; and he wondered what was happening.
• Learning that Jesus of Nazareth was in the crowd, the blind man cried out for mercy from the one he considered to be the Son of David. There is no doubt of his theology nor of his opinion of Jesus.
• Though others attempted to silence him, he cried out louder. Here was one who could solve his great problem and take away his greatest pain. How could he be silent? Jesus was passing by. This was the opportunity of a lifetime.
• Jesus recognized a voice crying out, and ordered that the man be brought. Jesus asked him specifically what he wanted. The blind man came quickly to the point: “Lord, that I may see again.” (Was he once able to see?)
• His faith in Jesus was rewarded. He received his sight.
• Immediately he glorified God and used his new vision to follow Jesus.
• His healing motivated many others to praise God.

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