Tuesday, April 12, 2022
“Read Luke, Chapters 19-24”
Today’s Challenge is to read Luke’s account of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This was appropriately chosen for Holy Week because the Church calendar also corresponds with the reading. Since this is Holy Week in the Christian Church, reading from the Bible about a Gospel account of Jesus’ final days with his followers is a very helpful study and preparation tool.
At the Longboat Island Chapel (www.longboatislandchapel.org) where I currently serve, we have been studying the Gospel of Luke. I have been profoundly impacted by the way Luke paints the story of Jesus. According to Luke’s account, there are always purposes for Jesus’ teaching, assistance for His followers, and help for us. Sure, we might need to put on our thinking caps to connect a few dots of relevance in today’s world, but the lessons are there.
Are you still struggling with the purpose of this Challenge? As you read, take some time to imagine yourself in the same situation. Imagine what Jesus experienced with a final meal, what it was like to be thrown under the bus by one friend and not even be acknowledged by another. How would we have reacted if we were Jesus? What if we were a disciple and we saw the soldiers arrest Jesus? Would we have tried to defend Jesus or would we have offered to carry the cross for him later? Would we be able to stand firm during the hostility and injustice or would we shrink away to our own places of safety and security?
Yeah, this is big stuff. All the more reason to take some time this week and remind ourselves what God did so that you and I, who are card-carrying members of Idiots Anonymous, could have another chance. Yeah, this is big stuff and it’s good stuff for the soul.
Read Luke, chapters 19-24 today.
“He (Jesus) went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. He said, “You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! You’re the first to hear and see it. You’re the witnesses.” (Luke 24:45-48, The Message)
