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An Ephesian interlude (2): a reflection for Day 10 of Lent

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“Paul entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God. When some stubbornly refused to believe and spoke evil of the Way before the congregation, he left them, taking the disciples with him, and argued daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.” (Acts 19.8-9)      The historian of the first century has to deal with a peculiar problem – how did the movement loyal to Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah of Israel survive the death of its leader?   Many Jewish messianic movements came and went both before and after the time of Jesus, and they all – without exception! – came to the same tragic end (cf. Ac. 5.36-37 for a few examples of movements who preceded Jesus’).   As Luke knew well, a crucified “Messiah” was a failed Messiah, a false Messiah (cf. Lk. 24.19-21).   So, the (honest) historian has to face the question – why did this movement survive (and thrive!) when all the others ended up i...
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An Ephesian interlude (1): a reflection for Day 9 of Lent

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  “Now after these things had been accomplished, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go through Macedonia and Achaia and then to go on to Jerusalem . He said, “After I have gone there, I must also see Rome.” (Acts 19.21)       In many ways, the book of The Acts of the Apostles mirrors Luke’s Gospel.   In “the first book” (cf. Ac. 1.1), Luke has Jesus “set his face” to go to Jerusalem (Lk. 9.51) and then embark on an 11-chapter-long journey to the Jewish capital.   In the sequel to his Gospel, Luke portrays Paul as “resolving in the Spirit” to go to Jerusalem, where he will – like Jesus – cause a disturbance in the Temple, be put on trial for blasphemy and be handed over to the Roman authorities before undergoing a 2-year imprisonment, interspersed by multiple hearings before different Roman governors as well as a Herodian tetrarch (Ac. chapters 21-26; cf. 9.15-16; Lk. 23.1-12).   Unlike Jesus, Paul will not be executed in Jerusalem, but will fina...
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Politics at the dinner table: a reflection for Day 8 of Lent

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  “…the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ so that this generation may be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world...” (Luke 11.49-50)      Jesus and the disciples continue to journey towards Jerusalem.   The number of people thronging around Jesus is increasing (Lk. 11.14, 29; 12.1), and so is the tension between Jesus and the obstinate members of “his generation”.   As often happens in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus gets invited to a dinner-party to participate in a type of Pharisaic “symposium”, a learned discussion over a meal (11.37; cf. 7.36; 14.1).   The conversation quickly becomes a heated debate about law-observance.   Jesus proves once again that he has an extremely low tolerance for splitting hairs over the fine points of jurisprudence…and for hypocrisy (cf. Lk. 12.1-3).   Jesus goes so far as to utter three “woes” – i...
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Seeing is (not necessarily) believing: a reflection for Day 7 of Lent

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  “…some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven.” (Luke 11.15-16)      Jesus and the disciples continue to journey towards Jerusalem.   The number of people thronging around Jesus is increasing (Lk. 11.14, 29; 12.1), and so is the tension between Jesus and the obstinate members of “his generation” (cf. Lk. 11.29-32, 45-52).   Once again, people “test” Jesus (11.16; cf. 10.25).   This is the Greek verb peirazo , which means “to test, to put on trial”.   This is the same verb from Lk. 4.2, where the Devil “tempted” Jesus for 40 days.   The nominal form – peirasmos – is found at the end of the Lord’s Prayer (“do not lead us into ‘temptation’”; Lk. 11.4; cf. 4.13).   These words denote not only the “temptation” to do wrong, but also the “testing” of one’s character and convictions, whether genuinely or cynically.   Indeed, t...
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Surprising prophets: a reflection for Day 6 of Lent

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“Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!” (Numbers 11.29) “If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11.13)        Jesus and the disciples continue to journey towards Jerusalem.   As chapter 11 of his Gospel opens, Luke, as he often does, shows Jesus at prayer (11.1; cf. 6.12; 9.28).   The disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray, and Jesus proceeds to give them the “Lord’s Prayer” (11.2-4; cf. Mt. 6.9-13).   Jesus then continues, exhorting the disciples to be persistent as they pray – ask, seek, knock – in order to receive…the Holy Spirit (11.5-13)!   It is striking that Jesus speaks of the Spirit as being the “objective” of the disciples’ prayer-life .   However, in the context of Luke-Acts, it makes perfect sense.   Taken as a whole,...
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Strange priests: a reflection for Day 5 of Lent

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  "Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”  He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10.36-37)      Jesus and the disciples continue to journey towards Jerusalem.  Jesus’ mission was, simply put,  the kingdom of God .  And yet, Jesus’ vision of the kingdom didn’t square with any of the other visions on offer.  Jesus’ vision was one of compassion and mercy, of peace and wholeness (= “shalom”).  Through Jesus, the kingdom of God was indeed present (cf. Lk. 11.20, 17.20-21), albeit subtly (Lk. 13.18-21).  Only those with “healthy eyes” could see it (Lk. 11.33-36).      In Luke chapter 10, we find a whimsical exchange between a “scribe” and Jesus.  This expert in the law of Moses wants to “test” Jesus, i.e. to put him on the spot and see whether he knows his stuff.  The scribe asks, “What must I do to in...
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Surrender if you want to live: a reflection for Day 4 of Lent

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  “At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all perish as they did.” (Luke 13.1-3)      Jesus and the disciples continue to journey towards Jerusalem.   Jesus’ teaching has a harsh, prophetic tone; indeed, the notion of repentance is emphasized.   What precisely is Jesus calling his contemporaries to repent of ?      Jesus’ mission was, simply put, the kingdom of God .   And yet, Jesus’ vision of the kingdom didn’t square with any of the other visions on offer.   Jesus was constantly clashing with the Pharisees over questions of law-observance (e.g. Lk. 5.17-26; 11.37-54); unlike the Zealots, Jesus advocated non-violence and love of enemy (Lk. 6.27...
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