The way of imagination

  “…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...

  “…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...

“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,...

  "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...