Luke 6:12-49
Following two major themes in Luke...This week's reading presents a brief note about one theme and a major example of the other.
1. Describing a world-changing movement, the person at the center, and the power behind it.
It starts out with Jesus gathering his twelve disciples, and Luke mentions that Jesus also called them "apostles". Ever wonder why these folks are called disciples sometimes and at other times called apostles? Turns out Jesus is responsible. Apostle means "sent one", but it won't be until chapter 9 that Jesus actually sends them out in mission to others. The apostles are the main characters (other than the Holy Spirit!) in the book of Acts, and here Luke makes it clear that even at the very beginning, Jesus followers (disciples) were destined to be sent out (apostles) to lead a movement throughout the known world.
Do you consider yourself a disciple of Jesus? What does it mean to you? Do you have a personal favorite of the original 12? What do you appreciate about that disciple?
Have you ever thought of yourself as an apostle? In what ways has Jesus sent you out to bring his love and message to people in need of it?
2. Jesus' mission to the marginalized
Jesus' teaching both uplifts the poor & challenges the rich. 6:20-26
His sermon on the plain (a level place) differs from Matthew's sermon on the mount:
Here Jesus offers blessings and woes...that's right, he did say that! His "woes" challenge a particular group of people...those who are rich, those who have plenty of what they need.
Luke says blessed are you who are poor (he does not say "poor in Spirit" as Matthew does). And just in case we want to write that off or read it to mean spiritually, Jesus says woe to you who are rich!
What do you do with this teaching? Spiritualize it? Ignore it? Set the line between rich and poor safely above your financial status? Allow yourself to be blessed (if poor) or challenged (if rich) by the Lord?
Relate this section to 32-36. Here Jesus issues clear direction about lending to those in need of money...he's talking about the rich. Giving a loan to someone who has the ability to repay you is just business, not an expression of Kingdom mercy. We'll see throughout Luke and Acts that giving money is expected of those who follow Christ as Lord. In Acts we will see believers holding their possessions in common with one another. Some people of means are generous (Lydia) and others decidedly greedy (Ananias and Sapphira). Spoiler alert...there are consequences for being greedy with the resources God has given you.
Relate it also to Luke 6:46. "Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?" The concept of Lordship...obeying the teaching of Jesus...includes aligning our wealth with Gods kingdom purposes and releasing our tight hold on our security blanket of money.
What do you think all of this means for you and your family?
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