Getting Ready for the Next Leg
Scripture – Luke 22:35-38: 35Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. 36He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” 38The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” he replied.
Reflection: This is a bit mysterious to me. I understand the part about the purse and bag. While Jesus was with them on earth they needed nothing. They could travel light. Now that He’s preparing to leave, they need to rely on themselves for at least this next part of the journey.
The sword business is what I have trouble with. Why do they need swords? That seems so opposite of what He’s taught them. I mean, would He advise us today to get guns? I don’t think so. Maybe the sword had a different meaning in those times. I’ll do some research and see what I can find.
In the meantime, one thing that seems clear is the journey is going to get a lot harder for the disciples now. Will they be ready? Am I?
An Invitation: A small group will be meeting tomorrow morning from 9:45 – 10:30am to share what we’ve learned and seen in this week’s readings. We’ll meet in the Pastor’s office at Bethel Baptist Church, 13330 Trenton Road in Southgate. Everyone’s welcome to join us.
Reading for Sunday, July 26
Luke 22:39-44: 39Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Reading for Monday, July 27
Luke 22:45-48: 45When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” 47While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Reflection: This is a bit mysterious to me. I understand the part about the purse and bag. While Jesus was with them on earth they needed nothing. They could travel light. Now that He’s preparing to leave, they need to rely on themselves for at least this next part of the journey.
The sword business is what I have trouble with. Why do they need swords? That seems so opposite of what He’s taught them. I mean, would He advise us today to get guns? I don’t think so. Maybe the sword had a different meaning in those times. I’ll do some research and see what I can find.
In the meantime, one thing that seems clear is the journey is going to get a lot harder for the disciples now. Will they be ready? Am I?
An Invitation: A small group will be meeting tomorrow morning from 9:45 – 10:30am to share what we’ve learned and seen in this week’s readings. We’ll meet in the Pastor’s office at Bethel Baptist Church, 13330 Trenton Road in Southgate. Everyone’s welcome to join us.
Reading for Sunday, July 26
Luke 22:39-44: 39Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Reading for Monday, July 27
Luke 22:45-48: 45When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” 47While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
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