Today’s scripture: Luke 20:19-26 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Sue Robinson):
At this point in Jesus’ life, all eyes were on him. Many in the Jewish nation were amazed at all of the miracles he had performed. Some were starting to believe that he probably was the Messiah.
But the chief priests and scribes (the leaders of the Jewish community) were not so pleased or convinced. They were sure Jesus was taking authority away from them and leading the people astray. After all, he had healed people on the Sabbath, had taught in the temple without following protocol, and had led the disciples in harvesting grain to eat on the Sabbath when they were hungry. All of these things were strictly forbidden by the Scriptures. And the worst was that he was said to have claimed to be God’s Son. There could be no greater sacrilege!
In these passages, the scribes and chief priests were seeking to catch Jesus in contradiction to the Scriptures. Then they would have him!
Do you have those in your life who question your Christian walk? “How can she be a Christian and go to those places?” “I can’t believe he professes to be a Christian and hangs out with those people.” As soon as you say you are trying to follow Christ’s example, some are watching and waiting for you to fail in some way. By taking the name of Christian, we are always an ambassador of Jesus.
And yet, as we look at Jesus’ example, it was never as simple as just “following the rules.” When someone questions my walk, I will have to examine myself. Do they have a point? Or are they a “chief priest and scribe”?
Prayer for the day: Help me, oh Lord, to always speak and behave as if you are there beside me — wherever that leads me. Let me act in ways that will draw people to you, not away from you. Amen.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.