Monthly Archives: February 2026

LUKE’S GOSPEL…”PASSING BY” – 48

Bible Study, ,

“As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭35‬-‭43‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Another ”Sunday School” story with a treasure hidden deep in its details!

We know the story of this blind man well. In fact, although he is not even named in Luke’s version, he was just another blind man whom Jesus healed…or was he? A hidden jewel in the story sets him apart. 

Let’s unpick the story. 

Jesus was on His way to Jericho. Thronged by crowds, hemmed in by an excited mob, the noise around Him must have been ear-splitting. Middle Eastern people are excitable and vocal! Despite the noise, Jesus heard something…the urgent cry of a man in need. 

A blind man heard the crowd approaching from a distance. As they came near, he learned from people in the crowd that Jesus of Nazareth was “passing by”. 

“When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 

Jesus of Nazareth! The blind man could not believe his good fortune.  Here in Jericho! Miles from Jesus’ stamping ground in the precincts of Jerusalem! What an opportunity! The blind man began to yell! Despite the din, he needed to get the attention of the man who was “passing by”. 

Jesus of Nazareth was ”passing by”. What did this mean? Was He just on His way to somewhere?

This phrase appears more than once in Scripture, not just a random expression but with a specific purpose. Let’s examine a few examples. 

Moses interceding for Israel…

“And he (the Lord) passed (by) in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,”

Exodus‬ ‭34‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Elijah at the end of his tether…

“The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to “pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭19‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The disciples in peril on the lake…

“He (Jesus) saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to “pass by” them,”…

‭‭Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭48‬ ‭NIV‬

Bartimaeus blind and helpless… 

“When he (Bartimaeus) heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is “passing by.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭36‬-‭37‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A strange expression! What does it mean?

In each of these circumstances, Jesus, (who was God manifested on earth), was about to show up…to reveal something about Himself to the person or people concerned. To Moses, He would reveal His name, mercy… to Elijah, His purpose for the depressed prophet, a new assignment…to His disciples, His presence and power over the storm…and to Bartimaeus, His power to heal. 

In each of these circumstances, God’s people were in need of revelation about Himself that would perfectly meet their need. In their distress, He came to them and, in His “passing by”, He revealed His nature and His ability to be to them what they needed at that moment.  

Passing ”by” (Greek…parerchomai) can have the meaning of “coming near” or “making an appearance”. This mans that Jesus “showed up” to meet a need in a specific circumstance. 

What a difference the presence of Jesus makes in an impossible situation! We know that He is always with us although we cannot see Him. However, when we cultivate an awareness of His presence wherever we are, whatever is happening, the most impossible situation becomes “a piece of cake”. 

To Bartimaeus, Jesus’ “appearance” was the beginning of a new life. Gone his blindness, his dependence on others, his hopeless state, even his beggar’s cloak…his badge of office…and life, for him, began again. 

No matter what, Jesus is always “passing by”. He is “making an appearance” in our distress, and turning an impossible situation into a revelation of Himself that will change despair into hope. 

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…IMPOSSIBLE BUT POSSIBLE – 47

Bible Study, ,

“A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”…You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” …“All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭18‬, ‭20‬-‭24‬, ‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Another story we know so well…but the lesson…have we learned it?

This is not about what we own but what owns us?  

A nameless young man came to Jesus…wealthy, probably from his inheritance…connected, since he seemed to have had a flawless upbringing, probably from his position in society…but deeply dissatisfied and longing for something else, hence his question. If wealth and position were all that mattered to him in life, why didn’t these things satisfy him? 

Substitutes can never take the place of the real thing. God created humans to be connected to Himself by His Spirit in us. 

“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How did God do this?

“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 Unlike the rest of creation, which God spoke into being, God  personally fashioned the body of the first human from the elements of the earth and breathed His own life into his nostrils to become a man in the image of God. He had God’s life in him with the capacity for fellowship with God because of their “likeness”. 

Adam chose independence over union and lost the presence of God’s Spirit in him. 

Anything else is a substitute and a very poor one at that. 

This rich man was left to weigh up the odds.  Luxury and pleasure now or eternal life now and forever? No pressure from Jesus…just options and choice. Why options? Couldn’t he have both? His problem was that his wealth fully occupied his heart. There was no room for ”both and”.  His choice exposed what really mattered most to him. . 

Unlike Zacchaeus, the wealthy tax collector who chose Jesus and voluntarily disposed of his “dirty” money without pressure, this man chose his money and walked away from Jesus poorer, emptier, and condemned to an eternity on the rubbish dump of wasted potential. 

No wonder the rich man was sad…it was just too much to give up and, despite his empty heart, he clung to his gold and forfeited his opportunity to walk into eternity with Jesus.  He couldn’t have both. 

Society, culture, and even their religious upbringing had taught the Jewish people that wealth equalled God’s blessing. Now Jesus smashed that notion. 

“Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Well, if that is true, what hope do we have?” they thought!

However, Jesus assured His the onlookers that, even in an impossible situation like this one, God can do the impossible. He can turn slaves to money into lovers of God and teach them to use money as a servant, not a master. 

“Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To Timothy, Paul instructed…

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Money and possessions can never fill the void in the human heart. This place  is reserved for Jesus alone. He is the living bread and water for the hungry soul. 

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…WHOSE RIGHTEOUSNESS?- 46

Bible Study, ,

“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭9‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus’ story uncovers a deeply-embedded false notion that we, corrupted humans, can somehow do something to satisfy God’s righteousness enough to turn away His wrath because of our sin. Many false religions have this notion built into their belief system. 

Humans are naturally plagued with the idea that, somehow, we are obliged to seek God’s approval by our own efforts. Even those who claim to be God’s children have this persistent, pernicious, underlying thought that we must do something to prove that we are “good enough”. 

A rich man came to Jesus with the question, “What good thing must I do to inherit eternal life?” Wrong question!

Jesus’ parable highlights this trend, even in some parts of the global church, that is still alive today. It’s there, whether we like it or not. Some streams of the church function on this notion…in others, despite the teaching of “Christ alone”, this thought still persists in the subconscious mind of the believer. (I guess this idea must be a part of our old nature which still carries guilt and seeks to appease an affronted God). 

Jesus’ story had a target audience that openly taught and believed that God could be satisfied by compliance with His laws. The more fastidious and meticulous they were at obeying His laws, and even the man-made laws that were designed to protect His law, the more “righteous” they were in their own eyes. 

This law-conscious group consequently despised the riff-raff who didn’t “keep” the law and whom they, therefore, disdained and dismissed as “sinners”.  So, Jesus deliberately chose, in His story, to contrast a Pharisee with a tax collector because, in the eyes of the Pharisees, tax collectors were the epitome of “sinners” because they collaborated with the hated Romans. 

In Jesus’ story, the prayers of these two men revealed the core of their thinking. 

The Pharisee’s prayer, according to Jesus was, in fact, not even  addressed to God but only to himself. Jesus deliberately contrasted him with the tax collector, “I’m better than that guy!” but his words dissipated at the limit of his breath. Despite God’s breath being in him, he was so corrupted by his own importance that it was not God’s breath that came out of him but the “hot air” of his own belief system. His “thanksgiving” was focused on a rehearsal of his own hollow achievements. 

The Pharisee left his place of prayer…not justified, not changed…just the same self-righteous sinner who was a little more pleased with himself, a little more entrenched in his own delusional pride than he was before he prayed. 

Now…the tax collector! Somewhere, somehow, something  had happened to trigger his conscience. Did he see, for the first time, some of the outcomes of his extortion in the poverty of the people he had heartlessly defrauded for his own benefit? Did he see hungry, dirty children crying in the street because of him? Did he really “see” his own grand home beside the hovel of his neighbour because of his greed? 

His conscience bit deep into his soul. With downcast eyes, his shame washing over him like a tidal wave, he beat his chest in despair, crying out, “Oh God, forgive me! Please forgive me for my greed. Forgive me for what I have done to my own people. Have mercy on me for I have sinned grievously.” 

Which one did God hear? Which one did the Father listen to…was His own heart attuned to self- congratulation or a cry for mercy? What does the Word say?

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103‬:‭8‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As the terrifying wave of guilt had drenched him with fear, so the gentle blanket of peace began to enfold the guilty sinner. Forgiven! Justified! Declared “Not guilty!” the tax collector romped home, his heart as light as a feather. 

Which one would you rather be?

To end where we began, we must cultivate in our hearts, no matter what we do or achieve for God’s kingdom in this life, this overriding thought…”God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Jesus alone is my hope for eternal life. Without Him, I am nothing. 

Pride says, “I did it all by myself!” Humility says, “Father, forgive me for have sinned!”

…“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

No matter what we do “for God”,  if it’s not done “in God” or “through God”, it is nothing, like banging a empty drum. Our only motive is the gratitude that reveals our love for the one who had done it all for us. 

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…THE SIGN OF NOAH – 45

Bible Study, ,

“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all….

It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed…. ‭

I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭26-27, 30‬, ‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There is a common misconception and misinterpretation of Jesus’ words that has permeated the church for many decades, perhaps even centuries. Why is it that what Jesus clearly stated about His return has been turned upside down? He said, “As it was in the days of Noah…”

What happened in the days of Noah? Noah built a boat called an ark, at God’s command, to save his family and the animals when God flooded the earth. 

What is an ark?

“An ark is primarily a vessel for preservation—a floating chest or box (Hebrew: tebah)—designed solely to float and protect its contents, lacking steering, navigation, or propulsion. In contrast, a boat is designed for navigation, steering, and transporting passengers or goods across water.” (Source: Google AI)

Noah called the animals and God brought all the species of animal and bird life, in pairs, into the ark. Noah and his family also took shelter in the ark. Before the flood came, God shut the door. Then He poured down rain snd opened up the aquifers until the whole earth was flooded and all living creatures, including humans, perished. 

The illustration is clear…the unrighteous perished and the righteous were “left behind”…and yet, many believers still think that, when Jesus returns, they will be snatched away and the unbelieving population “left behind”. This is even the title of a popular movie depicting what will happen on the planet when all Christians mysteriously disappear. 

This interpretation flies in the face of what Jesus said about the events leading up to and following His return to earth. Let’s examine Jesus’ illustration carefully. The purpose of the ark was to save Noah’s family from the flood. These people were to be the continuation of the human race and the founders of a new generation who would believe in and follow the Lord. 

Now, let’s put what Jesus said about Noah side by side with  what He predicted about His return. When the flood came, who was lost and who was “left behind”? The answer is obvious. The unbelieving, ungodly people perished in the flood. The family of Noah was preserved alive inside the ark. They became the ancestors of the earth’s population. 

Now, Jesus said, “Just as…” What did He mean? He must have meant that ungodly people will perish and His people be “left behind” when He returns!

Why will Jesus return to the earth? Contrary to the popular notion that He is coming to fetch His people, to take them to heaven which, we think, is some place ”up there”, God’s plan was always for the earth and heaven to be one, to be His dwelling place with and among His people. 

The earth and humanity were corrupted by sin. Jesus came to redeem believing people from sin and its consequences and to restore creation to its original purpose. Those who believe His word and enter His kingdom will be given perfect resurrection bodies, like the body of Jesus, at His coming, and be a part of His eternal plan to live with Him and share in His government in a unified heaven and earth. 

At present, the earth is in a state of corruption but awaits the momentous event of His arrival…

“For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This plan is clearly revealed in Scripture…not a fairy tale or a pipe dream but an eternal design which the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit put into effect at the beginning and will complete at the end of time.

Let’s look at some Scriptures that will help us understand what will happen.  

Predicted…

“The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.”

‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭14‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Fulfilled…

“The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭11‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…and our part in this plan…

“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In John‘s final vision, he saw heaven joining with earth to become the dwelling place of God with His people. 

“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.””

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This has always been God’s plan. When mankind fell into sin through Adam, God had already set up His redemption plan to be put into effect at the perfect time, through Jesus. Then He sent His prophets to announce His plan to the world and to call people into His kingdom which He will complete when Jesus returns. 

So, then, Jesus will not come back to take His people out of the earth to heaven. He will remove ungodly people from the earth. He will return to purge the earth from pollution by the fire of His word, and to restore heaven and earth as His dwelling place with His people. 

This is our hope. This is our calling…to separate ourselves from the ungodly world system, to live under the yoke of Jesus, and to be faithful to what Jesus called us to do…to be witnesses to Him in our daily lives…until He returns. 

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬, ‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…FAITH IS – 44c

Bible Study, ,

“The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There is a final facet of faith that we, as westerners who think and have a world view that is different from that of the ancient Hebrews, do not understand when we read the Bible. We tend to inject our philosophical and abstract ways of understanding and interpreting the Bible into its words rather than drawing their meaning from ancient Hebrew thought and interpretation from the pictures or letters that the words represent. 

Hebrew words begin with three letters, called the “parent” word, and build their meaning by adding letters according to the context. The same word can mean a variety of things depending on the “child” letters added and the context in which they are used. This means that there is no corresponding and specific translation of a Hebrew word into another language. 

Hebrew people based their understanding of the world and life in the world, and consequently their language which developed from the simple way they experienced life. As I have already explained, for example, they viewed faith from their experiences in the wilderness, like tying their tents to a reliable stake in the ground so that they would not blow away in the desert wind. 

So too, the Hebrew understanding of time was different from ours. We view time as a straight line which has a beginning and an end. Everyone’s life is a straight line, beginning with birth and ending in death. For the Hebrews, life was cyclical. Like the time on the clock, like days and nights, like seasons and years, and like human life, time continues in never-ending cycle into which human lives fit and participate. 

How did they view the past and the future? For the Hebrew, and opposite to the way we think, they were able to “see” the past in front of them and the future behind them. This is not as crazy as it seems. The simple reason was that they could “see” their past in their memories, which was, therefore, in front of them, whereas they could not ”see” their future since it was unknown, and therefore, behind them. 

This way of viewing the past has practical implications for our understanding of faith. One of the ways our faith grows is by learning from our past experiences. As we experience God’s faithfulness in the tests we go through, our faith in Him grows and strengthens. We can “see”learn from our past and grow an increasing understanding and knowledge of God and His ways. Therefore, we can lean on Him with greater confidence, in our present circumstances, because of what we have already learned from past experiences of His faithfulness. 

This concept helps us to understand that faith isn’t just something we randomly exercise when faced with a variety of tests. Rather, faith is an attitude we develop as we grow in our understanding of God through experience which, in turn, contributes to our faithfulness to Him and His standards. The longer we live, the more tests we endure, the more we experience His faithfulness, the more secure we become in who God is, and consequently, the greater our loyalty to Him in more times of testing. 

This means that faith becomes a settled mindset. When things happen that require us to trust God for an outcome, we don’t need to crank our faith up because faith is already in place as part of the way we live life. Like Jesus said, “Remain in me and I will remain in you.” 

Now, to conclude…

Mustard-seed-sized faith is all that is needed to kick start our life of reliance on Jesus, but a seed always becomes something bigger…a plant, a tree…that will finally bear fruit. In the context of prayer, Jesus said something significant to His disciples…

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Was Jesus saying that the answers to our prayers that flow from our faith-union with Him form part of the fruit we bear that glorifies the Father? Is faith, then, a kind of two-way power line through which the Father accomplishes His will on earth…?

We lean our weight on Him…He reciprocates by answering us…and His will is done on earth through whatever situation we have addressed in prayer in our part of the earth. Multiply this thought by the billions of believers who live on earth. Some of these billions are engaged with God in furthering His purposes by faithful prayer. This is the way Father has planned…that we partner with Him in the administration of His kingdom on earth. We get our needs met, He gets His will done, and His rule extends deeper and deeper into the earth’s chaos to move His plan along towards completion…and He is glorified!

What a brilliant strategy!