Monthly Archives: March 2026

LUKE’S GOSPEL…THE COMPANY YOU KEEP – 60

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“Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭55‬-‭62‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A significant detail in the story… Peter chose dangerous company! 

I don’t think that the narrator included the mention of Peter’s nighttime companions just for colour. I think that the soldiers and servants, the ”they” in the story, were the catalyst for Peter’s fall. Had he remained with his fellow disciples, the like-minded ones, they might have supported one another and stayed out of the limelight. 

Peter was a square peg in a round hole. It was obvious to those around the fire that he was from out of town. His dress and speech gave him away. He was a Galilean, from the northern province which was closest to Gentile territory, the territory of the prisoner under arrest. Was it coincidence that a Galilean was right there among them?  It was like a citizen of Louisiana visiting New York. The difference was unmistakeable. 

What was a Galilean doing in Jerusalem? A visitor from up north attending Passover celebrations…at this time of the morning…in the courtyard of the high priest’s residence? Not likely? He was there for another reason…

The atmosphere was electric with tension…suspicion…a “dangerous” prisoner was on trial. Were there spies in the company…was there someone of His group who was detailed to stage a rescue mission…to trigger a revolt? Why were the bystanders so interested in this stranger?

An unnamed servant girl set off the enquiry, rather…the accusation. “You are a Galilean!” Got you! “What is a Galilean doing here? You were with Him!”

“No, I’m not! No, I wasn’t! I don’t even know the man!” 

“But we saw you with Him!” 

“No, it wasn’t me!”

“Yes. it was you!”

“You are crazy! I wasn’t anywhere near Him!”

And so the “he said – she said” argument continued until…a familiar sound heralded the dawn. Peter stopped short, as if a bolt of lightning had struck him. In the heat of the argument, he remembered!

“..Truly I tell you,…this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 

…and he remembered…his vigorous and “cock-sure”defence…

…“Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you”…

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…and the sound of all his empty words rang in his ears…

Peter glanced up in his moment of shame and, for a moment his eyes locked onto Jesus…

…and Jesus slowly turned and looked at Peter…straight in the eye. 

…and Peter knew that Jesus knew…

…and Peter broke…and the tears flowed down his cheeks in a river of shame and regret…

…and Peter slunk away into the darkness to lick his wounds and wonder…”Is Jesus finished with me?”

In the eyes of the Master, there was everything He wanted to say to His fallen companion, not “I told you so!” not “Why, Peter, why?” or even, “You worthless, you good-for nothing sinner!” From those eyes of fire boring deep into his soul flashed love, forgiveness, compassion…even sorrow for a wasted opportunity. 

Jesus was to Peter, even in his darkest moment, what He had always been to every “cancelled” Jewish “sinner” among own His chosen people…gentle, kind, and full of mercy.  

This “look” of Jesus lit a spark of hope in Peter’s soul. He fled the company that had triggered his downfall and rejoined his companions who were all in this together. Everyone, in his own way, had denied and forsaken Jesus. They could not return, fall at His feet and beg for forgiveness. The moment for restoration had passed, so

 they thought. They could only stand near Him as His lifeblood dripped away…but, somehow, they knew that He knew…and they were comforted. 

There is a sequel to this saga…a meeting on the beach, back at the lake where, for some, the story had begun. Breakfast shared at the invitation of the risen Master, a deliberate gesture of reconciliation. An intimate moment…love rekindled, love shared, the commission renewed, “Peter, do you love me? Feed my sheep; tend my lambs.”

A restored, reassured, revitalised Peter returned to Jerusalem to be the herald and spokesman for Jesus when the Holy Spirit fell on them to jumpstart His church and the glorious New Covenant. 

Jesus is the God of the second chance…if only Judas had known…

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…NO PLACE FOR HYPOCRITES – 53

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LUKE’S GOSPEL…NO PLACE FOR HYPOCRITES – 53

“While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭20‬:‭45‬-‭47‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus had nothing but mercy for sinners but nothing but judgment for hypocrites.

According to Jesus, what is a hypocrite?

“According to Jesus, a hypocrite is a “play-actor” (derived from the Greek hypokrites) who wears a mask, pretending to be righteous to gain human recognition while their heart remains distant from God. Key behaviors include practicing religious duties publicly to be seen, enforcing strict rules on others that they do not follow themselves, and judging others’ minor sins while ignoring their own greater faults.

Key Characteristics of Hypocrites According to Jesus:

  • “Whitewashed Tombs”: Outwardly appearing righteous, but inwardly full of lawlessness, filth, and spiritual death (Matthew 23:27-28).
  • “Blind Guides”: They focus on trivial traditions while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
  • “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing”: Appearing harmless or righteous but having selfish or destructive motives.
  • The “Log” and the “Speck”: Focusing on the small faults (specks) of others while ignoring massive personal flaws (logs). 

Jesus reserved his strongest condemnation for religious the leaders (Pharisees and Scribes) who used piety to manipulate others and boost their own reputation.” (Sourced from Google AI, quoting from gotquestions.org)

There is no record of any altercation between Jesus and “sinners”…yet the gospels are full of accounts of clashes between the Him and the religious leaders. They actively sought or created opportunities to trap Him in His words or deeds, to force Him to speak or act against Moses, from whom they claimed their authority. They challenged His authority to interpret Moses on a higher and more spiritual level than they claimed to understand. They hated the mercy He showed to sinners while they ruthlessly applied the law without mercy.

Jesus came from the Father to correct the misrepresentations about the Father that His people had gathered over the centuries, and to exemplify and fulfil God’s law which mirrored the true character He revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai.

“Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭33‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭34‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Holy love…this is God’s true nature in perfect balance. The Pharisees tried to protect and represent God’s holiness by heartlessly pursuing strict observance of the law…which they themselves failed to mirror…while neglecting to show His love which was His covenant faithfulness, His “chesed”, to His covenant people. Their ruthless nitpicking, especially their attacks on Jesus and His disciples, clearly exposed their own failure to understand the true nature of the God they claimed to serve.

For Jesus, the law meant the expression of the full nature of God in His requirements and in His never-ending mercy towards His erring people. To the Pharisees, the law was the strict standard by which to measure and find fault with people so that their superior outward behaviour could cover the rottenness of their own hearts.

Jesus saw right through them. He preferred the company of those who knew themselves and related to Him without facade or pretence. They received mercy while the Pharisees deserved judgment.

To be continued…

LIKE’S GOSPEL…THE HOUR OF DARKNESS – 59

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“Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭52‬-‭53‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There is an hour, or perhaps more than one “hour”, when darkness reigns in every life. The light goes out. Everything goes dark. The whole world falls apart. It seems that evil has finally triumphed. Something has happened to shatter life. Peace has evaporated, leaving only chaos, confusion, and terrifying fear of the next hour. 

Sometimes we create our own darkness and, sometimes, others pull down the curtain on us. Whatever the source, we must navigate our hour of darkness. 

Even in the earthly life of Jesus, He had to face His “hour” of “darkness”. His world was rudely interrupted by a mob, armed with deadly weapons, shouting, accusing, to arrest Him…Jesus…the man of compassion, mercy, and peace.  Why? What had He done to deserve this treatment?

Darkness had indeed engulfed the land of God’s people. Their leaders had lost their minds. Hatred, envy, delusion had driven out reason and sense. At all costs, they must rid the land of the one man who held them up to scrutiny… and found them wanting. They were so filled with darkness that it spilled out into the hearts of the people they ruled. 

The same people who, days before, had sung praises and hailed Jesus as “the Son of David”, would, in the next “hour”, bay for His blood.  What had gone wrong? Darkness had thrown down the gauntlet, demanding permanent and sovereign rule over the human race. If they killed Jesus, the God-man, they could finally cement their master’s bid for the title and office he craved and fought so hard to win…”Lord!”

How did Jesus deal with His “hour of darkness”? Did He resist, fight back, retaliate, use His divine power to obliterate His enemies? Did He just walk away unscathed, as He had done on many previous occasions? 

He stretched out His hands to receive the ropes that would bind Him! He surrendered Himself to His captors. He gave Himself up to the darkness that would engulf Him for the next agonising hours because He knew the truth. 

“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As in the natural world, so in the realm of spiritual truth, darkness can never outwit or triumph over light. As light enters, so darkness flees. Jesus knew that the darkness of evil would only last for its “hour” until its work was done. Let the darkness do its worst…He held the trump card. He is the light…and the life. Darkness could snuff out His life but only for its ”hour”. Then the life would return. The light would shine, and all darkness and all those who are of the darkness would fade into oblivion. 

Jesus made a promise…

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The light that was extinguished for three days, could never go out forever. Jesus walked from the tomb, alive again, to be our light when we follow Him. He sets us alight with new life, and with His Spirit who lives in us to drive out darkness and transform us into His likeness to be the light for Him. 

What do we do when darkness falls on our world? How can we be sure that, however dark it may be now, the light will shine again? We have the Word, the infallible promise of God…let me say it again…

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

With this promise, we need never succumb to the darkness, be it circumstances, people, or the devil himself who intrude on our path. We can surrender ourselves to the darkness for a season, as Jesus did, but our faith in Jesus, anchored to the rock of truth, will hold us steady until the light breaks through again. The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee. 

As Jesus did, so we overcome the darkness by refusing to fight back. As we absorb into ourselves the evil intended to destroy us, it loses its power. Through God’s grace, we drive out the darkness by being the light.   

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…LIKE GREAT DROPS OF BLOOD – 58

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“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭39‬-‭44‬ NIV

It amazes me how human imagination loves drama and even twists words to paint a picture in the story that the words never intended. Luke’s portrait of the human Jesus under extreme pressure is one of those misreadings which is a detail not found in the other gospel records of Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane…

“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”

One little Greek word, perhaps deliberately omitted in some translations to heighten the drama, makes all the difference to our understanding of Jesus’ suffering!

The word “like”, Greek “hosi”, made up of two Greek words, “ho” and “sei”, clearly implies “like, as if, in the manner of,”. Luke made a comparison between the perspiration that flowed from Jesus’ face and the free flow of blood from a fresh wound. 

Luke’s description is not what some translators imply… that Jesus sweated blood.  The text clearly says that His sweat was   “like”…“as if it were” great drops of blood.  This idea that He sweated blood does not appear to be in the text. A theory and a doctrine has grown out of a possible misrepresentation of the text.  

The fact that Jesus did not sweat blood in no way detracts from the intensity of His suffering. In fact, it heightens and confirms His thirst when He hung on the cross, because He had become severely dehydrated in this crucifixion process.  

Jesus’ blood loss was purposeful, pouring from the open wounds of the beating, the nails, and the piercing. His body was deliberately mutilated to release the blood He poured out for our redemption…therefore, sweating blood does mot seem to be in  keeping with the manner in which He shed His blood for sin as a sin offering…

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…our forgiveness…

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

and our cleansing…

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The blood of Jesus was not pressed out of Him in moments of emotional agony. He freely shed His blood through the breaking of His body so that we may receive and experience all the benefits of His voluntary and substitutionary sacrifice.  

Let us be careful, in our reading of God’s Word, that we don’t blindly follow the notions of men.  Let us read with care, depending on our supreme Teacher, the Holy Spirit, to give us understanding and to lead us into all truth. 

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…THE HOUR HAS COME – 56

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LUKE’S GOSPEL…THE HOUR HAS COME – 56

“When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭14‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What a moment for Jesus! “The hour has come!” Finally, the dreaded moment…and afterwards…the glorious new covenant!

“For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 

First, what did Jesus mean by “the fruit of the vine”? Literally, it meant the juice squeezed from grapes that was fermented and drunk as wine. Grapes were put under pressure until the juice was extracted! Did Jesus use this image to illustrate what He was about to endure? He was soon to go to Gethsemane – “the press”, where He was put under pressure until His perspiration flowed like blood flowing from a fresh wound.  

Second, not only was wine the product of grapes under pressure. It was also fermented to produce alcohol…matured and cured wine that has sybolic spiritual significance. 

Google AI says…

“In the Bible, wine functions as a symbol of joy, blessing, and divine favor, while also serving practical roles as a beverage, medicine, and element of worship. It is described as something that “gladdens the heart” (Psalm 104:15), represents the blood of the covenant, and is used to celebrate life…”

Jesus used the image of wine in His last celebration of Passover as the transition from the Old Covenant with its emphasis on law and performance, which He fulfilled and made obsolete, to the fully matured wine of the New Covenant and the inauguration of the era of God’s grace. This massive change would happen when His own life-blood would be “squeezed” from His body by the ”pressure” of crucifixion. 

What did Jesus mean…”until the kingdom of God comes”?

The opening words of His public ministry…

“After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…announced the soon arrival of the good news the Prophet Isaiah spoke of centuries before Jesus came…

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!””

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭52‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

After all the years of punishment and suffering for their disobedience to God’s covenant, epitomised by their persistence in worshipping idols, Isaiah announced the promise of the return of God’s reign.   

Jesus came in person to announce that the time had arrived. The restoration of God’s reign was on the horizon. When would it finally happen? 

At that moment, when Jesus passed the cup of wine to His disciples at that last Supper, He said, “The kingdom of God is on the brink of coming!” A few more hours until His last drop of blood would be shed, His last words spoken, His last breath drawn, and the curtain would come down on the final chapter of the era of “the Law” and its impossible demands. 

The heavy curtain, 60 ft long and 4in thick, in the temple, separating the presence of a holy God from His unholy people, was ripped in two from top to bottom at the moment when Jesus died. 

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom…”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27‬:‭50‬-‭51‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The return of God’s rule isn’t for some time in the distant future when Jesus returns to earth. The moment Jesus emerged from the tomb, risen and glorified, He stepped out as king. He occupies the throne of heaven at the right hand of the Father…

“God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭32‬-‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is the evidence…

…and He shall reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

Did the disciples, at that moment, understand the significance of Jesus’ words? I think not! They were still too busy jockeying for position in this “kingdom” of which Jesus spoke. They had no clue of what God’s kingdom meant. 

In the very centre of this holy moment…

“A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Really!

Pentecost changed their perception forever. 

When does Jesus “drink wine again” with His people in the kingdom of God? The kingdom of God has come! In part, it is here. Whenever His people fellowship together around His table, sharing in the symbols of His death that ushered in His reign, He is present, drinking of the fruit of the vine, celebrating His death and His victory. He is “drinking wine” with us. 

To be continued…