3 Literal Places

~ 3 Chapters of Luke Present 3 Different Real Locations ~

Earth  ~  Chapter 14 of the Gospel According to Luke provides a look at The Gospel Feast, known more commonly as the Parable of the Great Supper. Sinners are invited and the parable describes how some neglected their great opportunity while others responded appropriately.

“Now when one of those who sat at the table with Jesus heard these things, the man at the table said to Jesus, ‘Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, “Come, for all things are now ready.” But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.” And another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.” Still another said, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.” So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.” And the servant said, “Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.” Then the master said to the servant, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper”’” (Luke 14:15-24). This parable was given by Jesus while He walked on a real place—planet earth!

Heaven  ~  Chapter 15 of the Gospel According to Luke provides a look at the return of the prodigal son and his reception and restoration.

Jesus continued this parable, “And the prodigal son arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry” (Luke 15:20-24).  This is a parable of our heavenly Father and how He loves us and is preparing a heavenly feast for us. Yes heaven is a real place.

Hell  ~  Chapter 16 of the Gospel According to Luke provides a look at a rich man’s life, death, burial, and eternal doom.

Jesus Christ speaking: “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead’” (Luke 16:19-31). Jesus Christ confirms with no uncertainty that hell is a real place prepared for the devil and his angels—a place where those who reject Christ’s offer of salvation will spend eternity in torment. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

4 Sinners

~ 4 Images of Sinners in Luke 15 ~

Straying Sinner  ~  The parable of the wandering sheep! “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him [Jesus Christ]. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So He spoke this parable to them, saying: ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance’” (15:1-7). This is an account of an individual sinner straying—and a God who cares for him/her individually.    

Helpless Sinner  ~  The parable of the lost coin! Jesus continued with the following: “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (15:8-10).  This account represents an individual sinner who is spiritually dead and helpless—and a God who cares about him/her as an individual. 

Repentant Sinner  ~  The account of the returning son! “Then He [Jesus Christ] said: ‘A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.” So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants’ And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.  And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” And they began to be merry’” (15:11-24).  This account shows an individual sinner who is repentant—and the grace and mercy of our great God. 

Despising Sinner  ~  The account of the self-righteous son! Jesus Christ continues with this account: “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ And he said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found’” (15:25-32).  In this account we find a sinner who is jealous of the grace of God manifested to another—obviously not understanding the unlimited amount of God’s riches available to all. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

2 Priests

~ Luke’s Gospel Opens and Ends with a Priest ~

The Gospel of Luke opens with an earthly priest at the altar of incense on earth. The people are worshipping outside the temple in doubt and fear (Luke 1:8-21).

Luke closes his account with the Great High Priest entering into the heavenly temple with His saints as they worship with great joy and certainty (the very last verses of Luke’s Gospel – Luke 24:50-53) .

The Start of Luke’s Gospel  ~  “So it was, that while he [Zacharias] was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

“But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, “to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,” and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’  

“And Zacharias said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.’ And the angel answered and said to him, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.’ And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple” (Luke 1:8-21).

The End of Luke’s Gospel  ~  Luke closes his Gospel with an account of the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven. “And He [Jesus Christ] led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen” (Luke 24:50-53).  

So, what is your reaction? Do you have a personal relationship with the Great High Priest? Will you one day be with Christ in heaven with great joy?

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

4 Gospels

~ 4 Views of 1 Savior ~

November 2011 Tuesday Countdown:  4 – 3 – 2 – 1 – 0 

There are many different ways of comparing the four Gospels.  Here is a very brief overview—much more could be said.

The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) stress the humanity of Christ.

The Fourth Gospel (John) stresses the deity of Christ.

Consider the opening of the four Gospels in conjunction with their primary readers:

Matthew  ~  Jews (genealogy—Jesus, the Son of Abraham) – King of Israel

Mark  ~  Romans (action, no genealogy) – Servant of the Word

Luke  ~  Greeks (starts with Adam—Jesus, the Son of Adam) – Son of Man

John  ~  Church (goes back to eternity—Jesus, the Son of God) – Son of God

Matthew  ~  Jesus Christ as King (the Messiah) – The Prophesied King

Sovereignty (to reign, to rule)

Mark  ~  Jesus Christ as Servant (all action) – The Obedient Servant

Humility (to serve, to suffer)

Luke  ~  Jesus Christ as Man (the Son of Man) – The Perfect Man

Humanity (to share, to sympathize)

John  ~  Jesus Christ as God-man (the Son of God) – The Divine Son

Deity (to redeem)

Matthew  ~  David’s “Righteous Branch” (Jeremiah 23:5, 33:15)

Mark  ~  Jehovah’s servant, “The Branch” (Zechariah 3:8)

Luke  ~  The man whose name is “The Branch” (Zechariah 6:12)

John  ~  “The Branch of Jehovah” (Isaiah 4:2)

Matthew  ~  The Royal Lawgiver (Matthew 28:18-20)

Mark  ~  The Mighty Worker (Mark 16:16-20)

Luke  ~  The Friend of Man (Luke 24:50-53)

John  ~  The Son of God (John 20:28-31)

Matthew  ~  The Gospel of the Jewish Messiah (Christ)

Mark  ~  The Gospel of the Wonder Working Servant (God)

Luke  ~  The Gospel of the Savior of all sorts of people (Holy Spirit)

John  ~  (The Son of God)

Matthew ~ What Jesus Christ THOUGHT (and said) – His Kingdom

Mark  ~  What Jesus Christ DID – His humanity

Luke  ~  What Jesus Christ FELT – His ministry (His human nature)

John  ~  Who Jesus Christ WAS – His Deity (He was fully God)

Matthew  ~  The Way of Righteousness

Mark  ~  The Way of Suffering

Luke  ~  The Way of Wisdom

John  ~  The Way of Love

Consider the closing of the four Gospels in conjunction with their primary readers:

Matthew  ~  Jewish mind: Resurrection (the crowning proof of His Messiahship)

Mark  ~  Roman mind: Ascension (exalted to glory and honor)

Luke  ~  Greek mind: Holy Spirit (promises of a Comforter to man)

John  ~  the Church: Second Coming (our Lord’s own promise of His return)

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW