#87 Luke 12:54-59 Discerning the Present Time
On September 4, 2022 by Amy BurginJoy:
Episode #87 Luke 12:54-59
Welcome
Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you could make it. I’m Amy Burgin.
Joy:
I’m Joy Burgin.
Amy:
Christgazing, kind of like stargazing, is the act of looking steadily and intently at Jesus. This podcast makes room for just that. Amid a world of many words and many troubles, we slow down here and make space for the God-breathed Words, the best words, the ones that carry us through our troubles. This is the kind of podcast I am in dire need of. Each week Joy reads a portion of scripture several times and creates stillness after each reading so we might also be still and know God more.
We are in a series that takes us through the book of Luke, focusing on the red-lettered words of Christ.
Pour Out Your Heart to God
Amy:
Before Joy reads today, take time to share your heart with God. We do this each week; we pour out our heart to God, so that He might fill us up with exactly what we need. So whether it’s grief, joy, an exhausting to-do list, or a simple thanksgiving list, bring it to God in this next minute.
What Does This Passage Say About God?
Joy:
I’m going to read today’s text two times. As I read, consider the question, what does this tell us about God?
Luke 12:54-59 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
Again?
Luke 12:54-59 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
Take a minute to be still and know what this says about God.
[Pause and know]What Does This Passage Say About People?
Joy:
As I reread the passage, consider a different question. What does this tell us about people?
Luke 12:54-59 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
Take the next few moments to answer the question, what does this passage tell you about people?
[Pause and know]Lord, What Would You Have Me Know Or Do Today?
Joy:
As I read for the last time, ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?
Luke 12:54-59 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
Take the next minute to ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?”
[Pause and listen]Blessing
Joy:
Christgazer, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. And may you turn your face toward Jesus today and know him more.
One Response
Amy:
In today’s text, Jesus talked about discerning the present time and being reconciled with our adversary. How can we discern this present time? If we take an eternal perspective, it’s easy to recognize that the present time we find ourselves in now is the same present time the disciples found themselves in 2,000 years ago. We are in the same little blip in time, when humans walk this earth. And while we walk it, Perfect Righteousness, displayed in the Law, visits us like an adversary. Who can meet her standards? Not one of us. (Romans 3:23) There’s something, at least a little something, inside every human that opposes her and thus makes her their enemy. And as we take our required steps toward death, we find The Law escorting us to our Judge, pointing out along the way, all the spots where we failed Her.
And so Christ makes a call, “Be reconciled, be reconciled to God, your Judge, the God of Perfect Righteousness, Pure Goodness, and Complete Justice.”
And we wonder, “How? How can a woman like me, or a man like me, be reconciled to the God of Perfect Righteousness?”
And Paul answers in Romans 3:21 when he says (and I’m paraphrasing a little), “Now, with the crucifixion and ressurection of Jesus, the true righteousness of God has been made known. This righteousness is a gift, given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no racial division, no political division, no economic division, no division of men that matters. All men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and all men are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus…God sent Jesus to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”
Wow, that’s a big deal! It’s not lost on me that I am now justified, reconciled to God, and made righteous through faith in Jesus!
Now, if we zoom in from the eternal perspective, into our present time, we find the turn of our century marks a unique time on earth with global communications like our world has never before known. Many say the Roman roads prepared the way for Christ. For Jesus walked them to visit many, and after his resurrection, his disciples used them to spread the good news that men can be justified, reconciled to God, through faith in Jesus. I believe as the Roman roads prepared the way for his first coming, so the internet and global communications of today prepare the way for his second.
Perhaps, next you will see him coming in the sky, or perhaps you will find him coming in your heart. Whichever way you find him coming next, I love to use this new roman road, the Christgazing podcast, to echo his call to be reconciled, for (Romans 8:1) there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Closing
Amy:
You can find a transcript of this episode and all our episodes at amyburgin.com. Joy and I will be back again next week to go Christgazing together. Until then, don’t forget, when you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails, and so do you.
It blesses me to hear from you! Please leave a reply here.