Now homeless, Jesus sees that it’s time to increase the reach of his mission. He sends out his 12 disciples two-by-two to battle with unclean spirits. It’s a sign that as king he will win the greatest victory of all:
Homeward bound
Going home is not always easy. Jesus certainly finds this to be true, though he’s still willing to make the trip. His previous reaction to his family in chapter 3 appears to have a set a stage in which the
Ready and able
As Jesus works through the synagogues of Galilee, he meets an ‘unclean’ man. The man has a skin disease which is not only unpleasant but also blocks him out from Israel’s worship. With a single touch, Jesus transforms the man.
A humble touch
Recent events at a synagogue stir interest in Jesus, but he won’t play to the crowds. He heads to the private residence of Simon and Andrew, even though it is currently a place of sickness. There he touchingly heals Simon’s
Bittersweet finale
The end of Luke’s second book has a bittersweet taste to it. The bitterness comes from the rejection of Paul’s gospel by many of his fellow Jews in Rome, which highlights the power of sin in human hearts. The sweetness
Soul nagging
Irritation can rise when another person goes on at us about some part of our life. Yet such nagging can be needed if we are unwilling or unable to see an issue which needs addressing. That’s certainly the case in
Dead idols
Seneca, a Stoic philosopher of Paul’s day, wrote that death is just ‘non-existence’ and hence not something to be concerned about. The apostle, however, thought very differently and tackles such views head-on as he speaks, in our verses, in the
The battle of Iconium
Jesus was a divisive figure. One of the big factors in the negative reactions he provoked was his pointing out of others’ lifestyles and attitudes which had to change. That can really wind people up, especially when they expect the
Better call me Paul
This report of Saul’s first missionary journey has some of the elements of a typical church/mission report today: an outreach activity and an interesting conversation. On the other hand, linking the Spirit to the blinding of a man and a
A new adventure
First there was one church, launched in Jerusalem and expanded until it stretched across the ancient land of Israel (Ac 9:31). Then a second church was founded in the city of Antioch in the land of Syria: an independent church