Reading for December 7th

 Read Luke 24.13-35. In 23.13-35: The way to Emmaus. The story is a masterpiece. recalling Luke's whole narrative, this story gives the reader insight into events the participants in the drama only later see. In verses 14-16: They discuss all these things that had happened, bit again not even Jesus' disciples on the Journey (9.51-56) can "see" or understand (18.31-34). Their eyes were kept from recognizing him, because God has not yet revealed the risen messiah. In verses 19-20: The disciples' question again prompts a witness to the meaning of what has happened ("What things ... the things about Jesus ..."; see Acts 2.12;4.7). On Jesus as a prophet, see Luke 7.11-17. In verse 21: Their hoe echoes earlier voices in the story (2.22, 38; 23-51). The third day was anticipated in 9.22; 24.7. In verse 23: The vision of angels must refer to the two men in 24.4. In verses 25-27: To be foolish and slow of heart appears to be forgivable ignorance (3.15), compared with hardness of heart (Acts 28.26-28). The truth to be known lies in the interpretation of all the scriptures as attesting the necessity of the suffering of the Messiah (see 24.32, 44; Acts 2.23-32; 4.23-31). In verse 30: The phrasing (he took bread, blessed, and broke it, and gave it) recalls the last supper (22.19). Inverse 31: This "remembrance" is a revelation of Jesus' presence(22.19;24.35). In verses 33-34: The eleven remaining apostles 9Acts 1.12-16) have not received Jesus' instruction.  Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 6th

 Read Luke 24.1-12. 3: (Mk 16; Mt 28): Divine vindication and exaltation of Jesus the messiah. In Verses 1-12: (Mk 16.1-8; Mt 28.1-8): The empty tomb. In verse 4: The two men in dazzling clothes (see also 9.29) will later be identified as angels (24.23). In verses 5-9: Fear and homage express the women's awareness of divine messengers (1.12; 2.9)). The reproof for misunderstanding will be repeated (24.25, 38, 44, 46). To understand God's ways, Israel is often called to remember (see Deut 7.18; 8.18; 24.9; 32.7); now Jesus' predictions of the Son of Man's death and resurrection (see especially 9.22, 43-45; 12.50; 13.33; 18.31-34) are to be recalled. In verses 10-12: The witness of the women (see 8.1-3) is again emphasized in vv. 22-24 as well as the disbelief by the apostles, including Peter. Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 5th

 Read Luke 23.50-56. In verses 50-52: Otherwise unknown, Joseph of Arimathea is another Israelite who observed God's law (good and righteous) and hoped in God's promises (see Simeon and Anna in Lk 2.25-26, 37-38). In verse 54: The day of Preparation for the day of rest (25.56) was literally "shining forth," perhaps as the sabbath candles were being lit at evening. In verse 56: Spices and ointments were administered to the dead (24.1; Jn 12.7; 19.40). Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 4th

 Read Luke 23.26-49. In verse 26: Simon is otherwise unknown (see also Mk 15.21; Mt 27.32). In verses 27-28: Jesus' death is clearly not the desire of a great number of the people or the faithful women (vv. 35, 48-49, 55). In Verses 28-31: As in 19.41-44, only Luke relates Jesus' dire prophetic oracle echoing Jeremiah's call to the "mourning women" to raise a dirge over Jerusalem (Jer 9.17-22). The cries to the mountains and the hills recall the destruction oracle of Hos 10.8. On the ominous image of the green and dry wood, see Ezk 20.47. In verse 34: The conviction that Israel and its rulers acted in "ignorance" will be crucial to the preaching of repentance in Acts 3.17. In verses 35-38: In echoes of Isa 42.1, Luke links the royal titles Messiah of God and King of the Jews with Jesus' identity as the servant who suffers as the chosen one (9.35; Acts 3.13, 26; 4.27, 30; 8.30-35). In verse 43: Paradise is a biblical image of the garden of bliss (2 Cor 12.4; Rev 2.7). In verses 44-45: The darkness at midday and the tearing of the curtain of the temple separating the holy precincts (Ex 26.31-35, 37; 38.18) are cosmic signs, open to many interpretations (see Mk 15.37-38; Heb 9.6-28). In verse 46: Only Luke reports Jesus' dying words as the resignation of his spirit (see 3.22; 4.1; Acts 1.8; Ps 31.5), and "he expired" (lit. in Greek). In verse 47:When the centurion declares Jesus innocent (see Mk 15.39; Mt 27.54: "God's Son"), the word could also be translated "righteous." According to Jewish traditions, this death was more than a miscarriage of Roman justice because of God's care for the righteous (Wis 2-3). In verses 48-49: On the anguished beating their breasts of the crowds and the women, see 23.27-31. Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 3rd

 Read Luke 23.1-25. In verses 1-2: Pilate was the Roman governor who came to Jerusalem during Passover to keep the peace (see 1.31; Acts 4.27). In verse 3: Pilate focuses on the title King of the Jews, which only the Roman Senate could award. Jesus again interprets the accusation as a testimony to its truth (see 22.71). In verse 5: The charge that he stirs up the people implies insurrection and implicates the people who have defended Jesus from the crowds of Temple officials (see 19.47; 20.1, 6, 26; 21.38; 22.2, 52). In verses 6-7: Herod Antipas (3.1, 19-20; 9.7-9; 13.31) sought his father's appointment as King of the Jews, but the Romans only made him tetrarch of Galilee and Perea. In verses 11-12: Only Luke tells this cruel story with Herod himself participating in royal mockery and thus becoming friends with Pilate (23.15). In verses 13-14: Pilate's reputation for violent disrespect for Jewish customs (13.1; Josephus, The Jewish War 2.172-177) may suggest Luke thought he was taunting the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, accusing them of false charges as if they were the ones perverting the people. Like Peter (22.54-62), "the people" who protected Jesus (see 19.47-48) are now at risk themselves. They only add to Jesus' danger by being associated with him and will deny him three times (see 23.22-23, 27). In (17) and verses 18-19: The story of Barabbas is told in detail in Mark 15.6-15 and Mt 27.15-23, and later copies added v. 17 to make Luke's account complete. In verse 25: Compared with Mark 15.15 and Mt 27.26, Luke's account emphasizes Pilate's responsibility for releasing one convicted or insurrection and murder, further violating Roman law by executing Jesus whom he had declared innocent three times (23.22). The phrase as they wished sharpens the question of whose will is being done in this execution (see vv. 27-28). Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 2nd

 Read Luke 22.54-71. In verses 54-55:The high priest's house was a palace or official residence. Unlike Judas, Peter is not an active conspirator, but following at a distance (at his peril: 22.33), he seeks to reman unidentified. In verse 59: His speech or garb probably revealed Peter's Galilean origin. In verses 61-62: Peter's grief as he remembered (22.34) is a display or repentance for unintended complicity in evil. In verses 63-64: Brutal hazing of prisoners often preceded official interrogation. In verses 66-71: The Jewish court focuses on the titles Messiah and Son of God, royal ones (4.41; 23.35-38; 23.2) which only God could award. Jesus warns of the divine judgment (seated at the right hand of the power of God) of the Son of Man (21.36) and declares his accusers' words and deeds bear witness to his true identity, probably by fulfilling the scriptures about opposing the messiah of God (Acts 4.25-28). Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 1st

 Read Luke 22.39-53. In verse 39: Gethsemane (see Mk 14.32; Mt 26.36) is a place on the Mount of Olives, opposite Jerusalem. In verses 40-42: The prayer to avert the time of trial (see 11.4) is now replaced by obedience to the will of the father (11.2) as the cup of divine purpose and passion, even wrath (Isa 51.17, 22; Jer 25.15, 17, 28; 49.12; Ps 11.6; 75.8; Ezek 23.31-33; Hab 2.16), cannot be evaded this time of trial (see 4.10). These verses depict Jesus sweating profusely in athletic struggle (Gk., "agonia"), not mere mental anguish. In verses 47-48: Judas intent on capturing Jesus (see 22.4, 52). The Son of Man is the heavenly judge, who is betrayed at great peril (12.8-10; 21.27, 36; 22.22; Dan 7.13). In verses 49-51: On the sword, see 22.36-38. Only Luke repots that Jesus healed the high priest's slave (see Mt 26.47-52; Mk 14.43-52). In verse 53: The power of darkness is the dominion of evil (22.3) in which darkness reigns rather than light (1.79; Acts 26.18). Comments or Questions..