Meeting With Christ

The Pharisees once asked the Lord Jesus this question: Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause at all (Matthew 19.3)? Divorce was an issue which divided the people in Jesus' days. There were two schools of thought. The school of Shammai (conservative) said that a man may not divorce his wife for just any reason, but only for the grave reason of some kind of sexual immorality. The...

In OT times, the possibility of remaining single was not a recognized option. Marriage was instituted by God and therefore it was regarded in the Jewish society as a religious duty and part of the normal life. The propagation of the family was another major reason to get married. Thus marriage was almost universal, and celibacy was considered abnormal. In the NT, we find a somewhat different attit...

People often crowded around Jesus for a touch of His hand and His blessing. In Matthew 19.13-15, we see parents bringing their children to Him with the hope that He would lay His hands on them. Let's look at this passage. Matthew 19.13. Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; 14 but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me,...

One day, a man ran up to Jesus and asked this question: 'What can I do to have eternal life?' That is a big question, a question which we all want to know the answer. 'What can I do to have eternal life?' Imagine, having eternal life! But I am afraid that you might not like the answer. As we will see, the answer Jesus gave sticks to our throat like a fish bone. This incident is recorded in three g...

It does not take long before a Christian realizes that a large portion of the Bible has to do with money. There are more verses devoted to money than to faith and prayer combined. Jesus spoke more about money than both heaven and hell. In fact, fifteen percent of the recorded words of Jesus were spent just on this one subject. Moreover, there seems to be a direct link in Jesus' teaching between mo...

The OT prophets looked forward to the time when God would establish his kingship on the world. Their hope was a hope for a divine revolution. Jesus announced the coming of this great revolution when he told people in Mark 1.15 that The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel . The Lord Jesus had in mind a spiritual revolution that will affect people'...

In our last lesson, we discussed the meaning of Jesus' words in Matthew 19.30: But many who are first will be last, and the last first . This statement is cited again a few verses later, in Matthew 20.16. Sandwiched between these two verses, we find a story called the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. I believe that the parable has been inserted there as an illustration of the 'first and las...

In the last two lessons, we looked at the meaning of Jesus' teaching concerning the first-and-last principle. In Matthew 19.30 and 20.16, He said that the last shall be first and the first shall be last. Today we will continue to examine this principle and we will use the parallel passage in Mark. Mark 10.32-45. Mark 10.32. And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on...

In the previous lesson, we were studying the words of the Lord Jesus in Mark 10.32-45, a passage in which Jesus revealed to His disciples that He was about to be put to death. This was actually the third time He told them that He would suffer and die, and that He would be raised from the dead on the third day. But while He was speaking of His humiliation, the disciples were thinking of their perso...

We find in the NT a disturbing passage in which the Lord Jesus exercised His power in order to destroy. Divine power was used for destruction. It is disturbing because the use of power for a purely destructive purpose is quite out of keeping with the character and behavior of the Jesus we know of the gospels. We normally think of Him as someone whose power is deployed to heal and to save, not to d...

The religious leadership of Israel did not like Jesus. They often tried to trap Him with trick questions. In our text today, they asked for His credentials and demanded that He tell them what was the basis of His authority. Accosting Jesus before the people, they were hoping to shame Him publicly by casting doubt on His person. Let's read this passage. Mark 11.27-33. Mark 11.27. Then they came aga...

To people who may be interested in following Jesus, the Lord has hard words to hear. ‘Make no mistake about it,’ He said, ‘The path of discipleship is hard, extremely hard.’ As dreadful as Jesus’ own destiny as Messiah has been, those who decide to follow him should expect nothing less. Christ’s road to Calvary was one of self-denial and self-sacrifice. In the same way, the road that the disciple...

I think it is fair to say that Christianity is a religion of power, a religion in which there is power. Christianity being a religion of power, we can also say that Christians I think it is fair to say that Christianity is a religion of power, a religion in which there is power. Christianity being a religion of power, we can also say that Christians are people who have power. Text format available...

Today we will look at the cross from another angle. We will look at it from the point of view of its glory. Not only there is power in the cross, but there is also a glorious aspect to the cross. We will see how this is expressed in the Bible. Text format available. Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/luke-9-2...

This is what the Lord Jesus declares in Luke 9.62. Luke 9.62. But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Text format available. Read and download this episode in text format on our website at the following address: https://meetingwithchrist.com/project/luke-962-no-man-who-looks-back-is-fit-for-the-kingdom

The parable of the good Samaritan is familiar to most people, even to non-Christians. In fact, the term ‘good Samaritan’ has become part of our culture and vocabulary. There is a law called ‘the Good Samaritan law.’ Some hospitals and institutions bear that name too. This lesson will focus more on the context of the parable than on the story itself. Let’s read Luke 10.25-37. Luke 10.25. And behold...

It is more important to hear and obey the words of Jesus than to be busy with other matters, even though they may be commendable of themselves. This is in essence what the Lord Jesus is saying in Luke 10.38-42. Let’s read this passage. Luke 10.38. Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister ca...

The theme of seeking God in prayer appears in many places in Jesus’ teaching. We have for example the parable of the friend at midnight, which is a story that illustrates how a disciple should pray. Let’s read this passage. Luke 11.5. And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a...

Life does not consist of material possessions. The Lord Jesus points out very clearly this simple truth in the parable of the rich fool. Let’s read this passage. Luke 12.13-21. Luke 12.13. Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." 14 But He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?" 15 And He said to them, "Take heed...

In sending his Son on earth, God was to be glorified and sinners were to be saved. Jesus was fully aware that his mission will involve suffering, and ultimately death. Yet He came with a willing and ready mind. In fact, during his entire ministry, his mind was constantly set on finishing the work which He came into the world to accomplish. This desire to do his Father’s will is so passionately exp...

The importance of bearing spiritual fruit is repeatedly emphasized in the Bible. Especially significant is the link between the failure to produce good fruit and divine judgment. Jesus makes this connection by telling the parable of the barren fig tree, a story describing a man seeking fruit. This is what we read in Luke 13.6-9. Luke 13.6. He also spoke this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree...

The Lord Jesus was not one to mince words. In the midst of the Pharisees who were trying to trap Him in any way, Jesus did not hesitate to admonish them for their arrogance. He gave them a lesson on humility in the parable of the guests. Let’s read that story. Luke 14.7-11. Luke 14.7. So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: 8 "W...

In the spiritual realm, certain things are turned up side down. We saw in our last lesson that the proud are humbled and the humble are exalted. This is mentioned in Luke 14.11 in the parable of the guests. Today we will study another parable, the parable of the great banquet, where we see a similar reversal. Many who attended the banquet were among those who were least expected to attend and thos...

The Lord Jesus was not a salesman. He never tried to sell Christianity. He never asked people to follow Him by telling them only the benefits they would get. On the contrary, He often told them about the difficulties and the hardships they would experience as disciples, and He encouraged them to think carefully about the consequences of following Him. Two parables in the gospel of Luke put the que...

Discipleship is fundamentally a call to allegiance. Jesus is to have first place over everything and everyone. In the gospel of Luke, the Lord mentions father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even one's own soul. Nothing else is to be first. Let's read this passage. Luke 14.26. Luke 14.26. "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and...