March 4 | Luke 9:43b-45

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DAILY READING

Luke 9:43-45

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REFLECTION

To Be Delivered

By Pam Mann

 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.”

Jesus makes this sobering announcement to his colleagues at a time when the crowds exude enthusiasm over His power to heal disease, expel demons, and proclaim the coming of God’s kingdom. These wonders are just what everyone has hoped to see the long-awaited Messiah. Jesus even calls Himself the Son of Man, which is a title for the Messiah, the Christ.

There is, however, a communication problem. The disciples do not understand what Jesus means. Even though, in Luke 9:21, he has already warned them once before of his impending arrest and suffering. In Luke 18:31, Jesus will remind his friends yet a third time of his coming suffering.

Thankfully, Luke was committed to giving a thorough “orderly account” (Luke 1:3) to Theophilus, the first reader of Luke’s gospel. Now, we too can know how diligently Jesus worked to make His people aware of what He had come to accomplish.

On the surface, this pronouncement of Jesus seemed like a grim downer, raining on everyone’s

parade. But what people had seen in amazing miracles and heard in insightful parables would pale in comparison to the power of Christ’s cross. They didn’t know that yet. Even Jesus’ closest disciples did not know yet what would be accomplished in Christ’s death and resurrection. There would no longer be a healing here and a miracle there. Rather there would be in Christ the miracle of new life to every soul who accepts God’s gift of grace. Instead of Jesus’ delivery into the hands of men squelching the enthusiastic growth of God’s kingdom, it was the prelude to the resurrection explosion that would henceforth empower life in Christ! Jesus was delivered into the hands of men that we might be delivered from sin, death, and the power of the devil!

The first disciples had the privilege of living with the incarnate Christ, walking with Him, eating with Him, and witnessing His power at work in their broken lives. We, modern disciples, likewise, have the privilege of living with the resurrected Christ, walking with Him, eating at His table, and witnessing His power at work in our broken lives. Let us consider: What are the hard words of Jesus that we today are not hearing? What is Jesus calmly repeating to us that we are too preoccupied to heed?

PRAYER

Lord, You gave us ears. Let us hear all of what You are saying to us. We say every Sunday Christ will come again. Let us be ready to join You whenever and wherever without fear of delivery into the hands of men. Thank you that You have delivered us! Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PAM MANN

I first joined UALC when my husband (then my fiancé) and I were college students involved in youth ministry. God has used UALC to nurture our family’s faith, even in our years outside the U.S. I’ve participated in UALC ministries with kids, art, prayer, exercise, ESL, and Bible teaching. I do all the fun church things.

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March 3 | Luke 9:37-43a

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DAILY READING

Luke 9:37-43a

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REFLECTION

How God Amazes Us

By Dave Mann

What is the purpose of Jesus’ healings? 

Certainly, one of the main reasons is that Jesus had compassion for his people.  Disease, sickness, and dysfunction were not part of the original plan of God for his people in the Garden of Eden.  Everything was “very good” (Genesis 21:32).  At the start, there was no death.  And in the end, there will be no death.  See Revelation 21:4.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

But another reason is to give God glory.  When we see God intervene in the current order of things, as it is broken and twisted away from the original plan of God, we are thrilled and amazed.  (See Luke 9:43.)  In other healings, we see this purpose highlighted as well.  In John 9:2-3, we see the disciples trying to make sense of the purpose of a man born blind. “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?”  But Jesus replied, in effect, “None of the above.  Wrong question!  There is a third option – that God might be glorified.”

In today's passage, we read about the boy with an unclean spirit who causes the child to convulse uncontrollably.  This certainly does not appear to be part of God’s plan.  Yet, if we want to find someone to blame for this horrible disorder, we are looking in the wrong direction.  God can turn this distortion of his will into an experience of amazement and great glory.  “And they were all amazed at the greatness of God” (v. 43).  They worshipped and glorified God.

What different experiences do we have today?  Brokenness of many sorts – sickness, broken relationships, mental illness, financial woes, etc.  If we try to find someone to blame for such difficulties, we are looking in the wrong direction as well.  A better query is, “I wonder how God is going to change this situation into an experience for our good and his glory.”  God owes us nothing because of these difficulties in life.  Nevertheless, he chooses to intervene in his time to heal our bodies, our relationships, and our difficulties.  Our response is amazement that he would stoop down to pay attention to us, and then we worship him.

PRAYER

The following words of prayer were uttered in my presence by a Haitian friend, who had very few material goods in his life.  We prayed together that God would intervene in a very difficult situation.

"Lord God of heaven and earth, we have no right to come into your presence to ask that you should do anything for us.  If you were to do nothing for our benefit ever again, we would have no claim to be upset with you, for you have already given us far more than we deserve.  Yet, because of your gracious will, you invite us to come to you and lay out our desires before you.  Come, Lord God, and do your will in our midst, in Jesus’ name, Amen."

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE MANN

I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of six. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.

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March 2 | Luke 9:28-45

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DAILY READING

Luke 9:28-45

REFLECTION

Radiant Change

by Elaine Pierce

"When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. When Aaron and the all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him." (Exodus 34:29-30).

I'm going to focus on verses 28-35 for today's blog, but be sure to read verses 37-45 as well. The scripture from Exodus recounts the time that Moses spent time with God on Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments from him. Flash forward to today's passage, when Jesus took Peter, John and James with him onto a mountain to pray. Jesus' clothes became 'as bright as a flash of lightning' and 'the appearance of his face changed (v. 29).' What an incredible experience this had to be for these three disciples! And how the crowd reacted when Moses came down from the mountain with a radiant face - fear and awe. These are certainly not everyday experiences, are they?

I wonder if Peter regretted his immediate response to seeing Jesus, radiant, talking with Moses and Elijah. He didn't read the room, did he? Like us, often, he focused on himself rather than on the Lord:

"Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters - one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (v. 33)

Oh, Peter. How have you missed the point? Maybe I should start that sentence over: Oh, Elaine, how do you miss the point? Don't you know that I am the Lord, the creator of the universe? Stop focusing on your needs, and listen to him - he is my son, and I have chosen him.

Thanks be to God that he doesn't give up on us. He didn't give up on Peter, even when he was fully justified. He continues to call us to himself, and he picks us up when we fall and offers us his love and grace.

One day we will be changed - we will be radiant. I close with these words from Revelation 21:1-5. Meditate on them, and thank God for his good gifts, far beyond anything we could ever hope for or imagine.

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning, or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"

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PRAYER

Lord, I sit in awe of you. I am content with the things of this world, and you are offering me eternal life and blessings beyond measure. Help me to look to you and you alone for my every need, and to marvel at your goodness. Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ELAINE PIERCE

It is a delight and joy to write Sunday's UALC Blog post. I have been a UALC member for 20+ years and I value our community of believers. I draw strength from God's Word, and it is my hope that you join me in seeking to grow closer to Him as we read, study, and pray together. I've been married to Gene for 47 years, and we have four grown children and nine grandchildren. It is an exciting time to be alive, and I count it all joy to serve him, even in the midst of challenges. To God be the glory, for the great things he is doing!

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