(Luke 10:13-16) Prayer – Lord Jesus, let me use well this time for repentance given to me by the heavenly Father. Imagination – (Picture Jesus speaking to his disciples and the crowds.) Context: Jesus mentions three towns of Galilee – Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. The gospels do not record any …
(Luke 10:1-12) Prayer – O Lord, send me wherever your word needs to be preached. Imagination – (Picture Jesus preparing 72 more disciples to go to the villages.) Context: Three gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke), record Jesus sending the Twelve. Only Luke mentions this larger number of 72. Obviously, the …
(Luke 9:57-62) Prayer – Come, Holy Spirit. Jesus calls and I must not delay. Imagination: – (Picture Jesus with the disciples and the crowd.) Context: Journeying to Jerusalem seems glamorous. To set aside these false ideas, Luke places three sayings of Jesus at the very start of the journey. Discipleship …
(Luke 9:51-56) Prayer: O Jesus, let me follow you to Jerusalem. Imagination: (Picture Jesus walking with his disciples) Context: As Jesus begins his journey to Jerusalem, he encounters people who reject him. He has to pass through Samaria which was between Galilee (North) and Jerusalem (South). The Samaritans themselves were …
(Luke 9:46-50) Prayer – Lord Jesus, give me a humble and accepting heart. Imagination: (Imagine Jesus reprimanding his disciples.) Context: These two stories reveal two sins of disciples – ambition and exclusivity. Ambition seeks prominence within the community. Exclusivity excludes those outside the community. Jesus quickly corrects both. Gospel Text: …
(Mark 9:38-43; 47-48) Prayer – O Jesus, purify my heart and guide my decisions. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: This gospel has many little parts. Some teach about relationships within the believing community. Others explain what is needed for personal salvation. Both are important. Jesus mentions the …
(Luke 9:43-45) Prayer – O Holy Spirit, reveal to me the mystery of Jesus. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: Jesus has just healed the boy with a demon. While the disciples are still amazed at this, Jesus shifts the focus to his death. The warning falls on …
(Luke 9:18-22) Prayer: O Holy Spirit, open to my heart the mystery of Jesus Christ. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: An earlier gospel showed what the Father wanted Jesus to accomplish for Israel. This gospel answers a deeper question. What is Jesus’ relationship to the Father and …
(Luke 9:7-9) Prayer – O Holy Spirit, reveal to me the fullness of Jesus. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: This text is sort of an interlude as Herod ponders Jesus’ identity. Later, Peter, by divine revelation, will proclaim correctly that Jesus is the Messiah. Gospel Text: (Read …
(Luke 9:1-6) Prayer – O Holy Spirit, anoint me with your powers. Imagination: (Picture Jesus sending forth his 12 apostles) Context: This text looks forward to the Church, when the Holy Spirit will send the apostles to the whole world. Jesus’ words reflect what actually happened. The small Church communities …
(Luke 8:19-21) Prayer: O Holy Spirit, help me to hear and act upon God’s word. Imagination: (Picture Jesus surrounded by the crowds.) Context: Jesus forms a new family. This family is not based upon blood relationships but upon people freely choosing to hear and practice God’s word. To highlight this …
(Mark 9:30-37) Prayer: O Jesus, I want to serve you and your friends. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with a child in the middle of his disciples.) Context In the second half of Mark’s gospel, Jesus deliberately withdraws from the crowds to teach his disciples about his suffering and death, and about …
(Luke 8:4-15) Prayer – Jesus, plant the powerful seed of your Kingdom in my heart. Imagination: (Picture Jesus preaching to the crowds). Context: This parable contrasts the difficult beginning of the Kingdom and its glorious fulfillment. The beginning has multiple frustrations. The end has a gigantic harvest. Jesus’ ministry is …
(Luke 8:1-3) Prayer – O Jesus, let me accompany you all the days of my life Imagination: (Picture Jesus with these special disciples, both men and women.) Context: Only Luke has this section which highlights the role of women in a ministering role for the Kingdom. Jesus had helped each …
(Luke 7:36-50) Prayer – O Jesus, even though I am a sinner, I will approach you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus at table with the woman at his feet.) Context: The central figure is the creditor who forgives both debtors. Where can such a man be found? He is God with his …
(Luke 7:31-35) Prayer – O Jesus, prepare me for the moment when you come to me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: Besides proclaiming salvation, the parables warn us of judgment and call us to repentance. This parable has the cutting edge of urgency. This parable shows hostility toward …
(Luke 7:11-17) Prayer – Lord, in your compassion, give me life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus standing with the widow by the funeral) Context: Luke regularly stresses Jesus’ compassion and care for women. Naim is located just 3 miles away from Nazareth with a cemetery that has been used for centuries. The …
Prayer: O Jesus, you were lifted up on the cross to save me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching Nicodemus) Context: This gospel contains the famous John 3:16 verse about God so loving the world. It explains that God’s motive was to save, not to condemn. However, anyone who rejects this light …
(Mark 8:27-33) Prayer – Lord Jesus, lift me up and I will be secure in your arms. Imagination- (Picture Jesus with his apostles.) Context: This text is central to Mark’s gospel (exactly the midpoint) and contains the two themes of the gospel, Jesus is the Messiah and he is a …
(Luke 6:47-49) Prayer – O Jesus, I will put your word into practice so my house will always stand. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: Jesus chooses an example from the people’s daily experiences. In Israel, the rains come suddenly. A dry canal becomes quickly a raging stream. This …
