Luke 11:47-54 ~ for you build

Jesus in the Temple

Luke 11:47-54

Listen

47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. 48 So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ 50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. 52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”

53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, 54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.

Right – wrong and life. It’s been going on for a long time. I confess, I like the Harry Potter series. But the point of view of a good writer, exploring right and wrong is an interesting thing.  Voldemort – the evil villain – said there is no right or wrong, only power and those too weak to pursue it.  It sums up evil. 

Of course most of us would fall into the category of selfishness – which can become purely evil with convenience leaning comfortably. Frenemies - friendship that sours or has always  hidden enmity - can fall into that category.  

Evil...

We ask each other why mosquitoes were created. As a joke. Recently I was asked, why do we have mosquitoes? I didn’t answer and the person asked me again.  They serve a purpose, they are food for the birds. Part of the plan. 

Why do we suffer? Well… it starts young.... you have siblings. They tell you you smell, you’re weird, adopted and depending on their vocabulary, that you are generally insufficient. 

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Like mosquitoes, it’s part of the Plan. God weaving in the good.  We learn to forgive, to dismiss others' opinions and not to look so “deer in the head-lights”. 

6^th Grade comes along and you are confronted with frenemies. Do you know there was a large study and the conclusion was frenemies are good for you? Robust health, according the Psychologist running the study, is learning to hate your haters.  Oh my…. oh my.

If you look at Luke 11:47-54, you realize something. We are going to play a part. Yes. It is the Good Friday Service. We all must say crucify Him. It is a really depressing thing.  And if we want to or not, we do Crucify Him.

But we all must come away from this as Easter people. Where will we choose to be next time? Jesus chose to speak to Nicodemus when he wanted to learn, even if it was at night. Jesus chose to cry out for mercy over sacrifice at great cost to Himself, every day.  Jesus confronted His frenemies. He didn’t seek them out, but His mercy was available when they called upon Him.  

So, like mosquitoes, the people who affect our lives with misery or pain are part of the Plan. You are to live your lives as Lights of God. 

What does God tell us with the Frenemies and the evil? God is encouraging us to walk the path of life. Forgiving. Jesus ate with people who were sinners. Jesus forgave the people who didn’t even ask for His forgiveness.

Matthew 10:16-23

 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Colossians 3:13

bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

1 Timothy 2:5-6

 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Romans 12:18

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

1 Thessalonians 5:13b-18

Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

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