Friday, January 13, 2012

January 13th

Have you ever noticed how Jesus is sometimes making as though He is going to pass on by?

I noticed this, this afternoon as I was reading along in Luke.

"Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.

"But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.”

"And He went in to stay with them."
-Luke 24:28-29

Sometimes, it's as though He's asking how much of Him one wants.

Are we satisfied that we've had a lovely time walking along with Him or will we invite Him in further? In fact, not just invite, but constrain.

The same word is used in Young's Literal Translation. The definition of constrain is: to force, compel or oblige.

However, in this story, they did not know it was Jesus when they constrained Him, and as soon as they recognized Him, Jesus left them, for a time.

Still, it's interesting to think about. It makes me think of Jesus saying this:

"Then, teaching them more about prayer, He used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.' And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”
Luke 11:5-13