What Bothers Jesus (Part 2)

 

Read:  Luke 11:37-53

 

What is it that truly bothers/concerns Jesus?  In essence, what are the priorities we should give attention to?  What troubles Jesus the most?  What should be our focus as individuals, as a church/the Church?  

 

Seeking answers to these questions, this Lent I turned to the Gospel of Luke, the gospel aimed specifically at the intersection (maybe collision) between Jewish and Roman life, culture and religion.  You could search the other three gospels, as well, and the answers would be similar.  

 

In Part 1, I begin by offering a list of things that seem to really concern Jesus in the first half of the Gospel of Luke.  This article focuses on the second half of Luke.

 

20 Things that bother or concern Jesus (from the second half of Luke):

 

1.      Wanting signs to prove the validity of Jesus’ message (Luke 11:29-32).

2.     Having a life outlook that focuses more on darkness than light (Luke 11:33-36).

3.     Worrying more about appearing faithful than actually being faithful (Luke 11:40-41).

4.     Focusing on rules while neglecting justice and love of God (Luke 11:42).

5.     Using God for personal privilege (Luke 11:43-44; 20:45-47).

6.     Making life hard for others (Luke 11:46).

7.     Building memorials to people one never intends to follow (Luke 11:47-51).

8.     Centering life on possessions, wealth, comfort, and security (Luke 12:11-34).

9.     Caring more about religious rules than people (Luke 13:10-17; 14:1-6).

10.  Questioning the presence and abilities of the Holy Spirit (Luke 12:10-12).

11.  Ignoring the most vulnerable people (Luke 14:12-14).

12.  Refusing to surrender status or privilege to follow Jesus (Luke 14:26-33).

13.  Trying to live for both God and wealth…one has to choose (Luke 16:13; 18:18-30).

14.  Seeking special attention for being faithful (Luke 17:7-10; 18:9-14).

15.  Missing the Kingdom of God right before one’s eyes (Luke 17:20-21).

16.  Excluding children (Luke 18:15-17).

17.  Using religion as a money-making scheme (Luke 19:45-46)

18.  Assigning value based on numbers, rather than the heart-quantitative rather than qualitative measurement (Luke 21:1-4).

19.  Being distracted from what is most important by busyness and entertainment (Luke 21:54)

20.  Using violence to defend Jesus (Luke 22:49-51).

 

Reflect and meditate on this list.  What does is say to you about Jesus’ priorities?  What does it say about your own priorities?

If you really want to dig into these…for these last days of Lent, select one or two of these a day and really focus on them.  What is easy about this priority?  What is difficult?  Read the scripture passage and ask God to help you better understand and live into the priorities of Jesus.