Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 12:54-59 "THEN HE ALSO SAID TO THE MULTITUDES..." Luke 12:54"
Day 170 – Luke 12
Text: Luke 12:54-59
“THEN HE ALSO SAID TO THE MULTITUDES…” Luke 12:54
This highly interactive discourse was not only spoken to His Disciples. The multitudes were within earshot. They may well have heard Jesus speaking sternly to them. They may have smirked at the idea of the Disciples being rebuked by their Teacher.
They probably also noticed that some, if not all, of the Disciples thought that they were indeed “special”. The multitudes might just have felt the slightest tinge of resentment against the Disciples. They might even have felt a sense of satisfaction that they were rebuked by Jesus. The Disciples were not above rebuke. Perhaps they were no better than them, even though they were called Disciples of Christ.
The multitudes were in for a shock. They were wrong! Jesus turned to them once again, and He rebuked them – in the strongest of language too!
“WHENEVER YOU SEE A CLOUD RISING OUT OF THE WEST, IMMEDIATELY YOU SAY, ‘A SHOWER IS COMING’; AND SO IT IS.” Luke 12:54
The multitudes were blameworthy for their state of spiritual sloth! They had no one to blame but themselves for their lack of discernment in spiritual matters. Jesus used a common expression to rebuke the multitude.
It was common knowledge that when you see a cloud rising from the west, it is a signal that the rains were coming. How did the people know this? How did it become common knowledge?
1. There must have been people who had great discernment in the first place.
2. Perhaps they were not believed when they first uttered those statements, but soon experience proved that they were right in their observations.
3. Before too long, others came to believe this too. Then it becomes “common knowledge”.
How was it that people who could discern “the face of the sky” not discern who Jesus was? How was it that the people could not interpret all the signs that Jesus performed, and all the teachings that Jesus gave to the multitudes? How could they not come to the right conclusion that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the Son of God, sent to save them from their sins?
“AND WHEN YOU SEE THE SOUTH WIND BLOW, YOU SAY, ‘THERE WILL BE HOT WEATHER’; AND THERE IS.” Luke 12:55
The ability to read the weather from reading the face of the sky is an old art that is passed from generation to generation. This kind of knowledge is passed by oral tradition from one generation to another.
The wisdom of the ancients is seldom questioned. People accepted these observations as absolute truth. They were that sure about their beliefs.
How did they come to have such certainty and conviction of heart? How did they come to have such strong belief? Why could they not come to have any certainty of faith when it came to Jesus and His teachings?
The observations made concerning the weather were not difficult things to make. It would take a bit of effort to do the following:-
1. There must first be the observation.
2. Then there must be the confirmation.
3. The truth is then established.
4. It may be shared with the next generation!
Why could not the people apply these principles to the teachings of Jesus? Why could they not come up with the right conclusion?
1. They had observed that He taught with authority and not as the Scribes.
2. They had marveled at His power, especially when He cast out demons.
3. Surely the life of Jesus, the consistency of His teachings, must confirm for them that Jesus was no ordinary human being!
4. They could not come to any conclusion, let alone hope to pass this great truth to the next generation!
“HYPOCRITES! YOU CAN DISCERN THE FACE OF THE SKY AND OF THE EARTH, BUT HOW IS IT YOU DO NOT DISCERN THIS TIME?” Luke 12:56
There was no mistaking the meaning of this word Jesus gave to the multitudes! He leveled these words at them, simply because the multitudes were blameworthy! Those may have been stern words, but they were true words!
The multitudes were as hypocritical as the Scribes and the Pharisees! The latter may have disguised their hypocrisy in the garb of religion. The former is no less guilty of hypocrisy. How is this so?
1. The multitudes did discern who Jesus was, but they never acted on what they knew to be the truth.
2. The multitudes could not deny the inescapable truth of who Jesus was, for the facts were even more compelling than the weather-signs!
3. The multitudes knew best why they did not want to express faith in Jesus. Whatever personal reasons they had, they were wrong.
4. Hypocrisy is given a new meaning in this context. Let us consider two aspects…
a) Hypocrisy is superficiality. On the outside, they were seen as followers of Jesus. But there was no inner conviction. They never came out as people who expressed deep commitment to the Lord.
b) It is also vacillation. They were never steady. They were unstable and double-minded. There were times when they praised God for special miracles they saw. On the other hand they were easily and adversely affected by the Scribes and Pharisees when they spread their rumours against Jesus. They could have taken a firm stand against the Scribes and Pharisees.
ARE WE GUILTY OF HYPOCRISY TOO?
Can we discern the times we are living in? Can we discern who Jesus is?