Strength from an angel

Luke 22:43 - An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

I wonder what exactly an angel could do to strengthen Jesus. Speak comforting words? Remind him of his Father's promises? Impart physical strength to his anguished body? Whatever it was, God the Father must have known it was needed and known it would help or he wouldn't have sent the angel in the first place.

See how he loved his one and only Son, even and especially at such a low point in his life! See how he would do the same for any of his children!

Judas

Luke 22:3 - Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.

I wonder if Judas knew that a devil -- Satan himself, no less -- had entered into him. In other cases of demon possession, the possessed usually acted in very strange ways. We don't hear of anything so strange with Judas. Yet he still may have known there was something different and evil inside that hadn't been there before.

I wonder if Satan remained in Judas until his death or if he left before that point. Perhaps he only stayed until the capture of Jesus. Then again, that wasn't very long before Judas hanged himself.

Loud stones

Luke 19:37-40 - When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"

"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

I wonder what the sound of a stone crying out is. Would it have been human-like so the people could understand them? Would it have been in a language all its own? Stonese? Would it have been the sounds stones normally make when they clatter together?

I wonder how many Pharisees said or thought, "Yeah, right!"

Fetching a colt

Luke 19:28-32 - After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' "

Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.

I wonder if Jesus' disciples were at all surprised at his ability to tell of future events. They still didn't understand what he was talking about related to his death because it was hidden from them, but this event was fairly straightforward. They "found it just as he had told them." After all the other miracles they had seen -- feeding thousands with little, healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead -- did seeing into the future inspire even more awe in them?

A wee little man

Luke 19:1-6 - Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

I wonder if Zacchaeus was what we would call a midget or a dwarf. Or was he just shorter than average?

I wonder if Jesus had met, or at least heard of, him before -- or did he almost knock Zacchaeus out of the sycamore-fig tree by calling him by name? How would you react if someone called you by name out of the blue?

The tower of Siloam

Luke 13:4-5 - Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

I wonder why the tower fell. Did it fall during an earthquake? Was it due to poor construction? Was it sabotage? Was it just old and dilapidated?

Was it ever repaired/rebuilt?

Healing in his wings

Luke 9:10-11 - When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

I wonder if Luke, a doctor, ever wished he could heal people as easily as Jesus did.

Herod the Curious

Luke 9:7-9 - Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed, because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. But Herod said, "I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?" And he tried to see him.

I wonder what Herod did to try to see Jesus. Did he send him an invitation to the palace? Did he try to free up his schedule so he could go look for Jesus in person? Did he send couriers, guards, scouts out to find Jesus to arrange a conference? An abduction? Did he consider throwing a party/feast to tempt him into coming to visit?

Family matters

Luke 8:19-20 - Now Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you."

I wonder why they wanted to see Jesus. Was it just because he hadn't been home in a while? Did they have something to tell him? Did they want to have him come back home with them? Did they have something to ask him -- spiritual or otherwise?

I wonder why the crowd didn't just part and let them through. I'd think they'd have VIP status as far as seeing Jesus was concerned.

Thank you for your support

Luke 8:1-3 - After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

I wonder if Joanna's support of Jesus' ministry had any repercussions at home. Did it affect Cuza's job? Did Cuza contribute as well? (It doesn't sound like it.) Where did Joanna get the funds or other contributions from? Did she have a job too? If so, I wonder what it was.

Simon the Pharisee

Luke 7:36-50 - Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."

Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.

"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

I wonder why Simon invited Jesus to his house. Weren't (most) Pharisees Jesus' enemies? If Simon wasn't an enemy, I would think he would have treated Jesus better.

Power or persuasion?

Luke 4:28-30 - All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

I've always wondered about this incident because so few details are given. Did Jesus use a bit of his divine power to quiet the mob? Did he become invisible to them? Did he just hold up his hand as if possibly to speak to the crowd but then just quietly walk away instead? Could the crowd in the end just not bring themselves to do it, especially seeing how Jesus (apparently) put up no fight?

What about me?

Luke 3:7-14 - John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."

"What should we do then?" the crowd asked.

John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."

Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"

"Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told

them. Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?"
He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay."

I wonder why the tax collectors and soldiers asked what they, each as a group, should do? What did they think John would say? I mean, wasn't it obvious? Stop doing bad things!

I know what he'd say if I asked. What would he say to you?

Jesus at 12

Luke 2:41-46 - Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

It's generally understood that the 3 days is counted as one day towards home, plus one day back to Jerusalem, plus one day searching the city for him. Even so, that's 2 nights that Jesus (at the age of a modern-day 6th grader) had to spend in the big city without his parents. I wonder who took him in. Was it one (or two) of the same teachers he was found studying with? Was there another relative in town? Maybe one the family had visited while there for the Feast?

Did Jesus spend the better part of those 3 days in the temple area? Did he wander around the town at all? What did he do for meals?

Simeon

Luke 2:25-26 - Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

I wonder who Simeon was; that is, did he have a family? How old was he? What was his job? (We aren't told he was a prophet before he met Jesus.) How long did he live after seeing Jesus? Besides the prophesying, did God set him apart for any other special reason?

I'm not deaf!

Luke 1:62 - Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.

I wonder why the people thought they had to use sign language to communicate with Zechariah. He wasn't deaf; he was dumb. Perhaps it was out of a sort of respect for his handicap, but I think more likely it was sheer forgetfulness.

One among many

Luke 1:1-4 - Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

I wonder how many others Luke knew of who had written about Jesus. How many more were there besides Matthew, Mark, and John? If there were only those 3, I doubt Luke would have said "many."

That said, those 3 and Luke himself (plus Paul and a few others later) are all we need. If there were more, they may not have been inspired by the Spirit anyway.

On the cross

I wonder if you know how long Jesus was on the cross. My first answer (due to a certain church tradition and without stopping to think) would have been wrong.

See Mark 15:25 and Mark 15:33-37.

Don't I know you?

Mark 14:66-67 - While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
"You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said.

I wonder how many times, at what distance(s), and how recently the servant girl had seen Peter with Jesus. Did she have a really good memory for faces? Had it not been that long ago? Was Peter that recognizable?

I also wonder, if Peter hadn't been associated with Jesus by those in the courtyard, would he still have been considered suspicious just for being there at that time of the night?

Proper attire, Part 2

Mark 14:51-52 - A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

Some think that this young man was Mark himself. If it was Mark -- one of the 12 who had been with Jesus all evening -- why was he only wearing a linen garment? Why not a cloak or something underneath? Even if it wasn't Mark...same questions.

Why did they seize him in the first place? It was Jesus they wanted -- and already had.