Read:  And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They *said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.”  Mat 20:32

Examine: Once during ministry, Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd was following. Two blind men who were sitting by the road heard that Jesus was passing by, so they began to shout, “Son of David! Take pity on us, sir!”

The crowd scolded them and told them to be quiet. But they shouted even more loudly, “Son of David! Take pity on us, sir!”

Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.

“Sir,” they answered, “we want you to give us our sight!”

In Mathew it says, Jesus had pity on them and touched their eyes; at once they were able to see, and they followed him. In the gospel of Luke it says – Jesus said to him, “Then see! Your faith has made you well.”

Application: Hearing of Jesus, with all obstructions and limitation, sincere cry for help, stopped Jesus. The profound question that Jesus asked, what do you want me to do for you? If the same question is asked to us, what will be our reply?

When we are aware of our blindness, especially spiritual side and then we know Jesus is the solution. That insight itself is grace of God. How do we respond to this knowledge, do we really cry out to Jesus for sight.

The answer that the blind men gave, Sir we want you to give us our sight. Jesus, I want to forgiveness, give me spiritual eye sight and fill me with the Holy Spirit to live a holy life. To this desperate cry and request, it says Jesus had pity, we have a Lord who sympathizes in our weakness when we cry out. Jesus touched the eyes that did not have sight, we need touch where we are blind, they received sight, Jesus is powerful to give us sight.

Decision: The story ends up in the gospel stating they followed Jesus, how likely when we receive our answers we stopped following. Jesus helps me to follow you always. Show me the blindness that I have, teach me to cry out to receive your touch. Enable to ask the right things and strengthen me to follow you all the days of my life.

Read: Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:27)

Examine: Jesus on the sermon on the Mount taught practical Christian life, one of the areas was worry. These was the words of Jesus, this is why I tell you: do not be worried about the food and drink you need in order to stay alive, or about clothes for your body. After all, isn’t life worth more than food? And isn’t the body worth more than clothes? Look at the birds: they do not plant seeds, gather a harvest and put it in barns; yet your Father in heaven takes care of them! Aren’t you worth much more than birds? Can any of you live a bit longer by worrying about it?

And why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow: they do not work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that not even King Solomon with all his wealth had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers. It is God who clothes the wild grass—grass that is here today and gone tomorrow, burned up in the oven. Won’t he be all the more sure to clothe you? What little faith you have!

So, do not start worrying: ‘Where will my food come from? or my drink? or my clothes? Your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things. So do not worry about tomorrow; it will have enough worries of its own. There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings.

Application:

Trust the provider: Not to be worried of the problems we face but to trust in the provision of the Lord. Even if things are not going the way we think, we need to meditate and trust that the Lord can and He is still in control. Answer might not be what we expect but Jesus reminded worrying is not going to change anything.

Precious in His sight: Jesus taught we are more worthy than the birds, when we know we are precious in the sight of Almighty, then Jesus goes on and explains how flowers are clothed and even with all human wealth and wisdom no one could come near clothing the natural beauty of the flowers.

Knowledge that He knows: Jesus makes the greatest comforting statement, Father in heaven knows your need, so we better be concerned on the way we walk with the Lord, let us be blameless and spotless.

Decision: Jesus, help me to trust in the provider, and be assured that I am precious in your sight, and confident that my Father knows my need. Oh, that I will live on living a holy life with Jesus.

Read: Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You..” John 21:15

Examine: Simon was originally from Bethsaida (John 1:44) and lived in Capernaum (Mark 1:29), on the coast of the Sea of Galilee. He was married (1 Corinthians 9:5), and he and James and John were partners in fishing business (Luke 5:10). Simon met Jesus through his brother Andrew (John 1:35-36). Upon meeting Simon, Jesus gave him a new name: Cephas (Aramaic) or Peter (Greek), which means “rock” (John 1:40-42). Later, Jesus called Peter to follow Him, producing a miraculous catch of fish (Luke 5:1-7). Immediately, Peter left everything behind to follow the Lord (verse 11).

Peter is considered a part of Jesus’ inner circle because there are quite a few incidents where only Peter, John, and James were witnesses, including the Transfiguration, Gethsemane, last teaching on Mount Olives

In several instances, Peter showed himself to be impetuous to the point of rashness. For example, it was Peter who left the boat to walk on the water to Jesus (Matthew 14:28-29)— It was Peter who suggested erecting three tabernacles to honor Moses, Elijah, and Jesus (Matthew 17:4)—and fell to the ground in fearful silence at God’s glory (verses 5-6). It was Peter who drew his sword and attacked the servant of the high priest (John 18:10)—and was immediately told to sheath his weapon (verse 11). It was Peter who boasted that he would never forsake the Lord, even if everyone else did (Matthew 26:33)—and later denied three times that he even knew the Lord (verses 70-74).

Application: Through all of Peter’s ups and downs, the Lord Jesus remained his loving Lord and faithful Guide. Jesus reaffirmed Simon as Peter, the “Rock,” in Matthew 16:18-19, promising that he would be instrumental in establishing Jesus’ Church. After His resurrection, Jesus specifically named Peter as one who needed to hear the good news (Mark 16:7). And, repeating the miracle of the large catch of fish, Jesus made a special point of forgiving and restoring Peter and re-commissioning him as an apostle (John 21:6, 15-17).

On the day of Pentecost, Peter was the main speaker to the crowd in Jerusalem (Acts 2:14), and the Church began with an influx of about 3,000 new believers (verse 41). Later, Peter healed a lame beggar (Acts 3) and preached boldly before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4). Even arrest, beatings, and threats could not dampen Peter’s resolve to preach the risen Christ (Acts 5).

Decision: Peter was able to tell Jesus, you know Lord that I love you. Father Lord, help me to tell like that and let it be true. I love you Jesus and I will live for you. Amen

Read: “Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. There 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…” Luke 8:1-2

Examine: Mary was a Jewish woman from the fishing town Magdala on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Her name is mentioned 12 times in the Gospels, more than most of the apostles. Mark and Luke recorded the healing of demons from Mary’s life in their Gospel accounts.

“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 Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” Luke 8:1-3

“Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome.” Mark 15:40

Mary Magdalene has been associated with the “woman in the city who was a sinner” (Luke 7:37) who washed Jesus’ feet, but there is no scriptural basis for this. The city of Magdala did have a reputation for prostitution. This information, coupled with the fact that Luke first mentions Mary Magdalene immediately following his account of the sinful woman (Luke 7:36-50), has led some to equate the two women. But there is no scriptural evidence to support this idea. Mary Magdalene is nowhere identified as a prostitute or as a sinful woman, despite popular portrayals of her as such.

Application: The four Gospel accounts record the presence of women at the foot of the cross. Mark 15:40 records Mary Magdalene, Mary, mother of James, and Salome. Matthew 27:55-56 Mary Magdalene, Mary, mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. Luke mentions the group but does not identify them. John lists Mary, mother of Jesus, her sister Mary, wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. EP Sanders posits, “The reason why the women watched the crucifixion even after the many disciples had fled may have been because they were less likely to be arrested, because they were braver than the males, or because of some combination there of.”

Decision: Help us to be like Mary, She also loved Jesus much for healing her from the demons within her. This gratitude kept Mary loyal to her Lord and serving him until the end. It was absolutely unheard of in that time for a woman to be a disciple of a rabbi.

Read: Colossians 4:14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.

Examine: Luke is only mentioned by name three times in Scripture, and all three references are in Paul’s letters: Colossians 4, 2 Timothy 4, and Philemon 1.

Little is the author of the books of Luke and Acts in the Bible. Luke was a physician and the only Gentile to write any part of the New Testament. Luke was a close friend of Paul, who referred to him as “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14). Paul’s letter to the Colossians draws a distinction between Luke and other colleagues “of the circumcision,” meaning the Jews (Colossians 4:11). Luke is the only New Testament writer clearly identifiable as a non-Jew.

Paul also refers to Luke as a “fellow laborer” (Philemon 1:24). Luke joined Paul in Troas in Asia Minor during Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 16:6–11).  Luke was left in Philippi during the second missionary journey (Acts 17:1) and picked up again to travel with Paul in the third journey (Acts 20:5). Luke accompanied Paul on his journey to Jerusalem and Rome and was with him during his imprisonment there (2 Timothy 4:11). Luke’s vivid description of his travels with Paul in Acts 27 seems to indicate that he was well-traveled and well-versed in navigation.

A great man quoted this of Luke. So, I say, next to Paul, Luke is the most powerful writing force in the New Testament, and yet he is basically unknown. I don’t think in my life I’ve ever heard a sermon about Luke. His historical narrative spans over sixty years. It starts with the birth of John the Baptist, the forerunner to Jesus, and it ends at the end of the book of Acts, which is volume two of his writings, it ends with the gospel being preached at Rome, which means the gospel has extended to the world. No other writer wrote so comprehensive a history of Jesus and His impact. No other writer goes all the way from the John the Baptist to the gospel having reached the capital of the Roman Empire. He is the most complete storyteller of the saga of salvation in the New Testament, and he is mostly unknown to us

Application: Luke is a very humble man. Luke was the author of the gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. Luke does not name himself in either of his books, but Paul mentions him by name in three epistles.

Luke took lot of effort to write Luke and Acts, Luke’s purpose in writing the two companion books was so that Theophilus would know with certainty about the person and work of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:4).

Decision: Oh Lord! Help us to be like Luke, Let the purpose of ministry be like what Luke himself said, “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us”