Great Friends and the End of Luke

Ok so, I finally finished Luke and although I know that almost everyone knows about the crucifixion I decided to write about it.

In the gospel, Jesus, is accused for saying that he is Christ a King and is taken to Pilate, so that he judges him. Pilate doesn’t find any reason to kill him, but the people start manipulating him by screaming and asking for Jesus’ death. Then, Jesus is not only humiliated, but in the cross they mocked him by writing in the cross THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. I thought this was very cruel since they are not only pleased with the fact that they are going to kill him, but as well want to embarrass and make fun of him. Then, Jesus says his final words.

“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” ( 23:46)

These final words meant a lot to me since here Jesus is seen so loyal to his father and it is interesting how the Holy Ghost is mentioned. What I understand from this is that your soul goes to heaven and your body stays in earth. I think that Jesus here seems like a God and not like a human.

Mmm so, changing the topic,

You know how people are always saying that you should keep your friends close and you enemies closer, well Jesus certainly did this. I mean if he was so powerful and wise why did he make Judas one of his disciples? If he was the son of God he obviously knew that Judas was not loyal, but although he knew he didn’t do anything about it. He just waited for him to betray him. Judas was such a hypocrite that he gave Jesus for money and at the end when he kissed him he announced that they could go ahead and kill Jesus,

“And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?” (22:47-22:48)

The kiss was a signal of betrayal.

Another example of a great friend is Peter. Peter denies the Lord three times and then regrets this,
“And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” (22:61-22:62)

I understand the fact that Peter did this in order to save himself, but here he just proved that he is a bad friend. If he truly loved Jesus and believed in him he wouldn’t have denied him.

Oh well, Jesus had great friends.

He was Lost, and was Found

The Gospel of Luke has a lot of teachings in it which Jesus taught his followers. One of these stories is the one about the father who divides his goods and gives them to both of his cons. He younger son takes a journey in which he spends all of the money. In effect, he is forced to return home and very embarrassed goes and asks his father to forgive him and to offer him a job as a servant. Instead, his father receives him and says,

“…Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” (15:22-15:24)

According to me this is kind of ironic since this son has sinned and his father instead of making him a servant, forgives him, and is happy because he returned home.

After this, the eldest brother gets kind of jealous since he has worked hard to help his father and he doesn’t receive this kind of rewards for his efforts. He goes to complain with his father, but this one just tells him,

“It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.” (15:32)

Yeah, I know it seems quite of unfair, I mean, how can the father reward his son after what he did? If I was the eldest son I would obviously be mad and disappointed, but I guess the father has the right of being happy since his son returned home.

As all the stories in the Bible, this story has a teaching. I have always heard this story in the mass, but I had never actually understood it until now. According to me, the father can be interpreted a God and we are the sons. God has given to us everything and if we decide to sin and ask for forgiveness he will forgive us and will be happy to have us back since his love is unconditional.