18th December – Luke 18: “Life Everlasting”

Hey friends, welcome to 18th December. As Christmas nears and a new year approaches, Luke 18 turns our eyes from the temporary to the eternal. Prayer connects our fleeting days to forever, and the one question that matters most, but was worded wrong by a young man in this chapter: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Part 1 – Prayer and the Sinner’s Cry (vv. 1-14) Jesus gives two parables on prayer: First, the persistent widow and the unjust judge: “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (v. 1). God, unlike the judge, loves to answer His own, who cry day and night. Second, the Pharisee and the publican in the temple. The Pharisee boasts, “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men.” The publican, standing afar off, won’t even lift his eyes: “God be merciful to me a sinner” (v. 13). Jesus says, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other” (v. 14).

Robert Murray McCheyne, whose ministry lasted only seven short years, once said, “There is nothing a natural man hates more than prayer… One calm hour with God is worth more than a whole lifetime with men.” The most important prayer any of us will ever pray is the publican’s: “God be merciful to me a sinner.” It’s the cry that opens the door to everlasting life.

Part 2 – Life Everlasting (vv. 18-30) A rich young ruler runs to Jesus, kneels, and asks, “Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replies, “Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God” (v. 19). Then He lists the commandments. The young man says, “All these have I observed from my youth.” Jesus, beholding him, loves him, and says, “One thing thou lackest: sell all that thou hast… and come, follow me.” The man goes away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Jesus tells the stunned disciples, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” (v. 24). Then the impossible promise: “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible” (v. 27, cf. Mark 10:27). Peter says, “Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.” Jesus answers, “There is no man that hath left house… for the kingdom of God’s sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting” (vv. 29-30).

He had position, possibility, possessions, even religious purpose, but he also had pride keeping him from admitting he needed a Saviour. Eternal life isn’t earned; it’s received as a gift. As we face a new year, don’t make plans just for the next twelve months… make plans for forever.

Part 3 – Receive Thy Sight (vv. 31-43) Jesus takes the Twelve aside and plainly tells them everything coming in Jerusalem: betrayal, mockery, scourging, death, and resurrection on the third day. “But they understood none of these things” (v. 34). Their eyes were holden.

Then outside Jericho, blind Bartimaeus hears Jesus passing by and cries, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowd rebukes him, but he cries even louder. Jesus stops: “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?” “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Jesus says, “Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee” (v. 42). Immediately he sees, follows Jesus, and glorifies God.

The disciples had eyes but couldn’t see the cross ahead. The blind man had no eyes yet saw Jesus as Lord. Faith opened his eyes, to both physical sight and everlasting life.

Three scenes, one urgent message as Christmas and a new year approach: Pray without fainting; and start with the sinner’s cry for mercy. Nothing you can do will earn eternal life. It’s a gift received by faith alone in Christ alone. Cry out to Jesus to open your eyes; He still saves and gives sight to the blind.

Friends, the Babe in Bethlehem grew up to die and rise so you could have life everlasting. Don’t leave this year, or this life, without it.

See you tomorrow for Luke 19. Grace and peace! 🙏