Hello! I’m glad that you are joining me here to continue our Advent journey through Luke’s gospel. Today we are in chapter 18…not much further to go!
This chapter begins with two stories that are unique to Luke’s volume. Neither Matthew nor Mark record the account of the widow seeking justice and the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. Luke must have learned of them from another “ear”-witness as he interviewed people.
Whenever I read about this determined widow, I smile at the image of her showing up before the judge day after day. He groans, “Oh, no, not again!” As a widow, this woman had no advocate, no influence, no power. Yet she persevered and at last achieved justice.
When Jesus was only a newborn infant, Simeon predicted that one day a sword would also pierce Mary’s heart. Imagine her seeing her son Jesus on trial, standing alone before Herod and Pilate, without an advocate. How would she have felt seeing her son hanging on a cross after a mockery of justice? She saw spikes pierce his hands, his feet. She saw a soldier pierce his side with a spear. And she felt pain pierce her own heart.
Are you facing trials in the coming year? Be assured that Jesus died so that you and I would never stand alone as Jesus did. We have a forever Advocate.
