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Complicated

 Luke 17 is complicated. Jesus talks of stumbling people, millstones around necks, people needing to be forgiven and the need to forgive. His comments bring the disciples to say, Lord, increase our faith! Jesus replies, if you have tiny faith you can uproot trees. Then he goes into this explanation about how to treat a servant and how they, his men, should respond when they have only done their duty. 

My head is spinning at this point. But wait, there's more. 

Ten lepers meet him and he heals all ten as they go to present themselves to the priest. However, only a Samaritan returned to thank him. And Jesus notes the one and says that his faith has healed him. 

Then the storyline gets even more complicated. The Pharisees, of all people, ask about end time indications, or rather about when the Kingdom will begin. Here is Jesus’ answer, "The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is in your midst" (Luke 17:20-21).

Now, there you go. That’s your answer. What was that supposed to mean? The kingdom of God is in your midst. Humm. 

Oh wait, Jesus was in their midst wasn't he? Did Jesus ever call himself the kingdom? No. But when the king is present, isn't his kingdom present too? Of course. 




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