Luke Chapter 11 is about a teaching between Jesus and his disciples. It begins after Jesus is praying in a “certain place.” A disciple asks for direction on prayer style by stating, “Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples”. Does this unnamed disciple want to be a disciple of John or Jesus? Or is it that the disciple is saying, “Hey, John taught his disciples about prayer, how about you teach us too?”
It is like asking the Rabbi – “What is Your Philosophy of Life?” Knowing one’s philosophy of life will speak volumes about what you believe in the Holy Other. Is there any room for mystery and awe in your life, or do you believe anything at all? This lesson for the unnamed disciple is meant for all. It is a broad conversation.
In this passage, Jesus begins with a prayer that has three parts:
• A sacred veneration of God’s Name
• A petition for daily bread
• A saving from the time of personal trial
Jesus continues and changes the conversation from the three parts of the Lord’s Prayer to a deeper place. It becomes about the formation of relationships. Prayer is as deep as this relationship. It seems like an odd back and forth between a friend in bed asleep, and a friend in need due to unexpected guests – Jesus interjects the notion that the man will get out of bed for his friend because he honors the friend’s persistence. Some things are deeper than any surface friendship can yield. Only with trust can friends hear each other’s angsts!
Verses 9-10 separates the first story of the friends and the second story of a father and gifts to their child.
9 “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Persistence is rewarded. Persistence may be a requirement to get to the good stuff of a relationship with God. Searching, knocking and asking opens doors.
While persistence in prayer is rewarded, the lesson from this Sunday concludes with a notion of the old Wesleyan adage of “Do No Harm”. The second story is about a parent and a child. A request of a fish is not returned with a snake. A request for an egg is not returned with a scorpion. If a parent can figure this out, and be trusted by the child to truly understand their request, imagine how you can trust God – disciples and you, the readers of the Gospel!