Upwards Church

Day 9!  Jesus sends out his disciples for ministry, he feeds the five-thousand and is transfigured on the mountain.  The statement “What good is it if a man gains the whole world and loses his soul” (9:25) and others like it will make you think deeply.  It’s great reading today.

 Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles / 9:1-6

After giving examples of Jesus’ pattern of preaching about the Kingdom of God and of his power through all types of miracles, Luke reported how Jesus sent out the Twelve to continue this work. This begins two missionary trips (9:1; 10:1). Luke is the only Gospel writer that includes two trips, and the disciples probably were sent on other trips as well. Jesus gave the Twelve some instructions and then sent them on a “training mission.” They would soon be the ones left to carry on Jesus’ work after he was gone.

9:1-2 Jesus had chosen twelve disciples for special training (6:13-16). The men had traveled with Jesus, observed him, and listened to his teaching. Now they were to take a more active part in Jesus’ ministry; they themselves would go out to tell everyone about the coming of the Kingdom of God. More than that, Jesus also gave them power and authority to cast out demons and to heal all diseases. That was important because these miracles backed up the message. Jesus sent out his twelve apostles and gave them this power. The message of the Good News was of primary importance, but the healings showed God’s great compassion and fulfilled the ancient prophecies of the Messiah’s arrival (4:18-19).

• LIFE APPLICATION- HIS METHOD
• If you were given the task of carrying the good news about God’s love to the whole world, how would you attempt to accomplish it? Mass communication, satellite, the Internet? All of those technologies have been and continue to be used for evangelism and the building up of God’s people. But Jesus relied on a more basic means of communication: people. He called his twelve key men together and entrusted them with the most important message the world has ever heard: the gospel of Jesus Christ. Technology is a wonderful tool, but there is no substitute for committed men and women who love God enough and care enough about their lost friends and neighbors to tell them about God’s wonderful plan of salvation. If you know people who need to hear the Good News, pray for an opportunity to tell them. Be an active, willing part of Christ’s strategy to tell the world.

 9:3-4 The disciples were to travel light. The urgency of their task required that they not spend time preparing for the trip. Besides, it was to be a short trip after which they would come back and report to Jesus. As disciples sent by God, they were to depend on him and on the people to whom they ministered to meet their needs. In addition, whatever home showed them hospitality was the home where they were to stay until they left that town. The disciples were not to offend their hosts by moving to a home that was more comfortable or socially prominent. To remain in one home was not a burden for the homeowner because there would only have been two together at a time and their stay in each community would be short.

The disciples were instructed to depend on others while they went from town to town preaching the gospel. This had a good effect: (1) it clearly showed that the Messiah had not come to offer wealth to his followers; (2) it forced the disciples to rely on God’s power and not on their own provision—they carried no outward symbols of authority, only the inward power that Christ gave them; (3) it involved the villagers and made them more eager to hear the message. This was an excellent approach for the disciples’ short-term mission; it was not intended, however, to be a permanent way of life for them. Jesus’ instructions pertained only to this particular mission, so this would not be a command for missionaries today. Different times and situations would call for different measures, both then and now.

• LIFE APPLICATION – TRAVELING (WITH THE) LIGHT
•  Jesus sent the disciples out on their preaching and healing mission without a lot of comforts or even supplies. That’s because they weren’t going out to enjoy the scenery or stay in any place for very long. They were going on a short-term mission to spread the gospel widely through the spoken word and the authoritative command over demons and diseases. That kind of ministry doesn’t require much in the way of luggage, but it does require tremendous faith and reliance on the power of God. What kind of service are you involved in? Whatever it is—teaching, serving, working with youth, music—you undoubtedly have a list of equipment you’d love to have to be more effective. Next time you ask God to provide your needs, be sure to ask for his inner power and blessing on your work before you list your material needs.

9:5 The disciples could be sure of finding hospitality from some people, but Jesus told them to also expect places where they would not be welcomed. Jesus’ instructions for such a town was that as the disciples were leaving, they were to shake off its dust from their feet. Shaking off dust that had accumulated on one’s sandals showed extreme contempt for an area and its people, as well as the determination not to have any further involvement with them. Pious Jews would do this after passing through Gentile cities to show their separation from Gentile practices. If the disciples shook the dust of a Jewish town from their feet, it would show their separation from Jews who rejected their Messiah. This action also showed that the disciples were not responsible for how the people responded to their message.

• LIFE APPLICATION- THE JOB: TO SHARE
• Jesus was making it clear that the listeners were responsible for what they did with the gospel. As long as the disciples had faithfully and carefully presented the message, they were not to blame if the townspeople rejected it. Likewise, believers are not responsible when others reject Christ’s message of salvation if they have carefully and truthfully presented it. But they do have the responsibility to share the gospel clearly and faithfully. When the message is rejected, they should move on to others whom God desires to reach.

 9:6 Six teams of two began their circuit of the villages—perhaps going back to villages in which Jesus had already preached, or going where he did not have time to go (4:14-15, 43-44). They went with Jesus’ authority and power—preaching the Good News and healing the sick.

 Herod Kills John the Baptist / 9:7-9

The ministry of Jesus and his disciples was effective. The gospel message even reached Herod, leaving him questioning: “Who is this man?”

9:7-8 Herod Antipas was the king who had imprisoned and executed John the Baptist, and he would later hear Jesus’ case before the crucifixion (23:6-12). Herod was worried and puzzled because a man and his disciples were traveling around doing miracles and teaching a message that, once reported to Herod, sounded eerily like the message that John the Baptist had taught. In addition, some were saying that John had come back to life again. Herod thought that John had come back to life to trouble him some more. Others thought that Elijah or some other ancient prophet had risen from the dead. While John the Baptist had been widely regarded as a prophet (and the first prophet to the nation in over four hundred years), the people had refused to listen to him.

9:9 For the story of how Herod had beheaded John, see Matthew 14:1-12 and Mark 6:14-29. Herod may have had some guilt-pangs, for he had beheaded an innocent man who had done no more than speak the truth. So it bothered Herod that this good man, considered by everyone to be a prophet, may have come back to life. This certainly caused Herod to think twice about this man and try to see him—perhaps Herod thought he might be able to recognize him or talk to him. Luke did not include the details surrounding John’s death, focusing instead on Herod’s question, “Who is this man about whom I hear such strange stories?”

•  LIFE APPLICATION WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?
•  “I can accept Jesus as a great teacher, but why do you insist that he’s actually God?”
•  “I went to church when I was younger, but I’ve not read the Bible for myself.
• Perhaps you’ve heard these kinds of statements. Although the Bible is still the best-selling book in the world, year after year, and although the entire Western world was founded on biblical thought and principles, most people are “biblically illiterate.” Believers should encourage people to examine the Bible’s claims about Jesus for themselves, instead of relying on vague memories of childhood Sunday school lessons or intellectual trends that change like the seasons. Herod’s question “Who is this man?” is still the important question to answer. Be ready to help someone who sincerely wants to know the answer.

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand / 9:10-17

Apart from Jesus’ resurrection, this is the only miracle that appears in all four Gospels, showing its importance to Jesus’ ministry and to the early church. While many people have tried to explain away the incident, it is clear that all the Gospel writers saw this as a marvelous miracle.

9:10 The word “apostle” means “one sent” as a messenger, authorized agent, or missionary. The word became an accepted title for Jesus’ twelve disciples after his death and resurrection (Acts 1:25-26; Ephesians 2:20). The apostles had completed their teaching mission (9:6) and thus were official “sent ones.” They returned to Capernaum and told Jesus everything they had done. Jesus wanted to hear how their training mission, their “student teaching,” had gone. In order to do this, he needed to get them away from the crowds. So they withdrew by themselves to the town of Bethsaida.

9:11 The disciples needed rest; Jesus wanted quiet teaching time with them, but this was not to be. The crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him. Matthew wrote that they had gone by boat, and the crowds went on foot and met Jesus when he landed (Matthew 14:13-14). Far from being upset by the interruption of their plans, Jesus welcomed the people, using the opportunity afforded by their interest to teach them about the Kingdom of God.

• LIFE APPLICATION-INTERRUPTIONS
• Jesus had tried to slip quietly away from the crowds, but they found out where he was going and followed him. Instead of showing impatience at this interruption, Jesus welcomed the people and ministered to their needs. How do you see people who interrupt your schedule—as nuisances, or as the reason for your life and ministry?

9:12 Jesus’ teaching about the Kingdom of God (9:11) lasted until the evening. As the day was drawing to a close, the disciples certainly wondered when they would have time alone with Jesus. So they went to Jesus and suggested that he send the crowds away so they would have time to get food and lodging in the surrounding villages. The place where Jesus had been teaching was deserted, far from any town or village. It was near Bethsaida, east of the lake about four miles from Capernaum.

9:13 These disciples, already tired, meant to be compassionate in their request for Jesus to send the crowd away to get food before nightfall. Jesus’ response certainly surprised them, for he said, “You feed them.” A check of the resources had yielded five loaves of bread and two fish—John’s Gospel explains that these belonged to a boy (John 6:9). The disciples had just come back from a teaching tour in which they had used Jesus’ authority to preach and heal. But apparently they couldn’t see past the obvious in this situation.

• LIFE APPLICATION – RESOURCES
• When the disciples expressed concern about where the crowd of thousands would eat, Jesus offered a surprising solution—”You give them something to eat.” The disciples protested, focusing their attention on what they didn’t have (food and money). Do you think God would ask you to do something that you and he together couldn’t handle? Don’t let your lack of resources blind you to seeing God’s power. Use the resources you have at your disposal; let God stretch them to meet the need.

9:14-15 No wonder the disciples were a little dismayed at Jesus’ command to feed this crowd. Luke fills us in on the detail that there were about five thousand men there. The Greek word translated “men” is andres, meaning not “people” but “male individuals.” Therefore, there were five thousand men in addition to the women and children.

The disciples didn’t understand what Jesus wanted them to do, so he gave them a job and prepared to show them that little is much when God is in charge. The disciples followed Jesus’ instructions to have everyone sit down on the ground in groups of about fifty each. The people, perhaps realizing that this would be worth staying for, all sat down.

• LIFE APPLICATION-ALL YOU NEED
•  “Have you ever actually been in a situation where Jesus was really all you had? If so, you know that it can be anxiety producing. Imagine how the disciples must have felt when Jesus told them to tell five thousand men (and presumably several thousand more women and children) to sit down on the grass to be fed—with five loaves of bread and two fish! But instead, Jesus was all that was necessary to accomplish this miracle. When you are in situations where you have no other resource than Jesus—relax. He’s the best resource you could have, and the only one you need.

9:16 Jesus took the small lunch provided by the boy and asked God’s blessing on the food. Then he gave the bread and fish to the disciples to give to the people. As Jesus broke the loaves, a miracle happened. The disciples began serving the groups of people, and the supply never diminished.

This miracle certainly helped a hungry crowd, but it had a higher purpose and theology. God, who multiplied the bread, was authenticating Jesus as his Son and portraying the munificent blessings of the Kingdom. Just as God had provided manna to the Hebrews in the wilderness (Exodus 16), had multiplied oil and meal for Elijah and the widow at Zarephath (1 Kings 17:7-16) and for Elisha (2 Kings 4:1-7), and had multiplied twenty loaves to feed one hundred men (2 Kings 4:42-44), he was providing bread for the people on this day. This also points to the prophesied feast that the Messiah will abundantly provide for people in the wilderness (see also 13:29; 14:15-24; Isaiah 25:6, 9).

9:17 The disciples continued serving food, and the food continued to be supplied in abundance. They all ate as much as they wanted. Not only that, but there were enough leftovers to fill twelve baskets. The disciples collected the leftovers and may have taken them along for their own provision for a couple of days. While Jesus could have, he did not make a habit of supplying food out of nothing for himself and the disciples.

 Peter Says Jesus Is the Messiah / 9:18-20

Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah, marks a turning point in this Gospel. Luke had been meticulously recording the reactions of people to Jesus and his message and their questions revolving around Jesus’ identity. Peter gave a clear answer to Jesus’ identity.

9:18 Apparently the disciples and Jesus did at times get to be alone, for here we find Jesus and his disciples together, away from the crowds. Jesus was alone, praying. That the Son of God often took time to pray was certainly an example to his disciples, as well as to all who follow him (see also 3:21; 6:12; 11:1).

Then he asked his disciples, “Who do people say I am?” What had the disciples heard—perhaps this information would come from what they had learned on their preaching tour (9:6).

9:19 The disciples’ answer echoes what the crowds had been saying and what Herod had heard (9:8). This belief may have come from Deuteronomy 18:18, where God said he would raise up a prophet from among the people. (For the story of John the Baptist, see Mark 1:1-11; 6:14-29. For the story of Elijah, see 1 Kings 17–21 and 2 Kings 1–2.) All of these responses were incorrect, revealing that the people still didn’t recognize Jesus’ true identity.

9:20 People may have had various opinions and ideas about Jesus’ identity, but Jesus was concerned about what his chosen twelve believed about him. So he asked, “Who do you say I am?” The word “you” is plural; Jesus was asking the entire group. But Peter, who often acted as their spokesman, answered. Peter’s ready answer reveals a deep insight into Jesus’ identity, for he said, “You are the Messiah sent from God!” Peter did not understand the exact nature of Jesus’ ministry, but he knew one fact for sure—Jesus was the Messiah.

• LIFE APPLICATION – WHAT ABOUT YOU?
• Great moral leader . . . enlightened master . . . political dissident . . . avatar . . . great teacher . . . prophet. In our pluralistic, no-tolerance-for-absolutes culture, people will apply all these labels to Jesus and be comfortable with them. To talk of Jesus as a great teacher or even a prophet isn’t terribly unsettling or disturbing. There have been many prophets and teachers. But to declare him as the Messiah, the one and only Son of the living God, calls for a response. If Jesus is Messiah, then we must accept that as true and receive him as Lord. If he is not, then all of Christianity is based upon a lie. There is no middle ground. “Who do you say I am?” Jesus asked the disciples, and the question reverberates down through the centuries, into modern ears. What is your answer? Who do you say Jesus is?

Jesus Predicts His Death the First Time / 9:21-27

Jesus responded to Peter’s confession that he was the Messiah with a prophecy of his own death and resurrection. Most Jews at this time were expecting a political messiah, a person who would deliver them from their subjection to the Romans. To correct this, Jesus depicted his suffering and death at the hands of the religious leaders (see 9:43-45).

9:21-22 Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ because at this point they didn’t fully understand the significance of that confession of faith. Even though Jesus was the Messiah, he still had to suffer many terrible things, be rejected, and be killed. Jesus then added that after all those tragic events occurred, three days later he would be raised from the dead. When the disciples saw all this happen to Jesus, they would understand what the Messiah had come to do and the kind of Kingdom he was preparing. Jesus here called himself Son of Man, a title emphasizing that he had power and authority from God himself. The Son of Man was the figure prophesied by Daniel to come as God’s agent to gather his people and to be their judge. Only then would they be equipped to share the gospel around the world.

9:23 Jesus didn’t make following him sound very easy. To his disciples who may have been hoping to have special positions in Jesus’ earthly kingdom (22:24), these would have been hard words to hear. Denying one’s personal desires and taking up a cross in order to follow this man was not what most of them had bargained for.

To put aside one’s selfish ambition means a willingness to let go of selfish desires and earthly security. “Self” is no longer in charge; God is. Too often this has been interpreted to mean that believers should have no self-esteem. Some discipleship or “deeper life” strategies have advocated stripping oneself of all dignity or anything that contributes to a sense of self-worth. Jesus’ view of denial was immediate and practical. They would need this attitude in the days ahead. They would need a willingness to set aside their own desires in order to spread the Good News.

To shoulder one’s cross daily means to follow Jesus to the death if necessary. When Jesus used this picture of his followers taking up their crosses, everyone knew what he meant. Death on a cross was a form of execution used by Rome for dangerous criminals. A prisoner would carry his own cross to the place of execution, signifying submission to Rome’s power. Following Jesus, therefore, meant identifying with Jesus and his followers, facing social and political oppression and ostracism, and no turning back. And this would not be a once-for-all deal—believers would need to be willing to take up this cross “daily” as they faced new situations, new people, new problems.

To follow Jesus means recognizing that belief is only the beginning of discipleship. Following Jesus doesn’t mean walking behind him, but taking the same road of self-denial and self-sacrifice. Because Jesus walks ahead, he provides an example and stands with his followers as encourager, guide, and friend.

• LIFE APPLICATION – THE WAY OF THE CROSS
• What does it mean to live for Christ? Luke 9:23 is one of the clearest and most challenging descriptions of the Christian life in all of the Bible. Jesus says that to be his disciple means: putting aside selfish desires, shouldering one’s “cross” every day, following him. It is simple and yet so demanding. For the original twelve, this meant literal suffering and death. For believers today, it means understanding that they belong to him and that they live to serve his purposes. Consider this: Do you think of your relationship with God primarily in terms of what’s in it for you (which is considerable) or in terms of what you can do for him? If your thoughts run more toward your own benefits, repent and ask God to give you grace to live a Luke 9:23 Christian life.

9:24 As the Messiah must suffer and die (9:21-22), so his followers must realize that they must not grasp selfishly onto their own lives. Those who want to keep life for themselves strive to get only the best for themselves. Such people will try to hold on to earthly rewards and security only to find that in the end, they lose. By contrast, however, those who generously give up their lives, willing to lose them if necessary for the sake of Jesus and the Kingdom, will find true life. That person will have given up in order to gain, and what is gained is of greater value indeed for it is eternal. Those who invest their life for Christ and his Kingdom will receive eternal life, as well as the satisfaction of serving God on earth. Those who give up control to God find that he fills their lives with himself.

• LIFE APPLICATION – RISK IT
• If this present life is most important to you, you will do everything you can to protect it. You will not want to do anything that might endanger your safety, health, or comfort. By contrast, if following Jesus is most important, you may find yourself in unsafe, unhealthy, and uncomfortable places. You will risk death, but you will not fear it because you know that Jesus will raise you to eternal life. Nothing material can compensate for the loss of eternal life. Jesus’ disciples are not to use their lives on earth for their own pleasure—they should spend their lives serving God and people. Have you discovered the most fulfilling use of your life?

9:25 Many people are willing to turn away from Christ in order to stay in a relationship, hold on to a sin, or stay on a career path. Jesus explained, however, that even if someone could gain the whole world, it would be of no benefit if it means losing his or her soul in the process. The answer to Jesus’ question, then, is that nothing is so valuable that it can be exchanged for one’s soul. In order to gain the whole world, one would have to worship the ruler of this world—Satan—because this is the offer he made to Jesus (4:5-7). Even if a person could gain the whole world, that person would lose his or her soul—and the soul counts for eternity.

• LIFE APPLICATION – PRIORITIES
• You’ve seen the bumper stickers: “He who dies with the most toys wins.” Maybe you’ve seen the follow-up version: “He who dies with the most toys is dead.” It’s not hard to see through the emptiness and superficiality of materialism. The idea that the meaning of life is to be found in the things acquired, the trophies accumulated, and the amount of money made loses its credibility in the emergency room and the funeral parlor. As one wise older person once put it, “I’ve never heard anyone on his deathbed say, ‘I sure wish I’d spent more time in the office.'”

What is it you are pushing so hard to acquire or accomplish? Is it truly important, or merely something to gratify your ego or impress your peers? Will it come at the expense of your family or your own relationship with God? How do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose or forfeit your own soul?

9:26 If people are ashamed of Jesus and his message, he will be ashamed of them at his second coming (they would be rejected from eternal life with him). In the Bible, “ashamed” means more than embarrassment. It refers to the judgment of God (Isaiah 44:11), repentance (Ezekiel 43:10), or submission before God (Micah 7:16). When Jesus judges unbelieving people, his “being ashamed of them” means that he will reject them when he returns in glory. This indicates the Second Coming—the time of future judgment when present life ceases and everyone will be judged for their decisions about Jesus Christ.

•  LIFE APPLICATION – THE GLORY AND THE SHAME
• Jesus told his disciples to speak up for him without shame. You can tell a lot about a society by what it glorifies and what it considers shameful. Today some behaviors that once would have been considered scandalous are openly admired, and others that once were accepted as virtuous are criticized and condemned. Even Christians are often made to feel guilty or somehow inferior for holding to the belief that Jesus is the only true “way.” And anyone with the audacity to state that belief in a public forum is considered ignorant and closed-minded. Believers must stand boldly for the Lord in a world that increasingly stands for nothing. When nonbelievers heap pressure, rejection, and humiliation on us, we must remain faithful to Christ.

9:27 When Jesus said that some of those who were with him would not die before seeing the Kingdom of God, he may have been referring to: (1) Peter, James, and John, who would witness the Transfiguration eight days later, or in a broader sense (2) all who would witness the resurrection and ascension, or (3) to all who would take part in the spread of the church after Pentecost. Jesus’ listeners would not have to wait for another, future Messiah—the Kingdom was among them, and it would soon come in power. Jesus’ Transfiguration, which follows, previewed the Kingdom of God.

 Jesus Is Transfigured on the Mountain / 9:28-36

Drowsily, Peter, James, and John awoke to an extraordinary sight—Moses and Elijah, with Jesus, standing together in a moment of glorious heavenly splendor. Stunned—Peter blurted out that he would build three shrines. Peter’s instant reaction was to commemorate this moment of glory, at this very site. But God himself answered Peter. No shrines were needed; instead the disciples needed to recognize Jesus’ unique identity—that he was God’s Son—and obey what he told them to do.

9:28 Three of Jesus’ disciples did indeed get a glimpse of the Kingdom of God within days of Jesus’ pronouncement (9:27). Jesus singled out Peter, James, and John for this special revelation of his glory and purity. These three disciples comprised the inner circle of the Twelve (see 8:51; Mark 14:33). Jesus took them with him and went to a mountain to pray. This “mountain” is traditionally considered to have been either Mount Hermon or Mount Tabor.

•  LIFE APPLICATION- QUIET TIME
• Jesus took three disciples away to pray. Times of conversation with God—and that is what prayer is—each require a time and place undisturbed by the rush of the day’s traffic. Phones, televisions, and internet are wonderful tools, but poor help for sincere, concentrated times of prayer. Jesus didn’t deal with these technological intrusions; he had thousands of people following him around, some of whom wanted him dead. That’s why he often would withdraw to a remote, lonely place to pray. Where is your “prayer closet”? Where can you go and have uninterrupted time with God? If you have such a place, enjoy it and protect it. If not, make whatever arrangements necessary to find one. Jesus needed it, and so do you.

9:29 As Jesus was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothing became dazzling white. This revealed Jesus’ true glory and purity. While Luke avoided the word “transfiguration,” what occurred was an outward change that came from within—he appeared glorious because he was divine. On earth, Jesus appeared as a man; at this time, he was transformed into the glorious radiance that he will have in heaven.

9:30-31 Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus. Both of these men had, during their time on earth, met with God on a mountain (Exodus 24; 1 Kings 19). Both men also had departed from this earth in an unusual way—Elijah was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11); Moses was buried by the Lord (Deuteronomy 34:6), and the location of his body became a matter of great speculation (Jude 9). These men represented the sweeping vista of God’s plan of salvation across the ages. Moses represented the Law, or the Old Covenant. He had written the Pentateuch and had predicted the coming of a great prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19). Elijah represented the prophets who had foretold the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5-6).

These men were speaking of how Jesus was about to fulfill God’s plan by dying in Jerusalem. Jesus’ death would accomplish true freedom for all people who believe in him. It would happen according to God’s divine plan (see 1 Peter 1:19-20).

9:32-33 Apparently Jesus had been spending a long time in prayer; Peter, John, and James had fallen asleep. The display of dazzling glory awakened them. When it seemed that Elijah and Moses were going to leave, Peter spoke up and suggested making three shrines. Peter wanted to keep Moses and Elijah with them. But this was not what God wanted. While these three disciples got a glimpse of Jesus’ future glory, they had to realize that this did not erase Jesus’ previous words of suffering and death for himself (9:21-22). Peter also mistakenly treated these three men as equals—he was missing Jesus’ true identity as God himself. He called Jesus Master (meaning “Teacher”), when this glorious display should have shown him that Jesus was far more. No shrines would be built; no one was going to stay. Moses and Elijah would return to glory; Jesus would walk back down the mountain and head toward Jerusalem. There would be no shortcuts.

•  LIFE APPLICATION – MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCES
• Peter, James, and John experienced a wonderful moment on the mountain, and they didn’t want to leave. Sometimes believers have such an inspiring experience that they want to stay where they are—away from the reality and problems of daily life. Knowing that struggles await in the valley encourages them to linger on the mountaintop. Yet staying on top of a mountain prohibits ministry to others. Christians need times of retreat and renewal, but only so they can return to minister to the world. When you leave an inspiring mountaintop experience, be ready for the challenging real-life experiences in the valley. Your faith must make sense off the mountain as well as on it.

9:34-35 Even as Peter was blurting out words that he shouldn’t have been saying, a cloud came over them and covered them. This “cloud” was actually the glory of God—the same glory that had guided Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 13:21), had appeared to the people in the wilderness (Exodus 16:10; 24:15-18; 34:5; 40:34-38), had appeared to Moses (Exodus 19:9), and had filled the Temple (1 Kings 8:10). No wonder terror gripped the three disciples. Then, as had happened at Jesus’ baptism, a voice came from the cloud—the voice of God himself (3:22). God gave divine approval of his Son, separating him from Moses and Elijah by saying that Jesus was the Son, the Chosen One and that the disciples must listen to him. The voice affirmed, both at the Baptism and at the Transfiguration, that Jesus was the one sent by God and the one whose authority came directly from God.

9:36 The glory disappeared, the cloud went away, the voice finished speaking, Moses and Elijah left, and Jesus looked once again like an ordinary man. Jesus was there alone with his disciples. Jesus would return to glory, but he would first follow the path of suffering and seeming defeat on this earth. Only then could he fully accomplish the plan of salvation.

The three disciples kept quiet about this entire experience, not telling anyone what they had seen until long after. Matthew and Mark wrote that Jesus ordered the disciples not to tell anyone about this until he had risen from the dead—then they could talk about it, presumably because then they would better understand it (Matthew 17:9; Mark 9:9).

 Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy / 9:37-43a

Luke closely tied the Transfiguration to this healing of a demon-possessed boy. The ignorance and unbelief of the disciples was the same issue that God had spoken about on the mountain. He had commanded Peter, James, and John to “listen” to Jesus. There was no reason for the disciples to be defeated by any demon; all they needed to do was to believe in Jesus and dedicate themselves to prayer (see Matthew 17:20; Mark 9:29).

• LIFE APPLICATION – THE LITTLE PEOPLE
• Jesus took the time to notice one man and his demon-possessed son. He cared enough about these seemingly insignificant people to listen and respond to their problem, even with the tremendous events of cosmic magnitude playing out around him. Do you notice “the little people”? Do you have a place in your heart and your schedule for the seemingly insignificant ones who desperately need to know that someone cares about them? Ask God if there is someone—even someone insignificant in the world’s eyes—who needs your attention and compassion.

9:37 Jesus, Peter, James, and John came down from the mountain. A huge crowd met Jesus. This crowd included the rest of Jesus’ disciples, some teachers of religious law, and a group of followers and onlookers. Mark wrote that the disciples and the religious leaders were in an argument (Mark 9:14), which probably focused on the fact that the disciples had tried and failed to cast out a demon (9:40). The religious leaders may have been questioning the disciples’ power and authority.

9:38-39 A man had brought his only son who was possessed by an evil spirit. While the symptoms described by the father sound much like an epileptic convulsion, the destructive intent of the demon was described by the father—the demon was injuring his son. This was more than mere epilepsy; it was indeed a case of demon possession. Mark’s Gospel reveals that the boy could neither speak nor hear (Mark 9:17, 25).

9:40 This desperate man wanted his child to be freed from the demon, so he brought his son to Jesus and his disciples (the disciples had been given authority to heal demon possession, 9:1). But the disciples couldn’t do it. The text does not explain the reason for their failure. Matthew explained it as the disciples’ lack of faith (Matthew 17:19-20), Mark as a need for prayer (Mark 9:28-29). The disciples certainly tried, but the demon did not respond.

9:41 Jesus saw the failure of the disciples to cast out this demon as merely one more indication of the stubbornness and faithlessness surrounding him. The disciples were not singled out for rebuke, but they reflected an attitude prevalent in their society. Jesus would not stay with them forever; one day he would leave and the Spirit would come. The Spirit could help soften stubborn hearts. In the meantime, Jesus would battle this unbelief, but he would not leave this young boy in his horrible condition, so Jesus told the father to bring his son.

9:42-43a As if to show its anger that Jesus was now involved, the demon knocked the boy to the ground and threw him into a violent convulsion. It did not yell Jesus’ name as did other demons, for this one was mute (4:34; 8:28; Mark 9:17), but it showed its displeasure. Jesus, however, simply rebuked the evil spirit, and it had no choice but to obey. As the boy was healed and returned to his father, the people realized that this was a display of God’s power and they were filled with awe.

 Jesus Predicts His Death the Second Time / 9:43b-45

While Jesus was still in the limelight, while the people were still marveling over his recent exorcism, Jesus took time to reiterate to his disciples that the path he was traveling was the way of suffering—the way of the cross (9:23-27). Jesus calls all his followers to that path.

9:43b-44 Jesus did not let this healing fill him with pride, for he knew that the path ahead did not hold earthly glory and honor. As the crowd murmured their wonder at Jesus, he turned to his disciples and reminded them a second time (see 9:21-22 for the first) that he was going to die. This time he added the element that he would be betrayed.

9:45 The disciples didn’t know what Jesus meant about his death. They still thought of Jesus as only an earthly king, and they were concerned about their places in the Kingdom that he would set up (9:46-48). If Jesus died, the Kingdom as they imagined it could not come. Consequently, they preferred not to ask him about his predictions.

 The Disciples Argue about Who Would Be the Greatest / 9:46-48

This argument among the disciples about who would be the greatest highlights how they did not understand Jesus’ mission (9:45). Jesus was trying to prepare these men for the suffering and rejection that would come. At the same time, however, the disciples were enjoying all the attention and even disputing with each other over who was the greatest. So Jesus called over a little child—considered the most lowly person in first-century society—to show them their false priorities.

9:46 Apparently this argument among the disciples was occurring away from Jesus, but they could not hide it from him (9:47). The disciples, still not understanding the true nature of Jesus’ mission, were having an argument . . . as to which of them would be the greatest. Either they ignored Jesus’ words about his death as they planned for the coming Kingdom, or they took his words to heart and wondered who would be in charge after he had died.

• LIFE APPLICATION- TRUE GREATNESS
• Who are the people you know that you consider truly “great”? Perhaps they are particularly wealthy, or well-known, or influential, or talented. While these are wonderful qualities, they are not, according to Jesus, the essence of greatness. When the disciples argued about which of them would be the greatest, Jesus did not rebuke them for wanting to be great. He simply redefined “greatness” for them. True greatness, he said, is anyone who welcomes a little child in his name, whoever sincerely humbles himself. The world needs Jesus’ kind of greatness. Do you truly want to be great for God? Be a servant even to the “least.”

9:47-48 Jesus used this opportunity to teach his disciples a lesson about the “greatness” about which they were so concerned. He brought a little child as a visual aid. Jesus suggested that he and this child were peers—“Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me.” Jesus equated the attitude of welcoming children with a willingness to welcome him. This was a new approach in a society where children were usually treated as second-class citizens. Jesus equated the attitude of receiving children with a willingness to receive him. Even more important is the profound truth of Jesus’ identity—“Anyone who welcomes me welcomes my Father who sent me.” Jesus was saying that he and God the Father were one.

The disciples had become so preoccupied with the organization of Jesus’ earthly kingdom that they had lost sight of its divine purpose. Instead of seeking a place of service, they were seeking positions of advantage. Jesus used a child to help his self-centered disciples get the point. They were to have servant attitudes, being not “childish” (arguing over petty issues), but “childlike,” with humble and sincere hearts. Greatness would be measured by attitude toward service—“Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.” True greatness means to deny oneself, willingly serve others, and then follow and obey the Master.

• LIFE APPLICATION –REALLY GREAT
• Your care for others is a measure of your greatness. How much concern do you show to others? This is a vital question that can accurately measure your greatness in God’s eyes. How have you expressed your care for others lately, especially the helpless, the needy, the poor—those who can’t return your love and concern? Your honest answer to that question will give you a good idea of your real greatness.

The Disciples Forbid Another to Use Jesus’ Name / 9:49-50

Here the disciples displayed their tendency to be a closed group. Jesus rebuked their attempt to be exclusive. His ministry was to empower and encourage all those who do good, not to limit and restrict. Christians must welcome and encourage all who serve in the name of Christ. Having the same Lord should cover a multitude of differences.

9:49-50 John was one of the inner circle of three, along with his brother James and Peter. Apparently he needed to clear something with Jesus—he may have felt concerned that they had done wrong, especially after this illustration about greatness through serving. They had seen someone using Jesus’ name to cast out demons and they had tried to stop him. This was not an evil man, for apparently God was blessing him—the man was having success (as opposed to the disciples, nine of whom had just failed, 9:40). But the disciples stopped the man for one reason—he isn’t in our group.

Jesus explained that they should not stop such a person; instead, they should have been thrilled that there were other people through whom God was working, others who were on Jesus’ side. Jesus made the point that with him there would be no middle ground—“Anyone who is not against you is for you.” The disciples had been wrong to stop the man from exorcising demons in Jesus’ name; and they were also wrong to think that they alone had a monopoly on Jesus’ power. Jesus explained that no one would do such a miracle as exorcising a demon in Jesus’ name and then turn around and publicly speak against Jesus. The man, whatever his motivation, had at least done a deed of mercy for a possessed person and had stood against Satan in so doing.

• LIFE APPLICATION- OPEN ARMS
• The disciples were jealous. Nine of them together were unable to drive out a single evil spirit (9:40), but when they saw a man who was not one of their group driving out demons, they told him to stop. A person’s pride is hurt when someone else succeeds where he or she has failed, but Jesus says there is no room for such jealousy in the spiritual warfare of his kingdom. Share Jesus’ open-arms attitude to Christian workers outside your group or denomination. Don’t let possessiveness, protectiveness, or divisions stop the work of Christ.

Jesus Teaches about the Cost of Following Him / 9:51-62

Luke began an extended section of his Gospel presenting the teaching and parables of Jesus that, for the most part, focus on the cost of discipleship and the coming suffering that Jesus would endure. Jesus was preparing his disciples for the rejection, suffering, and death that he would experience.

9:51 Jesus knew that his time on earth was ending and that the time drew near for his return to heaven. In other words, Jesus knew that he would soon die and that this death awaited him in Jerusalem. As if needing to arrive on time for a pre-planned appointment, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

•  LIFE APPLICATION – DETERMINED
• Although Jesus knew he would face persecution and death in Jerusalem, he was determined to go there. That kind of resolve should characterize believers’ lives today. When God gives you a course of action, move steadily toward your destination, no matter what potential hazards await.

9:52-53 Jesus was journeying from Galilee to Jerusalem, so he had to travel south. Samaria lay between Galilee and Judea, thus he would have to travel through that region. The animosity between the Jews and the Samaritans was so great that many Jews would go out of their way not to travel through Samaria, instead opting to cross the Jordan River and travel on the other side until they could recross. Jesus held no such prejudices, so he sent messengers ahead to go into a Samaritan village and prepare for his arrival (presumably to secure lodging for Jesus and the Twelve). Because the men were heading toward Jerusalem, however, the people in the Samaritan village refused to welcome him.

9:54-56 When the messengers reported back, James and John were furious. The disciples had been told that if they faced rejection in a certain town, they were to shake the dust from their feet as a testimony against the people (9:5). James and John did not want to stop there—they asked Jesus if they should order down fire from heaven to burn them up. Jesus rebuked their suggestion. The point here was that the village was not consciously rejecting Jesus; instead, they were rejecting this group of thirteen or more because they were Jews on their way to Jerusalem (9:53). The disciples were to take this rejection in stride and go on to another village. Whether this other village was in Samaria is unknown. There was no stopping Jesus; he continued resolutely toward Jerusalem.

• LIFE APPLICATION – RETALIATION
• James and John wanted to retaliate on a village that would not welcome Jesus by calling down fire from heaven on the people. When feeling rejected or scorned, it is natural to feel like retaliating and wishing to silence other groups with differing methods and schools of thought. Remember that judgment belongs to God. Do not expect him to use his power to carry out your personal vendettas.

9:57-58 Someone approached and wanted to follow Jesus. Matthew wrote that this man was a teacher of religious law (Matthew 8:19). Most of these leaders became Jesus’ enemies, but at least one apparently recognized Jesus’ authority and wanted to be his disciple. Jesus’ reply, however, pointed out to the man the cost of becoming a disciple. Jesus did not grab onto disciples, eagerly taking anyone who wanted to follow. Those who truly wanted to be his disciples needed to understand that it would cost them something. While most of God’s creatures have warm places in which to live and to sleep, the Son of Man had no home of his own, no place to lay his head. To be Jesus’ disciple, a person must willingly put aside worldly security. The words are recorded for believers’ benefit. Have you counted the cost of following Jesus? Do you understand that following Jesus is far more valuable than anything this world offers?

•  LIFE APPLICATION – PAYING THE PRICE
• No great success comes without sacrifice. Ask champion athletes or concert musicians what they had to give up to attain their level of expertise. Ask a mother if she has had to forgo some of her own plans and desires in order to do what is best for her child, and she will tell you that she has. Nothing worthwhile comes without sacrifice, and that applies to Christian discipleship as well. Of course, there are incomparable benefits to having a living relationship with God, but they do not come without a price. Jesus said that he, the Son of Man, didn’t even have a home, a place to call his own. What sacrifices has God asked you to make in view of the much greater privilege of following Jesus? Earthly success, possessions, and recognition must not deter us from serving others.

 9:59-60 The previous man came on his own to Jesus (9:57-58); this time, however, Jesus asked another man to be his disciple. But this man explained that he first needed to return home and bury his father. The man was asking for permission to wait until his father died—an indefinite delay. The reason is not given, but whatever it was, the man wanted to do it “first.” Whether his concern was fulfilling a duty, having financial security, keeping family approval, or something else, he did not want to commit himself to Jesus just yet.

Jesus’ response: “Let those who are spiritually dead care for their own dead” points out that those who want to follow him should count the cost and set aside any conditions they might have. In other words, let those who are spiritually dying (those who have not responded to the call to commitment) stay home and handle responsibilities such as burying the dead. This may sound insensitive, but it had precedents. A high priest and those who had taken the Nazirite vow were required by the law to avoid the corpse of even a parent (Leviticus 21:11; Numbers 6:6-8). A later Jewish precedent says that if there were enough people in attendance, a student of the Torah should not stop his studying to bury the dead. Jesus placed commitment to God even above these precedents. As God’s Son, Jesus did not hesitate to demand complete loyalty. Even family loyalty was not to take priority over the demands of obedience to the command to go and preach the coming of the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ direct challenge forces believers to evaluate their priorities.

• LIFE APPLICATION – A BETTER TIME?
• Luke did not give the reason why this man said no to Jesus. But Jesus used the response to teach an important lesson. True discipleship requires instant action; the responsibilities of the kingdom cannot be put off until a “better time.” Jesus did not teach people to forsake responsibilities to family, but he often gave commands to people in light of their real motives. Perhaps this man wanted to delay following Christ and used his father as an excuse. There is a cost to following Jesus, and each follower must be ready to serve, even when it requires sacrifice. Don’t wait for a better time to follow and serve Jesus—he is calling you now.

9:61-62 A third person approached and this one, like the first, expressed his desire to follow Jesus. However, this man also had something he wanted to do first. Jesus ascertained in this potential follower a sense of reluctance and an unfortunate willingness to put something else ahead of following Jesus. This was not the type of follower Jesus needed.

The picture of a person putting a hand to the plow and looking back can be compared with Elijah’s call of Elisha in 1 Kings 19:19-21. Elisha was called to be a prophet right in the middle of plowing a field—and he never looked back. In fact, he slaughtered the oxen so that there would be no temptation to return. Elisha then moved wholeheartedly into the ministry to which he had been called. Jesus explained that service in the Kingdom of God was of such vital importance that his followers must make it their top priority. They must step out in faith to serve him, without looking back.

What does Jesus want from his followers? Total dedication, not halfhearted commitment. His followers must accept the cross along with the crown, judgment as well as mercy. They must count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given them security. Nothing should distract them from service for the Kingdom

Until tomorrow, Darrell

Sources: Life Application Bible Commentary, Life Application Concise New Testament Commentary

For more information about The Ridge Fellowship or Darrell Koop go to www.ridgefellowship.com

More good stuff today in Luke 8!   I enjoyed seeing the importance of a certain group of women to Jesus.  The parable of the soils is always very thought provoking.  I am challenged as Jesus describes his true family.  He shows his power over nature by calming a storm. What a sight when the demons are removed from a poor guy into a herd of pigs!   It’s amazing that a woman gets healed just by touching Jesus’ clothing and that he raises another person from the dead!  

 Thanks for spending this time with Jesus each day. I pray that you are moved and convicted as I have been.  As you read today’s chapter you may have a question, the commentary provided here is a good place to look for answers and further discussion.  Please use what is necessary for your understanding and study.  

 The Life Application sections are throughout.  I always enjoy the insights from them.  I hope you will too.  

Women Accompany Jesus and the Disciples / 8:1-3

 In a culture where women played invisible roles, the fact that Luke mentioned the support of three women and highlighted a number of women in his Gospel indicates the interest Luke took in showing how women were involved in Jesus’ ministry.

8:1-3 Jesus continued his mission to announce the Good News concerning the Kingdom of God (see 4:43; 7:22). The twelve disciples (named in 6:13-16) traveled with him—Jesus poured much of his ministry into them. As Jesus traveled and preached the Good News, he was also training the Twelve, preparing them for future ministry. The picture of women traveling with Jesus and his disciples would have been completely uncharacteristic of rabbis in ancient times. Rabbis refused to teach women because they were generally considered to be inferior. Jesus, however, lifted women up from degradation and servitude to the joy of fellowship and service. By allowing these women to travel with him, Jesus was showing that all people are equal under God. These women supported Jesus’ ministry with their own money. They owed a great debt to him because he had healed some of them and had cast out evil spirits from others.

Mary Magdalene was from a town called Magdala or Magadan (see Matthew 15:39). Jesus had cast out seven demons from her. The number of demons indicates the severity of the possession from which Jesus freed her. Mary stayed at the cross, went to the tomb, and was the first person to see the resurrected Christ (24:10; Mark 15:40, 47; 16:1, 9; John 19:25; 20:1, 18).

Joanna was the wife of Chuza, who was Herod’s business manager (or steward). He may have been in charge of one of Herod Antipas’s estates. Joanna is also mentioned in 24:10 as one of the women, along with Mary Magdalene, who told the disciples the news of Jesus’ resurrection. Otherwise, nothing else is known of her; Joanna’s husband is mentioned only here. Perhaps Luke’s Gentile readers knew of this man and the exact nature of the office that he held. Susanna is found nowhere else in Scripture, and nothing is known about her. Perhaps Luke highlighted these three women because they would have been known to his readers.

Besides these women there were many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples. This provides an insight into how Jesus and his disciples met their basic needs. John 13:29 reveals that Jesus and the disciples had a common pool of money from which they bought food and gave to the poor, and that Judas Iscariot acted as treasurer. This passage tells the origin of that pool of money. People, like the women listed here, gave money to Jesus and the disciples out of gratefulness for what Jesus had done for them.

• LIFE APPLICATION-NO RESPECTOR OF SEX OR CLASS
• Luke’s Gospel in particular highlights the positive role that women played in Jesus’ public ministry. Jesus showed women great respect and compassion, as he did others who were oppressed and downtrodden. When you meet those who are different than you—minorities, people of different economic levels, members of the opposite sex—show them the same dignity and compassion Jesus did.

Jesus Tells the Parable of the Four Soils / 8:4-8

Jesus began teaching in parables to get his listeners to think. These parables hid the truth from those who had their minds made up, having already chosen to reject Jesus. Yet those who truly wanted to know Jesus could listen carefully and learn more about the Kingdom of God.

8:4 Jesus often communicated spiritual truth through short stories or descriptions that take a familiar object or situation and give it a startling new twist—often called “parables.” Jesus’ parables compelled listeners to discover the truth for themselves, and they concealed the truth from those too lazy or dull to understand.

8:5 In this parable, Jesus used a familiar picture to illustrate an important truth about the Kingdom of Heaven. In ancient times, when a farmer went out to plant some seed, he walked across the field and scattered handfuls of seed from a large bag slung across his shoulders. The farmer scattered the seed liberally—and some seed fell on a footpath. The hard and compacted soil of the path meant that the seed did not sink into the ground and so it sat on top where it was stepped on and where the birds came and ate it. In 8:12 Jesus explains that the devil comes and takes away the gospel message from hard hearts so that those people cannot hear or be saved.

Jesus was speaking to the crowds about the Kingdom, explaining through this parable that the religious leaders’ rejection of the Messiah did not change the truth. Jesus and the gospel were truth; there was no problem with them as there was no problem with the farmer or his seed. The only variable was the land (or the hearts) where the seed (the message) fell.

• LIFE APPLICATION – FOR THE UNRECEPTIVE?
• In this story of the farmer and the seed, the farmer sows the seed on all kinds of soil, seemingly indiscriminately. No wise farmer would sow seed in thorns or on a path. Is he simply careless, wasteful, or perhaps unskilled? No—the farmer knows that some of the soil is unproductive, but he willingly scatters the seed on it anyway. God is like this farmer, allowing his words and his love to fall on many who will not receive them. And yet he is still willing to pour out his mercies upon them. God knows the high potential of this seed. Believers sometimes tend to pull back from those who are uninterested or even just different—but God doesn’t. Seek to emulate his extravagant love for the seemingly unreceptive.

8:6 Other handfuls of seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The footpath had no soil at all. But on the shallow soil, the seed began to grow. This type of soil was probably found in every farmer’s field—most of the land in Palestine is very rocky, filled with stones of all sizes. Soil on top of rocks traps the moisture so that plants can grow quickly, but the roots cannot go deep. The hot sun then dries up the water, causing the young plant to wither and die for lack of moisture. In 8:13, Jesus explains that those with hearts like this may hear the word and at first receive it with joy. But, like the crowds who followed, when the going gets tough, they fall away.

8:7 Thorns rob sprouts of nutrition, water, light, and space. Thus, when the thorns grew (weeds grow faster than wheat), the good seed was choked out and could not grow to maturity. In 8:14, Jesus explains that those with “thorny” hearts may receive the message, but then find it choked out by life’s worries and attractions.

• LIFE APPLICATION – SPREAD THE MESSAGE
• The farmer is using the acceptable method of hand-seeding a large field—tossing it by handfuls as he walks through the field. His goal is to get as much seed as possible to take root in good soil, but there is inevitable waste as some falls or is blown into less productive areas. That some of the seed produced no crop was not the fault of the faithful farmer or of the seed. The yield depended on the condition of the soil where the seed fell. It is the believers’ responsibility to spread the seed (God’s message), but they should not give up when some of their efforts fail. Remember, not every seed falls on good soil.

8:8 Some seed may be lost, but other seed fell on fertile soil. This soil had been plowed by the farmer and the seed had ample sunlight, depth, and moisture to be able to grow. The seed produced a crop one hundred times as much as had been planted. Normal yield for good seed would be seven- to ten-fold. Any farmer would be overjoyed at such a tremendous yield, for it would mean even more seed to plant and harvest during the next year. In 8:15 Jesus explains that “fertile soil” people are those disciples who hear the word, hold on to it, and share it with others.

Jesus understood that not everyone who heard him speak would listen and understand, referring to a different kind of hearing, a deep listening with the mind and heart that opens a person to spiritual understanding. Jesus’ words, like the farmer’s seed, fell on various types of hearts.

 Jesus Explains the Parable of the Four Soils / 8:9-18

 The meaning of the parable of the four soils reinforces Jesus’ differentiation between those who are given the secrets of the Kingdom and those who are not. The secrets of God’s Kingdom are for those whom God has prepared.

8:9-10 This explanation probably occurred after Jesus and the disciples were away from the crowd. “Disciples” here probably refers to the Twelve and other true followers, such as the women described in 8:1-3. As soon as they were alone with Jesus, his followers asked him what the story (told in 8:4-8) meant. Jesus’ stories were not always easy to understand, even to those closest to Jesus. The disciples may have thought that they should have understood the story without an explanation.

Jesus explained first that understanding of the secrets of the Kingdom of God comes as a gift to those he has chosen. That this knowledge is permitted reveals God’s sovereignty. The word translated “secrets” refers to the “hidden” revelation of God, given to his true people at the proper time. The Kingdom of God was like an unknown secret to the prophets of the Old Testament—they wrote about it, but they did not understand it (as Romans 16:25-26 explains). The believers received spiritual insight that illuminated the secret so that it was no longer a mystery to them.

The parables allowed Jesus to give spiritual food to those who hungered for it. Isaiah’s prophecy explains the situation of the outsiders. God told Isaiah that people would hear without understanding, and see without perceiving (Isaiah 6:9). That kind of reaction confronted Jesus. By quoting the prophet Isaiah, Jesus was telling his inner group of followers that the crowd resembled the Israelites about whom Isaiah had written. God had told Isaiah that the people would listen but not learn from his message because their hearts had hardened beyond repentance. Yet God still sent Isaiah with the message because, even though the nation itself would not repent and would reap judgment, some individuals would listen. Jesus came to the Israelites hundreds of years after Isaiah, but the words to Isaiah still applied. Most would not repent because their hearts were hardened; but a few would listen, turn from their sins, and believe.

• LIFE APPLICATION- HARD SOIL, HARDER HEARTS
• Have you ever had the experience of trying to explain your faith in Christ to another person, only to have that person look at you as though you were from some other planet? You may not have communicated very clearly what Jesus means to you. Or perhaps the other person’s heart was too hard to allow your words to penetrate. Jesus said that some people’s hearts are like a packed-down, foot-trampled path, too hard to let God’s Word take root. Satan has great success with those who refuse to listen. Prayerfully wait until you sense a more opportune time—perhaps when life has softened these hearts a bit more through suffering, loss, or even great blessing.

8:11-12 Jesus’ closest followers may not have immediately understood the meaning of his parable, but that did not mean they were hard-hearted. Jesus explained that the seed that the farmer sowed represents God’s message to the people—the Good News of the Kingdom. The seed that fell on the hard path represents those, like the religious leaders, who hear, but the message cannot penetrate their hearts. The element of spiritual warfare is revealed here because the Devil himself comes and steals the message and prevents them from believing and being saved. “Footpath” people, like many of the religious leaders, refused to believe God’s message. Satan locked their minds and hearts and threw away the key. Though not beyond God’s reach, their hardness will make it very difficult for them to ever believe.

8:13 Those who are like rocky soil are those who hear the message with joy. These people believe for a while, but Jesus explains that their roots don’t go very deep, so when difficulty comes, they fall away.

• LIFE APPLICATION-SOLID OR SHALLOW?
• If you come to Jesus simply expecting him to solve your problems or make your life more enjoyable—you have bought into a very watered-down imitation of Christianity.
• It is why some people latch on to the gospel with great enthusiasm at first, only to bail out when the initial excitement wears off. They are the people whose hearts are like the rocky soil, more shallow than solid. Is your faith the kind that will stand when “the thrill is gone”? Ask God to help you grow.

8:14 The same seed also fell in the thorny ground. These people hear and accept the message. But as they go on their way, the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. These distractions and conflicts rob new believers of growth—they do not spend time in God’s word or with God’s people. So even though the seed has grown, it can never grow into maturity. Daily routines overcrowd and materialistic pursuits distract them, choking out God’s word so that it yields nothing.

• LIFE APPLICATION- SEEDS AND WEEDS
• An old story says that Satan called in one of his most effective demons for a chat. This demon had personally overseen the ruin of thousands upon thousands of souls. “What’s your secret, little brother?” asked Satan. “I tell them to get serious about God,” replied the demon. “I tell them they need to open their hearts to Christ. I tell them to repent of their sins and follow Jesus.”   “You tell them what?!?” exploded Satan
•  “I tell them they need to do all these things . . . tomorrow,” he answered with a sly grin.
• Take a moment and consider what seems so important to you right now. The things you work day and night for, the goals you try to attain—how meaningful are they in the context of eternity? Are they truly important, or are they merely “weeds” that choke out the priorities that really matter?

8:15 Of course, some of the seed falls on good soil or the farmer would not plant in that area at all. Good soil can be found—hearts open to the gospel message wherever the seed of God’s word is sown. Those with hearts like “good soil” are those who hear God’s message, cling to it, and steadily produce a huge harvest. These people have truly believed and are willing to let Jesus make a difference in their lives. Because of this, they also “produce a harvest” because they are willing to share what Jesus has done for them.

Sometimes people’s lives can represent several different types of soil at once. A person may react like good soil to God’s teaching regarding one part of life, but be “thorny” in another area. Believers are called to be like “good soil” all the time in all areas of life. Then God can continue to teach them, they can continue to mature, and they can share the message with others.

• LIFE APPLICATION-  GOOD SOIL
• By now the point to Jesus’ parable should be apparent. The seed is the gospel, the Word of God; the sower is Jesus, or those who represent him; the various kinds of soils are people’s hearts. How can the type of soil in someone’s heart be identified? By the fruit produced. There’s no faking this.  

*What are you producing? Is your life more like Christ with the passing of time? Do you reach others for him or care about reaching others?

 8:16 These listeners would have understood Jesus’ refere nce to a lamp as being a lighted wick in a clay bowl that was full of oil. It would be ludicrous to light a lamp and then cover it up or put it under a bed. A lit lamp is meant to light up the room.

8:17 Although the truth may be hidden or kept secret for a while, it will not remain so. One day the truth will be brought to light and made plain to all. Jesus was speaking of the days of his ministry as the time of using parables and being rejected by many. The time of revelation and coming to light could refer either to Jesus’ resurrection and ascension (when his followers would fully understand his words) or the Second Coming. Jesus’ followers did not understand everything about Jesus at that time, but one day all their questions would be answered.

• LIFE APPLICATION – LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE
• When the light of the truth about Jesus illuminates a person, it is his or her duty to shine that light to help others. Witness for Christ should be public, not hidden. Believers should not keep the benefits for themselves, but pass them on to others. To hide the truth is foolish and unproductive. We must not blend so well with our non-Christian friends and neighbors that our faith remains invisible to them. In order to be helpful, believers should be well placed. Take Christ’s light out into the world. Seek opportunities to be available when unbelievers need help. Seek ways to let your light shine so that others may see it.

8:18 Because the teachings in the parables were so important for his followers to understand, Jesus warned them to pay attention. They needed to listen with understanding and then apply what Jesus said to their daily lives. To the people who listen and understand, more understanding will be given because their openness and perception of the Kingdom message will bring great rewards. They will continue to grow because they let God’s word make a difference in their lives. Ultimately, of course, they will receive eternal blessings.

Those who are not listening will lose whatever they had—it will be taken away. Jesus’ words here may have been directed to the Jews who had no understanding of Jesus and would lose even what they had—that is, their privileged status as God’s people. Or Jesus might have meant that when people reject him, their hardness of heart drives away or renders useless even the little understanding they had.

 Jesus Describes His True Family / 8:19-21

Jesus’ proverbial remark, that his true family members are those who listen to God’s word and obey it, reinforces the point of the preceding sections (8:8, 15, 18).

8:19-20 Jesus’ mother was Mary (1:30-31), and his brothers were the other children Mary and Joseph had after Jesus was born (see also Mark 6:3-4). According to Mark, the reason Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him was because they thought he was out of his mind (Mark 3:21). His mother and brothers couldn’t get to him because of the crowds. Apparently Mary had gathered her family, and they had gone to find Jesus. Mary was hoping to use her personal relationship with Jesus to influence him. Standing at the edge of the crowd, Mary and the brothers relayed a message to Jesus. They thought that because of their relationship with him, he would make his way out to see them.

8:21 Jesus respectfully declined his family’s request.   He was not severing ties with his earthly family. Through this incident, Jesus gave another lesson to his followers by explaining that spiritual relationships are as binding as physical ones. This would be the basis for the new community that Jesus was building—his disciples.  Therefore, Jesus told them that his mother and brothers, that is, those closest to him, are all those who hear the message of God and obey it. Jesus offers people an intimate family relationship with him.

• LIFE APPLICATION – FAMILY TIES
• What comes to mind when you hear the word “family”? For many, the word recalls happy memories. For others, the associations aren’t so pleasant. Whatever your biological family is like, following Jesus means that you are part of the worldwide family of God. This family isn’t perfect; brothers and sisters in Christ have their rough edges and idiosyncrasies. But it should give great comfort to know that this family, with God the Father as the head, God the Son as the elder brother, and God the Holy Spirit as the “family tie,” will one day be perfected together. Until then, believers must try to keep family squabbles under control, lest they reflect badly on the Father who loved them enough to make them his adopted children.

The types of people who can have a relationship with Christ are those who do the Father’s will. They listen, learn, believe, and follow.

Obedience is the key to being part of God’s family. Knowledge is not enough—the religious leaders had that and still missed Jesus.  Hanging around is not enough—the crowd did that but still didn’t understand who Jesus was. Those who believe are brought into a family. In these words, Jesus was explaining that in his spiritual family, relationships are ultimately more important and longer-lasting than those formed in one’s physical family.

• LIFE APPLICATION -GROW
• Jesus encouraged his disciples to pay close attention to his words. Applying God’s Word helps believers grow. A muscle, when exercised, will grow stronger, but an unused muscle will grow weak and flabby. If you are not growing stronger, you are growing weaker; it is impossible for you to stand still. How are you using what God has taught you?

Jesus Calms the Storm / 8:22-25

Following a section emphasizing obedience and faith in God’s word, Luke placed a powerful demonstration of Jesus’ supernatural power. Only God controls nature (Psalm 107:23-32), and here Jesus demonstrated his complete control over the wind and the sea, leaving his disciples thoroughly dumbfounded.

8:22 Jesus asked his disciples to cross over to the other side of the lake. Capernaum sat on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee (also called a “lake” because it is inland). So Jesus and the disciples got into a boat (perhaps Peter’s fishing boat) and began to cross to the eastern shore. Jesus’ ministry was never without purpose. He was crossing the lake in order to enter a new area of ministry. Along the way, the disciples would be taught an unforgettable lesson about his power.

8:23 Mark explained that it was evening when they finally set sail (Mark 4:35). Setting sail in the evening was not unusual because Peter was used to fishing at night (see John 21:3). As the boat set out, Jesus fell asleep.

That a fierce storm developed was not necessarily unusual. The Sea of Galilee is relatively small (13 miles long, 7 miles wide), 150 feet deep, and the shoreline is 680 feet below sea level. Storms appear suddenly over the surrounding mountains, stirring the water into violent twenty-foot waves. The disciples had not foolishly set out in a storm. They usually did not encounter storms at night and did not see this one coming. Even though several of these men were experienced fishermen and knew how to handle a boat, they had been caught without warning by this squall and they were in real danger.

• LIFE APPLICATION  STORM-READY FAITH
• Almost anyone can sail a boat across a calm, glassy lake. But the Sea of Galilee was known for its sudden, fierce squalls. Several of the disciples were fishermen who had spent their lives on and around it, and they knew it could be treacherous. Still, they probably felt confident enough in transporting Jesus from one side to the other . . . until the wind and the waves knocked the courage out of them. It is easy to criticize the disciples for not trusting their Master at that point, but would your faith handle a seemingly life-threatening situation any better? Those crises will come; it’s not a matter of if, but when. Is your faith ready for the storm? Resolve now that by God’s grace, you will trust in him, not just when it’s easy, but all the time.

8:24 The disciples were in great danger, so they went to Jesus, waking him to tell him that they were all going to drown! Jesus rebuked the wind and the raging waves. The verb “rebuked” may indicate that there was an evil force behind the storm because the Greek words are the same as Jesus used when he told the demons to be silent. With his rebuke, the storm stopped and all was calm.

8:25 Jesus’ words to the disciples, floating in their boat on the now-quiet sea, were simply, “Where is your faith?” They ought not to have been afraid—they were with Jesus. They had seen him heal people, but power over a furious storm may not have crossed their minds. But they should have readily made the connection and have come to Jesus in faith, not in fear. This demonstration of power filled them with awe and amazement.

They asked the question to which they should have known the answer, “Who is this man?” This miracle clearly displayed Jesus’ divine identity. Yet despite all that they had seen and heard thus far, and despite their love for Jesus, they still did not grasp that he was himself God, and thus had power and authority over all of creation.

• LIFE APPLICATION- WHO’S IN CHARGE?
• All people want to be in control of their lives and circumstances. If they are in good health, making enough money to pay the bills, and their loved ones are happy and safe, people can sometimes feel as though they really are in charge of their destinies. And then . . . something happens that is totally beyond their control—an illness, an accident, a natural disaster, financial reversal—and they realize that any such notion of being in command is at best a fleeting illusion.

What should believers do in a crisis? They should do what the disciples did: go to Jesus. He may not always “calm the storm” as he did for them, but he is in control. Christ is Lord over everything—including nature, life, finances, and all circumstances. Are there areas of your life you are trying to handle without him? Learn a lesson from a bunch of frightened fishermen: submit everything to him. He can handle it better than you can.

Jesus Sends the Demons into a Herd of Pigs / 8:26-39

The elements of nature and the evil beings of the spiritual world do not ignore Jesus’ command, but people do. The Pharisees rejected God’s plan (7:30), and the Gerasenes were more concerned about the economic loss of a herd of pigs. But all was not lost, for the man who had been liberated from the clutches of demons listened—intently. His soul was the “good soil” about which Jesus had spoken. Knowing this, Jesus commanded this man to stay in this Gentile region, testifying to God’s goodness and producing an abundant harvest of faith.

8:26 After Jesus had calmed the storm, the boat arrived at its intended destination, for Jesus wanted to go to the land of the Gerasenes. This region was across the lake from Galilee, a Gentile region probably southeast of the Sea of Galilee, home of the Decapolis, or the Ten Cities. These were Greek cities that belonged to no country and were self-governing. This was Gentile territory (there would not have been a herd of pigs in Jewish territory, for Jews considered pigs to be unclean, see 8:32 and Leviticus 11:7) and that Jesus had planned to go there. Luke would want to show his readers Jesus’ desire to go into Gentile territory with his message.

8:27 As soon as Jesus was climbing out of the boat, he met with demonic opposition. A man came out to meet him, but not as a welcoming party, for he was possessed by demons who probably wanted to scare away Jesus and the disciples.

A demon-possessed person lived in isolation and agony. This man was homeless. (Mark’s Gospel describes him as uncontrollable, so he could not live anywhere, see Mark 5:3-5.) He was naked and lived in a cemetery. In those days it was common for cemeteries to have many tombs carved into the hillside, making cave-like mausoleums. There was enough room for a person to live in such tombs. Finally, the text says that he had been in this condition for a long time.

8:28-29 The demons saw Jesus and recognized him and his authority immediately. So the demons caused the man to fall down before Jesus, not in worship but in grudging submission to Jesus’ superiority. The man shrieked, and demanded, “Why are you bothering me?” Such a question shows the demons’ ultimate rebellion. Jesus and the demons were as far separated as anything could be. Jesus’ purpose was to heal and give life; the demons’ purpose was to kill and destroy. The demon used Jesus’ divine name, Jesus, Son of the Most High God and begged Jesus saying, “Don’t torture me!” Demons recognize Jesus, understand who he is, know his power, and also seem to know their ultimate fate. Jesus has the power to “torture” them (see also 8:31). Their “torture” will be no more than the consequences for the rebellion (see Revelation 20:10).

Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. The power of the demon is revealed in that when the man was shackled with chains, he simply broke them. Although Satan is not as powerful as God, for he is a created being, he still exerts great power over this world. Satan’s demons (there were more than one in this man) could cause this man to break iron shackles that were intended to hold him. Then the demons would drive him into the wilderness. Finally, the story also shows Satan’s cruelty. For all that Satan might promise (see what he wanted to give Jesus, 4:6), he is a cruel and ruthless master. Those under his control face complete ruin under a master bent on destroying even those who serve him.

 8:30 Whether Jesus was asking this poor man for his name or asking the demon for its name is uncertain. But the demon answered, saying that its name was Legion. A “legion” was the largest unit in the Roman army, having between three thousand and six thousand soldiers. Thus this man was filled with many demons.

 8:31 The demons undoubtedly knew that Jesus planned to free their prisoner. Their concern at this point was where Jesus would send them. They knew where they did not want to go. They also knew that they had no power over Jesus and would have to submit to him. When the demons realized that they were face-to-face with Jesus himself, they begged Jesus not to send them into the Bottomless Pit. Also mentioned in Revelation 9:1 and 20:1-3, the Bottomless Pit is the place of confinement for Satan and his demons.

Why didn’t Jesus just destroy these demons—or send them far away? Matthew 8:29 says that the demons asked not to be sent to the Bottomless Pit before the appointed time. They knew their ultimate fate, but the time for such work had not yet come. The same question could be asked today—why doesn’t Jesus stop all the evil in the world? His time for that has not yet come. But it will come. The book of Revelation portrays the future victory of Jesus over Satan, his demons, and all evil.

8:32-33 The Gospel of Mark reports that this large herd of pigs numbered about two thousand (Mark 5:13). The demons pled with Jesus to let them enter into the pigs, so Jesus gave them permission. Satan has no final authority but can do only what God “permits” for the short time that he is allowed to be “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Why Jesus gave them permission is as uncertain as why the demons wanted to enter the pigs. While Jesus could have sent them away, he did not do so because the time for final judgment had not yet come. Yet it is clear from this story that Jesus valued this one man far more than any number of pigs. The demons’ ultimate destructive intent cannot be missed in the picture of the whole herd (about two thousand pigs!) running headlong down the steep hillside into the lake, where they drowned.

• LIFE APPLICATION – AUTHORITY
•  One insight should be very clear: Jesus has authority over unclean spirits, pigs, people, and everything else. He didn’t ask permission of the pigs’ owner before allowing his herd to be destroyed because he didn’t need to. Jesus is Lord over all, whether people acknowledge his authority or not. You may never be confronted by a person possessed by a legion of demons, but you do have to face the daily struggle of submitting your will to God. What “unclean” areas in your life do you need to let him clean up or clean out? Take some time in prayer to let him point them out to you, and then ask his help to change.

8:34 The herdsmen on the hill, responsible for the safety of the pigs, were astounded when their herd suddenly ran away, down the hill, and into the Sea of Galilee. Terrified, surprised, and afraid that they would somehow be blamed for the disaster, they fled to the nearby city and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. Certainly those who heard the news had to go and see for themselves, so a crowd soon surrounded Jesus, the disciples, and the newly freed man.

8:35 One would think that the people would have rejoiced that this man who had terrorized them for so long had been completely cured. But their response was quite different. They did not respond in joy or relief or welcome—instead, the whole crowd was afraid.

8:36-37 There could be no mistaking it, the demon-possessed man had been healed. But the people, overcome with fear told Jesus that they wanted him to leave. If they were afraid because of the loss of their livestock, it was foolish for them to value possessions, investments, and even animals above human life. Unfortunately for them, Jesus did as they asked—returned to the boat and left. And there is no biblical record that he ever returned. Sometimes the worst that can happen is for Jesus to answer a poorly considered request.

• LIFE APPLICATION – A MATTER OF PRIORITIES
• Unbelievable! Jesus healed a man possessed by demons, and the local people asked Jesus to go away. Why? Whatever the reason, the people were obviously afraid of Jesus and his ability to upset the status quo. How typical. Have you ever heard someone in your church say (or said yourself),
• “I’m glad the church has a heart for evangelism, but all these new people make me uncomfortable.”
• “Why do we need to sing these new songs? The old hymns are good enough for me.”
• “My last church or pastor didn’t do that. . . .”
• If so, you or your church may be unknowingly following in the footsteps of the people of the Gerasenes. Beware of letting your personal preferences or your attachment to the status quo take priority over Jesus and his work in people’s lives.

8:38-39 While the townspeople wanted Jesus gone, the formerly possessed man begged to go with Jesus, meaning that he wanted to become one of Jesus’ followers. Jesus had other plans for him, saying, “No, go back to your family and tell them all the wonderful things God has done for you.” This man would be returning to his home in a Gentile region. Jesus knew that this man would be an effective witness to those who remembered his previous condition and could attest to the miraculous healing. Through him, Jesus’ ministry would expand into this Gentile area. Jesus would not remain in the region, but he did not leave himself without a witness, for this man went all through the city telling about the great thing Jesus had done for him. The Gentiles may have sent Jesus away, but they could not send away his message or the irrefutable miracle evidenced by this healed man. Luke’s Gentile audience would have been glad to know that although Jesus had been sent away from this Gentile region, Jesus still had compassion and a desire for their salvation by leaving behind this man to be his witness.

•  LIFE APPLICATION – “GO BACK”
• Often Jesus asked those he healed to be quiet about the healing, but he urged this man to return to his family and tell what God had done for him. Why the difference?
•  Jesus knew the man would be an effective witness to those who knew his previous condition and could attest to the miraculous healing.
• Jesus wanted to expand his ministry by introducing his message into this Gentile area.
• Jesus knew that the Gentiles, since they were not expecting a Messiah, would not divert his ministry by trying to crown him king.
• When God touches your life, share the wonderful events with your family and friends.

Jesus Heals a Bleeding Woman and Restores a Girl to Life / 8:40-56

In this passage, Jesus took the timid faith of a woman and transformed her into a powerful, public testimony of him. Then he gently encouraged the grief-stricken Jairus to believe in him.

8:40-42 Jesus returned across the Sea of Galilee, back to Jewish territory, probably landing at Capernaum. In contrast to the crowd on the eastern shore that had asked him to leave, here the crowds received Jesus with open arms. A man in the crowd had apparently been waiting for Jesus to return. Jairus was a leader of the local synagogue. The synagogue was the local center of worship, and Jairus was a lay person elected as one of the leaders. The leaders were responsible for supervising worship services, caring for the scrolls, running the daily school, keeping the congregation faithful to the law, distributing alms, administering the care of the building, and finding rabbis to teach on the Sabbath.

•  LIFE APPLICATION- DESPERATE FAITH
• Would a respected leader of some mainline denomination—Southern Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian—go to a tent pitched on the outskirts of town and ask for help from a traveling faith healer? Not likely. But if that respected person’s son or daughter were dying and conventional medicine had been ineffective, then he or she might consider something unconventional. That’s the situation in which Jairus, leader of the local synagogue, found himself when Jesus came to town. Jesus was an itinerant preacher from lowly Nazareth, a nobody from nowhere. But Jairus was a desperate man, and his desperation drove him to ask for help from this unlikely person. What is the great need or fear in your life? Are you desperate enough to do something radical or unconventional about it? Then take it to Jesus, just as Jairus did, and let him meet you at the point of your need.

Despite his status, Jairus came and fell down at Jesus’ feet, begging him to come home with him. This would have been an unusual scene, but Jairus was desperate because his only child was dying, a little girl twelve years old. Jairus’s position as a loving father overshadowed his position as a leader. He put aside any concern for himself and went directly to the man who had healed so many (perhaps even in his own synagogue, 6:6-11). Jesus went with Jairus; as usual, the crowds went along.

8:43-44 One woman also had been awaiting Jesus’ return. Perhaps she had hoped to reach out to him when he came back and thus be healed. But Jairus got to Jesus first, and now they were walking away from her. Perhaps she thought this would be her only chance—she might not be able to talk to Jesus, but she knew she wanted to be healed.

Luke, the physician, wrote that the woman had had a hemorrhage for twelve years. Many doctors had tried to cure her, but with no success (Mark 5:26). The bleeding caused the woman to be in a constant condition of ceremonial uncleanness (see Leviticus 15:25-33). She could not worship in the synagogue, and she could not have normal social relationships, for under Jewish law, anyone who touched her also would become unclean. Thus, the woman had been treated almost as severely as a leper. That she was in the crowd at all was a courageous move on her part. If all those people bumping against her in the crowd had known her condition, she would have been in for some rough treatment.

Nevertheless, she also desperately needed Jesus. So she pressed her way through the crowd, came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of his robe for she believed, as did many people, that the clothes of a holy man imparted spiritual and healing power (see Mark 6:56; Acts 19:11-12). She may also have feared that Jesus would not touch her if he knew her condition because she would make him unclean. And she certainly did not want the pressing crowd to know that she had ventured among them. So she hoped to touch Jesus and then get away as unobtrusively as possible. The moment that she touched Jesus, the bleeding stopped. Immediately her pain was gone and she knew that she was healed.

•  LIFE APPLICATION – RELEASE THE POWER
• Many people were surrounding Jesus as he made his way toward Jairus’s house. It was virtually impossible to get through the multitude, but one woman fought her way desperately through the crowd in order to touch Jesus. As soon as she did so, she was healed. What a difference there is between the crowds that are curious about Jesus and the few who reach out and touch him! Today, many people are vaguely familiar with Jesus, but nothing in their lives is changed or bettered by this passing acquaintance. It is only faith that releases God’s healing power. Jesus must be more than a curiosity. Reach out to him in faith, knowing that his mercy will bring healing to your body, soul, and spirit.

8:45 The woman had hoped to disappear into the crowd. But Jesus knew about the healing the moment it happened. He asked the seemingly absurd question, “Who touched me?” While the whole crowd had been pressing up against him, no one close by had deliberately touched him. It wasn’t that Jesus didn’t know who had touched him. He wanted the woman to step forward and identify herself. Jesus wanted to teach her that his cloak did not contain magical properties, but that her faith in him had healed her.

8:46 Jesus persisted. He stopped the entire crowd, determined to find out who touched him. Jesus was talking about a different kind of touch—not the press of a person in the crowd but the deliberate touch of someone who wanted to be healed. Jesus knew it because power had gone out from him.

8:47 The woman realized that to try to slip away at that point would have been impossible. The woman came forward, trembling, and fell down before Jesus. She explained to the crowd why she had touched him. This was not a simple act—for she would have to explain how she—unclean and filled with a dreadful disease—had come in among the crowd, had reached out and touched a man (a rabbi) in her unclean state, and had hoped to slip away. All these were huge infractions of social laws and would have probably been grounds for anger from any other rabbi and any other crowd. But this was no ordinary rabbi, for she also explained that when she had touched Jesus, she had been immediately healed.

• LIFE APPLICATION – DON’T WAIT
• Just as it was most unusual for a synagogue official to seek out a wandering rabbi, it was most inappropriate according to Jewish custom for a woman subject to bleeding to touch a man (see Leviticus 15:19-28). But if you had been seriously ill for twelve years with a disease that doctors could not cure, you might set aside such protocol as well. That’s what this woman did. She put aside her pride, fear, and hopelessness and pushed her way through the crowd until she could touch Jesus. Would you have done that? Or would you have let doubt or vanity or worry over what others might think keep you back? Don’t wait until you’re desperate to take your problems to Jesus. Overcome your fear of what others might say and take your stand for him.

8:48 The woman may have been afraid of an angry backlash for her actions, but Jesus spoke to her in gentle words. She came for healing and received it, but she also received a relationship and peace with God himself because of her faith. Jesus explained that it was not his clothing that had healed her; rather, her faith in reaching out to the one Person who could heal her had allowed that healing to take place. Not only did the woman have faith, but she had also placed her faith in the right person.

The words “Go in peace” are more literally, “Go into peace.” With this healing, Jesus gave this woman her life. Her cure was permanent. Jesus wished her peace of both body and soul—renewed health for her body and eternal salvation for her soul.

8:49 During this interval, Jairus had been waiting. Jesus was still speaking to this woman who had interrupted his walk to Jairus’s house when a messenger arrived. What Jairus feared most had happened. His dear little girl had died. It was too late for the Teacher to heal her, so there was no longer any reason to bring Jesus to his home. Apparently Jairus hadn’t heard that Jesus could raise the dead (7:11-15)—or perhaps he thought it would be too much to ask.

8:50 Upon hearing the news, Jairus surely reacted in great sorrow. It seemed that the delay had been too long, and it was now too late. But Jesus turned to the grieving man and said, “Don’t be afraid. Just trust me.” In the presence of Jairus, the woman had been commended for her faith. Here in the presence of the woman, Jairus was told to have faith. He had believed that Jesus could heal his daughter; Jesus wanted him to continue to believe that his daughter would be all right. The fact that the daughter had died did not change anything for Jesus.

• LIFE APPLICATION – BELIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE
• Anyone with a child or children can readily put himself or herself emotionally in Jairus’s place. His daughter, his only beloved daughter, had died while they were on the way home. Luke did not write this, but the poor man probably wept and cried out in his grief—the deepest, most painful grief anyone can experience. To a man in this kind of intense pain and anguish in his soul, Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Again, Luke didn’t record Jairus’s reaction to these words, but Jairus must have had at least some flicker of hope because he did complete his mission in bringing Jesus to his house. When you experience intense grief over the loss of a loved one, breakup of a marriage, loss of a job, or rejection of a close friend, don’t abandon hope. Don’t turn away from the one Person who can help you. Do what Jairus did, and cling to the hope found only in our resurrected Lord, the one with power over life and death.

8:51 Apparently Jairus did continue to believe, for he led Jesus the rest of the way to his house. The crowd still followed, perhaps all the more curious wondering what Jesus would do in this seemingly impossible situation. When they arrived at the house, however, Jesus took control and made everyone stay outside. The only people who entered with him were Peter, James, John, and the child’s parents. These three particular disciples had become Jesus’ inner circle to whom he gave special teaching and consideration (they were the only ones to see his transfiguration, see Matthew 17:1; also Mark 13:3; 14:33).

8:52-53 The house full of people probably included relatives and neighbors, as well as professional mourners who may have already arrived. Lack of weeping and wailing was the ultimate disgrace and disrespect. Jairus, the leader of the synagogue, was an important person in the town. Thus, at the death of his only daughter, the townspeople demonstrated their great love and respect by their intense grief. Yet their weeping turned to derisive laughter at Jesus’ words that the girl was not dead, only asleep. She was indeed dead, but Jesus would bring her back to life, as if awakening her from sleep. Jesus used the image of sleep to indicate that the girl’s condition was temporary and that she would be restored. For Jesus, death is nothing more than sleep, for he has power and authority over death.

8:54-55 Again Jesus went against all ceremonial law and took the dead girl by the hand. Touching a dead body would make a person unclean, but Jesus often would go past such laws in order to show compassion on those in need. He could have raised the girl without touching her (as he did Lazarus, John 11:43-44), but in this case, he chose to take her hand. Jesus’ words were simple and direct, “Get up, my child!” While Mark recorded the words in Aramaic (Mark 5:41), as Jesus most likely said them, Luke translated for his Gentile audience. With those words, her life returned. She came back well, whole, and able to walk around. She was even well enough to eat, for Jesus gave her parents instructions to give her something to eat.

• LIFE APPLICATION – HOPE THROUGH PAIN
• What is the pain of death? Death is inevitable, so why do people react so powerfully at the loss of a loved one? Death means separation. It means no longer being able to enjoy the presence of the one who has been lost. But Jesus has the power to remove the sting of death. Jesus, who met death head-on and overcame it, assures those who believe in him that they also can overcome. They won’t receive back loved ones who have died, but they can conquer the pain and fear of separation by the sure and certain hope that they will be reunited with the loved ones. Death is inevitable; loss of hope is not. Let hope in Christ answer the pain and heartache when death separates you from a loved one.

8:56 The young girl’s parents were overwhelmed and certainly overjoyed. Jesus told the parents not to tell anyone about their daughter’s healing because he knew that the facts would speak for themselves. Jesus was not attempting to keep this a secret, for the crowd outside was waiting and would see what had happened. Jesus was concerned for his ministry. He probably was asking them to keep to themselves the details of what he had done. He did not want to be known as just a miracle-worker; he wanted people to listen to his words that would heal their broken spiritual lives. Jesus’ mission was to preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God. If crowds descended on him to see dead people raised, they would not be coming with the attitude needed to hear and respond to the gospel.

Until tommorow, Darrell  

Sources: Life Application Bible Commentary, Life Application Concise New Testament Commentary   Note: today I read other commentaries but didn’t find them as clear and helpful as the two listed today. Also this is the longest post so far, fewer verses than chapter one but more commentary, so for the sake of length, I think we’re good.

For more information about The Ridge Fellowship or Darrell Koop go to www.ridgefellowship.com

Welcome to Day 7!   We’re reading the 24 Chapters in Luke in 24 days.  Prayers are being said for you, as you open God’s word and read along.   It has been great so far.

Today we see Jesus interact with a Roman Centurion, raise a widow’s son from the dead encourage John the Baptist and have a woman pour perfume on his feet. Never a dull moment!

 Included below is commentary, additional thoughts and explanation for each section.    Each colored verse (Example: 7:1 can be clicked on to allow you to see that verse.  Be sure and check out the Life Application sections, I think they are helpful.

A Roman Officer Demonstrates Faith / 7:1-10

The story of the officer’s extraordinary faith in Jesus reiterates a dominant theme in Luke’s writings (this Gospel and the book of Acts): the inclusion of the Gentiles in the family of faith. The faith of this officer foreshadows the faith of another officer, Cornelius, the first Gentile convert to Christianity (see Acts 10).

7:1 Capernaum had become Jesus’ “home base” while he was in Galilee. Located on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum was the largest of the many cities surrounding the lake. Far more than just a fishing village, it was the economic center of Galilee and sat near a major trade route and thus was a wealthy city. The city housed a contingent of Roman soldiers.

7:2-3 A Roman army officer had a highly valued slave who was sick and near death. The officer wanted him to be healed. Why so much concern about a slave? The Jewish historian Josephus wrote that Roman soldiers had many slaves who actually trained and fought with them. So this slave may have been the officer’s personal attendant with whom he felt a close bond. The officer had heard about Jesus, so he certainly knew of Jesus’ healing power. He sent a request for healing to Jesus apparently because he believed Jesus was sent from God. He may have known about the healing of the official’s son (which probably occurred earlier, see John 4:46-54). He knew that Jesus had the power to heal his slave. Matthew 8:5 says the Roman officer visited Jesus himself, while Luke says he sent some respected Jewish leaders to present his request to Jesus. In those days, dealing with a person’s messengers was considered the same as dealing with the one who had sent them.

• LIFE APPLICATION – BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS
• Notice who the main characters are in this short drama: the Jewish elders, a Roman centurion, and the centurion’s slave. The elders were part of God’s chosen nation, Israel, but they are generally not well spoken of in Scripture. Centurions are generally regarded positively by the Gospel writers but were obviously not part of the chosen people. And slaves were regarded at that time as human chattel, little more than mere property. Jesus broke through all those barriers, all the way to the sick man’s need. The gospel travels well across ethnic, racial, national, and religious barriers. Are you willing to work through them as well? Do you have friends, Christian or non-Christian, from other racial and ethnic backgrounds? Jesus was no respecter of such artificial divisions. Reach out to those whom Jesus came to save.

7:4-5 The animosity between the Jews and the Romans was no secret. The Jews hated the occupation army; the Romans, in turn, hated the Jews. Yet in this story we find a different sort of Roman soldier—a man who seems to have been a God-fearing man. He loved the Jewish people, and he built a synagogue (meaning that he funded it and certainly had genuine interest in it and the God worshiped there). That this officer could request a favor of these Jewish elders and have them respond so willingly would normally come as a surprise. That the elders earnestly begged Jesus to come on behalf of this officer was even more out of character with normal Jewish / Roman relations.

• LIFE APPLICATION – A WORD FROM JESUS
• It’s difficult to find people who can be taken absolutely at their word. In spite of good intentions, many people are not completely reliable and trustworthy. What a treasure when we meet reliable people! We respect and admire them. The centurion who sent for Jesus’ help somehow knew that Jesus was completely dependable. And, what’s more, he knew Jesus was capable of doing what he said he would do. Hence the soldier’s confession of faith: “Say the word, and my servant will be healed.” His trust in Jesus serves as an excellent model for ours. We should strive to obey Jesus and take him at his word.

7:6-8 Jesus responded to the request brought by the Jewish elders and went with them. Just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent another message by way of some friends, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home . . . Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.” The officer understood that since he was a Gentile, he was considered unclean by the Jews. He may also have felt himself unworthy to have Jesus enter his home. This Gentile understood more than most of the Jews of Jesus’ day; he saw Jesus’ superiority. He saw that Jesus’ authority was greater than his own and that Jesus did not have to personally visit his home. Jesus’ word would be enough.

The officer was accustomed both to obeying and to being obeyed. He may have understood that Jesus’ power and authority came from God. When Jesus spoke, God spoke. Jesus did not need rituals or medicines or even his touch or presence to accomplish a healing. The officer applied his understanding of authority to Jesus.

• LIFE APPLICATION – AUTHORITY
• A private does not ponder the wisdom of his sergeant’s orders before carrying them out. A captain doesn’t debate with a colonel the merits of his decisions. Soldiers respond to and obey orders from their commanding officers. Otherwise, the military would collapse in chaos and never be able to defend itself against another army. Any good military person, like this centurion, understands this implicitly. That is probably why the centurion was able to grasp so profoundly the authority that Jesus possessed over even diseases. When you read God’s commands in the Bible, or sense his leading in prayer, do you respond as automatically as a soldier under someone else’s authority? Do you carry out the Lord’s instructions as faithfully and unquestioningly as this centurion? Do you regard yourself as a person under God’s authority?

7:9 The Jews who had been looking for Jesus couldn’t see him for who he was, yet this Gentile did. Jesus was amazed and exclaimed to the crowd that he had not seen faith like this in all the land of Israel. This did not mean that no one in Israel had faith, but many did not accept the Good News (Romans 10:16). Without the benefit of really knowing the Old Testament Scriptures and learning from esteemed Jewish leaders, this Gentile man understood the need to depend totally on Jesus’ power. He knew, without a doubt, that Jesus could do what seemed impossible. Such faith both astonished and pleased Jesus.

• LIFE APPLICATION –FAITH LIKE THIS
• Everybody loves to see the underdog come through. It’s become a movie cliché—the poor kid with nothing going for him except his own heart and determination wins against the wealthy, privileged kid whose parents and trainers have given him every material advantage. There’s something about a man or woman who achieves against the odds and overcomes the obstacles. Spiritually, the Jews had every advantage: they had Abraham as their father, Moses had given them God’s law, and they had the great written record of the kings and the prophets to instruct and inspire them. In spite of all that, they were still lacking something: courageous, unquestioning faith. This Gentile, on the other hand, this Roman centurion—who had none of the advantages God’s people had enjoyed for hundreds and hundreds of years—had such a faith, and it astonished Jesus and, presumably, gave him great joy. The faith present in many who have been in church for many years would hardly astonish Jesus. Believers must keep their trust in Christ at full strength. Reading Christ’s words and studying his amazing life will fortify your faith.

7:10 Luke did not even record another word spoken by Jesus, but emphasized that the officer’s faith had been well placed. The officer’s friends returned to his house and found the slave completely healed.

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son from the Dead / 7:11-17

With a touch and his word, Jesus gave life. He had already healed a number of maladies: demon possession (4:35), sin (5:20), and all kinds of diseases (5:13, 15). Here Jesus clearly demonstrated his power over death.

7:11-12 The village of Nain was a few miles southeast of Nazareth and about a day’s journey from Capernaum. Upon approaching the gate, they came upon a funeral procession. A woman led the procession, followed by the dead man being carried out, and then many mourners. A funeral procession—the relatives of the dead person following the body that was wrapped and carried on a kind of stretcher—would make its way through town. As the procession passed, bystanders would be expected to join. In addition, hired mourners would cry aloud and draw attention to the procession. What made this funeral especially sad was that the dead boy was the only son of a widow.

7:13 This woman had already lost her husband, and here her only son was dead—her last means of support. The crowd of mourners would go home, and she would be left penniless and alone. The widow was probably past the age of childbearing and would not marry again. Unless a relative would come to her aid, her future was bleak. In the first century, it was very difficult for a woman to earn her own living. Without anyone to provide for the widow, she would be an easy prey for swindlers, and she would likely be reduced to begging for food. No wonder when the Lord saw this sad sight and the tearful woman, his heart overflowed with compassion. In fact, as Luke repeatedly emphasized, Jesus cares about people’s deepest needs. As Jesus’ crowd met the crowd of mourners, Jesus went to the woman and gently said, “Don’t cry.” This would be an empty statement under most circumstances; however, Jesus, Lord over death itself, was going to change the circumstances. Jesus has the power to bring hope out of any tragedy.

7:14 Jesus again reached out to someone in need with compassion, risking becoming unclean. To touch even the bier would have made him unclean. Risking ceremonial defilement according to the law (Numbers 19:11-22), Jesus touched the coffin. Jesus approaching the procession and touching the coffin was highly unusual, so the bearers stopped. Then Jesus spoke directly to the body, “Get up.”

• LIFE APPLICATION – COMPASSION
• How do you react when you see a funeral procession? Sadness, grief, indifference, even anger or annoyance . . . different people have different responses to others’ grief. Luke 7:13-14 shows us Jesus’ response to such a situation. The text does not reveal if Jesus knew the bereaved mother or her son, but he felt compassion for her. Perhaps Jesus was thinking ahead to the time when his own mother would have to endure the loss of her son. Whatever the reason, we know that Jesus reached out to this woman in empathy and compassion in her time of grief. When you are confronted by human suffering, grief, pain, need, you have a choice: you can walk away, hiding behind social, pragmatic, or even religious excuses; or you can emulate Jesus and reach out in compassion to others in his name.

7:15 Suddenly the boy who had been dead sat up and began to talk. What he said is left to our imagination, but the important point is that Jesus gave him back to his mother. Jesus did the ultimate act of compassion—he did what no human being could have done. These words are almost identical to 1 Kings 17:23 when the great Old Testament prophet Elijah brought a widow’s only son back to life.

7:16 The miracle of raising a widow’s son to life brought to the people’s minds the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. The people praised God, and exclaimed that a mighty prophet had arrived among them. The people thought of Jesus as a prophet because, like the Old Testament prophets, he boldly proclaimed God’s message and performed great miracles. Both Elijah and Elisha had raised children from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:8-37). The people were correct in thinking that Jesus was a prophet, but he was much more—he was God himself. That they recognized the hand of God at work probably does not mean that they recognized Jesus as God. Instead, they were using an Old Testament expression that often denoted blessing (as in Ruth 1:6; 1 Samuel 2:21).

7:17 The obvious result of Jesus’ miraculous act of raising a dead person to life meant that the report of what Jesus had done that day spread everywhere. The town of Nain is actually in the region of Galilee, so the word Judea is used here not for the region, but for the entire “land of the Jews” (as in 4:44). Word about Jesus went all over the country and beyond.

Jesus Eases John’s Doubt / 7:18-35

At this time, John the Baptist was in prison (see 3:19-20). King Herod, also known as Herod Antipas, had married his own sister-in-law, and John the Baptist had publicly rebuked Herod’s blatant sin. In an attempt to quiet him, Herod had imprisoned him (see also Matthew 4:12; 14:1-5). “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting?” (7:19). Luke used John the Baptist’s simple question as a springboard for exploring Jesus’ identity. He was not merely a prophet (as the people recognized in the preceding section; 7:16), he was the Prophet, the promised Messiah.

7:18-20 John the Baptist had his own disciples who apparently were keeping in touch with him during his imprisonment. They told him about everything Jesus was doing—healing people, raising some from the dead, and teaching about a coming Kingdom. This caused John to wonder, so he called two of his disciples and sent them back to Jesus with a question, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep on looking for someone else?” John had baptized Jesus, seen the heavens open, and heard the voice of God (3:21-22), yet something caused him to doubt. Perhaps John was wondering why Jesus brought blessing but little judgment, for John had preached that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire and separate the “wheat” from the “chaff” (3:15-17). Jesus’ peaceful teaching and healing ministry may not have seemed to measure up. Maybe John wondered that if Jesus was the promised Messiah, why he didn’t just say so. John, like the rest of the Jews, expected Jesus to be the conquering Messiah-King. What did all the parables and veiled teachings mean?

7:21 The acts listed here that Jesus was doing consist of observable deeds that Jesus’ contemporaries had seen and have reported for people to read today. The prophets had said that the Messiah would do these very acts (see Isaiah 35:5-6; 61:1). These physical proofs helped John—and will help people today—to recognize who Jesus is.

7:22-23 Jesus answered John’s doubts by telling John’s disciples to go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard. Jesus gave specific examples of miracles he had done—some are recorded in the Gospels, probably many more are not. Jesus’ actions revealed who he was—and Jesus knew that by telling the messengers to say this, John would come to the right conclusion. Then, as if in a postscript, Jesus told the messengers to tell John, “God blesses those who are not offended by me.” The word for “offended” suggests closing a trap. God’s blessing would come to those who accepted Jesus’ credentials and believed in him rather than being “caught and trapped” by their false expectations and thus missing him completely.

• LIFE APPLICATION – LOOK FOR ANSWERS
• John was confused because the reports he received about Jesus were unexpected and incomplete. John’s doubts were natural, and Jesus didn’t rebuke him for them. Instead, Jesus responded in a way that John would understand: Jesus explained that he had accomplished what the Messiah was supposed to accomplish. God can handle all doubts, and he welcomes all questions. Do you have questions about Jesus—about who he is or what he expects of you? Admit them to yourself and to God, and begin looking for answers. Only as you face your doubts honestly can you begin to resolve them.

7:24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus talked to the crowd about John. In case anyone got the wrong impression of John or thought that Jesus was rebuking him, Jesus set the record straight by explaining John’s ministry. In the following verses, Jesus asks three questions and gives three answers. When John the Baptist began his ministry, he was preaching out in the wilderness, and people went out to see and hear him (3:3). Jesus asked if the people had found a man weak as a reed. A “reed” is the cane-like grass that grows on the banks of the Jordan River. To compare a person to a reed was to say that the person was without moral fiber or courage, easily tossed about by various opinions, never taking a stand on anything. The people did not see a weak and fearful person. Instead, the people witnessed John’s fiery preaching and willingness to speak out against sin.

7:25 In a second question, Jesus asked if the people had trekked out into the wilderness expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes. Again, Jesus gave the answer—John’s rough attire made of camel’s hair (Matthew 3:4) was hardly expensive or beautiful. Someone dressed like that would be found in palaces, not in the wilderness.

7:26-27 In this third question, Jesus pinpointed the reason that the people had gone into the wilderness—they went out to see a prophet. In fact, they had seen, Jesus said, more than a prophet. Jesus described John as “more” because John alone had inaugurated the messianic age and had announced the coming Kingdom of God. More than being a prophet, John had been the subject of prophecy, fulfilling Malachi 3:1. Jesus changed the words “before me” to “before you,” showing that the wording refers to Jesus as the Messiah. John was the last to function like the Old Testament prophets, the last to prepare the people for the coming Messianic age. John came to announce the arrival of the Kingdom; with Jesus Christ, the Kingdom arrived.

7:28 Of all people, no one fulfilled his God-given purpose better than John the Baptist. His role as forerunner of the Messiah put him in a position of great privilege with none greater. Yet in God’s Kingdom, all who come after John have a greater spiritual heritage because they have clearer knowledge of the purpose of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The most insignificant person in the Kingdom of God is a faithful follower who participates in the Kingdom. John would die before Jesus would be crucified and rise again to inaugurate his Kingdom. Because they will witness the Kingdom’s reality, Jesus’ followers will have privilege and place greater than John’s. Jesus was not contrasting the man John with individual Christians; he was contrasting life before Christ with life in the fullness of Christ’s Kingdom.

7:29-30 The obvious contrast here cannot be missed. The words are simple but their significance is profound. All the people, referring to the crowds, and even the tax collectors had come to understand an important truth. When these common, ordinary people, and these evil, self-serving tax collectors heard Jesus’ words, they agreed that God’s plan was right. Certainly John had done his job—these people were ready to accept Jesus because they had been prepared. They had listened to John’s preaching (3:7-18) and had been baptized by him.

But the group who should have been most ready and most accepting had refused John’s baptism. They had refused the repentance and confession that John had required (probably because they felt themselves already righteous and did not need to do so). The Pharisees and experts in religious law had rejected the forerunner of Jesus; the obvious result was that they also had rejected their own Messiah. Luke explained that in so doing, they had rejected God’s plan for them. While they may have understood God’s law, they had missed his purpose.

• LIFE APPLICATION – DISCOVER THE PLAN
• The tax collectors (who embodied evil in most people’s minds) and common people heard John’s message and repented. In contrast, the Pharisees and experts in the law—religious leaders—rejected his words. Wanting to live their own way, they justified their own point of view and refused to listen to other ideas. Rather than trying to force your plans on God, try to discover his plan for you.

7:31-32 This generation referred to the people, many of whom were the religious leaders (7:30), who had rejected John the Baptist and so also rejected Jesus. Jesus condemned their attitudes. No matter what Jesus said or did, they took the opposite view. Jesus compared them to children playing a game in the central part of town where the town’s business was conducted. These children played games, perhaps copying adults in either celebrating as at a wedding dance or wailing as at a funeral. Some wanted to play “wedding” and calling out to others to join them, but their companions ignored their invitation and didn’t want to play. Then the children suggested playing “funeral,” but the others again refused to play. Nothing they did could get their friends to join them; neither extreme pleased them. Jesus’ generation, like the children in the square, did not respond to the calls issued by John the Baptist and by Jesus.

• LIFE APPLICATION – CHILDLIKE OR CHILDISH?
• Children at play can be a joy to watch. Their free, uninhibited laughter and total abandonment to the pursuit of having fun are beautiful to see. But a child who is sulking and withdrawn can be equally exasperating; nothing makes him happy, nothing will cheer him up, nothing is any good at all. Jesus said believers are to be childlike in their faith (Matthew 18:1-4)—free, trusting, joyful. But he had harsh words for those whose behavior was childish. To them he basically said, “Nothing is good enough for you. Nothing makes you happy.” Would an impartial observer describe your Christian walk as childlike or childish? Believers should enjoy the Lord and his people rather than constantly feeling unhappy, critical, looking for reasons to withdraw from brothers and sisters who may be slightly different. Do you change churches often, criticizing various pastors, music and worship leaders, or programs? Take a few minutes to examine your heart to see if you need a more mature approach to your Christian faith.

7:33-34 The religious leaders criticized John the Baptist because he didn’t drink wine and he often fasted. Because he was so different, the religious leaders assumed that he was demon possessed. By contrast, Jesus (here calling himself the Son of Man) would feast and drink. But that did not satisfy the Jews either. They simply labeled him as a glutton and a drunkard who hung out with the lowest sort of people. Many of the Jews in Jesus’ generation, including most of the religious establishment, simply refused to listen to either John or Jesus. Neither John’s asceticism nor Jesus’ enjoyment of life could please the stubborn people who chose not to believe, no matter what was offered.

• LIFE APPLICATION- RELIGION VS. RELIGIOSITY
• What comes to your mind when you hear someone described as “religious”? A man wearing a dark suit and narrow tie, or a woman with a frumpy dress and long face? Unfortunately, contemporary culture has made the word “religious” synonymous with “boring,” “rigid,” and “no fun.” And yet what a contrast Jesus presents—someone who enjoyed life, lived with gusto, and brought joy to the most downcast and rejected people. He enjoyed himself and others. Christians should acknowledge that they often fit the narrow, stuffy stereotype so often portrayed on TV and in the movies. Then they should look at their vibrant, life-loving Lord and repent, asking him for the grace to live the abundant life he himself lived and died to give them.

7:35 God’s wisdom is seen in Jesus’ deeds. People could see the Kingdom’s power through Jesus’ miracles. These miracles proved Jesus’ teaching to be right. People might reject both the miracles and the teaching, but that will not change their truth nor will it hinder the Kingdom’s arrival. Those who follow wisdom are the followers of Jesus and John. These followers lived changed lives. Their righteous living demonstrated the validity of the wisdom that Jesus and John taught.

A Sinful Woman Anoints Jesus’ Feet / 7:36-50

In this section, Luke continued to explore the two radically different reactions to Jesus’ ministry (see 7:29, 30). In this passage, the blatant arrogance of the Pharisees and the wise humility of a sinful woman stand side by side.

7:36 While Jesus did dine with tax collectors and others whom the religious elite thought to be “sinners” (5:29-30; 7:34), he also would share a meal with a Pharisee (see also 11:37; 14:1). This Pharisee was named Simon (7:40). When guests came to a home, they would remove their sandals; then their feet would be washed by servants.

7:37 This immoral woman, who may have been a prostitute, went to see Jesus. A meal such as this was not a private affair; people could come in, sit around the edges, watch what went on, and listen to the conversation. Thus, this woman could have gotten in, although her reputation would proceed her and she would not necessarily be welcome among this company of people. So it probably took her great courage. The woman brought a beautiful jar filled with expensive perfume. Many Jewish women wore a small perfume flask on a cord around their neck. This jar of perfume would have been valued very highly by this woman.

7:38 Although the woman was not an invited guest, she entered the house anyway and knelt behind Jesus at his feet. These people were reclining as they ate, so the woman anointed Jesus’ feet without approaching the table. She began weeping, and as her tears fell on his feet, she wiped them off with her hair. This woman understood that Jesus was very special. Perhaps she, as a sinner, had come to Jesus with great sorrow for her sin. Perhaps she had followed John the Baptist and had confessed her sins. She may have been in the crowds that had been following Jesus and had come to believe in him. She may have come to Jesus grateful for being forgiven and so offering him the gift of her valuable perfume. To wash Jesus’ feet was a sign of deep humility—it was the job of a slave.

7:39 The Pharisee looked over from his meal and saw what was happening—that is, he saw this woman with a notorious reputation in his house, near his table, weeping and pouring perfume on the feet of his guest. Any self-respecting rabbi would have realized this woman’s sinful nature and recoiled at being touched by her—for to be touched by a sinner would make Jesus unclean and the Pharisees avoided any contact with “uncleanness.” This Pharisee concluded, “If God had really sent Jesus, he would know what kind of woman is touching him” and would have told her to go away.

This religious leader had no concern for this woman’s plight, no desire to lift her from her sinful life, or to help her become a better Jewish woman. Instead, he judged her as a sinner, shoved her aside, and presumed that any other rabbi (and especially one who was a “prophet”) would do the same.

7:40 Jesus knew the Pharisee’s thoughts and so spoke up and answered them (see also 5:22; 6:8). Simon had already made a judgment of Jesus and probably felt morally superior to him as well. But Jesus had asked for his attention, so he acted like the good host. “All right, Teacher,” Simon replied, “go ahead.”

• LIFE APPLICATION – SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
• Have you ever badly overestimated your abilities in some area? Maybe you asked someone to play tennis or one-on-one basketball, only to get blown off the court. Or perhaps you volunteered to sing and then found out the music was way beyond your abilities. It’s a very humbling and enlightening experience. Simon the Pharisee had a similar experience with Jesus. Simon badly overestimated his own righteousness. He looked at the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with her perfume and her tears as someone of less value, morally inferior. Jesus had to show Simon his own sins—particularly the sins of ungraciousness and inhospitality—in order for him to understand his own need for forgiveness. When you see someone caught in some kind of notorious sin, how do you respond: “Thank God I’m not like that” or “Lord, have mercy on me, the sinner”? If you have understood God’s forgiveness and personally experienced it, be willing to grant forgiveness to others.

7:41-43 This creditor had one man who owed him five hundred pieces of silver, and another who owed him fifty pieces. It would not be difficult for Simon to see which debtor would love the creditor more if he forgave them both their debts. “That’s right,” Jesus said.

7:44-46 Simon had committed several social errors in neglecting to wash Jesus’ feet (a courtesy extended to guests because sandaled feet got very dirty), offer him the kiss of greeting, and anoint his head with oil. The sinful woman, by contrast, lavished tears, expensive ointment, and kisses on Jesus. In this story it is the grateful prostitute, and not the self-righteous religious leader, whose sins were forgiven.

7:47 This woman’s act of humility and love show that she had been forgiven. Jesus did not overlook her sins. He did, in fact, know that this woman was a sinner (7:39), and he knew that her sins were many. But the fact that her many sins were forgiven caused her to overflow with much love for Jesus. The woman’s love did not cause her forgiveness, for no one can earn forgiveness. Her faith in Jesus, despite her many sins, saved her (7:50). By contrast, self-righteous people, like Simon, feel that they have no sins that need to be forgiven, therefore they also have little love to show for it.

• LIFE APPLICATION-GREAT FORGIVENESS
• Overflowing love is the natural response to forgiveness and the appropriate consequence of faith. But only those who realize the depth of their sin can appreciate the complete forgiveness God offers them. Jesus has rescued all of his followers, whether they were once extremely wicked or conventionally good, from eternal death. Do you appreciate the wideness of God’s mercy? Are you grateful for his forgiveness?

7:48 Although it is God’s grace through faith that saves, and not acts of love or generosity, this woman’s act demonstrated her true faith, and Jesus honored her faith by telling her in no uncertain terms, “Your sins are forgiven.” Jesus supported this woman and treated her with dignity. Believers need to demonstrate Jesus’ approach in dealing with people.

• LIFE APPLICATION –  PERSPECTIVE
• Simon saw the sin; Jesus saw the sinner. Simon saw her offenses; Jesus saw her need. Simon saw the depth of her depravity; Jesus saw the magnitude of her love. All people are sinners. That fact alone should keep anyone from feeling superior or self-righteous. People also are loved beyond measure. That should keep anyone from feeling worthless or hopeless. Is there someone whom you have been looking down upon, considering his or her sins as much more serious than your own? Do you need to repent of any self-righteous attitudes toward anyone? When you are confronted with the sins of others, remember Jesus’ words of forgiveness for this woman. When you face the reality of your own sins, remember that God’s mercy and forgiveness are just as real—and just as necessary—for you too.

7:49-50 The Pharisees believed that only God could forgive sins, so they wondered why this man Jesus was saying that the woman’s sins were forgiven. They asked each other, “Who does this man think he is, going around forgiving sins?” They did not grasp the fact that Jesus was God and therefore did have the authority to forgive sins. But Jesus simply looked at the woman and said, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” This woman’s humility did not save her, nor did her tears or her expensive perfume. It was her faith, her complete trust in the only one who could forgive her sins and save her. When people trust Christ, he changes their lives, gives them freedom from sin, and gives them peace with God.

 Please feel free to join the discussion and add your own comments and personal insights at the bottom of each day’s post.  It would be great to hear from you. 

 Until tomorrow, Darrell

Sources:

Life Application Bible Commentary and Life Application Concise New Testament Commentary

 For more about The Ridge Fellowship or Darrell Koop, go to www.ridgefellowship.com