During cross examination, an experienced attorney was taking great delight in forcing witnesses to admit that they did not remember every single detail of an automobile accident. While the lawyer knew that no witness has a perfect memory, he was skilled at exploiting minor inconsistencies in order to challenge the credibility of honest witnesses.

After a series of scathing questions, he was looking forward to badgering yet another witness. “Did you actually see the accident?” he asked. The witness responded with a polite, “Yes, sir.” “How far away were you when the accident happened?” “I was thirty-four feet, seven and three quarter inches away from the point of collision.”

“Thirty-four feet, seven and three quarter inches?” the lawyer asked, sarcastically, “Do you expect us to believe that your memory is so good, and your sense of distance is so precise, that months after the accident you can come into court and give that type of detail?”

The witness was undaunted. “Sir, I had a hunch that some obnoxious, know-it-all lawyer would ask me the distance, and would try to make it seem like I was lying if I could not give an exact answer. So I got a tape measure, and measured out the exact distance.”

Lawyers have a reputation for finding loopholes! They often twist words and exploit technicalities to gain legal advantage. This is one of the reasons why lawyers are the bane of so many people’s existence today. But this is not just a modern phenomenon; it even goes back to biblical times. In today’s Scripture reading, Luke tells us the story Jesus’ encounter with a savvy lawyer.

 

A Lawyer’s Question (25-28)

While Jesus was still journeying from Galilee to Jerusalem, he ran into a Jewish lawyer, or shall I say, the lawyer ran into him. This expert in the Law of Moses was no doubt seething with suspicion because Jesus had quickly gained notoriety as a brilliant Bible teacher. To the lawyer’s credit, he probably just wanted to protect his community from a potential false teacher. (Believe me, if Joel Osteen ever came to Franklin, I would have some hard questions for him.)

So, when he finally met Jesus face to face, he posed a question to test Jesus’ theology. He reached deep into his lawyer’s bag of tricks and disguised his question as a request for advice. “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” is certainly an important question, but he was being manipulative. He wasn’t really interested in eternal life; he wanted to engage Jesus in a debate.

Has this ever happened to you? Has someone ever asked you a question and you knew that they weren’t really interested in the answer. They ask things like, “What do you think about…?” or “What would you do if…?” But they were just testing your reaction. Have you ever felt cross examined in casual conversation?

Well, this lawyer had no idea who he was dealing with. Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. He was the smartest and wittiest man in the world. Jesus was about to turn the table and test the tester. Instead of diving into a senseless debate, Jesus answers his question by asking another question. (Elie Wiesel, the famous Jewish writer and novelist was once why Jews often answer questions by asking another question? To which Wiesel replied, “Why not?”) (Peterson 38)

Jesus asks him how he would answer his own question: “What is written in the law? How do you interpret it?” The lawyer quoted two passages from the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and all of your strength and all of your mind.” Leviticus 19:18 says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The conflation of these two verses forms what is commonly called “The Great Commandment” because it summarizes the Ten Commandants in a single sentence. Jesus gave the lawyer an “A+” for his answer! Bravo! You passed the test! “Do this, and you will live!”

The lawyer’s question ought to make all of us stop and think for a moment. Even though the lawyer was just using this question to test Jesus, I don’t think there has ever been a more important question asked than this. How does one inherit eternal life? How can we know for sure that we will go to heaven after we die? I’m sure that every one of us has asked that question at some point in our lives. How would you answer that question?

Many people answer this question with the common clichés “Be a good person! Live a moral life! Obey the 10 Commandments! Try to do the right thing! Do random acts of kindness! Read the Bible! Go to church! And so on!” Don’t get me wrong, these are all good things and we should do them, but none of them saves our souls or earns us eternal life! Which one of us really loves God with everything we have? Which one of us really loves our neighbor as ourselves?

Jesus was giving a legal answer to a legal question. We can inherit eternal life if we live a perfect life! But that is the problem, none of us have lived perfect lives; we have all sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Jesus was laying down an impossible challenge designed to drive sinners to seek a Savior. The only way to receive eternal life is to admit that we are helpless and accept Jesus’ free gift of grace. (Ryken 539)

 

Looking for a Loophole (29)

Well, the lawyer never got that far with Jesus. He actually got tripped up on the second half of the Greatest Command. He was fine with the part about loving God, but when it came to loving his neighbor, he felt uneasy. So, like any lawyer worth his salt, he began looking for a loophole. He tried to justify himself by asking Jesus the copout question, “Who is my neighbor?” This question reminds me of Cain’s question to God after he murdered his brother Abel. He asked, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

When we think about the ethical demands of the kingdom of God, I suppose most of us are like this lawyer. We are OK with the loving God part, but we get hung up on the loving our neighbor part. We pray, “Lord, if there is any way to get around loving this particular neighbor, please let me know.” So, instead of just loving people who are hard to love, we like to play a little game of “Who is My Neighbor?”

 

Neighborly Love (30-37)

Well, Jesus wasn’t really into playing these types of games, but he was into telling stories. So, instead of answering the lawyer’s question directly, he tells one of his most famous parables: The Parable of the Good Samaritan. It goes something like this: A man was walking along the dangerous road between Jerusalem and Jericho, where he was mugged by a gang of thugs. They took his money, stripped his clothes, beat him into a bloody pulp, and left him on the road half dead. Now by chance a little while later, the man heard footsteps approaching him. He was barely able to lift his head and look through one eye to see that it was a priest, a holy man of God. He thought to himself, “Praise God, certainly this priest will help me.” But for some unknown reason, the priest promptly passed by on the other side of the road and kept walking. A little while later, the man heard footsteps again. This time it was a Levite, a layman coming from the local church. The man opened his swollen eyes again and whispered, “Thank you Lord for sending this Levite to save me.” But the Levite crossed to the other side of the road and hurried by, and the man’s heart sunk again.

Before we finish the story, let us pause and reflect for a minute. Like everyone who reads this story, we are horrified by the callous posture of the priest and Levite. Of all people, they should have helped the Samaritan, right? Well, Jesus doesn’t tell us why the priest or Levite didn’t help the man, so let me defend them a bit. Maybe they didn’t help the man because they didn’t know him. It is awkward helping someone you don’t know. Maybe they didn’t help him because they were in a rush. It is hard to stop and help someone when you have a deadline to meet. Maybe they didn’t help him because they didn’t have enough money to care for him. You can’t fault them for that! Maybe they didn’t help him because they were afraid they would be attacked too. You can’t expect someone to act when it might put them in danger. Or maybe they didn’t help because they were paralyzed by confusion. They simply did not know what to do!

Well, I hope this line of defense has perturbed you a bit. I raise these ridiculous reasons with a sense of sarcasm, but I have heard people today use every one of these excuses for not helping someone in need. I hope none of us will ever do this!

Sometime later, the man heard footsteps again, but this time he didn’t even have the strength to lift his head or open his eyes. Had the man looked, he would have been utterly shocked. It was a filthy half-breed Samaritan. But the Samaritan put his racial and religious differences aside, and he treated the man’s wounds, set him on his donkey, took him to a nearby clinic, and even paid the medical bill.

After Jesus finished his story, he asked the lawyer, “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who was mugged.” The answer was obvious, but notice how the lawyer responded in verse 37. He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” He couldn’t even bring himself to use the word “Samaritan.” The racial and religious tensions were too deep. But Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Wow! What a powerful story! The point is crystal clear: every human being is our neighbor. Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians are our neighbors. Buddhists, Jews, and Muslims are our neighbors! Homosexuals, transsexuals, and sex offenders are our neighbors! Republicans, Democrats, and Bernie Sanders are our neighbors! Illegal aliens and Donald Trump are our neighbors! Unborn babies, abandoned children, and people with disabilities are our neighbors! Even lawyers are our neighbors!

 

Allow me to conclude by telling you a story of my own. It is about the first black man I ever met. Most of you know that my mom died when I was four years old. That was 33 years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember seeing her body lying in the casket at the funeral home. Her eyes were closed and face was pale. I cried as I kissed her cheek and said goodbye. Even at such a tender age, I knew that she was gone and that I wouldn’t see her again. It was a sad day for all of us.

            Later that afternoon, when the funeral was over, my sister and I went home with my dad and continued to process everything. A number of people had stopped by to drop off food and offer their condolences. A while later I heard another knock on the door and I went out to see who it was. There stood an old black man holding two brown paper bags. Living in a very white town, I had never seen a black person before. I just kept looking at his skin. I wondered if he was made out of chocolate, but I was too afraid to ask.

            He spoke to my Dad for a few minutes and then my Dad said, “Kids, this is Mr. Whitfield and he has something for you.” He knelt down and gave my sister and me a big hug. He handed each of us a bag with our name written on it in black magic marker and he said, “Jason and Amy, I know that your mom has passed on and you must be really sad. I just wanted to get you something to try to make you feel a little bit better.” And when I looked into bag and saw that it was filled with candy bars, lollipops, baseball cards, and toys, I did feel a little bit better!

            Years later, I learned that Mr. Whitfield was the patriarch of the only black family in our community. He had been the victims of racism many times. On one occasion, crosses were even burned on his front lawn. But do you know what, racism never stopped him from being a Good Samaritan to two little white kids who just lost their mother.

Jesus says, “You go, and do likewise!”

Most of you, even if you didn’t grow up on a farm, have heard the common cliché: “Make hay while the sun shines.” This old agricultural adage refers to the reality of farmers having to cut, bail, and store hay while it is dry. If the hay is harvested wet, it will develop mold be unfit for feeding the animals. This proverb was first recorded in John Heywood’s A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the Englishe tongue, 1546:

Whan the sunne shinth make hay. Whiche is to say.
Take time whan time cometh, lest time steale away.

Ironically, as early as 1673 it was cited in a non-farming context in Richard Head’s glossary of the language of thieves and beggars.

Jesus didn’t coin this phrase, but he certainly taught the principle, especially when he was teaching about ministry. Today’s Scripture reading is a case in point. As he sends 72 of his followers into ministry, he uses farmers as a metaphor for ministers and harvest fields for the souls of men and women. This whole passage is about making hay—that is, ministry in the Kingdom of God.

This section is rather long and quite complex. To help us navigate our way through this hay field, I have summarized Jesus’ teaching into nine bullet points, each highlighting a principle for ministry. Let’s take a look at them!

1. The Call and Collaboration of Ministry (1)

We already saw how Jesus commissioned his twelve disciples for ministry back at the beginning of Luke 9, and now he extends that same call to his “other” followers here in chapter 10. This verse shows that ministry in the Kingdom of God is not limited to “elite” disciples; Jesus calls every one of his followers to ministry. Also, notice how he sent them two by two. He probably did this because Jewish culture required two witnesses to validate legal testimony, but also for companionship, collaboration, and accountability.

This verse reminds us that all Christians are called into the ministry. Every church member is a minister! Every parishioner is a priest! You don’t have to have a seminary degree to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ! You don’t have to be ordained to pray with someone! You don’t need any special talents or abilities to invite someone to church!

Like the 12 apostles, God still calls some people to enter full-time vocational ministry as pastors, missionaries, etc. I wish more of our young people would consider a career in ministry. It is a wonderful way to spend a life. (I am still mesmerized by the fact that I get paid to study the Bible, preach sermons, plan worship, give spiritual counsel, and a variety of other ministry tasks. I have the best job in the world!) But as we have learned through our faith and work testimony series, others are called to minister in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, offices, shops, and factories.

Where has God called you to minister? Do you do it within a community that provides companionship, collaboration, and accountability?

 

2. The Opportunity for Ministry (2)

Even as he sends these 72 into ministry, Jesus declares that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, and then he tells the group to pray for the Lord to send more workers into the harvest field. God had already prepared many souls for entrance into the kingdom of God, but there weren’t enough ministers to go and share the good news.

Folks, the harvest is still plentiful in 2015! There are still so many people (all around the world and right here in our own communities) who don’t know Jesus Christ. They need to know how deeply their sin has affected them, what Jesus has done for them, and the hope, joy, and peace they can have! But who will tell them? Are you willing to labor in the Lord’s harvest fields? Will you pray that the he will send more workers?

3. The Dangers of Ministry (3)

As Jesus sends these workers into the harvest fields, he wants them to be aware of the dangers. He compares them to little lambs going into a wolf den. By this, he means that ministry often involves dealing with rejection and hostility.

This was true in the early church, when the enemies of Christ often made murderous threats against his people, and when most of the apostles became martyrs. It was true in the days of African missions, when missionaries packed their possessions in a coffin. Not expecting to return home, they were planning ahead for burial. The peril still exists today wherever we proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ministry always carries the threat of difficulty, danger, and death. (Ryken 515)

 

4. The Urgency of Ministry (4)

It seems strange that Jesus would send these ministers into the field with the command “carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.” Why didn’t he want them to take any provisions? Why wouldn’t he want them to be polite if they met someone on the road? Jesus said these things to underscore the urgency of ministry. He didn’t want them to be bogged down by baggage or get distracted by pointless discussions. The harvest was plentiful; they needed to make hay while the sun was shining!

Every time my family goes on a trip, I take the opportunity to preach this verse to my wife. For the life of me, I can’t understand why she needs luggage as large as the Titanic or why it takes her three days to pack for a two day trip. It only takes me ten minutes!

There is still an urgency to ministry today. Our time on earth is so short and there are so many people who still need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Let us not get bogged down or distracted by trivial things!

 

5. The Model for Ministry (5-12)

In verses 5-12, Jesus lays out a model for ministry. When they approached a house, they should first pronounce a blessing of peace. If they were welcomed, they should stay in that same house and eat and drink what the host provided. While there, Jesus instructed them to focus on the ministries of healing the sick and preaching that the kingdom of God has come near. If their ministry was rejected by a particular house or town, Jesus told them to simply shake off the dust of that town off their feet and move their ministry along to another place. They should let God judge them according to his will and timing, which would be even fiercer than the fire that fell upon the city of Sodom back in Old Testament times.

Jesus’ model for ministry is still applicable today! When we minister to someone, let us approach them in a spirit of peace and a desire to bless them. Be willing to spend time with one person or family. Invest in building a relationship them. Attend to their physical and spiritual needs: care for the sick and tell them about how the kingdom of God has come near through Jesus Christ. Be content with whatever they give you in return. If they reject you or your message, walk away and let God deal with them! This is how we should conduct our ministries today!

 

6. The Rejection of Ministry (13-16)

After Jesus unfolds his model for ministry, he offers a warning, particularly to those towns and villages that rejected the gospel message. Chorazin and Bethsaida were Jewish towns that had witnessed enough of Jesus’ miracles to inspire faith, but these towns largely rejected his ministry. If his miracles would have been performed in the pagan gentile towns of Tyre and Sidon, they would have evokes mass faith and repentance. Even the Jewish town of Capernaum, where Jesus centered his ministry, was in jeopardy of going to hell.

The people in these towns had every opportunity to trust in Jesus for their salvation, but they rejected him and refused to repent from their sin. Everyone who rejects Jesus’ messengers, rejects him. And everyone who rejects Jesus, rejects God. Rejecting God and his salvation, will doom a person to eternity in hell.

These warnings still ring true today! The only way to avoid the unbearable judgment of hell is by putting your faith in Jesus Christ and repenting from your sin! Have you done it? Friends, let me give you some advice: make hay while the sun shines!

 

7. The Adversary of Ministry (17-19)

When the 72 returned, they were eager to tell Jesus that even the demons submitted to them in his name. This statement draws attention to the fact that Jesus has complete power and authority over demons and the powers of darkness. In fact, he uses this occasion to teach them about Satan, the adversary of ministry. Jesus personally witnessed Satan’s eviction from heaven. Satan was originally a beautiful and high ranking angel, but he led a rebellion against God. The Lord banished him and his fallen angels from heaven and sentenced to roam on the earth. Ever since, Satan and his demons have been actively working to deceive human hearts, destroy souls, and ruin ministries. But Jesus gave his followers the power to tread on these snakes and scorpions (a metaphor for Satan and demons) and to overcome the power of the enemy.

We live in a time and culture that vastly denies the existence of Satan and demons, but don’t be deceived! They are real and they are still on a mission to wreak havoc on people’s lives today. We see their influence all around us: murder, rape, abuse, addiction, suicide, infanticide, and genocide. But when we walk with Jesus and minister to people in the name of Jesus, we have power to overcome the evil forces and liberate people from spiritual bondage!

 

8. The Joy of Ministry (20-22)

Nevertheless, Jesus did not want the source of their joy to be their power over evil spirits, but rather that their names had been written in heaven. When a person truly repents from their sin and puts their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, their name is recorded in the great registry book in heaven, which reserves their place there. This is the ultimate source of joy—a joy that can sustain people through the dark nights of life and the difficult days of ministry.

During that same hour, Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, expressed his joy to the Father, the Lord of heaven and earth, for making the gospel accessible to those who would come to him in a simple and humble childlike faith. He was so overwhelmed with the triune joy that he praised the Father out loud for giving him this ministry of revealing the will of the Father.

Even though a life of ministry contains danger and difficulty, it also filled with unimaginable joy. Just as Jesus himself experienced, there is great joy in being led by the Holy Spirit to reveal the purposes of the Father. And no matter what happens in ministry, the hope of heaven fills our hearts with joy—for we are able to say, “My place in heaven is already reserved, and I will live in perfect peace someday!”

So, I ask you: Is your name recorded in the registry book of heaven? That is—have you truly repented from your sin and put your faith in Jesus?

 

9. The Blessing of Ministry (23-24)

And finally, Jesus concludes this teaching about ministry by pronouncing a blessing on his 72 followers. They were blessed because they got to see the Messiah and hear his teaching in person, and they had the privilege of partnering with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in kingdom ministry. Many of the prophets and kings of old desired this, but they did receive it.

It is indeed a wonderful blessing to be used by God to minister to others. Whereas the 12 apostles and 72 followers had the special blessing of being with Jesus while he was on earth, we have the privilege of ministering with the written Word of God, the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, and 2000 years of church heritage. Let us appreciate all of the blessings God has given us and use them as we go to our harvest fields!

 

Well, now that we know a little bit more about ministry, let us make hay while the sun shines!

Luke 9:51 marks a major transition in the gospel story. Thus far, Jesus’ ministry has been centered in Galilee, the northern region of Israel. From here until 19:44, Luke traces Jesus’ journey through Samaria to Jerusalem, where he would ultimately be “delivered into the hands of men.” This section is like separating wheat from chaff. On one hand, it focuses on the growing opposition toward Jesus which eventually culminates in his betrayal and crucifixion. On the other hand, it highlights the growth of the disciples as Jesus continues to prepare them for ministry after his ascension. Whereas miracles dominated the previous section, parables and teaching are the key elements in this unit.

In today’s Scripture reading, Luke tells us a story about “Flame Throwers and Fox Holes.” It teaches us how to respond to rejection and about the demands of discipleship.

 

Flame Throwers: Responding to Rejection (51-56)

When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up to heaven, he started his journey to Jerusalem by making the unlikely decision to travel through Samaria. There was deep racial and religious tensions between the Jews and Samaritans. To Jews, Samaritans were a bunch of yellow-bellied back-stabbing half-breed heretics. This people traced its roots back to Old Testament times when a groups of Israelites from the city of Samaria broke ranks and intermarried with the pagan Assyrians, their archenemies. The prejudice between these groups was so deep that Jews would almost always take the long way around the east side of the Jordan River to get from Galilee to Judea. Most Jews refused to dirty their feet by stepping on Samaritan soil, but that is exactly what Jesus wanted to do.

As Jesus had done many times before, he sent messengers ahead of him to make reservations for food and lodging in a nearby village. When he and his group arrived, the villagers recognized that these boys weren’t from around there. They asked, “Where you fellas head’n anyway.” Jesus casually looked up and said, “We’re heading south…to Jerusalem.” Well, that was the worst thing he could have said. The word “Jerusalem” caused their blood to boil: it was the Jews capital city and the location of what they considered to be an apostate temple.

So, they discriminated against Jesus and his followers by flat out denying them services. They may as well have put up a “No Jews Allowed” poster on the grocery store window and place a “No Vacancy” sign at the Samaritan Central Hotel.

This passage reminds me of a little poem from 1968. It goes like this:

I pulled into Nazareth, was feeling ’bout half past dead

I just need some place where I can lay my head

Hey, mister, can you tell me, where a man might find a bed?

He just grinned and shook my hand, “No” was all he said.…

Have you ever been the victim of racism, religious discrimination, or some other type of prejudice? Have you ever been turned down, turned away, or rejected because you look different, talk different, or believe differently from someone else? Rejection, of any sort, hurts the heart and wounds the soul, and it usually either causes tears to flow or tempers to rise. How do you respond to rejection?

Well, when Jesus’ disciples James and John, saw what happened, they were royally ripped and were immediately ready to retaliate. Jesus had nicknamed these two brothers “The Sons of Thunder” for good reason. Their reaction is utterly astounding, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” This is just a slightly more sanctified version of saying “Jesus, do want me to go to my pickup truck and get my sawed-off shotgun and blow these suckers away?” Their instinctual response to rejection was to pray for God to pull out his heavenly flamethrower and incinerate these Samaritan simpletons. That is certainly one way of dealing with people who treat you poorly.

This passage reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend about 11 years ago. My friend, who will remain nameless, was an excellent marksman in the United States Marine Corp. and he served as a sniper during the Vietnam War. He is one of the few veterans that I know who talks openly about his combat experience. He asked me, “How’s your ministry going up there in Franklin.” I told him that it was going well. Then he said, “Well, if anyone in your church ever gives you any problems, you let me know. I know how to deal with people.” Now my friend has that type of quirky personality where you’re never sure if he is serious or not. Consequently, I am happy to report that I have never had to call him. Well, at least not yet!

Many people today are just like James and John. When they face any form of rejection, discrimination, or hostility, their immediate response is to fight back—either verbally, legally, physically, or even spiritually. But Jesus boldly rebukes this kind of pietistic pyromaniac attitude! Jesus came to save people; not destroy them!

Notice how Jesus dealt with rejection! He didn’t form a protest march to fight for his civil rights. He didn’t organize a rally to rail against this overt racial and religious discrimination of his day. He didn’t go to the media and make some political statement about how he was victimized by an unjust system? He didn’t engage in any debates over whether “Jewish Lives Matter” or “Samaritan Lives Matter.” He didn’t whine, complain, or become angry; and he certainly did not resort to violence. Do you know what he did? He simply moved on to another village!

Do you know what happens when everybody (even Christians) digs in their heels and fights for their rights? Before long, everybody is fighting each other. But Jesus shows us a better way! He would ultimately be rejected by people and be led like a lamb to the slaughter. He would willingly allow his hands and feet to be nailed to a wooden cross and die for the very people who put him there. That is how Jesus responds to rejection! How about you?

 

Fox Holes: The Demands of Discipleship (57-62)

As the smoke began to clear and Jesus and his disciples were walking toward another village, he had three random encounters that he used to teach us about the demands of discipleship—or what it takes to be a true follower of Jesus.

One individual approached him and made the confident claim, “I will follow you wherever you go.” At least the man already understood that to be a disciple of Jesus required a willingness to follow him wherever he went, but Jesus detected an overzealousness in his voice and wondered if he really understood the ramifications of his claim. So, Jesus helped him reflect on this by offering him a vivid image of the demands of discipleship. His now famous words, “Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head,” compelled the man to consider whether or not he is really willing to give up the comforts and conveniences of an ordinary life to follow Jesus. Isn’t it ironic that even the animals have a home, but the King of Kings and Lord of Lords never knew if he would have a simple bed or pillow to rest his weary head? As we just saw, Jesus had been denied basic travel necessities.

In this brief exchange, Jesus is making the point that true discipleship demands a willingness to face uncertainty, hardship, and rejection. He never promises that the Christian life will be easy, but it always requires sacrifice!

Please don’t misunderstand what Jesus is saying. He is not saying that Christians shouldn’t own property or have possessions or save money. He is saying is that one must never allow earthly possessions to get in the way of discipleship. He has not called us to a life of luxury, but to a life of sacrifice. His powerful words force us to ask ourselves, “Am I willing to give up everything to follow Jesus?

The next two encounters show Jesus initiating the call of discipleship to others, only to be met by excuses. The first man said that he would follow Jesus, but he first wanted to go and bury his father. At first glance, most people assume that this conversation took place between the time the man’s father died and when he was buried, but that is not the case here. He was really asking Jesus to let him care for his father during his declining years until he died. But Jesus discerned that this man was using his family situation as an excuse for delaying his discipleship. So, he responded with blunt but humorous paradox: “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

When Jesus extended the call of discipleship to another man, this guy offered a similar excuse, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those in my home.” Jesus responded to this plea with the proverb: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” In farming, the best way to plow a straight row is to keep looking ahead at some fixed point in the distance ahead; looking back would cause zigzags all over the countryside. Likewise, Jesus was saying: True discipleship demands fixing your eyes on me and not looking back for any reason.(Ryken 502)

Both of these encounters are getting at the same thing: If we want to be a true disciples, it demands immediate commitment and utmost loyalty, even over one’s family. Nothing is more important than following Jesus, not even the claims of our own families, which are the strongest of all earthly claims. If it comes down to a choice—as it sometimes does—we must do what Jesus wants us to do, not what our families want us to do! (Ryken 505)

When people say “I love my spouse more than anything” or “I always put my kids first,” they are committing the sin of idolatry. What they are really saying is “I love the gift more than the gift-giver!”

Who do you love most? Who is your top priority? Who has your undivided loyalty? If it is not Jesus, then you are not a true disciple yet!

 

The demands of discipleship are hard! True disciples of Jesus don’t retaliate with violence when they are rejected. True disciples are willing to leave everything behind for him: property, money, material possessions, personal ambitions, comfort, convenience, security, and yes, even your family! The story of flame throwers and fox holes requires all of us to reckon with our relationship with Jesus Christ. And so, where are you?

An airplane was on its way to Detroit when a woman in economy class casually got up and moved into an open seat in the first class section. The flight attendant watched her do this, and politely informed the woman that she must sit in economy class because that’s the type of ticket she had purchased.
The woman looked up and boldly replied, “I’m blonde, I’m beautiful, I’m going to Detroit and I’m staying right here.” After repeated attempts and no success at convincing the woman to move, the flight attendant went into the cockpit and informed the pilot and co-pilot that there’s a blonde bimbo sitting in first class who refuses to go back to her proper seat. The co-pilot went back to the woman and explained why she needed to move, but once again the woman snapped, “I’m blonde, I’m beautiful, I’m going to Detroit and I’m staying right here.”
The co-pilot returned to the cockpit and suggested that perhaps they should have the arrival gate call the police and have the woman arrested when they land. But the pilot said, “You say she’s blonde? I’ll handle this. I’m married to a blonde. I speak blonde.” He went back to the woman and whispered quietly in her ear, and she said, “Oh, I’m sorry,” then quickly moved back to her seat in economy class.
The flight attendant and co-pilot were amazed and asked him what he said to get her to move back to economy without causing any fuss. “I told her first class isn’t going to Detroit.”

            Let’s face it: Regardless of hair color or gender, some people are just dimwits. Some people are so dense that you have to put instructions on the bottom of their boot so they can figure out how to pour water out of it. According to today’s Scripture reading, that is the way Jesus’ disciples were. They had been following Jesus for a considerable period of time; they had witnessed his miracles and heard his teachings, but they still didn’t get it. They were thick-headed and had wax in their ears. As Jesus concluded his Galilean ministry, Luke records four vignettes which display Jesus’ dimwitted disciples and the fact that they still had so much to learn. Let’s take a look!

 

A Failed Exorcism (37-43)

Peter, James, and John had just witnessed Jesus’ majestic transfiguration on the mountain. The next day they came down and joined the other disciples and a large crowd that had gathered. There was a man in that crowd who was particularly pleased to see Jesus. He was desperate because his only son was literally plagued by a demon. The demon caused the boy’s body to convulse, mouth to foam, and he screamed uncontrollably. They had tried everything they knew to get rid of the demon and stop it from destroying him, but nothing worked. The father even brought his boy to nine of Jesus’ disciples who were stationed at the bottom of the mountain, but all of their attempts at exorcism failed. So, the father waited for Jesus and begged him to look at his son.

Back at the beginning of chapter 9, Jesus gave all of his disciples the power to drive out demons, but they failed on this occasion. Luke doesn’t tell us exactly why they failed, but the corresponding passages in Matthew 17:20 and Mark 9:29 attribute their failure to a lack of faith and prayer. Jesus expressed his discouragement with the disciples by saying, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? His question is really more of a rebuke: the current generation displayed a lack of faith and a crooked path, forcing God to bear with them. He is urging them to “get with the program” because he would not always be physically with them.

            I wonder what Jesus would say about our generation? Would he say that we are faithless and twisted?

Even though he was disheartened by his dimwitted disciples, he showed great compassion for the demon-possessed boy and his father. As the demon threw the boy to the ground, Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy. And the rest of the crowd was amazed by the majesty of God.

            Like he did here, isn’t it great when Jesus steps in fix covers our mistakes and fixes our failures? As he did with these dense disciples, he demonstrates incredible grace and patience with us! Praise God, he is willing to put up with slow learning disciples!

 

Misunderstanding Suffering (43a-45)

In the midst of the crowd’s marveling, Jesus reminded his disciples that such admiration is short-lived. For the second time, he makes a prediction of his coming passion. He said plainly, “Let these words sink into your ears, the Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” This is obviously a euphemism for his coming betrayal, crucifixion, and death.

But the disciples failed to grasp the meaning of Jesus’ prediction and they were too afraid to ask him to clarify. It wasn’t that they failed in intellectual comprehension as in willingness to face an unwelcome new perspective. What they don’t understand is how betrayal can happen to the person whom they have just confessed as Messiah. How can such a good and worthy person suffer? How can God let his own Son be crucified? (Bock 368)

            Many people ask these same kinds of questions about themselves today? How about the ever popular question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Well, there are two problems with that question. First, we need to question our definition of “bad things.” We almost always consider the death of a loved one, disease, unemployment, financial problems to be bad things, but sometimes what we consider to be a bad is actually the best thing for us—if God uses it to save our eternal soul or to accomplish his divine purpose. If you don’t believe me, just think about the cross. Was Jesus’ death a bad thing or a good thing? Well, it was bad for Jesus but it was very good for the rest of us. We often act like we are omniscient and have an eternal perspective, but we don’t. Only God does!

            Second, we really need to rethink our definition of “good people.” If we are really honest with ourselves, which one of us is really good? Our standard of goodness is usually pretty low—I commonly hear words like “decent” or “good enough” to describe good, but is that what God means by goodness? The Bible says that none of us are good. Romans 3:23 says “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Have we lived such perfect lives that we don’t deserve to suffer? Do we have such an unblemished moral record that we don’t merit misery? Jesus is the only one who is truly good and even he expected to suffer. Why should we think that we are better than him?

            So, when we experience “bad things”, instead of complaining, “God, why me?” or declaring “I don’t deserve this,” let us humbly say, “Lord, even though this is painful, it is an honor to suffer for you. Please use these trials to mold my character into the image of Christ and accomplish your sovereign will in the world.”

 

An Arrogant Argument (46-48)

The next vignette pinpoints the disciple’s arrogance and slowness to learn. Jesus found them bickering over which one has the highest rank in the discipleship Hall of Fame. It is utterly amazing that these men could engage in such a petty argument after following Jesus for so long. Jesus must have been completely exacerbated by this exchange. Can’t you just picture him shaking his head and thinking, “Oh boys, haven’t you learned anything?”

When Jesus overheard their paltry dispute, he used a child to chide them. Taking a little boy from the crowd, he shows them the value of receiving such a humble figure (children were culturally viewed as powerless and irrelevant.) In Jesus’ estimation, this humble child was greater than all of the conceited disciples! Jesus’ kingdom ethics are a total reversal from the worlds—for the one who is least among you all is the one who is great.

            Humility—not strength and talent, confidence and charisma, or pride and power—is the chief virtue of the kingdom of God.

 

Ministry Monopoly (49-50)

The fourth and final vignette portrays the disciple’s jealousy of someone else’s ministry. The gospels tell us that John was the disciple whom Jesus loved, and that is a good thing because in this passage he is the disciple who put his foot in his mouth. He puckered his lips and griped, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” Can you hear the whimper in his voice? What a crybaby?

Isn’t this interesting? The first vignette pictured the disciple’s failure to cast out a demon, and now they are complaining because someone else was succeeding at it. Once again, Jesus had to correct his fallible followers. He told them to leave the man alone and reminded them that they did not have a monopoly on ministry. They weren’t the only ones who could preach, heal, or cast out demons. Ministry in Jesus’ name is not limited to a select few. Jesus told them that whoever is not against them is on their side.

            Unlike the Marines, who want a few good men, Jesus wants all of his followers to use their gifts in his service. Ministry should be collaborative, not competitive. It should not be limited to one group, one church, one denomination, or one theological tradition. We all have something to contribute to the ministry of God’s kingdom, and we should not be jealous of what others have or do. All who serve faithfully deserve our support.

            It is unfortunate that we live in a time and culture where so many churches and ministries compete against one another. Many of them have an outlook that they can do ministry better than others, and they refuse to work together. But this attitude grieves Jesus’ heart. There is no monopoly on ministry!

 

            Well, as you can see, Jesus’ disciples were dimwitted and slow to learn. I sure am glad that we aren’t like them! We have come so far in 2000 years of discipleship! Unlike his original disciples, I guess that we really don’t have much more to learn!

            One bright day in the middle of the night, Two dead boys got up to fight.
Back to back they faced each other, drew their swords and shot each other.
A deaf policeman heard the noise and ran to save the two dead boys.
And if you don’t believe this lie is true, ask the blind man, he saw it too.

 

This humorous little poem is filled with paradoxes. A paradox is a figure of speech that seems self-contradictory but actually expresses a possible truth: “a bright day in the middle of the night” and “drawing swords to shoot one another” are images of apparent contradiction, but nonetheless they express possible truths. Because of their clever and ironic juxtaposition of ideas, paradoxes are sometimes the most profound way to express a truth.

Jesus was a master at posing paradoxes; he often used them as teaching tools for his disciples. In today’s text, Jesus employs multiple paradoxes to reveal his identity and explain the true nature of the Christian faith.

 

A Paradoxical Christ (18-22)

One time when Jesus was alone with his disciples and they were praying, Jesus asked them an interesting question, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” The disciples had certainly heard the word on the street as to who Jesus was. Some people said that he was John the Baptist, others said Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old had risen. People had many different opinions of Jesus—all of these responses were plausible and complimentary, but they were wrong.

Jesus used this question as a set up for his real question. He looked deep into his disciple’s eyes and asked, “But what about you? Who do you say that I am?” Jesus posed this question to test his disciples to see if they recognized his person and work. For months or even years they had been following Jesus, listening to his teachings and witnessing his miracles. During that time, he was inviting them to consider his identity, in hope that they would trust him for their salvation.

Peter, the most outspoken of all of the disciples, quickly responded, “The Christ of God.” But what does this mean? The term “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name or a cuss word that we shout when we smash our thumb; Christ is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew word “Messiah.” It means “God’s anointed one.” This is the one about whom the Old Testament prophet foretold—the king whom God would raise up to deliver his people and restore Israel. Peter was correct! Jesus was the Christ of God!

            Jesus’ question, “But who do you say I am?” was not only meant for his original disciples—it was meant for you and me! This is really the most important question in the world, because Jesus is the most important person in the world. This is the question that determines our ultimate destiny in heaven or hell!

            As in the disciple’s day, many people disagree about Jesus’ identity today. Some people say that Jesus was nothing more than a myth (a religious fabrication that people created as a crutch to get through life), others say that he was a good moral teacher or a wise sage or a noble prophet (but they deny his miracles and supernatural abilities). Others try to identify Jesus as a slick political advocate (who of course always supports their own person views).

            On August 5, 2015, The Canadian Press, a Toronto newspaper ran a story about an ordained United Church of Canada minister who believes in neither God nor Bible said she is prepared to fight an unprecedented attempt to boot her from the pulpit for her beliefs. In an interview at her West Hill church, Rev. Gretta Vosper said congregants support her view that how you live is more important than what you believe in. “I don’t believe in…the god called God,” Vosper said. “Using the word gets in the way of sharing what I want to share.”

            Vosper, who was ordained in 1993 and joined her church in 1997, said the idea of an interventionist, supernatural being on which so much church doctrine is based belongs to an outdated worldview. What’s important, she says, is that her views hearken to Christianity’s beginnings, before the focus shifted from how one lived to doctrinal belief in God, Jesus and the Bible. “Is the Bible really the word of God? Was Jesus a person?” she said. “It’s mythology. We build a faith tradition upon it which shifted to find belief more important than how we lived.”

            Vosper made her views clear as far back as a Sunday sermon in 2001 but her congregation stood behind her until a decision to do away with the Lord’s Prayer in 2008 prompted about 100 of the 150 members to leave. The rest backed her.

            It is incredibly tragic when a clergy member would declare that Jesus is nothing more than a myth! So, what about you? Who do you say Jesus is?

            After Peter correctly declared Jesus’ identity, he strictly prohibited his disciples from telling anyone else. It was still early in Jesus’ ministry and he did not anyone to get the wrong idea about what it meant for him to be the Messiah. Many people expected the Messiah to be a political and military warlord who would lead the nation in conquest over its enemies and achieve glory for Israel, but Jesus introduces a great and shocking paradox when he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” (22)

Can you imagine the disciple’s reaction to these disturbing words? The idea of a rejected redeemer, a suffering Messiah, and a killed Christ was completely paradoxical. Even though Jesus was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, his path to glory would be marked with suffering. This must have shattered all of the disciple’s expectations about Jesus’ mission on earth. Just when they thought they had Jesus’ identity figured out, they were surprised again!

            When someone asks you who is Jesus, there is only one correct response: He is the Christ of God, the promised Messiah, God in human flesh, fully divine/fully human, who lived as sinless life and died a horrendous death on the cross to atone for the sins of all who would give their lives to him. He rose from the dead on the third day to offer eternal life to anyone who would follow him. This is Jesus true identity and this was his mission! Do you believe this?

 

A Paradoxical Christian (23-27)

Well, as soon as Jesus revealed the paradoxical nature of his identity and mission, he immediately explained what this meant for his disciples. In verse 23, he said to them, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” The cross was an ancient symbol of death, a Roman tool for torture and execution. Jesus makes it clear that Christianity is costly. It demands a willingness to sacrifice your life on a daily basis and follow Jesus all the way to death.

Jesus continues to clarify the true nature of Christianity by proposing two paradoxes: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it” and “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world and forfeit their very self?” The first paradox makes the point that if someone wants to gain the eternal life that Jesus offers, they must give their life to him now. The second paradox points to the fact that some people spend all of their time trying to gain everything in this world, and they lose themselves and their very souls in the process. Likewise, those who are ashamed of Jesus and his words in this life, will face his rejection and shame when he comes in all of his glory.

            What does it mean to be a Christian? Here are some of the answers I have heard: 1.) A Christian is someone who goes to church. 2.) Someone who listens to Christian music. 3.) Someone who lives a moral life. 4.) Someone who does good deeds. 5.) Someone who has good intentions. 6.) Someone who wears a cross around their neck. 7.) Someone who reads the Bible and prays. Every one of these answers is wrong, wrong, wrong! These are all fine things, but none of them makes a person a Christian. To be a true Christian, you must give their whole life to Jesus! You must stop living for yourself! You must be willing to stand up for him and even be willing to die for him. If you are not willing to do this, you are not Jesus’ disciple yet—you are not a true Christian yet! You can’t follow Jesus and still hold on to your life as if it is yours!

            True Christianity is not cheap or convenient! It costs us everything we have! But what we get in return is more than worth it—forgiveness from all of our sins, a indescribable peace and joy now, and a perfect life in heaven someday.

            Are you a true Christian? Have you given your life to Jesus? Do you love him more than anyone or anything else in this world? Are you willing to suffer for Jesus? Are you willing to take up your cross and follow him all the way to death?

 

            Allow me to conclude by telling you a story about a man who was willing to carry his cross. This year marks the 600^th anniversary of the martyrdom of John Hus. Hus was a well educated and popular priest and preacher at the Bethlehem Chapel in the city of Prague, Czech Republic during the early 15^th century. He studied the Scriptures for himself and was an outspoken critic of the abuses within the Roman Catholic Church.

            When he saw he wasn’t to be given a forum for explaining his ideas, let alone a fair hearing, he finally said, “I appeal to Jesus Christ, the only judge who is almighty and completely just. In his hands I plead my cause, not on the basis of false witnesses and erring councils, but on truth and justice.” He was taken to his cell, where many pleaded with him to recant. On July 6, 1415, he was taken to the cathedral, dressed in his priestly garments, then stripped of them one by one. He refused one last chance to recant at the stake, where he prayed, “Lord Jesus, it is for thee that I patiently endure this cruel death. I pray thee to have mercy on my enemies.” He was heard reciting the Psalms as the flames engulfed him.

            John Hus understood the paradox of Christianity! He knew who Jesus was and what he came to earth to do! He carried his cross all the way to the stake and proved that he was a true disciple of Jesus Christ by his willingness to be burned alive. Are we willing to do the same?

Today’s Scripture reading recounts the famous story of the feeding of the 5000 or as I like to call it, “An Impossible Picnic.”

 

Ministry Retreat (10)

When the twelve disciples returned from their ministry internship of preaching about the kingdom of God and healing people from diseases, they gave Jesus a full report about what they had done. Jesus recognized that they were weary from all of their hard work and he knew that they needed some physical and spiritual rest. So, Jesus had them retreat to the town of Bethsaida, a little fishing village on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.

            Jesus knew the importance of retreat! He practiced this discipline in his own life and instilled it in his disciples. Whether it is ministry or another vocation, it is not healthy to go full steam ahead all of the time. Dealing with people and problems fatigues the body and the soul. We can only do it so long before the negative affects take their toll on us.

            Jesus’ actions in this passage remind us why we need to take some days off work, go on a vacation, disconnect from people (unplug our computers and turn our cell phones off), and spend time in prayer and reflection. Burn out doesn’t benefit anyone! It is detrimental to you and everyone else around you!

            Many of you have heard the parable of the two woodsmen, but it bears repeating here: One man challenged another to an all-day wood chopping contest. The challenger worked very hard, stopping only for a brief lunch break. The other man had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks during the day. At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised and annoyed to find that the other fellow had chopped substantially more wood than he had.

            “I don’t get it,” he said. “Every time I checked, you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did.” “But you didn’t notice,” said the winning woodsman, “that I was sharpening my ax when I sat down to rest.”

            Do you ever retreat for rest and reflection? Do you periodically withdraw from people and activity to rest your body, relax your mind, and sharpen your soul?

 

Ministry Perseverance (11-12)

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Bethsaida for retreat, the crowds found out where they were going and followed them. Now they were faced with a difficult decision—should they turn the crowd away or go ahead and minister to them even though they were already exhausted? Here is where Jesus’ compassion for people took precedent over his own personal needs. He went ahead a spoke to them about the kingdom of God and cured those who needed healing.

As they day wore on and Jesus continued to minister to people, the disciples became disgruntled (you know how people get when they are tired and hungry). They told Jesus, “Send the crowd away to go to the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” At first glance it appears that the disciples are looking out for the best interest of the people in the crowd, but I suspect that their true motive was selfish. Sure, they wanted Jesus to send the crowd away so that they could get something to eat and find a place to stay for the night, but based on the context, I think that the disciples were more interested in finding a Buffalo Wild Wings and Holiday Inn for themselves.

            Ministry perseverance is the flip side of ministry retreat. Even though Jesus understood the importance of rest and reflection, he also knew that there are occasions when we need to sacrifice our own personal desires and conveniences for the sake of others. Sometimes we are called to minister to people when we are tired and hungry; we can eat and rest later.

            I remember a similar occasion in my own life about twelve years ago. I was back in my hometown to officiate my best friend’s wedding. This was my first big wedding since I had become a pastor, and I had the added pressure of knowing every guest there. I was extremely nervous, but we made it through the whole service without a hitch. After the wedding, I was looking forward to enjoying the reception: a good meal, conversations with old friends, and maybe even a cold beverage!

            But before I could get to the buffet, one of my old classmates approached me and asked if we could have a private conversation. As we stepped into a side room where it was quieter, I knew that this wasn’t going to be a casual or short conversation. (Now I hate to burst your perception of me as a perfect pastor, but I have to confess that I had a bad attitude about this. After an already long day, I wasn’t thinking, “Wow, thank you Lord for this great ministry opportunity.” All I could think about was how good that roast beef would have tasted. (I was just like Jesus’ disciples.) But I knew that the Lord wanted me to sacrifice my own desires and minister to this young woman.

            For the next two and a half hours she confessed to me the fact that she got pregnant out of wedlock and that she and her boyfriend decided to have an abortion earlier that year. With great detail, she described the emotional pain and guilt she carried from that decision. She wanted to know if God still loved her and if she could ever be forgiven for this sin. She wanted to know if her baby was in heaven or hell. She wanted to know if God would prevent her and her now husband from having children in the future. As I shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with her and ministered to her soul, she put her faith in Jesus, repented from her sin, and became a Christian that very evening. Her life was forever changed!

            Later on, as I ate my roast beef and enjoyed my beverage, the Holy Spirit convicted me for my attitude earlier. And I definitely learned a lesson about perseverance in ministry!

            How about you? Are you willing to sacrifice your desires, comforts, and conveniences to minister to those in need?

 

An Impossible Picnic (13-17)

As the disciples try to get Jesus to disperse the crowd, he had the perfect response for their selfishness. He looked at them and simply said, “You get them something to eat!” This was a command, not a question. But what were they to make of it? They didn’t have enough food to feed themselves, let alone host a dinner party of 5000 people. Can you imagine trying to come up with enough food to feed that many people? Jesus was demanding the impossible!

The disciples pointed out how ridiculous Jesus’ expectations were when they said, “We have only five loaves and two fish—unless we go and buy food for the crowd.” They knew that the closest Costco was over 100 miles away, and besides, they didn’t have enough money to buy a membership.

Jesus used this occasion to test the disciple’s faith and once again teach them to rely on him rather than themselves. From a human perspective it was impossible to feed this crowd. But with God, all things are possible. The disciples failed to remember how God miraculously provided manna to their ancestors for 40 years in the wilderness. They failed to remember how God used Elisha to miraculously provide barely bread to 100 people back in 2 Kings 4. They failed to remember all of Jesus’ other miracles he performed.

When the disciples failed their test of faith, Jesus took over. He told them to organize the crowd in groups of fifty and then, looking to heaven, he gave thanks, and broke the bread. He kept breaking the bread and distributing to his disciples to serve the people. They all ate enough that they were completely satisfied.

And just to drive home the point that God can always provide abundantly more than what people need, Jesus made sure that there were 12 basketfuls of leftover bread. Can you imagine the humbled looks on the disciple’s faces as they carried their full baskets back to Jesus?

            Most of us are just like the disciples in this story. We tend to look at our problems from a human perspective. We often face adversities that seem impossible. Sometimes Jesus even tests our faith by expecting us to do the impossible. And like that group of doubting disciples, we forget how God has provided for us in the past and we fail to believe that he will give us what we need in the present.

            Are you facing any adversities today? Are you in the midst of any perils that seem impossible? Is your faith being challenged? Remember that Jesus is God! If he can feed 5000 people with two measly fish and five morsels of bread, he can take care of all of your problems and so much more!

 

            The feeding of the 5000 reminds us that God is not limited by our inadequacies. Rather, our very limitations can display the glory and grace of Jesus Christ when he does what we are unable to do: His power is made perfect in our weakness!

            One man who understood this principle well was Robert Morrison, the famous missionary to China. In 1805 the London Missionary Society recruited Morrison to go to China. It was the time of Napoleonic wars, however, and the only British ships traveling to China belonged to the East India Company, which refused to transport missionaries. So Morrison went to the United States, hoping to book passage to China. When the owner of the ship heard about Morrison’s plans, he was skeptical. “And so, Mr. Morrison,” he said, “do really expect to make an impression on the idolatry of the great Chinese Empire?” “No, sir,” Morrison quickly replied, “I expect God will.”

            Through Morrison’s ministry, in all of its weakness, God did make an impression on China’s idolatry, with spiritual results that last to this present day. It is when we know that we are at the end of our own resources that we are ready to see what God will do! (Ryken 437)

            It was a sunny Saturday morning and the smell of freshly cut grass filled the air. Mike was beginning his pre-shot routine, visualizing his upcoming shot, when a voice came over the clubhouse speaker–”Would the gentleman on the Ladies Tee please back up to the Men’s Tee!”

            Mike, still deep in his routine, seemed impervious to the interruption. Again the announcement–”Would the Man on the Woman’s Tee kindly back up to the Men’s tee, PLEASE!” Mike had had enough. He turned and shouted, “Would the announcer in the clubhouse kindly shut up and let me play my second shot!”

            Some people just won’t be interrupted for anything!

            My fourth grade teacher, Mr. Patty, was like that. He hated interruptions more than anyone I have ever known. He would get spitting mad if a student spoke out in the middle of a lesson or even if another  teacher came to the door to ask him a question.

            Our class eventually learned to use this to our own advantage. We all knew that Mr. Patty loved sports and that he was quite competitive. So, when it was time for recess, we often decided to play kickball and petitioned Mr. Patty to be our all time pitcher. If we could rig the game to keep the score close, Mr. Patty would get so focused on the game that he would forget all about our afternoon reading and spelling lessons. Sometimes we would have a 2 hour recess, until Mr. Boylen, our principal, would come out and tell him that it was time to go back inside. Mr. Patty would get so angry at the interruption that he would slam the big red rubber ball off the pitcher’s mound and say, “Kids, we’ll finish this game tomorrow!”

            Wouldn’t it be nice to go through life without any interruptions? For that matter, wouldn’t it be great to get through a single day with no interruptions? No phone calls, e-mails, or text messages! No boss nagging, no coworkers complaining, no kids whining! Can you remember the last time you got through a whole day without any interruptions?

            Jesus probably had a higher percentage of interruptions than anyone else in human history. It seems that every time he set out to preach and teach about the kingdom of God, he was interrupted by someone—his disciples, the Pharisees, and crowds of people clamoring for healings and miracles.

            This is precisely what we find in today’s Scripture reading. As soon as Jesus returns from a difficult ministry journey on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, there was a large group of people who gathered on the shore to greet him. Why was this flock so eager to see Jesus? Because they all wanted something from him! But as usual, he takes the interruption in stride and begins to listen to the pleas and care for the needs of the crowd. Here is what happened!

The Bleeding Woman and the Dead Girl

            One of the people standing in the crowd was a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue, the person responsible for organizing public worship. He was a prominent member of the community and everyone knew him. No doubt, he had heard about Jesus’ miraculous healings, because as Jesus approached, he frantically fell before Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house and heal his beloved daughter. His little girl was only 12 years old and she was dying. Jairus was desperate; he couldn’t bear the thought of losing his one and only daughter. As he pleaded with Jesus to come, he had two questions running through his mind: Would Jesus be willing to heal her and could they get there before it was too late? Thankfully for Jairus, Jesus set out right away.

            But as Jesus made his first steps toward Jairus’ house, the crowd interrupted him by pressing in around him. They hemmed him in so close that they almost crushed him. While the mob was shouting their supplications at him, a woman came from behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. Even though he did not see it happen, he knew someone touched him because he felt power go out of him.

            Jesus stopped everything and asked, “Who touched me?” Everyone denied it, and Peter pointed out the obvious fact that many people had touched him because the crowd was so thick. But Jesus persisted. The touch he asks about was no ordinary touch; it was a touch that pleaded for help and found it. The silent faith of the woman needed exposure.

            When the woman realized that Jesus knew what she had done, with great fear, she reluctantly comes forward, falls at Jesus’ feet, and admits that she is the one who touched him. The woman didn’t want Jesus or anyone else to know that she touched him because of her physical condition. For the past 12 years, this woman had suffered from a menstrual disorder which caused a chronic flow of blood. Her condition was not only frustrating and embarrassing, but it also rendered her ceremonially unclean, isolating her from Jewish religious life. The Mosaic Law prohibited woman from entering worship during their monthly cycle.

            This poor woman consulted all of the local doctors, but no one knew how to treat her problem. (I originally considered calling this sermon “The Failure of Physicians” but that might have hit a little too close to home.) Anyway, the woman believed that Jesus had the ability to heal her. Understandably, she didn’t want to be a public spectacle; all she wanted was to touch Jesus, an act that she hoped would restore her physically, spiritually, and socially. So, she got herself in position, touched him as he walked by, and immediately she was healed. She then hoped to fade away into the crowd and go along her merry way unnoticed.

            But as she fell at Jesus’ feet, she related her story of suffering and explained why she touched him. Instead of rebuking her for her underhanded way of approaching him, he commended her for her faith. Jesus looked at her with deep compassion and softly whispered, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

            While Jesus dealt with this interruption, one can only image the frustration that Jairus felt. His daughter was on the brink of death, but Jesus stopped to engage in a seemingly unnecessary conversation with this woman who had already been healed.

            Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever been in a hurry to get somewhere, but your traveling companion holds you up because they keep getting caught in needless conversations. This happens to me every Sunday after church—I am always waiting for my wife to finish talking!

            Well, Jairus’ worse fears were realized. While Jesus was still speaking to the woman, someone from Jairus’ house pushed through the crowd and delivered the worst possible news. With great sorrow in his voice, he said, “Your daughter is dead.” Then, recognizing the reality of the situation, he added, “You may as well let the teacher go and not bother him anymore.” In that moment of complete exasperation, I’m sure Jairus wondered if the outcome would have been different had Jesus not succumbed to the interruption.

            But hearing these words, Jesus looked at Jairus and offered these words of comfort, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” This was an incredible call to faith! Despite his feelings of disappointment, pain, and anger, Jairus takes Jesus at his word and leads him to his house.

            When they arrived, Jesus allows only the family, Peter, John, and James to enter the room where the little girl’s corpse is lying. Outside the house, the mourners have already gathered. They were only called after it was absolutely certain that death had taken place. In the midst of community sorrow, Jesus calls them to stop, for the girl “is not dead, but asleep.” The crowd laughed at this ludicrous statement—for a great miracle worker, they probably wondered about Jesus common sense. This girl was gone. Her spirit was already separated from her body. She was deader than a doornail!

            But Jesus paid no attention to the jeers of the crowd. He took the little girl’s hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit immediately returned to her body and she was restored to life. As she opened her eyes and stood up among them, her parents were absolutely astonished. Jesus then proves his practicality and tells them to give the girl something to eat. (Apparently, dying and coming back to life works up quite an appetite.)

            Jesus concludes his interaction with this family by instructing them not to tell anyone what had happened. Anyone who knew that the girl was dead and then alive again would obviously know what happened, but Jesus did not want undue attention drawn to what he had done because this would turn him into a wonder worker with all of the public attention focused on that ministry rather than on his central teaching about the kingdom of God. (Bock 247-248)

            Now that we have heard this incredible story, allow me to highlight a few lessons that we can take away from it!

 1.) Some of God’s most profound work is accomplished during the interruptions of life.

            Divine providence means that God is in guides every detail of our lives. Even though interruptions are typically annoying and frustrating because they deter us from accomplishing our immediate goals, God uses them to accomplish his goals in our lives. For instance, sometimes God orchestrates minor interruptions like unexpected telephone calls or someone stopping by to teach us patience and perseverance. Other times he uses major interruptions like disease, disablement, or the death of a loved one to bring us to our knees and remind us that we are not in control of our lives. He uses interruptions like this to show us our need for a savior. Whenever you experience the aggravation of interruption, open your spiritual eyes and look for what God is trying to do in your life!

 

2.) God timing and plan is perfect, even when it doesn’t seem like it.

            I suspect that Jairus had difficulty understanding why Jesus would allow himself to be preoccupied with the bleeding woman when his little girl was dying. Time was of the essence! Likewise, it can be difficult for us to understand God’s timing and plan in our lives. We often want Jesus to act right now or according to our time table, but as in the case of Jairus’ daughter, we must trust that his timing and plan is perfect.

 

3.) God is sovereign over disease and death.

            This story clearly illustrates Jesus’ power and authority over disease and death. He can heal us from long established ailments and even bring us back from death if he so desires. It is never a question of whether he can heal and deliver; the real question is if it is part of God’s plan. Even today, sometimes God chooses to heal (miraculously or otherwise) and sometimes he calls us to persevere in suffering. Although rare, sometimes God surprises us by bringing someone back from the dead. But usually he calls us to grieve so that we will contemplate where our own soul will spend eternity.

            All of Jesus’ resuscitations were temporary. This little girl would die again someday. But Jesus’ demonstration of power over death here is a foreshadowing of his own resurrection and his offer of eternal life to whoever would put their faith in him. Have you received eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ?

 

4.) God calls us to not be afraid, but to just believe!

            Jesus’ words to Jairus in verse 50 are profound, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” This is what Jesus says to us too. There are many things in this world that we do not understand, and we are afraid of the unknown. We constantly ask God questions, but he does not always answer. Why? Because he wants us to be driven by faith, not fear! He wants us to trust him! Therefore, I say to you, whatever you are facing today, don’t be afraid; just believe!

            In today’s Scripture reading, Luke tells us the stories of Jesus’ encounter with the gale and the graveyard!

The Gale (22-25)

            Jesus and his disciples had been preaching and teaching in the fishing villages on the west side of the Sea of Galilee. One day, Jesus decided to go to the other side of the lake to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God. So, when he shared the plan with his disciples, they boarded a board and set sail. Jesus was exhausted from ministering to large crowds, and at least four of his disciples were experienced fisherman, so he took this opportunity to get a little shut-eye.

            The Sea of Galilee is not a large lake; it is only 10 miles long and 5 miles wide. But it does sit at 700 hundred feet below sea level and has hills surrounding it. The eastern side has a particularly steep set of hills. Even on such a small lake, these topographical features could create the perfect storm when cold wind would shoot through the gaps and collide with the warm air on the surface of the lake. The gales of Galilee could cause treacherous conditions that may capsize ships and drown even the most seasoned sailors.

            As Jesus slept, just such a storm arose. The sun disappeared as dark clouds swelled the skies. The sudden drop in temperature caused goose bumps to appear on the disciple’s skin. The winds began to howl and the waves crashed against the bow of their boat. As the disciples fought against the mist in their faces and tried to reset the sail, even Peter, Andrew, James, and John, with their collective fishing experience, became frantic. But somehow, as sea billows were swamping the boat, Jesus remained in peaceful sleep. (Some people can sleep through anything!)

            When the disciples were finally overcome with fear and they could not hold out any longer, they wrestled Jesus awake and shouted, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” Jesus opened his eyes and calmed rose to his feet. He raised his gently hands and rebuked the wind and the waves. He simply said, “Quiet! Be still!” And immediately, the winds ceased to blow, the waves calmed, and the dark clouds rolled away. The roaring sea became as placid as a purring kitten. It looked like a sheet of glass.

            Then Jesus lowered his hands, gave his disciples an annoying glare, and rebuked them saying, “You woke me up for this?” No, I’m just kidding! Jesus didn’t say that. But if this were one of us, we would have been annoyed. Don’t you just hate when you are rudely awoken and immediately confronted with someone else’s chaos.          

            Like a few weeks ago when I was having a happy nappy on the couch on a rainy Sunday afternoon, and one of my kids came running into the room screaming, “Dad! Dad! Dad!! Dad!!!” As I woke up, my heart was pounding at 180 beats a minute, I thought, “Oh my gosh, did someone fall down the stairs or break an arm?” When I asked what was wrong, I heard the panicked words, “Dad, Duncan took my stickers!” Grrgh! I raised my hands and rebuked my child, “Quiet! Be still! Go away!” And I went back to sleep!

            Jesus did display displeasure, not because they woke him up, but because of their lack of faith. There was a deep disappointment in his eyes when he asked them, “Where is your faith?” Did they not trust God to see them and care for their best interest?

            When the disciples saw what Jesus did and spoke these words to them, they were shocked and amazed. They began to ask themselves and each other, “Who then is this, he commands even the winds and water, and they obey him?” This question shows that the disciples were still struggling with Jesus’ true identity. The Old Testament makes it clear that only God has authority over nature. The disciples were gradually figuring out that Jesus is God.

            Most of us have never been caught in a storm that threatened our lives, but we are familiar with feelings of desperation, especially in the midst of circumstances that we cannot control. Like the disciples, sometimes we feel like God is not aware of what is going on in our lives—that he is asleep at the wheel and or has forgotten about us. When we experience the chaos of losing a job, a broken relationship, a difficult diagnosis, the unexpected death of a loved one, or some national crisis or community calamity, it can throw us into an all out panic. But where is our faith in moments like these? If we put our trust in Jesus Christ, God in human flesh, and remember that he is in complete control over everything in the cosmos, we can have supernatural peace to sustain us through life’s fiercest storms.

            There are so many situations in life where we are absolutely powerless. I honestly pity the people who try to face them without a relationship with Jesus Christ. Week after week, I see people in our communities try to calm their own winds and still their own seas, and I watch many of them get washed overboard. Instead of humbling themselves before God and putting their faith in Jesus Christ, they try to cut their anxiety with alcohol, numb their pain with drugs, and burn off their sorrow with destructive behavior. And these only cause more storms! Friends, Jesus is the only one who has the power to still the storms of life! Won’t you put your faith in him today?

The Graveyard (26-39)

            Well, Jesus and his disciples finally made it to the other side of the Sea of Galilee and they landed in the region of the Gerasenes, a gentile area with steep banks that overlooked the lake. As soon as Jesus stepped on shore, he was met by a streakier running through a cemetery. This ghoul who lived in the graveyard was obviously out of his mind, and everyone from the area knew it. On multiple occasions, the local authorities had tried to subdue him with shackles and chains, but the man had supernatural strength and easily broke free and ran loose among the tombs. His bizarre behavior scarred people and no one wanted to be around him, which was just fine with him; he preferred to be in solitary places.

            When the man approached Jesus, Jesus immediately knew that the man was possessed by a demonic spirit. The demon immediately recognized that Jesus was no ordinary human being; they forced the man to fall before Jesus’ feet and shouted loudly, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me.” Without ever having a previous encounter with him, the demon knew Jesus name, identity as the Son of Most High God, and that Jesus had the power and authority to torture him.

            When Jesus asked the demon what his name was, the demon revealed that his name was Legion” because many demons had possessed the man. A legion was a Roman military unit of about 6000 soldiers. In other words, Jesus is engaging in a major spiritual battle here. He is outnumbered, but not overmatched.

            Realizing that they could not defeat Jesus and that they would have to obey his commands, they ask to be sent into a herd of pigs rather than to the abyss. The abyss refers to “the place of the dead”—a spiritual prison for fallen angels, a torturous place where they await their final judgment from God. At first, it appears that Jesus acquiesces to their request—as he commanded them to leave the man, he gave them permission to enter the herd of pigs that was grazing on the hillside. But being possessed by the demons threw the whole herd into such a panic that they ran off the steep cliff and drowned in the lake. The demon’s effort to continue their presence in that area failed. Jesus did send them to the abyss, preventing them from terrorizing that area again.

            When those tending the pigs saw what happened, they quickly spread the news throughout the town and countryside. Before long, a large crowd came out to see what happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man who had been possessed sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully dressed and in his right mind. Jesus had rescued him from a life of spiritual and social bondage and completely restored his life. The local people do not care for Jesus’ work, however. Not only were they afraid of his foreign power, but they were also frustrated because Jesus’ miracle drove up the price of bacon.

            The restored man was so grateful to Jesus for what he had done for him that he wanted to join Jesus’ ministry team and travel with him. But Jesus had another calling in mind: someone must be left behind to share what had done in that area. The man did that and more—he honored Jesus by preaching and proclaiming what Jesus had done for him.

            There are a few lessons I would like for us to take away from this story. First, we must recognize the reality and destructiveness of demonic spirits. Contrary to popular opinion, demons are not the subject of horror films and people’s imaginations. They are real! They are here in our world today! As a matter of fact, there are many people who are afflicted by demons right here in Franklin County, Vermont.          

            Some people doubt the existence of demons because they have never encountered one personally. If you haven’t, praise God. But many people have had demonic encounters, but unfortunately, they get swept under the carpet because people are too embarrassed to talk about them. They are afraid that people will think they are crazy. Also, in our modern educated scientific culture, we have largely “psychologized” demonic possession. There are a thousand categories of mental illness, but you will not find demonic possession in Diagnostic Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders. After dealing in this area for many years, I have personally become convinced that most murders and suicides are caused by demonic possession and oppression. But shhh, don’t tell anyone in the media that I said that; people will think I’ve gone completely bonkers! Friends, do not be deceived, demonic possession is the real deal!

            Second, we must remember that Jesus has complete authority and power over demons. As we see in today’s Scripture reading, demons have to bow before Jesus and obey his commands. A close relationship with Jesus Christ is our best defense against demons, and Jesus is the only hope of deliverance from demons. If you suspect that you or a loved one is being oppressed by demonic spirits, run to Jesus as fast as you can. He is the only one who can restore your life!

            Third and finally, notice what demon-possessed man did after he was delivered. He went and told everyone what Jesus had done for him. It is often true that those whose lives are most radically transformed often end up being the strongest witnesses for Jesus! Has Jesus transformed your life? Are you telling other about what he has done for you?

            Jesus has authority over the natural world and the supernatural world. If he has the power to calm the wind and the waves and drive out demons, he is certainly able to take care of you and your problems!

            Throughout the history of the world, kings were famous for their harems. A harem is a group of women, consisting of wives, concubines, and servants, who live in the king’s court. Among other things, the purpose of the harem was to satisfy the desires of the king. The Egyptian pharaoh’s had harems. The Sultans of the Ottoman Empire kept large harems. In Mexico, Aztec ruler Montezuma II, kept four thousand concubines. Unfortunately, even in the Bible, King David and King Solomon had harems. I Kings 11:3 tells us that Solomon had a harem of 700 wives and 300 concubines.

            Genghis Khan, the Mongolian ruler, apart from being one of history’s biggest conquerors, could well be one of the most prolific lovers of all times. Genghis had six Mongolian wives and married many daughters of foreign kings. Apparently the inmates of his harem numbered anything between two to three thousand. Geneticists from the Russian Academy of Sciences believe the brutal ruler has 16 million male descendants living today which is nearly 8% of the population of Central Asia.

            Ismail ibn Sharif, ruler of Morocco from 1672-1727, claimed to be a direct descendent from the prophet Mohammad. He was known in his native country as the “Warrior King,” who defeated the Ottoman Turks and won independence for Morocco. He also holds the distinction of fathering probably the maximum number of children in history—more than 800.

            Although harems are still somewhat prominent in middle-eastern cultures today, they have been largely out of style in modern American society, except in the cases of John F. Kennedy, Hugh Hefner, and Kody Brown, the star of the TLC reality show “Sister Wives,” which documents the lives of the Utah polygamist, his four wives, and seventeen children. Sadly, throughout history, many men of high position have used their power, money, and even religion to exploit women for their own pleasures and purposes.

            This is why the gospel accounts of Jesus’ treatment of women are so surprising! Jesus, as God in human flesh, is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come (Eph. 1:21). If he so chose, he could have had the largest harem in human history.

            But instead, he never abused his power by treating a woman with disrepute. He never suppressed a woman with his supremacy. He never objectified a woman with his authority. He never manipulated a woman with his money. He never even wounded a woman with his words. From the sinful woman who wiped his feet with her tears to the woman caught in adultery, Jesus always treated women with the utmost dignity, respect, and compassion. Jesus never had a harem, but from the early days of his ministry, as he traveled about from one town and village to another proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, many women willingly became his followers.

The Women who Followed Jesus (1-3)

            At the beginning of the eighth chapter of his gospel, Luke affirms that Jesus had chosen 12 men to be his apostles, but he also highlights the fact that women also had prominent roles in Jesus’ ministry. He mentions 3 of them by name: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna.

            Each of these three women, along with all of the others had experienced the saving power of Jesus Christ. Mary Magdalene had been possessed by seven demons—fallen angels who preyed upon her spiritual weakness and bent her will to their evil purposes. Many people have speculated about Mary’s past. Since Pope Gregory the Great mentioned it in a sermon in the 6th century, she has often been accused of sexual promiscuity, but this assertion is biblically unfounded. More recently, Dan Brown in The Da Vinci Code and others have postulated that she was Jesus’ wife and they had children together. But there is absolutely no credible historical evidence of this. All we know about Mary’s background is that came from the village of Magdala on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee and that Jesus delivered her from demons.  

            Jesus also delivered Joanna, who was connected to the royal palace through her husband Cuza, who was the manager of King Herod’s household, and a woman named Susanna. The Bible does not tell us anything else about these women, except for the fact that Jesus healed them from their infirmities.

            The miracles that Jesus performed were only the beginning of his work in their lives. He also invited them to learn from his teaching ministry. This was astounding and completely counter-cultural. In those days rabbis did not teach women; theology was only for men. But Jesus welcomed them into his group of disciples.

            These women, in turn, supported Jesus and his ministry. This was necessary because Jesus and his disciples owned almost nothing. They had nowhere to live, and as they traveled around Israel, they had no way to provide for their daily needs. But in the providence of God, these women supplied what Jesus needed. They may well have had a lot of money, but whether they were wealthy or not, they put what they had at Jesus’ disposal. They wanted everyone to hear the good news of God’s grace. (Ryken 355)

            Each of these women served Jesus followed him to the very end. Unlike most of his other disciples, they followed their Savior to the cross and to the grave, before meeting him on the far side of the resurrection.

            Like Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna, Elisabeth Elliot is a wonderful example of a woman who has faithfully served Jesus Christ in modern times. She just passed away about two weeks ago at the age of 88. Elisabeth was born in 1926 in Belgium, where her parents served as missionaries. When she was a few months old, they came to the U.S. and lived in Germantown, PA, not far from Philadelphia, where her father became an editor of the Sunday School Times, a publication which was used by hundreds of churches for their weekly unified Sunday School teaching materials.

            Elisabeth went on to attend Wheaton College, where she studied classical Greek. This enabled her to accomplish her goal of working in the area of unwritten languages to develop a form of writing. A year after she graduated, she went to Ecuador. Jim Elliot, whom she had met at Wheaton, also entered tribal areas with the Quichua Indians. In 1953, they were married in the city of Quito and continued our work together. Jim had always hoped to have the opportunity to enter the territory of an unreached tribe. The Auca Indians were in that category — a fierce tribe whom no one had succeeded in meeting without being killed. After the discovery of their whereabouts, Jim and four other missionaries entered Auca territory. Initially, they had friendly contact with three of the tribe, but eventually they were speared to death. Elisabeth and Jim only had 3 years together. Their daughter Valerie was only 10 months old when Jim was killed.

            Instead of being angry with God or bitter toward the Auca’s, Elisabeth continued working with the Quichua Indians when, through the remarkable providence of God, she met two Auca women who wound up living with her for one year. They were the key to her going in to live with the tribe that had killed her husband the other four missionaries. She remained there for two years and saw most of the tribe converted to the Christian faith.

            After working with the Aucas for a few of years, she returned to the Quichua’s and remained there until 1963. She eventually returned to the U.S., and embarked upon a ministry of writing and speaking. She wrote 24 books, served as one of the stylistic consultants for the committee of the New International Version of the Bible, and has spoken about God’s grace all over the world.

            Elisabeth Elliot is an inspiration to Christians everywhere. She loved the Lord Jesus Christ with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength. She used her talents and resources to faithfully serve the Lord to the end of her life.

            Like Elisabeth Elliot and the three women mentioned in this Scripture passage, God has given all of us abilities and resources to serve him. It doesn’t matter whether you are male or female, rich or poor, educated or not—he wants us to use what he has given us to share God’s grace with the world. What gifts and resources has God given you? How are you using them in the service of the Lord?

            All of these women followed and served Jesus because they were transformed by his grace.  They personally experienced Jesus’ forgiveness and healing touch. That is what compelled them to give their lives to him and follow him. Have you experienced Jesus’ forgiveness and healing touch in your life? Have you given your life to him? Are you one of his followers?

 

            Well, obviously Jesus was not like any other king in human history—he never had a harem, he never abused his power, and he never sinned. He lived a perfect life and sacrificed himself for his people. As a matter of fact, he gave his own life on the cross to free all of us from our sins! I plead with you to put your faith in Jesus Christ today!

            A number of years ago I encountered the uncommon experience of conducting a wedding and a funeral on the same day. Although I was able to wear the same suit and tie to both events, the radical emotional swing was from one event to the other left my head spinning. On one hand, weddings and funerals share some key similarities: they both involve a large gathering of family and friends, formal dress, flowers, food, and a religious ritual at a church.

            But on the other hand, these occasions are polar opposites. A wedding is a celebratory ceremony where a man and woman pledge their love one another and commit to spending the rest of their lives together. The service is filled with bright smiles, loud applause, and tears of joy. It is usually includes a festive reception with lively music, vivacious dancing, cake-face smashing, and a lot of laughing. Weddings are almost always a ton of fun.

            A funeral is a sorrowful ceremony where people gather to honor the life and mourn the death of a loved one. The service is filled with gloomy frowns, quiet reflection, and tears of torment. It usually entails somber music, depressive demeanor, and not much laughing. Even with our modern attempts to make funerals a celebration, they are almost never fun.

            How many of you had “The Old Rugged Cross” played at your wedding? When was the last time you heard Bob Seeger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll” played at a funeral?” (Can’t you just picture the pall bearers strutting down the aisle and singing, “Just take those old records off the shelf, I’ll sit and listen to ‘em by myself.”) Yes, weddings and funerals have some similarities, but they are really different.

            The same is true about the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ—some similarities, but many differences. Even though they both experienced miraculous births, were raised in religious families, lived virtuous lives, were called by God to be prophets and preachers of the kingdom of God, and were persecuted and executed by the Jewish religious authorities, their manners and methods were polar opposites. While John the Baptist was fasting and teetotaling alone in the wilderness by the Jordan River, Jesus was feasting with sinners and replenishing the wine at the wedding in Cana. In today’s Scripture reading, Luke compares and contrasts the ministries of John and Jesus, and teaches us some lessons from both of them.

John Questions Jesus’ Ministry (18-23)

            John the Baptist’s style of ministry was straight-forward, bombastic, and in-your-face. He was a man’s man—he wore the rugged attire of camel’s hair and a leather belt (he wasn’t fond of skinny jeans) and lived on a diet of locusts and wild honey (the ancient equivalent of Slim Jim’s and trail mix). He had untamed eyes, a fiery posture, and brimstone in his throat. He didn’t mince words and he wasn’t afraid to tell it like it was. He was passionately outspoken about moral and spiritual corruption in the culture and he didn’t care about who he offended. His favorite sermon topics were “repentance” and “the wrath of God” and his favorite pastime was dunking people in the river.

            It was precisely this manner of ministry that landed John the Baptist behind bars. He preached one too many sermons against the hypocrisy of King Herod and the Jewish leadership. John accused the Pharisees and Sadducees of being a brood of slippery snakes and he publically called out King Herod for shacking up with his brother’s wife Herodias. Herod hated John for exposing his affair, and he had him shackled and imprisoned in his fortress.

            While John was incarcerated, he commissioned some of his disciples to carry on his ministry and to give him periodic reports about Jesus’ ministry. These disciples followed Jesus around and witnessed his teaching and all of the miracles he was performing, and they told John everything that the saw and heard.  At this point, John still wasn’t sure if Jesus was really the Messiah, so he sent his disciples to directly ask Jesus if he was “the one who was to come or if they should expect someone else.” (v.19)

            To modern Christians, it is somewhat surprising that John wasn’t fully convinced of Jesus’ identity yet, but then again, Jesus’ style of ministry challenged his expectations for the Messiah. John, like the rest of Israel, expected a Messiah who would grab the bull by the horns, become a great public figure, rally the troops, amass a great army, and lead the charge to liberate Israel from Roman oppression. He expected the Messiah to use his divine power to take the instant road to glory. But Jesus wasn’t doing any of these things. John’s broken expectations led to some feelings of doubt.

            The same thing still happens in our lives today. When Jesus isn’t the kind of Messiah that we want him to be, we often experience doubts about who he is. When he doesn’t meet our expectations, we wonder if he is really God. When he doesn’t answer our prayers or heal our bodies or deliver our personal desires, we often question his power or his love. When he doesn’t give us what we want, we sometimes doubt if he can do it or we struggle to understand why he would want to do it. Has Jesus ever broken your expectations? Has you disappointment with him ever caused you to doubt his true identity? 

            Well, even as John the Baptist’s disciples posed this question to Jesus about his identity, in that very hour Jesus was already engaged in the ministry of curing diseases, driving out demons, and restoring sight to the blind. This presented an object lesson for Jesus’ answer. He told them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (22-23)

            At first glance, it appears that Jesus danced around their question. While it is true that he did not explicitly say if he was the Messiah or not, he did answer their question. John the Baptist would have recognized that Jesus’ words came straight out of the Old Testament, from the messianic promises of Isaiah. By echoing these words, Jesus was giving John biblical and practical proof that he was the Christ. As he preached the gospel and performed miracles, Jesus was doing the very things the Bible promised that the Savior would do.

            The problem did not lie with Jesus’ ministry; the problem was John’s expectations. Jesus’ mission was not to bring political, military, or social salvation. Although he healed some people and even raised the dead, his primary mission was not to bring physical salvation. The mission of Jesus’ ministry was to bring spiritual salvation to the world. If Jesus’ primary mission had been political salvation, he would have become a lawyer, politician, or military commander. If his goal had been social salvation, he would have started a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or an orphanage. If his primary purpose had been physical restoration, he would have opened a hospital or medical clinic. But he didn’t do any of these things!

            Jesus’ mission went far beyond delivering people from the temporary oppressions of society. The primary purpose of his ministry was to deliver us from the greatest oppression of all—sin and death. He came to offer eternal life. His preaching and miracles were meant to set the stage for his greatest work of all—his death and resurrection! And blessed is the one who is not offended by Jesus’ true mission!

             You see, Jesus was warning John—and us—not to be offended by his saving work. Do not stumble over Jesus because he is not meeting your expectations, or because you are having spiritual doubts, or because you are disappointed with God. Do not get the wrong idea about Jesus, as John did. He is the one! If we try to find another savior, we won’t be saved at all. But if we accept Jesus and what he has done for us by dying on the cross and rising from the dead, he will bless us with everlasting salvation! Instead of getting disappointed with Jesus when he doesn’t meet our expectations, let us conform our expectations to who he really is and his plan for our lives! (Ryken 332)

 

Jesus Affirms John’s Ministry (24-28)

            Jesus said these things because he loved John and wanted to help him be more sure about his faith. He also wanted to make sure that people did not get the wrong idea about John. So, he goes on to validate John’s ministry in verses 24-30. He asks the crowds why they originally went to see John in the wilderness. It wasn’t because he told people what they wanted to hear. It wasn’t because he was making any fashion statements on the red carpet. It wasn’t because he was keeping up with the Kardashians. No, they went to see and hear him because he was a genuine prophet from God; something Israel hadn’t see for 400 years.

            Jesus went on to call John more than a prophet. He was the one who would be send ahead to prepare the way for the Messiah by preaching repentance and baptizing people. In verse 28, Jesus makes the staggering statement, “I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John.” Despite his strange clothing and crude style, Jesus ranks John as the greatest among mortal men. (Now that is what I call a ministry endorsement!)

            Isn’t it ironic how John doubted Jesus’ ministry and identity, but Jesus affirmed John’s identity and praised his ministry. One of the things this shows us is Jesus believes there are a lot of different ways and styles of doing ministry. Some people today prefer John’s loud prophetic in-your-face form of preaching; others prefer Jesus’ more didactic and story-telling model. Some people prefer John’s confrontational tell-it-like-is approach to evangelism; other people prefer Jesus’ more relational evangelistic methods. Some people like to sing the old hymns with the organ in church; others favor the contemporary worship songs led by screeching guitars and pounding drums.          

            All I can say is that, even though they had vastly different styles, God used John the Baptist and Jesus the Son to build the kingdom. Their methods were different, but their mission and message was the same. I hope you catch the lesson in here for us!

 

Responding to the Gospel (29-35)

            Regardless of the ministry style or method, people always have to respond to gospel of Jesus Christ. When some people, like the tax collectors, who heard the message of salvation—whether they had heard it earlier from John or later from Jesus—they accepted it by faith and declared that God was just. But there were other people, like the Pharisees and lawyers, who did not accept the good news, did not confess their sins, and did not receive John’s baptism for repentance, and therefore did not gain forgiveness.

            As Jesus expressed his frustration with those who rejected the gospel, he used an analogy from a popular childhood game and nursery rhyme. In those days, children loved to play weddings and funerals. These were common events, and it is not surprising that children imitated the rituals they saw. Sometimes they would play weddings, dancing around pretending to be brides and grooms. Sometimes they played funerals, singing sad songs and pretending to cry. But some children were bored with all of that. They didn’t want to play weddings and funerals. In fact, they didn’t want to play anything at all. So the other children would singsong the old taunt from the Jewish playground: “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge for you but you did not weep.” (32)

            Some people are never satisfied! Like little children, the Pharisees refused to play with John and Jesus. They would rather just sit around and criticize while everyone else is having fun.

            How easy it is to be critical about everything and everything. Some people are always finding fault. They say “God didn’t answer my prayer the way I wanted…the church is too judgmental…the pastor didn’t visit me…the preacher preached too long…the music is too loud…and so on!” It is just like children with crosses arms and smug faces saying, “I don’t want to play with those kids!” Remember, there are many ways to do ministry. Instead of finding fault, why not just sing along and join the dance!

            John the Baptists’ and Jesus’ ministry were as different as a wedding and a funeral, but both are used to accomplish God’s purposes.