LUKE 8:1-9 A LESSON IN FARMING?

A LESSON IN FARMING?

LUKE 8:1-9

Susan: I deferred to the gardener in our family for most of this lesson.

And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

Susie: The twelve disciples appointed by Jesus to be His Apostles, His special messengers, had left their homes and their jobs to travel with Jesus wherever He led them.

Susan: Jesus was not a doom and gloom preacher. He was a proclaimer of joy and deliverance through surrender to the King of kings in order to live as a free subject in the Kingdom of God.

Luke 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Susan: Although rabbis often had followers who left everything behind to shadow their teacher, it would have been highly unusual for a rabbi to have women as disciples. Jesus did have women disciples whether they were labeled as such or not. These women not only traveled with Jesus and the Apostles, but it is clear they were His chief financial supporters.

Susie: Mary was probably called Magdalene because she was from the town of Magdala. This was a thriving town whose primary industry was making dye and textiles. This may be how Mary Magdalene acquired the means to give financial support to Jesus. There is no reason to believe that she was the prostitute in the previous chapter. Otherwise, why would Luke wait to name her until after that account? The text does tell us that Jesus had cast seven demons out of Mary Magdalene. This obviously led her to believe in Him as the Messiah, trust Him, and become a disciple. Her gratitude must have been immense!

Susan: It was to Mary Magdalene that Jesus first appeared near the garden tomb after His resurrection from the dead. Jesus consistently elevated the status of women from being considered objects owned by men to being valued members of the Messianic community, the church.

Susie: Joanna, also healed by Jesus, was the wife of Chuza who managed Herod’s money. Her husband’s high position may be how she was able to contribute to the needs of Jesus and the disciples. Joanna is later seen mourning Jesus’s death at the tomb and subsequently heralding His resurrection. This verse is the only mention of Susanna in the Bible although she is the heroine of the Apocryphal work, The History of Susanna.

Susan: It is not clear how Jesus had ministered in the lives of Joanna and Susanna, whether He had delivered them from demons or healed a physical illness. Jesus’s ministry was tailor made toward the specific need of each woman, and now they were His devoted disciples. 

Luke 8:4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

American Dictionary of the English Language – Noah Webster 1828

parable - A fable or allegorical relation or representation of something real in life or nature, from which a moral is drawn for instruction; such as the parable of the trees choosing a king, Judges 9:1; the parable of the poor man and his lamb. 2 Samuel 12:1; the parable of the ten virgins, Matthew 25:1.

Susie: Why did Jesus use parables even though many in the crowd would not get the deeper message from them? Matthew’s gospel sheds some light on the reasons:

Matthew 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Matthew 13:34-35 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

Susan: Jesus referenced two Old Testament prophecies in the passage from Matthew:

Isaiah 6:9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

Psalm 78:2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

Luke 8:5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

Susie: The Parable of the Sower is more than a lesson in sowing seed, and we will get to its deeper meaning in the next lesson. For now, we will just explain the method used for sowing seed in the first century and the literal scenarios described by Jesus. There were no farming machines as we know them. Therefore, seed was tossed by hand into a plowed field. The first example Jesus gave was the seed that fell by the wayside. Along the edges of the plowed field would be a path that was trodden down until it was hard. The seed that fell there would not sink into the soil. Birds could easily swoop down and have lunch on these uncovered seeds.

Luke 8:6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

Susie: There would be rocky places at the edge of the fields or where the plow had missed an area. The seeds might sprout because of the thin coat of dirt on top of the rock, but there would be no dirt to hold moisture. Therefore, the sprouted plant would burn up under the hot sun, wither, and die.

Luke 8:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

Susie: When I think of thorns, I think of the insidious sticker weeds that infested my lawn. Their roots spread far and even wrapped themselves around the roots of the grass, cutting off its supply of moisture and nutrients. The bare places spread rapidly as the thorn plant took hold. What had been healthy grass was choked out, leaving a brown patch on the lawn.

Luke 8:8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Susie: The final example is the ideal situation for growing a crop. The soil has been tilled and freed of weeds enabling the seeds to take root and flourish, bearing a crop up to one hundred times as big as the amount of seed sown.

Susan: Jesus was not talking about whether or not they had the mechanism to hear. I’m sure His listeners had ears. Jesus was saying (Susan Renée paraphrase), “Are you listening? Pay attention! This is a principle you need to observe and obey. Your adherence to it will determine your success.”

Luke 8:9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

Susan: Unfortunately, even Jesus’s disciples did not have a clue about this parable, only questions.

Susie: We will see Jesus answer them in the next lesson.

Ponder this and Apply it: What roll did women play in the ministry of Jesus on earth? Would you say their role was less important than the Apostles? Or would you say that Jesus and the Apostles were enabled to focus their time on preaching the Kingdom of God because these women provided financial support and probably the practical support of preparing food and finding lodging? Did Jesus relegate women to lesser roles or elevate them in ways unthought of in the first century A.D.? Ponder how Christian women have influenced our world. If you are a Christian woman, write out what you believe the Lord would have you do in service to Him and the body of Christ this week. If you are a Christian man, take a moment to thank a woman who has influenced your walk with the Lord. 

LUKE 7:36-50 WOMAN CRASHES PHARISEE’S DINNER PARTY

WOMAN CRASHES

PHARISEE’S DINNER PARTY

LUKE 7:36-50

Luke 7:36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.

Susie: The Pharisees accused Jesus of eating with tax collectors and sinners, but this particular Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to dine at his house.

Susan: Note that Jesus did not call him a snob and refuse the invitation. Instead, the Lord sat down to eat with the Pharisee and his guests.

Susie: Since Jesus is omniscient (knows all things), He knew that Simon was probably not desiring to follow Him but rather to find some charge to bring against Him. Yet, Jesus chose to dine with Him.

Susan: Jesus was being as “wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove” (Matthew 10:16) by keeping His friends close and His enemies even closer.

Susie: Jesus was not really veering from His norm as He was definitely eating with a sinner (i.e. the Pharisee).

Luke 7:37-38 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Susan: The woman had either been following Jesus or had her ear to the ground, listening and watching for an opportunity to meet Him in order to acknowledge her sin and trust that He could forgive and cleanse her.

Susie: This is clearly a different occasion than the other times Jesus was anointed by a woman (Matt. 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9; John 12:2–8). This woman is not the sister of Lazarus who anointed Jesus in Bethany in the province of Judea and was a devoted follower of the Lord. This scene takes place in the province of Galilee, and the woman was most likely a prostitute. She worked up the courage to crash a Pharisee’s banquet to see Jesus.

Luke 7:39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

Susie: The Pharisee presumed that a true prophet could discern that this woman was a grave sinner who would render Him ceremonially unclean. Funny that he didn’t take the next step to realize that Jesus would also discern exactly what he was thinking!

Susan: The Pharisee deemed himself to be in the know, but he was, in reality, ignorant when it came to the topic of Jesus and sinners.

Luke 7:40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

Susie: Jesus had something to say to this Pharisee who we now know was named Simon. As I read this, I am thinking, “Go get him, Jesus!”

Susan: Since we cannot hear the tone the Pharisee used, we do not know if he was using proper etiquette by calling a rabbi, Master or whether he was using the title condescendingly.

Susie: Jesus proceeded to present a hypothetical situation for the Pharisee to consider.

Luke 7:41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

Susie: Most translations read “denarius” rather than “pence.” A single denarius was equal to a day’s wages for a laborer. Therefore, fifty denarii would have been a large debt, but five hundred denarii would have been an overwhelming debt.

Luke 7:42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

Susie: The one to whom these debts were owed, graciously forgave both debts. Jesus asked the Pharisee which debtor would love the man more.

Luke 7:43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

Susan: I’m not sure Simon understood at this point that Jesus was using this as an analogy for forgiveness of sin. He would not understand this because he did not understand why Jesus spent time with sinners in the first place.

Susie: The Pharisees did not understand that Jesus came to redeem sinners by dying on the cross. They, like many people in Israel, expected the Messiah to come as a conquering king to free them from the slavery of Roman rule.

Susan: However, Simon did comprehend that the one who had the greater debt forgiven would feel the greatest weight lifted from his life and be the most grateful.

Luke 7:44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

Susie: Jesus proceeds to compare the woman’s loving actions with the boorishness of the Pharisee. Washing a guest’s feet or having a servant do so was an expected courtesy, and to not perform this kindness would insult most guests.

Susan: Although Simon invited Jesus to dinner, he did not follow the expected protocol of a host to the dinner guest. He did not observe or even think of observing the common courtesy of having a guest’s sandals removed to wash his dusty, weary feet. The woman, however, was courteous and washed His feet, not with water, but with her own tears of repentance. Then she dried them with her hair.

Luke 7:45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

Susie: In the culture of first century Israel, friends greeted one another with a kiss on the cheek. This is still done in many Middle Eastern countries today. The Apostle Paul referred to this custom, elevating it to a loving greeting in the Messianic community, those who trusted in Jesus:

Romans 16:16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

1 Corinthians 16:20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.

2 Corinthians 13:12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.

1 Thessalonians 5:26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.

Susan: Simon did not approach Jesus with the accoutrement of hospitality afforded a friend, let alone an important guest.

Susie: The “sinner,” not daring to elevate herself to His eye level, kissed His feet over and over. At this point, He has not addressed her directly, but she is confident in His love toward her.

Susan: The woman was probably overwhelmed to be in the presence of Jesus. She was burdened by her sin for so long that seeing the possibility, forgiveness, and freedom, she is completely in awe and unable to express it in words.

Susie: Her actions, her deeds of worship spoke volumes. She humbled herself before the Lord in a position of complete trust in Him.

Luke 7:46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

Susie: An important guest would often be anointed with common olive oil to soothe his head after a journey in the hot climate of the area. This woman anointed Jesus with costly perfumed oil as befitting a King. The Pharisee had ignored this custom completely.

Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

Susan: The woman knew from Jesus’s reputation that Jesus preached and proclaimed forgiveness of sin. Therefore, she presented herself in humility to Jesus anticipating that her sins would be forgiven.

Susie: Her actions were the result of that faith, demonstrating the love she had for Jesus. He forgave her without condition. Her devotion did not earn this forgiveness but, rather, was an expression of her gratitude in being forgiven.

Luke 7:48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

Susan: Jesus declared with His words what the woman had already experienced in her heart. He broke her chains, the bondage of her sin.

Susie: I believe He proclaimed her forgiveness aloud for the benefit of Simon and the others at the dinner. He was making the point of the parable that because she was forgiven much, she loved much.

Susan: The woman was a tangible object lesson of forgiveness.

Luke 7:49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

Susie: Totally missing the purpose of the parable and the forgiveness of the sinner, the others began to judge whether Jesus had the authority to forgive her. We are back to square one that this Pharisee was probably seeking a way to accuse Jesus of wrong doing.

Susan: It appears the hearts of the other guests were totally unmoved by this act of God’s phenomenal grace.

Susie: Nor did they pick up on the fact that the debtor who owed 50 denarii was equally in need of having his debt forgiven. They still did not view themselves as sinful at all.

Luke 7:50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Susan: Once again, Jesus reiterated that her faith, her trust in Him caused her to have a heart change and be released from the bonds of her sin. Her faith enabled her to change masters from Satan to Jesus.

Susie: He released her with the words, “Go in peace,” which had a sense of wholeness and wellness.

Ponder this and Apply it: Do you ever find yourself comparing your actions to those of others and thinking you are better than them? Remember Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” As with the two debtors, one may have had a greater amount of debt, but neither could have paid what they owed. Even a small amount of sin is repugnant to our Holy God. I like the illustration that if you are making an omelet and crack a rotten egg into the bowl, you do not proceed. Instead you toss out the entire bowl of eggs and start over. Or as the Apostle Paul wrote, “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:6-7). Leaven was symbolic of sin. Right now, if you have never trusted Jesus, ponder the fact that no one can be completely perfect or right with God by doing good deeds, Romans 3:10: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” Do not fret because there is hope. Jesus died on the cross to pay the debt of your sin. God raised Him from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion. Jesus is alive and offers you the free gift of forgiveness if by faith, you place your trust in Him and surrender to His will. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Pray, talk to God, acknowledging that you are a sinner and need forgiveness. Trust that He will give you a fresh, new life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” If you would like to talk with us about turning your life around by the power of Jesus, please click on the Contact/Prayer/Donate tab and send us an email.

Luke 7:24-35 JESUS VALIDATES JOHN

JESUS VALIDATES JOHN

Luke 7:24-35

Luke 7:24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously appareled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.

Susie: Jesus is setting the scene of John’s ministry to demonstrate to the crowd that they did not go out to the Jordan river to vacation on the shore watching the reeds in the water sway back and forth. They certainly did not travel to see John because of his fancy clothing and excellent cuisine. John wore camel’s hair with a leather belt, and probably looked more like a homeless man than a messenger of God. He ate locusts and wild honey.

Susan: Yuck! Yuck! Yuck! Not the way I want to get my protein.

Susie: My mom once ate chocolate covered ants! But, I’m getting off track.

Luke 7:26-27 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Susan: John the Baptizer was not recognized by the religious elite as he should have been, but he was seen as a prophet by the common people. Those who recognized themselves as sinners understood his message of turning from sin toward God and being baptized to symbolize being washed clean of their sin.

Susie: The religious leaders were too concerned about where he received his theological training and did not see themselves as sinners in need of repentance. They were “holier-than-thou” types.

Susan: Jesus underscored that John was not just a run of the mill prophet. Instead, he was the forerunner to the Messiah as the prophet had foretold:

Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

Luke 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Susan: We puzzled over the statement in Luke 7:28, but the following helped us out:

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series as found at www.biblegateway.com

Jesus is indicating how great the difference is between the old era of the prophets of promise and the new era of the kingdom tied to Jesus. The greatest of the old era cannot touch the position of the lowest in the new! How great it is to share in the blessing Jesus brings. Even prophets sit at the feet of those who share in the blessing of the kingdom.

Susan: The prophets were blessed to foretell and look forward to the coming of the Messiah, but those of us on this side of the cross have the incomparable privilege of seeing what they hoped for come to life.

Luke 7:29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

Susie: “Justified God” is awkward for those of us who speak modern English. Let’s look at this in the Amplified Classic:

Luke 7:29 (AMPC) And all the people who heard Him, even the tax collectors, acknowledged the justice of God [in calling them to repentance and in pronouncing future wrath on the impenitent], being baptized with the baptism of John.

Susan: Those who had been baptized by John acknowledged that they needed to repent because God was the only just Judge of sin.

Luke 7:30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

Susie: The Pharisees and lawyers had not been baptized by John and had not acknowledged their need to repent. They thought they were right with God by observing the letter of the law even though the spirit of God’s love was not in them. They did not see their sin of pride or any of their other sins. Therefore, they felt no need for repentance. This was a rejection of God’s wisdom and judgment.

Luke 7:31-32 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

Susie: Jesus is calling the religious leaders spoiled children who cannot be pleased. He explains the analogy in the next two verses.

Luke 7:33-34 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

Susan: John the Baptist led a rigid, austere, and serious life, and fasted and prayed on a regular basis. However, the Pharisees had rejected him. Jesus celebrated life and enjoyed relationships with all types of people, and the Pharisees rejected Him for not being more like John!

Luke 7:35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.

Susan: Those truly serving God will demonstrate their faith by good fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) and actualizing the character of the Lord.

Susie: It is not whether one lives as an introverted ascetic or an extreme extrovert that proves one’s relationship with God. It is by the works produced by the power of the Holy Spirit living within the believer (James 2:14-17).

Ponder this and Apply it: The people who should have been watching for the signs of the Messiah and seeing how Jesus fulfilled prophecies—the Pharisees, Priests, and Scribes—failed to recognize the long awaited One. The common people recognized themselves as sinners and saw their need of redemption and the validation of the miracles Jesus performed. It is easy for us to look back and think we would have known Jesus right off the bat. But would we? Or would we have let our pride get in the way of listening to a wild man prophet telling us another man was the Lamb of God? Would we have thought the itinerate preacher who had no home of His own was a crazy person, or would we have listened and believed? It is difficult to be honest with ourselves. Are you now thinking of yourself as better than others or less in need of salvation? Take a closer look in the mirror and thank the Lord for all He has done for you!

James 1:22-25 (Phillips) Have done, then, with impurity and every other evil which touches the lives of others, and humbly accept the message that God has sown in your hearts, and which can save your souls. Don’t I beg you, only hear the message, but put it into practice; otherwise you are merely deluding yourselves. The man who simply hears and does nothing about it is like a man catching the reflection of his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, it is true, but he goes on with whatever he was doing without the slightest recollection of what sort of person he saw in the mirror. But the man who looks into the perfect mirror of God’s law, the law of liberty (or freedom), and makes a habit of so doing, is not the man who sees and forgets. He puts that law into practice and he wins true happiness.

Luke 7:18-23 JOHN’S CONCERNS CURED BY CHRIST

JOHN’S CONCERNS

CURED BY CHRIST

Luke 7:18-23

(See also Matthew 11:3-11)

Jesus had healed the centurion’s servant who was near death without even being in the house. Then He raised a widow’s only son from death on the way to the funeral.

Luke 7:18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.

Susie: Apparently John the Baptist was keeping tabs on the ministry of Jesus via his disciples. They reported these incidents of healing and even bringing someone back to life to John who was in prison at the time.

Luke 7:19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

Susan: John the Baptist, in prison at the time, sent two of his trusted students to inquire of Jesus whether He was the Messiah as John had proclaimed Him to be or they should continue searching for someone else. Should they begin a new quest to find the Anointed One, the Son of God?

Susie: John was not being wishy-washy or having severe doubts. Rather, the current events with himself in prison and Jesus being persecuted and doubted caused him to need confirmation from Jesus Himself. Therefore, Jesus did a demonstration of His power in the presence of John’s students (disciples).

Susan: Jesus probably realized that words alone would be inadequate to comfort or convince John the Baptist.

Luke 7:21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

Susan: At that very hour, while John’s disciples stood by observing the miraculous, Jesus delivered several people from demon possession, healed diseases, and returned sight to blind people.

Susie: Now the two disciples of John could report that they had not only heard about Jesus’s miracles but had witnessed them with their own eyes.

Luke 7:22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

Susan: Jesus told John’s disciples to give him an affirmative report that He was fulfilling Messianic prophecies by working the miracles they had seen and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Isaiah 35:5-6 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. . .

Susie: John the Baptist would recognize the Old Testament prophecies that were coming to life in the ministry of his relative, Jesus, and would be at peace that He was indeed the Messiah.

Luke 7:23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Susan: This was not a rebuke for John’s questions but rather an assurance and authentication that his belief and trust in Jesus as the Son of God brought blessing upon him despite his earthly circumstance of being imprisoned by Herod.

Ponder this and Apply it: We can take comfort in the fact that even John the Baptist, Thomas, Peter, and others sometimes had unanswered questions they could not wrap their brains around. Jesus made a point to “prove” Himself to them in various ways. We are blessed to have the written record of their struggles to comfort us in our own and testify to the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. If you are struggling with doubt, look up “Assurance” in a good study Bible and read the verses listed. Talk with someone you respect as having walked faithfully with the Lord for many years and listen to his/her counsel.

Luke 7:11-17 CORPSE COMES TO LIFE AND CONVERSES

Luke 7:11-17

CORPSE COMES TO LIFE

AND CONVERSES

Luke 7:11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

Susie: Once again Luke documents when and where this event occurred. Nain was a city southeast of Nazareth where Jesus had been raised. Along with His faithful disciples, Jesus was followed by a large crowd. Luke is reminding us that this incident was not in secret but in front of many witnesses.

Luke 7:12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

Susie: Luke gives us the detail that the man who died was the only son of his widowed mother. Why is that significant?

Susan: Without her son, the widow would be destitute, probably reduced to begging in the streets because there would be no means of support for her.

Susie: In addition to the group accompanying Jesus, the grieving mother had an entourage of her own, meaning more people would be witnesses to what was about to happen.

Luke 7:13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

Susan: When the Lord laid eyes on the widow, He immediately had empathy for her and said, “Don’t cry.”

Susie: Compassion is a consistent character trait of our great God.

Psalm 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Psalm 68:5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

Susie: As the followers of Jesus, we should be like Him. We, too, should be known for our compassion:

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Luke 7:14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

Susie: Touching a dead body or even the coffin was a defiling act that would render a person “unclean” until certain rituals were performed. Jesus had no fear of what touching the dead would do to Him because He knew what He would do to death!

      

Susan: The funeral procession stood at attention awaiting what Jesus would say and do. Jesus fearlessly, without reservation of the defilement of death, touched the coffin, and commanded the young man to get up.

Susie: I’m sure those words peaked the interest of the crowd!

Luke 7:15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

Susan: The young man on the way to his own burial, sat up in the coffin and began talking.

Susie: I wonder what he said?

Susan: We don’t know. Jesus then presented the young man restored completely whole to his mother. I wonder what emotions coursed through her mind?

Susie: Relief, shock, gratitude? God had a thing for taking care of people whose only child had died.

1 Kings 17:23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.

Luke 8:41-42, 54-55 And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. . . And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

Luke 7:16-17 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

Susie: We preferred reading these two verses in the Complete Jewish Bible:

Luke 7:16-17 (CJB) They were all filled with awe and gave glory to God, saying, “A great prophet has appeared among us,” and, “God has come to help his people.”  This report about him spread throughout all Y’hudah and the surrounding countryside.

Susie: Imagine being in the crowd and seeing a dead man rise up and talk! They were amazed, probably speechless for a moment or two. Then they called Jesus a “great prophet” and exclaimed that God was visiting His people.

Susan: They were not wrong in referring to Jesus as a prophet. However, He was much greater than this—He was God in the flesh (John 1:14).

Susie: The news of this miracle and other works of Jesus spread like wildfire, not only in the small town of Nain but throughout the province of Judea and the countryside nearby.

Ponder this and Apply it: Jesus demonstrated compassion by raising the widow’s son to continue providing for her. We are to be compassionate toward people in need that God places in our paths. Over and over, Jesus demonstrated that He has authority over sickness and even death. We can be confident that nothing can ever separate us from His love because He conquered death and the grave and now sits at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf: Romans 8:34, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Tackle life with confidence that God is in control and is on your side:

Romans 8:31-32 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?