BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 26

Man Who Are You?

Luke 9:46-62

Like most of you throughout my career I have had my share of performance evaluations.  Of all the things I had to do they were the part of my job I disliked the most.  It was the practice at the International Mission Board where I worked for twenty six years to start the process by having each person evaluate himself.  I never liked to do that.  It seemed to me that one either built him or herself up or he or she put themselves down. There never ever seemed to be a middle ground. There was one part of the review that I always joked about.  It read something like, “Confused and barely able to function.”  I want to know who in his right mind would put that down as to how well he had done in his position during the year. Although, I tried to be honest I can assure you that I was not about to put myself in that category.

I sometimes wonder what my performance review looks like in the light of God’s standards.  How do I stack up in His eyes? I know that my failures would definitely keep me out of the excellent category.  Many times I have told others that I do not have to worry about having a big ego for just as sure as I do something well today I am going to mess up tomorrow.  Thankfully, He has already taken care of my job evaluation.  He did that on the cross.  My responsibility has become to love Him and in that loving to serve Him out of thanksgiving.

When we consider the qualities that make a church what it is what are they?  All too often we determine how we are doing by:

• The number of people that show up on a Sunday morning.
• The size of our budget
• The number of programs we have going
• The number of activities taking place in the building.

What we forget God is not looking at those things, even though all of them may be good, to evaluate us.  He desires not busyness but transformed lives.  The things mentioned above may cause us to be puffed up and proud, neither of which mean anything in the grand scheme of eternity.  If we are not about the business of making disciples and seeing lives transformed God may look at us and say that the church is confused and barely able to function.  We must learn to get our priorities straight.  After all, the church is about people not organizational stuff.

Today we could set down with a check list and see how the people involved were doing.  In light of all that we have seen in the last two weeks, the question becomes why did the disciples and others still did not get why Jesus came.

 Luke 9:46

It is amazing that even after the disciples should have understood how weak they were without Jesus they would be having the conversation seen in this verse.  What were their short-comings?

• Inability to provide food for the five thousand even when Jesus had commanded them to do so.
• They were commanded to act as waiters and distribute the bread and fish from the hand of Jesus.
• Peter’s desire to stay on the mountain so they would not have to deal with everyday issues.
• Peter wanted to keep Jesus from fulfilling the purpose for which He had come.
• Failure on the part of the other disciples to bring healing to the demon possessed boy.
• The disciples were bewildered by the talk of Jesus about His impending death.

They seemed to have completely forgotten how dependent they were on Jesus.  Now they were not carrying on a discussion but an argument about who was the greatest among them.  From a totally human perspective Peter, James and John may have had the greater amount of evidence for their point of view because they were the inner circle that Jesus always chose to be with Him for the important events.  They did not comprehend that it was an honor and not a privilege that they had been given.

1. In what ways did the disciples show that they were insufficient without Jesus?
2. Why were they having the discussion at all?  (They still did not understand that Jesus was not going to establish an earthly kingdom)
3. Why would Peter, James and John think they had an inside track to be the greatest among them?
4. What had Jesus done for the three? (Given them the honor of being close to Him?
5. What would this mean that He would require of them? (He who is given much more will be required of him.)
6. What is the problem when we compare ourselves to others?

Luke 9:47-48

Jesus knew that their argument was truly reflective of what was in their hearts.  Each had already elevated himself above the others. To help them understand their true positions in this world He took a small child and placed him next to Him in the place of honor. In that society a child had no standing whatever. They were the weak, helpless and dependent members of the community. Each of them expected that place to be reserved for them.  Jesus always had a way of turning standard convention on its head.    Having stood the child next to Him, He then spoke to the disciples.  He used two parallel thoughts to describe how the disciples were to view themselves and others.  To be a part of His kingdom work they had:

• To receive the hopeless, helpless and dependent in order to truly have a relationship with Jesus.
• To secondly understand that having that connection to the Son was to become God’s children.

The one who understand that he was to serve rather than be served would be considered great in the kingdom of God. The least is always the greatest in the mind of Christ.

1. Why did Jesus not speak directly to them at first? (They had not heard other things He had said.  They still did not understand what to be a part of His kingdom meant.)
2. Why did Jesus have a small child stand next to Him? (Sometimes a picture takes the place of many words spoken by not heeded.)
3. Why use a small child to emphasize His point? (To show that it is those who are helpless within themselves are those who are willing to hear and respond to Him.)
4. What are the two relationships that are important in every person’s life?
5. Why must we come to Jesus as a child? (Under any other circumstances it would be on our own terms.  We must realize that we truly are helpless without Him.)

Luke 9:49-50

John had taken it upon himself to discourage those who were ministering to others who were not part of their little group.  It was almost like he believed that the disciples had a license determining who or who could not carry on the teaching and healing ministry.  Jesus would have no part in that kind of thinking.  John was informed that everyone who is willing to serve Jesus was an ally and not an enemy.

1. What kind of attitude was John exhibiting?
2. In what ways do we do the same thing today? (We belong to the right church that does things correctly.)
3. What does Jesus think of such an attitude?
4. How can we make sure that we do not have that kind of mindset? (Do what God calls us to do.)
5. In what ways do we often discourage others?
6. Why do you think we have so many denominations and splinter groups today?

Luke 9:51

All of the above occurred in Capernaum.  Now it was time for Jesus to head toward Jerusalem.  Luke wrote that He was determined to go.  Other translations speak of His setting His face. It is interesting that Luke did not refer to all that was to take place during what is called “Passion Week” but spoke of His ascension.   It would be the culminating event of His time on earth.  Of course the ascension was proof of all of the things that took place before it.  It would not have happened if Jesus had not risen from the dead.    

His focus was now on His impending trial, execution, burial and resurrection.  His plans were to go directly through Samaria instead of the detour on the eastern side of the Jordan River.

1. What shows the determination of Jesus to face what was ahead of Him?
2. Why did Luke leave out the events of “Passion Week” and speak of Jesus’ ascension?
3. What do we know of His plans?
4. Why did He feel it was necessary to go through Samaria? (Shortest route to Jerusalem?
5. When have been incidences in your own life when you knew that God was calling to you to do something and you determined that with His help that nothing was going to stop you?
6. How do we know when an action to be taken is actually from God and just not something we want to do?

Luke 9:51-53

As mentioned above Jesus had decided to travel through Samaria.  He sent some of His disciples ahead of Him to make arrangements for lodging.  When the Samarians understood that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem they refused to provide housing for Him.  This was their way of discouraging those on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem from going through their territory.  There is not time to go into all the history of why the Jews and Samarians hated each other.  Suffice it to say that the animosity towards each other played a part in their inhospitable treatment of Jesus.

1. Why did Jesus decide to go through Samaria?
2. What opportunities did they miss by refusing Him lodging? (They may have heard the good news of the kingdom and received healing to body and spirit)
3. Why did they refuse to provide housing for Him? (He was on His way to Jerusalem and the fact that He was a hated Jew.)
4. What are the barriers that we erect to separate us from people?
5. How do we truly make people feel when they come into the church?
6. How do we treat our neighbors?
7. In what ways might they see us as arrogant?

Luke 9:54

Once again John along with his brother lived up to the name given to them.  They indeed acted like the “Sons of Thunder” or in the Greek Boanerges.  They asked Jesus if He wanted them to bring about revenge on the people for the way they had treated Him.  Their judgment was to call down fire from heaven to destroy them.  In their words is seen the hatred for others who were not Jews boiling up to the surface.  It was a true indication of the deep bias they held towards those who did not agree with them or who were different.  People like the children and Samaritans were expendable because they had no value in society according to what the Jews believed about them.

1. What was the obvious reason James and John wanted to bring down the wrath of God on the people?
2. How did their words reflect the name given to them by Jesus?
3. What was the true and underlying reason they believed it was okay to bring judgment on the Samaritans?
4. Why would James and John believe those people were expendable?
5. Who are those we believe are expendable and of no use to society?
6. How do we think we have the right to make that kind of judgment call?
7. How does our attitude toward others reflect on the testimony of the church?

 Luke 9:55-56

It is apparent that Jesus turned from His journey to be face to face with James and John.  Looking them squarely in the eyes He indicated that their heart was not right.  To be filled with the kind of hatred that would allow them to destroy others was in total opposition to what Jesus had been teaching them.  He clearly stated that His purpose was always to save mankind not to hate and destroy others.  Instead of forcing the issue they went toward Jerusalem by another route.

1. How did Jesus respond to the two men? (He turned towards them.)
2. What did Jesus think of the attitude of the heart that they obviously possessed?
3. For what purpose did Jesus come to earth?
4. How are we to respond to the words He spoke to disciples?
5. Which attitude do you have, that of man with all of its prejudices and biases or the one Jesus always live out during His time on earth?
6. How can we change not only our lives but others also?

Luke 9:57-62

Jesus met three different men on His journey.  Their response to Him showed the shallowness of their desire to follow Him. 

• Man number one actually asked Jesus if he could become one of His followers.  Evidently, Jesus saw through the man’s request.  He may have wanted to follow Him because of the popularity of Jesus at that point.  Jesus pointedly let him know that to follow Him meant he would have to give away everything because Jesus had nothing of material value not even a roof over His head.
• The second man was approached by Jesus.  He stated he wanted to follow Jesus but he would do so after he had taken care of his family.  It was a delay tactic because most commentators believe that his parents were not actually dead or even close to death. Jesus plainly told him that the decision to follow Him was not something to be put off.  If the man was going to follow it had to be now.  Those at home who refused to come after Him would take care of the needs of his parents when the time came to do so.
• The last man came to Jesus and indicated that he would follow Him.  He too came up with an excuse which was nothing more than a delaying tactic.  He wanted to go back and tell everyone that he was going.  The following remark showed that the man lacked the commitment to actually follow through on his decision.  Jesus’ words are for every man and woman who has ever made a decision. 

He told the man that, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is not fit for the kingdom of God.” It is clear that He was calling the man to complete and total commitment.  It is easy to say that one believes in Jesus.  It is the evidence of living for Him that shows if one is fit for the kingdom.

1. Based on the response of Jesus what do you think was man’s motive for wanting to follow Jesus? (He wanted to be part of a popular movement.)
2. What was be implied by Jesus’ words? (If the man expected a worldly kingdom he would be greatly disappointed.)
3. In what ways were the excuses of the last two men similar? (They wanted to put off having to make a commitment.)
4. How were they different? (The family of the second man was no where near the point of death.  His decision was basically saying I do not plan to follow You at all.  The last man at least only wanted to take his time in making the decision.)
5. What was Jesus looking for in the three men? (An immediate decision that signified a long term commitment.  The disciples had made such a choice.)
6. What are the excuses that we use to keep from making a decision to follow and serve Jesus?
7. What did Jesus mean by His statement about putting the hand to the plow?

• Pray for true humility.
• Understand that true humility is emptying of oneself and acknowledging as creator and Lord of your life.
• Do not be like James and John who considered themselves as having the right to judge and inflict justice on others.
• Have the heart of a child who is completely dependent on Jesus.
• Do not make excuses to keep from serving Christ. Remember He has gifted you to serve.
• Decide to make a lifelong commitment to follow Christ.

Let us take to heart the things that Jesus shared with His disciples and those who might potentially follow Him.  Our hearts are to be like that like a child.  They are helpless as we are with Christ.  We are not to be in competition with other churches and believers. We are all here to do one thing to make Christ known to the world. Finally, He is calling out to all of us giving us the opportunity to be a part of His kingdom. We are never to make excuses that the task of sharing the good news is too big for us.  Remember with God nothing is impossible.

Lesson 25

From Mountain Top to Reality

Luke 9:28-45

I cannot remember the number of retreats and conferences I have attended over the years.  The one thing that I do remember is that the ideas shared or the experience itself pumped me up for a short time. It did no matter whether it was as a youth leader on a retreat or just a participant in a training session I came away with the desire to make changes in my life or in the organization that sent me.  Sadly all too often just the opposite happens.  It really makes no difference whether it is a youth or an adult that feeling soon goes away as we get involved once again in the day to day activities.

I would like to believe that there is one experience that can be viewed as a defining moment.  Hopefully the cumulative effect of all those mountain top experiences has made me a better person.  The chances of that happening may not have occurred, if I had not been given the opportunity to be there in the first place.  I have seen in my lifetime that such occasions do alter lives of people.  Although a change may take place in one’s life it takes time before the evidence becomes obvious. Many of the young people with whom I was involved many years ago still talk about what brought them together for that special time where they met God. Sadly, there have also been those who heard the same message I and others heard and have drifted away from the church.  Somehow all the effort was not able to break through the barriers they put up to the gospel.

Since the church is made up of individuals the results in the lives of each of them is only multiplied by the number of people in a church setting.  For almost two hundred years the word revival has been used to speak of a coming together to hear the gospel preached and to repent of our sins.  If we look at the landscape today we have to wonder what happened to all those who came out of those meetings ready to change society for the better.  Usually within weeks it is business as usual. 

The devil, I am afraid has done a good job at diverting our attention away from what is important to the things of the world. He has brought about wars and economic calamities to take our focus off what God wants to do in our lives. In last week’s lesson Jesus asked, “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world and, loses or forfeits himself?” (Luke 9:25)

Continuing from last week we will see that the disciples still had much to learn about the real mission of God.  It was important that they learn those lessons well because it would not be many day in the future when they were going to have to deal with real life situations without the physical presence, protection and leadership of Jesus.

Luke 9:28-29

There was a period of eight days following the discourse about His identity of which nothing is written in any of the gospels.  He may have used this time to further explain to His disciples what was going to take place in the days to come.  At the end of that time He decided to seek a time of solitude when He could pray.  He took with Him His inner circle of disciples, Peter, James and John with Him.  It was important for them to see Him in a time of prayer.  They would need to follow His example of seeking God’s will in the days ahead. Jesus never did anything without seeking His Father’s approval.

1. Why are the writers silent about the eight day period?  (It was a private time just for the disciples.  He may even have again reviewed what had just been said.)
2. Why did He decide to get away for a time of prayer?
3. What does His example say to us?
4. Why did He take Peter, James and John with Him?

Luke 9:29

There is not another example in all of the other times that Jesus prayed that such a total transformation took place in His appearance.  Up until this point His attention was on the people.  Now it turned to what was going to occur with weeks of His experience on Mount Hermon.  Matthew and Mark wrote that He was transfigured.  G. Campbell Morgan in his book, “The Gospel According to Luke” described using the term metamorphosed.  Jesus’ appearance was completely altered in the same way that a caterpillar becomes a butterfly.  Luke wrote that His appearance became different and His clothes began to glisten. Theologians differ about what was taking place.  Some think that Jesus appeared as He did in His pre-incarnation body. Others view it as a picture of His manifestation of His sinless life.  Whichever it was, it definitely was a sign of what was about to take place.

1. Why was the result of His praying different than previous times? (He was preparing for the events ahead of Him.) 
2. What does metamorphose mean?
3. How does it apply here? (His appearance was completely changed.)
4. In what way does give us a picture of those coming to Christ? (We are to be changed from our old way of life and become a new creation.)

Luke 9:30-31

Besides the change in appearance something else happened. Two men appeared. As Luke wrote they were there to speak to Jesus about His impending departure. Most theologians believe they were there to encourage Him and to indicate to Him that He was carrying out God’s purpose for His life.  There could have been no better representation than Moses and Elijah to bring the news to Jesus.  Moses had brought God’s law to the Israelites.  He spoke for all those who had died under the law and would be raised again at Christ second coming.  Elijah was believed to be the greatest prophet by the Jews. He was considered the reformer of Israel. (See 1 Kings 18:21-40)

1. Why did God send Moses and Elijah to speak to Jesus?
2. What news would they have brought to Him?
3. Why were these two men among all the men of history sent to Him?
4. Who did each of them represent?
5. How did this cover the whole span of history?
6. What does this say about us? (There has never been a time in history when man was not under the watchful eye of God.)

Luke 9:32

While all the conversation was taking place the disciples were in an all too familiar position.  They had been overcome with sleep. Suddenly they awoke and were able to get a glimpse of the Jesus in His glory and the two men who were with him.

1. How would the disciples fail to give Jesus the companionship He needed?
2. What would cause the men to fall asleep?
3. How do we disappoint Jesus with the things we do?
4. In what ways are we like the disciples?
5. How often do we miss opportunities to serve God because of our apathy, lethargy etc.?
6. How did their fatigue play into the plan of God? (Jesus had time to talk with Moses and Elijah who understood what was coming.)
7. What did they miss? (An opportunity to hear God’s plan.)

Luke 9:33

Having finished with their business Moses and Elijah were getting ready to depart.  As usual Peter seized the moment to say something.  Both Luke and Mark indicated that he spoke because of fear and not really knowing what to say.  (See Mark 9:6) If a person does not have something to say he should remain silent.  Peter suggested that the disciples were there so that they could build three places of worship one for Jesus and one each for Moses and Elijah.  What he seemed to be saying was that as long as they stayed on Mt. Hermon Jesus would not face the death about which He had spoken.  They could just remain there and worship God continually.  It might also have been an indication of wanting to keep this experience all for himself and the two others.

1. Why were Elijah and Moses leaving?
2. What did the disciples do at that moment? (They woke up in time to see the two men leaving.)
3. What do you think of Peter’s comments?
4. Why did he along with the help of the other two disciples want to build tabernacles?
5. How would that once again work against God’s plan?
6. In what ways was Peter’s comments selfish?

Luke 9:34-35

God cut off Peter’s thoughts immediately.  Jesus said nothing. A cloud then formed and covered them.  They then became terrified.  As He had done so many times before, God spoke from the cloud.  He emphatically let them know that Jesus was His Son and His chosen One.  Instead of making their own plans they were to listen to what Jesus had to say.  Jesus had said He was going to suffer.  The holy men had confirmed it, which the disciples would have heard if they had been awake.

1. Why did God not allow Peter continue with his dialogue?
2. Why did Jesus not say anything? (His Father was going to do the talking for Him.  The disciples had not listened to Jesus so maybe they would listen to God.)
3. How did God describe Jesus?
4. What did this indicate to the disciples? (His deity)
5. What was the thing that God wanted to hear from the Son? (The thing they had not understood before.)

Luke 9:36

God finished what He had to say.  When they looked up the only person who was still there was Jesus.  In Mark Jesus warned them not to tell anyone what had just occurred on the mountain. Luke said they kept silent and did not tell anyone.  This was part of the plan of Jesus to have the events play out according the timing of God. If the people knew what had occurred they would have once again tried to change history.

1. Why did God leave them at that time? (It was time to leave the Mountain.)
2. Why was it important for Jesus to come to them? (To comfort them.)
3. Why did He not want them to tell of the incident on the Mountain?
4. How different was His command to them than us today?
5. What is the difference?

Luke 9: 37-39

Among those who came to Jesus as He and the others came down from the mountain was a man in desperate need.  After the experience on the mountain, Jesus came back down to face the real life situations of the people for whom He came to die. His work was still not complete. He approached Jesus begging Him to help his son.  He described in detail what was wrong.  The evil spirit that possessed him would:

• Seizes him
• Screams
• Throws him into convulsions
• Causes him to foam at the mouth
• Upon leaving him it would maul him.

In his mind the worse injustice was the fact that he had brought his son to the disciples who had been left behind to heal him.  They were unable to do for the man as he had requested.

1. Why were the people waiting for Jesus when He returned?
2. How difficult is it for you to once again face real life situations after having had a mountain top experience?
3. Why did the man give Jesus such a complete description of his son’s predicament? (He was desperate.  Since the failure of His disciples he wanted Jesus to know what he was up against.)
4. After the failure of the disciples what did he expect Jesus to do?
5. When people who are supposed to be strong Christians fail you what does that do to your faith?

Luke 9:41

Then turning to the people but most certainly for His disciples, He had some pretty strong words for all of them.  He really wanted to know how long would it take for them to come to the point that they truly believe.  In His description they were called a perverse people.  Like their forefathers they were a clueless, hardheaded and obstinate people.  He had to wonder what it would take for them to get over that condition.

1. Why did He speak in such harsh terms to the people?
2. What did He mean by calling them unbelieving?
3. In what way was the description of perversion accurate for them?  (They saw only what they wanted to see and receive what benefited them.)
4. In what ways do we show that the same characteristics would truly depict who we are?
5. Why did Jesus put up with people who He described in that way?
6. Why does He put up with us?

Luke 9:42

Having said those words, He turned his attention once again to the man.  He commanded that the boy be brought to Him.  In Mark Jesus wanted to know if the man believed He could do what he had asked.  There is a powerful statement found there.  After having been disappointed by the disciples He still believed that Jesus could heal his son, but if there was any doubt lingering within him, he wanted Jesus to remove it. (See Mark 9:24)

1. What did Jesus command the man to do?
2. After His strong statement to the people what did His actions show? (He deeply cared for them.)
3. What are the important details found in Mark 9 that Luke leaves out?
4. What do we see in the man’s reaction to the words of Jesus?
5. How did Jesus answer the doubts of all the people? (Nothing is impossible with God.)

Luke 9:42-43

The demon did not give up easily.  Even as the boy was being brought to Jesus he once again attacked him.  Jesus rebuked the demon who had no choice but to leave the boy alive and well.  He was returned to his father whole. The reaction of the people confirmed the words of Jesus when He called them an unbelieving and perverse generation.  They had just witnessed a miraculous healing and all they could do was stand in amazement.

1. Why did the demon once again attack the boy?
2. What did the reaction of the people show about them?
3. How did it confirm the words of Jesus?
4. Why we even today amazed when God does a work in the heart and life of a person that would seem impossible?
5. How do we get beyond that point?

Luke 9:44-45

So that the disciples would not get carried away by what they had just witnessed, He spoke again of the coming events. He said listen carefully, pay attention to what I am about to say. They needed to understand that nothing had changed.  He was still going to be turned over to the men who were opposed to Him.

As before when He told them they did not understand.  Luke wrote that the meaning of His words was hidden from them. They just could not comprehend the magnitude of what was being said.  Because of the gravity of the events to come they were afraid to ask Him about them.  For the events to occur would destroy their plans of an earthly kingdom.

1. Why did Jesus choose that moment to tell them about His impending death?
2. Why did He want to get their full attention?
3. Why did they not understand what was He was telling them?
4. In what ways was the meaning of the message hidden from them?
5. What did they not want to hear?
6. What have been occasions when you have had trouble believing what is being said to you?

• Use every opportunity you have to spend time in sweet communion with the Lord.
• Stay alert so that you do not miss what God is trying to do in your life.
• Whenever doubts enter into your mind believe that Christ will help you work through them.
• Stay in fellowship with God through prayer and Bible study so that it can be said that you are part of an unbelieving and perverse or obstinate people.
• Understand that Jesus died for you.  

The church has been asleep for a while and has missed the opportunity to impact the impact the world for Christ.  The world has passed us by and no longer sees us as a factor in society.  It is not too late but time is running out. God calls us to listen to His beloved Son.  His message for us is to believe and make disciples.   

Lesson 24

Who Is This Man Jesus?

Luke 9:18-27

It has been almost two thousand years since Jesus asked the question to his disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:20)  Today people are still trying to answer that question. There are more books on what is called apologetics than any of us could hope to read in a lifetime. Every time I pick up a book on the defending of the gospel the bibliography list multiple choices on every topic covered.

You would think that by this time all of us would be clear on who Jesus is and why he came to earth.  Sadly that is not the case. I intentionally do not read books by anti-theist because I do not want to encourage them by buying any material they write.  They have been and are continually trying to under mind the faith of each of us by presenting their false doctrine.

I enjoy reading the philosophers who present solid arguments for God and Christ so that I can be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within me.  Personally I settled issue of who Jesus is in my own life many years ago.  I know, however, I cannot let my guard down for a moment.  I must continually put on the whole armor of God which includes the study of His word. Even now there are those inside and outside the church who are determined to destroy us and make our witness ineffective.

One of the reasons that the church has been rocked back on its heels is its failure to take seriously the need to approach its walk with God both intellectually and emotionally.  For too long now we have been very good at reaching people for Christ (Evangelism) while allowing the discipleship, the training of the followers of Christ, to atrophy from neglect.  I just heard a story the other day in which a middle school student who had been in church his whole life knew nothing about the Bible.  I wonder how many adults and children are in the same position in churches all over the country.  This condition is setting up the church to be totally marginalized in society because we have no weapons with which to defeat the enemy unseen and seen.

Even during the last weeks of His life there was much confusion of who Jesus was.  After today I hope that you will be able to answer that question in your own mind. 

Luke 9:18

Following the feeding of the five thousand Jesus had continued to travel in the area around the Sea of Galilee.  He would soon conclude His teaching and healing ministry there and begin to move south towards Jerusalem.  Luke does not mention the place where this event took place but Matthew and Mark wrote that He was in Caesarea Philippi.  While in that location He had some time to get alone in prayer.  There is no indication of the content of His prayer, but He may have been praying for strength for what lay ahead of Him. 

As He finished praying He turned to His disciples asking an important question.  After almost three years of teaching and healing the people He wanted to know how effective had He been in getting His message across.  The question simply was, “Who do people say that I am? There be no significant in the way He ended the question, but is interesting that He did not say, “What do people say about Me” but finished it with “I am.”  The real question was did the people understand Him to be the Messiah for whom they were looking to come?

1. What does the location where Jesus was praying tell us about His plans? (He was beginning to move towards Jerusalem.)
2. What may have been the subject of His prayer?
3. Why did He ask His disciples about the opinion of the people?
4. What did Jesus truly need to find out?

Luke 9:19

Their answers spoke volumes to Jesus.  The people thought that He may be:

• John the Baptist (This means that they believed that he had risen from the dead.)
• Elijah (It was believed by all the Jews that before the Great Day of the Lord occurred that Elijah was to return and restore order in the families of Israel. See Malachi 4:5-6
• One of the many prophets that God had sent to Israel who may have at that point in time risen from the dead.

Notice two major exclusions from their answer.  No one saw Him as:

• The Prophet spoken about in Deuteronomy 18:19, who would be like Moses. That Prophet would speak the word of God and would need to be heeded by everyone.
• The Messiah of Israel.

There may have been a couple of reasons that the people did not see Him as anything greater than those just mentioned.

• He did not spend a considerable amount of time in any one place therefore the people never got the full message taught to them.
• He had done nothing that would indicate to the people that He was the kind of Messiah they expected to come on the scene.  His time had been spent in teaching and healing not building an army to chase the hated Romans out of Israel.

1. What did the answers given by the disciples say about the people?
2. Why did the people think Jesus was the one of different people mentioned?
3. What had the people missed about Jesus that was obvious in their answers?
4. What may be some reasons that His words and actions had not changed the attitudes of the people?
5. Why do we sometimes come up short in our understanding of who Jesus is? (He does not meet the criteria that we have set up in our own minds of what a Savior should look like.)
6. What are your expectations of Christ?
7. How can we make sure that we truly understand who Christ is and what He can mean in our life? (Spend quality fellowship time with Him.)

Luke 9:20

Having heard the impressions of the people, He now wanted to know what the disciples thought.  He asked, “But who do you say that I am?”  Jesus said them in essence, okay.  Put aside all you have heard from the people and tell Me what you think about Me.  It was important at this stage of His time on earth if there was anyone who had figured out who He was.  If there was not a person who could identify Him as the Messiah and the Son of God then all was lost.

Peter once again was the first to speak.  It was possible even at that late date that he did not understand completely who Jesus was, he had seen and heard enough to able to proclaim Him as The anointed One of God.  Jesus was the Messiah of that Peter, at that point, was sure.  What was still not clear to him was the type of Messiah Jesus would turn out to be. In Matthew 16:17 Jesus told Peter there was only one way he could have made the statement concerning His deity. It had to be revealed to him by the Father.    

1. Why did Jesus wait to hear what the people thought before asking the question to His disciples?  (He wanted to know if His ministry had altered anyone’s life to the extent they would recognize Him as Messiah.
2. Why did He begin His question with the word, But?  (He wanted them to put aside what others were saying and give Him an honest straightforward answer.)
3. How would you honestly answer the question posed to His disciples?
4. What evidence have you seen in the life of Jesus that caused you to answer the way that you did?
5. Why was their answer so important? (If they were not convinced that He was the Christ after having spent three years with Him then no one else would be convinced by their testimony. 
6. Why is it so important for you to answer that question for yourself? (If you do not believe then no one will listen to what you have to say.)
7. Who is the source of our ability to accept Jesus as the Messiah and Savior of our lives? (See Matthew 16:17)

Luke 9:21

Jesus immediately warned them now to tell anyone about the revelation just made by Peter.  Those who had not understood who He was would certainly not comprehend the claim of being the Messiah.  He also did not want to have what He had come to accomplished short circuited by man’s attempt to force Him into a role He was not willing to accept. To announce it to the world would have possibly caused open conflict with the Romans.

1. Why did Jesus warn the disciples not to reveal His identity? (Everything must occur at the proper time.  He often said that His hour had not come.)
2. What would the people have wanted Jesus to do if they found out who He was? (They would want Him to lead them in a rebellion against the Romans?
3. What would have been the results of a rebellion?
4. How do we sometimes short-circuit what God is trying to do for us individually and the church as a whole?
5. When is the proper time to speak out in Jesus’ name in the community in which we live?

Luke 9:22

After hearing the confession of Peter, Jesus shared with them the kind of Messiah He had come to be.  Instead of becoming king of an earthly rebellion against the enemies of the Jews, He was going to suffer at the hands of those in authority.  Three different groups would be responsible for His suffering and death.  They were

• Elders who were the respected men in the Jewish community.
• The chief priests who were the Sadducees. They were more political than religious being collaborators with the Romans.
• Scribes were the men who knew the Law.

As a result of their efforts Jesus would be executed, but on the third day would rise again. In Matthew and Mark Peter after having proclaimed Jesus as the Christ rebuked Him upon hearing the words just spoken by Jesus.

1. Why did Jesus tell the disciples what He was about to experience at the hands of the Jewish religious leaders and the Romans? (He did not want them to live under a false illusion of what was to happen.)
2. What message was imbedded in His words? (He did not have to play by the rules of men.)
3. Why was God’s plan better than what the people and disciples desired?
4. Why should we be thankful that He did give into the pressure everyone was exerting on Him?
5. What encouragement should we gain from what He said?

Luke 9:23

Jesus never sugar coated what it meant to be His disciple.  He was very open and honest with them concerning what it meant to follow Him.  This whole exchange had taken a different turn than they had expected. They had gone from the elation of the announcement of Jesus being Messiah to the realization that things were not going to end well.  Jesus now shared with them the qualities of a true disciple.  There were several requirements. They were to

• Deny oneself.  They were to forget about themselves and their needs.
• Take up ones cross daily.  They were to identify with the suffering and humiliation that Jesus experienced.
• Follow Him. Wherever Jesus was to go and wherever He sent them they were to be always be faithful to Him.

He continued on with additional strong words.

• If a person is wrapped up with his life in the world he would lose out in eternity.
• If a person is willing to give up his life for Christ he will have it for eternity with Him.
• What profit is there for a man if he has all that this world has to offer but loses eternal life?

Finally, they needed to determine what their relationship Him would be.  If they denied Him and were ashamed of Him while on earth, meaning to reject Him and His teachings, Jesus would feel the same way when He returns to receive those who are His followers. 

1. Why did Jesus speak in such a strong way?
2. What does it mean to deny oneself?
3. What did Jesus mean by taking up His cross daily?
4. What does it take to follow Jesus completely with our lives?
5. What is the danger of thinking this world is the most important thing in your life? (Lose eternal life because the things of this world become your god.)
6. In what ways do we show that we are ashamed of Jesus?
7. How could Jesus say that He would be ashamed of us when He returns? (He will just agree with those of us who do not want a relationship with Him.)

Luke 9:23

Jesus then gave some encouragement. By that point the disciples could use some.  They were told to expect the coming of the kingdom of God in their lifetime.  Jesus sharing with them that God was about to re-establish the relationship with mankind lost in the Garden of Eden.  God was once again going to rule in the hearts of man. They would see the resurrected Savior of the world in person.

• Settle in your own mind the answer to the question, “But who do you say that I am?”  Nothing else will matter until you deal with that issue.
• Take seriously the fact that there is a real enemy willing and able to destroy your faith and begin to do everything in you can to make sure that does not happen.
• Read your Bible faithfully it is the sword of your faith.
• Believe that the word is living and is able to provide you with answers for life.
• Read books by men and women who have proven to be qualified to help you to be able give a good defense for the gospel.  (If you are interested check with the elders for resources for varying ages and maturity levels.)
• Be willing to make Jesus the most important thing in your life.
• Fellowship and grow with other believers that you may be encouraged and strengthened in your daily walk with Christ.

The church is still being asked the same question today that Jesus asked His disciples.  Our answer will clearly indicate our commitment to Him.  It is easy to say we believe in Him and to still not understand completely who He is.  We read the Bible and see all kinds of words to describe Him. To discover His identity we have to go all the way back to Genesis. 

The church that gets to the truth of the gospel which tells us why the Son of God found it necessary to come to earth, we will have a message that can be proclaimed to the world.  To do less is to dilute our effectiveness in the world.  Jesus calls us to hear and know the truths of His word.  He then lays out for us the heart attitude it takes to be a disciple.  In order to be a testimony to the world He calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him.

God promised that His disciples would see His kingdom in their lifetime.  Thankfully we now are beneficiaries of what Christ did on the cross.  Let us show the world what it means to us by faithfully serving Him.     

Lesson 23

Proclaiming the Kingdom

Luke 9:1-17

During all the time I was involved in the FAITH evangelistic strategy I never became comfortable knocking on someone’s door who I did not know and sharing the outline that would hopefully lead them to Christ. If a person wants to sit down with me and discuss Christianity or the Bible I can do that all day long. I do not know if it is the idea of having to use a formula that had to be memorized or just making that cold contact that caused me the most problem but something made me very uncomfortable. I have still not reconciled this issue in my life.

Thankfully there are those who have no problem talking to anyone anywhere.  My anxiety goes away when I know the other is willing to take the lead and I give input or assistance as needed.  This tag team approach is what I need when I have to make those kinds of visits.

I am afraid that my own situation is reflected of many churches as a whole.  The people do not take the time to share the gospel. Worse than that is the unwillingness to move beyond the doors of the church even to obey the command of Christ in Matthew 28:18-20.  It is much easier for us to stay inside the building where we are comfortable with our safe brand of Christianity and hope that others will want to join us there.

We will find that we will never reach the world by staying indoors.  Our health and survival calls for us to move out with courage and conviction to touch the world with the gospel. No one else is going to do it for us.  In today’s lesson we have the model that Jesus used with His own disciples.  Surely if it worked for Him it should work for us.

Luke 9:1-2

It was time for the men whom Jesus had been training to be sent out to begin ministering in His name. They could have continued to follow Him around and soaking up His teaching and watching Him perform miracles as they had been doing for almost three years.  Although not mentioned here He knew that His time on earth was growing to a close. It would soon become their responsibility to carry on His work. There was another factor that played into the sending out of His disciples.  Even as the Son of God in the flesh He was one man and therefore was limited in the scope of His impact on His nation. To multiply His ministry He needed those men to step up and be sent out on their own. Their assignment was to in the power of Jesus to “cast out demons and heal diseases.”  Mark wrote in Mark 6:7 that the men were sent out two by two. There were probably two or three reasons why this was done.

• Safety in numbers
• In that culture the witness of two or three was necessary for something to be believed.
• Moral support for each other.

1. Why did Jesus choose to send the men out at that point in His ministry? (His earthly ministry was ending.)
2. How would they have been hurt in their spirit growth if He had not provided the opportunity at that time? (The longer they depended on Him the harder it would be to go out on their own. Of course even after His death and resurrection they would be guided by the Holy Spirit?)
3. What lesson can we learn from the question above? (The longer we cloister within the walls of the church soaking up what God word the less likely we are to be a witness for Him in the world.)
4. What were they called to do?
5. How does their mission differ from what we are called to do today?
6. Why did He send them out in pairs?
7. Which of the reasons is applicable to us today and why?

Luke 9:3

His next command may have shocked them a little.  He told them to take nothing extra with them other than the clothes they were wearing.  His mission was too important for them to be concerned with keeping up with all the baggage that might slow them down.  They needed to be focused on what they were going to be doing rather than on any material comforts.  He did not want them to be dependent on what they had but how God was going to provide.  It may have caused them to isolate themselves from the very people Jesus wanted them to reach.

1. Why did He not want them to carry personal items like money and clothing with them?
2. In what ways do things sometimes keep us from serving as we should?
3. In what ways would the things that Jesus commanded them to leave behind keep them from carrying out His mission? (They could have fellowshipped among themselves.)

Luke 9:4-5

Jesus wanted them to depend on the hospitality of the people.  By that interaction they would know who was willing to hear the message they had for them.  There was always the possibility as it is today there those who simply will not listen to the Word of God.  Jesus did not say if you come across them you are to shake out the dust from having been present in their homes but when you encounter them.  As He had experienced during the three years of dealing with His fellow countrymen He knew that many would not receive the disciples.  The practice of shaking out the dust would have been understood by one and all.  A Jew who had walked through the territory of a Gentile would shake out the dust of that place so He would not be contaminated by them.  He was saying to disciples you are to treat your fellow Jews just like they are Gentiles.

1. What was the real reason that Jesus wanted them to travel lightly?
2. What did it mean for both the disciples and a host home when they treated the disciples kindly?
3. What did it mean for the disciples to shake off the dust of a home where they had not been received?
4. What is your feeling when someone rejects the message of the gospel that you are trying to share?
5. Why would it be especially hard for a Jew to receive the message of the kingdom of God as taught by Jesus and the disciples?
6. Who are the most difficult people for you to reach? Why?   

Luke 9:6

The disciples did just as Jesus had commanded them.  They preached the gospel and healed in many of the towns and villages of Galilee. 

1. What did it show that the disciples were willing to do as Christ commanded? (They believed that He was going to usher in the Kingdom of God.)
2. How did they carry out His command?
3. In what ways do we carry out His command to us?
4. What must we believe in order to carry out His mission?

Luke 9:7-9

The people throughout the land were not the only ones who heard the message that was being proclaimed by the disciples.  Herod, the tetrarch of Galilee also became aware of what was taking place. The message that reached him was that John the Baptist had come back from the dead.  Others were saying that maybe it was Elijah or one of the other prophets who were to return before the Great Day of the Lord which would be the culmination of history and the restoration of the Jews to their rightful place.  Herod’s response showed the guilt he felt for having put John to death. He had to wonder if John’s spirit had not come to back to haunt him.

He therefore wanted to know who Jesus was. Probably to convince himself that it was not John after all.  He made every effort to try and see Him but to no avail.

1. What was the news that Herod heard from the people concerning Jesus?
2. Why did he ignore the other possibilities of Elijah or even the Prophet mentioned by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:19? (He was obsessed by the guilt of what he had done to John.)
3. What would the appearance of Elijah or the Prophet mean for the Jewish people? (The End of the age and the coming of the Great Day of the Lord.)
4. Why did Herod want to see Jesus? (To convince himself that Jesus was not John and he had nothing to worry about.)

Luke 9:10

Upon returning to Jesus the disciples filled Him in on all of the details of their journey.  What a celebration that would have been for all of them.  They had an opportunity to share the good news with more people than Jesus could have done in the short time He would spend on the earth. Knowing that they needed a time of rest, reflection and debriefing, He took them away to a city called Bethsaida, a city on the northeast tip of the Sea of Galilee.

1. What would have been the news that the disciples brought to Jesus?
2. Why would this been a time of celebration?
3. Why did Jesus believe it was necessary to take His disciples away on a short retreat?
4. Why would He choose the city of Bethsaida?
5. When are times that you like to be alone with Jesus?
6. What happens during those times?
7. If you have never had that desire what may be missing in your life?

Luke 9:11

As He had experienced at other times when He had tried to get away for awhile, the crowds followed Him.  His reaction was to welcome them.  He once again spoke to them about the Kingdom of God. Those among the people who needed healing received it?

1. Why did the people not leave Him alone?
2. When have you had the experience of being around people who were so hungry to hear about the Kingdom of God?
3. Why did Jesus welcome them and not send them away?
4. What possibility would have been your reaction to the crowds?
5. How do you think the disciples felt?
6. How was this good training for them?

Luke 9:12

When the day was almost over the disciples came and suggested that Jesus send the people away so they could find a place to stay and food to eat.  Jesus did not seem to be concerned about the physical needs of the crowd because He already had a plan in mind.  Although not explicitly written, Jesus was going to use the event as a learning experience for the disciples.  They may have been somewhat upset because the crowd had encroached in on their private time with Him.  By having them participate in the miracle, He was going to show them the greatest thing they could ever do was to serve people with compassion.  He simply turned to the disciples and told them to feed the people. They must have looked at each other not believing what they had just heard.  As John wrote, the best that they had been able to do was find 2 fish (like dried sardines) and five small barley loaves of bread that a little boy had bought.  They mentioned going to buy food in Mark 6:37. The Bible indicated that it would have cost about two hundred days worth of wages to feed the five thousand men plus women and children. 

Without further explanation He had all of the people to sit down in groups of fifty, blessed the five loaves and the two fish and began to give them to the disciples to distribute to the people.  The men who had earlier proclaimed the gospel and healed people now became waiters serving food to the five thousand. 

After the people had eaten their fill, they collected the leftovers and with them filled twelve baskets.  This is the only miracle that is mentioned in all four gospels. In John 6 it has special significance. Following the feeding the people desired to make Jesus their king. 

1. Why was Jesus not concerned about the lateness of the hour?
2. How may the disciples have felt about the people encroaching on their time alone with Jesus?
3. Why did the disciples react the way they did?
4. When they came to Jesus how much was their concern for Him and how much was it out of envy because of the actions of the people?     
5. If Jesus knew what He was going to do why did He suggest that the disciples give the people food? (To help them understand that nothing is impossible in God’s hands.)
6. What was Jesus trying to teach the disciples?
7. Why did the disciples in Mark mention two hundred denarii? (To show that in their mind the impossibility of what Jesus had requested)
8. Why did Jesus have the people sit down in groups of fifty? (To bring order to the situation and provide a means to serve everyone there better.)
9. Why is this miracle especially meaningful in light of what we read in John 6?

• Think about ways you can overcome the mindset that everything that you do spiritually has to be done within the four walls of the church.
• Prepare yourself through the study of God’s word and training to begin sharing the gospel with non church people everywhere.
• Do not look at Jesus as your own personal property.
• Be willing to serve in areas that may be outside your giftedness just because a ministry needs to be done.
• Stop limiting God. He who created the world can do the impossible for the church.

It has been probably ten years since there has been any intentional effort to have an organized way to do outreach to our community.  Since FAITH there have been weak attempts to get people involved in touching the lives of those outside the church.  We have tried to use big events like the egg drop, harvest festivals and trunk or treat to bring people into the church.  Jesus gave us the example of the proper way to reach people.  He sent his disciples two by two out into the community to share the gospel.  Having said the above, I am not sure how to do this exactly because our culture has changed so dramatically in the ten years since we did FAITH.  We do need to learn the way to do the two by two if it means having them attend events in the neighborhood together to begin impact the lives of the people.  It may mean that we begin doing projects that touch others. Let us work together to discover the way that broadens the base of the kingdom of God.

Lesson 22

Patience is a virtue

Luke 8:40-56

Patience is a virtue.  I agree with the title of this lesson.  I will have to admit however is that it is not one of the qualities I possess.  Over the years I have used the term aggressive patience which means that to achieve a goal I would keep driving forward until someone began to buy into the idea as their own.  It is difficult for me to see how slowly we sometimes move in churches.

Over the years I have had an interest in trying to understand how people with different personalities relate to each other.  Hopefully this study has helped me reach the point that I do not need to push my own agenda but am willing to listen and respect what the other person is saying. It has not been easy but I am trying to work on it.

 Change does not bother me, as much as holding on to programs and traditions that have been in place for years and no one is willing to do anything about them.  When I read statistics, like it takes seven years to bring about a different culture in organizations, I wonder how we get anything done. Our unwillingness to recognize that society is changing and we in the church are not keeping up with the different attitudes of all age groups, we are missing out on the opportunity to reach these people for Christ.  There must be the proper tension between moving too fast and not changing at all.  Jesus always did the right thing at the right time.

Luke 8:40

After the episode with the demoniac and the people of Gerasenes, Jesus returned to Galilee.  There He found a crowd waiting for Him to return.  How different was their attitude from the one He found east of the Sea of Galilee.

1. Why were the crowds waiting for Jesus?
2. How was their attitude different than the one seen on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee?
3. Why did the people of Gerasenses miss out on what Jesus could do? (They were so caught up in their loss that they did not give Him a chance to speak to or heal the people.)
4. How can we miss out on what Jesus wants to do in the church?

Luke 8:41-42a

Among those who came to Jesus upon His return was Jairus.  He would not be a person that would have been expected to welcome Jesus.  He was an official of the synagogue.  As soon as he came to Jesus he fell down before Him as a sign of humility and reverence.  Desperation will often drive a person to do what he or she would not ordinarily do.  He had a twelve year old daughter at home who was dying.  He knew that her only hope lay with Jesus.

1. Why would it be unusual for a man like Jairus to approach Jesus? (He was a Jewish leader in the synagogue.)
2. What was his attitude as he came to Jesus? (One of humility and reverence.)
3. What are the things that happen to a person that will cause him to come to Jesus?
4. Why did Jairus come to Jesus?
5. What did he think Jesus could do for him?

Luke 8:42b

A significant fact is presented at the end of this verse. It would set the stage for what was to come next. Luke wrote that as Jairus started off with Jesus there was a crowd pressing in on Him.

Luke 8:43-44

Among the crowd was a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years.  This condition made her unclean.  She was not to be among people who might touch her and become unclean themselves. Mark gives a picture of her desperate condition in Mark 5:25-26. She had spent everything she had but had not gotten any better in all those years. She seized the opportunity to be anonymous as a part of the crowd and came up to Jesus and touched His clothing.  Immediately, she was made well.

1. What was the condition of the woman who became part of the crowd?
2. Why was she not even supposed to be among the crowd?
3. What part did the crowd play in her willingness to approach Jesus?
4. Why did she just touch His garment and not come up to Him and ask for healing?
5. What was the result of her actions?
6. What did it show about her? (She had faith that Jesus could help her.)

Luke 8:45-46

Even though He had not seen the woman or even knew who she was He sensed that there had been a power drain from His body. Jesus stopped the trip to Jairus’ house to deal with the present situation.  As will be seen it was more than the act of healing about which He was concerned. There was a greater issue that involved the spiritual well being of the woman. He immediately wanted to know who had touched Him.  What He was really asking was where is the person who has been healed?  Peter’s answer is interesting.   He indicated that the people were pressing in very tightly about Him.  This is a telling statement.  Of all the people touching Him and getting close to Him only the woman received healing. Not receiving a satisfactory answer He emphatically stated, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power has gone out of Me.”

1. How did Jesus know that someone was healed?
2. What did He do at that point? (He did not continue on to Jairus’ house until He had finished His dealing with the woman.)
3. Why was the woman the only one healed of all those crowding in around Him?
4. Why did the people miss out on the experience that the woman had? (They may have been following Him to see what He would do at the home of Jairus.  They were curious as the action He might take.
5. What had the woman hope to do? (Be healed and disappear.)
6. Why was Jesus so emphatic in His attempt to find out who had been healed? (There was more than just physical healing that needed to occur.)
7. What does this show about the feeling of Jesus for each of us?

Luke 8:47-48

When the woman found that she would not be able to get away from Jesus until she revealed herself, she came and fell down before Him.  There is no way to know what thoughts were going through her mind.  She may have even wondered if He would take away her healing because of her actions.  She had been disappointed so many times before she may have decided this one might end in the same way.

Immediately, she confessed what she had done and the reason for it.  Rather than condemning her He gave the greatest gift of all. He called her daughter and affirmed that it was her faith that had brought about her healing.  As He did with others He commanded her to go in peace with the realization that she truly was healed.

1. What did the woman soon realize?
2. Why would Jesus not let her hide?
3. Once she realized that she could not hide what thoughts may have gone through her head?
4. Why did Jesus wait until she had confessed before declaring her completely healed? (Without the peace and assurance from Him, she could never be sure if what had occurred was real and permanent.)
5. Why will Jesus not allow any of us to hide in the crowds of this world?
6. How does He deal with men? (One at a time)
7. What are the things that you need to confess that will free you and give you peace?

Luke 8:49

Luke then returned to Jairus who had to endure in agony and possibly patience the time that Jesus had taken with the woman.  Surely, he must have wondered, did Jesus not understand the urgency of the crisis that was taking place in the life of his daughter? To add to his angst, someone came to him with the news that his daughter was dead and he did not need to bother Jesus any longer.  One can only imagine what Jairus must have felt at that moment.  His daughter was dead and the One who may have helped her had spent precious moments with the other woman.

1. What was possibly going on in Jairus’ mind the whole time Jesus was dealing with the woman?
2.  How would Jairus’ thinking change when he found out his daughter had dead?
3. On what occasion have you anguished over a child and wondered why no one seemed to be able to help you?
4. What did Jairus not know about Jesus? (He had authority even over death.)
5. Why didn’t Jesus rush over to the home of Jairus like so many of us would have done?
6. What were the crowds expecting?
7. What would the news of the death done to the mindset of the crowds? (See John 11:37)

Luke 8:50

Two things that Jesus heard caused him to respond to Jairus. 

• The news of the death of his daughter.
• The words of the crowd telling him not to bother Jesus anymore because there was no hope.

Jesus then said to him directly and the crowd indirectly that he needed to continue to believe.  His faith would bring about her healing.  Her life would only be final if he gave up on the faith that brought him to Jesus in the first place.

1. Why did Jesus feel a need to speak to Jairus? (Jairus may have believed the messenger and given up.)
2. What part did the faith of Jairus play in the healing of his daughter?
3. Why did Jesus speak of her healing and not raising her from the dead? (Death would have been final.  The little girl was yet to live.)
4. If Jesus had agreed with the messengers and turned away what impact would His ministry have among the people?
5. What happens to the faith of the people when we do not follow through with our ministry to them?

Luke 8:51

Jesus did not turn away from Jairus but went on to his home. Only Peter, James and John and the parents were allowed to go into the room where the little girl was.  The action that was about to taken was for the benefit of the family and a learning experience for the three disciples. All of the professional mourners were kept outside.  His words to that group were to stop weeping and mourning for someone who was not dead but sleeping.  They of course did not understand what He meant and began to make fun of His remarks.  In their minds they knew that she was dead. Another valid reason to exclude them was their lack of faith. They could have easily caused Jairus’ faith to falter. His faith was to be instrumental in the healing of his daughter and must not lag.

1. What did the fact that Jesus continued on to his house say to Jairus?
2. Why did Jesus only allow the inner circle of disciples and the parents to enter the room with Him? (It was for the family and not meant to be like a circus.  They were the ones most affected by the little girl’s death.)
3. Why were the professional mourners kept outside? (They may have frightened the little girl as she awoke from her sleep.  To witness such a miracle would have stirred up the crowd to demand more and more from Jesus. Their lack of faith would be a hindrance to what He was about to do.)
4. Why did the crowd make fun of Jesus’ words? (They truly did not understand His authority over death.  They may have also concluded that He was not taking the death of the girl seriously and was only saying those words to placate the parents.)
5. How might their continual display of grief and ridicule of Jesus’ words affect the faith of Jairus?
6. How would a superficial regard for the things of God affect the faith of a non or new believer?
7. How do we keep that from happening?

Luke 8:54-56

Once they were alone, Jesus turned His attention toward the daughter. His words rang out with authority as He took her by the hand and commanded her to get up.  She did as she was told as she came back to life. Jesus immediately commanded that she be given something to eat. This act did two things.

• It proved to the parents that she was indeed allright.
• It also diverted attention away from Jesus.

Even though Jairus had displayed faith in going to Jesus, this was beyond what he expected.  He had gone to ask Jesus to heal a sick girl but ended with her being raised from the dead.  It would be expected that they would be full of amazement that such a thing could be done.  To keep what had occurred from being broadcast, they were told not to share it with anyone.  Jesus was not into promoting Himself as a miracle worker.  That was not His primary mission.

1. Why did He use such strong words to speak to the daughter? (It was to emphasize His authority over death.)
2. Why was Jairus amazed when Jesus healed his daughter? (He was only expecting Jesus to do what He had done before, heal the sick not to raise the dead.)
3. Why did Jesus not want the family to tell what He had done?
4. What has Jesus done in your life or those you know that has completely amazed you?
5. Why are we now to proclaim what Jesus has done rather than keeping it quiet?

• Read once again Galatians 5:22. Notice that patience is one of the fruit of the Spirit.
• See if you are trying to get ahead of God in a decision you are facing.
• Look at your life and see if the lack of faith is stymieing what Christ truly wants to do for you.
• Do not take your walk with Jesus lightly.  Let Him work deep into your heart to change you into one who loves Him with all your heart, soul and mind.
• Look at how Jesus had authority over the woman’s problem and death and believe He wants to do the same kind of work in you.
• Do not ever try to hide from God but come to Him and confess all that we have done to receive forgiveness and healing of our spirit.

Jairus set the example for all of us.  Even as a leader in the synagogue he became desperate enough that he was willing to forget all of the traditions of his religion and reach out to the one person he knew could help him.  Jesus was not popular among the Jewish leaders but Jairus did not care what others thought.  He needed help. The woman was so ashamed of her condition that she hoped she could just blend in with crowd and touch Jesus as so many others were doing and no one would ever know she had been there. For her to have to confess her past face to face with Jesus was a difficult thing to do.  We need to be so compassionate towards the Jairus’ and women of the world that they believe that there will be no condemnation when they do not know and rules and traditions.  As Jesus displayed patience with the woman and Jairus had to be patient to realize that Jesus would carry through with the healing of his daughter even though she was dead.

Jesus is patient with the church when we fail Him as we so often do.  He continues to call us to face Him and confess our wrong doings.  When we are willing to forget ourselves and turn everything over to Him He will bring healing to us and make us stronger to share His good news to those who need to hear it.

Lesson 21

A Man Set Free

Luke 8:26-39

There is one thing that I have learned over the years.  It is that things will not always turn out as I expected.  I have often tried to put myself in a position to get a particular job only to have it fall through or someone would get it.  Even in spiritual walk my plans have not always turned out the way I thought they would.  This is not to say there have not been special things take place.  They were usually however unexpected.

One of those is the privilege of writing the Bible study material for the church.  If someone had told me even five years ago that I would be sitting down right now putting words into the computer that would be used by the youth and adults, I would have thought they were joking.  For many years I have been writing, but never considered it going beyond being put in a desk drawer at home for my children to read someday.  God has done many things in my life that I would have never expected.  There is neither time nor space here to share them.

We in the church can make plans but sometimes God has other ideas.  Some new people come into the congregation which changes the dynamics of the way we do ministry.  They may well bring new ideas that will help us to get out of the status quo.  We need to be ready for change to come.  We need to be ready for the culture of the church to change.  With the changing of our community we can either expect the makeup of the church to change or we may find ourselves watching the church slowly die.  Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee to get some rest. Along the way He ran into a storm.  He landed on the other side not expecting to be confronted by a demon possessed man and a group of people who had hardened hearts who did not want Him there.  Probably we will not face challenges even close to those for drama, but there will opportunities thrust upon us.  We must learn to deal with the unexpected.

Luke 8:26-28

Having weathered the storm they sailed on until they arrived at their destination in the country of Gerasenes. The exact location of the city is not known today.  Upon their arrival they encountered a man possessed by many demons.  There are a number of things that Luke wrote about the man.

• The possession had been for a long period of time.
• He ran around without clothing
• He lived among the tombs and not in a house

All of these would indicate the depth to which this man had fallen.  He had no shame, obviously no job and no one with whom he could relate socially. Those who knew him would have been terrified to come out to where he was therefore he would have been totally isolated.

1. How bad was the condition of the man?
2. Why does Luke give us such a full description of him? (He wanted to let us know the affects of his possession.)
3. What would be the reaction of men towards someone like him?
4. How does his condition describe the state of a man without Christ? (We are just as lost unless we have been healed of sin which leads to death.)

Unlike his fellow countrymen, Jesus had no reason to fear of the man or the demons.  Just the opposite was true.  The fear in that the demons had of Jesus was evident.  This could be seen in their words as He approached the man.  Upon seeing Jesus the man, which meant the demons who had taken over his life, fell before Him in obedience.  They wanted to know what He planned to do to them. Notice their recognition of Him as the “Son of the Most High God.”  The disciples had just asked “Who then is this?” The demons knew without a doubt that they were in the presence of God.  Their second question related to their ultimate judgment.  They pleaded with Him, wanting to know if it was going to occur immediately or would He wait until the end times when the devil and all his minions would be cast into the lake of fire.  It appears they wanted to delay the time as long as possible.

1. In what way was Jesus different from the people who lived in the area? (They wanted no part of the demon possessed man.  They were as afraid of him as the demons were of Jesus.)
2. What was the initial reaction of the demon possessed man?
3. What did the words of the demons indicate about them?
4. Why did they find it necessary to beg Jesus
5. How is it that the demons could recognize the identity of Christ when so many have such difficulty doing so?
6. What was the significance of the title?
7. What brought fear into the voices of the demons?
8. In what ways are their actions like those of mankind today? (They want to delay making a decision to give up their secular lifestyles as long as they can?

Luke 8:29-31

Jesus had already begun to command the demons to leave the man.  Luke further describes the condition of the man.  He said

• The man had been seized many times by the demon.
• The people had tried to keep him chained up for protection.
• While possessed he had the strength to break the chains.
• The demons would drive him into the desert.

Since the demon refused to leave Jesus asked his name.  The demon, rather than the man, spoke telling Jesus his name was legion.  In the Roman army a legion would be six thousand men.  From that description the man was totally dominated by the demons.  Jesus now knew the enemy He faced.  Even in that large number they became cowards before Him.  They were still begging Him not to send them into the abyss, the place of eternal punishment.

1. Why was Jesus not able to cast the demon out of the man, immediately? (He did not realize the extent to which the man was possessed.)
2. Why did He ask the man his name?
3. Why did the demon speak rather than the man? (Indicates that the demons had taken complete control of the man.)
4. What did it mean for the answer to come back to Jesus that his name was legion?
5. What type of term was it? (A military term meaning six thousand troops.)
6. Even with that number of demons why were they still begging Jesus not to send them to their final judgment?

Luke 8:32-34

 The demons saw an alternative right before them.  There was a large herd pigs eating on the mountain side being tended by herdsmen.  The demons asked Jesus permission to enter the swine rather than being cast out into the abyss.  Notice that the demons had no power over the situation.  Jesus was in complete control.  He granted their request and allowed them to enter into the pigs.  Immediately, the swine became wild and ran down the hill and plunged into the water and drowned.  Someone wrote that the pigs would rather be dead than demon possessed.

The herdsmen who had witnessed the event went into town and surrounding country side to report the incident, most likely to the owners of the herd.

1. What was the alternative that the demons saw before them?
2. What does this show about their desperation to keep from entering the abyss?
3. If the demons feared the place what actions should we take to avoid going there?
4. Why did Jesus allow the demons to enter the swine?

Luke 8:35-37a

Upon hearing the news many of the people came out to see what had occurred.  The scene they found was much different than had previously been the case.  One thing there were no herds of swine, they had all drowned.  That one fact would have made the people angry because they had suffered a great economic loss.  What they found was Jesus, his disciples and the man.  Evidence of his healing was obvious.  He was

• Sitting at the feet of feet of Jesus.
• Clothed
• In his right mind.

The scene frightened the men of the city and rightfully so.  They were in the presence of One who had power over demons.  Their occupation would indicate they themselves had no regard for the ways of God.  To raise swine would have been an example of breaking the Mosaic Law.  What had been reported to them was an accurate account.  The response of the people to the healing was a strange one.  Rather than rejoicing that a man had been made whole again they were upset that the swine had been lost.  They wanted Jesus to go.  They had no desire to hear anything He might have said to them.  Like so many today they would rather live a life paralyzed by fear than to hear the message that could have brought freedom to them.

1. Why did the people come out to where Jesus was? (To see if what they had heard was true.)
2. What did they find?
3. What picture did Luke paint for us to show the complete healing of the man? (Everything about him was different.  He had been transformed.)
4. Why were the people frightened?
5. What did their request for Jesus to leave show about their priorities in life?
6. In what ways are we sometimes like those people?
7. What are the important things in our lives that might take precedent over the work of God?
8. Why does being confronted by God bring paralyzing fear into a person’s life?

Luke 8:37b

Seeing that He would not be able to bring spiritual of physical healing to them, He accommodated them.  The people had closed their minds and hearts to what God would have done for them.  Jesus will not stay where He is not wanted.  He and His disciples got right back into the boat to return back across the Sea of Galilee.  It would appear that Jesus had gone through the storm to touch one man’s life.

1. Why did Jesus agree to leave?
2. What did He not attempt to heal any of the people?
3. In what ways do we show that Jesus through the Holy Spirit is welcome in our midst?
4. What are some of the things we might do that would say to Him you are not welcome?
5. How does Jesus respond to those two scenarios?
6. Given the circumstances shared above why did Jesus go to the land of Gerasenes?
7. How much effort will He expend to bring about the spiritual healing of one person?

Luke 8:38-39

There was one individual out of all the people who was glad that Jesus had come.  His life had been totally changed from the inside out.  As Jesus was preparing to leave the man begged Him for the opportunity to go with Him.  Jesus however had another plan for the man’s life.  The task he was given was a difficult one.  He was to go to the people who were very familiar with his former life.  Jesus had him return home and tell everyone the great things that God had done for him. The man obeyed Jesus and went throughout the city and gave testimony to his new life in Christ. 

1. Why would the man want to go with Jesus?
2. What plan did Jesus have for the man?
3. Why would the command of Jesus possibly be difficult for the man?
4. Who are the most difficult people to whom you are called to witness?
5. What action showed that the man’s life had been completely changed by Jesus?
6. Where is the one place you would not want to be sent to witness for Jesus? Why?

• Be willing to reach out to the unlovely.
• Care more about God’s children than anything else on this earth.
• Be willing to obey Christ even when the thing you are being asked to do is difficult.

Sometimes God is going to bring into our presence those who are unlovely.  They may have faced the ravages of their own storms and are angry or hurt.  Jesus’ words to the man beyond the Sea of Galilee in Gerasenes still speak to us today.  In all the calmness of His own spirit because of His confidence of the Father, He freed the man from the prison in which he found himself.  Jesus stopped the wind and waves and then cast out the demons possessing the man.  Let us work to do the same to those who are in our midst.  We do not know what their past may have been but we can surely point them to a brighter tomorrow.  The man was given the difficult task of witnessing to those who knew him best and was willing to go and tell.  We as the church are not to allow any circumstance to keep us from doing the same.  Remember in Christ there is victory.

Lesson 20

Faith or Fear

Luke 8:22-25

All of us have had or do have things which we fear.  Up until my teenage years I had a fear of drowning.  I enjoyed being in the water as long as I could touch bottom. The thought of going in over my head caused me to panic.  It was the one thing that paralyzed me.  There is one instance that stands out in my mind, even to this day.  Neither of which I am particularly proud.   My dad and uncle took my cousin, one of her friends and me to a swimming pool. They had a float which allowed them to swim around.  I do not know how exactly it happened but somehow I grabbed hold of the float and was pulled out into deeper water.  The first thought I had was I was going to drown, which was not true because the float was able to keep us afloat.  In my panic I began to yell.  My dad came to the rescue.  There were consequences to my actions. We immediately had to leave the pool.  You can just imagine how my cousin felt about me.

It was not until my teenage years that I finally gained the confidence to go into deeper water.  It was one of the most freeing experiences I have had.  All those years my fear had kept me from doing some of the very things I enjoyed.  While others played and swam I had to watch from the sidelines so to speak.  I remember the day I finally got over fear and jumped into eight to ten feet of water.  From that point on I could go anywhere and join in with the others, no longer afraid.

What is it that paralyzes the church with fear?  We might say that we have no fear but our actions speak a different message.  We are pretty good at making excuses to mask what is really taking place in the life of the church.  If there is an opportunity that make impact the lives of many people and we fall back on budget or manpower shortages we are avoiding what the true underlying factors may be.  We are afraid of the commitment it will take for us to carry out such a daring plan.  It is easier to hang onto the status quo in the life of the church than to truly depend on God to carry out His purpose for us.  For the individual, he or she may have trouble making a decision to follow Christ with everything they have because of the possible cost that be incurred personally.  The leadership may be unwilling to confront an issue because they do not know what the reaction of the people may be.

God calls us to overcome our fears.  He wants us to let go of the float or lifeline and jump into the deep water of life.  We are to come to the point of trusting Him for the future.  This means to be a bold and courageous church which takes on the tough assignments and then leaves the results to Him.

Luke 8:22

It may well have been that Jesus needed a Sabbath’s rest from the constant pressure of having people demanding all of His attention.  Remember in His human body, He got tired, hungry and thirsty just like every other person.  One way to be free for a time was to take a boat ride.  After getting into a boat, Jesus indicated that He want to travel to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.  It will be seen how important His command was for the growth of the disciples.

1. Why would Jesus leave the people on the western side of the Sea of Galilee?
2. What does this say about Jesus?
3. What did the boat ride gain Him?
4. What important words did Jesus speak to the disciples? (They were going to the other side of the lake and would make it there safely.)
5. What is your reaction when Jesus gives you a command that you do not understand?

Luke 8:23

Everything was going smoothly until a storm suddenly appeared.  This was a common occurrence on the Sea of Galilee.  It is about six hundred feet below sea level and sits like a bowl surrounded by hills and mountains.  The wind would come down off the mountains and cause the sea to be stirred up. 

The problem for the disciples was the boat was being swamped by all of the waves crashing over the boat.  Luke said that they were in fact in great danger.

1. Why was a storm not an unusual event for the Sea of Galilee?
2. What kind of problems did it present for the disciples?
3. How do we know that this was problematic for the disciples? (Even though they were experienced seaman a storm of that magnitude was more than they could handle because the boat was being swamped.)

Luke 8:24a

The disciples did the natural thing and approached their leader, possibly to alert Him to the danger in which they found themselves. Like most of mankind the disciples probably attempted to take care of the problem by trying to bail out all of the water that was swamping them. Only when the situation was beyond their control and capabilities to deal with it did they turn to Jesus for help. 

They could not have possibly known what He could do about the problem.  Jesus was asleep in the midst of the storm and had to be awakened.  Their words to Him indicated how fearful they were. While Jesus calmly slept safe and secure in His Father’s hands, the disciples after waking Him, let Him know that they were afraid of dying. They were terrified by the storm and their situation. The idea that they might die meant all of their hopes and dreams that Jesus was the Messiah and they would be part of His kingdom would be gone. Added to their fear was the belief of the Jews of that day that to drown meant total destruction of the person. One who died by drowning had no hope of reaching heaven and would be lost forever.

1. How would the disciples initially try to do about their dilemma? (They would have tried to bail out the boat.)
2. At what point did they go to Jesus?
3. What could they have expected from Him?
4. How was Jesus handling the situation?
5. What example could this have been for the disciples? (If He was not concerned why should they be?)
6. How well do you handle situations that are completely out of your control?
7. What was the greatest fear for the disciples? (Complete and eternal destruction of the body and soul of the person who drowned.)
8. Can you name a time when you were as terrified as the disciples?
9. How did you handle the situation?
10. What was your first reaction?
11. Without total confidence in Jesus what hope do you have for solutions?
12. What would happen to all of their hopes and dreams if the boat sank?
13. Whose hopes and dreams were they thinking about?

Luke 8:24b

His demeanor and calmness would have gone a long way to calming the disciples.  He then rebuked the wind and the waves of the storm. Immediately they stopped and everything became calm once again.  What did it mean to rebuke the storm?  Other meanings might be to reprimand or condemn the storm. It is a picture of a parent disciplining a child for doing something wrong.

1. How would the demeanor of Jesus help the disciples?
2. How did Jesus handle the situation?
3. Why did He rebuke the storm before speaking to the disciples? (While the storm was going on they were in no condition to listen to Jesus.)
4. What did it mean to rebuke the storm?
5. How well do you listen when you are in the midst of a crisis situation?

Luke 8:25

Once Jesus had dealt with the crisis at hand He turned His attention to the disciples.  The question He asked was not in the form of a rebuke He simply wanted to know about their faith.  It is a valid question that has great meaning today. Once again it is important to hear what He said.  He wanted to know “Where is your faith.”  To be sure it took them by surprise.  It seems that all the trust they had in Him had evaporated with the storm. 

It was easy for the disciples to have faith when everything was going well.  To put His question another way it might be:

• Is your faith only for dry firm land where you are in your comfort zone?
• What happened to you when you got into the boat and pushed away into the deep water?
• Did your faith disappear or take a holiday when the going got rough and the storms of life assailed you?
• What kind of faith will you expect to find in yourself when you return to the shore?
• Did your faith become stronger or weaker having come through the storm?
• How well do you think that you will be able to handle the next situation over which you have no control?

Evidently they had forgotten that He had said that they were going to the other side of the lake.  With that one statement they should have been assured that no matter what happened that they were going to arrive safely on the other side.  They needed to understand that they were safe in His hands just as all of them could depend on the Father.  No harm would come to Jesus or them until His special hour in the future would come.

Their response was one of awe and amazement.  They could not quite understand who Jesus really was.  Even though He had healed many, they had just witnessed what no man had ever done before.  He had stopped a storm instantly with His command.  They wanted to know what kind of man Jesus truly was to be able to do such a thing.  The light should have come on that only God could perform such an act contrary to nature.

1. Why did Jesus wait until the storm had subsided before speaking to the disciples?
2. Why did He not rebuke them as He did the storm?
3. By asking them about their faith what was He trying to do? (Make them realize that they should trust in Him and His words.)
4. How would you answer the questions posed above in your own life?
5. What had He told them previously that should have given them assurance they would be safe?
6. Why was the stopping of the storm different from the miracles that they had seen Jesus perform?  (No one had ever shown control over nature in that way by stopping a storm from raging?
7. What kind assurance does this event give us about the times we find ourselves in the midst of the storms of life?
8. Why is the question, “Who is this” valid for us today? (We have to be sure that we know Him and can trust Him with all that we are.)
9. What should the answer tell us in light of what the disciples experienced? (Jesus is God.)

• Be confident that wherever Jesus may send you that He will be with you throughout the journey.
• Remember that you will experience storms in your life.
• When overwhelming circumstance come into your life go to Jesus.
• Keep your faith strong in the face of adversity.

The church is in the midst of a difficult time in history.  The world is doing everything in its power to destroy us.  All we have to do is to look around to see the moral decay and chaos taking place.  It is important to understand that no matter how bleak the situation that the ultimate victory belongs to God and His Son.  One of the reasons that God allows us to go through the storms of life is to be in the position to relate to those who so desperately need the healing of spirit, mind and the physical body that we have already experienced. 

Lesson 19

The Right Kind of Soil

Luke 8:1-21

If there is one parable that gives us a clear picture of the work of the gospel this one about the soils is definitely it.  I decided a long time ago that the word that I allowed to be planted would be the one factor that would change my life.  From the beginning the decision that I made to spend as much time in the Scriptures has led me on an exciting journey of discovery of the importance of God’s Word. Of course it has not been easy. I was reminded of the work that it takes by someone who plants a garden each year.  He shared how much he enjoyed the fruit of his labor, but would not put forth the effort unless he enjoyed what he does. I have tried to be the fertile soil in which God’s word can take root and grow.

Although I have been the one to spend time reading, meditating and studying His word, I know without a doubt that whatever fruit that has resulted from the effort is all produced by Him.  He is the One who brings about the harvest.  The more I submit to Him the greater the fruit.

What is true for the individual can also be said of the assembly of believers.  If we really look at ourselves it becomes obvious whether we are fertile soil in which God’s word can take root. All we have to do is look at the harvest that takes place in the body.  The fruit that should result from the sowing of God’s word is to result in transformed lives within the church.  There should also be new people coming into the body as we share the gospel with them.  When we do not see others coming to the Lord then we have to question whether we are serious about letting God’s word sink deep down into our soul.

Luke 8:1

Luke indicates that Jesus began to expand His ministry beyond Capernaum.  There is no mention of healing in this verse.  He was spending more time proclaiming and preaching about the kingdom of God. It is interesting that both the word proclaiming which means to herald forth the message and preaching which carries with it the idea of interpreting the Word of God.  In both instances the message was the same.  He spoke of the Kingdom of God.  Finally through Jesus the Father had come to rule in men’s hearts.

Jesus did not make the trip alone.  Some of the people who travelled with Him included His disciples.

1. Why did Jesus leave the confines of Capernaum? (His message was for all people.)
2. What is the difference between proclaiming and preaching?
3. What does it mean for the Kingdom of God to come to earth?  (The Kingdom of God indicates He has taken over and rules men’s hearts?
4. How does this statement relate to your life?
5. Who were some of the people who travelled with Him?
6. Why was it important for His disciples to travel with Him?

Luke 8:2-3

Besides the disciples there were a number of women who also made the trip. As Luke says they were those who had been healed by Jesus.  Some had been possessed by evil spirits and others had different types of sicknesses.  They were

• Mary Magdalene who had been demon possessed.
• Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward, Chuza.
• Susanna
• Others of which nothing is said.

All of these women were providing for the needs of Jesus from their own private means.  One could almost wonder if the woman forgiven by Jesus in Capernaum might be part of the entourage.  All of these women owed Jesus much and were willing to give what they had.

1. Why were the men following Jesus? (Out of gratitude for what He had done for them.)
2. Which of the women became the most prominent in the life of Jesus?
3. What did the support of the women say about Jesus? (Women were not excluded by Jesus as they were in the culture in which they lived.)
4. What did the support mean for the ministry of Jesus? (it could not continue without financial assistance.)
5. What does this say about the support we are to give to the ministries of the church?

Luke 8:4

Luke does not explain why Jesus spoke to the people by way of a parable.  He just said that a large crowd came to Him from various cities.  Whatever the reason, He chose that particular point to begin using a tool that would become His mainstay throughout the rest of His ministry.

1. What was beginning to happen in the ministry of Jesus? (He was beginning to draw larger crowds.)
2. How would the people from other cities have heard about Him?
3. In what ways do you encourage others to come to hear the message of the gospel?
4. Why do you think that Jesus began to use parables to teach the people?
5. What examples of parables have we already seen being used by Jesus to get a message across? (In the last chapter He spoke of the kind money lender.)

Luke 8:5-8

The parable was about a sower who went out to sow seed.  As he sowed the seed fell onto different soils.  The seed that

• Fell beside the road and was trampled underfoot and was eaten by the birds.
• Fell on rocky ground grew up quickly but because it did not have a good root system withered because of lack of moisture.
• Fell among the thorns and were choked out
• Fell on good soil grew up and produced a crop a hundredfold.

His last words to the crowd admonished them to hear what He was trying to tell them. 

1. Why did the sower sow the seed so indiscriminately? (He did not know which place would produce results.)
2. Why is it important for us to share the gospel with anyone who will listen?
3. What results might we expect? (The harvest may come from unexpected places?

Luke 8:9

It would appear that the disciples had no more discernment than any of the people in the crowd.  They began to ask Him to explain the parable to them.  Possibly they did not see themselves in any of the examples that Jesus had used.

1. Why did the disciples ask Jesus to explain the parable to them?
2. Why did they not understand what He had been saying to all the people?
3. What are the reasons that sometimes we missed the point of what a teacher or preacher is saying to us? (We may not think it applies to us.)

Luke 8:10

Before explaining the parable to them He told them of the special privilege available to them.  They would learn firsthand what God was trying to do in the world.  The mystery of God as can be seen in Colossians 1:27-28 is none other than Jesus Himself.  In others words He was going to completely reveal Himself to them.  This special privilege would be reserved for them only.

What the statement did not mean was that others would be excluded from learning what God was doing among men.  The reason they would have problem understanding was because they chose to close their ears and eyes to what God wanted to reveal to them.  See Isaiah 6:9 and Matthew 13:14.  If their hearts were receptive they would hear what He had to say.

Another reason for using parables was the fact that the stories would impact the life of at least one individual in a group of people.  He was able to touch on a person’s need without having to single them out before others.

1. What was to be the special relationship that the disciples would have with Jesus?
2. What was the mystery to which Jesus was referring?
3. How do we know that Jesus never intended to exclude anyone from the message He was sharing?
4. What did Jesus mean when He spoke of seeing but not seeing and hearing and not understanding?
5. What other reason is given for the use of parables? (Not having to single out an individual by name.)

Luke 8:11

Once Jesus had shared with the disciples His intentions, He began to break down the parable for them.  Notice there are two constants throughout the whole story.  Although not mentioned God is the sower of the seed.  This includes all of the books of the Old Testament and now those taught by Jesus.  After the life of Jesus the apostles would carry on the practice of spreading God’s word. The seed is the unchangeable word of God.

1. What are the two constants throughout the parable?
2. What do I call them constants?
3. Why is it important to have these two factors at play?
4. Who else besides Jesus had been and would be involved in spreading God’s word?
5. What is our part in the fulfillment of the parable?

Luke 8:12-18

The variable in the parable is not the soil, but its condition to receive and nourish the seed that has been sown.  As has been seen there are four different types of soil.  Jesus goes into much greater detail to show who each represents as they hear the word of God.  They are like the seed sown  

• On the pathway that has been packed hard by steady traffic.  These individuals hear and immediately their hearts are hardened by the devil.  They therefore have no hope for salvation.
• On the rocky places there were those who heard the word with great emotion but because of their shallowness the word does not become rooted in them.  Jesus said, they believe for a while until temptations overwhelm them and the fall away from the faith.
• In among the thorns.  Their faith is crowed out by all that the world has to offer in the ways of pleasure, wealth and even worries.  Of them it was said of them that their fruit never reaches maturity.
• In the good soil.  They hear because their hearts are honest, good and open to the word. This type of person holds fast to the faith because the word has become deeply rooted in him.

1. What is the variable in the different soils? (It was the condition to receive the word and have it flourish.)
2. What are the characteristics are prevalent in each of the first three soils?
3. Why do people represented in each of them fail to become mature Christians?
4. What part do you think that emotion has to play in each of them?
5. Which of the four soils do you think best represents the congregation of Bethany Place?
6. How much diversity in faith do you see among us?
7. What do we have to do to have the faith that results from being like the fourth soil?
8. What would we see happen in our church, community if we developed this kind of faith?

Luke 8:16-17

Jesus follows up the parable of the soils with another short parable dealing with the revelation of all things.  A lamp is not meant to be hidden but to give light to all its surroundings.  Jesus spoke as the light of the world.  In the glow of His light shining even in the dark places there is nothing that can be hidden that will not be exposed.

1. What relationship does this parable have with the previous one?  (His light will shine to reveal the hearts of man.)
2. Why is it important for us to understand that everything we do will come under the scrutiny of Jesus who is the light of the world?
3. Why do we sometimes want to hide from God?
4. What is the positive idea that comes from not hiding your light under a container?

Luke 8:18

If man is like the fourth soil he will listen to the word of God and filter out all the static that comes from the world around him.  It is important to realize that the more one spends in God word and serving Him, he will grow producing a harvest that is a hundred times greater.  To let ones spirit or body atrophy from neglect of God’s word even what he thought he had will be lost.

1. How is the fourth soil like the man who truly listens to God’s word?
2. What are those things that can crowd out our ability to hear Him?
3. What happens when we spend our time in the study of His word and serving Him?
4. What happens when we neglect those things?
5. What is truly important in your life?
6. What is the value of those things?

Luke 8:19-21

Luke does not tell why Mary and His half-brothers came to see Jesus at that particular time.  They may have been concerned about His welfare, as is seen in Mark 3:21. They were not able to even get close to Him because of the crowds surrounding Him. It is interesting to note that at that point in His ministry His brothers did not even believe in Him.  It would take the resurrection for that to happen.  Someone told Him that they were there. Jesus responded by saying His real family were not those who were kin by blood but those who are open to hearing God’s word and putting it into practice.

1. Why did Mary and the brothers come to see Jesus?
2. Why did the brothers not believe in Him at that point? (They just saw Him as a brother.)
3. When did the brothers begin to believe that He was the Savior of the world?
4. What do you think of His response to the one who told Him that His mother had arrived?
5. How does this tie with both of the previous parables? (It is all about hearing, believing and doing?
6. In what ways have you shown that you are in the true family of Jesus?

• Take an honest look at yourself to see which of the soils best represents your response to God’s word.
• Challenge yourself to change with God’s help if you picture yourself as any of the first three soils.
• For those of you who see yourselves in the category that fits in with the fourth soil make sure your life reflects the mature fruit that comes from it.
• Spend time in fellowship with the Father everyday through prayer and meditation upon His word.
• However God has gifted you make sure you do not hide them but use them to serve others. 
• Give thanks that God has included you in His family through the work of His Son on the Cross.

The last thing that we want to happen within the body is to become known as a church that does not hear and do the word of God.  There are so many obstacles that get in the way today that keep us from going deeper into His word.  We want to be a church that God can use in transforming the lives of all with whom we come in contact.  This will happen when His word becomes ingrained in us. There should be none of us who represent the pathway, rocky ground or land overrun with thorns.  Our lives can only produce a harvest as we let the seed grow in the fertile soil of our mind and heart.  When that happens people will recognize us as members of God’s forever family.

Lesson 18

Tale of Two Sinners

Luke 7:36-50

It is so easy to have preconceived ideas about other people.  First impressions sometimes make it difficult to really get to know an individual.  I sometimes jump to conclusions before having any facts before making a decision.  All too often I look at those things that should not be a determinate factor on whether I would accept that person as a friend.  It may be the way they are dressed or even their personalities.  I have to be very careful to make sure that I view people through the eyes of Christ.  It is He who knows the heart of each of us.

I have shared in my testimony that as a young person I never did anything that would have been considered really bad in my own eyes. Having said that, it would be very easy for me to become self-righteous.  Of course like all boys I have done some mischievous things of which I am not proud of now. I have learned over the years that even the smallest sin makes me out of fellowship with God.  He did not jump to conclusions about me.  Everything I have ever done and will do, He already knows.  That one fact puts me in a desperate situation.  Thankfully, Jesus has looked beyond those sins and has poured out His mercy and grace on me.

What we do individually is only multiplied when it comes to the church. The important question  for all churches today is how do you treat your guests?  Do we jump to conclusions about them as soon as the step on church grounds?  It is so easy to ignore them and let them leave without an acknowledgement of their presence in any way.  We especially treat them that way if they do not appear to be like us.  We never try to find out anything about them or why they came through the doors of the church.  We have to be careful that we do not think of ourselves as having figured life out and no longer have any spiritual needs to be met. To elevate ourselves above others is a form of pride which makes us a sinner in need of the spiritual healing that only Jesus can bring.  We must remember that the ground at the foot of the cross is level. 

There were two sinners in the narrative found in Luke 7.  One realized their condition.  The other did not.  We will look at how Jesus addressed each of them.

Luke 7:36

A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to have a meal with him.  There could be at least three reasons he asked Jesus to eat with him.

1. He may have been a seeker after wisdom and truly wanted to learn from this Rabbi who had newly arrived on the scene.
2. He may have wanted to try and trap Him in what He said or did so that he could report it to the other religious leaders.
3. He may have just wanted to be seen with those considered a celebrity by the people and did not care about Jesus as a person at all.

Jesus accepted his invitation and after entering the home He reclined at the table.  To recline at the table in the Middle Eastern culture was to lean on the table with your left arm. The person’s legs would then be extended out from the table toward the wall.  This would allow them to eat with their right hand.

1. What are some of the reasons that the Pharisee may have had for inviting Jesus to eat with him?
2. What was the first thing that Jesus did upon entering into the house?
3. What can we learn about the Middle Eastern culture from what was written above?

Luke 7:37-38

While they were reclining at the table a woman entered into the room.  Luke describes her as one who evidently was well known in the city as a sinner.  The woman did something that was unheard of in the culture of that day by going into the house of a Pharisee.  It was no accident that she was there.  Evidently, she had planned to approach Jesus when the opportunity presented itself.  Luke said of her, she brought with her a small vial of perfume.  There was no better time than in a setting of a small dinner party away from the glaring stares of the crowds who were following Him.  Aware of her own sinfulness she was willing to even endure the wrath of a Pharisee in order to get relief from her miserable condition.  Standing behind Him she began to weep which dropped on the feet of Jesus. She was desperate and realized that Jesus was the only one who could help her overcome her life of sin.  

Her next act gave an indication of the type of woman she was.  Respectable women would never have let their hair down in public.  She however did not care what others thought and began wiping away the tears with her hair and kissing His feet in homage to Him. Then, she took the vial of perfume and poured it out anointing His feet with it.  Jesus did not reprimand her or make her stop what she was doing.  He accepted her worship.

1. How did Luke describe the woman who entered into the home of the Pharisee?
2. Why was it strange for a woman to enter the room where men would be dining? (The Pharisee would have never had anything to do with such a woman.)
3. What indicated that this was preplanned on her part?
4. What caused her to begin to weep as she did? (She realized her sinfulness.)
5. What shows us that she was a sinful woman? (Proper women would not let down their hair in public.)
6. What was the final act that showed her complete brokenness?
7. Why did Jesus not turn her away but accepted her worship?

Luke 7:39

The Pharisee responded as would be expected.  He jumped to a conclusion about Jesus. Although he did not say anything out loud his thoughts spoke volumes about him.  His immediate conclusion was that Jesus could not possibly be a prophet because surely one who was sent as a spokesman from God would have:   

• Known the reputation of the woman.
• Not allowed her to touch Him.
• Known that she was a sinner.

1. What was the attitude of the Pharisee toward Jesus? (Showed disgust and disrespect for his guest.)
2. What did he find objectionable about Jesus’ actions?
3. In what way was this jumping to conclusions?
4. What did this show about Pharisee’s regard for others?
5. If he had known what kind of woman she was why did she have to come to Jesus to be healed spiritually?
6. Who else would fall under the condemnation of the Pharisee?
7. If you had been there what would have been your reaction to the actions of the woman?

Luke 7:40-42

Jesus knew what Simon, the Pharisee, was thinking.  Rather than responding directly to him, He told a parable. Two people had borrowed some money and could not repay it.  One owed what was equivalent to a hundred days wages and the other fifty.  The lender graciously forgave both of them the debt they owed.  Jesus asked Simon a question which spoke to one’s heart condition.  He said, “Which of them would love him (the moneylender) more?”

1. How did Jesus know what Simon was thinking? (Because He knew the mindset of Pharisees and their disdain for others.)
2. Why did Jesus tell a story? (It was the easiest way to get His point across without accusing Simon of judgmental attitude)
3. What was the point that Jesus was trying to convey? (Those who are in debt are the same in the eyes of the debtor.  Both are helpless to help themselves.)
4. Why did Jesus use the word love when speaking of what the lender had done? (We would not ordinarily think of love when dealing with money matters.  It was the way that the lender handled the situation that brought the men to the point of choosing to love the man.  Luke once again used the word agapao.)
5. Why did he ask Simon what he thought? (Simon also was a sinner and needed to face the issue in his own life.)

Luke 7:43 

It appears that the Pharisee’s answer was given reluctantly.  He hesitated giving a response that might implicate him or make him look bad.  There is another possibility.  He may have understood that Jesus was not only speaking about the woman but him also. When he admitted, the one forgiven more would love more Jesus confirmed his words.

1. Why would the Pharisee be reluctant to answer the question Jesus asked?
2. How would you answer the question if asked?
3. How would his answer make him look bad?
4. Why would Jesus also be speaking to the Pharisee when the subject had been the woman?
5. What did Jesus say to the man to indicate that he had understood the parable?

Luke 7:44-46

Although Jesus turned from Simon and looked at the woman He was in reality still dealing with the sinfulness of both parties.  He spoke once again to Simon in a way that the man would have to see the woman who was there for the first time.  People like her, including Jesus had been neglected and disliked by the Pharisees long enough.  By contrasting the behavior of the so called righteous and the well-known sinner, Jesus let Simon know in no uncertain times that He indeed was the Prophet. 

The actions of both of them while at the home of Simon clearly showed what they felt about Jesus. The common courtesies usually extended to a guest were completely neglected by Simon.  He showed by his lack of civility a complete disrespect for Jesus.  Meanwhile, all of the things he failed to do were done out of love by the woman.

• Simon did not provide water to wash the dust off his feet while the woman washed His feet with her tears and wiped His feet with her hair.
• Simon gave no kiss of greeting. The woman continually kissed His feet.
• Simon did not anoint His head but the woman anointed His feet with perfume.  See Psalm 23.

1. Although Jesus looked at the woman to whom was He really speaking?
2. What was Jesus trying to do with Simon?  (Make him see the woman for the first time as a real person.)
3. In what ways had the Pharisee put the woman and Jesus in the same category? (He had no respect for either of them.)
4. How did He bring attention to the real Simon? (His treatment of Jesus in comparison to what the woman did?
5. What did her actions say about her?
6. Which person best represents you? 
7. Why would you say so?

Luke 7:47

There was one more contrast between the two people from totally different worlds.  It had to do with love.  Jesus explained to Simon that the woman who truly was a sinner was forgiven because her over the top display of love for Him.  This also spoke to Simon’s doubt of Jesus’ identity.  He now claimed to have the ability to forgive sins.  That statement would make Him more than a prophet but more importantly the Son of God and the Messiah of the world.

He then stated words that Simon never thought he would hear.  Jesus said to him you are the man in the parable who had little love.  Since you are not capable of loving others, you miss out on forgiveness.  Pride will always preclude one from experiencing the love and forgiveness of God.

1. What was the final contrast between the Pharisee and the woman?
2. What was the reason that Simon missed out on forgiveness?
3. What is one thing that distinguishes people that we know that indicates their devotion to Jesus?
4. How did Jesus know that she had such deep love for Him? (She was radical in her devotion to Him?
5. In what ways can we show a radical love for Christ?
6. By His words what did Jesus claim?
7. In what ways did He actually go beyond what Simon had initially questioned about Him? (By His words Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and the Messiah.)
8. What will call down God’s condemnation on us?

Luke 7:48-50

Having dealt with Simon, Jesus then once again directed His full attention back to the woman. His words are what she had been waiting to hear.  He said to her.

• Your sins have been forgiven.
• Your faith has saved you; go in peace.

In between those two statements the people at the dinner asked the question that was a stumbling block for them.  They knew that mere man could not forgive sins.  They wanted to know how He could claim to do so.  They did not comprehend that He was claiming to be the Messiah.  It is that simple fact that gives people so much trouble today.  To accept the two statements above is all that is needed to know Jesus is the Savior.  Most still have trouble accepting the fact.

Jesus did allow their doubts stop them from providing the woman with the assurance she needed.  To her it made no difference what they had thought of her, she was now free from sin and had been saved.

What does this mean for you?

• Always treat guests the same way you would have wanted to be treated on your first Sunday at church.
• Never jump to conclusions about an individual before finding out about them.
• You must be keenly aware that there who have a deep need for forgiveness and salvation.
• Be sensitive to the needs of others.
• Remember a passionate walk with Christ will open the door to help people along their own journey.
• Always approach each day with a humble spirit knowing you are only a child of God because of His great mercy.

We have many opportunities to meet new people. Our attitude towards them can make all the difference in they respond to Christ.  If we appear to be self-righteous they will quickly see through us and will be turned off to the church.

There are a number of ways to show that we are glad that someone has chosen to honor us with their presence. As soon as they come on the property to have someone greet them will go a long way to making them feel welcome. We can make sure that they are not left to navigate the church by themselves. Getting the children and youth to the right place and actually introducing them to others so they feel at home.  Accompanying them to the worship is another step to be taken.  There are others things we can do that might be discussed.  One last thought we should make sure that no one leaves the building with someone speaking to them.  Even better is to get their name and telephone number so you can contact them during the week. The church sends out information but the personal touch is all important.

To do all of the above is the way that we will attract others and soon find that unbelievers will begin to attend.  We cannot reach the lost if we do not open our doors and hearts to them.  

 Lesson 17

Evidence for Jesus

Luke 7:18-35

When I accepted Jesus as my Savior at the age of nine, I knew only that I believed in Him because of faith.  As I remember there was no proof that He was who He said He was, I just put my trust in Him to save me from my sins.  I was baptized based on that statement.  Years later I committed to serving Him not based on a body of evidence.  I just knew under the influence of the Holy Spirit that was what I was called to do. When confronted by an unbeliever that was all I had to share with that person.

Since those days I have come to enjoy reading books and listening to those who discuss what we call apologetics, the proof that Jesus is the Son of God, Savior of the world as taught from the pages of the Bible.  I did not realize it at the time but “Mere Christianity” by C. S. Lewis was the earliest taste I had on apologetics.  One of the easiest books on the subject is “More Than a Carpenter” by Josh McDowell.  He also wrote “Evidence that demands a Verdict.” There are now more books and articles available than I could possibly read, I continue to be fascinated by the explanations of so many learned men seeking to refute the false doctrine of the anti-Christ movement.

Why is it that with such much material available to us in the church that we seem to become less able to defend ourselves against the onslaught of a secular worldview?  There are one or two possibilities.  One we are not aware of what is being written about the evidence for the Bible.  The other is that we have just accepted what the world has said about us and have retreated inside the walls of the church.  Neither is an option for us.  We must wake up to the fact that no one is going to help us if we do not begin to take it upon ourselves to learn the truth.  Jesus said many times to just look at the works that He was doing to believe that He had been sent by the Father.  The answers will not be found in those opposed to Christianity but those who spend their lives searching for and discovery the truths found in Scripture.

Luke 7:18-19

Since John the Baptist had been imprisoned by Herod, his disciples became his eyes and ears to the outside world.  It would appear that although John was being held by Herod, he was stilled allowed to have visitors.  They came to him and told him of the things that Jesus had been doing. None of those things would indicate that Jesus was about to set things right for the Jewish people.  It did not appear that He was the Messiah that John was expecting.  John the Baptist called two of his disciples to him in order to send them to Jesus to find out what His intentions might be. He had two questions for Jesus.

• Are You the Expected One (meaning Messiah)
• If not are the people to look for someone else who would fill the requirements.

John’s own words earlier should have been a clue.  He had called Jesus the Lamb who had come to take away the sins of the people.  There was no mention of setting up an earthly kingdom or a beginning a military uprising of any type.  He, it appeared was beginning to question his own earlier assessment of Jesus.  He may have expected to be freed by Jesus which had not happened.

1. How did John the Baptist know about the activities of Jesus?
2. Why did that news raise questions in the mind of John? (Because Jesus was not acting like the Messiah?
3. What had happened previously that should have been a clue for John of Jesus’ reason for being on earth?
4. What did John’s questions tell us about his thinking?
5. If Jesus had come to set up an earthly kingdom what expectations might John have had? (To gain his freedom from prison.)

Luke 7:20

When the men came to Jesus they first identified themselves as having been sent by John.  Once they had done so they then shared the questions that he had sent them to ask. 

1. Why was the answer to the questions not only important to John but also to the men themselves? (They needed to know what to think about Jesus.)
2. Why did Luke repeat the questions? (The evidence of who Jesus was hinged on the answer in the mind of John.)
3. Why is the answer important to us today?

Luke 7:21-22

Jesus did not immediately answer them but continued healing people of

• Diseases
• Afflictions
• Evil spirits

He also gave sight to the blind.  How better to answer them than for them to see His work first hand. Once He gave them physical evidence He then turned to the Scriptures to provide the message they were to take back to John. He cited two verses from Isaiah that described the coming Messiah.  The first was found in Isaiah 35:5-6 which spoke of the healing of the blind, deaf and the lame.  The second was found in Isaiah 61:1 which Jesus summarized.  The entire verse reads:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners.” 

This is what Jesus was to do at His first coming.  It is interesting that He did not continue on into the second verse which spoke of those things to be accomplished when He returns the second time.

1. Why did Jesus not answer them immediately?
2. What was the best way for them to understand who Jesus was? (No one had ever been able to do those things that He was doing.)
3. Why did Jesus summarize Isaiah 35:5-6 and 61:1 for the messengers as the words they were to carry back to John? (John the Baptist being of the priestly family would know that those two passages referred to the coming Messiah.)
4. Why did Jesus claim them for Himself?
5. Who else would have been the recipient of the message that day? (Those who were healed.)
6. Why did Jesus purposely leave out the part about the prisoners being set free? (The word to John could not include freedom because that was not in his future.)
7. How do these two Scriptures provide us with evidence that Jesus was the Messiah? (Fulfilled prophecy)

Luke 7:23

Those who did not reject His words or become offended by the claims He made would find joy in their lives.  Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy.  There would be some among the crowd who even seeing what He had done would take issue with Him because they had already turned away from the Father.  To be specific the Pharisees were looking for every opportunity to condemn Him and prove that He was not the Son of God.

1. Who were those who would be offended by what Jesus said and did? (The religious leaders of His day)
2. What was their reasoning?
3. How do we know that it was taking place? (The very fact that Jesus had to address the issue is proof enough.)
4. Can you name an incident when you were ridiculed for your stance on Christianity?
5. When have you played it safe and not let others know you are a Christian because of the fear of being ridiculed?
6. Why should we have no fear?

Luke 7:24-27

Jesus was not finished with His focus on John. As the men left Jesus turned to the crowd and began to clear up the minds of the people who John was.  He began by asking about their perception of him.  Based on His words most people did not understand the mission of John.

His questions what did you expect to see when you went out into the wilderness where John was living and baptizing?  Was he to be like?

• One who was as easily swayed in his belief as a reed being blown about in the wind?
• Those who were men of wealth and position.
• Those in leadership who lived in fancy homes.

Jesus in essence was saying that John was none of those things.  He was a prophet.  But even more of a prophet than who had preceded him, he was the forerunner who was bringing the message that the Messiah was coming.  Jesus used the prophecy spoken about in Malachi 3:1 to affirm the identity of John.  By speaking of John in that way, He also was asserting that He was the One to which John was pointing.  Many of those there may even have been present when John announced to the world that Jesus was the Lamb of God. (John 1:29)

1. Why did Jesus ask the people what they expected to see when they went to John the Baptist?  (He wanted them to understand he truly was.)
2. What did the three things that Jesus said about John tell us about his character? (Strong man who had rejected all the trappings of the Jewish religious leaders.)
3. What was the purpose of John’s ministry?
4. What was Jesus asserting about Himself when He identified John as a messenger?
5. What had John said about Jesus affirms what Jesus was saying about Himself? (John 1:29)
6. In what way do these statements help you understand who Jesus is?

Luke 7:28

After describing the purpose and character of John, He went on to clarify both in His final words about him.  According to Jesus John was the greatest of all men born.  He had the privilege of pronouncing the coming of the Messiah. He stood at the crossroads of history bridging the old order of the law and the age of grace that was coming through the death and resurrection of Christ. 

Jesus was very clear that it would take the completion of His work that would bring salvation to mankind and the entry into the eternal kingdom.  Anyone born prior to that time was part of the Old Testament and not part of the age of grace.  John was the greatest in the previous age but what he had could not compare to one born again into the new kingdom.

1. Why was John called the greatest man, born of a woman up to that time? (He was given the privilege of announcing the coming of the Messiah.)
2. What was John’s place in history?
3. Why was John considered least in the new kingdom?
4. What would it take for John and all who followed him to find salvation?
5. What is the good news for you that can be derived from this verse?

Luke 7:29

The people who heard Jesus speak understood what God had done through John.  They had come to him for a baptism of repentance.  They had been the recipients of God’s justice because they had been willing to repent.  On the opposite side were the Pharisees and lawyers who had rejected the message of John.  They would not admit that they were sinners in need of repentance and baptism.

1. Who were those who understood what Jesus was saying?
2. Why did they understand? (They had experience the work of God in their hearts.)
3. What was in their future? (Salvation built of the repentance and baptism they had received.)
4. Who were those who reject the words of Jesus?
5. Why had they refused to be baptized by John?
6. What lay in their future?
7. Into which of these two groups of people do you fall?
8. Based on your thoughts what are you willing to do?

Luke 7:31-35

Jesus carried the theme of the difference between those who accepted John’s teaching and were baptized and those who rejected him.  Those same groups treated Jesus in the same way.  No matter how each of those men acted and spoke there would be critics.  John had turned his back on his religious heritage of being a religious leader.  He was ridiculed for his aesthetic life style.  Jesus on the other hand associated with all types of people and the religious leaders criticized Him.  He knew that in the end, the truth of His message would prevail. Those who were willing to truly listen to the message of Jesus would be open to what He was telling them.  Those with closed minds will always reject His words.

1. Who were the people that Jesus was describing?
2. Why would they not accept the actions of both John and Jesus?
3. Who are those who truly understand what Jesus came to do?
4. Which of these people better describes who you are?
5. What does it take for you to have an open mind to God’s word?

• Always begin with the Bible to answer any questions you may have.
• Medicate on passages like the one in this study to get a clear picture of Jesus as the Son of God.
• If there is a question in your mind about the identity of Christ, utilize tools that will help you address your doubts.
• Look to see if there is anything in your life that we keep you separated from Christ.
• Be careful that you do not develop the attitude of the Pharisees and Lawyers.

It is a fantastic journey that we have an opportunity to take.  There are people at all different levels of spiritual maturity in the church.  To see the growth that can place as each person is transformed from unbeliever to a follower of Christ is exciting.  It is what the church is to be all about.  The way this transformation can occur depends on the our understanding of Christ and His identity.  For this kind of church to exist it must be built on the foundation of the truths that can only be discovered about Christ in the pages of the Bible.  We must be careful not to be swayed by false teachings which may cause others to be misled. Once we have identified with Him we are to put into practice all that we have learned. Let us be a church that has chooses to make the gospel the center of all of who we are.