BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 10

Healings

Luke 5:12-26

Being somewhat of an introvert I often find it easier to confine what I do to a safe environment.  Writing lessons can be done alone. Reading can be done in the privacy on our home.  I often wonder if even the things I do at the church building are what I am truly supposed to be doing.  It is harder to make myself openly evangelize when it is not my personality to do so.  When the church was doing the FAITH evangelistic ministry I enjoyed facilitating the learning time than I did going and knocking on the door of a complete stranger.

Even as a child, there were certain situations I tried to avoid. To this day I do not like Halloween  because I did care to dress up in a silly costume and go to homes of people I did not know.  I did not feel like yelling trick or treat just to get candy.  The worse experience I had was passing out brochures for my dad who was a Fuller Brush salesman for a while.  Both he and my brother are alike.  Both had and have no problem talking with anyone. 

 I know that Jesus calls us to get out of our comfort zone.  The longer I remain in it the more difficult it is to break out of the pattern.  People who are out beyond the walls of the church desperately need Jesus.  I need to share with others what He has shown me.

Churches can get in the same rut because it is made up of people often too often with the mindset of feeling comfortable with who it is. Our attitude is if the people really want to be a part of our group then they will find us.  If Jesus had had the same attitude as many of us, I am not sure if we truly believe today that He is the Messiah.  Reading God’s word we see He went about healing and teaching. He was sent to do so.  The problem for us who have become so complacent is that Jesus said everywhere you find yourself you are to begin and continue the process of making disciples.  He did not plan to spend all of His time in the church of His day, the synagogue, but was always out among the people.  Let us not look at the building as a destination each week but as sending out place.

Luke 5:12-13

Many of the people Jesus healed would never have met Him except for the fact that He travelled from city to city to teach and preach about the Kingdom of God. Most of them would have not been able to attend a service in the synagogue or the Temple because of their unclean condition.  Such was the case of the two men found in the rest of this chapter. 

As He was about the Father’s business travelling from city to city a man who was completely covered with leprosy approached Him.  He fell on his face before Jesus and with his statement showed his confidence in Jesus.  He knew that He could heal the leprosy, that was not the problem. He was begging Jesus to do what no other man would be willing to do including the religious leaders if they could. He desired to be healed of his leprosy. He was considered unclean because of his disease and was not allowed to get close to anyone or even be touched by another human being, except another leper.  Now, he was imploring Jesus to do the unthinkable.

Jesus immediately complied with his request and reached out His hand to cleanse the man of leprosy.  His words to the man were just what the desperate man needed to hear.  Jesus said, “I am willing be cleansed.”  G. Campbell Morgan a great preacher of the last century indicated that the act of reaching out to touch the man and the healing were simultaneous therefore Jesus did not violated the law of touching an unclean person.

1. Why was it important for Jesus get outside the synagogues?
2. Why was it even more important for Him to travel from city to city?
3. How did this healing fit the pattern of so many others? (The person either came to Jesus personally or was brought to Him by others)
4. What action by the man showed his great faith in Jesus? (He was willing to approach Jesus in his unclean state.)
5. Why did the man say, “If You are willing?” (Jesus was not obligated to have anything to do with a leper.)

Luke 5:14

There were two different commands given to the leper after he was healed.  He was told first of all not to tell anyone about the healing.  If the word got out about what had happened, He would have been considered only a miracle man.  Healing was not the main focus of His ministry.  If it was He would have cured every person with whom He came in contact.  There were many that did not experience being made physically better.  Jesus had come to tell about the kingdom of His Father. 

Jesus then commanded the healed man to go to the priests and complete his obligations of one cleansed of leprosy.  Only after the offerings were made and the priest declared him clean could he return to society. The man did not need the confirmation that he was cleansed but by obeying the command of Jesus it eliminated any question in the minds of others. 

1. Why was the man told to keep quiet about the healing?
2. Why was the man told to go to the priests?
3. What must the man do to indicate that he was sure of his healing?
4. Why was the offerings and other parts of the cleansing process important? (The man would not be accepted in society without the stamp of approval from the priests.)
5. How do you know that you have beencleansed from sin in your life?
6. How is the healing you may experience in your life different from the leper? (He still had to perform the requirements of the law while we live under grace.)

Luke 5:15

Inevitably, the news about what Jesus was doing would spread.  It was obvious that the leper was cured of his disease and people would want to know who did it.  The very thing that Jesus did want to happen occurred anyway.  News about Him spread and the sick flocked to where He was to be healed.  Those occasions did provide Him the opportunity for Him to teach.

1. How could Jesus expect for the news about Him not to be broadcast throughout the land?
2. What was the inevitable result?
3. What opportunities did the coming of the people give Him? (To teach)
4. What are the reasons that you come to Jesus?
5. Which is more important to have your spiritual needs or physical ones met?
6. Why do you believe that way?

Luke 5:16

Whenever He could Jesus would slip away from the crowds.  This would become more difficult as His fame grew.  He would use that time to get by Himself away from the noise of the crowds and pray.  Even though He was the Son of God, Jesus needed those times of communing with His Father and being spiritually refreshed.

1. Why did Jesus feel it necessary to get away from the crowds coming for healing?
2. Why would it become more and more difficult to do so?
3. How do we know that this was a pattern for His life? (See also Mark 1:35)
4. In what way is the action of Jesus an example for us?
5. Why do we need to get alone with God?

Luke 5:17

It is obvious that Jesus was not exclusive of anyone who was willing to listen to His teaching.  In this verse He was found sitting among Pharisees and teachers who had come from all over Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem. At this point in His ministry they may have been there out of curiosity.  They had heard of the new rabbi who certainly was not part of their group.  He was making a name for Himself and they came to see why He was so popular. 

It is a telling statement on the part of Luke that the power to perform healing was on Him. Sadly, the men among whom He sat would not believe they needed healing of any type.  Those who desired to be cured could not get to Him because of those men.

1. Why did Jesus take the time to try and teach the religious leaders? (His message is for all people including those who believe they do not need to hear it.)
2. Why had those religious leaders come to Jesus? (Curiosity)
3. Why did Luke mention that Jesus had the power to heal? (Those men needed spiritual and possibly physical healing but did not recognize the fact.)
4. Who was excluded from being able to see Jesus? (Those who desired to be healed and to hear His life changing message.)
5. In what ways do we sometimes act like those religious leaders? (We pretend that we do not need what Jesus has to offer.)

Luke 5:18-19

There were a group of men who were determined to bring their friend to Jesus to be healed. At first they were not able to get into the house to see him because of all of the religious leaders crowded around Him.  They were not going be deterred in fulfilling their mission.  Seeing the impossibility of breaking through the crowd they carried him up onto the roof of the building, removed some tiles and let him down right in front of Jesus.

1. What motivated those men to carry the man to Jesus?
2. What does their determination show about the relationship they had with each other?
3. Why would they not let the crook turn them away?
4. What do you think of the reaction of the religious leaders? (Maybe one of disgust that their meeting had been interrupted.)
5. What evidences are there in your own life of the type of determination shown by those men to bring people you know into the presence of Jesus?
6. What have been the results when you have done so?

Luke 5:20-21

The response to the actions of the men who brought the paralytic to Jesus was different than one might expect.  It certainly revealed the true feelings of the religious leaders.  Jesus seeing the determination of those who their friend to Him and the faith that believed He could indeed heal him spoke to the heart of what the man truly needed.  It was obvious that he needed to be physically restored to health, but more than that there was a spiritual healing that needed to take place. Jews believed that physical ailments were caused by a person’s sin.

It was one thing to acknowledge that a man was sick because he had sinned.  It was entirely different to claim to have the ability to forgive man of that sin. For that reason when He spoke of the sin issue in the man’s life the religious leaders became infuriated.  It was enough for Jesus to go around healing and teaching.  He was however doing something only what God had the ability to do, forgive sins.

1. What would be the normal reaction of seeing men so committed to their friend that they would do everything in their power to bring him into the presence of Jesus?  (We would probably applaud their actions.)
2. What was the reaction of the religious leaders to the words of Jesus? (They were infuriated.)
3. By speaking the way He did what was Jesus claiming? (He had the power to forgive sin thus making Himself out to being equal with God.)
4. In the minds of Jews what was the correlation between sin and sickness? (Sickness stemmed from the fact that a man/woman had sin in their lives.)
5. Why did the religious leaders have no problem with healings?

Luke 5:22-25

Jesus knew what they were thinking so He asked them a question that would be difficult to answer because no matter how it was answered they would have to affirm that God had worked through Jesus.  He asked them whether it was easier to tell a man that God had forgiven his sins or to get him up on his feet to walk. 

To answer the question for them He would show that He had authority over sin by giving them physical proof by healing the man of his paralysis which in the mind of those there had been caused by the sin.

He turned to the paralytic and commanded to him to get up and take the evidence of your old life and go home.  Immediately the man obeyed Jesus picked up his bed and returned home giving glory to God.

1. How did Jesus know what the religious leaders were thinking? (He understood what was in the hearts of man. See John 2:24-25)
2. What evidence did He give that the man’s sins had been forgiven?
3. What could the religious leaders not answer His question? (They would have to acknowledge that Jesus was the Son of God.  They could not rid themselves of all the ideas that had been around for centuries.)
4. How was the man different than the religious leaders? (He believed he was free from all guilt and the prison of his paralysis and was able to obey Jesus because of his new found faith.)
5. What was his response to the command of Jesus?
6. How sure are you, that Jesus has forgiven your sins? (He went to the cross to prove His love for you.)

Luke 5:26

All those there had four reactions to what Jesus had done.  They:

• Struck with astonishment
• Began glorifying God
• Were filled with awe, reverence for God
• Spoke of the event they had just witnessed as being remarkable.

 

 

1. What did the people think of the event that just occurred?
2. Who would have been part of the group who were amazed? (The religious leaders)
3. To whom did they give honor?
4. In what ways do you honor and glorify God for what He has done in your life or the lives of those you know?
5. In what ways do you recognize when God has done something special in your life?

 

• Remember that although you may tend to forget, you at one time were in the same condition as the leper and the paralytic, lost without hope.
• Give thanks that you are or were never beyond the reach of God’s mercy and love.
• Remember that Jesus touched your life and made you clean from the penalty of death.
• Regard people with the same love that has been shown towards you.
• Pray for the opportunity to touch the life of someone that they may know Jesus.

The church is a hospital for spiritually sick people.  That sickness may manifest itself in many forms.  There are those who try to hide it behind a façade of everything is alright.  It may appear as one who is apathetic to its surroundings.  For some it may appear in the form of anger towards God.  Whatever the portrait one tries to paint of himself, he or she is still in need of the healing power of God.  As each of us has the blinders removed from our eyes we will begin to recognize the symptoms of those who are hurting and show them the love of Christ. Let us all begin to see others through the eyes of Jesus and treat them accordingly.   

 

Lesson 9

Who Believes in You

Luke 5:1-11

There are all types of situations in which people express confidence in others.  When and company hires an employee it believes that the individual is capable of doing the job for which he/she has been hired. Marriage is another example of the trust between two people that comes from the belief that I can live with and enjoy a long term relationship until the Lord calls one or both home.  In my life there have been people who have expressed a belief in me. Of course one is my wife to whom I have been married for over fifty years. She is the love of my life and my best friend in spite of all my shortcomings she continues to be an encouragement to me. 

In my spiritual walk there have been as mentioned before two men who although I no longer in contact with either were my mentors and ones who believed that I had some talents and abilities that could be used in service to God.  Probably, I would not be doing what I do today if it had been for those two.  The neat part of what they did was to seek me out from among all those they could have helped.  I like to think they were a lot Jesus who chose men who never thought of accomplishing what He was calling them to do.

All too often the church suffers because we do not look for the potential in others. We have a tendency to pigeonhole people for a number of reasons. Instead of limiting people and potentially having them go somewhere else we need to rethink ways to involve them in the ministries of the church.  As long as we believe they do not have the potential and do not challenge them to serve they will atrophy in their spiritual life.  We all too often think of ourselves the way others picture us.

There is a story that is told of a teacher who told that he was going to be teaching the brightest and best in a particular school.  Sure enough at the end of the year the students had lived up to his expectations.  After the year was over he was then informed that his class had actually been made up of average students.  What was the difference between them remaining average and achieving great things? It was the attitude of the teacher who believed in them and challenged to do more than they would have otherwise accomplished.

The question is do we want those who come after us to be just like many today?  Is it not more productive for God’s kingdom to challenge people to exceed the expectations that a person may have of himself/herself?

Luke 5:1-3

Jesus had gone down to Judea to teach and preach, but had returned to the area around the Sea of Galilee. Gennesaret was another name of the Sea of Galilee. Luke begins to recount the calling of the first disciples in this chapter.

As had been His practice in Nazareth and previously in Capernaum He once again was teaching the people in Galilee.  Remember the words he words of Jesus were spoken with authority and power.  Therefore, the people wanted to get as close as they could to hear His words.  As they crowded in only those closest to Him would have been able to hear. He notice two boats nearby and had Simon put his boat out a short distance from the shore.  Having done so, the water would provide the amplification of His voice so all could hear His teaching.

1. Why did Jesus pick that particular location near the Sea of Galilee to teach the people? (He already decided who would be His first disciples and they would be found down at the shoreside.)
2. Why did the people press in on Jesus?
3. What did this show about the words of Jesus?
4. What was the advantage of getting in the boat to speak to the people?
5. Why did he pick Simon’s boat? (He already knew him.)

Luke 5:4-7

At the conclusion of His message, He commanded Simon to put his boat further out into the sea and cast down his nets. Jesus seemed to be saying to him, I will join you in your fishing today. Simon responded by letting Jesus know that he and his partners had labored all night and had failed to catch anything.  He had spoken correctly because he had continued to turn away from Jesus and return to his fishing. Anything away from the purpose to which God calls a person will bring failure. He then stated that because Jesus wanted him to do so he would comply with His wishes. Simon had heard the same words as all of the others had and understood that Jesus carried within himself an authority like no other man.

From the other gospels it is evident that this was not the first time that Peter and the others had been with Jesus. After previously spending short periods of time with Him they went back to their fishing boats. The first meeting would have taken place as they followed Him after John’s proclamation, calling Jesus the Lamb of God. (See John 1:35-39) In the last verse of Luke 4 it does seem to indicate that any of the four travelled with Jesus when He went into Judea to teach.

With Jesus in the boat, the catch was so great that Peter could not haul them in because to do so would break the nets.  His partners came with their boat they filled the two boats to the point of almost sinking.

1. Why did Jesus have Simon move out into deeper water and again down his nets?  (Jesus knew that he had come up empty handed and wanted to let Simon know that only in Him could he be successful.)
2. Why was he willing to do what Jesus commanded?
3. Why had the men not continued to walk with Jesus after their previous meetings?
4. What did Jesus show to all of them when the catch was so great? (They could accomplish  more with Him than by their own puny efforts.)

Luke 5:8

The extraordinary event was more than Peter could handle.  He had just witnessed something neither he nor his partners had ever seen in all of their years of fishing for a living. Remember they had been with Jesus on previous occasions and had seen Him perform miracles but were still not convinced that they should follow Him permanently.  Now Simon was confronted with a choice.  He could once again turn back from the opportunity be presented to him and continue doing what was familiar and comfortable or confess his sin and give up everything to become a disciple of Jesus. Initially, upon seeing the miracle his reaction was to see himself as being totally unworthy of being a disciple of Christ. James, John and Andrew were in the same position. For the moment, however, Jesus was focusing on the man who would become the future leader of the Apostles.

1. Why did Peter have trouble grasping what had just occurred?
2. What evidence do we have that this was not the first time that Peter and the others had seen Jesus and had been invited to follow Him?
3. Why did Peter want Jesus to depart from him?
4. Why did he feel that way? (Because he had failed to follow Him earlier.)

Luke 5:10

At that moment the invitation to him, to not only follow Him but also to completely change his way of life by becoming a fisher of men. Jesus wanted Simon and the others to become His disciples.  He was the One who reached out to them and chose them to follow Him.  This would be the pattern with all of the disciples who He asked to follow and learn from Him for the next three plus years.

It is interesting that the way Jesus went about choosing the men to follow Him was at odds to the normal way of selecting disciples.  Within the Jewish religion a young could only become a  rabbi after years of dedicated study.  If he then proved worthy by excelling in his studies and was willing to spend many years of his life learning from a particular rabbi, he would approach him and ask that he be allowed to become his student.  By the time the training was complete the disciple of the rabbi would have thoroughly learned, not only all of the traditions of the Jewish religion but would have memorized good portions if not all of the Old Testament.

The key was that only the brightest and committed men would dare to ask to eventually become a rabbi. By the time a young man would have approached the rabbi, most of them would have discovered they did not have the passion to give so much of their lives to that intense kind of learning.  Most men would wind up staying home.  They would possibly enter into the family business.  In the case of the first disciples of Jesus all of them were fishermen.

Then along came Jesus. He saw men differently than the rabbis. They needed to possess special qualities that were not evident to the rabbis nor did the men see it in themselves.  There were two  characteristics that were important to Jesus. He saw in them the potential to carry on His work once He had trained them.  The second was they did not have to unlearn many of the teachings of the rabbis, thus they would be more receptive to the new teachings that they would hear from the mouth of Jesus.

1. Why did Jesus not give Simon the option of remaining as a fisherman of fish but of man?
2. What was the process by which a young man might become a disciple of a Jewish rabbi?
3. How did that differ from the way Jesus selected His disciples?
4. What did Jesus see in those fisherman that caused Him to select them in the first place?

Luke 5:11

Simon, Andrew, James and John had heard what they needed to hear.  They immediately, without hesitation, left everything their boats and family to follow after their new master.  The fact that He had reached out to them and wanted to include them in His work was enough for them. Each of the men possessed the inner drive to accomplish what Jesus was promising. They only needed someone to light the spark that had remained dormant.

1. What caused these men to finally leave the work they had been doing?
2. What would it take for each of us to leave our old way of life behind us?
3. Why is encouragement such an important factor in each of our lives?
4. What did the disciples possess that prompted Jesus to call them? (A drive ingrained in them by earning a living by facing the perils and uncertainty of being fishermen.)

 

• Think of all the times that you have turned downed opportunities to serve Jesus in a capacity suited to your giftedness.
• Even though you may never reach the status of a rabbi, understand that for anyone who calls himself a disciple of Christ he is to be passionate about God’s Word.
• Understand that to be a disciple is to be passionate about serving Christ.
• Be willing to give anything that keeps you from loving Jesus as you should.

The church is only as strong as the people who are part of it.  If we are to impact the world around us we need to become passionate followers of Christ. The word used in the Bible for disciple is Talmud.  He is one who is willing to dedicate his whole life to follow Jesus with his whole heart soul and mind.  Anything less will weaken the church.

Over the coming months it is important to ask whether we are helping the kingdom of God grow because we are changing. The change will only happen when we respond to the call of Jesus to become His computer experts, managers, electricians, bank tellers and military men and women serving Him.

Lesson 8

In His Hometown

Luke 4:14-44

Me – (You can write of your own experiences here.  This is just an example)

It is sometimes hard to for those who have known you the longest to realize that you grow up and can do things that they do not expect. Families are like that.  They only think of you as a child and refuse to accept you as an adult.

It is also hard to move into a new community or church and have people take you seriously.  Moving from North Carolina back to Virginia as a teenager I experienced the feeling of always being on the periphery of any group.  I had my little core of friends, but never really fit in with those in the youth group who had known each other for years.  The church I attended had youth week.  During that week the youth would learn about and perform the duties of the leadership in the church.  I always felt left out of doing any challenging or exciting jobs. 

God used all of these experiences to help me grow in my faith.  They also built within me a desire to see young people have the opportunities to use their talents and abilities.  There are some of them serving faithfully in the churches they now attend.  May I never forget that God has given to everyone of us a real purpose in His kingdom. 

We-

We need to be careful that we do overlook those in the body that potentially could become a leader either in our church or in another place.  It is so easy to look around and judge those fit or unfit for service.  It is possible that God might take the most unlikely person and use them in a way that none of us would have ever expected.  The responsibility of the church is to look at everyone as a child of God who has the potential to grow into a vibrant dynamic Christian who has much to offer.  Let us be careful never to demean the abilities of anyone. 

God-

Luke 4:14-15

After His baptism and the experience with the devil in the wilderness, Jesus returned to Galilee.  Luke wrote that He went, “In the power of the Spirit.”  As He went about in Galilee news about this new itinerant preacher and healer was spreading. Matthew provides a glimpse of the message He was preaching.  He wrote that Jesus said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)  His message was different than that of John.  Jesus’ words were of encouragement to a discouraged and oppressed people.  He used the availability of the synagogues to proclaim God’s word as a way of reaching the leaders in the families.  After four hundred years anyone bringing good news would have been praised.

1. Why did Jesus return to Galilee to begin His ministry? (It was His home.)
2. Why did news about Him spread so quickly?
3. Who was His primary audience in the synagogues? (The men and leaders of the communities where He was speaking.)
4. What was His message? (See Matthew 4:17)
5. How did it differ from that of John the Baptist?  (It was words of encouragement to an oppressed people.  John only spoke of repentance and living a different way but still under the Law of Moses.)
6. Why did the people flock to hear that message? (They had been waiting for four hundred years for just such good news.)
7. How does the words of the kingdom have more meaning to you than just those calling us to a repentance leading to just doing good works?

Luke 14:16-21

Jesus finally made His way to His hometown of Nazareth.  It is natural that He would want to share the good news with His family and those He knew.  As He had done in other places He entered the synagogue.  Since He was now somewhat of a well know person by this time, He was asked to read from the Scriptures.  When He was given the book to read, He turned to a Messianic passage found in Isaiah 61:1-2a and read it to the people congregated there. 

What Jesus did sent a powerful message to all within the hearing of the word.  Although at that moment He had not attributed that passage to being about Him, He stopped before finishing verse 2.  The first part which He shared spoke of what He would accomplish during His first coming.  The part of verse 2 which He left out had to do with His second coming when He would return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to judge the earth.

When He finished reading He sat down which meant He was about to teach what that passage meant.  Everyone waited to see what the Man was going to say. His first words to them were, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”  He was claiming to be the Messiah to whom Isaiah was referring.

1. Why would He want to return to His hometown?
2. What is the first thing you want to do after you accepted Jesus as your Savior?
3. Where are you to share the gossip?
4. Why was He permitted to speak to the attendees in the synagogue?
5. Why did He choose the particular passage in Isaiah?
6. Why did He omit the last part of verse 2 from His reading?
7. What was He claiming about Himself?

 

Luke 14:22

The initial response to the words of Jesus was positive.  All those in attendance that day expressed wonder as to how a carpenter’s son could have gained such insight into God’s word. 

1. Why did the people speak well of Jesus? (He clearly expressed the word of God.)
2. What did Luke mean when he spoke of the wonder of the people? (It was difficult for them to understand how a mere carpenter’s son could be so knowledgeable.)
3. What was really underlying the questioning of Jesus’ credentials? (It is difficult to ever understand how a person can rise above his or her circumstances in life)

Luke 14:23

Jesus understood what the people there were thinking.  They just could not understand how anyone could make the claims that He was making.  To claim to be the Messiah would be a sinful act in their eyes.  Jesus in essence was saying that they could not conceive that He could be anymore than an ordinary man.  In order to receive forgiveness for making such a claim about Himself He should confess.  By speaking as He did He eliminated any further discussion. To prove who He was they, although not said, expected Him to do what He had done in Capernaum.

1. Why did Jesus put into the mouth of all who were there the words, “Physician, heal Yourself?” (He had no right to make claims for himself and therefore must repent.)
2. What did Jesus say to the people that indicated He knew what they were thinking? (He knew what they were thinking and wanted to say, so He said it for them before any gossip had a chance to get started.)
3.  What were they expecting from Him? (They wanted Him to do the same things in His hometown as He had done in Capernaum.)
4. Why did He not do so? (He may have expected a greater reception because they were familiar with Him and had seen Him grow up in their midst.)

Luke 14:24

There is an old saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt.”  Nothing that Jesus could have done in Nazareth would have changed the way the people felt about Him.  Forever in their minds He would be the son of Joseph and would be known as the Carpenter from Galilee. 

1. Why does the old saying fit the reaction of the people to Jesus?
2. Why is it that we cannot get beyond seeing people as they were earlier in their lives?
3. How does the way people view you affect the ministry that you might be willing to do?
4. In what ways would the attitude of the people affect what Jesus wanted to do among those with whom He had lived for thirty years?
5. What was the response of those to whom you tried to share the good news that you had become a Christian?
6. How did it make you feel?

Luke 14:25-27

Jesus then told two stories that reflected the attitudes of the chosen people.  Because of the sinfulness of the nation of Israel there came a famine to the land.  Elijah had declared its coming and how long it would last.  He was sent away from Israel during that time period and directed him to go to Zarephath in Sidon.  There he found a widow and God provided for the woman during the worse of the famine. 

The second story He related also had to do with God’s kindness toward a Gentile.  Naaman a man from Syria came to Elisha and was healed of leprosy.  He was the only person to receive healing although there were many lepers in Israel at that time.

The message Jesus wanted the people to hear was that if they refused to hear what He had to say, there were many others from the Gentile world, who would be open to His message. Like John the Baptist, Jesus was already opening up the gospel to others besides the Jews.

1. Why did Jesus tell the stories?  (He knew the heart of the people that they were already rejecting Him.)
2. Why did Jesus pick the two incidences from the Old Testament to get His point across? (His message was for who were willing to hear.)
3. What is the danger in our own lives that the stories might be spoken about us? (We must be careful not to reject the message of the gospel?

Luke 14:28-30

Jesus had read the minds and hearts of people correctly.  His mention of the Gentiles in the Old Testament caused those in the synagogue to become very angry.  This man could not be the Messiah because every good Jew knew that when God sent Him He would be for their nation only.  Gentiles, including the hated Romans, were to be excluded from the blessings to come.  Their reaction was swift and violent. 

In their minds Jesus had spoken blasphemy and was deserving of death.  He was forcibly driven from the synagogue and taken to the edge of a cliff outside the city.  They planned to throw Him down the cliff and although not mentioned in the Scripture would have proceeded to cast stones upon Him to make sure He was dead.  No one knows how He did it but Jesus got away from the mob by passing right through them.  It was not the time for Jesus to die and God was not going to allow it to happen at that moment.  He left them standing there and departed from them.

1. Why did the stories elicit such a response from the people?
2. In what ways did their reaction show that Jesus’ words to them accurately portray the spiritual condition of their hearts?
3. Why did they believe He deserved to die? (His claims bordered on blasphemy.)
4. Why were they unable to kill Jesus at that moment?
5. What does the words, “He went His way” say to you about how Jesus will react to those who reject Him?
6. What might be some reasons that the presence of Jesus would no longer be felt in our midst?
7. What are the indications that His Spirit has departed?

Luke 14:31-32

Having been rejected by those in His hometown, Jesus moved His base of operation southwest to Capernaum which was located on the Sea of Galilee. In that location He could begin afresh and not have the baggage of being well known by the people He was trying to reach.  As He had done in other places He went into the synagogue to teach.  All who heard Him were amazed at His message.  Luke wrote that the amazement came because He spoke with authority.  The people were used to hearing a repetition of the teachings of some well respected rabbi. Jesus spoke on His own authority.  His messages were based on the words He heard from His Father.

1. Why did Jesus move to Capernaum?
2. What opportunity did it present for Him? (Could start fresh.)
3. Why would He begin teaching in the synagogue? (The people would already have a core belief system.)
4. Why were the people amazed at His teaching?
5. How was His teaching different than the rabbis? (He spoke the words from God but they depended on the teaching of others.)

Luke 14:33-35

The key to the following incident is that it occurred on the Sabbath.  There was a man there   possessed by a demon.  The teaching of Jesus not only affected the people but the demon that was living in the man.  The demon made some important declarations:

• He commanded Jesus to leave not only him but all demons alone to do their evil deeds.  It is amazing that he would have the gall to tell the Son of God what to do.
• The second thing was a rhetorical question.  He knew that he and Jesus were at war with the spiritual future of the people at stake.
• There was another rhetorical question asked. This time he asked if Jesus had come to destroy them.  Eventually that would happen but for now Jesus had other things to do and then would come the judgment on the devil and all of his demons.
• Finally there was an attempt to short circuit God’s plan by announcing to the world that Jesus was “The Holy One of God.”  If the people had understood what the demon was saying they would have immediately expected Jesus to become their king and lead them against their enemy, the Romans.

 

1. Why was the demon -possessed man there in the synagogue? (He may have been hoping that Jesus could help him.  The devil may have been using it as an opportunity to confront Jesus.)
2. What were the demands of the demon?
3. Why did he think he could command Jesus to do anything?
4. Why did he try to announce who Jesus was? (It would undermine what Jesus was sent to accomplish because the people would immediately expect Him to save them from all the Romans and restore their kingdom.)

Luke 14:35

The demon had its turn to speak.  Jesus then responded with a strong disapproval of the words He had heard.  He was not about to allow the demon short circuit the task that God had sent Him to do. He immediately ordered the demon to be quiet and come out of the man and.  Jesus was going to allow this episode continue so He used the authority He had to cleanse the man of the evil spirit that had possessed him.

The last desperate act of the demon was to throw the man to the floor right in the middle of those in the synagogue.  He no longer had control over the man and Luke wrote that no harm was done to him.

1. After the demon had finished speaking what was Jesus’ response to him?
2. What did it mean that Jesus rebuked him?  (He strongly disapproved and condemned what the demon was trying to do)
3. How was the command to be quiet and the demand that for the demon come out of the man connected? (The demon no longer had a vehicle through whom he could speak.)
4. What was the dual purpose in casting the demon from the man?  (To keep him quiet and to give back to the man a life free from the control of the evil one.)
5. Why did Luke emphasize that the demon did not harm him? (He knew he had met his match and could no longer do anything to the man.)

Luke 14:36

As Jesus began to teach in the synagogue the people were amazed that He spoke with such authority.  They then saw the authority that Jesus had received from the Father even over demons and they were even more amazed. After that event the word spread about Him to the surrounding area.

1. What authority had Jesus displayed that amazed the people?
2. Which had a greater impact on them?
3. Which would be longer lasting? (Performing miracles only led to a demand for greater ones. God’s word would eventually sink deep into their hearts forever.)
4. What impacts your life today God’s word or miraculous feats?

Luke 14:38-39

The next several verses are not chronological but show the orderly process of the ministry of Jesus.  It is not until chapter 5 does Luke give the selection of the disciples. Although not mentioned in the two verses here, in addition to Simon, Andrew, James and John are already with Him. (See Mark 1:29)

After leaving the synagogue Jesus went with Simon to his home.  There He found Simon’s mother-in- law ill with some kind of fever.  As He had with the demon, He ordered the fever to leave her body.  She was immediately made well, got up and served the men.

1. Why did Luke put this event where he did in his book?  (He was showing that the fame of Jesus was spreading especially after He had healed the man with the evil spirit.)
2. How do we know that the events shared in this chapter are not in chronological order? (He  had not yet selected His disciples which comes in chapter 5)
3. How did the word about Him spread so quickly? (He had already been preaching and teaching before arriving in Capernaum.)
4. What evidence is there that the mother-in-law was completely healed?
5. Why did He rebuke the fever just as He had the demon in the synagogue? (Both control the body and mind so that a person cannot do the things they want to do.)

Luke 14:40-41

Word had spread about Jesus, so after the day’s work was complete the people who were ill, began coming to Him for healing.  Matthew saw this event as a fulfillment of the prophecy out of Isaiah. (See Isaiah 53:4 and Matthew 8:17)  Among them were those who were demon possessed. They tried once again the same tactic as in the synagogue of crying out about Christ’s deity.  He refused to let them speak, condemning what they were trying to do, because they knew He was the Christ.

1. Why did the people flock to Jesus?
2. What was their main concern?
3. In what way did their actions show they were not concerned about the fact that Jesus was the Christ?
4. Why did they come in the evening? (They had to finish the day’s work before they would be free to come to Him for healing.
5. Why did the demons continuing to harass Him?
6. What was their concern? (They would lose authority over people’s lives.)
7. What His response to them?

Luke 14:42-43

Early the next morning (See Mark 1:35) Jesus left the house and went to a secluded place to pray.  Like all people He needed the refreshment only the Father can give.  It was not long however before He was missed.  Mark says that Simon and his companions came looking for Him with the news that the crowds were also trying to find Him. They did not want Him to leave but to continue there with them.  His response indicated there were others who needed to hear the message about the kingdom of God.  He let them know that the healing was secondary to the real reason He had been sent to earth.  His true purpose was the proclaiming to the kingdom.

1. Why did Jesus seek time alone?
2. What does this indicate about His needs?
3. Why did the people not honor that time? (Everyone was looking out for himself to have his or her needs met.)
4. Why was it important for Jesus to go to other places?
5. What did the words spoken say to the people? (They had missed the true purpose of His coming.)
6. What did Jesus understand about why He was here on earth?
7. In what ways are we just like the people in Capernaum and in Nazareth?

Luke 4:44

Luke seems to jump ahead.  He has Jesus moving from Galilee into Judea.  As He had done in every place, He went into the synagogues to teach and preach.  There is no indication that any healing occurred on those occasions.  Luke primary theme was that Jesus brought good news and everything else was secondary to that purpose.

1. Why did Luke immediately have Jesus in Judea? (To fulfill the words just spoken by Jesus in the previous verse.)
2. What pattern did He follow in Judea?
3. Why is there no mention of healing taking place?
4. What was Luke’s primary focus in sharing the narrative of Christ’s life?

You-

• Only in the power of the Holy Spirit can you witness for Christ.
• As Jesus did you need to know the Scriptures and their meaning to take advantage of the opportunities to share with others the good news.
• Look at others as those whom God loves and do not demean any of His children.
• Understand that all God is doing is not about me but everything is for His glory.
• Have a desire that the good news of Jesus be shared with all people.

 

We-

We have seen in this lesson people in two different cities misunderstanding Jesus.  The first rejected His words because He was inclusive of those who would be welcomed into the kingdom.  The second issue those folks had to face was the difficulty accepting someone who they thought they knew so well.  He just did not fit the mold of one who could claim to be the Messiah. Familiarity truly does breed contempt or at the least it minimizes the effectiveness of what a person can accomplish.

In Capernaum Jesus was more accepted.  Sadly, it was not because of His words but the miracles he performed. 

We have to ask ourselves, how do we view Jesus?  Hopefully our perspective will be different than either of those congregations. We needed to hear clearly the message of salvation that is inclusive of all those who turn their lives over to Jesus.  Secondly, the idea that the church is all about meeting our needs will limit us in what we can accomplish for our Savior.  Jesus understood the attitudes of each of them and moved on to where the message of the kingdom of God would be heard clearly.