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Luke 9:7-9: The up side of perplexity.

In these words spoken by Herod it is like we look through a clear window onto the greatness of John the Baptist. He was even a massive figure in the esteem of his arch-persecutor and murderer. Although Herod feared him, and did away with him, he had enormous respect for him. He was fascinated by John.

Note that when we go out in obedience to Jesus, and He works through us, we may have surprises. We just might be amazed over just who gets impacted (7).

People being puzzled by Christianity isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If the life you lead arouses curiosity; if it gets others questioning, all well and good. See (Acts 2:6,12, 13). Surely some of those who started out ‘bewildered’, ‘amazed and perplexed’ by the events of Pentecost were among those in the three thousand plus converted?

If the Christ empowered ministry carried out by contemporary disciples leads to people wanting to ‘see’ Jesus, then we will rejoice (9b).Yes, some will be like Herod, seeking without any really serious intent to be converted. But there will be those who are genuine.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may I so live life in the power of the Spirit that who I am and what I do causes people to ask questions, to which the gospel is the only answer.

Luke 9:1-8: ‘And they departed…’

There are comfort zones we will have to move out of in order to fully follow Jesus.

The first thing to say is that if God calls you to do something you can do it (2, 6). With the calling there also goes the equipping. Jesus both calls and gives (1). So, if Jesus commands you to go you can go; if He commands you to do you can do. Whenever we see godly people performing miracles let’s never forget where the ability comes from, and make sure we revere the Source and not the channel.

This is:

1. A story of participation (1): ‘together’. There is power and joy in team; in partnership;
2. A story of power (1,2,6);
3. A story of proclamation (2,6);
4. A story of provision (3,4) – it was a practical lesson in learning to trust Jesus to meet their needs;
5. This story may well provide a pattern for church planting (4,5). When you go somewhere with the gospel, look for a place of welcome and work out from it. (Note that the rejection of the gospel is a serious matter:5);
6. But I particularly want to point out that this is also a story of pushing boundaries: ‘And they departed…’ Jesus gave them a great commission, but it could not be fulfilled if they stayed put. This week-end Jilly and I will return home after five and a half weeks of travelling ,during a time of sabbatical. Our trip has taken us into five different countries ( although one was just for an hour or two in transit). It has been an enormous privilege, and we are deeply grateful to God for the opportunity; for all the experiences He has given us and the many lessons learned. But I have to say that this time away has taken me way out of my comfort zone again and again. Basically, I am a home-loving person, and I can find security in the familiar. Although I love to travel, I have an instinct to ‘stay close to the shoreline’,you might say. So, for many weeks before coming away, I felt it necessary to pray and fast for this extended period of leave!!  Repeatedly during our travels Jilly and I have realised that unless you ‘depart’ you can’t move on. We have  regularly fallen in love with places and been reluctant to leave. But we couldn’t see the next beautiful sight, or, more importantly,enter into the next learning experience without letting go and saying ‘goodbye’. In short, you will never learn to swim unless you leave the side of the pool. That’s another comfort zone I have had to let go of in the last few days, as my lovely,patient wife has been giving me swimming lessons. I’m not there yet, but I’m finding that growth comes when you are willing to get out into deeper waters – and it can even be fun. What comfort zones do you need to ‘depart ‘from in this season of your life? I suppose, looked at from one angle, the Christian life is a succession of new beginnings, and that can be challenging.

Luke 8:40-56: Desperate people – dynamic power.

Jairus was desperate. Any parent who has had an extremely sick child will understand his feelings (41). He really needed an answer and he prayed fervently. Along the way he ran into a frustrating delay. But the delay was not a denial, as you will see from (49-56). The delay seemed disastrous (49) but it wasn’t. It came about because of another desperate person who needed Jesus’ help (42b-48). Jesus has enough help to go around. His helping one doesn’t prevent Him from helping another.

There was a difference between the touch of the crowd (42b) and the touch of the woman. It was the difference of faith (48). I don’t want to just say prayers; I want to touch Jesus. I need to touch Him. I need that very real power which flows out from Him to those in need.

Prayer: Let me touch you this day Lord Jesus.

Luke 8:26-39: He is Lord.

In this story we are confronted with:

A dire need (27, 29b,30). The man was a desperate case. He lived an abnormal life – a deathly existence, you might say. His behaviour was strange to say the very least. He was a wild man, and he had been this way ‘For a long time’ (27). His name was ‘Legion’ (30). This has resonance with the Roman army. The poor man was enemy occupied territory. The land that was his life was under the sway of a foreign army.
The Divine Master (28,29a). Jesus had previously been caught in a storm; now He encountered a raging human storm. As was the case with the other, He supernaturally calmed this one with a command. Jesus Christ is Lord and every now will eventually bow to Him and every tongue confess His Lordship. He kicked out the oppressing forces, and came to the throne in this once desolate ‘land’, bringing sanity, peace and wholeness. What is impossible with men will never be impossible to Christ.We are again faced with the identity of Jesus in (39). Jesus told the rescued man to go home and tell how much God had done for him. He returned and told how much Jesus had done for him. I believe Luke wants us to read between the lines here and make the inference as to who Jesus is.
Dramatic deliverance (35). There was such a change in the man. It was death to life and darkness to light.
In addition, here are a couple of important points to note:

a.) The extraordinary power of prayer. Twice in this story you see examples of ‘persons’ getting specifically what they asked for (31, 37). In the first case it was demonic beings; in the second case it was human beings ( Take note and beware: it is within our power to reject Jesus; to refuse Him and send Him away.) But although prayer is powerful, we don’t always get what we ask (38,39). The delivered man’s prayer was earnest, but the Lord had a better plan for him than he had for himself. Sometimes Jesus gives precisely what we ask. Often He gives better than what we ask. He gives what we would have requested if we had perfect wisdom. His will is always best. Someone said that God at times answers later in order to answer better. I believe it is also true that He frequently answers differently in order to answer better.

b.) For some people, when they get a glimpse of who Christ is and what He can do they push Him away. They are more frightened by Him than attracted to Him. They perceive Him as a threat to their lives and livelihoods, and think it best that there should be distance between Him and them. Don’t be surprised to see it happen.

Luke 8:22-25: HMV.

Three simple thoughts:

1. They were in the storm because they obeyed Jesus. When trouble comes into your life, it isn’t necessarily because you’ve got off track. There are difficulties that come your way when you are following Jesus and precisely because you are following Him. He is Lord. He charts the course for His disciples. Often our voyage will take us through rough seas and stormy weather. At times it may feel like The Lord is asleep, but He never is. Today He is with you in your storm-tossed boat, and it is right to ask ( and trust) for His help.
2. In the storm they had Jesus’ Word. He said to them at the beginning, ‘Let us go across to the other side of the lake.’ Sinking and drowning were not on His agenda. He had clearly articulated His intention. As we walk with Jesus, let’s be clear about what He has said to us and hold on to it. Sometimes it may seem completely counter-intuitive to do this. It really does take faith to accept that you’re going to the other side, when everything seems to shout that you are heading for the bottom of the lake. You set out on this life of discipleship with the Word of Christ in your hand, but you will probably soon find out that the wind will get  up and try to rip His promises out of your grasp. Be ready for that and hold on.
3. Through the storm they got a greater revelation of who Jesus is (25). We are finding that this this is a repeated theme in Luke. We are brought back to it again and again: ‘Who is Jesus?’ This is the big question we all must face – and answer appropriately. The disciples seemed to recognise that Jesus, though a man, was much more than a man. As someone said, He spoke to a storm like it was a disobedient puppy! He said, in effect, ‘Get down’ and the gales and rough seas got down. He told the wind and water to sit, and they sat. Nature recognised ‘his Master’s voice.’

Prayer: LORD Jesus, I recognise in you the Creator of all nature become Man. I am in awe of your majestic power. I worship you, and my desire is that all people will come and fall down at your feet.

Luke 8:4-21: a timeless lesson from agriculture.

A few years ago I had one of those, ‘Pinch me, I must be dreaming’ moments. One Sunday morning,a man I knew reasonably well was in church. Over the next week or so I was blessed to see his openness to Christianity, and in no time at all he was telling me that he had made a commitment to Christ. I saw it as a major answer to my prayers for my neighbourhood. He certainly received the word ‘with joy’. There was a lightness about him that showed in his face, and I’m certain that for a time, at least, his family enjoyed the sunshine of a softer, warmer, kindler man. He devoured the Bible and books about it. He was a regular and enthusiastic church attender. Also, he and I met often to pray and read Scripture. It was, therefore, heartbreaking when, just a few months later,he fell away from his involvement in church. He did face a severe test, and it appears he had ‘no root’. Still today I feel sad about my friend. Of course, I’ve seen this happen many times, but this one probably hit me harder than the the others. I had a deep personal investment in this. But I could never say Jesus didn’t warn me!

At the mention of a ‘great crowd’ (4) we are easily impressed. Jesus wasn’t. He knew what to expect and He ‘sowed’ His understanding in some ‘seed’ that has helped to manage Christian expectations for centuries. One of the highlights of our sabbatical time was to attend a church of thousands in Singapore, just a few weeks ago. We felt the spiritual seriousness and earnestness of the people around us. But you can be sure that even there this parable is being worked out.

Jesus’ teaching shows that we are in a real and fierce spiritual battle (12). Every time the Word is preached the devil active. Preachers should remember this and be prayerful. As mentioned earlier, the words of Christ also prepare us for disappointment (13). And I can’t help but wonder how many of us in the churches are living in (14). We sit under the influence of Biblical preaching, but other influences have a choking effect. Nonetheless, let us sow the seed knowing that some will fall on ‘good soil’ with attendant results. Authentic spiritual growth takes time and so requires ‘patience’ or ‘perseverance ‘ (15). It will not come about without an attitude to the Word that holds it ‘fast’, or retains it. ‘Take care then how you hear’ (19). God wants to shine his light on you. And remember that the kinfolk of Jesus show their relationship to Him by obedience (19-21). In fact, only in relationship with Jesus can we ever hope to obey.

At Christmas, my good friend Tom Ward, the director of ‘Good news broadcasting’, gave me a book called ‘The pastor’. It is the autobiography of Eugene Peterson. I knew I should bring it away with me, and so I popped it immediately into my hand luggage on Christmas Day, and Jilly and I have been reading it with great delight during our extended leave. It could not have been more timely for us both.It has reminded me that pastoral work by its very nature is often messy, but in the midst of the mess God is mysteriously at work, forming people into the image of Jesus. And if we are prayerful and patient, we will see the fruit in due time.

Prayer: Thank you Lord Jesus for your honesty with us, and for your loving preparation of our hearts regarding what to expect when we sow the seed of your Word. Help us to keep sowing with enthusiasm and faith, knowing that we are workers together with you, and you, not we, are the Lord of the Harvest.

Luke 8:1-3: The grace of receiving.

It was Jesus who taught that ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ (Acts 20:35) and His life demonstrated the point. He was constantly giving to others. This short reading illustrates some of the ways in which He held out His Hands, in preaching and healing, in mentoring others, and  in delivering from evil spirits. But Jesus, who made giving a lifestyle, had the grace to receive. He so humbled Himself that He made Himself vulnerable; putting Himself in a place where He needed the help of others. ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ and our Lord gave others the joy and privilege of ministering to Him.

Maybe you always want to be the strong one? You show your power by constantly giving. People need you, but you are okay alone. Perhaps you have cultivated the image of the independent person who doesn’t need anyone else? It will be for your good and for your growth if you will learn to not simply hold out Hands that give, but also which receive. In the past, at times, pride has kept me from accepting offered help, even when I desperately needed it. ‘No I’m fine thanks. I can manage. I don’t want to trouble you.’ What masqueraded as concern not to abuse the good will of others was in fact sinful, blatant pride. All pride  must go to the cross if we would grow to be like Jesus. Christ-like people are prepared to receive as well as give. It is a part of their generosity to allow others to have the blessing of giving. But also, they admit they need help. We can be like Jesus both in giving and receiving.

Jesus did not go it alone. He worked with teams of men and women ( and today’s reading shows just how far His influence went.

Prayer: Lord Jesus make me more and more like you in every way.

Luke 7:36-50: Extravagant worship.

Someone said that it is not great talent that God uses but great love for Jesus.

There is a difference between extravagance and exhibitionism. Some people may be exhibitionist in terms of what they do in a church service, drawing attention to themselves, saying, ‘Look at me’. Obviously, that is not worship. But I don’t get any impression that this lady was aware of anyone other than Jesus. Her whole focus was on Him. She just loved Him extravagantly for He had forgiven her freely. Her heart poured out to Him in this act. The perfume was expensive. It could cost a year’s wages to purchase it. But true worship is a costly thing at heart. It is cross-centred. It is prepared for any price in order to love and serve the Lord who paid the greatest price for us. Wouldn’t you rather be like the woman in this story and not Simon?

Before you criticise anyone else’s expression of worship, ( something, in fact, that we should never do), examine your own heart. ‘How much do I love Jesus?’

A little while ago I read this definition of a fanatic: ‘Someone who loves Jesus a lot more than I do!’

Prayer: Lord, increase my love for you.

Luke 7:18-35: Discouragement.

Spurgeon, the great Victorian preacher, used to speak about ‘the preacher’s’ fainting fits’. Many ministers may identify with this. That sermon you put so much time and effort and prayer into just seemed to fall flat. You noticed the people who looked sullen, bored, disinterested, sleepy. You expected to feel energised and empowered in the pulpit and you didn’t. It didn’t go how you expected. So Sunday night/Monday morning can become a time of dangerous introspection. You flirt with the thought that you are not up to it, and maybe you ought to resign for the good of the church. You are not sure how much longer you can carry on doing this. Becoming a postman seems an attractive proposition.

Many things can discourage leaders. One of the factors appears in this passage. It’s when people are awkward, and whatever you do they won’t be happy. What do you do with that? It can make you want to tear your hair out. They will always have a gripe and a grouse about something. You just can’t win.

There is something murky and mysterious about discouragement. It can descend like a fog and obscure your wisest perceptions. It even came to John the Baptist, who had given his life to witness to Christ. He was the greatest figure in the Old Covenant era, yet he too got ‘down in the dumps’.There is normally something of the irrational about bouts of discouragement, as we see in John. He knew that Jesus had raised the widow of Nain’s son, but he still had his doubts about the Lord. I don’t think he really thought they should be looking for another, but he found himself in prison, and in a dark place, and he needed reassurance.

The answer for John in his depression is just the one you and I need too. It is to get a fresh vision of Jesus: His Person and work. It is to see who He is and what He does. The report taken back to John must have reminded him of a number of Old Testament prophecies and settled his quivering heart.

So, ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus…’

Prayer: Lord God please lift the drooping spirits of any discouraged Christian leaders today. Enable them to see you more clearly. Thank you that Jesus, for the joy that was set before Him, endured. Help us all to continually consider Him (Hebrews 12:1,2).