Love God | Understand Yourself | Serve Others

Luke 7:12-15 (New American Standard Bible)
Now as Jesus approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizable crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.” And he came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.

This woman had already lost one provider: her husband. But she had no doubt been reassured in her widowhood that her son would continue as her protector. The baby she had cared for had grown up into a young man. Now he was gone, as well, and her hope had vanished with him. In that society, with no husband or son to care for her, she would be at the mercy of more distant relatives — if there was anyone at all who would claim her. No wonder she was weeping.

Unlike many of the other times we’ve seen Jesus heal, the widow didn’t approach Jesus. No one petitioned him on her behalf, asking him to help this poor woman. Wrapped deep in mourning, the widow may not have even noticed Jesus passing by with his entourage. But Jesus saw her distress, and was moved to speak to her. He said, “Do not weep.” This wasn’t lack of empathy on Jesus’ part, or discomfort with the woman’s emotions. No, Jesus was full of compassion for her, and wanted her to see God’s love and provision for her in the midst of her grief. He told her not to weep because her life was about to be changed forever. Jesus spoke, and her son was given back to her.

James 1:27 tells us: “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress.” 

At its core, this interaction is not about a man being raised from the dead. It is about the powerful love of a God who would be willing to care for the plight of a hopeless, grieving widow.

Question:
How can you work with God to provide support for people in need on the fringes of our society?

Mark 2:18-20 (New Living Translation)
Once when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t your disciples fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees do?” Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can’t fast while the groom is with them. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

John’s disciples fasted in preparation and hope for the coming Messiah. The Pharisees fasted as a method of keeping the Law. Fasting was an important part of the Jewish tradition, so it’s understandable that both groups would wonder why Jesus’ followers didn’t share this practice.

Jesus doesn’t answer directly about fasting. Instead he turns the question around (as he so often does), talking instead about a feast. As we looked at a few days ago, a wedding banquet is a metaphor for the coming kingdom of God. Speaking about this divine feast in the present tense, Jesus is telling those listening that the moment is here — because the Messiah is here! Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast because they were too busy rejoicing that the promise had been fulfilled.

But Jesus ends this joyous proclamation in a way that must have mystified everyone listening, including his own disciples: “Someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

Many people fast during Lent as a way of acknowledging the pain of the final hours of Jesus’ earthly life, and as a reminder of the self-sacrifice and obedience of Jesus on the cross. It can be a powerful experience during these days of preparation for Holy Week and Easter.

Question:
Have you ever fasted? Why or why not?

Luke 6:6-11 (New International Version)
On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Jesus went to the synagogue to teach, but, as we’ve seen before, for Jesus teaching is not just about words. It’s also about modeling God’s love and grace with powerful action. As he was speaking, he saw a man whose right hand was disabled. It being the right hand might not mean much to us, but in those days the right hand was considered the only socially acceptable hand for greeting and gesturing. The left hand was used for personal hygiene. Using the left hand for gesturing — as this man would have been forced to — would have been shameful.

Could Jesus have waited until the Sabbath was over in order to heal this poor man? Of course. But he wanted to make the point to all those gathered in the synagogue that day that in God’s eyes compassion and grace would always be more important than legalistic adherence to the Law.

Question:
Can you think of a circumstance where it would honor God more to break a rule than to keep it?

Matthew 9:20-22 (English Standard Version)
And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

Charles Spurgeon was a famous Baptist preacher in the mid- to late-1800s. In his sermon “Good Cheer from Grace Received” he said: “She had such confidence in Christ and such a resolve to put her confidence to the test, that difficulties did not hinder her, nor crowds keep her back. The Savior was in the press — she joined the throng and with a holy boldness mixed with sacred modesty she came behind him, only wishing to touch his garment, or even the fringe of it.”

The Jews attached fringe to their shawls or robes to remind them of God’s Law: “When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do” (Numbers 15:39). The woman does not want to bother Jesus by facing him directly. She doesn’t feel important enough to warrant his full attention. But her faith in his power is so strong that she believes that if she can just manage to touch his robe — or even the the fringe of the robe — she will be healed.

As she reaches out her hand toward Jesus, she receives a far richer blessing than she had ever anticipated. Jesus turns, looks directly at her, sees her need, and blesses her. Her healing comes from faith in Jesus, who is not a reminder of God’s Law like the tassel she touched, but who is the loving fulfillment of the Law in his every word and action.

Question:
What is your understanding of the eternal, soul-deep healing God desires for your life?

Mark 5:35-36 & 41-43 (Today’s New International Version)
While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” … Jesus took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

It would have been risky for a respected synagogue leader to approach a radical preacher like Jesus, but Jairus was desperate. His beloved daughter was dying. He has just reached Jesus’ side when he hears the heartbreaking news that it is too late. His daughter is gone, and there is nothing that can be done for her now.

But Jesus overhears the conversation and tells Jairus not to be afraid. Together they travel back to Jairus’ house, where it is confirmed that the girl has died. This must have crushed Jairus, who no doubt hoped that the reports had been wrong and that Jesus would be able to restore her to full health.

Who could anticipate what happens next? Jesus orders the little girl to get up — and she does! The family and the mourners would have been staring in shock. Then Jesus demonstrates God’s care for the smallest of details in our lives: he reminds the crowd that this young girl must be hungry: “Give her something to eat,” he says.

How lovely.

Question:
What does it mean to you that God cares about even the smallest details of your life?

Mark 2:1-5 (The Message)
After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word got around that he was back home. A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in or out. He was teaching the Word. They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men. When they weren’t able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, “Son, I forgive your sins.”

This encounter with Jesus gives new meaning to the word “breakthrough.” When this man’s friends arrive where Jesus is, they find that the crowds are so large that they can’t get anywhere near him. There was probably a moment of frustration — after all, they had carried him a long way to reach this now-famous healer, and they couldn’t get close enough to him.

But these are very persistent, creative friends. They don’t give up! They climb on top of the house, and begin tearing apart the roof, breaking through the structure, making a hole large enough to lower the man carefully through, down to the floor below.

Can you imagine being in the room that day? Listening to Jesus speak, watching his power displayed as he healed the sick. And then noticing something fall to the ground near you. Was that roofing material? Glancing up as sunlight suddenly came through a gap in the ceiling, and then as the light was blotted out by a body descending into the room. What a sight that must have been! And Jesus, impressed by their boldness and their love for their friend, declares, “Son, I forgive your sins.”

I have to wonder if the man’s friends — and the people packed tightly into that house — wondered about Jesus’ words. “I forgive your sins.” If I had been there that day, I admit I would have thought that there were more pressing needs than that. Looking down at the man, lying helpless on the floor, unable to move on his own, I would have expected to Jesus to heal him physically.

But God sees beyond what you and I can see. Jesus looked at this man and knew that he had a much deeper, more pressing need: for restoration in his spirit. And so he addressed that need immediately: “Son, I forgive your sins.”

Some scholars of the Jewish Law were in the room that day, and they were not at all happy with Jesus’ declaration that this sick man’s sins were forgiven: “He can’t talk that way! That’s blasphemy! God and only God can forgive sins” (2:7). How does Jesus respond to this accusation of blasphemy? 

“Jesus knew right away what they were thinking, and said, ‘Why are you so skeptical? Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, ‘I forgive your sins,’ or say, ‘Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking’? Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both . . .’ (he looked now at the paraplegic), ‘Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home.’ And the man did it — got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there watching him. They rubbed their eyes, incredulous — and then praised God, saying, ‘We’ve never seen anything like this!'”

Question:
When has God surprised you with an unexpected blessing of forgiveness?

Click here to watch a video of a sermon I preached back in 2013 on this fascinating passage.

Mark 1:29-31 (New American Standard Bible)
And immediately after they came out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to Jesus about her. And he came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them.

Compared with some of Jesus’ dramatic encounters we’ve looked at over the past few days, this episode might seem pretty tame. Healing lepers, casting out demons, calming a storm — how can this match up? This woman wasn’t dying or dead. She isn’t a societal outcast. She’s not abandoned or destitute or possessed. She’s just not feeling well.

But I love this simple story, because it is one of the few times we see into the private life of one of Jesus’ disciples. The sick woman is called Simon Peter’s mother-in-law, so we know that Peter was married. And although he and his brother Andrew had left their former lives behind to follow Jesus, they still remained connected with their family. They stop by the house to rest and find the matriarch of the family sick in bed.

As modern readers, we may read this story and be tempted to think, “Poor woman! Feeling terrible all day, and then, as soon as she is feeling better, forced to jump out of bed and wait on her son-in-law and his friends.” But it appears that she had a permanent home with Peter and Andrew. In that society it would have felt shameful to her to be down for the count when her family was in need of her hospitality. She is grateful for Jesus’ healing touch, and she immediately springs into action.

Jesus gives her exactly the kind of grace that she needs at that moment in her life. Sometimes we look at our life and think, “Oh, it’s not so bad. There are a lot of people worse off than me.” And that is certainly true. But also remember that God wants to meet you exactly where you are, and to help you get to an even healthier place.

Question:
Into what new area of your life could you invite God today?

Matthew 9:9-13 (The Message)
Passing along, Jesus saw a man at his work collecting taxes. His name was Matthew. Jesus said, “Come along with me.” Matthew stood up and followed him. Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew’s house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus’ followers. “”What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?” Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.”

According to The New Interpreter’s Bible: “With whom one chose to eat was a matter taken seriously in first-century Judaism” (vol. VIII, 234). So it’s not surprising that one metaphor for the kingdom of God was a sumptuous banquet, with God as the gracious host. An early example of this can be found in Isaiah 25:6: “On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine– the best of meats and the finest of wines.”

A teacher like Jesus would have been expected to share his meals with the religious elite, with the crème de la crème, or, at minimum, with the “acceptable” people of society. But, instead, Jesus chooses as his dinner partners people on the outskirts of acceptable. In today’s passage, he invites a tax collector to be his disciple. Tax collectors were reviled in Jewish society. They had chosen to ally themselves with the occupying Roman government, and to reap financial benefits from the arrangement. The Pharisees– a strict religious group known for holding themselves above and apart from the rest of the Jews– were appalled. A despised tax collector! Exactly what kind of teacher was this Jesus? They just could not understand.

Question:
How do you feel about being included at Jesus’ banquet? What is your picture of what heaven will be like?

Matthew 8:23-27 (New International Version)
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus replied, “You of little faith, why are you afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

If you’ve ever been on board a boat during a storm, you know that it can be a very frightening experience. Waves come crashing over the sides, the boat lurches from side to side, front to back. The boards creak and groan, the rain slaps you in the face, and the wind screams in your ears.

(Any of you want to get off the boat yet?)

So, it’s not surprising that the disciples are terrified. They must have looked at the slumbering Jesus and thought, “Wow! This guy is a seriously deep sleeper!” They must have expected that Jesus would share in their panic when they woke him up. But he doesn’t. He simply gets up and tells the winds and waves to knock it off. (Slight paraphrase there.)

The Greek for “rebuke” in our passage is epitimao: “to warn, to strongly admonish.” Now, you or I could rebuke a storm all we want, but it’s not going to do any good. But when Jesus speaks sternly to the winds, they immediately ceased their howling. The disciples, seeing all this, wonder just who Jesus is. Even nature bows down and does his bidding.

Question:
Are you more likely to reach out to God in times of distress, or in times of peace?

Luke 4:33-36 (English Standard Version)
And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are– the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”

We’re told that those in the crowd “were all amazed” as they witnessed Jesus free a suffering man from his oppressor. The Greek word used here for “amazed” is thambos, which is “an emotion in which awe and fear are mingled” (Friberg lexicon). “What is this word?” the people ask. How did this man Jesus manage to cast out the demon– simply by the power of his voice? From where, they wonder, did this authority come?

John 1:1-5: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

The darkness was right to fear Jesus on that day in the synagogue. It was correct in asking “Have you come to destroy us?” Because the answer was yes. Jesus– the Word– came to overcome the darkness. For all time.

Question:
What is your understanding of Jesus’ authority? How does he have authority in your life? What does that look like?