Recovered Faith

April 17, 2016 Background Scripture: Luke 8:26 – 39 Lesson Passage: Luke 8:26 – 39 Some narratives in the gospel accounts make it clear that Jesus went to some extremes to reach one person in the midst of many. Some crowds had hundreds and others had thousands where Jesus visited to change the life of one soul. This apparent attitude of Jesus of going all out to reach one soul gives perspective to the value of a soul. The narrative of today’s lesson is such a case. Jesus’ trip to the country of the Gadarenes appears to have been for the express purpose of recovering one soul. Some of the circumstances surrounding the recovery caused the multitude of people in that country to express their displeasure with Jesus’ presence. The man who was delivered by Jesus seems to have been the worse person in that country. The man was possessed by many demonic spirits that caused him to be suicidal and deranged. He lived naked among the tombs and cut himself and cried night and day. Attempts had been made to constrain the man with ropes and chains but he had broken them. When Jesus arrived in that country, the man met him and the demons called Jesus by name and begged him to not torment them. At this point, Jesus’ entire ministry in that country would revolve around the deliverance of this man. Jesus commanded the demons to leave the man. After the man was free of demons, his mental state was back to normal and he put some clothes on. The demons that were cast out were allowed to enter and subsequently destroy a herd of swine. I mention this because it might have triggered the angry response from the people of that country. When the watchers of the herd saw what happened, they went into town and reported it and the multitude came to Jesus and asked him to leave their country. Although they saw the extreme makeover the previously possessed man had undergone, they insisted that Jesus leave their country. And Jesus left. This is a sad commentary because it is a reminder that if we insist that Jesus stay out of our lives, he is likely to oblige us. Salvation had come so close to the many but only this one man received deliverance from Jesus that day. Jesus went into the country of the multitude but only one man there was recovered and his faith in Jesus confirmed. When Jesus was expelled from the Gadarenes, this man desired to go with him but Jesus would not permit him to come. Rather, Jesus instructed the recovered man to go back home and show them what great things God had done for him. The gospel record is that the man went throughout the Decapolis and proclaimed the great things Jesus had done for him. Decapolis was used to refer to a region of ten cities in the country of the Gadarenes. The man demonstrated his faith through his works. Although the multitude rejected Jesus, the man whose faith was recovered continued to publish the works of Jesus after he departed. It is remarkable that the one who was possessed by a legion of demons was the only one of a multitude of people who received Jesus and had his life turned around and faith recovered. Robert C. Hudson March 31, 2016

Shameless Faith

April 10, 2016 Background Scripture: Luke 7:36 – 50 Lesson Passage: Luke 7:36 – 50 I believe it is easier to follow the discourse of today’s lesson by considering some simple arrangements at a Middle Eastern dinner table and some common courtesies extended by hosts in first century Middle Eastern life. Dinner guests did not sit up to the table with their laps under it European style; but instead reclined towards the table head first with their feet extended outward. (An understanding of this table arrangement makes it easier to envision Jesus rising from supper the night of his betrayal and going around the table and washing the feet of his disciples.) Anyone who approached a group that was eating a meal at a table would arrive at their feet first. The second point to be understood is a common courtesy that was extended to dinner guests—especially by hosts who had servants. When the people wore footwear, it was normally sandals that primarily protected the bottom of their feet. As they traveled, mainly by foot, their feet became dusty. When the guests reclined at the table, it was then convenient for a servant to go around the table and wash their feet. Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to come to his house and eat with him. The woman knew she had an opportunity to express gratitude to Jesus in the most humble way when she learned that Jesus was at the dinner table in Simon’s house. The way she chose was to approach Jesus as a lowly servant washing his feet. The text does not disclose what motivated the woman to come to Jesus in such a way. That is perhaps best because we all come to Jesus at different times and for very different reasons. The woman did not bring a wash pan or a towel. She only brought a bottle of ointment to use after she had washed his feet. She used her tears to wash his feet and then she dried his feet with her hair. Then she kissed his feet and applied the ointment to them. Without speaking a word, Simon started to question Jesus’ status as a prophet since he did not appear to be bothered by the woman’s actions: given that the woman had a reputation as a sinful person. Surely a true prophet should be able to discern the type of person this woman was. Jesus was very discerning indeed. Jesus, in his divine essence, can discern the thoughts and intents of hearts. Jesus knew what Simon was thinking and that he was questioning within himself Jesus’ authenticity. Jesus openly answered the question Simon was pondering inwardly. He did so by describing an allegory involving the gratitude of two debtors who had their debts forgiven. He had Simon to tell him how gratitude was related to the amount of the debt forgiven. Then Jesus applied the woman’s situation to that of a debtor. The woman already knew she was forgiven for her sins so she was there to express her gratitude. Simon, who might not have known that he needed forgiveness, had not expressed the gratitude that would have been considered common courtesy for him. While Simon was inwardly questioning Jesus’ credentials and judging the woman’s character, he had totally missed the point of what God had done in the woman’s life and could do in his. Perhaps Simon thought it should have been a public embarrassment for Jesus to allow such a woman to touch him but he did not know that God had already touched that woman. Simon was still judging her for her past actions and questioning Jesus’ present ministry. It seems reasonable that Simon thought that both of them should have been ashamed. This woman demonstrated a shameless faith to a God who takes away our shame. Robert C. Hudson March 31, 2016