Week of 16 Pentecost - C
This is a Three-Year Lectionary based on the Lutheran Book of Worship 3-year Lectionary (for public worship), "Prayers of the Day..." (Propers), p. 13-41, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978. It is based, with only minor variations, on the Revised Common Lectionary, used by many denominations, including the Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches:
http://www.commontexts.org/
and:
http://www.commontexts.org/rcl/usage.html
The daily readings are the Propers (Lections) for the following Sunday, so that the daily devotions can prepare us for worship. Additional Lections are from Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, "Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers," United Lutheran Church of America, General Rubrics VIII. Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers, p. 299 - 304, Philadelphia, 1918.
The previous 2- year Bible Study based on the Lutheran Book of Worship, Daily Lectionary for personal devotions p.179-192, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978, is available at:
http://shepboy.snow.prohosting.com (Please bookmark this link).
Journalspace.com, my former 'blog host is being reorganized under new ownership. I no longer publish there. I have also lost mypodcast.com, my podcast host. This 'blog is mirrored at:
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.mp3 Podcasts via Linux Festival text-to-speech and Panopreter Basic text-to-speech are available at:
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Podcast Download: Week of - 16 Pentecost C
Sunday - 16 Pentecost C
First Posted September 12, 2010;
Podcast: Sunday - 16 Pentecost C
Proverbs 9:8-12 – Scoffers and Wise People;
Psalm 10:12-15, 17-19 – Deliverance from the Wicked;
Philemon 1 (2-9) 10-21 – Reconciliation;
Luke 14:25-33 – Cost of Discipleship;
Proverbs Paraphrase:
A scoffer (unbeliever) hates reproof (correction), but a wise person appreciates it. One can teach a wise man to be wiser, and a righteous person will become more righteous. “The fear (appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority of) the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Proverbs 9:10). The Lord promises that he can add days and years to our lives. Each person will receive the reward of their belief or unbelief.
Psalm Paraphrase:
Lift up your hand (of authority) and get up, Lord; don't forget the afflicted. How can the wicked reject God and say to themselves that God will not hold them accountable? God notes all the troubles and aggravations caused by the wicked and will make them accountable. The hapless and fatherless are wise to commit themselves to the Lord's vindication.
The Lord hears the prayers of the meek and encourages them; he will do justice to the orphaned and oppressed, so that worldly people may have no power to terrify further.
Philemon:
Background:
The Apostle Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was writing to Philemon, who had been converted by Paul on a previous missionary journey. In the first century A. D., slavery was legal, and Philemon had a slave named Onesimus (meaning “useful”) who had run away. Later Paul converted Onesimus while Paul was in prison. Now Paul was sending Onesimus back, with a letter from Paul, encouraging Philemon to receive his run-away slave as a brother in Christ.
Text Paraphrase:
In the first century, the Church met in private homes. Apphia may have been the wife of Philemon, and Aarchippus may have been a minister, or some suggest, a son, in the house-church.
Grace and peace, the two traditional greetings in Greek and Hebrew, respectively, are only truly possible in Jesus Christ.
Paul gave thanks to God for Philemon in his prayers, because of Philemon's love for the Lord and for all the saints (believers), and prayed that the sharing of Philemon's faith would increase the knowledge of the good things that believers obtain in Christ. Paul himself appreciated Philemon's love for Paul, and rejoiced that Philemon was refreshing the souls of the saints.
As an apostle, Paul had the authority to command Philemon to do what was necessary, but preferred to appeal lovingly to him in Christian charity on behalf of Philemon's run-away slave, Onisemus. Paul was under house arrest in Rome for preaching the Gospel, and during that time had converted Onisemus. Paul regarded him as his spiritual child, whose spiritual father Paul had become.
Onisemus' name means “useful” and Paul reminds Philemon that Onisemus had been “useless” to Philemon (because he had run away) but now he was indeed useful both to Paul and Philemon. Paul would have been happy to let Onisemus stay with him to serve him on Philemon's behalf during Paul's imprisonment, but instead was returning Onisemus to his owner. Paul didn't want to do anything without Philemon's permission, so that Philemon's goodness would not be coerced but instead of his own free will.
Paul suggested that perhaps the parting had been for the best, because now Onisemus was returning to Philemon not as a slave but as a brother of both Paul and Philemon in faith. If Philemon regarded Paul as his partner in the Gospel, Paul asked him to receive Onisemus as he would receive Paul himself. Paul promised to repay Philemon any debt Onisemus owed, and reminding Philemon that he owed an incalculable debt for Philemon's own conversion by Paul's preaching. So Paul asked Philemon to do Paul this favor and refresh Paul's heart in Christ, through this favor.
Luke Paraphrase:
Large crowds were following Jesus, and he said to them that anyone who wants to be his disciple (“follower;” student), must hate father, mother, brothers, sisters, wife and children, and even his own life. A disciple must be willing to carry his own cross and follow Jesus' teaching and example. Jesus used several parables (stories of common earthly experiences to teach spiritual truths) to illustrate the cost of discipleship. A person wanting to build a tower must calculate beforehand how much it will cost; otherwise he may run out of money and not be able to finish the building, and will be ridiculed by others. Similarly, a king contemplating war with a rival king must first consider whether he can with lesser forces defeat the more powerful rival. Otherwise he should send an emissary to seek terms of peace, long before they reach the battlefield. So then, anyone who is unwilling to renounce all that he has, cannot be Jesus' disciple.
Commentary:
In a sense we are all spiritually run-away slaves. We all belong to God because he is our Creator, and has purchased us by the blood of Jesus on the Cross. We were created to be useful servants of the Lord, but we're more interested in serving ourselves.
Jesus is the example Paul follows, who makes known the Gospel of reconciliation to us and intercedes on our behalf to God for us to be restored to fellowship with God as a child, rather than a slave, in God's love for us. Jesus offers to pay whatever more we owe, in order to be restored.
Paul was emulating Christ's role in mediating between Philemon and Onisemus. The Lord makes his appeal to us to live according to Christ's example not out of fear by command by his authority, but out of love in response to what Christ has done for us.
The fear (awe and respect for the power and authority) of the Lord is the beginning of true, divine wisdom, by which the World was created, not what the world falsely calls wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 2:1-8). God knows the deeds of the wicked and will hold them ultimately accountable at the Day of Judgment. The wicked deceive themselves by thinking they can get away with evil, although they may, for a time.
Real spiritual insight comes not from knowing a lot “about” God, but by knowing God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ personally on a daily basis, and this is only possible through the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).
Philemon was willing to accept correction by Paul, when Paul did it gently and lovingly. Paul was helping Philemon grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ. We need to be able to hear and accept correction in order to grow spiritually in discipleship.
Many people in the world and even in the nominal Church today don't want to hear any preaching on sin, eternal death, and hell. Unless we're willing to receive correction, how can we repent (change our ways) and grow spiritually to Christian maturity?
Paul warned Timothy, his ministerial protege, that the time was coming when people would not tolerate sound teaching, but would get teachers who would “tickle their ears” with teaching that made them feel good (2 Timothy 4:3-4). That day has come long ago. There are many false teachers and “peddlers” (or" corrupters") of the Word (2 Corinthians 2:17), who will tell people what they want to hear, instead of confronting them where they need correction.
Lots of people were interested in following Jesus as long as they were getting free food and healthcare. When Jesus warned them that they would have to give up their families and possessions to follow Jesus they drifted away. It isn't pleasant to hear that discipleship is going to cost us something, even everything; but it is necessary for us to know at the beginning so that we are able to persevere when the going gets tough.
Jesus didn't mean that we must actually hate our families in order to be Jesus' disciples. He meant by contrast that we must love Jesus so much more, and when forced to choose, choose Jesus.
This lifetime is a spiritual battlefield. Satan and his followers are our supernaturally powerful enemy. We cannot prevail in our own physical resources; we must be empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6), equipped with the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17).
Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ who have been “born-again” by the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit. They are to be discipled within the Church by born-again disciples (as Paul was doing with Philemon and teaching Philemon to do also), until they have learned to know, trust and obey Jesus' teachings and been filled with the Holy Spirit, before being sent out into the world with the Gospel (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; Matthew 28:19-20).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Monday - 16 Pentecost C
First Posted September 13, 2010;
Podcast: Monday - 16 Pentecost C
Psalm 51:1-18 – Psalm of Repentance;
Ascribed to David the great human shepherd-king of Israel, when he had been rebuked by Nathan, the prophet, after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba (see 2 Samuel 11:1-2:13).
Psalm Paraphrase:
O God, be merciful to me according to your steadfast love; blot out my transgression in your abundant mercy. Cleanse me thoroughly from my sin and wrongdoing. I am aware of my transgressions and can't forget my sin. I realize that it is really against you alone that I have sinned, and have done evil in your judgment, so that you are right and blameless in pronouncing judgment. But remember that I was conceived and born in sin.
You want us to be truthful in our innermost beings, so teach me wisdom in my most private heart. Cleanse me (metaphorically), as with a ceremonial cleansing with hyssop (an aromatic herb). Cleanse me so that I can be whiter than snow. Restore to me joy and gladness; then the bones you have (metaphorically) broken will rejoice. Turn your face away from my sin and blot out my unrighteousness.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God and put a new and right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:10-12).
Then I will be able to teach sinners your ways and they will be restored to you. O God, you are my salvation; deliver me from death, and I will praise you for your deliverance of me.
O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will give forth your praise. I would offer a burnt offering, if that would please you, but you have no pleasure in sacrifice. The sacrifice you desire is a broken heart and contrite spirit; these you will not reject. In your good pleasure bless Zion, and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Commentary:
David didn't realize his sin and repent until confronted by Nathan the prophet. Then David was able to confess and repent of his sin. God forgave him and spared David's life, but there were still consequences David suffered.
We are all sinners who fall short of God's standard of righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). We all need to be confronted with our sin so that we can repent and turn to the Lord. Jesus is God's one and only provision for forgiveness and eternal salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right, home).
Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross is the only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of all our sins and our spiritual cleansing so that we can individually be temples of the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we experience the joy and gladness of salvation. By the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit God does create a clean heart and a new and right spirit within us. The Lord is willing and able to uphold us. The sacrifice the Lord desires from us is obedient trust in him.
It is by the Holy Spirit within us that are spiritually reborn to eternal life. We need to be “born-again” by the indwelling Holy Spirit in order to lead other sinners to forgiveness and restoration to fellowship with God. It is only by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we are able praise and glorify the Lord.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Tuesday - 16 Pentecost C
First Posted September 14, 2010;
Podcast: Tuesday - 16 Pentecost C
Exodus 32:7-14 – The Golden Calf;
Background:
Moses was on the mountain top for forty days and forty nights, receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 24:18). When the people realized that Moses was delayed they gathered around Aaron and told him to make idols to lead them, because they didn't know what had become of Moses.
Text Paraphrase:
The Lord told Moses to go down to the people for they had broken the covenant with God (Exodus 24:3) and had corrupted themselves with idolatry. The people had made a golden calf and had offered worship and sacrifice to it. The people called the golden calf the god who had brought them out of Egypt. So God told Moses that the People of Israel were disobedient, and that he intended to destroy them, but he would still make of Moses a great nation.
But Moses pleaded with God asking him not to destroy the Israelites, because the Egyptians would say that God had brought Israel into the desert to slay them and destroy them from the earth. Moses asked God to remember Abraham, Isaac and Israel (Jacob; father, son and grandson; the patriarchs). Moses reminded God that he had sworn to these patriarchs to multiply their descendants as uncountably vast as the stars of heaven, and they would inherit the Promised Land God would give them forever. And the Lord changed his mind about the evil he had intended to do to his people.
Commentary:
The people of Israel had experienced delivery from slavery and death in Egypt, and had entered into a covenant with God to be his people. Yet within forty days, while Moses was on the mountain with God, they had broken the covenant and taken up idolatry.
Faith (obedient trust) requires patient endurance. What the Lord promises doesn't always happen as soon as we would like.
Moses is the prototype and example of Jesus Christ. Jesus has ascended into heaven to prepare a place for us, and has promised to return to bring us there also (John 14:2-3). Believers have been expectantly awaiting his return for two thousand years.
There are many in the world from the first century until today who think that Christ is never going to return (2 Peter 3:3-10), and have turned to worldly things, which are idolatries, instead of trusting and obeying Jesus.
In a sense we are all the people of God, because God is our Creator, whether we acknowledge him or not. God doesn't want to strike us dead when we disobey his Word. His forbearance is intended to give us time to learn to trust and obey his Word by trial-and-error.
God has promised that we can inherit the Promised Land where we can live forever with the Lord in his eternal kingdom in heaven: paradise restored. But Jesus is the only way (John 14:6). Jesus is our Moses who intercedes for our forgiveness. Jesus is God's only provision for our forgiveness and salvation from eternal destruction (Acts 4:12). The only way to be saved is by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right, home).
But there is a Day of Judgment coming, when Christ returns, and his return will be sudden and unexpected. In that day, everyone who has ever lived on earth will be accountable for what we have done in this lifetime. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been spiritually “born-again” in this lifetime, and will enter eternal life. But those who have rejected Jesus as Lord, who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Wednesday - 16 Pentecost C
First Posted September 15, 2010;
Podcast: Wednesday - 16 Pentecost C
1 Timothy 1:12-17 – God's Grace to Paul;
Paraphrase:
Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ for judging him faithful and appointing him to the Lord's service, although Paul had once persecuted the Church and blasphemed Jesus. But the Lord was merciful to Paul because Paul had acted in ignorance and unbelief. Through the faith and love that are in Jesus Christ, God's grace overflowed to Paul. It is absolutely true and reliable that Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Paul considered himself the foremost of sinners, and he believed that the grace the Lord gave him demonstrates the Lord's perfect patience to others who would believe in the Lord for the hope of eternal life. “To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen" (1 Timothy 1:17).
Commentary:
We are all sinners who fall short of God's standard of righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin (disobedience of God's Word) is eternal death (Romans 6:23). But God loves us and doesn't want anyone to perish eternally, so he designed a eternal Savior, Jesus Christ, into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is God's only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right, home).
God has been gracious and patient with all of us. None of us deserve his grace (unmerited favor) and forbearance. His purpose for that grace and forbearance is to bring us to repentance and salvation
I believe that Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was intended by God to be the prototype and example of a modern, post-resurrection “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ as we all can be. Paul was confronted on the road to Damascus as he went with the intent to persecute Christians. When Jesus confronted Paul with Paul's sin, Paul repented (changed his behavior), accepted Jesus as his Lord, and became obedient to Jesus. He was discipled by a “born-again” disciple until Paul was “born-again” and then, guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit, began preaching the Gospel and making “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 9:1-22; 2Timothy 1 :6-7; 2 Timothy 2:2).
The Lord can transform us from sinners and unbelievers into apostles (messengers; of the Gospel) by the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The “baptism” of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
But in order to be saved and transformed, we must be willing to be confronted with our sin and acknowledge that we have sinned. We must be willing to repent, accept Jesus as Lord, and become trusting and obedient to him.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Thursday - 16 Pentecost C
First Posted September 16, 2010;
Podcast: Thursday - 16 Pentecost C
Luke 15:1-10 – Parables of the Lost;
Paraphrase:
Tax collectors (hated as Jewish collaborators with the Roman occupying government) and sinners were coming to hear Jesus teach. The Pharisees (members of a strict legalistic Jewish sect) and scribes (teachers of scripture) criticized Jesus among themselves for associating and having fellowship with sinners.
So Jesus told them several parables (stories of common earthly experiences used to teach spiritual truth). What person, who had a hundred sheep and had one get lost, would not leave the flock to search for the one that was lost? And when he found it he would carry it home on his shoulders, rejoicing, and tell all his friends to rejoice with him for having found his lost sheep. Likewise in heaven, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one lost sinner who repents that over ninety-nine righteous people who don't need to repent.
Similarly, if a woman had ten silver coins* and lost one, wouldn't she sweep the house thoroughly until she found it? Wouldn't she tell her friends that she had found the lost coin so that they could join her rejoicing? So likewise there is great rejoicing in heaven over one lost sinner who repents.
Commentary:
Pharisees and scribes believed that they were righteous because they thought they kept the Law of Moses. No one can actually keep all the Law all of the time (James 2:10; Galatians 2:16), so we are all guilty of failing to keep the Law (the Word of God), which is the definition of sin (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10).
Jesus told his critics that he came not to save the righteous, but sinners (Luke 5:31-32). Someone has said that there are only two kinds of people: the sinners who think they're righteous, and the righteous, who know they're sinners. The truth is there are no righteous; but only those who realize and acknowledge that they are sinners can receive the spiritual healing which only Jesus can provide.
We're all sinners who fall short of God's standard of righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), recorded in God's Word, the Bible and demonstrated in Jesus Christ, the “living Word,” fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God's only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (John 14:6, Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right, home).
There are “scribes” and “Pharisees” in the nominal Church today who think they're saved because they're church members, teach Sunday School, or sing in the choir; or because they have participated in some church ritual such as water baptism (Acts 19:1-7). True Christians are disciples (students; “followers” of Jesus' teachings) of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who have been “born-again” by the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
*worth perhaps sixteen cents in 1962. RSV note "t."
At the time, apparently a day's wage:
Friday - 16 Pentecost C
First Posted September 17, 2010;
Podcast: Friday - 16 Pentecost C
Ephesians 3:13-21 – Prayer for Wisdom;
Paul, a prisoner for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, was writing to the Church in Ephesus, which Paul founded in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). He asked them not be discouraged by Paul's imprisonment, since it was for their benefit.
Paul was praying for the Ephesian Christians that they would be spiritually strengthened, by the dwelling of Christ within them by faith (obedient trust in Jesus). Paul prayed that with Christian love as their foundation they might experience and know, with all saints (believers), the boundless love of Christ and be filled with the fullness of God. Paul commended them to the Lord, who by the power of the Holy Spirit working within believers is able to accomplish more than we can possibly ask or imagine. May he be glorified in the Church through Jesus Christ for all generations unto eternity.
Commentary:
Paul founded the Church at Ephesus on his third missionary journey, where he stayed for three months (Acts 18:19-21). Paul kept discipling new believers, although he was in prison, by letter. If Paul had not been willing to risk imprisonment for the Gospel, the Ephesians might not have heard the Gospel and been saved.
Paul was a “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple who had been discipled by a born-again disciple of Jesus Christ, Ananias (Acts 9:10-12), until Paul had been born-again. Now Paul was repeating the process (compare 2 Timothy 1:6-7; 2:2).
Christians are by definition, disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who have been “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).
Christian discipleship is a spiritual growth process. If we love Jesus for what he has done for us on the cross to save us from eternal condemnation for our sins (disobedience of God's Word) we will keep his commandments, and he will reveal himself to us (John 14:21). Through his indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God (Romans 8:9), we will experience the boundless love of Christ and will be filled with the fullness of God.
By the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit within us we can accomplish more than we can ask or imagine.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Saturday - 16 Pentecost C
First Posted September 18, 2010;
Podcast: Saturday - 16 Pentecost C
Luke 7:11-17 – Son of the Widow of Nain;
Paraphrase:
Soon after healing the slave of a Centurion at Capernaum (Luke 7:1-10), Jesus went to a city called Nain, with his disciples and a large crowd. As he approached the gate he encountered a funeral procession for the only son of a widow, with a large number of people from the city following. The Lord had compassion for the widow, and he went to the bier and the bearers stopped. Jesus commanded the dead man to arise, and he sat up and began to speak. Jesus handed him to his mother, and fear seized all who witnessed it and they gave glory to God, saying that God had visited his people. The news of this event spread throughout the surrounding area.
Commentary:
Capernaum was Jesus' headquarters after his hometown synagogue in Nazareth threw him out (Luke 4:16-31). Jesus was unable to do many miracles in Nazareth because of their unbelief (Matthew 13:54-58). They knew so much "about" Jesus, but they didn't know him personally enough to see and recognize who he was (Job 42:5).
One reason Jesus had compassion for the widow of Nain was because her son was her only means of support.
Jesus' miracles of physical healing, feeding and resurrection were intended to reveal who Jesus is, the Messiah (Christ; God's “anointed” Savior and eternal King), and to demonstrate that Jesus also has the power to heal, feed and raise us spiritually. Only God can raise the dead to life. Jesus is God in human flesh; God has visited his people in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:8-9; John 14:8-11; 20:28).
Many people were drawn to Jesus for what he could do for them physically, but unless they accepted him as Lord and became his disciples, they missed what only Jesus could do for them spiritually. Physical healing only lasts until the next illness; physical feeding only lasts until the next mealtime. Jesus raised the dead physically, but ultimately they died again physically. Only spiritual healing, feeding and resurrection are for all eternity.
We're all born into this world physically alive but spiritually unborn. This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
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