Give Thanks

Luke 17:15-16 - Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan

Ten men had been suffering both physical disability and a rejection from society I am not sure any of us can fully appreciate. The disease of leprosy had ruined their lives. They were forever marked as “unclean,” unable to have jobs, families, or anything close to a normal life. The day Jesus came to their town, though, all of that changed.

They even had to “stand at a distance” (vs 12) when they called to Jesus, but he heard and responded. Rather than healing them immediately, he sent them on their way to follow the Old Testament law’s instructions to “show themselves to the priests” (vs 14). The healing occurred as they obeyed. All ten got it right so far: They asked. They obeyed. They were healed. Their lives were changed. The dreaded diseased that cut them off from society and all hope was gone. Life began anew for each them that day.

However, one of the ten did something else. He came back to Jesus and said, “Thanks.” Jesus honored him, even though as a Samaritan he had been a double outcast. Jesus asked, “Where are the other nine?” Jesus presented this man’s response as a model we should all follow.

We have all received so much. Whether it is family, friends, food, a home, a job, wonderful experiences, or even just life itself, we all have many reasons to be thankful. It is an extra step to acknowledge the Source of all that we have, but it is a vital step. Not just today, but always, let us all be thankful.

Why Jesus Does Miracles

Luke 7:12-13 -  As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”

Miracles were a big part of Jesus’ ministry. This story, unique to Luke, gives us insight into the various reasons why Jesus did these miracles. The first is his compassion for the hurting. I love the Greek word for compassion, esplagxnisthe, in part because it is sounds so funny, but more because it has “guts” in its core. The idea is the person feels compassion for another’s suffering so strongly it affects them physically – in the gut. A widow in first century Palestine was completely dependent on her sons for support. This widow only had one son, and he was dead. Her physical situation was dire. As any mother can imagine, seeing your only son dead makes your emotional situation even more dire. Jesus had compassion on her. Jesus cares deeply for the hurting. He was able to change her circumstances because of that compassion.

However, Jesus also did this miracle to build the faith of those who saw it. Note that “a considerable crowd” was there. After Jesus raised the young man from the dead, the people said, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” (7:16) Around the world today, miracles are more frequent in places where the good news of Jesus is being spread for the first time and/or making significant new inroads plus places where people have no other option, such as a lack of immediate or affordable healthcare (see Craig Keener’s well-researched comprehensive study, Miracles).

There is a third reason. The people who saw the miracle “glorified God.” (7:16) God showed his power. The God who created the world and its scientific processes can suspend those when he chooses, giving irrefutable evidence of his truth and power.

God still answers prayer today for those same three reasons, so do not hesitate to ask.

Introductions

Luke 7:2-3 - Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant.

I love the story of Jesus healing this centurion’s servant for many reasons. It is one of the few times Jesus commends someone for his faith, as the centurion tells Jesus, “Just say the word…” It is an example of Jesus compassionately reaching out beyond the boundaries of Judaism as he helps an officer of the occupying Roman Army. It is an excellent explanation of authority and how it works. It is also a surprising example of the compassion a mighty army officer had for a lowly slave.

In today’s reading, though, I was struck by another observation: the number of introductions and intermediaries. The centurion speaks on behalf of his servant to the Jewish leaders of his village who make an earnest appeal to Jesus on the centurion’s behalf. Later the centurion sends friends to Jesus. The Gospel writer Luke never mentions Jesus even meeting the centurion or his servant face to face, yet the miracle happens and real connection is made.

There are two concepts we can put into practice for this. The first is spiritual. It is another reminder of the power of intercessory prayer. As we pray to Jesus for each other, he works. As we invite others to pray with us, things happen.

The second application is natural but important: Introductions matter. I think Jesus would have gladly healed the servant if he had made the request directly, but the lessons would have been lost for us and all those there. There is a power in making connections through the credibility of others. Relationships are more and more the real currency of our age. We can be ambassadors for each other as we intentionally introduce others to those in our networks.

Do

Luke 6:46 - “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? “

There seems to be an anti-doing campaign in our country. I think it started with good intentions as a reaction to elitism. In past decades, the same uber-athletes always took home the trophies, and most kids went home from their sports tournaments empty handed. Sometime in the 80s, sporting club directors organizers decided every child athlete should receive a trophy, and now as adults many of them still expect to be rewarded just for showing up.

Throughout the Gospels Jesus hammers against the spiritual elitism demonstrated by the Pharisees and Sadducees who always set the rules to ensure they and their ilk always won. Yet, Jesus does not swing the pendulum to the other extreme. It is not just enough to show up and listen. We must do what we hear.

Jesus follows the verse above with the parable of the wise and foolish builders. Note that what determines which one you are is not whether or not you show up and listen. The difference is whether or not you do what you heard. Doing is not usually easy. Jesus makes the point that wise builder “dug and dug deep and erected the foundation on the rock,” emphasizing the effort it took.

I think one of the biggest reasons there are not more Christians in the world is that those of us who call Jesus, “Lord, Lord,” fail to do what he said. Let’s change that. 

Bad Acting

Luke 6: 40 - How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

Verse after verse of Luke 6 is still as relevant today as it was when Jesus first spoke these words. Jesus attacks the double standard again with this familiar metaphor: take the log out of your own eye before you try to take the speck out of someone else’s. In other words, judge yourself before you judge someone else. Criticize yourself before you criticize someone else.

The word used to describe the person who fails to judge themselves before judging others is called a hypocrite. It originated in the Greek theater to describe an actor who effectively pretended to be someone he was not. Although it was used to praise actors when used in the heyday of Greek tragedy and comedy in the sixth century BC, by the second century BC it was used by Greek speaking Jews to describe people who pretended to be righteous but were truly evil inside. This is the sense in which Jesus uses it. The Jewish religious leaders of his day knew how to put on a good show and appear to be good while really having bad hearts.

We are still vulnerable to the bad acting of hypocrisy today. In fact, the kind of judging that Jesus condemns is usually done in an effort to put others down in order to make the critic look better. Isn’t that the tactic of most political campaigns? Let’s be careful when and how we judge and criticize others. Sometimes it is necessary (see I Corinthians 5), but let’s always check our hearts. 

Choose Your Influences

Luke 6: 40 - A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

So much of who we are has been shaped by those who have influenced us. One of my mother’s favorite pictures is of my two year old self standing inside my father’s boots. Of course, the appearance of a small boy inside large boots is comical. Yet, seeing my father take those boots off every day after working the farm presented a compelling image to me at that age: This is what it means to be a man.

Jesus’ words remind us that we become like those we learn from. My views and values were shaped early on by my parents and teachers. When I became a leader of my own team in the Air Force, I found myself leading much like my first team leader. When I became a youth pastor, I followed many of the patterns and examples of my own youth pastors. As a lead pastor, I did many of the same things I had seen in my lead pastors. As a professor I adopted the methods of my favorite teachers. Now as a dean, I continually fall back on the pattern I saw in the two deans I served.

I have really enjoyed teaching and serving in Christian colleges, and I have really seen this principle played out: Education is as much about the educators as it is the content taught. One thing I love to see here at Southeastern University is so many of our faculty eating, drinking coffee, or just sitting and talking with students. Doing life together like this is shaping the future.

The first question of application for all of us, then, is who is influencing us? Who do we learn from? We will become like them. The second is: who are we influencing? Are we presenting good models for them to follow?

The Single Standard

Luke 6:37-38 - “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

We have a common expression in America called “the double standard.” We see it all the time. Person A gets cut off by Person B in traffic. Person A gets furious at this violation of his rights and hurls verbal abuse at Person B. Two minutes later, Person A is flying down the left of three lanes and realizes he needs to take the next exit. Person A cuts off both Person C and Person D to make the exit with as little inconvenience as possible. Of course, Persons C and D are offended and lay into their horns as loud and long as possible to let Person A know of their offense. In response to this Person A is filled with indignant rage shouting, “How could you possibly be mad at me?  I needed to take that exit!”

I am sure you can think of a hundred other scenarios where you witnessed someone hold a double standard to their own advantage. I am sure you have been the victim of such unfair double standard treatment.

In this passage, Jesus attacks the double standard head on: Do not judge. Do not condemn. Forgive. Give. He concludes with the clear, powerful statement that there is one standard: The measure you use in your actions to and with others will be used to determine what you will receive.

Go back in your mind to the times you have been victimized by a double standard. Now, do what Jesus really want you to do: Consider your own practice of the double standard. Make a commitment today to switch to a single standard: the standard of grace.

The Golden Rule is Still Golden

Luke 6:31 - And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. (ESV)  

I must have been no more than three years old when my mother first used these words to curb my frustrated abuse of my one year old sister: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” I don’t think a toddler was much of a threat to my massive three year old self, but I remember the message clearly. It was repeated over and over at home, at Sunday school, throughout life. I learned it as the Golden Rule: How would I like to be treated by others? Treat others the same way.

It is amazing how this principle still applies in adulthood. It is so much more than a means of conning obedience out of children. It is life lived at its best. What adult does not want respect from others? What adult does not appreciate being treated fairly? Who among us does not value being spoken well of by others?

The tragedy is that we often we forget to live out these words. We can easily fall into the trap of only viewing our own best interest and pursuing what we want. Without this attitude, other people are either responsible to make us happy or barriers that keep us from getting what we want. Yet, how happy are you really when you get your way at the cost of offending another? Unless we stop and remember to live by the Golden Rule, we are likely to miss the joy of real community and living life like Jesus.

Deferred Gratification

Luke 6:23 - Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. 

The American Way of Life is wonderful in many ways. Our reward–centered work ethic and opportunities for all led to the greatest economy in history. Our market-based economic approach has spread throughout the world. It has spurred technological advances in every field. People are better off than at any time in history. However, the American Way of Life has also led to a greater compulsion to place our desires and passions on the things that this world’s economy can provide for us. This “now” focus has distracted the minds and hearts of many of us American Christians.

Luke 6:20-26 sounds similar to the more well-known Beatitudes of Matthew 5:1-10. 

However, there are some distinctive differences. The two sermons were given at different locations. Matthew 5 is part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1), while Luke 6 is known as the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:17). Another significant difference in this section is the contrast between the situations of people “now” and the heavenly reward that waits for the faithful. The rich, the powerful, the famous all get their rewards in this life and miss the real rewards God has for those without now. These rewards never end.

When we have a selfish and materialistic “now” focus, we miss opportunities to serve others, to give, to worship. Our hearts become full with things that will not last. When we put our hearts on God and do things that will last forever, then we have reason to leap for joy. 

Transfer of Power

Luke 6:19- And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.

The Bible talks a lot about spiritual power can be given through the laying on of hands. People were healed. The Holy Spirit and his gifts were imparted. Several people were healed by touching Jesus on their own initiative (See Mark 5:27, for instance). As this verse describes what happened in Jesus’ ministry, there is something about physical contact that allows for the flow of spiritual power.

Early Pentecostals adopted the Bible’s pattern and began the practice of laying hands on people when praying for them. I have had the privilege many times of a real sense of both giving and receiving God’s power through touch and prayer. Like the difference between looking at a light socket and twisting the bulb in, there is a power transfer that can happen with that contact.

Science is now beginning to recognize the power of touch. A recent article in Psychology Today (“The Power of Touch,” by Rick Chilliot, March 11, 2013) cites many studies and researchers who are finding the power of touch to express and change emotion, to change relationships, and even increase sales. These researchers have found that a single touch can express more emotion than voice, face, or other means of expression. The power described in this week’s verse takes things to another level when Christian faith is involved.

Although the wrong kinds of touches can cause great harm, may we never lose the privilege of sharing the power of God through positive touch.

Big Decisions

Luke 6:12-13 - In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles.

Some decisions are not worth much time or any agony. I have wasted a lot of time trying to decide what groceries to buy, what to order from the menu, and what shirt to wear. These decisions did not make much difference in the long run. However, there are some decisions that are critical to our futures and those of the people around us. None are more important than people decisions. Like the old cliché says, “Show me your friends, and I will show you your future.”

By this point, Jesus had a huge group of followers. I imagine all of them would have loved personal mentoring and lots of face time, but Jesus could not effectively train a multitude like he could a small group. Twelve was the number he needed to have to properly invest in to ensure the infant church would have strong leadership after he left. This was one of the most important decisions Jesus made on earth.

Notice, he, the Son of God, took a whole night in prayer before selecting the twelve apostles. He got away from distractions, and he prayed. We do not get to know if God the Father identified each disciple by name or if the time in prayer helped Jesus to clarify his thoughts about his needs, his followers, and who would be the best apostles. What we do know is that he spent time in focused prayer then he made his decision. We each need to discern the decisions that we face that are truly important and follow Jesus’ example: Pray, pray hard, and then decide.

Something Good

Luke 6:9 - And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?”

Do you ever wonder why some laws exist? Most make sense. Laws protect the majority from the excesses of a minority. It is against the law to steal something that belongs to someone else. However, some laws wind up fighting the real purpose for which they were created. In August 2013, Florida lawmakers passed a law that was supposed to eliminate the use of Internet cafes for illegal gambling. Former Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll had been accused of running a charity as a front for gambling, and state lawmakers responded with a hastily worded law that inadvertently required the shutdown of all Internet cafes in the state and ultimately any computer or smartphone connected to the Internet. What should have been a good law became a very bad one that was quickly repealed.

Luke Chapter Six starts with two incidents of Jesus and his disciples breaking Jewish Sabbath laws in force in their day. Remembering the Sabbath day and keeping it holy was one of the original Ten Commandments. Jesus makes clear throughout the Gospels that its purpose was to help human beings, not keep them from good things. Our bodies and minds work most efficiently when we have a day of rest each week. Taking a day to worship and focus on God helps us keep everything in perspective.

We get into trouble with two extremes: The first is when we view a law as existing for its own sake. That’s what the Pharisees had done. They had defined Sabbath keeping so narrowly it was virtually impossible to keep the law, and it became a means of controlling others. It prevented good from being done. However, the other extreme is also dangerous. If we ignore the benefit of a legitimate law because of a fear of “legalism,” we can harm ourselves and others. We need to get to the heart of the law. Is keeping the Sabbath a good thing? Yes, because it is a law with a purpose. It is good for us. Should we focus on keeping the law so that we feel we are better than those who do not or so that we keep others from experiencing the good the law was intended to protect? Absolutely not.