Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“And he answered and said to them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear; the dead are raised, the poor have good news announced to them. And whoever is not offended by me is blessed.”” (Luke 7:22-23)

Chapter seven opens at the end of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20-49). When He had finished speaking to the people, Jesus went back to Capernaum (His home base). There was a centurion who had a servant who was sick and ready to die. This was a Gentile Roman soldier, not a follower of God or a Jew. But he had heard about Jesus’ ministry and the miracles Jesus performed (Luke 4:37). So he sent a message to Jesus asking him to come heal his servant. And as always, Jesus went to heal him. But when they got near the house, friends of the centurion came to meet them. The centurion didn’t want Jesus to enter his house (observant Jews NEVER went into the houses of Gentiles because the teaching of the Elders forbade it – Acts 10:28). The centurion believed that Jesus had the authority to command healing from anywhere, just as the centurion had authority to command his men from anywhere. Jesus MARVELLED that this man had such great trust in Him. He sent the friends back and when they got there, the servant was healed. Note that Jesus didn’t require conversion to heal and Jesus said nothing about approving of their lifestyle or religions. Jesus healed because they trusted Him – evidence that Jesus had true power and authority, so His other teaching could be trusted to be true as well.

The next day, Jesus went into the city of Nain and came across a funeral procession. A widow had just lost her only son. Jesus had compassion on her and told her not to weep. He went to the coffin and told the young man to get up. Agreeing, the young man did and started to speak. Everyone who witnessed it glorified God and this rumour about Jesus spread throughout Judea. Two of John the Baptizer’s disciples heard about it and told John (he had been imprisoned at this point). He sent them to ask Jesus if Jesus really was the Messiah they had been waiting for – remember that all the Jews were expecting the Conquering King Messiah who would throw off Roman rule and make them a preeminent nation again (Messiah ben David) not the Suffering Servant Messiah (Messiah ben Joseph). They came and asked Jesus and He didn’t answer them right away. Instead, He healed people. He made the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear, the demoniacs released, the dead raised, and He cleansed lepers. He told them to tell John what Jesus had done, which were proofs of Messiah (Isaiah 35:5-6) if you were willing to believe them instead of leaning into your own expectations (Isaiah 8:14-15).

Jesus was later invited to the home of a Pharisee to eat. During the meal, a woman came to anoint Jesus’ feet (this is not Mary, sister of Lazarus – John 12:1-8). This woman was sinful. She was not a follower of Jesus. But His ministry and His teaching had touched her. She loved the Lord and was repenting with an act of love and worship. The Pharisee was shocked that Jesus let this woman touch Him because of her sin. Jesus told him that someone who has done much wrong and is forgiven loves much and should not be thrown out. The Pharisee hadn’t performed the basic politeness rituals of a guest (verses 44-47), but she had done them and more. Jesus forgave the woman, accepting her repentance and told her to go in peace.

Chapter eight opens with Jesus going on another tour of all the cities and willages of the region, preaching the Word and bringing to everyone the Good News of the kingdom of God. God wasn’t striving against humanity because sin was paid for and defeated. They could have mercy through grace if they accepted it. It was here that Jesus told the parable of the sower, of the Word being sown into four types of soil and the result of that sowing. Not everyone understood it. In fact, the disciples asked for an explanation later. Jesus explained that it was the Word taking root in our good soil that got the good harvest and that the world, the devil, and our own poor trust choked out the Word and prevented a good harvest. Only those who keep the Word, submitting with humbleness to what they find there as they seek God, that develop good hearts (good soil) and get a good harvest. It isn’t enough to hear the Word or study the Word. We have to apply what God shows us and says to us through it (Romans 12:2). And then we spread the Word to those around us, lights in the darkness so that they have the chance to see it, accept it, believe it, and apply it just as we did.

One day Jesus gave an order: let’s go to the other side of the lake (Sea of Galilee). They set off and Jesus, who was exhausted, went to sleep in the boat. A storm kicked up and they were in danger of sinking. The disciples, leaning into fear, panicked and woke up Jesus, telling Him they were going to perish. Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and waves – who were in violation of the Word that had been commanded for them to go to the other side of the lake. They obeyed the Word. The disciples marvelled and wondered what the real deal was with Jesus because nature itself obeyed Him.

They got to the other side, the region of the Gadarenes, which was across from Galilee. As soon as Jesus’ boots hit the soil a man filled with demons came running up and fell down at Jesus’ feet, demanding to know what action Jesus was going to take. Jesus tried to talk to the man, but the demon refused to let him answer – answering in his place. They begged to be allowed into animals, instead of being cast into darkness. He gave them permission and they went into a herd of pigs – who promptly committed suicide rather than be possessed. The caretakers of the pigs saw it happen and ran into town. They told everyone. Everyone came out to Jesus and there was this wild demoniac who had been terrorizing Jesus sitting calmly in clean clothes talking with Jesus. They were terrified of the whole situation and begged Jesus to leave. Jesus agreed (He doesn’t force us, but lets US choose). The healed man asked to go with Jesus, but Jesus told him to stay and witness throughout the region about what God had done for him. And he did.

Once they got back to Capernaum, one of the rulers of the synagogue (Jairus) came to Jesus and fell down begging. His twelve year old daughter was dying and he wanted Jesus to come to his house and save her. On the way, a woman who had been suffering with an issue of the blood for twelve years came up behind Jesus. She had spent all her money and suffered at the hands of doctors who could not save her. She wasn’t supposed to be out, because blood flow made you ritually unclean and also everything or everyone you touched. In spite of the danger (if you didn’t declare your status to help other people stay ritually clean, you could be stoned), she was convinced that if she touched Jesus’ clothes she would be healed. She told herself that, she believed it, and she trusted that it was true. As soon as she touched Jesus, Holy Spirit responded to her trust and released the healing she immediately engaged. Jesus commended her trust in Him and told her to go to peace.

While He was speaking, Jairus was told his daughter was dead. Jesus told him not to fear. To hold to his trust and his daughter WOULD be made well. When they got to the house, Jesus only took Peter, John, and James with Him inside the home. Inside it was full of mourners wailing away (as was the custom). Jesus told them to stop because the girl was only sleeping. They mocked Him, so He put them all out of the house. He didn’t want their unbelief inside. Jesus went to the girl, took her hand, called to her and told her to get up. She agreed and immediately got up. He told the parents to give her some food. They were astonished at the miracle, but Jesus told them not to spread the story around.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Simon, James, John, Pharisees, Jairus, a Centurion, a demoniac, Jews

Key Verse(s): Luke 7:1-10; 8:40-56