Let's begin at the beginning, of this section that is, well after I let you know what to expects in the next words, sentences, paragraphs.
This will be the last part of Luke 4, so we'll be moving on to chapter 5 next time, whenever that actually is. In this post we will encounter a few small episodes in the beginning days of Jesus's ministry. These episodes will foreshadow a lot of what is to come in the book of Luke, so you will notice these themes as we continue on our road-trip.
OK, now back to the beginning, well actually a bit before that.
In the last post I talked about Jesus's time in the synagogue where he read from Isaiah, said that he was the fulfillment of the scripture, then told the people they were unworthy of miracles, then the people tried to throw him off a cliff, and Jesus slipped through their midst like he was Ethan Hunt, if you know you know, and if you don't...I don't even know what to say to you.
Episode 1: The Demon Menace
So, Jesus leaves Galilee and travels back to his base of operations, Capernaum. There the people are amazed at his teachings because he taught as someone who had authority, in other words everyone else they heard talked as if they were just talking, and Jesus talked as if he knew what he was talking about. While at the synagogue he encounters a man possessed who told Jesus to leave them alone and said that Jesus was the Holy One of God. Jesus told him to be quiet, which he often does and then told the demon to come out of the man. The demon comes out of the man without injuring him, which must not have always been the case or Luke wouldn't have mentioned it, and then the people are even more amazed at Jesus's teachings.
Do you believe in demons? Then this story should tell you that a) the demon had knowledge of who Jesus was, and yet it was still a demon b) Jesus has power over demons c) here are people who have faith and because they have faith they see miraculous things and tell about them.
Do you not believe in demons? Then this story should tell you that a) knowledge of who Jesus is isn't what matters b) Jesus has power over whatever was ailing this man c) here are people who believe in Jesus and see him as having authority over everything else in the world, whatever else is in the world.
Episode 2: Attack of the Colds
After this Jesus goes to Simon's house...Simon is going to be soon called by another name, Peter, you know he of walking on water, sinking in the water, fighting for Jesus, denying Jesus, the rock upon which Jesus will build his church. There Jesus encounters Simon's mother-in-law who is not feeling well and he takes her fever away.
Wait Peter is married? Does he have kids? What does it all mean? It means that some of the disciples had lives beyond being disciples. It means that they were normal guys, who found themselves in an extraordinary moment. It means that if you are willing to follow Jesus your circumstances will not hold you back, unless you let them. What this tells us in a greater scheme is that Luke wants us to know that Jesus has authority over what he is teaching, Jesus has authority over the spiritual things of this world, and Jesus has the authority over the physical things of this world. For Luke Jesus is a man who is the ultimate authority.
Episode 3: The Reveal of the Extent
Finally, at sundown, the people bring to Jesus all those who are ill or are demon possessed. All night Jesus healed the infirmed and cast out demons while he told them to be quiet about who he actually was. As the sun rose Jesus goes off to a solitary place, most likely to commune with God and to recharge his batteries. I tend to think that Jesus was probably a lot like John Coffey in The Green Mile, whenever he performed a miracle power left him and he needed to rest and relax.
[While it is not the point I set out to make, I think it is very important to remember that in order to give we have to have something to give in the first place. We must be healthy enough to give, we must be rested enough to give, we must say enough no's to things so that we can say yes to other things.]
The people go looking for Jesus, because they miss him and because they want him to stay, but Jesus says "I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."
[Now to the point I did want to make]
The good news isn't just for Capernaum. It isn't just for your hometown either. It's not just for your church, local or larger. It's not just for your country. It's not just for those who look like you or think like you or vote like you. It has been said before that the good news has to be good for everyone or else it's not really good. I agree with that, it has to be good for you and for others, good for you and your enemies, good for everyone.
In case you haven't noticed, I sometimes think in ways that a lot of people don't, maybe that is a design flaw, maybe its because of my ego or because of my ignorance, but I am beginning to think that maybe its just because I am called to speak to a different group of people. A group of people who don't think the way that those inside the walls of most churches do. A group of people who have been burned or left behind or forsaken by that other group. You see, I talk a lot about Jesus but I often vacillate between faith and atheism, between orthodoxy and heresy, between morality and immorality, between loving the church and wanting to put it in my rearview, between being a pastor and not wanting to be one. And I am beginning to realize that there are a lot of people out there that are like me in some way, I am beginning to realize that we all have more in common than we might realize and less differences than we want to believe.
Last week when I shared my post I said that I guess I'm back...now I know I am.
peace and love,
Kenny
No comments:
Post a Comment