Sunday 28th February 2010

Luke 9.11-15

11 The crowd, knowing this, followed Him; and He welcomed them and spoke about the kingdom of God. He cured those in need of healing.

12 Now the day began to come to an end, and the twelve came to Him and said: “Let the crowd go so that they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside so that they might find lodging and something to eat, because we are in a desert place.

13 He (Jesus) said to them: “You give them something to eat.” But they said: “We only have five loaves and two fishes, unless we go and buy food for all these people.”

14 For there were about five thousand men. So He said to His disciples: “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty.”

 15 And so they made them all sit down.

It would seem that the plan of Jesus to take the disciples to a quiet place was interrupted by the crowd wanting more of Jesus. We read in Mark’s gospel that the people came running from all the towns and villages and arrived ahead of them. The moment they disembarked for some well earned rest they had to move straight into servant mode again.

Following Jesus is a life in which we firstly give ourselves to serve Him and secondly, in doing that we serve others also.

At the moment when we have planned to take time off, we may be called upon to serve in another capacity within the Kingdom of God.

Jesus was not prepared to turn people away, because He had compassion for them. In this He met their needs through teaching and healing. Jesus came to satisfy the spiritual and physical needs of the people. More of which we shall see.

The compassion of the disciples is seen in a different way. The day was coming to a close and they thought that the kindest thing to do was to let the crowds go into the surrounding villages to buy food and find lodgings. Their thinking was that it would not be good for the crowds to be out so late that they would not be able to find food and lodgings.

This is quite a natural way of thinking, and one that we also would agree with. In our planning the times of events and such like, we take into consideration the best and most convenient times for people.

Yet we must also be aware that Jesus may have a different way of being compassionate for the people that we serve that goes beyond our natural thinking.

We must be ready for those times when Jesus guides us to show a different kind of compassion that will meet the needs of others in a greater manner.

Saturday 27th February 2010

Luke 9.10

10 The apostles returned and described to Him what they had done. And taking them with Him He withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida (house of fish).

There came the time when the mission of the disciples had been completed and it was time for them to return to Jesus. It is important for us to understand that there is a limit to the tasks that He calls us to do. After the task has been completed it is time to return to Jesus.

This is how it was for the disciples. They had gone out in the power and authority of Jesus and had preached the gospel, and healed the sick etc. Now they returnrd to Him who sent them out.

When Jesus sends us out He gives us the power and authority to do the job, that and no more. If we try and extend the task beyond the time He has given us the power and authority for, then we will be running on empty and have little effect in what we are doing.

Recognizing the time to return to Jesus is a vital part of mission.

On their return they enter into a time of debriefing, as they tell Jesus what they had done. No doubt they had a lot to tell. How much time do we spend telling reporting to Jesus the things He has told us to do? Obviously He already knows, but it is good for us to recount to Him what we have done as we have carried out His work in His power and authority.

These are learning times in the Holy Spirit, learning how to deal with different situations in His power and authority.

Then Jesus takes the disciples to a private place. After mission comes the need for rest. There is a need to take time out just to be. These are times to be refreshed, recharged and redirected in the Holy Spirit. These are things which can only happen as we rest in His presence in a private and quiet place.

Friday 26^th February 2010

Luke 9.7-9

7 Now Herod the Tetraarch heard all these things that were taking place, and he was perplexed because of some of the things some people were saying. These were that John (the Baptist) had been raised from the dead.

8 Then some were saying that Elijah had appeared, but others that an ancient prophet had risen up.

9 Now Herod said: “I beheaded John, so who is this man about whom I hear these things?” And He sought to see Him.

The gospel of Jesus is able to reach into places that we might think is impossible. It was true in the days of Jesus. It would seem that the reports about Him were being heard in the political world, as well as the religious and social world.

The main reason for this was the demonstration of the power of God that Jesus displayed. This was further seen in the activities of the disciples as they went from village to village in the authority and power with which Jesus commissioned them.

Herod, as we know was the ruler of Galilee, had received reports about what was happening, and he was perplexed. He was looking for an explanation for what was happening, but could not find one. In Matthew’s gospel Herod himself says that John has come back to life and that this was the reason he could do such miraculous things -14.1-2.

In which case Herod could have thought it would not be long before judgement would come upon him for beheading John. It would seem that Herod was both bewildered and scared.

Governments are often in the same position, because they hear and see something that they cannot explain. Paul gives us the reason for this when he writes that [14]  The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned – 1 Corinthians 2.14.

Therefore, those in authority are unable to understand how the Church of Jesus has a powerful effect in the life of people. This is why they try to restrict the Church by the passing of various laws.

Let us be thankful that our government was defeated recently (in the House of Lord’s), when it tried to introduce legislation that would have restricted certain activities of the church.

Other suggestions that were made to Herod were that Jesus was one of the ancient prophets brought back to life.

In truth He is and always has been and always will be the Christ, The Son of the Living God.

Thursday 25th February 2010

Luke 9.5-6

5 And whoever should not receive you, as you leave that city shake the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.

6 Now they went throughout all the villages evangelizing and healing everywhere.

The words of Jesus in verse 5 appear to be harsh. They do not fit the general image of Jesus as being gentle, meek and mild. Like a few other sayings of Jesus, they do not sit comfortable with us.

The practice of shaking off the dust from the feet was carried out by devoutly religious Jews on their return to Palestine. When they left foreign, heathen soil, they would shake off every bit of heathen dust from their feet.

It was a practice that showed their separation from the heathen people and lands and it showed that they did not hold or agree with the foreign practices and customs (religious and secular) of the lands they were leaving.

What Jesus was telling the disciples was that if any place did not receive them, then they were to treat that city in exactly the same manner. The shaking off of the dust of that place was a statement saying that they had rejected Jesus, the Messiah whom God had sent among them.

It is also a statement of the coming judgment, since in Matthew’s gospel Jesus is recorded as saying: I tell you that it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city – 10.15.

The only recorded incident of this happening in the New Testament is in Acts 13.50-51: Then the Jewish leaders stirred up both the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. 51 But they, shaking off the dust of their feet at (against) them, came into Iconium.

The city involved was Antioch.

The words of Jesus in this verse will always raise the question of how long is the gospel to be proclaimed and lived out in the face of rejection, before believers move on.

The answer will always be found in our being in tune with the Holy Spirit to direct us to walk in His paths and to follow His leadings.

Wednesday 24th February 2010

Luke 9.3-4

3 And He said to them: “Take nothing for the journey, neither a walking stick, nor a travelling bag, nor food or money and do not have two coats.

4 And whatever house you might go into, remain there until you leave.

We live in days when there is a vast range of ways with which to communicate. During the last couple of decades our means of communication has increased. The space age has given to us instant access to most places in the world.

In New Testament times, and for centuries afterwards, the only real means of communication was by word of mouth. Even the written word, though available, was far too expensive to be commonly used to spread news.

Therefore, Jesus sends out His disciples to go and speak and live the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Something that we notice is that they are to travel light, taking nothing for the journey. This is in stark contrast from the way in which we travel today – weighing our cases to make sure we do not have to pay extra for air travel!

The reason for taking nothing with them was because they would have to carry things for themselves. Thus, anything they had to carry would be a burden to them, and distract from the objective of preaching the gospel.

Through easier means of transportation we are blessed to be able to carry more things with us for our journeys.

However, it is good for us to ask ourselves the question of how much baggage from this world we are still carrying with us as we walk with Jesus?

Our walk with Jesus constantly requires to be evaluating what we need to leave behind, what we may need to put off, so that we can better accomplish the business of the King of Kings. The writer to the Hebrews tells us to: strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us -12.1.

Tuesday 23rd February 2010

Luke 9.1-2

1 Now calling together the twelve He gave them authority and power over all the demons and to heal the diseases.

2 He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal.

God’s word tells us that when Jesus came into this world He emptied Himself and became nothing – Philippians 2. 7 He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.

From this it would seem that He did not come with any special powers or equipment to be the Son of God. Yet it was as the Son of God that He came.

We know that He began His public ministry at around the age of thirty. Up to that time He would have been preparing Himself for doing His Father’s will.

He could not begin His ministry until He was fully prepared and equipped for the task before Him. At His baptism the Holy Spirit came upon Him, to equip and empower Him; the immediate effect was that the Holy Spirit drove Him into the wilderness for the final preparation for ministry. In Luke 4 14 we read that Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. He had the power and the authority to do His Father’s will.

In reading Luke 9.1-2 we do not know how long Jesus had had the disciples with Him. However long it was He would have been training and preparing them to do the same as Himself, which was to do His Father’s will.

The time had come for the disciples to be sent out for this purpose, and in order for them to do so they needed the same authority and power that Jesus had over demonic activity and diseases and to preach and heal.

The same power and authority of Jesus is essential for every believer in order for us to be effective ambassadors for Him.

First we must become nothing, humbling ourselves as servants. Secondly we need constantly to be preparing ourselves with God’s word; and thirdly we must be filled with the Holy Spirit’s power and authority.

Monday 22nd February 2010

Luke 8.52-56

52 And they were all weeping and lamenting her; but He (Jesus) said: “Don’t weep; she is not dead, but asleep.”

53 And knowing that she did die, they derided Him.

54 Now taking hold of her hand He called out, saying: “Child, get up.”

55 And her spirit returned, and she instantly got up, and He (Jesus) instructed that she be given something to eat.

56 And her parents were astounded; but Jesus told them not to tell anyone about the things that had happened.

No one likes to be the object of derision. Perhaps most of us have been so, particularly when we were children. The taunts of the school playground can hurt, sometimes leaving a lasting impression. With the coming of the mobile phone and texting, being able to ridicule others has taken a more sinister course. We need to pray that our youngsters are protected from such mockery.

It was not for the first time that Jesus faced mockery and it was not the last time. As He hung on the cross there were those who laughed at Him and said: “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One” – Luke 23.35.

Therefore, when we face derision for the sake of Jesus we know that He has Himself had to face it and deal with it. He had to deal with it alone. All but one of the disciples had fled, only the women who supported Him were there, but they could not help. All alone He faced the world’s derision so that He could bring us salvation.

The mockery He faced at the home of Jairus He dealt with by raising the girl to life. There is no greater way to silence the mockers than to display before them the power of God.

Despite any reservation that he might have had, Jairus allowed Jesus into his home and to throw out the official mourners. His reward left him and his wife astounded as their daughter came back to life and was restored to them.

These events lead us to believe that: By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope – Ephesians 3.20.

Sunday 21st February 2010

Luke 8.52-56

53 And knowing that she did die, they derided Him.

54 Now taking hold of her hand He called out, saying: “Child, get up.”

55 And her spirit returned, and she instantly got up, and He (Jesus) instructed that she be given something to eat.

56 And her parents were astounded; but Jesus told them not to tell anyone about the things that had happened.

Saturday 20th February 2010

Luke 8.51-53

51 Now coming to the house he did not allow anyone to go in with Him except Peter, John, James and the child’s father and mother

The question arises as to why Jesus would not allow anyone to go into the house of Jairus, except Peter, James, John and the girl’s parents? Perhaps it might have been because the house was already crowded with the official mourners, but Mark’s gospel tells us that Jesus threw out them out of the house, so there would have been room for the other disciples.

It might have been to protect the privacy of the family, however Jairus was a public figure and used to the public having access to his life.

Quite a number of people say that the reason for this exclusion is the lack of faith. Certainly this was true of the messengers who came and told Jairus that he should not trouble Jesus any longer, because his daughter was dead.

The official mourners, who derided Jesus for saying she was asleep, also displayed their lack of faith in Jesus. Perhaps this was also true for the other disciples.

If their being a lack of faith was the reason that Jesus did not allow others to be present, then we can learn an important lesson: there are those occasions that for faith to see its results there needs to be an absence of unbelief. This is true for us on a personal level.

There are many times when we may have to battle against the unbelief that may exist in our intellect, which may be telling us something that is contrary to the words that the Holy Spirit has sown in our hearts.

It is in these times that we will need to expel from our minds all words of unbelief, so that we can concentrate on the word of the Lord.

Earlier in this chapter Jesus said: “The one who has ears must listen”.

When we are confronted with words and thoughts of disbelief let us be like the man in Mark 9.24 who said to Jesus: “I believe, help me in my lack of faith.”

Friday 19th February 2010

Luke 8.49-50

49 While he was still speaking someone from the home of Jairus, the synagogue ruler, came to him saying: “Your daughter has died, do not trouble the teacher anymore.”

50 Now hearing this Jesus answered: “Don’t be afraid, only believe and she will be saved.”

We all have had experiences in life when something unexpected has arisen, which has delayed something else of importance. Sometimes the unexpected proves to be a blessing, and at other times it creates further problems.

On hearing this drastic news Jairus probably felt that the woman’s interruption has cost his daughter her life. Perhaps running through his mind would have been ‘if only Jesus hadn’t stopped for this ‘unclean’ woman, then he might have got to his daughter before she died.

Jesus knows what he is thinking and tells him three things.

1 Don’t be afraid. It was the fear of loss. None of us like to contemplate the death of a loved one. There is the fear of loneliness, the fear of the aching void created by their death, the fear of an uncertain future, and the fear of not knowing how to cope. Into this Jesus comes and says: ‘don’t be afraid’.

2 He tells him to believe. What was he to believe? Perhaps Jesus was reminding Jairus to have the same kind of faith that the woman had displayed in pushing through the crowd to touch His coat. Perhaps Jesus was reminding Jairus to recall that He had been shown the door of the synagogues, because He healed people on the Sabbath. The call to believe is to place our complete trust in the ability, power and authority of Jesus to bring salvation to our whole being.

3 She will be saved. Here is the certainty of the gospel. Yet there is a link between our belief and salvation (here salvation was to be the girl being raised from the dead). Salvation of our soul, body and mind does require faith on our part. It is not that our belief produces our salvation, but that through our belief we are able to receive His salvation. In this case it was the belief of the father not the girl’s.

Whatever God calls us into, He also grants us the faith to receive it and embrace it.