An airplane was on its way to Detroit when a woman in economy class casually got up and moved into an open seat in the first class section. The flight attendant watched her do this, and politely informed the woman that she must sit in economy class because that’s the type of ticket she had purchased.
The woman looked up and boldly replied, “I’m blonde, I’m beautiful, I’m going to Detroit and I’m staying right here.” After repeated attempts and no success at convincing the woman to move, the flight attendant went into the cockpit and informed the pilot and co-pilot that there’s a blonde bimbo sitting in first class who refuses to go back to her proper seat. The co-pilot went back to the woman and explained why she needed to move, but once again the woman snapped, “I’m blonde, I’m beautiful, I’m going to Detroit and I’m staying right here.”
The co-pilot returned to the cockpit and suggested that perhaps they should have the arrival gate call the police and have the woman arrested when they land. But the pilot said, “You say she’s blonde? I’ll handle this. I’m married to a blonde. I speak blonde.” He went back to the woman and whispered quietly in her ear, and she said, “Oh, I’m sorry,” then quickly moved back to her seat in economy class.
The flight attendant and co-pilot were amazed and asked him what he said to get her to move back to economy without causing any fuss. “I told her first class isn’t going to Detroit.”

            Let’s face it: Regardless of hair color or gender, some people are just dimwits. Some people are so dense that you have to put instructions on the bottom of their boot so they can figure out how to pour water out of it. According to today’s Scripture reading, that is the way Jesus’ disciples were. They had been following Jesus for a considerable period of time; they had witnessed his miracles and heard his teachings, but they still didn’t get it. They were thick-headed and had wax in their ears. As Jesus concluded his Galilean ministry, Luke records four vignettes which display Jesus’ dimwitted disciples and the fact that they still had so much to learn. Let’s take a look!

A Failed Exorcism (37-43)

Peter, James, and John had just witnessed Jesus’ majestic transfiguration on the mountain. The next day they came down and joined the other disciples and a large crowd that had gathered. There was a man in that crowd who was particularly pleased to see Jesus. He was desperate because his only son was literally plagued by a demon. The demon caused the boy’s body to convulse, mouth to foam, and he screamed uncontrollably. They had tried everything they knew to get rid of the demon and stop it from destroying him, but nothing worked. The father even brought his boy to nine of Jesus’ disciples who were stationed at the bottom of the mountain, but all of their attempts at exorcism failed. So, the father waited for Jesus and begged him to look at his son.

Back at the beginning of chapter 9, Jesus gave all of his disciples the power to drive out demons, but they failed on this occasion. Luke doesn’t tell us exactly why they failed, but the corresponding passages in Matthew 17:20 and Mark 9:29 attribute their failure to a lack of faith and prayer. Jesus expressed his discouragement with the disciples by saying, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? His question is really more of a rebuke: the current generation displayed a lack of faith and a crooked path, forcing God to bear with them. He is urging them to “get with the program” because he would not always be physically with them.

            I wonder what Jesus would say about our generation? Would he say that we are faithless and twisted?

Even though he was disheartened by his dimwitted disciples, he showed great compassion for the demon-possessed boy and his father. As the demon threw the boy to the ground, Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy. And the rest of the crowd was amazed by the majesty of God.

            Like he did here, isn’t it great when Jesus steps in fix covers our mistakes and fixes our failures? As he did with these dense disciples, he demonstrates incredible grace and patience with us! Praise God, he is willing to put up with slow learning disciples!

Misunderstanding Suffering (43a-45)

In the midst of the crowd’s marveling, Jesus reminded his disciples that such admiration is short-lived. For the second time, he makes a prediction of his coming passion. He said plainly, “Let these words sink into your ears, the Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” This is obviously a euphemism for his coming betrayal, crucifixion, and death.

But the disciples failed to grasp the meaning of Jesus’ prediction and they were too afraid to ask him to clarify. It wasn’t that they failed in intellectual comprehension as in willingness to face an unwelcome new perspective. What they don’t understand is how betrayal can happen to the person whom they have just confessed as Messiah. How can such a good and worthy person suffer? How can God let his own Son be crucified? (Bock 368)

            Many people ask these same kinds of questions about themselves today? How about the ever popular question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Well, there are two problems with that question. First, we need to question our definition of “bad things.” We almost always consider the death of a loved one, disease, unemployment, financial problems to be bad things, but sometimes what we consider to be a bad is actually the best thing for us—if God uses it to save our eternal soul or to accomplish his divine purpose. If you don’t believe me, just think about the cross. Was Jesus’ death a bad thing or a good thing? Well, it was bad for Jesus but it was very good for the rest of us. We often act like we are omniscient and have an eternal perspective, but we don’t. Only God does!

            Second, we really need to rethink our definition of “good people.” If we are really honest with ourselves, which one of us is really good? Our standard of goodness is usually pretty low—I commonly hear words like “decent” or “good enough” to describe good, but is that what God means by goodness? The Bible says that none of us are good. Romans 3:23 says “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Have we lived such perfect lives that we don’t deserve to suffer? Do we have such an unblemished moral record that we don’t merit misery? Jesus is the only one who is truly good and even he expected to suffer. Why should we think that we are better than him?

            So, when we experience “bad things”, instead of complaining, “God, why me?” or declaring “I don’t deserve this,” let us humbly say, “Lord, even though this is painful, it is an honor to suffer for you. Please use these trials to mold my character into the image of Christ and accomplish your sovereign will in the world.”

An Arrogant Argument (46-48)

The next vignette pinpoints the disciple’s arrogance and slowness to learn. Jesus found them bickering over which one has the highest rank in the discipleship Hall of Fame. It is utterly amazing that these men could engage in such a petty argument after following Jesus for so long. Jesus must have been completely exacerbated by this exchange. Can’t you just picture him shaking his head and thinking, “Oh boys, haven’t you learned anything?”

When Jesus overheard their paltry dispute, he used a child to chide them. Taking a little boy from the crowd, he shows them the value of receiving such a humble figure (children were culturally viewed as powerless and irrelevant.) In Jesus’ estimation, this humble child was greater than all of the conceited disciples! Jesus’ kingdom ethics are a total reversal from the worlds—for the one who is least among you all is the one who is great.

            Humility—not strength and talent, confidence and charisma, or pride and power—is the chief virtue of the kingdom of God.

Ministry Monopoly (49-50)

The fourth and final vignette portrays the disciple’s jealousy of someone else’s ministry. The gospels tell us that John was the disciple whom Jesus loved, and that is a good thing because in this passage he is the disciple who put his foot in his mouth. He puckered his lips and griped, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” Can you hear the whimper in his voice? What a crybaby?

Isn’t this interesting? The first vignette pictured the disciple’s failure to cast out a demon, and now they are complaining because someone else was succeeding at it. Once again, Jesus had to correct his fallible followers. He told them to leave the man alone and reminded them that they did not have a monopoly on ministry. They weren’t the only ones who could preach, heal, or cast out demons. Ministry in Jesus’ name is not limited to a select few. Jesus told them that whoever is not against them is on their side.

            Unlike the Marines, who want a few good men, Jesus wants all of his followers to use their gifts in his service. Ministry should be collaborative, not competitive. It should not be limited to one group, one church, one denomination, or one theological tradition. We all have something to contribute to the ministry of God’s kingdom, and we should not be jealous of what others have or do. All who serve faithfully deserve our support.

            It is unfortunate that we live in a time and culture where so many churches and ministries compete against one another. Many of them have an outlook that they can do ministry better than others, and they refuse to work together. But this attitude grieves Jesus’ heart. There is no monopoly on ministry!

            Well, as you can see, Jesus’ disciples were dimwitted and slow to learn. I sure am glad that we aren’t like them! We have come so far in 2000 years of discipleship! Unlike his original disciples, I guess that we really don’t have much more to learn!

            One bright day in the middle of the night, Two dead boys got up to fight.
Back to back they faced each other, drew their swords and shot each other.
A deaf policeman heard the noise and ran to save the two dead boys.
And if you don’t believe this lie is true, ask the blind man, he saw it too.

This humorous little poem is filled with paradoxes. A paradox is a figure of speech that seems self-contradictory but actually expresses a possible truth: “a bright day in the middle of the night” and “drawing swords to shoot one another” are images of apparent contradiction, but nonetheless they express possible truths. Because of their clever and ironic juxtaposition of ideas, paradoxes are sometimes the most profound way to express a truth.

Jesus was a master at posing paradoxes; he often used them as teaching tools for his disciples. In today’s text, Jesus employs multiple paradoxes to reveal his identity and explain the true nature of the Christian faith.

A Paradoxical Christ (18-22)

One time when Jesus was alone with his disciples and they were praying, Jesus asked them an interesting question, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” The disciples had certainly heard the word on the street as to who Jesus was. Some people said that he was John the Baptist, others said Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old had risen. People had many different opinions of Jesus—all of these responses were plausible and complimentary, but they were wrong.

Jesus used this question as a set up for his real question. He looked deep into his disciple’s eyes and asked, “But what about you? Who do you say that I am?” Jesus posed this question to test his disciples to see if they recognized his person and work. For months or even years they had been following Jesus, listening to his teachings and witnessing his miracles. During that time, he was inviting them to consider his identity, in hope that they would trust him for their salvation.

Peter, the most outspoken of all of the disciples, quickly responded, “The Christ of God.” But what does this mean? The term “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name or a cuss word that we shout when we smash our thumb; Christ is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew word “Messiah.” It means “God’s anointed one.” This is the one about whom the Old Testament prophet foretold—the king whom God would raise up to deliver his people and restore Israel. Peter was correct! Jesus was the Christ of God!

            Jesus’ question, “But who do you say I am?” was not only meant for his original disciples—it was meant for you and me! This is really the most important question in the world, because Jesus is the most important person in the world. This is the question that determines our ultimate destiny in heaven or hell!

            As in the disciple’s day, many people disagree about Jesus’ identity today. Some people say that Jesus was nothing more than a myth (a religious fabrication that people created as a crutch to get through life), others say that he was a good moral teacher or a wise sage or a noble prophet (but they deny his miracles and supernatural abilities). Others try to identify Jesus as a slick political advocate (who of course always supports their own person views).

            On August 5, 2015, The Canadian Press, a Toronto newspaper ran a story about an ordained United Church of Canada minister who believes in neither God nor Bible said she is prepared to fight an unprecedented attempt to boot her from the pulpit for her beliefs. In an interview at her West Hill church, Rev. Gretta Vosper said congregants support her view that how you live is more important than what you believe in. “I don’t believe in…the god called God,” Vosper said. “Using the word gets in the way of sharing what I want to share.”

            Vosper, who was ordained in 1993 and joined her church in 1997, said the idea of an interventionist, supernatural being on which so much church doctrine is based belongs to an outdated worldview. What’s important, she says, is that her views hearken to Christianity’s beginnings, before the focus shifted from how one lived to doctrinal belief in God, Jesus and the Bible. “Is the Bible really the word of God? Was Jesus a person?” she said. “It’s mythology. We build a faith tradition upon it which shifted to find belief more important than how we lived.”

            Vosper made her views clear as far back as a Sunday sermon in 2001 but her congregation stood behind her until a decision to do away with the Lord’s Prayer in 2008 prompted about 100 of the 150 members to leave. The rest backed her.

            It is incredibly tragic when a clergy member would declare that Jesus is nothing more than a myth! So, what about you? Who do you say Jesus is?

            After Peter correctly declared Jesus’ identity, he strictly prohibited his disciples from telling anyone else. It was still early in Jesus’ ministry and he did not anyone to get the wrong idea about what it meant for him to be the Messiah. Many people expected the Messiah to be a political and military warlord who would lead the nation in conquest over its enemies and achieve glory for Israel, but Jesus introduces a great and shocking paradox when he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” (22)

Can you imagine the disciple’s reaction to these disturbing words? The idea of a rejected redeemer, a suffering Messiah, and a killed Christ was completely paradoxical. Even though Jesus was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, his path to glory would be marked with suffering. This must have shattered all of the disciple’s expectations about Jesus’ mission on earth. Just when they thought they had Jesus’ identity figured out, they were surprised again!

            When someone asks you who is Jesus, there is only one correct response: He is the Christ of God, the promised Messiah, God in human flesh, fully divine/fully human, who lived as sinless life and died a horrendous death on the cross to atone for the sins of all who would give their lives to him. He rose from the dead on the third day to offer eternal life to anyone who would follow him. This is Jesus true identity and this was his mission! Do you believe this?

A Paradoxical Christian (23-27)

Well, as soon as Jesus revealed the paradoxical nature of his identity and mission, he immediately explained what this meant for his disciples. In verse 23, he said to them, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” The cross was an ancient symbol of death, a Roman tool for torture and execution. Jesus makes it clear that Christianity is costly. It demands a willingness to sacrifice your life on a daily basis and follow Jesus all the way to death.

Jesus continues to clarify the true nature of Christianity by proposing two paradoxes: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it” and “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world and forfeit their very self?” The first paradox makes the point that if someone wants to gain the eternal life that Jesus offers, they must give their life to him now. The second paradox points to the fact that some people spend all of their time trying to gain everything in this world, and they lose themselves and their very souls in the process. Likewise, those who are ashamed of Jesus and his words in this life, will face his rejection and shame when he comes in all of his glory.

            What does it mean to be a Christian? Here are some of the answers I have heard: 1.) A Christian is someone who goes to church. 2.) Someone who listens to Christian music. 3.) Someone who lives a moral life. 4.) Someone who does good deeds. 5.) Someone who has good intentions. 6.) Someone who wears a cross around their neck. 7.) Someone who reads the Bible and prays. Every one of these answers is wrong, wrong, wrong! These are all fine things, but none of them makes a person a Christian. To be a true Christian, you must give their whole life to Jesus! You must stop living for yourself! You must be willing to stand up for him and even be willing to die for him. If you are not willing to do this, you are not Jesus’ disciple yet—you are not a true Christian yet! You can’t follow Jesus and still hold on to your life as if it is yours!

            True Christianity is not cheap or convenient! It costs us everything we have! But what we get in return is more than worth it—forgiveness from all of our sins, a indescribable peace and joy now, and a perfect life in heaven someday.

            Are you a true Christian? Have you given your life to Jesus? Do you love him more than anyone or anything else in this world? Are you willing to suffer for Jesus? Are you willing to take up your cross and follow him all the way to death?

            Allow me to conclude by telling you a story about a man who was willing to carry his cross. This year marks the 600^th anniversary of the martyrdom of John Hus. Hus was a well educated and popular priest and preacher at the Bethlehem Chapel in the city of Prague, Czech Republic during the early 15^th century. He studied the Scriptures for himself and was an outspoken critic of the abuses within the Roman Catholic Church.

            When he saw he wasn’t to be given a forum for explaining his ideas, let alone a fair hearing, he finally said, “I appeal to Jesus Christ, the only judge who is almighty and completely just. In his hands I plead my cause, not on the basis of false witnesses and erring councils, but on truth and justice.” He was taken to his cell, where many pleaded with him to recant. On July 6, 1415, he was taken to the cathedral, dressed in his priestly garments, then stripped of them one by one. He refused one last chance to recant at the stake, where he prayed, “Lord Jesus, it is for thee that I patiently endure this cruel death. I pray thee to have mercy on my enemies.” He was heard reciting the Psalms as the flames engulfed him.

            John Hus understood the paradox of Christianity! He knew who Jesus was and what he came to earth to do! He carried his cross all the way to the stake and proved that he was a true disciple of Jesus Christ by his willingness to be burned alive. Are we willing to do the same?

Today’s Scripture reading recounts the famous story of the feeding of the 5000 or as I like to call it, “An Impossible Picnic.”

Ministry Retreat (10)

When the twelve disciples returned from their ministry internship of preaching about the kingdom of God and healing people from diseases, they gave Jesus a full report about what they had done. Jesus recognized that they were weary from all of their hard work and he knew that they needed some physical and spiritual rest. So, Jesus had them retreat to the town of Bethsaida, a little fishing village on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.

            Jesus knew the importance of retreat! He practiced this discipline in his own life and instilled it in his disciples. Whether it is ministry or another vocation, it is not healthy to go full steam ahead all of the time. Dealing with people and problems fatigues the body and the soul. We can only do it so long before the negative affects take their toll on us.

            Jesus’ actions in this passage remind us why we need to take some days off work, go on a vacation, disconnect from people (unplug our computers and turn our cell phones off), and spend time in prayer and reflection. Burn out doesn’t benefit anyone! It is detrimental to you and everyone else around you!

            Many of you have heard the parable of the two woodsmen, but it bears repeating here: One man challenged another to an all-day wood chopping contest. The challenger worked very hard, stopping only for a brief lunch break. The other man had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks during the day. At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised and annoyed to find that the other fellow had chopped substantially more wood than he had.

            “I don’t get it,” he said. “Every time I checked, you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did.” “But you didn’t notice,” said the winning woodsman, “that I was sharpening my ax when I sat down to rest.”

            Do you ever retreat for rest and reflection? Do you periodically withdraw from people and activity to rest your body, relax your mind, and sharpen your soul?

Ministry Perseverance (11-12)

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Bethsaida for retreat, the crowds found out where they were going and followed them. Now they were faced with a difficult decision—should they turn the crowd away or go ahead and minister to them even though they were already exhausted? Here is where Jesus’ compassion for people took precedent over his own personal needs. He went ahead a spoke to them about the kingdom of God and cured those who needed healing.

As they day wore on and Jesus continued to minister to people, the disciples became disgruntled (you know how people get when they are tired and hungry). They told Jesus, “Send the crowd away to go to the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” At first glance it appears that the disciples are looking out for the best interest of the people in the crowd, but I suspect that their true motive was selfish. Sure, they wanted Jesus to send the crowd away so that they could get something to eat and find a place to stay for the night, but based on the context, I think that the disciples were more interested in finding a Buffalo Wild Wings and Holiday Inn for themselves.

            Ministry perseverance is the flip side of ministry retreat. Even though Jesus understood the importance of rest and reflection, he also knew that there are occasions when we need to sacrifice our own personal desires and conveniences for the sake of others. Sometimes we are called to minister to people when we are tired and hungry; we can eat and rest later.

            I remember a similar occasion in my own life about twelve years ago. I was back in my hometown to officiate my best friend’s wedding. This was my first big wedding since I had become a pastor, and I had the added pressure of knowing every guest there. I was extremely nervous, but we made it through the whole service without a hitch. After the wedding, I was looking forward to enjoying the reception: a good meal, conversations with old friends, and maybe even a cold beverage!

            But before I could get to the buffet, one of my old classmates approached me and asked if we could have a private conversation. As we stepped into a side room where it was quieter, I knew that this wasn’t going to be a casual or short conversation. (Now I hate to burst your perception of me as a perfect pastor, but I have to confess that I had a bad attitude about this. After an already long day, I wasn’t thinking, “Wow, thank you Lord for this great ministry opportunity.” All I could think about was how good that roast beef would have tasted. (I was just like Jesus’ disciples.) But I knew that the Lord wanted me to sacrifice my own desires and minister to this young woman.

            For the next two and a half hours she confessed to me the fact that she got pregnant out of wedlock and that she and her boyfriend decided to have an abortion earlier that year. With great detail, she described the emotional pain and guilt she carried from that decision. She wanted to know if God still loved her and if she could ever be forgiven for this sin. She wanted to know if her baby was in heaven or hell. She wanted to know if God would prevent her and her now husband from having children in the future. As I shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with her and ministered to her soul, she put her faith in Jesus, repented from her sin, and became a Christian that very evening. Her life was forever changed!

            Later on, as I ate my roast beef and enjoyed my beverage, the Holy Spirit convicted me for my attitude earlier. And I definitely learned a lesson about perseverance in ministry!

            How about you? Are you willing to sacrifice your desires, comforts, and conveniences to minister to those in need?

An Impossible Picnic (13-17)

As the disciples try to get Jesus to disperse the crowd, he had the perfect response for their selfishness. He looked at them and simply said, “You get them something to eat!” This was a command, not a question. But what were they to make of it? They didn’t have enough food to feed themselves, let alone host a dinner party of 5000 people. Can you imagine trying to come up with enough food to feed that many people? Jesus was demanding the impossible!

The disciples pointed out how ridiculous Jesus’ expectations were when they said, “We have only five loaves and two fish—unless we go and buy food for the crowd.” They knew that the closest Costco was over 100 miles away, and besides, they didn’t have enough money to buy a membership.

Jesus used this occasion to test the disciple’s faith and once again teach them to rely on him rather than themselves. From a human perspective it was impossible to feed this crowd. But with God, all things are possible. The disciples failed to remember how God miraculously provided manna to their ancestors for 40 years in the wilderness. They failed to remember how God used Elisha to miraculously provide barely bread to 100 people back in 2 Kings 4. They failed to remember all of Jesus’ other miracles he performed.

When the disciples failed their test of faith, Jesus took over. He told them to organize the crowd in groups of fifty and then, looking to heaven, he gave thanks, and broke the bread. He kept breaking the bread and distributing to his disciples to serve the people. They all ate enough that they were completely satisfied.

And just to drive home the point that God can always provide abundantly more than what people need, Jesus made sure that there were 12 basketfuls of leftover bread. Can you imagine the humbled looks on the disciple’s faces as they carried their full baskets back to Jesus?

            Most of us are just like the disciples in this story. We tend to look at our problems from a human perspective. We often face adversities that seem impossible. Sometimes Jesus even tests our faith by expecting us to do the impossible. And like that group of doubting disciples, we forget how God has provided for us in the past and we fail to believe that he will give us what we need in the present.

            Are you facing any adversities today? Are you in the midst of any perils that seem impossible? Is your faith being challenged? Remember that Jesus is God! If he can feed 5000 people with two measly fish and five morsels of bread, he can take care of all of your problems and so much more!

            The feeding of the 5000 reminds us that God is not limited by our inadequacies. Rather, our very limitations can display the glory and grace of Jesus Christ when he does what we are unable to do: His power is made perfect in our weakness!

            One man who understood this principle well was Robert Morrison, the famous missionary to China. In 1805 the London Missionary Society recruited Morrison to go to China. It was the time of Napoleonic wars, however, and the only British ships traveling to China belonged to the East India Company, which refused to transport missionaries. So Morrison went to the United States, hoping to book passage to China. When the owner of the ship heard about Morrison’s plans, he was skeptical. “And so, Mr. Morrison,” he said, “do really expect to make an impression on the idolatry of the great Chinese Empire?” “No, sir,” Morrison quickly replied, “I expect God will.”

            Through Morrison’s ministry, in all of its weakness, God did make an impression on China’s idolatry, with spiritual results that last to this present day. It is when we know that we are at the end of our own resources that we are ready to see what God will do! (Ryken 437)

            It was a sunny Saturday morning and the smell of freshly cut grass filled the air. Mike was beginning his pre-shot routine, visualizing his upcoming shot, when a voice came over the clubhouse speaker–”Would the gentleman on the Ladies Tee please back up to the Men’s Tee!”

            Mike, still deep in his routine, seemed impervious to the interruption. Again the announcement–”Would the Man on the Woman’s Tee kindly back up to the Men’s tee, PLEASE!” Mike had had enough. He turned and shouted, “Would the announcer in the clubhouse kindly shut up and let me play my second shot!”

            Some people just won’t be interrupted for anything!

            My fourth grade teacher, Mr. Patty, was like that. He hated interruptions more than anyone I have ever known. He would get spitting mad if a student spoke out in the middle of a lesson or even if another  teacher came to the door to ask him a question.

            Our class eventually learned to use this to our own advantage. We all knew that Mr. Patty loved sports and that he was quite competitive. So, when it was time for recess, we often decided to play kickball and petitioned Mr. Patty to be our all time pitcher. If we could rig the game to keep the score close, Mr. Patty would get so focused on the game that he would forget all about our afternoon reading and spelling lessons. Sometimes we would have a 2 hour recess, until Mr. Boylen, our principal, would come out and tell him that it was time to go back inside. Mr. Patty would get so angry at the interruption that he would slam the big red rubber ball off the pitcher’s mound and say, “Kids, we’ll finish this game tomorrow!”

            Wouldn’t it be nice to go through life without any interruptions? For that matter, wouldn’t it be great to get through a single day with no interruptions? No phone calls, e-mails, or text messages! No boss nagging, no coworkers complaining, no kids whining! Can you remember the last time you got through a whole day without any interruptions?

            Jesus probably had a higher percentage of interruptions than anyone else in human history. It seems that every time he set out to preach and teach about the kingdom of God, he was interrupted by someone—his disciples, the Pharisees, and crowds of people clamoring for healings and miracles.

            This is precisely what we find in today’s Scripture reading. As soon as Jesus returns from a difficult ministry journey on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, there was a large group of people who gathered on the shore to greet him. Why was this flock so eager to see Jesus? Because they all wanted something from him! But as usual, he takes the interruption in stride and begins to listen to the pleas and care for the needs of the crowd. Here is what happened!

The Bleeding Woman and the Dead Girl

            One of the people standing in the crowd was a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue, the person responsible for organizing public worship. He was a prominent member of the community and everyone knew him. No doubt, he had heard about Jesus’ miraculous healings, because as Jesus approached, he frantically fell before Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house and heal his beloved daughter. His little girl was only 12 years old and she was dying. Jairus was desperate; he couldn’t bear the thought of losing his one and only daughter. As he pleaded with Jesus to come, he had two questions running through his mind: Would Jesus be willing to heal her and could they get there before it was too late? Thankfully for Jairus, Jesus set out right away.

            But as Jesus made his first steps toward Jairus’ house, the crowd interrupted him by pressing in around him. They hemmed him in so close that they almost crushed him. While the mob was shouting their supplications at him, a woman came from behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. Even though he did not see it happen, he knew someone touched him because he felt power go out of him.

            Jesus stopped everything and asked, “Who touched me?” Everyone denied it, and Peter pointed out the obvious fact that many people had touched him because the crowd was so thick. But Jesus persisted. The touch he asks about was no ordinary touch; it was a touch that pleaded for help and found it. The silent faith of the woman needed exposure.

            When the woman realized that Jesus knew what she had done, with great fear, she reluctantly comes forward, falls at Jesus’ feet, and admits that she is the one who touched him. The woman didn’t want Jesus or anyone else to know that she touched him because of her physical condition. For the past 12 years, this woman had suffered from a menstrual disorder which caused a chronic flow of blood. Her condition was not only frustrating and embarrassing, but it also rendered her ceremonially unclean, isolating her from Jewish religious life. The Mosaic Law prohibited woman from entering worship during their monthly cycle.

            This poor woman consulted all of the local doctors, but no one knew how to treat her problem. (I originally considered calling this sermon “The Failure of Physicians” but that might have hit a little too close to home.) Anyway, the woman believed that Jesus had the ability to heal her. Understandably, she didn’t want to be a public spectacle; all she wanted was to touch Jesus, an act that she hoped would restore her physically, spiritually, and socially. So, she got herself in position, touched him as he walked by, and immediately she was healed. She then hoped to fade away into the crowd and go along her merry way unnoticed.

            But as she fell at Jesus’ feet, she related her story of suffering and explained why she touched him. Instead of rebuking her for her underhanded way of approaching him, he commended her for her faith. Jesus looked at her with deep compassion and softly whispered, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

            While Jesus dealt with this interruption, one can only image the frustration that Jairus felt. His daughter was on the brink of death, but Jesus stopped to engage in a seemingly unnecessary conversation with this woman who had already been healed.

            Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever been in a hurry to get somewhere, but your traveling companion holds you up because they keep getting caught in needless conversations. This happens to me every Sunday after church—I am always waiting for my wife to finish talking!

            Well, Jairus’ worse fears were realized. While Jesus was still speaking to the woman, someone from Jairus’ house pushed through the crowd and delivered the worst possible news. With great sorrow in his voice, he said, “Your daughter is dead.” Then, recognizing the reality of the situation, he added, “You may as well let the teacher go and not bother him anymore.” In that moment of complete exasperation, I’m sure Jairus wondered if the outcome would have been different had Jesus not succumbed to the interruption.

            But hearing these words, Jesus looked at Jairus and offered these words of comfort, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” This was an incredible call to faith! Despite his feelings of disappointment, pain, and anger, Jairus takes Jesus at his word and leads him to his house.

            When they arrived, Jesus allows only the family, Peter, John, and James to enter the room where the little girl’s corpse is lying. Outside the house, the mourners have already gathered. They were only called after it was absolutely certain that death had taken place. In the midst of community sorrow, Jesus calls them to stop, for the girl “is not dead, but asleep.” The crowd laughed at this ludicrous statement—for a great miracle worker, they probably wondered about Jesus common sense. This girl was gone. Her spirit was already separated from her body. She was deader than a doornail!

            But Jesus paid no attention to the jeers of the crowd. He took the little girl’s hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit immediately returned to her body and she was restored to life. As she opened her eyes and stood up among them, her parents were absolutely astonished. Jesus then proves his practicality and tells them to give the girl something to eat. (Apparently, dying and coming back to life works up quite an appetite.)

            Jesus concludes his interaction with this family by instructing them not to tell anyone what had happened. Anyone who knew that the girl was dead and then alive again would obviously know what happened, but Jesus did not want undue attention drawn to what he had done because this would turn him into a wonder worker with all of the public attention focused on that ministry rather than on his central teaching about the kingdom of God. (Bock 247-248)

            Now that we have heard this incredible story, allow me to highlight a few lessons that we can take away from it!

 1.) Some of God’s most profound work is accomplished during the interruptions of life.

            Divine providence means that God is in guides every detail of our lives. Even though interruptions are typically annoying and frustrating because they deter us from accomplishing our immediate goals, God uses them to accomplish his goals in our lives. For instance, sometimes God orchestrates minor interruptions like unexpected telephone calls or someone stopping by to teach us patience and perseverance. Other times he uses major interruptions like disease, disablement, or the death of a loved one to bring us to our knees and remind us that we are not in control of our lives. He uses interruptions like this to show us our need for a savior. Whenever you experience the aggravation of interruption, open your spiritual eyes and look for what God is trying to do in your life!

2.) God timing and plan is perfect, even when it doesn’t seem like it.

            I suspect that Jairus had difficulty understanding why Jesus would allow himself to be preoccupied with the bleeding woman when his little girl was dying. Time was of the essence! Likewise, it can be difficult for us to understand God’s timing and plan in our lives. We often want Jesus to act right now or according to our time table, but as in the case of Jairus’ daughter, we must trust that his timing and plan is perfect.

3.) God is sovereign over disease and death.

            This story clearly illustrates Jesus’ power and authority over disease and death. He can heal us from long established ailments and even bring us back from death if he so desires. It is never a question of whether he can heal and deliver; the real question is if it is part of God’s plan. Even today, sometimes God chooses to heal (miraculously or otherwise) and sometimes he calls us to persevere in suffering. Although rare, sometimes God surprises us by bringing someone back from the dead. But usually he calls us to grieve so that we will contemplate where our own soul will spend eternity.

            All of Jesus’ resuscitations were temporary. This little girl would die again someday. But Jesus’ demonstration of power over death here is a foreshadowing of his own resurrection and his offer of eternal life to whoever would put their faith in him. Have you received eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ?

4.) God calls us to not be afraid, but to just believe!

            Jesus’ words to Jairus in verse 50 are profound, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” This is what Jesus says to us too. There are many things in this world that we do not understand, and we are afraid of the unknown. We constantly ask God questions, but he does not always answer. Why? Because he wants us to be driven by faith, not fear! He wants us to trust him! Therefore, I say to you, whatever you are facing today, don’t be afraid; just believe!

            In today’s Scripture reading, Luke tells us the stories of Jesus’ encounter with the gale and the graveyard!

The Gale (22-25)

            Jesus and his disciples had been preaching and teaching in the fishing villages on the west side of the Sea of Galilee. One day, Jesus decided to go to the other side of the lake to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God. So, when he shared the plan with his disciples, they boarded a board and set sail. Jesus was exhausted from ministering to large crowds, and at least four of his disciples were experienced fisherman, so he took this opportunity to get a little shut-eye.

            The Sea of Galilee is not a large lake; it is only 10 miles long and 5 miles wide. But it does sit at 700 hundred feet below sea level and has hills surrounding it. The eastern side has a particularly steep set of hills. Even on such a small lake, these topographical features could create the perfect storm when cold wind would shoot through the gaps and collide with the warm air on the surface of the lake. The gales of Galilee could cause treacherous conditions that may capsize ships and drown even the most seasoned sailors.

            As Jesus slept, just such a storm arose. The sun disappeared as dark clouds swelled the skies. The sudden drop in temperature caused goose bumps to appear on the disciple’s skin. The winds began to howl and the waves crashed against the bow of their boat. As the disciples fought against the mist in their faces and tried to reset the sail, even Peter, Andrew, James, and John, with their collective fishing experience, became frantic. But somehow, as sea billows were swamping the boat, Jesus remained in peaceful sleep. (Some people can sleep through anything!)

            When the disciples were finally overcome with fear and they could not hold out any longer, they wrestled Jesus awake and shouted, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” Jesus opened his eyes and calmed rose to his feet. He raised his gently hands and rebuked the wind and the waves. He simply said, “Quiet! Be still!” And immediately, the winds ceased to blow, the waves calmed, and the dark clouds rolled away. The roaring sea became as placid as a purring kitten. It looked like a sheet of glass.

            Then Jesus lowered his hands, gave his disciples an annoying glare, and rebuked them saying, “You woke me up for this?” No, I’m just kidding! Jesus didn’t say that. But if this were one of us, we would have been annoyed. Don’t you just hate when you are rudely awoken and immediately confronted with someone else’s chaos.          

            Like a few weeks ago when I was having a happy nappy on the couch on a rainy Sunday afternoon, and one of my kids came running into the room screaming, “Dad! Dad! Dad!! Dad!!!” As I woke up, my heart was pounding at 180 beats a minute, I thought, “Oh my gosh, did someone fall down the stairs or break an arm?” When I asked what was wrong, I heard the panicked words, “Dad, Duncan took my stickers!” Grrgh! I raised my hands and rebuked my child, “Quiet! Be still! Go away!” And I went back to sleep!

            Jesus did display displeasure, not because they woke him up, but because of their lack of faith. There was a deep disappointment in his eyes when he asked them, “Where is your faith?” Did they not trust God to see them and care for their best interest?

            When the disciples saw what Jesus did and spoke these words to them, they were shocked and amazed. They began to ask themselves and each other, “Who then is this, he commands even the winds and water, and they obey him?” This question shows that the disciples were still struggling with Jesus’ true identity. The Old Testament makes it clear that only God has authority over nature. The disciples were gradually figuring out that Jesus is God.

            Most of us have never been caught in a storm that threatened our lives, but we are familiar with feelings of desperation, especially in the midst of circumstances that we cannot control. Like the disciples, sometimes we feel like God is not aware of what is going on in our lives—that he is asleep at the wheel and or has forgotten about us. When we experience the chaos of losing a job, a broken relationship, a difficult diagnosis, the unexpected death of a loved one, or some national crisis or community calamity, it can throw us into an all out panic. But where is our faith in moments like these? If we put our trust in Jesus Christ, God in human flesh, and remember that he is in complete control over everything in the cosmos, we can have supernatural peace to sustain us through life’s fiercest storms.

            There are so many situations in life where we are absolutely powerless. I honestly pity the people who try to face them without a relationship with Jesus Christ. Week after week, I see people in our communities try to calm their own winds and still their own seas, and I watch many of them get washed overboard. Instead of humbling themselves before God and putting their faith in Jesus Christ, they try to cut their anxiety with alcohol, numb their pain with drugs, and burn off their sorrow with destructive behavior. And these only cause more storms! Friends, Jesus is the only one who has the power to still the storms of life! Won’t you put your faith in him today?

The Graveyard (26-39)

            Well, Jesus and his disciples finally made it to the other side of the Sea of Galilee and they landed in the region of the Gerasenes, a gentile area with steep banks that overlooked the lake. As soon as Jesus stepped on shore, he was met by a streakier running through a cemetery. This ghoul who lived in the graveyard was obviously out of his mind, and everyone from the area knew it. On multiple occasions, the local authorities had tried to subdue him with shackles and chains, but the man had supernatural strength and easily broke free and ran loose among the tombs. His bizarre behavior scarred people and no one wanted to be around him, which was just fine with him; he preferred to be in solitary places.

            When the man approached Jesus, Jesus immediately knew that the man was possessed by a demonic spirit. The demon immediately recognized that Jesus was no ordinary human being; they forced the man to fall before Jesus’ feet and shouted loudly, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me.” Without ever having a previous encounter with him, the demon knew Jesus name, identity as the Son of Most High God, and that Jesus had the power and authority to torture him.

            When Jesus asked the demon what his name was, the demon revealed that his name was Legion” because many demons had possessed the man. A legion was a Roman military unit of about 6000 soldiers. In other words, Jesus is engaging in a major spiritual battle here. He is outnumbered, but not overmatched.

            Realizing that they could not defeat Jesus and that they would have to obey his commands, they ask to be sent into a herd of pigs rather than to the abyss. The abyss refers to “the place of the dead”—a spiritual prison for fallen angels, a torturous place where they await their final judgment from God. At first, it appears that Jesus acquiesces to their request—as he commanded them to leave the man, he gave them permission to enter the herd of pigs that was grazing on the hillside. But being possessed by the demons threw the whole herd into such a panic that they ran off the steep cliff and drowned in the lake. The demon’s effort to continue their presence in that area failed. Jesus did send them to the abyss, preventing them from terrorizing that area again.

            When those tending the pigs saw what happened, they quickly spread the news throughout the town and countryside. Before long, a large crowd came out to see what happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man who had been possessed sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully dressed and in his right mind. Jesus had rescued him from a life of spiritual and social bondage and completely restored his life. The local people do not care for Jesus’ work, however. Not only were they afraid of his foreign power, but they were also frustrated because Jesus’ miracle drove up the price of bacon.

            The restored man was so grateful to Jesus for what he had done for him that he wanted to join Jesus’ ministry team and travel with him. But Jesus had another calling in mind: someone must be left behind to share what had done in that area. The man did that and more—he honored Jesus by preaching and proclaiming what Jesus had done for him.

            There are a few lessons I would like for us to take away from this story. First, we must recognize the reality and destructiveness of demonic spirits. Contrary to popular opinion, demons are not the subject of horror films and people’s imaginations. They are real! They are here in our world today! As a matter of fact, there are many people who are afflicted by demons right here in Franklin County, Vermont.          

            Some people doubt the existence of demons because they have never encountered one personally. If you haven’t, praise God. But many people have had demonic encounters, but unfortunately, they get swept under the carpet because people are too embarrassed to talk about them. They are afraid that people will think they are crazy. Also, in our modern educated scientific culture, we have largely “psychologized” demonic possession. There are a thousand categories of mental illness, but you will not find demonic possession in Diagnostic Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders. After dealing in this area for many years, I have personally become convinced that most murders and suicides are caused by demonic possession and oppression. But shhh, don’t tell anyone in the media that I said that; people will think I’ve gone completely bonkers! Friends, do not be deceived, demonic possession is the real deal!

            Second, we must remember that Jesus has complete authority and power over demons. As we see in today’s Scripture reading, demons have to bow before Jesus and obey his commands. A close relationship with Jesus Christ is our best defense against demons, and Jesus is the only hope of deliverance from demons. If you suspect that you or a loved one is being oppressed by demonic spirits, run to Jesus as fast as you can. He is the only one who can restore your life!

            Third and finally, notice what demon-possessed man did after he was delivered. He went and told everyone what Jesus had done for him. It is often true that those whose lives are most radically transformed often end up being the strongest witnesses for Jesus! Has Jesus transformed your life? Are you telling other about what he has done for you?

            Jesus has authority over the natural world and the supernatural world. If he has the power to calm the wind and the waves and drive out demons, he is certainly able to take care of you and your problems!

            Throughout the history of the world, kings were famous for their harems. A harem is a group of women, consisting of wives, concubines, and servants, who live in the king’s court. Among other things, the purpose of the harem was to satisfy the desires of the king. The Egyptian pharaoh’s had harems. The Sultans of the Ottoman Empire kept large harems. In Mexico, Aztec ruler Montezuma II, kept four thousand concubines. Unfortunately, even in the Bible, King David and King Solomon had harems. I Kings 11:3 tells us that Solomon had a harem of 700 wives and 300 concubines.

            Genghis Khan, the Mongolian ruler, apart from being one of history’s biggest conquerors, could well be one of the most prolific lovers of all times. Genghis had six Mongolian wives and married many daughters of foreign kings. Apparently the inmates of his harem numbered anything between two to three thousand. Geneticists from the Russian Academy of Sciences believe the brutal ruler has 16 million male descendants living today which is nearly 8% of the population of Central Asia.

            Ismail ibn Sharif, ruler of Morocco from 1672-1727, claimed to be a direct descendent from the prophet Mohammad. He was known in his native country as the “Warrior King,” who defeated the Ottoman Turks and won independence for Morocco. He also holds the distinction of fathering probably the maximum number of children in history—more than 800.

            Although harems are still somewhat prominent in middle-eastern cultures today, they have been largely out of style in modern American society, except in the cases of John F. Kennedy, Hugh Hefner, and Kody Brown, the star of the TLC reality show “Sister Wives,” which documents the lives of the Utah polygamist, his four wives, and seventeen children. Sadly, throughout history, many men of high position have used their power, money, and even religion to exploit women for their own pleasures and purposes.

            This is why the gospel accounts of Jesus’ treatment of women are so surprising! Jesus, as God in human flesh, is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come (Eph. 1:21). If he so chose, he could have had the largest harem in human history.

            But instead, he never abused his power by treating a woman with disrepute. He never suppressed a woman with his supremacy. He never objectified a woman with his authority. He never manipulated a woman with his money. He never even wounded a woman with his words. From the sinful woman who wiped his feet with her tears to the woman caught in adultery, Jesus always treated women with the utmost dignity, respect, and compassion. Jesus never had a harem, but from the early days of his ministry, as he traveled about from one town and village to another proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, many women willingly became his followers.

The Women who Followed Jesus (1-3)

            At the beginning of the eighth chapter of his gospel, Luke affirms that Jesus had chosen 12 men to be his apostles, but he also highlights the fact that women also had prominent roles in Jesus’ ministry. He mentions 3 of them by name: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna.

            Each of these three women, along with all of the others had experienced the saving power of Jesus Christ. Mary Magdalene had been possessed by seven demons—fallen angels who preyed upon her spiritual weakness and bent her will to their evil purposes. Many people have speculated about Mary’s past. Since Pope Gregory the Great mentioned it in a sermon in the 6th century, she has often been accused of sexual promiscuity, but this assertion is biblically unfounded. More recently, Dan Brown in The Da Vinci Code and others have postulated that she was Jesus’ wife and they had children together. But there is absolutely no credible historical evidence of this. All we know about Mary’s background is that came from the village of Magdala on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee and that Jesus delivered her from demons.  

            Jesus also delivered Joanna, who was connected to the royal palace through her husband Cuza, who was the manager of King Herod’s household, and a woman named Susanna. The Bible does not tell us anything else about these women, except for the fact that Jesus healed them from their infirmities.

            The miracles that Jesus performed were only the beginning of his work in their lives. He also invited them to learn from his teaching ministry. This was astounding and completely counter-cultural. In those days rabbis did not teach women; theology was only for men. But Jesus welcomed them into his group of disciples.

            These women, in turn, supported Jesus and his ministry. This was necessary because Jesus and his disciples owned almost nothing. They had nowhere to live, and as they traveled around Israel, they had no way to provide for their daily needs. But in the providence of God, these women supplied what Jesus needed. They may well have had a lot of money, but whether they were wealthy or not, they put what they had at Jesus’ disposal. They wanted everyone to hear the good news of God’s grace. (Ryken 355)

            Each of these women served Jesus followed him to the very end. Unlike most of his other disciples, they followed their Savior to the cross and to the grave, before meeting him on the far side of the resurrection.

            Like Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna, Elisabeth Elliot is a wonderful example of a woman who has faithfully served Jesus Christ in modern times. She just passed away about two weeks ago at the age of 88. Elisabeth was born in 1926 in Belgium, where her parents served as missionaries. When she was a few months old, they came to the U.S. and lived in Germantown, PA, not far from Philadelphia, where her father became an editor of the Sunday School Times, a publication which was used by hundreds of churches for their weekly unified Sunday School teaching materials.

            Elisabeth went on to attend Wheaton College, where she studied classical Greek. This enabled her to accomplish her goal of working in the area of unwritten languages to develop a form of writing. A year after she graduated, she went to Ecuador. Jim Elliot, whom she had met at Wheaton, also entered tribal areas with the Quichua Indians. In 1953, they were married in the city of Quito and continued our work together. Jim had always hoped to have the opportunity to enter the territory of an unreached tribe. The Auca Indians were in that category — a fierce tribe whom no one had succeeded in meeting without being killed. After the discovery of their whereabouts, Jim and four other missionaries entered Auca territory. Initially, they had friendly contact with three of the tribe, but eventually they were speared to death. Elisabeth and Jim only had 3 years together. Their daughter Valerie was only 10 months old when Jim was killed.

            Instead of being angry with God or bitter toward the Auca’s, Elisabeth continued working with the Quichua Indians when, through the remarkable providence of God, she met two Auca women who wound up living with her for one year. They were the key to her going in to live with the tribe that had killed her husband the other four missionaries. She remained there for two years and saw most of the tribe converted to the Christian faith.

            After working with the Aucas for a few of years, she returned to the Quichua’s and remained there until 1963. She eventually returned to the U.S., and embarked upon a ministry of writing and speaking. She wrote 24 books, served as one of the stylistic consultants for the committee of the New International Version of the Bible, and has spoken about God’s grace all over the world.

            Elisabeth Elliot is an inspiration to Christians everywhere. She loved the Lord Jesus Christ with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength. She used her talents and resources to faithfully serve the Lord to the end of her life.

            Like Elisabeth Elliot and the three women mentioned in this Scripture passage, God has given all of us abilities and resources to serve him. It doesn’t matter whether you are male or female, rich or poor, educated or not—he wants us to use what he has given us to share God’s grace with the world. What gifts and resources has God given you? How are you using them in the service of the Lord?

            All of these women followed and served Jesus because they were transformed by his grace.  They personally experienced Jesus’ forgiveness and healing touch. That is what compelled them to give their lives to him and follow him. Have you experienced Jesus’ forgiveness and healing touch in your life? Have you given your life to him? Are you one of his followers?

            Well, obviously Jesus was not like any other king in human history—he never had a harem, he never abused his power, and he never sinned. He lived a perfect life and sacrificed himself for his people. As a matter of fact, he gave his own life on the cross to free all of us from our sins! I plead with you to put your faith in Jesus Christ today!

            A number of years ago I encountered the uncommon experience of conducting a wedding and a funeral on the same day. Although I was able to wear the same suit and tie to both events, the radical emotional swing was from one event to the other left my head spinning. On one hand, weddings and funerals share some key similarities: they both involve a large gathering of family and friends, formal dress, flowers, food, and a religious ritual at a church.

            But on the other hand, these occasions are polar opposites. A wedding is a celebratory ceremony where a man and woman pledge their love one another and commit to spending the rest of their lives together. The service is filled with bright smiles, loud applause, and tears of joy. It is usually includes a festive reception with lively music, vivacious dancing, cake-face smashing, and a lot of laughing. Weddings are almost always a ton of fun.

            A funeral is a sorrowful ceremony where people gather to honor the life and mourn the death of a loved one. The service is filled with gloomy frowns, quiet reflection, and tears of torment. It usually entails somber music, depressive demeanor, and not much laughing. Even with our modern attempts to make funerals a celebration, they are almost never fun.

            How many of you had “The Old Rugged Cross” played at your wedding? When was the last time you heard Bob Seeger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll” played at a funeral?” (Can’t you just picture the pall bearers strutting down the aisle and singing, “Just take those old records off the shelf, I’ll sit and listen to ‘em by myself.”) Yes, weddings and funerals have some similarities, but they are really different.

            The same is true about the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ—some similarities, but many differences. Even though they both experienced miraculous births, were raised in religious families, lived virtuous lives, were called by God to be prophets and preachers of the kingdom of God, and were persecuted and executed by the Jewish religious authorities, their manners and methods were polar opposites. While John the Baptist was fasting and teetotaling alone in the wilderness by the Jordan River, Jesus was feasting with sinners and replenishing the wine at the wedding in Cana. In today’s Scripture reading, Luke compares and contrasts the ministries of John and Jesus, and teaches us some lessons from both of them.

John Questions Jesus’ Ministry (18-23)

            John the Baptist’s style of ministry was straight-forward, bombastic, and in-your-face. He was a man’s man—he wore the rugged attire of camel’s hair and a leather belt (he wasn’t fond of skinny jeans) and lived on a diet of locusts and wild honey (the ancient equivalent of Slim Jim’s and trail mix). He had untamed eyes, a fiery posture, and brimstone in his throat. He didn’t mince words and he wasn’t afraid to tell it like it was. He was passionately outspoken about moral and spiritual corruption in the culture and he didn’t care about who he offended. His favorite sermon topics were “repentance” and “the wrath of God” and his favorite pastime was dunking people in the river.

            It was precisely this manner of ministry that landed John the Baptist behind bars. He preached one too many sermons against the hypocrisy of King Herod and the Jewish leadership. John accused the Pharisees and Sadducees of being a brood of slippery snakes and he publically called out King Herod for shacking up with his brother’s wife Herodias. Herod hated John for exposing his affair, and he had him shackled and imprisoned in his fortress.

            While John was incarcerated, he commissioned some of his disciples to carry on his ministry and to give him periodic reports about Jesus’ ministry. These disciples followed Jesus around and witnessed his teaching and all of the miracles he was performing, and they told John everything that the saw and heard.  At this point, John still wasn’t sure if Jesus was really the Messiah, so he sent his disciples to directly ask Jesus if he was “the one who was to come or if they should expect someone else.” (v.19)

            To modern Christians, it is somewhat surprising that John wasn’t fully convinced of Jesus’ identity yet, but then again, Jesus’ style of ministry challenged his expectations for the Messiah. John, like the rest of Israel, expected a Messiah who would grab the bull by the horns, become a great public figure, rally the troops, amass a great army, and lead the charge to liberate Israel from Roman oppression. He expected the Messiah to use his divine power to take the instant road to glory. But Jesus wasn’t doing any of these things. John’s broken expectations led to some feelings of doubt.

            The same thing still happens in our lives today. When Jesus isn’t the kind of Messiah that we want him to be, we often experience doubts about who he is. When he doesn’t meet our expectations, we wonder if he is really God. When he doesn’t answer our prayers or heal our bodies or deliver our personal desires, we often question his power or his love. When he doesn’t give us what we want, we sometimes doubt if he can do it or we struggle to understand why he would want to do it. Has Jesus ever broken your expectations? Has you disappointment with him ever caused you to doubt his true identity? 

            Well, even as John the Baptist’s disciples posed this question to Jesus about his identity, in that very hour Jesus was already engaged in the ministry of curing diseases, driving out demons, and restoring sight to the blind. This presented an object lesson for Jesus’ answer. He told them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (22-23)

            At first glance, it appears that Jesus danced around their question. While it is true that he did not explicitly say if he was the Messiah or not, he did answer their question. John the Baptist would have recognized that Jesus’ words came straight out of the Old Testament, from the messianic promises of Isaiah. By echoing these words, Jesus was giving John biblical and practical proof that he was the Christ. As he preached the gospel and performed miracles, Jesus was doing the very things the Bible promised that the Savior would do.

            The problem did not lie with Jesus’ ministry; the problem was John’s expectations. Jesus’ mission was not to bring political, military, or social salvation. Although he healed some people and even raised the dead, his primary mission was not to bring physical salvation. The mission of Jesus’ ministry was to bring spiritual salvation to the world. If Jesus’ primary mission had been political salvation, he would have become a lawyer, politician, or military commander. If his goal had been social salvation, he would have started a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or an orphanage. If his primary purpose had been physical restoration, he would have opened a hospital or medical clinic. But he didn’t do any of these things!

            Jesus’ mission went far beyond delivering people from the temporary oppressions of society. The primary purpose of his ministry was to deliver us from the greatest oppression of all—sin and death. He came to offer eternal life. His preaching and miracles were meant to set the stage for his greatest work of all—his death and resurrection! And blessed is the one who is not offended by Jesus’ true mission!

             You see, Jesus was warning John—and us—not to be offended by his saving work. Do not stumble over Jesus because he is not meeting your expectations, or because you are having spiritual doubts, or because you are disappointed with God. Do not get the wrong idea about Jesus, as John did. He is the one! If we try to find another savior, we won’t be saved at all. But if we accept Jesus and what he has done for us by dying on the cross and rising from the dead, he will bless us with everlasting salvation! Instead of getting disappointed with Jesus when he doesn’t meet our expectations, let us conform our expectations to who he really is and his plan for our lives! (Ryken 332)

Jesus Affirms John’s Ministry (24-28)

            Jesus said these things because he loved John and wanted to help him be more sure about his faith. He also wanted to make sure that people did not get the wrong idea about John. So, he goes on to validate John’s ministry in verses 24-30. He asks the crowds why they originally went to see John in the wilderness. It wasn’t because he told people what they wanted to hear. It wasn’t because he was making any fashion statements on the red carpet. It wasn’t because he was keeping up with the Kardashians. No, they went to see and hear him because he was a genuine prophet from God; something Israel hadn’t see for 400 years.

            Jesus went on to call John more than a prophet. He was the one who would be send ahead to prepare the way for the Messiah by preaching repentance and baptizing people. In verse 28, Jesus makes the staggering statement, “I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John.” Despite his strange clothing and crude style, Jesus ranks John as the greatest among mortal men. (Now that is what I call a ministry endorsement!)

            Isn’t it ironic how John doubted Jesus’ ministry and identity, but Jesus affirmed John’s identity and praised his ministry. One of the things this shows us is Jesus believes there are a lot of different ways and styles of doing ministry. Some people today prefer John’s loud prophetic in-your-face form of preaching; others prefer Jesus’ more didactic and story-telling model. Some people prefer John’s confrontational tell-it-like-is approach to evangelism; other people prefer Jesus’ more relational evangelistic methods. Some people like to sing the old hymns with the organ in church; others favor the contemporary worship songs led by screeching guitars and pounding drums.          

            All I can say is that, even though they had vastly different styles, God used John the Baptist and Jesus the Son to build the kingdom. Their methods were different, but their mission and message was the same. I hope you catch the lesson in here for us!

Responding to the Gospel (29-35)

            Regardless of the ministry style or method, people always have to respond to gospel of Jesus Christ. When some people, like the tax collectors, who heard the message of salvation—whether they had heard it earlier from John or later from Jesus—they accepted it by faith and declared that God was just. But there were other people, like the Pharisees and lawyers, who did not accept the good news, did not confess their sins, and did not receive John’s baptism for repentance, and therefore did not gain forgiveness.

            As Jesus expressed his frustration with those who rejected the gospel, he used an analogy from a popular childhood game and nursery rhyme. In those days, children loved to play weddings and funerals. These were common events, and it is not surprising that children imitated the rituals they saw. Sometimes they would play weddings, dancing around pretending to be brides and grooms. Sometimes they played funerals, singing sad songs and pretending to cry. But some children were bored with all of that. They didn’t want to play weddings and funerals. In fact, they didn’t want to play anything at all. So the other children would singsong the old taunt from the Jewish playground: “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge for you but you did not weep.” (32)

            Some people are never satisfied! Like little children, the Pharisees refused to play with John and Jesus. They would rather just sit around and criticize while everyone else is having fun.

            How easy it is to be critical about everything and everything. Some people are always finding fault. They say “God didn’t answer my prayer the way I wanted…the church is too judgmental…the pastor didn’t visit me…the preacher preached too long…the music is too loud…and so on!” It is just like children with crosses arms and smug faces saying, “I don’t want to play with those kids!” Remember, there are many ways to do ministry. Instead of finding fault, why not just sing along and join the dance!

            John the Baptists’ and Jesus’ ministry were as different as a wedding and a funeral, but both are used to accomplish God’s purposes.

            Many years ago in a far away land among the parched pastures of a little hillside hamlet in the middle of nowhere, there lived a woman who was known to everyone as “the weeping widow.” There always seemed to be a steady trickle of tears flowing down her grief-filled face.  The source of her sorrow was the untimely death of her beloved husband.

            The two had fallen madly in love with each and were inseparable. They married at a youth age and had their whole lives before them. Like twin oak trees in an ancient forest, they planned to grow old together and watch the years pass by under their shadow. They had plans of raising a large family and living a simple but satisfied life together. Even at their tender age they often discussed their visions of one day bouncing a bundle of grandbabies on their laps. But with the husband’s unexpected passing, their dreams and expectations were shattered.

            Not only was this widowed woman forced to persevere through the pain of losing the love of her life, but she also had to bear the burden of raising their one and only son alone as a single-mother. As a young widow, she worried about many things. How would she make enough money to make ends meet? Who would teach her boy the virtues of manhood? How would she do this on her own? Would this whole in her heart ever heal?

            I can only imagine that the death of a spouse is one of the most excruciating tragedies one can endure in this life. I have never experienced it myself, but I have watched many others go through it. Whether it happens after only five years or fifty years of marriage, it is incredibly difficult to adjust to life without your true companion. Some of you sitting here today are all too familiar with the sorrow of losing your lover and companion.

            Likewise, some of you know the challenges of being a single parent. I know hard and exhausting it is to raise a child with two parents; it must be exceptionally difficult to do it alone. May God bless all widows and single parents with an extra measure of his grace!

            Even though this weeping widow’s heart would be forever haunted by the anguish of unforeseen tragedy, she was strong and determined. She worked hard to provide for her son’s needs and extended family and friends from their rural village helped to fill in the gaps. In God’s providence, they discovered that their unfortunate circumstances forged an uncommonly close bond between mother and son. She turned out to be an exceptional mom and her only son grew into a fine young man.

A Mourning Mother

            As time went by and the widow’s tears almost fully dried, misfortune struck again. Her son had always been such an active and healthy boy. He was full of life and loved to do all of the things that small-town boys do. But one morning when he woke up to do his chores, he felt abnormally fatigued and his face was flushed. When his mother felt the fever on his forehead, she told him to go back to bed and rest for the day. She wasn’t particularly alarmed; she had seen dozens of fevers come and go before. But after a few days, the fever grew worse and other symptoms surfaced. She called for the country doctor, but the boy’s sickness was well beyond his skill level. Being in such a remote location, more advanced medical assistance was a long way off and they didn’t have transportation to get him there.

            As they passed through the night, the boy’s body was burning up inside. His poor mother was helpless; there wasn’t anything she or anyone else could do for him. He was, as they say “in God’s hands now.”

            As word spread throughout the village, family members and friends began to flock to the house. They brought food and offered prayers and support, but even these kind acts brought little comfort. The mother’s heart fell into the depths of despair; she could feel it in her soul; her only son was going to die. And sure enough, a few hours later, the boy closed his eyes and breathed his final breath, and the torrent of tears returned to his mother’s eyes. The weeping widow now became the mourning mother.

            As I mentioned earlier, it is hard to imagine the pain a person feels when they lose a spouse, but I can’t even fathom how it would feel to lose a child. From the time even before they are born, your whole life is invested in caring for their little body and soul. Nine months of pregnancy definitely changes your life. And once the child is born, you feed, snuggle, rock, bathe, and change countless diapers. You play, read, teach, and discipline them. You laugh with them, cry with them, and get ripped mad at them. As the years go by, you watch your child’s personality develop, and for better or worse, resemble your own likeness.

A Peculiar Funeral Procession  

            Soon after the young man died, the undertaker came with some of his men to take the body and make preparations for the funeral. The mother’s family and friends tried to console her as they watched the men wrap a white sheet around two crude wooden planks and lift her son’s lifeless body onto the makeshift stretcher and carry the body outside. The mother, along with the crowd of family and friends, followed the bearers to the cemetery which was located just outside the village. As was the custom in that community, they preferred to burry their dead on the same day that they died.

            When the funeral procession came to the town gate on their way to the cemetery, they were met by a crowd of strangers coming into the village. This was really odd. Their town didn’t get many visitors, certainly not a crowd of this size. As they bottlenecked together at the gate, the locals wondered what these outsiders were doing there.

            If this scene wasn’t awkward enough already, one of the strangers, a man who appeared to be the leader of the group, stepped right in front of the bearers and interrupted the funeral procession. After he took a moment to view the dead body on the bier, he approached the mourning mother. Even though she had never seen him before, he acted as if he had known her his whole life. His demeanor was compassionate, his words were desperately confusing. He gazed into the mother’s misty eyes and said, “Do not weep.” At first, everyone thought this man was out of his mind. What kind of lunatic would interrupt a funeral procession to tell a mourning mother not to cry? Can you imagine the audacity of this man?

            Then, adding insult to injury, the man went back to the stretcher, laid his hand on it, and said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” Everyone gasped in protest as they considered this despicable display of insensitivity. But everyone was shocked by what happened next! The boy’s eyes opened, color returned to his flesh, and he sat up in the stretcher, and began to speak. When the bearer saw a “dead man talking,” they were so terrified that they almost dropped him.

            How you would react if a dead person came back to life at their own funeral? What would you do if you saw the deceased sit up in their coffin and speak?

            As the strange man presented the boy to his mother and the crowds saw that he was really alive, they all began to shout for joy and sang songs of praise and glory to God. They recognized that they all had just witnessed an incredible miracle. They also recognized that the man who did this was a great prophet who was sent by God. In the days following, the people from that village scattered throughout the whole countryside and told the story of the marvel that they had seen.

            Who was this strange man who entered the Galilean village of Nain two-thousand years ago and brought back a widow’s son from the dead? You have probably figured it out by now; it was none other than our Lord Jesus Christ! This remarkable story is found in Luke 7:11-17.

The Reality of Resurrection

            This story showcases Jesus’ immense compassion for the brokenhearted and his great power over the enemy of death. This poor woman had the double misfortune of losing her husband and her only son. She experienced tremendous pain, but Jesus’ compassion met her in the midst of her sorrow. When Jesus told her not to cry, he wasn’t rebuking her or telling her that it was wrong to cry. He wasn’t minimizing her pain or tritely telling her to “buck up and get over it.” What he meant was “don’t cry…let me take your turmoil, let me carry your chaos…let me redeem your sadness!”

            Now I can’t promise you that Jesus will bring your loved one back from the dead, but I do know that he grieves with us when we grieve. I know that he wants to help us through our heartache, if we will let him. Unfortunately, I meet people all the time who don’t want Jesus’ help when they are grieving. They either blame God for their loss or they don’t think that Jesus has anything to offer them. They would rather suffer alone than turn to Jesus.

            If you are grieving the loss of a loved one today, whether recent or from a long time ago, give your grief to Jesus. He is a “Man of Sorrows” who is familiar with your pain. He knows what you are going through and he wants to help you.

             The crowds immediately recognized that Jesus was a great prophet because this miracle reminded them of the great Old Testament prophets Elijah and Elisha, who on separate occasions, raised a person from the dead. The crowds also verbally expressed that this miracle was evidence that they had been visited by God. Even though both of these statements are true, they failed to put them together and see that Jesus is God in human flesh.

            Although they witnessed his power over death, they did not know that himself would one day die on a Roman cross and that his lifeless body would be carried away on wooden planks. They did not know that the stone would be rolled away on the third day and that Jesus himself would be resurrected to new life. They did not know that Jesus did this to atone for our sins and offer us resurrection to eternal life through faith in him.

            Do you know this? Do you know that Jesus did all of this for you? Don’t make the same mistake that others have made about Jesus in the past. He is not just a great prophet—he is not just a good moral teacher—he is not just a marvelous miracle worker—he is God himself and he offers us eternal life.

            It is true that one day we will all taste death. Most of us will not be brought back to this life like the young man in the story, but we do have the opportunity to experience resurrection and eternal life in heaven forever. All we have to do is give our lives to Jesus today!