PETER DECLARES JESUS AS GOD'S MESSIAH

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

In Luke chapter 9:18-20 we come to a brief account of the interchange between Jesus and His disciples regarding the identity of Jesus. Up to this time Jesus was busy healing those who came to Him and teaching kingdom principles. This conversation came very close to the end of His mentoring time with these men. He had been with them for over 3 years and now the final exam was closing in.

We know from Matthew’s and Mark’s gospels that the setting for this interchange occurred at Caesarea Philippi. Jesus took His disciples away for a little retreat before going up to Jerusalem to face a most difficult time. This retreat was a time of preparation for Himself as well as for the disciples. Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer and also disclosing bit by bit what they were all about to face. Let’s listen in:

Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 
Peter answered, "God's Messiah."

NOTE the variety of answers to the question, “Who do the crowds say I am?” These answers are still present today.
FIRST—John the Baptist. John was a very powerful teacher, so people viewed Jesus as a great teacher in the spirit of John.

SECOND—Elijah. Elijah was a most impressive prophet in the history of the Jewish people. So, they viewed Jesus in the same way—a prophet who has a word for today from God.

THIRD—one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life. Jesus must be a reincarnation of an ancient prophet who has come back to life.

NOTE Jesus is seen as a great teacher, a prophet or maybe a reincarnated one. This speaks to our many cultures today. Some see Jesus as a teacher, a prophet or a product of reincarnation.

Also NOTE that Jesus doesn’t put these references down. I’ve come to realize that knowing Jesus is a progression—the more you hang out with Him, the more amazing and divine He becomes. This is a necessary progression that people must go through in order to embrace Jesus fully. I’m sure even within the band of the disciples they had come to know Jesus in the same way. Some connected Him with John the Baptist, others as a great prophet and still others wondering if Jesus was somehow reincarnated from an earlier time in history.

Then Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?” Peter steps to the line and gives the answer Jesus was looking for—the revelation that Jesus had been sent by God as God’s deliverer, God’s Messiah. Jesus had performed the messianic acts and wonders that the prophets described the Messiah doing. Jesus had made the claims that the prophets said He would say. Now, it was time for His disciples to really get it. Jesus was God’s Messiah.

Here’s what’s interesting to me. Even though Peter gave the right answer, still he hadn’t embraced Jesus’ identity for himself. In other words, it was still maybe a “factual” observation, but not yet of the heart and soul. Just as soon as Peter gave the proper answer, within a few days he was denying that he was a follower of this man, Jesus.

This goes to show that you cannot rest totally on your education or knowledge of the facts to transform your life. You must be dependent on the Spirit of God to make what you know alive in your heart. This is the Spirit of God’s work on the inside. No amount of theology or belief systems can transform your heart. No church or charismatic cleric can transform your heart. It’s only as you come to know Jesus that the Spirit of God does His work of illumination in your heart. Then and only then will you be given ears to hear and eyes to see.

What will you hear and what will you see? You will be able to hear and see Jesus and His kingdom working in and through you. As Jesus often says, “He that has ears to hear, let him hear.”

JESUS FEEDS 5000

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

Jesus sets them up with training and empowerment and now for the test.
When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here." He replied, "You give them something to eat.” They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd." (About five thousand men were there.)

But he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Picture this! The disciples have just returned from the most amazing experience they could have ever imagined—a mission trip where they were able to see people healed and where they were proclaiming the good news of the kingdom. NOW, Jesus puts them in a laboratory setting. He turns to them to feed the 5000+ who were gathered there listening.

He asked them! Why do you think He asked them to pull this off? Why did Jesus take them through this lab and give them this pop quiz? I can see, at least, 3 good reasons:

FIRST—He wanted them to feel their inadequacy without Him. Throughout the Scriptures there is recorded a continuous theme of people receiving great blessings from God and then taking credit for it. Here the disciples just experienced an amazing opportunity to actually be used to heal others from all kinds of diseases. It could be very easy for them to forget where they got the power. This pop quiz sets the record straight.

SECOND—He wanted to demonstrate to them how He is interested in the little things, like feeding people who had come to hear Him. Jesus was known for His dramatic miracles that either saved a person’s life or relieved a person from the clutches of an illness or deformity. Here Jesus is performing a miracle of hospitality. His guests are hungry. Sure, there are many more guests than the average person might host. He even turned this normal act of feeding a person lunch or early dinner into a supernatural feat that has been talked about ever since.

THIRD—He wanted them to know that when He is involved in the process, He will produce more than enough to meet their needs. It’s better, because Jesus handles problem situations in such a way that it turns out so much better than if you were to do it on your own. NOTE what happens. Jesus has the disciples experience how large the overflow was in having them pick up the leftovers—12 baskets full.

SO, what is it that you are trying to do on your own without trusting in Jesus to empower you? Whatever it is, Jesus will make it so much better. So, why don’t you let Him?

JESUS SENDS OUT THE 12

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

We come now to one of my most favorite chapters in Luke’s gospel—chapter 9. Each paragraph pulsates with amazing power demonstrated by Jesus. The disciples not only get to watch, they have the privilege of participating in this demonstration of power. This chapter will take 9 or 10 days to cover with a surprising climax to it all. Let’s get started:

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.” So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.

Herod seems to have miscalculated John’s ministry. He thought that John was just a nut-case out in the desert. Therefore, Herod believed that if he were to kill John, then he could kill off this pesky movement. But Herod was very wrong. John represented Jesus, God’s Messiah. He asks the right question, “Who, then, is this that I hear such things about?”
Herod didn’t understand what he was up against. John was just the one who introduced Jesus to the world.

NOTE what Jesus did with His disciples. Now, remember that these disciples are still trying to figure it out. Their faith is still in a very immature state, but Jesus sends out the 12 with a minimal amount of training.

The training consisted of empowering them and giving them authority over the demonic world and the power to heal the sick. They were to go in the name of Jesus to proclaim the kingdom of God and heal people everywhere. Think of it. This band of men were sent out to do some amazing, miraculous feats.

There are two basic observations that strike me in this mission:
FIRST—The power to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal people everywhere didn’t lie within the disciples who were sent out. The source of the power was unmistakably in Jesus. The disciples were willing to surrender their wills to His will in order to be conduits of His power to touch people. So, the power to do miraculous things comes from Jesus.

SECOND—It seems that the basic requirement for these disciples who were sent out was that they were interested and actually followed Jesus and His instructions.

Here’s the takeaway for us. Our responsibility is to be interested enough to follow Jesus the best way we can. His responsibility is to supply the direction and the empowerment.
What a deal! Here we go again, as we have seen so many times in the gospels, Jesus is looking for anyone who is interested enough to follow Him.

It’s not following a set of beliefs; it’s following a person who calls us into relationship with Him and with one another.
Aristotle said, “Follow my teachings.”
Plato said, “Follow my teachings.”
Socrates said, “Follow my teachings.”
Mohammed said, “Follow my teachings.”
But Jesus came along and said, “FOLLOW ME.”

The truth of life is not to be found in a principle or propositions or a system of beliefs. It’s found only in a person. His name is Jesus. Are you interested enough to follow Him?

JESUS HEALS TWO DESPERATE WOMEN

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

In Luke 8:40 we come to a fascinating story where Jesus performs a miracle while on His way someplace and then made an appointment for another miracle.

Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. "Who touched me?" Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you." But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the teacher anymore." Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed."

When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep."

They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

These two stories fused together are interesting to compare. Both women are called daughters, both have to do with the number 12—the age of Jairus’ daughter and the suffering of the woman—and in both situations faith was key. Also both saw Jesus as the only answer to their need.

There was a superstition at that time that seems to have motivated the woman to touch Jesus’ garments. The fringe worn on the border of the outer garment was believed to have special power of the Messiah’s robe. If she could just touch that fringe border, then she might be healed of her condition.

Jesus shows Himself to be the physician and healer of the unacceptable, the sick and the dead when He heals this woman. Think of her desperation. She had been unclean because of her bleeding for 12 years. That adds up to 12 years of disappointment, 12 years of being left out, unable to participate in worship or feasts, 12 years of being rejected and unacceptable, 12 years of feeling like a nobody. She saw Jesus as the only answer she might ever have to solve her problem.

Think what Jesus did for her:
1. Jesus’ presence and touch actually healed her.
2. Jesus made her clean.
3. Jesus made her a participant again.
4. Jesus gave her peace.
5. Jesus made her feel special by not leaving her in the crowd. No doubt, once Jesus identified her, she must have felt like she was the only one in the crowd.

Jesus didn’t let the woman remain as part of the faceless crowd, so He identified her! Jesus actually said, “Be continually healed.” To the only person He ever called “daughter” He granted continuing health.

After this unusual encounter, Jesus overheard that Jairus’ daughter was dead. Jesus interjected Himself into the situation, encouraging Jairus, the leader of the synagogue not to be afraid and to have faith.

It’s interesting that Jesus took His three main men along with Him as He went to visit the daughter of Jairus who was presumed to be dead. This is another field trip with His disciples, but this time it’s a triple A miracle that is needed here. This girl is dead and the mourners are well into the mourning process. Jesus goes into her room and raises her from the dead.

These two women serve as great illustrations of hope when you’re in the midst of desperate situations, even to the point of death. Here’s the way I see the principle:

WHEN YOU’RE DOWN TO NOTHING, IT MEANS THAT GOD IS UP TO SOMETHING, BUT YOU MUST SEEK HIM WITH ALL YOU’VE GOT! YOU SEEK HIM BECAUSE HE IS THE ANSWER TO WHATEVER YOUR PROBLEM. There’s no problem you could even think up that Jesus can’t solve!

JESUS TRANSFORMS A DEMONIZED MAN

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

As we proceed through chapter 8 of Luke we come to verse 26 where Jesus encounters the wild man from the land of the Gerasenes on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee.

They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demonized man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!" For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demonized man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

We’ve looked at this story recently and it always speaks to me of transformation. There are four phases in genuine transformation that comes through Jesus:

FIRST—You have to be in real trouble. Maybe you aren’t as bad off as this man, but everyone of us has a desperation factor from time to time. Just last night we were discussing with some friends how amazing denial is within a family. Well, this man was not in denial about his alienation and there was no family member left to cover up for him. He was just too far gone.

SECOND—Jesus must intervene within your desperation.

THIRD—Just about everything is transformed from the inside out. In this case the demonized man was sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind. His insanity was turned into sanity. In his insanity he was repulsive; and now he is attractive.

FOURTH—Because of the demonized man’s story, his entire village heard the good news of Jesus. He couldn’t get enough of hanging out with Jesus and begged to be able to go on the road with Him. Jesus sent him right back to his people.

Now, note something here. This transformed man didn’t go to his people and condemn them. He didn’t go to them and try to straighten out their belief system. He simply and persuasively told all who would listen about what Jesus had done for him.

This must be our focus, too. We must be about sharing what Jesus has done on our behalf. It’s not the program; it’s the person of Jesus that matters most. Let me ask you something. What has Jesus done for you lately? Are you able to identify the Jesus factor in your life? Can you see yourself sharing this with another friend? Then think and pray about going back home and wait for the opportunities to do so. Remember, God sets up the appointments. All you have to do is SHOW UP.