The Gospel of Luke tells of the origins, birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.
December 7
Day 7
Luke chapter 7
There are 24 chapters in this book
They bring us through the story of Jesus - the reason for this season.
I also include in the bottom or comments some “extras” like short videos and songs that you may have never heard (or artists you may not know) that resonate with me during this holiday time.
Each post will start with who is who so that you can get a solid understanding of what this chapter is about. I encourage you to read the chapter in your own Bible after you read this. If you don’t have a Bible there are lots of free apps. I use several versions in my studying to ensure I have a full understanding of what I’ve read.
This is my commentary.
Who was Luke?
A physician, a researcher, a traveling friend of Paul (mentioned in Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24), perhaps someone researching facts to help the legal case for Paul while in prison in Rome, a non-Jew, the only Gentile author of a book in the New Testament. He penned not only Luke, but also Acts.
New characters continue to be introduced - new in this chapter:
Roman captain, 2 Jewish elders, and his ill servant
Widow and her dead son in Nain
Unnamed people
2 followers of John the Baptist
Simon a Pharisee
A woman known as a prostitute in her community
You can catch up by reading up to this chapter of Luke in your own Bible or check out the posts I already wrote.
THE CENTURION
Today - Jesus goes back to Capernaum. A Roman soldier found out He was coming. The soldier had a very sick servant who he cared for greatly and loved. He sent 2 Jewish men to go look for Jesus so he could ask Him to heal his servant. When they found Him they begged Him to come and heal the man. They explained the Roman deserved help because he loved the Jewish people and even had a synagogue built for them. As they neared the houses, the soldier sent some friends out to Him with this message “Lord I’m not worthy for you to come to my house and for me to meet you. Just say the word from where you are and I know my servant will be healed. I know this because I’m under authority of my superiors and I also have authority over others. I only need to say “go” and they go or “come” and they come. When I tell them to do something they do it.”
Jesus was impressed with this man’s faith - not his “religion”. He addressed the people around him saying
"I have yet to have found a faith like this in all of Israel.”
A short time after that the friends returned to the house finding the man completely healed.
ALL MEANS ALL
Jesus came to the Earth for all people. While we may not feel worthy - He sees us differently. He wants to meet us and know us and to be known. He just simply wants us to love Him and one another, have faith, trust and believe. The Bible says the government is on his shoulders - but He doesn’t represent one country or one party. He represents our omniscient creator of the Universe - His Father of whom we were created in the same image.
PAIN OF LOSS
Next Jesus went to the village of Nain where he saw a widow about to bury her only son. What a sad day. Many people had followed Him to the village and He was heartbroken when He saw her. I wonder if He was thinking about the future flashing - His mom was a widow and would lose her son. He told the woman to not cry, He touched the coffin and then commanded for the boy to get up. He sat up and began to talk and Jesus gave the young man back to his mother. Can you even imagine this? Oh how I miss those who have left this Earth - especially during the holiday season. Just this week a friend of mine lost his wife of 18 years. She leaves him behind with his two young sons. Another friend told me about a friend of his that has passed, and another friend lost his dad last week. My grandfather died on Christmas Eve. May we not forget that as happy as the is holiday can be for many - it can be equally as sad for other people who cannot be with those they love most.
JESUS IS CLOSE TO THE BROKEN HEARTED
People were stunned and even afraid, they praised God saying “God visited His people today” and the message continued to spread throughout the land.
Jesus had a broken heart that day and is not far away from us when we too are dealing with loss and sadness.
He poured out His heart for us and His body became bruised and severely beaten before he bled out and died a horrific death. The Bible says in later chapter that despite the torture he experienced, not one bone was broken in Jesus. When we feel broken - He is able to heal. While our loved ones who die won’t come back to life here On earth - we do have a promise to be reunited with them and Him one day forevermore.
JOHN IN JAIL
While all of this was going on - John (the Baptist) as you recall from the earlier chapters had been captured and taken to jail.
Two of John’s followers went to the prison to tell him what they were seeing happening. John told them to go to Jesus and ask Him if he was the One they were waiting for - or if they should keep looking.
Jesus was healing many people and told the men “tell John what you’ve seen and heard. Blind can see. Lame can walk. Deaf hear. Skin healed. Dead raised. Good news is being preached to the poor and God is blessing those who don’t fall away because of Me.”
As the men left, Jesus told the crowd about John saying, “what kind of man did you expect to see in the wilderness? Were you looking for someone famous or a prophet? He is more than a prophet. He is who Malachi spoke of in the scriptures saying “look, I’m sending a messenger ahead of you and he will prepare the way before you.” I will tell you, of all who have lived, none is greater than John. Yet the least person in Heaven is greater than he.”
The people all agreed as they had all been baptized by John. All but the Pharisees who rejected this and the idea of being baptized.
Jesus went on to say “how can I compare the people of this generation? They’re like children playing in a square and complaining “we played wedding songs and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs and you didn’t weep. Just because John didn’t eat bread and drink wine you said he was possessed. The Son of Man on the other hand drinks and eats and you say he is a glutton and a drunkard who hangs out with tax collectors and sinners but wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.”
You will never be able to please everyone in life. You’ll actually drive yourself crazy if you try. So many things we try to control our outside of our control. But when you fix your eyes on Christ your life can change.
Jesus is the One. Many people search and seek, trying out different things and “religions” or practices to bring satisfaction - but Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. If you’ve been seeking Him and just didn’t know it or didn’t know His name - perhaps today is the day you can meet Him. He’s my best friend, North Star, Savior, guide and protector.
A PROSTITUTE AND PERFUME
Soon after - a Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to a dinner party. A woman known as a prostitute found out Jesus would be there and came to the home with an alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. She knelt behind Him weeping and getting tears on His feet. Then she wiped her tears with her hair. She proceeded to kiss His feet, adding perfume, and wept more.
THE PRICE WE PAY
The Pharisee said in his head to himself “if this man was really a prophet wouldn't he know she is an unworthy sinner?” Jesus knew his thoughts and said, “Simon - I have something to say to you. A man loaned money to 2 people. 500 coins to one and 50 coins to another. Neither could repay the man so he forgave both debts. Who do you suppose loved him more?” Simon replied it would be the man who owed the most. Jesus said “yes. Now look at this woman.
When I entered your house you didn’t offer Me water to wash the dust from My feet - yet she cleaned Me with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t say hello or give Me a kiss, but she kissed My feet and poured expensive perfume on them. Her sins - and they are many - have been forgiven because of her love for Me. A person who gives little gets little.” Then he turned to the woman and told her her sins were forgiven.
The men at the table started saying “who is this man going around forgiving sins?”
Lastly - Jesus said to the woman “go now and sin no more”.
WORTHY
None of us are worthy for eternity in Heaven. But Jesus calls us loved and forgiven. Some will get to their ends of their lives and refuse to believe or reject Him.
There is not one thing He did or said that is bad. Get out of your own way and stop questioning him or who He was. Believe. Put a little faith. No matter who you are, what you’ve done in life, or the struggles and pains - Jesus is seeking you. Every day.
Tomorrow chapter 8
#ababychangeseverything #ocomeallyefaithful #olittletownofbethlehem #ocomeletusadorehim #ocomeemmanuel #oholynight #whatafriendwehaveinjesus #joytotheworld
PRAYER
Lord thank You for your word. May I learn to trust You more even when I can’t see you. Help me to be fully alive for You here on earth. Thank you for forgiving every one of my sins and for telling me I’m worthy even when I don’t think I am. I love you Lord. May my life be an offering to you.
MUSIC - the universal language
Here’s a song to welcome us to this day:
Song that resonates with me today is from the incomparable Lauren Daigle https://youtu.be/tq4x4CTnNXs
EXTRAS:
Here is a video/audio depiction of this chapter. It’s from Jesus of Nazareth - one of the first films I saw as a child about Jesus. It moved me to truly find Him at a young age. The music is soul captivating and it is a great movie to put on your list if you haven’t seen it. Here’s the clip of the centurion from the story above for today https://youtu.be/97a0fLC4S-0
Comments