Scrappy Christians (Luke 18:1-8)

If you were to sit in a small group that is reading through the book of Revelation, conversations will definitely turn to interpreting current affairs as some evidence of the end times. There is a fascination with eschatology or the end of the world. This fascination stems from the reality of living in a world that needs to be set right and for justice to be served. All of life points to the reality of the need for Justice. Things are not what they ought to be. Things happen that should not happen. In fact, I would argue that all of humanity seeks to bring their reform and correction to the world in their own way as a means to set things right only to find that going about it all wrong they make things worse. I do not need to recite a list of how chaotic things are for we have all experienced it at some level; hence why we want to be captivated by the study of Revelation to see if the end is near for we are wearing out. Those small groups tend to be little games of “Look, there it is!” so “Here it comes!” concerning the end when Jesus returns. Though I am being a little snarky, people have been fascinated with the end times and the return of the “Son of Man” long before us. Every generation before us has sought the same knowledge. As we come to today’s Gospel reading we will see that we are not alone in our wondering about the end and justice being served. In a sense we are good company today as we will hear from Jesus how we ought to think and respond to this topic of eschatology. Let’s take a look and learn!

But before we begin, there is a lot here to unpack. I do not have the time this morning to unpack it all although I wish I could. So I have been selective on what I felt led by the Holy Spirit to highlight for you this morning. But I will try along the way to give you little crumbs to follow on your own time.

I. Pharisees- When?

Luke 17:20–21 NASB95

20 Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

II. Disciples- Where?

Luke 17:37 NASB95

37 And answering they said to Him, “Where, Lord?” And He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered.”

(*Cross Reference Revelation 19:7-20)

III. Jesus- What!

Luke 18:1–8 NASB95

1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, 2 saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. 3 “There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ 4 “For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; 7 now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? 8 “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

A. Attitude of the Widow- Righteousness.

B. Action of the Widow- Persistence.

1. Speaks out.

The widow speaks out against injustice and calls upon those in power to do what is right/set things right.

2. Stands up.

to stand up for what is right despite a ruler who has not respect for God or man.

3. Strikes back.

a. “Don’t lose heart”- (Ek)Kakos- meaning bad. A solider who turns cowardly. To be evil in oneself and cause trouble for others. To be out(Ek) of heart or character, or courage

b. “bothers” - Koptos- to Strike. to beat, a beating of the chest persistently. Wailing with exertion. to toil all day long. A persistent striking.

c. “Wear me out” - hupṓpion (n.f.), hupó (5259), under, and ōps (n.f.), eye, face, countenance. To strike under the eyes, beat the face black and blue, give a black eye.

The persistence of the widow is describe by Luke as the type of persistence that contentious until it is answered or responded to. Like a child who repeats themselves until you answer them so the widow who contends with God through prayer and contends with man with courage until the justice she seeks is realized. This parable offers a very deep implication for the believer. That although we are to be a patient people we are not an idle people. We are to take action and that action should be like one contending. Don’t take my word for it. The bible gives us another example of contending with both God and man in the story of Jacob...

3.1- Jacob Wrestles

Genesis 32:24–31 NASB95

24 Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” 31 Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh.

3.1.1- Jacob wrestles God and Men.

3.1.2- To be blessed and prevail.

C. Agency of the Widow- The Church.

1. The Widow as an analogy for the Church.

2. The widow’s actions are the means by which Justice gets delivered.

The parable points to the reality that though the widow needs the judge to bring legal justice, she plays a role in bringing it about through her contentious persistence. Since the widow is an analogy of the church, the Church’s actions are the means by which Justice gets delivered in the world. In other words, Justice is another department of the family business. I often refer to the ministry of believers as those employed in the family business of the Triune God. We are employed to continue the work that they began and will see to completion. Our primary job in the family business is sharing the Gospel and another department that we are employed to work is the department of Justice which involves two things:

a. The Gospel (Proclamation)

The first way we are employed to bring justice into the world is carrying on the work that has been accomplished in Christ. This means delivering the gospel to those living in sin turning them from enemies of god to children. We extend the grace and mercy that we ourselves have received. Justice has been served upon Christ on the cross and we apply that justice in the form of wielding a sword- the Word of God- which is the power unto salvation for those who repent of their sin and believe in Jesus. The sharing the Gospel is the means to apply the justice that has already been served upon Christ. And it is because of this first deliverance of justice that we have assurance the the second will come. But that is not all we are to do...

b. The works of the righteous (Piety).

This is our second way we serve the justice of God. Despite the chaos and evil in the world we live out our faith by righteous works done through the Holy Spirit into the world. We tend to the poor and needy (Isaiah 1:17). We stand on what is right without wavering. We overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). We are the city on the hill (Matthew 5:14). When reviled we do not revile in return (1 Peter 2:23). We never reenact evil for evil but we always act in righteousness by the power of the Holy Spirit. We wrestle against evil (Ephesians 6:10-20) Our religion is taking care of the poor and needy like orphans and widows (James 1:27) .

James 1:27 “27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

And we do all this until Jesus comes and completes the work in the department of Justice. The bottom of the inning has begun. The opponent has taken the field and we are up at bat . We are on offense and they are on defense. The score is in favor of our enemy. We are not to sit in the dugout waiting for the bigger hitter to bring us victory. For we know we have his bat. But we are to get involved and strive, swing, and strike to advance to first base, then another to advance to second. And another on third. We prepare and contend in the time until Jesus comes to bat so that when he swings and hits the home run, it’s a grand slam; with those on his team having participated in advancing against the evil and injustice in the world. Jesus comes behind and cleans house.

IV. Application-

A. Get a Limp.

1. Jacob walked with a limp from wrestling God and men.

2. Jesus walks with a limp from his bruised heel that crushes the head of the serpent.

3. If Jesus limps then so should we.

The wounds we have from the battles of life are ones that remind us of the deliverance of God. Many do not remove the stains because they are ebeneezers of how we have overcome by God’s deliverance.

I have the opportunity with a little bit of money to expunge my criminal record. Enough time has passed and by the grace of God I have demonstrated by repentance to justify the erasing of my record. It is a great temptation for me for I still struggle with my past from time to time. But it is for that reason that I will not seek expungement. I do not want to forget that I stand before you as someone delivered by God from a past. That the wrongs I have made in sin have been redeemed in my life.

The Limp that Jacob received from wrestling God, the bruise heel that Jesus bears from crushing the head of the serpent, the marks in his hands and side bear witness of the Goodness and deliverance of God. As you contend with this world, you will get limps and bruises but they work God’s rightness in you.

B. Justice isn’t the only benefit!

1. Sanctification

For what purpose does God use the evil and bad in the world for his good? Why is it we are to contend through long suffering? Because the one who began a work in you is seeing it to completion. Enduring this world while waiting for the Son of Man to return growing you in sanctification.

a. It takes your faith for a walk. (James 2:17)

James 2:17 NASB95

17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

b. It works discipline in you (1 Corinthians 9:27)

1 Corinthians 9:27 NASB95

27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

c. It conforms you to be more like Jesus. (Romans 8:29)

Romans 8:29 NASB95

29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

d. We learn obedience through suffering.

Hebrews 5:8 NASB95

8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.

f. To show our submission to God.

We demonstrate our humility by being obedient even unto death to show God that we submit our very lives to Him.

Philippians 2:8 NASB95

8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

c. Jesus asks you a question.

Christ is our exemplar more than the widow. The one who demonstrates to us how we ought to live in the midst of sin and evil and working God’s rightness into it. The injustices we have all faced have been faced by Jesus and yet he was without sin. Jesus lived a persistent life of making things right for the poor and needy and sick and eventually all those who believe. He faces torture and death without discouragement but trust himself to the Father. Jesus knows the pains of injustice and evil. Of much wrong being done to you. Having the world turn against you. Yet he overcame the world and brings life to those who will be found with faith. He now asks of you something of which he was willing to commit to do himself, pray, persist, and contend for rightness.

Will Jesus find faith upon his appearing? A faith that has been persistently praying, a faith that has been actively spreading justice, a faith that has grown from a seed to a tree bearing fruit, a faith that works by being obedient through suffering all the way to death. Are you growing in sanctification by enduring this world in the righteousness of Christ?

Do not concern yourselves with When or Where but only with What you are to do today and tomorrow until Jesus comes again. He will be looking for those who live in faith by persistently praying and contenting. The days are evil and remind us of how we long for things to be set right. There are no wiser words that I have found that summarizes than these:

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times.

But that is not for them to decide.

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”