Obstacles to Discipleship

When God doesn’t meet our expectations - Luke 7:18-23

John’s questions for Jesus

Luke 7:18–20 NIV

John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ ”

Jesus’ answer to the messengers:

Jesus’ healings were evidence of Him being the Messiah

Jesus was also fulfilling the Messianic prophecy of proclaiming the good news to the poor

Luke 7:21–22 NIV

At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

Many in Jesus’ time had expectations of judgment and liberation from Roman rule. When Jesus failed to meet their expectations they were disappointed.

John the Baptist

Judas

Jesus concludes with a blessing for those who are not distracted by expectations

Luke 7:23 NIV

Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

Example: Expectations in first year of marriage

When God’s purpose conflicts with our interests - Luke 7:30-35

Luke 7:30 NIV

But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

The Pharisees saw themselves as the guardians of the faith and did not see their need for salvation.

They had already rejected John’s message of repentance.

It is not hard to imagine their response to the criticisms of Jesus

Luke 7:31–32 NIV

Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: “ ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.’

Jesus observes that everyone has their own demands of the Messiah

This is not unlike our demands of Jesus - We define in our minds how God should respond and are offended when He doesn’t do what we want.

Luke 7:33 NIV

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’

They accused John of having a demon

Luke 7:34–35 NIV

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

They accused Jesus of being a glutton and drunkard

When we fail to value God’s forgiveness - Luke 7:36-50

Jesus has dinner at the home of a Pharisee

Luke 7:36–39 NIV

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

Jesus uses this event to teach a lesson

Luke 7:40–43 NIV

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Both debtors were completely forgiven

The size of the original debt influenced the degree of gratitude

Jesus turns His attention to the woman

Luke 7:44–48 NIV

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The reality is that all of us have been forgiven much. We were destined to an eternity without God. He saved us.

Luke 7:49–50 NIV

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”