Jesus Proves Himself and is Doubted

Luke 7:11–23

ICC Wednesday in the Word, 5/31/22

I. Introduction

1. Prayers

2. Scripture memory

Romans 8:22 ESV

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

3. Catch- Why should we not believe all we hear and only 1/2 of what we see?

"Tricks work only because magicians know, how we look at the world.

We can look at something and come to different conclusions based on the same data

We can give all the evidence for God and people will ignore the reasons why it is true.

Its’ hard to argue against someone’s experience, and as we’ll see, our own experiences seem to contradict at times our understanding of god… so we must not trust our experience, but dig deeper into God’s word.

Review

We’re currently in a section of Luke focused on Jesus’ early ministry… setting the foundation

We’ve talked about how Jesus was all about his teaching

The miracles he repeatedly did were about directly people towards his teaching

So when we have a great miracle right here, we know that it wasn’t isolated from his call

Luke 6:46 ESV

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

verse 11 begins with afterward, reminding us that Last week we saw the faith of the centurion

This man had no seen jesus do miracles

He didn’t hear Jesus’ preaching, but he believed Jesus saying

Luke 7:6–8 ESV

And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

Jesus’ response was awe

Luke 7:9 ESV

When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

Today we see some more miracles, and yet those do not extinguish the doubts, even when people see them with their own eyes

Jesus proved miracles were not sufficient to convince, but we should trust the scriptures

1. Jesus’ compassion proved by His miracles (11-17)

i. We see him on his way to a place called Nain

Luke Luke 7:11

Nain is located six miles south southeast of Nazareth and is about twenty-five miles from Capernaum

There is a modern day city near the Hill of Moreh, holding the same name

This is near Elisha preformed a similar resurrection

Jesus may have intentionally been making a comparison between His ministry and that of the famous prophet who raised a boy from the dead in Shunem.

All these people are going with him now instead of sneaking away like he did

Luke 4:42–44 ESV

And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Jesus ministry is growing

But as he goes along, he sees

1. People’s pain of death (11-12)

They came near this city’s gate, not probably as nice as these gates of Megiddo, but similiar

And behold… what does that behold mean for our attention?

It is like a flashing light

It means pay attention

There is a dead man being carried out of the town in a funeral procession like this Egyptians one

It is different because his man is being pulled by oxen, but Luke’s is differet

what does verse 14 say was moving him?

then we hear about the specifics of this man

He was the only son of a widow

Why should this draw our attention more? What as the situation of widows in the ancient near east world?

While even the poorest were expected to pay for professional mourners at a funeral, such a large crowd shows that

Luke Luke 7:12

Attendance at a funeral was considered a work of love, and the mourning for an only child would have been especially bitter

Also, people would have thought of Elisha healing the Shunammite’s son

2 Kings 4:36–37 ESV

Then he summoned Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.

Jesus is doing some of the great miracles like those who came before Him

But Jesus doesn’t just see the funeral, he sees her!

2. Jesus’ power over death (13-15)

Luke rightfully calls Jesus Lord as even though many people will seem unsure over who Jesus is, Luke wants to remind us… we know, he is Lord overall

Jesus sees this women with her eyes and has this great moment of compassion

It means to be deeply moved in one’s guilt or stomach

The great 20th century theologian BB warfield writes

The emotion which we should naturally expect to find most frequently attributed to that Jesus whose whole life was a mission of mercy, and whose ministry was so marked by deeds of beneficence that it was summed up in the memory of his followers as a going through the land "doing good" (Acts 11:38), is no doubt "compassion." In point of fact, this is the emotion which is most frequently attributed to him.

It is amazing that Jesus doesn’t actually just feel bad for her, true compassion moved him to action for her

So, he says to her, don’t weep

It is an interesting word, probably should be translated cry to separate it from similar noun used to describe “weeping

She’s not just as a weeper, but as actively crying intensely over her loss

Jesus prohibits that here because He is about to miraculously resurrect her son, removing any reason for tears

He walks up, touches the bier, and everyone freezes

Jews did not cover their bodies, but carried them to tombs

A Walk with God: Luke Luke 7:11–16

It was the custom in the ancient world, particularly among the Jews, to wrap the corpse in a cloth shroud and carry it in procession on a litter. It was also customary in the ancient world to hire professional mourners. Even in the case of a very poor person, so rabbinic tradition tells us, at least two people playing flutes, and one professional wailing woman were expected to accompany the funeral procession. But in this case Luke tells that the multitude surrounding the bier was great, for obviously the woman and her plight had provoked the compassion of a great multitude of people from the community.

Jesus did something shock by touching a dead body

A Walk with God: Luke Luke 7:11–16

In the ancient world and particularly in the Jewish culture, it was considered unlawful from the viewpoint of ceremony to touch a corpse. To come in contact with a dead body was to risk personal defilement that would require a very rigorous procedure of ritual cleansing. But here Jesus violates the ceremony. He does this on several occasions in Scripture, never violating, of course, the moral law of the Old Testament, but using this as an occasion to say something to his contemporaries of the importance of life over ceremony.

Then he does the most shocking, saying Arise, get up from the sleep of death

How does this show Jesus’ lordship, that he should be listened to?

Jesus’ power is shown in that He literally commands death itself

The man speaks and Jesus as Elisha gave the man to his mother, so now Jesus does too

3. People’s ponderance over death’s defeat (16-17)

The people respond with fear and glorifying God

Why might we think those wouldn’t go together? Why do they?

1. Scripture continually states the blessings of fearing God

Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. (Psalm 34: 9– 11)

He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14: 26– 27)

2. We will fear something… maybe you fear nothing the loss of your rights and you will fight for them

3. But only in God do we find fear that fights for us

They look at Jesus and say… he’s a great prophet, they’re recognizing something is connected with God, but not that He is good yet

Zechariah said the same thing when it son was born, referring to God’s blessing

Luke 1:68 ESV

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people

Exodus 4:31 ESV

And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.

They are just recognizing that God cares about them

So, the message about him spreads everywhere

ii. Illustration

1. We see this amazing miracle, but if he has the power to command, death, what else can He do?

As CS Lewis wrote about Aslan, “Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.””

iv. The all powerful, and all good god says we must Fear Him,

iii. Application

Why does this Miracle show Jesus should be listened to?.

Let’s try to apply this

1. Grasp the text in their town

Q: What did the text meant to the biblical audience?

We’ve seen that they are in awe of God

2. Measure the width of the river

There is some difference today because miracles has passed.

- Eph. 2:20 – In the same way that the apostles were foundational for the church, so the prophets and the prophetic gift was for the foundation stage of the church.

*John Calvin- said it was probable for miracles to only be for a time to help the gospel while it was new

*john Owen (1616-1683)- age of gifts had ceased, and those that did were given into a delusion

*Thomas Watson (1620)- he said they were ceased

*Jonathan Edwards- first century was the era of miracles, but when scripture was all written there were no longer these gifts. The miraculous gifts were no longer needed, so they ceased.

*Before 1901 when Pentecostalism started, only fringe groups held to continualists ideas

3. Cross the principlizing bridge

Q: What is the theological principle in this text?

What should we do when when something amazing happens?

4. Consult the biblical map

5. Grasping the text in our own town

Q: How should individual christiasn today apply the theological principle in their lives?

Why do people today still refuse to listen to Jesus even with evidence in their face?

What are some amazing things for which we can glorify God?

You would think that would be the end of it, but

2. Jesus’ crown proved by Scripture, not just miracles (18-23)

i. Explanation

1. Doubt’s growth in dichotomy (18-19)

This particular report has already all over Israel, including down to where John is in prison

They tell Jesus all the stories of what is occuring and how does John respond?

He’s asking if Jesus is the “the Coming One,” If he is the messiah

This is after he said

Luke 3:15–16 ESV

As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

But now, he’s questioning

What do you think about his situation would lead him to question?

You will recall from Luke 3 that he is in prison for standing up for God’s word saying

Luke 3.19-20 “But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.”

One tradition identifies John’s prison with this cave at Macherus.

Remember, this is John who said

John 3:30 ESV

He must increase, but I must decrease.”

We gave him as an example of humility

Gospel-humility is not needing to think about myself.

Not needing to connect things with myself.

But after doing that, he find himself in arrested by wicked king

RC Sproul writes

A Walk with God: Luke 32. Jesus and John the Baptist (Luke 7:17–30)

He is suffering from isolation. He is in abject misery. Surely he would have been asking questions. What am I doing in this prison? When is Jesus going to make his move? How can Jesus allow the power of Herod to be greater than his, that I as a prophet, should be left here alone?

The Jews all seemed to have a strong opinion about the messiah being a conquering hero who would stop the evil powers

He was likely thinking to himself, If Jesus is really the Messiah, surely He would start the coup against King Herod before I, his secretary of state, get executed! But there was no coup attempt, and John understandably developed some doubt

I’d argue this is doubt- meaning Uncertainty about the truth and reality of spiritual things

Unbelief is sin; but doubt, which is merely a special form of intellectual temptation, must like all temptation be distinguished from actual sin. -Charles Humme

Doubts should not destroy us because God does not destroy us

1. Jeremy Pierre, a biblical counselor, pastor, and seminary professor wrote this online

I’m often perplexed at how easily I’ll call into question God’s love for me. Private doubts about his wisdom, suspicions about his goodness, criticism of his plans. If he’s perplexed too, I wouldn’t know it. He’s just so unflinchingly kind in response to my doubts. This is love.

What do you think he means God is kind?

2. Our God is so kind to our doubts, but he does take issue with unbelief, which I will try to show

In his book, Spiritual Depression, Martyn Lloyd-Jones writes: Doubts are not incompatible with faith.…

Some people seem to think that once you become a Christian you should never be assailed by doubts. But that is not so, Peter still had faith (as he panicked in the storm in Matthew 14).… His faith was not gone, but because it was weak, doubt mastered him and overwhelmed him and he was shaken.…

Doubts will attack us, but that does not mean that we are to allow them to master us.

So, What is good about his response?

2. Doubts refuse to shrink by miracles(20-21)

They come to Jesus traveling up to Sea of Galilee

What do they find there?

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 7

Luke prefaces Jesus’ response to John with a summary of his ministry of healing (cf. 4:40–41; 5:15; 6:18–19).

They see all the miracles but it is not enough, they still ask

3. Doubts rebuked by Scripture (22-23)

So Jesus doesn’t just say His birth in Bethlehem from the line of David was consistent with prophecies about the Messiah. Or Jesus could have referred to His remarkable knowledge of the Scriptures and to His unparalleled teaching abilities

Jesus's reply, calling attention to the deeds he has been performing, hearkens back to Isa 35:5-6 and Isa 61:1,

which first-century Jews regarded as messianic promises. The words from Isaiah's messianic prophecies are echoed in the words Jesus uses to reply to John's disciples.

"Yes, I am the Messiah. See how my ministry fulfills what was promised through the prophet Isaiah?"

These good works adorned the doctrine of his messiahship

Titus 2:9–10- Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

The use of the verb (euangelizō) is more plentiful in Luke–Acts than elsewhere in the New Testament. Angelic announcements of John’s and Jesus’ births were said to be “good news” (Luke 1:19; 2:10). John’s message was the preaching of good news (3:18). This word is especially used of Jesus’ message to the poor (4:18; 7:22), His preaching the message of the kingdom (4:43; 8:1; 16:16), or preaching the gospel (9:6; 20:1).[1]

At the center of the gospel stands the person and work of Jesus. He is the promised one, the Christ. The promise of the fathers finds fulfillment in Him. The kingdom is bound up with Him. Peace is through Him.[2]

[1] Roy B. Zuck, A Biblical Theology of the New Testament, electronic ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1994), 118. [2] Roy B. Zuck, A Biblical Theology of the New Testament, electronic ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1994), 118.

iii. Illustration

1.

iv. Application

1. D

[iii]

i. the psalmists show us that

ii. Then preach to yourself

Psalm 42:4–6- These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

iii. It is hard to trust, but we must listen to Jesus who said

Matthew 7:9–11- Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

1. Does Jesus promise to give us what we want?

2. Why is promises to give us something good a comfort then?

[i] H. Lynn Gardner, Commending and Defending Christian Faith: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics(College Press Publishing Co., 2010), 17. [ii]Martin H. Manser, Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies(London: Martin Manser, 2009). [iii]Robert J. Morgan, Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes, electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000), 243.

III. Conclusion

IV. Closing prayer

Lord, allow us to not base ourselves on our situation, but on your unchanging word

Done