Did We Learn Anything?

Test is Coming

You can find just about anything, any instructional video, how-to fix or replace anything on YouTube.

I’ve had to retrain myself to look for videos, first. I don’t need to go to a store or phone a friend, which I have done plenty of, search the internet.

I had to find a video to help me replace the battery in my old GMC. I can replace the battery. That’s an easy project. But, whatever sadistic engineer designed the engine compartment under the hood must have got a good laugh think about how a novice like me would try to pry that old heavy battery out of that small compartment.

Turning the screws or nuts on the battery cables attached to the battery posts, nothing to it. But, getting that massive wiring harness out of the way so I can lift the battery out was a task.

And, for a short guy like me, the first step that was helpful was to get a step ladder. I had to be tall enough to be able to reach down into the compartment to get a grip on the battery.

It was installed right next to the firewall at the dashboard. So, the hood of the car was right there so I had to be short enough to get under the hood but tall enough to be able to reach down w/ both hands to pull the battery out. That is, once I was able to move the wiring harness out of the way.

Or, I can replace gaskets and washers in faucets. Easy. Finding them to replace is a whole other thing. All the different types of faucets. Shower and sinks. Figuring out what needs to be unscrewed to open up the faucet to get to the gasket to fix the leak is not always so obvious.

So, there’s a video for that.

Have you discovered now that when you buy fixtures or furniture that needs to be put together or installed, they don’t come w/ an instruction booklet anymore?

There’s a QR code. Take a pic of the QR code, either you iPad or phone, that will take you to a link for the video of how to put your new whatever together and install it.

Not too long ago I replaced a few ceiling fans. Twisting wires together is a pretty easy thing. But now you’ve got to figure out how to hang the uninstalled fan while you twist the wires together before screwing the fixture into the ceiling mount.

And, you can choose what kind of light you want by shifting a switch on the fixture. Bright white? Soft yellow? There were like 5 settings.

We are remodeling a bathroom right now. The contractor is going to bring a couple of can light fixtures for us to temporarily install so we can choose the paint we want on the walls. We need to see the light as it will be when it’s all put together.

These lights will have the same switch to decide what kind of light we want in the bathroom. We used to have to buy different kinds of bulb. Now, they’re all LEDs, adjustable, and will set to the light we want.

I’ve installed all these things before. Once I did once, I had a clue what to do the next time. I am capable of learning new things. Remembering them is another issue right now.

It used to be, a friend would show me, or a booklet would lay out the steps. Then, I’d learn what to do and would not need the instructions again.

Or, this time of year I always get a little reminiscent stress. The start of the new semester when the professors give out their syllabus. Students look ahead at what will be expected and immediately lock up b/c it appears there is no way all that work will get done in such a short amount of time.

Mid-terms. Finals. Pop-quizzes. Papers.

The professors had done this for years. They knew what they could do. And, they had a pretty good idea of what their students could do. So, they made their assignments. We students all had 5 or 6 classes.

The teachers would teach. Then expect the students to be able to perform on the test.

I still dread the words, “Put your textbooks away and get out you big chief tablet and get ready for a pop quiz.

The teachers need to know if we’ve learned the material. And the students need to learn the material to be able to function in a career later in life. We need to learn the details of the job and be able to express them in a way to pass the test in school and keep our job in life.

However we have to do it, we must learn the material to be able to perform the necessary tasks to be successful in life. Video. Professor’s lecture. Read a book. Watch and learn. Take notes. Whatever.

We do it to repair and maintain our cars and homes. We did it to learn our jobs. We learned out to be parents by watching our parents.

Wouldn’t you know it, Jesus did the same thing for the Jewish leadership and His disciples. He’d teach them, then He’d test them. He would put them in a situ to find out if they learned what He just taught. Were they picking up what He was laying down?

And, believe it or not, He is still doing that to us today. Once we learn a lesson from the bible, here in church, at a bible study, in your private quiet times with Him, then He expects us to be able to perform and He will put us in situations where we will have the opportunity to demonstrate what we know.

Jesus is still taking us to school. He is teaching us lessons and administering tests to make sure we are getting what He’s teaching.

If we demonstrate we don’t get it, then He’ll take us thru it again. Are you tired of learning certain lessons in life? Well, it would probably be a good idea to master them so you can move on to the next lesson.

We’re in Luke 13 this morning. Jesus had just taught a number of lessons. We studied these in the previous chapters these previous weeks.

Things like:

Note the signs of the tie. The miracles prove the message that Jesus is the Messiah. Repent to Him, believe in Him, and receive the gift of life He’s offering.

A figless fruit tree is a worthless tress. It will get cut down and replaced. Time is running out. If Israel continued to fail to produce the fruit of the kingdom, that is, leading ppl to Christ and closer to God, then they will get chopped down and replaced, too.

In the distant context, chapters earlier, Jesus had been rejected for healing and helping ppl on the Sabbath. He was accused of breaking the Sabbath laws. He never broke God’s law as it was perfectly okay to help ppl on the Sabbath. But He did violate their oral tradition which said there were 6 days in a week when healing someone was okay. But not the Sabbath. As if healing happened often enough to keep track of the day it occurred.

So, the Q is, has Israel and their leadership learned anything? Have they been paying attention. Or has their rejection of Christ caused them to have a learning block and set aside everything He’s been trying to teach them?

Something to consider as we go thru this lesson today, do any of us have a learning block?

That’s the point of why Jesus does what He does next.

The Setting

Luke 13:10–13 NIV

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

It’s the Sabbath. He’s back in the synagogue like always. And as one of the rabbis, He’s teaching.

There was a woman there who suffered from and 2-part problem. 2 issues that were related.

First, she had a spirit problem. A demon had oppressed and caused her second problem

Second, she was bent over, bound up, crippled in her back. 18 years she had suffered this way. No doubt, her spine, discs, cartilage, had frozen up so she could not straighten and walk upright and erect.

She had no freedom of movement. No flexibility. Rigid. Stiff.

She would have been shunned by society. No one would associate with her for fear of being oppressed in the same way. Her appearance and condition pushed ppl away.

This was a vivid pic of Israel’s spirit problem. They had allowed themselves to be oppressed and they had become oppressive of other. They were bound up in their sin. Tied in knots trying to keep all the rules and rituals that were virtually impossible to keep.

This was their round room. And in their minds, they were trying to sit in a corner. Impossible.

They pushed ppl away who did not want to live under the same oppressive rules. They felt no freedom. The laws and law-enforcers were rigid, inflexible, stiff in their demands of the ppl.

The law had originally been given to Israel thru Moses to show them the demands of holiness. God intentionally set the standard high. In fact, He knew it was too high. If they would humbly accept that their best effort would still fall short and cry out to God for help He would graciously make allowances for them.

Put in the work. No it won’t be enough. Ask for help. And God would allow them to walk upright, confidently, in His presence.

But the mis-interpreted the law. They bel’d if they worked hard enough they’d be good enough. All that did was bind them up and bend them over.

In this moment, Jesus showed them what He would do for them if they would just humble themselves and ask for Him to help them. The ask would come in the form of an apology, repent, admit you’ve messed up, own it, say you’re sorry, stop doing it. Then, Jesus will free you up.

Notice, Jesus called her to Him. She did not ask. Jesus didn’t wait for Israel to ask. He’d been calling them to come to Him for those 3 years. Jesus doesn’t wait for us to ask. He will call us to Him.

Unlike Israel, she came forward. Imagine the electricity that shot thru her body when He touched her. She probably hadn’t been touched by anyone for those 18 years. PPL afraid of being infected by her condition would avoid her like the plague, literally.

And, in that culture, men did not touch women they were not related to. This was a counter-cultural thing to do. I’m sure gasps were heard throughout the crowd.

But Jesus was intent on becoming her friend. He would be her healer, Savior, Messiah, and friend.

Her 2 part problem brought a 2 part solution from Jesus. He set her free from the spirit and enabled her to stand upright once again. Her healing was immediate and complete. The bones, discs, cartilage, muscles that had been so rigid for so long now had the flexibility of normalcy. No need for any follow-up or physical therapy.

There is no mention here of any faith on her part. Jesus used this woman as an illustration, a test for those who’d been listening and paying attention as He taught over the past few days. The idea that Jesus only heals ppl if they have enough faith is not consistent w/ what He did and what the bible teaches.

Her reaction was to praise God. She at least had faith in Jesus as God’s rep who healed her. No mention of whether or not she had the faith to be saved.

The reaction of others in the room varied. Some joined her in praising God. Others were angry at Jesus for what He just did.

Had they learned anything? Some did. But for others, apparently not.

The Reaction

Luke 13:14–17 NIV

Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

Indignant. Angry. Ticked off. How dare He do this on this day!

Notice, the syn leader did not even address Jesus. He spoke to the ppl. Passive aggressive.

There are 6 days in a week when healing is allowed. As if it occurs on a regular basis. And this woman had suffered for 18 years. They had 18 years worth of 6 other days to do something to help her.

How dare you be angry when you had every opp to do something for her, like lead her to God who could heal her and help like Jesus just did.

Jesus didn’t break God’s Sabbath law. It was legal to help ppl and relieve their suffering on the Sabbath. Jesus did break their oral tradition that they had elevated above God’s law. Their mistake.

God’s law said you shouldn’t do any labor on the Sabbath. Jesus didn’t work hard to make this happen. He spoke and touched the woman. Clearly short of any labor law violation.

Jesus pointed out that this angry, indignant syn leader and all his cohorts would have no trouble untying their donkeys and leading them to water and feed them.

Hypocrites. 2-faced. You’ll do this for your livestock, but you won’t do it for another human. Both are acts of compassion. You’ll be more compassionate to you animals than you will to ppl.

Sure, untie your donkey. Unbind him. Free him up. Show him compassion. Loosen him. But don’t reject Jesus for doing the same for this woman.

Jesus’ point: How can you treat an animal w/ more compassion than a person? There’s still no fruit on that fig tree.

You had the opportunity to demonstrate the production of fruit. This was a test. You blew it. You failed again. Jesus had been rejected in the past for healing on the Sabbath and here it happened again.

They were about to get chopped. If it was only a reality cooking show. But this cost them much more.

What better day to do such a good deed for a woman who had suffered for so long. That led her to praise God in way she hadn’t for years. If this isn’t the point of the Sabbath, then what is? She discovered God’s compassion and experience His healing leading her to voice her praise.

Encounter God. Be touched by Him. Be changed, healed, freed up, loosed, unbound and praise Him for it. This was the perfect day to do it.

The Jewish leadership had been keeping their org as a closed group. Just us 4 and no more. No one could live up to their standards. They were supposed to be leading ppl to God. Giving them good reason to come to God to be freed.

Are we learning? This is a place for anyone and everyone to come and meet w/ God. Be called by Him, touched by Him, changed by Him, freed by Him. Together we will praise Him, forever.

To reinforce these things, Jesus next told 2 parables about not keeping ppl out but welcoming them inot the family of God.

2 Parables

Luke 13:18–21 NIV

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

These are 2 kingdom parables that pertain to the teaching and what we should be doing that Israel did not.

Jesus had just made the point, both directly and indirectly, fruit is the priority. Do what you can to be compassionate to those who need it. Help where you can.

By helping people in tangible ways in times of need will open their lives to the possibility of coming to Christ who can set them free permanently.

The Jewish leadership was pushing ppl away. They were keeping the group closed when they should have been open and welcoming.

So, the first parable Jesus told was about a mustard seed and the tree it produces. The mustard seed was the smallest seen known at that time. When planted, watered, fertilized, it would grow into a massive tree. Some grew as large as 30’ across.

The pic he drew for them was something that started out small, but grew large, and birds from all over the world would find space to nest in its branches.

The kingdom will be populated by Jews and non-Jews alike from all over the world throughout history. It seemed small, weak, and insignificant at that time. But in time, it will grow to be a massive group of ppl.

It was obvious at the time that hose who accepted X were far outnumbered by the those who rejected Him. It would have been hard for them to imagine a country in the future like the U.S. where hundreds of thousands of our citizens have become citizens of heaven. Or tribes in Africa. Asians. Europeans, Australians.

At that time it was strictly a middle-eastern, primarily Jewish related org. By 2024 millions and millions have accepted the same X that told these parables and have their reservation on a branch in this tree set.

The second parable was about yeast. Same point. A lump of dough. A small portion of yeast. Works its way thru the entire lump, aerates it, gives it its air bubbles, and the lump grows huge. You would never know that small lump of dough would become so large until you’ve made bread.

What’s tiny, seemingly insignificant, and weak; will grow into a massive org with room for ppl from all over the world throughout history. Jesus’ message then, as now, it’s best to get on board.

This is not a closed group. It is open to everyone. And as open as Jesus is, we must be the same. There is a place for everyone, anyone here in this room, to come and have their encounter w/ Jesus. We will continue to praise in good times and bad. We will continue to let Jesus speak to us, touch us, change us, free us, unburden us, show us compassion, and lead us into that lump of dough and that tree.

The power that loosed that woman that day in the syn will spread around the entire earth and loose the millions and millions of ppl who come when Jesus calls.

The growth is inevitable, unstoppable. So, let’s get on board.

Applications

Jesus Calling

Is Jesus calling you? If He is it’s a good idea to come to Him. Not everyone will. But those who do will be freed from the bonds that bend them over.

Jesus will free you and give you the ability to stand tall. If He calls, come to Him.

Is he calling you?

Jesus’ touch

When Jesus touches you He changes you. You will not be the same. So, when you come to Christ, expect the words and touch of a compassionate Savior who will change you from the inside out.

Expect the change. You will feel alive like you never have before.

Compassion

Help wherever you can. When you see a need, work to meet it. The best thing to do may not be the obvious thing to do. Get to know the person and the situ.

But by meeting the need you introduce the compassion of Christ to that person encouraging them to walk closer to Him themselves.

Help wherever you can.

Are we learning? Is there fruit?

However we have to do it, we must learn the material to be able to perform the necessary tasks to be successful in life. Video. Professor’s lecture. Read a book. Watch and learn. Take notes. Whatever.

We do it to repair and maintain our cars and homes. We did it to learn our jobs. We learned out to be parents by watching our parents.

Wouldn’t you know it, Jesus did the same thing for the Jewish leadership and His disciples. He’d teach them, then He’d test them. He would put them in a situ to find out if they learned what He just taught. Were they picking up what He was laying down?

And, believe it or not, He is still doing that to us today. Once we learn a lesson from the bible, here in church, at a bible study, in your private quiet times with Him, then He expects us to be able to perform and He will put us in situations where we will have the opportunity to demonstrate what we know.

Jesus is still taking us to school. He is teaching us lessons and administering tests to make sure we are getting what He’s teaching.

If we demonstrate we don’t get it, then He’ll take us thru it again. Are you tired of learning certain lessons in life? Well, it would probably be a good idea to master them so you can move on to the next lesson.