The Undignified Pursuit
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
The Story
The Story
The beatitudes where Jesus speaks: (The Beatitudes)
The beatitudes where Jesus speaks: (The Beatitudes)
Luke
20 Then looking up at his disciples, he said: Blessed are you who are poor, because the kingdom of God is yours. 21 Blessed are you who are now hungry, because you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, because you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you, insult you, and slander your name as evil because of the Son of Man. 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy. Take note—your reward is great in heaven, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets. 24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are now full, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are now laughing, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the false prophets.
hungry vs full
weeping vs laughing
Reference back to Matthew (poor in spirit; hunger for righteousness)
those people hate vs those they speak well of
Lessons
Lessons
they love those who do not return love
It is a mentality of serving others without regard for what they can do for you in return
Those who love their enemies (Love Your Enemies)
followed by 4 teachings and 4 examples
It is a representation of God who is merciful to those who have nothing to offer him
Directly in contrast to the religious elite who see others in terms of what they gain from befriending or serving them.
Not those who build themselves up in comparison to others (Do Not Judge)
Those who judge others with stricter standards than they use for themselves.
Those who show forth genuine fruit of being shaped by Jesus’ teachings (A Tree and its Fruit)
The Story
The Story
Those who do the things that Jesus says (The Two Foundations)
Examples
Examples
The Centurion
The Jewish leaders who come to the Centurion and say he is worthy to receive Jesus’ miracle
The Centurion says he is not worthy, and that Jesus is capable of commanding his healing
Jesus says that he has not found faith like this in all of Israel
Contrast with the Jewish leaders who believed one could be worthy of such
The crowds mourning the loss of a man (The widow’s son raised)
They are in the midst of misery
They see the miracle and then confess that Jesus was a prophet and God was at work though him
John the Baptist
John’s questioning
Jesus’ response is that God’s work is in the lepers, the lame, the blind, the deaf, the dead, and the poor.
Not a selective ministry that oppresses those less fortunate, adding to the curses of sin, but one that is eliminating the effects of sin.
John’s Witness
He wasn’t swayed by people’s opinions but spoke truthfully and uncompromisingly
Final Rebuke
Final Rebuke
He was not nice in appearance
Someone who no one would pick as the greatest/ direct contrast to the well polished and false teachers
The undignified and despised heard John, they repented. When the super committed Jews heard, they did not.
The hardness of their hearts (The flute and lament)
They sound like cynics
The Story
The Story
36 Then one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume 38 and stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wash his feet with her tears. She wiped his feet with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with the perfume. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—she’s a sinner!” 40 Jesus replied to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He said, “Say it, teacher.” 41 “A creditor had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one he forgave more.” “You have judged correctly,” he told him. 44 Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she, with her tears, has washed my feet and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in. 46 You didn’t anoint my head with olive oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfume. 47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Luke 7:36-
Application
Application
Jesus’ acceptance was not based on the person’s history, but on their following his commands (
14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and scoffing at him. 15 And he told them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God’s sight.
The pharisees loved money, but as Jesus said, that would be their comfort
The woman loved Jesus, and her reward was the kingdom of God
The Hungry vs the Full
The Hungry vs the Full
The pharisee’s behavior showed that he was happy with who he was
The woman showed she desired what she did not have
The Laughing vs the Weeping
The Laughing vs the Weeping
The pharisee began his day believing that he would be in good spirits, but ended it in rebuke and shame
The woman began by feeling overwhelmed by her shame, but ended by having her shame and guilt removed.
The Honored vs the Dishonored
The Honored vs the Dishonored
The pharisee was held in high regard and spoken highly of, yet ended in disgrace
The woman was ridiculed and looked down upon by others, yet Jesus embraced her and honored her.
The Prostitute More Like the Prophets Than the Pharisee
The Prostitute More Like the Prophets Than the Pharisee
23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy. Take note—your reward is great in heaven, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets.
Luke 6:
Application
Application
True faith is a posture towards God
True faith is a posture towards God
True faith is a posture towards God
True faith is a posture towards God
One of humility (poor in spirit)
17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.
psalm 51:
One of desire (hunger for righteousness)
One of desire (hunger for righteousness)
One of remorse (weep [weep for our sin])
One of undignified pursuit of God
Peter jumping out of the boat
The failure of the Pharisee was that he was satisfied with himself and believed he was worthy of God
The failure of the Pharisee was that he was satisfied with himself and believed he was worthy of God
True faith in Jesus may not make sense to others
True faith in Jesus may not make sense to others
The pharisee was happy, content, honored, spoken well of, comfortable, dignified
The woman was grieving, desperate, disguising to others, mocked, lacking, and undignified
Jesus honored the woman and pointed to her as the ultimate example to follow, not the religious teacher.
The essence of being a follower of Jesus does not even consider our history, past immorality, race, style of clothes, physical cleanliness, language, past religion, what others think of us
The woman did not come to Jesus in a put together way, she fell on the dirt floor, not even willing to let he look at her, weeping, giving everything to Jesus that she had, pouring out her possessions, her affection, her honor, her dignity in a desperate pursuit of Jesus, not others.
True faith inspires genuine love for Jesus and others
True faith inspires genuine love for Jesus and others
We must reflect on our motives for loving others
We must reflect on our motives for loving others
Because we like them, they have something to offer, or it is easy?
Churches do not exist in order to make people look like those with the most plush and polished lives, but to make them into followers of Christ.
If we had someone come in who wore filthy clothes, smelled like cigarettes and perfume, wore a low cut shirt, fishnet leggings, a mini skirt, and high heeled shoes, what would your first concern be?
To make her look better?
To stare at her body and let your mind roam?
To make jokes when you went out to lunch?
crosses socioeconomic, past morality, races, style, language, past religions
To keep your children away from her?
To ignore her?
To teach her about the love of Christ and how to follow him?
Applications:
Christ did not focus on the woman’s appearance, but knew that the filth that everyone saw on the outside was cleaner than their insides.
Messy people demand more of us, take up our time, hurt us, bring us incredible joy
We have everything we need to love others
Jesus gave us the perfect example of loving those who he had nothing in common with.
The woman at the well
True faith gives us confidence in sharing the Gospel
True faith gives us confidence in sharing the Gospel
When we realize how sinful we are, we realize that Jesus can save anyone.
Look at those who were saved by Jesus
This promiscuous woman
The woman at the well
Saul/Paul
Abraham
David
Us
Set it up as a sorry with riding tension until the pharisees response to the prostitute.