Luke #16: Two Routes, One Destination

But there’s really no easy way… life is just hard and some times we make it even harder… by not asking for help… not taking advantage of opportunities…

Today we look at two healings of Jesus and how Jesus was moved to heal for two different reasons

Jesus practices what he preaches.

Teaching to live by a new code… a code of love

Jesus immediately moves out to show them what this looks like.

Luke 7:1–2 (NIV)

1 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum.

2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.

Centurion

seen as an enemy of God’s people

man of honor

well trained, good leader

personally appointed by Caesar

high character

Luke 7:3–5 NIV

3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”

The Centurion could have lorded his authority, but apparently didn’t… honored the Jews, to the point of building their synagogue.

Bless those who bless, curse those who curse.

This was a promise by God… It was true when God told Abraham, it was true in Jesus day, still true today.

Luke 7:6–8 NIV

6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

Centurion knew Jewish law… didn’t want Jesus to break the law… even still he knew the authority Jesus had… he believed it because he knew how it worked.

Lack of God’s presence doesn’t diminish God’s power… in our lives nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ

But...you imagine the relief of his followers at this point? They were well on their way to a Centurion’s home… Jesus seemed full on ready to visit this gentile enemy… what a relief.

Luke 7:9–10 NIV

9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Without ever touching or even talking to the sick man directly Jesus’s words held power to heal.

The same word that was spoken in the beginning to create life, we see now speaking to restore life.

At this his followers are a bit amazed as well… they don’t have to reflect on the significance too much, it’s obvious to everyone that Jesus really means what he says… that he really does practice what he preaches.

Thinking back to his sermon…

Luke 6:27-49 Sermon on the Mount

Practicing what he preaches

Loved his enemy.

Luke 6:27 NIV

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Didn’t judge because of position or title.

Luke 6:37 NIV

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Did judge by what was said and done.

Luke 6:43 NIV

43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

Showed mercy to the least deserving.

Luke 6:35–36 (NIV)

35 But love your enemies, do good to them, … Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

…because of the centurion’s faith

Faith gets noticed.

Last time Jesus was amazed… he was in Nazareth and he was amazed at their lack of faith… so much so that he couldn’t stay with them

But here… Jesus was amazed at the faith of someone we would never expect to have any faith at all… that’s one way to get Jesus’s attention… one way people get to experience God’s favor… faithfulness.

Emotions are a big deal… even for Jesus

· Looks over Jerusalem, people rejected God—Grieved.

· Religious leaders care more about rules than people—Angry.

· 72 followers describe how God used them—Overjoyed.

· Friend Lazarus dies—Weeps in sadness.

· Before cross—Discouraged, lonely, spiritual agony.

Luke then tells another story to show us the character of Jesus.

Luke 7:11 NLT

11 Soon afterward Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, and a large crowd followed him.

Another divine appointment for the crowd of hope

Life more than an accident…

Luke 7:12 NLT

12 A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her.

What we don’t know:

—How old widow—Husband died—Age son?

What we do know:

—Song almost certainly died day before!

Jews buried fast!

Visualize—Single mom—Lost husband—Just lost her only son!

Luke 7:13 NLT

13 When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said.

Deep Pain… Jesus saw her.

Just because you look—Doesn’t mean you see—Notice!

Fridge…

Single mom—Lost her husband—Shock—Now her only son!

The Lord saw her!

What did Jesus feel?

Same thing he feels for you when you are hurting.

The word there compassion is the greek word SPLAGNA.... referring to Jesus’s stomach - his guts… it is used when you have get the call late at night that something is wrong with someone you love and you have this pain… gut level.

Jesus was moved with compassion.

Jesus sees

Don’t know who needs to hear this today—God sees you! Notices. Cares.

Going through—Fight save marriage—Paying bills!

Child-Parent—Health—You feel anxious—Frustrated—Afraid.

Jesus sees. Notices—He cares!

Luke 7:14 NLT

14 Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.”

There wasn’t really a coffin as we know it

Just a flat piece of wood with the body wrapped on top

Jesus touched him… no Jew would do that

But Jesus wasn’t afraid to b/c of his love for her.

Religious people would be up in arms… they cared about rules… Jesus cared about people

Jesus sees and Jesus cares.

Luke 7:15–17 NLT

15 Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 Great fear swept the crowd, and they praised God, saying, “A mighty prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people today.” 17 And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding countryside.

When Jesus touched him everyone was shocked… especially the boy.

Can you imagine the mom? A couple of minutes ago she had nothing… now she has her whole world back in her arms

And it took one touch… he saw and he cared...

One touch.

In our Lenten reading today we were taken to Psalm 130 that begins

Psalm 130:1-2 “1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; 2 Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.”

When we are in the place of these folks, a loved one sick… a loved one dying… heart broken… it’s normal to cry out to God…

Did you ever wonder why we don’t give him more?

Some of our heartbreak is self inflicted… and seldom do we call out to God about that… some of it is more of a minor inconvenience so we don’t take that to God. WE resolve that we deserve it or it’s just life… so we act as though we don’t need the Lord every moment of every day.

This widow… the centurion… there was no hiding their need… and God responded to their cry.

What does that say to us about all the broken parts of our lives that we never ask God to restore… because it’s not that big of a deal… or worse, I can handle it… I don’t need God.

God doesn’t restore what we pretend isn’t broken.

Let’s pray for that which we don’t think is important enough for God to get involved in… maybe it’s too dirty… maybe it’s too embarrassing… maybe it happened too long ago...

Jesus sees… and Jesus cares… let’s stop pretending we don’t need him to restore life to us.

Let’s call out to God this morning.

This applies to our souls as well.

We live in denial of our need for a savior...

All have sinned… that the wages of sin is death… but the gift of faith is eternal life… faith that God raised Jesus form the dead we will be saved from death as well… Believing in our heart and confessing with our mouth we find salvation… restoration of our spiritual life… given a new life through our relationship with God.

A life to serve, bless, and love others.

-------

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you,

Father Almighty (almighty God ), creator of heaven and earth.

In love you made us for yourself; and when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, your love remained steadfast.

You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts and prepare with joy for the Easter feast, that, renewed by your Word and Sacraments and fervent in prayer and works of justice and mercy, we may come to the fullness of grace that you have prepared for those who love you.

And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

The pastor may lower hands.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The pastor may raise hands.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ, whom you sent in the fullness of time to redeem the world.

He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in our likeness.

He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

He took upon himself our sin and death and offered himself, a perfect sacrifice for the sin of the whole world.

By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread, or touch the bread, or lift the bread.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:

"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me."

The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the cup, or touch the cup, or lift the cup.

When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:

"Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

The pastor may raise hands.

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us,

as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread and cup.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine.

Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

The pastor may raise hands.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father (God ), now and for ever.