See the Strange Things of That Day
Sunday Morning February 4, 2007
*Luke 5:17-26
Just the day before yesterday, Betty and I were at Wal-Mart to pick up a jar of Miracle Whip. While there, she decided to look for a costume for next Sunday night’s banquet. She went into the fitting room and I sat down just outside. I looked up and saw a couple of young ladies walking toward me. These two stood out because of the way they were dressed and because they were heavily tattooed and pierced. I didn’t want to be rude and stare so I watched them out of the corner of my eye. We left the fitting room area and went to get the Miracle Whip. The rest of the time I was there I kept looking around to see if those two strange looking girls would reappear.
We are a people fascinated by anything strange or unusual. Advertisers have known this for some time and have successfully used our curiosity to sell their products. We willingly pay more for detergents and cleaning agents that smell like lemons, berries, or apples. The fact that there is no actual fruit in the product doesn’t really matter. When I lived in Dyersburg, TN and wanted to visit my mother, I had to drive through Union City. Just as you leave the city limits you can’t help but notice this enormous gated compound on the right. A friend of mine knew the owner and told me that the house cost just over 4 million dollars! The house has an indoor and an outdoor pool. There is a 10-acre pond, a boathouse, and at least two boats inside. The house has 12 bedrooms and eight baths! The compound sits alongside a TVA substation and we used to joke that that was necessary to provide the electricity for so large a home.
The man that owns the property first discovered that putting stones in a washer with blue jeans caused them to fade in unique patterns. It is called stone washing, and according to Dunn and Bradstreet, stone washed jeans are a 700 billion dollar a year business! Call him visionary or just plain lucky, but that fellow recognized a market for something different, even strange.
I do not feel I am overstating the case when I declare Jesus to be the greatest Stranger to ever live. If we could but get people to recognize His uniqueness – to come and watch Him at work among His people, then we might see the beginning of a great ministry.
I. See the Strange Things of That Day
A. Power present to heal all men (vs. 17)
1. Tragic that so many went away without healing
2. So many miss(ed) out because of pride
B. Jesus pardoned sins (vs. 20)
1. What a shame to be so close and never partake
2. How awful to carry unnecessary guilt
C. Jesus reading minds (vs. 22)
D. Men with faith enough to get their friend in to see Jesus (vs. 24)
Note: Remember, this was just one day in the life of Jesus!
II. Observe the Strangeness of Jesus’ Life
A. The Creator of all born among men (The Infinite and Infant – Spurgeon)
B. Heaven’s Lord serving men – even washing their feet
C. The only perfect man put to death for the sin of
others
D. The dead Lord reclaiming His life
Note: These are just a few of the strange and wonderful things in Jesus’ life
III. What Strange Things Have We Ourselves Seen?
A. A sinner justified by faith
B. A dead spirit revived and renewed
C. Strength made perfect in weakness
D. Despair replaced by hope
1. Comfort and consolation
2. Expectation of heaven
Have you found living for Christ is becoming stale? Do you not have the same eagerness and excitement that Jesus caused when He came into your life? Stir yourself to Christian activity. Witness to your friends and family. Seek to join God where He is at work. Do this and I guarantee you will see strange and wonderful things!