Image Source: Scene from Son of God movie, Lightworkers Media
This is one of my favorite pictures of Jesus. Can you see the compassion and concern in his face as he touches the untouchable? While everyone else shunned the mere presence of this man and his disease, Jesus calmly and lovingly took his hand into his, and he healed him on the spot.
This speaks volumes to me about the heart of Christ and his willingness to be up close and personal with the filth and disease of mankind so he can bring healing and restoration. May this be an encouragement to you! No matter what you are hiding within, Jesus is not afraid of “hot messes.” He is willing to touch us at the very core of our being, underneath our shame, our guilt, our pain, our buried pasts, our sin-sick souls, our wounds of rejection, our embarrassment, or our emptiness. He doesn’t shun the parts of us that are less than attractive, but he is drawn to it. He comes to heal, restore, and renew!
Won’t you let Jesus enter in beyond the outer surface of your life and do more than just to help you keep a list of do’s and don’ts? Following Christ is so much more than just behavioral modification, but it is about the wholeness we experience as we chase after him with all that is within us. Press in deeply to an intimate relationship with him and allow him to penetrate to the very depths of your soul. He stands at the door and knocks, and he will enter in to anyone who opens the door (Revelation 3:20).
This week in our study, I began to see fresh revelation about Jesus that I hadn’t thought about before. For example, when he began teaching in his home town, I hadn’t noticed how quickly they had turned on him. In one moment, they were amazed at his teaching, and the next, they had become violent and formed a mob to throw Jesus off a cliff. What changed so quickly?
For one, they wanted the Kingdom of God to come on their terms. They wanted Jesus to be their local celebrity and to prove himself with mighty feats. They were not interested in God’s glory being on display, but their motives were selfish and narcissistic. Jesus also proved his point that a prophet is not welcomed in his home town. They would always see him as the carpenter’s son, and they lacked the faith to experience a genuine move of God in their midst. That is so sad to me! They were going to miss out.
Lord, may you never become so familiar to me that I treat you as just my friend, or as a common, ordinary school master who will wrap me on the knuckles for breaking a rule, or as a genie in a bottle that exists for nothing more than just granting my fleshly whims! Lord, may I always treat you with the utmost reverence and awe that you deserve! Help my faith to grow, and may I never entertain the enemy of doubt. Lord, you are good and worthy, and that is that!
I don’t want to miss the moments when Jesus cast out demons. How annoying they must have been as they shouted before Jesus and brought distraction and confusion! It may have looked like they were proclaiming the truth of Jesus as the Son of God, but keep in mind that there is no truth in the devil. He is a liar and the father of lies. He had something else up his sleeve! His purpose was certainly not to give glory to God! He wanted to bring confusion and discredit Jesus any way he could. He was trying to sway people away from the truth rather than pointing them to the truth. Jesus knew exactly what was going on, and he shut those demons up! By his authority, Jesus cast them out.
In our times of fear, doubt, or oppression, let this evidence of the authority of Jesus over the schemes of the devil bring you confidence and strength!
On Day Two, I was especially moved by Jesus making a house call to heal Peter’s mother-in-law. What gripped my heart personally is that there have been times as a wife and a mother that I have wondered if I could possibly have any impact on the Kingdom of God. However, I see that powerful, impactful ministry does not necessarily have to happen at church or in a public arena. Jesus healed her in her very home, and word got out. May our homes also be a hub for the glory of God to shine forth!
God is so faithful. He can use the worst of circumstances to introduce us to the best of relationships.
Jesus also set the example of often getting away to a solitary place to spend time with the Father. He didn’t give of himself every second, but he took time to rest and pray. May we learn from his example that if we want to be most effective, we too must learn to prioritize time with God.
At sundown, when the Sabbath was complete, people began traveling in droves to where Jesus was, and they brought all their sick to be healed. Jesus made a huge impact from a private forum and with personal care.
As Jesus began calling his disciples, as we studied on Day 3, we began to see more of the heart of Christ as he called common, ordinary people who worked average jobs. Who would purposely look for fishermen and tax collectors? But Jesus did not seek out the upper-elite, the religious snobs, or the goody-two-shoes of his time. Jesus showed us the type of people he can truly use. He came for sinners, and for the “average Joes,” and that is who he would use to accomplish his will. He would transform their hearts and their lives, and they would partner with him in spreading the Gospel.
May that be another encouragement to us about the type of people God can use. He does not choose those who think they already have it all together. God works through those who recognize their need for him and will allow him to have his way in their lives. Some of the most extraordinary accomplishments have been performed through the most unlikely candidates because they yielded to God.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV
Day Four gives us food for thought concerning the power of God at work in Jesus, and that true faith is evident through action. When the men lowered the paralytic through the roof to get to Jesus, they demonstrated that they had genuine faith. Faith is more than merely believing, but it is about taking action. Even the devil believes in Jesus, but he doesn’t have faith. Faith requires us to step out and to trust. These men knew without a doubt that Jesus was definitely able, and they expected that their friend would finally be made whole.
However, Jesus surprised them by first declaring the man’s sins to be forgiven. Understand that Jesus was not saying that that man’s sin was what made him paralyzed, but he was demonstrating that he has authority as the Son of God to forgive sins. This was a demonstration for the Pharisees and teachers of the law who were in the crowd watching. Then, Jesus blew them away and proved his power and authority by healing this man in an instant. The man picked up his bed and skipped on home giving glory to God!
Yes, Jesus heals and forgives!
Lastly, Jesus confronted the Pharisees’ hypocrisy by healing on the Sabbath. He knew that they had come for the sole purpose of trying to trap him, but Jesus wan’t intimidated. He demonstrated the heart of the Sabbath, which was a far cry from what it had become through years of twisting and adding to God’s original command to keep the seventh day holy. The Pharisees had totally missed the point of the Sabbath, and they had made oppressive work out of a day that was intended for rest and refreshing in God’s presence. In hammering out restrictive, outward regulations, they had become blinded to the very One to whom the Sabbath pointed. Jesus was about to rock their world and shake up everything they believed in their smug little religious minds!
I want to conclude by encouraging you to discover fresh and new the blessing of the Sabbath. Let’s not make it a religious ritual devoid of purpose, but let us delight in this day to rest and enjoy the presence of the Lord! May our hearts grasp the intended purpose for the Sabbath, and may we remove distractions that cloud our understanding and enjoyment of this day. God’s day is holy, as he is holy!
Week Three Discussion Questions
ICE BREAKER: If you were cast in a TV commercial, what product/brand would you most want to advertise?
QUESTION 1: On Day One, we see a complete turnaround of the crowd’s attitude toward Jesus. One moment, they were amazed by him, and the next, they were ready to throw him off a cliff. Why do you suppose this is? What do you think would have been the manner of ministry they expected from Jesus? How is their way different from Christ’s?
QUESTION 2: On Day 2, we read about Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law. Interestingly, this was even before Jesus called Peter to be one of his disciples! And, even though this was a private house call, word still got out, and the crowds began bringing all their sick to Jesus, and he healed them. On a side note, I see that ministry does not have to be in church or in a public arena to give God glory, but God can move mightily in and through our homes. Tell about at least one way that Christ has worked in or through your home/family?
QUESTION 3: On Day 3, we focused on Jesus calling the 12 disciples as he began his ministry. What conclusions can you draw from the kinds of people Christ called to do things His way? (Think of what you know about the occupations and backgrounds of the disciples Jesus called and about the criticism the Pharisees hurled at him.) How does this either encourage or humble you that Jesus would call you to also work with Him?
QUESTION 4: How did Jesus see the faith of the paralytic and his friends (Luke 5:20)? Why do you suppose Jesus forgave his sins before healing him physically? What is something we can learn from this encounter?
QUESTION 5: The Pharisees had totally missed the point of the Sabbath. In hammering the restrictive, outward regulations that had been added to God’s original command, they had made more work out of a day that was intended for rest and refreshing in God’s presence. What are some ways we can get back to the heart of the Sabbath?
QUESTION 6: What is something you learned this week that you can personally apply to your life?
Homework for the Week
- Please work on the five days of homework in Week 4, “The Esteem of Man,” pp. 78 – 100.
- (Optional) View Beth Moore’s video. (This is not required because of the cost. The study can be completed without the videos.) Here is a link to the viewer guides with the answers if you are unable to view the videos.
- Attend a small group meeting in our Heart to Heart Facebook group.
- Scripture of the week:
As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown.
Luke 7:38, 47a NIV
Have a blessed week!
