Tag: Messiah

May 18th 2025: Mike Viccary

Published on by Penuel Baptist RochLeave a comment

Luke 7:11-17   The widow of Nain’s son is raised!

Introduction.

            The gospel of Luke contains more about people and human interactions than any of the other gospel writers. He is the only one to mention Zacharias, Simeon and Anna in connection with Christ’s birth, and the only one to record the Lord’s encounter with Zacchaeus  too. One writer has suggested that Luke records interaction with over one hundred individuals not counting indefinite groups such as “some Pharisees” (Luke 13:31), “the chief priests” (Luke 19:47; 20:1,19; 22:2,4,52; 23:4,10,13; 24:20), and so on.

            Luke also seems to be particularly concerned with the outcasts of society, such as prostitutes, tax collectors, Samaritans, and the poor such as widows. Matthew uses the word “widow” only once (Matthew 23:14), Mark uses this word three times (Mark 12:40,42,43), John doesn’t use it at all, but Luke uses it nine times (Luke 2:37; 4:25,26; 7:12; 18:3,5; 20:47; 21:2,3). Another rather distinctive word used in Luke is the word “crowd.” This word is used inly twice in Matthew (Matthew 9:23,25), three times in John (John 7:32,40,49), seven times in Mark (Mark 2:4; 5:27,30; 7:17; 9:17; 15:11,15), but sixteen times in Luke (Luke  4:42; 5:19; 6;17; 7:9,11,12; 8:19; 9:18; 11:27,29; 12:13; 13:14; 19:3,39; 23:4,48).

            In Luke we have two distinct types of crowd. There are general references to “the crowd” meaning all that were present in a given location, (for example: Luke 4:42; 5:19; 8:19; etc.), and then we have crowds mention in connection with the Lord’s disciples, such as:“a crowd of His disciples” (Luke 6:17), and “the crowd that followed Him” (Luke 7:9). These two distinct crowds are particularly notable in our text of Luke 7:11-17. A literal translation of verses 11 and 12 of Luke 7 highlights these two groups:

Luke 7:11 –     and were going with him the disciples of Him sizeable and a big crowd

Luke 7:12 –     and a crowd from the city sizeable went with her

Both crowds were large! It also puts the whole encounter at “the gate of the city” (Luke 7:12) thus emphasising the Lord’s timing, (which is very interesting), and we finally, get a distinct set of statements showing what happened after this event. We shall use four key phrases as headings:

[1] “And a large crowd.” [When two tribes meet]. Same text used in verses 11 and 12 but meaning different things.

[2] “When He came near the gate of the city.” [The incredible timing of God]. Found in verse 12.

[3] “He touched the open coffin.” [Death defeated!]. Found in verse 14.

[4] “God has visited His people.” [The fruit of His coming]. Found in verse 16.

[1] “And a large crowd.” [When two tribes meet].

            As we have already noted, there were two distinct crowds meeting on that day. We have a large crowd of disciples and those who followed the Lord Jesus, with Him at the head of this group. And then we also have another large crowd from the city who were behind the coffin and the widow on their way out of the city to the burial place. One group is described in the Greek as being “with” the Lord, and the other is described as being “with” the widow. Both were sizeable. Let us consider the atmosphere and environment of each crowd, and then considered their meeting!

[a] Those “with” the widow.

            First let us take a view of the city and its environs. The name “Nain” means ‘beauty,’ or ‘pleasant.’ Apparently the views from this site were breathtaking. The International Bible Encyclopedia makes this assessment: “The site commands a beautiful and extensive view across the plain to Carmel, over the Nazareth hills, and away past Tabor to where the white peak of Hermon glistens in the sun”  It was, perhaps, just like many cities of the ancient world. A place of trade and commerce, of life and marriage, and of all things this earthly life affords. However, we only know of Nain from this account in Luke which highlights the death of the only son of a widow. The  International Bible Encyclopedia informs us that: “In the rocks to the East are many tombs of antiquity,” and so Nain is always to be associated with death. The first thing we encounter in verse 12 is “a dead man” being carried out, and the second thing we are confronted with is that his mother was “a widow.” Twice then our attention is drawn to a procession headed by death. Nain may have been beautiful and full of earthly life, but what emanates from its centre is death.

            Notice also that this city seems to have stopped. It may have been a custom in those days to stop work when a dead person was buried. Or she may have been a notable person in the city. We do not really know. What we do observe is that death has this habit of stopping us in our earthly pursuits. In my early days growing up in the 1960s and 1970s people stopped what they were doing when a hearse drove by. That does not seem to happen so often today which is sad, if not a little worrying. Death is something we all have to take thought of surely?

            We must also note that this encounter whilst recorded faithfully as a true and real historical event by Luke (who was painstaking in his research – see Luke 1:1-4), is similar to two other historical events recorded in the books of 1 & 2 Kings. In 1Kings 17:17-24 we have an account of Elijah raising a dead boy. Both this account and our account start with a similar introduction. The widow of Elijah’s time had only the one son as did the widow of Nain. In both accounts we have the raised boy being presented to the mother (Luke 7:15 & 1Kings 17:23). Finally the outcome of both accounts reveals a new understanding. In the record concerning Elijah, the widow recognises Elijah as “a man of God” whose word was “the word of the Lord” (1Kings 17:24). In our text we read that people glorified the Lord and were sure that “God has visited His people” (Luke 7:16,17). But there are also a number of stark contrasts between these two events too. In 1Kings 17:17-24 the location was in Zarepheth in the region of Tyre and Sidon, whilst Nain was in Galilee. With Elijah there is only the widow present, but with the Lord there are two great crowds. In our text it is the Lord who takes the initiative, but with Elijah the woman accosts the prophet with a question. Whilst our Lord acts out of deep compassion, Elijah seems to act in desperation. Whereas the Lord simply issues a command, Elijah cries out twice to the Lord for help. Here in Luke the Lord Jesus simply touched the coffin but Elijah stretched himself out on the dead boy three times.

            The account concerning Elisha and a boy raised from the dead as recorded in 2Kings 4, took place in a site very close to Nain (Shunem was also close to mount Tabor), but again there are some marked differences. I should point out here that the following thoughts have come from an article written by Mark Barnes in the Evangelical Magazine. The Lord Jesus approached the dead man and his mother, but the Shunammite woman in 2Kings 4 raced to fetch Elisha back who appears to have been rather reluctant to come. Elisha appears to be very aloof to this poor woman whereas the Lord Jesus was moved with compassion and addressed the widow with great care. Elisha first looked to the power of his staff to perform the miracle but without success, whereas the Lord Jesus merely touched the coffin. Elisha’s miracle is dependent upon prayer whilst the Lord Jesus simply spoke a word. Reaction to Elisha’s miracle is rather weak whereas the crowds who saw the widow of Nain’s son raised glorified God.

            Clearly these two historical accounts in the Old Testament are eclipsed by the miracle at Nain. The Lord Jesus was demonstrating to the crowds present at that time that He was greater in power than either Elijah or Elisha. He was the promised Messiah, which truth the crowds seem close to appreciating y the end of this event.

            It is worth reflecting a moment upon this widow who had lost her only son. She had lost her husband, so her son would have inherited the place of responsibility. As a widow she had no status and no easy means of support. Her son would have taken over her husband’s status and was the heir, and so could provide for his mother. But now he too had died and she was left with nothing. It is hard to miss this pointed fact that this man was “the only son” of this widow. Luke has focused our attention here by using the opening word “behold” in verse 12 which instructs us to pay close attention. The “only son” of that which focuses on death (represented by the widow and her only son in his coffin) is meeting the “only begotten Son” of the Father (John 1:18; 3:16,18), of whom it has been said: “In Him was life” (John 1:4).

[b] Those “with” the Lord.

            Reading through Luke’s account prior to this event we discover that the crowds have been growing throughout the Lord’s ministry. In Luke 4:32 we read that the people who heard Him preach “were astonished at His teaching” because “His word was with authority.” In this same chapter we hear the people cry out: “what a word is this!” and an assertion that Christ ministered “with authority and power” (Luke 4:36). In consequence large numbers brought those who were sick to the Lord for healing and “He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them” (Luke 4:40). When Jesus sought some solace in a deserted place the next day, we read that “the crowd sought Him and came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving them” (Luke 4:42). In chapter 5 we discover that “the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God” (Luke 5:1). Then after He arranged a miraculous catch of fish the people “were all amazed,” “they glorified God,” and being “filled with fear” said “we have seen strange things today” (Luke 5:26). In chapter 6 we read of the Lord choosing the twelve, and then we hear that there was “a great multitude of people” not only from “all Judea and Jerusalem,” but also from “the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon” (Luke 6:17). These “came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases” (Luke 6:17) and then we find that “the whole multitude sough to touch” on account of His power (Luke 6:19). These statements show clearly the immense feeling of hope and excitement that accompanied the Lord as He ministered in Israel.

            So the crowds with Christ were full of excitement and expectation. Apart from the twelve chosen of the Lord, there would have been those who had been healed by the Lord, and those who were accepted by Him despite their lowly status. This crowd that followed the Lord Jesus were certainly expectant. They had witnessed many miracles thus far. What was the Lord Jesus going to do now?

[c] Christ our Head meets death!

            It is hard to miss the incredible contrast between these two crowds. Nain was a city that earthly beauty and earthly life but was subject to death which puts a halt to all. Christ comes as the Head of His procession bringing life, resurrection power and eternal hope.

            Just to repeat the main point. Christ our Head brings life. And He meets head-on the world with its procession lead by death. I want to emphasise here that Christ is our only Head. We have no need of anything else. He is the One who stands among us and by His Spirit and through His word exclusively He will lead us and build us up. He alone is the Head of the church. And what a Head! We have no need of a pope, an archbishop, a synod nor anything like that. The Saviour comes with life abundant (John 10:10) and our task is simply to follow Him and be a part of His crowd. In stark contrast the head of the city procession is a coffin followed by a widow. Christ comes face-to-face with a dead man being carried out followed buy a widow. There is no contest here!

[2] “When He came near the gate of the city.” [The incredible timing of God].

            We have noted that Christ led a crowd and was approaching the gate at just that point where a dead man in his open coffin led a procession of the man’s mother (a widow) and the crowd from the city. In Luke 7:11 we are told that “He went into a city called Nain,” and then in verse 12 it was “when He came near the gate” that at that moment “behold  a dead man was being carried out.” Picture the scene! There must have been many people and quite a crush!

[a] Hope gone?

            Many cities had walls with gates at set intervals to control who came in and for defence. In most cities, because of this concern for safety, it was not permitted to bury the dead within the walls, excepting kings and distinguished persons (1Samuel 28:3; 2Kings 21:18). Dead bodies were ceremonially unclean according to the law, (Leviticus 11:31,32; Numbers 19:11). They were obviously a health hazard too. Apparently dead bodies were buried within a few hours of death and on the same day that they died. This was on account of the hot climate and the rapid decay of the body. Coffins were not used. Usually the bier on which the body was carried had a pole each side enabling them to carry the body on their shoulders. It appears, then, that the moment the body left the city through the gates, it would no longer have any hope of resuscitation or of the soul returning to the body. There are some first century Jewish traditions which hold that the soul lingers in the body until the third or fourth day – which is perhaps the reason Jesus delayed going to raise Lazarus. But here the point is that this dead man was about to leave the city – which represented all earthly and physical life.  Life had come to an end – and the widow and the people in procession cease activity!

[b] The Lord’s timing is perfect!

             It is perhaps a truism to state this but it nevertheless needs repeating: God’s timing is always perfect! We establish this first on account of the character of God. Since God is perfect – absolutely – it follows that all His actions and all that He does is perfect too. This applies equally to all three persons in the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. At just the right time Jesus came to this widow woman who was about to bury her dead son.

            Time is very important to God – after all he created it (Genesis 1:1). We  learn that God has “made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11a). The NASB rendering has the word “appropriate” which is perhaps a little more organised and tidy! We also learn that there is “an appointed time for everything” and further that “there is a time for every event under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NASB). There is a set time for an event (for all events) and a specified duration for that event. In the Acts of the apostles we find Paul preaching the same thing: “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings” (Acts 17:26). But the Lord is also concerned with eternity:  “He has put eternity in their hearts.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11b). Regarding our time on earth we ought to recognise that God holds all in His power. Consider these important truths:

My times are in Your hand. (Psalm 31:15a).

The steps of a man are established by the Lord. (Psalm 37:23a, NASB).

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27).

1 “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. … 5 Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass. (Job 14:1,5).

# Just as the Lord set the precise date for the Exodus (Exodus 12:41) so also the Father determined with precision the dates concerning His Son:

You will arise and have compassion on Zion; for it is time to be gracious to her, for the appointed time has come. (Psalm 102:13, NASB).

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law. (Galatians 4:4).

14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14,15).

Jesus’ death on the cross occurred at a precise time. Throughout John’s gospel we are constantly being informed of “His hour,” the time when He would be given up for men, (John 2:4; 4:21,23; 5:25,28; 7:6,8,30; 8:20; 12:23,27; 13:1; 16:21,32; 17:1). When He prayed to His Father just before He died, for example, He uttered these important words: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You” (John 17:1). Paul taught this idea that Christ came and died at the “right time” even when we were still sinners (Romans 5:6, NASB), and at the “proper time” (1Timothy 2:6, NASB). From John’s gospel we find that Christ was sacrificed at the time when the Passover lambs were being slain on the day of preparation (John 19:14,20,41 cf. Matthew 27:62). Thus Christ’s death on the cross occurred the same day that the Israelites left Egypt. How wonderful is God! He keeps perfect timing, and is never late for any appointment.

            The next most important date on God’s calendar is the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The timing of this event will, needless to say, be perfect. It is a date that has already been fixed by God: “… until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which He will bring about at the proper time …” (1Timothy 6:14b,15a, NASB). Thus times and seasons, dates and durations are all highly important to God. He knows the best time, for He is God! How can a good and great God not be timely? Although times and seasons have all been fixed by God, this does not mean that we are privy to such information. Jesus told His disciples (and thence to us who follow also) that: “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority” (Acts 1:7, NASB).

[c] The Lord’s timing is often at the last minute!

            But from a human perspective it might seem that the Lord’s timing is rather late! Both Mary and Martha (sisters of Lazarus) said: “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21,32). Of course the Lord delayed for good reasons. He told the disciples before they set off: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”  (John 11:4). In our text it seems that the widow is on the point of no return. Once out of the city her son would be very soon buried in the tomb. But there are many examples in Scripture of God acting at what we consider to be the last minute:

[i] The Red Sea Miracle. The Israelites trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army, God parted the sea (Exodus 14:21-22).

[ii] The Fiery Furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s idol – delivered (Daniel 3:25).

[iii] Peter’s Rescue. Peter was delivered from prison the night before his scheduled execution (Acts 12:6-11).

[iv] The Woman with the Issue of Blood. After 12 years of suffering, she received healing by touching Jesus’ garment (Mark 5:25-34).

Why then does God wait until the last minute or beyond? There are at least 4 reasons the Lord does this:

[i] To Display His Glory. His interventions reveal His power and sovereignty to all (John 9:1-3).

[ii] To Test and develop our Faith. God allows us to reach the end of ourselves to strengthen our reliance on Him (James 1:3).

[iii] To Humble Us. Last-minute miracles remind us that we cannot succeed without God  (Deuteronomy 8:2-5,15-17).

[iv] To Build a Testimony. Delayed interventions create powerful testimonies that inspire others (Psalm 40:1-3). Daniel’s rescue from the lions’ den demonstrated God’s supremacy to King Darius and his kingdom (Daniel 6:22-27).

God is sovereign over all (Psalm 46:10), and His ways and thoughts are higher than ours(Isaiah 55:9,9).

[3] “He touched the open coffin.” [Death defeated!].

            We might ponder what the situation of these two crowds might have been like. The crowds following Jesus who was marching towards His divine appointment with this widow and her son, meet the sorry sight with a crowd from the city following on. What will happen now? Well the Lord takes the initiative. This is no mere coincidence or happenstance. The Lord knew precisely what He was doing in marching towards Nain. Just as He had an appointment with the woman from Samaria as recorded in John 4, so too He had a divine appointment with this poor widow. We need to consider what happened here carefully. In verses 13 and 14 we find that when He saw the woman, He:

  • “had compassion on her”                                          (v13)
  • “said to her, “do not weep””                         (v13)
  • “came and touched the open coffin”              (v14)
  • “and he said, “young man,I say to you, arise”          (v14)

[a] “had compassion on her.”

            Love. It was when the Lord actually saw the woman that love was His immediate response.  Literally the text reads: “And the Lord having seen her, was moved with compassion towards her, and said to her, `Be not weeping” (YLT). The Greek word is: σπλαγχνίζομαι splagchnizomai, from the root from splanxna, ‘the inward parts,’ especially the nobler entrails – the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys’ and so has the meaning: ‘to have the bowels yearn, i.e. (figuratively) feel sympathy, to pity:—have (be moved with) compassion.’ We could spend an eternity thinking about love but here are a few points to note:

[i] God is love:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. (John 3:16a).

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us. (Ephesians 2:4).

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. (Revelation 1:5).

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1John 4:10).

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1John 3:16).

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:13).

[ii] The kingdom of God exudes an atmosphere of love.

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. (Colossians 1:13).

And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:26).

… rooted and grounded in love. (Ephesians 3:27).

… being knit together in love. (Colossians 2:2).

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2Timothy 1:7).

23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. (John 14:23,24).

[iii] Without love we are nothing.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal … and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1Corinthians 13:1,2).

If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come! (1Coritnians 16:22).

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1John 4:8).

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1John 2:15).

[iv] Love is active and works.

… your work of faith, labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus. (1Thessalonians 1:3).

… your work and labour of love which you have shown toward His name. (Hebrews 6:10).

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. (Galatians 5:6).

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (1John 3:18).

[v] Love described.

Love does no harm to a neighbour. (Romans 13:10).

Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.” (1Corinthians 8:1).

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.  (1Corinthians 13:4).

Love never fails. (1Corinthians 13:8).

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” (1John 4:18).

This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. (2John 1:16).

… those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth. (2Thessalonians 2:10).

[vi] How we get and express this love.

Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. (2Thessalonians 3:5).

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you. (1Thessalonians 3:12).

… the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5).

For the love of Christ compels us. (2Corinthians 5:14).

Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me. (Romans 15:30).

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. (Galatians 5:22).

But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. (1John 2:5).

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. (1John 4:12).

[vii] Exhortations to love.

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment”. (Philippians 1:9).

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith. (1Timothy 1:5).

… speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9).

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8).

Pursue love. (1Corinthians 14:1).

Let all that you do be done with love. (1Corinthians 16:4).

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us. (Ephesians 5:2).

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. (Colossians 3:14).

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart. (1Peter 2:22).

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” (1Peter 4:8).

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (1John 4:7).

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1John 4:11).

… keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:21).

[viii] The purpose of love.

… to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19).

[b] “said to her, “do not weep.””

            When the Lord said “weep not” to this woman, He was thereby making a pledge to her (and all who believe) for He was saying this on the basis of what He was about to do. Imagine someone owed you a large sum of money and they said “fear not you will get it all back.” We would hope that such a statement was ground for certainty that we would not be out of pocket! But it would all depend upon the character of the person, their reliability, and their action to do so. Where Christ is concerned we have ample confidence for His character is wonderful indeed. No man on earth can say to those grieving ‘weep not’ for we have no power to do anything to allay their grief but Christ can. This statement by the Lord Jesus is a kind of prophecy for it indicates that He will indeed take away the occasion for weeping by His death on Calvary. This command to “weep not” not only speaks of the compassion of the Lord in raising her son, for it also points us to glory too. We should “weep not” because Christ has dealt with sin and death once for all.

            This phrase “do not weep” also comes at the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:52), where it points to the hope of resurrection. It was on the lips of the Saviour as He approached the cross spoken to various women whose sympathy the Lord said was misplaced (Luke 23:28). It is a phrase spoken to John in his vision so that he would know that the “Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” had power to “open the scroll” (Revelation 5:5). In all of these incidents we see Christ Jesus as ‘the drier of tears!’ Such a ministry of the Lord was prophesied in Isaiah (Isaiah 25:8; 65:18,19). It is also revealed for us in Revelation, first on account of the presence of the Lamb (Revelation 7:17) and second in connection with glory (Revelation 21:4).

[c] “came and touched the open coffin.”

The young man was not in a coffin as we might imagine it, but an open bier which is defined as: “a platform or frame used for carrying a corpse to its burial place.” The bier had two poles for carrying it , somewhat like a stretcher. The corpse was wrapped in folds of linen and lain on this bier and so to touch it meant that you could not avoid touching the dead person too. The Old Testament states explicitly that anyone who touches a dead body or a grave will be unclean for seven days (Numbers 19:11,16). It is therefore no wonder that when the Lord touched the bier those carrying it stopped at once (“and those who carried him stood still” (Luke 7:14).  They were surprised that Jesus touched it, for the Rabbis would have avoided such on account of being polluted, and they naturally stopped wondering what would happen next. Perhaps they had some measure of faith and were expecting the Lord to do something?

            We know from other events that the Lord Jesus often touched people who needed healing. For example: the healing of a leper (Matthew 8:3), the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:15), and the healing of two blind men (Matthew 9:29; 20:34). He also touched the three disciples who fell to the ground in fear on hearing God speak of His Son at the mount of transfiguration (Matthew 17;7). There were other occasions too and all show His intimacy and deep concern! He is no distant God! But deeply involved with us. The incarnation speaks to this idea too. Christ was willing to leave heaven’s glory and come to this earth with all its sin and degradation. He came to His own and was made like them (excepting sin) and was in amongst the people, not distant and separate or aloof like the other religious leaders. In that He touched the dead, it also leads us to the thought that He was not afraid to taste death for us (Hebrews 2:9). The touch of Christ! It makes alive! We have no power over sin or death but Christ does. He calls us to be amongst the people, to be in amongst them, to rub shoulders with them, so that through us and by the move of the Spirit of God He can touch the people with a word, with healing, with assurance (John 13:35).

[d] “and he said, “young man, I say to you, arise.”

            The Lord uttered a single word: “arise” and the man was brought back to life. One writer notes that there are different levels of faith in each of the three accounts of people being raised from the dead. Lazarus (and his two sisters as well) had faith. Jairus’ daughter had parents who believed. The widow of Nain’s son has no thought whatever of Christ here. Here in this instance we see the sovereign electing choice of God in bringing about life. It was not out of her faith that her son was raised, but all because the Lord had compassion when He saw her. The Lord is still speaking this word “arise,” but He is speaking to awaken souls from their slumber and death in trespasses and sins. There may well be people raised from physical death at the Lord’s command in places across the globe – we do not doubt that – but what is far more important surely is the spiritual resurrection to life eternal seen in people being born again of the Spirit. After all, Lazraus, the widow of Nain’s son, and the 12 year old daughter of Jairus all died again in a physical sense, but they were raised spiritually never to die again (if they had personal faith in Christ). Augustine, bishop of Hippo, has a beautiful comment on the 3 miracles where Christ raised the dead. All the Lord’s works of mercy have a spiritual significance and are:

… illustrations of Christ’s Divine power and love in raising the soul, dead in trespasses and sins, from every kind of spiritual death, whether the soul be dead, but not yet carried out, like the daughter of Jairus; or dead and carried out, but not buried, like the widow’s son; or dead, carried, and buried, like Lazarus. He who raised himself from the dead can raise all from the death of sin. Therefore let no one despair” (St. Augustine, ‘Sermon’ 98, quoted by Bishop Wordsworth).

[4] “God has visited His people.” [The fruit of His coming].

            What was the outcome and result of this event? Well it is obvious that the widow and her son were surely praising God! When the son died, the widow was at her lowest ebb (speaking in human terms). But now there is life and there is reconciliation. Mother and son reunited when no hope of such may have been expected. What joy they must have experienced! But there are three other things which resulted from this public miracle which are worth our thoughts:

[a] Fear of God.                      Then fear came upon all,

            The first real result of this miracle was fear of of God. Greater respect and reverence for God is always a sign of the work of God.  The 17th century Baptist pastor  John Gill comments:

Not a fear of dread, and terror, and of punishment, as in devils and wicked men; but a fear and reverence of the divine majesty, whose power and presence they were sensible must be there at that time

A new knowledge of God’s character, will, and perspective.

[b] Glory to God.                    and they glorified God, saying, ….

            What do we mean by this term “glory”? Surely God is glorious and so His glory is infinite? How can we give “glory” to God? Obviously we cannot make God more glorified than He already is. He dwells in inapproachable and radiant light because He is God (1Timothy 6:16). Psalm 29 gives us a clue: “Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” (Psalm 29:1,2). We give glory to God when we worship Him in spirit and truth and when we give our all, our own ‘glory’ and strength, and all that is due Him in the arena of this earth and this present time.

            Now the glory given to God here is by no means perfect. They said two things. First they said: “A great prophet has risen up among us” (Luke 7:16). It may be that they had in mind the Prophet that Moses spoke of in Deuteronomy 18:15. This maybe their conception that Jesus was the Messiah. Or it maybe that they thought He was a prophet coming like all the other prophets of old (Matthew 16:13,14). Second, they said: “God has visited His people” (Luke 7:16). This word “visited” is also used twice near the beginning and end of Zacharias’ prophecy (Luke 1:68,78). The key point about Zacharias’ prophecy is that the Messiah “the Dayspring from on high” has come to bring redemption, salvation, deliverance, light, the bestowal of mercy. The word signifies more than a mere meeting, but an inspection or a an encounter which bestows some form of care, blessing, or remonstrance. See, for example: Genesis 21:1,2; 39:5;  Psalm 8:4; Acts 6:3; 7:23; 15:14; Hebrews 2:6; James 1:27. Here the word surely has the meaning that God has come to bring His blessing. This acknowledgement of God’s coming may not have been seen and expressed in its fullest sense – did any realise that God was actually there in Jesus Christ the very incarnate God? But it is clear that new knowledge is dawning on the people. Do you not see in your own life a gradual increase in appreciation and understanding of whom God is?  Such growth in the knowledge of God is seen in the experience of the disciples, and it is something we should seek – to know God better – to know God deeper – to know Him more.

[c] Publish the word.               And this report about Him went throughout

            The news of this miracle was not kept to Nain. We are informed by Luke that “this report went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region” (Luke 7:17). The word “report” is actually the Greek word: λόγος logos, more frequently translated as ‘word.’ We see such a spread of the ‘word of the Lord’ or the good news about Christ in Acts (Acts 6:7; 12:24; 19:20). And isn’t this the case when the Lord visits His people with blessing and salvation? The two on the road to Emmaus are a wonder example of this (Luke 24:30-35). It is hard not to see the urgency and excitement in these two disciples record of what happened. The publishing and spreading of the good news of the Lord Jesus is not something we need to work up and direct! These two had the word burning in their hearts and they made haste to return to Jerusalem and tell the disciples! This is God’s work. Christ is the Head. He determined to meet with this widow at Nain. And He is hear among us now with His plan and purpose. What is required is true encounters with God making our hearts burn with joy! If we are moved by the compassion, the forgiveness, the mercy, and the life-bringing God so that our hearts burn with holy fire – full of the Holy Spirit – we will not be stopped from publishing the word!  I know that we must plan and organise too – that is important. But we are to be utterly dependent upon the Lord.  Let us have no truck with Egypt – with this world’s way of doing things. Let us ensure that it is out of our devotion to Christ, to God, that we are animated and motivated to declare the great, goodness, glory, and graciousness of the Lord.

September 1st 2024: Phil Swann

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John 9

This wonderful, dramatic account reminds us that the gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to a new life. Here is a man born blind, who, as a result of Jesus’ intervention, can now see. He is repeatedly referred to as the man who was born blind. The point is made, he is no longer blind – there is a radical transformation.

As we read this passage, we see that all is not well for this man as a result of what Jesus has done in his life. We can see a problem, difficulties. The two themes of Christ’s blessing and the challenge of living in the light of that, is a major theme in this chapter.

At the heart of the Christian gospel is the invitation for you and me to say, ‘Jesus is Lord.’ Against the backdrop of the New Testament, of the Roman Empire, there was huge pressure for people to say that Caesar was lord, to acknowledge him as the name above all names. The Christian gospel calls us not to acknowledge men but to acknowledge Christ, who is both God and Man. The phrase, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ is the reminder that we have come to Him in faith. We no longer live our lives serving Caesar, we say, ‘Jesus is Lord’.

In John’s gospel we see a lot of hostility towards Jesus (John 7:1, 19, 25). Chapter 8 ends with an assassination attempt. In Chapter 7 we see an attempt to physically arrest Jesus. Twice we’re told He is under official surveillance. In John’s gospel there is growing hostility towards Jesus. There is also increasing opposition to His teaching (7:15). List of all, we are told in chapters 7 and chapters 8 people say He is demon-possessed, that He is not the Christ.

Why was there such hostility towards Jesus, the friend of sinners? The great reason is His clear claim to be the Messiah. The religious authorities reject this. There is a long war against Jesus. When Paul writes to the Corinthians, in chapter 1 he reminds people, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18). He goes on to say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” (1 Corinthians 1:19). The message of the gospel does that – it challenges, destroys the preconceptions that we have as human beings, about the world, life, ourselves, God. The gospel comes as an intrusion into that. Just as Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah is a massive intrusion into the established Jewish thinking of His day.

As we come to this chapter, we see Jesus responding to the need in this man’s life in a remarkable way. We see that this story is in four parts:

The healing by Jesus
The response of the neighbours
Interrogation by the Pharisees
The follow-up by our Lord and Saviour of this man.

It is a very moving account.

The healing by Jesus (v1-7)
 This man has only ever known blindness. The disciples, when they see him, ask a curious question, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (v.2). The assumption is he is blind because someone has sinned. But Jesus’ response tells them, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” (v3.). Jesus then heals him. It is rather dramatic. The blind man is a new man. He is transformed, suddenly and wonderfully.

The reaction of the neighbours (v8-12).
 We see a very human response. They struggled to make sense of it. A conversation goes on. People ask, “How were your eyes opened?” (v.10). How is it that they saw him shuffling down the road that morning, blind, bow he sees?

Interrogation by the Pharisees.
This leads to the interrogation by the Pharisees. It’s unpleasant. The evidence appears compelling (v.15). But then we see the healing is denied. The Pharisees were divided amongst themselves. A consensus happens – they refused to accept Jesus of Nazareth had power to do these things. (v.16). They thought there must be another explanation (v18) and thought the man had not been blind and received his sight.

They then called for his parents. Maybe they had rejected him after birth (v.20). The parents do not rejoice that they a son has now received his sight; they just want to get away from the Pharisees. They were afraid of the religious authorities (v.22). The man is not only interrogated by the Pharisees and surrounded by the confusion of his neighbours, he is effectively rejected by his parents and finds himself in a very bleak situation.

When you pull these reactions together you see a pattern of what we often see from people when we seek to bring the news of Christ to them. When we seek to share the gospel, people may be confused. We may experience hostility from some. We may even experience rejection from some.

The fourth movement in this account is most wonderful and glorious. Jesus has been present at the beginning of the chapter. He heals the man then seems to disappear. It’s all about the man, his neighbours, the Pharisees and his parents. That’s the bulk of this chapter – until we read in verse 35 that the man had been thrown out of the synagogue. Being thrown out of the synagogue was a really serious thing, effectively becoming an outcast in the whole community. You are regarded as being unrighteous, a pariah. People would not have wanted to have had anything to do with you at all. You were little better than a leper. This man could see, but now he is incredibly lonely and facing the full rejection of the whole community.

Against that backdrop we read, “Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” (John 9:35). The phrase, ‘The Son of Man’ is an important one. It’s a phrase that has it roots in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Daniel. One of the visions that Daniel sees is of Christ, the second person of the Godhead, in all His glory and He is referred to as looking like a son of man. When Jesus uses that phrase, He is using it in a theological way to speak of Himself as being the Messiah.

“Do you believe in the Son of Man?” What could make all the rejection that this man had gone through, worth it? The man expresses his ignorance (v.36). Jesus draws attention to Himself (v.37). The man came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (v.38).

What difference should this passage make to you and me? We see the centrality of Jesus. He is central to the blind man, to the neighbours, to the Pharisees, to us. When God is at work, Christ is always central. The Son was sent to do the will of the Father. In all the works of God that go on in the world, Jesus Christ is always at the centre. It is He who answers the disciples’ question about blindness. It is He who calls Himself the Light of the World (v.4). It reminds us that as long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who was sent. Jesus Christ is the centre of the purposes of God, who sent Him into the world with the fullness of the Spirit. It is Jesus who is the centre of everything.

In the church, in all that we do and in all that we seek to do, particularly in our relationship with the unbelieving world around us, we need to make sure that Jesus Christ is the centre of everything. Not just the centre in our praying and in the acknowledgement of the need of God’s blessing upon what we do, but to be the centre of all that we do. When we have opportunities to speak to people about our faith, we need to make sure they hear of Jesus Christ – why He came and what He’s done. We need to point people to Jesus Christ, the one who transforms life.

As well as the centrality of Jesus, we see the power of Jesus. If we would see life and growth in the church, if we would see change and impact into the communities around us, it will be because the focus is on Jesus – for that is where the power is. The power is the power of the Holy Spirit whose great passion is to glorify the Son

The healing of the blind man is utterly supernatural. This reminds us of the radical nature of Biblical Christianity. Paul says the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but power. “For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.” (1 Corinthians 4:20). That power is seen in bringing people out of the wisdom of this world to faith in Jesus Christ.

The message we have is proclaim Jesus Christ, who has been raised from the dead. It is ultimately a message of power. Coming to an awareness of the reality of sin is not natural. We need the power of God to do that. What can convince neighbours, friends, you, that you’re a Sinner? The power of God. The church is confident is always in the Holy Spirit. How can we imagine the community of Roch being saved? Humanly speaking, it can’t. But the church rests on the power of God, the power of the Holy Spirit, the power of the gospel. This is why we need a big vision. We must never be comfortable with the way things are.

We see power most clearly in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Christian’s life, having come to see and know Christ, is to be lived for the glory of God. “Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” (v.3). To many, this statement is offensive to modern thinking. Why? Jesus is saying, ‘This man was born blind that one day the glory of god might be seen in his life.’ This is seen through his healing. It is being seen now as we recount these words 2,000 years later.

Our lives are to be lived for the glory of God. What is the glory of God? The glory of God is God being God – God doing what only God can do. God acting in ways that only He can act. This is to be seen in your life and in my life as Christians. This is why we are called to live now according to the word of God. We are to live lives which show the fruit of the Spirit. We are to live sacrificially, loving our enemies. We live following Jesus Christ, being more and more like Jesus Christ.

This passage ends on a most wonderful moment. The man who was being rejected by his parents, the religious leaders and confused neighbours, ends with the compassion of Christ. With almost total rejection, Jesus finds him and, in His hum humanity, Jesus didn’t know where he was. He looked for him and went to him in love and compassion. The question, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ Jesus is asking, ‘Was it all worth it?’

The answer is ultimately new life in Jesus Christ. He saw. His understanding was opened. Jesus tells him He is the Son of Man, the Messiah, Christ, and to worship Him, trust Him and come to Him.

Whatever might be the consequences for us living for Christ in this world, of acknowledging His centrality, His uniqueness, wherever His power may take us, He is always compassionate towards His people.

July 21st 2024: Gary Brady

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“Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2b)

A brand from the burning.

A similar phrase is found in the book of Amos chapter 4 verse 11. It paints the same picture. It is a striking image of fire, like a campfire. A stick has gone in and started to burn. It shouldn’t be there, so you find a way of rescuing it. You say, ‘Is this not a burning stick plucked out of the fire?’

Zachariah comes towards the end of the Old Testament. He is one of the later Old Testament prophets. The first part of his book is a series of visions he had all in one night. Here, Joshua the high priest stood before the angel of the Lord, Satan at his right hand to accuse him. The Lord rebukes Satan, “Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2b). At the start of the vision Joshua is dressed in filthy, dirty rags. The angel orders that these should be removed and be replaced with clean clothes. Joshua is then given a charge; God tells him, “If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts and I will give you a place among those standing here.” Joshua and those with him are told that they are men symbolic of things to come. There is the prophecy that God is going to ‘bring my servant, the branch.’ The Messiah is pictured as a branch.

“Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2b). This verse could be taken as a cry of victory. The phrase carries a tone of affirmation. The man was in the fire but snatched out of it.

Think who this language may be applied to. In context, Joshua the high priest is a representation of his people after they have come back from exile in Babylon. It points forward to when the Messiah will come and remove sin in a single day – at Calvary, when sin is removed from His people. If we know the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, we are ‘sitting pretty’ and inviting others to know the joy of sins forgiven. It applies to all true believers. We are like a stick snatched out of a fire. This probably applies more to some than others. Some go a long way in their sins, they look as if they’re going to hell but then they are certainly snatched to safety and all is well, “And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” (Jude 22-23).

Even those who come to Christ have no smell of burning on them but are sticks snatched from the fire. Some people who have been converted are notorious for their sins, but God converts them. Jesus was crucified with two criminals either side of Him, one who was converted at the end of his life. The apostle Paul hated Christians and did everything possible to hinder the gospel. Yet he was suddenly converted. This fire brand is snatched from the flames, then he was preaching the faith he had tried to destroy. C.S. Lewis was a complete atheist who had no time for God. Yet, quite unexpectedly, he was converted. God worked in his heart. Another example of a burning stick snatched from the fire is Mitsuo Fuchida. He was one of the top pilots in Japan, a Great War hero.

Sometimes, God works in the worst people. Manasseh was the worst king of Judah. But if you read 2 Chronicles chapter 33 you will see that in his distress, he humbled himself and prayed to God. After 54 years of evil reign, Manasseh knew the Lord God and told Judah to serve the Lord.

Luke Short was 100 years old when he was converted. He sat in a field contemplating the end of his life, and remembered a sermon he had heard 85 years before, when he was 15 years old. He was converted and became an elder of a local church until his death, when he was 117! Death bed conversions also occur. Other unexpected conversions include Onesimus and John Newton.

Some have known an overwhelming sense of guilt – in the fire but snatched out. This includes the jailer in Philippi. Martin Luther, John Bunyan and Spurgeon were all in great distress before being converted.

Note how appropriate the phrase is, “Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2b).

  1. Judas and Peter were both equally sinful (Ephesians 2:3) and deserving of wrath. God’s salvation is the only thing that makes a difference.
  2. A burning stick snatched from the fire was once very near to be burning up.
  3. A burning stick from the fire retains some evidence of its dangerous situation. There is evidence that it was once in the fire. When we sin we think how can we be like that when we are saved.
  4. A burning stick from the fire does not save itself. It doesn’t jump out of the fire itself. We do not save ourselves. We will only be saved if God snatches us from the flames.

March 10th 2024: Adrian Brake

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Luke 7:11-23 Jesus offers salvation before He brings judgement.

In verses 11-15 Luke records perhaps what was Jesus’ most remarkable miracle up to that point – raising a man to life. Since the creation of the world, approximately 4,000 years earlier, very few people had been raised from the dead. Nobody had been raised from the dead for 900 years. This was truly an extraordinary event. Nobody who was in that day would ever have been able to forget what they had seen. People could never have imagined in their wildest dream such a thing would happen. They had seen Jesus give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the mute, mobility to the paralysed, liberty to the demon-possessed. But to give life to the dead was something else altogether.

Those who had been raised in church are so familiar with the gospels, miracles no longer stun us as they should. “Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” (Luke 7:14-15). Astonishing!

How could those who were privileged to be present keep quiet? Today, people would be tweeting within minutes and having selfies with the dead man. There was no social media then, but word of mouth was very effective in getting the news out. Therefore, it spread like wildfire throughout Judea and the surrounding regions. “And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.” (Luke 7:17).

“Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.” (v.18). Luke focuses on one man in particular, a man who had already been quite prominent in the gospel – John the Baptist – who was more than 150 miles away. How did he hear about the news? The disciples of John reported it to him. Disciples were people who followed you, recognised you as a prophet of God. John was recognised by many as a prophet. Israel hadn’t had a profit for 400 years.

How to John respond to what he had been told about Jesus? It’s perplexed him. He had a burning question. John was unsettled; he couldn’t rest until the question was answered. There was only one person who could answer this question, “And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (v.19). Why couldn’t John ask Jesus himself? Because John was in prison on the instructions of Herod Antipas. John had reprimanded Herod Antipas for his behaviour. Now Herod wanted to kill John but couldn’t because John was popular, and Herod Antipas didn’t want an uprising. John aas in lockdown but he was able to send messengers to Jesus to ask, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (v.19).

The ’Coming One.’ God had told His people centuries before that He would send them a King, one who would deliver them from all enemies and bring blessings. He would set up a Kingdom that would never end. John the Baptist had come and said the prophecies were about to be fulfilled. John had said that He is coming, Jesus of Nazareth.

Yet, John, who had preached this to the people, now seems to have doubts and wants confirmation that Jesus is the Coming One. It is strange. John had been so sure. He had baptised Jesus. When Jesus came out of the water, John saw with his very own eyes the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus. He had told people, ‘This is the Messiah.’ (John 1:34). Yet here, John is unsure. This is the most important thing in all the earth – who is the Messiah, the one God gives as our saviour?

Why is John now uncertain? Some people say it is John’s disciples who have doubts, not John, who tells them to go and ask Jesus for themselves. But in verse 22, when Jesus answers the question, He tells the disciples to ‘Go and tell John the things you have seen.’ It is John who is uncertain.

In verse 24 the messengers come with a message from John. It is John who is second-guessing himself. Why is he uncertain?  It is understandable in Christian life to be uncertain. Have you ever felt as though, even though God is always with us, He seems far away? We can doubt and be uncertain. We should follow John’s advice and go to Jesus. Take our doubts to Jesus. Jesus doesn’t rebuke John, He ministers to him. We take our doubts to Jesus. Take them to the Lord. You’ll be welcomed and He will help.

In Luke chapter 3 we read of John the Baptist preaching. John the Baptist said the work of the Messiah would be, “Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Luke 3:7). John had never had PR training! Verse 9 continues, “And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” In verse 17 we read, “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The Messiah has come to cut down the trees that don’t bear fruit, and to throw the chaff into the fire. He has come to administer God’s wrath on enemies, to punish sin. He is come to bring devastating judgement upon sinners. It is about to happen now (v.9). The axe isn’t on the shelf – it’s already at the root. The winnowing fan is not on the shelf but in His hands. This is a clear message. John had had the message from God but it was also referenced in the Old Testament (Malachi 4).

When the Messiah comes there will be a devastating judgement for sinners. Then, John gets to hear Jesus is doing anything but judgement. Instead, He is healing the sick, raising the dead. John is expecting God’s wrath to be unleashed, yet Jesus is lavishing God’s love. This Saviour is bringing nothing but salvation. This is why John asks the question. Jesus answers with actions, “And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.” (Luke 7:21). More healings! Then Jesus says, ‘There’s your answer.’ Jesus is saying, ‘Yes, I am the Messiah, the Coming One. The proof is what I am doing.’

John had got half the story, not all of it. When the Messiah comes He will unleash God’s wrath  on the ungodly.  But what John did not understand was that the Messiah would come twice. It is when Christ comes back that He will unleash devastating judgement. John had got the timing wrong. Jesus brought grace and salvation and healings (Isaiah 35). Before Christ brings judgement, He comes to offer salvation. Jesus is saying, ‘Now is the time for grace, now is the time for the offering of salvation.’ Now is the time for the first part of Old Testament prophecy to be fulfilled Later, the other part will come to pass.

One day there will be judgement. But God is so gracious, God is so merciful, that He holds back. He could do it now, but He holds back because He is patient with sinners. Now is the day of mercy, now is the day of salvation. “Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.” (v.22).

The chief characteristic of the Lord’s ministry is the poor will have the gospel preached to them. Jesus has come to warn people of what is to come. He offers salvation.

God is a merciful, patient God. He hates sin and those who do not repent will be punished with everlasting destruction. But God does not delight in wrath. He has a compassionate heart. Have we got the heart of God for sinners? Have we got compassion for the lost? Are we concerned for sinners?

We are working against the clock. We are still in the day of grace. But John was right. The day of judgement is coming. We don’t know when that will be. We have to seize the time and do what we can. Every day that passes is a day closer to judgement. There is no time to waste.

For those who do not know Christ, there is a warning. Now there is a welcome, but that won’t always be the case. Seek the Lord whilst He may be found. There is a time limitation on God’s offer of mercy. In 2 Corinthians, Paul says, ‘Now is the day of salvation.’ We must come. God’s patience does not last forever. We need to act. Christ is the Messiah, Jesus is the saviour, Jesus is the one who can save you. Come to Him while you may.

October 29th 2023: Jonathan Scott

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Mark 1: Everyone’s Talking

There are moments in history that stand out in our lives that last for a lifetime. Can you name any that stand out for you? Whether that could be the birth of a family member, the death of a monarch, a tragedy or disaster? I’m sure we can all remember a time like this.

There are significant moments in history, like the death of Queen Elizabeth 11, that are remembered for generations to come.

Today we will be looking at an event in the bible which had been talked about and was foretold for centuries. This had everyone talking about something so amazing and significant they couldn’t stop talking about it until it actually happened. They lived in the hope and trusted in the promises given by God that one day He would send the Messiah, the ultimate sacrifice for each and every one of us.

The first questions you may ask are ‘Who is talking and what are they talking about? This account found in Mark chapter 1 has many people talking about the arrival of the Messiah, including the Old Testament prophets, Malachi and Isaiah, as well as New Testament followers and disciples, the four gospel writers, everyone in between The Testaments, those in heaven, those in hell, people today. Jesus is a historical fact, even included in secular history. Time 100 magazine did a list of the most influential historical figures and Jesus Christ came number 1. Even the secular world is talking about this event.

So, if there were so many people talking about this, what was this amazing event that everyone was talking about?

  • Isaiah is talking about The Messiah coming, the messenger that is preparing the way for the Messiah and extraordinary things are going to happen that we don’t expect.
  • Salvation – talked about by the 4 gospels and John the Baptist
  • Hope, One is coming who is Yahweh, Jehovah the Son of God the Messiah.

Malachi is talking about a messenger being sent ahead of one who is the Messiah, who will prepare the way for Him. This messenger mentioned in Malachi and Isaiah is John the Baptist, the most famous prophet and the one who was noted to be the greatest amongst people, Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:11).

Jesus Himself said no one would rise up greater than John the Baptist. This is high praise, but he is only here to pave the way for the one who is the Messiah and redeemer, Jesus.

“As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way”
Mark 1:2

John the Baptist’s ministry represents a fulfilment of the promise of a new exodus in which Israel is delivered and finally enters into the Jordan river to receive God’s promise of salvation. He was pointing the people to the true Messiah, one who was much greater than him. He was the messenger, preparing Judea for Jesus’ life-changing ministry. Freedom that they had never known – baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin. Confessing their sins, the people were baptised by him in the Jordan River (Mark 1:5).

John the Baptist was calling people to repentance, turning away from their sins and turning to God for forgiveness of sins. The act of repentance had to precede baptism, and therefore baptism was not the means by which sins were forgiven but rather a sign showing that a person has truly repented. John the Baptist’s ministry in the wilderness was once again a fulfilment of prophesy found in Isaiah 40:3, “A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare    the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

This is John the Baptists message: ‘After me comes the one who is more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.’ (Mark 1:8). The unfastening of someone’s sandals in Jewish times was seen as a task reserved for the lowest of slaves, and certainly wasn’t meant to be done by a Jew. Jewish instructions said that a disciple should do everything for his teacher that a slave would do. However, Jesus is so great, John the Baptist, who was considered the greatest of the prophets, is not worthy to do the most menial of tasks of a servant for Jesus.

John the Baptist Continues: ‘I baptise with water, but He will baptise you with the holy spirit. (Mark 1:8). This is the true reason behind why Jesus came into this world – to die so that our sins can be forgiven on the cross at Calvary, the innocent lamb of God dying for us when we don’t deserve it. John the Baptist’s baptism could wash sins clean temporarily, but Jesus Christ can wash away sins for eternity, including the forgiveness of sins in the past, present, and future. He does this for us because He loves us unconditionally.

Colossians 1:13-16 tell us that:

13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

Who is this special person that everyone is talking about? Mark 1:1 gives us this answer,

“The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah the son of God.” What a way to start a gospel! Who is Jesus? The meaning of the name Jesus is ‘to deliver, to rescue.’ 

When we talk about Deliver, we are used to that from the Old Testament in the likes of Exodus when God delivers the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians. However, the idea of complete rescue is a new concept which Jesus brings to completion in His new age of ministry. Romans 10:13 says, “For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Not just a few, but everyone! This is a gospel truth not to the elite, but to the many.

Jesus’ humility and love for others is unparalleled, flowing from the infinite love of God for His people. The ‘ransom’ of Christ’s life was paid to God the Father, who accepted it in full, as a just payment for the sins of the world, past, present and future. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rmans 5:8).

Has there ever been a time when they have not been talking about the Lord Jesus, the Messiah? Isaiah had been talking about the Lord Jesus the Messiah at least 700 years before Jesus or John the Baptist came on the scene. Malachi had been talking about this 400 years before this account in Mark 1.  Then after Malachi there was 400 years of silence. This is the period between the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. There was nothing shared in the Bible of what happened during this period. The people had to live in Hope that the Messiah was coming soon. There was suspense of when the Messiah might come. Not knowing when His arrival will be and with this silence of 400 years between the old and new testaments the expectation grew with time, generation after generation.

They were looking forward to the physical coming of the Messiah, but Jesus has been present from the beginning. There has never been a time when Jesus has not been there. In Genesis 1:1-2 reads, ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.’

At first glance the account of creation found in Genesis 1 v 1 seems to focus on God the Father and the Holy Spirit. However, the opening words of John’s gospel adds clarity to show that the Lord Jesus, the Son of the God was present as an integral part of the Trinity,

‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ (John 1:1-5).

This tells of the Word being there in the beginning. The Word is Jesus Christ. He wasn’t just there at Creation; He was part of every aspect of it, working in total unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit. This is amazing that the One who died for our sins on the cross and who came to earth to walk amongst us, was the same One who created all things with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is the thread which runs throughout the Bible. He was there through it all, at the beginning, middle and end of the Bible. From Genesis every story points to Him and whispers His name. ‘Jesus says I AM the alpha and omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:13)’. He is there from beginning to the end of time. Jesus is this thread which leads to a roadmap in the Bible going from the Old Testament in Genesis to Revelation in the New Testament.

When we talk about this roadmap, we see Isaiah pointing to Jesus. However, the Israelites and Isaiah were in a completely different place spiritually than the Jews we find in Mark chapter 1. Isaiah was in agony with all the oppression going on around him. However, he writes in Isaiah 64 and in other chapters about a hope. Firstly, that a messenger is coming to point to the long-awaited Messiah, which is John the Baptist. Secondly, and more importantly, there will be one coming who is greater than John the Baptist. Isaiah is not looking to someone who is merely a human but is looking further to Heaven – to God and Jesus, who is fully God in human form. Isaiah 64:1-3 reads,

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
    that the mountains would tremble before you!
2 As when fire sets twigs ablaze
    and causes water to boil,
come down to make your name known to your enemies
    and cause the nations to quake before you!
3 For when you did awesome things that we did not expect,
    you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.

This is a plea from Isaiah to God, Why? Well, he is in agony. He pleads that God will ‘rend the heavens and come down.’ This is fulfilled with Jesus coming to earth. The mountains were the most solid thing of their time; Isaiah believes that the power of God can make even the most solid thing tremble and he is pleading for it to happen.

There is hope! Someone is coming that will do all this. Isaiah isn’t pleading for John the Baptist, he is pleading for Jesus. He is not settling for the greatest in human form but looking to God.

But then looking at this roadmap it points directly to this account in Mark 1, to the baptism of Jesus, and all the way to Jesus on the Cross. As he died this all came true. The mountains tremble, nations quake and the enemies knew your name on that cross. The things in Isaiah also are reiterated in Malachi about a messenger preparing the way for Jesus, “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the LORD you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.”” (Malachi 3:1).

In the Old Testament the LORD is in capitals in this section. This is interesting to look into to see the context of who Isaiah and Malachi are describing. The LORD, when in capitals in the Old Testament refers to the Hebrew name Yahweh which describes God in the most sacred of ways. The name suggests that God simply is. He possesses an underived existence; He is the eternal “I AM”.

Malachi is saying that John the Baptist is preparing the way for Yahweh, Jehovah, God in His most sacred form. Although it hasn’t been revealed as to what form this will take at this time, we know with hindsight this to be the divine Messiah, Son of God, Jesus, and in this most miraculous and beautiful act of baptism in Mark 1 we see the fullness of the holy Trinity displayed.

We find the Baptism of Jesus in Mark 1 vs 9-11.

Jesus, is the perfect lamb of God, the Messiah, who is free from sin, yet He identifies with the sins of His people. Even though He Himself was free from sin, He was still baptised (Mark 1:9-11). This is to fulfil the prophesy in Isaiah 40.

Mark is known as the whistle stop gospel. He attacks it at full speed, but he doesn’t miss the important details. Anything that is mentioned due to Mark’s brief nature must be taken into consideration as the fact that it is mentioned means the details given are hugely important.

In verse 10 as Jesus came up out of the water, this is the unexpected event that was prophesied in Isaiah 64. “Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.” (Mark 1:10). This is the moment we see the trinity in its entirety. The Holy Spirit was there at the beginning of creation, hovering over the waters, and also the Holy Spirit is described in the gospel of Mark descended like a dove and hovering over the waters. This account in Mark’s gospel links straight back to creation, the roadmap as mentioned earlier pointing to Jesus.

Jesus is commissioned for a unique purpose and to finally complete God’s rescue plan for humanity. God the Spirit anoints Jesus as Israel’s long-awaited King and Messiah and commissions Him as God’s righteous servant. (Isaiah 42:1)

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
    and he will bring justice to the nations.

At Jesus’ baptism the heavens were ripped open and the heavenly voice of father comes down, confirming the eternal, loving Sonship of Jesus and the eternally existing relationship of divine love that the Son and Father share, as well as Jesus’ identity as the messianic Son of God, “And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11). The heavens ripping open is a violent picture of the awesome power of God the Trinity. Imagine actually being there. This foreshadows to the events at the cross. When Jesus died the curtain was torn top to bottom in the temple.

This beloved Son is the triumphant King, yet He is also the humble servant into whose hands the Father is well pleased to place the mission to bring Salvation to the nations

Then, in Verses 12-13 of Mark 1 Jesus is sent by the spirit into the wilderness for 40 Days where Jesus is tempted and equipped for the start of His ministry. In verses 14-15 we read, “

14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

This is the final fulfilment of the prophesy in Isaiah 40; Jesus announcing to the world, the wait is over. Finally, the time has now come, I am here. But there is one small clause, life-changing clause, “Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15b).

All you have to do is repent and believe to receive the gift of salvation and be a part of the kingdom of God, His chosen family. However, when you look into it a bit more in depth, it isn’t as easy as just saying sorry and believing in God and be done with it to get a free ticket to heaven. Repenting is not just saying sorry. It is a complete change in character, in nature and a clear transformation in your life. It is a full 180-degree spin to acknowledge that we are all born with sinful natures, (Romans 3:23). All the things we have done wrong is not just against others or ourselves, but deeply hurts our Heavenly Father and Jesus. We need to completely turn from our sinful ways and not do these things, but I know that this is not an easy task. This is where God in His goodness to us, left the Holy Spirit as a helper and comforter to all who believe in Him. You can ask for forgiveness from Jesus and He will give you the Holy Spirit’s help to change you from the inside and help you fight against our human nature, living for a far greater purpose. When you accept Jesus, it is a wonderful day, especially knowing that the best is always yet to come. Jesus promises to take your sins away, as far as the east is from the west, and we know that He always keeps His promises.

Summary

We have gone on a road trip through the bible, from Genesis to Revelation, including Old Testament prophets Isaiah and Malachi, to New Testament scholars in Hebrews and Romans, from Old Testament through the silence to the New Testament, eventually crash landing looking at the events in Mark 1 about, John the Baptist and Jesus.

I would like to summarise with 3 points and a challenge.

  1. Declaration of Isaiah and Malachi saying that a ‘messenger is coming’. Also looking forward with expectation and suspense to the Messiah Jesus is coming. John the Baptist paving the way for the Messiah.
  2. Confirmation – God ‘This is my Son’. Everyone who has gone before calling for repentance and the sacrifices that have been offered to Himself will one day be finished and completed in Jesus.
  3. Proclamation – ‘The time has come. Repent and believe the Good News.’

    Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

I encourage you to turn your eyes upon Jesus, and in His strength we can move mountains.

So, everyone is talking. What should everyone be talking about? The good news – Jesus died for us and rose again to a glorious ascension to heaven, to be at the right hand of the Father. Mission complete. He has WON. Victory Assured. Death defeated, sins forgiven. IT IS FINISHED!!!

Then, as stated in Matthew 28:18-20, we are called to make disciples of all nations, knowing that the Lord is with us always even to the very end of the age. Put our trust in Him, repent and believe. Share the good news that ‘He Has Risen’ each and every day and in His strength, we can do immeasurably more through our Saviour the Messiah the Lord Jesus Christ.

December 19th 2021: Alan Davison

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Luke 2:1-14

“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”
Luke 2:14

Christmas in our culture has become quite controversial. Nativities sometimes change the words of Christmas carols so as not to offend people. Advertising in the media does not portray the Nativity of the Bible. How do you present the Christmas story to someone who doesn’t believe in it? Is a fresh approach needed? No, not really. We need to simply tell it as it is, in the way Scripture portrays it.

Luke sets the scene, in verses 1-7, telling us about the birth of Christ. Given that this was the birth of the long-awaited Messiah, we might expect, humanly speaking, that there would be a huge fanfare for this – royal announcements, town criers going out in every street. But  God chooses to tell a bunch of shepherds first. Shepherds weren’t exactly respected in Israel at this time. Shepherding was something families would consider the younger sons to do after the older sons had respectable occupations. But God, I think, is making a very important point here – The Messiah is for everyone.

Jesus came for anyone who would accept Him as their Lord and Saviour. When Samuel arrives to anoint one of Jesse’s sons, God rejects the eldest sons. The youngest, keeping the sheep, was chosen. In human culture people become marginalised for different reasons. Shepherds were expected to protect the sheep, spending nights out in the open. Certainly, this group went from humdrum boredom to terror – the glory of the Lord shone around them. The brightness of the glory of God reveals sinfulness. This is why the angel says, “Do not be afraid.” The angel has good news, for all people. This Messiah, the Saviour of the world, can be found in an animals’ feeding trough. The angel was joined by more angels. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”(Luke 2:13-14). The Scripture says they specifically said. The Greek word for this means ‘to lay forth, to relate in words.’ Having said that they simply spoke this declaration, I’m sure that so many angelic voices sounding forth the glory of God would have sounded melodic and lyrical to human ears.

“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14).

I think this verse really splits in two, based upon two locations. First of all, the angels declare ‘Glory to God’ but they make the point that God is ‘in the highest.’ The initial focus is in heaven. Christmas is something that would not have happened without God. We need to remember that Christmas is a celebration of what God has done for us. For many people, Christmas is simply food. Perhaps to others it’s family or may be simply the capacity to have a party. But the Bible makes clear that we are celebrating a person – Jesus.

The angels are declaring glory to God for what has just been given. We read of the gift in verse 11, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.”

There are three titles for Jesus in one verse: Saviour, Christ and Lord. Jesus’ name is the Greek version of Joshua. It means ‘Saviour.’ The Jews were very much a religious people and knew a Saviour was prophesied to them throughout all the scriptures that they had. But they were not so clear what they needed to be saved from. In this time, many thought they needed to be saved from the Romans because there was an occupation of their land. But they were simply the latest in the line of foreign occupiers. If Jesus had come to save the Jews from the current occupiers, the Romans, this would have been a temporary solution. Sooner or later, another oppressor would turn up and they would need another saviour.

But this gift of God was also Christ, another Greek word for a Hebrew term, in this case, ‘Messiah.’ This tells us that this saviour has come to do God’s will because He is the anointed One. He is the one set aside for the purpose of salvation. In Old Testament times those set aside for God’s work – kings, priests and prophets – would very often be anointed with oil to publicly demonstrate that they had been set aside to fulfil God’s will for the people.

There is also another term Jesus is referred to, as Lord, declaring His divinity. This Savour was also from God as much as He was God Himself. As human beings, we cannot save ourselves from our own sins, so God had to come to be the ultimate Saviour, to be the One who will save everyone from their sins. Not from the Romans, nor from any other invading empire. God was coming to deal with something much more dangerous. Interestingly, it is Joseph who is told, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). God spells it out to Joseph.

Ever since Adam and Eve, sin has been Man’s greatest enemy. It broke our relationship with God and ultimately let death into creation. Very often, people blame God. But sin creates a debt which needs to be paid for by someone. Even in our culture, people can have their debts cleared, but someone, somewhere must bear the cost for that to happen.

In the case of sin, it is God who bears the cost of our sins. But don’t miss how this will happen, ‘For there is born to you.’ God will live a human life. He won’t just appear fully formed as Adam was. He will actually be born, staying for nine months in Mary’s womb. Jesus would experience every aspect of what it means to be a human being – fully man, yet fully God. Divinity veiled in flesh. Jesus would be the ultimate definition of meekness; strength under control. He was and is God but chose to accept the limitations of a human body. When He was hanging on the cross of Calvary He could have called on legions of angels to save Him, but He didn’t. He stayed on that cross until He died because that was how He was going to save His people from their sins. He was the only One who could save us.

Jesus is also important because He links the two location we are talking about. Jesus was born. He did not come into existence at the Incarnation. When Jesus talks about coming into the word, it is only once He refers to being born, “Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18:37). To have come into the world, Jesus must have been somewhere else beforehand. Jesus has always existed. He chose to be born so He could work out the salvation plan for man.

From a spiritual perspective, His birth and death were planned. Jesus acted because He chose to do so because He loved us.  

The second location is on earth, “And on earth peace.” Israel, at this time when Jesus came, had a kind of peace. Nowadays, we refer to it as the ‘Pax Romana,’ which was imposed by the Roman legions. It was a peace in the sense of an absence of open conflict. But the fact is, strife remained. There were people who were rebelling against Rome. It continues today to be a land of conflict. The peace spoken of here is God’s peace, the promise of One who has been born, who will bring peace to the world from God. The angels are described as a multitude of the heavenly host. God sends His army to announce peace. This is not imposed upon humanity but a promise of what is to come. It fulfils Isaiah 9:6,

“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Men, for the most part, will initially reject this peace. Even in Christ’s infancy, Satan would try to eradicate God’s peace, through his agent, Herod. God’s peace is different. Goodwill towards men! Note, not ‘amongst men.’ Goodwill should be a permanent state of our character, not just at Christmas.

“Goodwill towards men.” Goodwill to is have favour upon someone. It speaks of an on-going relationship, a truly warm feeling upon someone. This is goodwill from God towards men. Because the Saviour has come the relationship can be restored.

At Christmas time we are celebrating the fact that God looks upon us sinful people with favour because of what Jesus has done for us. This peace of God is directed to us who are believers, just like the shepherds, who came away glorify and praising God. Others heard them and thereby became aware of the news. The scriptures tell us the shepherds simply marvelled at what they heard. Later, in the gospels we hear of other people who marvelled at what Jesus said and did. In so doing, they were drawn to Him, they wanted more of what He offered. But many of these people didn’t act on what they heard. God was interested in the shepherds so much so, they become the first human heralds of the birth of the Messiah.

God remains interested today, kin those on whom His favour rests. This is something we should be celebrating. Christmas is a day for us to remember God became man, fully man, and lived a human life full of human experiences, good and bad. Jesus did all of this without sin so He could offer Himself as a sacrifice to pay the debt of our sins on that cross at Calvary.

Celebrate and remember what and whom you are celebrating. “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14).

January 28th 2018: Ian Jones

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Ian Jones-March 2016

Luke 4: 18-19

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

Jesus returns to Nazareth not long after healing the nobleman’s son. We cannot be absolutely sure of the timing of this event; if Jesus returned to Nazareth it did not happen at the beginning of His Galilean ministry. So why did Luke place it here, not in chronological order? It may be to help people to understand the purpose of Jesus’ ministry, what kind of people He is intending to reach. It also pictures how He would be received – initially people would be glad but then many would reject Him. It is the same today.

Jesus returns to Nazareth, the place where He grew up and attended the synagogue regularly. Did He look forward to going home? We’re not told. But we’re told He returned in the power of the Holy Spirit and the news of this went out throughout the region (verse 14). Many ordinary people were greatly affected by His ministry – the news spread of His miracles and teachings. Luke is setting the scene. When Jesus left Nazareth He was unknown, now He had become widely known. He was very popular, everyone was speaking about Him.

On the Sabbath everyone went to the synagogue and read. Jews living outside of Jerusalem only went to the temple on special feast days. However, the synagogue was like our local church, the place where people attended on a regular basis. There would have been two scripture readings – one of law and one from the prophets, and a time of prayer and praise to God. Jesus was given the opportunity to give a reading. The attendant gave Him the book of Isaiah so He could read from that. He read from Isaiah 61. He would have read and then sat down, the congregation would stand. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Jesus, waiting for Him to start teaching once He had sat down (verse 21). Probably everyone was wondering what He was going to say. All were waiting for Him to speak. They were hoping He was going to be their Messiah. He had performed so many miracles, given great teachings. Was He the one they were waiting for? The Isaiah reading related to the Messiah. They waited expectantly.

Yet Jesus does not begin by reminding them of their golden days, of their past. Nor does He make promises about a better future to come. He spoke about that day, ‘today.’ Scripture would be fulfilled in their hearing. The focus is upon them – how they will receive this word. You can imagine them whispering how good it was. Their initial response was they spoke well of Him and marvelled at His words. They recognised Him as Joseph’s son. But Jesus knew deep down what they were thinking (verse 23). Their expectation of Him being their Messiah was that He should do more miracles in Nazareth than anywhere else – they would have special privileges because He was from their hometown. But Jesus also revealed a prophet is not received in their hometown (verse 24), giving the examples of Elisha and Elijah.

God is sovereign. He can choose who He will save. He will show mercy to whom He likes. That may include Jews, it may include Gentiles. The people then became angry. They tried to kill Him by taking Him out of the village to throw Him off a precipice. He walked away. Whether He returned to Nazareth we’re not told.

The initial amazement and enthusiasm was followed by rejection. How often is this repeated throughout scripture? We see it in the rich young ruler who ran to Jesus asking what he could do to inherit eternal life, but he later walked away sad because he didn’t hear what he wanted to hear.

This is not always the case, some do go on to receive salvation. How is it some follow Him? Verse 18 answers this, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” Jesus’ purpose, His mission – He’s been anointed to preach to them. Jesus came for the poor, the broken-hearted, the captive, the oppressed. He spoke to everyone but only certain kinds of people would follow Him. Who are the broken-hearted, who are the blind, the captives? It’s easy to think they are the people who were physically healed by the presence of Him. This is not the case. The Bible not only refers to people who have no money but also those who are looked down on in society, those who are seen to be humble.

The broken-hearted are those who have been through some crisis. The heart is the seat of emotion. The term relates to spiritual, not physical. The blind see and understand things of God. These people recognise sin has come into this world and affected this world. It has affected their own lives too. Others in the world may not see that. They recognise that they have been brought low, maybe through a series of events. They see themselves having no worth. They recognise God has brought them to a point when they see themselves as sinners. Their lives are filled with sadness, broken lives filled with sin. They are glad to hear the gospel and come to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus didn’t come to walk around Galilee to see, talk and heal people for temporary help. His ministry is far greater. He has come to restore people to God, to give people eternal life. This is the good news! The Lord came not only to those who need to be saved but also to those who have back-slidden. Friends, here is a wonderful message. May this be an encouragement to turn to Him and keep following Him.