Emory Baptist Church

There's No Such Thing as Impossible with Jesus!

Have you ever found yourself in a seemingly impossible situation?  Maybe it was with your marriage or your money or a member of your family. 

 

Did you think it was impossible for your marriage to work or someone else’s marriage?  Did you think it was impossible to ever have enough money to pay off that bill?  Did you think it was impossible for a member of your family or someone’s to be saved or reconciled?

 

This morning, in Luke 9:10-17, we’re going to see that there’s no such thing as impossible with Jesus.  This story is found in all four gospel accounts: Matthew 14, Mark 6, John 6, and here in Luke 9.

 

Remember, Jesus sent out the sent ones last week.  He first called them apostles in 6:13.

 

13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.

 

Guess what?  They came back.

 

Verse 10 says the apostles returned.  Remember that apostle means sent one.  Therefore, you and I are also sent ones in the informal and general sense, and we have been sent across the street and across the hall and across the locker room with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

 

The apostles returned and told Jesus all that they had done.  Perhaps they were tired.  I know I am after a mission trip or after a long day on a mission trip.  Therefore, Jesus took them to a deserted place for some privacy. 

 

However, their private place wasn’t private for long.  They had been followed because people were attracted to Jesus. 

 

BTW…If people were attracted to Jesus, in one sense, they should be attracted to Christians.  However, if you’re the kind of Christian that is rude and obnoxious and people can’t stand you, that isn’t biblical Christianity that you are practicing.

 

Verse 11 says Jesus received them and shared the kingdom of God with them.  What is the kingdom of God?

 

He shared the gospel with them.  Then, He healed them to authenticate and affirm the gospel message. 

 

That is what life changes does.  When lives are changed, the truth of the gospel is verified.

 

 

1. A Legitimate Problem, Luke 9:12

12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.”

 

In verse 12, it seems to be near the end of the day.  The twelve came to Jesus and encouraged Him to send the crowds home so that they could find a place to stay and get something to eat.

 

The end of verse 12 calls this place deserted.  That meant no place to stay and no food to eat. 

 

Verse 14 says this was about 5,000 men.  Including women and children, this crowd could easily have been large than Rains County. 

 

So what would you do?  This was a legitimate problem. 

 

 

2. The Human Solution, Luke 9:13-14a

13 But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.”  And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.” 14 For there were about five thousand men. 

 

In verse 13, Jesus told the twelve to take care of the situation. He told them to get the crowd something to eat.

 

BTW…Jesus could have snapped His fingers and solved this problem.  However, He didn’t.

 

Why?  His plan is use the body of Christ to share the gospel and pray and minister to people. 

 

However, this was problematic.  They only had five loaves and two fish.  John 6 says they belonged to a little boy.

 

Keep in mind this wasn’t Texas Toast and 30-pound channel cats.  These were five biscuits and two sardines. 

 

Perhaps they could have purchased some food.  However, it still wouldn’t have been enough for this number of people.

 

The disciples were thinking with their minds rather than their hearts.  In some cases, that is right, but not when Jesus tells you otherwise.

 

 

3. Divine Intervention, Luke 9:14b-17

Then He said to His disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of fifty.” 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down.  16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.

 

What happens when Jesus gets involved with our legitimate problems after we have tried our solution?  What happens the Divine intervenes? 

 

At the end of verse 14, Jesus told the twelve what to do.  They had the crowds sit down in groups of 50.  We assume this was simply for organizational purposes. 

 

Verse 16 says Jesus took the boy’s food.  He took the five biscuits and two sardines, and He looked toward heaven and thanked His Heavenly Father for the food.  Then, He gave and gave and gave until everyone had something to eat.

 

Verse 16 is the miracle.  Verse 16 is where Jesus suspended natural law.  Verse 16 is where the Divine intervened.

 

Keep in mind, this was a bite or two.  Verse 17 says they ate and were full.

 

There were even leftovers.  Why twelve baskets full?  There were twelve disciples, and each on saw this miracle personally and up close.

 

 

Application and Conclusion

So what?  One point of this story is to demonstrate that Jesus is the Messiah.  However, that is not the main point because Jesus could have done all of this without anyone’s help. 

 

Therefore, what is the main point?  Jesus wants us to depend on Him all day and in every way, but especially when life seems impossible. 

 

He wants us to trust and obey.  Notice that the miracle is verse 16.

 

What happened before verse 16?  Verse 15.  They disciples obeyed in verse 15. 

 

When life seems impossible with your money and your marriage and members of your family, trust and obey.  See Psalm 37:5.

 

5 Commit your way to the Lord,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.

Sending Out the Sent Ones

In the last three weeks, we have been reminded again and again that Jesus Christ is Lord over all.  In other words, He has complete power over all of life.  He has complete authority over all of life, and that includes storms and Satan and sickness.

 

Therefore, if we are His followers, and we have Jesus living with us, and He is Lord over all, what does that mean for us?  It means that in order to maximize efficiency, Jesus is sending us on His behalf to do His work.

 

Take your Bibles and find Luke 9:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Sending Out the Sent.”

 

We are going to see in today’s text that Jesus sent out the twelve disciples on His behalf to do His work.  These men are also called the twelve apostles.

 

The word apostle means sent one or messenger.  In verse 2, we see that word, “sent.”  Therefore, Jesus sent out the sent ones.

 

 

1. Jesus sent out the sent ones with authority, Luke 9:1.

1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

 

So Jesus called the twelve together and gave them the power and authority that He had.  Jesus had power and authority over demons and over disease, and He gave that power authority to the twelve.

 

Do you remember how we know that Jesus had authority over demons?  In 8:27-29, Jesus removed the demons from the Gaderene Demoniac.

 

27 And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” 29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.

 

Do you remember how we know that Jesus had authority over diseases?  In 8:47-48, Jesus healed a woman who had been diseased for twelve years.

 

47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.  48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

 

Furthermore, Jairus’ daughter had died from some disease, but Jesus healed her as well by bringing her back to life.  See 8:54-55.

 

54 But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.” 55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.

 

Jesus sent out the sent ones with authority.

 

 

2. Jesus sent out the sent ones with orders, Luke 9:2-4.

2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.  4 “Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.

 

Jesus sent out the sent ones with authority and with orders.  What were they?  They were three: what to do, what to take, and where to stay.

 

First, what did He order them to do?  They were to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick.  In other words, they were to preach the gospel and see lives changed.

 

And this exactly what they did.  See 9:6.

 

6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

 

BTW…let’s remember what is the gospel.  First, the God who is Creator is holy.  That means He is without sin and perfect.  Second, He created us to be in a personal relationship with Him.  Third, but we sinned, and our sin separates us from God.  Fourth, Jesus, God in the flesh, came to earth and lived a perfect, sinless life, and died on the cross for our sins.

 

In order to authenticate all that He did and said, He didn’t’ stay dead.  He rose from the grave, and has invited the entire world to follow Him and be saved from their sins. 

 

Second, as the twelve were going and doing, what were they to take?  In verse 3, Jesus said don’t take anything.  This order demonstrated brevity of the trip and the need for them to trust Jesus to provide. 

 

Remember, it is a biblical truth that were God guides, He also provides.  That was true then.  It is true today.  It is true in sharing the gospel.  It is true in building a Family Life Center.

 

Third, where they to stay?  They were to stay with locals who had also chosen to follow Jesus, and stay with them the entire time.  Don’t jump from house to house.

 

Jesus sent out the sent ones with orders.

 

 

3. Jesus sent out the sent ones with opposition, Luke 9:5.

5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 

 

Just like no fisherman has ever been perfect, not witness will ever be perfect.  Jesus prepared His sent ones for rejection.

 

They were to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against them.  However, notice this is a one-time act that trusts God for the judgment. 

 

So many times, we think when someone doesn’t agree with us or isn’t ready to commit that then are enemies.  That it isn’t true, but even if it was, God is the judge not us. 

 

When people reject the gospel, we don’t have to post about them on FB.  We need to pray for them to repent. 

 

In verses 7-9, Jesus and the sent ones had garnered the attention of Herod.  Because of what he was hearing, he wanted to find out more.

 

 

Conclusion

So what does all of the mean for us today here at EBC?  Like these twelve disciples, we also as follower of Christ, have been sent. 

 

Furthermore, as we have been sent, we have authority to lead to share the gospel and lead people to faith in Christ.  However, our message isn’t going to be authenticated by casting out demons and healing the sick.

 

Instead, our message is authenticated when we live changed lives because of Jesus.  When we are faithful to our spouse and the hardest working employees and tell the truth at school, our message is authenticated, and that is the way it is supposed to be.

 

However, when our walk doesn’t match our talk, you know what else happens?  We end up turning people away from the gospel.  We are stumbling blocks to others when we don’t love our spouse and don’t obey our parents and are lazier workers than lost people. 

 

But here me say this, God is not disappointed that His mission has fallen to us.  We aren’t plan B.  The Church is plan A in taking the gospel to the world!

Jesus is Lord Over All Including Sickness!

If you have your Bibles, please take them and turn to Luke 8:40.  Today, we come to the end of chapter 8, and this mini-series about Jesus being Lord over all. 

 

When I say Jesus is Lord over all, I mean that Jesus is more powerful than.  I mean that Jesus has authority over. 

 

Last week, we saw that Jesus is Lord over all including Satan.  Satan is very intelligent, but Jesus is omniscient. 

 

Satan is very powerful, but Jesus is omnipotent.  Jesus is Lord over all including Satan.

 

The Sunday before, we saw that Jesus is Lord over all including storms.  Some storms are literal and physical.  Other storms are emotional and spiritual.  Regardless, Jesus is Lord over all including storms.

 

Today, I want to remind you that Jesus is Lord over all including sickness.  Some sickness is also called disease.  Some sickness leads to death.  Regardless, Jesus is Lord over all including sickness.

 

We are actually going to look at two miracles here at the end of Luke 8.  In the past, I have preached them in two different sermons, but today, I will join them together as one is sandwiched in by the other. 

 

 

1. Sickness that can be called, “disease,” Luke 8:43-48

43 Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.  45 And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”  When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”  46 But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.  48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

 

I want you to skip down to verse 43.  As Jesus was making His way to Jairus’ house, He was surrounded by a multitude of people. 

 

In this verse, we are introduced to a woman who had sickness or disease.  Notice that it was chronic.  She had it for twelve years.  Most commentators believe this was some type of ongoing bleeding in her uterus.

 

Notice that it was also costly.  She spent all her livelihood on physicians, but to no avail.  Look at Mark 5:26.

 

26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.

 

Verse 44 says she came from behind Jesus and touched the border or hem or tassel of His garment.  What happened?  Immediately, the flow of blood stopped.

 

What else happened?  Jesus knew it.  The crowded denied it.  Peter mocked it.

 

BTW…Jesus knew it because He is omniscient.  He knows all. 

 

We see that again in verse 46.  He perceived power going from Him. 

 

In addition to being omniscient, Jesus is also omnipotent.  He is all-powerful. 

 

In verse 47, Jesus called her out so to speak.  Following her faith and her healing, Jesus called her to confess Him publicly. 

 

BTW…Jesus does the same today.  When you are saved by grace and through faith in Christ, you are called to confess Him publicly through believers’ baptism. 

 

This woman’s healing is a picture of salvation, and we will talk more about that in a moment.  However, notice what Jesus called her verse 48. 

 

He never uses this title anywhere else but here.  This woman was now a child of God the Father. 

 

 

2. Sickness that can lead to death, Luke 8:40-42, 49-56

40 So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him. 41 And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying.  But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him.  49 While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.”  50 But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” 51 When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl. 52 Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.” 53 And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.  54 But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.” 55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. 56 And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened.

 

Look at back 40.  Remember how we left Jesus last week.  The distraught herdsman or pig farmers didn’t want Jesus around.

 

This is a different reaction in verse 40.  The multitude welcomed Him.  I pray that is your response to Jesus.

 

Rather than wanting Him to leave because of what He may require of you, I pray that you welcome Him into every area of your life.

 

As we consider a sickness that lead to death, remember that death is no respecter of persons.  The mortality rate of human history is 100% even for those who are good folks and even welcome Jesus into their lives. 

 

In verse 41, we are introduced to Jairus, and he was in charge of the local synagogue.  That meant he decided the order of service for the Jewish worship services.  He decided who sang and who preached and who prayed. 

 

He came to Jesus out of desperation.  He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house.  Why?

 

Jairus had one daughter.  She was twelve years old, and was at death’s door.  She was dying.  Being the father of three daughters, this story hits close to home.

 

He had obviously witnessed or at least heard about how Jesus had healed others.  With nowhere else to turn, he invited Jesus to come to his home to save his daughter. 

 

Skip to verse 49.  As death is no respecter of persons, death also causes significant pain. 

 

As Jesus was finishing up with the woman who touched His garment, He received notification from Jairus’ house.  A messenger arrived to tell Jairus that his daughter had died.  Therefore, there was no need for Jesus to come.

 

I can’t even imagine Jairus’ grief.  Jesus was on His way, but was interrupted. 

 

Without this interruption, would Jesus have arrived in time?  We’ll never know, but this story doesn’t end here.

 

BTW…in God’s economy, there is no such thing as an interruption. There are only divine appointments. 

 

Look at verse 50.  Jesus did a miracle.  He brought this girl, who was dead, back to life. 

 

This miracle occurred because of Jesus’ compassion.  He hated that this father was faced with the possibility of losing his only daughter.  Jesus encouraged him in verse 50 not to be afraid because He was going to intervene.

 

Verse 50 also says that Jesus told Jairus to continue to believe.  He had faith in coming to Jesus.  He needed to continue to have faith that Jesus could do what he originally thought. 

 

Remember that death causes significant pain. Jairus’ immediate family and his extended family thought any more interaction with the girl was futile. 

 

Why?  She was dead.  What else could be done?  Verse 52 says they wept and mourned. 

 

However, as we said previously, the story isn’t over.  When Jesus told the mourners that they didn’t need to cry any more, they laughed at Him.  They didn’t think He or anyone for that matter could do anything at this point. 

 

She was dead.  Her heart had stopped.  She wasn’t breathing. 

 

However, in verses 54-55, Jesus brought her back to life.  Her spirit returned, and just to make sure that no one believed this was a dream, she ate some food. 

 

 

Application

Jesus is absolutely Lord over all including sickness.  He can heal your disease and rescue you from death.

 

However, these two stories about physical sickness give us a picture of spiritual salvation.  Here is what I mean:

 

1. Sin is our spiritual disease that leads to spiritual death if we are not healed and saved.
2. Every person is infected with sin and in need of healing and salvation. That is true for males and females, young and old, rich and poor.  Remember, death is now respecter of persons.
3. Sin hurts and causes major pain. Sin causes us to separated and isolated from one another and from God.
4. However, healing and salvation is possible when we start by acknowledging the Healer. See verses 41 and 47.  Both fell at Jesus’ feet.  Said another way, we admit we are sinners and believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sin.
5. Finally, healing and salvation is activated by our faith. See verses 48 and 50.  Any person can be healed and saved today by God’s grace through our faith in Christ alone. 

 

Jesus is Lord Over All Including Satan!

Introduction

If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 8:26.  Today, I want to share a message with your entitled, “Jesus is Lord Over All including Satan!”

 

If you were here last Sunday, you saw from Luke 8:22-25 that Jesus is Lord over all including storms.  That means literal storms and emotional or spiritual storms.

 

This is actually a three-part series here in Luke 8.  Jesus is Lord over all including storms and Satan and sickness.

 

When we saw Lord over all, I mean that has authority over.  I mean that He is more powerful than. 

 

Jesus has authority over and is more powerful than storms.  Jesus has authority over and is more powerful than Satan. 

 

On the pages of Scripture this morning, we are going to see a man who was demon-possessed.  I want you to know that I believe that Satan is real and demons are real. 

 

I believe in the demon-possession of individuals in the first century as evidenced in the Bible.  Also, I believe in the demon-possession of individuals in the twenty-first century. 

 

However, I’m not talking about people bipolar schizophrenic or epileptic or ADD or ADHD.  Demon possession is a spiritual condition.  It is not a medical condition.

 

In today’s story, we are going to see the Divine, the Disturbed, and the Distraught. The Divine is Jesus.  The Disturbed is the demon-possessed man, and the Distraught is the group of herdsman working with these pigs.

 

 

1. The Divine: Jesus

 

Verse 26 says that Jesus and His disciples sailed to the country of the Gadarenes.  They had previously been in a storm on the Sea of Galilee.

 

In verse 27, He was met by the demon-possessed man.  As we are thinking about the Divine, who was Jesus, I want you to see that He commanded, and He was compassionate.

 

Jesus commanded because He was and is God.  Even the demons knew that as evidenced by their pronouncement at the end of verse 28. 

 

We also see the divinity of Jesus evidenced in the man’s posture.  The first part of verse 28 says he came and bowed down to Him.

 

Then, we see that Jesus was divine in the demons’ plea.  They knew that Jesus was in charge.  They knew that Jesus was Lord over all including Satan. 

 

In verse 31, they begged Him to let them enter the pigs.  Jesus obliged.

 

Not only did Jesus command because He was divine, but He was compassionate toward the disturbed.  Jesus loved people more than pigs.  Jesus loved souls more than swine. 

 

Jesus saw how this man was suffering, and He healed him.  He saved Him eternally by delivering him personally. 

 

 

2. The Disturbed: The Demon-Possessed Man

 

When we think about this disturbed man who was demon-possessed, I want you to see that he was saved, and then he was sent. 

 

Verse 30 tells us that this man was possessed by many demons, maybe even thousands as his name was Legion.

 

Notice what he like before he was saved.  First, he was characterized by unusual surroundings.  Look at verse 28.  He wore no clothes, and he lived in a cematery. 

 

Second, he was characterized by unusual strength.  Verse 29 says he was often bound by chains and shackles.  This was probably by the townspeople, but he broke them. 

 

Third, he was characterized by unusual suffering.  Mark 5:5 says, “5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.”

 

However, notice what had changed when Jesus saved this man.  Verse 36 says he was healed or saved.

 

His actions changed.  Verse 35 says he was sitting at Jesus’ feel.

 

His appearance changed.  He was clothed.

 

He attitude changed.  He was in his right mind. 

 

Once he was saved, he was then sent.  Look at verse 38. 

 

 

Go to the people who know you best.  Tell them what God has done.  Tell them your story. 

 

Brothers and sisters, our assignment is the same.  God puts specific people in our path every day.  Talk to them about God.  Tell them you story of how God changed you.

 

 

3. The Distraught: The Herdsman

 

The herdsmen are introduced in verse 34.  They heard about what happened, and they saw what happened with their own eyes.

 

The end of verse 35 and the end of verse 37 says they were afraid and seized with great fear.  In other words, they were distraught, but why?

 

First, I would suggest they were afraid because of what Jesus did to their pigs.  Undoubtedly, because Jesus loved people more than pigs and souls more than swine, He cost them a lot of money.

 

Second, I would suggest they were afraid because of what Jesus might do to them.  If Jesus stuck around, would their lives have to change?  Would their behavior have to change?  Would their relationships have to change?

 

That is usually how Jesus works.  Therefore, they asked Him to leave.  See verse 37.

 

 

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, we can’t be like Jesus, the Divine.  We shouldn’t be like the Distraught keeping areas of our lives off limits to Jesus.  However, we must be like this disturbed, demon-possessed man who, after he was saved, was sent.

 

We must go to our family and friends.  We must tell them about Jesus.  We must tell our story of how Jesus found us and saved us. 

Who Sleeps in a Storm?

This Little Light of Mine, Will You Let It Shine?

If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find Luke 8:16.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “This Little Light of Mine.”

 

Many of you are now singing in your head.  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.  I hope so.

 

The last time we were in Luke, we looked at the parable of the soils.  Remember, a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. 

 

Also, Jesus told us last time that parables have two purposes.  See Luke 8:10.

 

10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’”

 

First, Jesus told parables to reveal truths about the kingdom of God to His followers who had received Him.  Second, Jesus told parables to conceal truths about the kingdom of God to those that had rejected Him.

 

Today’s parable is in Luke 8:16. Some Bibles call it the Parable of the Lamp.  Others call is the Parable of Revealed Light.

 

Imagine with me that you were standing in a completely dark room.  You can’t see anything right in front of your face.  There is zero light from anywhere else.  Again, you are standing in complete darkness. 

 

If you had a match and lit it in order to see, it would be illogical and counterproductive to cover that match with your hand.  You want and need the light to shine in the darkness so that you and others can see. 

 

That is true today, and that was true in the first century when Jesus told this earthly story that had a heavenly meaning.  Continue to keep this question in mind.  Am I shining my light or covering my light? 

 

 

Exposition

16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.

 

The parable of the lamp is just one verse, verse 16.  In the first century, each home had one or two oil burning lamps. 

 

They might have looked similar to what we would call a lantern.  When the sun went down, the lamp would be positioned in the middle of the room or on a wall in an attempt to illumine the entire room. 

 

Keep in mind that the purpose of these lamps was to illumine the room.  It would be illogical and counterproductive to light the lamp and then cover it with a container or put it under the bed rather than on a lampstand.

 

 

17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.

 

Consequently, when you use lamps appropriately, to light up the room, nothing is hidden.  All will become evident. Everything that is secret will be known and come to light.

 

By the way, did you know that is true for life as well?  You may have individual secrets.  Your family may have family secrets.  Our church may have church secrets, but one day, they will all be revealed. 

 

One day, they will all be made known.  See Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 2:16; and 1 Corinthians 4:5.

 

14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

 

16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

 

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

 

 

18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

 

The key to understanding this parable is found in verse 18.  So take heed or care how you hear or listen. 

 

The meaning of this parable is clear.  It is about hearing or listening and responding to God’s Word with obedience. 

 

The lamp is God’s Word or God’s instruction for you.  To cover it is disobedience, illogical, and unproductive.  To put it on the lampstand is to obey, logical or appropriate, and fulfilling its purpose. 

 

Therefore, just make sure we all understand, listen closely.  God has given each of His followers a lamp or a light.  Yes, that can be gospel, but it is also all of God’s Word and instruction for you. 

 

What then do you do with it?  If you hide it or cover it, that is disobeying.  He gave it to shine.  To hide it or cover it is illogical and unproductive in illuminating your situation. 

 

On the other hand, to take that light and let it shine is to hear and obey. The light is to be put on the lampstand to illumine the situation.  That is what is supposed to happen and is logical and fulfills the intended purpose of the light.  Therefore, take care how you listen. 

 

Now pay close attention to the rest of verse 18.  For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him. 

 

To be sure, this does not have anything to do with social classes in the United States or any other place in the world.  Simply put, Jesus said regarding instruction and direction that He has given…use it or lose it. 

 

If you as an individual follower or your family or a church doesn’t use the instruction, direction, and or guidance that God has given, He will not continue to give more instruction, direction, and or guidance. 

 

Allow me to illustrate.  If a man who owns his own business is considering a big decision.  To more forward could bring in more profit eventually, but would also cost him up front.  What should he do? 

 

If he prays about it again and again and again, but yet he is not tithing on his existing income and is even being dishonest in the reporting of his current profit, it is illogical and unproductive to pray for God to direct him.

 

If a teenager is at the point of deciding on college and prays and asks God for guidance, but this same teenager is sexually active with his girlfriend, it is illogical and unproductive to expect God for guidance regarding college.

 

If a church wants to reach their community for Christ, and God gives them a vision for a tool like a family life center, but the church keeps saying again and again, “We can’t afford that,” God probably isn’t going to keep answering prayers. 

 

Do you understand what Jesus is saying?  One commentator put it like this, “Truth received brings more light.  Truth refused brings the night.”

 

 

19 Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. 20 And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.”

 

The last part of today’s text may seem out of place.  However, it is simply another illustration of the importance of obeying the instruction and direction that God gives you. 

 

By the way, what is the primary means of God giving instruction and guidance today?  It is right here.  When you say no to what this books says, you are saying no to God and discarding the light you have been given.

 

Evidently, Jesus was in a private room with His disciples.  His mother and brothers had arrived and wanted to speak to Him. 

 

By the way, this little experience tells us much about Jesus’ family.  More than likely, Joseph had passed at this point.  That is speculation, but he is never mentioned again alive beyond Luke 2. 

 

We also see that Joseph and Mary evidently had other children after Jesus.  These are Jesus’ half-brothers.  In other words, the idea that Mary had perpetual virginity is not true.  The Bible witness just does not support that belief.

 

Jesus’ mother and brothers wanted to see Him, but couldn’t get through the crowd.  Therefore, they sent word to Jesus. 

 

 

21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

 

Notice Jesus’ response in verse 21.  He didn’t reject His biological family, but He did redefine His family.  For Jesus, His family is those that hear the word of God and do it. 

 

In other words, a right relationship with Jesus is dependent on your obedience.  You cannot be right relationship with God while simultaneously disobeying God’s Word. 

 

Jesus’ brother, James, learned this truth. Maybe he was even here in Luke 8.  See James 1:22-25.

 

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

 

 

Conclusion

So what are you doing with the instruction or direction or guidance that God has already given to you?  Are you hiding your light? 

 

1. Do you need to apologize?
2. Do you need to get baptized?
3. Do you need to change your attitude?
4. Do you need to confess a sin?
5. Do you need to forgive a sin?
6. Do you need to honor your parents?
7. Do you need to join the church?
8. Do you need to repent of your immorality?
9. Do you need to start tithing?
10. Do you need to witness to your neighbor, coworker, or classmate?

 

Don’t hide your light!  It is illogical and counterproductive.  Let your light shine!

 

Top 10 Questions about Baptism

Last Sunday morning, I shared my annual sermon on the Lord’s Supper.  As I was preparing to preach that sermon, I thought it might a good idea to preach a similar sermon on Baptism since we consider them as the two ordinances we practice at Emory Baptist Church.

 

However, if the Lord is willing, we will be back in Luke next Sunday.  Our text will be Luke 8:16-17.

 

Like we looked at the top ten questions about the Lord’s Supper last Sunday, I want to look at the top ten questions today about Baptism, and I’m going to use the term Christian Baptism.  I think it will be obvious why soon enough.

 

 

1. Is Christian Baptism required for salvation?

 

I pray that you understand that obviously here at Emory Baptist Church, we believe the answer to this is a resounding no. 

 

If baptism was required for salvation, how could Jesus say what He said to the thief on the cross?

 

Luke 23:43, 43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

 

If baptism was required for salvation, why would Paul say what he said to the Corinthian Church?

 

1 Corinthians 1:17, 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

 

Therefore, and again, of course, we don’t believe that baptism is required for salvation. 

 

As I said last week, we believe that any individual and every individual is only saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

 

Ephesians 2:8-9, 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

 

 

2. Is Christian Baptism essential to obedience and right standing with the Lord Jesus?

 

Again, I think the answer to this question is obvious because of our very name.  For 100 plus years, this church has chosen to identify as a Baptist church.  Therefore, we think very highly of the act of baptism

 

So yes, we believe that every follower of Christ should be baptized. Why? 

 

Matthew 3:13-17, 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”  15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.  16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

 

Jesus was baptized, and this pleased God His Father.  Therefore, we can conclude that every follower of Christ should be baptized as well.

 

Not to do so would be disobedience.  Therefore, if you are waiting for some reason, wait no longer. 

 

Your delayed obedience is disobedience.   Choose obedience instead of disobedience today!

 

 

3. Who should be baptized?

 

At Emory Baptist Church, we believe any and every individual who has trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior should be baptized.  After all, we have chosen to have Baptist in our church name.

 

That includes any Catholic, any Lutheran, any Presbyterian, any Episcopalian, any Methodist or otherwise.

 

We believe that every Christian should be baptized.

 

 

4. How should every Christian be baptized?

 

The New Testament pattern and example of baptism is immersion.

 

However, let me explain how it is redundant to say baptism by immersion. 

 

In the New Testament, and using biblical language, there is a word for sprinkling.  There is a word for pouring. 

 

However, the word for immersion is baptize.  Therefore, when we say baptize, we are NOT talking about any other method except immersion. 

 

Allow me to illustrate.  If you are lover of Dr. Pepper, you recognize your favorite soft drink by its name and the color of the can and the color of the drink. 

 

If someone handed you a Dr. Thunder and told you to enjoy the Dr. Pepper you were just handed, you would think there’s no way. 

 

However, the name is similar, and the color of the can is the same, and the color of the drink is the same.

 

At Emory Baptist Church, we don’t believe sprinkling is baptism.  We believe sprinkling is sprinkling. 

 

So what are some reasons for baptism by immersion? 

 

First, Jesus was immersed.  If we want to follow His example, that example is immersion. 

 

Second, we believe that baptism should be the decision of the saved individual and not the decision of well-meaning family members including parents.

 

Third, every baptism in the New Testament is by immersion. There are no examples of sprinkling or pouring in the New Testament. 

 

Fourth and finally, an immersed body is the best picture of the death and burial of Jesus Christ and the old self.

 

Only then can an individual be a picture of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and being raised to new life.

 

 

5. What have church fathers said about immersion?

 

When I say church fathers, I’m talking about human founders of mainline denominations.

 

• Martin Luther (Father of the Lutheran Church), “I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed as the word (Bible) implies and the mystery signifies.” (Luther’s Essay, “The Babylonian Captivity of the Church”)
• John Calvin (Father of the Presbyterian Church), "The word 'baptize' signifies to immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient church." (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 4:15:19)
• John Wesley (Father of the Methodist Church), “Buried with Him, alludes to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church.” (Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on the New Testament, Romans 6:4)

 

 

6. When should a new believer be baptized?

 

Again, we look to God’s Word, and the New Testament pattern is as soon as possible.

 

Acts 16:14-15, 14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

 

Acts 16:33, 33 And he (Paul) took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

 

Therefore, if you haven’t been baptized this morning, you are in one of three situations.

 

First, you may not have ever believed in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior because you have never been convicted that you are lost without Him.  If that is true of you, I invite you to be saved today and baptized ASAP.

 

Second, you may know that you are lost and you may know how to be saved but you haven’t acted on it.  Gamble with your eternity no more!  Be saved today and baptized ASAP.

 

Third, you may be saved and not baptized.  Remember, your delayed obedience is disobedience.  Make that commitment today and be baptized ASAP.

 

 

7. Do I become a member of EBC once I am baptized?

 

Remember, we believe that baptism is a church ordinance.  Therefore, yes, you become a member of Emory Baptist Church if we baptize you.

 

However, I do want to be fair and mention one exception.  The Ethiopian Eunuch was baptized by Phillip in Acts 8, and there doesn’t seem to be a local church involved.

 

However, this is the exception and not the rule.

 

 

8. What if I was baptized as a child or youth but wasn't saved until later?

 

That is a great question, and one that deserves an honest answer.

 

At Emory Baptist Church, not only do we want to be faithful to the New Testament example of immersion, but we also want to be faithful to the New Testament sequence of events.

 

The New Testament pattern is always believing first and baptism second.  Therefore, if you have not been baptized since you were saved, we would invite you be baptized after salvation in what we often call believer's baptism.

 

 

9. What if I was sprinkled as an infant?

 

Again, that is a great question, and one that deserves an honest answer. 

 

Since our final authority is God’s Word, we look again to the New Testament.  The New Testament pattern is immersion after salvation.

 

That’s why in order to join EBC, an individual must be immersed after salvation.

 

That’s also why salvation and baptized by immersion is implied when we take the Lord’s Supper.

 

 

10. When does EBC baptize?

 

EBC baptizes at the beginning of our Sunday AM and Sunday PM worship services.

 

However, we will baptize at the most convenient time for person being baptized.

Found Useful in Christ

8 Ears and 4 Hearts

For the next two Sundays in our study of Luke’s gospel, we will look at two parables that Jesus told in Luke 8.  Today, I want to share a message with you entitled, 8 Ears and 4 Hearts.

 

A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.  In other words, Jesus often told a story with familiar characters and objects in order to illustrate a spiritual truth.

 

Your Bible probably calls today’s text the parable of the sower.  However, I think a more accurate title is the parable of the soils, and it has to do with farming and would have made much sense to first-century Palestinians and especially those who farmed.

 

 

1. The Parable Described, Luke 8:4-8

4 And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” 

 

Verse 4 tells us that a large crowd was coming together to hear and see Jesus.  They must have heard about His healings and miracles. 

 

Keep in mind that this crowd was made up of a lot of different people and different kinds of people.  Some would be receptive to Jesus.  Others would not.

 

Verse 4 says that Jesus spoke a parable to this great multitude.  He spoke to them an earthly story that had a heavenly or spiritual meaning.  The good news about this parable is that Jesus told the parable and explained the parable. 

 

Verse 5 say that the sower went out to sow his seed.  In this first century culture, the farmers sowed first and plowed second. 

 

Picture this farmer with a pouch draped over his shoulder.  Sowing was doing between October and December since the harvest came around June. 

 

He would take a handful of seed and broadcast the seed from left to right or right to left.  Obviously, seed cast in broadcast form would land on multiple types of soil.

 

Some fell on the road or path that was hard and had been trampled down.  Therefore, it served as bird feed. 

 

Other seed fell on rocky soil.  This was soil with a thin layer of top soil but rocks underneath.  This seed grew fast but soon died for lack of water. 

 

Other seed fell into the thorns or weeds.  It was choked out.

 

Finally, some seed fell on good soil.  It grew and produced fruit. 

 

By the way, that is purpose of planting seed right?  If no fruit or crop is produced, the plant is dead. 

 

In verse 8, after Jesus finished the parable, He said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”  In other words, if you can understand the parable, that is great. 

 

Understand it and apply it to your life.  Hear and do.

 

 

2. The Parable’s Desire, Luke 8:9-10

9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”  10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’

 

In verse 9, Jesus’ disciples asked about the meaning of this parable.  His answer is verse 10.

 

He gave two desires of any parable.  The parable will reveal, or the parable will conceal. 

 

To the disciples, the parable was meant to reveal the mysteries of the kingdom of God.  The parable was meant to explain the secrets or hidden truths about salvation. 

 

However, for the rest, the parable was meant to conceal.  The parable’s desire was convict or judge the hearer. 

 

In verse 10, He quoted Isaiah 6:9-10.  The Lord sent Isaiah to unbelieving and rebellious Israel to preach to them, and even though they saw, they didn’t see.  Even though they heard, they didn’t understand. 

 

In the crowd that day, there were those that had already made up their minds that Jesus was not the promised Messiah.  He spoke in a parable to judge them. 

 

They saw Him, but they didn’t understand.  They heard Him, but they didn’t understand.  This parable concealed truth from them because they had already rejected Him. 

 

 

3. The Parable Disclosed, Luke 8:11-15

11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

 

Evidently, Jesus’ disciples were looking for a fuller explanation.  The seed is the word of God preached.  In that day, the sower was Jesus.  Today, it is anyone who preaches or shares the gospel. 

 

The first soil can be likened to a heart that is subverted by a predator.  The gospel is preached or shared, but before it takes root, they devil steals the seed and prevents these individuals from believing and beings saved.  An example would be the Pharisees.

 

The second soil can be likened to a heart that succumbs to problems.  Look at verse 13.  The gospel is received initially with joy, but it is not cultivated and gives way to temptations or trials or distress or problems. 

 

These folks begin following Jesus so enthusiastically, but appear to fall away when they experience difficulties.  An example of this second set of ears and second heart maybe those who came to Jesus excited about His miracles of healing but didn’t for long.

 

The third soil can be likened to a heart that surrenders to pleasures.  Verse 14 says the seed or gospel is received but instead of surrendering to the word of God, this heart surrenders to the cares or riches or pleasures of this life. 

 

Following Jesus was going to cost them too much.  These individuals were dooped into thinking that Jesus wasn’t worth it.  An example of this third set of ears and third heart would be the Rich, Young Ruler.

 

The fourth and final soil can be likened to a heart that succeeds with perseverance or patience.  This heart welcomes the word of God immediately and deeply and exclusively and bears fruit because ultimately. 

 

This individual’s heart is obedient to God’s word.  This set of ears and this heart is that of the disciples. 

 

 

Invitation

First, the invitation for some of you today is to hear the gospel in that you are a sinner and if you are left to answer for your sin alone, you will not be able to stand, and you will be judged to hell by holy God because of your sin. 

 

However, if you recognize that you are a sinner and understand that Jesus died on the cross in your place, you can confess Him today as Lord and Savior of your life surrendering your life to His will and His way.

 

Second, if you are here today and you have welcomed the gospel into your life, don’t fall to the distresses of this life.  Don’t fall to the desires of the world.  Persevere in following Jesus through thick and thin, in good times and in bad, for better and for worse. 

 

Finally, don’t forget that you are now a sower of the seed.  Don’t worry about the seed.  It is God’s word. 

 

Don’t worry about the soils.  That is not your concern, but sow the seed wherever you go and with whomever you meet.  

 

Jesus Loves Females!

I want you to take your Bibles and find Luke 8:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Jesus Loves Women!”

 

These three verses that begin chapter 8 may seem relatively innocent in meaning.  However, there is much here especially as it relates to females. 

 

As we continue in our study of Luke’s gospel, I want to show you three reasons why Jesus loves women.  Jesus loved the women in this passage, and He loves women today.

 

 

1. Jesus loves women as demonstrated by His creating them, Luke 8:1-2a.

1 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, 2 and certain women…

 

Beginning in verse 1, we see that Jesus went from town to town preaching and evangelizing.  As a matter of fact, when some people think of Jesus and His earthly ministry, they think He was primarily about ministering and healing and caring for those in need. 

 

While He did do those things, Jesus was primarily a preacher.  Furthermore, His primary ministry was preaching and evangelizing. 

 

Luke said that He was bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.  Literally, that means he was preaching the good news or the gospel of the kingdom of God.

 

What is the gospel of the kingdom of God?  God is holy, and He created humanity holy.  However, Adam and Eve sinned and every human to come after them has sinned too except Jesus.

 

Because we have sinned, our sin has separated us from a holy God.  Therefore, everyone human is in need of salvation and a savior.

 

The only One qualified to save us is Jesus.  Why?  Jesus is the only One who has ever been sinless, and He died on the cross in our place for our sin.

 

Therefore, anyone who put his or her faith in Christ alone as Lord and Savior will be saved.  That is the good news of the kingdom of God. 

 

That was Jesus’ message.  That is our message, and His resurrection from the grave never to die again affirmed the truth of the gospel. 

 

Verse 1 continues and says that the twelve disciples or twelve apostles were with Jesus along with certain women.  Luke goes out of his way to differentiate these women from the others.

 

Why? Jesus created women.  Keep in mind, these aren’t men identifying as women.  These aren’t effeminate men.  These are biological women.

 

Jesus created them as women.  Jesus loved them as women, and Jesus loves women today.

 

BTW…If you are going to promote a story, this was not the way to do it in the first century.  Women were not valued and to include them in your inner circle was counter-cultural.  This reality demonstrates the authenticity of Jesus’ ministry and Luke’s account thereof.

 

Also, did you know that Luke has been called the gospel for women because it is the gospel that spotlights so many women?  Consider these examples.

 

1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

 

2:36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity.

 

7:37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil…7:50 50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

 

10:38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.

 

13:10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.”

 

15:8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

 

18:3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”

 

21:1 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

 

Evidently, Luke was greatly impressed by Jesus’ ministry to women.  He continued to spotlight them in Acts: Dorcas or Tabitha in Acts 9, Lydia in Acts 16, Damaris in Acts 17, and Priscilla in Acts 18.

 

 

2. Jesus loves women as demonstrated by His healing them, Luke 8:2b-3a.

2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna…

 

While it is true that women were not highly thought of in the Old Testament and in first century Judaism, that is very far from the truth with Jesus.  Jesus absolutely loved and valued women, and we can see that here in verses 2 and 3.

 

Again, it is highly unusual for Luke to mention these three women by name: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna.  These three women, along with others, were some of the first followers of Christ along with the twelve male disciples. 

 

Even though Mary Magdalene often carries a bad reputation as having been a prostitute, that is only speculation.  Folks have said that about her as they have connected her as the sexual sinner from the end of Luke 7. 

 

The truth is that all we know about her, other than she witnessed the resurrected Christ, is found her in Luke 8.  She was demon-possessed but then fully and complete healed by Jesus.  Remember, the number 7 is often times used to connote full and complete.

 

As for Joanna, she too was an eye witness of the resurrected Christ, and she was the wife of one of Herod’s men.  Evidently, the gospel had made it to the palace. 

 

As for Susanna, she is never mentioned again in all of the Bible.  However, her legacy and memory live on here and for approximately 2000 years.

 

 

3. Jesus loves women as demonstrated by their providing for Him, Luke 8:3b.

And many others who provided for Him from their substance.

 

The last part of verse 3 tells us that of these first century followers of Jesus, many were women, and they provided for Jesus from their substance.  Your translation may say, “them,” so that would be Jesus and the Twelve.

 

These women didn’t just receive from Him.  They gave back to Him and the twelve and their ministry.  Thinking back to last week and Self-righteous Simon and the Sexual Sinner, if you love Jesus, it will be proven more with your works than your words. 

 

Today, women in this church love Jesus, and they demonstrate that love by giving to Him and His ministry.  They give financially.  They give their prayers, and they give by ministering to so many. 

 

 

Invitation

As I close this morning, here me again.  Jesus loves women, and that includes you.  If you didn’t know that previously, maybe your response today is calling on Him to save you.

 

Because Jesus loves women, EBC needs to love women.  If this is the church that God is calling you to join, would you respond to this morning’s invitation?

 

Finally, Jesus loves women, but do you?  You may need to repent of your feelings and behavior toward women.  Our invitation is for you.