The Relationship of Faith and Works

Luke 8:1-56

Not only were the twelve going around from village to village, preaching with Jesus, but there was a contingent of women as well. Jesus told two parables: First, the parable of the sower and the four soils; it is only the seed that falls on good soil that produces fruit, but the seed that falls on falls on the road, the rocky soil, or among thorns does not produce fruit. The second parable was of a lamp being put on a lamp-stand and not hidden from sight. Jesus said that to be a member of his family, one must hear the word of God and do it. After this, Jesus and his disciples crossed the sea, on which Jesus demonstrated power over the wind and the sea and the waves. Jesus healed a demon possessed man, his desire was to accompany Jesus, but Jesus told him to go tell what God had done for him in Jesus Christ. A woman was healed when she reached out to touch Jesus by faith. When questioned, she proclaimed before all present, her condition, and her reason for reaching out to touch Jesus and that she had been healed. After this, Jesus raised a synagog official’s daughter from the dead. Her parents were amazed; but Jesus instructed them to tell no one what had happened.

The kingdom of God is for men and women, both should be proclaiming it. There is work in the church for both men and women. Jesus chose twelve men as his apostles, but there were many female deacons in the early church. The paragraph seems to not fit with the surrounding context but is there to make the point that both men and women are to serve the Lord. In the following text, both a man and a woman are healed, and both give their testimony of what God has done for them in Jesus Christ.

Believing without doing is not expectable. Faith always produces good works. The parable of the lamp-stand follows the parable of the sower and the four soils. It is only the good soil which produces good fruit, because it is only the good soil that puts his/her light on a lamp-stand, so that others may see the light. Works do not make us right with God, but true faith in Jesus Christ, produces good works. The greatest work that a follower of Jesus Christ can do, is to proclaim the gospel. In this text, both the man healed from demonic possession and the woman healed from years of bleeding; did so, by testifying what God did for them in Jesus Christ. Physical relationship does not make one a Christian, it is hearing the word of God and doing it, that makes one a Christian. The word Christian means, follower of Christ. Following means hearing and doing.

Measure of Faith

Luke 7:1-50

Jesus healed a centurion’s slave from dying and raised a widows dead son to life. John the Baptist sent a delegation to ask if Jesus is the expected one and Jesus answered by quoting from the prophets. Jesus called John the greatest of all proceeding messengers but that John is by no means greater than anyone in the kingdom of God. No matter if a prophet fasts or feasts, the men of this age slander him. While dinning in a Pharisee’s house, a woman who was a known sinner, washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and hair, anointed his feet with perfume, and kissed them; however, the Pharisee had contempt. Jesus explained that all our sinners, some greater than others; however, the difference between the saved and the unsaved is faith evidenced by love. 

The measure of a person’s faith is love. Do you love little because you have been forgiven little, or do you love much because you have been forgiven much. The centurion understood that he had no right to favor. Not only was he a sinner but he was a gentile. The gentiles were considered outside the kingdom, but Jesus considered his faith great because he believed that Jesus could heal his servant from afar. The centurion exhibited his faith in love. John the Baptist was in doubting castles and Jesus gave him what he needed to hear, the promises found in the Scripture alone. The kingdom of God is already but not yet. The prophecies are already but not yet fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Jesus had compassion for a widow, by raising her only son from the dead. Without her son, this woman had no means of support and would have suffered greatly. The Lord is compassionate and gracious. We are to be sons of our Father who is in heaven; who gives to both evil men and good men what they need. (Mt. 5:45) 

Lord of the Sabbath

Luke 6:1-49

The Pharisees were concerned with keeping the letter of the law of Moses, to the point of making additional laws, to keep the people from breaking the Sabbath. They were legalist in every since of the word. They had an excessive observance of law. They did not understand the purpose or meaning of the law. They were so caught up with the letter of the law, that they did not even know that they were breaking the law. 

Christians do not observe the Sabbath, though some will call Sunday the Sabbath; however, the Sabbath is the seventh day of the week and Sunday is the first day of the week. The Sabbath was observed in honor of the Lord who created all things in six days and rested on the seventh day. We call Sunday the Lord’s day, because it was on the first day of the week that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. The early Christians meet on the first day of the week. (1 Cor. 16:2) 

The law of Christ is not like the law of Moses. The law of Moses was a written law to be observed, but the law of Christ is of the Spirit. The law of Christ is love, as exampled by Christ, taught by Christ, taught by his chosen apostles and it can be seen in all of Scripture. Jesus said, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Mt. 7:12, NASB) Without regards to nationality, race, religion or how they may have treated you.

Every Sabbath and Lord’s day (Saturday and Sunday) you will find nurses in the hospital taking care of the affirmed. They are not in the synagog and they are not sitting in a church pew. Does this mean that they do not need teaching? Quite the opposite! The person who needs the community of the saints and encouragement of the Word most, are those who are working in the hospitals. 

Am I Willing

Luke 5:1-39

Jesus was teaching the people in the region of Galilee and having compassion. He taught from Simon’s (Peter) boat on the western shore of the sea of Galilee. There, he gave Simon and his partners a great catch of fish; they left their business, and their family, to follow Jesus. Jesus healed a man covered with leprosy and told him to go and make an offering to the priest, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them. The Pharisees and teachers of the law had heard about Jesus, so they came to see for themselves. They called it blasphemy when Jesus told a paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven. In answer, Jesus healed the paralyzed man, though he was carried in on a stretcher, he walked out on his own two legs. A tax collector named Levi (Matthew) began to follow Jesus and Jesus with his disciples, ate and drank at Levi’s house, with a great crowd of tax collectors and other people. The Pharisees and the scribes could not understand why Jesus associated with men that they considered sinners. Nor could they not understand why his disciples ate and drink, while other religious men were fasting and offering prayers. The answer that Jesus gave indicated a change in religious practice was afoot. 

It seems that the common man and people that the religious considered sinners, were being attracted to Jesus. Though Jesus performed many signs and wonders in their midst, the religious would not come, because they were unwilling to associate with men whom they considered sinners and were unwilling to practice religion in a way that they were not accustomed. 

If Jesus were teaching and practicing today, would I be willing to set aside my prejudice and follow him? Would I be willing to associate with the lowly and with sinners? Would I be willing to do things that change my customs? These are questions that we should ask ourselves, rather than judge the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. For I am a religious man and I have studied theology. May I always be in the business of teaching and having compassion. “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (Jn 1:16, NKJV)

Pride vs Humility

Luke 4:1-44

After Jesus was Baptized by John in the Jordan river he was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. The text records for us three temptations but indicates that he was being tempted by the devil for forty days. The devil departed him until an opportune time. The first opportunity came when Jesus began his public ministry, teaching in the synagogues and was praised by all. When he taught in Nazareth, he did not capitulate to the demands of the crowd, so that he might be praised in his hometown, but spoke truth, at which they were enraged. The apostle John summarized this in his prologue: “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.” (Jn 1:11) The people of his hometown did not receive him, but only wanted to see a sign. He told them that Isaiah 61:1-2 had been fulfilled in their hearing, but they did not believe, they only wanted him to preform a sign. However, Jesus did not do as they wanted, but told them the truth. “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” (Jn 1:17) Jesus gave law to the proud but grace to the humble.

Though He scoffs at the scoffers,

Yet He gives grace to the afflicted. (Pro 3:33)

In Capernaum, a city of Galilee, he was teaching, rebuking evil spirits and healing the afflicted. Jesus would not have one an election in America, because he was not a people pleaser; He was opposed to the proud, but gave grace to the humble. (Jam 4:6) A proud heart is the devils opportunity, because “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” (Pro 16:18) However, Jesus had existed in the form of God but did not regard equality with God a thing to be held on to, but emptied himself and became like one of us. (Phi 2:6-7) 

Jesus is Baptized

Luke 3:1-38

Luke mentions a specific period of time, by mentioning the governmental leaders of the time, in which, John came into the district, around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The people came to John for baptism  and he preached to flee from the wrath to come and bear fruits in keeping with repentance. Though the people wondered if he was the Christ, John himself, said: 

As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Lk 3:16, 17) 

Like all that represented the old covenant, the law and the prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah who prophesied Messiah (Christ) and a new covenant; John proceeded the Christ in ministry. 

The law prepares the soul to receive the Christ. Not to say that one should clean themselves up before coming to Christ, but the law shows one need of Christ. Like the apostle Paul said, “The law brings the knowledge of sin.” (Rom 3:20) The law can bring us to Christ but no further. The law does not justify, it just shows us that we are guilty. It is God who justifies, and he is just to justify all in Jesus Christ.

Jesus came to be baptized by John before beginning his ministry. At Jesus’ baptism, God was present in the persons of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; one Devine being in three persons. Jesus is, therefore, fully God and fully man in one person. This is a mystery and yet revealed. Jesus was supposed, the son of Joseph, whose lineage dated back to king David, to Abraham, to Adam, but he preceded these patriarchs; he is the Son of God. Jesus both preceded the first man Adam and came after his supposed father Joseph. 

The Birth Announcement

Luke 2:1-52

All that we know of Jesus’ childhood is contained within this passage and Matthew 1:18-2:23; however, I will limit my comments to this passage alone.

Joseph took with him, to Bethlehem, Mary, to whom he was engaged, but had not yet known intimately, for she was with child; she gave brith to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. An angel of the Lord appeared to some shepherds, keeping watch over their flocks in the field by night. The angel announced the birth of the Savior for them and all people. They did not ask for a sign, but the angel gave them one: “you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” After this, a multitude of heavenly host came praising God. The shepherds believed, so they went to go see, and told the child’s parents what the angel told them. Jesus was the name given through the angel before he was conceived; therefore, after eight days, he was circumcised and given the name.  After the days of Mary’s purification (30 days) her and Joseph brought a sacrifice of two turtle doves, as was required by the law of Moses for someone who could not offered a lamb for a sin sacrifice. While in the temple, they were greeted by Simeon, a devout man, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and by a prophetess named Anna; both of whom prophesied great things about Jesus. Lastly, at the age of twelve, they took Jesus to the passover festival in Jerusalem. They stayed for a week, which is the length of the festival, which concludes with a Salem assembly on the seventh day. Jesus got left behind, it took Mary and Joseph three days two find him; he was in the temple, listening to the teachers and asking questions.

I find it amazing that the birth announcement of the Christ, the Son of God, was given to shepherds, keeping watch over their flocks, in the field by night and not to the leaders. This announcement was given to the lowly and not to the great. Mark did not record any of Jesus childhood, but starts his gospel at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mk 1:15) The gospel is for all people: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Lk 2:10-12) So, praise God and give glory to God and have peace among all men.