Luke 11:1-26, The Finger of God

Jesus is teaching as he travels through Galilee and on south towards Jerusalem.

Luke 11: 1-4, The Lord’s prayer
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: 

`Father, hallowed be your name, 

your kingdom come. 

Give us each day our daily bread. 

 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. 

And lead us not into temptation. '"

When asked to teach on prayer, Jesus's response is very simple.  It is so simple that many churches recite this prayer every Sunday.  What does it mean to pray through these five short phrases/principles?

The fourth line, the one about forgiveness, assumes that we all need forgiveness and that we are also active in forgiving others. It makes no requirements but assumes a certain culture in this kingdom.

Luke 11: 5-13, God’s eagerness to answer prayer
Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'

"Then the one inside answers, `Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.'

I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

In teaching about prayer, Jesus emphasizes a simple, raw boldness of going directly to God and expecting God to hear and respond!

Note the implicit poverty in the story.

Luke 11 : 14-20, The finger of God
Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.

But some of them said, "By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons."

Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub. Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 

But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

Why are some so opposed to Jesus healing a mute man?  (This opposition will only intensify.)

Implied by this passage is that others have been able to drive out demons.  But Jesus claims that his demonstrations (using "the finger of God" -- what an interesting term!) proves that it is indeed God who is at work and it is God's kingdom which is coming.

Luke 11 : 14-21, Opposition
"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.

"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.

"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, `I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first."

These short proverbs serve as warnings to those who are now watching Jesus, those around him who get to see the "finger of God" at work. This audience has a responsibility to react to this coming kingdom.  They cannot just sit back and enjoy short term benefits (healings, food) while this new kingdom approaches.

Luke 10, Satan Falls Like Lightning

Jesus is in his final year of ministry, headed ultimately towards Jerusalem. The large group of disciples following him are organized into an outreach to the nation of Israel.

Luke 10: 1-9, Seventy sent out
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

"Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. When you enter a house, first say, `Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house."

"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, `The kingdom of God is near you.'

Jesus emphasizes simplicity. The disciples are to act immediately, to travel lightly and report back. (These instructions are not a guide for all ministry travel!)

The kingdom of God, already growing among the disciples, is near and there is an urgent need for the rest of Israel to respond.

Some ancient manuscripts have 70 disciples being sent out instead of 72.

Luke 10: 10-16, When the Good News is rejected

But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, `Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.  But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths."

"He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."

Wiping the dust of one's feet was a symbol of rejection.  A Jew would not want to carry even the dirt of the Gentile community back home.  Here the Israelites who reject Jesus are being treated as if they were Gentiles.  This continues a theme begun by John the Baptizer, that of reminding the Jewish people that their ancestry and tribal history are insufficient and that they, just like the Gentiles, need redemption.

From the NIV footnotes, "the depths" assigned to Capernaum is the Greek word "Hades", representing the rubbish pile or the underworld and often translated "Hell."

Luke 10: 17-24, Satan falling from heaven!
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."

He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.  All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."

The disciples return (after an unspecified time) enthusiastic and excited about their success. Jesus endorses their enthusiasm.  Yes, the kingdom of God is coming and Satan is in retreat.

Luke attributes the joy Jesus feels with the activity of the Holy Spirit (in verse 21.)

The book of Revelation mentions Satan being thrown down from heaven. I don't think that event has any particular moment in time but may be outside the human timeline, as we see it.

Luke 10: 25-28, A Samaritan teaches a Jew
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

He answered: "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, `Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

This is a strong Jewish response, one Jew to another.  The expert on the Torah has quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18.

Luke 10: 29-37, A Samaritan teaches a Jew

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. `Look after him,' he said, `and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

"But he wanted to justify himself...." That phrase could describe most of us, when we examine ourselves or ask Jesus a question.  We should not underestimate our ability to rationalize our own behavior!  Here Jesus undercuts the man's rationalization with a story.  Much of Jesus's teachings involve stories which entertain on the surface but after serious thought begin to change one's perspective.

Jesus begins his story with a tragedy and then has two "religious" people (priest and Levite) ignore the beaten victim.  A Samaritan (not a pure Jew) is the hero of the story, generously treating the injured man. There is, of course, the moral, "We are all neighbors and should look out for each other," but underneath there is a message about religious hypocrisy and racism.

NIV footnote: "Two silver coins" is literally "two denarii."

Luke 10: 29-37, The disciple, Mary
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Luke records a woman among Jesus's followers and also relates Jesus's mild rebuke of Martha, who wanted to pull Mary aside to do some "real" work.

Luke 9: 28-62, Transfiguration and Beyond

Jesus has just told his disciples, "Some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God".  It is not clear what he meant by that, but this sentence is followed by a startling event witnessed only by the three disciples closest to Jesus.

After this, Jesus turns towards Jerusalem and the cross.

Luke 9: 28-36 Transfiguration
About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)

While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."  When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.

What does it mean (verse 31) "bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem"?  Presumably Moses and Elijah are discussing the crucifixion and resurrection.

Luke records that Moses and Elijah were in "glorious splendor". C. S. Lewis would suggest that residents of heaven are "more real", closer to Light.

As usual, it is Peter who quickly responds.  And, as usual, Peter is rebuffed.

Luke 9: 37-43a, Child with evil spirit
The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.

A man in the crowd called out, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not."

"O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here."

Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

The father has a child (his only child) in consistent pain and danger.  This is torture for both parent and child. The diagnosis is an "unclean spirit", which Jesus is quick to rebuke.

Jesus also rebukes the generation around him as "unbelieving and perverse."  It is not clear (to me) what creates this response.  Regardless, at every turn, the disciples fail to live up to Jesus's expectations. I find that reassuring.

Luke 9:43b - 50, The Son of Man will be betrayed
While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, "Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men."

But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all--he is the greatest."

"Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us." 

Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."

Jesus, once again, tries to prepare his disciples for the events that will occur in Jerusalem.  And once again, they are slow to comprehend.  Here they are derailed by a petty argument about which one of them would be the greatest!

Less we despair too much about the disciples following Jesus, we should remember that our source for these details are these followers themselves. The disciples later repeated these stories, including details that displayed their own frailties and silliness.  (I feel much better after reading about their immaturity and confusion!)

Luke 9: 51-56, Towards Jerusalem
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village.

Jesus is now determined to go towards Jerusalem.  He has prepared the disciples for this and it is time to walk south, through Galilee into Samaria, eventually to Judea and Jerusalem, teaching along the way.

According to the NIV Footnote, some manuscripts record the disciples asking for fire from heaven "even as Elijah did".  Some manuscripts also add a phrase to Jesus's rebuke: "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."

Luke 9: 57-62, Focused on the goal
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

He said to another man, "Follow me."  But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."  Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."  Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Luke records -- just as Jesus has set his sights on a final trip to Jerusalem -- three separate incidents in which a follower gives an excuse for not joining Jesus on his travels.