COMING HOME: THE FORGIVING GOSPEL AND FOUNDATIONS OF BELIEF
Luke 5:17-26: LIFEWAY WINTER QUARTERLY 2020/21 SESSION 10
In 2004 archeologists unearthed the remains of a first century road beneath the pillar commemorating the martyrdom of St. Valentine in Rome: The Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini. In the catacombs near the monument is a 3rd century gathering sight of the early church with plaques that tell one of the most well known stories of St. Valentine (Valentinus). Valentine was a Christian 3rd Century Physician and tutor and most likely a slave (similar to Luke the Gospel Writer Himself). Valentine was tutoring a jailer’s blind daughter named Julia and taught her science and the scriptures. Julia converted to Christianity before his martyrdom by Emperor Claudius II during the world wide Christian persecutions of the 3rd Century by the Roman Empire. Valentine was convicted of aiding and abetting the enemies of Rome (Christians) and refusing to worship the state mandated idols. Before his execution at the now Palazzo Valentini he wrote a letter of encouragement, comfort and exhortation to Julia to stay strong in her faith and to remember to not grieve as one who has no hope because she knows Jesus (1st Thessalonians 4:13-14). The story relates that along with medical treatments Julia and Valentinus prayed fervently for the healing of her eyesight but that no miracle occurred until after Valentinus’ death when she received the letter of spiritual encouragement that he had signed: “You’re Valentine…” What lengths would you go to for the possible healing and welfare of a friend? What would you be willing to do like the friends of the paralyzed man in Luke 5 so that a friend could “come home” to a place that was the same but completely different because of Jesus?
In our lesson today we will see how caring friends and one young man’s sufferings led to an opportunity towards faith, belief and forgiveness for some, and an obstacle/stumbling block of rejection and prideful envy for others. We will examine the questions of “what is to be the foundation of our belief and how does that make a notable difference in our relationship with God and others? What helped the young man and his “crew” to believe while the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law were still trapped in their spiritual blindness? How can our faith be strengthened and not hindered towards a strong witness to others and glorify God? Let’s take a look…
Luke 5:17-26 is what we call one of Luke’s “pronouncement” stories. Physical miracles in the Gospels while they show the compassion and supernatural power of Jesus are used in an even greater way to show that Jesus is both the Son of Man and Son of God. They are physical events that point and speak to deep spiritual Truths while at the same time not just showing “about” those doctrines but fulfilling them and showing Jesus’ love of humanity and His Gospel message of redemption (Jesus as Messiah the heavenly Gift of Father God given, Jesus as the gift received by all those who put their faith in Him, and Jesus and His Gospel proclaimed to the world). Jesus as the Son of Man and the Son of God is the only one who can forgive sins because He is God incarnate come in the flesh and all those who place their faith in Him are forgiven and justified. The healing of the young man after his sins are forgiven is the “sign” and proclamation of Jesus’ divinity. Luke is making the point that it is not the young man’s faith that made him well- Jesus made him well, but that faith in Jesus- belief and trust in His name- is critical to our forgiveness. There are four things Luke wants his listeners to know from this proclamation story: faith takes steps of belief in action, faith is rooted in the forgiveness offered by Jesus, the foundation of our belief and ultimate healing (redemption) comes from Christ, and our faith in following Jesus should result in glory to God, great joy and solid testimony.
Verses 17 through 19 show us that faith that is pleasing to Jesus is faith that takes steps of belief in action. The young man and his friends didn’t “know” and “believe” that Jesus was the Messiah but they did know and believe that He was special, and they were all both desperate and hopeful that Jesus could and would heal. The thing that kindled hope in the young man and his friends’ hearts was that “just maybe” Jesus would heal him and they went through some drastic measures (going “thru the roof”) to try and get to Jesus. The men “wanted to believe” and not be skeptical while Luke makes clear that the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law wanted to judge and expose Jesus as a “false teacher” their expectations were already predisposed to unbelief… When I had to “hire” people as a manager at Blockbuster we were taught to guard against what we called the “halo and pitchfork” effect. Basically, it meant we were to be aware of our predispositions towards others (not an easy thing to do) and make sound judgments based upon the facts, and qualifications of the candidate. It didn’t mean we could get rid of all bias but we still needed to have an open mind towards others and not go into the interview with our minds already made up or preoccupied with something else. The Pharisees were already predisposed to Judge Jesus… It is right that they were checking his doctrine, but it was wrong that they were placing their judgments above the welfare of others and oblivious to their prejudices- they knew the Law but they completely missed the intent of the Law (that people are not made for Law but the Law for people- see Mark 2:27) and it made them critical and harsh.
They saw Jesus as a threat to their traditions, a rising star setting their own, and were stuck in habits and modes of thinking that were detrimental to their revealing of Jesus as the New Testament Truth out of Old Testament promises. The friends on the other hand, were predisposed to desperation and hope as a result of lovingly helping a friend. The Pharisees were predisposed to judge and find fault. Luke wants us to know that Jesus was predisposed to help others and proclaim His Lordship thru the healing- as Messiah and redeemer forgiveness and healing went hand in hand! The question for those who were around him was one of faith in Him as LORD (offering forgiveness) and then Savior (healing). One thing disabled people who are victims of crime know is that practicing forgiveness will always bring some form of healing but physical healing (getting a prosthetic, good PT and learning to walk again and “heal up” doesn’t necessarily bring about a forgiving heart. Sadly, I worked with another minister whose story of being hit by a drunk driver was much like mine. And like me he was determined to heal quickly and walk with a prosthetic and he did! He healed faster and better than anyone I’ve ever peer-visited but his motivation to walk again was not to improve his quality of life but “to find and give that kid that hit him what for!” I pray that he has come to a place where he can forgive but at the time “healing” did not bring “forgiveness”.
Jesus came to forgive sins and offer all of us ultimate healing through belief and faith in His name. Our faith is rooted in the fact that Jesus came to forgive sins and redeem sinners that is His Mission through the Gospel and it has not changed. Every Miracle has its time limits its appointment time with death (Rom 6:23) but the wonder (only God does wonders) of the resurrection and eternal life is found only through Faith in Him and the forgiveness He offers. This is why Jesus asks a riddle to the Pharisees in v.23: “which is easier to say, your sins are forgiven or get up and walk?” The question’s answer is rhetorical and implied- it is easier to say “your sins are forgiven” because the only people to know if they really are forgiven is God and the individual while responding to “get up and walk” requires a definite verifiable evidence. You see forgiveness requires an element of faith while healing is a fact in this story. Jesus provides both… He encourages, grows and justifies the young man’s faith while giving him the healing to evidence that He indeed has the power and authority to forgive the young man’s sins- the others too if they would believe… The gift of Messiah Jesus has come, He is received by those who recognize their need of Him and His forgiveness, and His salvation is proclaimed by the healing He brings and the praise and glory He is given by those who trust in His name.
There are two groups in this story: one that is forgiven, justified and healed and one that is not. The young man and his crew recognized their need of Jesus, they were willing to take risks in those needs to come before Jesus and they trusted that Jesus could “save” them- physically by the miraculous healing, and spiritually by accepting His forgiveness. The Pharisees on the other hand, couldn’t see the righteous intentions behind the Law, and they were still blind to Jesus being the righteous fulfillment of the Law. These “religious leaders” had no faith that moved them towards Jesus while the young man and friends did… Why the difference? We’ve discussed one already: predispositions. The men came to Jesus predisposed towards Him in the humility, desperation and hopes of their needs. The Pharisees were predisposed to judgment and criticism. The other issue the Pharisees had was pride. Pride never leads to faith but can lead to foolishness. Proverbs tells us that wisdom comes from the “fear of the LORD” (Prov 1:7) the recognition of His greatness and our need of Him. Jesus tells us in the beatitudes that “blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”- Mt 5:3 and nothing brings about our recognition of our poorness in spirit like the suffering, and difficulties of life that are beyond our control and ability to handle. The Pharisees approached Jesus in the confidence of their own understanding (Prov 3:5-6) thinking they didn’t need anything from Jesus but instead in their minds He needed their “authority” to teach: and they were quick to condemn Him (5:21-22)! And as a result, their opportunity to believe became a stumbling block of pride that would lead to their rejection of Jesus.
Now how about us? What predispositions do we struggle with as we study scripture and approach God’s Word, and how about in our prayers? Are we depending upon God as we study and pray? Are we in need of His forgiveness- even more so are we looking for forgiveness or do we think we can handle our failures as well as our successes on our own? Do we have a humble, forgiving and interceding heart towards others or are we more apt to judge and if so why is that the case?
One thing I imagine from Luke’s story is what happened to this young man after he received Jesus’ forgiveness and restoration… I can see him returning to his home to an old familiar place but with a whole new lease on life filled with glory to God, and proclamation and praise of His name. It makes me remember the day I finally got the clearance to get a prosthetic limb after 5 months of healing from an ulcer at the end of my stump. I stood up and walked for the first time! And then, 3 years to the day of my car accident, August 20th 2009 I found myself walking up on my new leg to the heavy bronze doors of Southwestern Seminary’s main rotunda. I was so filled with joy that I seized those doors like Samson and opened them with all my might! WHAM!!! The sound of the doors closing behind me was like everlasting thunder- I went and stood in the middle of the global mosaic at the center of the dome and shouted: “I’M BACK!!! THANK YOU LORD! YOUR NAME BE PRAISED!” I don’t think my feet hit the ground that whole Fall semester of 2009. I was so overwhelmed by His grace and goodness- towards me after 3 years of great hardship for me and my family. This literal “being raised to walk in newness of life,” made me want to share with everyone I met what God had done in my life- and honestly it’s still there today- 11 years later! Where there had been bitterness, vengefulness and despair- when I turned to Jesus’ forgiveness once more He touched me in the deep places of my soul and gave me a yearning to share compassion and mercy I scarce new existed when I had been occupied with my own self importance. I’d come home back to a new life in Him, and I’m convinced the young man in Luke had too!
Has the forgiveness of Christ Jesus in your life brought you home fresh and anew? We’ve all felt “paralyzed” by Covid and social distancing, the loss of so many people we hold dear, changes in traditions and the methodology of our worship and fellowship in ways we have never imagined. We’ve seen foolishness, vitriol, and division in places of leadership that were once known for integrity, character, kindness, servanthood and unity a short time ago and we wonder if we will survive. Yet God still moves, and by His grace and forgiveness so do we! Our lives are still in motion for His purpose, will and Mission by His great love and mercy over and in us! And I’m convinced greater things are ahead- revival is coming. Will we stand wounded and healed in the middle of this messy world as salt and light ambassadors of His Kingdom come- proclaiming what He has done, trusting by Faith that He is in control and at work today, and looking forward with great expectation and hope for what HE WILL accomplish in and through us for tomorrow! Let’s continue to pray for each other, for the Lost, for the fruits of the Spirit to be evident in our lives and for the healing of the nations and our own healing by the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior and LORD! I’m praying for each of you and I am still only a mouse click away (dray@wyliebaptist.org) and would love to hear from you! All the best this week and may God richly bless you!
Love in Christ, Darrin.