St Louis UBF UBF Bible Study : Luke 7:18-35 (2011)

Bible Study Materials

Luke 7:18-35 (2011)

by Paul Choi 01/23/2011

Question

A Sense of God’s history

Luke 7:18-35

Key Verse: 7:22,23

1. Read verses 18-20. Where was John? (Mt 11:2) With what question and for what reason did John send his disciples to Jesus? Explain this part sufficiently.

2. Read verses 21-23. What was Jesus doing? How did he answer John's disciples? What does his answer reveal about him and the work of the Messiah? (18; 4:18; Isa 35:5,6) Why is it important to know the difference between worldly history and the history of God? (23) Think of some people with a sense of history--Isa 6; Rev 1:7,8.

3. Read verses 24-28. How did Jesus rebuke the ignorant and indifferent people? How do Jesus' questions expose the indifference of the people? Even though John was in prison, Jesus taught them that John was the greatest man in history. Why do you think so?

4. Read verses 29-30. Ordinary people were baptized by John and said, "God's way is right." What does it mean? How did the Pharisees respond? What was their sin before God?

5. Read verses 31-35. How did Jesus describe these religious leaders? How did they show their childishness? Why must leaders not be childish? Why was Jesus happy in spite of their rejection? Who are the children of wisdom? How can we have a sense of God's history in light of this passage?

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A Sense of God's History (Lk 7c)-questions.doc

Message

A SENSE OF GOD’S HISTORY

Luke 7:18-35

Key Verse: 7:22,23 “ So he replied to the messengers, ‘Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

Last week we studied about Jesus who comforted a widow who lost her only son by saying, “Don’t cry.” Jesus had reasons to say “Don’t cry” because he could remove the cause of her tears. By saying, “Don’t cry” Jesus wiped tears from her eyes. By saying “Don’t cry” Jesus revealed himself the resurrection and the life. Jesus also wipes tears from our eyes. There is no sorrowful tear in Jesus. Jesus who wipes our tears is a good shepherd with full of compassion. Amen.

Today’s passage teaches us a sense of God’s history. People say that this world is going nowhere and its situation is getting worse and worse. But, it is not the case when we study today’s passage. Jesus teaches us how to have a sense of God’s history and how to see the world’s history and person’s destiny with God’s perspective. Besides, Jesus teaches us what we really must do in our days as of first importance.

First, John sends his disciples to Jesus for counseling (18-20) Look at verses 18,19. “John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Here John indicates John the Baptist. John’s disciples might have followed Jesus and witnessed what Jesus had done. They saw the blind received the sight and the dead were raised. They heard people saying about Jesus, “A great prophet has appeared among us.” “God has come to help his people.” (7:17) John’s disciples might have thought if Jesus were the promised Messiah when they thought about his marvelous teachings and powerful healing miracles. However, their master, John the Baptist, was still in prison. His master John the Baptist was imprisoned after he had rebuked the king Herod to repent of his immorality with his brother’s wife, Herodias. John’s disciples must have been frustrated and dispirited whenever they thought about their master John who was behind bars. Injustice and immorality seemed to prevail over the country. They expected Jesus would release their master John from the prison with his mighty power if he were the Messiah. John’s disciples were confused and frustrated when they visited their master John and reported all things about Jesus.

How did John help his disciples? John called two of them and sent them with his word, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (19) John knew the troubles in his disciples’ heart. John must have thought that sending them to Jesus and asking him personally if he would be the Messiah could be the best way to help his disciples. John himself also wanted to know if his mission was completed as the forerunner of the Messiah as Jesus’ ministry became powerful and prevalent.

Second, the work of the Messiah (20-24) At the very time John’s disciples came to Jesus with the questions, Jesus was curing many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and giving sight to many who were blind. (21) Jesus was doing what he had to do as the Messiah. How did Jesus answer John’s disciples? Look at verses 22-23. “So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” Jesus did not answer them “Yes, I am the one.” Instead he asked them to testify what they had seen and heard about himself. Jesus gave sight to the blind. Jesus made the lame walk. Jesus touched the man with leprosy and healed him. Jesus opened the ears of a deaf so that he could hear God’s word. Jesus raised the dead. Above all, Jesus preached the good news of the kingdom of God to the poor.

In fact, what Jesus had done is the fulfillment of the Scriptures. Isaiah 35:5-6a describes what the Messiah would do when he comes. These verses say, “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.” Here Jesus teaches us what the work of the Messiah really is. The work of the Messiah is not turning over the Roman Empire to release the Israelites. The work of the Messiah is not changing social system or developing living environment. The work of the Messiah is neither political or social. The work of the Messiah is life-saving and life-giving. The work of the Messiah is to heal the sick and to preach the good news of the kingdom of God. The work of the Messiah is to care for the needy and to give living hope to the depressed. The work of the Messiah is to bring his people to the kingdom of God through repentance and forgiveness of sin. The work of the Messiah is spiritual and redemptive.

In these verses Jesus teaches us clearly what we Christians must do in our days. This world seemed to be overcome by the power of evil. Injustice and corruption seemed to be prevailing and dominant over our community and society. The power of Satan seemed to sweep over our young students with temptations and deceptions. What should we do? Jesus gives us a clear answer through today’s key verse. We must participate in doing the work of God by following what Jesus did in the time of troubles. We should go out and preach the word in season and out of season. (2 Ti 4:2) We should bring spiritually blinded people to Jesus so that he may open their eyes to see Jesus and to see the kingdom of God. We should teach the word of God until they repent of their sins and accept the forgiveness of sins. Our one to one bible study seemed to be insignificant. Comparing to the current of the evil power, our one to one Bible study looked nothing but a piece of wood floating down on the river. However, it is not true. In the midst of turmoil, the work of God is going on. The work of the Messiah is continuing. The work of salvation is occurring here and there in the hearts of people around the world through our one to one Bible studies. The spiritually blind open their eyes to see Jesus and to enter the deep spiritual world. For example, four years ago, I taught one young man about the deep spiritual world through Luke’s gospel. At that time, he did not know what I was talking about. But these days, God opened his spiritual eyes to understand what I am talking about. God opened his spiritual eyes to see Jesus and the deep spiritual world.

When John the Baptist was imprisoned, people thought that the world was filled with injustice and corruption. There seemed to have no hope at all in this world. However, while they were despairing and sighing, the work of God was mightily going on through Jesus and his disciples. When UBF started in Korea in 1961, Korea was in the middle of a deep political and social turmoil. After the Korean War, devastation and impoverishment was prevailing over the country. Young students went out to streets to protest against the corrupted government. There seemed no hope in this country and in young peoples’ heart. At that very time, UBF was born. God used Dr. Samuel Lee and Missionary Sarah Barry to start Bible studies and prayer meetings in campuses in Kwangju Korea. The work of salvation began to work in the hearts of young people through one to one Bible studies. Many spiritually blind received their sight. Many spiritually leprous people were cured. Many spiritual dead people came to life. There was a great work of the Holy Spirit in Kwangju, Seoul and other cities in Korea in 1960s-70s. Those who looked like fading flowers under the wall were transformed into mighty warriors. Those who looked like sick chicken were changed into the high-rising eagles. Those who were defeated to their fate became world conquers and history makers in God’s redemptive history.

The history of this world is like the throne of Caesar. It looks glorious and splendid. But, it did not last long. It disappeared without any trace. On the contrary the work of God is like the manger of Jesus. It looks humble and insignificant. But, it lasts forever. It never disappears, still works and continues and spreads. Our one to one Bible study is like the manger of Jesus. Nobody recognizes our one to one Bible study. No one knows missionary Grace Park’s broken heart for her slippery Bible students. No one perceives the work of the Holy Spirit, the work of transforming, the work of spiritual growing in the hearts of people through one to one bible studies. But there is life, eternal life in the Bible study as there is eternal life in the manger of Jesus Christ. There is hope, a living hope in the Bible study as there is the hope in the manger of Jesus. There is love, life-giving love in Bible study as there is the sacrificial Father’s love in the manger of Jesus. This is why we must not despair in our days. This is the reason why we should continue to go out for reaching out and to teach the Bible. This is the reason why we should be joyful and happy in the time of seemingly despairing circumstances. I pray that God may give us the eyes of Jesus to see the work of God in us and around us. May God enable us to have a sense of God’s history that this world is ruled by God and is going to fulfill God’s purpose, especially his redemptive purpose. Amen.

Look at verse 23. “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” In this verse Jesus meant that those who have the sense of God’s history to see the work of the Messiah and believe in him as Lord and Savior will be blessed. In verses 24-28 Jesus emphasizes the importance of having the sense of God’s history and believing him as the Messiah through the story of John the Baptist. Look at verses 24-28. “After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” In these verses Jesus revealed the greatness of John the Baptist as the forerunner of the Christ. John the Baptist was not swayed by the circumstances. He did not compromise, but straightforwardly delivered the message of repentance to King Herod. John the Baptist lived a simple and pure life in the desert as a servant of God. He wore camel’s hair and ate honey and locust. He was the prophet, especially the prophet like Elijah, whom the prophet Malachi had predicted. (Mal 3:1, Lk 1:17) Jesus praised John the Baptist that John is the greatest man among those born of women. However, Jesus said that the one who is in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist. Jesus did not mean to derogate the greatness of John. Jesus meant how precious, how important, and how urgent to believe in him and to enter the kingdom of God. To acknowledge the work of the Messiah and to believe in Jesus is greater than to do anything else on this earth. According to Jesus’ word, one person’s conversion is not a small matter. It is much greater than a space men landing on the surface of the moon. Amen.

Third, spiritually ignorant people (29-35) When John the Baptist preached the message of repentance, many ordinary people including tax collectors repented and were baptized by John. They were humble and repentant. But, the religious leaders such as Pharisees and experts in the law rejected John’s message of repentance. The Bible says that they rejected God’s purpose for themselves. They rejected becoming a kingdom of priests and a holy nation for the whole world. They were proud and spiritually ignorant.

Jesus compared them and the spiritually ignorant people like children in the market place. They were not good children like our CBF children who study hard, do their homework, practice their musical instruments and pray before they go to bed. The spiritual leaders were like children in market place (the mall) who ate junk food and played video games all day long. They did not respond to John’s message of repentance and Jesus’ work of the Messiah. They were like indifferent and ignorant children in market place. They just criticized whomever God had sent for their repentance. They criticized John the Baptist as a demon-possessed man since he had lived a pious and devoted mission-centered life (33). They also criticized Jesus as a glutton, drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and ‘sinners’ because Jesus spent time and had fellowship with them. (34) How did Jesus defend John the Baptist and himself? Look at verse 35. “But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” Jesus meant that they would see who is right and who is wrong by those who follow Jesus and live according to his will. Jesus meant that they will see the great work of the Holy Spirit and fruits of Jesus’ ministry in God’s time.

In today’s passage Jesus taught us how important for us to have a sense of God’s history. History is “His story”, the story of Jesus. Political leaders are not leading the world. Money does not lead history. God rules the world and leads its history. We are in the middle of God’s redemptive history. Since world history is going forward to the second coming of Jesus Christ, we are in the center of God’s history. Indeed, we are the history- makers. We are the Kingdom builders. We are building the kingdom of God by teaching one to one to seemingly hopeless people. We give them hope for eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. We encourage them to participate in the world campus mission through one to one bible studies. Last week I met a person at Wash U. I will start building God’s kingdom in his heart from today. Please pray for me and for him. May God give us spiritual eyes to see the world with God’s eyes and make America a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Amen.

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