Context
Matthew, Mark, and Luke wrote about the same person, and told many of the same stories. In fact, it is believed by many that there was a document circulating in the early church which all three writers relied on for their books. Each was under the power of the Spirit as well. But each also had a different purpose, different theme, different thrust for their gospel. Matthew focused on Jesus as King of the Jews, but Luke, believed to be either a Hellenistic Jew or perhaps even a Gentile, focused on those stories where Jesus reached beyond the narrow circles of Judaism. His genealogy went back to Adam.
In Luke 7:36-8:3 we see two stories that show Jesus' concern and compassion for a group of people that the religious world often forgot, discounted, or disrespected - women. Jesus treated them as people, as co-bearers of the image of God and as people of worth and value. At the end of Luke 7 we have a shocking story of Jesus showing compassion for a woman of low character, someone the religious leaders would uniformly shun. He gave grace and forgiveness to the woman, and a bad case of heartburn to the Pharisees. Then, in Luke 8:1-3 we read acknowledgment of the women who traveled with him and were his friends, his disciples (though not part of the Twelve), and his support.
These are part of a theme in Luke, showing how Jesus moves beyond human boundaries to love and reach those the world rejects.
The very significant story of the unpardonable sin will be dealt with in more detail when we look at it in its setting in Matthew. Suffice it to say that we need not live in fear that our sin are beyond redemption. What sins I've committed Christ can forgive.
Devotional - By Beelzebul's Power
Where there's smoke, there's fire.
I've heard that phrase more than once, spoken to give support to the veracity of rumors that were going around. There must be something to all those rumors. Why would so many people be telling so many stories if it weren't true? Where there's so much smoke swirling around, there has to be some fire somewhere.
But does there? I've tried to start a bonfire and gotten a lot of smoke going, but couldn't really get the blaze to light underneath. There was smoke, but there was no real fire. The adage is not always true.
Look at what happened to Jesus in Mark 3:22. Jesus has grown to a level of popularity that even his family has become bothered by what is going on. They come down from the Nazareth mountains to seaside to try to take him home, calm him down, get him to stop making such a ruckus.
Then the religious leaders came down from Jerusalem to Galilee to confront him. Jesus had been doing nothing but good. He'd been preaching about God's kingdom, healing the sick, casting out demons and even raising the dead, as with the widow's son in Nain. How could anyone criticize him for that? For healing and freeing people from demons?
But the religious leaders, filled with jealousy and fear had a different take. "He is possessed by Beelzebul and by the Prince of demons he casts out demons." They blamed Jesus' work, his work of healing, of love and mercy, his work that was helping so many people, on the power of Satan.
They were seeing a lot of smoke but there was no fire.
Please understand this, my Christian friend. When you are serving God, walking in the fullness of the Spirit and serving Jesus Christ with all your heart, it is still possible to face harsh criticism. No, that's not right. It's more than that. It's expected! It is normal for the enemy to try to undermine the work of God. No matter how pure your heart, how powerful your walk, how sweet your spirit, or how godly your intent, someone will do to you as they did to Jesus Christ.
- They will say what you are doing is wrong.
- They will say your motives are not pure.
- They will question your decisions, your purposes, your methods.
- They will challenge your right to do what you are doing.
When you are doing the will of God, the Pharisees will call your work demonic. If you need everyone to like you and speak well of you, serving God is not going to work out that well for you! Our duty is to love God and serve him regardless of what anyone else says or does. Jesus did not allow the lies of the religious leaders to derail or discourage him. He expected them and he endured in the service of his Father.
When you serve God, you will be criticized for it, both inside the church and outside. But enduring in Christ is the key to significant service in the kingdom!
Father, may my goal be to hear your amen! May I endure the scorn of men to receive your "well done."
Think and Pray
'How do you respond when people criticize you? Do you react in anger? Defend yourself? Fall apart? Give up what you are doing?
It is true in the Bible that almost every great servant of God was criticized when he did what God called him to do. How should you respond to criticism in a way that is humble, courageous and faithful to the call of God?
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