GOSPEL OF LUKE - Chapter 7 Forgiveness

Gospel of Luke – Chapter 7  FORGIVENESS

Luke 7:6-7 (MSG) Worthy

 “Master, you don’t have to go to all this trouble.  I’m not that good a person, you know.  I’d be embarrassed for you to come to my house, even embarrassed to come to you in person.  Just give the order and my servant will get well.” 

 

Luke 7:12-15 (MSG)  Widow’s Son

 “As they approached the village gate, they met a funeral procession – a woman’s only son was being carried out for burial.  And the mother was a widow.  When Jesus saw her, his heart broke.  He said to her, ‘Don’t cry.’ Then he went over and touched the coffin.  The pallbearers stopped.  He said, ‘Young man, I tell you: Get up.’ The dead son sat up and began talking.  Jesus presented him to his mother.”

Luke 7:16 (MSG)  Holy Mystery

 “They all realized they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them.”

Luke 7:22-23 (MSG) Are You the One?   

“Go back and tell John what you have just seen and heard: The blind see, the lame walk, Lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, The wretched of the earth have God’s salvation hospitality extended to them.  Is this what you were expecting?  Then count yourselves fortunate!”

         John’s disciples had to know…is this the Messiah? I am trying to put myself in their shoes….the excitement, the anticipation, the joy!  Miracles were happening!  If this is the man of prophesy, he has come!

         We see what we want to see.  If we aren’t expecting the salvation of God, we won’t recognize it when it comes.  Do we need the proof as John’s disciples seemed to want?  Can’t we look around us and see the proof of God at work on a day to day basis? 

         Jesus IS the one!  Expect it!  Accept it! 

7:31-35 (MSG)  Fast or Feast 

  “How can I account for the people of this generation?  They’re like spoiled children complaining to their parents…. John the Baptizer came fasting and you called him crazy.  The Son of Man came feasting and you called him a lush.  Opinion polls don’t count for much, do they?  The proof of the pudding is in the eating.”

         You can’t please everyone all the time!  Fasting or feasting – the people weren’t happy.  They didn’t know what to think.  Perhaps John fasted in preparation.  Jesus’ mission while here on earth was a celebration of God in our midst.  So much of his storytelling takes place around meals, around shared experiences.  But what are the results?  That’s the proof!  John gathered recruits, he baptized, he prepared people for the feast!  He got results!  Jesus went among the people, he ate with them, he broke bread with them.  Jesus made relationships count over a meal.  Jesus got results!  Fast or feast – the approach doesn’t matter as long as relationship with God ultimately happens.

 

Luke 7:38 (MSG)  Pursue the Forgiver

“Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume.”

Luke 7:41-43 (MSG)  Forgiven Most

“Two men were in debt to a banker.  One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty.  Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts.  Which of the two would be more grateful?’  Simon answered, ‘I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.’ “

Luke 7:44-47 (CEB) Forgiveness Demands a Response

“She wet my feet with tears and wiped them with her hair….She hasn’t stopped kissing my feet….She has poured perfumed oil on my feet….She has shown great love.”

Luke 7:50 (GNT) Accept Forgiveness

“Your sins are forgiven.  Go in peace.”

Explanation....most of the Chapter 7 scribbles were previously drawn, so I have just included the scripture passage.  Commentary was published with the original blog posting.