Christian Quest
Lesson 9
Early Ministry Miracles and Teaching
Part 2 of 2 - Luke's View

Reading:
Luke chapter 7 and 8:1-3

We have seen that in the beginning of Jesus' ministry, from the time after his baptism and 40-day sojourn in the wilderness, the emphasis of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) in the beginning of his ministry, was his power of healing, performing miracles, and teaching. And he drew a following of disciples, much like John the Baptist had, and went about teaching and calling people to repentance. Very quickly, word spread about his healing power and miracles, and his reputation spread far. His following grew to more than that of John the Baptist. Within the first year he appointed twelve from among all the disciples to be his Apostles. From there, they went about from city to city and village to village to teach and preach. Crowds followed everywhere Jesus went. He taught not only on hillsides and beside the sea, but in the synagogues.

Synagogues
Synagogues are thought to have begun in the Jewish culture after the Israelites returned from Babylonian exile. Public readings of the Law by Ezra the priest after the exiles resettled in Jerusalem (Neh. 8) may have spurred the beginning of practice that led to the synagogue system. Where the tabernacle and temple with their sacrifices were for the whole nation, a synagogue was for a local gathering place where Jews met for prayer and study of the Law of Moses (Torah). Scores of synagogues came into being in Jerusalem and other cities during the 200 years or so before the New Testament era. They were constructed wherever ten or more men expressed the desire to preserve their Jewish customs and preserve adherence to the Law.

Synagogue worship included reading from the Law (Torah), praying, and a sermon or commentary on the Scriptures. Any competent member of the congregation might be asked to read from the Torah or bring the sermon. A guest might be invited to read and offer comment or interpretation of Scripture. This privilege was extended to Jesus at Nazareth early in His ministry when he read Isaiah 61:1,2 and explained that the ancient prophecy had been fulfilled in Him that day. (Luke 4:16-21)

The remains of several synagogues have been uncovered by archeologists. They are generally rectangular structures with a large central seating area very much like modern churches. The congregation sat on stone benches along the walls or cross-legged on the floor. The main piece of furniture in a synagogue was the ark, where the sacred scrolls with the Law were kept. The ark was placed along the wall nearest to the city of Jerusalem--the direction which the people faced during a synagogue service.

Synagogue life, as influenced by the rabbis of a community, came to dominate the religious thinking of the Jewish people during the "New Testament" period. Each local synagogue had its own ruling group, which governed religious behavior among the Jews in that community. The emphasis of the synagogue on Scripture, prayer, and a sermon in worship has influenced the order of service used in most Christian churches today.

Anointing
In this study of Luke, it will be helpful to understand the custom of anointing in the Bible. The act of anointing was to pour oil on a person's head, and it was a common practice in Bible times. A guest in a home was customarily anointed as a gesture of hospitality, not only to show honor but to soothe the skin after coming in from the hot dry climate in Palestine; this and washing the feet. During an anointing, the person usually would kneel while the oil was poured over his head. The substance used was olive oil, myrrh, or sweet cinnamon. When Jesus was invited to the home of a Pharisee named Simon, a woman heard of it and came to anoint him with perfume. Evidently the self-righteous host had overlooked this expected courtesy and did not even provide water and towel. The woman performed the service with what she had, which was the perfume she brought, her hair, and her tears.

Anointing was also a distinctive religious rite among the Jews. An individual might be anointed in the appointment to a special work or service. Israel's kings were anointed and called the "anointed ones" as they were anointed by prophets acting on instruction from God.

In a spiritual sense, empowerment by the Holy Spirit is referred to as anointing, as when Jesus' disciples were anointed for special service on Pentecost, after His ascension. (Acts 2:1-4) In the New Testament, anointing was also frequently used in connection with healing. Jesus' disciples anointed the sick (Mark 6:13), and James instructed the elders of the church to anoint the sick with oil (James 5:14).

Synopsis of Luke Chapter 7:
Luke's account following Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" goes directly to Jesus return to Capernaum. It is in Matthew's that we find the healing of the man afflicted with leprosy is healed right after the sermon. Luke had reported it earlier, in chapter 5, as a healing that Jesus had performed when he was in one of the cities. Both Luke and Matthew give the next healing, that of the Roman centurion's slave in Capernaum.

Luke 7:1-10 (Also Matt. 8:5-13)
Jesus heals the Roman centurion's slave. To the multitude following him, he commends the soldier for confessing greater faith and any in Israel.

Luke 7:11-16
Only Luke tells about Jesus bringing the only son of a widow back to life. The miracle astonished the coffin bearers, and they began glorifying God and Jesus as a "great prophet."

Luke 7:17-23 (Also Matt. 11:2-6)
Both Luke and Matthew report John the Baptist sending two of his followers to ask Jesus if he is the "expected one" or "coming one". It is from Matthew's record that we know John had been arrested and was in prison at the time. Perhaps John, being in prison, was beginning to wonder when the promised Messiah, for whom he was the forerunner, would liberate Israel. As Jesus was going about preaching, healing, and his disciples were baptizing, perhaps John began to wonder if Israel's deliverer were someone other than Jesus. When John's disciples brought the question to Jesus, he performed a number of healings for them to witness, casting out of evil spirits, and restoring sight, hearing, and cleansing lepers . Then Jesus told John's disciples to report back to him what they had seen, and not to be stumbled.

Luke 17:24-30 (Also Matt. 11:7-15)
Jesus praises John as among the greatest of men. Yet, he says the least in the Kingdom of God is greater.

Luke 7:31-35 (Also Matt. 11:16-19)
Jesus points out the flawed reasoning of the men of their generation by contrasting John the Baptist with himself. Of John, he points out that he was one in the wilderness, eating bread and drinking no wine, and they say he is demonized. Jesus by contrast comes eating and drinking and they say he is a glutton and wine-drinker who eats with sinners and tax collectors. Yet wisdom is vindicated.

Luke 7:36-50
This report is only in Luke:
A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to dinner. In accepting the invitation and arriving, the Pharisee did not offer the customary greeting of a kiss, nor a basin of water for washing his feet. A woman in the city heard that Jesus was a guest of the Pharisee and came with perfume and anointed him. The self-righteous Pharisee thought if Jesus were really a prophet, he would realize this woman was a "sinner". The Pharisees believed that is was unholy to touch a "sinner" and they could not enter the temple sanctuary on the Sabbath if they had touched a sinner or a leper or a woman during menstruation.

Jesus responded to Simon with the parable of the two debtors in which he illustrated that in forgiving sins, one who has much sin has more to be grateful for than one who has little sin. He then told the woman her sins were forgiven, and the dinner guests began to question who this was who even forgives sins.

Luke Chapter 8, verses 1-3:
After this, Jesus and the twelve Apostles began going from city to village proclaiming the kingdom of God. (Also Matt. 4:23) Some women also accompanied them, including Mary Magdalene (see Matt. 27:55) and Joanna, the wife of a steward of Herod. And there were others. These contributed to supporting Jesus and the Apostles (Matt. 14:1).

Optional research:

Review questions:

Optional discussion: What might Jesus have meant that the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist, whom Jesus said was among the greatest of men ever born?