(Originally written 22 August 1998)
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
CP Walker, Taegu South Korea
BIG IDEA: HUMAN NEED PERIODICALLY OVERRIDES CHURCH WORSHIP.
PROTAGANIST: THE BENTOVER WOMAN
REFERENCES: Genesis 1:24-26 (And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.); Acts 3:7 (The man at the gate whom Peter and John healed …); Luke 8:27 (And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs …);Luke 19:9 (– Zaccheus after his conversion was a son of Abraham); Exodus 20:8-10 (Ten Commandment: Reference to The Sabbath – Keep It Only); Psalms 146:8 (The Lord raises them that are bowed-down …); Psalms 38:6 (… raises them up …); 2 Kings 4:12, 15, 36 (call this Shunamite … take up thy son …); Proverbs 17:22 ( A merry heart doeth good like a medicine but a broken spirit drieth the bones; James 5:16 (The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man ...); Matthew 18:19-20 (Again I say unto you, if any two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my father in heaven ...);
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: LUKE 13:10-16
II. THE LARGER CONTEXT:
NOW, BEFORE WE BEGIN, ALLOW ME TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME HISTORICAL TRUES REGARDING THIS BOOK OF THE GOSPEL. For example, in The Book of Luke , we find the narrative of Luke (the physician) inscripted to Theophilus – a Roman Ruler – for the purpose of giving him an ORDERLY ACCOUNT OF THE ACTIONS OF CHRIST AND CHRISTIANITY.
In fact, Luke begins with a PROLOGUE (which is very similar to that of MATTHEWS) in Luke 1:1-4, and ends with the disciples being filled with joy - PRAISING AND BLESSING GOD IN THE TEMPLE IN LUKE … CHAPTER 24.
III. THE SMALLER CONTEXT:
NOW, IN OUR PARTICULAR TEXT, THIS AFTERNOON, LUKE (BRIEFLY) SHARES WITH US THE ACCOUNT OF JESUS ATTENDING PUBLIC WORSHIP ON THE SABBATH … AND HEALING A WOMAN.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, LUKE conveys to US THAT EVEN BODILY INFIRMITIES, unless very grievious, SHOULD NOT KEEP US FROM
PUBLIC WORSHIP because God can heals us beyond our expectations.
In other words …. Luke tells us (this afternoon) that this BenTover Daughter of Abraham, after 18 YEARS OF SUFFERING both spiritually and physically … FINALLY … HEARD THE CALL, AND looked beyond her circumstantial conditon to CHRIST. AS A RESULT, JESUS RELIEVED HER OF HER SPIRITUAL AND BODILY INFIRMITY. In fact, the scripture reads:
IV. READ THE PERICOPE: LUKE 13:10-16
V. READ THE TEXT: Luke 13:15-16 (The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo,
these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the
sabbath day?).
VI. PURPOSE: To motivate the HEARERS to affirm to others that (AS CHRISTIANS) COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE MUST BE SHOWN FIRST BEFORE WE SHOW COMPASSION TO ANIMALS OR LESSER THINGS.
VII. SERMONIC THEME: “…The BenTover Woman …”
VIII. Proposition: Christians should adhere to Jesus’ teaching to show compassion for human beings before showing compassion for animals.
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INTRODUCTION:
Help Wanted
A local business was looking for office help. They put a sign in the window, stating the following: "HELP WANTED. Must be able to type, must be good with a computer and must be bilingual. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer."
A short time afterwards, a dog trotted up to the window, saw the sign and went inside. He looked at the receptionist and wagged his tail, then walked over to the sign, looked at it and whined.
Getting the idea, the receptionist got the office manager. The office manager looked at the dog and was surprised, to say the least. However, the dog looked determined, so he lead him into the office. Inside, the dog jumped up on the chair and stared at the manager.
The manager said, "I can’t hire you. The sign says you have to be able to type." The dog jumped down, went to the typewriter and proceeded to type out a perfect letter. He took out the page and trotted over to the manager and gave it to him, then jumped back on the chair. The manager was stunned, but then told the dog, "The sign says you have to be good with a computer."
The dog jumped down again and went to the computer. The dog proceeded to demonstrate his expertise with various programs and produced a sample spreadsheet and database and presented them to the manager. By this time the manager was totally dumb-founded! He looked at the dog and said, "I realize that you are a very intelligent dog and have some interesting abilities. However, I *still* can’t give you the job."
The dog jumped down and went to a copy of the sign and put his paw on the sentences that told about being an Equal Opportunity Employer. The manager said, "Yes, but the sign *also* says that you have to be bilingual." The dog looked at him straight in the face and said, "Meow."
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MOVE 1: Fortunately, for most of us, we haven’t had the type of experience that this
manager had with dogs. Still, even those of us that aren’t TRUE DOG or
ANIMAL LOVERS, can appreciate a GOOD DOG JOKE when we hear it.
a. BUT ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE …despite the fact that Genesis 1:24-26 clearly states man’s Dominion over animals and the earth
b. FOR AS YOU MAY RECALL …THE SCRIPTURE SAYS: And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
c. Still, there are many people in the STATES and abroad that believe
animals deserve equal or better treatment than human beings.
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MOVE 2: In fact, just recently in my reading, I came across a book by ….
a. GARY L. FRANCIONE OF RUTGER’S UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW. MR. FRANCIONE IS KNOWN THROUGHT THE UNITED STATES AS THE NATION’S LEADING ANIMAL RIGHTS LAWYER.
b. HIS KEEN INSIGHT AND LONG PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ANALYSIS WHICH ADDRESSES THE HUMAN/ANIMAL RELATIONSHIP THAT PROVIDES A CREATIVE THEORY FOR REDEFINING THAT RELATIONSHIP.
c. MORE SPECIFICALLY, MR. FRANCIONE RECENTLY WROTE A BOOK THAT RECOGNIZES ANIMALS AS MEMBERS OF OUR MORAL COMMUNITY.
d. HIS BOOK IS ENTITLED, “INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL RIGHTS: YOUR CHILD OR YOUR DOG? HIS THESIS IMPLIES THAT ANIMALS, LIKE HUMANS ALSO DESERVE NOT TO SUFFER; AND SHOULD NOT EXPERIENCE PAIN.
e. CONSEQUENTLY, WE SHOULD ALL ACKNOWLEDGE ANIMAL RIGHTS, AVOID EATING MEAT AND BECOME VEGETARIANS … BECAUSE ANIMALS ARE MEMBERS OF OUR MORAL COMMUNITY.
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MOVE 3: JUST THE OTHER DAY … I WAS IN THE FOOD COURT AT CAMP HENRY …
WHEN A CIVILIAN WALKED INSIDE THIS ENCLOSED PUBLIC FACILITY
WITH HIS SMALL NEETLY DRESSED … DOG ON A LEACH.
a. NEEDLESS TO SAY … HE DIDN’T FEEL “LOTS … OF … YOU AND YOUR DOG BELONG IN HERE VIBRATIONS” …
b. ON A SEPARATE INCIDENT … I’VE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS SAME INDIVIDUAL HAS SHOWN-UP AT CP WALKER’S COMMISSARY WITH HIS DOG … AND DESPITE THE URGING OF THE COMMISSARY EMPLOYEES TO LEAVE THE FACILITY … HE PROCEEDS TO SHOP FOR GROCERIES …
c. THIS MAN OBVIOUSLY (LIKE MR. FRANCIONE FEELS THAT HIS PET IS VERY MUCH A PART OF OUR MORAL COMMUNITY); AND CONSEQUENTLY DESERVES TO GO WHERE EVERY HUMAN GOES.
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MOVE 4: SIMILAR IN OUR TEXT TODAY, WE FIND A RELIGIOUS DEBACLE
TAKING PLACE BETWEEN JESUS AND THE PHARISEE OF THIS
CHURCH/SYNAGOGUE …
a. AND THIS DEBACLE WAS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANIMALS AND HUMANS.
b. JESUS SPECIFICALLY DEMONSTRATES ….IN OUR SCRIPTURES THE CARE HE EXPECTS TO BE RENDERED TO THE LESS FORUNATE HUMAN BEING.
c. IN FACT, HE TAUGHT …A REALITY LESSON FOR ALL TO SEE …. WHICH TAUGHT THAT IT’S MORE IMPORTANT TO FIRST SHOW COMPASSION FOR THE BENTOVER DAUGHTERS AND SONS OF ABRABRAM … BEFORE SHOWING COMPASSION FOR ANIMALS …
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MOVE 5: FOR DON’T YOU REMEMBER … JESUS WAS TEACHING IN CHURCH
… WHEN ….
a. ALL OF A SUDDEN … HE SAW … THE BENTOVER WOMAN …
b. …WITH A MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDER CALLED SCOLIOSIS ..
c. WITH SCOLIOSIS … THE SPINE IS CURVED ABNORMALLY, AND A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE HIPBONES, THIGH BONES, KNEES AND FEET …
d. SCOLIOSIS AND ITS TREATMENT CAN CAUSE PSYCHOLOGIC PROBLEM – THREATENING ONE’S SELF IMAGE.
e. SHE WAS ALREADY LATE TO CHURCH …. BECAUSE THE TEACHING HAD ALREADY STARTED.
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MOVE 6: I BELIEVE THAT SHE WAS TRYING WITHOUT WITHOUT FANFARE
…or attention TO EASE HER WAY … TO HER PEW TO WORSHIP
AND PRAY.
a. BUT JESUS SAW HER … FOR YOU SEE … THE LORD SEES THE BENTOVER DAUGHTERS AND SONS OF ABRAHAM , ….
b. WHEN OTHERS SEE ONLY RULES AND REGULATIONS….
c. EVERRY ONE OF US AT SOME POINT AND TIME IN OUR LIFE IS LIKE THE BENTOVER WOMAN …WHO COMES DESPERATE AND IN NEED INTO JESUS’ PRESENCE.
d. BENTOVER … SEEING ONLY THE ROCK BOTTOM (GROUND) … WE CAN’T SEE JESUS …AND ARE UNABLE TO LIFT OURSELVES UP OUT OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES …
e. … BECAUSE WE ARE HELPLESS …AND WE FEEL HELPLESS.
f. OUR HEARTS ARE FEELED WITH LONLINESS AND DESPAIR … FOR WE HAVE NO IDEA … THAT JESUS IS PRESENT AND WATCHING US …
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MOVE 7: THEN SUDDENLY …. HE CALLS …AND THE REASON WHY HE CALLS
IS BECAUSE HE CARES …
a. NOW MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS … WHEN JESUS CALLS … EVERY DEMON TAKES NOTICE AND FLEES …
b. SO EVEN THOUGH PHYSICALLY … WHEN THE BENTOVER WOMAN RECEIVED THE CALL … SHE WAS STILL BENTOVER …
c. HER SPIRIT HAD BEEN ELEVATED …
d. AND THINGS WERE LOOKING UP …
e. SO MUCH SO THAT SHE COULD NOW SEE JESUS …
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MOVE 8: WHEN THE LORD CALLS US … WE DON’T HAVE TIME TO HEAR
WHAT JILL OR JANE IS SAYING ABOUT US …
a. IT’S TIME TO BE COMPLETELY HEALED.
b. FOR JESUS SAID TO HER … WOMAN THOU ART LOOSED …
c. IN OTHER WORDS …. I KNOW THE DEVIL HAS HAD YOU BOUND FOR 18 YEARS … BUT IT’S TIME TO COME OUT OF AND BE FREED.
d. AFTERWARDS, … HE LAID HANDS ON HER … AND SHE RECEIVED A COMPLETE HEALING ..
e. AND SHE GAVE HIM THE GLORY .. FOR MAKING THE CROOKED … STRAIGHT ..
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CELEBRATION: MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS … I’M SO GLAD THAT WHEN JESUS CALLED HER … HE SAID WOMAN … AND HE DIDN’T CALL ANY PARTICULAR NAME ……
BECAUSE IF JESUS HAD CALLED HER BY NAME
IT WOULD HAVE LIMITED THE DELIVERANCE …
BUT BECAUSE HE SAID … WOMAN … THOU ART LOOSED …
HE AFFORDED … EVERY DAUGHTER AND SON OF ABRAHAM … IN CAMP WALKER’S CHAPEL THIS MORNING … THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE FREED FROM THEIR ROCK BOTTOM VIEW OF LIFE …
FREED TO LOOK-UP … BEYOND THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES AND WORSHIP …
FREED TO PRAISE …AND GIVE GOD THE GLORY … !
