Welcoming The Light Of Life Series

Welcoming the Light of Life

Series: Encountering Jesus (through the Gospel of Luke)

Brad Bailey – August 4, 2019

#33 in series

Text: Luke 11:27-36

Intro

Today we going to engage the nature of light.

Light may be the element in life that is taken most for granted.

It just seems to be there when we want it.

Imagine a world with no light. No sun… no moon… utter darkness.

That may help us to appreciate what Jesus speaks to us today.

As we continue in our ongoing series of Encountering Jesus through the Gospel of Luke… we encounter Jesus having just delivered a man who was bound mute by evil spirits… the man begins speaking… and we pick up in what is designated as the 11th chapter and 27th verse.

You can follow along with the text…and then we can agree in prayer for God to speak to us.

Luke 11:27-36 (NCV)

27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out to Jesus, “Blessed is the mother who gave birth to you and nursed you.”

28 But Jesus said, “No, blessed are those who hear the teaching of God and obey it.”

29 As the crowd grew larger, Jesus said, “The people who live today are evil. They want to see a miracle for a sign, but no sign will be given them, except the sign of Jonah. 30 As Jonah was a sign for those people who lived in Nineveh, the Son of Man will be a sign for the people of this time. 31 On the Judgment Day the Queen of the South will stand up with the people who live now. She will show they are guilty, because she came from far away to listen to Solomon’s wise teaching. And I tell you that someone greater than Solomon is here. 32 On the Judgment Day the people of Nineveh will stand up with the people who live now, and they will show that you are guilty. When Jonah preached to them, they were sorry and changed their lives. And I tell you that someone greater than Jonah is here.

33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a secret place or under a bowl, but on a lampstand so the people who come in can see. 34 Your eye is a light for the body. When your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But when your eyes are evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. 35 So be careful not to let the light in you become darkness. 36 If your whole body is full of light, and none of it is dark, then you will shine bright, as when a lamp shines on you.”

Prayer: God …May these words …as your words…speak to us. May you speak to us…and enlighten our hearts. Amen

(Texts below…which are the sections of entire text… on screen to allow following what is being referred to…but only portion were re-read.)

Luke 11:27-28 (NCV)

27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out to Jesus, “Blessed is the mother who gave birth to you and nursed you.”

28 But Jesus said, “No, blessed are those who hear the teaching of God and obey it.”

As Jesus spoke… a women speaks out a word that is not hard to imagine. This woman in the crowd is blown away with who Jesus is, and she shouts out a blessing to what she assumes must be a very special mother.

To Jesus… there is something within those words that needs to be addressed.

A mother deserves her honor. But the more ultimate blessing comes not with mere association… but with alignment… with responsiveness.

Some may recall another account in the Gospels in which Jesus is teaching in a crowded…packed home…and someone tells Jesus that his mother and brothers are standing outside waiting to talk to him. Jesus replies, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” He points to the disciples and says, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:48-50) [1]

This is not a call to lack honor for one’s mother… or to lack care for one’s mother. Jesus honored and cared for his own mother.

What he is confronting is the sentimental religious nature that gives the appearance of praise…but is really just placating.

Jesus saw many who come as fans… more than as followers.

A fan is defined as an enthusiastic admirer. 

A fan can cheer the team…but he never joins the game.

He can wear the T-shirt and have thorough knowledge of the game and the players involved. He can feel like he is part of the game but never actually joins the team.

In fact…one of the symptoms of a being a fan is that you think you are a follower.