Year 1, Day 216: Luke 7

Compassion

Luke 7 can be summarized up in one word: compassion.  There is compassion in Jesus’ healing the centurion’s servant.  There is compassion in raising the widow’s son.  There is compassion in Jesus’ voice as he speaks to John’s followers.  There is compassion in the woman who rests at Jesus’ feet in Simon’s house.  It is largely compassion that motivates Jesus as the Son of God.

Compassion Meets Faith

In the story of the centurion, Jesus’ compassion is met with faith.  The centurion is used to command. The centurion knows the power of the word – and Jesus is about to show him the power of the Word. The centurion commands and his orders are followed.   Why shouldn’t it be the same with Jesus?

This is an unremarkable comment about faith.  Who in today’s day and age really expects someone to live up to their word?  For decades – and even more recently – our politicians have all but squandered any respect they might have regarding promises made during campaigns.  We don’t actually expect them to do what they promise.  Their promises simply inform us on what they would like to accomplish, not what we think they actually can do.  This isn’t just a modern concept, either.  Politicians in the ancient world lived the same way.

Our social leaders are no different.  Movies and music promise happiness and great life for those who live the way the actors, directors, and singers dictate.  But how much happiness really comes from living the lifestyle of our pop culture?  When you hear about the lives of the prominent in pop-culture, is happiness the word that you would use to describe their lifestyle? 

No, we live in a society where while we may fantasize about people living up to their promises, promises are seldom really kept.

But Jesus keeps His promise, and the centurion believes that He not only can, but He will.  In a world where the human word is so easily broken, Jesus’ keeps His word.

Compassion Meets Death

Now we turn to the dead widow’s son.  This poor man was dead, but he was destined to live.  Note the contrast.   A dead son destined to live is met by a living Son destined to die.  {No, that’s not mine.  I borrowed that from Warren Wiersbe today.}  We are no different, really.  We are all also destined to die, yet through Christ we can be destined to live!  What a difference is made by meeting Christ!  This boy meets Christ on his way to the cemetery and lives.  We meet Christ on our way to meet death and live eternally instead! {Some of us meet Christ earlier in the journey than others.}

And what is the outcome?  Word of Jesus spreads throughout the region.  Christ has made an impact and the word goes out.  Should this not also be true of us who should die in separation from God but rather die anticipating union with Him?  Should not word continue to spread about the greatness of Jesus?

Compassion Meets Despair

Then the messengers of John the Baptist come.  I’ve always read Jesus’ response as a criticism of John – as though John had sent his disciples to Jesus in doubt.  Even if he did doubt, well, so did Moses and Elijah and God considered them pretty good prophets in their day!  Anyways, I always imagined John sitting in prison doubting and sending out his disciples to try and get Jesus to move things along. 

But yesterday a few ladies in our congregation’s Bible Study introduced me to a more compassionate understanding in this story.  John likely was sitting in prison in despair.  He had followed God.  He had prophesied.  He had pointed to Jesus.  It had gotten him arrested and John had to know that Herod and his brother’s wife were looking for any reason to kill him.  The only thing that kept him alive was the government’s fear of the revolt of the people.  His days were numbered; there can be little doubt John was in despair.  I can see John needing comfort in those days.  Jesus gives it to John’s disciples, telling them to go and report to John what they are seeing around Jesus.

So it is with us.  We come to Christ.  As Bohoeffer says, “When Christ calls a man, He calls him to come and die.”  The closer we grow to God through Christ, the further we grow away from the world.  We are sometimes rejected or scorned.  In America, we are lucky enough to not be imprisoned.  But we hear people in other countries who are not only imprisoned but also killed for their faith.  We need to feel Christ’s compassion.  We need reassurance.  Christ gives it to us in the Holy Spirit: “Rest easy, Christian.  My yoke is easy and my burden is light.  Eternity with me awaits.  Fight the good fight.  Run the good race.  You’re almost there, just keep coming.”  {If this idea of remembering those who are imprisoned or killed for the faith is inspiring to you, check out an agency called Voice of the Martyrs.}

Compassion Meets Humbleness

Finally we have this deeply moved woman at Jesus’s feet.  {We need to be really careful not to confuse this story with Mary of Bethany in John 12:1-8 or with Mary Magdalene of Mark 16:9 or Luke 8:2.  Many people equate these stories and these women.  They should not be equated.}  Here is a woman whose actions display repentance and humility before Christ.  Although she is not given voice to her repentance, Jesus’ reaction confirms her sincerity.  This woman knows her life.  She knows the depth and the breadth of her sin.  She knows every reason why God should condemn her.  So she falls to the feet of Jesus and does the only thing left to do.  She weeps.

So it is with us.  Who among us is saved because we deserve to dine with Jesus?  Who among us is saved because while we were yet sinners God sent His only Son to die – a righteous offering for the unrighteous recipients?  When I look at my life, I must weep because I still have the effects of sin all around.  When I look at this world, I weep because the effects of sin are still around.  When I am confronted with the presence of Jesus and His compassion, what can I do but weep for how pale I am in comparison to his brightness?  I weep; Jesus saves.  You weep; Jesus saves.

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