Day 7 Wednesday Feb 24 2010

Day 7 Wed February 24, 2010

TODAY’S INTRO
This picture on the right. We will not experience that with God!

Yesterday, Jesus was in his hometown but pretty much overstayed his welcome. His proclamation of Jubilee and probably “overstepping his authority” (in the eyes of the hometown crowd) pretty much forced a quick exit. In those days it was rare to leave home. Unlike our day when people may graduate school and find jobs across the country or even world, first century children did not go running off to start preaching tours (or take jobs) elsewhere. Today, Jesus leaves any safety net he may have had and heads for a new town, Capernaum (a small fishing village)

TODAY’S TEXT- Luke 4:31-44
. 31 He went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the sabbath. 32They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority. 33In the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34"Let us alone! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." 35But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" When the demon had thrown him down before them, he came out of him without having done him any harm. 36They were all amazed and kept saying to one another, "What kind of utterance is this? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!" 37And a report about him began to reach every place in the region.
Healings at Simon's House
38 After leaving the synagogue he entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. 39Then he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them. 40 As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them. 41Demons also came out of many, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah.e
Jesus Preaches in the Synagogues
42 At daybreak he departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowds were looking for him; and when they reached him, they wanted to prevent him from leaving them. 43But he said to them, "I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose." 44So he continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues of Judea.f


TODAY’S STATUS UPDATE
Last Sunday, I lifted up (in worship) the fact that the New Testament definition of church has nothing to do with a physical structure. The greek word ek-klesia means “sent out”. Church by definition means “sent”. We are people sent out into the world to represent Jesus and his ways. Simple concept. Not always very easy to do in the busy, frontlines of daily living.

Jesus himself was “sent”. Sent by God on a mission to save, to heal, to bring peace, and new understanding. God is the one who sends! God is the “sender”

One of the things we see today and also will see many more times in Luke is Jesus praying. He “returns to the one who sent” him over and over and over again. (see 3:21, 6:12, 5:16, 9:18, 9:28,29; 11:1; 22:32, 22:41)

I must admit, I had an Elvis Presley song running through my head as I read this- “Return to Sender” (I was a small kid when Elvis died but his music is played enough that it sticks). Unfortunately, Elvis was singing about a quarrel with his girl. He’d sent a postcard apology to his girl after a lovers spat and she wrote on the card, “return to sender. Address unknown. No such number. No such zone”.

Some people have difficulty praying. They attempt to pray and they feel that their prayers come back unanswered, as if God himself was writing on them “return to sender. Address unknown”.

What we must know however is that is not the case at all! When we return to our sender, when we pause to give thanks or pause to ask for help, he yearns to run and embrace us. We might jump forward and ponder the lost son in Luke 15, who flees from his Father, yet he returns. And even before he gets all the way home, the Father runs to meet him. May that be our experience with prayer—that as we start to return, as we start to pause—God, the sender comes to meet us!


Prayer- Lord God, our sender, help us to return to you on a daily basis. In the busyness of our lives, help us to pause and listen to you. we know that you will meet us on the road, at the juncture of our daily existence. Greet us and heal us and lift us up to be your faithful people. amen



FRIENDS ADDED
New friends in Capernaum—lots
Crowds
Those healed

CAUSES
Ministry of Healing and Wholeness – will be prominent theme in Luke
Prayer- Returning to “Sender”


Other notes
For the Elvis fans—here’s his song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z54-QHEZN6ETHER NOTES