Watch the Sunday School video for March 6, 2022
posted on the church Facebook page.
Listen to Him: Forty Steps on the Road to Resurrection
by J.D. Walt
Tuesday, March 1st — Sunday, March 6th
Focal passages: Luke 9:37-45 and 10:17-24
J.D. Walt tells us that the goal of this study is not for the reader to gain information about God. Listen to Him is written to encourage us to engage with the words of Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us in the process. Walt reminds us that transformation is always done in the context of relationship.
Listening is key to any successful relationship. But listening isn’t easy. Our minds wander and we have our own opinions and experiences to share. On our journey with Jesus, it will require something of us if we are going to let His words awaken us from our comfortable slumber and challenge our pre-conceived ideas.
I encourage you to spend a few moments each day, reading and reflecting on the daily Scripture passage, the devotional, and the prayer. Perhaps you will also want to read the passage aloud in order to allow the words of Jesus to sink deep into your heart and mind. Each week in our Sunday school videos, we will reflect on the devotional entries from the previous week. My prayer is you will join us as we walk with Jesus all the way to the Resurrection.
Luke 9:37-45
After the Transfiguration, Jesus comes down from the mountain and is greeted by a chaotic situation. The child endures terrible seizures. The father brought his child to the disciples for healing but they have been unable to help the boy. The father turns to Jesus. Will he be able to cast out the demon which is destroying his son?
Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit and heals the boy. While everyone looks on in joyful amazement, Jesus pulls his disciples away from the crowd. Instead of basking in the glory of the moment, Jesus begins to speak to the disciples about what awaits him in Jerusalem.
The disciples must have been so confused. In this moment of great joy, which Jesus has clearly demonstrated that he has the authority of God, he is talking about his death. They were expecting a Messiah who would put an end to the dominance of Rome. They wanted a military leader. It seems that Jesus is telling them something else entirely. How strange for Jesus to speak about suffering. This is clearly a development they did not expect, nor want to hear.
We can see ourselves in the response of the disciples. We can be confused and limited in our understanding of God’s truth. We can’t help but come to the reading of Scripture with our own ideas and past experiences. If we aren’t careful, we might miss what God is saying to us in the moment. “It’s hard to learn what we think we already know” (page 8). This is why slow and careful reading of Scripture is vital to our continued spiritual growth. The more familiar we are with the Gospel story, the more likely we are to hurry through theses passages. The beauty of Scripture is that there is always more for us to understand and experience. In order for us to come face to face with Jesus on this journey to the Resurrection, we must be willing to engage with His words to us in a humble way. As disciples, we must submit to the Master who is the one who shows us the way.
J.D. Walt points out that Lent is a time for getting in touch with our “holy discontent,” which occurs within us because “we have too much of what does not matter and too little of what actually does.” During Lent, we have a special opportunity to listen. And as we focus on the words of Jesus, we will eventually recognize our brokenness before God. As we see our sin more clearly, we will come to a place of deeper love for God and surrender to him.
This won’t be a quick process, but in this time of intense discipleship we will begin to understand the extravagant love of God.
What are the challenges you face when you read a familiar Bible story? How can you approach these passages with fresh eyes and an open heart? What might you eliminate that would result in a greater opportunity for you to listen to all that Jesus will say? What do you need to add to your life in order to continue your spiritual growth?
Luke 10:17-24
Earlier in the chapter, Luke records that Jesus sends 72 of his followers out on a missionary journey. He gives them instructions for how they are to behave, especially when they sense rejection. Jesus says they should not worry about how people respond to their message. Jesus will speak through them, and work through them. Ordinary people will become “change agents of Jesus” as they speak on behalf of Jesus.
In these verses, Luke records that the 72 have returned from their mission. They are filled with excitement because they have experienced the power of God at work through them. Jesus responds with complete and authentic joy as he celebrates with his Father. God has chosen to work through the most unexpected people. God has spoken through those who come to him as children. Those who live in relationship with God are the ones who know God. Those who live in relationship with God will be used by God as he reveals himself through them to the world.
What difference would it make in your life if you truly believed yourself to be an agent of Christ sent into the world to advance the Kingdom of God? Why is your humility more important to God than your education or personal success?
J.D. Walt spends time in the introduction sharing his personal experience with the “Jesus Prayer.” Would you consider praying this prayer along with us each day? Perhaps God will reveal himself to us in a deeper away as we reflect on all that it means.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a son/daughter.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a saint. Amen!
