Bible Study Thread: Luke

[BetteTheRed]

That they lay down everything and walked away from their loved ones & community to follow Jesus is intriguing

Especially when they'd just achieved the catch of their lives!

This story speaks to me of abundance. They had overnight had the experience of scarcity, and suddenly Jesus changes the situation to one of abundance. I see a parallel to the feeding miracles.

 

[unsafe]

Luke 5:12-13
Jesus Cleanses a Leper

Here we see the man with leprosy asking to be made clean and Jesus makes the man clean -----the man says here -----“Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean and well.

unsafe says -----The man was showing his unwavering dynamic Faith in who Jesus was and had no doubt that He could make him clean and well ------

Dynamic Faith is like dynamite ----it can move your situation right out of the way -----Jesus says you can say to this mountain go through yourself into the sea and IT Will Be Done ---- Promise here -----This is the Faith that this man had in Jesus to make him clean and it happened -----

Dynamic Faith is Bible Faith ---this Faith bring the unseen into this seen realm ----God Created this Planet by speaking Dynamic Faith Filled words ------the Book of James describes the 3 Kinds of Faith

unsafe says
Leprosy in the Spiritual sense is compared to Sin

Leprosy stars as a small sore on the skin and then advances to devour it's victim
Sin starts as a small a thought in the mind and if we don't correct it or stop it-- sin can and will eventually devour us Spiritually ----

Leprosy makes the person unclean and an outcast
Sin makes the person unclean in God's eyes and outcast to be part of God's family -

Leprosy leads to separation from society
Sin leads to Separation from God and His Kingdom

Leprosy requires the involvement of a Priest
Sin requires an involvement of Jesus the great High Priest

Leprosy is incurable without Divine intervention
Sin is incurable without Divine intervention

Leprosy requires atonement
Sin requires atonement

unsafe says -----If you read Leviticus 13 and 14 it goes into great detail about Leprosy and how it is to be treated

you can also read this if interested -----
Leprosy Symbolic

 

[BetteTheRed]

"Leprosy" in the bible covers all sorts of chronic skin diseases, not just true leprosy - Hansen's Disease. Even today, my nurse practitioner tells me she has three strategies for skin disorders: steroid creams, anti-fungal creams, nitrogen (to burn away problematic seeming areas).

 

[paradox3]

Summary: Luke 5: 12 - 26

1. In one of the cities, a man with leprosy approaches Jesus, saying "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean." Jesus stretches out his hand and touches the man. The leprosy immediately leaves the man but Jesus orders him to tell no one. He is to show himself to a priest and make an offering for his cleansing, as Moses commanded. Word about Jesus spreads and many gather to hear him and be cured of diseases. Jesus withdraws to deserted places and prays.

2. One day while Jesus is teaching, some men arrive carrying a paralyzed man on a bed. There is no way to bring him in because of the crowd so they take him up to the roof and lower him inside. Jesus is impressed with their faith and forgives their sins. The scribes and Pharisees consider Him to be speaking blasphemy because God alone can forgive sins. Jesus responds by telling the paralyzed man to arise and walk so that they will know the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. All are amazed. "We have seen strange things today."

 

[paradox3]

Reflection: Luke 5: 12 - 26

By now, Jesus is attracting large crowds and has come to the attention of the scribes and Pharisees.

We see him withdrawing to deserted places in order to pray.

In the story of the paralyzed man, the focus is on faith and the power of the Son of Man to forgive sins. When told to stand and walk, the paralyzed man is healed immediately. He takes what he has been lying on and goes home, glorifying God.

Curious that the purpose of this healing is to demonstrate Jesus has the authority to forgive sins.

Both of these healing stories appear in Matthew and Mark with only minor variations.

 

[Seeler]

Many years ago when I was young I remember starting to itch and discovered I was covered with huge, somewhat raised, red blotches. They hurt. And they frightened me, and I could see people drawing back from me. I can well imagine people in Jesus day being frightened that I might have leprosy since many skin diseases were lumped together as leprosy.

By the time I got to the doctor that same day they had disappeared completely. I felt embarrassed describing them, wondering if I would be believed. However my doctor explained that they were probably giant hives, a reaction to something I had been in contact with or eaten. A miracle explained.

If I had been in the presence of a loving, caring person who reassured me that I was not condemned, touched my inflamed patches, told me that I was healed, and that by the time I got back to my home, they would've disappeared, I might very well have credited him with a miracle – the miracle being that he would show love while others only showed fear.

 

[Jaebius]

Many years ago when I was young I remember starting to itch and discovered I was covered with huge, somewhat raised, red blotches. They hurt. And they frightened me, and I could see people drawing back from me. I can well imagine people in Jesus day being frightened that I might have leprosy since many skin diseases were lumped together as leprosy.

By the time I got to the doctor that same day they had disappeared completely. I felt embarrassed describing them, wondering if I would be believed. However my doctor explained that they were probably giant hives, a reaction to something I had been in contact with or eaten. A miracle explained.

If I had been in the presence of a loving, caring person who reassured me that I was not condemned, touched my inflamed patches, told me that I was healed, and that by the time I got back to my home, they would've disappeared, I might very well have credited him with a miracle – the miracle being that he would show love while others only showed fear.

Are you suggesting that one of Jesus' miracles wasn't a miracle then.

 

[Redbaron]

I'm struck by the faith/ hope/ persistence of the people who dragged the bed with their friend in it to the roof... wondered how they would let it down through the hole they made, without their friend crashing to the floor. They, too, had to hope their persistence would lead to something positive.

 

[Waterfall]

Especially when they'd just achieved the catch of their lives!

This story speaks to me of abundance. They had overnight had the experience of scarcity, and suddenly Jesus changes the situation to one of abundance. I see a parallel to the feeding miracles.

I see a connection to fish in many storys....even Jonah.

 

[Waterfall]

I'm struck by the faith/ hope/ persistence of the people who dragged the bed with their friend in it to the roof... wondered how they would let it down through the hole they made, without their friend crashing to the floor. They, too, had to hope their persistence would lead to something positive.

In our society it would be seen as jumping the queue and pushing ourselves to the head of the line in front of others.

 

[Jaebius]

Thoughts on Luke 5:14-26...

Jesus ordered the healed man to hurry to the priest, in order that the latter might make cleanness'declaration, and accept the sacrifices which were prescribed.

Jesus didn't want the matter published. He wanted the people to grasp that his miracles were only his ministry's secondary manifestations, his work being the Gospel's preaching.

The word concerning this miracle done to the leper went out. Jesus took the first chance that presented itself, and retired for prayer and spiritual communion.

Jesus got power from God to do his work according to God. This communication with God is something that today's missionaries should be copying.

Next comes in Dr. Luke's book the first indication of the effort on the part of the Jewish Church to discredit Jesus.

The story's unconnected with the foregoing, since Dr. Luke has no interest in chronological sequence.

The Jewish nation's chiefs had received information of Jesus' work. The local people, of Galilee's synagogues, the Law experts weren't equal to the situation. So they were reinforced by Judeans.

These were present in a house where Jesus was teaching. They were watching for a chance to accuse him.

And Jesus' power, God's majesty, was present in Jesus to the intent that he should heal. The Godhead in its three persons wrought humanity's salvation.

The chance for which the Pharisees and Law teachers had been waiting presented itself.

People brought a paralyzed man on a hammock. When these people arrived at the house where Jesus was, they sought a way to lay the sick man before Jesus.

They weren't long at a loss as to procedure. They climbed the outside stairway to the house's roof, they took off some of the tiles, and then lowered the man on his hammock before Jesus' feet.

Dr. Luke's account's shaped by his desire to make the manner of performing this work clear to his Roman reader.

Jesus paused his teaching, and his gaze swept the newcomers. In every one he read the conviction as to his ability to help, and also a pleading for mercy. He was satisfied with his scrutiny, and told the paralytic, "You're forgiven!"

☆ Sin is sickness' cause. ☆

By removing the cause, the consequences were taken away. The sick man knew this; he knew that the greatest gift became his by Jesus' word. It was a case in which Jesus knew where the healing must commence, in the soul.

As soon as Jesus had forgiven, the scribes and Pharisees began to discuss the matter. They were grieved that anyone presumed upon forgiving sins. Such pride they must label blasphemy; for only God could forgive sins.

That these scribes and Pharisees have the proof of Jesus' power, he worked with them present three miracles. First, sins' remission. Second, the revelation of the scribes' secret thoughts. Third, the paralytic's healing.

Jesus read their thoughts, and answered, calling them to account for their condemnation of his words. He asks them what they believed to be easier, to say, "You're forgiven," or to say, "Arise and walk."

The scribes and Pharisees thought that the former's saying would be the easier, since the fulfillment lay in the spiritual field and so couldn't be seen. That this miracle of mercy happened by Jesus' word they didn't believe.

Jesus did before them what they thought the harder, proving that his words to the sick man weren't blasphemy. That he'd the power to forgive sins, he showed by telling the paralytic, "Arise, pick up your hammock and go home."

And, suddenly, the sick man rose, grabbed his hammock and went home, giving God praise. His faith had won the day.

Jesus has power to forgive sins as Man's Son. Had God not become human and reconciled the world to himself, he'd not have had the power to save sinners, since His holiness must be preserved.

Jesus has given the power to forgive sins to his Church. This' power his servants administer according to his command. When the absolution's spoken, then such forgiveness' word's spoken down from heaven itself and is God's sentence.

Of this, the people had a taste on that day in Capernaum. The people glorified God, being awed in such evidence's presence. Their opinion was that they'd seen things contrary to nature.

 

[paradox3]

The story's unconnected with the foregoing, since Dr. Luke has no interest in chronological sequence.

Yes, this seems to be the case. These two stories do not appear in sequence in Matthew or Mark. It makes me curious about Luke's purpose in relating all his stories the way he does.

 

[paradox3]

I'm struck by the faith/ hope/ persistence of the people who dragged the bed with their friend in it to the roof... wondered how they would let it down through the hole they made, without their friend crashing to the floor. They, too, had to hope their persistence would lead to something positive.

Yes, and Jesus responds to the faith of the friends by telling them their sins are forgiven. I suppose there might be an argument that the sins of the paralyzed man are also forgiven. But the paralyzed man is healed to demonstrate to the Pharisees and scribes that Jesus has the power to forgive sins. The faith of the man does not appear to be part of the equation as far as the healing is concerned.

Jesus raises the question, Which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven" or to say, "Stand up and walk"?

What are we to make of this? I feel like I am missing something here.

 

[Jaebius]

Yes, and Jesus responds to the faith of the friends by telling them their sins are forgiven. I suppose there might be an argument that the sins of the paralyzed man are also forgiven. But the paralyzed man is healed to demonstrate to the Pharisees and scribes that Jesus has the power to forgive sins. The faith of the man does not appear to be part of the equation as far as the healing is concerned.

Jesus raises the question, Which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven" or to say, "Stand up and walk"?

What are we to make of this? I feel like I am missing something here.

And, suddenly, the sick man rose, grabbed his hammock and went home, giving God praise. His faith had won the day.

In my mind the sins of the man were absolutely forgiven.

 

[paradox3]

In my mind the sins of the man were absolutely forgiven.

If you believe that sin and sickness are the same thing, this makes sense. Perhaps the gospel writer believed this as well. Today we understand the role of viruses and bacteria in causing illness but the author of Luke would not have had this knowledge.

 

[Jaebius]

If you believe that sin and sickness are the same thing, this makes sense. Perhaps the gospel writer believed this as well. Today we understand the role of viruses and bacteria in causing illness but the author of Luke would not have had this knowledge.

I don't believe that sin and sickness are the same thing. I do believe that all sickness is a result of sin.

 

[paradox3]

I don't believe that sin and sickness are the same thing. I do believe that all sickness is a result of sin.

Seriously? I don't believe that at all. Which obviously influences the way you and I read this particular text.

 

[Jaebius]

Seriously? I don't believe that at all. Which obviously influences the way you and I read this particular text.

Yes, I'd say so. In my thinking paradox3, there was no sickness in the world until our first ancestors fell away from God in Eden.

 

[Carolla]

I don't believe that sin and sickness are the same thing. I do believe that all sickness is a result of sin.

I'm curious about how you reconcile this with your own epilepsy?

 

[Carolla]

In this passage we encounter the leper saying "if you choose, you can make me clean" - and Jesus replies "I do choose". What if Jesus had NOT chosen to cleanse the leper? Or was that even a possibility? This is that troublesome idea (for me at least) that those who recover do so at the pleasure/choice of the Spirit, and those who do not recover are somehow not 'the choice' of God. What distinguishes one from another?