Luke 14:1-6
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
In this transitional passage, Jesus again heals on the Sabbath, but this time the circumstances have shifted. Read Luke 14:1-6 imagining you are there observing this healing as it unfolds before you.
Once again, Jesus accepts an invitation to dinner at the home of a religious authority, and once again it is obvious that Jesus’ host has motivations other than hospitality. Among the guests is a person with an obvious physical ailment – an unusual choice for the invitation list – and because this is a Sabbath meal, everyone is watching to see how Jesus will respond to the apparent “test.”
They need not wonder what Jesus will do. It is not “work” for Jesus to heal this man - he simply touches him and then sends him away healed and whole and far from the watchful eyes of the people at the table. The real issue is not Sabbath rules but the religious authorities’ lack of compassion and concern for a person in need. In their zeal for Sabbath-keeping they have missed the point that Sabbath is a gift for people rather than an obligation to an empty rule.
Let the essence of Jesus’ question to the Pharisees sink in for a moment: Is it more important to adhere to the letter of the law, or is it more important to act in accordance with the spirit of the law?
Then stop to assess whether you are driven more by obligation or compassion in the exercise of your faith. Talk openly about this with Jesus.
Read Luke 14:1-6 again with this in mind.
The Pharisees refuse to answer Jesus’ first question, but they are actually unable to answer his second. They came to put him to the test, but Jesus has turned the tables and tested their hearts instead, and they have been found lacking.
Get still for a moment and let your thought settle. Breathe in the name of Jesus and with every exhale, let go of distracting thoughts.
When you feel calm, consider asking Jesus if there is a question he would like to ask you today. Don’t try to force this, just listen and see what comes to mind.
What might Jesus be asking you?
How will you respond?
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The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.
