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Luke

Luke 
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Day 84

Luke 7:17-23 ( Cf Luke 3:18-20) "AND THIS REPORT ABOUT HIM..." Luke 7:17"

Day 84 – Luke 7

Text: Luke 7:17-23 ( Cf Luke 3:18-20)

“AND THIS REPORT ABOUT HIM…” Luke 7:17

This is the third time now, that Luke used this phrase in his Gospel narrative. It is obvious that Luke, in his research, must have carefully tracked the life and ministry of Jesus. He was doing more than just writing about his personal understanding and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! He was making very careful observation about public opinion towards Jesus. The general multitude may not have been able to arrive at the correct theological conclusion as to who Jesus really was, nevertheless, it couldn’t be said that the things He said and did were done in a corner!

Let’s take a look at these three notations. In each observation, Luke noted the triggering factor. Each one was different, but all were outstanding:-

1. At Capernaum Luke 4:37

What triggered off this notation, was the casting out of a unclean spirit from a man in a synagogue in Capernaum. People were amazed at the “authority and power” that Jesus displayed. People could not help but notice how Jesus, with a word , dealt with the unclean spirit! They had never seen anything like it! “And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region” (Luke 4:37).

2. In an unknown city Luke 5:15

Presumably in the same Galilean region, Jesus was at “a certain city” when a man “full of leprosy… fell on his face and implored Jesus” to make him clean (Luke 5:12).

This miracle was outstanding! Whoever had heard of anyone able to heal a leper! Though the leper was personally instructed not to spread the news of the power of Jesus to heal (Luke 5:14), he found himself unable to comply. He went out and shared with people how he was healed. Despite the fact that Jesus did not want this kind of publicity, nevertheless, “the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.” (Luke 5:15)

3. In the city of Nain Luke 7:17

Once again, there was an outstanding miracle that warranted the third observation. In the city of Nain, Jesus raised a young man from the dead, and returned him to his widowed mother! Never had anyone heard that it was possible to raise the dead!

Demons cast out, badly diseased people healed, the dead raised – these were public events! Understandably, the multitudes spread the news concerning Jesus. As Jesus moved from Galilee down south, Luke noted, “and this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.” (Luke 7:17)

PLAGUED BY DOUBTS

News concerning the movement and activities of Jesus spread far and wide. One of the groups of people deeply concerned was interestingly, John the Baptiser. John was the one who proclaimed Jesus to be the Messiah in no uncertain terms.

There had been personal recognition of who Jesus was on the part of the famous Baptiser. As Jesus approached John to be baptized, the latter protested,

“I need to be baptized by You,
and are You coming to me?”
Matthew 3:14

In one of his messages, John cried out to the multitudes who flocked to hear him,

“I indeed baptize you with water;
But One mightier than I is coming,
Whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Luke 3:16

In yet another powerful proclamation, John unequivocally declared,

“Behold! The Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world!”
John 1:29

JOHN IMPRISONED

Soon after Jesus began His public ministry, John was thrown into prison for having spoken up against Herod the Tetrarch for his immoral and irresponsible behaviour (Matthew 4:12; 14:3-4; Luke 3:18-20). There he languished in prison, and his public ministry was of course severely curtailed.

He was of course deeply and personally interested in the ministry of the One whom He proclaimed as the Lamb of God! His disciples kept him well informed of the widespread ministry of Jesus.

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF DOUBT

When the disciples of John “reported to him concerning all the things” (Luke 7:18) that Jesus did, John was still plagued by doubts. He sent two of his disciples with a question for Jesus to answer.

John had been so certain once as to the identity of Jesus, but now doubts plagued him. As we meditate on this passage, we realize that no matter how strong a person may be, the power of doubt can be so overwhelming that it can threaten to shake the very foundations of a person’s knowledge and trust.

Doubts must not be equated with rejection! Doubts represent the state of misery that can plague a person. The strength of a person’s faith can be assailed so badly, it leaves a person weak.

John the Baptizer did the right thing. He sought out Jesus. He sent two of his Disciples with an important though cryptic question. Doubts are best dispelled by Truth! The truth lay in the answer that Jesus would give to him through His disciples.

John must not be despised because he was honest enough to express his doubts. Anyone of us who has been hit by doubts can well identify with him. Are there doubts in our life we must deal with? Turning to Jesus is the first right step.