All posts by Luella Campbell

LUKE’S GOSPEL…TWELVE YEARS – 18a

Bible Study, ,

“Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭40‬-‭42‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus was on His way to respond to Jairus’s urgent request when  He was interrupted by another person in need. In the interim, something happened that is vital to the story. 

Let’s start at the beginning. Twelve years previously, two events happened. Jairus’s daughter was born and the woman began to bleed. The baby girl began to grow but the woman’s health began to deteriorate. 

Twelve years later, the stories of these two people connected in the presence of Jesus. Jairus’s child was deathly sick and the woman’s condition had brought her to despair. Perhaps she, too, was on her way out. 

Jairus called on Jesus for help but the woman, in the crowd, interrupted Jesus’ urgent mission. 

“And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭43‬-‭48‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What was this woman’s intention? Perhaps she was aware of Malachi’s prophetic word…

“But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.”

‭‭Malachi‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I have deliberately chosen a version that more accurately translates “kanaph” than the NIV. A common translation is “wings” referring to the corners of the garment to which the tassels were attached. 

“Tzitzit (pronounced “tsi-tsit”) are specially knotted ritual fringes or tassels worn by observant Jews on the four corners of a rectangular garment, symbolizing a reminder to keep God’s commandments, as commanded in the Torah. They are found on the large prayer shawl (tallit gadol) for prayer and on a smaller, poncho-like undershirt (tallit katan or arba kanfot) worn daily. Each tzitzit has specific strings and knots, with the number of strings and windings relating to the 613 commandments (mitzvot) of the Torah.” (Source: Google AI)

Symbolically, the tassels, with their five knots and four spaces, represented the five books of the Torah and the four letters in God’s name…YHWH. The tallith  (garment) with its tsitsit (tassels) on the four kanaph (corners or wings) reminded the wearer that he was to remember the Lord because he was living under the protection of God’s word and His name. 

Knowing this, the ailing woman wanted to touch the kanaph on Jesus’ tallith because it was the promise of healing. Did she recognise that Jesus was the promised Messiah who wore the tallith?

The outcome of this incident, although unmentioned, was confirmation that the woman’s faith was not misplaced. She was healed by touching the tsitsit on the kanaph of Jesus’ tallith, indicating that Jesus was, in fact, the Messiah. 

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…A MOVING STORY – 17

Bible Study, ,

“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Life never stands still. Every day is a new page, every situation a new chapter. 

Jesus told many stories, of situations, choices, and consequences like, for example, the story of a farmer who scattered seed in his field. Each seed germinated, grew, and eventually responded to the environment into which it fell. Most of the seeds were unproductive because their circumstances were hostile. One quarter grew, flourished, and produced a harvest. 

“Why are you telling us these stories?” the disciples asked. Jesus explained their purpose. Every parable was intended to draw people into the story, to identify their place in the narrative. “Where do you fit in?” Each story required a response. They were not intended to entertain but to expose. 

“So,” said Jesus, “some people hear but don’t listen. Every story I tell them pushes them deeper into rebellion. Every seed of truth I sow is rejected and becomes unproductive, like the seed falling into hard, stony, or thorny soil. They go progressively backwards into unbelief and towards judgment.” 

“He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So, even the stories Jesus told were intended to separate His hearers into two groups…those who heard and walked backwards and those who heard and walked on. No listener remained the same. 

James expressed the same thought in his warning…

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Life is always a moving story. No one ever stands still or remains the same, day in and day out. Each new year is an opportunity to do a “ lifestyle audit”, to check the progress, to gauge the distance we have travelled since the last audit. 

Some have travelled far along the path of faith, faithfulness, and obedience to the one we call “Lord”. Others have slid back into unbelief, disobedience, and rebellion, simply by failing to respond to the Word. 

So, Jesus counsels, whatever you hear, whatever truth to which you are exposed, is not intended to hide but to bring light into every situation and, one day it will. You can be sure that God’s truth will uncover every lie we have believed, every deception, every wrong path we have followed, every instruction we have ignored. 

Our journey through life continues every day and we progress or regress according to the way we hear. 

“Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

We will either gain or lose wisdom along the way. What we carry into eternity will depend on what we do with what we hear now. 

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…I’BE GOT YOUR BACK – 16b

Bible Study, ,

“After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: “ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus not only responded to John, He also talked about John. If He had been one of us, He probably would have had a lot today about John’s lapse.  How could John doubt when he was the one who had been called to testify about Him to the Jews! Hadn’t he, John, heard the Father’s voice at His baptism? Now that John’s life was under threat, why didn’t he still trust Him even if He did nothing? After all, he was the one who told the people to trust in Jesus!

Not Jesus! Let’s look at what He did say about John. “Forget about what John has just done. I understand how he feels. He is uncertain and afraid. This is temporary, not the real John.”

Let’s check John’s track record. He was a prophet but not just any prophet. To him was entrusted the role of forerunner to the king…and he fulfilled his calling faithfully. 

Jesus even went as far as declaring that John was the greatest prophet who had ever lived…after only six months of ministry! 

However, Jesus also explained that John’s ministry marked the close of the era of the Old Covenant. No in so many words, He said, John was the last of the prophets who did more than predict the coming of Messiah. He, instead, proclaimed Messiah’s presence and introduced Him to His people. Herein lay John’s greatness and yet, even the lowliest member of God’s kingdom is greater than John. How can this be?

John announced the arrival of the kingdom, but believers in Jesus have the privilege of living in the kingdom. With the coming of the Messiah and all that He accomplished on earth, God’s reign was finally established in the hearts of those who were and ate connected to Jesus by faith and joined to Him by the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit. John’s was the final voice that closed the chapter of the Old Covenant and handed the baton to Jesus to usher in the New Covenant with all its completion of the Old. His work was not to be criticised but applauded because he had done what he was called to do. 

Isn’t this just like Jesus and, by association, just like the Father?

Jesus did not come to criticise or condemn. He does not see our failures as final. He sees our hearts. He sees the whole picture…and, most of all, He sees His own image in us. Whatever temporary lapses we pass through, Jesus is well pleased with us. He will erase from our book very failure, every mistake, every sin that has ever blotted the pages of our history, and present us to the Father pure and spotless…transformed into His image. 

“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

‭‭Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…I’VE GOT YOUR BACK – 16a

Bible Study, ,

“John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ ” At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭18‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John was having a faith wobble in prison. He was stuck in jail for calling Herod to account for adultery. Jesus was around and about, conducting healing campaigns and doing all kinds of miracles. Was John thinking that Jesus could come by and do a little miracle for him…intervene to get him out of a sticky situation? Of course, such an action would  defy legal authority!

Jesus never came! John panicked. Perhaps all his preaching in the wilderness, his popularity, his attack on unrighteousness, and his most significant mission…to reveal Jesus as Israel’s Messiah…was a mistake. After all, could not Jesus affirm his confidence in Him by doing this miracle for him?

So, he sent two of his followers, since he couldn’t go himself, to question Jesus. “Are you really the Messiah, or have I made a big mistake?”

Jesus didn’t answer John’s question. He simply carried on doing what He was doing…preaching and healing. He left it to John’s disciples to decide for themselves whether He was the real Messiah or a fake. 

How true to His own “modus operandi!” Jesus didn’t tell these men who He was. He gave them opportunity to weigh up the evidence and decide for themselves. They didn’t return to John with the answer, ”Jesus said, ‘Yes, I am the Messiah ‘“ They went back with the story, “We heard what He said and saw what He did. He must be the Messiah!”

For every true believer, faith is built on who Jesus is because of what He said and did. Without this conviction and certainty, faith will never have the solid foundation of truth. 

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Faith that stands firm under all tests must be built on the solid conviction that Jesus is the Son  of God…His legitimate authority…and that He rose from the dead…confirmation that He was an acceptable sacrifice for sin. 

Faith as solid as this will not wobble under adverse circumstances even if Jesus doesn’t show up and do what we expect Him to do when we call on Him. Faith trusts Him always to do what glorifies Him and is best for us. 

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…FAITH AND AUTHORITY – 15

Bible Study, ,

“When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I found this story both intriguing and enlightening, adding another layer to my understanding of faith and prayer. 

Let’s take this report apart, layer by layer. 

First, the man who asked Jesus for help was a pagan, a Roman soldier who happened to be serving his emperor in Israel. He probably had, with a background of idolatry…many gods from Greek and Roman mythology, little or no knowledge of Jewish monotheistic religion. 

Why did this man ask a Jewish rabbi to do a miracle? How did he know that this was possible?

Perhaps, in his round of duties, this centurion had encountered Jesus somewhere, either in person or by hearsay. He was obviously impressed by Jesus’ authority. What Jesus said happened, even unusual things like demons fleeing and sick people, and even people who had physical defects like blindness and paralysis, being cured and restored. 

This pagan Roman had enough sense to weigh up the evidence and conclude that Jesus had a connection with divine power which was much more than human. Unlike the religious leaders, he had no prejudice to blind him to a realistic conclusion. 

When his servant became deathly sick, the centurion’s thoughts turned to Jesus. Perhaps he might also be in line for a miracle. As luck would have it, so he might have thought, Jesus happened to be in town. Bring a pagan, he showed his respect for a Jewish rabbi by sending some Jewish leaders to Jesus with a humble request for help. The Jews assured Jesus that he was worthy of help because of his benevolence towards the Jews. 

As Jesus approached his house, the centurion came out to meet Him. Again, he showed his respect by making room for Jewish scruples…not to enter a Gentile home for fear of being defiled. He expressed both his feeling of unworthiness and his confidence in Jesus’ words by his understanding of how authority worked. 

This is where the issue of authority and faith meet.

The centurion knew what authority meant because he carried authority in the Roman system in keeping with his rank in the army. He was the link between the authority to which he submitted and the soldiers under him. His authority did not extend beyond those who answered to him, but his word was law for them because of the chain of command. 

This man recognised that Jesus both had authority in His domain and understood His chain of command in the spiritual realm. He also knew that authority was conveyed through words. Just as he spoke the instructions he received to those under him, so he recognised that Jesus spoke the words He received from His authority to the sick and oppressed, and stuff happened. 

Here is the real source of faith. To have faith in Jesus, to recognise, accept, and trust in His authority to do what He has said, is the essence of faith. Hence, the burning question for the religious leaders was always…”Who gave you authority to do what you  are doing.? What is the source of your authority?” They could not deny that Jesus had authority but they refused to believe that His authority came from God. 

Faith, then, is absolute confidence in the power of Jesus to do what He said He would do because He had authority to do so. This takes the effort and guesswork out of faith. Faith, then, isn’t something that we must work up but simple confidence in Jesus’ words because of His authority. 

This brings me to faith and prayer. If faith is confidence in the authority of Jesus’ word, it stands to reason that His word is the all-important factor in prayer. He will always do what He promised.  This means that our prayers are powerful as they line up with what He has promised. 

“But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Real faith, then, is not a hit-and-miss hope that He will act when I pray. Faith is firmly anchored in Jesus’ authority to do what He has promised. 

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To be continued…