What Did You Expect To See?

Luke 7:24-28 {GNT} After John's messengers had left, Jesus began to speak about him to the crowds: "When you went out to John in the desert, what did you expect to see?  A blade of grass bending in the wind? What did you go out to see?  A man  dressed up in fancy clothes? People who dress like that and live in luxury are found in palaces!  Tell me, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes indeed, but you saw much more than a prophet.  For John is one of whom the scripture says: 'God said, I will send my messenger ahead of You to open the way for You.'  I tell you," Jesus added, "John is greater than any man who has ever lived.  But he who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John."

"How Happy Are Those Who Have No Doubts About Me!"

Luke 7:18-20 {GNT} When John's disciples told him about all these things, he called two of them and sent them to the Lord to ask Him, "Are you the one John said was going to come, or should we expect someone else?"  When they came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to ask if You are the one he said was going to come, or should we expect someone else?"  At that very time Jesus healed many people from their sicknesses, diseases, and evil spirits, and gave sight to many blind people.  He answered John's messengers, "Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind can see, the lame can walk, those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases are made clean, the deaf can hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor.  How happy are those who have no doubts about me!"

God Has Come To Save His People

Luke 7:11-17 {GNT} Soon afterward Jesus went to a town named Nain, accompanied by His disciples and a large crowd.  Just as He arrived at the gate of the town, a funeral procession was coming out.  The dead man was the only son of a woman who was a widow and a large crowd from the town was with her.  When the Lord saw her, His heart was filled with pity for her, and He said to her, "Don't cry." Then He walked over and touched the coffin and the men carrying it stopped.  Jesus said, "Young man! Get up, I tell you!"  The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to him mother.  They all were filled with fear and praised God.  "A great prophet has appeared among us!" they said; "God has come to save His people!"  This news about Jesus went out through all the country and the surrounding territory.

Jesus Heals a Roman Officer's Servant

Luke 7:1-10 {GNT} When Jesus had finished saying all these things to the people, He went to Capernaum.  A Roman officer there had a servant who was very dear to him; the man was sick and about to die. When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask Him to come and heal his servant.  They came to Jesus and begged him earnestly, “This man really deserves your help. He loves our people and he himself built a synagogue for us.”

So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell him, “Sir, don't trouble Yourself. I do not deserve to have You come into my house,  neither do I consider myself worthy to come to You in person. Just give the order, and my servant will get well.  I, too, am a man placed under the authority of superior officers, and I have soldiers under me. I order this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; I order that one, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and I order my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

Jesus was surprised when he heard this; He turned around and said to the crowd following Him, “I tell you, I have never found faith like this, not even in Israel!”

The messengers went back to the officer's house and found his servant well.

A Tree and Its Fruit

Luke 6:43-44 {GNT} Jesus said, "A healthy tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a poor tree bear good fruit. Every tree is known by the fruit it bears; you do not pick figs from thorn bushes or gather grapes from bramble bushes."

First Take The Log Out Of Your Own Eye

Luke 6:39-42 {GNT} And Jesus told them this parable: "One blind man cannot lead another one; if he does, both will fall into a ditch.  No pupil is greater than his teacher; but every pupil, when he has completed his training, will be like his teacher.  Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but pay no attention to the log in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, 'Please, brother, let me take that speck out of your eye,' yet cannot even see the log in your own eye?  You hypocrite!  First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

Portrayed in the "Jesus" film part 3:

Do Not Judge Others, And God Will Not Judge You

Luke 6:37-38 {GNT} "Do not judge others, and God will not judge you; do not condemn others, and God will not condemn you; forgive others, and God will forgive you.  Give to others, and God will give to you.  Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands - all that you can hold.  The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you.

Portrayed in the film "Jesus" - part 3

Be Merciful Just As Your Father Is Merciful

Luke 6:32-36 "If you love only the people who love you, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners love those who love them!  And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you receive a blessing?  Even sinners do that!  And if you lend only to those from whom you hope to get it back, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount!  No! Love your enemies and do good to them; lend and expect nothing back.  You will then have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High God.  For He is good to the ungrateful and the wicked.  Be merciful just as your Father is merciful."

Portrayed in the film "Jesus" - part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0x6bsAgzJo

Love For Enemies

Luke 6:27-31 (GNT) "But I tell you who hear Me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.  If anyone hits you on one cheek, let him hit the other one too; if someone takes your coat, let him have your shirt as well.  Give to everyone who asks you for something, and when someone takes what is yours, do not ask for it back.  Do for others just what you want them to do for you.

Portrayed In "Jesus" Film Part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0x6bsAgzJo

Happy Are You When People Hate You

Luke 6:22-26 (GNT) Happy are you when people hate you, reject you, insult you, and say that you are evil, all because of the Son of Man! Be glad when that happens and dance for joy, because a great reward is kept for you in heaven.   For their ancestors did the very same things to the prophets.  But how terrible for you who are rich now; you have had your easy life!  How terrible for you who are full now; you will go hungry!  How terrible for you who laugh now; you will mourn and weep!  How terrible when all people speak well of you; their ancestors said the very same things about the false prophets."

Coincides with the "Jesus" film - Part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0x6bsAgzJo

Happiness and Sorrow

Luke 6:20-21 {GNT} Jesus looked at His disciples and said, "Happy are you poor; the Kingdom of God is yours!  Happy are you who are hungry now; you will be filled! Happy are you who weep now; you will laugh!"

"Jesus" film - Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AenTAfXy9Js

For Power Was Going Out From Him

Luke 6: 17-19 (GNT) ¹⁷ When Jesus had come down from the hill with the apostles, He stood on a level place with a large number of His disciples. A large crowd of people was there from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from the coast cities of Tyre and Sidon; ¹⁸ they had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases. Those who were troubled by evil spirits also came and were healed. ¹⁹ All the people tried to touch him, for power was going out from Him and healing them all.

Here is the "Jesus" film - part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0x6bsAgzJo

Jesus Chooses Twelve Disciples

Luke 6:12-16 (GNT) At that time Jesus went up a hill to pray and spent the whole night there praying to God.  When day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He named apostles: Simon (whom He named Peter) and his brother Andrew; James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon (who was called the Patriot), Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became the traitor.

Watch the wonderful "Jesus" film!  Here is part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNZd0FcmfbQ&list=PLD97984C6BDDE8095

The Man with a Paralyzed Hand

Luke 6:6-11 (GNT) On another Sabbath Jesus went into a synagogue and taught.  A man was there whose right hand was paralyzed.  Some teachers of the Law and some Pharisees wanted a reason to accuse Jesus of doing wrong, so they watched Him closely to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.  But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to the man, "Stand up and come here to the front."  The man got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you: What does our Law allow us to do on the Sabbath?  To help or harm?  To save a man's life or destroy it?"  He looked around at them all; then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."  He did so, and his hand became well again.  They were filled with rage and began to discuss among themselves what they could do to Jesus.

Watch "Jesus" film from the Gospel of Luke: Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du8Jrg_DVpQ&list=PLD97984C6BDDE8095

The Question About the Sabbath

Luke 6:1-5 Jesus was walking through some wheat fields on a Sabbath.  His disciples began to pick the heads of wheat, rub them in their hands, and eat the grain.  Some Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what our Law says you cannot do on the Sabbath?"  Jesus answered them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his men were hungry? He went into the house of God, took the bread offered to God, ate it, and gave it also to his men.  Yet it is against our Law for anyone except the priests to eat that bread."  And Jesus concluded, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

The Question About Fasting (continued)

Luke 5:36-39 Jesus also told them this parable: "No one tears a piece off a new coat to patch up an old coat.  If he does, he will have torn the new coat, and the piece of new cloth will not match the old.  Nor does anyone pour new wine into used wineskins, because the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will pour out, and the skins will be ruined.  Instead, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins!  And no one wants new wine after drinking old wine.  'The old is better,' he says."

The Question About Fasting

Luke 5:33-35 (GNT) Some people said to Jesus, "The disciples of John fast frequently and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but your disciples eat and drink."  Jesus answered, "Do you think you can make the guests at a wedding party go without food as long as the bridegroom is with them?  Of course not!  But the day will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast."

"People Who Are Well Do Not Need A Doctor"

Luke 5:29 (GNT) Then Levi had a big feast in his house for Jesus, and among the guests was a large number of tax collectors and other people.  Some Pharisees and some teachers of the Law who belonged to their group complained to Jesus' disciples.  "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and other outcasts?" they asked.  Jesus answered them, "People who are well do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick.  I have not come to call respectable people to repent, but outcasts."

Jesus Calls Levi

Luke 5:27-28 (GNT) After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting in his office.  Jesus said to him, "Follow Me."   Levi got up, left everything, and followed Him.

"What Marvelous Things We Have Seen Today!"

Luke 5:21-26 (GNT) The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who speaks such blasphemy!  God is the only One who can forgive sins!" Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Why do you think such things?  Is it easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you.' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?  I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins."  So He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, pick up your bed and go home!"  At once the man got up in front of them all, took the bed he had been lying on, and went home, praising God.  They were all completely amazed!  Full of fear, they praised God, saying, "What marvelous things we have seen today!"