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4. Hurting Women Identified by Pain: A Sick Woman & A Dead Girl

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Time: Jesus' Second Year of Ministry, ~AD 29

Background

Jesus had been teaching God’s Word to large crowds in the area around Capernaum, healing many people. Then, He and His disciples got into a boat and headed to the east side of the lake. A windstorm literally came down from the surrounding mountains through the Jordan River gorge upon the Sea of Galilee, which is 680 feet below sea level, and shook the boat like a tempest. This type of storm was, and still is, a common occurrence. Jesus demonstrated His power over nature by rebuking the wind and waves then admonished the disciples for their lack of faith. Soon after, He encountered a woman and a girl in desperate need.

Women were not highly respected in Jesus' day. In fact, they were held responsible for the lustful temptations men suffered. A Jewish rabbi would not even talk to his wife or daughter in public. There was even a group of them called the “Bruised and Bleeding Pharisees” because they would rather cover their eyes than look upon a woman in public. As a consequence they would bump into walls and houses. Notice the transfer—because women were the greatest source of their own personal sin (lust), the woman becomes evil. Rather than face the sin in their own hearts, they make women the scapegoat. That contributed, of course, to the cultural position of women.

Hopefully in our study so far, you have seen how absolutely different the Lord Jesus Christ was from His culture in the way He regarded women! Thus as Jesus’ ministry unfolded, the average citizen of Israel began to witness an extraordinary approach to women, one that cut against the grain of commonly held practices. Jesus treated women as no man had ever treated them before. His warmth, personal attention, tenderness, sound teaching, and compassion toward women were revolutionary.             

Day One Study

1. Read Mark 5:1-21. Why would a large crowd gather around Jesus as described in v. 21?

Historical Insight: A ruler of the synagogue was a layman whose responsibilities were administrative and included such things as looking after the building (maintenance, repairs, and cleaning) as well as supervising the worship (conducting services, selecting participants and maintaining order). Though there were exceptions, most synagogues had only one ruler. Sometimes the title was honorary with no administrative responsibilities assigned. In any case, he was considered an elder so he sat in the reserved seats.

Focusing on the Woman

2. Read Mark 5:24-34 and Luke 8:42-48. Describe the woman and her circumstances.

Historical Insight: Her condition, though unknown, is probably uterine hemorrhaging like a number of women experience with endometriosis or fibroid tumors. The medical treatments available for her condition were limited although the Talmud (a book of Jewish history and rules) claims that physicians had at least 11 remedies. Some of the ones documented were: 1) carrying ashes of ostrich eggs on your body and 2) taking ground-up willow bark—a bitter-tasting remedy containing salicin, an aspirin-like drug, that would have only aggravated her bleeding.

3. Consider what kind of life this woman had led for 12 years. How would this ailment have affected her family life, social life, and worship opportunities? See Leviticus 13:45-46 and 15:19-33 for clues. Considering what you as a woman enjoy in life, what did she miss out on?

Scriptural Insight: The consequences of being “unclean” until evening or for several days were that you were excluded from the temple area (and synagogue seating), excluded from mingling with others, and considered separated from God. An unnatural discharge was treated like an illness, requiring an offering upon recovery.

4. Living Out His Love: Do you know a woman who is desperately ill? What are her felt needs? Does she feel isolated or alienated because of her condition? Does her illness have a social stigma attached to it so that she is not comfortable in public? Does she have a relationship with Jesus yet? How can you reach out to her with compassion to meet her felt needs and encourage a relationship with Jesus?

Day Two Study

5. Reread Mark 5:24-34 and Luke 8:42-48. What brought the sick woman to Jesus for healing? What do you think she might have heard about Him?

Think About It: It’s our job to tell others about how Jesus can change lives. How can others hear without a proclaimer (good news teller)? No one knows how many times it takes for someone to pay attention and respond. Our role is to tell.

6. Put yourself in her shoes. As an ordinary woman, what emotions would she have experienced…

  • As she reached out to touch Jesus’ cloak?
  • After she felt healing?

Scriptural Insight: The unusual expression, “Jesus realized that power had gone out from Him,” has been understood in two ways. “One view maintains that God the Father healed the woman and Jesus was not aware of it till afterward. The other view is that Jesus Himself, wishing to honor the woman’s faith, willingly extended His healing power to her. The latter view is more consistent with Jesus’ healing ministry. Power did not leave Him without His knowledge and will. However, He exercised it only at the Father’s bidding. The touch of the garment had no magical effect.” (Walvoord and Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p. 125.

7. Discuss Jesus' response to the woman.

From the Greek: The Greek for “healed” actually means ‘save.’ Here both physical healing (‘be freed from your suffering’) and spiritual salvation (‘go in peace’) are meant. The two are often seen together in Mark’s Gospel (Mark 2:1-12; 3:1-6). (NIV Study Bible note on Mark 5:34, p. 1503)

8. Why do you think He insists upon her revealing herself? What would be the advantage to her?

Think About It: Now she could enter society because she is healed AND she receives spiritual life as well. God always does more than we ask or think.

9. Discuss the woman’s response to Jesus seeking her out. Why would she have been trembling with fear?

10. Living Out His Love: Jesus gave this suffering woman an opportunity to give her testimony publicly. Everyone hears her tell why she touched Him how she had been instantly healed. Others now hear. Her faith caused her to seek healing from Jesus in the midst of her pain.

Describe any of your own painful circumstances that have driven you to Christ. What did you learn about His faithfulness through that experience? How did others minister to you in love, showing Christ to you? This is part of your faith story that you can share with another woman.

Day Three Study

Focusing on the Girl (and Her Family)

11. Read Luke 8:40-42 and Mark 5:21-23. Describe the scene.

12. Consider Jairus’ position in the community (see “Historical Insight” in Day One). Contrast his apparent view of Jesus with that of the Pharisees and other religious leaders we have studied so far. Why the difference?

13. Read Luke 8:49-56 and Mark 5:35-43. What specific circumstance has occurred in Luke 8:49?

14. Discuss Jesus' words…

  • To Jairus—
  • To the wailing crowd outside Jairus’ house—

15. Why did the wailers laugh at Jesus?

16. Who went into the room with Jesus?

17. Once inside, what did Jesus do for the girl AND her mom and dad? Notice His tenderness toward the girl through His words and gestures.

18. Discuss why Jesus instructed the girl's parents to tell no one what had happened.

19. How is Jairus’ initial faith challenged and stretched through this whole incident?

20. Living Out His Love: From Jairus' viewpoint, he had to wait an agonizingly long time for Jesus to respond to his request through delays, diversions, and disappointing news. Look carefully again at Mark 5:36. What was Jesus' plan all along? Had He forgotten Jairus? Underline and memorize this verse. What comfort does it give to you? Dependent living is learning to say to Jesus, “Lord, I can’t do this on my own. But, you can in and through me. I will trust you.” Then, see what He does.

Day Four Study

21. Considering Jesus’ manner towards both the older woman and the girl (soon-to-be woman), in what ways did Jesus show that He thought of both of them as worthwhile individuals?

22. Living Out His Love:

  • When you petition the Lord, do you have faith in Him that He has heard and will answer? Are you willing to wait? For encouragement, read Romans 4:20-21 and 1 John 5:14-15.
  • Are you willing to accept "No" for an answer? Provide an example of an experience where God did not respond as you expected. How did you react? What was the ultimate outcome? What did you learn about God? Write this out in the space below as though you were telling it to someone. This is part of your faith story. Ask God to give you an opportunity this week to share this part of your faith story with someone else who is having a difficult time waiting for God or accepting His “No” answer.

[For additional insight on Jesus’ care and concern for these women, read the following essay “Jesus, a Personal God”.]

Jesus, A Personal God

Get the picture…A huge crowd of people welcomes Jesus. They were expecting Him. They are pressing around Him, crushing Him so that He could hardly move or breathe because of the jam. Driven from the Decapolis (Mark 5:17), He is welcomed in Galilee. They can hardly wait to see what He would do next.

Suddenly a man pushes his way through the crowd, falls at Jesus’ feet and pleads earnestly with Him to come and lay hands on his daughter. The synagogue ruler was a layman responsible for maintaining order, conducting services, cleaning the building, much like our deacons and elders do today. He was prominent and wealthy. But he had a problem that neither his prominence nor his wealth could solve. Luke tells us that his daughter was 12, an only child, and was dying.

Jairus obviously loves his daughter even though sons were considered more valuable, and he is very specific in what He wants Jesus to do. “Come and touch her.” The Jews believed that the touch transmitted vitality. Jairus had faith in Jesus’ touch, and he expressed that faith. Jesus acts upon the faith we have which is wonderful and encouraging to us. But, would He take time out to go to Jairus’ house for a little girl? Was a little girl of any value in His eyes? Jesus goes with him. To Jesus, this little girl is just as important as anyone else—with a desperate need. He starts off with the crowd following Him.

Jesus understands our desperate need.

But in this crowd is a woman who has a desperate need. Her life is a living death, and her condition is hopeless. Her bleeding is probably uterine hemorrhaging like a number of women experience with endometriosis or menopause or perhaps it is something else. She has suffered for 12 years with no break; she is probably pale, emaciated, weakened. She must have been a woman of some means—at least she possessed enough financial resources to continue to seek out one doctor after another.

Jewish literature has a whole section of remedies for this malady, which apparently didn’t work. One was to carry ashes of ostrich eggs on her body. She may also have been given ground up willow bark to reduce her pain. This was a bitter tasting remedy containing salicin, an aspirin-like drug that would have only aggravated her bleeding. All her money was gone, and she was worse. Her one chance came now with Jesus.

Yet even worse than her physical condition is the social and religious ostracism she was certain to have faced. The prevailing opinions of her day were much the same as our own: Bad things don’t happen to good people. You get what you justly deserve. Thus, to be stricken with a chronic, incurable disease such as this was tantamount to a confession of sinful behavior, presumably illicit immorality.

According to Mosaic Law, anyone with a bodily discharge is ceremonially unclean. She cannot enter the synagogue or the Temple. People shun her generally, since anyone having physical contact with her is made ceremonially unclean until after they bathe and wait a specific period of time. She can touch no one and no one can touch her. Think of how this would have affected:

  • Her social life—not be invited to parties, weddings, anything.
  • Her worship life—she couldn’t even sit in the women’s section of the synagogue.
  • Her marital life—her husband would be unclean for 7 days after every sexual encounter with her; perhaps she had been divorced and shut off from her family.

She is an outcast: lonely, isolated, and probably in a state of clinical depression. If this should seem unreal to you, Ethiopian Jewish women experience this during their days of monthly uncleanness. They live in little hovels at the edge of the village, the boundary being defined by stones. The women can’t go pass the stones, and no men can come near them. Isolation. Modern examples are women who have AIDS, cancer, ostomies, oxygen tanks and tubes, burn scars, and disfigurements. By the way, men with a similar problem were also considered unclean.

She hears about Him. It’s our job to tell. How can they hear without a preacher or proclaimer? Who knows how many times it takes? She heard he was healing all kinds of incurable diseases. Hope flickers in her heart. Just going into the surging crowd would have brought their hostility on her if they knew.

She comes to Jesus on her own. No one has brought her to Jesus or vice versa. She acts on her own faith—mixed with some superstition about his garments. She doesn’t know if Jesus would respond to her. She thinks to herself, “If I just touch His clothes.” She wouldn’t ask him to touch her. She reaches out and touches His cloak. Probably one of the four tassels on his outer garment. She took the initiative for her own healing and is the only woman in the Bible to do this. Others inadvertently touched Him; she deliberately did. Immediately, her bleeding stops. Power surges through her body. She feels it. She knows she is completely healed. It is a vivid moment of joy for her!!!

At once, Jesus turns and asks, “Who touched me?” Did Jesus already know who touched Him? Commentaries will disagree on this. Most say God healed her through the power active in Jesus. So, when He felt the power go out of Him, He turned to ask. I believe He knew what happened because He was always God. He laid aside His glory and did not use His attributes for Himself while on earth. But He knew what happened. He always knew what those around him were thinking before they spoke. It is a dramatic moment for Jesus and for the timid woman. Later it was a common practice for the crowds to touch the hem of his garments and be healed. Here Jesus chooses to single out this case for examination. There is no magic in the garments of Jesus. Even if there is superstition in the woman’s mind, Jesus honors her faith.

Jesus isn’t asking for His sake, but for her sake. He wants her to have a personal relationship with Him. Jesus will not allow the woman to recede into the crowd without publicly commending her faith, giving her assurance that she is permanently healed, thus declaring publicly that she is now clean, and letting her know that He accepts her. It is also likely that He wants her to know that He freely gave to her rather than her thinking she was taking something secretively.

Although a far more impressive male leader had asked Jesus to come to his home to heal his daughter, Jesus stopped the whole procession to talk to this poor, outcast woman as though she were the only one there. God’s love shows no partiality. We are more than just a face in the crowd.

Jesus wants us to know that, too. You may know someone who is involved in a bad relationship with a man who does not encourage her, support and respect her, or appreciate her worth. He may be too busy bossing her around. You need to let her know that Jesus considers her valuable.

Jesus will not allow the woman to recede into the crowd without publicly speaking to her and commending her faith. He keeps looking, penetratingly. The disciples are unconcerned and give a nervy answer about the crowd. Jairus is probably getting very anxious and impatient about this woman. But, Jesus insists. When she sees He’s not going to let her go unnoticed, she tells Him the whole truth. Some of us feel that God isn’t noticing our pain. We pray, nothing happens. We are not unnoticed. He is sovereign, and He knows. He chooses the instrument He uses to make us more like the Lord Jesus Christ. And suffering is an important instrument in His hands much as we hate it. A goldsmith keeps the metal in the fire until his reflection is seen in its surface. God keeps us in the fire of suffering until He sees the character of His Son reflected in our lives.

The trembling woman falls at His feet. What a vivid picture of the feeling of this sensitive woman who now had to speak. Everyone hears her tell why she touched Him and how she had been instantly healed. She gives her simple testimony. Others now hear.

Jesus calls her, “Daughter,” the only time recorded when He addresses a woman by this name. It’s a tender expression. She has a new relationship with God and a new relationship with Jesus. Remember whom He said were in His family? Those who do God’s will. Those who believe in Him. All through the Gospels, Jesus honored an individual’s faith in Him or rebuked a lack of faith. Jesus took the time to point out to both the men and women in the crowd that this woman’s faith was the reason for her healing.

The New Testament word for “healed” actually means “saved” as well. Here both physical healing (freed from suffering) and spiritual salvation (peace) are meant. The two are often seen together in Mark’s gospel. Romans 5:1 says we have peace with God through faith in His son. Peace speaks of wholeness in our relationship with God when we trust Christ. She just wanted healing. Now she could enter society because she is healed AND she receives spiritual life as well. God always does more than we ask or think. Because He sees the woman’s needs, He does not pass her by. He seems acutely aware of the woman’s pain, and so He reaches out to help.

Jesus has the right to choose what He brings into our lives.

In the meantime, Jairus’ faith is stretched. His little girl dies. This woman has delayed them. What is Jairus thinking by now? Jesus tells Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” In the Greek, this really means, “Stop being afraid and keep on believing” (a continuous action). You can’t do both at the same time since being afraid and believing are mutually exclusive. The Psalmist said, When I am afraid, I trust in You.” (Psalm 56:3).

This is important for us as well. When fear overwhelms us, we can with an act of our will stop being afraid and choose to believe God that He is in control and will not abandon us. Fear is an emotion; faith is an act of the will. We moms have to do this particularly with our kids. We trust the Lord with their lives and do our best to guide them.

Jesus promises Jairus that his daughter will be healed. It takes more faith to believe that He can bring someone back from the dead than to just heal from a deadly disease. Jesus wants to stretch Jairus’ faith. It takes greater faith for tougher times. We always have solutions we pray to the Lord. But we have to face life realistically saying to the Lord, “I am your daughter, Lord. Help me to deal with this situation.”

Jesus tenderly takes the little girl by the hand, touches her (this makes a Jew unclean, but nothing can make Jesus unclean), and speaks to her in tender terms, “Little girl, get up.” Her spirit returns. The touch of Christ’s hand and the power of His voice restore her to life. She stands up with instantaneous recovery. Her parents are “out of their minds” with excitement and joy. He tells them to feed her. He has done His part. He turns her over to her parents to do theirs.

Jesus cares for women.

Jesus stopped His public ministry to heal two women—

  • One publicly; the other privately.
  • One was socially dead; the other physically dead.
  • One touched Him and was healed without a word; the other He touched and spoke to when she was healed
  • One was an outcast; the other was loved within her family circle
  • Both were unclean.
  • Both were healed instantly and completely, receiving new life.
  • Both were beyond human help and without hope.

Jesus demonstrated the value He places on every person—radically different from His day. He healed a man of horrible demonic possession whom everyone else had shunned. He took time out from his busy schedule to minister to two women personally. God’s love knows no partiality.

Jesus takes a personal interest in each one of us. His value system then is the same today. He cares for us as individuals. He meets our individual needs. He openly demonstrated His love for each individual He met, man or woman.

Jesus has the right to choose what He brings into our lives. He tells us to stop being afraid and to keep on believing, to exercise the faith that we have.

Jesus loves a woman’s soul. He treated women as no man had ever treated them before. His warmth, personal attention, tenderness, sound teaching, and compassion toward women were revolutionary. Jesus loves you in the same way. 

Related Topics: Character Study, Love, Women

5. Hurting Women Identified by Pain: A Canaanite & a Crippled Woman

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Time: Jesus' Third Year of Ministry, ~AD 29

Background

During the third year of Jesus’ ministry, the “Year of Opposition,” Jesus fed five thousand plus, walked on water, calmed the storm, healed many who were brought to him and then taught some Pharisees and teachers of the law the difference between clean and unclean. He then withdrew, about fifty miles to the region of Tyre (some later manuscripts say “Tyre and Sidon”) on the Mediterranean coast (see map in “New Testament Insights”).

Tyre is an ancient seaport city of the Phoenicians north of Palestine consisting of a rocky coastal city and an island city. The Phoenicians were known for their trade and commerce and their skill as a seafaring people. Over time, the Persians, Greeks, Seleucids and Romans dominated Phoenicia. Throughout history, friendly relations existed between the Hebrews and Tyrians. In fact, Jewish communities were scattered throughout the region. The home where Jesus stayed was probably Jewish. In the New Testament period, a Christian community flourished at Tyre so that Paul even stayed with the believers there during his third missionary journey (Acts 21:1-7).

While in the region of Tyre, Jesus was approached by a Canaanite woman from that vicinity, also called a Greek woman from Syrian Phoenicia or a Syrophoenician (the north part of Phoenicia near Syria). If a Canaanite, she descended from an ancient tribe of Noah’s son Ham, a people later displaced by the nation Israel. A Canaanite also is an inhabitant of Canaan, the more ancient name of Palestine. Not all Canaanites were destroyed during the Israelites' conquest, and their religion impacted Israel’s history, especially when King Ahab married the Phoenician princess Jezebel.

The Canaanite or Phoenician religion featured many gods who were male and female representations of nature. Their primary god was called Baal, the god of thunder. Their religious practices included providing various kinds of animal offerings and participation in lewd, immoral acts with “sacred” prostitutes. The religion of these pagan people was basically a fertility cult in sharp contrast to the righteous religion of the Hebrews who worship the one true God, a God of holiness and love. It was providential that the nation Israel, with its testimony to the knowledge of the one true God and with its obligation to make known that fact, should inherit a country that formed a geographical bridge between the ancient centers of pagan civilization.

*Background information adapted from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary and New Unger’s Bible Dictionary.

Day One Study

1. Read Matthew 15:1-21. Discuss Jesus’ teaching about what makes a person “clean” or “unclean.”

Getting to Know The Canaanite Woman

2. Read Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30. What could be the reason Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and didn’t want anyone to know it?

3. Describe the Canaanite woman and her circumstances.

4. Read the following scriptures. Identify some of the evidences/symptoms of demon possession.

  • Matthew 8:28—
  • Matthew 12:22—
  • Matthew 17:14-20—
  • Mark 9:17-29—
  • Luke 13:11,16—

5. Discuss how the Canaanite woman got Jesus’ attention (Matthew 15:22). Note: The phrase "crying out" means to “croak” (as a raven) or to call aloud (shriek, exclaim, entreat).

6. What did the woman ask Jesus to do?

7. How did the disciples respond to this woman and her need?

8. Jesus' answer to her in Matthew 15:24 and Mark 7:27 can be puzzling unless you know the background. Read Luke 1:68-75; Acts 10:36; Romans 15:8; Genesis 17:5-7; 18:18-19 and Zechariah 2:12, 8:7-8. After reading those verses, what insight do you get as to why Jesus answered as He did?

Day Two Study

9. Reread Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30 and the following description.

From the Greek: “worshipped (KJV)”, “knelt before him (NIV)” and “bowed down before him (NET)” is translated from the word proskuneo—meaning "to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand;" also defined as “prostrate oneself in homage”.

Discuss the interaction between Jesus and the woman. What is revealed about her character in this account?

From the Greek: “She took no offence at the implication of being a Gentile dog. Rather she with quick wit took Christ's very word for little dogs (kunaria) and deftly turned it to her own advantage, for the little dogs eat of the crumbs (psiciwn, little morsels) that fall from the table of their masters (kuriwn), the children.” (A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, on Matthew 15:27.

10. How does Jesus meet her need?

11. What could the disciples have learned about ministry from this incident?

12. Living Out His Love: To intercede means to speak with someone in authority on behalf of someone else. This woman came to Jesus, an authority in her mind, and interceded for her daughter who was unable to come to Jesus on her own. Other examples of intercession are the four men who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus in Mark 2:1-13. Both the Holy Spirit and Jesus Himself intercede for us in prayer when we are unable to do so. How persistent are you at interceding for those you love who may need your help and support? Share insights/examples on how best to intercede for them.

Focus on the Meaning: Why did Jesus perform so many miracles? The answer could simply be to show His authority and to draw the attention of the crowds to His message. His miracles demonstrated that He is God and that His message, therefore, had authority (Acts 2:22). Miracles authenticate the message and the messenger. Miracles also demonstrate God’s compassion for His people.

Through His miracles, Jesus showed that…

  • He has power beyond that of an ordinary man. The laws of the natural world, which He created, were not boundaries for Him.
  • He is the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the Messiah. When Jesus taught in Nazareth (Luke 4:18-21), He read from Isaiah 61:1-2, a prophecy describing the coming Messiah by the works He would do—healing the blind, freeing prisoners, and releasing the oppressed. Jesus basically finished by saying, "I am that one." People get so excited about the sensational that they miss the purpose which was to cause them to believe (John 10:25, 36-38; Acts 2:22; Hebrews 2:3b-4). He was their God. 
  • He is God on earth, Emmanuel. In John 6:25, Jesus calls miracles "signs."  A sign points to something. Everything He did pointed to the fact that He was the Messiah—God on Earth. The crowds just wanted the benefits—food, protection, and health. Jesus wanted people to hear the message and not be captivated by the miracles. This is important today because people are taken in by the unexplainable and the miraculous. And, we as women can be particularly vulnerable to this. It is very easy to get off focus when miracles are involved. The Jews were looking for a king to rescue them from the Romans not to rescue them from something worse—their slavery to sin.

God still performs miracles today though we may not see them as often as we’d like. Miracles still authenticate the message and the messenger. For someone claiming to do miraculous things, ask these questions to make sure that person is representing God:

  • What is her message?
  • Does he exult Jesus as the ONLY way to God?
  • Is the Bible her ONLY authority?
  • Is forgiveness of sins found ONLY through Jesus Christ?

Remember that the greatest miracle is what God does to change a human heart and redeem a lost life from the inside out.

Day Three Study

Historical Insight: The Jewish Synagogue—The practice among the Jewish people of Jesus' time was that the Jewish Synagogue building must be on a high point, if possible, the highest point in town. It should be near water, with the entrance to the east and the seats arranged so that the congregation faced Jerusalem when praying. For a town to have a synagogue at least ten Jewish men must live there.

Synagogues were places of worship and education. Here the young were trained in Jewish life and language. Worshipers gathered on the Sabbath to pray and read the Scriptures. At Capernaum, the synagogue was one of the best examples of a Galilean synagogue. The ruins seen today are of a synagogue built in ~3rd century AD on the ruins of the synagogue of Jesus' time.

When Jesus went inside a synagogue, as in this story, what would He find? The most important piece of furniture was the shrine that held the Torah, the sacred roll or scroll on which parts of the Old Testament Scriptures were written. The bema, made of stone or wood, was an elevated platform next to the Torah shrine. Lessons and benedictions were given from this platform. Rows of stone benches surrounded the walls and provided seating for the people. The elders and rulers sat in an isolated section. Services included prescribed readings, prayer, and a sermon. Any competent teacher might be asked to speak.

Getting to Know The Crippled Woman

13. Read Luke 13:1-9. Discuss Jesus’ teaching on the correlation between one’s “goodness” and suffering.

14. Read Luke 13:10-17. Describe the scene and the woman.

15. Contrast this Jewish woman with the Canaanite woman.

16. What was the cause of her condition?

Scriptural Insight: As we have already seen, “various disorders were caused by evil spirits…The description of this woman’s infirmity suggests that the bones of her spine were rigidly fused together.” (NIV Study Bible by Zondervan, page 1566)

17. Consider what kind of life this woman had led for 18 years. Put yourself in her shoes. How would this ailment possibly have affected her family life, social life, and worship life?

Day Four Study

18. Reread Luke 13:10-17. How did Jesus heal this woman, and what was her proper response?

Focus on the Meaning: There is “symbolic value in Luke’s placing this miracle at this point in the narrative. It was Jesus’ mission among the people of the nation to loose them from crippling influences and bring them to uprightness. Here was a graphic example of Jesus’ touch, bringing the woman to a position of uprightness.” (Walvoord and Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p. 240)

19. Discuss the synagogue ruler’s improper reaction to Jesus’ healing. To review the role of the synagogue ruler, look back to Lesson 4.

Scriptural Insight: “No one had spoken to him, but he felt his importance as the ruler of the synagogue and was indignant. His words have a ludicrous sound as if all the people had to do to get their crooked backs straightened out was to come round to his synagogue during the week. He forgot that this poor old woman had been coming for eighteen years with no result.” (A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures of the New Testament, note on Luke 13:14)

20. Discuss Jesus’ answer to the synagogue ruler. What message was Jesus conveying to the synagogue ruler and others in the crowd who thought like him?

21. Deeper Discoveries (optional): Jesus called the synagogue ruler a hypocrite. Define this term. What did it mean in Jesus’ day. Find other places in the gospels where Jesus used this same term to get the attention of His listeners. In what ways were they being hypocrites?

22. Read Matthew 12:1-14; Luke 6:6-11; 14:1-6 and John 5:16-18. In His teaching, how did Jesus clarify the purpose of Israel’s Sabbath (seventh-day rest) and the way it should be practiced?

Think About It: The tendency of human beings is to put rules over relationships or rules over the needs of people (like the synagogue ruler did). Jesus showed the value of people over misguided rules, traditions and practices. God was still being worshipped, even more so because of the miracle, and the people were still enjoying a day of rest from their usual employment. 

23. Living Out His Love: Jesus extended grace to both of the women in this lesson, actually three if you count the Canaanite woman’s daughter who was healed. Grace is unmerited favor. It is a gift that is undeserved—by anyone! The disciples and the synagogue ruler were less interested in responding to the needs of the women with grace (knowing Jesus could heal the suffering) than they were in sending them away (one because she was an unclean Gentile; the other because she dared to get healed on the Sabbath). Do you tend to put rules over relationships or the needs of people? In what areas of your life do you do this? Ask Jesus to reveal any hypocrisy in your heart and help you to extend grace rather than judgment to someone in need around you.

Related Topics: Character Study, Love, Women

6. Hurting Women Identified by Pain: Widow of Nain

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Time: Jesus' Second Year of Ministry, ~AD 28

Background

Jesus was well into his ministry at this point. He called His disciples to Him (Luke 6:22) and proceeded to give the Sermon on the Mount—an amazing presentation of God's love and mercy. He then went to Capernaum, continued His ministry to the sick and suffering, and encountered an unusual Roman centurion who loved his servant and the Jewish people. Jesus was amazed at the soldier’s understanding of God’s authority over His people and moved to heal the slave, who was in the centurion’s home.

After this miracle, Jesus and His disciples headed to a city called Nain, about 10 miles southeast of Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth. The small town is reached from the west by traveling up a steep road with rock tombs on either side. The road leading from Capernaum to Nain (see map in “New Testament Insights”), which Jesus would have traveled, enters the town from the northeast past a small burial ground.

Failing to honor the dead was perhaps the greatest lack of respect a Jew could display. Bystanders were obligated to follow a funeral procession, with hired mourners adding to the wails of friends. The body was wrapped in cloth and carried on a bier. After the funeral, mourning continued for 30 days.

Paid mourners developed as a profession in Old Testament times but continued into the time of Jesus. As a career that passed from mother to daughter, professional mourners were almost always women. Their mourning was with dirges and eulogies, sometimes accompanied by flutes.

The birth of a son was an occasion of great celebration. In the Jewish culture, giving birth to a son gave a woman value in her husband's eyes. A baby boy ensured the hope of passing on the family wealth and name. His presence guaranteed social security. It would be his responsibility to care for his aging parents, and especially his mother once widowed. It was thus the hope of every Jewish woman to have a son…

Day One Study

1. Widows in Israel were considered to be under God’s special care. They wore distinctive garb so they could be identified. Read the following verses and note how God intended to care for them through His people and warnings when Israel failed to protect these vulnerable women:

  • Deuteronomy 14:28-29—
  • Deuteronomy 24:19; 26:12—
  • Psalm 68:4-5; 146:9—
  • Isaiah 1:17,23; 10:1-2—

Two of Israel’s Old Testament prophets were known for performing miracles, especially to widows—Elijah and Elisha. In fact, Jesus was often compared to one or other of these prophets as He performed miracles during His ministry. So, let’s familiarize ourselves with what the people of Nain already knew.

2. Read 1 Kings 17:7-16 and 2 Kings 4:1-7. Describe what happened and how each woman responded.

  • The widow of Zarephath (near Sidon)—
  • The prophet’s widow—

3. Read 1 King 17:17-24 and 2 Kings 4:8-37. God also used these two prophets to bring someone back from the dead. Describe what happened and how each woman responded.

  • The Widow of Zarephath—
  • The Shunammite woman—

4. Summarize what you learned about God’s care for women.

Day Two Study

5. Read Luke 7:11-15. From the text of verses 11-12, describe the scene, the woman and her circumstances.

  • The scene—
  • The woman—
  • Her circumstances—

6. Note the timing of Jesus’ entrance into the city. Do you think this was a coincidence? Explain your answer.

7. The size of the crowd showed the real sympathy of the town for her. The loss of a son in the Jewish culture was a great tragedy. What made this situation even more tragic? Read Zechariah 12:10, Psalms 68:5, and 2 Kings 4:14 for insight.

8. Deeper Discoveries (optional): Research the plight of widows in Israel and other areas of the Roman Empire during this time period. What were their options?

9. If you have experienced the pain of someone very close to you, you probably understand the widow’s state of mind when she encountered Jesus. What do you think she was thinking and feeling? (Think beyond the obvious!)

10. Living Out His Love: The size of the crowd showed the real sympathy of the town for her. Christians often do not know what to say to someone who is grieving, or they say things that hurt more than help (for example, “You can have another child” or “She’s in a better place”). One of the nicest things someone wrote to me in a card after my father died several years ago was this, “Knowing you, I look forward to meeting your dad in heaven one day.” I cherished that card.

If you have been in a place of grief, what did someone close to you say or do that helped you through it? What did someone say or do that added to the pain? Research online suggestions for what should be said/done or not be said/done to someone grieving in various situations. Discuss with your group.

Day Three Study

11. Read Luke 7:11-15. Discuss Jesus' reaction to the widow and, specifically, what He said to her.

From the Greek: The Greek word translated “compassion” in Luke 7:13 means "to be moved as to one's inwards, to be moved with compassion, to yearn with compassion. Compassion is frequently recorded of Christ towards the multitude and towards individual sufferers.” See also Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; Mark 1:41 and Luke 10:33. (Vines, Unger and White, Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, pp. 116-117)

12. Jesus could have just passed by and assumed the town would meet her basic needs of food and shelter. But, He didn’t. The scripture says that Jesus felt compassion for the widow. What does this reveal about Him?

13. Read Mark 12:38-44. Jesus was continually teaching His disciples about people. Contrast Jesus’ assessment of the heart attitudes of the religious leaders with that of this widow. What did He want His disciples to grasp?

14. Jesus represented His Father’s heart for people. Read Psalm 103:13-14 and 2 Corinthians 1:3. Discuss how our God is a loving, compassionate God.

15. Read Luke 7:14 again. In the first part of the verse, Jesus does something very unusual for a Jewish teacher. What is it, and why is this significant? See also Numbers 6:6; 19:11 and Leviticus 22:3-4.

16. Living Out His Love: Jesus’ heart went out to this grieving widow. Isn’t it comforting to know that when you are in pain, God’s heart goes out to you? He feels your pain. He cares for you. He comforts you. He is not a cold, distant, helpless Deity but is a loving, compassionate God. Jesus personally invites us to bring our deepest longings, heartaches, and anxieties to Him today, just as men and women did then. Are you convinced that you can go to Him and openly express your deepest needs? If possible, share a situation in your life when you felt the compassion of Christ.

Day Four Study

17. Read Luke 7:11-17. Discuss the results of Jesus' miracle in the days that followed. Did it bring the desired results for Him? See also Isaiah 35:4-6.

18. Jesus’ encounter with the widow of Nain ended up touching many lives. List all those groups and/or persons who were affected by this “divine appointment.”

19. Living Out His Love: Jesus actively did what He had the power to do to alleviate this woman’s suffering. So should we do what we have the power to do to alleviate human suffering, even if it is just bringing a meal, visiting, calling, providing clothes, or just listening and giving counsel and prayer. In 1 Corinthians, we are referred to as “ambassadors” of Christ and of the Gospel. Share a time when you felt God sent you on a “divine appointment” to someone who needed you at that time. You may have the opportunity even today to encourage someone in your life!

Related Topics: Character Study, Love, Women

7. Devoted Women Identified by Faithfulness: Mary & Martha

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Time: Jesus' Second and Third Year of Ministry, ~AD 28-29

Background

After two years of ministering in Galilee, Jesus returned to Judea and Perea, territories near Jerusalem, to minister there. In Jerusalem, He healed a man by the Pool of Siloam and told a parable about Himself as the Good Shepherd who would give His life for His sheep. Somewhere in Judea, He answered the question, "Who is my neighbor?" with a parable about a good-hearted Samaritan who helped a fellow traveler. After that, He went to Bethany (see map in “New Testament Insights”).

Bethany was a small village on the southeastern slopes of the Mount of Olives about two miles east of Jerusalem on the Jericho Road. It still exists today. Martha, Mary, Lazarus and "Simon the leper" lived there. The Mount of Olives, from which Jesus could see the Holy City, is a two-mile rise with three peaks. The modern road from Jericho to Jerusalem still passes along its southern slopes. Rising about 100 feet above Jerusalem, it gives an unforgettable view of the city, which is to the west.

A burial cave could have been a natural cave or a tomb or vault cut into the rock. A large round stone was often rolled across the entrance of such a tomb after burial. Upon death, the body was sealed inside the tomb. After the flesh had decayed and only the skeleton remained, the bones were placed in a box called an ossuary. This small box was then placed on a shelf that had been carved out of the tomb wall. In this way, a whole family could be buried in the same tomb.

Because of the warm climate in Palestine, burial usually took place the same day as death. But before the funeral, the body was prepared for burial. Rarely did the immediate family become involved in preparing the body for burial. Friends and other family members took the body and washed it, and clipped the hair and nails. Strips of linen were then wrapped around the body. Spices (hyssop, rose oil, and rose water) were placed between these strips. Then, a linen napkin was placed over the face, and the body was laid on an open bier. Then it was carried to the tomb.

Day One Study

Gasp! The Creator of the Universe Is Coming to Dinner!

1. Read Luke 10:38-42. What was Martha's initial attitude upon receiving Jesus and His companions?

[For more information on Hospitality in Jesus' time, see Lesson Two.]

2. As manager of the home, what might have been Martha's initial emotions and thoughts at this time? Consider what is involved in hosting that sized crowd.

3. How does her attitude change as time progresses? What became her focus? What does she do?

From the Greek: The Greek word translated distracted in Luke 10:40 means “drawn around” as with anxiety, distracted in mind and in looks. Martha came to Jesus, literally “stepped up to and burst in or upon” Jesus.

4. Toward whom was Martha’s anger directed? Do you think Mary was being lazy? Where was Mary’s focus? Explain your answer.

5. Discuss Jesus’ response to Martha. What was Jesus trying to teach her? In other words, what was HIS focus?

6. Living Out His Love: How might you respond in a similar situation as Martha found herself if you let your emotions guide you? How should you respond?

7. Living Out His Love: Read the following article.

Planning Neglect Leaves Time for God!!

In her book, "A Practical Guide to Prayer," Dorothy Haskins tells about a noted concert violinist who was asked the secret of her mastery of the instrument. The woman answered the question with two words, "PLANNED NEGLECT."

Then she explained, "There were many things that used to demand my time. When I went to my room after breakfast, I made my bed, straightened the room, dusted and did whatever seemed necessary. When I finished my work, I turned to my violin practice. That system prevented me from accomplishing what I should on the violin. So I reversed things. I deliberately planned to neglect everything else until my practice period was complete. And that program of planned neglect is the secret of my success."

This same principle can be helpful as we plan our lives: quiet time with the Lord, time with our family, professional development, time with our spouse, a hobby. There are many good things we can choose to do with our day.

Unless we discipline ourselves and make a deliberate effort, good things will keep us from those life concerns that are top priority. The tyranny of the urgent robs us of spending time with God in meditation and prayer, time with our spouse our children and just time by ourselves. We squeeze these ultimate relationships into the "leftover" moments in our day, when we are rushed or exhausted.

In Ephesians 5:15-17, Paul calls on us to use our time wisely. "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." Jesus urges us in the Sermon on the Mount to put God first. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). 

Take some time to look at your day. Ask yourself some questions, "What are the important things in my life?  What one thing contributes more to the quality of my life than all the other concerns?  What is my number one ability, and how am I developing it?  Where does my husband/wife/children/friends/walk with God/recreation fit into my day?"

The "laser-lane" lifestyle of the [city] is full of the urgent. We need to reflect on our value system and determine what "PLANNED NEGLECT" we need to practice in order to keep the ultimate relationships in priority positions in our lives. (Mike Danchak, Dallas Morning News)

How would “Planning Neglect” in your life help you have a focused time on God?

Day Two Study

8. Read John 11:1-16. Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was ill, yet they did not ask Him to come to Bethany though they probably expected it (John 11:21,32). Knowing the need, what did Jesus decide to do?

9. Two days later, Jesus makes an announcement. The loose translation of verses 6-10 is, "We're burning daylight. Let's go!" Why did Jesus wait two days to now be in such a hurry?

10. Read John 11:17-37. What emotions were Mary and Martha experiencing? How did each deal with her emotions?

11. Notice that Mary and Martha both have the same response in verse 21 (Martha) and 32 (Mary), except that Martha went a step further. Knowing women, what does Martha really want Jesus to do, even though she doesn’t specifically say so?

12. Read John 11:21-27 again. How does Martha’s answer reveal that she had also been listening to Jesus’ teaching?

Think About It: Martha’s confession of faith is similar to Peter’s in Matthew 16:16. In fact, Martha’s is even more amazing because she makes hers with her brother dead now for four days, already in the grave. Her response to Jesus’ question, “Do you believe this?” is a firm, “Yes, Lord.” The emphasis in the Greek is that this is her firm and settled faith.

13. Read John 11:33-35. When Jesus saw Mary and the people surrounding her weeping, how did He respond?

From the Greek: The Greek verb translated “deeply moved” can be translated either “groaned” or “angered.” It seems to connote anger or sternness. It is used only 5 times in the New Testament, each time of the Lord’s words or feelings (Matthew 9:30; Mark 1:43; 14:5; John 11:33,38). Why was Jesus angry? The best explanation is that Jesus was angry at the tyranny of Satan who had brought sorrow and death to people through sin. Also, Jesus was troubled (literally “stirred” or “agitated,” like the pool water in John 5:7. This disturbance was due to His conflict with sin, death, & Satan. (Walvoord and Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p. 314)

14. Read John 11:38-48. What did Jesus plan to do to meet the sisters’ needs and heal their hurts?  Describe the scene as though you were watching it alongside Martha and Mary.

15. Discuss, in particular, Martha’s objection and Jesus’ response to her in vv. 39-40. Do you think He knows her pretty well by now? [It’s okay to picture Jesus smiling as He greets Lazarus.]

16. John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible, yet it conveys to us so much about the love of Jesus. Jesus wept, shed tears. He identified with us as humans so much that He could express deep human sympathy from His heart with Martha and Mary. Read Hebrews 4:15. What confidence do you have that He understands your needs?

17. Living Out His Love: Jesus understood the personalities and behavioral tendencies of both Mary and Martha. He understands yours as well, quirks and all. Think about your tendencies to control a situation or not, how quickly you shed tears or not, how you speak before you think. He knows you well and still loves you dearly. He hurts when you hurt and rejoices when you rejoice. He knows how to respond to your needs, which will be personally applied and different from how He responds to your “sister’s” needs. Are you okay with that? Or, are you still telling Him how He should do things, telling Him how He should be God? Reread John 11:39-40. If Martha insisted on having her own way, what would she have missed? Apply Jesus’ answer to Martha to your own expectations from Him. How will you let Him lead you?   

Day Three Study

18. Read John 11:1-44. What was Jesus' mission in this situation, and how did He accomplish it?

19. Read John 11:45-57 and 12:9-11. Not everyone was so pleased to hear about Lazarus being restored from the dead. Discuss what happens in these verses and how it affects Jesus' ministry.

After the raising of Lazarus, Jesus then made His departure. But, after a short stay in Ephraim, he returned to Bethany. The last week before Jesus' crucifixion had come. On Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly, riding on a donkey. On Monday, He pronounced a curse on a barren fig tree and drove out the merchants and moneychangers from the temple. On Tuesday, He answered a question about paying taxes to Caesar and pointed out a widow giving her small coins in the temple. That evening, He taught His disciples on the Mount of Olives. Then He went to a dinner with His friends in Bethany, at the home of Simon whose life had also been changed. Four people whose lives are undeniably touched and changed by Jesus gratefully honored Him…

20. Read John 12:1-18; Matthew 26:6-13; and Mark 14:1-11. Jesus and His disciples are now dining at the home of Simon the Leper. Lazarus is there as well as Martha and Mary. How did each of the sisters show their gratitude to Jesus for giving life back to their brother?

  • Martha—
  • Mary—

Historical Insight: What is spikenard? Nard comes from the Himalayan Mountains and other high altitude places in northern India. Cheaper varieties come from other countries. It is a fragrant ointment made from the shaggy roots and lower stems of an Indian plant. It is used to anoint royalty. According to one historian, it was very expensive. It was imported in sealed alabaster boxes or flasks that were opened only on special occasions. Also, anointing was normally done on the head. Mary apparently anointed both Jesus’ head and feet.

21. As you learned in Lesson Two, this perfume might have represented to Mary her inheritance, her dowry or a lifetime of savings. It was likely her most precious possession. And, respectable women did not unbind their hair in public. Therefore, what does her "gift" indicate about her character, her intuition, and her love?

Think About It: Mary perceived with her delicate woman’s intuition what the apostles failed to understand though repeatedly and plainly told to them by Jesus.

22. Jesus accepted Mary’s act of worship. The disciples did not. Discuss their response to Mary’s worship and sacrifice. [Note what is revealed about Judas.]

23. Jesus was not afraid of the controversy surrounding this incident. Compile Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ objections using all three accounts from John, Matthew and Mark. 

24. Read Mark 14:8 again. What do you think Jesus meant by saying, “she did what she could” in Mark 14:8 (literally, "what she had she did")?

25. Living Out His Love: Jesus said that Mary did what she as a woman in her culture with her resources could do for Him. He called that “a beautiful thing to Me.” As a woman in your life circumstances, in what ways could Jesus say, “she did what she could” about you when it comes to showing gratitude to Him? How does your heart show gratitude to Him? Feel free to respond in any creative means you choose to use—prose, poetry, song, art, prayer.

Day Four Study

25. Jesus and His disciples often stayed in Bethany when they were near Jerusalem (see Matthew 21:17 and Mark 11:11,12), probably with Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. They knew the joy of Jesus' private company. What does this tell you about Jesus' needs for friendship and His relationship with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus?

Think About It: If the perfect Son of God needed friends, how much more do we need them!! Lazarus and Simon, both men healed by Jesus, gave a dinner in His honor at a time when the Pharisees were hunting Him like an animal. Jesus knew his friends' home was a place of welcome, protection, rest and provision.

26. How did Martha and Mary blossom in the presence of Jesus over time? What changed? What stayed the same? What showed that they listened to His teaching?

27. Living Out His Love: God created Mary and Martha with different personalities. Both could serve Him, love Him, and worship Him in different ways—all equally as valuable. That is the same for us as women. Isn't that wonderful? We don't have to be alike to be able to love and serve Him. This is how it is in the Body of Christ. Have you been made to feel guilty for being more of a “doer” than a “feeler?” Look at Romans 12:6-8 for a list of some spiritual gifts. Some are “doer” gifts (teaching, leadership, administration); some are “feeler” gifts (mercy, helps). The Holy Spirit through Paul says that all are needed in the local church. What spiritual gift(s) do you think has been given to you by the Holy Spirit? How are you using your gift to help others get to know Jesus or to grow in their faith if already Christians?

Related Topics: Character Study, Love, Women

11. Ministry Women Identified by Service: Lydia & Phoebe

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Time: 49-62 AD Paul's Second & Third Missionary Journeys

Background

Settlers first arrived in Philippi from the off-coast island of Thasos to mine gold. A Greek gold rush, so to speak! Philip II of Macedon named the city after himself, built a wall, and colonized it in 356 BC At the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, Mark Antony and Octavian defeated the army of Brutus and Cassius. So, Philippi became a Roman colony as a thank you for its help. Being a Roman colony gave Philippi special privileges (few or no taxes), but more importantly it became like a "transplanted" Rome. The primary purpose of colonies was military, for the Roman leaders felt it wise to have Roman citizens and sympathizers settled in strategic locations. So, Octavian (Caesar Augustus) settled former soldiers there in the years following the victory.

Philippi was very influential in its part of Greece. Its 200,00-500,000 residents were mostly Greeks and Romans. Being only 10 miles from the coast, it was a great market for goods that Romans liked and was on a highway for easy transport. Main Street Philippi was the Egnatian Way, the Roman version of an interstate highway that connected Rome to all its satellites. Philippi was considered the Gateway to the East and, thus, a very prosperous place. What wouldn't be if you paid no taxes?! Also, it had exceptionally fertile soil and lots of timber for harvesting.

A school of medicine operated in Philippi run by as guild of Greek physicians. It is speculated that Luke (the author of Acts and the physician companion of Paul) had grown up and attended medical school there.

Being such a Roman city, Philippi had very few Jews, not enough to even establish a synagogue since doing so required at least 10 Jewish men. Without a synagogue present, the few Jews in any town and their converts met on the Sabbath outside the city walls, near water, to get away from idolatry. The women's prayer group Paul found probably gathered on the banks of the Gangites River, a mile and a half west of town!

Day One Study

1. Read Acts 15:40 - 16:5. List all that God was doing through the ministry of Paul and his companions.

2. Read Acts 16:6-9. How was the Holy Spirit directing their path? And, specifically describe the vision God gave to Paul to guide him over to Europe.

3. Read Acts 16:10-13. What did Paul and his companions do next? [Notice the use of the pronoun “we” beginning in v. 10 indicating Luke was traveling with the group now.]

4. Read Acts 13:5,14; 14:1 and 17:2,10. What was Paul's usual missionary strategy when he entered a town?

5. Living Out His Love: Did you notice Paul’s flexibility in how he followed the Lord’s leading on this journey? He had his plans to go to certain new places with the gospel, specifically the province of Asia (western Turkey) and Bithynia. We, as women, often have our minds made up as to what we should do each day. Read James 5:15 and other verses you can find about being directed by God’s will in our plans. In what ways have you submitted to the Lord your willingness to be open to whatever opportunities He gives you to build a relationship with someone who needs to know Him or to know Him better and perhaps share your faith?  

Day Two Study

Getting to Know Lydia

6. Read Acts 16:11-15. Paul had a vision of a man calling him over to Macedonia for ministry. What is significant about the fact that Paul's first proclamation on the continent of Europe was to a group of women (no men are mentioned in the gathering? See Galatians 3:26-28. Who sent Paul and his companions to Lydia and the other women?

Scriptural Insight: By this time in his ministry, Paul had been sharing the gospel with both men and women who embraced it with joy. Sadly, he also experienced persecution led by prominent “God-fearing” women in one city who had been incited by the Jews against him (Acts 13:49)

7. List everything you can glean about Lydia in this passage.

8. Deeper Discoveries (optional): Where was Thyatira, and why do you think Lydia was in Philippi? Use your study notes, Bible handbook, etc. to find out about Thyatira—people, products, religion, etc.

Historical Insight: Purple was a favorite color of the Romans and, therefore, in great demand because it was used on official togas in Rome and in the colonies. In fact, we still use the term "royal purple." It was very expensive to produce. We don’t know when or why Lydia relocated to Philippi, but it was a smart business move. Macedonian inscriptions show greater freedom for women in that area of the world than anywhere else at this time.

9. Consider Lydia's likely material wealth as a seller of purple, her position in the community and her background from Thyatira. Now consider her presence with the other women by the river. What more can we infer about her own heart and attitudes?

10. How did Lydia respond to the gospel? What was the immediate evidence of her faith?

11. Who else was influenced by Lydia's becoming a believer?

12. What did her home become? See also Acts 16:40.

13. Living Out His Love: Paul may have expected some men gathering at the river, but he doesn’t act surprised. Instead, he is ready to share what he knows with the women gathered there. No doubt, he had some great conversation starters that led into sharing about Jesus. You can be ready for opportunities the Lord gives you through preparing some conversation starters and transitions from common topics of conversation into sharing some aspect of your faith story.

Conversation Starters

What are some good conversation starters to stimulate meaningful talk that might reveal a woman’s heart and give you a chance to invite it somewhere? Use these when you engage your hairdresser, co-worker, or neighbor. 

Transitions

Prepare some transitions from common topics of conversation that could lead into sharing some aspect of your faith story. Use the examples of common topics below and finish out what you would say.

  • Corruption, evil and sin – “Though I am not guilty of that particular sin, I am just as guilty of…
  • Community – “I believe we are created by God to live in real community, first of all with Him. And, I’ve experienced this…
  • Family – “I am so glad God cares even more about my family than I do. What would I do without Him helping me to…
  • Something good happened“God has been so kind to you in that. I see His kindness to me everyday…
  • High expectations—“I am so glad God doesn’t expect perfection from me. What a relief it was for me to learn how much He loves me just as I am…
  • Ask Jesus to give you boldness and opportunity to use these soon.

Day Three Study

14. Read Acts 16:16-40. The other incidents in Paul's visit to Philippi no doubt had a direct effect on Lydia. Summarize what happened to Paul and his companions.

15. How might these events have affected Lydia as a new believer? Think of her household, position in the community, business and any other areas.

16. Where was the last place Paul and his companions met in Philippi? In view of their notoriety, what does this tell us about Lydia?

17. It sounds as if Lydia's home was a hotel and conference center for believers and missionaries. In what ways can this hospitality be viewed as ministry? Discuss the importance of this ministry by Lydia and other women to the spread of the Gospel. See Acts 5:42, Romans 16:5,13 and Hebrews 10:23-25,32-34. Remember that the main road between Asia and Rome runs through Philippi. Notice the outcome of their faithfulness in Philippians 4:15-19 as Paul commends the Philippian church approximately ten years after his first visit.

18. Living Out His Love: Believers are told throughout the New Testament to practice hospitality. Read Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 5:10 and 1 Peter 4:9.

  • In what ways can hospitality be a great tool for ministry, particularly for building relationships with those who don’t know Christ or don’t know Him well?
  • In what creative ways can you make your home available?
  • Does hospitality have to be practiced in a home? Explain your answer.

Day Four Study

Getting to Know Phoebe

19. Read Romans 16:1-15. From the limited amount of information in vv. 1-2, describe Phoebe. Do some research to discover the meaning of her name.

From the Greek: Phoebe is described by Paul as a diakonon of the church. The word diakonon, "servant," is used for the office of deacon (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8,10,12) as well as used generally (Romans 15:8; 1 Corinthians 3:5). Use of the word with the phrase "of the church" strongly suggests some recognized position in the church at Cenchrea, a fact appropriate for a person serving as Paul's emissary. She was the emissary to deliver Paul's letter to the Romans.

Phoebe is also described by Paul as a prostasis, translated "great help/helper of many." The Greek word prostasis means "a protectress, patroness." It is a word of dignity and indicates the high esteem with which she was regarded, as one who had been a protectress of MANY. The word was used as a title of a citizen in Athens, who had the responsibility of seeing to the welfare of resident aliens who were without civic rights. Among the Jews, it signified a wealthy patron of the community.

20. Knowing the meaning of the words Paul used to describe Phoebe gives you a great deal more insight into Phoebe's life. Look up patroness in a dictionary. What would you add to your description of Phoebe in the previous question?

21. So, what was Paul's view of this woman, and how did he act on her behalf?

22. Living Out His Love: What can you learn from Phoebe's example, especially in her example as a patroness? In what ways can you be a patroness for other believers?

23. List the other women mentioned by Paul in Romans 16, including any information Paul gives us about them and their ministry to the church. In vv. 6 and 12, the Greek word translated "work hard" means “to labor with wearisome effort, to toil to the point of exhaustion." Would you say that Paul demonstrated that he had the same value for women as a follower of Christ that Jesus showed to women during His lifetime? Explain your answer.              

Related Topics: Character Study, Love, Women

12. Ministry Women Identified by Service: Priscilla

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Time: 49-62 AD Paul's Second & Third Missionary Journeys

Background

Many of the places Paul visited during his three long journeys were strategic centers of culture, commerce and communication. The Gospel planted in them would spread quickly to surrounding towns and villages, and further afield too, as travelers took the good news home with them. Four of the most important places Paul visited were Athens, Corinth, Ephesus and Rome.

Paul met Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth, the city of shopkeepers, which was Greece's most important trade city. Corinth was two miles inland from the Gulf of Corinth at the foot of a rocky hill rising 1886 feet above sea level on top of which stood the temple of the goddess of love, Aphrodite. Corinth was the connecting link between Rome, the capital of the world, and the East. The city was a melting pot of approximately 500,000 people who relished the lack of standards and freedom that prevailed in the city. Corinth was filled with shops and had two theaters plus an amphitheater that hosted gladiatorial shows and athletics.

In Corinth, Paul joined Aquila and Priscilla as they worked on the same trade together—tentmaking. Tents were made of hand-woven strips of black or dark brown goat's hair about three feet wide sewn together and reinforced. Goat's hair is resistant to both heat and water, and once washed it shrinks and becomes taut. The skill of tentmaking was probably taught to Paul and Aquila in their youth. It was a Jewish tradition to teach young boys a trade. Additionally, Paul's native province of Cilicia was noted for its goat's-hair cloth called cilicium that was largely used in tentmaking.

Paul and his new friends left Corinth and traveled to Ephesus, the City of Artemis. Ephesus was also an important trading center at the junction of the Asiatic caravan route to the east and the sea route to Rome in the west. Paul left Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus and went to Caesarea. It is in Ephesus where Aquila and Priscilla met Apollos (Acts 18).

Some time later we find Priscilla and Aquila back in Rome. They had lived in Rome previously until they were required to leave by Claudius. That is when they went to Corinth and met Paul. Rome was the capital of the empire, top ranking in political importance, geographical position and sheer magnificence. Located on the river Tiber around seven hills approximately 18 miles from the Mediterranean, Rome was full of temples, theaters, palaces, baths and administrative buildings. But in contrast to this lavish splendor, the ordinary people lived in tenements often three or four stories high. Many were so poorly built that they were nearly falling down. Picture the environment Paul, Aquila and Priscilla were in as you do your study and refer to the map to track their journeys.

*Information adapted from Handbook of Life in Bible Times and Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary.

Day One Study

1. Read Acts 18:1-17. What was the political/social/emotional climate of Corinth? How did the Jews in Corinth respond to the Gospel? How did the Gentiles respond to the Gospel?

2. Paul preached the Gospel successfully gaining converts for Jesus. But, then what happened to him? How did God encourage Paul?

3. Describe Priscilla and her life situation using everything that is revealed in this passage.

Historical Insight: Displaced from Rome because of an edict in AD 49 or 50 from Claudius for all the Jews to leave Rome, Aquila and Priscilla had come to Corinth to ply their trade…Suetonius, a biographer of Roman emperors, described what may have been the occasion for such a decree. In his Life of Claudius he referred to the constant riots of the Jews at the instigation of Chrestus. Possibly, the name Chrestus is a reference to Christ. (Walvoord and Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p. 405)

4. What brought Priscilla and her husband Aquila together with Paul? Approximately how long did Paul stay with them?

5. Describe what it would have been like for Priscilla and Aquila to have Paul as a daily companion, co-worker and influencer.

Think About It: We prepare our children to know certain basics about who they are and their life before we send them to kindergarten—their name, parents’ names, address, phone number, how to obey, how to share, and more. How do we typically assimilate new Christians into their walk with Christ? Usually, we invite a new Christian to church or to a small group and assume those activities will fill in their gaps of understanding. But, unless a class, small group study, or sermon series is designed to give the basics of the faith in easily understandable language, those new believers aren’t going to get established. Out of love for God and for new Christians, those of us who are growing Christians need to be willing to establish new and young believers. Are you willing?

6.  Living Out His Love: Whether or not Priscilla and Aquila were Christians before they met Paul, they were certainly Christians by the time they left Corinth. And, knowing that Paul was willing to leave them in Ephesus to carry on ministry there tells us that Paul felt they were established in their faith. To establish means, “to build a solid foundation, to provide strong roots.” All Christians (new or old) need to be established in some basic information:

  • Who Christ is, what He’s done for us on the cross, what His resurrection means for us, and our identity in Christ.
  • How to read/study a Bible.
  • Who the Holy Spirit is and how He works in our lives
  • Living by the Spirit’s power rather than living by the flesh
  • What prayer is—knowing God the Father’s love
  • Obedience flowing from love and gratitude rather than obligation
  • Being part of the Body of Christ and enjoying its community
  • Telling others about Jesus

When you were a new or young believer, what did someone use to establish you? Did you go to a new believers’ class? Have you been rooted with this basic information? Of the list above, what do you feel that you still need to know?

Day Two Study

7. Read Acts 18:1-17. What kind of pressure do you think may have been brought to bear on Priscilla and Aquila because of their association with Paul? Consider the effect this could have had on their business and the choices they needed to make.

8. Living Out His Love: Have you ever had to take your stand for an unpopular cause that was right? What was the cost to you? What did you gain? Reflect on Acts 18:9-10 and let God speak to you through His Word. Share your insights with the group.

9. Read Acts 18:18-28. Priscilla and Aquila accompanied Paul as he sailed for Syria. Ephesus was a stop on the way. What happened when they arrived in Ephesus? In what ways would staying in Ephesus be a step of faith for Priscilla?

10. Describe Apollos. Discuss his encounter with Priscilla and Aquila, including their attitude and approach. What is the significance of the word "they" in verse 26?

11. Deeper Discoveries (optional): To see the importance of how Priscilla and Aquila established Apollos in his faith, read 1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:5-6,22; 4:6; 16:12 and Titus 3:13. Briefly describe what became of Apollos.

12. Living Out His Love: Where are the new and undiscipled believers besides anyone you bring to Christ yourself? Most likely, they are where you are presently connected—Bible studies, mothers’ groups, where you work or live, and in your church. Don’t assume that woman sitting next to you knows her identity in Christ. She may not be a believer yet. She may be a new believer. She may be a long-time believer who has never been discipled and feels ignorant compared to others. Are you willing to be a “Priscilla” to her?

  • Pay Attention—listen well to what she is saying; consider why she might be leaving questions unanswered and how you can help her.
  • Come Alongside—for someone new to Bible study or doesn’t know much, invite her somewhere to talk. You don’t have to be the group leader to do this. Find out what she already knows and what she wants to know. If she is interested in meeting with you to get more established in her faith, agree on a time to get together.

Are you willing to trust Jesus to give you both willingness and opportunity to be a “Priscilla” to another woman? Who is Jesus leading you to disciple to move further along in her faith? Trust Him and invite her to get together with you this week and talk about it. Read “Alison’s Story” below to see what this looked like in the lives of three women.

Focus on the Meaning: Does “pay attention” and come alongside her” sound like mentoring? Yes, it does. Mentoring is someone older in the Lord helping someone younger in the Lord understand and apply biblical truth to everyday life. It is the “how” of discipling.

Day Three Study

13. Read 1 Corinthians 16:19. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians from Ephesus. He mentions Priscilla and Aquila in 16:19. What are they doing? How is their home being used?

14. Read Romans 16:3-4. What does Paul call Priscilla and Aquila in these verses? Based on what you know about them already, what were they likely doing in Rome?

From the Greek: "Priscilla" had another name, Prisca (Romans 16:3; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19), the latter being more formal. Luke normally used the colloquial, diminutive form of names (e.g., Silas, Sopatros, Priscilla, Apollos), but Paul preferred their formal names in his writings (e.g., Silvanus, Sosipatros, Prisca, Epaphroditus). Nevertheless he sometimes used the more popular form of a name (e.g., Apollos, Epaphras). (Dr. Constable’s Notes on Acts, p. 261)

15. What might have Paul been referring to when he said "they risked their lives for me?" Refer back to previous questions.

16. Why should all the Gentile churches be grateful to them?

17. Read 2 Timothy 4:19. This is Paul's last letter. What does his mention of Priscilla and Aquila tell us about his friendship with them?

Day Four Study

18. Aquila and Priscilla, as a married couple, worked together in their trade and in their ministry. Describe what you think their relationship must have been like. What joys and risks did they share?

Historical Insight: Priscilla's name frequently appears before her husband's—"Aquila"—in the New Testament (e.g., 18:18-19, 26; Rom. 16:3; 2 Tim. 4:19). This may indicate that she came from a higher social class than Aquila, or that others regarded her as superior to him in some respect. However, when first introduced in Acts 18:2, Luke mentioned Aquila first. (Dr. Constable’s Notes on Acts, p. 261)

19. Make a list of adjectives describing Priscilla and Aquila individually and as a couple.

20. What was the overall scope of their influence together?

21. Living Out His Love: Read 1 Peter 3:1-16; John 14:15 and 15:9-12 to answer one of the following sections:

  • If you are married, do you and your husband have common goals for ministry as a couple? If so, what are they? If not, how does the Lord want us to respond to each other and to Him?
  • If you are not married, do you have a ministry partner in the church, workplace, community, women’s group, or other? How are you at working together as a team with your ministry partner(s)? If you do not have a ministry partner, where do you get encouragement to do your ministry?

Recap of “Jesus, Lover of a Woman’s Soul” Study

22. Which account of women in the New Testament was your favorite? Why?

23. In what ways has this study increased your confidence that Jesus truly does care for women?

24. What choices have you made as a result of this study?

Allison’s Story: Coming Alongside Monica

My story is your story. It is a telling of making yourself available to God in the ordinary. However, when we make ourselves available to God and His agenda, what seems common becomes extraordinary. We serve a humble God who partakes in the “small” of our lives and writes the most beautiful stories.

I am a member of a newly planted church. At the time of my story, our church was on a tight budget. At one of our meetings, the pastor presented the budget and said that our church did not have the funds to pay a housekeeper. The meeting was held right after our church service that day, and many members and non-members were there. I raised my hand and said I would be willing to clean and try to set up a team to take care of this job once a week.

The next Sunday, two beautiful young ladies came up to me and asked if they could help me with the weekly cleaning. I had never laid eyes on either Monica or Ronda before and teased them about being ministering angels.

The following week, we met and talked a bit before we cleaned. I began to learn that neither of them had been attending a church for a while and that they lived together along with Monica’s boyfriend Mark. I shared my testimony with them and asked them about their faith journey and a bit about their background. That day as I was driving home I realized this was about more than cleaning. The Lord had just laid into my hands the opportunity to disciple.

The pastor met with both Monica and her boyfriend Mark to encourage them to move out of their living arrangement. Mark attended our church alongside Monica and had come from a different church background.

Monica and I met after our cleaning time one week for coffee, and she asked me some questions about the Lord and her life. When I counseled her, she became agitated and said, “You sound just like my mother!” I told her I was a mother and tried to express to her how I cared. I wondered if this would change our relationship, but God had plans for Monica and me.

Ronda, the other young lady, leaned into our relationship a little more than Monica, and I thought maybe she was the one that God intended for me to spend more time in discipling. I did at first, but as time went on, circumstances took her to a job that made it hard to meet because of distance.

After about a year, our church budget was able to support a housekeeper, and we no longer needed to clean. By this time, Monica and I had become good friends. She was originally from another state, and I believe she eventually enjoyed the fact that I was like her mother. I saw her make great leaps by moving closer to her job and living with another roommate.

One Sunday, I noticed on Facebook that Monica had gone for a walk earlier that morning and expressed gratitude to God for her life. This was a new attitude for her. I had just been to a disciplemaking training event a few months earlier, and I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to ask her if she would be willing to meet for a Bible study. As I walked out of the prayer room that Sunday morning, Monica was standing right there! I knew what that meant, so I asked her what she thought of meeting, and she said excitedly, “Yes!” She said she had wanted to do a study.

After praying and asking the Lord about this, during my first meeting with Monica, I asked her what she would enjoy doing during our meetings. She replied that she wanted to learn more about cooking. So, the first time we met, we roasted a chicken together!

We also chose a Bible study to do together that would give her a good foundation for her faith. I did my best to make the time and place easy for Monica because she lived forty minutes away. It was such a joy to meet with her. At first, I could tell that she was developing a new habit of being in the Word of God, and it was not always easy for her to make the time or feel confident about the study. I was humbled when she would ask me questions. Sometimes I did not know the answers, and I would tell her that I would do my best to find it out. We prayed about her job, her family, and her boyfriend and thanked the Lord for putting us together. She really wanted to get married, and I encouraged her to wait on the Lord and trust that He had His best in mind for her.

The trials would continue to come, and she would find herself seeking the Lord more. It was so beautiful to watch. Mark, while visiting family, was taken to jail for an offense. He began to ask us to pray about the outcome of this situation and the court case. The Lord had given my husband and I a real heart for this young couple. The men at church prayed with Mark and graciously guided him to a deeper dependence on God.

As months went by, Mark and Monica became like a new couple. They altered their time together to be more productive instead of wasting time partying. They both were changing right before our eyes. Monica began building relationships with several of the women at church and found support through their examples and friendship. She even led an exercise program one night a week as an outreach ministry.

We sometimes would just talk when we met. It wasn’t a forced or restricted time together. I felt pressed to allow the Lord to work through our time for what He saw to be most important. Sometimes we would walk her dog afterwards and just laugh and share.

Mark was put on probation, and he was concerned that he would have to serve it out in another state where the offense was made. However, through prayer he received the good news that he could stay at his job and home during the probation.

Soon after, he proposed to Monica! We continued to meet a few times, but job and wedding plans took the front stage. My husband and I felt like surrogate parents at their wedding. It was so special to be a part of this beautiful story!

Now that Monica is married, we don’t spend as much time together. She now works and lives a good distance away. But I know that regardless of this, we will always be close at heart.

Monica has expressed that she feels a calling to reach out to young women and guide them in the Lord. She is now beginning to be a leader and disciple others. Multiplication is the fruit of discipling.

Monica and I met just a few days ago. She still has questions, dreams and hopes in which she asks for guidance. I am humbled. God does use the ordinary.

As a side note, I do not hear from Ronda. I pray for her. I know God did not introduce me to her in vain. Sometimes, we disciple, and the person moves out of our lives; sometimes they stay. Sometimes our discipling seems disappointing and does not seem as successful as Monica’s story. We have to trust that it is all in God’s hands and just remain available.

Related Topics: Character Study, Love, Women

The Wishful Atheist

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High Ground or Thin Air?

Atheists claim the high ground of reason and science while viewing Christian faith as blind and wishful thinking. But could the opposite be true? Could atheism be unreasonable wishful thinking, while Christianity is both reasonable and consistent with what we know of the universe?

A Limited View

We begin by asking the question, what would an atheist need to know in order to know that God does not exist? Answer? Everything about everything in the universe and beyond. Infinite knowledge. In other words, the atheist would need to be God to deny His existence. Of course, people write books, teach at universities, and accomplish many marvelous things, but none are equipped to describe reality beyond our three or four dimensions or to know what inhabits the other side of the universe.  Christians and atheists alike forget where they put their wallet, purse, or car keys, and can’t know the contents of their neighbor’s garage without having a look. How, then, can such limited people know that God does not exist, or what an infinite God can be or do? Apart from God’s revelation, our limitations render such claims meaningless. 

An Unreasonable Standard

Next, Atheists point to apparent contradictions in Scripture to deny the God of Scripture. But God infinitely exceeds our limited understanding. In fact, we could never know Him if He did not condescend to make Himself known. Our limitations before an infinite God make mystery reasonable and necessary. To say the God of Scripture cannot exist because I cannot understand or logically reconcile something in my mind presumes my limited understanding to be the ultimate standard of what God can or cannot be or do. Finite and fallen people are ill-equipped for such a lofty role. Scripture describes God as infinite Spirit and higher than the universe He created, whom no man has seen or can see (John 1:18; 1 Timothy 6:16). Arguments against God’s existence based on our limited experience and understanding are futile in the face of a God who transcends reality as we know it. He is not limited by what He created.

Without Excuse in a Sea of Evidence

Scripture tells us that all people know God in a way that leaves them without excuse for not worshipping or giving Him thanks (Romans 1:18-22). God’s power, genius, and goodness are displayed clearly in all things, including the stars, our conscience, and the food on our table. No one visits a bakery and denies the existence of a baker, uses a computer and denies the existence of a programmer, or sees a baby and denies the existence of a mother and father. Yet, atheists deny God while drowning in a sea of evidence. 

Willful Mystery

Why do they do this? They “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18) because they do not like the implications of God as their maker. If God created and sustains them, apart from whom they have and could do nothing, then they owe God all love, honor, and obedience. They deny the obvious because they do not like where the evidence leads them. They refuse to deny their presumed independence and authority and reject the reality of their dependence on God for all things. As they love darkness and hate the light, they view God as a direct challenge to their love of sin and self-rule (John 3:19-20).  

Wishful Thinking

So, unlike the Christian realist, the atheist suffers from wishful thinking. He imagines no heaven or hell, no ultimate judgment, and no God to whom he must humbly bow the knee. He devises what he could never know or determine. Yet, someday he will be confronted with reality as God has determined it to be, regardless of what he imagined it to be.  The presumed omniscience of the atheist will be exposed as a denial of the obvious, from contempt for the One who gave him all good things, to whom he owes all things. It’s no wonder, then, that Scripture tells us: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1). 

©2015 Craig Biehl, www.pilgrimsrock.com

Related Topics: Apologetics

6. 耶稣受试探 (马太福音 4:1-11)

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在我们建立学习圣经的方法,到目前为止我们注意到故事情节本身告诉我们事件的基本情况,故事中的对话给我们揭示了什么真正在进行,并且为何这样发展,故此我们花上好些时间专注这些对话。在耶稣受试探的记述亦然,透过对话,我们知道魔鬼给耶稣甚么试探,并且知道耶稣怎样胜过它们。

从叙事中我们亦看到魔鬼和耶稣在多处直接或简接引用旧约。这一点也不奇怪,因为我们的旧约就是他们十分熟悉的圣经,他们也是书中的人物。若不明白所引用的经文,就难以理解那些事件。所以我们就是读新约,也要花好些时间寻索旧约,以便充份地理解和明白背景资料。

另一情况是圣经里常有平行的事件可作比较(例如希律杀孩童和耶利米书记载巴比伦人入侵时杀孩童)。那些平行事件在起初看来并不那么独特(例如在伯利恒出生 – 有很多人在伯利恒出生),但当我们仔细研究时,就会发现一些显著可对照之处(一位君王的诞生)。

我们会发现马太福音第四章的主题是试探。嗯,试探多得不计其数,每个人若不是每小时受试探、也会每日受试探,不过,这里有点不一样。在这里,耶稣在祂事工刚开始的时候,就面对魔鬼出尽法宝的试探,而祂却没有犯罪。圣经作者从一开始就发现这事件与亚当和夏娃受试探的事件平行。事实上,圣经把耶稣看作第二个亚当,一个生为神家里的一份子的新「种族」的始祖。稍后在马太福音我们将会看到在花园里的极大痛苦、荆棘冠冕、流汗、被钉在树上或十字架上,创世记第二章、第三章所记载的图像,在各各他找到相应的解决方法;试探也有相同的情况。

因此,让我们花几分钟想想这两个重大的试探之间相似之处和对比之处。前一个试探使人陷入罪中,第二个试探则开始了战胜撒旦之路。或许有关这两件事最有名的「研究」是约翰弥尔顿(John Milton)的《失乐园》(Paradise Lost)和《复乐园》( Paradise Regained)。当撒旦试探耶稣时,他明白到他不能败坏耶稣,如他败坏人类始祖一般。故此,他不能破坏神拯救的计划。

也许你希望作一个列表来比较两者的差异,作进一步思考。在创世记,亚当和夏娃在一个郁郁葱葱的花园生活,他们可以吃那里的食物;在马太福音,耶稣在旷野,祂已经禁食四十昼夜。在创世记,试探和食物有关;在旷野,耶稣的试探从食物开始。在创世记,试探是叫人以违背神的方法来像神;在马太福音,给耶稣的提请是以不遵从神的方式作王。在创世记亚当和夏娃犯罪,是为了他们不确切地知道神说了甚么,他们没有撒旦那么清楚明白;在马太福音,耶稣胜过撒旦,因为祂比撒旦更认识圣经。在创世记,当那对夫妇犯罪后,天使阻挡他们接触生命树;耶稣把撒旦赶走后,天使来侍候祂。

重温了这些历史,现在让我们来看看这短短的经文的一些细节。在马可福音 1:12-13也提及这试探,但却没有细节。路加福音 4:1-13 提供和马太福音平行的资料。这带来了一个不能避免的问题:圣经作者怎会知道这事件?最简单的答案是耶稣告诉祂的门徒,传到保罗后,再传给路加。唯一明显的分别是在路加福音里,第二个试探是关于天下的万国,而第三个试探是从殿顶跳下去。把事件、事件的部份或教导的排序作轻微的变更,是福音书常见的特色。不同的福音书作者写作时,有不同的写作对象,为了写作目的而安排材料。这先后次序相异的编排,并不会在解读经文时构成重大的影响。马太福音的安排很可能是原本的次序,路加似是考虑外邦世界而重排次序(虽然你会发现很多学者花大量时间来决定谁先谁后),我们可以明白为甚么路加强调撒旦给予天下的万国,把它放在耶路撒冷圣殿的试探之前。

阅读经文

4:1 当时,耶稣被圣灵带领到旷野,受魔鬼的试探。

2 他禁食了四十昼夜后,就饿了。

3 那试探者进前来对他说:「你若是神的儿子,吩咐这些石头变成食物。」4耶稣却回答说:「经上记着说:『人活着不是单靠食物,乃是靠神口里所出的一切话。』」

5 魔鬼就带他进了圣城,叫他站在殿顶上,6 对他说:「你若是神的儿子,就跳下去。因为经上记着说:

『主要为你吩咐他的使者,

用手托着你,

免得你的脚碰在石头上。』」

7 耶稣对他说:「经上又记着说:『不可试探主你的神。』」

8 魔鬼又带他上了一座很高的山,将世上的万国与万国的荣华都指给他看, 9 对他说:「你若俯伏拜我,我就把这一切赐给你。」10 耶稣就说:「走吧,撒旦!因为经上记着说:『当拜主你的神,单要事奉他。』」

11 于是魔鬼离开耶稣,有天使来伺候他。

观察经文

这叙事的结构相当容易追溯;开始有引言提供背景资料,接着是三个试探和试探的回应,然后是事件的余波。当然,研读的重点是三个试探,决定它们实际上试探甚么,而耶稣怎样处理它们。

首两节的引言告诉我们一些重要的事情。首先,耶稣被圣灵带领到旷野,受魔鬼的试探。这和耶稣受洗时降到祂身上的灵是同一个灵,这灵也差不多在即时促使这试探。在这里我们需要细加思考,这事件意味神的旨意是要耶稣接受这挑战来开始祂的事工,这并非撒旦的主意,却可以肯定他十分乐意这样做;可是,我们必须留意是神的灵引领耶稣到旷野接受试探。魔鬼可以用尽他的法宝来试探耶稣,可是他不会成功。试探这一幕,是神用来显示耶稣是完美的人的方法,祂能抵抗试探,祂能打败撒旦。

我们要考虑的第二点是魔鬼(撒旦),这是他在福音书第一次出现。在阅读过程中,你应该使用一本好的字典来查看撒旦的资料。他就是伊甸园的那条古蛇(启示录 12:9)、鬼王、这世界的掌权者、要毁坏神的工作的堕落天使。福音书并没有回避物质世界以外有灵界、灵界充满天使,当中有的以撒旦为首叛逆神;故此他们是邪恶的。这些被称为堕落的天使、鬼或恶魔,替鬼王工作,向不愿意遵行神旨意的人进行攻击和制造障碍和混乱;而鬼王自己从事更显著的工作,他成功使亚当和夏娃犯罪,使整个世界陷入黑暗中;但这里他无法胜过神的儿子。

第三点:经文告诉我们耶稣已经禁食四十昼夜,并且饿了。我们没有理由怀疑如经文所述是四十个白昼和四十个晚上;不过「四十」是圣经常用于困难、困境、磨难时期的数目。我们会即时联想到以色列人在旷野漂流四十年 – 一整代人。禁食四十天是一个颇长的时期,这里强调这四十日的象征意义,这是试探的时期。你可以从一些资源查看数目的象征意义,看看它在圣经那些地方出现。

经文告诉我们,撒旦离开后,天使来伺候耶稣。这敌人以被击败的挑战者身份离开;神的天使来伺候耶稣,我们难以想象天使伺候耶稣的方式,相信他们透过安慰和鼓励给耶稣肯定,肯定祂一切都做得很好,而且战胜了撒旦。

但这次研读的重点是那三个试探,现在就让我们细看它们的意义和它们如何被处理。

分柝试探

1. 将石头变饼。第一个试探即时拣选了耶稣禁食四十日饿了的实况加以试探。试探者说:「你若是神的儿子,吩咐这些石头变成食物。」

这里有一个值得留意的语法,你可以从一本好的注释书学习到(除非你学习希腊文),你若没有注意到,你仍可明白这个试探,只是明白这语法有更大的帮助。以「若」字开始的句子(条件句)可以有不同的意思,有些是假设语气,有的却是事实;原文的写作方式表示了是那类型。例如:马大对耶稣说:「主阿,你若早在这里(但你不在这里),我兄弟必不死。」马大这条件句属假设语气;但在马太的经文撒旦的意思却不是这样,当他说:「你若是神的儿子」,他的意思并不是「你若是神的儿子(但你却不是) 」,而是「你既然是神的儿子」;他很清楚他要试探的是谁,并在其上建立他的诱惑。他的意思是:「看,你是神!为何还要挨饿?就把石头变饼吧。」

现在,我们要问这有甚么问题,难道造一些吃的东西有问题吗?祂有能力这样做,祂稍后不是为那些肚饿的人把食物倍增吗?故此,这为何是一个试探?

我想,答案是耶稣到旷野禁食四十昼夜,这一刻是祂生命历程中,一个重要的属灵操练;但撒旦却想毁坏耶稣的事工,只要他能说服耶稣为这看似微不足道的小事放弃属灵的工作,他便得到祂。这试探是要使祂不寻求神的旨意,用祂属灵本质来满足物质上的需要;若是如此,他就是按魔鬼的旨意而行。魔鬼只简单地选了一件小事作为试探;但它却能毁了基督的工作。

耶稣的完美从祂拒绝魔鬼显示出来。肚饿并不是问题,特别在禁食(属灵操练)的时候,因为禁食的设计是使肉身离开安舒,而将焦点集中在属灵的事上。耶稣向撒旦宣告,也向我们听的人宣告,纵使肚饿,比吃饱而不寻求神的旨意强。撒旦重点出击 – 耶稣是神的儿子;然而儿子身份的本质是服从天父的旨意,故此祂不会自行作一些独立于神旨意以外的事。耶稣知道是圣灵带领祂到一个需要挨饿的地方,故此祂完成了这一任务。

耶稣引用了申命记来回应撒旦:「人活着不是单靠食物,乃是靠耶和华口里所出的一切话。」假如你翻到申命记第八章,你会发现那里的课题是以色列人在旷野漂流四十年期间挨饿,神在旷野试验他们,让他们学习他们必须顺从神口里所出的一切话。神给他们吗哪,但他们要小心依照神的指示来获取它、享用它。重点是:如果他们服从神,神就为他们预备食物。所以服从神比有他们有吃的更重要(还记得亚当和夏娃选择吃,而不听从神的话)。

耶稣看穿了撒旦的聪明小把戏。祂诉诸圣经明确的原则,击败了诱惑,但他并不是单单引用一句人人乐颂的章节,而是以整个篇章指出如果神为了某些属灵原因,把你处于一个被剥夺个人权利的地方,你不要试图为了满足你的身体需要而改变它。那人首要明白神为何将他处于困乏,灵命需要怎样和如何达到成长。这就表明人活着不是单靠食物,乃是靠耶和华口里所出的一切话和神的作为。

2. 从殿顶跳下去。如果第一个试探是肉身的需要,第二个试探是灵命的试探。事实上这试探是攻击刚才胜利的心脏地带。耶稣以关注的不单是肉身需要,更重视属灵层面,祂可以为了服从神而接受挨饿和疲弱,避开了第一个试探;故此,撒旦要祂做一些壮观的事来证明祂灵性完美。撒旦对耶稣说:「很好,你展示你对神的信任过了第一关;现在,你从殿顶跳下去来表明你是相信神的。」当然,那是在集会的人众目睽睽下进行,让他们见证神用特别的形式和耶稣在一起。

有趣的是撒旦也引用经文来向耶稣作出要求,他引用诗篇所说的话:神吩咐祂的使者保护他,免得他的脚碰在石头上(诗篇91:11- 12)。这是一篇和信心有关的诗篇,告诉人神保护祂的子民,但它从没要求在理性以外应用,神应许保护祂的子民,但神也给子民判断力。

这个试探的回应略为复杂。开始时,我们应考虑因由:假如魔鬼或对我们而言明显不倾向服从圣经的人,驱使你做一些好像是圣经说你可以做的事情,你会明智地详加考虑。很多经文都不是按上下文或以断章取义的方式加以引用,这些都要小心探讨。

耶稣也引用圣经作回应:「经上又记着说:『不可试探主你的神。』」。这经文出自申命记6:16,申命记第六章是以色列人的律法和信心的基础篇章,当中有信仰宣言:「以色列阿,你要听!耶和华 ─ 我们神是独一的主。」接着劝勉子民要服从神的命令和要作神看为好和正直的事;也警告不要试探神。

当一个人试探神时,那证明了他或她并不是真正相信神。申命记6:16所在的篇章指以色列人在马萨(Massa)和米利巴(Meribah )旷野里埋怨神和试探神,因为他们不相信神能或会给他们水(“Massa” 是从希伯来文 “nasa” 而来,这字的意思是「试验」;另一名字 “Meribah” 从动词 “rib” 而来,意思是「击打」)。当人的信心微弱或动摇时,需要寻求凭据或戏剧性的介入来稳固它。

因此耶稣说:「不,我的信完全,我不需要做英雄式的事来证明。我不会按照你的驱使,用愚蠢的行为来试探神的话。」所以基督的灵性本质保留其尊严,活出安静,对父神的信任。他拒绝做危险的事来看看天使是否会保护祂。

3. 俯伏拜我。最后的试探大胆得令人惊叹。魔鬼好像意识到他不能得胜,因没有甚么可以失去,他竟然叫耶稣拜他。这试探的目的是为了防止主的工作,阻碍祂到这个世界来要完成的工作。

魔鬼带耶稣上了一座很高的山,将世上的万国与万国的荣华都指给他看。这节经文似乎有点高深莫测,有点超自然。以色列并没有很高的山可以看到很多的东西,可能是魔鬼提供了一些王国的影象,而且承诺只要耶稣俯伏敬拜他,就会把它们给耶稣。 路加福音中撒旦还声称这些王国已经给了他,他有权按他心意,希望给谁就给谁。撒旦对耶稣说:「看!你来到这世界是为了作王和承受这些王国,它们就在这里。为何要那么麻烦,为何要经历甚么受苦的仆人去取得冠冕。给我一刻的致敬,我便会逊位。」

好吧,撒但说的纵使是甜言蜜语,也有一些恶意试探的端倪。首先,这个建议来自说谎者之父,谁会在知情的情况下与魔鬼做交易?耶稣稍后解释(约翰福音8:44)他从起初就是一个骗子,真理不在他那里。这是怎么样的谎言!撒但可曾有一刻幻想着神的儿子会相信他吗?那些王国从来没有给撒旦,那只是为了使耶稣在这位恶魔面前下拜的饵。不幸的是,太多太多的人相信了这邪恶的诱惑者,亚当和夏娃确实相信了他。

第二,撒旦所提供的「王国」是复数,那些在世上正在交战中的、分裂的、充满权力冲突、种族冲突的王国;谁希罕得到她们呢?父神曾应许儿子一个国度,一个和平团结、公义与和谐的国度。当然,除了赎回、除了改变人类的本性,使他们适合居住在这国度,没有其他继承方法;除此国度以外,世上不会有和平与和谐。撒旦提供的是一个廉价的替代品。

因此耶稣的回应是:「走吧,撒旦!因为经上记着说:『当拜主你的神,单要事奉他。』」这也是出于申命记(6:13)。这是圣经重要的真理:只敬拜神。义人甚至不会去想向黑暗之子低头和敬拜。 耶稣会坚持这原则,祂永远不会敬拜撒旦。故此,祂会等候神的时间和神的方式 – 通过战胜撒旦 – 得到王国。祂先在这里胜过撒旦的试探,稍后在十字架上胜过他。而祂的志愿是要得到一个更理想的王国,那不是这个世界所能提供。

旧约背景

如上文所述,伊甸园里的诱惑是必须的背景,也和这里明显平行。在伊甸园里,诱惑者伪装成一条人手管辖的蛇;在这里撒旦并没有伪装,但他却既大胆又直接地攻击耶稣。

在伊甸园里,诱惑者所使用的花招是质疑神说了些甚么。假如你在创世记第 2 章的背景下细读3:1-7,你会发现夏娃在措辞中作了三个更改(或许亚当没有正确地告诉她):首先,她低眨了特权(神说:「园中各样树上的果子,你可以随意吃。」但她简单地说:「我们可以吃。」);第二,她在禁令上作了添加(神所说的是:「只是分别善恶树上的果子,你不可吃。」,但她却补充说:「也不可摸。」);第三,也是最重要的,她并不相信吃后的惩罚 – 死亡(神曾说:「你吃的日子必定死!」她却说:「免得你们死。」使它成了偶发的)。当诱惑者看到这一点时,他立即否定造物主确确实实地说的刑罚:「你吃的日子必定死!」这就是从起初的谎言:你犯罪,但会侥幸逃脱,或神不会惩罚犯这种罪的人。

在这里有两点意见:撒旦更确切地知道神所说的,并能够吸引他们进行讨论神说的话,撒旦拥有优势;撒旦还大胆地否认罪的刑罚。这就是耶稣说他从一开始便是撒谎者的原因(约翰福音8:44)。

按上述所说,我们能够明白在马太福音第四章,耶稣打败撒旦,因为祂比诱惑者更清楚神所说的话,他以更广的图像来回应:「经上又记着说...」。试探通常需要「删掉」阻碍他的一节经文或一个禁令(如果去除了便可以作别的解释)。但得胜的信徒知道所有的经文如何工作,也知道禁令或诫命背后有一般性的神学原则,制约细节的解释和应用。

我们可以看到,没有过于微小的诱惑。在伊甸园里吃树上的果子,不是一件小事吗?把石头变成面包,不是无害?可是每样都是来自魔鬼的提示,也都违背神的旨意。当任何人选择违背永活的神的旨意行事,那人便是选择死亡。撒但清楚这一点,我们却经常不知道;我们常常认为一些小事,就算那时刻我们心中知道那不是神所想的,也总爱欺骗自己,这么小的事儿挤挤眼便能过关,容易解释过去。圣经充满这样的例子,你读的圣经愈多,你愈会看到。摩西是一个典型的例子:神叫摩西吩咐盘石出水,但摩西发脾气,击打盘石(民数记20章),为此他不得进入应许之地。谁又能责备摩西,他在旷野四十年来不断容忍以色列人!但是,在众人眼前他违背神,给人的印象是神(和他)对人民忍受够了。神希望让他们看到的是祂的大能,而不是摩西的愤怒。

伊甸园诱惑事件的后果,也有教育意义。创世记第3章告诉我们:当女人意识到树上的果子好作食物,悦人眼目和渴想获得智能,她就拿来吃了。

也许这便是约翰所指世界上的事,就像肉体的情欲,眼目的情欲,并今生的骄傲(约翰壹书2:16)。诱惑在三个层面工作:肉体吃东西的欲望、眼睛希望看到美丽的东西和希望像神的属灵骄傲。当亚当和夏娃吃了果子后,他们所发现的是有罪的恐惧和他们脆弱易受邪恶侵袭。

相关的新约

希伯来书 。希伯来书告诉我们有一位大祭司 – 耶稣基督 – 凡事受过试探,然而没有罪(希伯来书4:14-16),这经文的意思是祂完全理解我们在这个世界所面对的每一种试探。祂曾受各种试探,不单这三个在事奉开始时的试探,还有祂在地上生活时期接受的各种试探。故此,希伯来书说:「我们只管坦然无惧的来到施恩的宝座前,为要得怜恤,蒙恩惠,作随时的帮助。」当我们遇到试探时向基督祷告,对战胜诱惑至关重要。这也是合情合理的方法 – 向那做到的人寻求帮助。

雅各书。假如你使用研读本圣经、字典、神学书籍或注释书,你很容易找到新约圣经有关耶稣受试探或有关撒旦的教导。雅各告诉我们「务要抵挡魔鬼,魔鬼就必离开你们逃跑了。 」(雅各布书4:7)这显示哪里抵抗最少,魔鬼就往哪里去;这同时显示人的心就是没有魔鬼的驱使,也有能力产生一些邪恶。这是雅各书提出的一个观点。

哥林多后书。保罗告诉我们要多谢圣经让我们知道撒旦装作光明的天使(哥林多后书11:14,但请由第1节读至15节),使我们对于撒旦的技俩不是一无所知,故此能抵挡试探者。胜过试探需要更多圣经知识,更好的属灵洞察力(参希伯来书5:11-14)。通过了解圣经,我们知道神在我们生命的整个计划,便能够更好地察觉那些会将它削弱的事情。

结论和应用

我们在这里有一场撒旦与基督之间的精彩戏剧,结果是基督战胜诱惑者,因祂认识圣经和应用神的话语作抵挡。撒但的攻击针对每个容易受攻击的弱点:饥饿、 信任和责任。当这些都稳守了,魔鬼就没有其他可攻击的地方。他攻击身体对物质的需要,但他攻击的对象清楚属灵需要比物质需要更重要;他攻击对神的信心,但他的攻击对象完全信赖父神,不需要测试;他攻击实行神的旨意的方法,但他的攻击对象决心要按神的方法来实行神的旨意。故此,撒旦被打败了。

这对基督的使命有甚么意义呢?这是在十字架上胜利前预先尝到的一个胜利,耶稣在这里击败了试图毁坏祂的使命的试探者。基督在这里表明祂一定不会遇难而退,这是胜过魔鬼的一个非常重要的属灵胜利。这给耶稣大大的推动力(假如我们敬虔地说);祂知道圣灵的恩膏给他力量抵御那恶者,完成祂的使命。

在神学的层面上,你可能会为周边的事情感到兴奋,并从神学角度思考这里发生了甚么事情,它可以作一个很好的讨论。人们经常疑惑,基督有可能犯罪吗?如果不会,这是一个真实的试探吗? 我们也许会说,作为耶稣祂可以被试探,但作为神的儿子祂不可能犯罪 (这和祂两种性质的奥秘息息相关)。但我们也会说,在试探发生的那一刻,耶稣对此也许也不清楚这是一个真正的试探,而祂通过了试探;然而天上却知道祂不会犯罪。当耶稣在这世上的时候,祂有这知识和洞察力,也有些时候,祂似乎没拥有它或使用它。这到底在何时和怎样运作,我们难以知道。 这是真实的试探,撒旦认为他能赢。 耶稣按祂的知识和服从圣经进行反击。天上对祂打败撒旦并不感到惊讶;而我也认为撒旦也不感到十分吃惊。

在这课,我们可以得出很多教训和应用,你也可以想出其它的教训和应用。

当中很清楚的一项是必须认识圣经,明白神的旨意(不是为了在你生命中从事那个职业,而是每日在灵性生活上的委身和顺服神)。这涉及对圣经的理解和使用神的道在善恶之间作选择。

另一个很好的启示是耶稣作为一个完美的人打败了撒但:祂曾被试探,祂得胜,因此,祂理解我们,随时准备提供帮助;所以向祂祈求胜利是一个很好的课题。

我们可以从个别试探中学习(因上文已讨论,在这里不讨论细节了)。从第一个试探,让我们知道生命中最重要的是遵守神的道,而不是仅仅满足肉体、赚取生活或以属灵的资源来满足身体需要。今天,若要过对神顺服的生活十分困难,很多人只对透过投资、应享权利、沉醉在美好的事物来保障生活感到兴趣,追求美好的人生把属灵的事挤掉了。

第二个试探是关于对神的信赖。那些每天经历信仰的真实和真正认识神的人,不需要找壮观的事来说服自己和别人。今天有愈来愈多人从事神迹的职业。然而只有神选择使用神迹时,祂会行神迹。 如果人寻求壮观的事是为了使人相信,或想说服自己是有信心的,这行径出卖了他们薄弱的信心。记得财主和可怜的拉撒路的异象,财主求亚伯拉罕差派拉撒路到他的家警告他的家人,他认为若有一个从死里复活的到他们那里,他们会相信。财主所得的回答是:『若不听从摩西和先知的话(圣经),就是有一个从死里复活的,也是不听劝。』(路加福音16:31)

第三个试探是透过便捷方式来完成神交托的事情和行神的旨意。这是一个很普遍的试探,这是逃避应行的路来达到目的。换句话说,为求达到目的可以不择手段。可是,神有祂选择的途径来完成在你身上的计划,那需要你绝对的委身和服从祂。但撒旦总爱提供便捷方法,如果仔细看,这些方法会毁了你的一生。

所以,从这些试探中汲取非常有益的教训,以上所述应能启发你的思考,你可以先默想片时,想想试探怎样在你生命中运作的其它例子,认识神怎样帮助你抵挡它。底线是,耶稣给我们演示如何战胜诱惑和试探。换句话说,我们可以不犯罪。如果我们愿意接受,有很多途径可以取得灵性的成功。

拉比有一个教导对胜过试探很有帮助:你可以像一个生意人,将问题、诱惑和选择的得失作盈亏账。如果你选择某个方法,会有甚么好处、代价将是什么?在许多情况下,把后果也计算在内,代价过高。聪明的选择,是把代价纳入考虑之内。

假如基督按这些试探的任何一个而行,即时看到的代价并不是那么高,但最终会带来灾难性的结果:祂会成为一个罪人,成了像我们一般的另一个堕落了的人,无法拯救任何人,祂的事工将完全被撒旦毁灭。可是这不会发生,因天父差遣祂的儿子来到世上拯救我们,透过这样做,祂征服了撒旦。

Translated by: Jenny Pao   鲍婉玲译

8. Devoted Women Identified by Faithfulness: Mary the Magdalene

Related Media

Time: Time: Jesus' Third Year of Ministry, ~AD 29

Editor's Note: The author (Melanie Newton) does not have any audio for this article, however she recommends this audio message by Vickie Kraft as helpful in conjunction with this study.

Background

As Christ continued His public ministry, more and more people began to travel with Him from one town to the next. Some were no doubt just curious onlookers. But others followed because they could not help but accompany the person who had so radically changed their lives. Mary, the Magdalene, was among the latter group. She had long ago moved from the ranks of the curious to the convinced.

Magdala is thought to have been a small village on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, southwest from Capernaum. It was about three miles north of Tiberias where the ruler of Galilee, Herod Antipas, had his capital. Once famous for its fine woolens and dyed products (the dye came from shellfish caught in its waters), Magdala had as many as 4,000 inhabitants with 80 weavers' shops and 300 shops that sold pigeons for sacrifices. The Hebrew name Magdala is associated with the word migdol, which meant “a watchtower.” It was also known by two other names—Magadan and Dalmanutha. In Jesus' day it was primarily a Gentile city, as its horse and chariot racetrack indicates.

The name Mary is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Miriam. Recall the role of Miriam among the women of Israel (see Micah 6:4).

Day One Study

1. Read Matthew 15:29-16:4 and Mark 8:10-12. Discuss Jesus' ministry in and around Mary's hometown (see map in “New Testament Insights”).

2. Read Luke 8:1-3; Mark 15:40-41 and Matthew 27:55-56. List all the women mentioned by name in these passages and any information given about them (family associations, etc.).

3. Jesus did not use daily miracles to provide for His own needs and for those of His disciples. For those who traveled with Jesus, list all that ministering to and providing for Him would have looked like for these women. Be specific by thinking through what you have learned about daily life at that time. Note that Galilee was 60-70 miles from Jerusalem.

4. Review the Background sections in Lesson One and Lesson Four. How did Jesus' acceptance of what these women did for Him go contrary to the culture?

Historical Insight: Jesus’ allowing these women to travel with Him and provide for Him “would have been viewed as a scandalous situation in Palestine in that day. However, like the forgiven woman (7:36-50), these women had also been forgiven much, [healed from diseases], and they loved much.” (Walvoord and Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p. 224)

5. Why did they do it? And, how did traveling with Jesus also benefit them? Think about all that Jesus was saying and doing as He traveled from town to town.

Scriptural Insight: Jesus intentionally taught His 12 disciples and many others to know, follow, depend upon, and obey Him. Women also were learning what it means to follow Him in the same way as He taught them along with all the others (Luke 8:1-3; 10:38-39; and John 11:25-27). Some of those women were part of the 120 waiting for the Holy Spirit to come in Acts 1-2.

6. Living Out His Love: Women who have been forgiven and healed much want to give back to the one who has set them free from their pain. In what ways do you give back to the One who has set you free? In other words, how do you support Jesus’ ministry today?

Day Two Study

7. Reread Luke 8:1-3; Mark 15:40-41 and Matthew 27:55-56. Write down everything you can deduce about Mary Magdalene and choices she made.

8. From our previous study of the Canaanite woman in Lesson Six, what symptoms might Mary have displayed while being demon-possessed? [Note: there is no scriptural evidence that she had been immoral. A church leader around 500 AD associated Mary with the immoral woman in Luke 7:36-50, thus unfairly adding that stigma onto her character.]

9. Explain how her plight as a demon-possessed woman might have affected her life socially, spiritually, and emotionally.

10. Read Luke 18:31-34. What information did Jesus give to His disciples to prepare them for the future?

11. Mary Magdalene experienced firsthand the events of the last week of Jesus' life—His triumphal entry, the cleansing of the Temple, verbal combat with the Pharisees, and the agony of His arrest and trial. What range of emotions must Mary Magdalene have felt through the last week of Christ's life?

Day Three Study

12. Read Matthew 27:55-61; Mark 15:40-47; Luke 23:49-56 and John 19:25. Discuss how Mary Magdalene and the other women continued to minister to Jesus on the day of His trial and crucifixion. What information is given that gives insight to their strength of character during a stressful, emotional time?

13. Compare this with what His male disciples did at His arrest and trial in Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50 and Luke 22:24-62.

14. Read Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-14 and Luke 24:1-12, 22-26. Discuss the following:

  • Who did or did not see the angel(s)—
  • The message the women were given to spread—
  • The response of the disciples to the news—
  • Jesus' defense of the women—
  • Jesus' rebuke of the men—

15. Because of a twisted interpretation of the Mosaic Law, the rabbinical leaders taught that women were uneducable. They were also considered unreliable as courtroom witnesses. How was God's use of women as reliable witnesses revealed in these verses? Why do you think God entrusted the spectacular news of the resurrection to women?

Historical Insight: “That a woman would be the first to see Him is an evidence of Jesus’ love as well as a mark of the narrative’s historicity. No Jewish author in the ancient world would have invented a story with a woman as the first witness to this most important event.” (Walvoord and Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, p. 342)

16. Living Out His Love: Jesus trusted that the women would do what He asked them to do. What message did He entrust them to spread? What message has Jesus continued to entrust you to share? Write out the simple gospel message below as you would share it with someone. For ideas, see “Ways to Explain the Gospel”.

Day Four Study

17. Read John 20:1-18. Describe the scene and what Mary Magdalene experienced. What is revealed about her and her view of Jesus? “Rabboni” (verse 16) is personal, meaning my teacher.

18. From our study of Mary Magdalene so far, why do you think He appeared to her first after His resurrection (here and in Mark 16:9)?

19. Discuss Jesus' conversation with her and her response (in John 20).

Focus on the Meaning: Mary may have embraced Jesus physically for the Lord responded, “Do not hold onto Me, for I have not yet returned to my Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them…” These words spoke of a new relationship, new relatives, and a new responsibility…A new relationship will begin with His Ascension and the gift of the Holy Spirit to the church. The new relatives are the disciples whom Jesus called His brothers…Believers in Jesus become a part of Jesus’ family with God as their Father. Mary’s new responsibility was to testify to His risen presence. She was the recipient of four special graces: to see angels; to see Jesus risen; to be the first to see Him alive; and to be a proclaimer of the good news—the latter being something all Christians share with her. (Walvoord and Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, pp. 342-343)

20. Why can we assume that Mary Magdalene was probably single?

21. Considering the life of a single woman without children, what could be some advantages of being single as she serves the Lord? Disadvantages?

22. Living Out His Love: The local church often undervalues single woman, especially the career single who has never been married nor has any children. If you are single, how do you feel included or not included in your church’s ministry to women? In what ways might a single woman feel left out of ministry opportunities at your church? Is there a single woman who might need your friendship? If you are single, what can you do to let the married women know you want to be included? Discuss with your group ways to be more inclusive of those who are not married and/or mothers. 

9. Devoted Women Identified by Faithfulness: Mary, Jesus' Mom

Related Media

Time: Jesus' Life, ~5 B.C.-30 A.D.

Editor's Note: The author (Melanie Newton) does not have any audio for this article, however she recommends this audio message by Vickie Kraft as helpful in conjunction with this study.

Background

During the time of Jesus' birth, rabbis had fixed the minimum age for marriage at twelve for girls and thirteen for boys. The fathers arranged the marriage without usually consulting either the boy or the girl involved. When the marriage was agreed upon, the groom gave presents to the bride's family. The Jewish betrothal period was a stricter legal relationship than modern engagements, and sexual relations were not allowed. If the wedding were abandoned, a financial penalty would be imposed on the person responsible.

Jesus' mother Mary was raised in a time when women did not have the same rights as men. Women were treated as possessions and listed along with a man's property. Wives referred to their husbands as "master" and lord. A woman could not divorce her husband. Daughters and wives could not inherit property from their father or husband unless there was no male heir. However, some women did have respect and influence, like the Old Testament women Sarah, Miriam, Deborah and Abigail. Daughters seemed to share in family life as much as sons, such as participating in religious festivals. The Ten Commandments called for equal honor to be shown to both parents. Women were subject to the law with identical penalties for offenders of either sex.

Jesus did not reinforce the practice of treating women as second-class citizens or as possessions. His example demonstrates His equal love and compassion for women as well as men, including His own mother. After studying this lesson, you will see that Mary was an ordinary woman of faith. She gave birth to and raised the boy Jesus, but then she needed to believe in Him with the same saving faith that you and I must have for salvation.

Day One Study

The Announcement

1. Read Luke 1:26-45. Describe the scene as Mary experienced it. (For location of Nazareth, see map in “New Testament Insights.”)

From the Greek: The angel Gabriel said that Mary was highly “favored” and that she had found “favor” with God, both words related to the Greek karis, often translated in the New Testament as grace, meaning “undeserved favor, a gift.” Grace carried the notion of joy, delight, and kindness. What does this tell you about God’s choice of Mary to carry His Son in her womb?

2. What promises did God make to Mary through Gabriel?

3. What does Mary's response reveal about her?

4. What prophecy was God fulfilling through Mary? See Isaiah 7:14 plus other verses you find.

5. Living Out His Love: Could God have carried out His plan of salvation without Mary? The angel Gabriel tells us, "For nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37).” Memorize this verse and share any examples in your life when God has demonstrated this fact to you.

Day Two Study

6. Read Luke 1:46-56 and 1 Samuel 2:1-10. Describe Mary's encounter with Elizabeth. How did God demonstrate His faithfulness to Mary regarding His promise?             

7. Note the similarities between Hannah's song of praise and gratitude (1 Samuel 2) and Mary's (Luke 1). What does her song reveal about Mary’s knowledge of God and her knowledge of the Old Testament?

8. What does the expression "God, my Savior" indicate that Mary knew about herself? See also Psalm 24:5; 95:1 and 1 Timothy 1:1; 2:3 for use of the same phrase.

9. Mary declares in Luke 1:48: "From now on all generations will call me blessed (NIV)." The adjective “blessed” is translated from a Greek word that means, “pronounced happy.” She gives one reason in verse 49. What is the reason? Based on what you have studied so far, for what other reasons might all generations call her blessed?

Think About It: We are to view her as one who revered the Lord and did His will, who put her trust in Him and, therefore, was filled with His joy. Since Jesus’ death and resurrection, she shares in the same salvation as the rest of believers.

10. Read Matthew 1:18-24. Joseph was a godly man who chose not to publicly divorce or disgrace Mary when he found out she was pregnant. Read John 8:41 (a possible slander against Jesus’ birth). The people of Nazareth could count months between when Joseph took her as his wife and the baby’s birth. What shadow did Mary live under all her life?

11. Living Out His Love: Have you or anyone you have known been in a position of social disgrace in which God used it for His higher purposes? Describe what happened.

12. How was God faithful to Mary in His provision of a husband for her and father for Jesus?

Think About It: Though women 12 years and older were required to pay a poll tax and register, Mary could have chosen to not go to Bethlehem this late in her pregnancy and let Joseph enroll both of them in the census. They likely knew the prophecy from Micah 5:2. She chose to go, knowing that their baby would be born in Bethlehem.

13. Read Luke 2:1-7 and Micah 5:2. Imagine what it was like to travel for ~3 days in late pregnancy on foot or on a donkey. Think what it was like for Mary to give birth in a cave, with probably no woman to attend her. Describe the scene as Mary experienced it.

14. Read Luke 2:8-20. Notice God’s idea of a grand birth announcement! What further confirmation coming from the shepherds does God give to Mary and Joseph about their new baby and His purpose?

15. Living Out His Love: Though not all babies get that kind of heavenly birth announcement, all babies are knit in their mothers’ wombs just like Jesus was. And, all babies are born with purpose. Read Psalm 139:13-16. What is revealed about God’s care of you from the moment of conception?

Day Three Study

16. Read Luke 2:21-40. Mary and Joseph did was required by the Jewish Law after the birth of a baby. And, God used this experience of their faithfulness to Him to give them more confirmation of their son’s purpose. Remembering what the angel had told Mary, discuss what Simeon and Anna added to Mary’s understanding of her son’s purpose and future.

17. Mary and Joseph were faithful but not perfect parents. Read Luke 2:41-50. Jesus is twelve years old. Discuss the experiences of the boy Jesus and his parents as described in this passage. 

  • Jesus—
  • Mary & Joseph—

18. Of what did Jesus' answer remind His parents?

19. Read Luke 2:51-52. In what ways were Jesus’ growing up experiences normal for a human boy? What does this reveal to you about Mary's mothering?

20. Living Out His Love: How, if at all, were the basics of the Christian faith taught and reinforced in your home while you were growing up? If you have children, how are you teaching them to have faith in Jesus Christ and helping them to grow in their faith?

Day Four Study

21. Read Matthew 13:55-56, John 7:3-10 and Mark 6:3. What other children did Mary have in addition to Jesus?

Scriptural Insight: There is no Scriptural evidence that these children were not Mary’s natural children. See Matthew 1:25 and Luke 2:7. The expression in the Greek "her firstborn" means that she naturally had other children afterwards. Otherwise, the Greek phrase for "only son" would have been used as in John 3:16 and Luke 7 (the Widow of Nain).

22. Read Mark 3:21,31-35. In His response to His family members who had come to “take charge of Him” for His own welfare, Jesus reveals His priorities. How does Jesus' understanding of His own priorities affect the relationship between His mother and Himself?

23. Living Out His Love: There are two issues at work here, both creating tension.

  • On the one hand, Jesus had to take a stand opposite of what His family desired. Have you been in such a situation? How have you responded? If this is still a point of conflict, what should you do?
  • The other issue is that of Jesus' siblings questioning His motives and behavior. Have you ever questioned some dynamic Christian's motives or been envious of his/her walk with God? Is this what His siblings could have been experiencing? How did you deal with this situation?

24. Read John 19:25-27. What does Mary's presence at the cross reveal about her?

25. Just before His death, Jesus, as the oldest son, committed His mother’s future provision to the disciple John (a nephew) but not to one of her own sons. What could be the reason for this? For help, review John 7:3-10.

Scriptural Insight: In 1 Corinthians 15:7, Paul writes that Jesus did appear to His brother James who believed, became the leader of the Jerusalem Church, and wrote the New Testament book of James. Another brother, Jude, also believed and authored the New Testament book of Jude.

26. Read Acts 1:1-14. The prayer group meeting together after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension included Mary. Why were they praying? What were they waiting to receive, and what will they be empowered to do after receiving it?

27. Living Out His Love: Mary was a normal human just as we are. Summarize Mary's character qualities revealed in this lesson. Is Mary's character attainable to us? What qualities of this godly woman would you like to have? As believers, we have the same Holy Spirit Mary had to help us develop godly character. Trust in Him to be faithful to complete the good work He began in you, submit to His will and fix your eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of your faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Historical Insight: When did the view of Mary as something more than an ordinary godly woman begin? An apocryphal document (called the Gospel of James) written in the late second century A. D. created a whole scenario for Mary. Other information about Mary’s life began to be circulated in the 400s AD declaring Mary to have been a child prodigy who made a vow of virginity at the age of 3, remaining in the Temple where she had continual visions and angelic visits. Most of this developed as an outgrowth of the influence of Gnosticism. The conjecture became tradition, which morphed into “fact.” 

Related Topics: Character Study, Love, Women

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