Summer Reading: Lessons from Luke (part 2)

by Shannon Tillman | Jun 12, 2025 | Bible Study, Theology, Thoughts

Simon’s Supermom-in-law

Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. (Luke 4:38-39)

It was hard to be sick in my family growing up.  My mom was an Intensive Care Nurse for thirty years so she saw diseases at their worst.  Sometimes, at dinner, she would begin sharing in gruesome detail about her patients.  The rest of my family listened with keen interest and compassion.  I, on the other hand, would often begin to pass out.  I cannot handle blood and gore.  When my mom would see me swaying in my seat, about to topple onto the floor, she would abruptly stop the conversation and profusely apologize while helping me to the couch to lie down.  Intensive Care Unit nurses are not fazed by illness, for they are surrounded by the horrors of it.  In order for me to be able to stay home from school, I had to be on the brink of death.  My friends could have a broken nail and they would get to stay home.  But not me.  I had to be too weak to walk, running a temperature, unable to speak, and look as if I had been run over by a car!  Basically, I was never one of those kids who faked being sick to stay home.  I was just thankful when I was sick and I was not sent to school.

Besides being a nurse, I believe another reason my mom never allowed us to stay home with just any sniffle was because of what a hard worker she was.  Mother would not let any illness hold her down.  She knew she had so much to do in the home; she would force herself to stay on the move for the sake of us kids.  When mom was in bed, I would be scared for that meant she was truly ill.

I believe that is how many moms are.  They hold the home together.  These women know that a few days out can mess up the schedule for the entire household.  Despite how they feel, they must keep going.

A remember a time when a gentleman in my church dropped off his child in Sunday School.  He looked frazzled.  When questioned, he told us that his wife had been out of town for a few days.  He said, “She left me her list of the things she does each day.  There is no way possible that she is able to do all that each day.  I can’t complete the list!”  So speaks a man.  He had no idea what all she did at the house, taking care of their children, plus working part time.  He was ready for her to come home!  The schedule was too much for him.

I wonder if another man, years ago, was making the same plea.  Instead of wishing her trip was over, he desired for her fever to be gone.

Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon.  Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her.  So He bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her.  She got up at once and began to wait on them.  (Luke 4:38-39)

 Jesus had just left the synagogue.  After healing the demon-possessed man, the Lord went to Simon’s house.  Now I have to wonder if looking at the violent demon-filled man did not remind Simon that his mother-in-law was sick.  Sorry, cruel mother-in-law joke, but some of you reading this can relate.

Whatever the case, they did go to his house that day.  The mother-in-law was extremely ill.  We do not know from what she was suffering.  However, by the writer’s detail describing her fever as high, we can assume that her condition was serious.

A few years ago I caught a horrible case of the flu.  I was sick enough to break down and go to the doctor.  I hate going to the doctor. Since my mom was a nurse, we rarely had to go to the medical center.  She could diagnose us and knew how to treat our various ailments.  I still call my mom and try to get her to tell me what is wrong with me, anything to avoid the dreaded clinical office.  What does she say?  “Go to the doctor!”  On this occasion, I readily agreed.  I went to a local doc-in-the-box.  I waited over an hour before they brought me in.  I was so frustrated because there was only one other guy in the waiting room.  What were they doing back there?  Anyway, I was finally called back.  After examining me and taking some tests, I was told that I had the flu, strep throat, and mono.  The doctor basically told me not to leave my house for a while.  He also prescribed medications that were so strong their side effects made me feel even worse, if that were possible.  I have never been more miserable in my life.  I lay on my couch not knowing what time of day it was as I drifted in and out of consciousness.  Coworkers would call to check up on me, since I lived alone.  They were afraid that I would faint and hurt myself and no one would know.  They also called because they thought it was funny to listen to my voice.  I sounded like an old man who decided to gargle with tacks.  I was scared to hear myself!)  It took me months to fully recover.

I do not know how ill this woman was, but I have a feeling she may have been suffering as I did.  I know that, for one thing, she was unable to ask for help.  Others had to do that for her.

Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her.  (Luke 4:38b)

I can only guess who the “they” was.  Could it have been Simon and his wife?  Maybe it was some of her friends who were staying with her to help her.  Possibly it was some of the other followers of Jesus.  We do not know who the “they” was.  But they were obviously people who looked at her condition and realized the only Person who could help was Jesus.

Do you know someone who is suffering?  It does not have to only be physical suffering.  There are people around us who are broken emotionally and feel as if they cannot get out of bed.  Some are hurting in relationships and do not know how to reach out for help.  Many are spiritually afflicted yet do not know Who can change their state of life.  Will you bring Jesus to that person?  Be willing to go spend time with him or her.  Be willing to meet the need.  Be willing to boldly ask Christ to intervene.  Be willing to watch for His answer.

Reaching out to others is always a risk.  Look at the danger these people put themselves in.  Here is a woman with a high fever; it is possible their immunity could not fight off her illness, and they also could become sick.  Yet, they still went to be with her.

For a short time in college, two friends and I led a Bible study for the homeless around the campus.  I befriended men and women who faced the daily hardships of trying to survive on the streets.  One time the three of us went to our usual meeting place.  A man from the Bible study was bleeding from a head wound.  He had been in a fight with another man who was trying to steal his stuff.  The potential thief had taken a metal chain and lock and had struck the first man in the head.  It was bleeding profusely and we knew we had to get him to the hospital.  I sent one friend to the nearest phone to call the police.  The other friend tried to talk to the homeless man about the need to stop the bleeding.  The homeless man would not allow him to come near.  He only wanted me to come and help.  I have already shared how easily blood and gore make me ill, so I did not want to help.  I was also scared of diseases that could be transferred by blood.  But I was more frightened to watch someone die.  I went over and was able to gather some old cloths he had and stopped the bleeding.  I also worked to keep him conscious until the ambulance could arrive.  After he left, the three of us rushed to the hospital.  In the waiting room, I looked down at my hands.  His blood was on my hands.  I ran to the bathroom and scrubbed them for fifteen minutes.

It is a risk to help others.  Sometimes it is frightening.  Other times it is just emotionally draining.  It is always easier to not help, to not get involved, to just ignore the problem.  But we hear the Spirit calling to our hearts, “Will you take Jesus to that person?”  When we hear Him ask, and we do obey, then we see something amazing.  For Jesus will get involved.

 So He bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her.  (Luke 4:39a)

 I love how Jesus does not stand on the other side of the room to rebuke the fever; He gets up close.  It reminds me of a parent to a child.  When I was sick as a child (and my mom actually allowed me to stay home), my mom would bend over me and place her hand on my head to check my fever.  She would ask me how I was feeling and show her concern for me.  Jesus, the Heavenly Father, is leaning over His child, letting her know that He cares.  I wonder when was the last time that this mother got to feel like a child.  I bet, for a moment, she felt the love of a Father.

Before she had a chance to speak or maybe even to think, she hears Jesus rebuke her fever.  Suddenly, she feels better.  The fever is gone.  The color returns to her face.  The fog in her head clears.  The eyes become clear.  The energy returns.

 She got up at once and began to wait on them. (Luke 4:39b)

After Jesus heals her, all she wanted to do was wait on Him, and not only the Lord but also anyone else in the home.  She was so excited she wanted to help everyone.  She began telling everyone, “Sit down.  I’ll take care of that!  Don’t you worry about me.  I am doing great.  I feel wonderful.  I have been healed!”

What a beautiful picture of a life transformed by Jesus.  A person who has felt His touch just wants to serve Him and others.  It is a way of showing our gratitude.  We know we cannot repay Him for what He has done.  We understand that we did not even deserve His help.  But we are so appreciative of what He did in our lives that we just want to be at His beck and call.  Anything He asks for, we want to do.  We are willing to perform any task to help others just to please Jesus.

In a spiritual sense, each of our lives was ill with sin.  But Jesus rebuked the evil at work in our lives.  We are free from the fever.  And with that freedom, we will serve our Lord.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.  (Galatians 6:10)

Sinful Simon

We have all heard, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”  We quote it to our children.  We wish we abided by it all the time.  You must be wondering, “Then why is the chapter titled Sinful Simon?  I mean, that is not saying anything nice about this poor disciple who is continually picked on.  It is bad enough that in every movie portraying Peter, he is always the one with the blond curly hair that sticks up a foot above his head.”  But it was easier to title this Sinful Simon, than Sinful You, or Sinful Me (and it sounded better, too).  For this is a story of salvation.  If you look closely, you can see your story in it.  In order for us to experience salvation, there must be something from which we are rescued.  What were we?  Sinners, caught in the snare of evil, needing to be set free.  We were entangled and could not escape.  But then Someone came along who not only saves us from what we are, but chooses to see us as we can be in Him.  If I could break out in song right at this moment, I would sing to you “Amazing Grace.”  This story shows the beginning of the journey of transformation from Sinful Simon to Saint Simon.  Same with you.  Same with me.

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.  He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked Him to put out a little from shore.  Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.  But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.  So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man!”  For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.”  So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.  (Luke 5:1-11)

A group of children from the third grade Sunday School class put an invitation in my mailbox for a party in honor of everyone working on the church staff.  When the children saw me, they wittingly said, “We invaded your personal space.”  Of course, they thought their joke was hilarious and repeated it to me half a dozen times because that is what kids do.  A joke about personal space invasion is fine, but in reality, it is far from all right.  I avoid speaking to one gentleman I know because he has a need to stand five inches away from the person to whom he is speaking.  My personal space is a lot larger than that!  I will step back to give room, but he moves on forward.  I wonder if that is how Jesus felt as the crowd pressed against Him.  But He just stepped back into a boat!

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.  He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked Him to put out a little from shore.  Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat.  (Luke 5:1-3)

 Unlike me, Jesus did not stop speaking because He was being crowded.  Instead, He came up with a solution that could help everyone.  He looked around, saw some fishermen cleaning nets, and requested help.  Simon readily agreed.  I love this about Simon.  From the beginning, he was willing to give whatever he had to Jesus.  I want to be more like that.  So often I have a vice grip on things that when God asks me to let Him use them, I just squeeze tighter.  He kindly pries my fingers off.  Then, I go around bragging about how I gave all I had to Jesus.  Not true.  He had to keep after me to get anything.

My mom learned the difficult lesson of giving all things to God in a most unusual way.  About twenty years ago, she was sitting in a church service listening to a minister speak on how everything we own is a gift from God for He owns everything we have.  When we give to Him, we are only returning what He has given us.  My mom wrote down in the middle of her sermon notes, “Not my music box.”  My mother owned an antique music box that played a variety of songs through the use of levers and bells.  It is a beautiful, hand made work of art.  A few days later, she opened up her one-hundred-year-old box in order to listen to the music.  After only playing a few notes, it began making a weird sound and then ground to a halt.  It was broken.  The box had never messed up in a century and now it was rendered useless.  My mom began laughing.  She said, “Lord, it always was Yours.  Please forgive me.”  She did not get the box fixed for years, using it as a testimony to tell others how God owns everything.

I am always amazed at how the owner of the cattle on a thousand hills can still be such a Gentleman and ask.  Jesus did not use a Jedi mind trick (anyone a Star Wars fan?) on Simon and command him to let him use the boat.  He just asked.  And Simon was eager to please the Lord and said, “As you wish” (Did you see the movie Princess Bride?)

I have to laugh at this a little.  Having worked with children, I have learned that sometimes you take the most unruly child and make them your “special helper” for the day.  Sometimes, I stress sometimes, this helps calm him down enough to pay attention because he feels important and wants to act “grown up.”  I wonder if Simon was not paying enough attention while cleaning his nets that Jesus decided to make him the “special helper”.  All I know is now Simon was on the boat.  Jesus was only a few feet from him.  He had to listen to what the Teacher was saying!  And this lesson went from being delivered to the crowd to being extended to one man.

 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”  (Luke 5:4)

 And so begins the part of the church service called “The Invitation”.  This is at the end of the message when people respond to what God laid on their hearts.  Often people go forward to kneel down at the altar.  Jesus was asking Peter to move the boat forward to let down some nets.  Here the Lord is inviting Peter, to go deeper, to find out what He can do, to trust Him, to see a miracle.

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.  (Luke 5:5a)

Think about this:  a carpenter is giving fishing advice to a professional fisherman.  Simon, one to always share his opinion, is letting Him know that they had worked very hard all night long and caught nada, nothing.  Fish count for today:  zero.  By the way, this is not a prime time to fish.  You go fishing at night or in the early morning hours before sunrise.  Hence, the reason I do not fish.  The only thing I want to see before sunrise is the back of my eyelids.  But the professional fisherman prefaced his sentence with one word that made all the difference, “Master.”  If Someone is your Master, you obey.  Remember, Jesus did not ask Peter, “Would you mind going fishing?  I mean, it could be fun.  Maybe something miraculous could happen.”  He commanded for him to go to deep water.  And Simon knew a servant heeds the command of the One in charge.

But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”  (Luke 5:5b)

 I wonder what Simon was thinking.  “Because you say so, I will go.  I will look foolish.  Here I am a professional fisherman going fishing when no one is out on the water.  I may get laughed at.  If nothing happens, this will reflect on both of us.  But I am willing to listen and go.”

Has Jesus ever asked you to do anything radical?  It looked so foolish from a human perspective, yet you knew God was calling you to obey.  Will you call Him, “Master” and follow?  Is the Lord asking you to do something hard, even impossible?  Peter had a long row ahead of him, after a whole night of not sleeping.  There was no guarantee that this fishing trip would be successful.  We know the end of the story; we know the miracle took place.  But during his journey into the deep, Peter did not have a guarantee.  Instead of fish, he may have to eat chicken tonight (or should I say rooster.  Remember his famous denials.  Sorry.  I had to pick on Simon Peter again.)  But without any guarantees, he kept rowing.  I am sure he was ready to give up and go home, but he kept heading to the deep.  Wherever you are, press farther, the miracle will come.

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. (Luke 5:6)

Don’t you love the fact that God does things in abundance?  He blesses us beyond reason.  He gives us more than we can ask or imagine.  He lavishly gives grace and mercy.  He is not stingy.  He loves to love.  We do not deserve it.  We cannot earn it.  He just gives because He is good.  Praise His Name!

And often when God blesses us, others are bound to notice.  Not only will they see the glory of God in your life, but will reap the benefits of His amazing power as well.

So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.  (Luke 5:7)

Look at that picture of grace:  all Simon said was he would go to the deep, only after giving Jesus a mini-lecture of why they would not catch any fish.  But Jesus decided to not only give a good catch, but a catch of a lifetime.  This gave Simon fishing bragging rights for the rest of his life.  Next time Bubba gloated over the two foot bass he caught, Peter could outdo his story with the time he caught so many fish two boats almost sank.  So be quiet, Bubba!

Let us brag on Grace.  We deserve nothing, yet God gives us everything through Christ.  I deserve eternal punishment.  Yet Jesus was willing to save me from my sins.  That would have given me eternal reasons to praise Him, yet He chooses to continue to love me, to lavish me with mercy, to be good to me.  He wants to be in a relationship with me.  Grace is giving me what I do not deserve.  What better way of showing a fisherman grace, than to drown his boat with fish.

It is in the presence of Grace that we realize how much we need it.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man!”  For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.  (Luke 5:8)

 One of the movies about Jesus portrayed this scene in an amazing way.  Peter is sitting on the boat laughing, amazed at the catch.  His laughter abruptly changes when he looks at Jesus.  Suddenly, he is crying.  He begs Jesus to leave him, for he realizes he is a sinner.  I was so moved by this scene.  I realized that it was not judgment that convicted Simon but grace.  He looked at what Jesus had given him and knew he did not deserve it.  He recognized Jesus as good, as kind, as generous, as Lord and knew it was in stark contrast of what he saw in himself. Peter knew he had no right to be around Jesus.  He commands Jesus to leave for he knew holiness could not be around sinfulness.  At that point, Peter was right.  But what he could not realize was that in a few years, grace would be poured out on sinners in new way.  Those who confess their sins and proclaim Jesus as Lord would receive immediate forgiveness, justification, and redemption. Their sins would be paid for on the cross that Jesus would bear.  But for now, the Lord looks into the eyes of the man kneeling in fear at His feet and speaks grace.  

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.”  (Luke 5:10b) 

Another command from the Master.  This one held a promise to Peter of what will happen if he would obey.  This decree was far more intensive than taking an afternoon boat ride.  This was another invitation to go deeper.  It was not about one day, but for the rest of his life. Jesus was asking for a new focus, a new purpose, a new reason for living.  Jesus would be all of these and more.  For the Lord was looking into Peter, who for now could only see himself as the sinner he was, and saw a leader of a new order, called the church.  Jesus was seeing all the men and women who would be “caught” for the kingdom.  And Jesus was ready for this man to join His work.

So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.  (Luke 5:11)

He left it all behind:  the boat, the nets, the huge catch of fish.  None of them mattered now.  Others could have everything.  All he cared about what following the Master of Grace.  Jesus had invaded Simon’s life that day by meeting him where he was.  The Lord stepped on his boat in order to call him off it.  God gave him a miraculous catch of fish, so he would realize that the fisherman’s idea of a dream come true was not the answer to the need in his heart.  God graced him so he could see himself for what he was:  a sinner.  With that confession, Jesus would call Peter to Himself in order to train him on how to catch more sinners out of death’s waters so they might have eternal life in the Lord.  But it came down to the decision.  Peter made it immediately.  Without a glance backward, the fisherman left the fish.  The sinner followed the Savior.  The Lord began training a preacher who would one day extend an invitation that would be answered by thousands of people.  That is a bigger catch than one that sank two boats!

Are you ready to answer the call?  It is time to drop the nets of this world.  Jesus has called you to something more than what you had dreamed for yourself.  However, a choice must be made.  Will you let go of everything:  security, relationships, plans?  Will you follow Jesus?  In three short years, Peter went from fisherman to an apostle.  God alone knows where He is leading you.  Follow Him today.  Like Peter, you will not regret it.  The adventures in grace will be more exciting than anything else you could have dreamed.  Drop the nets.  It is time to obey the Master’s call.

Summer Reading: Lessons from Luke (part 1)

by Shannon Tillman | Jun 5, 2025 | Bible Study, Theology, Thoughts

Introducing Interruptions

I needed to work.   I was far behind on a project.  A friend of a friend called to ask if I could baby sit for a little while.  It ended up being for eight hours!  The child used the time to tell me over and over again about the same movie.  He drew pictures of the movie.  He would reenact key scenes.  He would use elaborate gestures.  He was sure to use direct quotes from the movie in as many conversations as possible.  But after four hours, I must admit, I was sick of hearing about the movie.

I finally decided to escape by going to the kitchen to make dinner, but the boy followed me with another drawing he had made about the movie.  Everything within me wanted to say “I hate that movie!  No more drawings, no more stories, no more acting it out!  Four hours is my limit!”

Before I regressed to sitting in a corner and sucking my thumb, God intervened.  “I am patient with you, child, when you pray about the same things over and over.  Will you be patient with him as well?”

Instantly, I was convicted.  I was seeing only the way my day was being inconvenienced instead of capturing the opportunity to minister to someone else.  I was looking only at myself and my needs, not what that little boy needed from me.  I confessed my selfishness and asked the Lord for help.  His answer was immediate and not lacking with humor!  As I pulled off the packaging for the frozen pizza, an advertisement for the movie came out it!  With a smile, and a “thank you God”, I gave it to the little boy.  You would have thought I had handed over my life savings.  “For me?  I will hang it up in my room.”  His eyes glowed as he looked as his treasure.  A small thing from me meant the world to him.  An inconvenience became a divine interruption where two lives were changed!

While I may only deal with pizza and movies, Jesus dealt with far more serious interruptions.  He was interrupted all the time.  People were always coming to Him to get their needs met one way or another.  Yet, He never yelled at them, rolled His eyes at them, sighed heavily, or regressed to sitting in the corner.  He was never inconvenienced.  Instead, He accepted each interruption as a divine appointment from God Himself.

We will look at a few of these “divine interruptions” as we study the book of Luke.  I picked the one-on-one encounters that Jesus had with various people.  Sometimes no one was around; other times a crowd surrounded the two.  But in each event, Jesus affected one life in a dramatic way.  The person was never the same.

Through my study, I have changed as well.  I know that is hard to believe after I just recounted the “continuous movie incident”!  However, the words of Scripture have both convicted and inspired me.  My hope is that the same will happen to you.  Hey, I figure if I had to be convicted, others should be, too.

As I share these lessons with you, I hope more than anything that your love for studying the Bible will begin or be renewed or will be pursued with even more diligence. It would be wonderful that a time in Bible study would no longer be considered an “inconvenience” but instead be viewed as a wonderful interruption in our day, a divine encounter with the One who is never inconvenienced by you.

Let us begin this journey with Luke.  He did all the research for us.  I’m glad for that, since research was never my strong suit.  I prefer to have someone else do all the work, and I get all the credit.  Just joking.

Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you…so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.  (Luke 1:3,4)

Let’s begin with the first interruption.  I am warning you, it is not very pretty.

Dropping Demon

Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority. In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!” And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area. (Luke 4:31-36)

I was asked to tutor a high school student in algebra.  It was a beautiful day outside so we went to a local park to study.  She and I were sitting at a picnic table, amongst beautiful trees.  We noticed two young men in suits setting up a sound system on the pavilion.  I wondered if a music concert was scheduled.  There were only four other people in the park, so I concluded the show must not be until later.  Suddenly, I heard a man screaming into the microphone.  He began shouting about the judgment of God and people going to hell.  The young girl and I looked at each other, startled.  We listened as these young men went back and forth yelling about Satan and the end of the world.  I assumed this tirade would not last long since there were only a handful of people who could hear their verbal abuse, but after ten minutes, I had decided that enough was enough.  I walked over to the stage and explained to the two men that if they wanted people to respond to the loving and graceful God, that the medium of screaming was probably not the route to go.  Yes, the Lord is the Judge on the throne, but the amazing truth is the One Who will judge is the One Who sent Jesus to earth to die a cruel death on the cross to atone for our sins.  Mercy is available to those who will receive.  We need to extend grace to others in proclaiming the gospel and leave our personal judgment out of the picture.  The guys just looked at me and then said, “Thank you.”  As soon as I walked back to the table, my hopes of having stifled their twisted gospel were quickly dispelled.  They began to yell things like, “Sometimes Satan comes against you in other people.  He wants to stop the message of the truth by using people to try to make us stop speaking.  We rebuke you, Satan, and the person you use to try to get us to be quiet.  We will continue speaking the truth.  We will not be silenced.  For the one who tries to stop us is being used by hell.”  I began laughing and realized that I had just been accused of being the agent of evil.  They were so mixed up; they did not realize what was right or wrong.  Needless to say, we did not accomplish much algebra that day.

Being screamed at in a park is not what you expect on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.  But imagine if this incident had taken place in the middle of a church service.  The preacher is in the middle of an incredible sermon when suddenly you hear someone yelling.  As you visualize this, you are set up for the scenario that took place in the religious building in Jesus’ day, the synagogue.

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit.  He cried out at the top of His voice, “Ha!  What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have you come to destroy us?  I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!”  Jesus said sternly.  “Come out of him!”  Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out with out injuring him.  (Luke 4:33-35)

 A demon-possessed man is in the synagogue.  Does that not make you sad?  A person obviously tortured spiritually and emotionally was in the religious center of that day.  He walked by countless devout Jews, many religious leaders, yet he was not changed.  He was still plagued by the warfare within him.  No one helped him.  Maybe they felt powerless.  What could they do?  Who were they to interfere?  Maybe they were frightened, fearful of getting hurt if they got involved.  Possibly they were hoping someone else would help.  They may have justified themselves with saying, “We will pray for him.”  Or could it be the lay people blamed the priests for not changing him, for that is “their” job?  Of course, everyone might have been just too busy to notice, to take the time to help, to risk being rejected.  The person, possessed by evil, was not even challenged by the people supposedly possessed by good.

This demon-filled man comes across a crowd listening to Jesus.  It was the Sabbath, so a good number of people would have been gathered in the synagogue.  The people were listening intently, in awe of His teaching style.

Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people.  They were amazed at His teaching, because His message had authority.  (Luke 4:31-32)

 Authority:  people are drawn to it.  He was not speaking his opinion or hearsay.  He was telling people what the Word of God means for He knows; He wrote it.  They were eating it up.  They were drawn into His visual images.  Suddenly, a scream pierces the air.

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit.  He cried out at the top of His voice, “Ha!  What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have you come to destroy us?  I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”  (Luke 4:33-34)

Have you ever heard anyone yell at the top of his voice?  Children do this often.  I love it when a child realizes a room is too quiet for his liking so he decides to shout.  Then, I enjoy watching the parent’s face as the horror is mixed with a look that lets the child know they will be in trouble later.  But the child can rest in the fact that with all these other people around, he is safe for now.  If you have never experienced this, it means that you are not volunteering in the nursery department in your church.  And why not?

But there was nothing cute or amusing about this man’s scream.  His yell was accusatory, belittling, and sarcastic.  It was like a cruel joke meant to destroy the reputation of the innocent.  But he picked the wrong target for his game.

Middle school students are masters at sarcasm.  I believe it is a class taught in their curriculum.  I watch sweet elementary school children turn into sarcastic monsters.  Parents of middle school youth can attest to the torture of sarcasm.

Let us name the demon “Middle School Kid.”  So, imagine the tone of a thirteen-year-old child as he says, “Ha!  What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?”

The demon was stabbing where it hurts.  For we discover in the verses before that Jesus had just left Nazareth, His hometown.  You can read the full account in Luke 4:14-30 but let me summarize it here.

Jesus was teaching in the synagogue in Nazareth, the place where He grew up.  He stood up and read a portion from the book of Isaiah that prophesied about the coming Messiah.  After He read it, he told the people “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”  (Luke 4:21b) Well, the people began to question that.  They reminded each other that he was just the son of Joseph; and they felt He was being arrogant.  Jesus rebuked them and said that a prophet is not accepted in his hometown.  He used examples from the Old Testament of how the prophets Elijah and Elisha helped outsiders, the Gentiles, over the chosen people, the Jews.  Whoa!  That started the uproar.  The people were furious.  A riot developed.  They drove Jesus out of town and tried to throw Him over a cliff.  “But He walked right through the crowd and went on His way.” (Luke 4:30).  And what was His way?  He went to Capernaum, the town He was preaching in when the demon-filled man made his sarcastic comment.

The demon-possessed guy was trying to accuse “Jesus of Nazareth” of being a failure in his hometown.  But Christ knew He did what was right and not what was easy.  Yes, His friends and family had rejected Him and even tried to kill Him, but He had only spoken truth to them.  He had no regrets.

Does the enemy ever like to come back and remind you of your past?  You may have had to make a tough choice; it cost you a lot, but it was the right thing to do.  But does the enemy like to remind you of all you lost?  Or maybe make you think what might have been.  Or maybe you just miss life how it was.  There is also the other side.  Maybe unlike Jesus, you may have reasons to regret.  You did not do the right thing.  Now the enemy plagues you with the names of your past:  Adulterer, Backstabber, Criminal, Gossip, Liar.  The enemy may want to keep your past before you, but God never does.  Listen to a quote from a murderer:

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 2:13b-14)

The apostle Paul wrote those words.  Before he became the greatest missionary for Christ, he worked hard to kill Christians.  Yet, by God’s grace, he changed.  Your past cannot haunt you unless you permit it to stay.  You can choose in the name of Jesus to speak two heavenly words.

“Be quiet!”  Jesus said sternly.

The enemy has no right to speak over your life.  Christ alone can tell you what you are in Him.  When He looks at you, He has pronounced you clean.  And when He is around you, He is not thinking about your past, but looking forward to your future with Him in the heavenly realms.  So, when the enemy comes against you reminding you of your past, in the Name of Jesus tell the devil to “Shut up!”  And then praise Jesus for the new name He will give you.

I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.  (Revelation 2:17b)

Praise Jesus!  He is so good to us.  A new name never used in sarcasm, anger, or gossip.  I cannot wait to find out what my new name is.  But until then, let’s not allow the enemy the ability to give us his name for us.  Our past is in the past.  Leave it there.

After rebuking the enemy, don’t try to argue with him.  He will try to lead you into a trap.  Don’t fall for it!

“Ha!  What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have you come to destroy us?  I know who you are-the Holy One of God!”  (Luke 4:34)

A theological debate with a demon, does this seem a little odd to you?  Look at the viewpoint.  It is so twisted.  “What do you want with us…?  Have you come to destroy us?”  The demon was twisting Christ’s objective in coming to earth.  Was it to destroy Satan and his evil crew?

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.  (John 3:17)

Mission of Christ:  to save the world.  That is why God sent Him.  Is the focus of His mission the demons or the people?  People.  This egocentric demon thought he was the focus of the work of Christ.  Dumb demon.  Now, will evil be destroyed because of the work of God?  Of course, that is not the question.  The issue is the motive.

Imagine going to an action film.  The enemy has captured hostages.  There is only one man who is able to secure their release.  Would you love this hero if his only objective was to kill the bad guy and yet could care less about the hostages?  No.  You want the guy to love the hostages so much that he willingly risks his life for them to be free.  In the process, bad guys die in weird and cruel ways that only Hollywood could create, but the final scene is not a picture of death.  The movie ends with life, with freedom, with hostages hugging the necks of their families because they are home.

The Son came to save the world.  He knew His mission.  He knew the cost.  He knew the Hero would die in order to liberate the hostages bound by the evil one.  But they would be free.  He was not going to bypass the torture of Himself for then the hostages would never be released.  He loved us too much to allow that to happen.

Love was what this demon was trying to undermine.  He was trying to convince the crowd, “This is the Holy One of God.  He could stop our evil work.  But He is not willing.  He does not really care.”

“Be quiet!”  Jesus said sternly.  “Come out of him!”  Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out with out injuring him.  (Luke 4:33-35)

But once again, love prevailed.  While others saw a disturbance, Jesus saw a man trapped by evil.  While others were powerless to help, Jesus released the man with two sentences.  When no one else interfered, Jesus dramatically intervened.  When others were afraid, Jesus had no fear.

That day a man was saved.  He was no longer gripped by evil, an evil that even tried to hurt him on the way out by throwing him to the ground.  But Jesus did not allow him to be injured. No more harm would be done to this man who had been tortured by the demons for so long.

And the crowd?  Well, they were in awe earlier by the authority of His words.  Now they were confronted with Someone who was beyond just a good teacher.

All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What is this teaching?  With authority and power He gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!”  And the news about Him spread throughout the surrounding area.  (Luke 4:36-37)

Authority.  Power.  That is the God we serve.  He is not weak.  He is not unable to save.  He is not unwilling to intervene in your life right now.  Tell him what plagues you.  Are you regretting your past?  Are you filled with doubts?  Do you question His love for you?  Are you afraid to help others?  Whatever it is, tell Him.  He knows.  He is ready to speak Truth over your life.  He is willing to silence the enemy.  He wants you to be free.

Cotton Candy Holy Spirit

by Shannon Tillman | May 29, 2025 | Bible Study, Theology, Thoughts

My husband played a song to practice for Sunday morning.  The lyrics beckoned the Holy Spirit to come, for He is welcome in our midst.  The song was beautiful.  As I pondered the words, I asked myself, “Do we really want the Holy Spirit to come?  Do we understand what we are asking in this?”  Too often, I think the church has a misguided perception of the Holy Spirit.  We expect His presence to be like cotton candy, soft and fluffy.  We forgot that He is the fullness of the Holy God who reigns over the entire universe.

I began asking these questions to my husband, but realized that this early morning, pre-caffeine setting would not be a good time for the conversation.  However, later Kevin mentioned in the worship service that we often want the Holy Spirit to come as our Teacher and our Guide.  But do we truly want to accept Him as the One who convicts us of sin and our need of transformation?  (My husband listens to me even before he is officially “awake” in the morning.  Miracles do happen!)

In some of the final words Jesus spoke before His crucifixion, He foretells the coming of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:7

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 

Jesus knew that it was for our good that He was going away, so the gift of the Spirit could come.  Jesus wanted to send the Spirit to us.  He understood the necessity of all of the Spirit’s roles on earth.  The Spirit came not just for believers, but for the entire world.

John 16:8-11

When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

Jesus was limited on earth by time and space, being contained in a human body.  However, the Spirit is limitless, exercising His ministry to the whole world!  His powerful ministry points out sin to bring people to belief, to give a picture of what righteousness looks like, and to understand the judgment of the enemy.  The Spirit is moving on a global scale to change lives.

When we ask the Holy Spirit to come, we are asking for more than a “feel good” feeling.  We are asking for transformation.

1 Peter 1:1b, 2a

To God’s elect…who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood…

Part of the ministry of the Spirit to the believer is to sanctify us.  That means the Spirit is in the process of purifying us, making us more holy, bringing us into righteousness.  The point is to bring every aspect of our lives into obedience to Jesus.  The Spirit enables us to do this.  When we ask for the Spirit to come, we are inviting Him to do whatever it takes to help us to look more like Jesus.  He decides what is righteous and unrighteous, allowed or disallowed, holy or profane.  The Spirit should have the final say in our lives because He is Lord.

I do not want to minimize the amazing fact that the Holy Spirit is Comforter, Guide, Teacher, Advocate, Intercessor, and so much more.  However, I do want us to know that He is Sanctifier.  When we ask for His Presence, we need to give Him the freedom to do whatever He wants in our lives.  It is not about us just wanting a super-charged emotional feeling, preferring cotton candy spiritual fluff over the substance and even the difficulty of sanctification.  The Holy Spirit is to be God over every part of our lives.

Holy Spirit, come.  We need to be transformed.  Forgive us for staying comfortable in our unrighteousness.  Highlight the areas of our lives You want to change, so that we can be made more like Jesus.