What We Seldom See ...

Three lessons, but only two are ever seen.  Have you ever been in a conversation, perhaps with your children, or a friend; and what you were trying to say was “selectively” heard?  My mother once told me that it was time to go get in the tub.  [this picture is not me.]  So I did that.  I went, fully clothed, and stood in the tub, with absolutely no water, and waited a few minutes before emerging again to go eat dinner.  My mother noticing that instead of pajamas I was still wearing the same cloths as before, asked me if I took a bath.  I replied, you did not ask me to take a bath, you asked me to go get in the tub.  I did that.  Where is dinner?  My mother began to get angry, and then burst out laughing.  I chose to selectively hear what she said.  We both knew what she meant.  But I heard “only” what I chose to hear.  I would love to say this was an isolated incident in my life, but it was not.  Usually I was on the other end of it.  I would write an email to a colleague at work, and despite being as clear as I could think to be (in print), my colleague would interpret only what they wanted to hear.  I began to realize the reader of my correspondence has a perspective that is not influenced by my intent, it is shaped by what they want to hear.  They read my emails from that perspective and to reach them perhaps a personal interaction is better (though not an absolute, see my mother above).

In the front section of Luke’s gospel letter in chapter eight, there are three distinct lessons the author intended to convey.  But only two are ever studied.  The first is made mention of, perhaps used as an interesting factoid, or in a Bible trivia game – but the lesson Luke was going for – missed entirely.  If it were not, we would be hearing a lot more about it.  We don’t.  Ergo, missed opportunity, and selective listening.  By contrast, most every Christian has heard about the parable of the sower of seeds, and the parable of lesson of the lamp.  Those two lessons have been studied ad nauseum.  So let us take a second look at the first part of Luke’s trio and see how they work together to convey what the author had in mind.  First a little back story to set the context.  As you may know, Jesus had more than 12 disciples, He had as many as 70.  It was however the 12 that were closest to Jesus, perhaps the only ones who gave up careers and homes and families in order to be with Jesus full time.  And less fortunately in the days of these authors, either culture or society or habit call it what you will, they did not measure or count women in any statistics that might be mentioned.  While this was the culture of the day, this was not something Luke thought should govern it.  And so begins lesson one.

Luke begins in verse 1 saying … “And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, [verse 2] And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, [verse 3] And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.”  The Ministry of Jesus was now in its active phase.  Jesus was travelling through every city and every village.  Jesus was spreading the “glad tidings” of the Kingdom of God (you know the part that impacts the here and now).  And then Luke identifies the number of disciples, twelve, that were with Him everywhere He went.  Sounds normal right.  But that is not where the lesson begins or ends.  Look closely at verse two, it begins with the word “and”.  And certain women.  Along with Jesus and the 12 disciples were certain women who were there along with the rest, in every city, and every village they went to.  While they are not numbered as part of the 12, they are also not forgotten by Luke, or the Holy Spirit, or Jesus as this gospel letter was penned to Theophilus.  This was not to be a church of only men.  Women had always been there.  They were not second citizens in Christianity, they were founding members.

Then to name a few of these women, not all, but a few.  Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna.  By my count this makes 15 disciples in close contact with Jesus.  At least 3 women being with Jesus everywhere He went.  Then too, these women were not just sinners coming back to the fold, they had been healed of possession of evil spirits as well as other infirmities (perhaps the women who touched his hem, or the woman at the well of Samaria when Jesus was in that region).  Demonic possession, now lifted, and the response of these women was to serve.  They served of their means, of their time, and of their love.  It may be that the true number of these women were quite a few more, but Luke was only able to ascertain the names of these three.  The culture of the day may have prevented better record keeping on more than that.  Notice these women did not name the blood-sisters of Jesus, other daughters of Mary, His mother.  But perhaps they served at other times, or other places.  And even though no others were named, Luke is careful to write there were “many others” that were in attendance and in ministry.

Before we enter the study of the parable of the sower, it is important to understand that the targets of this analogy included both men and women, the conditions impacted both men and women, and the good news was to be shared by both men and women.  And lest we think the devil targets only men, the three cited above prove possession is not just a male oriented problem.  And freedom from the chains of Satan, often results in a commitment to service that nothing else could supplant.  Luke continues in verse 4 saying … “And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:”  Much people was meant to include women.  Luke is trying to make sure we understand that by the first lesson he pens in the preamble to this parable.  But so often we skip it, and just dive right into what is ahead.  But to do that, is to lose the importance of women in the entire ministry of Jesus, both as audience member, and as fellow servant.

Luke continues in verse 5 saying … “A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. [verse 6] And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. [verse 7] And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. [verse 8] And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”  This was the thought-provoking message about spreading the gospel and impacts of sin upon that message given to the entire crowd.  Everyone heard it.  But few understood it, we still have that problem today.  Understanding as well is not just a male difficulty, it may also be a female difficulty when examining the words of Jesus.  This is why when we listen to different perspectives from the body of Christ, we should treat them of equal importance, whether from men or from women.

Luke continues the story in verse 9 saying … “And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? [verse 10] And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.”  His disciples needed better clarification.  But that term “disciples” does not have to be exclusionary only to the twelve, it very likely included the women in attendance as well.  Nor does Jesus shew away the women so that only the men in attendance could hear His further clarification.  In effect, Jesus says only my followers are to be given this message with better understanding at this point in time.  But that by simple logic would again include both men and women, any who chose to follow Him with their whole lives.  This part of the lesson is for us as well.  When examining the words of Jesus (or for that matter the entirety of scripture), we should do it through the lens of Jesus.  What does the example and teachings of Jesus have to do with whatever part of the Bible we are reading.  If we cannot bring our understanding of what we read into alignment with the life of Jesus, we are reading it wrong (or understanding it wrong).  Scripture cannot be properly understood without Jesus.

Jesus then proceeds to expound on the second lesson of this parable in verse 11 saying … “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. [verse 12] Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. [verse 13] They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. [verse 14] And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. [verse 15] But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”  The explanation of Jesus has yet another lesson for us.  Just because I say a thing, does not mean that thing is true – even when I say something about myself.

I may say for example, that I am a “Christian” that is to say, a follower of Jesus Christ.  But what Jesus outlines above in His parable, is that there are some who hear the word of God, but lose sight of it almost as fast as they hear it – being distracted by the Devil to focus on other things.  Others hear the word of God, but have no relationship with Jesus personally, so when temptation comes they try and fight it themselves and lose.  Stony hearts must be transformed before they can grow fruit.  Still others hear the word of God and for a time they seemed to get it, but riches and the pleasures of this world prove to great a distraction, and over time they abandon the word of God entirely.  All three of these groups have one thing in common – they believe “they” are responsible for their own salvation.  But good ground, that is an honest and good heart – is not self-made.  It is made through submission to Jesus, through a willingness to be humble to something greater than ourselves.  Good ground is made by trusting Jesus to save us and getting out of His way.  That kind of ground not only hears the word of God, but embraces it, and grows fruit naturally.  A fleshy heart submits, a stony one does not.

Jesus then changes direction in His lesson.  Luke has given us the first two already – 1.) Men and Women are equally a part of the church in all things (as they were since the start).  2.) How we encounter salvation has to do with “who” we are relying upon to save us.  And now 3.) what does the impact of salvation look like in our day-to-day lives.  Jesus picks up in verse 16 saying … “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. [verse 17] For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. [verse 18] Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”  Jesus says the effect of transformation is akin to lighting a fire in a candle.  You do not seek to hide it, nor could you.  It is life altering.  It makes you a different person, whose love shines brightly pointing men to Christ.  This is not something you are told to do, it is something you do naturally, like fire does in darkness.

It is easy to see if there is fire in a person or not.  Does their love point you to Jesus or not?  Hypocrisy on the other hand is all about the words, but nothing about the fire.  It is easy to hide the hypocrite, in fact they prefer it.  But what they lack in love will finally and fully be revealed for what it is, a full lack of love for others.  Saying it is otherwise is mere words, if a passionate burning love is not the deeds behind those words, fully in harmony with His laws and His love.  Remaining in the crowd to hide who we really are will not remain an option as time goes on.  Our empty words will be revealed to all as empty words.  And what spiritual prowess we think we have will be stripped away from us.  It has to be.  It is our self reliance that ultimately is preventing our salvation.  So God has no other choice than to strip us bare, and reveal our mistakes to us, so that we can be clothed in His robes of righteousness instead of trying to wash ourselves clean.  That kind of dress-down, or come-to-Jesus-meeting (literally), may be humiliating to the heart of the hypocrite, but it is the only option that may ever truly save them from themselves.

And again, this final lesson was not just meant for men, but for women as well.  There is a temptation sometimes within the church for wive’s to hide behind their husband’s spirituality as if it were somehow their own.  It is the same for children hiding behind their parents for far too long.  It just does not work.  What you know of Jesus, is ONLY what YOU know of Jesus, not what someone else does.  And given Luke’s first lesson, there are no excuses for women in this regard any more than there are excuses for men.  We are ALL the ground upon which the word of God is shared.  Hearts of men bound to career above Jesus will find themselves stone instead of candlewax.  Hearts of women bound to status and accomplishment above Jesus will find themselves equally a part of the rock quarry where the precious seeds of His word are scattered.  It is hard to humble yourself to Jesus, let alone between each other.  But it is humility that helps us see the next step in His love.  And the transformation that submission to Jesus brings is akin to lighting a fire in your life.  It is not passive and hardly noticeable.  It is life altering and impossible to contain.  Measuring a list of do’s, don’ts, and particulars of performance to see if you have been transformed is using the wrong yardstick.  Are you on fire, or not?  His flame, will burn away all remnants of hypocrisy from your life, and make you a beacon that points others to Jesus from the intensity of your love for them.