If he was really a good guy, he wouldn't.... would he?

John the Baptist wasn't the only one wondering if Jesus was the one. Many people still wonder today, and this week's Coffee Break takes us to the home of a rich, well-educated, spiritually aware gentleman who's asking the same question in his mind. I'm looking forward to hearing how everyone else in our group responds to the passage... and how we respond to that question of how a "good person" should behave.

(27) Who is Jesus?

John’s not the only one wondering if Jesus is the one.  We’re encouraged to believe the Pharisees were intractably opposed to Jesus, but sometimes questions come out of curiosity rather than opposition. Are there any times when you’ve assumed people to be opposing you when they might really just have been curious? Are there times today when we’re encouraged to avoid a group of people, perhaps unjustifiably, without first engaging with them?

In Luke’s account, a Pharisee called Simon invites Jesus to a meal, and modern readers add all sorts of interpretations to what follows:

1.       Read Luke 7:36 Why might Simon’s (v45) interest be genuine? What has he seen or heard about recently?

2.       Read Luke 7:37-38 What does this tell us about Simon’s house/position in society?

a.       What might it tell us about Simon’s inviting Jesus to a meal—is Jesus sitting at the “high” table?

b.      What might it tell us about the woman’s standing in society (uncovered hair, perfume…)?

3.       Read Luke 7:39. Have you ever thought… if this person were really good they’d know this/wouldn’t do that… etc? Are you sure you’ve always been right? What about when denominations say “If they were really Christian they wouldn’t…”?

4.       Read Luke 7:40-43 Would you give the same answer? Would it convict you?

5.       Read Luke 7:44-47 What picture does this give you of how a dinner invitation was followed up on in Jesus’ society?

a.       Does knowing that this image is accurate in its historical details encourage you to believe the Bible account is contemporary and true? Does it encourage your faith?

b.      Could you use it to encourage someone else’s?

6.       Read Luke 7:48-50. Has Jesus forgiven sins in an earlier story too?  Read Luike 5:20 How did faith work then?

7.       How do Jesus’ actions at that meal show he is more than just a prophet?

a.       How might they convince Simon that he is “the one”?

b.      How might they convince you? Or someone you know? (Where do spiritual gifts fit in?)

Matthew, Mark and John all tell a similar story. Read Matthew 26:6-7, Mark 14:3, John 12:1-8

1.       What makes this other account sound like a different event?

2.       Read Luke 8:2-3 How did Christians end up believing Mary Magdalene was a prostitute?

3.       How did we end up saying Mary Magdalene was the sister of Martha and Lazarus?

4.       Would it worry you to have two Mary’s and an unnamed stranger in these stories?

5.       Am I being inconsistent if I think these represent particular separate events, but that the centurion/leader/nobleman could be one event? Or if I think the centurion/leader/nobleman could be many events? What makes the anointing less likely to have happened many times?

In today’s world, which people are looked down on as “sinners” like the woman in this story? And which people speak out most loudly against consorting with them?

How willing would you be to call someone holy if that person didn’t appear to speak out against sinners?

Jesus doesn’t “speak out” against the woman’s sin. But what does he do?

Read John 20:23. How might this apply to how we interact with sinners?