Five People of Faith

Luke 1:1-50

Nov.2

An artist friend struggled over the exclusive claim of the Christian faith. In her first Bible studies she discovered an attractive Jesus. But is he really the only way to God? Growing up in a pluralistic society had conditioned her to resist such an intolerant position.
Because she was still interested, some Christians pressured her to “accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord.” She could not follow what THEY taught!  But she privately pursued in the Gospels. She began to note how differently people approached Jesus and how personally he treated each of them. Gradually she saw a distinction: There is indeed only one way to God—through Jesus Christ, but there are many ways to Jesus Christ.
Today we meet five persons with diverse backgrounds and varying approaches to Jesus—all different in expressing faith in Jesus.

1. What do you mean by faith?

2. Read 7:1-50. Note the distinctive background of each of the five individuals who met Jesus. How are their backgrounds different?

What do they all have in common as they relate to Jesus?

3. Only twice do the Gospels record that Jesus was stirred by amazement (Mark 6:6 and here in 7:9). What aspects of the centurion’s extraordinary faith do you observe (7:1-10)?

4. Visualize the two processions in verses 11-13 meeting just outside the towngate. There is no request for help, no sign of faith from the widow. But look at Jesus himself in verses 13-15. What does this focus suggest about another dimension of faith in God’s power?

5. It was physically easy for Jesus to touch the dead man. But in doing so, he ritualistically contaminated himself. In our society what comparable risks might we have to take to help needy people?

6. In verses 18-23 we see John languishing in Herod’s prison for openly criticizing the king’s marital games. But the longer he sits in prison, the greater grow his doubts that Jesus is the Messiah. How does Jesus respond to his doubts?

7. In 7:24-35 Jesus highly commends John’s unique work in salvation history. But he has harsh words for the Pharisees and experts in the Law, comparing them to petulant children whom nobody can please. Jesus rejects their kind of professional faith. Despite the Pharisees’ public rejection of Jesus, one of them invites him to dinner. A drama unfolds (vv. 36-50). The woman’s faith in Jesus is obvious. But Simon shows signs of some kind of faith in Jesus (vv. 36a, 39, 40b). How does Jesus proceed to draw out his faith?

8. Jesus’ interaction with the woman is vastly different from his interaction with Simon. What does this indicate about his understanding of each?

9. In what different ways has he dealt with the sins of the woman and Simon?

10. Of the five people you have looked at, with whom can you more readily identify? How does she/he challenge your faith in Jesus as Teacher and Lord?