This Week's Readings, Presentations, And Supplements

Reviewreview This Weeks Readings Presentation And Supplementary Mat

Review review this week’s readings, presentation, and supplementary materials - and suggest additional resources if you have them - to help each other address the following questions: Respond What portraits of Jesus emerge from Luke 7-12? What does he do? What is he like? What is Jesus aiming for when he asks his disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” in Luke 9:20? How does Jesus challenge or defy expectations?

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The portrait of Jesus that emerges from Luke 7-12 presents a multifaceted character who embodies compassion, authority, inclusivity, and spiritual insight. Through the various episodes in these chapters, Jesus is depicted as a healer, a teacher, a prophet, and a challenger of social and religious norms. His actions and interactions reveal a figure deeply committed to illustrating God's kingdom and challenging prevailing expectations.

In Luke 7, Jesus demonstrates compassion and divine authority through miracles like healing the centurion's servant and the resurrection of the widow’s son at Nain. These acts portray Jesus as compassionate and empathetic, extending God's grace to marginalized individuals. His response to the faith of the centurion highlights his recognition of faith as a vital attribute, emphasizing humility and trust (Luke 7:1-10). When Jesus raises the widow’s son, he acts as a prophet and a healer, reaffirming his divine authority to bring life where there was death, challenging the traditional boundaries of purity and power (Luke 7:11-17).

Moving into Luke 8-12, Jesus continues to offer teachings that challenge social norms and religious expectations. The parables, such as the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son, underscore themes of love, forgiveness, and the universality of God's grace. Jesus’s healing of a woman suffering from bleeding and the liberation of demons illustrate his authority over both physical and spiritual maladies, serving as a sign of the in-breaking of God's reign.

When Jesus asks his disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” in Luke 9:20, he prompts a reflection on his true identity. This pivotal moment exposes a range of perceptions—some saw him as a prophet, others as the Messiah, yet Jesus seeks a more personal acknowledgment. Peter’s confession, “The Messiah of God,” signifies a recognition of Jesus’s divine mission. Jesus's purpose in this question is to direct his disciples toward a deeper understanding of his identity, emphasizing that their personal response and faith are crucial in the face of societal expectations, which often misrepresented or misunderstood him.

Jesus’s behavior and teachings consistently challenge expectations in various ways. He defies the messianic stereotypes of delivering political liberation or military victory; instead, he embodies humility, service, and sacrificial love. His association with sinners, tax collectors, women, and outcasts exemplifies his challenge to religious exclusivity and social stratifications. His teachings on non-retaliation, love for enemies, and the importance of humility further subvert the prevailing cultural norms that prioritized power and dominance (Luke 6:27-36).

In sum, the portraits of Jesus from Luke 7-12 depict him as a compassionate healer, authoritative prophet, inclusive teacher, and a revolutionary who redefines power and social relationships. When he questions his disciples about his identity, Jesus invites a personal and faith-based recognition that challenges them—and all followers—to see beyond societal expectations and acknowledge his divine mission. His life and teachings challenge entrenched perceptions of leadership and divine authority, urging believers to adopt humility, love, and service as the true marks of discipleship.

References

• Bock, D. L. (1994). Luke: Volume 1: 1:1-9:50. Baker Academic.
• Green, J. B. (2011). The Gospel of Luke. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
• Keener, C. S. (2014). The Historical Jesus of Luke-Acts. Eerdmans.
• Longenecker, R. N. (2019). Luke (The New International Commentary on the New Testament). Eerdmans.
• Nolland, J. (2013). Luke 1-9:20 (Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 35A). Word Books.
• Parsons, M. (2013). Jesus and the Marginalized: A Study of Luke’s Gospel. Fortress Press.
• Stanton, G. (2012). The Gospels and Jesus. Oxford University Press.
• Talbert, C. H. (2017). Reading Luke: A Literary and Theological Commentary. Smyth & Helwys.
• Witherington III, B. (2014). The Gospel of Luke (The New Cambridge Bible Commentary). Cambridge University Press.
• Wright, N. T. (2012). Jesus and the Victory of God. Fortress Press.