No Turning Back, No Turning Back | F/F Week 3 Summary

By Kris Fernandez

A THIRD UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS

When we continue the story in Luke 7 we read about a woman who lived a "sinful life" -- generally interpreted as a prostitute -- who gatecrashed Simon's dinner for Jesus. You can already picture the scene -- a dinner is held in honor of a rabbi and this woman with a reputation enters uninvited.  This is the last person you would expect at a Pharisee's dinner held in honor for a rabbi. But here she is entering, not caring about any whispers directed against her, heading straight to Jesus.

What was her motivation? Perhaps she heard Jesus preach and thought to herself that maybe she had a chance at new life. Maybe this man preaching forgiveness really was the Son of God and the Messiah who can change everything for her. If so, then nothing can be more valuable than knowing this man who claims to forgive sins and give a "new birth". The woman breaks her alabaster jar of perfume (perhaps used for her occupation), cried and kissed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her own hair -- doing the very things that Simon failed to do. 

Simon, instead of learning his mistake from the woman's actions said, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is -- that she is a sinner". Clearly Simon didn't really think Jesus was a prophet, much less the Messiah; perhaps he only had a dinner with Jesus because of his popularity or perhaps to investigate him more closely. 

Jesus, perceiving Simon's words, told him, “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven."

Jesus notes the correct response of Simon. Jesus declares to him that the woman's sins "have been forgiven -- as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little". 

The actions of the woman showed how much value she placed on Jesus. Simon's lack of devotion, on the other hand, showed how much he really though Jesus did for him. 

Q3: How much do you really think Jesus did for you, and is that reflected on your devotion to him?

The more valuable we think something or someone is, the more importance, care and devotion we place upon this thing or person. This is true for cellphones, friendships, and for our relationship with God. If we think that God didn't really do anything for us (we're "good enough" without Jesus anyway), this will be reflected in our actions towards God. On the other hand, if we find God to be our greatest treasure and the source of our greatest joy then this will be reflected in our devotion and love for God, too. 

To conclude, which of these three characters are you most similar to: Nicodemus, Simon, or Mary? While we might start off as "secret followers" of Jesus like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, God wants to lead us to a closer walk with him until we can truly be unashamed followers of Jesus like the woman.

Traditionally, the "sinful woman" is identified as Mary Magdalene. If this is true, then such was the devotion of Mary that she was one of the few people who was with Jesus up until his death. In Romans 1:16 Paul himself says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile". May we live according to the truth of this passage. 

I have decided to follow jesus -- no turning back, no turning back

I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

The lyrics are based on the last words of a man in Assam, north-east India, who along with his family was converted to Christianity in the middle of the 19th century through the efforts of a Welsh missionary.

Called to renounce his faith by the village chief, the convert declared, "I have decided to follow Jesus." In response to threats to his family, he continued, "Though no one joins me, still I will follow." His wife was killed, and he was executed while singing, "The cross before me, the world behind me." This display of faith is reported to have led to the conversion of the chief and others in the village

The story was later passed on to an Indian missionary, Sadhu Sundar Singh, who is attributed with the formation of the words into a hymn. The melody of the hymn is also of Indian origin. 

Sources: 
http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/I_Have_Decided_to_Follow_Jesus/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Have_Decided_to_Follow_Jesus

Are You a Nicodemus or a Simon? | F/F Week 2 Summary

By Kris Fernandez

"A Tale of Two Pharisees"

In continuation with our series on the book "Not a Fan," we are going over a number of "DTR moments" throughout the New Testament as guides to whether we're truly following Christ, or we're merely fans of him. Remember that an "enthusiastic admirer" is our definition for a fan in this series. 

So this week we're studying about two Pharisees -- one from the Gospel of John, named Nicodemus, and another from the Gospel of Luke, named Simon. Chief religious leaders of their day, they both meet Jesus but have surprisingly different interactions with him. 

 

NICODEMUS' ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST

• In John 3 we learn that Nicodemus is a member of the Jewish Ruling Council (called the Sanhedrin) and so he was a respected member of the Jewish community. Probably because of this, he went to meet Jesus at night when nobody could recognize that this high Jewish official was following some carpenter-from-Galilee-turned-rabbi Jesus. The risk, it seems, was just too high for him to "go public" with his relationship with Jesus; he could lose his position, after all. But Jesus tells him that unless he is "born again" -- born into a new way of life -- he cannot be part of the Kingdom of God. 
• In John 7, we find Nicodemus in the company of his fellow Pharisees and religious leaders. He decides to "almost-defend" Jesus while the other Pharisees were plotting against Jesus. Nicodemus told them, "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?" While this does give a defense of Jesus it is still somewhat vague and nonspecific. Unfortunately, Nicodemus speaks no more after his peers mocked him saying, "Are you from Galilee, too?"
• Finally in John 19, Nicodemus brought 75 pounds of burial materials at the cross after Jesus had just died publicly . This was a public act of his devotion to Christ, done in front of his fellow religious leaders. He was unashamed and did not care about what his peers might think, and unconcerned about what the consequences might be to his reputation and his position in the Council.

From Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus we are encouraged to be public followers of Jesus and unashamed of being Christians. Jesus himself noted that people don't "light a lamp and put it under a basket," and continues by saying, "In the same way let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven" (Matthew 5:15-16). If one truly believes in the message of Jesus they will commit to follow Jesus every where they go to publicly display the greatness and glory of God. So now the question is:

Q1: Have you merely made a decision or have you made a commitment?

Have you merely decided to follow Jesus (at a camp, at a church service, at BattleCry) or have you really committed to follow him? The difference is huge, and of an eternal significance. While a decision may be one-time act, a commitment is a daily and constant relationship with God. 

Side Lesson: We also learn in John 19 that another member of the ruling council, Joseph of Arimathea, was with Nicodemus when they publicly took Christ's body from the cross. He was also a member of the Sanhedrin and a hidden follower of Christ just like Nicodemus but unlike Nicodemus he didn't defend Jesus during their meetings.

We all find ourselves in similar situations where our peers (classmates or workmates maybe?) are talking bad about Jesus or about Christians and we wonder whether to speak up or stay silent. In these situations we may not be the only follower in the group. It is a possibility that Joseph was encouraged by Nicodemus' public (although limited) defense of Jesus -- perhaps enough to cause him to also publicly show his devotion to Christ after his death. In the same way, when we're in these tough situations if we choose to stand up for Jesus we might just encourage someone else who might be listening. 

Simon's Encounter with Jesus

In Luke 7 we read about Simon the Pharisee who invites Jesus for a dinner. There was a customary etiquette for situations like these (washing of feet, kiss of greeting, and oil of anointing) but Simon didn't do any of these things for his guest. Know that the Pharisees were people who knew a lot about the Bible (they'd always win Bible trivia, if there was such a game back then). It was then an irony of epic proportions that this learned leader of the Jews, who read all about the prophecies of the Messiah, failed to recognize the Messiah himself walking into the front doors of his house. 

Like the Pharisees, many fans might know a lot about Jesus but they don't really know Jesus. There is a huge difference between factual knowledge about someone (like that Obama is president) and actual personal knowledge of someone (like actually knowing Obama). Jesus himself spoke about this on the Day of Judgement: "Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" Clearly Jesus cared much more about his followers knowing him personally than merely knowing about him -- and even if they do things in his name. And this leads us to the second question:

Q2: Do you have knowledge about Jesus, or do you have intimacy (personal relationship) with him?

Fans tend to confuse their knowledge for intimacy. Where there is intimacy there should be a growing knowledge but too often there is knowledge without intimacy. We know we have a personal relationship with Jesus the same way we know if we have a personal relationship with a friend: Do you spend time with Jesus as you would any other friend? (Do you read your Bible and pray?) Said a little differently, when you get to heaven will Jesus actually know you?

Video for week 2