Physician, Heal Yourself

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In this episode, we see Rabbi Benjamin recite an impressive prayer for the new year. He thanks and praises God “who bestows kindness, restores and redeems” [24:26-25:09 min]. He expresses gratitude for being chosen as God’s people and prays for the coming of the Messiah, the Anointed One. Little does he know that this prayer is being answered right before his eyes …

Do you pray “with your eyes open,” eagerly looking for what God is doing and will do? How does this look within your faith community?
Consider “The Lord’s Prayer.” When you pray, “Your Kingdom come,” what do you expect that to look like? When you pray, “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” what are you praying for?

Jesus reads from the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue. He says, “The fulfillment of this Scripture, as you have heard it, is today” [26:16-27:41 min]. At first, the people agree with him and marvel at his gracious words. But then something changes.

Let’s read Luke 4:16-30.

Luke 4:16-30

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read,

17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.

21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.

23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”

24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.

25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land.

26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.

27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.

29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff.

30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

How do the people react to Jesus’ teaching?
What does this passage tell us about Jesus?
What point is Jesus making by referencing the stories of Elijah and the widow (1 Kings 17) and Elisha and Naaman (2 Kings 5)?
How might these stories apply to us and our faith community today?

Rabbi Benjamin thanks God that Israel is his (God’s) chosen people. But Jesus points out that being God’s chosen people will not bring salvation; something else is needed.

What is needed to be saved?
Have you ever been hungry or desperate enough to realise how much you actually need Jesus? How did you come to that realisation?
What does it mean to you to be part of God’s people?
How do you need Jesus today?

If you have been paying attention in this series, you will notice how people almost always say hello and goodbye with “Shalom.” Peace be with you. Shalom is not necessarily the absence of problems. Instead, it is the recognition of Jesus’ presence with you no matter the circumstances. How beautiful it would be if peace began and ended each of our encounters.

How do you greet people?
How do you bring peace into your interactions with others?

At the very beginning of the gospel of Luke, we read a verse about peace. When the angels tell the shepherds about Jesus’ birth, they say, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.” At the end of Luke’s gospel, Jesus, the risen Lord, suddenly appears to his frightened disciples and says, “Peace be with you …” Jesus’ story begins and ends with a blessing of peace.

Let’s read Luke 2:14 and Luke 24:36-49.

Luke 2:14

Luke 24:36-49

What stands out to you in these passages?
What is the peace that Jesus gives to his disciples?
How can you receive Jesus’ blessing of peace in your own life?

Jesus’ blessing of peace in Luke 24 is followed by a description of the disciples’ reactions and emotions. They are afraid and confused, thinking he is a ghost. Some doubted. And yet he says, “Shalom”?

Yes, in the midst of emotions running wild, in the midst of the challenges life brings, Jesus wants to come and greet you, saying, Shalom – peace. I Am here, and I Am with you.

Shalom!

In what situation do you need the peace of Jesus today?
What do you do when your emotions are all over the place?
To whom can you bring peace this week?

The word “soon” frequently comes up in this series. The disciples have no idea what it means, but Jesus knows exactly what is coming and steps into it purposefully. He does not shy away from confrontation, even though he knows it will lead to the end of his life. He moves forward in obedience, fully trusting God and his timing.

What does Jesus’ determination to carry out his Father’s will mean for the people around him?
What does Jesus’ determination mean for you?
How does it affect you that this determination involves suffering?

Throughout the gospels, we read about Jesus’ determination to do his Father’s will, no matter the cost.

Let’s read John 5:19, 30, 36; John 6:38-40; Luke 9:51 and John 13:1.

John 5:19, 30, 36

John 6:38-40

Luke 9:51

John 13:1

What do these passages tell us about Jesus’ relationship with his Father? How is his intentionality to do his Father’s will reflected in his life?
How intentional are you in the way you live your life? How do your intentions shape your life?
How do you, like Jesus, stay connected with your Father, who sent you?

Our culture trains us to do everything we can to avoid suffering and pain.

Do you recognise this instinct to avoid hard things in yourself or in people around you? How so?
Look up Matthew 10:24-25. When you consider Jesus’ determination to face suffering in obedience to his Father and for the sake of others, how do you receive his expectation that “it is enough for students to be like their teachers”?
What is Jesus asking of you today?

In this episode, we see various moments of celebration and reflection: a New Year’s celebration, a look back at generations of slavery endured by the people of Israel in Egypt, and a reminder of how they were led to freedom in the Promised Land.

Do you set aside moments to intentionally reflect, celebrate and look ahead? What do those moments look like?
Are there words or objects in your family that have been passed down from generation to generation? What do they mean to you?

We find many moments of remembrance in the Bible, as well as moments when God’s people failed to remember him.

Let’s read Judges 2:7-13 and Psalm 78:1-8.

Judges 2:7-13

Psalm 78:1-8

What do these passages tell us about the importance of remembering the great things God has done?
Where have you seen God’s power and wonders in the past? Where do you see them today?
What do God’s deeds reveal about who God is?

Intentional moments of reflection and celebration help us remind each other how great God is. Beyond the joy of celebration, these moments also serve as valuable memorials during seasons when we may not experience God as clearly. These precious reminders of who God is can fill us with hope in the midst of despair because no matter what else changes, God never does.

How do you ensure that you do not forget God’s goodness and faithfulness in your life? What practices help you to place your hope in him, even when life is complicated?
What role does your faith community play in helping you to remember and celebrate God’s faithfulness and mighty works?
How do you help ensure that the next generation – whether in your family or not – know and do not forget God’s power and wonders? Are there words or objects you would like to share with them?

SEASON 3 - EPISODE 3

Physician, Heal Yourself

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Initial Reflections

Dig In

Luke 4:16-30

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Initial Reflections

Dig In

Luke 2:14

Luke 24:36-49

Respond

Initial Reflections

Dig In

John 5:19, 30, 36

John 6:38-40

Luke 9:51

John 13:1

Respond

Initial Reflections

Dig In

Judges 2:7-13

Psalm 78:1-8

Respond

Find more on our Reading Plan

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Shabbat

Jesus Loves the Little Children

The Rock on Which It Is Built

The Wedding Gift

Indescribable Compassion

Invitations

I Am He

Thunder

I Saw You

Matthew 4:24

The Perfect Opportunity

Spirit

Unlawful

Reckoning

Beyond Mountains

Homecoming

Two by Two

Physician, Heal Yourself

Clean (1)

Clean (2)

Intensity in Tent City

Ears to Hear

Sustenance

Promises

Confessions

Moon to Blood

Calm Before

Sitting, Serving, Scheming

Dedication

The Last Sign

Humble

Entry

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Woes

The Same Coin

Because of Me

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The Upper Room (1)

The Upper Room (2)

The Chosen Connect