Did Jesus Know the Future?

...and how much does it matter?

Today is All Saints Day, a good opportunity to both remember and be inspired by those who’ve died in Christ.

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A seven year old recently remarked to me that Jesus knew the future. As best as we could within human reason and the confines of a bright young man’s vocabulary, understanding, and experience, we proceeded to have a short conversation about the foreknowledge of God, and then Jesus.

Do you think Jesus knew all that was going to happen in front of him? How did he both live into and receive the things of human surprise, joy, and anger? How could he take on the full human experience if he knew every detail beforehand?

It seems that Jesus was as wise as could be. He certainly could see things coming down the road (particularly the cross). And he shared with God a relationship that gave all sorts of insight, promise, warning, and hope (especially the resurrection and coming future fulfillment). But it need not lead us to conclude he knew every detail of the moments, days, and years ahead.

Do you think if Jesus knew ahead of time that nine lepers would not give him thanks for healing, he would have still healed them? Wondering about Jesus’ foreknowledge might be “fun” theological pondering, but a deeper question within it is whether or not he would give the gift of healing to those who would never respond in any kind of way, be it discipleship or even just gratitude.

We’ve been keeping Jesus’ mission in front of us as we walk through Luke - that announcement he made in Nazareth - good news for the poor, deliverance, healing, and freedom. But who are these things for? Who should the Church serve?

In today’s passage, Jesus heals a bunch of people (ten!). Think about that - they received full physical healing from skin disease. Years of suffering, social displacement, and dependence upon others for the things of life - boom! Ended in an instant. Full healing.

When we think about the compassionate efforts of the Church today, there are all sorts of opinions as to where the boundaries should be for extending resources. Yet Jesus doesn’t seem to have many boundaries when it comes to grace and healing. There were no gates or identity checks on those hillsides where he fed thousands. The smaller but all-the-more important first Table of Communion included each and every disciple, even the betraying, the doubting, and the denying. And then on the cross, the healing salvation of the world was extended to all, first to a dying convicted thief right beside him, and then to all of humanity. Yes, it must be received, but the initial terms set by Jesus remain illusive.

He certainly has questions about the nine who did not return. But he also doesn’t seem to revoke the initial favor. His compassion isn’t conditional on gratitude.

Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men with skin diseases approached him. Keeping their distance from him, they raised their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, show us mercy!”

When Jesus saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” As they left, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw that he had been healed, returned and praised God with a loud voice. He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus replied, “Weren’t ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? No one returned to praise God except this foreigner?” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

Psalm 103:1-8

Let my whole being bless the Lord!
Let everything inside me bless his holy name!
Let my whole being bless the Lord
and never forget all his good deeds:
how God forgives all your sins,
heals all your sickness,
saves your life from the pit,
crowns you with faithful love and compassion,
and satisfies you with plenty of good things
so that your youth is made fresh like an eagle’s.

The Lord works righteousness;
does justice for all who are oppressed.
God made his ways known to Moses;
made his deeds known to the Israelites.
The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
very patient, and full of faithful love.

Prayer (adapted from the Book of Common Prayer for All Saints Day)

God,

You have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the body of your Son Christ our Lord. Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in the same receptivity of grace we see in them. Lead us to the virtuous and godly living we’ve come to know in their example, that we too may come to those joys you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting.

Amen.