Jesus, Foxes, & Fortune-Tellers
Oh my!
Luke 9:46-59 | Acts 16:16-40
Christians are concerned about a lot of things these days. To be clear, there are many things in the world that are concerning. But the hope for a Christian is to be concerned about those things Jesus is concerned about. We can begin to learn the kinds of things Jesus is concerned about by reading these gospels and noting what does concern him and what doesn’t concern him. Luke gives us great insight toward such things in today’s passage.
In Acts, Luke continues the story of the early Church for us. But you may have noticed in yesterday’s reading that something arose that’s a rarity in the Bible. Luke’s pronouns changed from the third person to the first person. It’s clear that Luke accompanied Paul & Silas for a portion of these passages.
This includes the beginning of the Church in Philippi. We see here Christ’s freedom really getting to work, breaking the chains of slavery, changing economies, and upsetting local politics. But those things aren’t the point. They are merely by-products of individuals being set free by the power of Jesus (through Paul & Silas). What a great story.
Luke 9:46-59
An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Aware of their deepest thoughts, Jesus took a little child and had the child stand beside him. Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever is least among you all is the greatest.”
John replied, “Master, we saw someone throwing demons out in your name, and we tried to stop him because he isn’t in our group of followers.”
But Jesus replied, “Don’t stop him, because whoever isn’t against you is for you.”
As the time approached when Jesus was to be taken up into heaven, he determined to go to Jerusalem. He sent messengers on ahead of him. Along the way, they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival, but the Samaritan villagers refused to welcome him because he was determined to go to Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to consume them?” But Jesus turned and spoke sternly to them, and they went on to another village.
As Jesus and his disciples traveled along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Human One has no place to lay his head.”
Then Jesus said to someone else, “Follow me.”
He replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
Acts 16:16-40
One day, when we were on the way to the place for prayer, we met a slave woman. She had a spirit that enabled her to predict the future. She made a lot of money for her owners through fortune-telling. She began following Paul and us, shouting, “These people are servants of the Most High God! They are proclaiming a way of salvation to you!” She did this for many days.
This annoyed Paul so much that he finally turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to leave her!” It left her at that very moment.
Her owners realized that their hope for making money was gone. They grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the officials in the city center. When her owners approached the legal authorities, they said, “These people are causing an uproar in our city. They are Jews who promote customs that we Romans can’t accept or practice.” The crowd joined in the attacks against Paul and Silas, so the authorities ordered that they be stripped of their clothes and beaten with a rod. When Paul and Silas had been severely beaten, the authorities threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to secure them with great care. When he received these instructions, he threw them into the innermost cell and secured their feet in stocks.
Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. All at once there was such a violent earthquake that it shook the prison’s foundations. The doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose. When the jailer awoke and saw the open doors of the prison, he thought the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul shouted loudly, “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all here!”
The jailer called for some lights, rushed in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He led them outside and asked, “Honorable masters, what must I do to be rescued?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your entire household.” They spoke the Lord’s word to him and everyone else in his house. Right then, in the middle of the night, the jailer welcomed them and washed their wounds. He and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his home and gave them a meal. He was overjoyed because he and everyone in his household had come to believe in God.
The next morning the legal authorities sent the police to the jailer with the order “Release those people.”
So the jailer reported this to Paul, informing him, “The authorities sent word that you both are to be released. You can leave now. Go in peace.”
Paul told the police, “Even though we are Roman citizens, they beat us publicly without first finding us guilty of a crime, and they threw us into prison. And now they want to send us away secretly? No way! They themselves will have to come and escort us out.” The police reported this to the legal authorities, who were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. They came and consoled Paul and Silas, escorting them out of prison and begging them to leave the city.
Paul and Silas left the prison and made their way to Lydia’s house where they encouraged the brothers and sisters. Then they left Philippi.
Prayer
God,
The Table liturgy says that it’s right always and everywhere to give you thanks. I suppose that includes Mondays.
Actually, in all honestly, Lord, though I can’t say it too loudly in this culture, I kind of like Mondays. A fresh start. The past is what it is, but here I am at the beginning of a new path.
So help me do well with it, God. Lead me in Jesus’ way. Help me enjoy the things that come my way, even the simplicities of food and drink, family and friend, rest and play. Help me find purpose. Help me give purpose. Move me to the things of liberation and open spaces.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.