Luke 8:40-56 | Revelation 2:18-29
Then all the churches will know that I’m the one who examines minds and hearts, and that I will give to each of you what your actions deserve.
The words of Christ to the church in Thyatira could seem harsh, a chiding warning. But a change of perspective could show they are words of encouragement.
Take Jairus or the woman in our reading from Luke’s gospel today: Jesus acted favorably in both of their situations presumably because he knew their minds and hearts.
We can come to God expecting a tyrant.
Or we can come to God expecting grace and find a loving Father.
Luke 8:40-56
When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they had been waiting for him. A man named Jairus, who was a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet. He pleaded with Jesus to come to his house because his only daughter, a twelve-year-old, was dying.
As Jesus moved forward, he faced smothering crowds. A woman was there who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had spent her entire livelihood on doctors, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the hem of his clothes, and at once her bleeding stopped.
“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When everyone denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing in on you!”
But Jesus said, “Someone touched me. I know that power has gone out from me.”
When the woman saw that she couldn’t escape notice, she came trembling and fell before Jesus. In front of everyone, she explained why she had touched him and how she had been immediately healed.
“Daughter, your faith has healed you,” Jesus said. “Go in peace.”
While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue leader’s house, saying to Jairus, “Your daughter has died. Don’t bother the teacher any longer.”
When Jesus heard this, he responded, “Don’t be afraid; just keep trusting, and she will be healed.”
When he came to the house, he didn’t allow anyone to enter with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. They were all crying and mourning for her, but Jesus said, “Don’t cry. She isn’t dead. She’s only sleeping.”
They laughed at him because they knew she was dead.
Taking her hand, Jesus called out, “Child, get up.” Her life returned and she got up at once. He directed them to give her something to eat. Her parents were beside themselves with joy, but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.
Revelation 2:18-29
“Write this to the angel of the church in Thyatira:
These are the words of God’s Son, whose eyes are like a fiery flame, and whose feet are like fine brass. I know your works, your love and faithfulness, your service and endurance. I also know that the works you have done most recently are even greater than those you did at first. But I have this against you: you put up with that woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. You allow her to teach and to mislead my servants into committing sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to change her heart and life, but she refuses to change her life of prostitution. Look! I’m throwing her onto a sickbed. I am casting those who have committed adultery with her into terrible hardship—if they don’t change their hearts from following her practices— and I will even put her children to death with disease. Then all the churches will know that I’m the one who examines minds and hearts, and that I will give to each of you what your actions deserve. As for the rest of you in Thyatira—those of you who don’t follow this teaching and haven’t learned the so-called “deep secrets” of Satan—I won’t burden you with anything else. Just hold on to what you have until I come. To those who emerge victorious, keeping my practices until the end, I will give authority over the nations— to rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like pottery— just as I received authority from my Father. I will also give them the morning star. If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
Prayer
God on this Sunday, a day of gathering together to worship,
For seeing us, knowing us, and loving us, we give you thanks.
Now keep us within your justice and righteousness,
Receive our praise as we give our offering to you.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
Grateful to be known by God. Amen.