SCRIPTURE: Luke 9 

Scripture: Luke 7

Key Points to Ponder: Jesus demonstrates tremendous compassion throughout this chapter. Christ shows us that our emotions are something God gave us, which, without sin, are a beautiful reflection of the heart of God. In verse 9 we see Jesus marveling at the faith of the centurion, and in verse 13 he was moved with compassion by the sight of a mother who had lost her son. He commends the tears of a woman who had come to him for forgiveness. As Christians we may find that the deeper our commitment to God, the deeper we will begin to feel--deeper joy, and deeper sadness, and deeper awe--as Christ has also shown us that to love God means to love and care even more so for the pain in this world, and rejoice even more at God’s goodness.

Challenging Terms: When Jesus talks about John’s greatness as a messenger of Jesus, and the greatness of those who “are least in the kingdom of heaven,” some are offended either because they did not support John or his teaching, or because they feel that they don’t qualify as “least in the kingdom of God,” and so their pride is hurt. 

Reflection: To what extent is your heart moved for the things which moved Jesus’ heart? As you consider the woman in verses 36-50, to what depths have you grasped your need for forgiveness? How has that increased your love?