In Luke 4:16-30, this is the scene where Jesus preaches in his hometown in the synagogue. Starting in Luke 4:23, Jesus is harsh with how he responds to these people. Jesus said, You’ve all heard about the things that I have done in Capernaum and other places. Doubtless, somebody here is going to say, physician heal yourself. Let’s see some of those miracles that we heard about in Capernaum, can you do that here. Jesus did do a few things, but he doesn’t do what he could do. Why, because Jesus was just shocked at their unbelief and to dig at them, he said, You know there were lots of widows in the days of Elijah, but only one of them had enough to eat and drink. Only one of them got by, the one from Zarephath. There were lots of lepers in the days of Elisha, but only one of them was healed, Naamon the Syrian.
These people know what these two people have in common, those two people had faith. Jesus is shocked at their unbelief and they get angry. By using these two as examples, Jesus is saying you people are pathetic. They get angry, because what does the widow of Zarephath and Naamon the leper have in common? These two people are pagans, they are Gentiles. Naamon lives in Syria, the widow of Zarephath lives in Sidon, this is Gentile territory. Why is that important, because Jesus picks two people hopelessly cut off from any of the things that would assist them in their salvation.
Take a look at Naaman, he is never going to observe one of the feast days at the Temple. He’s never going to be connected to the sacred calendar of Israel. He’s not getting circumcised either. After Naamon was healed, he goes to Elisha, but he brings nothing to the table, he’s totally empty-handed. Think about it, here’s Naaman theology. Naamon is saying to Elisha, I’m clean now, now I really know Yahweh is the true God of Israel. From this point on, whenever I offer my own little sacrifice, I’m only going to do it to Yahweh, can I take some dirt back with me? But does Elisha jump in and say don’t do that, you got to go to the Temple, you’re not going to do that right?
But Naamon has this question, he has this nagging doubt, I got to be honest with you Elisha. You know, part of my job is I got to go into this temple, this temple of this god who I no longer believe in. I just want to know that when I go in there with the King, and we do our little thing that we’re supposed to do, how does Yahweh feel about that? But what does Elisha say, shalom, go home. We really need to look differently at Faith. Naamon has no work to bring to the table at all, all he’s got is his belief statement, his faith.
Naamon is actually the perfect example, there’s a reason why Jesus endorses him as an example of faith. What counts, Naamon has nothing to bring, he has no single point of merit about him at all. His entire relationship to the true God, to the God of Israel is based on believing. If God looks at two pagans and Jesus endorses this, because he uses them as an example of faith. Then the only thing that matters is whose side are you on? Who is your god? Who do you believe in? Who do you trust? If it’s good enough for these two pagans, why isn’t it good enough for you?
Paul uses Abraham, pre-law, pre circumcision, he’s trying to make the point, it’s by faith. Salvation is by faith, there’s no personal merit and performance has nothing to do with a right relationship to God. Allegiance, there’s never a question in what a believer should believe. We sow what we reap, but as far as our relationship with God, we worship no other. This is what God wants from us, believing loyalty.
These people know what these two people have in common, those two people had faith. Jesus is shocked at their unbelief and they get angry. By using these two as examples, Jesus is saying you people are pathetic. They get angry, because what does the widow of Zarephath and Naamon the leper have in common? These two people are pagans, they are Gentiles. Naamon lives in Syria, the widow of Zarephath lives in Sidon, this is Gentile territory. Why is that important, because Jesus picks two people hopelessly cut off from any of the things that would assist them in their salvation.
Take a look at Naaman, he is never going to observe one of the feast days at the Temple. He’s never going to be connected to the sacred calendar of Israel. He’s not getting circumcised either. After Naamon was healed, he goes to Elisha, but he brings nothing to the table, he’s totally empty-handed. Think about it, here’s Naaman theology. Naamon is saying to Elisha, I’m clean now, now I really know Yahweh is the true God of Israel. From this point on, whenever I offer my own little sacrifice, I’m only going to do it to Yahweh, can I take some dirt back with me? But does Elisha jump in and say don’t do that, you got to go to the Temple, you’re not going to do that right?
But Naamon has this question, he has this nagging doubt, I got to be honest with you Elisha. You know, part of my job is I got to go into this temple, this temple of this god who I no longer believe in. I just want to know that when I go in there with the King, and we do our little thing that we’re supposed to do, how does Yahweh feel about that? But what does Elisha say, shalom, go home. We really need to look differently at Faith. Naamon has no work to bring to the table at all, all he’s got is his belief statement, his faith.
Naamon is actually the perfect example, there’s a reason why Jesus endorses him as an example of faith. What counts, Naamon has nothing to bring, he has no single point of merit about him at all. His entire relationship to the true God, to the God of Israel is based on believing. If God looks at two pagans and Jesus endorses this, because he uses them as an example of faith. Then the only thing that matters is whose side are you on? Who is your god? Who do you believe in? Who do you trust? If it’s good enough for these two pagans, why isn’t it good enough for you?
Paul uses Abraham, pre-law, pre circumcision, he’s trying to make the point, it’s by faith. Salvation is by faith, there’s no personal merit and performance has nothing to do with a right relationship to God. Allegiance, there’s never a question in what a believer should believe. We sow what we reap, but as far as our relationship with God, we worship no other. This is what God wants from us, believing loyalty.
