Repent and Be Baptized in the Name of Jesus (Luke 11:37-54)

Our Lord Jesus tells that our eyes are the lamp of the body in a parable. If our eyes are healthy our whole body is full of light physically and spiritually. Jesus is the light of the world which has been shining out of the darkness from the beginning. In Him there is no darkness at all. Those who are in Christ Jesus never walk in the darkness any longer because the whole body is full of light. Jesus shines the light in order for us to see us clearly inside and out.

Our Lord was invited by a Pharisee and went in and reclined at the table. But the Pharisee was surprised because Jesus did not first wash before the meal.

“When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.” (Luke 11:37-38)

It doesn’t mean that Jesus didn’t wash His hands at all. He washed and was hygienically clean but not ceremonially clean because our Lord didn’t follow the peculiar way of washing hands according to the customs of the elders. Our Lord knew what was inside of this Pharisee, so He deliberately didn’t follow the ceremonial washing custom. It is an acting parable manifested in His body language. Jesus had in mind to teach something significant related to the parable, the lamp of the body.

Our Lord Jesus warns the people who are blind by neglecting the light of the world, Jesus Christ.

Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.” (Luke 11:39-44)

Jesus rebukes rather harshly and sternly because it is the most fundamental truth for all humanity to know. It is rightly true to be called foolish for those who clean outside but don’t do inside. They make clean outside like by a ceremonial washing, but inside they are full of greed and wickedness. Many think that simply coming to church and giving of offering can make them clean while neglecting of being generous to the poor.

How many times does the Scripture say that God sees our hearts? No one can hide inside what they think or desire. Our God knows all. One of these days, everything will be laid bare before the Holy God. Jesus says, “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.” (Luke 12:2-3)

How easy it is to ignore the poor who are simply less important and insignificant while paying a tremendous attention on the status quo! We are somehow congenitally blind, so we conveniently fail to pay attention on our faults and weaknesses. For example, how much are we appalled by the selfishness and pride of others? But we are amply generous on our pride and selfishness, conveniently changing the language. Others cheat, we get smart. Others are selfish, we are righteous.

In the parable of a Good Samaritan, a priest and a Levite just passed by on the other side of road where a man was robbed and left half dead. They practiced the law-abiding life by counting every grain in order to give God the tenth of everything but neglected practicing the justice and love of God. They loved to sit at the most important seats in the synagogues and the banquets and to be paid respectful greetings in the marketplaces. But they were like unmarked graves, says Jesus. They had no influence and inspiration to the people although they were supposed to be the model of community.

That’s the reason God sent His Son Jesus Christ who is the light of the world. Thus, we can be corrected and fixed from confusion and illusion in the light of the Lord and Master of all. However, they were extremely offended by the word of Jesus. “One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.” (Luke 11:45) As Prophet Isaiah prophesied, they miserably failed to see what it is as it is.

He said, “Go and tell this people:

“‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;

   be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’

Make the heart of this people calloused;

   make their ears dull

   and close their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

   hear with their ears,

   understand with their hearts,

and turn and be healed.” (Isaiah 6:9-10)

Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all. “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, waiting to catch him in something he might say. (Luke 11:46-54)

As our Lord Jesus told them that they were responsible for the blood of all the prophets from Abel to Zechariah, they would kill the Son of God by the hands of wicked pagans. It’s because they didn’t listen to the word of Jesus. They deliberately refused the One whom God sent by hardening their hearts. Apostle Peter bluntly charged them that they were accountable for the blood of the Son of God when he delivered the sermon on the Day of Pentecost.

“This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” (Acts 2:23-24)

Peter continued the message of our Lord Jesus who was crucified but rose again from the dead just less than two months ago. Then, the people who were listening to Peter were suddenly awakened and alarmed by what they had blindly done to Lord and Messiah and stopped him, asking what they should do. Peter urged them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. And they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. That day about three thousand were added to their number.

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” (Acts 2:36-41)

Our God did so love the world that He sent His begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). No matter whom they may be will be saved by the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. God will grant His righteousness by this term only through the blood of Jesus Christ.

“God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:25-26)

The Lamp of the Body (Luke 11:33-36)

Jesus never regretted at all. He never changed His mind once the decision had been made. Our Lord Jesus was in complete confidence and assurance on what He was doing. But He sighed for the unbelieving and stubborn people, calling them “a wicked and perverse generation.” Then our Lord Jesus responded to the test to perform a sign from heaven by telling the story of Jonah who was the sign for the Ninevites.

Likewise, Jesus Chris is the sign for this wicked and unbelieving generation because He died for our sins, buried in the cold tomb, and rose again from the dead by the power of the resurrection. Anyone who receives Him as Lord and Master will receive eternal life. Those who reject to open their hearts to receive Christ Jesus will not have life but the sentence of death, a dreadful judgement of God.

Jesus says that He is the light of the world, driving out the darkness and shining the wisdom and knowledge of God brightly and radiantly upon those who received the light. Christians have this light within, Christ in you, the hope of glory. Jesus tells another parable of the lamp of the body for the wicked generation to see their blindness and dullness in understanding the truth.

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.” (Luke 11:33-36)

A lamp is to put not under a bowl but on its stand instead, so that those who come in may see the light and do not stumble. That’s the primeval purpose of lamp. Then, Jesus says, “Your eye is the lamp of your body.” Human eye is an organ to see things through the complex mechanism. Blindness is the absence of vision, being caused by the failure of eye. There are not only physical eyes but also the eyes of the heart and spirit. Paul prays for the saints in Ephesus that their eyes of the heart may be enlightened to understand the mighty truth in Christ Jesus.

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:18-21)

Eye is the channel of knowledge and understanding. So, if our eyes are healthy, our whole body is full of light. If our eyes are healthy, we can tell where and when to make turns while walking or driving. If our eyes are healthy, we can move our fingers and feet on time and on spot. This is what’s happen in the physical level. If our eyes are spiritually healthy, we can see and understand not only the sign of Jonah but also the sign of our Lord Jesus Christ, the mystery of God. When our eyes of the heart are enlightened to see what it is in reality and truth, we are full of light, knowing why our Lord Jesus Christ died like that.

But physical seeing doesn’t mean spiritual understanding. There were so many people who saw and witnessed the work of Christ Jesus but rejected to believe Him as the Promised One to come. It is an example of unhealthy eyes which cause to fall into full of darkness. That’s the reason our Lord Jesus says He speaks in parables because though seeing, they do see, though hearing they do not hear or understand (Matthew 13:13). It was prophesied by Prophet Isaiah.

He said, “Go and tell this people: 

“‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;

   be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’

Make the heart of this people calloused;

   make their ears dull

   and close their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

   hear with their ears,

   understand with their hearts,

and turn and be healed.” (Isaiah 6:9-10)

Listen to what our Lord Jesus says:

“See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.” (Luke 11:35-36)

What we have within is the light, Christ Jesus risen from the dead. He is the light of the world and in Him there is no darkness at all.

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

 “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5)

 “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)

It is impossible to walk in the darkness if we have the light within. But if we say we have the light within and yet continue to walk in the darkness then we are liars.

“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:6-7)

We have such a marvelous light, Jesus Christ who teaches and opens our eyes of the heart to see plainly and clearly what it is as it is in reality and truth. So, our Lord Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock continually and promises us that we will be given, find, and the door will be opened. 

The Sign of Jonah (Luke 11:29-32)

When Jesus drove a mute demon, some of them accused that He drove out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Others tested Him by asking for a sign from heaven. Our Lord Jesus taught them that He drove out demons by the finger of God and if they believed it the kingdom of God would come upon them. Then our Lord Jesus responded to the challenge to perform a sign by telling the story of Jonah.

As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.” (Luke 11:29-32)

Jesus calls this generation a wicked generation. Jesus once calls it an unbelieving and perverse generation (Luke 9:41). What does it mean? It means this generation is evil and perverse. Jesus says so because they keep on asking a sign from heaven although there have already been a sign manifested among them. They have been blind not to see the true sign what they desperately wanted because they search for a sign which does not exist out of illusion and delusion. There is no doubt that the Jews have still intently and enthusiastically been searching for a mightily powerful Messiah like King David who will conquer the world in submission and establish a dominantly lofty state. In the first century when they saw a man who seemed to have mighty power and authority they were excited and tried to make Him a king by force (John 6:15).

Prophet Isaiah delivered a message to King Ahaz to ask the Lord a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights. But the king didn’t ask a sign, so the Lord God gave a great sign to the people of Israel. 

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

This is still a wicked generation because all people look after a false god like sex, automobile, bodily ecstasy, and mafia’s mind. Apostle Paul diagnoses so pertinently about this generation in the Epistle of Romans that they deliberately suppress the truth by their wickedness although they know God whose eternal power and divine nature marvelously has been manifested in the creation of the world.

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18-20)

Jesus responds rather sternly and resolutely to the test of performing a sign that He will not give any sign except the sign of Jonah. As Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.

Jonah is one of the famous stories in Sunday school class. It’s not a fish story, but the story of God’s second chance for the fallen race. Jonah was sent out to the magnificent city of Nineveh where one hundred and twenty thousand people lived with many animals. He was sent out to deliver the message of the judgment of God. But he knew that God would forgive the people of Nineveh if they repented. He understood and assessed the character of God accurately and didn’t like that.

So, Jonah didn’t go to the great city of Nineveh but took a sailboat, fleeing away from the call of the Lord. But soon he got into a big trouble on the sea that he was thrown into the sea where a big fish swallowed him up. After three days and three nights the fish dumped him out on the shore. When he delivered the message of God’s judgement, the whole city of Nineveh from the king to the salves mourned and repented of their sins.

Jesus says that just as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites so He is a sign to this wicked generation. As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of fish so Jesus was crucified and buried in the cold tomb of stone. On the third day, our Lord Jesus rose again from the dead. The cross of Calvary is a timeless and eternal event. The bloody and rugged cross where our Lord the Son of God was hung stands forever for all people to see. This is the sign for the wicked and perverse generation that they can enter into the kingdom of heaven through the repentance of sins.

On that day the people of faraway south and Nineveh will rise to judge the unbelieving generation. But here is something greater than Solomon who has been known as a wisest and wealthiest man on the face of the earth and Jonah who stirred up the great city of Nineveh with the proclamation of God’s message. Jesus Christ is greater than anyone else because although He was the Son He obeyed Father even to the point of death. There was no reason for Him to die like a condemned criminal but our Lord Jesus obeyed the Father and His divine program through which all people may be saved.

Some seven hundred years before our Lord Jesus was crucified, Prophet Isaiah prophesied the death of the Messiah, the Son of the most blessed God. We are healed by His wounds. When we were gone far astray, He was despised and punished by the Father for our transgressions and wrongdoings and faults. Is it not a more-than-enough sign for us to believe in Him? 

“Who has believed our message

   and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

He grew up before him like a tender shoot,

   and like a root out of dry ground.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,

   nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by mankind,

   a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

Like one from whom people hide their faces

   he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Surely he took up our pain

   and bore our suffering,

yet we considered him punished by God,

   stricken by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

   he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

   and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

   each of us has turned to our own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

   the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,

   yet he did not open his mouth;

he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

   and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,

   so he did not open his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away.

   Yet who of his generation protested?

For he was cut off from the land of the living;

   for the transgression of my people he was punished.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked,

   and with the rich in his death,

though he had done no violence,

   nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,

   and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,

he will see his offspring and prolong his days,

   and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.

After he has suffered,

   he will see the light of life and be satisfied ;

by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,

   and he will bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,

   and he will divide the spoils with the strong,

because he poured out his life unto death,

   and was numbered with the transgressors.

For he bore the sin of many,

   and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:1-12)