What Jesus Did

[Jesus continued,] "The queen of Sheba will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here — but you refuse to listen. The people of Nineveh will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here — but you refuse to repent."

—Luke 11:31-32 NLT...

 

As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, "This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah. What happened to him was a sign to the people of Nineveh that God had sent him. What happens to the Son of Man will be a sign to these people that he was sent by God."

—Luke 11:29-30 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus did not go about his ministry to provide a "proof show" for doubters or a "miracle spectacular" for the...

 

As [Jesus] was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, "God bless your mother — the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!"
Jesus replied, "But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice."

—Luke 11:27-28 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus never passed up an opportunity to help people move to a higher truth. Yes, there were those who criticized him. Yes, there were those who idolized him. He came, however, to bring God's message of...

 

[Jesus continued,] "When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before."

—Luke 11:24-26 NLT

Key Thought​

Many people look at religion and see it as...

 

[Jesus continued,] "Anyone who isn't with me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me."

—Luke 11:23 NLT

Key Thought​

There is no way to be neutral about Jesus. He comes and challenges us to decide if we are going to follow and help him or not. Simply ignoring Jesus, putting off a decision about him, treating him lightly, or looking at him as just another good religious person is not an option. Either we help and work with him, or we oppose...

 

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[Jesus continued his teaching about how to pray:]

"... and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation."

—Luke 11:4 NLT

Key Thought​

Sin is our problem. We bring it into our own world and into the world of those around us. Our sin unleashes the power of Satan to damage both ourselves and others. Also, others bring the effects of sin into our lives, often leaving us wounded, battered, disillusioned, and...

 

[Jesus continued his rebuttal to the accusation of casting out a demon by the power of Satan:] "But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For when a strong man is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe — until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings."

—Luke 11:20-22 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus' power was God's power demonstrated. Jesus'...

 

[After some people accused Jesus of casting out a demon by the power of Satan, Jesus continued,] "And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said."

—Luke 11:19 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus had been accused of casting out demons by the power of Satan. In today's verses, his second response to the people's accusation was very simple: If they were going to claim that his power was coming from...

 

[When some people accused Jesus of casting out a demon by the power of Satan, Jesus] knew their thoughts, so he said, "Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive?"

—Luke 11:17-18 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus took the criticisms of his opponents and destroyed them by a simple statement of truth. We recognize this truth...

 

One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn't speak, and when the demon was gone, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed, but some of them said, "No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons."

—Luke 11:14-15 NLT

Key Thought​

One of the ways Satan tries to discourage God's workers is through the constant badgering and attacks of tenaciously unfair opponents. Satan knew his power was no match for Jesus. So, when Jesus cast...