(Luke) Shining Light Tells the Good Story 4
4
VISION QUEST
1Creator Sets Free (Jesus) was now filled with the Holy Spirit. From the river Flowing Down (Jordan), the Spirit guided him into the desert wilderness, a dry and lonely place filled with wild animals and many other dangers. 2There, for forty days, he would be put to the test by Accuser (Satan), the evil trickster snake.
In the story of creation, the first man and woman lived in a Garden of Beauty and Harmony. The evil trickster snake came to them and twisted the words of the Great Spirit to deceive them. They listened to the snake, lost the life of beauty and harmony, and fell under the curse of death—both physical and spiritual. This snake is an evil spirit, sometimes called Accuser (Satan), who opposes the good things Creator wants for all two-leggeds.
For forty days and nights Creator Sets Free (Jesus) ate nothing. His body became weak, and his hunger grew strong.
When the evil trickster snake saw that Creator Sets Free (Jesus) was weak and hungry, he came to him and whispered in his ear.
3“Are you the Son of the Great Spirit?” he hissed. “Prove it by turning these stones into frybread.”
4“It is written in the Sacred Teachings,” Creator Sets Free (Jesus) said, “‘frybread is not the only food for two-leggeds.’#4:4 Deuteronomy 8:3”
5Once more Accuser (Satan) took him up to a high mountain and, in a moment of time, showed him all the great nations of the world. 6“All of their power and beauty can be yours!” the snake said smoothly. “They were given over to me, and I can give them to anyone I choose. 7If you will bow down to me and my ways, they will all be yours!”
8“Go away from me, you evil trickster!” he answered. “For it also says in the Sacred Teachings, ‘The Great Spirit is the only one to bow down to and walk in his ways.’#4:8 Deuteronomy 6:13”
9The evil snake took him to the Great Spirit’s sacred lodge in Village of Peace (Jerusalem). He took him to the very top of the lodge, high above the village. “Prove you are the Son of the Great Spirit and jump down from here!” the snake taunted him. 10“Do not the Sacred Teachings also say, ‘His spirit-messengers will watch over you to keep you from harm. 11They will not even let your foot hit a stone’#4:11 Psalm 91:11-12?”
12“Yes,” Creator Sets Free (Jesus) said back to him, “but they also say, ‘Do not put the Great Spirit to a foolish test.’#4:12 Deuteronomy 6:16”
13Creator Sets Free (Jesus) had passed every test. The evil snake could think of nothing more, so he slithered away to wait for another time.
HIS OWN VILLAGE REJECTS HIM
14The power of the Spirit was now resting on Creator Sets Free (Jesus), so he returned to the territory of Circle of Nations (Galilee). News about him began to spread like wildfire throughout the villages, 15for he was teaching in their gathering houses, and the people gave him much honor.
In the Law given by Drawn from the Water (Moses), all the tribes were instructed to keep a Day of Resting called the Sabbath. This was the seventh day of the week, to honor and remember the time when Creator rested on the seventh day after making all things. On that day no work was to be done, and how far one could walk was limited. The tribal people would meet together at their village gathering houses on this day.
16On one of these Days of Resting, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) returned to his boyhood home in Seed Planter Village (Nazareth). As was his tradition, he entered the gathering house and stood up to read from the ancient Sacred Teachings. 17The headman handed him the scroll with the words from the prophet Creator Will Help Us (Isaiah). He opened the scroll and began to read.
He spoke with deep respect in his voice as he held the scroll in a sacred manner. His words were strong and clear, and his eyes were bright and full of life as he read.
18“The Spirit of Creator has come to rest on me. He has chosen me to tell the good story to the ones who are poor. He has sent me to mend broken hearts, to tell prisoners they have been set free, to make the blind see again, and to lift up the ones who have been pushed down— 19to make it known that Creator’s Year of Setting Free#4:19 Jubilee (see Leviticus 25:8-17) has come at last!”#4:19 Isaiah 61:1-2
20He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the headman, and sat down. All eyes were fixed on him, wondering what he would say.
He looked around at them and spoke clearly, with a strong voice, 21“Today these words you have heard have found their full meaning.”
Then he began to teach and share his wisdom with them.
22At first they were amazed at the power and beauty of his words.
But soon the meaning of his words sank into their hearts, and the mood of the people began to change.
“Is this not the son of Bitter Tears (Mary)and He Gives Sons (Joseph), the wood carver?”
23So he said to them, “I am sure you will tell me this wise saying, ‘Healer, use your medicine on yourself.’ And you will say, ‘We want to see you do here in your own village the powerful signs you did in Village of Comfort (Capernaum).’ 24But the truth is, a prophet is given much honor except in his own village, among his own clan, and in his own house.”
Those who were listening continued to grumble out loud, shaking their heads and rolling their eyes.
25“I speak from my heart,” he said to them. “There were many widows in the land of Wrestles with Creator (Israel) during the days of the prophet Great Spirit Is Creator (Elijah). It was a time of great hunger, and food was hard to find. It had not rained for more than three winters. 26But Great Spirit Is Creator (Elijah) was not sent to any of these widows. Instead, he was sent to Refining Fire Woman (Zarephath), a widow in the territory of Hunting Grounds (Sidon), an Outside Nation.#4:26 1 Kings 17:8-24 27And there were many with a skin disease in the days of the prophet Creator Saves Us (Elisha), but none were healed and cleansed except for Looks Handsome (Naaman), an outsider from Bright Sun (Syria), the head soldier of the enemy’s army.”#4:27 2 Kings 5:1-19
28The people in the gathering house were insulted and furious at his words. 29Together they herded him out to the village hillside to throw him off the cliff, 30but he slipped through the crowd and went on his way.
VILLAGE OF COMFORT
31From there he went to Village of Comfort (Capernaum) in the territory of Circle of Nations (Galilee). On the Day of Resting 32he was teaching in their gathering house and the people were amazed at his manner of speaking, for he spoke boldly with authority, not like the other spiritual leaders.
33There was a man that day in this gathering house who had an unclean evil spirit. Suddenly, the man wailed out loud, 34“AAAIIIEEE! Creator Sets Free (Jesus) from Seed Planter Village (Nazareth). What are you doing here? Have you come to put an end to us? I know who you are! You are the Holy One from the Great Spirit!”
35Creator Sets Free (Jesus) spoke sharply to him, “Be silent! Leave this man now!” The evil spirit shook the man, threw him to the ground, and came out without hurting him.
36The people were in awe and began to ask each other, “What is he teaching? What new medicine is this? He even tells the unclean spirits what to do—and they do it!”
37Because of this, his reputation spread like wildfire throughout the Circle of Nations (Galilee) and to all the surrounding territories.
HOME OF ONE WHO HEARS
38After he left the gathering house, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) went to the home of One Who Hears (Simon). The wife of One Who Hears (Simon) was there. Her mother was sick in bed with a bad fever, so they asked Creator Sets Free (Jesus) to help her. 39He went and stood over her and told the fever to go, and it left! With a glad heart she got up and went to prepare a meal for them.
40Later that day, when the sun was going down, many sick people were brought to him. He touched them all and healed them. 41Many were set free from evil spirits. As the spirits left them, they howled with loud voices, saying, “You are the Chosen One, Creator’s own Son!” But he spoke sharply to them and did not let them speak, for they knew who he was.
42The next day, before the sunrise, he found a quiet, out-of-the-way place to be alone and pray. But the crowds found him again and would not let him go. 43He said to them, “I was sent to tell you the good story about Creator’s good road. You must let me go to other villages, so they can also hear.”
44So he continued to teach and tell his stories in the gathering houses of the Land of Promise (Judea).
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