February 10, 2019
Parents do their best to prepare their children for living in the world. When our children are young we try to protect them from the world because the world can be a dangerous place. But we can only protect them for so long. As they grow, they naturally begin to engage the world. So as parents we try to teach our children how to engage the world in a positive, appropriate and constructive way.
As Christians we are followers of Jesus who seek to live in this world in the way of Jesus. But what does that mean? What does that look like? This morning we are in Lk.4 where Jesus begins his public ministry. And we see that the ministry of Jesus teaches us how to engage the world with Jesus.
I. EXPECT OPPOSITION AS YOU PRESENT JESUS TO THE WORLD. Lk.4:14-30
In v.14 we see that as Jesus began his public ministry word spread about his amazing teachings. People found Jesus’ teachings to be new and interesting. His reputation was growing, until he came to his home town of Nazareth. Jesus grew up in Nazareth. He was known there. In v.14-28 we find him in the synagogue. It was his custom to attend synagogue and I imagine this was not the first time Jesus read from the scrolls in Nazareth. He was given the scroll of Isaiah to read and he found a specific passage. In our Bibles it is Is.61 which speaks about the Messiah who was to come. Look at v.18-19. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Verse 20 is pregnant with anticipation. It says, “the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.” Presumably Jesus made a number of comments about the passage, but Luke gives us the most important thing Jesus said. In v.21 Jesus says, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." At first the people were impressed with what Jesus had to say. They marveled at his gracious words. But something about that quote in v.21 gave them pause. Think about it. Jesus knew these people and they knew him. In v.22 there is an interesting comment. “Is not this Joseph's son?" I take this to be a dismissive comment. “Wait! What is Jesus saying here? We know him. He’s just the son of Joseph, the carpenter.” I take it this way because of what Jesus goes on to say in v.23-27.
Jesus has just claimed to be the one prophesied about in Isaiah. Notice v.23-24. “And he said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, '"Physician, heal yourself." What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.'" And he said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.” Jesus discerned that the people of Nazareth would not receive him as the Messiah, and they would want him to prove his claim by doing some miracles. In v.25-28, Jesus refers back to the ministries of Elijah and Elisha in which Gentiles actually received the blessing of God rather than Jews. Jesus was warning them against the danger of rejecting him. God goes to those who receive him, even Gentiles. This was too much for those people in Nazareth. They quickly became angry and tried to push Jesus off a cliff, but Jesus walked away.
Why did these people become so angry? It’s an interesting question. I have often read that during the days of Jesus, messianic expectations were high. Roman occupation of Israel was oppressive and people were looking for deliverance. Many Jews knew the Old Testament prophesies. And now Jesus comes along and says that he is the one those prophesies are referring to. According to v.23, Jesus had already performed some miracles. And now these people have a decision to make.
Even though these Jews knew the prophesies, they were worldly minded. They did not have in mind the things of God. And so when Jesus presented himself as God’s Messiah, they were not willing to receive him. They belittled him and tried to do away with him. Eventually they crucified Jesus, the Lord of glory.
Jesus is clearly the most important person who has ever walked this earth. He is the savior of the world. He presented himself in a very clear and compelling way. So compelling was his self-presentation that people had to respond in one way or another, and most rejected Jesus.
Because you are here this morning, presumably you believe that Jesus is the most important person ever to walk this earth. You have received him as your Savior, Lord and King. If that is true about you, then I imagine your priority in life is to present Jesus to this world through your gracious conduct and words. You want to see others come to know Jesus. If this is the case, then I must say that you should expect to receive the same treatment that Jesus received. People may not try to push you off a cliff, but they may politely ignore and exclude you. We are Christians, followers of Jesus. There is nothing more important for followers of Jesus than to present Jesus to this world. Most will not be interested and they may lose interest in you.
II. DO ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN DO. Lk.4:31-41
Because we have put our faith in Jesus for forgiveness and life, and because we are followers of Jesus in this world, the way we engage the world is very important. Our priority in life is to present Jesus. If we promote any other ideology or politic than that of Jesus we run the risk of diluting the message of Jesus. So how do we present Jesus to the world? From v.31-41 I want to suggest that you do all the good you can do. In suggesting this I am not leaving out verbal witness. If we are presenting Jesus, Jesus is going to be in our conversation. But in these verses we find Jesus doing a lot of good.
In v.31-37 Jesus was teaching on the Sabbath in Capernaum. There in the synagogue was a man with a demon who cried out in a loud voice. “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God." Jesus told the demon to come out of the man. And the people were amazed because with a mere word, Jesus commanded the demon.
Then in v.38-39 we learn that Peter’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever. They asked Jesus if he could help. It says, “And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.” Jesus rebuked the demon and he rebuked the fever. He just spoke and she was healed. And then that evening, in v.40-41 we see that anyone and everyone who had a disease or illness came to Jesus to be healed, and he healed them. He also delivered many others from the demons that were in them. Jesus used everything in his power to do whatever good he could for these hurting people. Is it any wonder that people were drawn to Jesus? In v.42 we read that Jesus departed from Capernaum because people continued to come to him. They would have kept him there if possible.
God is good. And it was and is in the nature of Jesus to do good to people. If we are going to engage the world with Jesus then we need to be about doing good to people. You say, “Well, I can’t do what Jesus did.” No doubt that is true, but do not underestimate what Jesus can do through you! That said, all of us can seek to use everything in our power to do whatever good we can in the name of Jesus. After all, the good we do is to present Jesus to this world. In Mt.10:42 Jesus says, “Whoever gives even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."
When followers of Jesus seek to do good to others in the name of Jesus for no personal gain, the world takes note. Often it is our good deeds to others that help to make a pathway to Jesus. This is why we must be careful with our political affiliations, whatever they might be. This is why we must be careful of the way we go about doing our work and living our lives. Our behavior bears witness of our relationship with Jesus. In Mk.9 Jesus tells us to be at peace with one another. In Rm.12:18 Paul writes, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” In 1Pt.3:10-11 we read, “For ‘Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.”
In this world we are seeking to present Jesus. Ours is not to condemn people, win arguments, make others be like us or think like us. We are to be like Jesus doing good to all in the name of Jesus.
III. COUNT ON THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Lk.4:42-44
In v.42-44 we read, “And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose." And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.”
What was the gospel message of Jesus? It was the message of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is a big topic. Basically, in my understanding, the kingdom of God refers to rule of God. It is the realm in which what God wants done is done. We pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We enter into the kingdom of God when we begin to trust in Jesus, the King, for forgiveness and eternal living. We seek to live under the rule of Jesus. We surrender our own kingdom to Jesus.
You may remember that when Israel entered into the Promised Land, God was their king. But during the time of Samuel, the people wanted a human king. They said to Samuel, “Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations." In 1Sam.8:7 we read, “And the LORD said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.” As I mentioned earlier, in Jesus’ day the people of Israel were groaning under Roman oppression. They longed for the day when the nation of Israel would once again have a king sitting on the throne in Jerusalem. Some thought Jesus might be that king. But Jesus was not teaching about the kingdom of Israel. Jesus was teaching about the kingdom of God. He taught that the kingdom of God had come near through his presence on earth. In Lk.11 Jesus said, “But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Jesus embodied the kingdom of God because he is God the king. So those who embrace him by faith enter into his kingdom in that very moment. In Col.1:13-14, Paul writes that God, “has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Those of us who know Christ live in and under the kingdom rule of Christ. What kind of life is this? Paul writes in Rm.14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Life in this world is difficult for everyone. Along with the normal struggles of living in this world, Christians also experience spiritual warfare and opposition as we seek to present Jesus. Believers in Jesus, however, have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. This means we can live in the righteousness, peace, and joy that Jesus has, because the Spirit of Jesus is living in us.
Jesus counted on the reality and presence of the kingdom of God. In other words he lived in the rule of God while he lived on the earth. We also live under and in the rule of God. We live from the power of God which sustains our lives. When I say, ‘Count on the kingdom of God,” I mean that we should live as if the rule of God covers and protects our lives. We need not fear to boldly live for Christ.
This is challenging because it really does require us to put our money where our mouth is. Our lived experience of Christ in the kingdom of God is the basis upon which we engage the world. We may be able to dot our I’s and cross our T’s when it comes to doctrine, but if Christ and his kingdom are not a reality in our experience it will be difficult to engage the world with Jesus in a convincing way. So we must live as if we believe what we say we believe. We must actually trust God and his kingdom as we present Jesus for all we are worth.
Eventually parents must face the day when they let go of their children. They let their children move out into the world to be fully responsible for themselves. It’s not easy because we know how difficult life in the world can be. So we do a lot of praying. The wonderful thing about knowing Christ is that Jesus never leaves us or forsakes us. He has promised to give us everything we need for life and godliness in this world. So we can engage the world with full confidence as we present Christ in all we do and say. Amen
