Last week we looked at the first 5 of the 10 Commandments given by God to the people of Israel. Although the focus of that message last week was for encouraging and honoring our mothers, we noted that people must have a right relationship with God in order to have a right relationship with other people. As we noted, this principle was from the Old Testament. Now, did this principle change with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; and if it has changed, how has it changed?
As we continue to study the Gospel of Luke, we will note Jesus’ words and how they can relate to God’s principles from the 10 Commandments.
Please open your Bibles to Luke Chapter 9. ….
We have noted that Jesus had been teaching His disciples and preparing them for His death and burial and of course for the ministry they were to do after Jesus leaves the earth. Since we today are on this side of the cross awaiting the return of Jesus Christ, Jesus’ instructions for ministry on earth while He is in heaven is meant for us as well.
In Luke 10, as we will discuss next week, Jesus sends out not just the 12 but 70 disciples to minister in the world. Jesus leads, teaches, and empowers His disciples for ministry. It is God’s plan to use ordinary people to do extraordinary works for Jesus Christ! Isn’t this amazing! God’s plan is to work through us! Christ’s desire is to use you and me for the extraordinary and miraculous works of God here one earth!
Jesus leads, teaches, and empowers His disciples for ministry. The question is: Are we willing to do the extraordinary and miraculous works of God? Let us follow, learn, and yield to Jesus Christ. Let us pray together our commitment to God’s Word….
Read along with me now Luke 9:49-62…
As I stated earlier, people must have a right relationship with God in order to have a right relationship with other people; and this is of course very important when we are called to ministry. Let us note what Jesus says about this from our passage.
What was Jesus trying to teach from v49-50?
Did the disciples really have a right relationship with God in v49-50? The disciples really did not have a right relationship with God. How can we say this??
The other translations of the Bible actually sounds better; the KJV, NASB, ESV basically states v49 this way: “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” The disciples were more concerned with who followed them rather than who followed Jesus. There were 2 things Jesus was teaching the disciples:
a. Watch out for ego.
b. Do not stop anyone who honors the Name of Jesus Christ!
What was Jesus trying to teach from v51-56?
The disciples did call Jesus Lord; but what should it mean when one says “Jesus is my Lord”??
The disciples called Jesus Lord but they really did not consult to listen to Jesus; they made up their minds to kill off people and called for an affirmation from Jesus. Jesus rebuked the disciples for not asking for His will rather than their will. Doesn’t this sound familiar when we pray? Typically, we make decisions before praying, then we pray and ask for God’s affirmation. The disciples were rebuked for this!
What was Jesus trying to teach from v57-58?
The man did say “I will follow you wherever you go Jesus.” Sounds awesome doesn’t it? Look again at Jesus’ response in v58…. Jesus has been telling His disciples that He will suffer, die, and be buried! Jesus was saying “before making a commitment, know and accept the costs”.
What was Jesus trying to teach from v59-62?
One can say that Jesus has no compassion from this passage. If someone comes to you and tell you that Jesus has no compassion on people because of statements like this one, how will you respond? Will you agree with them? Will you be embarrassed? Will you be caught off guard? May I suggest this: When someone tells you that Jesus has a lack of compassion, first pray then be excited about the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ! How can we say that Jesus has compassion for people??
Jesus died to save our eternal souls! How much more compassionate can He be?
And so, why would Jesus say let the dead bury the dead and don’t go back to say goodbye to family?
There are at least 3 key principles Jesus is teaching in v59-62:
1. Doing the will of Jesus Christ does not mean not caring for people.
2. A calling from Jesus must be taken seriously, requiring full commitment.
3. Proclaiming the Kingdom of God is a priority!
Did Jesus lack compassion? Think of this way: If one takes the calling of Jesus seriously and have an attitude of evangelism, one can proclaim the Kingdom of God while burying the dead and even when saying goodbye to family.
Let me close with these suggestions for our lives today:
First of all, even after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the principles from the 10 Commandments from the Old Testament still apply today. Actually, those biblical principles from the 10 Commandments are enhanced aren’t they? You see God loved the people of Israel, so He gave them instructions to live by. Today, god loves us so much that He gave us not only the Bible (instructions for life), but God also gave us Jesus Christ to forgive us of our sins, the Holy Spirit to empower us, and the church to encourage us! To whom much is given, much is expected in return.
1. Let us all take a personal inventory of our serving and giving in comparison to God’s love.
Secondly, we are to watch our egos and not stop anyone who honors the Name of Jesus Christ!
2. Honor the Name of Jesus Christ always.
3. Always keep God’s Will in mind in everything we do. – WWJWMTD?
How’s our commitment to Jesus Christ? The extraordinary and miraculous power of God through us will only be as good as our commitment to Jesus Christ!
