REVEALING JESUS’ MISSION-VI—Luke 4:16-21
Attention:
Worse Off?
The Reverend Bill Jones shocked the congregation when he announced his resignation from the church & planned move to Arizona.
After the service a very distraught parishioner came to the pastor with tears in her eyes.
"Oh, Pastor Bill, we are going to miss you so much. We don’t want you to leave!"
The kindhearted pastor patted her hand & said, "Now, now, Liz, don’t carry on so... You’ll like the pastor who takes my place will be even better than me."
Then Liz began sobbing uncontrollably.
After some time Liz was able to contain herself & said, "Yeah", "That’s what Pastor Mike said when he left!"
Liz was revealed her mission of letting the pastor know how she really felt.
Jesus’ mission for the protection/thriving of mankind was openly publicized.
Need:
We all are searching for truth. Some knowingly & others appearing oblivious, resigning themselves to believing, ’it’ll all come out in the wash.’
Truth must be available. Where do I go to find it? Will I know when I’ve found it?
Acts 26:26—Paul to Governor Festus, before King Agrippa—““For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.”
Luke recorded the public assignment of Messiah’s mission to Jesus.
Jesus’ mission is publicized/revealed.
*Why is Jesus’ mission publicized/revealed?
*For whom is Jesus’ mission publicized/revealed?
10 considerations/dynamics/functions/observations in the public revelation of Jesus’ mission.
1. FAITHFUL(:16-17)
2. POWERLESS(:18a-b) Shepherdless/Need God’s direction
3. POOR(:18c)
4. BROKENHEARTED(:18d)
5. CAPTIVES(:18e)
6. BLIND(:18f)
7. OPPRESSED(:18g)
8—Jesus’ mission is revealed for the...
ACCEPTING(:19)
Explanation:(:19)Now/Current/Arrival/Presevering
:19—“To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.””
6)Jesus’ mission included “proclaiming” that with Jesus’ formal induction, the favorable year of the LORD” has begun in earnest.
All the above are a part of this magnificent visitation of God, which per Jesus’ statement in :21 is fulfilled in Him alone as He is the Christ.
Jesus omits or perhaps Luke chose to omit the phrase “And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn.”(Isa. 61:2).
Some feel this may be to emphasize the presence of God’s grace thru His Christ versus His judgment. However the last phrase incorporates both “vengeance” as well as “comfort”(in Hebrew).
Regardless, this presentation in the synagogue would have emphasized Jesus’ mission as the Son of God who came to seek & to save that which was lost(Lk. 19:10).
*NOW is the time for you to respond...Not tomorrow or later or after you’ve gotten your life in order. The Holy Spirit will help you get your life in order, but in order for that to happen, you must first surrender your life to God thru Christ.
“Acceptable/Favorable”—dektov—Adj.—1) Accepted, acceptable. Strong—Approved; figuratively--Propitious. Used 5X.
From—decomai—V.—1) To take with the hand—1a) To take hold of, take up; 2) To take up, receive; 3) To receive, get. The suggestion of a welcoming or appropriating reception generally cleaves to decomai.
“Year”—eniautov—1) A year, in a wider sense, for some fixed definite period of time. Denotes a year as viewed as a cycle or period of time versus etov which denotes a year as a division or sectional portion of time. Strong—prolongation from a primary enov(a year); A year.
Argumentation:
Lk. 19:41-44—“Now as He drew near, He saw the city & wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. “For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you & close you in on every side, & level you, & your children within you, to the ground; & they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.””
*2Cor. 5:20—6:2—“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Heb. 3:14-15—“For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.””
Rom. 9:30-33—“What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone & rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.””
Rom. 10:9-13—“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus & believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, & with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew & Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.””
Jn. 3:14-17—““And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
Jn. 5:21-23—““For as the Father raises the dead & gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”
1Jn. 5:10-13—“He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, & this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, & that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
Rom. 12:1-2—“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good & acceptable & perfect will of God.”
We must be accepting of the tremendous change Christ(for the better) brings to our lives!
Illustration:
Chain businesses open in Rockwell—McDonalds-Sonic-Subway-CVS-Pizza Hut/Rockwell is rockin’!/Their services previously limited to chain’s original location/Expanded operations/Town govt. & people are grateful & ACCEPTING
My understanding that the RSBA Office is on the site of a former ‘Beer Hall’(as Jim Harris calls it)/The Southern Baptist Christians of Rowan County were not accepting of that which dishonored Jesus/ACCEPTING
Application:
?Does Jesus’ mission inform/energize your ACCEPTANCE?
?Has Jesus’ mission been revealed for you?
9—Jesus’ mission is revealed for the...
ANTICIPATORY(:20)
Explanation:
:20—“Then He closed the book, & gave it back to the attendant & sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.”
After investing the fulfillment of all the previous passage in Himself, Jesus “closed the book.” He gave the book of Isaiah “to the attendant.” Jesus sat down.
In the synagogue it was customary to read the Scripture while standing but teaching was undertaken while seated. Jesus was about to “teach” on what He had just read before them all.
Jesus had the full rapt attention of all in the synagogue. We must remember previous declarations that “...news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.” However this fame(:14) could be a summary statement of what is detailed in the verses following the statement of the fact(:16-21ff).
?How is Jesus going to apply this Scripture?
*?What does this mean for me/us? OR ?How does this speak to us/me?—This should be something you ask yourself &/or we ask ourselves in every gathering.
“Fixed on”—atenizw—1) To fix the eyes on, gaze upon; 2) To look into anything; 3) metaph. To fix one’s mind on one as an example. Strong— To gaze intently.
Argumentation:
Lk. 10:38-42—“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; & a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet & heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, & she approached Him & said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered & said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried & troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, & Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.””
Mary Anticipated good things from Jesus & acted appropriately.
Lk. 2:25-32—“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, & this man was just & devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, & the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms & blessed God & said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.””
Titus 2:11-14—“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness & worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, & godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope & glorious appearing of our great God & Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed & purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”
Isa. 25:7-9—“And He will destroy on this mountain The surface of the covering cast over all people, And the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken. And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, & He will save us. This is the LORD; We have waited for Him; We will be glad & rejoice in His salvation.””
Illustration:
When Fishing/Preparations made beforehand—Location(estuary, ocean, deep ocean, lake, stream, pond, etc.)/Type(still, shore, pier, boat, troll)/Training(tie workable knots for monofilament)/Equipment(rod, reel, line)/Lure-Bait(natural, live, artificial)(surface, jig, motion, sound)/Only then do you ‘go fishing’/ANTICIPATORY
You came here today Expectant...Anticipating that God would do something’ in your life...That He would give you a new insight...That you would gain some tools for handling your current challenges/ANTICIPATORY
Application:
?Does Jesus’ mission inform/energize your ANTICIPATION?
?Has Jesus’ mission been revealed for you?
10—Jesus’ mission is revealed for the...
UNSUSPECTING(:21)
Explanation:
:21—“And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.””
“After the reading came an invitation for someone to instruct the audience. Based on texts already read or on new texts, this instruction could be done by any qualified male in the audience, provided ten males were present.”—Darrell Bock
With their attention drawn to Him, Jesus, not leaving any doubt as to His purpose, proclaimed that the Scripture He had read was fulfilled at the time of their hearing it. In other words Jesus was declaring Himself the Messiah—bearer of Good News—Releaser of Captives—Free-er of the downtrodden/oppressed—Harbinger of a time of the LORD’s favor.
“Jesus could only mean that the real year of Jubilee had come, that the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah had come true today, & that in him they saw the Messiah of prophecy.”—RWP
This Messianic “fulfillment” is accomplished unequivocally as they all heard plainly what Jesus said regarding Himself. “In your hearing” seems akin to Jesus’ statements elsewhere, “He who has an ear to hear....”
“Fulfilled”—plhrow—1) To make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full—1a) To cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally—1a1) I abound, I am liberally supplied; 2) To render full, i.e. to complete. Strong—To make replete, i.e. literally--To cram(a net), level up(a hollow), or figuratively--To furnish(or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute(an office), finish(a period or task), verify(or coincide with a prediction), etc.
Argumentation:
The woman at the well was unsuspecting:
Jn. 4:5-26—“So He[Jesus] came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered & said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, & who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, & He would have given you living water.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, & the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, & drank from it himself, as well as his sons & his livestock?” Jesus answered & said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, & come here.” The woman answered & said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ “for you have had five husbands, & the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, & you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, & now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit & truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, & those who worship Him must worship in spirit & truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.””
Jn. 5:39—““You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; & these are they which testify of Me.”
Mat. 5:17-18—““Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven & earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”
Rom. 10:4—“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
Jn. 1:10-13—“He was in the world, & the world was made through Him, & the world did not know Him. He came to His own, & His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Mat. 21:42-44—“Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’S doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.””
Would you be content with merely having your current belief ’broken’ by Jesus OR will you hold on to it so tightly that Jesus will be forced to fall upon you, effectively "grinding you to powder"?
Illustration:
A challenging surprise:
2004 Chrysler Town & Country/Taking Sam to orientation at WCU in Cullowhee/As I was turning left onto NC 107 from US 23 in Sylva, the minivan suddenly lost power & I put it in neutral & coasted to a halt in the turn lane/It would no longer go into any gear at all/Transmission needed work/The policeman stayed with me thruout the ordeal/A local man stopped across the street stayed & talked with me/They all put their heads together & decided the best place to go would be Advanced Transmissions in Waynesville was highly recommended/I had it towed there & it appears they did a great job!/I discovered the comfort offered by the nice people of Sylva/UNSUSPECTING
Take the car in for an oil change & I’m told that it needs a new radiator/Necessary but UNSUSPECTING
One year, near Thanksgiving I opened a can of pumpkin/I noticed a fungus growing on the underside of the lid!/UNSUSPECTING
Application:
?Does Jesus’ mission inform/energize your UNSUSPECTING?
?Has Jesus’ mission been revealed for you?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Liz dislike for pastor Bill—"Yeah", "That’s what Pastor Mike said when he left!"
Action:
Jesus’ mission is revealed for the...
8. ACCEPTING(:19)
9. ANTICIPATORY(:20)
10. UNSUSPECTING(:21)
1. FAITHFUL(:16-17)
2. POWERLESS(:18a-b) Shepherdless/Need God’s direction
3. POOR(:18c)
4. BROKENHEARTED(:18d)
5. CAPTIVES(:18e)
6. BLIND(:18f)
7. OPPRESSED(:18g)
Presented 11/04/2012am to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
