The importance of our mission (Luke, Part 6)
Luke 12:1-12; 13:10-17; 13:31-35
Introduction / Recap
- The study of Luke is an interesting one for believers to dive into
-- We see Luke’s interest in humanity (it’s genuine, rem: career as a physician)
-- We also get to experience how Jesus interacts with society; He goes to them!
- Last week, we unpacked one of the meatiest messages of this series
-- As Christians are we following Jesus, or we are choosing to do our own thing
-- BIG: The reward of the follower is more than Heaven; it’s never walking alone
-- Fact: We can do what is before us because He already has shown us the way
- Today, we have a few challenges before us from scripture
-- Primarily, we’ll see how Jesus handles the criticisms to God’s work
-- Prayerfully, we’ll learn how to apply how He responded to these comments
-- See this: Sometimes, being direct is called for - especially when truth matters
- Read Luke 12:1-12; 13:10-17; 13:31-35 / Pray
- TR: Let’s begin with a challenge we may face daily
Point 1 – Jesus warns us to avoid hypocrisy (Luke 12:1-12)
- Need us to see, many came to see Jesus; so much so there were thousands!
-- Why? When there is a “new thing”, many come to see what’s happening
-- Adage: Even a new broom sweeps well for a while …
- But some were eager to hear the Word of God (reputation has been spreading)
-- Some, eagerly desired to hear and learn – and yes some came for “the show”
-- It is no different than churches today – a new thing attracts the curious
-- But see this: when they came Jesus spoke truth to them always
- But it is the religious folks who had a problem with Him; gives 2 messages
-- First, Jesus (v1) warns the disciples to beware of hypocrisy and:
• The religious rituals (more importance placed on those)
• How they worshiped and taught (pride vs. humility)
• What their doctrine was founded on (their 600+ laws vs. God’s commands)
- The disciples are warned to specifically avoid this (v2) hypocrisy because:
• Every deed will be exposed
• Every word thought or spoken will be exposed
-- Jeremiah 32:19, “You have all wisdom and do great and mighty miracles. You see the conduct of all people, and you give them what they deserve.”
-- Tremendous insight for us today: what you say/do matters: God is taking note
- The second message was to the crowd in general (v4-12)
1. Do not fear men; fear God who has power to control your eternity
2. Do not fear a lack of necessities; God provides for even the smallest birds
3. Jesus’ promises that all men shall be judged before God’s angels
• First, judgment will be accomplished by the Son of Man (Jesus’ name)
-- Matthew 25:32, “All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”
• Second, man’s judgement is based on how they treated Jesus
--- Matthew 10:32, “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.”
-- Consider: What if God asked you, “What have you done with my Son?” (pause)
4. Fear the unpardonable sin
• Blasphemy against Christ
• Blasphemy against the work of the Holy Spirit
- Let’s dig into this … What is the work of the Spirit? To draw men to God!
-- John 6:44, “For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.”
-- Blasphemy against the Spirit is rejecting what the Spirit does/offers
-- When you reject what God offers, it is unforgiveable (ends in place called hell)
5. Do not fear persecution and trials; the Spirit is what empowers us!
-- Critical: Because of the Holy Spirit, we have power and authority in Him
-- He teaches us what to say, when we need it – He is our power (Peter, Acts 3)
- Simple truth: God can be trusted when we have a need b/c He strengthens us
-- Therefore, avoid the hypocrisy of the world, and put faith in God’s provisions
-- Avoid the world’s hypocrisy but tuning into what God offers you!
- TR: Let’s look at how Jesus demonstrates avoiding hypocrisy …
Point 2 – Jesus shows the value of our mission (Luke 13:10-17)
- Jesus taught spoke, but on this day, He teaches in a synagogue on the Sabbath
-- To our knowledge, this is the first time He ever did such a thing
-- While teaching, He does something that outrages the religious: heals woman
-- Key: The dispute is based on Him performing “work” on the Sabbath
- This woman was a worshiper of God; she had come to church to worship
-- We know that she suffered from a curvature of the spine (unable to stand up)
-- Don’t miss: Luke describes her medically; not as some deformed creature
-- But he also references her being crippled by an evil spirit
- Even still, her faithfulness to God brought her to the synagogue to worship
-- Despite her deformity, she was determined to be in God’s house on Sabbath
-- FREE CHALL: Do we stay home from church for our own conveniences?
- Don’t miss this: She was seen, known, and so He went to meet her needs
-- APP: Her faithfulness to be there allowed God to meet her face to face
-- She receives from Him the touch of being restored, and what is her response?
-- “How she praised God!” (v13)
- However, the religious leader has issue with Jesus – he gets angry (v14)
-- Consider: People come to God’s house to be restored, and when it happens
-- The response from their leader is indignance because God showed up??
-- Why are they there in the first place? (pause – it’s worth considering this one)
- Rabbi refused to acknowledge who the Messiah is
-- In his own self-absorbed view, He’d forgotten what his own mission was!
-- Why? He was hypocritical, exactly who Jesus said to avoid (ref Point 1)
- This woman was a child of God, a daughter of Abraham (v16)
-- She needed help and came to worship, and received nothing from church
-- This really is a challenge to all of us: Are we fulfilling the needs of others?
-- As a church will we devote ourselves to those around us? We must!
-- Else, we might experience the same thing as this leader did (read v17)
-- May we never receive shame from God for failing to do His work here!
- TR: From the synagogue, we see Jesus turn his focus to the whole city
Point 3 – A Messiah weeps for a nation (Luke 13:31-35)
- Fact: Jesus has always been rejected by humanity … always
-- This is not a new concept, even in 2022, Jesus is rejected and ignored
-- Understand this: We are called to reject society’s “advice” as well
- Herod had one desire: to kill Jesus because of the issues He caused
-- Thousands are following Jesus, which means they aren’t obeying Rome
-- And this causes a problem for Herod, leader Galilee: a real threat to his power
- Jesus calls him exactly what he is (v32): a fox (a sly, treacherous man)
-- Proclaims that God’s mission must and will be completed (v33 – must proceed)
-- GR: Teleioumai (means finished) … like Tetelestai (said on the cross)
- Also, He affirms that this must happen in Jerusalem
-- He was telling them that He must die in the place where life was centered
-- RE: Jerusalem was where the temple was, where the religious ruled from
-- It had great symbolism, and would have a greater impact than they realized
-- APP: It would mean that all of society would see Him die (and resurrect)
- Critical: Their denial of God is why He looked upon this city and wept
-- He saw the city as a symbol of all people … and all those who God loved
-- Yet, this people would soon criticize and cast God’s way aside
- IMP: This was considered very serious to God – something we must avoid
-- Romans 14:4, “Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.” (great encouragement: God will help us stand)
- What these people were doing is simple: rejecting God’s servant (Jesus)
-- With commandments, prophets, teaching, and miracles the people still say “No”
-- Yet, God continues to be patient, even sending His Son to them
-- Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
- Don’t miss: The sorrow of Jesus is tragic when you consider the full story:
• Jerusalem (Israel) is center of God’s people, and they reject God’s salvation
• And still, God desires to protect these people who turn away from Him
• So, for now, the house will be abandoned (alone & without presence of God)
• Until … He returns to rule again – and then they will proclaim His goodness
- FACT: Everyone who rejected Him will see Him return, but it will be too late
- (EMPH) When He returns it is in judgment – and in that truth He is sad for them
- It means there will be no more opportunity to turn from sin; judgment is final
-- God’s plan will be fully complete, and this causes sorrow for what He sees
-- How does this happen? Philippians 2:9-11, “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
- TR: So, the big idea for us from these three interactions is clear
-- Pray you will receive this: Jesus is still calling out for us to learn/grow:
Big Ideas
o We are to avoid the hypocrisy of the world and be faithful witnesses
o Must understand that everything we do will be examined by God
o And in that examination, we will be saved/condemned by our actions
- What Luke (through Jesus actions) challenges us to do is remember our mission
-- Consider even the simple act of coming to church, “Why are we here?”
-- Do we come to be seen? Or to meet / hear from God’s Word / Spirit?
- Bigger: Do we take what we’ve learned and share it with those around us?
-- See this: Jesus went to where these people are to speak to them
- Our mission is to share – it’s why we are in this together (ref. last week msg.)
-- Next week we’ll discuss some practical “how to share” ideas
-- Prayerfully, you’ll be here for a very different kind of sermon
- Pray
