Go! And Follow: Encountering Jesus in the Gospel of Luke
Introduction
Church, let me begin with a picture.
Imagine you’re walking through a gallery filled with portraits of Jesus. Each portrait is beautiful, each shows Him in a slightly different light. Matthew paints Jesus as the promised King. Mark shows Him as the suffering Servant. John reveals Him as the eternal Son of God. And Luke—Luke the physician, the historian, the careful investigator—paints Jesus as the perfect Son of Man.
Luke writes with precision, compassion, and detail. And he tells us why in the opening of his Gospel:
Luke 1:3–4 (NLT): “Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honourable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.”
Luke wants us to be certain. Certain about Jesus. Certain about salvation. Certain about the Gospel.
This morning’s message is titled: “Go! And Follow: Encountering Jesus in the Gospel of Luke.”
We’ll look at three central truths Luke emphasises:
Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him.
Jesus offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe.
1. Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost
Luke 19:10 (NLT): “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
These words are spoken at the end of the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector despised by society, yet sought out by Jesus.
The Greek word for seek is zeteo—not a casual glance, but an intentional pursuit. The word for save is sozo—to rescue, to heal, to make whole.
Luke uses the title Son of Man more than any other Gospel writer. It echoes Daniel 7:13–14, where the Son of Man receives authority, glory, and sovereign power. Jesus is both divine and human—fully God and fully man—seeking the lost.
This verse summarises the mission of Jesus: He came looking for sinners. He came pursuing the broken. He came to rescue the perishing.
Charles Stanley once said: “God’s pursuit of us is relentless. He will not give up until He has captured our hearts.”
In 21st-century Britain, people feel lost—though they may not admit it. Lost in materialism. Lost in loneliness. Lost in confusion about identity and purpose. Luke reminds us that Jesus is not waiting for people to find Him—He is seeking them.
A shepherd doesn’t wait for a lost sheep to wander home. He leaves the ninety-nine and goes searching. That’s Jesus. And that’s the heart of the Gospel.
2. Jesus Calls Us to Take Up Our Cross and Follow Him
Luke 9:23 (NLT): “Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.’”
The verb give up translates the Greek arneomai—to deny, renounce, disown. To take up the cross was not a metaphor in first-century Rome—it was a death sentence. The cross meant shame, suffering, and execution.
Luke alone adds the word daily. Following Jesus is not a one-time decision; it is a daily surrender.
Salvation is free—it cost us nothing but cost Jesus everything. But discipleship is costly—it demands our all.
John Piper comments: “The essence of faith is being satisfied with all that God is for us in Jesus. And being so satisfied in Him, we take up our cross joyfully.”
In today’s culture, people want a Christianity that is convenient, comfortable, and cost-free. But Jesus calls us to daily surrender—our pride, our plans, our possessions.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor martyred under Hitler, famously wrote: “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” That is Luke’s challenge: Will you take up your cross?
3. Jesus Offers Forgiveness and Eternal Life
Luke 23:42–43 (NLT): “Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.’ And Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”
This is the thief on the cross. Society saw him as worthless. The Roman Empire saw him as expendable. Yet in his dying breath he turned to Jesus.
Notice what he calls Jesus: Lord, remember me… He recognises Jesus as King, even as He hangs on a cross.
The Greek word for paradise is paradeisos—a Persian word meaning a walled garden, later used for heaven itself. Jesus promises immediate fellowship in God’s presence.
This is grace at its clearest. The thief had no time to earn righteousness. No opportunity to perform good works. He simply believed—and was saved.
R. T. Kendall wrote: “The greatest insult you can give to God is to refuse to believe He forgives you when you repent. The blood of Jesus is enough.”
Church, this truth matters for us. There is no sinner beyond saving. No past too dark. No failure too deep. The thief’s prayer was short and desperate—yet it brought salvation. So it can be for anyone today.
Illustration: John Newton, once a slave trader, later wrote the hymn Amazing Grace. Near the end of his life, he said: “Although my memory is fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great Saviour.”
The Gospel Presentation:
The Gospel of Luke points us again and again to the cross and resurrection.
Jesus, the Son of Man, came seeking the lost.
He lived a perfect, sinless life.
He went to the cross, bearing our sin.
He rose again on the third day, conquering death.
And He now offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who repent and believe.
Romans 10:9 (NLT): “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Call to Action:
So here is the question Luke asks us: Will you follow?
If you do not yet know Christ, hear His voice: He came to seek and save you. Repent, trust in Him, and be saved.
If you are a believer, the challenge is daily discipleship: Take up your cross, deny yourself, and follow Jesus wherever He leads.
As Max Lucado puts it: “Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right.”
Invitation to Salvation:
Friend, like the thief on the cross, you can call out to Jesus today. You don’t need a lifetime of good deeds. You need faith in Christ.
Pray with me:
“Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for me and rose again. Forgive me. Save me. Be my Lord and my Saviour. I place my life in Your hands. Amen.”
Benediction:
Church, Luke reminds us that Jesus is the Saviour of the lost, the Lord of the disciple, and the Redeemer of sinners.
So go! And follow. Go! And proclaim. Go! And live for the glory of Christ.
Amen.
