In a real way, the first 15 chapters of the book of Luke can be summed up in the statement Jesus made when He announced His ministry in the synagogue in Nazareth:
Luke 4:18-19 8 "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, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." ESV
Contained in this proclamation from Isaiah 61:1-2 is the heart of who Jesus is and what He mission is about. I want to read to you a short phrase that is culled from what hit me as I looked once again at Luke chapters 1-15:
"Realize who you are and acknowledge what holds you. Realize who Jesus and His Father are. Leave fear behind and throw yourself on Jesus, trusting Him no matter the cost because He will remove the shackles holding you and is everything you really need."
Realize Who You Are & Acknowledge what Holds You
Hearing but not believing
Chapter 1 - Zechariah (doubted God’s Word)
10:13 Woes to unrepentant cities (did not hear, or repent)
13:1-5 You will all likewise perish unless you repent
Warning to the powerful
11:37 Woes to the Pharisees
12:1-3 Leaven of the Pharisees
6:24-26 Woes to the rich, the full, the laughter.
A Tree is Known By Its Fruit
8:43 "For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit."
Realize Who Jesus Is
Jesus, the rescuer
2:8 Shepherds - to you this day is born a Savior
Jesus’ the speaker of power
4:31 "His word possessed authority"
Jesus the creator and sustainer of the universe
8:22 "And he awoke and rebuked the wins and the raging waves, and they ceased and there was a calm."
Jesus the glorified king
9:28 The Transfiguration
God The Gracious Father
15:1-32 The missing sheep, the lost coin, the prodigal son
Leave Fear Behind & Throw Your Trust in Jesus
Do Not Fear, Only Believe
8:50 Jairus
11:28 "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"
12:22 Do not be anxious
13:22-30 The Narrow Door
Follow Him no matter the Cost
The Cost of Discipleship
9:23 "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."
9:46 Who is the greatest?
10:25 The Good Samaritan
12:35 Be ready for action
12:8 Acknowledge or deny
12:49 division between the believing and unbelieving
14:25 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father.."
Because He will remove the shackles holding you, and is All You Need
Setting the Captives Free
4:18 "He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives."
8:26-39 Legion
9:37-43 Epileptic boy
1:37 Nothing Shall Be Impossible for God
11:2-13 Lord’s prayer "how much more will the heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Conclusions
Jesus faced a number of enemies when He came to earth: sin, the devil, the religious authorities, the civil authorities, our flesh, death. He showed convincingly that He had power over all those enemies, but chose instead of conquering to serve, instead of combating to heal, restore, and give.
When Jesus fought it was either to free someone from the physical captivity to the devil so they could believe, or to fight off the religious authorities who held people in spiritual captivity to a system that would not let them believe.
We have the same mission. Look back at Luke 4:18-19
- God’s Spirit is on us (Acts 1:8)
- Our mission is to preach the gospel to those who lack spiritually (Acts 1:8)
- We are to preach freedom to those in captive to sin (Romans 6:22)
- We uncover darkened minds to the truth of the gospel (2 Corinthians 3:15 - Moses)
- We actually help people become free (not just proclaim it) (John 8:36 "whom the Son of man …")
- The favorable year of the Lord (2 Corinthians 6:2)
Jesus was kind in His manner, gentle in His touch, truthful in His speech, and firm in His stance for God.
