Sermons of Jesus – Good News of Salvation
Welcome to the first sermon of Jesus.
Settle down… quieten and prepare your hearts…. Jesus is about to speak.
Bible Passage: Luke 4:16-30
Luke placed Jesus’ sermon in His hometown of Nazareth as the inaugural message for His ministry.
Jesus quoted extensively from Isaiah and this choice created quite a stir. All Israel believed that this passage not only to be the text that would announce the Messiah’s coming, but also the one that instituted the Year of Jubilee (“the acceptable year of the Lord”).
When the Messiah came, everyone was to get a new beginning – the poor, the oppressed, the blind, and the indebted.
However, when Jesus cited outsiders as the recipients of God’s blessing, He provoked rage. His ministry began with people trying to kill Him!
What do you see in today’s sermon?
It seems quite incredible doesn’t it?
How Do We Listen?
When Jesus first first finished reading from Isaiah, everyone’s eyes were on Him. They all spoke well of Him. They were amazed at the gracious words that came from Him… (verses 20-22).
Then Jesus said something that they did not like to hear (verses 23-27).
Their amazement and wonder of Jesus was instantly turned to fury and hatred! (verses 28-30).
All this in a matter of a few moments.
Makes me consider my attitude when I am listening to sermons today.
When there is a new sermon speaker in town, I would love to hear the words spoken. I would wonder at the depth of knowledge and the authority that the speaker has with the Word of God. I would be willing to listen to more and more of the sermons.
But when the message that the speaker speaks no longer appeals… worse still… when the message hits to close to heart and is something I do not like to hear… do I become like the Israelites and react in a similar way?
Does our unhappiness of the truth blind us so much with hatred and anger that we cannot see the good news for what it is… and seek to bury it instead?
The good news of salvation of Jesus is ideally suited to the poor and those who know their need.
But the self sufficient, well to do ones… the ones who think they know it all and are secure through it all – they often live with a false sense of security an control.
But when Jesus comes, He makes all things new – and this pertains to every aspect of our lives – physical, social, spiritual, emotional – whether we like it or not.
The question is … how do we listen and respond to the sermons of Jesus?
The Ministry of Jesus
Jesus quoted from the book of Isaiah to outline the focus of His ministry. Each point is worthy for us to consider … are we also proclaiming the good news of Salvation that Jesus came to do… and wants us to do.
1. Preach the Gospel to the poor. This does not mean to only those who are financially poor. This also means to those who are poor in spirit (will leave this for tomorrow’s sharing)…. those who have a deep hunger to fill the void in their lives.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO? – Tell them the story of Jesus. Show them who Jesus is by living the words of Jesus.
2. Proclaim release to the captives. The people of the world are all in the clutches of the evil one. There is no escape… unless they have Jesus!
WHAT SHOULD WE DO? – Teach them that with Jesus on our side – sin’s bondage is over.
3. Recovery of the sight to the blind. The people of the world are either to proud to want to see Jesus, or their eyes are blinded by the riches of the world, the temptations and lusts of this world and the veil of ignorance that is across their faces.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO? – Help remove their ignorance of God. And in order to do it – all we have to do is to start… Start telling them about Jesus… start teaching them about Jesus…
4. Set free those who are oppressed. Again, the people of the world are ensnared by sin. It is just so difficult to get out of the rut.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO? – Bring people to Jesus so that they too can be released from sin. We can’t do it by ourselves. We do it together with God behind us.
5. Proclaim the year of the Lord. What does this mean? When we proclaim a Jubilee year – we are shouting loudly about something that is long lasting and true… something that inspires hope in the Lord God.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO? – The only way we can inspire hope in those who are spiritually dead is if we ourselves believe strongly in what we are telling. So pray that you believe and trust in Him totally. Then go and share.
This is the first sermon of Jesus. What lessons did you get? Why not share with us?