So, when the Christ shows up, what does He do, and what kind of response does He require?
Well, two emphases dominate Jesus’ ministry from the very beginning.
Matthew and Mark summarize the first of these with the statement that Jesus began to proclaim that the Kingdom of God was at hand (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14-15). Our minds tend to interpret this in light of our modern Christian experience, and probably envision something along the lines of street evangelism or evangelistic outreach events.
But Luke gives us more detail in his Gospel (Luke 4:14-44) –
- Jesus went to the local Jewish places of worship (synagogues) throughout the region of Galilee every Sabbath, where He would read from the Scriptures (4:15-16).
- In Nazareth (4:16-30), where He was given the book of Isaiah to read from, He chose chapter 61, which speaks of One Anointed (mashach – the verbal form of the noun mashiach, from which we get Messiah) by God to bring good news (gospel). In the passage in Isaiah, this Anointed One, who brings Good News will transform broken and captive people into “oaks of righteousness”. Having read this reference, Jesus tells the people of the Nazareth synagogue that this passage has been fulfilled in their hearing that very day. In effect, He was presenting Himself as the Anointed One – The Messiah. Because of their familiarity with Him, these Nazarenes doubt His claim.
- In the synagogue of Capernaum (4:31-37), He taught and cast out demons with authority, which is perfectly fitting for One coming as King, Annointed by God.
- Moving to Peter’s mother-in-law’s house (4:38-41), He casts out more demons, and heals a multitude of people, including Peter’s mother-in-law. Later, when John the Baptist sends to ask if Jesus is the Expected One, Jesus points to just such miracles as affirming evidence (Luke 7:18-23) that He is The One.
- Although the crowds want Him to stay to perform more healings and exorcisms, He leaves, saying that the reason He was sent was to do what He had done in Nazareth and Capernaum – proclaim the Kingdom. (Luke 4:43-44).
What Matthew and Mark summarize with a single statement about Jesus proclaiming the Kingdom of God, Luke fleshes out, telling a story. In this story he wants to make sure that we see that Jesus ministry in Nazareth and Capernaum were typical of His proclamation of the Kingdom throughout Judea, so he sets up the events at Nazareth by explaining that Jesus’ actions were in keeping with His custom (4:16), and then concludes the account of the events at Capernaum by showing that these activities were a part of a larger series of ministry events (“in other cities also”, “kept on proclaiming” – 4:43-44). What He did at Nazareth and Capernaum provides a glimpse of His proclamation of the Kingdom throughout Judea.
In this, we see that Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom included Him doing things that would lead people to identify Him as the Messiah – the Christ. Which only makes sense. While a republic or a democracy may founded by a group of people, a kingdom can only be initiated by the arrival of a king. The kingdom can only be at hand, if the King is present.
In this light, we can see that, even the though John does not begin his Gospel with a similar phrase, he does begin by presenting Jesus as the Messiah (John 1:19-51). Thus, in all four Gospels, when Jesus appears on the public stage, He shows up as the Messiah – the Christ, talking about the Kingdom. This theme will dominate and drive everything that He does for the rest of His time on earth. In the Gospel of Luke alone, the Kingdom is spoken of on at least 27 different occasions (1:33; 4:43; 6:20; 7:28; 8:1, 10; 9:2, 11, 27, 60, 62; 10:9, 11; 11:2, 20; 12:31–32; 13:18, 20, 28–29; 14:15; 16:16; 17:20–21; 18:16–17, 24–25, 29; 19:11–12, 15; 21:31; 22:16, 18, 29–30; 23:42, 51).
The second emphasis of Jesus’ ministry flows out of the first. Having identified Jesus as the Messiah – the Christ, the appropriate response was to begin following Him as His disciple (Matthew 4:17-22; Mark 1:14-20; Luke 4:43-5:11; John 5:35-51). Remember – although ruling as King on David’s throne is a very significant and dominant dimension associated with the arrival of The One Who Will Come – The Messiah – it is, by no means, the only significant dimension of His role. Before we knew Him as the One who would rule on David’s throne, we knew Him as the One who would bring blessing in place of the curse (Genesis 12:1-3). And even as Isaiah reveals details about His glorious Kingdom, he also tells us about the One Who is going to suffer for the healing of mankind (Isaiah 53), and Who will transform the broken and afflicted into oaks of righteousness (Isaiah 61:1-3).
This is critical because in our decision to be like God and pursue life according to our own agenda (Genesis 3:1-7) we abandoned the identity and significance that was to be ours as those who represent Him, and rule according to His agenda. This loss of identity and significance is a part of the death that resulted from choosing to eat the fruit (Genesis 2:17). The hope that runs through The Story is that the curse is not final, that all that was lost can be recovered. If we are to be restored to our role of ruling as God’s representatives, we must first be restored in our capacity to represent Him – to make the decisions He would make – to manifest His character. It is this transformation that is spoken of in Isaiah 61 – the transformation of broken and afflicted individuals into oaks of righteousness. Their weakness will be transformed into strength (oaks) and they will manifest God’s likeness (righteousness). When Jesus speaks of this promise being fulfilled in Him (Luke 4:21), the Good News that He brings includes this transformation. How is this transformation accomplished? Discipleship.
Contrary to what is often taught, a disciple is more than a “learner”. Discipleship was a process by which the student became like the teacher (cf. Luke 6:40). Given that Jesus, the Christ is the teacher, the longer the student follows as a disciple, the more he becomes Christ-like. And since Christ bears God’s image (John 1:18; 14:9; cf. Colossians 1:15), the more like Christ a disciple becomes, the more he is restored in his capacity as God’s image-bearer, and the more capable he is of ruling according to God’s agenda.
So, having believed that Jesus is The Christ, the only reasonable response is to follow as disciples.
We will look at what this requires next week.
The words for this morning are so full of meaning. It is difficult to take it all in. It is not just the intellectual understanding. It is the need to breathe as you begin to realize more fully who He is, all He has done, and all He is doing. It is like the experiencial fullness of it is just beyond our grasp. And before I know it I found that I have stepped back into the story, and I began to recognize anew how I am being affected by all of that, and where I am in the process.
It is one thing to walk with God and become preoccupied with the process. It is altogether different to stop and consider what you are doing, Who you are following and what this is all about. It is like stopping at a mountain top and catching your breath as you look about and see from whence you have come, and take in all that still awaits. And finally, you begin to focus on how much more still lies ahead. It is like having your orientation refreshed.
Leaving the mountain top and getting back to the trail is an instant reminder that this is a journey of little steps, one at a time, one in front of the other. Engagement and transformation does not happen over night; it is a process. A process that can not be hurried, but can be detoured if we are not careful. A certain diligence is required along the way.
It is just all so fascinating at one level, so multidemensional, and yet you can’t just camp out at the mountain top and wonder at it for ever. There are times I wish I could just relax and soak it all in because I kow there is still so much more here than I am able to fathom. But this place in which I find myself is still not my home, and so I have to be careful and remember that this still is not my home. I still have to engage and pay the cost – which is a big part of the discipleship piece.
Appreciate the hard work that goes into digging out the story Garth. Thanks.
So encouraging today Garth. Mountain metaphor equally encouraging Mark. Thank you both.