This is the week when a number of groups will begin using the study guide found in your bulletin. And let me say, you cannot get into a group soon enough. Getting involved in a Life Group may be one of the most spiritually significant things you do all year long. You will grow in your relationship with Christ. You will find support and encouragement as God’s Spirit works in your life. You will move deeper into one-another ministry. You will become a greater influence for Christ. But don’t take my word for it. Ask around.
Life change happens best in smaller groups. It doesn't happen as well when you are isolatedor when you are anonymous among the crowd. But when you put yourself into an environment that nourishes spiritual life, you will be amazed at what happens to your spiritual life. Sometimes, you have to try a few different groups before you find the one that fits you. There is plenty of opportunity for everyone. You can sign up in the back of the auditorium. You can go with someone who is already involved in a group. I suppose the hardest part is just taking the first step.
Jesus evoked a wide variety ofreactions from people.
Jumping right into your outline this morning, Jesusevoked a broad spectrum of reactions from people. He experienced everything from total amazement to venomous hatred. To give you an idea of what I am talking about, turn in your Bibles to Luke 4. In Luke 4:15 (NIV) everyone, "praised" Jesus as he taught them in the synagogues. But a few moments later in Luke 4:28-30 (NIV) we are told, "All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.They got up, drove him (Jesus) out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way."
In Luke 4:32 (NIV) people, "were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority." In Luke 4:37 (NIV), "news about him (Jesus) spread throughout the surrounding area." In Luke 4:42 (NIV), "The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them." In Luke 5:26 (NIV) Jesus performed a miracle and, "Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, 'We have seen remarkable things today.' "
But in Luke 5:8 (NIV) Peter tells Jesus, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" In Luke 6:7 (NIV) we are told, "The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see ifhe would heal on the Sabbath." In Luke 6:11 (NIV), things escalate, and "… they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus."
We cannot remain neutral about Jesus.
Here is the main point. We cannot remain neutral about Jesus. The only people who are neutral about Jesus are those who have never met him! In Jesus’day, people either loved Jesus or they hated Jesus. You see, Jesus was more than a religious idea or some story in a dusty old book. He was the living Son of God come to earth in the flesh. He was the creator and sustainer of the universe, calling men to obedience and salvation. He was staking a claim on people’s thoughts, their religious practices, their traditions, their actions and lifestyles, and their eternal destinies. He was turning the world upside down. His authority was larger than life! Some were amazed andsome were filled with hatred. Some loved Jesus and submitted to his authority, while others hated Jesus and plotted his demise.
Many people think that if Jesus were among us today, he would be loved by all. Truth be known, he would be more hated than loved.I’ll demonstrate why.
Jesus has authority to preach.
In Luke 4:16 (NIV) Jesus returned to Nazareth, where he had been brought up by his parents. On the Sabbath day, hewent to the synagogue, according to his custom. Hestood up, was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, and began reading. Isaiah 61:1-2 (NIV) says, "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, becausethe Lordhas anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor..."
After reading those verses, Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened upon Jesus and he said to them in Luke 4:21 (NIV), "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Then Jesus made a prediction. In Luke 4:23-24 (NIV) he told them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.' I tell you the truth… no prophet is accepted in his hometown."
The Jewish people had spent centuries waiting for the promised messiah, the Christ, who would crush the head of Satan and fulfill scriptures like Isaiah 61:1-2. Imagine their shock when Jesus declared that all those scriptures were about him! Luke 4:22 (NIV) tells us that they said, "Isn’t this Joseph’s son?" Luke 4:28-30 (NIV), "All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way."
Jesus challenged people's assumptions about him.
Imagine attending a church service where someone you knew stood up to read scriptures about Jesus Christ’s return. Everyone smiles and nods approvingly. But then the speaker says, "I am Jesus Christ. I’m the messiah. These scriptures are about me." Why would someone be so foolish to do such a thing?That personis deranged, wants to insult everyonehe knows, and is trying to blaspheme God. Or that person is whohe claims to be. The people in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth rejected Jesus’ claims and tried to kill him. They did not believe he was the Son of God, a prophet, or the promised messiah. They understood the scriptures differently. They had a different interpretation.
We see this again in Luke 5:33-39 and in Luke 6:1-11 when Jesus gets into a dispute with the religious leaders about fasting and the true meaning of the Sabbath day. How outrageous it was that Jesus was telling them what and how to understand the scriptures. "Jesus, who do you think you are to overturn conventional thinking?"
All people, but especially religious people, can be incredibly stubborn about their beliefs. "I’m a Methodist." "I’m a Lutheran." "I’m a Catholic." "I’m a Baptist." "This is what I believe." "This is what I practice." "These are my set beliefs." Here was the Son of God standing in their midst and they couldn’t see him because they were blinded by their traditions and man-made teachings. "Let’s kill him rather than consider the possibility that he is who he says he is."
Jesus has authority to heal.
It is one thing to claim that you are the Son of God, the Christ, andthe promised messiah. It is quite another thing to demonstrate that you are, in fact, who you claim to be. In Luke 4:31-37 (NIV) something that had never happened before actuallyhappened. Jesus, "...went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice,'Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are— the Holy One of God!''Be quiet!' Jesus said sternly. 'Come out of him!' Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.All the people were amazed and said to each other, 'What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!' And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area."
Then, in Luke 4:38 (NIV) Jesus leaves the synagogue and goes into the home of Simon, where Simon’s mother-in-lawis suffering from a high fever. Luke 4:39-41 (NIV) says, "...he (Jesus) bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, 'You are the Son of God!' But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ."
What a strange sight it must have been to see Jesus break the power of sin and death. With words, he could reverse God’s curse. He could cast out demons. He could heal. None of the religious people could preach with Christ’s authority. None of the religious people could drive out demons or heal sick people. "Let’s kill Jesus rather than consider the possibility that he is who he claims to be. Let’s ignore the evidence, the miracles, his power to heal, and the fear of the demons."
Many people will never believe in Jesus Christ’s identity, no matter what they see him do. In Luke 5:12-16 Jesus even heals a man with an incurable disease, leprosy! After healing the man he tells him to go and show himself to the priests, and offer a sacrifice according to the law of Moses as a testimony to them! Do you think it made a difference? Of course not. All of the proof in the world won’t make a difference if a person’s heart is hardened.
Jesus has authority to forgive.
In Luke 5:17-26 (NIV) we discover another fascinating dimension of Christ’s authority. "One day as he (Jesus) was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.When Jesus saw their faith, he said, 'Friend, your sins are forgiven.' The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, 'Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone' Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, 'Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....' He said to the paralyzed man, 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.' Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, 'We have seen remarkable things today.'"
What incredible authority! Authority to speak on behalf of God. Authority to heal people. Authority to forgive people of their offenses against God. Wow!
Hebrews 1:1-2 (NIV) says, "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe."
Does Jesus have authority to speak God’s word andGod’s truth into your life? Does Jesus have the authority in your life to unlock the mystery of God’s identity, to preach, to proclaim, to teach, to instruct, to guide, to be a light, and to give sight to the blind?
Does Jesus have authority over your life?
1 Peter 2:21-24 (NIV) says, "…Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."
Does Jesus have authority to bring healing into your life? To reverse the curse of sin and the consequence of death? Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV) says, "For he (God) has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Does Jesus have the authority to forgive your every offense against God? Does Jesus have the authority to redeem, to reconcile, to restore, to renew, and to revitalize your life in God for eternity? The answer is that Jesus has complete authority to preach, heal, and forgive you. But here is the crux of the issue. Have you given Jesus the authority to do these things for you? Does Jesus have authority over me?
Does Jesus have authority over me?
In Luke 5:1-11 and Luke 5:27-32 Jesus calls his first disciples. There is Simon Peter, James, and John, all ordinary men. There is Levi, and the large crowd of tax collectors and others gathered in his home. In Luke 5:11 Simon Peter, James, and John pull their boats up on shore, leave everything, and begin following Jesus. In Luke 5:31-32 (NIV) Jesus declares that, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Does Jesus have any such authority over your life? Does his word carry real authority with you? Does his ministry of healing carry real authority with you? Does his authority to forgive men their sins carry real authority with you? Does Jesus call on your life to repent and to be changed in your thinking, your beliefs, your behavior, your habits, your values and priorities? Does Christ’s call upon your life to repent carry real authority with you?
Some people love Jesus Christ and submit to his authority. Many people hate Jesus Christ and spend their entire lives rebelling against his authority. Some people receive Christ’s preaching, healing, and forgiveness. Others do not. A line is drawn in the sand for all of us. We have an enormous choice to make.Where does your allegiance lie?
In Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) Jesus says, "…All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age."
Write this down. In baptism we declare our allegiance to Christ’s authority. Every single person must make a personal decision to be baptized into the name, into the authority, of Jesus Christ’s name. No onecan proclaim your allegiance to Jesus Christ but you alone. If you come from a Catholic background, the priest cannot declare your allegiance to Christ on your behalf. If you come from a Lutheran background, your parents cannot declare your allegiance to Christ on your behalf. If you come from a background that doesn’t practice baptism, the Bible says in 1 Peter 3:21 (NIV) that baptism is your "pledge of agood conscience toward God."
Each one must declare his own allegiance to Christ, of his own will, by submitting to Christ’s authority in the waters of baptism. Following Jesus or being his disciple, means living under Christ’s authority daily. If you have never personally declared your allegiance to Christ in baptism, that is your first order of business. We're offering the baptism class again this week at 3:00 PM. If you are striving to live under Christ’s authority, why not try a Life Group this week? Use this week tojump start your spiritual life, find out what it means to live under Christ’s authority, hear his word, and receive his healing and forgiveness.