Luke 4:14-21
Jesus Christ is the man of the book. In this season of Epiphany we
are given the opportunity to meet Jesus as the 1st Century
believers saw Him. Already we’ve observed His baptism and have witnesses
His first miracle. As we witness His words and actions we come to a greater
appreciation of why He entered our world – taking on human flesh. Who is this
Jesus? Let us watch and listen. Jesus was well acquainted with the
written word. He was a man of one book. In so doing…
Ø Jesus
read the Word.
Ø He
knew the Word.
Ø He
lived the Word.
I. Jesus was a man who READ
the Word. Vs. 17 “He opened the
scroll…”
A. The Bible today remains the most popular books of all time.
More Bibles are sold each year. Yet, how many people today take the time to
read it? How many people read the Bibles they have purchased?
1. This can lead to any number of false teachers, guides and
groups - leading so many astray.
2. Because so many are actually “Biblically illiterate,” divine
truth is so often reduced to the opinions of one’s own sinful heart – Archie
Bunker was notorious for spouting many religious opinions and beliefs. They
were quite his own - yet he touted them as authentic. His proof? He’s say, “it’s
in the Bible look it up!”
B. In this New Year may we as a parish, as
families, and individuals, make it a priority to be regular Bible readers.
1. Attendance
at Bible Class and Sunday School.
2. The
family altar. Remember the old axiom, “the family that prays together stays
together.”? It makes sense, and its good advice. The year is still new.
Resolve to read the Bible and pray as a family.
3. Individual
devotional reading; Portals of Prayer, “Time in the Word”
portions of the Psalms, the 140 Bible stories read throughout the school year
with the students at Wyneken, a chapter
a day from the Proverbs, [would get you through the entire book in one month]
etc.
TRANSITION: Knowledge is power. Reading God’s Word
leads to knowing and understanding God’s will for our lives.
II. Jesus KNEW and
understood the Scriptures. Vs. 17
“He found the place…”
A. Well
meaning people can sometimes give bad advice. Some argue that…
1. Reading
the Bible can lead you to question or even doubt.
2. Reading the Bible can lead to false hope.
B. The truth of the matter is the fact that God
reveals Himself only in Sacred Scripture.
1. We gain understanding not in contemplation, prayer, or any other
exercise. The Scriptures are clear. “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a
light unto my path.”[1]
St. Paul would remind us, “And we also thank God continually because, when
you received the word [of God], which you heard from us, you accepted it not as
the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is
at work in you who believe.”[2]
2. The truth which comes to us through the
Savior’s words and promises in Sacred Scripture will help us meet the
challenges which will befall us in this New Year. My encouragement to you is to
study and read these truths on a regular basis. Consider, our Catechism which
outlines not only what we believe but gives us reasons why we believe these
divine truths with convincing proof which are outlined
in Scripture.
The
Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed speaks of The Doctrine of Redemption. Luther
explains this doctrine. This perfectly outlines for us the faith. WHOM? “I believe that Jesus Christ,
true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the
virgin Mary, is my Lord. WHAT? … who
has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, delivered me and freed me from
all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, How? … not with silver and gold but with his holy and precious
blood and with his innocent sufferings and death, WHY? … that I may be his, live under him in his kingdom, and serve
him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as he is
risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most
certainly true.”[3]
Next, the following questions and answers are
presented:
For what purpose did Christ so humble Himself? The answer, Christ humbled
Himself to redeem me a lost and condemned creature.
From what has Christ redeemed you? The answer, Christ has redeemed me from
all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil.
How has Christ redeemed you from all sins? The answer, Christ has taken away
all my guilt and suffered all my punishment. [4]
What is the convincing proof which comes from
Scripture? In the Catechism we are given the following citations:
a. For
just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so
also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made
righteous. [5]
b. God
made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the
righteousness of God.[6]
c. Behold,
the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world![7]
Transition: Jesus is a man of the book. He read the
Scriptures. He knew and understood the Scriptures. He also lived the Scriptures.
III. Jesus LIVED the
Scriptures. Vs. 21
“These words are fulfilled in you hearing.”
A. The
Scriptures were fulfilled that Jesus had come to fulfill the Fathers
mission. And what was that mission?
1. To
come into the world to take unto Himself the World’s misery, hurt and sin.
2. To
offer absolution and atonement for your sin.
3. To
create in the hearts of all believers a sure and abiding peace.
4. To
direct the lives of His subjects.
5. To
grant them safe passage from this world of misery and sorrow to the kingdom of
glory - which has no end.
B. Because
His mission is accomplished your life is now directed.
1. It’s
not all about you! Such thinking is way too small and rather silly and selfish.
2. It’s
about Him! It always has and always will be. Your life takes on meaning and
true significance as it is lived out according to His purposes. Our life is not
self directed. He is the one who orders our days. As John the Baptist reminds
us, “I must decrease, He must increase.”
It this New Year find faith’s focus in Jesus Christ – the man of
the Scriptures. As you heed His words you too will find direction and
discernment throughout life’s journey.
Passive Sentences –8%
Readability – 76%
Reading Level – 5.8
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