September 2 Jesus Preached

Luke 4:43 But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”  44 And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
 
AS we close Luke 4, the gospel writer restates the foundation of Jesus’ earthly work up to the cross. Jesus healed. Jesus comforted. Jesus taught theology to his disciples. Jesus modeled Kingdom living. Jesus preached. Of this list, which is Jesus’ reason for coming to earth? Our Lord tells us the most important reason, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”  Jesus tells us the Father had sent him to preach – speak – of the kingdom’s good news. We know from Jesus’ preaching that the good news consisted of speaking to us of our sins and then telling us the way to salvation. All who heard would know their sins disqualified them from kingdom living. John 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” But then Jesus would preach to them of the remarkable way into the kingdom: John 3:18 Whoever believes in the Son is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” 
    Three lessons for our Christian life come from Jesus here. First, we all as Jesus’ church today must remember a pastor, or minister, etc. is to “preach of the good news of the kingdom of God”. If we are one who is specifically called to that role, we are to be firm to pursue the true knowledge of the kingdom. We must, then, be faithful to preach truth.
    Second, if follows then that we in the church must allow our pastors to preach. Oftentimes a pastor’s job description begins with such words as “Offer weekly inspirational sermons.” This is well and good, but then there is a list of a dozen or so other major responsibilities a church believes its pastor must do. No pastor is capable of all that is asked of him. Be sure your pastor has the time to carefully preach the Word.
    Third, know that the preaching of “the good news of the kingdom of God” can make you very uncomfortable. You will not like some preaching because it points you to your sin. When that happens, don’t point back to the pastor to say, “He’s judgmental.” Point, instead, to your own heart to confess, “I have sinned. Forgive me, Lord.”
    News must be spoken, right? The only way “the good news of the kingdom of God” would become good news was for Jesus to specifically preach it – to talk of it – to explain it orally – in order to urge the Jews to repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This must be the primary work of the church today. Remember, the church is composed of the preachers and the listeners. Preach the Word. Hear the Word.
    Be careful you or your church isn’t too busy to preach and to hear.
 
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for speaking your Word through the Savior. Open our ears to hear and our hearts to rejoice in the “good news of the Kingdom of God.” Amen.