Prepared for serving our Father

If I wrote a short story on the life of my father, what might my focus be? He was a dad, husband, farmer, good neighbor, had a sense of humor, could fix almost anything, didn’t like laziness and struggled with retirement. A short story cannot begin to cover a lifetime, only parts of it.

John wrote that if all were told about the life of Jesus Christ, the world could not hold the books. He and the other Gospel writers had to squeeze the three years of Christ’s ministry into a short story. Matthew focuses on Jesus as the King of the Jews, the Lion of Judah. Mark focused on His servitude. Luke spotlighted this Messiah as “the Son of Man” who was perfect in obedience to His heavenly Father, carrying on a full ministry among the people. His story was in Palestine but in both of his letters, Luke pointed to the extension of that ministry to the regions beyond.

“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:46–47, italics mine)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, italics mine)

The New Testament survey that I am reading outlines Luke according to Jesus’ ministry as the Son of Man. It begins with the author’s purpose for writing:

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:1–4)

Luke was a physician. He writes like a friend of ours, also a doctor, with the same attention to detail and desire to put things in order. This book outlines the rest of Luke’s ‘short story’ of the life of Christ in an orderly fashion as well:

The preparation of the Son of Man (Luke 1:5–4:13)

The Galilean ministry of the Son of Man (Luke 4:14–9:50)

The Perean ministry of the Son of Man (Luke 9:51–18:30)

The Jerusalem ministry of the Son of Man (Luke 18:31–21:38)

The passion ministry of the Son of Man (Luke 22:1–23:56)

The resurrection ministry of the Son of Man (Luke 24:1–53)

The preparation section covers Jesus’ birth and one incident from His childhood. Luke also includes his genealogy through Mary back to Adam, His baptism and tells of His temptation in the wilderness.

Just recently, one of the pastors in our church told us of some of his preparation for ministry. He was about to transition to the role of lead pastor and was excited yet remember all that God had done thus far in his life. He was born into a good family and had been obedient to God. However, he had also been tested and the trial he shared with us was definitely part of his preparation for this role.

Jesus, God in human flesh, may not have been in danger of falling into sin (the debate goes on — could He have sinned?) but the temptations were strong and real. In terms of preparation, they posed the questions: Would He rely on God for all needs? Would He trust His Father in every way, not doubting or testing His care no matter the circumstances? Would He worship and serve His Father alone and not be side-tracked by any other ambitions?

As I read this again, I realize that ministry to and for the Lord and to others is about total allegiance to my heavenly Father. Like Jesus, I am also tested.

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Jesus, do I rely on You for all my needs? Not always. Do I ever doubt You? Sometimes. Do I get side-tracked? Often. This is why I need the grace and salvation that You provide. Without You, no one can pass the tests.

Faith in Christ is for . . .

Sometimes people say that Christian is for middle-class North Americans. Or they say it is okay for others but they are not interested. I’ve heard also, “I don’t need that.” Luke’s Gospel has several passages that challenge those ideas.

After Jesus was born, an angel appeared to shepherds in the night. They were terrified, but the angel said:

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (Luke 2:10, italics mine)

This is significant at a cultural level because these shepherds were likely near the bottom of the ladder. They were often poor and uneducated, not what most would consider worthy of being the first to hear that the Messiah had arrived.

When Jesus was only a few days old, Mary and Joseph took Him to the temple. There a righteous and devout man named Simeon had waited for the Christ. He saw Jesus, took the baby in his arms and said:

My eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:30–32)

Considerably up the social ladder, this religious Jewish man recognized that Jesus was for both Gentiles and Jews.

Later, when Jesus had grown to manhood, John the Baptist told the people that the Messiah had come. He quoted the Old Testament showing how the gospel is for everyone:

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” (Luke 3:4–6)

Simeon and Jesus knew this passage. While Jesus focused His ministry on the Jews, He did not ignore the Gentiles or even the Samaritans who were also despised by the Jews: “But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where (Jesus) was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.” (Luke 10:33)

Why did He do that? It was to fulfill His mission. As Luke said, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Near the end of Luke’s account, he quotes Jesus who made it plain that His message of salvation is for all people:

Jesus said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (Luke 24:46–47)

When I hear others accuse Christianity of being an exclusive religion, they often add that they had a bad experience with a group of professed believers with the attitude of “us four, no more, shut the door.” This should not be. Jesus said that He came because “God so loved the world” and the NT repeatedly offers the wonder of forgiveness and eternal life to “whosoever will may come.” This makes me wonder if the problem is not with the message but the messengers.

It can also be a problem for those who hear the message and resist it with, “I will not have this man rule over me.” I know that my sin problem is just that. At times, I want to run my own life and this puts me outside the will of God. But that should not be either. Jesus came and died for all. All are invited into His family, His kingdom — rich and poor, without name or famous, intelligent or not so, large or small, young or old, people from every walk of life, every category, every nation, clan, tribe, race or religion.

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Lord Jesus, You died for everyone. You offer redemption and Your very self to those who will receive You. What more could You do? Yet I know I need the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit to see myself the way You see me. Without You, I am a self-sufficient sinner. If You had not done a work of grace in my life, I would be resistant and blind to the glory of salvation that meets the deepest need of my soul. Grant that amazing grace as Your Spirit works in the hearts of those who have yet to discover the wonder of You.