Luke 4

last week pastor Calvin closed by talking about Jesus as the Prophet Priest and King, today we are going expand on that idea as we look into Luke Chapter 4.

What exactly do we mean when we talk about these titles of prophet priest and king?

Hebrews 1:1–3 ESV

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus is the Perfect Prophet - Speaks God’s Word

what is a prophet? One who speaks God’s message. A mouthpiece of God.

Hebrews 1:1–3 (ESV)

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,

John 1:1 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 ESV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The flawless revelation of God’s Word is found in Jesus.

God’s word is always perfect but his messengers are flawed. Jesus is the perfect speaker (and liver) of God’s message.

Jesus is the Ultimate King - Has authority in all things (sovereign)

What is a king biblically? an ultimate authority, One who protects, provides and cares for those in his kingdom.

whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus is the Preeminent Priest - Provides a perfect connection to God

What is a priest? The old testament priests were he go-betweens between the people of Israel and God. They were not perfect and in some cases were deeply flawed individuals. But through the sacrificial system they were equipped to come before God on an incomplete human level

Jesus is a different kind of priest

After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

I. Jesus The High Priest Overcomes Satan’s Temptations for Us (Luke 4:1–13).

Luke 4:1–13 (ESV)

1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.

3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’ ”

5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.

7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ”

9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’

11 and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” 12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” 13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

We tend to read this and I have certainly taught about this story as “Jesus little handbook of how not to sin when you are tempted”

There is nothing especially wrong with that, we are supposed to be Like Jesus BUT only seeing that is missing part of the story here.

Back in Genesis, God put Adam and Eve in the garden and told them the rules, set them up for success and blessing. But we all know that story, the first man and woman fell to the devils temptation and sinned and were thrown out of the garden and separated from God. Separating their offspring in the process and casting the whole world into a sin filled mess.

Fast forward a little bit - God Rescues the Israelite people from bondage in Egypt. He miraculously provided for them and protected them. He brought them to Sinai and gave them the Law . They were tempted the doubted God and the sinned over and over.

Ok what does temptation have to do with being a priest?

heres a different question? What was wrong with the old priesthood? 1. The priests were imperfect, the sacrifices were a limited, temporary “fix”

English Standard Version (Hebrews 4:14–16)

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

So it is because of Jesus legitimacy as a perfect priest that we can confidently come to God.

Our sin has been paid for by a perfect priest and a perfect sacrifice who are one and the same. Jesus.

In the next section we see Jesus as Prophet.

II. Jesus The Great Prophet Brings Good News of God’s Salvation to Us (4:14–27).

remember, what is a prophet? One who speaks God’s message. A mouthpiece of God.

not necessarily a teller of the future. A prophets message is what God wants us to hear not what we want to hear (or what we want to say)

Luke 4:14–15 ESV

14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

2 types of glory,

The worlds Glory (what we see here) celebrity culture

The glory of God

Jesus reads the scriptures in His home town

Luke 4:16–20 (ESV)

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

Synagogue culture, Church, school, community center.

traveling Rabbi (teachers) were common and would be asked to participate in the gatherings

This was a messianic passage (= coming divine savior)

B. Two dramatic revelations from Scripture (4:21–27)

Luke 4:21–27 (ESV)

21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”

at this point they are starting to get excited. Our hometown boy is all grown up and if we understand him correctly is saying he is the messiah or is like the messiah. We are about to ride his coattails to success. He’s been working miracles and blessing people and now he has come home to his own hometown and our ship has come in!

23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘ “Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ ” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.

25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.

27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

Now he tells them it ain’t going to be like that.

Luke 4:42–44 ESV

And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Jesus did not come to maintain the status quo.

Jesus did not come to prop up people who are faking it when it comes to their faith

Jesus did not come to pretend like sin was not a problem and that rebellion against God wasn’t a big deal.

Jesus did not come to provide earthly perishable riches.

Jesus did not come for temporary earthly fame and notoriety.

He came to preach the gospel: You are sinners who need a savior and that savior is me.

Luke 4:28–30 ESV

28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away.

Inoculation agains jesus?

III. Jesus the King Uses His Authority to Bless Us (4:28–44).

What is a king biblically? an ultimate authority, One who protects, provides and cares for those in his kingdom.

A. Authority in his teaching (4:31–32)

Luke 4:31–32 ESV

31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.

he didn't teach suggestions, theories, or helpful hints.

Black and white truth backed up by his omniscience (knowing everything)

Co-worker vs manager vs owner asking for help

We can rely on the Word of God made alive in Jesus.

B. Authority over demons (4:33–37)

Luke 4:33–37 (ESV)

33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36 And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”

37 And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

Demon possession

Jesus had/has power over the supernatural realm. We learned about this during our spiritual warfare study.

We can rely on Jesus as the spiritual warfare, undefeated champion

C. Authority over physical existence (4:38–40)

Luke 4:38–40 (ESV)

38 And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.

40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.

Jesus has ultimate power over the physical realm also.

We can trust that all things are in his control, that he will provide for us, and that in the coming kingdom, all pain, sadness, and illness will be gone.

Jesus Teaching, healing, and exorcisms are all a part of his mission to preach the gospel and bring glory to God.

Differences between jesus and faith healers, exorcists, prosperity gospel preachers

SO WHAT?

1. Are you being tempted?

English Standard Version 1 Corinthians 10:12–13

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

If you are not experiencing temptation, there are two possible reasons, one you have fallen to the temptation already or to you are not paying attention and don’t realize you were being tempted

You might be falling prey to the temptation to do nothing or to be happy with where you are. Temptation is like playing defense in pick up basketball, you don’t hack to actually be good. You just have to be annoying and mess the other person up from being good.

So when we are tempted and when we fail, Because of the work of Jesus

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

2. Have you been Inoculated against Jesus?

3. Are you submitted to Jesus authority? Are you living under your own authority?

Who is the Real Jesus?

Prophet, Priest and King

The Messiah