Characteristics of a Messenger of Christ. Luke 9:1-9
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
The beginning of Luke 9 is a transition point in the ministry of Christ. It marks the half way point of His ministry on earth with his death on the cross being a 18 months from this point. It also marks a change in the way Jesus did ministry. Up to this point, Jesus had done all of the work himself. He preformed all the miracles, preached all the sermons, taught all the lessons, answered all the questions and handled all the conflicts by himself while his disciples observed and learned. In response to all of his work, the crowds in Galilee were growing larger and larger by the day as he was wrapping up his ministry in Galileeand moving it to Judea.
Jesus ministry was rapidly progressing to the cross so it was time for his ministry not just to increase but to multiply. It was time for his 12 disciples to transition from followers/learners to preachers/messengers. It was time for them to begin putting their training into practice in order that they could carry on Jesus work following his death.
The events we’ve read about today occur after Jesus took one final trip to his hometown of Nazareth where he was, once again, rejected (Mark 6). After leaving Nazareth Jesus continued traveling around Galilee preaching, teaching and preforming miracles until this point when he called his disciples back together again in order to send them out as “fishers of men”.
It is from Luke’s account here of Jesus commissioning the 12 for a short term mission trip that we can form a profile for what characteristics a messenger of Christ possesses. Because, let’s be honest, there are many who profess to be his messengers but are frauds.
There are 4 characteristics of a messenger of Christ we can glean from this text:
They are proclaimers of salvation (v.2b)
Demonstrators of compassion. (v.1b&2b)
Exhibitors of trust and contentment. (v.9:3-4)
Exercisers of discernment. (v.5-9)
1.) A true messenger of Christ is a proclaimer of salvation. (v.2)
1.) A true messenger of Christ is a proclaimer of salvation. (v.2)
Luke 9:2 (ESV)
2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God...
The purpose behind Jesus sending the twelve out on mission was simple, they were to preach the gospel.
Proclaim- is a word that was used for a heralds official announcement.
Today when there are important governmental announcements we learn them via some form of mass media, but in an era where those things didn't exist important news and announcements were relaid via a herald or in later days a town cryer.
This is exactly what the apostles did in every town they went to. They proclaimed that the “kingdom of God” had come because Jesus their Lord, savior and king had arrived and the only way to enter into his kingdom was through:
Repentance
12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.
Confession of sin
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
And faith in Christ as the Messiah
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
This is the exact same message that Jesus preached to the nation.
Application: This is the message that is to preached today. The message of Christ isn't a social, political or moral message. It is a message of sin, forgiveness and salvation that is only found in Christ alone.
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
Anyone who preaches another Gospel is not sent from Christ! They are a false prophet.
Jesus sent the 12 all over Galilee to preach the Gospel just as he sends us all over the world to preach the same message today.
2.) A true messenger of Christ is a demonstrator of compassion. (v.1b&2b)
2.) A true messenger of Christ is a demonstrator of compassion. (v.1b&2b)
Luke 9:1–2 (ESV)
1 ...gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 ...and to heal.
Notice it says that jesus gave them both power and authority.
Power- the necessary resource to preform the task. It denotes capacity, energy and force.
Authority- the right to preform the task. The right to use the capacity, energy and force.
If the apostles message was to be believed, there had to be a way for it to be validated. Somehow they needed to attest that what they were saying actually came from God. This was done through the Lord Jesus granting them the ability to preform the same kinds of miracles he was preforming as a sign from God.
We don’t need this today, since we have the entirety of the New Testament at our fingers. A preachers message today can be measured against the infallible, inerrant, powerful and authoritative Word of God. Signs and wonders are no longer necessary since the completion of the New Testament.
Now notice what Jesus gave them power and authority over:
Demons- they had complete dominance over the supernatural realms of evil and fallen angels. Just as Jesus did.
Diseases
Death
Matthew's account gives us more insight into their ability to heal
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
Their ability to display the divine power and authority given to them by God proved they were preaching divine truth.
But, why exactly did Jesus and now his disciples cast our demons, heal the sick and raise the dead? These are all forms of human suffering and their preforming these miracles relived them.
This reflects the compassionate care of God for the needy and hurting.
12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.
Jesus is, by nature, a savior and deliverer even on a temporal and physical level and his true servants will strive to also rescue people from their temporal and physical struggles.
Application: This is how you can figure out if someone is a genuine messenger of Christ or not. False teachers in the Bible are always seen in the opposite light as being merciless, abusive and manipulative.
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”
39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
False messengers lack mercy, compassion and kindness that are defining characteristics of a true messenger of Christ.
It is the mercy, compassion and kindness of genuine messengers that compels them to preach the gospel. It’s what led someone like the apostle Paul to literally beg people to come to Christ.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
3.) A true messenger of Christ is an exhibitor of trust and contentment. (v.3-4)
3.) A true messenger of Christ is an exhibitor of trust and contentment. (v.3-4)
A.) They were to trust in God’s provision.
3 And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.
Jesus told his disciples to travel light, so light they were to bring nothing but the clothes on their back for this trip. This was done in order for them to avoid looking like the itenerate false teachers who plagued the ancient world preaching for profit.
They would prey on the desperate claiming to have the abilities that Jesus disciples would actually have. Just like they do today.
That temptation could be very real if you actually had the ability to do these things.
The Apostles were not to try and get rich at the expense of people who were suffering. They were to live from faith and trust God to meet their needs.
Now, lets not take from this that preachers are always so supposed to live hand to mouth. This sort of austerity was temporary and not the norm, it was meant to teach his disciples dependence on God.
Later in Luke Jesus would remind them of this trip.
35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.”
But, he would establish what future ministry was to look like in the next verse.
36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.
The rules of “take nothing” were meant to teach the apostles to trust in God’s provision.
B.) They were to be content with what God provided them with.
4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.
In these days, travelers would most often stay in peoples homes. Inns were considered dangerous and were basically just brothels. So wherever the disciples would travel Jesus command to them was that whatever home they were invited into they were to stay in that home until they left the city.
Again, distinguishing them from the false teachers who would move from home to home collecting money from everyone they possibly could.
The apostles, as well as all of us, were to be content with their circumstances.
It’s a very dangerous thing to always be striving for more. I’m not talking about seeking to improve your circumstances, that is not sinful but discontentment with what God has given you is.
That is called greed.
Listen to the words of Paul to his young protege Timothy
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain,
7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
4.) A true messenger of Christ is an exerciser of discernment. (v.5-9)
4.) A true messenger of Christ is an exerciser of discernment. (v.5-9)
Jesus final instructions to the twelve had to do with how to deal with the people who rejected them and their message.
5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”
This was on keeping with Jewish custom. The act of ‘shaking dust off of your feet was something that was done in Jewish culture when someone would return from traveling in a Gentile country or region. A good jew would shake the dirt from that land off of his clothes and sandals as a way of symbolically gesturing that he was shaking off the pagan influences and ways of where he came from so that he didn't contaminate the lives and land of the Jewish people. It became an act of pure disdain and rejection.
Jesus telling his disciples to “shake the dust of there feet” was his way of pronouncing judgement on the jews who rejected their message as if they were no better than pagan gentiles.
Application: Let me say something controversial. This was also a way of Jesus instructing them to prioritize those who wanted to hear and not waste their time on those who have hardened themselves against the truth. There is only so much time and opportunity left to preach the gospel and it’s to precious to waste on those who will never hear. SHAKE THE DUST OFF YOUR FEET AND MOVE ON.
When faced with the hard hearted rejection of the truth, the apostles of Jesus were to give them a physical picture of the judgement they faced and then move on.
So, that’s what they did.
6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
Their ministry was so successful that news of it reached the palace of Herod Antipas who
7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead,
8 by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen.
9 Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.
Herod was seeking to answer the question: Who is Jesus?
This is perhaps the most important question ever asked and the most important to answer correctly. Your response to it will determine your eternal destination and most people give the wrong answer.
Application: As messengers of Jesus today, we musyt be ready to give people the right answer to that question. There is only one.
16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
A true messenger of Jesus knows how to discern between the right and wrong answer to the question regarding Jesus and he knows how to discern those who genuinely want to hear and those who are seeking to waste their time because they've already made up their mind to reject.
Conclusion
Conclusion
How do you know if someone is a true messenger of Christ? Look at their ministry and ask:
Are they preaching biblical salvation?
Are they demonstrating the compassion of Jesus?
Are they exhibiting trust and contentment?
Are they practicing discernment?
Give the gospel by asking “How do you answer the question “Who is Jesus?”