Luke 4:42-44: Sent With a Purpose

Intro

purpose Is something we all want

Growing up

Working

A book about it

Read Luke 4:42-44

Luke 4:42–44 ESV

42 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, 43 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.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

So here we are in the early stages of Jesus ministries

Jesus has already made an impression

He has been rejected in his home town

Made claims eluding to salvation coming to others not just the Jews

He managed to anger them so much that they were going to throw him off a cliff

He cast out demons

He healed the sick

He has shown his authority over the supernatural realm and physical relm and in this final short section we will see his power over the eternal realm

As he turns his attention to his primary mission

Preaching the good news of the kingdom of God

So lets jump in

The withdrawal

Luke 4:42 ESV

42 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,

After performing the miracles that we have looked at over the past few weeks

The healings and casting out and silencing demons

Jesus went away

Mark tells us that Jesus went away to pray

Mark 1:35 “35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”

Luke plays the scene of this withdrawal out this way.

Jesus probably readying himself to begin in earnst his preaching ministry takes time away to pray

It was early morning before the sun had come up he leaves the house finding a quiet place far off

The disciples and those following him must have woken up later and began to look for him.

You can sense their excitement that has surrounded these past few days

Im sure the disciples woke up excited whats Jesus going to do today

Wait where is Jesus ??????

We all probably know how this played out

Have you seen Jesus no have you???

Finally they find him

Now they are really excited

They had probably had more sick people show up

They wanted to see more miracles

This was mind blowing they longed for more

In Mark’s account the tells us the when they found him they told him everyone has been looking for

Now notice in Marks account as well as Luke’s the conversations seems to be missing parts

I get this often here at the church

I’m not Jesus by any stretch of the imagination, but I often get people finding me in some place that I have withdrawn to

And they say everyone is looking for you

I have a response sometimes I say “well you have my phone number” or “Well I’m here.”

But Jesus doesnt seem to respond to this notion at all or atleast his response isnt recorded.

This is something I think shoudl peak our intrest in understanding a passage

This isnt just a play by play of what happened

Rather this is story being told for a purpose

So look at whats recorded and you you can learn much from the parts left out and where the story picks up

So they find Jesus

They are hoping to keep the good times rolling

But Jesus is a man with a purpose

And he has spent his morning in solitude confirming that purpose

So when the crowds come and the beg him to stay he can stand firm in his purpose

The Purpose

Luke 4:43 ESV

43 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.”

not the first time Jesus has told us his purpose in the gospel of luke

Look back at Luke 4:18-21

Jesus quotes Isaiah

Luke 4:18–21 ESV

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. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

A foreshadowing of sorts

The spirit of the Lord is upon me

He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor

Liberty to the captives and the oppressed

To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

TODAY this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing

His purpose was and will be accomplished

In this event it ended with a crowd trying to throw Jesus off a cliff

Not for proclaiming his purpose

But for insinuating that the good news is for more than the kingdom of Jews

the good news Jesus will proclaimis of the kingdom of God

The kingdom of all those who are saved

Now this second time in Luke 4 when Jesus proclaims his purpose there is conviction behind it.

I must preach the good news oft he kingdom of God to the other towns.

Jesus is on mission and we can all be thankful that he is

He will take his message throughout Judea

Proclaiming a message of salvation that comes through repentance and faith in the word preached

This why our scripture reading to day was Romans 10 because we have to understand and have conviction as Jesus does that

Salvation comes from hearing the word preached

If the primary means of salvations was going to be signs and wonders

Jesus could have just stayed and soon enough the word would get out and people would make the journey to come and see this miracle worker

But the primary means of salvation would be much more ordinary

It would be a message of repentance and faith

A message that was central to Jesus’s purpose in coming to earth

A message that has been handed off to us

to continue to proclaim the good news

That salvation has come from the Jew and the Greek

That a chasim was ripped open between man and his creator God

Jesus would repair that

Faith and repentance are required

This the message that Jesus must preach

This was Jesus Purpose and he would see it fulfilled

The Purpose fulfilled

Luke 4:44 ESV

44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Luke will end Chapter 4 with the understatement of the century

And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea

As we will see in the coming weeks Jesus will preach and all who hear him will be amazed by his words

His preaching will enrage the religious leaders

and ultimatly lead to his death

but when he dies he will have fulfilled all of his purpose

We are about to see a bunch of teaching

parables

In the synagogue

In the streets

On a mount

again it’s the preaching not really the miracles that condem him

application

how do we apply a bible story

Be like Jesus yes but no

Love the word preached

Preach the word

Matthew 28:18–20 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

Romans 10:11–17 “For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

The Unstoppable Mission

Bible Passage: Luke 4:42–44

Summary: In this passage, Jesus demonstrates His commitment to preaching the good news, even when faced with distractions and demands from the people around Him.

Application: This sermon can encourage Christians to prioritize their mission and calling, reminding them that despite distractions in life, they are called to share the message of Christ with others.

Teaching: The teaching focus is on Jesus' unwavering dedication to His mission, illustrating the importance of remaining faithful to our purpose in times of pressure and need.

How this passage could point to Christ: The passage highlights Jesus as the ultimate messenger of God's plan, fulfilling the role of Savior who brings hope and healing to humanity, showing that His mission extends beyond the confines of one region or group.

Big Idea: We must remain committed to our God-given mission, just as Jesus was committed to sharing the good news, regardless of the distractions that arise.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider exploring the cultural context of first-century Galilee found in Logos, particularly the significance of Jesus' early ministry. Investigate any textual variants in the Greek that may shed light on the urgency present in these verses. Additionally, examine how this passage links to Jesus' broader mission as portrayed throughout the Gospel of Luke, particularly His interactions with marginalized groups.

1. Seeking Solitude for Strength

Luke 4:42

Perhaps you could highlight how Jesus sought solitude to connect with the Father amidst busy ministry demands. This reminds us of the necessity of prayer and communication with God in our mission. Emphasize that seeking God's guidance keeps the mission clear and prevents burnout.

2. Purposeful Proclamation Priority

Luke 4:43

You could explore Jesus' declaration of His purpose: to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God. This verse challenges us to clarify our mission and align our lives accordingly. It is a call to prioritize the Kingdom's work above personal comfort and external pressures.

3. Journeying with Joyful Resolve

Luke 4:44

Highlight Jesus' movement across the region, taking the good news to various places. This action serves as a model for our mission—spreading the message beyond familiar boundaries. Perhaps focus on the idea that authentic mission work goes where the Spirit leads, impacting diverse communities.