Give me Jesus

The Beginning

Jesus ministry has gained a deep traction in the hearts and mind of the people. So a great crowd of disciples gather around Jesus and a great multitude of people. From all the surrounding area. They come to hear him, be healed, cured of unclean spirits. They want to touch him because power radiates from him that heals them all.

Then Jesus teaches the people, a famous teaching we call the beatitudes. The most famous being in Matthew 5 where the list of beatitudes is more exhaustive. Here in Luke there are only four, and with it are a contrasting list of woes. Jesus deals with wealth, hunger, joy, and acclaim.

Ironically this great multitude has shown up because they don’t want to be part of the blessed group, they want to be part of the woe group. They see Jesus as someone who can alleviate their poverty. But Jesus begins teaching :looking past their poverty to open their minds to the wealth of God’s regard. It’s simple, Paul sums it up in Romans 12:2.

Romans 12:2 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Jesus is trying to transform their perspective. He wants them to see their circumstance not from a worldly perspective, but the Divine.

Don’t make this a descriptive teaching.

The way of the world is not the means to God.

Jesus is not teaching these people how to garner favor before God. It’s not like fasting, and masochism are what Jesus is looking for.

The love of the world is not the love of the Father.

1 John 2:15–17 ESV

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Haves and Have Nots

James 1:9–11 ESV

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Its easier to not get distracted if you have nothing. But God doesn’t give you nothing. As a gracious and loving Father he provides for all of your daily needs as well and often times exceeds those as well.

Give Generously and Invest Intentionally

We should give to those who have a need, because love.

Luke 12:32–34 ESV

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Jesus met the temporal needs of the people as a vehicle, an opportunity to present them the Gospel.

*People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.