Jesus has Authority Over Disbelief
Verse 42 says,
At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, ‘I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to other towns also, because that is why I was sent.’ And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.”
So we see two particular miracles in this section: the exorcism of unclean spirit and the healing of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law. We also see a summary of healing and exorcisms at the end of this day, but we cannot miss the forest in for the trees. Luke wants us to see Jesus’s Authority over demons and disease, but he also wants us to see the power that is in His preached Word.
Miracles are never an end in themselves, but rather they are there to help people hear the Word of the Lord. These miracles confirmed his divinity and fulfilled the prophecy. Luke 7:18-23:
18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight.22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
We do not want people merely to be impressed with miracles of Jesus, but we want all to see what the miracles say about Him. The miracles help us see that Jesus is the Savior, the Holy One of God, the Son of God, and the Christ. Look back at verse 32:
They were amazed at his teaching because his message had authority(emphasis added).
And again in verse 36:
All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits” (emphasis added).
The teaching and message of Jesus is all over this passage.
The miracles were there to confirm His message. So what is His message? Verse 43:
I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.
And He kept preaching. He had to preach the good news of the kingdom of God in other towns meaning that He is preaching the good news of the kingdom of God in this town as well. He kept preaching and teaching in synagogues, meaning that He was already preaching and teaching a message with authority about the good news of the kingdom of God.
Throughout this gospel, Luke uses the Greek word “dei,” which is translated “I must.” Those references are very important to help us understand Jesus’ mission. Jesus’ ministry was a preaching ministry. He came to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God. He came to announce that the kingdom was here. The True King has established His kingdom. The good news was the reason He came. This world has rejected the authority of the Creator. We have rebelled against God and have gone our own way.
None is righteous, no not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one (Romans 3:10b-12).
People may get offended with this message, but God is offended with this world. God hates sin and rebellion, and, as a just God, He has to punish sin. The wages of sin is death. We all deserve death for our sinful rejection of God’s good authority. There was no hope for us for God has given us the sentence of death to pay for our sin, but in His infinite grace and mercy, God sent Jesus Christ to live out our sentence of death.
He came to announce to the world that God has come to rescue His people. He has come to forgive people for their sins and to save them, however, in order to save us, Jesus had to pay for our sin. Jesus perfectly submitted to God’s authority and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. Then, God raised him from the dead. Jesus came to preach the good news that if anyone calls on His name and trusts Him as their Lord and Savior that they will be saved.
This is why He was sent. He was sent to rescue us. Maybe you are reading this book and have never bowed your knee to Jesus and submitted to him as your Lord. He is calling you. Turn to Him and be saved. Trust in Him as your Supreme Authority and Creator King.
Jesus was sent to preach the good news of the kingdom of God. This is important, because the only way that we are saved is by believing in this message. Jesus’ authoritative word is the only thing that can cure our disbelief. This is why the main purpose of the Sunday gathering of the church I pastor, Park Baptist Church, is the preaching of the Word of God. We are modeling Jesus Christ. His Word brings life. We must hear and believe, but not us only; Jesus said, “I must go to other towns as well for this is why I was sent.” After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples and gave them the same commission. Listen to John 20:21:
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me (to preach the good news of the kingdom of God), even so I am sending you (parenthesis added).
We must preach the good news of the kingdom of God, for that is why we have been sent.
Roger Shelton, a pastor from Nashville, Tennessee, was in Pusan, Korea, on an evangelistic mission. With an interpreter, he visited a man who had creeping paralysis. Both of his legs were paralyzed and the disease threatened his life if no cure could be found. Entering a dimly lighted room, Shelton found the man crouched on the floor. Speaking through the interpreter, he told the stricken man he had come to talk with him about Jesus Christ.
The Korean replied, “I know. I have been waiting for you a long time.” The interpreter responded by saying they had arrived at the appointed time. The Korean explained. “That’s not what I meant. My people are Buddhist, and I have been a Buddhist. But Buddha gives me no comfort.” Then he pointed to a Korean Bible. He noted that he had read through it twice. “It tells of a great one. I have waited for someone to come and tell me more about him.” He said that he had believed that if the Bible was true, God would send someone to tell him.
Shelton told the man about Jesus. He readily believed. As they were leaving, the man thanked them for coming. Shelton said, however, that the man’s final words shook every fiber of his emotional being. “You almost waited too long.”[1]
Friend, God the Father sent Jesus to proclaim the good news of the kingdom, and now, Jesus is sending His Church. Do not wait too long to join this mission. Submit to Jesus, the supreme authority, and help fulfill His mission of sharing the good news of the kingdom of God.
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