Jesus demonstrates that He is the ultimate rescuer over the physical and spiritual realms. Moreover, He demonstrates His power and kingship over the eternal realm. In this week’s text Jesus shows in three ways He is the ultimate rescuer in the eternal realm to redeem sinners from eternal damnation.
Jesus’ method of preaching
Jesus’ method is through preaching the Word. Not only did He preach God’s Word to save the lost, but He also demands His disciples to follow in His way by continuing to preach the Word. Therefore, preachers are called to be the mouthpiece of God to deliver the word of God to the spiritually dead. The whole man is dealt with when the preacher delivers the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Why is preaching significant? Preaching the word of salvation is the only means to deliver sinners from their sin and eternal damnation. What set Jesus apart from other so-called preachers that focused on miracles primarily is that He often secluded Himself to prayer because He always sought the Father’s will; that is, to preach the word (v. 42; Mk. 1:35; Lk. 6:12; Jn. 6:15). Jesus wanted the hearer to focus on the word and the gospel rather than Himself. Jesus only exercised His power to perform miracles to verify and validate His preaching. Christianity is the religion of hearing of who God is and what He has done. Therefore, the Christian must preach the word of Christ as He Himself exemplified (Matt. 24:14).
Some might think preaching is only applicable to pastors and leaders. This notion cannot be further from the truth as all Christians must preach the word of Christ as we are all called to share the gospel. One of the greatest tragedies is when the Christian is silenced. Thus, may the Christian have Christ’s attitude when He said “I must also preach…”
Jesus’ ultimate message of salvation
The ultimate message Jesus preached was regarding the kingdom of God. Jesus mentioned the kingdom of God during His ministry over 30 times in the New Testament. Christians are foremost kingdom citizens in their identity.
What is the kingdom of God? This is where God reigns and wherever salvation occurs. The kingdom of God is itself the gospel message. And Jesus Himself is the kingdom of God; therefore, the message of Christ only saves.
Everyone belongs to either the kingdom of God or the kingdom of Satan. Jesus descended from Heaven to earth to draw people into His kingdom. How did Jesus draw sinners to the kingdom of God? By preaching the message of the gospel (i.e. kingdom of God). Sinners must hear the preaching of God’s word to repent, believer and enter into the kingdom.
How do we know we are in the kingdom of God?
- Our spiritual taste becomes different (Rom. 14:16). Before Christ, we are driven by the world in terms of eating and drinking and enjoying the pleasures of the world. But as we transition from worldly citizens to kingdom citizens, we pursue righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit to please God, not ourselves.
- Our value system changes (Matt. 13:44). The value system of the things of world to the things above. Believing in Christ can cost us to lose valuable people and things, but to value Christ is worth losing.
- Our goals change (Matt. 11:12). Christians pursue growth in sanctification to see Christ more clearly. When we are in the light, we are able to see the Lord with clear eyes versus when He seems to be distant in times of darkness.
Jesus is the ultimate messenger
“… because I was sent for this purpose” (v. 43). Jesus was sent by the Father for a specific purpose. In other words, the Father anointed Christ by sending Him into the world to rescue sinners. God did not send anyone else but Jesus for the purpose of saving the world from sin and death.
Jesus was unique as He Himself becomes the message.
- Jesus is the center of the gospel message (Acts 16:30-31)
- Jesus’ approach is different from others because it requires suffering
- Jesus’ origin is different as the pre-incarnate God who resided in Heaven (Jn. 1:1-3, 14)
- Jesus’ death and resurrection for the purpose of forgiveness, reconciliation, and propitiation
We would not be able to be saved if God was silent. But God, being rich in love, preached a clear and powerful message of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, the work of Christ has been transferred to Christians to continue the same work (Jn. 20:21). We must remember that Jesus Himself is sending us to preach the gospel of Christ to save the lost.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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