Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Reading Luke 9:43-56
- v43 - states "they were all amazed at the majesty of God"
- Examples of the majesty of God
- We marvel as God works in unbelievers
- Common themes:
- The weakness and sinfulness of the disciples
- Not understanding - v22, 44
- Disputing and arguing over who is the greatest - v46
- Forbidding others to cast out demons - v49
- Wanting to call fire down on the city – v54-56
- Failure, sin, the limitations of the disciples
- Looking at ourselves - examples
- Yet the Lord did not give up on them
- He chose them to be His ambassadors
- He kept teaching and guiding them
- Overview:
- What does the gospel say about greatness? (v46-48)
- What does the gospel say about a spirit of generosity? (v49-50)
- What does the gospel say about grace to undeserving sinners? (v51-56)
What does the gospel say about greatness? (v46-48)
- Isn't this petty?
- Do we ever get caught up in rivalry and comparison?
- Why did this arise?
- We are not told
- Is it because Peter, James and John were seen as being special?
- Is it because Peter, James and John had an air of superiority?
- Is it because the other disciples had failed to cast out the demon?
- Jesus uses a visual aid of a child
- In most cultures children are often over looked and under rated
- They are not seen as important, make mistakes, are inexperienced and have a lot to learn
- The disciples need to come down low
- They were concerned with position
- Jesus says it is about being humble and coming low
- Whoever welcomes a child welcomes Jesus
- Whoever welcomes the lowly welcomes Jesus
- To enter the kingdom of heaven, the disciples need to become like little children
- Greatness in the eyes of God:
- Those who are humble
- Those who are last
- Those who associate with the lowly of the world
- Those who recognise they are sinners and trust in grace alone
- Not greatness as the world thinks - examples
- Not about you but about others
- Not about your 'value' conferred by status or association
- Not about pride
- Consider your heart:
- How are we when we are over looked?
- We are to be servants like Jesus Christ
What does the gospel say about a spirit of generosity? (v49-50)
- Is v49 a self-confession or a bold proclamation?
- Jesus reveals their actions were wrong and unwarranted
- Because they were part of a different group - what they had done was wrong
- Their minds affected by prejudice
- The gospel is undeserved grace to all people - saved by grace alone
- To ban someone because they are not part of your group is wrong
- However, we must agree on the fundamentals of the gospel
- We must not act on the basis of prejudice
- We must not act on the basis of human pride
- We must not allow sectarianism
- Example of Jews and Gentiles
- The gospel speaks of:
- One body of Christ - the universal Church of God
- It demands a generous spirit as God is a generous God
What does the gospel say about grace to undeserving sinners? (v51-56)
- v51 - Jesus sets His face to go to the cross
- Explanation of events
- They did not want 'to shake the dust of their feet' but wanted to call down fire
- They wanted judgment
- They were remembering an incident involving Elijah
- Jesus was clear about His teaching
- John 3:17, 12:47
- He has come into the world to seek and save the lost
- Have you believed in Jesus Christ?
- Jesus is offering grace and love to undeserving sinners
Closing Remarks