Family Bible Church weekly message Bob Corbin & Family Bible Church

* Up to this point in our study of Luke's Gospel, we have seen the proclamation of the coming of the Messiah and His forerunner. We have then seen the birth and ministry of the Messiah's forerunner - John the Immerser (the Baptist), the proclamation of Jesus inaugurating His Messianic ministry, the authority and power of Jesus displayed through a variety of healings and of demons being cast out. Last week, we saw Jesus begin to ramp up His Messianic ministry by providing corrective instruction regarding the observance of the Sabbath. During this time, Jesus began to call individuals to follow Him. Some did and some did not. We read of some of those who did.
* Today, we see Jesus take the next step in His Messianic ministry - choosing His primary Ambassadors and giving them their primary Message.
* If you were to choose twelve men to represent you, or your business, or your ministry ... how would you go about choosing them? Would they send in resumés? Would you have multiple interviews? What criteria would you use to assess the most qualified candidates?
* What we begin to learn ... or begin to learn in a more intensive way ... is that the Kingdom mindset is unlike the mindset of the world.

* As Chuck reminded us last week, Luke wrote this gospel account that we are studying in order "that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed."
* We have seen, that it was Jesus' custom to go to the Synagogue on the Sabbath. It was on the Sabbath that Jesus gave His Messianic proclamation in the Synagogue in Nazareth. It was also on the Sabbath that we saw His ministry begin in the town of Capernaum. There, in the Synagogue, the people were amazed at His teaching and He cast the unclean Spirit out of a man. Afterwards, Jesus went to Simon's house and healed Simon's mother-in-law.
* Today, we are going to see Jesus - the Lord of the Sabbath - begin to deal with the misunderstandings that the people have regarding the Law of the Sabbath. These interactions are going to bring Him into direct confrontation with the Pharisees and teachers of the Law.
* Similarly, this topic can be quite controversial amongst believers, and theologians, in the church today. Is the discussion of the Sabbath only for Israel in an Old Covenant setting? Do the principles of the Sabbath "laws" apply to believers, and if so, how?
* Also, questions are then raised regarding the application of the teachings of Jesus for New Testament. Many dispensationalists, of which I am one, would declare that Jesus' teaching was "Kingdom" teaching and is not applicable to the saints if they are not reiterated elsewhere in the New Testament. However, Jesus specfically declared as part of the process of His Great Commission - to Make Disciples - that it included teaching the new believer (disciple) to observe all of the things which He commanded.
* So, today's passage ... though, only 11 verses ... has so much for us to consider. Indeed, as Chuck mentioned last week, we will only scratch the surface!
* First ... what is the Meaning of the "Second Sabbath." Again, there is great debate: is it the second Sabbath of Jesus in Capernaum (since Luke 4:31), or is this an allusion to it being the week of Passover and this is a reference to 1st Fruits, or one of the Holy Convocations? It is a detail that Luke chose to include by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Though it is not germaine to our discussion today, it would be a good study for you to perform!

Though we have taken a few detours along the way, we have spent the bulk of the past 5 months examining Luke's gospel account, with our plan this morning being to finish up chapter 5. This means that at our current pace, we will be in Luke, not only for the remainder of 2024, but most likely a good portion of 2025 as well.
* And while for some, this might be considered a "slow" pace, for me it is a reminder of the depth and beauty of God's Word, and also the fact that the Bible is so full of truth that it merits and deserves our careful attention to its every detail. But then, as many of you have no doubt experienced over the years, we will have but "scratched the surface" even after we eventually come to the end of Luke 24.
* Now, as Pastor Bob has reminded us frequently over the past 5 months, Luke's desire was to present an orderly account of the ministry of Jesus the Christ, so that those that heard about it could be assured of its veracity, in order that they could have confidence to share its testimony with others.
* Before we get into the final 13 verses of Luke 5, where Jesus reveals more about the nature of His new work, let's consider a few additional characteristics of Luke's gospel account. The intent being to further prepare us for all that we have to cover, and discover, in the months ahead.

Last week, we saw Jesus' interaction with, and call of, Simon Peter. Even though Simon had seen Jesus perform many healings, it was the manifestation of a major catch of fish to get his attention. As a result, Simon confessed his sinfulness, willingly left his business, and followed Jesus.
* From this point, Jesus begins to travel throughout the regions of Galilee and Judea, and uses Simon's house as his "house of operations" while back in Capernaum - His adopted city.
* Today, we begin to follow Jesus on these journeys. Immediately, we are introduced to one of Luke's favorite words when it comes to describing Jesus' travels: egeneto - translated in the NKJV as "Now it happened ... " or "Now it came to pass ..." Egeneto is used 208 times in the New Testament; 129 of those times are by Luke! (Luke - 75; Acts - 54) The next closest of usages is Mark, John and Revelation with 18 each! Egeneto is the aorist indicative of ginomai, which means "cause to be" or "to become." When Jesus came to the earth, He had a plan and a purpose. There would be appointments that He would "happen" to keep and people that He would "happen" to meet. Over the next weeks and months, as we see many of these appointments, we need to recall that God is still is control of "Now it came to pass ..."!
* Today, through Jesus' interaction with a Leper and a Paralytic, we will begin to see in detail Jesus compassion and power to heal. In His interaction with the paralytic, Jesus will deal with an individual who would be classified - according to current APA DSM criteria - with conversion disorder (or functional neurological symptom disorder).

* Jesus had just announced in Nazareth, his hometown, that He was the Messiah. But, the people there rejected Him.
* Hence, Jesus transitions His base of operations to another location - Capernaum.
* As we saw in His time in Nazareth, it was His custom to go to the Synagogue on Sabbath, and to teach. That is where we find Him, as we consider the beginning of His ministry in Capernaum.
* In Luke's presentation of Jesus' Messianic ministry, he is going to reveal one of it's most important aspects immediately ... His authority. In this short passage that we are going to consider today, we see the reaction of those in Capernaum as they witness the authority of Jesus in a variety of manners.

* Jesus had just announced in Nazareth, his hometown, that He was the Messiah. But, the people there rejected Him.
* Hence, Jesus transitions His base of operations to another location - Capernaum.
* As we saw in His time in Nazareth, it was His custom to go to the Synagogue on Sabbath, and to teach. That is where we find Him, as we consider the beginning of His ministry in Capernaum.
* In Luke's presentation of Jesus' Messianic ministry, he is going to reveal one of it's most important aspects immediately ... His authority. In this short passage that we are going to consider today, we see the reaction of those in Capernaum as they witness the authority of Jesus in a variety of manners.