Luke's Gospel - Message

Jesus teaching was quite different from what is heard in a modern church.

His big message began with a warning that those with plenty and privilege would lose it and that outsiders and those in poverty would be raised up (Luke 6:20-26).

He followed this up with call for his people to love their enemies and be kind and generous to them, expecting nothing in return. This was accompanied with a warning about judging others (Luke 6:27-45).

Jesus warned that those who followed him would suffer (Luke 9:22-27). He did not promise a life of blessing.

Jesus told numerous parables about people being rescued and restored from disaster (but nothing about turning back God’s anger), eg lost sheep, lost coin, lost son (Luke 15:4-32).

Jesus taught frequently about money. He didn’t call for giving to the church. Rather he warned about the dangers of wealth (Luke 16:1-31; 18:9-30; 19:11-27; 20:20-26).

Jesus spent significant time confronting the people with power who were resisting God’s new intervention. He warned that they would eventually be swept away (Luke 9:11-18; 10:13-16, 30-37; 11:29-52; 12:35-13:9; 14:15-35; 20:1-47; 21:8-33). Modern preaching rarely challenges the people with power.

Luke’s Gospel Action

Reading through Luke’s gospel again, I have been struck by how different it is from the gospel and organisation of the modern church. The contrast is so huge that I can’t see one in the other.

Jesus never said, “You need to repent of your sins and trust in my blood so God can forgive you”. (That sounds more like John the Baptist’s pre-Jesus message).

Jesus just told people that they were forgiven (Luke 5:20; 7:48).

Jesus did not tell the blind man who asked to receive his sight that he would have to repent and get right with God before he could be healed.

He just restored his sight with a word (Luke 18:41-42).

Jesus never said, “Receive me into your heart, and find a good church.

He preached the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus never told his listeners that they should establish Sunday church meetings to attend for an hour each week. He told the people to love one another as he has loved us (Luke 6:27,10:27,37).

Jesus did not call people to be worship leaders (that seems to be an Old Testament model). He called people to make disciples.

Jesus never told his disciples to appoint senior pastors and submit to what they teach each week.

He sent out 120 disciples to preach the gospel of the Kingdom and heal the sick. Jesus ministry seemed to be a direct confrontation with evil (not a performance at a Sunday meeting).

• He announced deliverance for the oppressed (Luke 4:18).

• He rebuked evil spirits (Luke 4:35).

• When he preached, the spiritual powers of evil stirred up so much anger in his listeners that they wanted to kill him (Luke 4:28,29).

• Healing the sick and casting out demons was the heart of his ministry, not a Sunday sermon (Luke 4:40, 5:15, 5:18, 6:18,19, 7:21, 10:17, 13:32, 17:11).

The focus of Jesus ministry was rescuing people from the spiritual powers of evil not making peace between them and God. Jesus is a redeemer, rescuer and saviour (Luke 1:47,51,68,71,74; 2:11,30,38). We should remember that a “saviour” is a deliverer, not a sacrifice on an altar.