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Day 213

Luke 17 : 20-37 "THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS"

Day 213 – Luke 17

Text: Luke 17 : 20-37

THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS

Jesus had much to teach His Disciples. In three short years, He had to give them a comprehensive Biblical theology to work with. He had taught them about how to relate to God as Father (Luke 11:2-4). He had taught much about the Kingdom of God (Luke 8). He had also sought to teach them about the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13; 12:12). He revealed Himself to them as the Son of God at His transfiguration (Luke 9:27-36). (This list is not comprehensive!)

Besides these great doctrines, He also taught His Disciples what it meant to follow Him. They must be prepared to carry their cross and follow Him, unafraid of sacrificing their lives if needs be (Luke 9:23-26).

Though we have but brief notations in each Gospel of what Jesus taught His Disciples, we must not suppose that the Disciples were given but meager knowledge! Far from it! When we study the Gospels synoptically, and in combination with the Gospel of John, we realize that Jesus must have taught His Disciples a huge amount of Biblical theology!

One outstanding feature that must be mentioned was the way in which Jesus sought to impress upon His Disciples the need to see knowledge transform into faith. Knowledge must be converted into genuine powerful faith, or they would be no better than the Scribes and Pharisees at the end of the day.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT TEACHING – THE RETURN OF THE SON OF MAN

“Eschatology” is the word that theologians use to describe “The study of the last things”. Jesus had to teach His Disciples to watch out for both misunderstanding and abuse of this important teaching.

In the Divine Scheme of things, the Son of Man would one day return to earth to set up a kingdom that would not be destroyed (Daniel 7:14). Many would be mistaken as to when Jesus would return.

Many have erred, in trying to pinpoint when Jesus would return. Some in recent years have prophesied that Jesus would return by the year 2000. They have proven to be false prophets.

Jesus had a simple set of guidelines to give to His Disciples. His advice was very straightforward and uncomplicated! He said that when He returns, it would be obvious

“For as the lightning that flashes
out of one part under heaven shines
to the other part under heaven,
so also the Son of Man will be in His Day.”
Luke 17:24

His advice not to follow people who purport that they had seen Jesus in one place or another place must be considered most carefully! When Jesus returns we would not need anyone to tell us that He has returned! As we can see lightning, so will we see Jesus coming from heaven!

THE SUFFERING OF THE LORD JESUS

Jesus sought to bring the attention of His Disciples to the suffering that was next on His agenda. He had come to preach the Gospel to the poor. He had come to show the love of God through His healing. He had given time to train His Disciples so that they could carry on His work after His death.

The subject of suffering had already been brought up. Soon after Jesus ascertained that His Disciples knew Him as “The Christ of God” (Luke 9:20), He began to prepare their hearts and minds that He would have to endure suffering (Luke 9:22).

From time to time, Jesus would remind His Disciples that He would be “betrayed into the hands of men” (Luke 9:44). However, this aspect of the betrayal and suffering of Jesus was not well understood by the Disciples.

Once again, Jesus brought up the issue of His suffering. Solemnly, He said…

“But first He must suffer many things
and be rejected by this generation.”
Luke 17:25

Jesus understood and accepted that He would suffer. He trusted in His Father’s plan of Redemption. His suffering was necessary if He were to atone for the sins of mankind.

His suffering was not just physical. He would also have to endure the fact that He would be REJECTED by this generation.

The Pharisees may feign interest and ask about the Kingdom of God. If they really wanted to know, they should also learn and appreciate the fact that entrance into the Kingdom of God was not easy. The Son of Man would have to endure much suffering and be put to death. Only through His atoning death could anyone gain entrance into the Kingdom of God.

It was foolish talking about when the Kingdom of God would come, without also speaking of the role of the Son of Man. If the Pharisees had rejected Jesus as the Son of Man, then any discussion on the subject of the Kingdom of God would be useless. Without faith in the efficacious death of Jesus, no one would be admitted into the Kingdom of God!

HOW MUCH DO WE APPRECIATE OUR SAVIOUR?

It is wrong to speak of the Kingdom of God and all its majesty and beauty without making due reference to the Son of Man. We must never forget what Jesus had to endure, to make it possible for us to enter into His kingdom! How could we speak of the second coming of Christ without a deep sense of appreciation for what Jesus had to endure in His suffering?

We must never leave our first love for the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us ponder over how Jesus must have felt as He spoke about His suffering and impending death. Let us never allow our hearts to become calloused when we speak of our precious Saviour.