Encounters with the Kingdom of God

A Sermon edited by Steve Fountain originally preached on February 3, 2013 called "Encounters with the Kingdom of God" from Luke 4:31-5:11

In Luke 4, we read that Jesus’ first public miracle takes place in a synagogue as he releases a demon-possessed man.  We should not be surprised if Jesus' used the same or very similar message that He did earlier in Nazareth, as he summarizes the content of Jesus’ preaching from town to town in 4:43.

If the good news of the kingdom of God was the content of Jesus preaching in the Capernaum Synagogue, then we might say that there would be a very noticeable collision between two kingdoms: the kingdoms of Satan and God.  

Notice three reactions as these two kingdoms collide.  

 

1.  The reaction of the demons (4:33-35, 41).  As Jesus is preaching — and very possibly from Isaiah 61 — he is proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor, and the good news of God’s kingdom. The demon asked Jesus this very question.  “Ha! What have you to do with us Jesus of Nazareth? [Why are you bothering me, or why are you bugging me?] Have you come to destroy us?”

It is as if the demon says, “In order to get me, you also have to destroy the man.’  And while the exorcism is miraculous in itself, Jesus’ authority becomes even more apparent, as the man is left without harm (verse 35).

Ironically, the demons know whom Jesus is even if people do not.  Please notice the description of Jesus from the throat of hell.  Jesus is not just a Nazarene; He is (1) the Holy One of God (v. 34), and (2) the Son of God (v. 41). 

The demons know that Jesus is the King who will one day rule on the throne of David, and they shudder. Yet their awareness and belief that he is the Son of God does nothing for them and here is the difference: those who see Jesus as Lord of All, believe and repent from their life pursuit of godlessness; demons refuse to submit to his authority. 

2.  The reaction of the crowds (4:31-32, 36-37, 40, 42-44).  The crowds are astonished as they recognized that his word possessed authority (v. 32, 36).  And as they discussed what was going on, they remark, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”  The word power is the Greek word the English has borrowed to describe explosives— the word dynamite.  

The news of Jesus began to spread very quickly.  People brought their sick to him.  He very tenderly healed them (v. 40). 

As the crowds gather looking for the miracle worker, Jesus retires to a desolate place, and instead of staying as they would wish, he restates his mission to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God.  

It is important to recognize that in any crowd of people, there will be varying degrees of belief and unbelief.  A crowd does not make a church.  Many people come and gather because they have various needs.  What do you look for in a church?

The crowds of Jesus day are no different than ours, today.  Jesus tells a crowd not to look for external needs, as great and as good as they may be, rather to look for life itself. 

Crowds come and crowds go.  But those who follow Christ will live forever.

3.  The reaction of a fisherman (5:1-11).  Jesus gets into a fishing boat and tells the weary fisherman to put the boat back out into deep water and let down his net. The fisherman, Simon Peter, laments the futility of their efforts that night, yet — “at Your word I will let down the net.” (v. 5:5)

This is in sharp contrast to the fear from the demon and the unbelief of the crowd.

The catch was so great that I second boat was summoned to help. On shore, Simon falls before Jesus and says: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (v. 5:8)

Simon's partners, James and John, too were astonished.

Jesus tells Simon “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” (v. 5:10)

Once the boats were in, Simon, James and John “forsook all and followed Him.”  (v. 5:11)

Is the kingdom of God colliding with your kingdom?  Is his rule, his authority — the truth of His Word — demonstrating that you are not the master of your own destiny?  How will you react?  Will you react like the demons, who shudder, but do not repent and change, or do you react like the crowds with a somewhat detached fascination as your needs are met?  Or will you see Jesus as Simon Peter did, as your Lord?  Will you repent and believe that Jesus is the only one who can forgive your sins, and give you a life worth living?