This qualifies Jesus as God’s Messiah!

Reflecting on Luke 4:14-30

“Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’" (Luke 4:23)

This is the verse I am thinking about this morning.
A mechanic that cannot fix their own car.
A tax consultant that cannot manage their own taxes.
A family counselor that cannot figure out their own family.
A pastor that cannot apply bible wisdom to their own life.
This proverb is a way of saying that they are hypocrites, or fakes.
It is questioning the ability or identity of a person.

“He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” (Luke 23:35)

Jesus healed many people, but He did not use this ability to heal/help Himself.
This was not a sign of His weakness.
It was a sign of His identity, character and purpose.
Jesus did not come to serve or save Himself.
This is what qualifies Him to be the Messiah.

The nature of sin is to serve and save oneself, rather than others.
To put one’s own comfort, needs or safety before that of others.
This is what all the leaders of that day were doing, and of all times.
We naturally use our gifts and abilities for ourselves, or those we love.
This is why there is so much division and inequality and cruelty.
But this is not the way we were made to be.
This is not how we were made as children of the Most High

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:32-36)

Jesus is predicting that the people will reject Him.
Not because of His powers, but because of how He uses them.
He will use them to seek and to save the lost, to heal the sick.
This will include Gentiles, those the Jews did not love or have mercy for.
His stories about Elijah and Elisha show that this has always been God’s way.

Jesus represents gracious love to unlovable people like them, like us.
This is seen as weakness from a selfish point of view.
But it is God’s way of salvation, and what makes His news good news.

The people turn to violence when Jesus speaks against them.
They want to silence Him, to end His life, to get rid of Him.
When Christians today do this with their opponents, they are not following Jesus.
What we are seeing among many western evangelicals is not the Jesus Way.
The militant, nationalistic fervor for making themselves great IS NOT JESUS!
They are not following God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.
They are not behaving like children of the Most High.
Look for those who love their enemies, without getting anything for it.
Look for physicians who do not use their skills to serve themselves.
Look for those who are kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Look for those who are merciful, like God is merciful.
This is where Jesus is being followed.
This is what identifies someone as a Jesus follower.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You are God's Messiah, the Chosen One, BECAUSE You did not serve Yourself but others. I do not love and serve like this, but I acknowledge this as God's Way, and the Way I should be. Thank You for Your patience and mercy with me; help me grow more and more patient, merciful and kind like You with others.