2.8.12. 2.18.2024 Luke 8.19-21 Certain About His People
Luke: Certain about Jesus • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Entice: Jesus said some hard things. Here is a story in which Jesus says some of those hard things.
Luke 8:19–21 (ESV)
19Once upon a time his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd.
20 And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.”
21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
Faithful preaching requires us to deal with hard words like these.
His own people killed Him for some of His hard words.
His family was not always privy to what He thought
or
what He was doing.
Apparently, though Luke does not mention it there were times they thought he was crazy.
They were likely hurt and angry at the way they thought He treated them.
He was surrounded by crowds.
From those crowds there was a larger group of disciples.
And He chose the 12 to be closely engaged in His work.
With this arrangement His kinfolk were often outside the door, or at the periphery
Engage: There are a lot of non-christians who misunderstand our faith. Sadly, many Christians misunderstand our faith. There are a lot of reasons. This text discusses just one reason people are confused. Their confusion is sometimes a result of disciples trying to soften the perceived harshness of Jesus. Jesus was not being antagonistic, nor was he seeking agreement.
Loyalty to Jesus must be absolute.
He wasn’t looking for clicks,
or likes,
or re-tweets.
He told the truth. And when people have been lied to for so long, the truth seems like fiction, and it can hurt. Jesus’ popularity grew and then shrank largely because He said some things that offended people.
Not His tone.
Not the look on His face.
Not some supposed attitude.
Not confusion.
People rejected Jesus because what He demanded did not meet their expectations or preconceived notions of acceptable commitment. They rejected Him then for mostly the same reasons they reject Him now.
They don’t want Him to be Lord of their lives.
They don’t want Him to be Lord of their lives.
Expand: This is bigger than just our immediate, nuclear, physical family. Historically faith in Jesus either severed or radically altered all human relationships. In this text it begins with the intimate bond between mother and son, all the way to a radical reorientation of culture.
By the time of today’s story, the solitary Mary we met in the stable is now (evidently) widowed and surrounded by other children. Her approach to Jesus, like our approach to Jesus requires us to work our way through the mob determining that we, for ourselves, beyond another connection will obediently hear and act.
Excite: Onlookers.
Outsiders.
Insiders.
The onlookers were an obstacle for those who wished to become insiders.
The onlookers were an obstacle for those who wished to become insiders.
The outsiders need to find access, an opportunity to hear and do the Word.
The outsiders need to find access, an opportunity to hear and do the Word.
Hearing and doing are the essence of obedience.
Hearing and doing are the essence of obedience.
Who knew so few verses could confront us with such a wide variety of responses to Jesus?
Explore:
Certainty in our relationship with Jesus comes when we stop waiting outside, and faithfully hear and act.
Certainty in our relationship with Jesus comes when we stop waiting outside, and faithfully hear and act.
Expand: This text compares how people relate to Jesus.
Body of Sermon: First consider the
1 Outsiders
1 Outsiders
1.1 The Outsiders base relationships on cultural expectations.
1.1 The Outsiders base relationships on cultural expectations.
1.2 Outsiders use social pressure as leverage.
1.2 Outsiders use social pressure as leverage.
1.3 Outsiders expect everyone to operate on the obvious.
1.3 Outsiders expect everyone to operate on the obvious.
1.4 Outsiders relish temporary access.
1.4 Outsiders relish temporary access.
1.5 Outsiders focus on Earthly priorities.
1.5 Outsiders focus on Earthly priorities.
Next consider what Jesus expects from
2 Insiders
2 Insiders
2.1 Being an insider seems mysterious.
2.1 Being an insider seems mysterious.
2.2 Being an insider is voluntary.
2.2 Being an insider is voluntary.
2.3 Being an insider is oriented around Jesus
2.3 Being an insider is oriented around Jesus
2.4 Being an insider is Eternal.
2.4 Being an insider is Eternal.
2.5 Being an insider focuses on Kingdom priorities
2.5 Being an insider focuses on Kingdom priorities
Hearing the Word of God.
Hearing the Word of God.
Doing the Word of God.
Doing the Word of God.
Shut Down
Jesus was virtually always surrounded. The thrilled who were just there for the show. There were some who milled around like his mom and brothers in this text who wanted to get close but didn’t have a plan beyond standing around. And there was a third group, those who willed themselves into His presence.
Those who listened closely to what He said and tried to do what He required. The ultimate insiders were not blood relatives but faith relatives.
If you were there then, where would you be?
What about now?
Where do you fit into this new family of God?
Are you a discipled listener, who’s seeks to obey or just another face in the crowd?
He urges you; He invites you into that ever-growing group of insiders who are confident in their relationship to Him. His words are God’s Word and His invitation is still our invitation.