JESUS THE CHRIST READ AND TAUGHT FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

Proclamation:

“He went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day He went into the synagogue, as was His custom.  He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him.  Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of The Lord is on Me because He has anointed Me …’ Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down … He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’”  Luke 4:16-21 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.  Luke begins this chapter with the temptation of Jesus, The Christ, by the devil. (Luke 4:1-12)  After being tempted He returned to Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, before going to Nazareth. (Luke 4:14-15)  There Jesus read from The Old Testament Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1-2) and then told them that Isaiah’s prophesy would be fulfilled in front of them that day.  They wanted Him to repeat the miracles which He had performed in Capernaum, and when He would not do so they became furious with Him, turned on Him and wanted to kill Him. (Luke 4:23-29)  Jesus left there and went back to Capernaum, taught in their synagogues, cast out demons, and healed all of people that were brought to Him. (Luke 4:31-41)

Application:

There are many believers who feel that because today we under grace and not the law that The Old Testament is not relevant.  Jesus, The Christ, read from The Old Testament and taught from it.  He also said that He did not come to destroy the law or what the prophets had taught but to fulfill it. (Matthew 5:17)  We no longer have to perform the various sacrifices mentioned in The Old Testament because Jesus was the ultimate sacrificial lamb who paid it all once and for all of us.  However, there is much to be learned from The Old Testament and the prophesies contained therein.  The whole Bible is the inspired Word of God and it would be good for us to read it, study it, (2 Timothy 2:15) and apply it to our lives. (James 1:22)

JESUS UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE GO THROUGH

Proclamation:

“For surely it is not angels He helps, but Abraham’s descendants.  For this reason He had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people.  Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:16-18 (NIV)

Explanation:

The human author of The Bible Book of Hebrews is unknown.  Some Bible scholars attribute it to the Apostle Paul, although the second sentence in chapter two, verse three, seems to preclude this.  However, it was clearly written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The author states that Jesus shared humanity with us so that by His death He could break the power of him who holds the power of death, the devil, and free all who were held in captivity by the fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15)  By putting on humanity, Jesus could feel what we feel and deal with the same things that we deal with.  He could help those who were tempted but did not give in to it.  However, because He did not sin when He was tempted, He was able to be the perfect, sin free sacrifice to pay for the sins of the world.

Application:

When we are tempted or suffer, and pray to The Lord for help with our burdens, we know that He understands what we are going through. He will be merciful to us because He loves us and He has been through similar situations.  Jesus, The Son of God, took on human form, put on flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1 and 14)  Jesus endured rejection by family and friends.  He was talked about and lied upon. He had loved ones close to Him to die.  He was tempted and He suffered physically.  He went through what we go through, so He can empathize and not just sympathize with us.  He truly understands.  He can feel our pains.  Jesus is the only one who is truly qualified to have mercy on us and to forgive us of our sinful thoughts, words, and actions.  So, no matter what it is that you are dealing with, pray, take it to Him, He will understand and answer your prayer.  As the old hymn says, "Take you burdens to The Lord and leave it there ... If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out.  Take your burdens to The Lord and leave it there."