Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 24:44-53 "KEY THEOLOGICAL WORDS"
Day 356 – Luke 24
Text: Luke 24:44-53
KEY THEOLOGICAL WORDS
Luke had thoroughly researched the life, ministry and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and had presented it as a semi-biographical feature. He had taken great pains to record the life of Jesus carefully. He made no apology concerning the miraculous elements in the life of Jesus. He carefully presented Jesus as the Anointed One of God, crucified by wicked men, but resurrected by God from the dead.
As Luke worked on his conclusion, he chose certain key words that expressed his theological beliefs concerning Jesus, the Son of Man. Let us take a look at some of these key theological words Luke used. These terms summarized for Luke his theology of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“THESE ARE THE WORDS WHICH I SPOKE TO YOU…” Luke 24:44
“These are the words…” How should one understand and appreciate the lessons Jesus taught? Was there more to the lessons that Jesus taught? Should not the focus be on the very words of Jesus?
Jesus Himself pointed to His Disciples that they should have paid more attention to the very words He had given to them.
“These are the words which
I spoke to you, while I was still with you.”
Luke 24:44
“GRACIOUS WORDS”
The multitudes noted right from the beginning that the words Jesus employed seemed different. Luke noted,
“So all bore witnesses to Him,
and marveled at the gracious words
which proceeded out of His mouth…”
Luke 4:22
The words that Jesus used caused much wonder among the people who heard Him. They knew His family. They knew that He was the son of Joseph. Yet, how could he, coming from such a humble background speak such gracious words? They were puzzled indeed because they had not learned who Jesus really was!
“HIS WORD WAS WITH AUTHORITY” Luke 4:32
The more the multitudes listened to the teachings of Jesus, the more they marveled. There was such a tremendous ring of authority in His words. Luke noted some of their comments,
“And they were astonished at His teaching,
for His word was with authority.”
Luke 4:32
The Disciples particularly would discover even greater significance, and on a very personal level too, the power of Jesus’ Word.
“NEVERTHELESS AT YOUR WORD” Luke 5:5
It was of great importance that the Disciples learn first hand the power that lay behind the power of Jesus’ words. Whether it was His proclamation of the Scriptures, or seemingly innocuous words, the Disciples must know that every word that Jesus spoke held tremendous power.
On one unforgettable day, the fishermen-disciples consisting Peter, Andrew, James and John heard Jesus preaching close by. He had come to them and asked to teach from their boat.
The scene must have been etched indelibly on their minds. A multitude of people had converged on Jesus to hear Him teach the Word of God. What words of grace and authority must have flowed from His lips!
At the end of that teaching session, Jesus had uttered some very ordinary words. This was His special way of thanking them for the use of their boats, perhaps. He said,
“Launch out into the deep
and let down your nets for a catch.”
Luke 5:4
Peter had protested mildly at these words. He and his friends had gone out the whole night to catch fish but had returned empty handed. Peter was to learn a vital lesson that day. It began with his obedience to the Word Jesus spoke…
“Nevertheless at Your word
I will let down the net…”
Luke 5:5
The great catch the disciples made that day convinced them once and for all that the words of Jesus had tremendous power and authority, not just grace. This became the turning point for Peter particularly. No man ever wielded such power.
In the three years that they were to spend with Jesus, the Disciples were to hear many more gracious words. They were to witness again and again the awesome power of the words of Jesus.
“HE WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR…” Luke 8:8
Not everybody understood or appreciated the words of Jesus. Sadly, Jesus had to resort to speaking to the multitudes in parables. However to His faithful disciples, He would always take the time to explain what He had taught in the parables.
Jesus operated on an important principle. The hearers must make every effort to understand the deeper and intended lessons that He sought to communicate through His parables. They must “hear”.
More than that, they must also practise what they had heard. Mere hearing would amount to little. This point, of the need to practise what had been understood was reinforced again and again (Cf. Luke 6:47; 8:21 etc).
Jesus had sought to prepare His Disciples not only for His death, but for His Ascension to Heaven as well. What would He leave behind that would stand His Disciples in good stead? Surely the answer must be His words!
Thus the challenge to apply the advice of hearing well was never more important than that moment, when Jesus began to teach His Disciples all over again His Word.
“BUT I SAY TO YOU…” Matthew 5:22
An example of the significance of the word of the Lord Jesus may be found in what is commonly called, “The Sermon on the Mount”. Let us take note of what Matthew observed.
Jesus made a vivid contrast between what He said, and what was taught by the Pharisees and Scribes. He would say, again and again,
“You have heard that it was said to those of old…”
Matthew 5:21(Cf. Matthew 5:27, 31, 33 etc)
“But I say to you…”
Matthew 5:22 (Cf. Matthew 5:28, 32, 34 etc)
Jesus was challenging what was taught by the Jews commonly known as the Midrash and the Mishna. These were the oral laws taught by the Rabbis of old. (In time the oral teachings would be written down. They became known as the Talmud, a set of religious laws highly regarded by the Jews). The “oral law” was not the same as the Torah, the Mosaic Law. The oral law was a loose collection of homilies delivered by the teachers of Israel. Though the oral law was held in high esteem by the general public, Jesus paid scant respect for it.
Jesus appealed to the power and authority that was in Himself. There was intrinsic power in Jesus! He had such authority simply because of who He was! He was the Anointed One sent by God to teach His Word!
The Disciples must have had to learn many hard lessons. But what privilege was theirs to be taught by Jesus personally! The heart must be inspired to learn the deep lessons well simply because they were the words of the Lord Jesus Himself.
HOW DO WE REGARD THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS?
Jesus had the highest regard for the written word of God. He said,
“And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away
than for one tittle of the law to fail.”
Luke 16:17
It is not without significance that He said these words concerning His own teachings.
“Heaven and earth will pass away,
but My words will by no means pass away.”
Luke 21:33
How do we regard the words of Jesus?