Jesus: Who He Really Is and Why It Matters
Today’s Scripture: Luke 13:18-19 NIV
18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”
Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
1) SEED: Promise for the problem
It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
2) STANDARD: On which everything will be measured
It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”
“In the east the regular symbol of a great empire was a mighty tree and the subject nations who found shelter and protection within it were typified by birds in the branches...his point is that the kingdom of God will grow into a vast empire in which all kinds of people and nations will come together and will find shelter and the protection of God.”
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
3) SHELTER: For my very real storm
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
How do I find shelter in Christ when the tree is full with those I struggle with?
C. See the differences as confirmations
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.
All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
