Austin Bible Church
God the Son came to earth to serve and to minister. To do that, He took on the form of a bond-servant. Phil. 2:7; Luke 22:27; Matt. 20:28.
“but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:7, NASB)
““For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.” (Luke 22:27, NASB)
“just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”“ (Matthew 20:28, NASB)
Jesus Christ’s work in summarized in John 21:25.
“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25, NASB)
Our Lord’s virgin birth was planned in eternity past. He matured as a normal human being. Psalms 3:7; Isaiah 53:2.
“Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God! For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.” (Psalms 3:7, NASB)
“For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.” (Isaiah 53:2, NASB)
His humanity was educated in Bible doctrine via the first use of the grace apparatus for perception. Isaiah 50:4-5.
“The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. The Lord GOD has opened My ear; And I was not disobedient Nor did I turn back.” (Isaiah 50:4-5, NASB)
God the Holy Spirit sustained the humanity of Jesus Christ during His time on earth. The Holy spirit was given to Him without measure. John 3:34.
““For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.” (John 3:34, NASB)
He was baptized by John the Baptist in a unique baptism signifying that He had come to do the Father’s will. He was identified with water, the water signifying the will of the Father in salvation - the Cross. The Kingdom of God here is in the form of the King, Jesus Christ. Matt. 3:13-17.
“Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him. After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”“ (Matthew 3:13-17, NASB)
God the Father approved of Jesus Christ at His baptism, by His miracles, wonders and signs, and at His ascension. Matt. 3:17; Acts 2:22; Heb. 1:13.
““Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—” (Acts 2:22, NASB)
“But to which of the angels has He ever said, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET”?” (Hebrews 1:13, NASB)
He had a ministry to His disciples. The Sermon on the Mount was a crash program to train them so they could reach the multitudes. He had a ministry with His disciples to the tax collectors and the prostitutes. He had a ministry in miracles and in parables. Matt. 20:28.
“just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."” (Matthew 20:28, NASB)
In Luke 4:14-16, it was customary in the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry for men to read portions of the Word of God aloud in the temples they visited. This was considered an honor.
“And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all. And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.” (Luke 4:14-16, NASB)
The reason for His ministry had been prophesied by Isaiah. This was a dramatic occasion - the living Word, declaring the written Word. John 1:1.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1, NASB)
He had been anointed or set apart to preach the Gospel to those who need salvation - to all humanity. He healed the broken hearted by giving inner peace through salvation. The Gospels are full of the wonderful miracles of healing, which our Lord performed. But greater still is the peace and comfort which the Lord gives to believers in times of suffering. Psalms 34:18.
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalms 34:18, NASB)
He had been anointed to preach deliverance to all of humanity so that we might be set free from the powers of darkness - Satan and his fallen angels. Col. 1:13.
“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,” (Colossians 1:13, NASB)
He recovered sight for the physically blind, but He came to heal the and the spiritually blind - unbelievers. John 8:12.
“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”“ (John 8:12, NASB)
In Isaiah 53:5, He was “crushed (spiritual death) for our iniquities” so that we might go free and without blame. He paid the penalty. Col. 2:14.
“But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5, NASB)
“having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:14, NASB)
He came to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord which means He was saying, “I am the long promised Redeemer.”
““THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”“ (Luke 4:18-19, NASB)
There were two reasons they stared at Him in Luke 4:20. He had been reading from Isaiah 61:1-2. He quit right in the middle of verse 2 because the rest of the passage does not speak of His earthly ministry, but of His Second Advent.
“And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.” (Luke 4:20, NASB)
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,” (Isaiah 61:1-2, NASB)
He sat down and whoever heard of anyone sitting down while ministering the Word? Even the high priests, who went into the Holy of Holies, must stand in the presence of God. He dared sit and nothing happened to Him. Heb. 10:11.
“Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;” (Hebrews 10:11, NASB)
Our Lord then stated in Luke 4:21 that the passage that He had just read aloud had just been fulfilled.
“And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."” (Luke 4:21, NASB)
Their amazement soon turned to anger, for as the Lord told them how few would believe, they chased Him out of the city and attempted to throw Him over the edge to kill Him. Jesus worked a miracle. He walked right through their midst without their seeing Him and escaped unharmed. Luke 4:29-30.
“and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, He went His way.” (Luke 4:29-30, NASB)
The Parable of the Sower
There are four categories of people in the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8:4-8.
“When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: "The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up. "Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. "Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. "Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great." As He said these things, He would call out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."” (Luke 8:4-8, NASB)
In this parable, the seed represents the Word of God. The seed falling “beside the road” represents unbelievers such as Judas Iscariot whose heart has become hardened in their negative volition. Luke 8:11-12.
“"Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. "Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.” (Luke 8:11-12, NASB)
The seed falling on a “rock” represents the new believer like the disciples who had little residual doctrine in their souls. They are excited about the Word, but over time become less and less interested. Luke 8:13.
“"Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.” (Luke 8:13, NASB)
The seed falling “among the thorns” represents the believer like Simon the Pharisee who is choked with the details of life. Simon had only invited Christ over for dinner because doing so would improve his status with the other Pharisees. Luke 8:14.
“"The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.” (Luke 8:14, NASB)
The seed falling on “good soil” represents believers like Mary Magdalene and characterizes the believer who learns and applies epignosis Bible doctrine from a soul and grows spiritually without developing scar tissue in their soul.
“"But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.” (Luke 8:15, NASB)
The application of the Parable of the Sower is found in Luke 8:16-18.
““Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. “For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. “So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”“ (Luke 8:16-18, NASB)
The unbeliever is not represented here because they produce no light. The light covered with a container represents believers who can’t take trials, are emotional, and not glorifying Christ. The light put under a bed represents the believer who does not take in Bible doctrine daily and so their soul apparatus is “choked” suffocated with the details of life with the resultant scar tissue.
The light set on a lampstand represents the believer who can take trials, is not choked with the details of life, and is consistently learning and applying Bible doctrine to the situations in life. God is glorified because these believers reflect the glory of God (His light). This results in maximum impact and glorifies God. Consequently the “good soil” believer erects an edification complex on epignosis based on residual useable doctrine in the right lobe of the soul.
Our Lord’s Finished Work
In John 19:30, “It is finished!” refers to the work Jesus Christ was sent to the earth to do – to die spiritually on the Cross for the sins of all mankind. After His work was finished, Jesus Christ released His human spirit resulting in His physical death.
“Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” (John 19:30, NASB)
Jesus Christ is undiminished deity and true humanity united in one person forever. He died twice on the Cross. In Isaiah 53:9, “death” in the original Hebrews text is really “deaths” and is the intensive plural of מָוֶת (mâveth).
“His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:9, NASB)
His humanity died spiritually when He, the innocent Lamb of God, took the sins of the whole world upon Himself. He died physically when this work of dying for the sins of the whole world was finished.
He died spiritually in His humanity, not His deity in bearing our sins. He had no fellowship with God the Father during the time He was bearing the judgment of our sins. God the Holy Spirit sustained His humanity’s soul through it all. Psalms 22:1; Matt. 27:46.
“For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.” (Psalms 22:1, NASB)
“About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”“ (Matthew 27:46, NASB)
Significance of His Finished Work
In Christianity the work is done. We accept the finished work of Christ by accepting Him as our personal Savior. Forgiveness is wrought when we personally believe in Him by faith alone. Then we are to grow in grace by learning God’s Word categorically and applying it to life’s experience.
Religion is man doing the work where God is supposed to bless what is done and man gets the credit. Christianity is God doing the work where man receives what God has done and God gets the credit and the glory. The finished work of Christ is entirely and completely done. John 3:16; John 3:36.
“"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NASB)
“"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."” (John 3:36, NASB)