7-13-2024        The Ministry of Jesus

How many of us truly comprehend the ministry of Jesus? 

In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God (John 1:1).

The Jews were upset with Jesus because He declared himself being at least equal with God by declaring God his Father (John 5:18).   What did God say to Moses on the mount?  “You shall have no other gods before Me.  You shall not make any graven image or the likeness of anything in heaven above, nor the earth beneath nor that is in the waters beneath the earth.  You shall not bow yourself to them nor serve them for I the Lord your God am a jealous God …” (Exod. 20:3-5).  Then Jesus tells the Jews “you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.  This is the first commandment …” (Mark 12:30).  Think about this, Jesus allowed people to worship Him.  As examples, the leper (Matt. 8:2), His disciples (Luke 24:50-53) and the blind man) John 9:35-38).  ???

God tells the Jews to keep His law and statutes and teach them to their children (Deut. 6:1-7) and we may conclude that Joseph did so with his (adopted) son, Jesus.  We see where Jesus ‘wowed’ the doctors (G1320 – didaskalos or instructors, Luke 2:46-49) in the temple.  We also see where Jesus increased in wisdom and stature with God and man (Luke 2:52).  Some insights into Jesus’ first thirty years of His life on earth.  He was laying the foundation for His ministry.

Jesus lived as one of us for approximately thirty years (Luke 3:23) and then He was baptized in water by John, for it was necessary to fulfill all righteousness, and note that Jesus also received the Holy Ghost at that time (Matt. 3:13-17, Luke 3:21-22, John 1:32-36).  After His baptism, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness for forty days of fasting (Matt 4:1-11, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:1-13).  Jesus fasted for forty days!  Experts do not know exactly how long a person can live without eating, but there are records of people surviving without food or drink between 8 and 21 days. With water only, but no food, survival time may extend up to 2 to 3 months.  (https://www.healthline.com/).  The longest fast on record is a man named Angus Barbieri who did take in liquids and vitamins during his fast but had nothing to ‘eat’ for 382 days (https://www.diabetes.co.uk/blog/2018/02/).  A severe lack of food for a prolonged period — not enough calories of any sort to keep up with the body's energy needs — is starvation. The body's reserve resources are depleted. The result is substantial weight loss, wasting away of the body's tissues and eventually death.

When faced with starvation, the body does fight back.  As time moves on, energy levels fade and the body begins feeding on itself. "The body starts to consume energy stores — carbohydrates, fats and then moves to the protein parts of tissue," according to Maureen Gallagher, senior nutrition adviser to Action Against Hunger (a network of international humanitarian organizations focused on eliminating hunger). Metabolism slows, the body cannot regulate its temperature, kidney function is impaired and the immune system weakens.

When the body uses its reserves to provide basic energy needs, it can no longer supply necessary nutrients to vital organs and tissues. The heart, lungs, ovaries and testes shrink. Muscles shrink and people feel weak. Body temperature drops and people can feel chilled. People can become irritable, and it becomes difficult to concentrate.

Eventually, nothing is left for the body to scavenge except muscle. "Once protein stores start getting used, death is not far," according to Dr. Nancy Zucker, director of the Duke Center for Eating Disorders at Duke University. "You're consuming your own muscle, including the heart muscle." In the late stages of starvation, people can experience hallucinations, convulsions and disruptions in heart rhythm. Finally, the heart stops (https://www.npr.org/sections/).  Get the idea?

 

Physically, Jesus would have been very weakened so when Satan tempted Him with food Jesus should’ve been more than ready to eat.  But, Jesus was ‘in the Spirit’ at the time.  Who led Him into the wilderness?  In case somebody missed it – the Holy Ghost (Spirit)! 

 

What was Jesus preparing Himself for?  No, it wasn’t just the, about three and a half year ministry, on which He was about to embark.  He was also facing His arrest, trial, the scourging, physical death on the cross, the resurrection, the ascension and He now ministers to us through the Holy Ghost.  Jesus still ministers to us, the only difference is ‘how’ He ministers to us.  Can we understand what He went through for us?  Can we even comprehend the love which He has for us?

 

So, we see that Jesus prepared to implement His ministry by fasting.  But what is another key factor in preparing for a ministry?  PRAYER!  We know that Jesus was continually in touch with the Father. He prayed for things, peace be still (Mark 4:37-39, prayed for us, not just His disciples but for all who would believe on Him because of their words (John 17:15-21), and for Himself as in Gethsemane, “if it were possible, let this cup pass from Me, but not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:38- 44).   Even on the cross, Father, into your hands I commend My Spirit (Luke 23:46).  Here, we need to remember that as the Holy Ghost was with Jesus, here in this world, He now is also with us and because we have received Jesus, He is ‘in’ us (John 14:15-17).  He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5).

And so, just what is Jesus’ ministry?

He came into this world to redeem us from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13).  That is He is our salvation (Rom. 10:9-10).  He came to heal us.  As Jesus said to the lame man “you are whole, sin no more …” (John 5:5-14).  Here ‘whole’ is the Greek word is hugies (G5199) which means to be healed, whole or complete (that is from top to bottom and inside and out).  He has come to give us abundant life (John 10:10).  Through the Holy Ghost, He teaches us (John 14:16-17).  He will protect us (John 17:15).  He assures that our faith has a solid foundation (Matt. 7:24-27).  That is built upon the ‘rock’ (that is Jesus).  The Greek word for ‘rock’ is petra (G4073), which carries the implication of a very large rock.  This is not to be confused with Petros (G4074), a rock larger than a pebble (lithos, G3037), but not as large as a petra.  Compare this with when Jesus tells Peter he is a rock; upon this rock I’ll build My church … (Matt. 16:18).  He encourages us as we look forward to that which our faithfulness brings us (Heb. 10:34-39), that we might be filled (blessed) with the fullness of God’s blessings (Eph. 3:19-20) as well as eternal life (John 10:28-29).

We have seen some of what Jesus has done for us.  I believe that understanding Jesus’ ministry adds up to developing a relationship in, with and through Christ Jesus.  As we are obedient to His Word, we will be able to reap the benefits of that relationship as described in the bible.  Father declares blessing to those who keep His commandments.  And when we don’t, curses (Deut. 11:27).  Know that as we abide in God’s love, He can do more for us than we could even ask or think, as He works in us, with us and through us  (Eph. 3:16-20).    

One more time.  Jesus came to bring us is into eternal life (salvation), help us to grow and bless us through our obedience in His will, that we, in turn, might be a blessing to others.

What is Jesus’ ministry?

As Christians, what kind of job have we been doing in imitating Jesus Christ?

Amen