Being in Mission with Jesus (Luke 5:4-26)
This sermon explores the meaning of being 'in mission with Jesus' by examining three pivotal encounters from Luke chapter 5. It reveals how our identity in Christ reshapes our purpose in work and relationships, and our approach to those on society's margins.
This sermon defines mission as being sent by Jesus to serve others, transforming one's work, reaching the marginalized, and helping people change their hearts toward God, all rooted in a new identity in Christ.
Overview
The sermon explores what it truly means to be "in mission with Jesus," drawing from three significant incidents in Luke chapter 5: the miraculous catch of fish and calling of disciples, the healing of a leper, and the healing of a paralyzed man. It posits that mission, meaning "to be sent," is about serving others, a paradoxical path that leads to genuine fulfillment.
The speaker outlines three core aspects of this mission: taking one's faith into their work, going out to the marginalized of society, and helping people change their hearts toward God. Each biblical account illustrates one of these facets, revealing how encountering Jesus radically shifts one's identity and purpose.
The first incident highlights how a new identity in Christ liberates one's work from being a source of self-worth, transforming it into an arena for service where one is free from the need to prove themselves. The healing of the leper demonstrates Jesus' commitment to reaching society's outcasts, not just physically healing but socially restoring, and uniquely making the unclean clean through His touch.
Finally, the healing of the paralytic reveals that the most radical act of ministry is spiritual reconciliation. Jesus' authority to forgive sins is prioritized over physical healing, signifying that making people right with God is the ultimate and most challenging task, a task secured through His own profound sacrifice.
Key points
- The sermon defines mission as being sent by Jesus to serve others, an ironic path that leads to fulfilling life.
- Three aspects of being in mission with Jesus are: taking faith into one's work, going to the marginalized, and helping people change hearts toward God.
- Encountering Jesus creates a 'self-quake,' revealing self-centeredness, but is followed by a word of grace offering a new, secure identity in Christ.
- A new identity in Christ frees one's work from being their ultimate identity, allowing them to walk away from unethical profit and serve freely.
- Following Jesus means actively going to and loving the marginalized, as Jesus did with the leper, bringing them into community and belonging.
- Jesus' unique power is shown by His touch making the unclean clean, reversing natural and religious laws.
- The most radical aspect of Jesus' ministry is the forgiveness of sins, reconciling people to God, which He secured through His ultimate sacrifice on the cross.
In Tim Keller's words
“You've got to have a fishing beyond your fishing. You've got to have a wealth beyond your wealth. You've got to have an art beyond your art.”
“When I touch an unclean person, I don't become unclean. The person becomes clean.”
“So eager is he to give us his grace.”
Outline
- Introduction: What it Means to Be in Mission with Jesus
- I. Take Your Faith Into Your Work (Luke 5:4-11: The Miraculous Catch)
- A. The Self-Quake: Encountering Jesus reveals sinfulness.
- B. The Word of Grace: Jesus offers new identity and partnership.
- C. New Identity Affects Work: Work becomes service, not self-identity.
- 1. Freedom from proving oneself.
- 2. A 'fishing beyond your fishing' prevents work from strangling you.
- II. Take Your Faith to the Marginalized (Luke 5:12-16: The Healing of the Leper)
- A. The Lepers' Situation: Outcasts, physically and socially isolated.
- B. The Leper's Desperation and Humility: A mad dash for life, "Lord, if you are willing."
- C. Jesus' Astounding Response: Touches the leper, saying "Be clean," restoring him.
- D. Jesus Reaches Out to Failures: His care for the excluded and marginalized.
- E. Implication: Follow Jesus to the margins; love all people.
- F. The Big Question: Jesus reverses physical and spiritual laws; He is cleanliness itself.
- III. Help People Change Their Hearts Toward God (Luke 5:17-26: The Healing of the Paralytic)
- A. The Most Radical Ministry: Jesus forgives sins before healing, addressing the eternal disease.
- B. The Pharisees' Question: "Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
- C. Jesus' Riddle: "Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?"
- D. The Cost of Forgiveness: Jesus performs the harder task of securing forgiveness through His own sacrifice.
- Conclusion: Three Applications
- 1. Trust Jesus' eager desire to give grace.
- 2. It takes time for the new identity in Christ to sink in.
- 3. Be willing to let people know what you believe, offering them this identity shift.
Scripture references
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Insights
Encountering Jesus reveals the depth of our own self-centeredness.
A new identity in Christ offers freedom from work becoming our whole self.
Following Jesus means extending love and community to society's margins.
Questions & answers
What is the core idea of "mission" in this sermon?
The sermon defines mission as being sent by Jesus into the world to serve others, which paradoxically leads to a fulfilling life. It involves taking one's faith into all aspects of life, including work and relationships with the marginalized.
How does the sermon say a new identity in Christ affects one's work?
A new identity in Christ liberates work from being the primary source of one's identity or self-worth. It allows individuals to walk away from profit gained unethically or ruthlessly, transforming work into a means of service rather than self-validation.
What does the healing of the leper reveal about Jesus' mission?
The healing of the leper demonstrates Jesus' commitment to reaching the marginalized and restoring outcasts to community. By touching the leper, Jesus uniquely makes the unclean person clean, reversing natural and religious laws.
Why does Jesus forgive the paralytic's sins before healing his body?
Jesus prioritizes spiritual reconciliation, as sin is presented as the ultimate disease that can 'kill you forever.' Forgiving sins is considered the most radical and essential ministry, addressing the deepest human need.
What is the meaning of Jesus' riddle about forgiving sins versus healing?
Jesus implies that while it may seem easier to 'say, Your sins are forgiven,' it is actually the far harder thing to truly accomplish. He heals the man's body as a visible sign that He has the authority and power to secure the forgiveness of sins through His own sacrifice.
How can one trust Jesus' desire to give grace?
The sermon emphasizes Jesus' eagerness to give grace by noting that He forgave the paralytic even when his longing for forgiveness was 'unspoken, unexpressed, imperfect.' This illustrates Jesus' readiness to bless those who have even a fragmentary desire for His grace.
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