Knowing The Word in Luke 4:42-44

Jesus Preaches in Synagogues

42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Comments

Mark tells us that Jesus went to the desolate place to pray and speak with his Father. As Luke recounts, the people will not leave Jesus alone. Yet, he refused to stay even though he was wanted. Jesus proclaimed that was sent to “preach the good news of the kingdom of God.” This is Luke’s first mention of the kingdom of God, which was Jesus’ favorite theme in his teaching and preaching. While we primarily hear of Jesus ministering in the Galilee, here he went into Judea, the area around Jerusalem, but perhaps Luke used Judea to refer to all of Palestine.

The Kingdom of God is a theme that runs throughout the Old and New Testaments. The Kingdom starts in Eden, moves to Israel, appears in prophecy, and is fulfilled in Jesus. God’s Kingdom has three requirements: God’s place, people, and rule. God's place moves from Eden to Israel to the temple and ultimately to Jesus. God's people moves from Adam and Eve to Abraham to Moses to Israel and ultimately to Jesus. God's rule moves from "Do not eat of" to his covenant with Abraham to the Ten Commandments, to the Messianic prophecies, and ultimately to the Two Great Commandments to love God and neighbor.

Application

Consider how you live in the Kingdom of God. You are in Christ, being part of the people of God. You become a temple when God’s Spirit dwells in you and the Father and the Son take up residence in you (John 14:15-23). And you are guided by God’s rule to love him and your neighbor as yourself. All these things are the evidence, the fruit of being in the Kingdom of God.

Prayer

Jesus, help me to be always aware that I live your kingdom because you live in me through your Spirit. May the life I lead bring you glory, honor, and praise each and every day of my life, and when it does not, lead me into confession, repentance, and renewal.