January 24, 2021
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But Jesus said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” – Luke 4:43
Tucked between Jesus rebuke in his hometown of Nazareth and the calling of the first disciples, we find Jesus is continuing to preach in synagogues, now in Capernaum. In this city in Galilee, Jesus heals many sick and casts out demons. The people view Jesus as their Messiah, and they do not want him to leave.
I know I’ve heard the message many times, and I would venture to guess you have heard something to the effect: accept Jesus as your personal savior. I understand the intent of such message is that we would accept the grace that God offers through Jesus, follow him, become a disciple, and live a life abundant and blessed because we belong to God. However, sometimes the way the message is said, it can be interpreted as Jesus being only a personal savior.
I look to this short passage in Luke to remind us that Jesus came to be a savior for all. His purpose was the proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to many cities, and through his disciples to all the cities that were and ever will be. The message of salvation is a message of good news for the world, for its people, and the coming kingdom of God is a complete new creation.
I find it hard, sometimes, to boil the message of salvation down to a personal savior. Personable in relationship, yes. Knowing each saved by name, yes. Loving each the same, yes. However, it is we who belong to God through Jesus, not Jesus who belongs to us. The message of ‘personal savior’ gives the notion of possession, and we must not reverse the roles. For the same message of the coming kingdom of God is good news for us, and for all. Therefore, as we grow to see the kingdom of God we must allow the message of salvation to move from us, though it is still with us. We must understand this is a message to be shared with others. Perhaps, as we grow in our understanding, we might also realize that God’s good news is shared by us and through us as we live as disciples of the one who saves us, and all by His amazing grace.
Grace & Peace,
Sam