While many people think the primary reason Jesus came to the earth to do the miraculous like healing the sick and performing signs and wonders, they came second to His mission of preaching the Gospel. Jesus came to preach was Mark talked about in Mark 1:14-15, the Gospel of God. The healings and miracles of Jesus were very important but what was even more imperative was testifying to the truth of these actions. Jesus’ true mission was to preach the truth about the Kingdom of God. He did this through his sermons, messages and parables. Here are six things you should know about Jesus’ sermons.
Jesus Preached Sermons at a Young Age
Jesus was a preacher as an adolescent so he delivered sermons at a very young age. The Bible describes a time when Jesus was 12 years old and was found by His parents, preaching in the temple to adults. The Bible tells us, “When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.’ ‘Why were you searching for me?’ He asked. ‘Didn’t you know I’d be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what He was saying to them.”
This is the only story in the gospels about Jesus between His infancy and His public ministry as a man. The main teaching of this passage from Luke is that Jesus now recognizes His unique relationship to God, and that His mission will require of Him a devotion of God’s purposes so great that it takes precedence over family ties. He must follow His calling, even if it brings pain and misunderstanding. In this way, Luke sets the stage for the adult ministry of the Son of God.
He Started Preaching at 30
While Jesus was incredibly wise for His age, Jesus didn’t truly begin His earthly ministry until age 30. This is the age of spiritual maturity in Scripture and in the Judaic culture of Jesus’ day. Thirty was the age at which a man would be fully recognized as a rabbi. Thirty was also the age at which the Levites entered into work; the age in which it was lawful for scribes to teach. Thirty is the age when the Jewish community felt like individuals were ripe for leadership.
His Sermons Were Intended to Help People Understand the Gospel
Jesus often ministered through parables. They required those who were listening to think. Jesus told parables to see if we really understand the Gospel. The truth is, understanding the Gospel is the beginning to a transformed life. Each Gospel is unique. They give a beautiful and complete picture of the Lord through their various writings. Mark is recognized as the Gospel of the suffering Son of God. Matthew is recognized as the Gospel of the Messiah. Luke is the Gospel of the Savior of all the people and John is the Gospel of the Son who reveals the Father. These writings may be from different authors, but ultimately share an important picture of who Jesus was.
Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: the first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” From this, we know that the Gospel is the power of God and present in every aspect of our lives. One danger that many Christians face today is failing to get the Gospel. If we don’t get the Gospel message, then that message won’t translate to our hearts and lives.They Revolutionized the Way People Saw Things
God’s people are a wandering people. We see countless examples throughout the Bible of God’s people wandering. This theme of wandering is also present in our lives. These biblical examples are traveling off-road. In his messages, he referenced the Prodigal Son who left home to enter a world of sin, among others. Their brokenness caused them to wander away from God. However, through their stories we learn some important lessons, particularly about the complete presence of God. There is a common misconception that those who wander are lost but that isn't always the case. If you’re restless, doubtful or even questioning your faith, you can learn through this journey that not all who wander are lost and there’s a hope and peace for those who travel the winding path seeking to experience God.
They Were Guides Against the Enemy
One of the biggest battles we have to take on is one with the devil. His sermons were weapons against the enemy. The Bible tells us, “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:3-5). There are certain satanic strongholds that imprison us each day that we must be aware of. The battles are taking place in our thoughts. His messages can help us better understand how to respond to those attacks.
Jesus Shared His Sermons With Authority
Jesus Christ is unquestionably the greatest teacher the world has ever known and the most recognized figure in human history. No figure has been more frequently mentioned than Him. Jesus was also the greatest help to mankind the world has ever known, and yet He was misunderstood. The Bible tells us, “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes,” (Matthew 7:28-29). The scribes often quoted both long passages of the Law as well as traditions of other Jewish teachers to support their message and yet Jesus spoke from His own authority, breaking from tradition.
Jesus is the greatest minister the world have ever known. The Bible tells us, “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes,” (Matthew 7:28-29). He came to this earth to share the truth about God so that others would be saved. This makes Him the true Savior of the world.
