The Four Faces of Jesus Part 3
Rev Brendan Edwards
The Four Faces of Jesus Part 3
Luke’s Gospel
Luke was a doctor- described things in more detail and Paul’s close friend (see Hebrews)
Shows Jesus as the man who can relate/ connect/ sympathise with everyone
Jesus is fully man
(Luke gives detail of Jesus’ suffering)
41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Luke 22:41-44
Jesus is the perfect High Priest
(Note the theme of Priest all through the Gospel)
Chapter 1- Zechariah (high priest) Sees God and cannot speak, cannot bless the people
Chapter 24- Jesus blesses/ anoints His followers and is taken up to heaven- where He continually intercedes or us.
Chapter 4- Jesus reads Isaiah 61 in the temple
Luke 4:16-21
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
The high priest must be first born and be able to trace His lineage back to prove he was eligible
Chapter 3 – Jesus’ genealogy goes back to Adam- “First born” son of God, proving His validity
Jesus is the perfect High Priest
(6 characteristics of priestly role)
1) Compassion- He cares for all kinds of people
Luke Ch 7- Widow, adulteress woman
Ch 13- Cripple
Ch 17- the Lepers/ foreigners
Ch 19- Zacchaeus the tax collector
CH 22- High Priest’s servant (healed his ear)
Ch 23- Repentant thief on the cross
He cares for everyone- Jew and Gentile, Slave and free person, Male and Female
2) Fellowship- He’s always eating with people
Matthew – 3 times
Mark – 3 times
John – 4 times
Luke – 9 times
Note- The High Priest was not allowed to eat with regular people, Holy food only for his own family (Moses law) But Jesus bypasses this rule through the order of the High Priest of Melchizedek (Psalm 110, Hebrews 5, 7) (Melchizedek brought food to Abraham. Genesis 14)
3) Man of Prayer- More prayers of Jesus in Luke gospel than in others
Parables about Praying with persistence and humility- Luke 18
(Note) difference in Lord’s prayer from Matthew
Matthew “forgive us our debts”= King perspective
Luke “forgive us our sins” = Priest perspective
(the word “sinners” is mentioned more than in other gospels)
Matthew – 5 times
Mark – 6 times
John – 4 times
Luke – 18 times!
4) He introduces salvation “Sozo” to the lost
Luke 19
Story of Zacchaeus summarises the whole gospel
(Sympathy, association with sinners, fellowship, salvation)
Jericho had 12000 priests- none of them ministered to Zacchaeus- Jesus did.
Luke 19:9-10
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
5) Priest on a journey to Jerusalem (for the sacrifice)
Jerusalem mentioned
Matthew – 13 times
Mark – 13 times
John – 11 times
Luke – 33 times!
The whole gospel points toward His going to Jerusalem to officiate the sacrifice for the people as the perfect High Priest!
6) Jesus passes the anointing on to the next priests
(the disciples and us)
Luke 24:45-53 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
What does this mean for us?
1) Compassion- He cares for all kinds of people
2) Fellowship- He’s always eating with people
3) Man of Prayer-
4) Introduces salvation to the lost
5) Priest on a journey to Jerusalem (always on the mission)
6) Passes on the anointing to followers (we are now priests)
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