Can you remember a teacher who left an impact on your life? When you look back you may be thankful for their impact, but you also may not think of that teacher much any longer. Many people today relate to Jesus in the same way. You may think of Jesus as a historical figure, a good moral teacher, and even a prophet. The good news of Christianity is much more than that.
The good news is that Jesus is the Son of God. He was fully God and fully man. He died on a cross for our sin, rose from the dead and now sits at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus will not settle for a simple head nod of acknowledgment or a thumbs up of approval. He will not be relegated to the margins of our life as if He is just a good example or moral teacher. Those who follow Jesus much “deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow Him.” (Luke 9:23)
We must bow our knee to Him and trust Him with every area of our life. Giving total control of our life to Jesus can be terrifying. So before going “all in” with Jesus, we must be certain about Who Jesus is. Luke’s gospel was written to give us certainty. (Luke 1:1-4) In Luke’s gospel, Jesus is at the center of everything until chapter 24. Jesus has risen, but in today’s text, you won’t see Jesus. We are meant to ask, “why.”
Sermon Outline
1. Scene One: A Surprising Discovery Vs. 1-4
2. Scene Two: A Forgotten Promise Vs. 4-8
3. Scene Three: A Decision Point Vs. 8-12
