30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 14-17 The cross and the kingdom of God 08 The cross is the only message of hope
📖 Luke 16:14-17
11Apr2020 - *The cross is the only message of hope* - _Luke 16:14-17_ - Bible reading: _Luke 24:17-27_
_Luke 16:16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it._
Today the whole world is in a state of anguish and foreboding. We are worried and not at all certain as to what the future holds for us. Leaders all over the world are addressing issues at all levels and hoping that soon life will get back to normal. A worldwide quest has begun in right earnest for sustainable solutions. This disease has thrown fundamental issues open that were not addressed hitherto.
Yet, what we see happening is that we are still addressing the symptoms. What is our disease? Where lies our solution? Is it in finding an anti-virus? Will it solve our woes?
The real problem for man is not this epidemic, it is our rebellion from God. We chose to reject God out of our lives. We chose to be independent from God.
God created a beautiful world and then created man with tremendous potentials to rule His creation, on His behalf _(Genesis 1:26-28, Psalm 8:4-9)_ The creation had built into it, laws and principles that we were to discover with the use of the knowledge, skill and wisdom that God gave us. We were to look after and develop God’s creation. The results of our discoveries, in various fields, were to make these to be a blessing for the whole of society.
We were one with God in His purpose of being His regents over His creation. Since we were one with God, we were also one within ourselves, one with one another and one with the creation, which glorified God. The earth was in harmony and in complete well-being, which is what the Old Testament prophets referred to as “The Shalom of God”.
So, the solution for man is in His reconciliation with God, which we lost. This is why there was the cross. This was what was being prophesied about Jesus until the time of John. The disciples should have understood what was happening at the cross, for Jesus had repeatedly told them as to what will happen to Him at Jerusalem. Yet, at the crucifixion, the disciples were completely bewildered with the events.
As these two disciples were walking to Emmaus, they were overcome with grief for suddenly all that they had hoped, was shattered. This was when Jesus joined them. _Luke 24:17-27 And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" (18) Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?" (19) And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, (20) and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. (21) But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. (22) Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. (23) When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. (24) And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."_
They poured out their confusion to Jesus. Did Jesus console them for their grief? No, He came down on them sharply. _(25) Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! (26) Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" (27) And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself._
After all these years, have we the church understood the purpose of the cross? I wonder? We are still going to Jesus asking Him to take away the symptoms of our crisis. Our prayer ought to be that man should come to the cross, be reconciled with God and be healed. _Luke 24:31-32 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him, and He vanished from their sight. (32) And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"_
Does our heart burn within us? Do we realise that we the church have the solution for man’s disease, which is the cross of Jesus Christ? If we do not share the resolution to man’s predicament at this time, aren’t we guilty?
*Thought to ponder*
If people perish since they did not get to know that there was a solution available for their predicament, what answer will those people give, who had the solution with them?