“Who Can Forgive Sin?”

Luke 5:17-26 (click to display NIV text)
Feb. 17, 2013: First Sunday in Lent
Pastor Dwight A. Nelson

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’ The Pharisees and teachers of the Law began thinking to themselves, ‘Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ ”

Jesus is the Savior. The angel says to the shepherds, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.” Now Luke reveals Jesus who is the Savior. How will Jesus express his role as Savior? It is by forgiving sins and healing and leading people to faith.

First we need to understand Jesus’ ministry of healing. The ancient world had a view of healing that was somewhat different than our modern medical understanding. Read more

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Deeper in Christ

Luke 5:1-11 (click to display NIV text)
Feb. 10, 2013
Pastor Dwight A. Nelson

“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ ”

Jesus is Lord. That is the message that Luke opens up to us in chapter 5. He began his Gospel by telling us that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, and the Savior. Then he showed us Jesus the teacher of the Word. In chapter 4 he revealed Jesus as the prophet, mighty in word and deed. Now he says “Jesus is Lord.”

The people of Nazareth did not accept Jesus, especially in his role as prophet. They tried to kill him. But Jesus walked through them and he went to Capernaum, where he taught the people. There he silenced and cast out an evil spirit in a man, and then he healed Peter’s mother-in-law from a high fever, and healed many others. The demons recognize him as the Son of God, but they are resisting him and not accepting him. Jesus goes on to proclaim Good News in the villages of Galilee.

Now in chapter 5, the narrative changes. Read more

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“This Friend Is the Savior”

Luke 4:22-30 (click to display NIV text)
Feb. 3, 2013
Pastor Dwight A. Nelson

“All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. ‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son?’ they asked.”

Luke tells us that Jesus began his ministry by teaching in the synagogues of Galilee and everyone praised him. We then learn in verse 23 that the people in Nazareth heard of what he did in Capernaum and wanted him to do those things in Nazareth as well. That probably meant teaching along with healing miracles, a ministry of word and deed.

People have always loved a good teacher. News gets around fast when a well respected teacher comes to a university or to a high school or to a church. People are eager to take a class. Whether it is moms registering their children for kindergarten or college students registering for classes, it does not take long to find out who the good teachers are and which ones to avoid. That news travels about as fast as any. We value a good teacher.

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The Good News

Luke 4:14-21 (click to display NIV text)
Jan. 27, 2013
Pastor Dwight A. Nelson

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.”

On Friday I asked the men’s Bible study group what they had experienced in times of returning to their hometown or to a family gathering after being gone for a time. For one the family had changed drastically in his absence and so there was no celebration of his return. For another, the town had changed drastically in the intervening years, so the setting for the reunion was almost unrecognizable. For several of us there seemed to be no change in the people of our hometowns or families, so they were unable to affirm that we in fact had changed, had grown, and become something other than the funny little kid they had known. So often, when you return home after being away, people do not know who you are; they only know who you were.

Jesus returned to Galilee. The first 3 ½ chapters of the Gospel of Luke take place in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and the wilderness by the Jordan River. Now, “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit.” He returned to where he had grown up after perhaps being gone for some time. The people ask, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” But now there is something different about him. We know from the first three chapters that he is the Son of God who will live by the Word of God. But the people of Nazareth do not seem to know that. Read more

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Stones to Bread, and Bread to Stones

Luke 4:1-13 (click to display NIV text)
January 20, 2013
Pastor Dwight A. Nelson

“The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: man shall not live on bread alone.’ “

Jesus faces three tests in the wilderness. All three are deceptive words from the devil that threaten his relationship with the Father. The temptations cast doubt on Jesus identity as the Son of God. This is the identity that has been established in the first three chapters of Luke:

  •  Gabriel announces it to Mary.
  •  Jesus demonstrates his relationship to the Father at the temple when he is twelve.
  • A voice from heaven saying, “This is my Son, whom I love” is heard at his baptism.  It is written into the genealogy.
  • Jesus is the Son of God. Read more
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