Why Miracles series: The Gospel Is Preached
Go Tell John
Then Jesus answering said unto them,
Go your way, and tell John
what things ye have seen and heard;
- how that the blind see,
- the lame walk,
- the lepers are cleansed,
- the deaf hear,
- the dead are raised,
- to the poor the gospel is preached.
Miracles
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
(John 20:30-31)
Purpose of Signs and Miracles
Miracles Attesting Jesus The Messiah
1) Miracle of Sight
2) Miracle of Walking Lame
3) Miracle of Cleansed Lepers
4) Miracle of the Deaf Hearing
5) Miracle of Dead Are Raised
6) Sign of Gospel Preaching (to the poor).
THE FIRST THREE SIGNS
The Blind, The Lame, and The Leper
- Prohibited from entering the Temple
- Prohibited from service, worship, or sacrifice.
THE FOURTH AND FIFTH SIGNS
The Deaf and The Dead
- Symbolic of the state of Israel – They are dull of hearing.
- Matthew 13:13 / Mark 4:12 Hearing they do not hear.
- Isaiah 6:9-10. (Quoted by Matthew and Mark)
- Symbolic of the state of Israel –
- Isaiah 59:1,2,10 Blind and Dead
- Matthew 8:22 Let the dead bury their dead
- Luke 15:24 Prodigal was “dead”
The Sixth Sign: The Gospel Preached to The Poor
This leads to three questions.
- Is Jesus the Anointed? (Are you the one?)
- Who are the poor?
- What is the gospel that Jesus preached?
Isaiah 61:1-2a The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD (next is vengeance).
See Luke 4:18-19 Jesus reads this passage and stops here!
JESUS: THE ANOINTED
The “Anointed One” is a title for the Messiah (Hebrew) or the Christ (Greek).
He is not anointed by man as are prophets, priests and kings of Israel.
He is promised in the prophecy of Daniel (9:25); See Luke 3:21 (Spirit upon Him)
1 Kings 19:16
Prophets are anointed with the authority to speak to man for God
Exodus 29:7
Priests are anointed with the authority to speak to God for man.
Kings are anointed with the authority to rule for God
1 Samuel 9:16(Saul);16:13 (Davd); 2 Samuel 23:1; 1 Kings 19:15-16
Daniel 9:25 points Jesus as Messiah the King (The triumphal entry)
we celebrate this event as “Palm Sunday”.
This is what John asks when his disciples say, “Are you the one?”
This has been the point of the study and the purpose of the Gospel of John.
WHO ARE THE POOR
Isaiah 61:1 identifies the audience as the [ עניו / ענו ] ‛ânâv / ‛ânâyv translated “poor” (NIV), “afflicted” (NASB); and “meek” (KJV). This is a word that encompasses a broad group of people, such that no single English word seems sufficient.
There is a hint at the end of the reading “to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD” as to whom these people are.
The Favorable Year of the LORD is a reference to Jubilee. Israel was to follow a cycle of fifty years. Every seventh year, they were to let the land rest. Leviticus 25:1-7 They was to be the public reading of the Law in the seventh year (Deuteronomy 31:10-13). Then after seven times seven, they were to allow the land to rest for two years. Leviticus 25:8-12
When Israel failed to follow this covenant obligation, they were placed in captivity for seventy years, the number of years they owed the LORD. 2 Chronicles 36:21 explains Jeremiah’s prophecy (Jeremiah 25:1,12)
To identify the poor, compare the Law of Jubilee in Leviticus 25 with the afflicted in Isaiah 61.
| The Year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25 | The Poor of Isaiah 61 |
| (v13) Return every man his possession (v17) You shall not oppress one another (v40-41) Set the captive/slave free [Sold/Enslaved for their debts] Laws of Sabbath Years Deuteronomy 15:1 Release debts. [Return their pledge: See Ephesians 1:14] | (v1) Poor/Meak (v1) Broken hearted (oppressed) (v1) Captives set free [See Leviticus] |
Deuteronomy 15:11
“Poor Never Cease”;
Compare Matthew 26:11; Mark 14:7; John 12:8
These are the outcasts of Israel that Luke describes with the most detail.
From the viewpoint of the religious
Why does your master eat with publicans and sinners?
Matthew: 9:10-11; 11:19
Mark 2:15-16
Luke 5:30; 7:34,37;15:2
Compare Jeremiah 50:6 “The shepherds caused them to go astray”
From the viewpoint of the LORD
The Lost Sheep of Israel
Matthew 10:6; 15:24
Luke 15:4,6
LOST / PERISHING – Not synonyms. The same word!
John 3:15,16 He that believeth on me shall never (no never) “perish”
Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Elsewhere in the gospels: mostly translated lost as in lost sheep.
1 Corinthians 1:18 Those that are perishing [same word]
2 Corinthians 4:3 The term is translated “lost” as used by Paul here are those in need of the gospel.
2 Peter 3:9 The LORD is not willing that any should perish.
Putting it all together.
Luke 15:1 The publicans and sinners are observing.
Luke 15:2 The Pharisees and scribes challenge the LORD Jesus
Luke 15:4 “What man of you?”
Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
These are the poor spoken of by the prophet and by Jesus.
Finally, what is the gospel that was preached by Jesus?
THE GOSPEL PREACHED
“Have the gospel preached to them.” This is one word in the Greek (euangelizo) = are told the good news or glad tidings (Isa_61:1). (Bullinger)
Adam Clark gives a preacher’s response.
The poor have the Gospel preached to them – And what was this Gospel? Why, the glad tidings that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners: that he opens the eyes of the blind; enables the lame to walk with an even, steady, and constant pace in the way of holiness; cleanses the lepers from all the defilement of their sins; opens the ears of the deaf to hear his pardoning words; and raises those who were dead in trespasses and sins to live in union with himself to all eternity.
This sounds good, but is that what Jesus preached?
How does that compare to the message of Isaiah 61 and Luke 4:18-19?
Various authors list as many as five gospels in Scripture. This would be a great study in itself, but the purpose here is to establish the Gospel Preached to the Poor. For simplicity, I am going to limit the list for this study to three gospels.
The English word “gospel” simply means “good news.” It has come to be associated primarily with the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the gospel that we preach today. We will end with that gospel. However, that is not the gospel preached in the Old Testament, or in the gospels by John who is called the Baptist or by the LORD Jesus.
A point to consider that is often overlooked is that the Gospels are Old Testament literature. The gospels record events primarily before the Cross of Christ.
The Eternal Gospel
The Eternal Gospel anticipates a man to reverse the curse of Adam and rule over creation.
Proclaimed from Adam to Abraham, it announced the judgment of the LORD and the promise of redemption through the Seed of The Woman. The promise was simply that a Savior would come to reverse the curse of Adam. Genesis 3:15 records that promise. It promises the defeat of Satan, and restoration of man’s relationship to the LORD. Eve looked for the promise. When Cain was born, she proclaimed “I have gotten a man, the LORD!” It is this response by Eve that anticipates the Savior to be the LORD Himself. As you know, Cain was not the one, nor was Able, whom he killed.
Methuselah, who’s name means, “his death shall bring it,” has a son Lamech. Lamech anticipates (looks for) the Savior, perhaps in his son. Now he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed.” Gen 5:29 And from Noah, the promise continues through Shem.
God promised Abraham that through him, all the families of the earth would be blessed. Genesis 12:3. Abraham received the promised son, Isaac, in his old age, but he was not the one, nor was Jacob, whom the LORD called Israel.
We see the Eternal Gospel again at the end of ages (Revelation 14:6)
The Gospel of the Kingdom
The first promise of a king to rule is from the blessings of Israel to his sons. The blessing to Judah is “the scepter shall not depart from Judah.” (Genesis 49:10) This is the transition to the next gospel.
Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom. Matthew 4:23 (Matthew 4;17)
Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:1-2
Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount with these words.
He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:2-3)
Jesus said that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17)
The Gospel of the Kingdom anticipates the Savior promised to Eve, will come as a King to rule over not only Israel, but to rule over the whole world.
This gospel does not replace the Everlasting Gospel. This gospel continues with the promise of the Seed of the Woman. To this it is added that the Savior would come through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), Judah, and finally David.
This begins with the anticipation of a King and a Kingdom. Israel (Jacob) spoke of a kingdom ruled by a man from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10).
Moses adds the prophecy, “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel.” (Numbers 24:17) This prophecy is partly fulfilled at the mount of transfiguration when Moses is seen talking with Jesus. (Mark 9:4; Matthew 17:3; Luke 9:30)
The promise to David from the LORD is, “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:16)
The writer of Hebrews quotes the psalmist, (Hebrews 1:8)
This gospel anticipates and proclaims the coming of the King and the Kingdom promised by the LORD. It promises restoration of Israel and judgment.
The genealogy of the LORD Jesus in Matthew traces his lineage from Abraham through David to Joseph. This demonstrate that He has a right to the Davidic throne.
The genealogy of the LORD Jesus in Luke traces his linage from Adam (Eve) also through David to Mary. This demonstrates that he is both the promised Seed of the Woman promised to Eve and the rightful heir to the Davidic throne.
His birth is according to prophecy. When the Magi arrive and ask where the “King of the Jews” was to be born, the Jewish scholars point them to Bethlehem where they bestow upon Him gifts fit for a king.
Jesus Teaches Concerning The Kingdom
The words, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like” appears at seven times and “The Kingdom of God is like” appears twice in the gospels, spoken by the LORD Jesus. The Kingdom of Heaven appears thirty-two times in Matthew alone, the Kingdom of God appears twice.
There are two views: They are the same versus one is National Israel and the other is universal including the Gentiles. I am not going to argue for either of these here. There are other kingdom names besides these. That is also beyond the scope of this study.
There are seven or eight “Parables of the Kingdom” depending on how you count. These and the Sermon on the Mount establish firmly the message that the LORD preached is concerning the Kingdom
The Parables of The Kingdom
Mathew 13:31 The Mustard Seed
Matthew 13:33 The Leaven
Matthew 13:44 Treasure Hid in a Field
Matthew 13:45 The Pearl of Great Price
Matthew 13:47 The Net of Fish
Matthew 13:52 Treasure Old and New
Matthew 20:1 Laborers in the Vineyard
Mark 4:26 The seed planted
.
The Kingdom is Offered and Rejected
Back to Luke 4. After quoting the Isaiah 61, stopping mid-sentence, Jesus closes the scroll and says “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21 Their response in the next verse is “Is this not Joseph’s son?” This narrative ends with the driving Him out of the city to cast Him off a cliff.
Excerpts from John’s gospel further point the genuine offer of the Kingdom.
The hour is coming and now is
John 4:23 True worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.
John 5:25 The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live!
John 12:27 Now is the judgment of his world; Now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
John 13:31 Now is the Son of God glorified.
And finally in response to Pilate,
John 18:36 “My kingdom is not of this world, but now is my kingdom not from this realm”
The Jewish leaders of the first century anticipated a king that would judge the nations, remove the rule of Rome, and establish a kingdom. Their concept was that Messiah would come as a warrior King, like David. When it was clear that Jesus was not the king they were looking for, they rejected Him.
A week before the cross Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey to the sound of praise and the waving of palm branches. We celebrate this as Palm Sunday. This appears in all four gospels.
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
“SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, ‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.’” Matthew 21:4-5 (also Mark 11, Luke 19, John 12) Quoted from Zechariah 9:9.
What was the charge presented to Pilate? The answer is found in Pilate’s words, “Behold your king!” (John 19:14) and Isreael responds, “We have no king but Caesar!”
Israel rejected Jesus as King, delaying the kingdom. During the time of tribulation described in Thessalonians and Revelation, this gospel is preached again. When the King returns this time He will judge all the earth and setup His Kingdom. This is what follows in the Isaiah 61:2 prophecy, “The Day of Vengeance of our God!”.
Depending on your eschatology, this is yet to come!
The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
The third gospel is the one most familiar to us. Again, there are several descriptive names which some maintain are various gospels.
Mark begins with the words, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). From this we call the four books that provide the words and works of the LORD Jesus “gospels” because they are good news about the Savior” Here it is used in a general sense.
The teaching of Paul and his companions is called “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Paul calls it “the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1; 15:16) and in the same chapter “the gospel of His Son” (Romans 1:9). He calls it “my gospel” (Roman 2:16), and the “gospel of Christ” (Romans 15:19; 1 Corinthians 9:12).
This gospel does not replace the Eternal Gospel which promises a man that will reverses the curse of death and restore the rule of man upon the earth. This gospel does not replace the Gospel of the Kingdom that promises a Davidic King that will restore the nation of Israel and judge the nations. This gospel adds to those.
Like the Eternal Gospel, this gospel is for all mankind.
- This gospel fulfills the promise to Eve that Seed of the Woman would judge the serpent, promised long before Israel was a nation. It was promised to all men that descend from Adam. This promise includes Gentiles.
- This gospel fulfills the promise to Abraham that through his seed (not seeds) all nations would be blessed. Again, this is before Israel was a nation. This promise includes Gentiles.
Like the Gospel of the Kingdom, this gospel is for Israel. This promise fulfills the promise that the Son of David will reign forever. Jesus reigns upon His throne in Heaven now, and will reign upon His throne on Earth.
The gospel of Jesus Christ reverses the curse of Adam, offering life. The sacrifices of Adam and others prior to Moses and the Levitical sacrifices after Moses are no longer symbolic, they are no longer partial, and they are no longer temporary.
Through one sacrifice of Himself, the gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ offers true forgiveness of sins, true righteousness, and eternal life by believing upon His name.
The sacrifices of bulls and goats can never take away sin. (Hebrews 10:4)
We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:10)
2 Corinthians 5:21
He was sinless
He became sin – instead of us.
We become the righteousness of God
1 Corinthian 15 explains this gospel best.
(v1) “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,”
(v2) “by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.”
(v3) “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received,
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,” [Why Christ died.]
(v4) “and that He was buried, and [Proof that He died]
that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”
(v5) “and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” [Proof that He lives]
(v1) This is the gospel in the words of Paul.
(v2) This is the way to be saved, believe.
Except ye believed in vain (ektos ei mē eikēi episteusate).
See 15:14: Paul’s argument is that Christ has been raised and his preaching and our faith is not in vain.
(v3) This is why Jesus died! Not as an example. He is our substitute.
(v4) Buried: Proof that He died; Raised again.
(v5) Seen: Proof that He lives.
What is your response to the Gospel?
What keeps you from putting your trust in the Lord Jesus now?
Will you come to faith in Him today.