The Gospel of Grace by Pete BriscoeSample

Love & Leaving

The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. —Mark Twain

Those next in line when Jesus announced He had to go were likely the ones who tried to keep Him from leaving. Luke tells us the people physically detained Jesus, holding Him down so He couldn’t leave. They were desperate for Him to stay.

It must have been difficult for them to see that they were important to Him, but something most important was calling His name.

What was it?

He said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” And He kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. (Luke 4:43-44)

“I must preach the Gospel…”

Luke uses the word must to show us the essence of Jesus’ ministry—what He found to be most important. So, what was the essence of Jesus’ ministry?

Proclaiming the Gospel of God’s Kingdom to those who hadn’t heard it yet.

In Roman times, the word gospel was used in the secular world, too. When a new emperor ascended the throne, heralds announced the “good news” all throughout the kingdom. Jesus borrowed this idea to explain His mission. There was good news of a new king on the scene—a King in the Kingdom of God!

So Jesus went and preached the Good News. And we know the content of His message: He was here to help the helpless and proclaim the arrival of God’s acceptance—the Gospel of grace.

Jesus left the sick and the lame to proclaim grace to those who hadn’t yet heard it. This was the most important thing to Jesus. And because He still lives through us by His indwelling Spirit, it should be the most important thing to us as well.

Jesus, You want me to preach the Gospel of grace? What if I use the wrong words or say the wrong thing? What if I’m rejected? Speak through me. Give me the words. Make it my most important thing, too. Amen.