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Listen to Jesus

Luke 9:28-35

Key Verse: 35

            “A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."”

            This study has a challenging title. “Listen to Jesus.” It is hard to listen to Jesus because pop music is so much more fun. Do you have the audio Bible on the iPod? Who can listen to Jesus when there is homework to do and products to sell, and lessons to prepare? How can we listen to Jesus when the super bowl is starting in a few minutes? It is really hard to listen to Jesus when it’s time to study the Bible. Many are inclined to read the Bible, speculate about it, and then ignore what they read. Listening to Jesus seems boring, because many of us heard his sayings many times already. In spite of all this, “listen to Jesus” might be the most important direction God ever gave. Let’s determine to listen to Jesus today. If we listen to Jesus we can learn God’s hope for us, each one can find direction for living, and most important of all, we can discover salvation from sin and learn the way to eternal life. 

1 He went up on a mountain to pray

            Look at verse 28. “About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.” it is written in Luke 5:15 that Jesus would often withdraw from the the crowds to solitary places for a time of prayer. One of those times he prayed all night for a very important decision. “When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles...” Last week, in Luke 9, Jesus prayed in private again, then asked his disciples about their opinion regarding his identity. Peter had the right answer, “You are the Christ of God.” God heard Jesus’ prayer for his disciples to know who he is and enter a new life serving God as ambassadors from his kingdom.

            Jesus had something important to discuss with some servants of God, and he could have gone alone, but he took Peter, James and John with him so they may see a special glimpse of his glory. Seeing the work of God, and the glory revealed in this passage as Jesus prayed, I noticed that his prayer was not evaporating into the air. Jesus used his prayer time to earnestly seek God’s help, wisdom and direction. His prayer worked to reveal the glory of God to men too.

            Let’s read verse 29-31. “As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.” As Jesus prayed this time, Peter, James and John saw the most amazing and unimaginable things. They did not understand what was happening at the moment, but who can really understand even now? Later in his life Peter called this a sacred mountain, where he heard the voice of God honoring and glorifying Jesus. They are very few who have the chance to see such glory and tell about it. Paul was blind for three days when he saw Jesus. It is surely a supernatural thing to and I don’t even think we can imagine what it would be like. Most of us are waiting for the end of the age when we will see Jesus in glory and even be like him, when the trumpet sounds and the dead are raised and we shall be changed.

            We want to know more details about their conversation, and we could speculate a lot about why Moses and Elijah were talking with Jesus, but we don’t know for sure. If the disciples had been more mature and paying close attention we might know more, but they were simply astounded. Look at verse 33. “As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)” Peter had no idea what he was saying, and his desire turns out completely backward from God’s hope. This happened a few times in the Bible stories about Peter. It might happen many times in my life too. Sometimes it is best to stand in awe of God and accept the fact that he is glorious and we are just his disciples. Let’s read verse 34 and 35 together. “While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."”

2 Listen to Jesus

            Can you remember the first thing Jesus said in Luke’s gospel. It is in Luke 2:49 "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" The next time Jesus spoke in Luke’s Gospel, he shared the word of God with Satan. Luke 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'" Luke 4:8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" Luke 4:12 Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

            Some time after his temptation Jesus came to his home town and was called on to read a passage from Isaiah, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

            Then he shared a heart rending sermon. He began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." The people were amazed at first but soon turned hard in their hearts and despised Jesus for not displaying some great power to them. So he said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.' I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his hometown. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian."

            These are good examples of the kind of things Jesus said to the people he met. As I listened to Jesus say these things I heard him declare his identity. I see that he obeyed and trusted the word of God above his own desire and chose to obey God rejecting tempting offers for benefit or glory in the world. He made it clear that he was not doing miracles to impress anyone and that he has no responsibility to any person to do what they require of him. Rather people should trust Jesus at his word and obey him as the Christ. These were conversations with the spirits, with individuals, and with the crowds. They were focused on the word of God and they explained God’s will for Jesus, his mission and the reality that only those who really trust him at his word will see his glory revealed.

            In Luke 5 Jesus spoke directly to several people. The first was Peter. He said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." After turning up the fish Simon got scared because of the power of Jesus to make his net’s overflow. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." Later he met a man with leprosy who begged to be healed. Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, "Don't tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." Next he spoke to a paralyzed man when his friends lowered him through the roof. “When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."” A few minutes later he told the man to get up and walk, and he did. He spoke so kindly to the paralyzed man in front of the Pharisees to teach us a lesson. He did it so that “you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He also talked directly (in 5:27) to Levi, "Follow me," Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. It was a life giving word that took Levi from his mundane, petty existence and began transforming him into a holy messenger of God’s good news.

            Each of these personal conversations, “one to one” with a certain sinner had life changing power. When each one listened to Jesus, they found new life and new direction to honor and serve God as witness of Jesus’ glory. Jesus personal words are the ones we should listen to the most. I think they are really blessed people who hear one word from Jesus and obey it.

            Though amazing, life giving work of God was going on, the Pharisees had no joy listening to Jesus. They were upset because Jesus went to dinner at Levi the sinner’s house and because Jesus was not fasting twice a week as they did. To the Pharisees who doubted him, he said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" and then he told them a parable. "No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.'" (36-39) Jesus message is alive and changing people like wine fermenting in a wineskin. He is speaking to you and to me the same message. We need a new life and new heart and new mind to serve him. We must listen to him rather than the religious leaders who distort the Bible. We must listen to Jesus more than our own ideas about what is good for us to do or to have.

            In Luke chapter 6 the Pharisees kept refusing to listen to Jesus because he was breaking the Sabbath law as his disciples tried to eat some grains of wheat. Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." (3-5) Right after that Jesus came across a man whose right hand was shriveled in the synagogue. The unbelievers watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. Jesus told the man, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." When he was standing there Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?" Nobody answered him, though they all new the answer. Jesus said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 

            Listening to Jesus restored the man to society, but the Pharisees could not see the hope of God. If they listened to Jesus they might learn God’s heart to heal suffering sinners, making them complete men and women who can work hard for God. They might join Jesus’ work sharing his love and mercy to the ends of the earth. If we listen to Jesus we can help him fill up kingdom of God with transformed souls.

            Isn’t listening to Jesus much better than listening to movies or the top ten pop music charts. Let’s spend a few minutes to listening to Jesus’ most famous sermon in Luke 6.

            "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.

            But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

            But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

            Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

            Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

            Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

            God’s will for human beings is written in this sermon. He wants us to be more and more like him. Generous and forgiving, humble and eager to help others. Speaking good things not bad, and always looking to heaven for our treasure and most desired hopes.       

            Sometimes Jesus says things that are utterly unreasonable, even impossible to imagine. But we should listen to him then too. For instance, Jesus once met a widow who son was on his way to be buried. Jesus said to her, “Don’t cry.” Can you imagine asking a widow not to cry for her only son’s funeral? It seems unreasonable. Jesus also spoke to here son. “Young man I say to you, get up.” That’s impossible but he got up. This made me think. If dead people can listen to Jesus’ words and obey, do we who are alive have any excuse not to listen? I don’t think so.

            Soon after that incident, some of John’s disciples came to ask if Jesus is the one they should follow. Jesus replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” Jesus went on speaking to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: "'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

            To the Pharisees nearby when he spoke to John’s disciples Jesus then added "To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: "'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.' For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."' But wisdom is proved right by all her children."

            Listening to Jesus speak about his contemporaries like this, I noticed there is no unimportant person in Jesus’ view. In Jesus’ view, the one who is least in his kingdom is greater than the greatest person on earth. He honors everyone who honors God and does what they can for God’s work. His heart is even broken for those who do not humble themselves to listen to him. There is a good example of such a person in the end of Luke chapter 7. There, a sinful woman interrupted a dinner party hosted by a certain Pharisee. He was perplexed when Jesus did not stop her from touching him. Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you. Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

            Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."

            "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

            It was a very personal lesson for Simon’s revealing his sinful pride and basic ingratitude toward Jesus. There is irony in such people. Though they won’t listen to Jesus, they might even consider inviting him to their homes, if they can have some benefit. Many people listen to Jesus just enough to convince themselves that they are right and Jesus is wrong. It happens all the time when Jesus’ direction conflicts with their religion, cultural pride or intellectual superiority. Simon and those like him would have a good result if could listen to Jesus and take his words to heart. But they miss the chance to and fall into destruction. Jesus talked about this reality once “while a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town.” He spoke about it with a parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown."         When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." It was a story about the people who hear God’s word. Ultimately only those with a good and noble heart can really listen to the word of God until it bears fruit. The rest fall away when Jesus’ words challenge them in some unacceptable manner. Those with ears to truly hear Jesus are blessed because Jesus will use them to light up the world. He illustrated this hope in another parable, saying: "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him." Just as he shared those lessons, his mother and brothers showed up to take him home. But Jesus did not go with them. He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice." Consider carefully how you listen to Jesus. Listen to him as the one who has the words of eternal life. Listen to his words as the best direction and way to eternal glory. Practice his words and you can grow in the image of God. If you listen to Jesus subjectively you will surely disregard him and mess up the chance to see his glory revealed in your life. 

            I was so moved by the many testimonies on Friday. I could see the grace of listening to Jesus’ words working in many lives. Some sharers have listened to Jesus for many years. Their testimonies were so long and thoughtful and full of vision and repentance. Some just started listening to Jesus. Their testimonies were concise and very practical. What Jesus said is true. Those with more time listening to Jesus got more testimony to share. Those with less time had a little less testimony to share. Yet, each one was very precious. A professor, a company president, a new school teacher, and several undergrads revealed the power of listening to Jesus. His words became light to help see our sinful condition and they gave us courage to expose our deep sin problems to him for healing and forgiveness. His words are inspiring each one in ever changing ways to become more like him. Listening to him sparks more and more passion to seek his sheep on the campus and at home. Thank you Jesus ears that hear your words and the way your words have transformed us so many lives among us. Please give us many more. Teach us to live for your glory as holy people, humble and eager to do your will.

            Next in Luke 8:22-25 there is the story of Jesus calming the storm. He said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." The storm hit and when the disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. Then he asked his disciples, "Where is your faith?" Listening to Jesus’ personal questions can be challenging. In 8:37 he asked demon possessed man "What is your name?" The demons in him began speaking and Jesus sent them out. Then he said to the man, "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." Not long after that, a woman with a bleeding problem touched Jesus’ cloak and was healed. She hoped to sneak away, but Jesus began asking "Who touched me?" She did not speak up right away, so Jesus demanded to know saying, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me." Finally she confessed and Jesus said, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." As I consider Jesus’ personal questions in these cases, I see that he questions us personally with a precious hope to plant faith in us and help us share praise for the work of God work in our lives.  

            The last words of Jesus I’d like to reconsider are also in chapter 8. He spoke to Jairus as the servants arrived to tell him that his daughter was dead, so he should not bother Jesus anymore. Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed." It was another case where Jesus allowed Peter, John and James to go with him to see the work of God, as in today’s passage. All the people were wailing and mourning for her and Jesus said, "Stop wailing, She is not dead but asleep." They laughed but he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" Listening to Jesus, rather than the servants and or his own realistic thinking, brought great joy to Jairus and put those who scoffed at Jesus to shame.

            Let’s read 9:35 again. “A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."” There are many examples of things Jesus had to say in this message. Considering the results in the life of those who listened to him and those who did not, I see that listening to Jesus produces faith that trusts God and transforms our lives for the glory of God in many ways. Jesus has more amazing, life changing things things to tell us coming up in Luke’s gospel. I pray we may listen to him, get to know him, become more like him and imitate him sharing the words of eternal life with many so they may come to Jesus and find forgiveness for their sins.