Luke 4:42–44 (ESV)
Jesus Preaches in Synagogues
42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns
as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Oh boy, a short reading for today. I promise to take advantage of it! Jesus has been preaching
and they are wanting more. When Jesus leaves to get away to a desolate or solitary place to pray. I say pray, because this is the reason mentioned in Mark 1:35. When they confront him and want him to come back and preach some more, he basically
says no. The scripture states Jesus saying “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” The Good News which is the Gospel must be shared with other towns,
therefore Jesus must keep moving from town to town. Preaching is crucial even today. Jesus says “for I was sent for this purpose.” It is the hearing of God’s Word that brings faith to the hearers. “17
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” Romans 10:17 (ESV). Preaching the Word of God is still important today and is one of the pastor’s highest priority. This is part of our Third Commandment: Remember
the Sabbath Day, keep it Holy. Martin Luther writes in his Small Catechism for the Third Commandment:
What does this mean?
Answer:
We should fear and love God, and so we should not despise his Word and the preaching of the same, but deem it holy and gladly hear and learn it.
I pray: O Lord, help me to never despise the preaching
of your Word, but deem it holy and gladly hear and learn it. Help me to hunger for your word and let the Holy Spirit shape and mold me according to your Word and Will. Help me to never take my eyes off of you. Forgive me when I do.
I give thanks to you for my God given faith, forgiveness, and eternal life. Amen.