And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Luke 10:2

Jesus is saying there is a lot of work to do for Gods Kingdom , yet he cant find anyone to do any work? Sound familiar? How many of you have ever coached or volunteered for an organization, and when you try to find anyone to help everyone runs away? Why? Because people want money, people want great recognition, people want to be famous, nobody wants to labor for free, right?

Again this is a heart issue, people still living for the world trying to merge Jesus with it. The world and Jesus will never coexist as they are in opposition of each other. Jesus says the laborers are few, the world tells us we have billions of Christians. Where are they? With these numbers we should have an evangelist at every street corner in the world

“Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Luke 10:3

But you say “Oh they’ll make fun of me, they’ll mock me, they might even kill me” Yes Jesus said anyone who wants to save their life must lose it. When you come to Christ, nothing else is of more importance! What happens when lamb are around wolves? They get torn apart, likely killed. This is exactly what Jesus is preparing us for

Your persecution is not a surprise to Christ, he warned us this would happen! The harvest is plentiful, are you willing to go to work in the name of Jesus?

And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” Luke 9:59

A lot of people say they want to “Follow Jesus” but are you willing to follow him at any cost? When it doesn’t cost us anything, following is easy. However if it costs us something in return we hesitate to answer our calling

This example seems extreme, how can Jesus expect this man to miss his own Fathers funeral? However it’s the context, it’s the test of heart. There are obviously greater things in this mans life than serving The Lord. It may be an extreme example but truth doesn’t have feelings.

But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:60

Jesus responds “Let the dead bury the dead”! This is a profound statement as we know without Christ everyone is dead in their sins. Jesus said Go proclaim or preach everywhere! This was this mans mission, to be set apart from the world.

Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” Luke 9:61

Heres another example, they said they will follow Jesus when time permits. Again this sounds like another extreme example . However again its about priorities and your heart. What priorities are above serving God?

But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

Jesus has some harsh words for this man, anyone who keeps putting other things ahead of their service to God is not fit to serve God. Wow , this is extreme, however our God is extreme also , isn’t he?

Now I’m sure we all failed this test, I know I have. However I think Jesus point here is to really challenge ourselves and examine our relationship with him. Before you agree to serve make sure you are willing to pay the cost!

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. Luke 9:23

What does it cost to be a Christian? Is it a onetime event where you come to Jesus and be saved? Or is it a daily walk in a transformed life? Well actually its both, the day you come to Jesus in full repentance and receive him as your Lord and Savior, you are saved and become Born Again! However your work is not done its just beginning

The Christian walk is not as easy as it sounds. Just look at the early Apostles, all but one was murdered for their faith. The temptations of sin will challenge you , that’s why Jesus said we must deny ourselves daily. Give up the flesh and be led by the Spirit. Sounds easy? Not in a corrupted body, but the power of the Holy Spirit will guide you if you listen

Deny Yourself- Give up the pursuit of temptations of the flesh

Carry Your Cross– Endure hardships and suffering for The Lord

Follow Jesus– Be a true servant of Christ, as he is your Lord (Master)

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. Luke 9:24

Again if you truly want to be a Christian there has to be a transformation, a lifestyle change. You cant keep living in your old sin and be saved, what did Jesus save you from then? Just as the Israelites were freed from the slavery and bondage of Egypt, you have been freed from the bondage and slavery of sin and death. But you must come out of that sin and follow Jesus to the Promise Land!

If you want to save your life , you must lose your old life, the only way is Jesus Christ!

Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” Luke 7:48
Who does he think he is? Who can forgive sin except God alone? One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner at his house, and the dinner event turned into something he will never forget.

First this sinful woman shows up at his house uninvited and starts washing the feet of Jesus. The Pharisee is appalled this woman would come into his home but he’s more insulted that Jesus would have anything to do with this woman. The Pharisee says “If this man was a prophet , he would know this woman was a sinner”! (Luke 7:39)

However instead of Jesus rebuking the Pharisee he teaches Peter a lesson about forgiving sin.

For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Luke 7:47

All these Pharisees believe they are more righteous than this woman, yet this woman shows more love and compassion than any of them. How can we expect to be forgiven of our sin when we wont forgive anyone of their sin? We would be a hypocrite, right! The Pharisees were hypocrites, this is why Jesus showed more honor and compassion to the sinful woman

Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” Luke 7:49

Jesus told this woman your sins are forgiven, who does he think he is? We know who he is, he is the Son of the Living God, Immanuel. He has all power and authority to forgive sin, his deity is being revealed again!

And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:50

So what did this woman have to do to be saved? Her faith alone in Jesus Christ saved her, she believe he was the Christ and came to him for forgiveness. The work was completed at the cross, come to Jesus to be forgiven!

for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. Luke 7:7

What is your attitude when you are approaching Jesus? Here is a man who is a Centurion, A Centurion was a Roman military office, so as this man stated he had great power and authority from a worldly perspective.  (Luke 7:8)

But the amazing thing is this Roman Centurion actually recognized who Jesus is and gave him the respect and admiration that he deserved. First he showed humility ands second he showed faith that Jesus was able to heal his servant

Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” Luke 7:9

Just as we are amazed this man understood who Jesus is, the Lord marveled at this mans faith. Here is a Roman Gentile Military leader coming to Jesus in faith, while the Jewish religious leaders rejected Christ and wanted him dead

This is the respect and faith we need to come to Jesus with!

And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. Luke 5:31

The religious leaders couldn’t understand it, why would Jesus associate with sinners? Why would Jesus even acknowledge their existence? It was custom practice to banish anyone who was “unclean”, those people considered “unclean” had no rights, they were not even allowed to own property, let alone sit at the table with The Lord

“I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32

Jesus said he didn’t come for the “righteous” he came to save the unclean sinners! So who is the righteous and who is the sinner? Well Jesus said “Nobody is good but God alone” (Luke 18:19) So why do these men believe they are righteous? Do they believe they don’t need a Savior?

This is the biggest issue with most people, they believe they are more righteous than they truly are. The Bible tells us “We have ALL fallen short of the Glory of God and are Sinners” (Romans 3:23) When you understand this, you understand that you need a Savior and Jesus came here for You!

Another thing to note is Jesus said he came to call Sinners (US) to Repentance! To repent means to change your mind or turn away from your old ways. When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior , hes going to change you!

And He was also telling them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. Luke 5:36

Jesus went on to teach them about the parable of the new wine skin. Meaning when you come to Christ and become Born Again, your not going to be Old Wine going into a New Wine Skin. Your going to become “New Wine” (Born Again) in a New Wine Skin (Resurrected Body)

Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” Luke 5:20

People who deny the deity of Christ, would say he never said he was God. However what did Jesus do and say here? Jesus saw the faith of this man and forgave him of his sins, who has the authority to do this? Could Moses ever forgive your sin? Could Abraham ever forgive your sin? Could Paul ever forgive your sin? No of course not, these are just mortal men, Jesus is more than a prophet or a great teacher, he is God in the Flesh (John 1:14)

The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” Luke 5:21

The Religious leaders understood this, they knew only God alone can forgive our sin. This is why they wanted to charge Jesus with blasphemy, this is why they wanted to crucify him. Because Jesus is demonstrating and declaring he is God in the flesh!

But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk ‘? Luke 5:22-23

Jesus could also read the hearts and minds of these religious leaders and knew exactly what they were thinking. Instead of them listening to the Holy Spirit about who Jesus is, they listened to their own human intellect which is limited and blinded by human pride

“But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”– He said to the paralytic– “I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.” Luke 5:24

The Son of Man (Messiah) which was prophesied by Daniel is Jesus who all power and authority has been given to him in Heaven and on Earth (Matthew 28:18) Jesus has declared and demonstrated that He is the Living God in the Flesh!

“I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins. Isaiah 43:25

The Prophet Isaiah made it clear by the Holy Spirit, that God alone forgives Sin, nobody else! The fact that Jesus can forgive Sin makes it very clear he is God in the Flesh!