Things that Change When Jesus Comes

Title: Things that Change When Jesus Comes

Passage: Luke 6:12-26

When Jesus came, many things changed. We often divide time into BC and AD. Jesus is a historical figure, but also, personal changes can happen to each of us as well.

In today’s passage, we see the phrase “at this time” used. If there is “this time,” then there must have been a “that time” in the past. And there will be a future “that day” Jesus talked about. If living by the world’s standards was “that time,” then living by God’s standards is “this time.”

We need to focus on which standard we are living by, whether it’s the world’s or God’s. If we understand that, then we should ask ourselves what changes we need to make in our lives through this message.

In Luke 6:12, the contrast between “this time” and “that time” is clear.

At that time, people were filled with jealousy and were plotting to harm Jesus. This was also a time when Jesus often clashed with those who considered themselves religious leaders. Even when Jesus healed on the Sabbath, they accused him of breaking the law because they followed the law too literally. After “that time,” Jesus did something different—He prayed and chose His disciples.

In a nutshell, “that time” was when people were trapped by legalism, focusing on following the letter of the law rather than the heart of God. They seemed faithful to the law but were not faithful to God’s heart. But after this time, Jesus spent the whole night praying and chose the twelve disciples.

Why did Jesus need to choose disciples? It wasn’t just to oppose the groups that were against Him. He did it to show God’s way, not human ways. Jesus chose those who were poor, uneducated, and humble. These people, though not great by the world’s standards, were able to spread the gospel through God’s power. This shows us that it’s not about us, but about God.

The book of Acts, which is the sequel to Luke, talks about how the apostles spread the gospel with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:8 — “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Luke wanted to show that the gospel wasn’t about what human leaders like the Pharisees and scribes did, but about what God planned and did. This shows that God’s ways are very different from ours. Humans tried to follow the law to be good, but it led to the Pharisees and scribes’ actions. Their belief that “we can do it our way” led to bad results, even though their intentions were good.

Isaiah 55:8 — “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Jesus came to show us that “this is not the way it was supposed to be.” He showed this through His death on the cross. After He came, He started teaching more clearly about the differences between blessings and curses, happiness and unhappiness. We can apply this to our lives.

In “that time” and “this time,” things will change. For example, our emotions will change. People who laughed in “that time” will cry in “this time,” and those who cried in “that time” will laugh in “this time.” People who were hungry in “that time” will be full in “this time.”

Why did the disciples laugh or cry? Matthew’s gospel shows us that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. The blessings of “that time” and “this time” are completely different. “That time” was the time when humans tried to build the kingdom of God by their own efforts. But even with the good law, humans still produced bad fruit. But “this time” is when Jesus came.

What about us? What made us cry and what made us laugh? We can look back and see what brought us joy and what made us sad.

The last verse of today’s passage makes this clearer. “You” refers to those who are listening to Jesus, including the twelve disciples. It’s good when everyone praises you, but here, we see that it’s not always the case. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are the ones being praised. In contrast, “they” are those who do injustice.

The theme of justice and injustice will be important here, but it seems that “they” were the false prophets, those who praised injustice. The disciples’ role was similar to the role of the prophets.

When will everyone praise the disciples? It’s when they ignore the truth and lie, or when they try to water down the truth to avoid conflict. If we say we are neutral in an unjust situation, we are already supporting injustice.

What should the disciples have preached? Jesus comforted them. He comforted those who were suffering under the world’s standards, like the Pharisees and scribes. Now, He said, “Rejoice, I have come. Be satisfied, I have come.”

You may lose something while doing what is right. You might be ashamed or rejected for following God’s word. But because Jesus has come, we can live boldly, laughing, and full of joy. Jesus’ grace is here to heal our emotions and make us strong. I pray that His grace be with you all. In Jesus’ name, Amen.