Embracing the Totality of Jesus: A Call to Surrender

 

Summary

In the heart of our ministry lies the profound truth that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of our promised future, and this reality is not a distant hope but a present and living truth. Jesus, in His first sermon in His hometown synagogue, declared that the scripture from Isaiah 61 was fulfilled in their hearing. He proclaimed that He was the anointed one, sent to bring good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, and to set the oppressed free. This was not just a metaphorical message but a literal transformation that Jesus brought about in the lives of those He touched.

As we reflect on the totality of Jesus, we must recognize that our perceptions of Him are often incomplete. We tend to view Him through various lenses—be it the baby Jesus, the Hollywood Jesus, or the Jesus of our childhood Sunday school lessons. However, the Gospels, the Epistles, and the Old Testament reveal different facets of His character, urging us to embrace the fullness of who He is. Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the King promised in the scriptures, and His ministry was a testament to that truth.

In His hometown, Jesus faced skepticism and familiarity that bred contempt. The people who watched Him grow up could not reconcile their image of the carpenter's son with the powerful, miracle-working Messiah standing before them. Despite their doubt and eventual hostility, Jesus remained undeterred, emphasizing that His mission was not subject to their expectations or demands.

As we approach the celebration of Jesus' resurrection, we are called to a totality of surrender to Him. This surrender involves examining the unsurrendered parts of our lives—those areas we hold back from Jesus, whether they are related to personal security, materialism, or any other aspect of our lives. True freedom and transformation come when we fully embrace Jesus' way, not just a portion that suits our comfort.

The path of totality we embark upon is not just an intellectual exercise but a journey of the heart. It is about seeing Jesus in His fullness and responding with a surrender that encompasses every part of our being. As we move forward, let us seize the opportunity to deepen our understanding of Jesus and allow His life, death, and resurrection to shape our lives and our community.

Key Takeaways:

- Jesus Christ embodies the fulfillment of the promised future, and His presence marks the arrival of the kingdom of God. His declaration in the synagogue was not just a statement of intent but a demonstration of the immediate reality of salvation and restoration. [44:08]

- Our understanding of Jesus must go beyond the one-dimensional views that culture and tradition often present. The totality of Jesus encompasses His role as Savior, Teacher, Healer, and King, as depicted throughout the entirety of Scripture. [47:23]

- The skepticism Jesus faced in His hometown reminds us that familiarity can blind us to the divine. We must guard against reducing Jesus to a figure that fits within our preconceived notions and instead allow His true nature to challenge and change us. [57:57]

- A totality of surrender to Jesus requires confronting the unsurrendered areas of our lives. It is in these places of vulnerability and honesty that we experience the transformative power of His grace and truth. [34:45]

- As we approach the celebration of Jesus' resurrection, we are presented with a profound opportunity to embrace the totality of Jesus and to share His life-changing message with others. This is a moment to renew our commitment to living out the gospel in every aspect of our lives. [53:35]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 4:14-21 - Jesus' declaration in the synagogue of Nazareth.
2. Isaiah 61:1-2 - The prophecy Jesus read and claimed to fulfill.
3. John 21:25 - The vastness of Jesus' works.

#### Observation Questions
1. What specific prophecy did Jesus read from in the synagogue, and how did He claim it was fulfilled? ([41:31])
2. How did the people of Nazareth initially react to Jesus' message in the synagogue? ([57:22])
3. What were some of the roles and actions Jesus said He was anointed to perform according to Isaiah 61? ([41:31])
4. How did Jesus respond to the skepticism and familiarity He faced in His hometown? ([59:34])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose Isaiah 61 to read in the synagogue, and what significance does this passage hold in His ministry? ([41:31])
2. How does the reaction of the people in Nazareth reflect the challenges of accepting Jesus' true identity? ([57:57])
3. What does it mean to see Jesus in His "totality," and why is it important to move beyond one-dimensional views of Him? ([46:49])
4. How does Jesus' mission to bring good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind apply to both physical and spiritual needs? ([49:07])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current understanding of Jesus. Are there any one-dimensional views you hold that need to be expanded? How can you seek a fuller understanding of Jesus this week? ([46:49])
2. Jesus faced skepticism and rejection in His hometown. Have you ever experienced skepticism or rejection when sharing your faith? How did you handle it, and what can you learn from Jesus' response? ([59:34])
3. Identify an area of your life that you have not fully surrendered to Jesus. What steps can you take this week to begin surrendering that area to Him? ([34:45])
4. Jesus' mission included bringing good news to the poor and setting the oppressed free. How can you actively participate in this mission in your community? ([49:07])
5. As we approach the celebration of Jesus' resurrection, what specific actions can you take to deepen your commitment to living out the gospel in every aspect of your life? ([53:35])
6. Think about a time when familiarity with someone or something led to a lack of appreciation or respect. How can you guard against this in your relationship with Jesus? ([57:57])
7. Jesus' declaration in the synagogue was a bold statement of His identity and mission. How can you boldly declare your faith in your daily life, and what might that look like in practical terms? ([41:31])

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing the Present Kingdom
Jesus Christ is not only a figure of the past or a future hope but a present reality who fulfills the promises of God's kingdom here and now. He declared this truth in the synagogue, affirming that the prophecy of Isaiah was being fulfilled in their midst. This means that the salvation and restoration He brings are not just future events but current experiences available to all who believe in Him. The kingdom of God is not a distant dream but a present reality, initiated by Jesus and continuing through His followers today. This understanding challenges believers to live in the reality of the kingdom now, experiencing and sharing the transformative power of Jesus' presence in every aspect of life. [44:08]

Luke 4:18-19 (ESV): "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Reflection: How can you live out the reality of God's kingdom in your daily interactions and choices, starting today?

Day 2: The Multifaceted Messiah
Our perception of Jesus must expand beyond the simplistic images we may have formed throughout our lives. He is not just a historical figure or a character from a story; He is the Savior, Teacher, Healer, and King. The Scriptures provide a comprehensive view of Jesus, and it is essential to embrace every aspect of His identity. Understanding the totality of Jesus allows believers to grow in their relationship with Him and to experience the fullness of His grace and truth in their lives. This holistic view of Jesus is crucial for a mature faith that acknowledges Him as Lord over all areas of life. [47:23]

Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV): "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your understanding of Jesus' multifaceted nature and allow it to transform your view of Him?

Day 3: Beyond Familiarity
The skepticism Jesus encountered in His hometown serves as a reminder that familiarity can often lead to a lack of recognition of the divine among us. We must be careful not to confine Jesus to our limited understanding but be open to the full revelation of His divine nature. This openness requires a willingness to be challenged and changed by the true nature of Jesus, allowing Him to reveal Himself to us in ways that may be unexpected or even uncomfortable. By doing so, we can move beyond a superficial faith to a profound encounter with the living Christ. [57:57]

Mark 6:3-4 (ESV): "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.'"

Reflection: Have you ever dismissed the possibility of Jesus working in your life because it didn't fit your expectations? How can you open your heart to His surprising ways?

Day 4: Surrendering All to Jesus
True freedom and transformation in Christ come when we surrender every part of our lives to Him. This surrender involves confronting those areas we have kept hidden or held back, such as personal security, materialism, or other aspects of our lives. It is in the vulnerability and honesty of full surrender that we encounter the transformative power of Jesus' grace and truth. As we let go of our control and allow Jesus to lead, we experience the peace and joy that come from living in His will. [34:45]

James 4:7-8 (ESV): "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 5: Living the Resurrection
As believers approach the celebration of Jesus' resurrection, they are presented with the opportunity to fully embrace the life-changing message of Jesus. This is a time to renew the commitment to live out the gospel in every aspect of life. The resurrection is not just an event to be celebrated but a powerful truth to be lived. It calls for a response that goes beyond mere acknowledgment to a life that is shaped by the reality of the risen Christ, impacting how believers love, serve, and share the good news with others. [53:35]

Romans 6:4-5 (ESV): "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his."

Reflection: How can the truth of Jesus' resurrection influence the way you approach challenges and opportunities in your life today?

Quotes

1) "Jesus Christ is the only way and we want to lift him up as we approach the celebration of his resurrection." [01:03:10](Download)

2) "We have a lord who cannot be manipulated, controlled, or overcome. We have a lord who commands the situation and doesn't back down from threats." [01:00:12](Download)

3) "Jesus is saying even in his hometown, you can't put me in a box, you can't command me to perform on demand. I am nobody's puppet." [01:00:12](Download)

4) "The good news is Jesus came with the key to set us free. Nobody is free who is Unforgiven." [54:47](Download)

5) "When you see the totality of Jesus, it's easier to make that totality of surrender because he's so much more and he deserves so much more." [35:24](Download)

6) "Jesus didn't preach clever little three-point sermon diddies... he conveyed three major realities about himself and about his Ministry." [42:49](Download)

7) "Jesus was giving the people where he grew up an opportunity to see more than just a HomeTown Jesus that he was the Fulfillment of their precious Old Testament scriptures." [47:58](Download)

8) "Jesus couldn't be more relevant; he is the answer to the greatest heartfelt needs of our culture and we have an opportunity right now to open ourselves up in surrender to the totality of Jesus." [53:35](Download)

9) "We're going to attempt to consider the totality of Jesus... to at least know and admit that there's so much that we don't know and that we need to know." [29:10](Download)

10) "We're going to call ourselves and others to a personal totality of surrender to Jesus... the unsurrendered parts of your soul and mind and heart and body and worldview to Jesus and his way." [34:45](Download)

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?