Friends, we’ve been diving deep into Luke, and today I want to unpack what we really, really need in this life. We’re looking at three key things: a greater son, a better goodness, and a deeper offering.
You see, many in Jesus’ day were fixated on a Messiah who’d simply kick out the Romans and restore Israel’s glory days. They wanted David 2.0. But Jesus, through a clever little Bible study on Psalm 110, exposes their blind spot. He shows them that Messiah isn’t just David’s son, but also David’s Lord! This means Messiah has to be both son of David AND Son of God! We need a savior who’s not just a political liberator, but one who conquers sin, Satan, and even death itself!
And it’s not enough to just look the part, like those scribes with their fancy robes and long prayers. Jesus warns us about those who prioritize outward appearances over genuine heart transformation. We need a righteousness that surpasses mere performance, a goodness that flows from a heart made new by God’s Spirit.
Finally, Jesus points us to a poor widow who, despite her meager offering of two tiny coins, gives more than the wealthy folks tossing in their surplus. Why? Because God doesn’t count our gifts, He weighs them. He sees the heart behind the offering. This widow, in her poverty, gave her all – a beautiful picture of surrendered delight.
Friends, Jesus is the one we really need. He’s the greater son who offers true salvation, the source of lasting goodness that transforms us from the inside out, and the one who empowers us to live lives of surrendered delight, holding nothing back from our loving God.