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If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 24:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “The Resurrection: Fact or Fiction?”

We ended Luke 23 with Joseph of Arimathea putting Jesus’ body in his family tomb, and from what Jesus said to the thief on the cross, I think we can know where Jesus was during those three days.

While His body was in the tomb, Jesus’ spirit was in heaven. He said to the thief, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”

The further we get away from the first century, the more dispersion and doubt is cast on the truthfulness of the resurrection of Christ. Through the years, there have been many attempts to explain away Christianity’s claim of a resurrected Savior.

First, there has been the assertion that the Mary Magdalene and her friends simply went to the wrong tomb. Surely Luke 23:55 can put that theory to rest.

55 And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid.

Secondly, some have said the disciples just imagined Jesus’ resurrection. However, they weren’t even expecting the resurrection. Why would they imagine it? See Luke 24:4, 11.

4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments…11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.

Thirdly, some have said the stray and rabid dogs of Jerusalem devoured Jesus’ body. How could that be though since the tomb was secured by the stone?

Fourthly, known as the “swoon theory,” some have said Jesus actually never died. He fainted or swooned from extreme exhaustion. However, when the Roman soldier pierced Jesus’ side in John 19:34 and water and blood exited, that was a sure sign of death.

Fifthly, some have said that the disciples stole His body never to be found. Again, the stone and the Roman soldiers tell us otherwise.

Therefore, I want to share with you five proofs that the resurrection of Christ is fact rather than fiction.

Sunday Worship, Luke 24:1

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.

We know from the gospel accounts that Jesus was crucified on Friday. Because Saturday morning was the Sabbath and a day for rest and no work, these women who were some of Jesus’ closest friends, came on Sunday morning to His tomb expecting to find Him dead so they could anoint His body with their spices to delay decomposition.

However, on their arrival, the tomb was empty. Did you know that because Jesus was resurrected on a Sunday morning, the Christian Church has worshiped on Sunday and not Saturday for almost 2,000 years?

The reason that we are gathered here today on Sunday rather than yesterday is because Jesus was resurrected on Sunday, and that became the practice of the early church and has been Christian history since the first century. See Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:2.

7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

An Empty Tomb, Luke 24:2-6a

2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen!

Our second proof that Jesus’ resurrection is fact is the empty tomb. That may sound silly and obvious, but the empty tomb is the proverbial smoking gun.

We know from Matthew 28:2-4 that there was an earthquake and an angel that dislodged the stone from verse three. When the ladies entered, Jesus wasn’t there.

2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

Verse four of Luke 24 says the women were perplexed. They came expecting to find Him, expecting to anoint His body with their spices.

In their confusion, two angels appeared to them, and one angel audibly spoke to them. He said in verse five, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.” Literally, the angel said, “He has been raised.”

Well, who raised Him? God the Father and the Holy Spirit brought Jesus from death to life and from the tomb. They breathed life in to Him never to die again physically.

An empty tomb is our second proof that the Jesus’ resurrection is fact.

Fulfilled Prophecy, Luke 24:6b-7

Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”

The angel continued speaking and reminded the ladies that Jesus had told them what would happen. Therefore, they shouldn’t have been surprised.

Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy. He is on record as having told His disciples that He would be crucified, and He would rise again on the third day. As a matter of fact, He told specifically or alluded to His death and resurrection on four occasions in Luke’s Gospel.

Luke 9:21-22, 21 And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

Luke 9:43-44, 43 But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, 44 “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”

Luke 11:29-30, 29 And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.

Luke 18:31-33, 31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

However, Jesus not only fulfilled His own New Testament prophecies, He is also the fulfillment of multiple OT prophecies. Consider Isaiah 53.

It was written approximately 700 years before Christ. Yet, Christ fulfilled that prophecy perfectly.

1 Who has believed our report?

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,

And as a root out of dry ground.

He has no form or comeliness;

And when we see Him,

There is no beauty that we should desire Him.

3 He is despised and rejected by men,

A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

4 Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,

Yet He opened not His mouth;

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,

And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,

So He opened not His mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment,

And who will declare His generation?

For He was cut off from the land of the living;

For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.

9 And they made His grave with the wicked—

But with the rich at His death,

Because He had done no violence,

Nor was any deceit in His mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;

He has put Him to grief.

When You make His soul an offering for sin,

He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,

And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.

By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,

For He shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,

And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,

Because He poured out His soul unto death,

And He was numbered with the transgressors,

And He bore the sin of many,

And made intercession for the transgressors.

Female Testimony, Luke 24:8-11

8 And they remembered His words. 9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.

After their encounter with the angels, these three women named in verse ten went and told what they knew to be true to the eleven remaining apostles. Therefore, the first eye-witness testimonies of the empty tomb and subsequently, a resurrected Savior, were from women.

The greatest miracle in all of history rises and falls on the testimony of females. In the first century, this was shocking.

Verse eleven says the apostles didn’t believe them. Yet, this has been the reality since the first century. Female testimony is our fourth proof that Jesus’ resurrection is fact.

Changed Lives, Luke 24:12

12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

Notice Peter in verse twelve. Peter had to see for himself.

When he got to the tomb, he looked in and only saw the linen wrappings. He then went away marveling at all that happened.

This is the same Peter who on Thursday night denied Jesus three times. See Luke 22:54-62.

54 Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance. 55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.” 57 But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” 58 And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

However, it is also the same Peter that preached some of the most powerful sermons in the early chapters of Acts where thousands turned from their sin and hell to eternal life and heaven. Peter’s life was changed because of the resurrection is fact.

Acts 2:41, 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

Acts 4:4, 4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

Acts 4:19-20, 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

Conclusion

If you’re here this morning wondering if the resurrection can really be true, be assured that it can and is. Will you call on the resurrected Lord today to save you from your sins and give you heaven and eternal life?

Maybe you’re here this morning and you are saved but didn’t know have to answer critics of Christianity, I hope today is an encouragement to you and some resources for you to defend the faith.

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If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 23:34. I want to continue our study and thought from last Sunday in a sermon entitled, “The Cross, Part 2.”

Today, we are going to look at Jesus’ seven sayings while on the cross. That will mean looking at Luke 23, John 19, and Mark 15.

If you were here last Sunday, we look at the cross under three headings. It is Friday, and we saw before the cross, on the cross, and after the cross.

In addition to looking at Jesus, we also considered others that you know including Simon of Cyrene, the thief on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea. Today, our focus is Jesus and thinking about Him ON the cross.

I have never preached this sermon previously even though I have preached through Mark and John. Much of study material has been provided by John MacArthur and the staff of the Colson Center named for Chuck Colson.

It is hard to pinpoint the timing of each of these. However, MacArthur puts them generally at 9 AM, 12 PM, and 3 PM.

A Word of Mercy, Luke 23:34

34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

We looked at this verse last Sunday. It is the first of seven while Jesus on the cross.

Mercy has been defined as withholding what is deserved. All who put Jesus on the cross deserved His anger and His ire. Yet, Jesus gave forgiveness contrary to what was deserved.

He asked His Heavenly Father to forgive them. That included the Sanhedrin and Pilate and Herod and the Jews.

More importantly, that includes me. That includes you.

Not only does Jesus give us mercy, as followers of Christ, He sets the standard for us. We too are to forgive even when others do not deserve it and even before others ask for it.

A Word of Grace, Luke 23:43

43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

The first saying took place at 9. This one took place at noon.

This other thief had admitted his own guilt, and recognized Jesus’ authority as Savior. Then, he asked Jesus to save him.

Verse forty-three is Jesus’ response. It was a word of grace.

If mercy is withholding what we deserve, grace is giving what we do not deserve. Jesus gave this thief the promise of eternal life in heaven.

This man was not baptized, and he did not join a local church. However, as best we can tell, he did repent and he did believe.

Consequently, when he died, he lived in heaven with Jesus for eternity. He is proof positive of the legitimacy of genuine bedside conversions.

If you admit you are a sinner today and believe that Jesus died on the cross for you as a perfect sacrifice and call on Him to save you today, He will. He will give you grace as well.

A Word of Compassion, John 19:26-27

26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

These words were also uttered around the noon hour. Jesus spoke to His mother about John.

Keep in mind, this was not John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin. This was John the Apostle or John the Revelator, Jesus’ best friend.

He looked at His mother and, full of compassion for her and for her future, promised John would take care of her. Jesus also told John he had a mother again.

In Jesus’ words, we see His feelings about the body of Christ. When your earthly family is no more or has deserted you, your heavenly family should be there and just as strong.

Jesus is not only saying for us to treat brothers and sisters in Christ like family. He is saying we ARE family.

A Word of Despair, Mark 15:34

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

According to Peter’s account written by Mark, it was the ninth hour. In other words, it was 3 PM.

Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and this would have been in Aramaic. However, we have it in our English translations as “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

Have you ever asked God why? Jesus did too.

The reality is that God is holy, and in this moment, Jesus became our sin. However, bear in mind that it wasn’t just our respectable sins.

He became all sin of all humanity for all time. Let that sink in. He did this so that we might know the righteousness of God through Christ.

Even though we ask why, God doesn’t always answer. However, don’t forget the other parts of Psalm 22.

1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

Why are You so far from helping Me,

And from the words of My groaning?

2 O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;

And in the night season, and am not silent.

3 But You are holy,

Enthroned in the praises of Israel.

4 Our fathers trusted in You;

They trusted, and You delivered them.

5 They cried to You, and were delivered;

They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

6 But I am a worm, and no man;

A reproach of men, and despised by the people.

7 All those who see Me ridicule Me;

They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

8 “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”

9 But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.

10 I was cast upon You from birth.

From My mother’s womb

You have been My God.

11 Be not far from Me,

For trouble is near;

For there is none to help.

12 Many bulls have surrounded Me;

Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.

13 They gape at Me with their mouths,

Like a raging and roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water,

And all My bones are out of joint;

My heart is like wax;

It has melted within Me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,

And My tongue clings to My jaws;

You have brought Me to the dust of death.

16 For dogs have surrounded Me;

The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.

They pierced My hands and My feet;

17 I can count all My bones.

They look and stare at Me.

18 They divide My garments among them,

And for My clothing they cast lots.

19 But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me;

O My Strength, hasten to help Me!

20 Deliver Me from the sword,

My precious life from the power of the dog. 21 Save Me from the lion’s mouth

And from the horns of the wild oxen!

You have answered Me.

22 I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.

23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him!

All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,

And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!

24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;

Nor has He hidden His face from Him;

But when He cried to Him, He heard.

25 My praise shall be of You in the great assembly;

I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.

26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied;

Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.

Let your heart live forever!

27 All the ends of the world

Shall remember and turn to the Lord,

And all the families of the nations

Shall worship before You.

28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s,

And He rules over the nations.

29 All the prosperous of the earth

Shall eat and worship;

All those who go down to the dust

Shall bow before Him,

Even he who cannot keep himself alive.

30 A posterity shall serve Him.

It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,

31 They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this.

A Word of Need, John 19:28

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”

In this fifth saying and from John 19, we see Jesus’ full humanity. He was thirsty.

In this midst of your trial and tribulation and temptation, remember that Jesus was fully God and fully man.

He knows our every experience. However, the devil will try to convince us otherwise.

The devil will try to convince you that we are alone and isolated. Don’t believe the devil!

A Word of Victory, John 19:30

30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

The Romans soldiers obliged Jesus’ thirst with watered down wine. He then uttered one word in the original language.

The word is tetelestai. It means paid in full. Jesus said it is finished.

Think about that. What was finished?

The payment for all sin for all human for all time was accomplished. The perfect sacrifice had been made.

Nothing was good enough previously. Nothing more was necessary.

Jesus finished His job. He did it completely and perfectly, and He has given you an opportunity to share in that victory over sin and death by calling on Him to save you.

A Word of Trust, Luke 23:46

46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.

In the last of seven sayings from the cross, we have a word of trust. In short, Jesus trusted in God’s plan.

Keep in mind that God’s plan including Jesus being betrayed, denied, and crucified. If that is what God’s plan meant for God’s Son, what can you I expect?

Regardless, you can trust Him with every fiber of your being and every area of your life. He has promised never to leave your or forsake you.

Invitation

Today’s invitation is for you to be saved. Today’s invitation is for your to be recommitted or rededicated to living a Christ-like life. Today’s invitation is for our guests to join Emory Baptist Church. Will you come today?

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Introduction

If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 23:26. I want to share a message with you entitled, “The Cross, Part 1.”

Obviously, there will be “The Cross, Part 2.” That will happen next Sunday, and we will look at Jesus’ 7 Sayings from the Cross.

I do not have a special sermon related to today’s service for this reason. I am grateful to celebrate our independence and freedom living in the greatest nation in the world. However, it is not ultimate independence and freedom.

Ultimate independence and ultimate freedom only comes through the way of the cross. Without Jesus’ death on the cross, I remain hopeless and a slave to my sin and death.

Of course, we are on Friday of Passion Week. Jesus has already endured three formal trials and five total trials.

Because good men did nothing, evil triumphed, and the vocal minatory got their way. Jesus was sentenced to death.

We are thinking about the cross today. Let us think about before the cross, on the cross, and after the cross.

Before the Cross, Luke 23:26-31

26 Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. 27 And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. 28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ 31 For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”

In verse 26, the Romans soldiers and the Jewish Religious Leaders led Jesus through the streets of Jerusalem to the outskirts of town. All of this was meant to be a deterrent.

Of course, this was done after being scourged. Jesus’ back had been fileted, and He was beyond exhausted, but expected to carry His own cross beam.

We are now introduced to Simon of Cyrene. The verse makes it sound like this was by coincidental. He was coming from the country, and we know this was providential.

Simon as pressed into service. He was not given a choice. He probably thought he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Jesus led the way. Simon followed. A large multitude of people followed them mourning and lamenting Jesus’ treatment.

In verse twenty-eight, Jesus spoke to the women who were following. He gave them a warning about the future. It was prophecy about Israel.

The future will be dark, and if you have children, they will experience it. It will be so bad, they will want to take their own lives.

In verse thirty-one, they is Rome. The green wood is spring and life and Jesus.

The dry is fall and old and the nation. If Rome persecuted Jesus, they will definitely persecute His followers, and it will be worse.

On the Cross, Luke 23:32-49

?” 32 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. 35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.” 36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” 38 And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” 40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” 44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last. 47 So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!” 48 And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. 49 But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Also on that day, there were two others being crucified. Luke calls them criminals, and the other gospels say they were thieves.

All of Dr. Luke’s account of the crucifixion is three words in the English of the NKJV. They crucified Him.

I do not think we necessarily need to know all the gory details. Yes, they were gory.

Jesus was in the middle, and verse thirty-four records His first words from the cross. Again, we will look at all seven next Sunday, but Luke only records three.

Jesus asked God the Father to forgive His persecutors of their sins. Them includes the Sanhedrin and Pilate and Herod and the Jews and anyone else.

BTW…They did not ask for forgiveness. Jesus forgave them anyway, and you can too.

Those that hurt you do not have to ask for forgiveness before you forgive them. You can forgive them regardless.

While Jesus was on the cross, His clothes were gambled away, and He was challenged to save Himself on three occasions by three separate groups.

The Sanhedrin mocked Him in this way. The Roman soldiers mocked Him in this way, and one of the criminals being crucified mocked Him in this way.

Beginning in verse forty, we hear from the other criminal who was crucified. He rebuked the other for not fearing God.

We do not know all of his history, but he had some spiritual background. He knew he was a sinner. He knew Jesus was not, and he invited Jesus to save him.

Jesus obliged with His second saying on the cross according to Luke. It seems that the thief on the cross was saved.

This incident says so much to us. Because Jesus said today, I do not think He went to hell while in the tomb before He was resurrected.

Jesus and this man went to heaven when they died, and the thief on the cross was not baptized.

Verse 44 is s time marker. It was 12 noon.

Then two miracles occur. There was an eclipse with what would have been a full moon for the Passover.

Then the temple veil was torn in two from top to bottom according to Matthew 27. For the first time, man would had access to God Almighty through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Verse forty-six speaks to Jesus physically dying. It was not a hoax.

BTW…Jesus’ number one priority was doing what His Father wanted. In weeks passed, we called this the subordination of equals, and sometimes, what’s best for God is not immediately safe or comfortable for us.

In verses 47-49, some onlookers finally realized who Jesus was. A Roman centurion called Him righteous in verse forty-eight, and the crowd lamented their participation in verse forty-eight.

Verse forty-nine speaks to those following Jesus. As was regularly true with Dr. Luke’s account, he was sure to highlight the women.

After the Cross, Luke 23:50-56

50 Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. 51 He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. 54 That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. 55 And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

After the cross, we are introduced to Joseph of Arimathea. He was a member of the Sanhedrin, but he had not consented with all they did because he was a follower of Christ.

BTW…This is a great example of standing up for what is right even against the vocal minority. Pilate refused to do it, but Joseph of Arimathea did do it.

He went to Pilate and requested Jesus’ body. His plan was to bury him in his family’s private tomb, and that happened before the Sabbath began at sundown on Friday.

Again, we see Luke spotlighting Jesus’ female followers in verse fifty-five and following. They saw where Jesus was laid, and they planned to prepare His body for burial when they were able after the Sabbath.

Applications

First, before the cross, we saw a certain man named Simon of Cyrene. List to how Mark describes him according to Peter’s account in Mark 15:21.

21 Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.

So now we know about Simon’s family. He had two sons named Alexander and Rufus.

Remember, we do not know that Simon was a follower of Christ before this experience. However, I believe he became a follower of Christ and discipled his family. See Romans 16:13.

13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

I believe Simon was saved and discipled his sons to follow Christ, and Rufus became a leader in the Church at Rome. This invitation is for the saved to point everyone that God brings into your life to Christ.

Second, on the cross, we saw a repentant criminal. The other thief on the cross recognized his sin and believed that Jesus was the Savior.

Then, he called on Jesus to save him. Jesus did, and if you have never been saved, I invite you to be saved this morning.

Baptism and church membership will not save you. Morality and patriotism will not save you, but repentance and faith in Christ will.

Finally, after the cross, we saw a good and just man named Joseph of Arimathea. Rather than going the way of the crowd and his countrymen, and contrary to Pilate, he stood up for what was right.

He could not stop what happened. However, he did not consent. May you be more like Joseph today than Pilate.

With these three invitations, this morning’s invitation will be for you. Let us pray.

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If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 22:66. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Jesus on Trial.”

We are still in Passion Week. However, we have certainly moved from Thursday to Friday.

Verse 22:66 says as soon as it was day. In other words, the sun was up so this was about 6 AM. Jesus’ betrayal and arrest happened just after midnight.

Luke records three formal trials. However, you could say there were five.

The first us informal and even illegal but happened after His arrest and before Annas and Caiphas. This one happened under the cover of darkness in the earliest hours of Friday morning, and that is what made it illegal.

Even the first trial that we will see today was illegal. It was illegal to hold a trial on holy days. Friday was the Passover.

The last trial that we will see this morning is the one before the people. In between, we will see the trials before the Sanhedrin, Pilate, and Herod.

Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin was about Jewish Religious Law, Luke 22:66-71.

66 As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, 67 “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will by no means believe. 68 And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. 69 Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.” 70 Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?” So He said to them, “You rightly say that I am.” 71 And they said, “What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.”

Again, verse sixty-six says it daybreak on Friday morning. Luke lists three groups that composed the Sanhedrin: the elders, the chief priests, and scribes.

The Sanhedrin was group of seventy men. They were the highest authority on Jewish Religious Life.

They tried to get Jesus to self-incriminate. He knew their plan and did not acquiesce. They would not have believed what He said anyway.

In verse sixty-nine, Jesus referenced Daniel 7 and Psalm 110. Daniel 7 speaks of the Messiah being called the Son of Man. Psalm 110 speaks to God’s Son reigning with Him.

In verse seventy, Jesus tacitly confessed to being God’s Son. For the Sanhedrin, this was blasphemy, and all they needed to hear.

They wanted Jesus dead. However, there was a problem. They did not have authority to carry out the death penalty living under Roman control.

Jesus’ trial before Pilate was about Roman Law, Luke 23:1-5.

1 Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” 3 Then Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” 4 So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.” 5 But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.”

The Sanhedrin could not do what they wanted. Therefore, they needed to find someone that could.

Look no further than Pontius Pilate. He was a Roman Governor under Caesar.

However, Pilate would not care about blasphemy. They need some more trumped-up charges.

Therefore, they brought three. First, they charged Jesus with perverting up the nation or stirring up Israel. This was not true, and Pilate did not care.

Second, they charged Him with not paying taxes and leading others to do the same. Again, this was not true, and Pilate did not care.

The third charge got his attention a little. Jesus was charged with being a revolutionary and challenging Caesar.

Pilate asked Jesus if He was king. Jesus did not mean the same thing as Pilate, but He answered in the affirmative.

Pilate was not threatened by Jesus and did not Caesar would be either. Therefore, he found no fault with Him, especially worthy of death.

However, the Sanhedrin would not settle for it. Their complaints and charges grew louder.

Not wanting to listen to them anymore, Pilate decided to pass the buck. Herod was in town for the Passover, and Jesus lived in Herod’s jurisdiction, so Pilate sent Him to Herod.

Jesus’ trial before Herod was about Jewish Secular Law, Luke 23:7-12.

6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. 7 And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. 9 Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. 11 Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.

Herod knew of Jesus and was excited about seeing Him. However, his excitement was like being excited about the carnival coming to town.

Herod questioned Jesus. However, Jesus did not answer a word. Some commentators say this could have been because of the way he treated John the Baptist.

Consequently, verse eleven says Herod and his troops beat Him and mocked Him. Then, they sent Him back to Pilate.

Normally, Herod and Pilate did not care for one another. However, on this occasion, they were both unimpressed with Jesus.

Conclusion

Finally, Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. This would be the court of the people. Notice that phrase at the end of verse thirteen.

Even though Pilate attempted to pass the buck, he found himself having to decide regarding Jesus. However, he and Herod both did not believe that Jesus had done anything that warranted the death penalty.

Pilate wanted to have Him beaten and send Him on His way. However, the people would not have it.

They wanted Jesus dead and would not stop until He was. Instead of releasing Jesus, they suggested releasing Barrabas.

One last time, Pilate did not feel the same as the people. He knew capital punishment was serious, and he did not think that punishment fit whatever crime Jesus had committed.

However, the people would not have it. Verse 23 says they were insistent and demanding with loud voices.

Do you know what? They won.

They complained and screamed loud enough. Pilate gave in.

Applications

So here are two applications for today.

First, we hear this story, and we want someone to blame. The Sanhedrin are guilty. Pilate is guilty. Herod is guilty. The Jews are guilty.

Do you know who else is guilty? Look in the mirror.

But I was not there. Have you ever sinned even once?

No one is innocent. All are guilty.

Second, it is amazing to me that Pilate declared Jesus innocent on three separate occasions. See verses 4, 14, and 22.

However, the most damning verse in this text is verse twenty-three. Pilate believed differently, but he gave in to the people. He failed to do what was right.

When I was a little boy, I loved to window shop at Six Flags Mall with my dad. I’ll never forget one particular Saturday when I saw a woman being chased from a store.

“All that it is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” The source of this statement is debated, but its truth is profound.

Pilate was a good man in the sense that he knew Jesus did not deserve death. That would not have been fair or just. However, he let evil triumph when he did nothing.

Whether you are talking about work or school or your community or even your church, stand up for what is right. Do not let the vocal minority have their way.

Pilate could have intervened, but he did not. Do not let evil triumph on your watch.

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I want you to take your Bibles and find Luke 22:47. I want to share a message with you entitled, “The Kiss of Death.”

Have you ever wondered where that idiom originated? Look no further than Judas’ betrayal of Jesus.

It is a sign of bad to come. However, it might originally be seen, viewed, or heard as positive.

We are in Passion Week. It is late Thursday night, and we will pass over into the wee hours of Friday morning.

Jesus has been with His disciples in the upper room. They observed the Passover meal. They have taken the Lord’s Supper.

Then, they moved to the Garden of Gethsemane. They stepped aside to pray.

When He returned, He found the disciples sleeping. That is where we pick up today.

There is one more thing before we look at the text. Remember that Jesus predicted Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s denial, and future conflict for His followers.

Judas did betray, Luke 22:47-53.

47 And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

In verse 47, while Jesus was chastising the disciples for falling asleep, Judas showed up with a crowd. This crowd included Jewish Religious leaders and Roman soldiers, and they had come to arrest Jesus.

Leading the effort was Judas, one of the twelve. The Jewish Religious leaders needed an insider, and Judas was their man.

BTW…he is always listed as one of the twelve because he had fooled everyone. He had fooled everyone but God.

Mark’s gospel tells us that Judas told the Jewish Religious leaders that he would identify Jesus by kissing Him. He did, and it was the kiss of death.

Jesus confronted Judas with the truth, and His disciples came to His defense. Peter even drew his sword and drew blood.

However, notice His response in verse fifty-one. Permit even this.

BTW…God’s plan is not always immediate victory. It is ultimate victory, but it may not be immediate.

Jesus won on Resurrection morning, but there a plenty of when the world would say He experienced defeat.

Before He returns on a white horse, which will be ultimate victory, persecution for followers of Christ will be the worst it has ever been. Do not think that God’s plan is always for you to win.

Jesus also demonstrated that He was not only fully man, but fully God. He touched this man’s ear and healed him.

Why had they come at night to arrest Jesus? He was in the temple with them multiple times.

What they were doing was wrong. Some even consider it to be illegal. One commentator said there were no less than 27 illegalities that took place with Jesus’ arrest and trials.

At the end of verse fifty-two, Jesus said to the Jewish Religious leaders that this was their time to do their deed, and it was evil.

BTW…Do not ever forgot that God is in control. Satan always must ask God’s permission.

Why does evil exist? It exists because choice exists. God is not going to force you to follow Him. He invites you, and we must decide.

Peter did deny, Luke 22:54-62.

The spotlight is now shifting from Judas to Peter. You will find his name seven times in verses fifty-four through sixty-two.

And he did deny Jesus. However, it happened three times. The last is the most chilling.

It happens in verse sixty. And while he was still speaking, the rooster crowd.

Verse sixty-one says Jesus’ eyes met Peter’s. I can only imagine the hurt and grief and disappointment.

Consequently, Peter left the courtyard and wept bitterly. Have you ever found yourself in Peter’s shoes?

I have. I promised Jesus I would never, and then I did.

Jesus was persecuted, Luke 22:63-65.

63 Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. 64 And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?” 65 And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.

These last three verses detail Jesus’ arrest and persecution. He was mocked, beaten, blindfolded, struck and spoken against.

Applications

First, remember God’s faithfulness. If God says it, you can count on it.

Jesus said Judas would betray Him, and he did. God gives us a choice to follow Him but following Him won’t be forced.

Second, remember man’s frailty. We are frail.

Peter promised never to forsake Jesus. He failed. We fail.

However, Peter was restored. You can have a second chance too.

Third, remember our future. If they persecuted Jesus, what is going to happen to us?

John 15:20, If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.

However, how did Jesus respond? He modeled what He taught in Luke 6:27.

27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”

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Please take your Bibles and find John 8:12. It can be found on p. 1,232 of our pew Bibles. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Jesus is the Light of the World!”

Thank you to moms and dads for bringing your children to Illumination Station VBS, and thank you boys and girls for coming to Illumination Station VBS, and thank you volunteers for decorating and working Illumination Station VBS. Without y’all, VBS is not possible.

Today, I want to tell moms and dads about our VBS memory verse. It is John 8:12, but I want to give you some context within John’s gospel.

In the first eleven verses of John 8, Jesus was in the temple court close to the treasury when He did not condemn but forgave the woman caught in adultery and told her to her to sin no more. Today, He is still in the temple court according to verse 20.

Also, this was the end of the Feast of the Tabernacles. Bible commentators tell us that during that festival, four gigantic menorahs or candelabras were used to light the entire city of Jerusalem. However, at the end of the festival, they were extinguished.

That is the backdrop for Jesus’ bold claim in John 8:12. It was the second time that Jesus made an “I am” statement in John’s gospel.

His first statement was, “I am the bread of life.” That was in John 6:35.

Jesus Claimed to be the Light, John 8:12.

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.

Notice that Jesus did not say He was a light. He said He was the definitive light of the world.

With this statement, He was claiming to be God as light is symbolic of God throughout the Scriptures. See Acts 9:3-5; 1 John 1:5.

Acts 9:3-5, 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

1 John 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

Jesus was Confirmed as the Light.

First, Jesus confirmed His own claim. Of course, the Pharisees objected to His claim.

13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.” 14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.

However, Jesus clearly knew that He was God. He clearly knew He came from God, and He clearly knew that He was returning to God after He completed His mission.

Second, God the Father confirmed His claim. We see this at the end of verse sixteen and verses 18-19.

16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me…18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” 19 Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”

The Pharisees judged Jesus according to the flesh or what they saw. He did not measure up to their physical visions of what a Messiah should be.

He was not political leader. He was not a military power. He was not an earthly king.

However, Jesus did not come to judge anyone but to save, and the Father bears witness of such. When asked about His Father, Jesus claimed to be One with the Father at the end of verse nineteen.

Third, the Old Testament Scriptures confirmed His claim. Look at verses 17-18.

17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”

Invoking the Pharisees’ standard, Jesus’ claim would even now hold up in a court of law since two witnesses were needed. See Deuteronomy 19:15.

15 “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.

Listen to these OT scriptures. See Psalm 27:1, 36:9.

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 36:9 For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.

And of course, many of us remember God in the OT demonstrating Himself as a flame at night. He guided the nation of Israel, the people of God through the wilderness.

The gigantic menorahs I spoke of earlier were supposed to remind these orthodox Jews of that experience during the Feast of the Tabernacles. With them in sight, Jesus claimed to be the light.

Applications

When we think about applications for this text, the invitation is clear, and that is for you to come to the Light of the world. If you do, here is what happens.

First, Jesus will dispel the darkness of unbelief. Because Jesus is the light of the world, if you come to Him, you will be saved because He is the light of life in 8:12.

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.

Second, if you come to Him, He will be your light, so you won’t walk in darkness anymore. Are you walking in darkness not knowing where you are going as it relates to your marriage, your money, and or your kids?

Third, when you come to Jesus, we become the light as well. He is not saying we become God, but God shines through us to others.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Will you come to the light today? Jesus is the light of the world.

When we do not come to the light, its dangerous. I know from FBC Camden.

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Please take your Bibles and find Luke 22:39. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Prayer 101.”

If you have ever taken college classes, the title of the class usually includes a name and a number. Depending on that school’s numbering system, the higher numbers indicate upper-level classes while the lower numbers indicate classes for underclassmen.

Therefore, a 101 number would mean a class for freshmen. Today, I want you to see some basics regarding prayer in the life of a Christian.

You will find that word prayer on five different occasions in today’s text: 40, 41, 44, 45, and 46. In today’s text, I want to show you an invitation to pray, a demonstration of prayer, and the temptation with prayer.

As we have said in recent weeks, we are in Passion Week. We are very late into Thursday night and may even into the earlies hours of Friday morning.

Jesus has already gathered the Twelve in an upper room in Jerusalem. They took the Passover Meal together, and Jesus began the Lord’s Supper.

Last week, we saw that Jesus knows the future. He made predictions regarding Judas, Peter, and our future conflicts.

An Invitation to Pray, Luke 22:39-40

39 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. 40 When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

In verse 39, Jesus and the Twelve left the upper room, and headed to the Mount of Olives. Judas would have left them at this time.

Obviously, he knew where they were going. Verse 39 says this was a place that Jesus normally took them.

Even though Luke doesn’t name it specifically, we know from the other gospel writers that this was the Garden of Gethsemane and could have been owned by a wealthy friend of Jesus.

Verse 40 contains the invitation. Jesus told them to pray that they may not enter temptation. In other words, pray that you don’t succumb to temptation.

I would suggest to you that His invitation for them is also an invitation for us. When you are facing temptation, pray.

Also, here is a little help for you to recognize your times of weakness, your times of vulnerability. Satan is not an idiot. Actually, he is very intelligent and knows us well.

Consider the acronym H. A. L. T. We are most vulnerable to falling to temptation when we are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired.

Is that true of you? I know I can certainly identify with that.

Therefore, when you are tempted, H. A. L. T. Then P. U. S. H.

A Demonstration of Prayer, Luke 22:41-44

41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

In these four verses, Jesus modeled for us what prayer can look like. I want to see His intimacy, His intentions, and His intensity.

In verse 41, notice Jesus’ intimacy as He withdrew and got alone. I would suggest the same. That may be outside or your car or anywhere you can and God can be alone together.

Notice also in verse 42 what Jesus called God. God was His heavenly Father. Jesus was talking to His daddy.

His intentions are seen with His posture and His actual prayer. He intended to surrender or submit.

Most men would have stood looking up. Jesus knelt looking down.

In His actual prayer, we see a lot of Jesus’ humanity. Like any normal human, Jesus didn’t want what He knew was about to happen.

He didn’t want to be beaten. He didn’t want to be scourged. He didn’t want to have what we might think of as railroad spikes nailed into His wrists and ankles.

However, Jesus’ intention was to do His Father’s will. He surrendered and submitted.

BTW…In our culture today and even church, submission is seen as a dirty word. However, Jesus models for us the subordination of equals in one of His darkest hours.

What is the subordination of equals? Two individuals can be equal in value and worth and yet submit to one or the other.

Jesus and the Father are equal in that they are both fully God and part of the Holy Trinity. However, Jesus submitted to the Father’s will.

Husbands and wives are equal in value and worth as human beings both created in the image of God. However, it is God’s plan for wives to submit to their husbands as the husband sacrificially leads his family.

Because this was one of Jesus’ darkest hours, He needed assistance. In verse 43, an angel appeared to strengthen Him.

I don’t have any reason to believe that angels don’t assist us. I am not saying we all have a guardian angel, but assisting Believers is one of their ministries.

The third aspect of Jesus’ demonstration of prayer with intimacy and intentions is His intensity. Verse 44 says He was in agony.

Why was He in agony? He was about to bear the sin of the world on the cross. Let that sink in. Jesus became my sin and our sin.

Consequently, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood. The medical condition is hematidrosis.

Did Jesus sweat blood? Maybe, and Dr. Luke is the only one who reported. However, technically, he said His sweat became like drops of blood.

Therefore, we don’t know for sure. What we do know is that Jesus prayed with intensity.

The Temptation with Prayer, Luke 22:45-46

45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. 46 Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

After Jesus prayed, He returned to His disciples. What did He find?

They were sleeping from sorrow. Jesus told them what was going to happen to Him. He also told them what would happen with Judas and Peter.

Were they hurt? Were they sorrowful?

Absolutely. Consider the time of day or night, they were also probably physically tired, but Jesus encouraged and invited them again to pray.

I bet a temptation you face with prayer is falling asleep. I have had many church members through the years admit to such.

I would encourage you to pray in the mornings after your coffee or after your shower. Not only is the temptation to fall asleep less, but you also set the tone for your day.

Conclusion

First, if you are facing temptation today, commit prayer above all else. Pray for strength, pray for victory.

Second, if you have never been saved, prayer can be the means to your salvation. You can pray to receive Christ today.

That would mean admitting you are a sinner. Next, believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins. Call on Him to save you today, and He will!

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Introduction

Please take your Bibles and turn to Luke 22:21. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Jesus Knows the Future.”

I just want to remind you that we are on Thursday night of Passion Week. Jesus and His disciples are in an upper room in Jerusalem.

Jesus has served the Passover Meal. Jesus also began what we know today as the Lord’s Supper.

Jesus Predicted Judas’ Betrayal, Luke 22:21-23.

21 But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. 22 And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” 23 Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.

In verse twenty-one, Jesus had finished the Lord’s Supper and said that His betrayer was still at the table with his hand on the table. John 13 clearly identifies Judas.

John 13:18-27, 18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 19 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. 20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” 21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. 23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. 25 Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”

Back in verse twenty-two, we see in this one single verse the mystery of divine sovereignty and human responsibility coexisting as friends. Jesus said that the Son of Man being betrayed had been determined. Who was it determined by? God determined it.

However, in that very same verse, Jesus pronounced woe on the man who does the betraying. Why? Because that man is acting of his own accord.

Whether it is the daily events of life or the act of salvation, the Calvinist has said it is all God. At the same time, the Arminianist has said that man is control.

Both believe that their position and their conviction is right and mutually exclusive of all others. I say, “Don’t listen to either.”

This verse, and others just like it in both Old and New Testaments, remind us that divine sovereignty and human responsibility can coexist even when our finite minds cannot understand it.

Bro. Richard, are you a Calvinist? I am not. Are you an Arminianist? I am not.

What are you? I am a Baptist. I believe and affirm what the Bible says even when I cannot comprehend it.

Jesus Predicted Peter’s Denial, Luke 22:31-34.

31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”

Beginning in verse thirty-one, Jesus had an extremely hard conversation with Peter. Satan had inquired about him.

BTW…Satan cannot do anything to us without God’s permission. He asked permission to afflict Job, and he asked permission to afflict Peter.

Also, if Jesus says yes, know that Jesus is praying for you, and has prepared you for the affliction. Specifically, Jesus prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail.

When Peter proclaimed his bold allegiance to Jesus, Jesus broke his heart. He predicted what would happen later this night and into the earliest hours of Friday morning.

Jesus Predicted Future Conflict, Luke 22:

35 And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.” 36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” 38 So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”

In verse thirty-five, Jesus reminded His disciples about past ministry. He sent them out without tools or supplies.

Were they ever in need. They answered that they were not.

However, verse thirty-six marks a change, “But now.” Things would be different.

Jesus told them to take their money bag and knapsack and even acquire a sword. However, considering verse thirty-eight and later in this chapter and the rest of this third gospel, I do not think He was speaking literally.

Jesus warned His disciples that He was going to be grouped with the lawbreakers. If He was, they would be too.

Get ready for future conflict. However, it will be more spiritual than physical.

Conclusions

First, as it relates to Judas, we are responsible for our actions. God’s plan was for Jesus to be betrayed, and Judas will be held accountable for actions.

You will be held spiritually accountable for your actions. I will be held spiritually accountable for my actions. Act accordingly.

Second, as it relates to Peter, no one is beyond temptation. However, temptation is not sin, but how will you respond to temptation when it comes?

Judas gave into temptation and rejected Christ. Peter denied Jesus on this night, but he recovered later. Be encouraged.

Third, Jesus gave us all we need for the future conflict that is more spiritual than physical. According to Ephesians 6, we have the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.

Finally, if you want to be great in the kingdom of God, serve rather than being served. That is the point of 22:24-30.

24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. 28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

The kingdom of God is counterintuitive to the ways of the world. If you want to go up, then go down and serve one another.

As a result, your time to be in authority will come later. That will come in my earthly kingdom after I return judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

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If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and turn to Luke 22:7. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Remember the Lord’s Sacrifice and Those That Came After Him!”

We have now made it to Thursday morning of Passion Week in our study of Luke’s Gospel. On Sunday, Jesus entered Jesus on a donkey colt. On Monday, He cleared and cleansed the temple. On Tuesday, He spent most of the day in the temple teaching and answering questions. On Wednesday, Judas made plans to betray Jesus giving the chief priests and scribes the insider they longed for.

The Preparation for the Passover Meal, Luke 22:7-13

7 Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. 8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.” 9 So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?”

10 And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. 11 Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ 12 Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.”

13 So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

Again, in verse 7, we have arrived at Thursday. As I said two weeks ago, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Passover had morphed into one.

The Passover would come first as it began at sundown on Thursday night. It would end at sundown on Friday.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread would follow and was multiple days in duration. It was like our Independence Day followed by Thanksgiving.

Jesus’ closest disciples were Peter and John. In verse 8, He instructed them to go into Jerusalem to prepare for the Passover Meal.

When they asked where, Jesus gave them some very specific instructions. According to John’s Gospel, they were most likely staying in Bethany.

Jesus told them to into Jerusalem, and they would find a man carrying a pitcher of water. This may seem benign, but would have been highly unusual, and he would have stuck out like a sore thumb even from the thousands of people in Jerusalem at this time.

BTW…God primarily speaks to us through His word, the Bible. He also speaks to us through godly counsel. He also speaks through circumstances or events, and He even speaks to us through unusual or strange circumstances or events like this one.

When they saw this unique situation, they were to follow this man into the house where they were to prepare for the Passover Meal. In light of verses 11-12, it seems that Jesus had prearranged this meeting and location.

Peter and John found it exactly as they had been told. They would be in an upper room in Jerusalem on Thursday night for the Passover Meal.

This is will be somewhat lengthy, but I really think we need to understand again what were talking about when we talk about the Passover. Turn to Exodus 12:1-51.

BTW…The Passover is only for Jews and not foreigners. The Lord’s Supper is only for Christians and not non-Christians

Also, you must be circumcised to eat it. Related, you should be baptized to take the Lord’s Supper.

The Anticipation of the God’s Plan, Luke 22:14-18

14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

Notice how verse 14 begins. When the hour had come means a definitive hour and a specific plan.

Going back to the previous section, I said that I thought Jesus had made arrangements in advance with the homeowner and his upper room. However, He had not made the disciples aware. Why?

Judas was going to betray Jesus, but not on his time. It was going to be according to God’s plan. Jesus made these secret arrangements to keep Judas from betraying Him prematurely.

BTW…God is in charge of every detail of your life. He is in charge of event in your schedule. Nothing happens without His approval or permission. For me, that is comforting.

When the Passover Meal began, Jesus voiced His knowledge that He would soon suffer according to God’s plan. However, He also knew that it was God’s plan for His kingdom to be fulfilled at the end of verse 16.

He then took the cup for the Passover Meal and affirmed God’s plan again. Verse 18 says that Jesus wouldn’t share this meal again until the kingdom of God would come. We believe this to be Jesus’ second coming after the tribulation and before Jesus’ earthly reign.

The Origination of Communion, Luke 22:19-20

19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

Acts 2:42 calls it the breaking of bread. Those churches of the liturgical persuasion use the name Eucharist, a word that we often translate as thanksgiving, from 1 Corinthians 11.

Most Baptists call it the Lord’s Supper from 1 Corinthians 11:20. The KJV of 1 Corinthians 10:16 calls it Communion.

Jesus went beyond the Passover Meal and originated or began the Lord’s Supper or Communion here on Thursday night before His betrayal.

He took the unleavened bread and held it up and said, “This is my body.” Obviously, He wasn’t speaking literally. The bread symbolized His body.

In the same way, He took the cup full of wine, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.” The wine symbolized His blood.

This new covenant would be one where the Perfect Lamb was sacrificed once and for all. He offers remission or forgiveness of sins: past, present, and future for all who believe.

Jesus concluded the supper by saying He wouldn’t take this meal again until His Second Coming and His Father’s Kingdom. Then they sang a hymn and left.

Conclusions

He is the big idea of today’s sermon. It is found in two words in verse 19 and two words in verse 20.

Everything that Jesus did, He did FOR YOU. He came for you. He lived for you. He died for you. He was raised for you.

We remember today those men and women who sacrificed their lives in our armed forces for you. Long before them, Jesus sacrificed His life for you! Will you receive Him today?

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If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find Luke 22:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Wednesday’s Plan for Murder.”

While I am so thankful for my mom and my daughters’ mother, I don’t have special Mother’s Day Sermon for you ladies. Instead, we are continuing our study of Luke’s Gospel.

We have now moved to Wednesday of Passion Week. Jesus entered Jerusalem on Sunday. He cleared the temple on Monday. He taught in the temple on Tuesday, and we now move to Wednesday.

Exposition: 22:1-2

1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.

In verse 1, Luke gives us a time marker and some history. He speaks of two events or celebrations that had morphed into one.

The Passover would start on Thursday night at sundown and go to Friday at sundown. Some estimate that over two million Jews would have been in Jerusalem for this annual pilgrimage feast.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread would happen the very next day. Because they happened immediately one after the other, by this time, they were seen and referenced as one.

The Feast of the Passover was celebrated by the Jews in Jerusalem remembering when the Lord passed over the houses of the nation of Israel protecting them from the death angel in Exodus 12. The Feast of Unleavened Bread celebrated Israel’s exodus from Egypt in the same chapter.

For us, this might be like celebrating Independence Day on July 4 and then Thanksgiving on July 5. They celebrated freedom with Passover, and thanked the Lord for it during Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Verse 2 says the chief priests and scribes sought to kill Jesus. Why?

He had challenged them, and asserted His authority over theirs. He had exposed their hypocrisy and deceit.

However, they knew of His growing popularity with the multitudes. Therefore, it seems as if they had resigned themselves to waiting multiple days until after Jerusalem cleared out.

There plans might be different if they had an insider. If they had someone who knew where Jesus stayed, maybe their plans could be carried out sooner.

Exposition: 22:3

3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.

Verse 3 says that Satan or the Devil entered Judas. Iscariot most like was a geographical reference to Judas’ home.

The end of verse 3 is terrifying. How could the Devil possess one of Jesus’ twelve disciples?

I would suggest to you that Judas is not an example of a disciple falling away. I believe he is an example of a person being constantly exposed to the gospel but never being saved.

Judas betrayed Jesus and the Twelve. Judas never embraced Jesus the Savior.

He was being led by the devil and ultimately was led to death. We know that Judas took his own life, and because Satan lived in his heart, he died and is spending an eternity in hell separated from Christ.

I’m not saying he went to hell because he committed suicide. I am saying he went to hell because he rejected Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Exposition: 22:4-6

4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

The chief priests and scribes needed an insider to move more quickly, and Judas was their man. Verses 4 and 5 seem to indicate that Judas initiated his desire to be their man.

Verse 4 says he conferred with them. Verse 5 says they agreed to his plan.

What would it cost them? Judas sold his soul for 30 pieces of silver according to Matthew’s Gospel.

Judas knew where Jesus often took the other disciples. Therefore, Judas promised to lead the chief priests and scribes and captains to Him.

Applications

First, the Perfect Lamb of God in the New Testament was foreshadowed in the Passover lamb of God in the Old.

Jesus Christ is the perfect lamb of God who died on the cross in our place. If you put your faith and trust in Him as Savior, you will be saved.

The Passover foreshadowed this reality in Exodus 12. When the blood of a Passover lamb was applied to the doorpost of the Israelite’s home, the death angel knew to pass over that home and that family and move to the next as he took the life of every first-born Egyptian.

Second, being numbered with the disciples on earth doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be numbered with the disciples in heaven.

Judas walked with Jesus, and he talked with Jesus. He ate with Jesus, and he drank with Jesus. He slept with Jesus, and he traveled with Jesus. He ministered with Jesus, and he saw the supernatural done by Jesus.

However, he never received Jesus into his heart as Lord and Savior, and therefore, was never saved. I am thankful if you are numbered with the disciples on earth, but what about in heaven?

Finally, if we allow him, the devil will always tempt us deceive and destroy, especially using money. Money is not evil Money is neutral.

However, money won’t satisfy ultimately. Judas was paid up for a day. Judas is in hell for eternity.

Money won’t fix your marriage ultimately. Money won’t make your kids better ultimately. Money won’t buy your happiness ultimately.

But Jesus can, and Jesus will if you let Him.

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If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find Luke 21:5. I want to share a message with you entitled, “The End is Coming!”

Generally speaking, people are very interested in the future. We want to know to know the future for our lives personally. We want to know the future of EBC. We want to know the future of our country and economy and favorite teams.

We also want to know the future as it relates to the Bible, and that often means specific details. In Luke 21, Jesus talks about the end of time, and the fact that it is coming.

However, if you are looking for a detailed timeline, you will probably be disappointed in what I have to say because our text is full of apocalyptic language that is highly symbolic and by nature can have multiple meanings. Some preachers would spend weeks and maybe even months in Luke 21, but because it is hard to be definitive in explaining what Jesus said, I would just be speculating.

The story of Luke 21 is also found in Mark 13 Matthew 24. It is often called the “Olivet Discourse” because Jesus spoke to His disciples from and around the Mount of Olives.

It is still Tuesday of Passion of Week. Jesus has spent most the day in the temple teaching the crowds and teaching His disciples.

Expectations of the Future, Luke 21:5-28

5 Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, 6 “These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”

7 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?” 8 And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. 9 But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.” 10 Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. 13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 By your patience possess your souls. 20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

In verse 5, Jesus and His disciples were admiring the temple because of the beautiful stones and donations or gold sculptures. It seems that Jesus responded to one of them with verse 6.

The temple was not finished at this time. Its construction began in 20 BC by Herod the Great. It wasn’t finished until about 64 AD. This conversation between Jesus and His disciples took place around 30 AD. Therefore, even though it wasn’t finished, construction had been going on for 50 years.

Jesus’ response was prophetic in nature. He predicted that the temple where they were currently standing would be destroyed.

Did that happen? Certainly, it happened approximately 40 years later as the Romans burned the temple and destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70. However, this first prophecy would simply be a foreshadowing of the temple destroyed again during the great tribulation.

This temple’s destruction is just one of seven signs of the times or expectation for the future. Again, the first that Jesus mentioned is the destruction of the temple, but He wasn’t necessarily speaking in chronological order.

In verse 7, Jesus was asked to explain more about these signs, and so He did.

7 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”

Remember, He has already named one…the destruction of the temple that would happen in the Great Tribulation.

Temple’s Destruction (21:6)
False Messiahs (21:8) - Many will come in Jesus’ name claiming to be the Savior, and they will convince many to follow them instead of Jesus.
National Warfare (21:9-10) - There will be wars and commotions. Jesus said these things must happen, but the end won’t be immediate.
Natural Disasters (21:11) - There will be natural disasters including earthquakes and famines and pestilences.
Christian Persecution (21:12-15) - There will be physical persecution for being a known follower of Christ, and your persecution will be a witness to those who are persecuting you. Be encouraged that when you stand for Christ, the HS will never leave you or forsake you and give you the words to say in that very moment. Also, in order for this to happen, the issue of Jesus being your Lord and Savior must be a settled issue in your heart and mind.
Family Division (21:16-19) - There will be divisions and strife within families over following Christ, and even family putting family members to death over Jesus should not surprise us.

Verses 18-19 give us some good news in otherwise words of despair. No hair of our head shall be lost.

18 But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 By your patience possess your souls.

We are promised what certainly is spiritual security because of our relationship with Christ. However, if these signs are happening during the Great Tribulation, Jesus could be speaking about physical security as there will some Christians in the Tribulation period who are alive when Jesus returns.

Beginning in verse 20, Jesus comes back to events in Jerusalem and destruction. Jesus warned the Christ-followers to run and hide. This time will be the worst time ever for Christians.

20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

Luke calls this the times of the Gentiles in verse 24, and it is unique with him. It seems to refer to the time that Gentiles will dominate Israel and Jerusalem.

24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

In verse 25, Jesus began describing the 7th sign. It is the Second Coming of Christ.

25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

There will be signs in the heavens. There will signs on earth. There will be signs in the oceans, and it will be extraordinary.

In verse 27-28, then those alive will see Jesus returning on clouds. When those who are alive see this, salvation has come.

27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

End of the Age Timeline

Now, I want to back track just a little and give you what I believe will be the big events of the end of the age. Not all of these are mentioned here, but I believe all of these are biblical.

First, since coming of the Holy Spirit, we have been living in the church age. This has been true for 2,000 years.

I believe the next big event will be the rapture of the church. It will be sudden and without warning and could happen today. That is the taking of all born-again Christians to be immediately with the Lord and for eternity.

The next big event is the tribulation period. I believe the book of Daniel describes it as two 3.5 year periods. The second 3.5 years is the Great Tribulation.

At the end of the two 3.5 year periods, I believe Jesus will return as described in 21:27. His second coming will kick off His 1,000 earthly reign. After it, eternity will begin.

The Illustration from the Fig Tree, Luke 21:29-33

29 Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Part of Jesus’ explanation about the end coming is a parable about the fig tree. Even though many have tried to make this more complicated than necessary, this is actually a very easy parable to read, understand, and apply.

Remember that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning, and fig trees were very common in the first century. Jesus’ audience would have been familiar with fig trees and their growth patterns.

When the branches put forth leaves, summer was near. That is easy. Fig trees bloomed at the end of spring and the beginning of summer. Their bloom was the sign that summer was near.

According to verse 31, these things will be the signs that the Second Coming Christ is near.

31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

What were “these things?” The things that Jesus was speaking of began back in verse 6.

All of these things are scripted by the hand of God and recorded in the Scriptures. It will follow a predetermined script, and in verse 33, Jesus said, you can count on this script or prediction or prophecy coming true.

33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Before we finish today’s text, let’s look at verse 32 for a moment. What generation is Jesus speaking about here? He said that this generation would not pass away until all these things take place.

32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.

I think this generation can have two meanings. Remember that this entire conversation started about the temple. I believe that Jesus was saying that this first generation would not pass until they saw the destruction of the temple. That happened just 40 years, and Jesus was right.

At the same time, I think that Jesus is also talking about the last generation, the generation that sees the beginning of the tribulation period. Jesus is saying they will also see His second coming.

A Summation for the Followers of Christ, Luke 21:34-38

34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 37 And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. 38 Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

So what do we do? Be careful. Watch, and pray.

First, in verses 34-35, be careful that you aren’t caught off guard. Don’t be guilty of living like the world and getting surprised.

Second, we are to watch in verse 36. Watch for the signs. He didn’t say worry about the signs, but watch.

Third, pray. Pray that you are honoring Christ with all of your life, and pray for the Lord Jesus to come quickly, and pray for those who are lost to recognize their lostness and Jesus as their only hope.

In verses 37-38, it seems the end of Tuesday has come. Next time, we’ll move to Wednesday.

37 And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. 38 Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

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If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 20:45. I want to share with you a message entitled, “An Audience of One.” I’ll come back to this idea in just a moment.

We are still in Passion Week. It is Tuesday, and Thursday’s Passover is coming. Therefore, remember that Jerusalem is full of first-century Jews.

Jesus has spent a lot of time in the temple on Tuesday. He was answering questions, and He was asking questions. Today, we will see Him teaching His disciples.

Here are the two instructions. Forsake the hypocrisy of the scribes. Follow the humility of the widow.

Thinking about an audience of one, why do you do what you do? Why do you do what you do as a husband, as a wife, as a child, as an employee, as a student?

Why do you do what you do? Is it for the applause of men or is it for an audience of One? Is it for the approval of God, you heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, His Son?

Forsake the Hypocrisy of the Scribes, Luke 20:45-47.

45 Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 47 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

In verses 45-47, Jesus warned and condemned the scribes’ hypocritical behavior. He listed five hypocritical acts.

First, they liked to walk around in long robes. These were white robes designating a devout and noted scholar.

Second, they liked prestigious greetings in the market places. These included Rabbi and Father.

Third, they liked the best seats in the synagogues. These were situated at the front of the temple, and facing the congregation.

They liked places of honor at banquets. These spots were located next to the host so as to receive preferential treatment.

Fourth, verse 47 speaks to their most atrocious behavior. The scribes received no monetary pay for their temple services. However, they were often designated estate planners by the husbands of these widows and embezzled their wealth.

Fifth, and as it relates to number four, for show, they pray long prayers over these women that encouraged them to serve God by supporting the temple or the scribe’s holy work. The longer they prayed, the more they would get paid!

Notice the end of verse 47. Jesus pronounced greater condemnation for their hypocrisy!

BTW…Is all sin really the same? It is in the sense that all sin and every sin violates the holiness of God and demonstrates our need for a Savior.

However, a white lie is not the same as sexual abuse, And here, Jesus said some sin will receive greater condemnation. That implies that all sins are NOT equal.

Follow the Humility of the Widow, Luke 21:1-4.

1 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

In verse 21:1, we see that Jesus was still in the temple. The treasury was located in the court of women. It was the furthest point in the temple that women could go.

It was here that there were 13 trumpet-shaped collection receptacles for individuals to give their offerings. Almost half of them were labeled “free-will offerings,” which is where this money was most like being deposited.

It seems as if Jesus was people watching. He watched probably thousands of individuals drop their money into these collection pieces during this Passover season.

Verse 1 simply says that as He was watching people that He saw the rich putting their gits into the treasury. This isn’t a positive or a negative. It simply a fact.

However, in verse 42, He also saw a particular poor widow. She put in two mites.

She came to give at the treasury without any flare or any pomp or any grandeur. I believe she may even have had her head down as she dropped in her two small copper coins.

A mite was a small copper coin. In our terms, it was equivalent to an 1/8 of a cent so she gave ¼ of a penny.

Notice how Jesus described what the widow gave in verse 3. He said she put in “more than” all.

In verse 4, He went further with His explanation. Commenting on the wealthy or the rich, they put in out of their abundance. However, this poor widow put in all the livelihood she had.

Let that sink in. She put in the last penny to her name. In other words, she wouldn’t be able to buy any more food until she earned more money.

Jesus’ explanation is this: when it comes to money or financial giving, the quality of the giving or your attitude in giving is worth more than the quantity in giving or your action of giving. The Lord sees your heart and your hand, and don’t forget that He can do a lot with your little.

Applications

So here is the first takeaway from today’s text. Are you living for the approval of men or an audience of One?

For our teenagers, what’s most important? Do you long for likes and clicks or is well done sufficient?

Second, Jesus doesn’t want your leftovers. He wants your livelihood. This is true with your money, your energy, and your time.

If you wait until all bills are paid before you write the tithe check, you’ll never have enough. Is Sunday morning church a Saturday night decision for you?

Third, for those who have never answered the call to salvation, this story foreshadows Jesus giving His all for you in the same way this widow gave her all. Jesus died on the cross in your place and for your sins. Today, will you answer His call to put your faith and trust in Him as Lord and Savior?

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I want you to take your Bibles and find Luke 20:41. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Who Is Jesus?”

In short, Jesus is fully man and fully God. However, this truth is separates Christianity from other faith traditions.

It is still Tuesday. It is still Passion Week, and Jesus is still dialoging in the temple with those who are opposed to Him.

He answered a question about authority form the chief priest, scribes, and elders. He answered another question from the chief priests and scribes about paying taxes. Last week, we see Jesus answer a question from the Sadducees about marriage, but it was really about life after death.

From the beginning of the New Testament and even today, many struggle to properly identify who Jesus was and is. At one point, some Pharisees said that Jesus was the ruler of the demons. See Matthew 12:24.

In Matthew 12:24, 24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

As I said a moment ago, what you believe about Jesus determines your place inside Christianity or outside Christianity. Traditionally, cults and other religions separate themselves from Christianity because of what they believe about Jesus.

For example, Mormons believe that Jesus is not an eternal being but a created being, and the older brother of Lucifer. Consequently, they are not Trinitarian and are not Christian.

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus is not God. Before He lived on earth, He was Michael the Archangel. Consequently, they are not Trinitarian and are not Christian.

For Muslim, Jesus was not God, but another prophet like Mohummed. For Buddhists, Jesus was an enlightened teacher. For Jews, Jesus was a crazy man.

As a matter of fact, I will never forget a college mission trip with my church group to the University of Wisconsen. We met some Jewish students who told us they thought Jesus was a crazy man. That was their words.

Like Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, these major world religions are not Christian. So again, who is Jesus?

He is fully man and fully God. Today’s text will demonstrate.

Jesus Asked a Question, Matthew 22:41-42a.

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?”

Luke doesn’t include the first part of today’s story. Therefore, turn over to Matthew 22:41.

In our own study of Luke’s Gospel, we have seen Jesus spending a lot of Tuesday in the temple answer questions. Now in Matthew 22:41, Jesus decided to ask His own.

Verse 42 states the questions. He asked of the Pharisees who were gathered around, “What do you think of the Christ? Whose Son is He?”

This sounds odd, but Jesus wasn’t asking about Himself. The word “Christ” in verse 42 means “anointed one” or “Messiah.” He was asking what they thought about the Messiah. Specifically, whose son was the Messiah?

The Pharisees Answered Correctly, Matthew 22:42b.

42 They said to Him, “The Son of David.”

They said that the Messiah came through the lineage of David. They answered correctly that the Messiah would biologically be from David’s line.

We also know that to be true from other texts. See Ruth 4:18-22 and Matthew 1:5-6 and Matthew 1:16.

Ruth 4:18-22, 18 Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez begot Hezron; 19 Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadab; 20 Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon; 21 Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed; 22 Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.

Matthew 1:5-6, 5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6 and Jesse begot David the king.

Matthew 1:16, 16 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.

Again, the Pharisees answered correctly. Jesus was David’s son. Consequently, that means He was and is fully man.

However, Their Assessment was Not Complete, Luke 20:41-44.

41 And He said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? 42 Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand, 43 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’ 44 Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?”

Even though the Pharisees answered Jesus’ question correctly, they did not answer Jesus’ question completely. Now, let’s give our attention to Luke 20.

In verse 41, Jesus asked another question wanting to know how they could say the Messiah was David’s son in light of Psalm 110:1. What did Psalm 110 say?

Look at verse 42. God told the Messiah to sit at my right hand until He makes His enemies His footstool. Then David called the Messiah Lord.

What God was saying was the He would make the Promised Messiah the King. He would make Him equal with God in rank and authority, and His victories would be many.

Remember what we said previously. The Messiah would be from biological line of David. However, why would David call his Son Lord? That makes no sense.

David is king. A king would never call his son Lord. What is going on here?

The Messiah came from David’s line so He would be David’s son. The Messiah would also be David’s Lord since He was God’s son too.

Jesus came from David. However, Jesus was also David’s Lord.

Jesus is fully man and fully God. Jesus is the Messiah!

Conclusion

I want you to see two more texts, and we’ll be done. See John 3:36 and Romans 10:13.

36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

If you have never trusted in Christ as Lord and Savior, call on Him to save you.

13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Paul was quoting from Joel 2:32. Therefore, salvation has always been through the Messiah, Jesus the Christ!

Who is Jesus? He is fully man and fully God, and the only Savior of the world.

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If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 20:27. I want to share a message with you this morning entitled, “Will I Know My Spouse in Heaven?”

That is a question that I have been asked often by those who are close to dying or thinking about heaven or have just experienced the death of a spouse.

In short, yes, you will know your spouse or spouses in heaven if he/she/they were followers of Christ. However, you won’t be married to them. Follow along as I explain.

We are continuing our study in Luke’s Gospel, and we looking at the last week of Jesus’ life on earth before His crucifixion. This is called Passion Week or Holy Week.

On Sunday, He rode into Jerusalem on donkey colt. On Monday, He came back into Jerusalem and cleansed the temple.

On Tuesday, He came back into Jerusalem and spent a lot of the day teaching in the temple and answering certain questions. That includes all of Luke 20 and Luke 21.

In Luke 20:1-2, He answered a question about authority. This was from the chief priests and scribes and elders.

1 Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him 2 and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?”

In Luke 20:19-22, He answered a question about paying taxes. This question was also from the chief priest and scribes.

19 And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people—for they knew He had spoken this parable against them. 20 So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor. 21 Then they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth: 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

Today, Jesus will answer another question. This time, it comes from the Sadducees.

The Liberal Aristocrats, Luke 20:27

27 Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him…

An aristocrat is a person considered to be superior through education, ability, or wealth. The Sadducees were considered to be aristocrats. One commentator I read this week called them the urban, wealthy, and sophisticated class of Jerusalem.

They wielded great political and religious influence as part of the Jewish religious leadership of the day. However, they had their own unique attributes.

They were conservative in that they didn’t believe in the oral law or traditions of the Pharisees. They only held to the Torah or the first five books of the Old Testament.

However, they were liberal in that they didn’t believe in the supernatural which included a resurrection or angels or spirits. We know that from verse 27 and also from Acts 23:8.

Acts 23:8, 8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

Because of their beliefs, and because they were pro-Rome, they were at odds with the Pharisees again and again. However, remember that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Therefore, like the Pharisees in this instance, they attempted to trap Jesus with His words and discredit His ministry. They attempted such with a hypothetical scenario in verses 28-33.

BTW…Did Jesus believe in a life after physical death? Did Jesus believe in a resurrection? See Luke 9:22, 14:14, 18:33.

22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

A Ludicrous Argument, Luke 20:28-33

28 saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second took her as wife, and he died childless. 31 Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died. 32 Last of all the woman died also. 33 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.”

Beginning in verse 28, the Sadducees posed the proverbial straw man scenario to Jesus in an effort to prove their belief or argument against resurrection. There example is based loosely on Deuteronomy 25, which is why they attributed it Moses.

The story included a married couple who didn’t have children for whatever reason. Then, tragedy strikes, and the husband dies leaving the wife alone and without anyone to care for her.

The custom of the day and part of the Old Testament Law was what was known as levirate marriage. This term comes from the Latin word “levirate” which means husband’s brother, and the Sadducees correctly referenced Moses commendation of it from Deuteronomy 25:5-6.

Deuteronomy 25:5-6, 5 “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband’s brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. 6 And it shall be that the firstborn son which she bears will succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel.

We see this practice in the book of Ruth, and its purpose was to provide for this family’s future, and protect the widow. The Sadducees could have asked their question of Jesus using just two husbands in an example. However, in attempt to show their disdain for the resurrection and its absurdity, they used seven husbands.

This was a ludicrous argument, and in their minds, Jesus only had two options in answering. If He answered that the wife belonged to all of them, He would be condoning adultery. If He answered otherwise, in their minds, He would be teaching that there was no such thing as the resurrection.

Life Afterward, Luke 20:34-40

34 Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.” 39 Then some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” 40 But after that they dared not question Him anymore.

As He did with others, He challenged the Sadducees’ understanding of Scripture. They should have known better, but they didn’t.

Beginning in verse 34, Jesus pointed out two of their errors in thinking. First, Jesus said there would be no marriage(s) in heaven.

Why? One of the main purposes of marriage is reproduction. However, in heaven, there is no need for reproduction because life in heaven is eternal life. Therefore, you will know you spouse and children and others in heaven, but the only marriage in heaven will be between Christ and His Bride, the Church.

In verse 36, Jesus said that in heaven, we will be EQUAL to angels. Notice He didn’t say we will be angels. He said we will be EQUAL to angels. How so?

Like angels, we will have glorified bodies. Like angels, we will not reproduce. Like angels, we will live eternally, and like angels, we will be fully and completely dedicated to our relationship with God.

In verse 37, Jesus specifically addressed the resurrection of the dead. Again, Jesus challenged their knowledge of Scripture with a verse from Exodus 3:6. The Sadducees should have known this since they only believed and were supposed to be experts in the Torah or first five books of the OT.

Exodus 3:6, 6 I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”

In verse 38, Jesus added that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. What was so special about what He said?

Exodus 3 is about 500 years after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob died. Yet, God said, “I AM the God of…” He used present tense and not past tense to say that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were still alive in heaven because of the resurrection of the dead.

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Therefore, once these OT Patriarchs died or any believer dies, he or she is immediately transferred to heaven and in God’s presence.

Conclusions/Applications (5)

So what does all this mean?

First, like the Sadducees, we will make mistakes and errors in judgement when we don’t know the Scriptures. If you don’t know what the Bible says about marriage, you will make unnecessary mistakes in yours. If you don’t know what the Bible says about parenting, you will make unnecessary mistakes with your children. If you don’t know what the Bible says about money. You will make unnecessary mistakes managing yours. Read your Bible. Be in Sunday School and Church. Don’t neglect the opportunities the Lord gives you so readily.

Second, there everyone will have eternity either in heaven or in hell. Your destination depends on whether you answer God’s call to salvation in Christ.

Everybody is born once and dies once. Some are born twice and die once. Those are followers of Christ.

They are born physically and born again spiritually. Then, they only die physically.

However, if you don’t call on Jesus to save you, you will be born once and die twice. You are born physically, but you will die physically and spiritually. However, you will die for ever in hell.

I beg you and plead with you today to be saved. Put your faith and trust in Christ. Call on Jesus to save you!

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Agan, Happy Easter to you and your family. Thank you for worshipping with us today at Emory Baptist Church.

If you have your Bibles or your smart device this morning, I invite you to turn to Luke 24. All four gospels give an account of Jesus’ bodily resurrection, and while I wouldn’t say one is better than the other, we are giving our attention this morning to Dr. Luke’s account.

I want to share a message with you this morning entitled, “A Full Day of Life Change.” In this last chapter of Luke’s gospel, its focus is Resurrection Day, and can be easily divided into three scenes that are noted by three different times during that day: the morning, the afternoon, and the evening.

Life Change in the Morning because of a Miracle, Luke 24:1-12

Verse 1 clarifies that we are talking about Sunday morning. Jesus was crucified on Friday and laid in Joseph’s tomb that same day. He was there in the grave Friday night, Saturday, and until early Sunday morning.

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.

Verse 1 continues with a group of women who made their way to the tomb early on Sunday morning to anoint His body with spices to combat the odor that they expected to find because they thought He was still dead.

According to verse 10, these women included Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James. This would have been Jesus’ aunt.

10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.

Verse 10 also says they were accompanied by other women. However, they are left unnamed.

Back in verse 2, when they arrived, the stone had been rolled away.

2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

Matthew’s gospel tells us that there had been a localized earthquake that had dislodged the stone, and an angel rolled it away. However, keep in mind that Jesus was already resurrected meaning that the stone was not rolled away to let Jesus out but to allow the witness to come inside and see.

Verse 3 tells us what they found. Jesus was not there even though they were fully expecting to find Him there.

3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Verse 4 introduces two angels as men. Of course they were majestic in appearance, and the women responded accordingly in verse 5 by bowing their faces to the ground.

4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?

At the end of verse 5, the angels then asked the women why they were looking for the living among the dead, and in verse 6, they also reminded them of what Jesus had prophesied, and they made this historical declaration, “He is not here, but is risen!”

6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”

Jesus had told them this was going to happen. However, they couldn’t wrap their minds around what they had a hard time believing.

In verse 11 and following, the women then left the tomb and returned to tell the men what they found. As you know, they didn’t believe them, and Peter had to see for himself as described in verse 12.

11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

In our first twelve verses, we see life change that took place in the morning of Resurrection Day because of a miracle. What was the miracle?

The miracle was that the dead had come back to life. Jesus was killed on Friday, but was alive on Sunday.

How do we know this miracle actually happened, and isn’t some myth or legend? First, we an empty tomb that was protected by Roman guards. Second, we have the day of worship changed from Saturday to Sunday in the book of Acts. Third, we have fulfilled prophecy told in the Old and fulfilled in the New. Fourth, we have the unique role of female testimony that would not have normally been well-received in the first century. Fifth, we have changed lives.

This Peter, who had denied Christ on Thursday night and Friday morning, preached in Acts, and thousands were saved by repenting and believing in Jesus. Lives were changed on Resurrection Day because of the miracle in the morning.

Life Change in the Afternoon because of Appearances, Luke 24:13-31

Beginning in verse 13, we see what is often called the road to Emmaus and the first of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances on Sunday afternoon.

13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.

Verses 13-18 speak of these two eye-witnesses, and one of them was named Cleopas. Perhaps it was he and his wife.

18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”

However, initially, they didn’t recognize Jesus because God didn’t allow it. Listen to verses 14-16.

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

In verse 17, Jesus asked them why they were sad. Obviously, they were still under the impression that Jesus was dead. They had heard the report of the women and even saw the empty tomb, but they hadn’t seen Jesus alive.

17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”

In verse 18, while still not recognizing them, Cleopas asked how Jesus had not heard of this awful death. Evidently, it was common knowledge in Jerusalem since Friday.

18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”

Verse 21 tells us that these earliest disciples were hoping Jesus would empower an immediate and earthly kingdom. Even after Jesus explained how the Old Testament had prophesied all that had happened, they still didn’t recognize Him.

21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.

After Jesus reminded them that the OT had prophesied all that was supposed to happen, they wanted to hear more and kept Jesus from moving on. Look at verses 25-27.

25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Verse 29 says that Jesus stayed with them for a while. He even ate with them in verse 30.

29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.

It was here, in verse 31, that this appearance changed their lives forever.

31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

The afternoon appearances of the resurrected Christ changed lives.

Live Change in the Evening because of Evidences, Luke 24:32-43

44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” 50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

As our scenes transition from afternoon to evening, and after Jesus sat down with this group of disciples and shared a meal with them, it seems this triggered memories of Thursday night or even of Him feeding the thousands. Verse 31 said they knew Him, but He then vanished.

31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

In a mysterious way, Jesus’ resurrected body could be seen and heard, and He could eat. However, He could also defy time and space limitations and move at will.

Because of what they had seen and heard, they had to tell others. Therefore, they went back to Jerusalem from Emmaus and told the other disciples that they had witnessed the resurrected Christ. Look at verses 33-35.

33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

In verse 36 and following, Jesus then joined them in Jerusalem. In order to calm them and prove that it was really Him, because they were scared, Jesus offered for them to touch Him and feel Him. He then asked them for some food, and He ate fish in their presence.

36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” 40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence.

What evidences did these disciples experience in the evening? They saw His nailed pierced hands and feet. They touched His nailed pierced hands and feet. He ate in their presence.

This was no spirit or ghost. This was the resurrected Christ!

How were their lives changed?

First, in verse 45, He helped them understand the Scriptures. Second, in verse 48, He would empower them to take the gospel to the nations. The Church is Plan A to evangelize the world.

Third, their countenance and demeanor changed from sorrow to joy. Look at verses 52-53.

50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

Conclusion

In Luke 24, these folks had their lives changed forever because Jesus was alive. You too can have your life changed forever because Jesus is alive.

How you ask? If you aren’t saved today, Jesus is ready to save you today.

That means a personal and saving relationship with God. That means forgiveness of all sins. That means an eternal home in home.

If you are saved, it means remembering that you have the Holy Spirit. He is THE power you need to share gospel with anyone that God puts in your path.

Will you let God change your life today like He did for these folks approximately 2,000 years ago?

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If you have your Bibles, I want to find Luke 20:20. I want to share a message with you entitled, “When Worlds Collide…”

If you are a guest with us this morning, we are in a long-term study of Luke’s Gospel. As a matter of fact, when we finish this summer, it will have been 30 months or so…two and a half years since we started in January 2024.

Here in Luke 20, it is Passion Week. That is the last week of Jesus’ earthly life before His death.

On Sunday, He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey colt. On Monday, He cleared the temple. Every day, He was teaching in the temple and preaching the gospel.

Some commentators believe that we have now moved to Wednesday of Passion Week. However, we are still in Jerusalem, and Jesus is still dialoging with the Jewish Religious Leaders, and today’s text is about one of their conversations.

A Demonstration of Treachery, Luke 20:20-22

20 So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor. 21 Then they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth: 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

In this first scene, let’s talk about the players if you will. It seems they are the Jewish Religious Leaders noted in Luke 20:1 and 20:19.

1 Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him.

19 And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people—for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.

So let’s put all this together to get the fullest picture. The Chief Priests were in charge of the temple and the temple services.

The scribes were experts in the Old Testament. The elders were senior family members in the city, and all three groups made up the Sanhedrin. Again, these were Jewish Religious Leaders.

Let’s not only think about the players, let’s also consider their plot. In 20:1, they confronted Jesus. In 20:19, they wanted to beat Jesus up, but didn’t. In 20:20, they concocted a plan to trick Jesus.

It involved spies. It involved deception. They were trying to trap Jesus like an animal or catch Him like a fish on a hook.

They wanted to know if the Jews should pay taxes to Caesar. This was a head-tax on any one and every one living under the Roman Empire.

If Jesus said yes, the crowd would be in an uproar. There would be chaos. A yes answer would affirm Roman domination of the Jews.

However, if Jesus said no, He and His followers would be accused of being insurrectionists. He would then be quickly arrested by the Romans for defying their authority.

An Illustration of Insincerity, Luke 20:23-24

23 But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test Me? 24 Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” They answered and said, “Caesar’s.”

Jesus smelled a rat. Verse 23 says He perceived their craftiness and their desire to test Him.

In verse 21, they had called Him Teacher, but they didn’t follow His teaching. They were flattering Him.

In verse 24, He asked to see a denarius which was a single coin that represented a day’s wages. This was a Roman Coin that was comparable in size to our dime.

Ironically, they had one on them. I wonder why since according to Exodus 20:4, they shouldn’t have been close to one. Their insincerity was on full display.

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Jesus took the coin and asked whose image was on it. It was that of Tiberius Caesar. One side was inscribed with “Son of the Divine Augustus.” The other side said “Chief Priest.”

What would come next? What would Jesus’ answer be?

The Application of Authority, Luke 20:25-26

25 And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26 But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.

In verse 25, Jesus told them to give to Caesar what was due Caesar. That would include the head-tax that was previously mentioned.

However, don’t miss this. He also said to give to God that which was due God.

Their attempts were foiled. Jesus had amazed the crowds again with is answer.

Conclusions

So, here is the main idea of today’s text and my message. Followers of Christ are to be submissive. That includes how relationship to the government and to God.

Submissive means recognize authority. It doesn’t mean weak or inferior, and being submissive to both, generally speaking, is not mutually exclusive.

We are to give to the government what is due them. We should submit from traffic laws to paying taxes.

Please hear me this morning. We are meeting like we are today because we should…not because we have to.

Of course, the exception would be anytime our government requires us to violate Scripture or conscience that was determined by Scripture.

Romans 13:1-7, 1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

AND, we are to be submissive to God. As the coin had Caesar’s image, and Jesus told the Jewish Religious Leaders to pay that which was due Caesar, our soul has God’s image on it.

We are made in the image of God. See Genesis 1:27.

Genesis 1:27, 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Therefore, we are to submit our lives to God, and His way is best. His plan for marriage is best. His plan for parenting is best. His plan for money is best. His plan for relationships is best. His plan for life is best.

Invitation

Submit to God for salvation
Submit to government for sanctification

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If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 20:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “When God Looks At You.”

We return to Luke’s Gospel this morning, and it is Passion Week, the final week of Jesus’ life on earth before His death.

On Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a donkey’s colt. On Monday, Jesus cleansed the temple. In today’s text, it is Tuesday, and Jesus is still in Jerusalem.

Remember that Jesus and His disciples came to Jerusalem for the Passover. However, also remember that Jesus came to Jerusalem to die.

Some Inquiring Minds, Luke 20:1-2

Jesus was teaching in the temple daily. See Luke 19:47. This is one of those days.

47 And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him.

What was He teaching and preaching? Verse 1 says the gospel.

What is the gospel? God created us to be in relationship with Him, but we sinned. Because we sinned, we needed a Savior. That is Jesus. We know it was Jesus because of His resurrection. Now, He invites anyone and everyone to believe in Him and be saved.

This time, He was met by the chief priests and scribes and elders. Notice this group “ confronted Him,” which ought to give us a clue about their intentions.

Collectively, this group was known as the Sanhedrin, and they were in charge of Jewish Religious Life, and that included the temple. Furthermore, the chief priests would be similar to our executive branch. The scribes would be similar to our legislative branch, experts in the Law, and the elders would be similar to our judicial branch.

They then asked Jesus two questions. The first was “By what authority are You doing these things?” “These things” surely referred to cleansing the temple on Monday. After all, the Sanhedrin saw themselves as the highest authority in matters regarding the temple.

The second question was similar to the first. It was “Who gave You this authority to do these things?”

Jesus had done something different from anyone else. He acted without asking the Sanhedrin for their permission. He didn’t consult them. He didn’t clear it with them.

They wanted to know by whose authority was He acting or in other words, they wanted to know Jesus’ credentials. Jesus hadn’t any formal training. He didn’t sit under a rabbi, and after all, He was from Galilee.

An Implied Message, Luke 19:3-4

3 But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: 4 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”

Instead of answering their questions with a statement, Jesus asked a question of His own. He answered their two questions with one question. His answer to them was dependent on their answer to Him.

Verses 3-4 contains His one question. He asked about John’s baptism, and this also included his ministry and authority. Was it from heaven, meaning divine origin or God, or from men, meaning of human origin. Notice how direct He was with “Answer Me.”

Now, what was His implied message? The implied message was that wherever John’s baptism was from was the same place that He received His authority, and that was from God.

John the Baptist was God’s Messenger, and Jesus was and is God’s Son. Another way to put it is that Jesus was saying that He and John were on the same team. They were working for the same boss and working for the same goal.

Some Ignorant Men, Luke 20:5-8

5 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from. 8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Now, the ball was in the Sanhedrin’s court. They had to answer Jesus’ question, and the answer to Jesus’ question would be the answer to their questions so they began to talk through their options.

Their first option was to say that John’s baptism was from heaven and God. However, if they said that, then Jesus would ask them why they didn’t believe him and follow him because in effect, they were not following God.

If they said heaven, they would stand condemned for rejecting God’s messenger. They would also be saying that Jesus’ authority came from heaven and God and therefore acknowledging Him as the Messiah.

Their other option was to say that John was simply human, and therefore had no divine authority what so ever. However, if they said that, they were afraid of how the people would respond because John was considered to be a true prophet, a prophet of God.

As with the first option, to say that John was from human origin was to say that Jesus was from human origin. Needless to say, they were in a quandary.

By the way, here is a great illustration of the truth that peer pressure is a real issue for adults as well teenagers. Don’t be fooled into thinking it just happens in junior high or high school. These adults feared their reputation over telling the truth, and it is always right to do the right thing even if it costs your reputation.

There answer recorded in verse 7 simply says, “We do not know.” They pled ignorance. As a result, Jesus then refused to answer the questions.

The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers

Then in verse 9, Jesus told them a parable. A parable was an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

Jesus taught in parables to reveal mysteries about God’s kingdom to those who wanted to understand. He spoke in parables to conceal realities to those who already decided to not believe him, and He used parables to fulfill prophecies.

9 Then He began to tell the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time.

It was not uncommon for wealthy landlords to own large land estates which they leased to tenant farmers or vinedressers. The tenant farmers would agree to cultivate the land and care for the crops while the landlord was away.

In return for their care, the landlord would give a portion of the crop to the tenant farmers while keeping a portion for themselves. When harvest time came, the landlord would send their servants on their behalf to collect their portions.

In telling this parable, these chief priests and scribes and elders certainly thought of Isaiah 5:1-7.

1 Now let me sing to my Well-beloved

A song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard:

My Well-beloved has a vineyard

On a very fruitful hill.

2 He dug it up and cleared out its stones,

And planted it with the choicest vine.

He built a tower in its midst,

And also made a winepress in it;

So He expected it to bring forth good grapes,

But it brought forth wild grapes.

3 “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah,

Judge, please, between Me and My vineyard.

4 What more could have been done to My vineyard

That I have not done in it?

Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes,

Did it bring forth wild grapes?

5 And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard:

I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned;

And break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.

6 I will lay it waste;

It shall not be pruned or dug,

But there shall come up briers and thorns.

I will also command the clouds

That they rain no rain on it.”

7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel,

And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant.

He looked for justice, but behold, oppression;

For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.

Back in Luke 20:9, the certain man was God, and His vineyard was His kingdom. The vinedressers were the Jewish Religious Leaders or the chief priests, scribes, and elders.

10 Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out.

In verse 10, it was harvest time, and so the owner sent one of his servants as his agent to get his portion of the vineyard’s produce. However, the vinedressers took the slave and beat him and sent him home with nothing.

In verse 11, the owner sent another slave, and the outcome was the same. He sent another, and the outcome was the same.

These servants represent the prophets and messengers of God that God sent throughout history as His ambassadors to the nation of Israel. Who comes to your mind?

In the Old Testament, even before Israel, I think of Noah whose message fell on deaf ears. I think of Elijah who was driven into the wilderness by Ahab and Jezebel and ready to commit suicide. I think of Zechariah was stoned to death near the temple.

In the New Testament, I think of John the Baptist who was beheaded. In Acts 7, Stephan who was stoned to death.

God has sent countless messengers to His people, and they have rejected them. Our landlord had a final option.

13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’ 14 But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

In verse 13, he decided not to send any more slaves or servants. He decided to send his son, his beloved son. He thought the vinedressers would respect his son and send back his portion of the vineyard crops.

However, they saw the son coming, and took their opportunity to remove the heir of the property. They took him, and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

We see in these verses that God did not send another prophet. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, and what was true of the landlord’s son turned out to be true with Jesus. They took God’s Son and crucified Him.

At the end of verse 15, Jesus asked a rhetorical question, “What will the owner of the vineyard do to them?” He went on to answer it for them. He will come and destroy the vine-dressers and give the vineyard to others.

Again, the owner is God. The vineyard is His kingdom. The vinedressers were the chief priests, scribes, and elders.

Who are the others? The others are the Gentiles. Because Israel rejected Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah, God temporarily set them aside and has turned His attention to the Gentile world.

That doesn’t mean that He is done with Israel. It does mean that He will wait to resume that relationship with Israel until all the Gentiles who are going to be saved are saved.

Jesus further indicted the leaders of Israel by quoting Psalm 118:22-23. The stone is Christ. The builders are Israel and her leaders. They rejected Christ, but Christ became the chief corner stone or the foundation stone of His kingdom.

How do we know this? See Acts 4:8-12 and 1 Peter 2:4-8.

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

“Behold, I lay in Zion

A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,

And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

“The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone,”

8 and

“A stone of stumbling

And a rock of offense.”

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

As verse 19 says, obviously the Jewish Religious Leaders understood fully what the spiritual meaning was for this earthly story. The parable spoke against them and further fueled their fire against Jesus.

Conclusions

From this parable, we learn at least three truths about God and His character.

First, He is patient. In this parable, the landowner didn’t just send one servant to collect the harvest. He sent one and another and another.

God didn’t just send one prophet to Israel. He sent one and two and three and many others. God hasn’t tried just once to get your attention. He has tried once and twice and three times and many others because God is patient.

Second, not only is God patient, God is also love. The landowner didn’t just send his servants and multiple ones at that. He sent his one and only beloved Son.

John 3:16, 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Finally, not only is God patient, and not only is God love, but God is also just. Eventually in the parable, Jesus said of the vinedressers that the landowner would come and destroy the vinedressers.

Yes, he was patient, and yes, he was love, but in the end, he was just, and he held the vinedressers responsible for their actions.

Here me this morning. Yes, God is patient, and yes, God is love, but you need to also know that God will hold you responsible and accountable for your actions, specifically how you respond to His Son, Jesus Christ.

Is Jesus your Savior this morning? Remember, God is patient, and He is love. However, don’t presume too long on His patience and disregard His Son.

If you receive His Son, you will receive an eternity in heaven with God. However, if you reject His Son, you will be eternally destroyed in hell without God.

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If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 19:45. I want to share a message with you entitled, “How Do You Respond to God’s Word?”

That may seem like an innocent enough question. However, this morning, I am going to ask you to be painfully honest with yourself and the Lord in answering it.

Think back to last Sunday, and we saw the beginning of Passion Week. That is the last week of Jesus life on earth before His crucifixion.

It was Palm Sunday, and we saw Jesus demonstrate His deity with His omniscient regarding colt. We also saw Jesus accomplish victory, but through peace and not war, and we see Him weep over the city of Jerusalem.

In today’s text, it is Monday. Remember that Jesus had come to Jerusalem to die, but He and His disciples had come to Jerusalem for the Passover.

Exposition

In verse 45, we see what is commonly known as Jesus cleansing the temple. However, it is important for us to understand some of the back story.

Commentators tell us that Jerusalem could have ballon in population for this week to in excess of two million people. Why were all these folks here?

They were there for Passover Week. That meant that these Jews would be in need of doves and other animals to sacrifice.

However, the money changers required a certain Temple Currency that was different from Roman or Greek Currency. Therefore, when the Jews would exchange their money to buy these animals, the money changers would charge significant fees or transaction costs.

So, they were making money on the money being exchanged for taxes and sacrifices. However, there was also large profits being made the animals to be sacrificed were bought.

After all, would you rather travel multiple miles with your animals? Or, would just rather purchase one when you got there? This was a convenience purchase for sure.

So why did Jesus do this? Because He was one with God the Father and God the Spriit, Jesus knew what the Temple was for. See 2 Chronicles 7:1-3.

2 Chronicles 7:1-3, When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house. 3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.”

In addition to being the presence of God, the temple should have also been a house prayer. Jesus said that in verse 46 quoting Isaiah 56:7.

Instead, the money changers and animal sellers had made it a den of thieves by charging exorbitant amounts of money for their services and products. In His rebuke, Jesus also quoted Jeremiah 7:11.

Verses 47-48 are summary verses for what also happened Monday through Thursday of Passion Week with Jesus in the Temple. He went daily to teach God’s Word to God’s people.

However, notice the responses to God’s Word as we return to our sermon title and question for the day. Verse 47 speaks of the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people.

These were Jewish religious leaders. When they heard God’s Word, they rejected it, and consequently, they wanted to destroy Jesus.

However, look at verse 48. Their efforts were momentarily thwarted by all the people who were attentive to Jesus.

The implication is that they not only were attentive, but they were listening. However, they were not only attentive and listening, but they were also receiving.

Conclusion

So now, I want you to answer the question that began our time together this morning. How do you respond to God’s Word?

When God’s Word says you are sinner and the only way to be saved is to call on Jesus to save you, how do you respond? Do you deny your need or do you repent and believe?

When God’s Word says you are sinning and you need to repent, do you repent or do you say it isn’t applicable to you and you ignore it?

Today, I invite you to receive God’s Word and obey rather than reject it. Today, I invite you to be saved and or to repent.

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Introduction

Please take your Bibles, and find Luke 19:28. I want to share a message with you entitled, “The Beginning of the End.”

In the recent Sundays in our study of Luke’s Gospel, I have made the point that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. This is central to Luke’s Gospel as the name Jerusalem is recorded 33 times compared to 36 in the other three Gospels combined.

Notice 9:51, 9:53, 13:22, 18:31, 19:11, and then 19:28. Don’t forget this is not a pleasure trip. Jesus is on His way to die.

That is why I said the beginning of the end. How is this the beginning? It starts the last week of Jesus’ earthly life before His resurrection.

The end of Luke 19 is Passion Week. Passion Week begins with Palm Sunday.

In today’s text, let’s spotlight Jesus. First, He is God. Second, He originally accomplished victory through peace not war. Third, Jesus invites everyone to follow Him as Lord and Savior.

Jesus is God.

In verse 28, we see a time marker. Remember from last week that Jesus corrected a misunderstanding about the Messiah with the parable of the minas.

Before the Messiah would establish His earthly kingdom, He had to go away for a while. His kingdom would be established on His return.

Jesus was headed to Jerusalem. However, it wasn’t to reign. It was to die.

Beginning in verse 29, we see proof of Jesus being God through His omniscience. What does that mean?

It means that He knows all. He doesn’t just know some or most. He knows all.

As He was passing through the suburbs of Bethphage and Bethany, He gave an assignment to two of His disciples. They were to go into Bethphage to get a colt.

Bear in mind that Jesus hadn’t spoken with the owners previously. He simply knew it would be there, and sent the two disciples for it.

If they were asked why it was need, they were given instructions. Tell the owners that the Lord needs it.

You know what? Look at verse 32. It happened just as Jesus said.

Jesus would then ride this colt into Jerusalem with some clothes serving as a saddle. Other clothes were thrown on the ground for a path.

The second proof of Jesus being God is found in the fulfilled prophecy. In today’s text, there are multiple Old Testament prophecies that could only be fulfilled by the Messiah.

In verse 29, He sent His two disciples from the Mount of Olives. See Zechariah 14:4.

4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,

Which faces Jerusalem on the east.

And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two,

From east to west,

Making a very large valley;

Half of the mountain shall move toward the north

And half of it toward the south.

You will find the word colt four times in verses 30-35. Jesus riding into Jerusalem on this colt was the fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9.

9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your King is coming to you;

He is just and having salvation,

Lowly and riding on a donkey,

A colt, the foal of a donkey.

Even what the multitude of disciples said of Him in verse 38 is fulfilled prophecy. See Psalm 118:26.

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.

Jesus wasn’t just some great moral teacher. He was and is God!

Jesus originally accomplished victory through peace not war.

What do I mean when I say Jesus accomplished victory? When Jesus died on the cross for the sins of world and satisfied the wrath of God and then was resurrected on the third day, Jesus won!

Let me say it again. Jesus won!

And He won not by warfare. Not with His military and army. He won through peace!

That is the symbolism behind the donkey. He will come again on white horse and with a sword, but this is a donkey.

Notice also verse 38 again. In that quote of Psalm 118:26, the Messiah’s message is one of peace.

The Prince of peace is bringing the opportunity to have peace in heaven with God. That happens when we surrender our lives to Him.

BTW…Brothers and sisters, if Jesus accomplished victory in His first coming with peace and not war, we ought to follow His lead. However, that isn’t my first instinct.

I won’t to win by force. I want to win with forceful words and forceful Facebook posts and a forceful attitude. That isn’t Jesus.

Jesus accomplished victory in His first coming through peace not war. We should follow His example.

Jesus invites everyone to follow Him as Lord and Savior.

In verse 39, the Pharisees didn’t like what they were hearing. They told Jesus to tell His disciples to quieten down.

Jesus responded with verse 40 and alludes to His mission and invitation. When He returns, their will eventually be a new heaven and a new earth that He has redeemed.

When He got to Jerusalem, He wept over the city with compassion for them. This is the second of three times that we know of that Jesus wept.

He wept in John 11:35 when Lazarus had died. He hurt for His friends, Mary and Martha, who were hurting.

Hebrews 5:7 says that Jesus wept in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night He was betrayed.

7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,

Why did He weep for Jerusalem? He came for them, but they rejected Him.

Consequently, they would be left without God’s protection. Jesus’ prophecy in verses 43-44 were at least fulfilled in AD 70 when Rome destroyed Jerusalem.

Conclusion

My invitation for you this morning is to put your faith in Jesus. He is God, and He has secured spiritual and eternal victory for you through His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. He wants you to be saved today!

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Please take your Bibles, and find Luke 19:11. I want to share a message with you this morning on the parable of the minas, and this parable is not about bait fish.

In our study of Luke’s Gospel, we have seen the story of the rich, young ruler. We have seen the story of Blind Bartimaeus, and last Sunday, we saw the story of Zachaeus, the wee, little man.

The parable of the minas or pounds is unique to Luke. However, it is similar to the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.

Remember, a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning or spiritual meaning. Also, parables revealed mysteries to those who received Jesus, concealed realities to those who rejected Him, and fulfilled prophecies for both.

One last reminder regarding parables is to not press the parable in finding symbolism in every object or act. That would lead to the Bible contradicting itself, which we know it never does.

The Parable

In verse 11, they heard these things. They includes Jews and Gentiles. They also included the crowd and Jesus’ disciples.

These things refers to the story of Zacaheus. That story is told in verses 1-10, and was fresh in their minds.

Jesus was about to tell a parable as they continued on their journey to Jerusalem. However, in telling this parable, He needed to correct a misunderstanding.

The crowd believed that the Messiah would establish His earthly kingdom in Jerusalem and through force militarily. Therefore, they believed it was immanent since they believed that Jesus was the Messiah, and they were on their way to Jerusalem.

Jesus needed to correct that. It would happen, but not on their timeline.

BTW…In our study of Luke, we have seen multiple different definitions of the kingdom of God. In this instance, it means His earthly kingdom.

The parable begins in verse 12 with a certain nobleman. He left his home and went into a far country to receive his kingdom, and he would eventually return.

While he was gone, he had work for his servants to do. They were to invest this money which was three months’ of wages.

The NKJV uses the word mina. The KJV uses the word pound. Therefore, your Bible may say the parable of the minas or the parable of the pounds.

However, notice the mindset of the citizens in verse 14. They hated this nobleman and didn’t want his ruling over them.

So, he left and returned in verse 15. When he did, he called three of ten servants to him to give an account. Keep in mind that he gave them all the same amount of money.

The first had a return of 10 minas. The second had return of 5 minas, and they third didn’t invest the minas at all.

The nobleman was pleased with the first and second servant, and he rewarded their faithfulness. However, he was greatly displeased with the third and punished him along with the citizens who didn’t want him to rule over them and were his enemies.

The Participants or Parts

The nobleman is Jesus Christ.

The nobleman’s servants are followers of Jesus Christ. However, the third seems to be a follower in name only.

In verse 20, the third servant had unbelieving actions. He didn’t do what his master said.

In verse 21, his unbelieving actions were fueled by his unbelieving attitude. He didn’t like his master.

In verse 22, the third servant had an unbelieving alias. His master called him a wicked servant.

This third servant was a servant in name only. I think this was true of Judas. You might be able to fool those around you, but you can’t and won’ fool the Lord.

In verse 14, the citizens were the Jewish religious leaders. They hated Jesus and didn’t believe He was the Messiah.

What do the minas or pounds symbolize? I believe it is our faith that was once for all delivered to the saints, or you might call it our relationship with Christ.

The Point

First, like the nobleman, Jesus will go to distant land in heaven between His ascension and return.

Second, when He does return, it will be with His kingdom to establish on earth.

Third, while He is away, like the servants in the parable, the followers of Jesus are to be faithful in fulfilling their responsibilities. I will come back to that in just a moment.

Fourth, when Jesus returns, He will reward the faithful who received Him and obeyed Him.

However, and fifthly, when Jesus returns, He will punish those who have reject Him by disobeying Him.

So, while Jesus is away, what is our responsibility? Verse 13 says do business until I come.

What is our business? What is the business of every Christian while He is gone?

Every Christian should read his or her bible daily to know God more and better through His word.
Every Christian should pray daily.
Every Christian should make disciples. That includes evangelizing, baptizing, and teaching.
Every Christian should be connected with a local church. The local church is God’s earthly picture of heaven.
Every Christian should serve that local church with his or her spiritual gifts, natural abilities, and financial resources.

Are you doing your business for the Lord while He is gone and until He returns? I pray so.

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Please take your Bibles and turn to Luke 19:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “The Hound of Heaven.”

In 1890, English poet Francis Thompson published his poem with the same title as my sermon. It was 182 lines, and its subject was the pursuit of the human soul by God’s love.

In Luke 19:1-10, we find a very familiar story of Zacchaeus, the wee little man. Believe it or not, the main point of Zacchaeus’ story is the same. God’s love is pursuing your human soul.

In three scenes of this story, we will focus on three individuals or groups of people. Those include: Zacchaeus, us, and Jesus.

A Controversy with a Rich Man, Luke 19:1-6

1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.

Today’s story and controversy with a rich man stands in sharp contrast in how it ends with the rich, young ruler. He left saddened, but Zacchaeus leaves saved.

Jesus and His disciples were passing through Jericho on their way to Jerusalem. In verse 2, we are introduced to Zacchaeus.

He was a chief tax collector. This is the only time we ever see this title as chief tax collector.

Zacchaeus worked for the Roman government collecting taxes, but he was the one of the head guys. That means he had tax collectors working under him.

BTW…We also know that Zacchaeus was a Jew because of verse 9. Therefore, he was considered a traitor because he worked for the Romans extorted massive amounts of money from his own countrymen.

These men were notoriously dishonest and thieves. Consequently, Zacchaeus was rich because not only did he collect what was paid to the Roman government, but he also collected some for himself, and he received a commission from those tax collectors under him.

Ironically, he must have heard about Jesus and was curious so he sought to see who Jesus was. However, he couldn’t see over the crowd because he was short in stature. He wasn’t very tall.

Therefore, undeterred, he ran ahead of Jesus and the crowd, and found a tree that he climbed to get a view. The song says, “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he. He climbed up in the sycamore tree to see what he could see.”

When Jesus passed by, He looked up and told Zacchaeus that He was coming to his house. Zacchaeus was fired up, came down, and welcome Jesus joyfully.

BTW…Verse 5 reminds us, contrary to what our English translations may indicate, long before Zacchaeus sought Jesus, Jesus was seeking Zacchaeus. The words place, today, and must demonstrate divine sovereignty in the salvation process.

Jesus went to the exact place where Zacchaeus was because He knew in advance. That day had been planned before the foundation of the world, and the word “must” means that He had to do it according to God’s sovereign plan.

How do you think this meeting at Zacchaeus’ house was received?

Criticism from the Religious Leaders, Luke 19:7

7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

Verse seven says when they saw Jesus’ interaction with Zacchaeus and what was happening, they complained.

First of all, who was they? They was the religious leaders of scribes and Pharisees. They looked righteous on the outside, but were self-righteous on the inside.

They complained or grumbled. They griped and whispered underneath their breath expecting Jesus to want to come their house.

The couldn’t believe that Jesus, who claimed to be the Messiah, wanted to go to Zacchaeus’ house, a rotten, stealing, traitor and tax collector.

The verse ends with them calling Zacchaeus a sinner. Isn’t that ironic?

It was ironic because they were sinners too. We are all sinners.

Did you know that every single person in this room and who has ever lived is a sinner? There is only one exception, and that is the Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Because we are all sinners, we are separated from God, and we need a savior. The good news is that Jesus Christ is seeking us like the hound of heaven.

A Conversion to Righteousness, Luke 19:8-10

8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

After Zacchaeus received Jesus, and that was his salvation experience, his life changed forever. Verse 8 says he stood up publicly and said he was giving half of his good to the poor, and his way paying back all that he had stolen and more.

Keep in mind, this acts weren’t saving him. He was already saved, and these acts were proof of his conversion.

Jesus recognized such in verse 9. He affirmed Zacchaeus’ conversion to Christ and righteousness and a changed life.

Our story ends with the theme verse of Luke’s gospel, and it tells us all we need to know about Jesus’ mission. HE is the Savior, the Son of man.

He is seeking you to save you because you are lost without Him. Today’s invitation invites you to respond.

Conclusion

F. O’Conor said about the Hound of Heaven:

“The name is strange. It startles one at first. It is so bold, so new, so fearless. It does not attract, rather the reverse. But when one reads the poem this strangeness disappears. The meaning is understood. As the hound follows the hare, never ceasing in its running, ever drawing nearer in the chase, with unhurrying and unperturbed pace, so does God follow the fleeing soul by His Divine grace. And though in sin or in human love, away from God it seeks to hide itself, Divine grace follows after, unwearyingly follows ever after, till the soul feels its pressure forcing it to turn to Him alone in that never ending pursuit.”

If you are lost today, Jesus Christ is seeing you. Like Zacchaeus, will you receive Him?

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If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 18:31. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Believing is Seeing!”

Normally, we say, “Seeing is believing.” That’s because we want to see first before we believe.

However, in today’s text, and our study of Luke, a familiar man believes first, and then he sees. It's the story of Blind Bartimaeus.

Last week, we saw the rich, young ruler. I hope you had a chance to watch that if you didn’t watch it live.

Today’s story is also found in Matthew 20 and Mark 10. Jesus and His disciples are on their way to Jerusalem for the Passover.

A Reminder about the Future, Luke 18:31-34

31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be [a]accomplished. 32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” 34 But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.

In verse 18, Jesus was talking to the Twelve on their way to Jerusalem. Keep in mind that yes, they were going for the Passover, but Jesus knew it wasn’t a pleasure trip. He was on His way to die.

We also see that what Jesus experienced was prophesied about hundreds of years earlier. Three major things happened: He was delivered, killed, and will be raised. See Isaiah 53:3-12.

3 He is despised and rejected by men,

A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

4 Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,

Yet He opened not His mouth;

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,

And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,

So He opened not His mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment,

And who will declare His generation?

For He was cut off from the land of the living;

For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.

9 And they made His grave with the wicked—

But with the rich at His death,

Because He had done no violence,

Nor was any deceit in His mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;

He has put Him to grief.

When You make His soul an offering for sin,

He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,

And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.

By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,

For He shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,

And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,

Because He poured out His soul unto death,

And He was numbered with the transgressors,

And He bore the sin of many,

And made intercession for the transgressors.

This is now the third time that Jesus explicitly warned the Twelve about this in Luke. See 9:22 and 9:44.

22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

44 “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”

BTW...Notice, in verse 32, He would be delivered to the Gentiles. We also know that it was the Jews that demanded Pilate crucify Him.

That reminds us that Jesus died for the sins of the world, and all our sin put Him on the cross. However, the Twelve didn’t get it. They didn't understand.

As for me and you, let me remind you about our future. We will also die apart from the rapture or the return of Christ.

Therefore, let us be prepared spiritually, physically, and emotionally as much as possible. Are you saved? Have you written a last will and testament? Have you planned your funeral service?

A Request from a Far, Luke 18:35-39

35 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. 36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

As they neared Jericho, Jesus and the Twelve encountered two blind men. However, only one of them spoke. His name was Bartimaeus.

These two men were desperate because they were blind. Not sure if they were born this way, or an event blinded them.

They were dependent as they were beggars. They couldn’t work because they were blind so they depended on what others gave them when they begged.

Bartimaeus heard all of the commotion, and asked what was happening. He was told that Jesus was coming through town.

Evidently, he had heard about Jesus, and evidently, he was a Jew waiting for the promised Messiah. Therefore, he called out to Jesus using a messianic title and requested to be healed.

Not only were these two disparate and dependent, but they were also determined. Even though the crowds told him to be quiet, Bartimaeus called out again. He wouldn’t be silenced.

The Reason for Faith, Luke 18:40-43

40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, 41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” 42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

After the second time that Bartimaeus cried out, Jesus stopped demonstrating His concern. However, He didn’t treat the blind men like the others.

With conviction, instead of telling them to be quiet or ignoring them, He called them over to Him. It seems they were some distance away.

He then asked what they wanted. Bartimaeus requested to see.

In verse 42, Jesus healed him demonstrating His compassion, and notice why He healed. It was Bartiemaeus’ faith.

Because he believed, he saw. His faith made him well physically, and the text implies that he was also saved spiritually.

As a result, he followed Him. Furthermore, the crowd also glorified God for what they had witnessed.

Conclusion

Do you have faith this morning? I hope so because Hebrews 11:6 says that it is impossible to please God without faith.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

We need faith to be saved. See Ephesians 2:8-9.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

We need faith to be sanctified and follow Christ every day. See 2 Corinthians 5:7.

7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

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Introduction

If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 18:18. I want to share a message with you entitled, “The Key to Heaven is Grammar!”

For some of you, that might scare you today. However, it is actually not as complicated as you might think grammar to be.

Today’s text is composed of three conversations involving Jesus and others. The first is a man who was depending on his own morality to get into heaven. This is often called the story of the rich, young ruler.

A Request from a Rich Ruler, Luke 18:18-23

18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” 21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” 22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

This story is found not only in Luke 18, but it also in Matthew 19 and Mark 10. When we harmonize all three accounts, we find out that this man was a ruler who was young and rich.

In verse 18, we see his request. He came to Jesus and asked, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

In this verse, notice the word do. As it relates to grammar? This verb is in the present tense. Remember that for later.

As the conversation unfolds, we see that this rich ruler know the Old Testament and was obedient to the Old Testament.

As it relates to answer his question, Jesus pointed him to the Ten Commandments. In summary, they were what we think of as commandments 5-9 that relate to our behavior toward others.

BTW…After Jesus made a veiled declaration of His own deity, was He advocating works righteousness? No, He was using the Law to show this man where he fell short.

Again, verse 20 says he knew the Old Testament. Verse 21 says he obeyed the Old Testament.

After the young man said he had obeyed all those, Jesus had one more answer for him. On the outside, the rich young ruler appeared to be righteous, and if anyone could have earned their way to heaven, it would have been him.

In verse 22, this first conversation ended in sorrow as Jesus challenged this rich ruler at his weakest point. He indirectly challenged him with the first four commandments and then the last.

How was he challenged with first four? It seemed that wealth was his God.

How was he challenged with the last? He didn’t want to give up any and most likely wanted to acquire more.

When Jesus asked him to turn from those sins and follow Him by leaving his money behind, he decided Jesus wasn’t worth it. He left the conversation sorrowful for he was rich.

Clarification for a Confused Crowd, Luke 18:24-27

24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” 27 But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

When the rich ruler came to Jesus, evidently some of His disciples were close by. They saw and heard all that transpired. As a result, they were confused by what they had witnessed and now heard.

In verse 24, Jesus said it was hard for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God. In today’s story, the kingdom of God means heaven.

He even compared it to a camel going through the eye of a needle. As the camel was the largest animal they knew, it was more plausible for it to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man entering heaven.

However, Jesus wasn’t saying that the wealthy couldn’t be saved, but it was going to be hard or difficult. The crowd was confused.

In the Jewish culture, the wealthy and rich were seen as having the blessings of God on their lives. If God had blessed them in this life, why would it be hard for them to go to heaven?

This crowd then asked if the wealthy can’t be saved, then who can be saved. They needed clarification, and Jesus responded with the most important verse in today’s story.

In verse 27, He said with men it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. He was saying that it is impossible for any man or woman to earn salvation.

It can’t be done. It is impossible. However, it is certainly possible to receive salvation from the author of salvation, and that is God.

The great thing about his verse is that not only does it apply to salvation, but it applies to all of life. That is why I chose it for our verse of the year.

You may not be able to save your marriage, but God can. You may not be able to bring your wayward child back, but God can. You may not be able to reconcile your finances, but God can.

Direction for a Discouraged Disciple, Luke 18:28-30

28 Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.” 29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Included in this confused crowd, was Peter, a discouraged disciple. Notice what he said in 18:28, “We have left all and followed you.”

Let me translate. “We thought we were following you to be saved, but if the rich aren’t saved, then surely we aren’t saved, and now I have nothing.”

Jesus reassured Peter with the direction found in verses 29-30. He said you have left everything, and you will get back everything + when we get to heaven.

Conclusion

As I began, the key to heaven is grammar. The rich ruler wanted to get to heaven by what he could do, present tense.

You can only get to heaven by what Jesus did on the cross. That is past tense.

Receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior and putting your trust in Him is the only way to be saved. Morality can’t save. Prosperity can’t save. Sincerity can’t save.

Generosity can’t save, and genealogy can’t save.

For those who are truly saved, you will never regret following Jesus. I have never one Christian who regretted giving his or her life to Jesus.

I don’t think I have ever had a genuine follower of Christ say to me, “I’ve obeyed too many times,” or “I’ve attended church too much,” or “I’ve given too much money,” or “I’ve shared the gospel one too many times.”

Jesus was absolutely right when He said to Peter that following Him is the greatest and most rewarding decision that you will ever make. I agree and invite you today to do the same.

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Introduction

If you have your Bibles this morning, take them and find Luke 18:15. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Jesus Loves the Little Children of the World.”

Were you taught that song in Sunday School or Vacation Bible School? I was at FBC Venus, Texas.

Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white…they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.

This morning in Luke’s gospel, we are continuing in chapter 18. Last Sunday, we heard a parable about salvation and the truth that no one has always been saved. Before you are saved, you must realize that you are lost.

This account in Luke 18 is also found in Matthew 19 and Mark 10. It also has been used throughout 2,000 years of church history to justify infant baptism even though there is absolutely zero reference to baptism in this passage.

I want to make three observations with you this morning. Then I will make three applications of this text thinking about Jesus loves the little children of the world.

The Request from the Parents about Children, Luke 17:15a

15 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them.

The “they” in this verse seems to refer to parents and others who were bringing their children to Jesus for Him to bless them. Verse 15 uses the word infants, but could range in age from newborns all the way up to twelve years of age.

The NASB and the NIV uses the word babies. The NLT uses the phrase little children.

Why were they doing this? These Jewish parents probably wanted God’s blessing on their children from a “holy man.”

This was a long-standing Jewish tradition that can be seen as far back as Genesis in the OT. See Genesis 48:14.

14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.

The Patriarch Israel or Jacob laid his hands on the heads of his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, and blessed them.

Do we see anything like this today? This practice closely resembles our parent/child dedication. It is not a requirement, but simply an opportunity for the church and the pastor to pray for parents and their children, and to commit them to the Lord.

Some have pointed to this passage of Scripture to justify infant baptism. However, I personally think this is a stretch since there is no mention of baptism, sprinkling, or pouring found anywhere in this text.

The Rebuke from the Twelve about Children, Luke 15b

15…but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

The Twelve saw all these people and all these snotty-nosed kids, and they got real protective of their Jesus. They didn’t want to share.

More than likely, they thought Jesus was too busy to deal with children. Apparently, they saw children as unimportant and insignificant as was common in first-century Judaism.

After all, in their eyes, children couldn’t contribute much to culture and society. The disciples simply wanted to send these people and their children on their way so Jesus could get back to more urgent matters.

The Response from Jesus about Children, Luke 18:16-17

16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

In verse 16, I think we have good reason to believe that God has a special grace that He provides for infants or children or mentally handicapped individuals who die before they reach an age where they recognize their need for a Savior and exercise such faith. Jesus said for such is the kingdom of God.

Remember, the kingdom of God has meant Jesus. It has meant when Jesus’ returns. It has meant God’s will playing out on earth in the lives of Christians.

It can also mean heaven. I think what Jesus means here is both this third and fourth definition.

Children are welcome into the kingdom of God on earth. They will also be welcomed into the kingdom of God in heaven.

In verse 17, we see Jesus welcoming any who receive the kingdom of God as a little child. What does that mean?

Does it mean that teenagers and adults must come to Jesus humbly? I think it can meant that although all children aren’t humble.

Does it mean that teenagers and adults must come to Jesus with simple trust? Again, I think it can mean that. However, all children aren’t trusting.

More than anything else, I think Jesus means that any who comes to Jesus must come to Him for salvation with empty hands. In other words, with a helpless dependence.

You must realize that your morality does not impress God. Your genealogy or family tree does not impress God. Your spirituality or church attendance or baptism or membership or tithing record does not impress God.

God receives those that acknowledge that they have nothing to offer to Him. All you can do is trust in the grace and mercy of God to save you by receiving Jesus Christ into your life as Lord and Savior.

Applications/Conclusions

I think there at least three applications from this text. I have one for three different groups of people.

First and for parents, bring your children to Jesus. Bring them to church and Sunday School and VBS and camp, and teach them about Jesus at home

Also, trust that, God forbid, should anything happen to them and their life is cut short on earth, trust they will have a home in heaven because of God’s special grace for them.

Second and for our church, this text shows us the importance of ministering to and evangelizing children.

If you were saved at age 12 or younger, please stand. Brothers and sisters, this simple illustration should remind us that Children’s Sunday School is vital as are ministries like Sonbeam, VBS, Preteen Camp, and Fall Festival as attempt to bring children Jesus.

Furthermore, don’t get mad when children are loud in church or disruptive in church or disrespectful in church. Be patient and grateful for them being in church!

Finally, regardless of your age, if you have never received Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life like a child with helpless dependence, this morning, I invite you to call on Him to save you for the very first time.

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Introduction

If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find Luke 18:9. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Lost and Found.”

I suspect most of you are familiar with a “Lost and Found.” It is a place at school or church where lost items and kept and hopefully, eventually found by their owners. We’ll come back to that idea in just a moment.

Last week, Jesus told us the parable of the unjust judge or the persistent widow. We are to keep praying and don’t give up. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t lost heart. Don’t get tired.

Today, we are continuing in Luke 18 with the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, and it is unique to Luke. Even though it speaks about prayer, it is not primarily a parable teaching about prayer.

In today’s message, I am going to outline our text into 8 parts. They all begin with the letter P.

Exposition

First, this is parable about a proud Pharisee and a publican. That is the KJV word for tax collector.

Remember that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. According to verse 9, Jesus spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others.

More than likely, this was directed at the proud Pharisees, and they were close by. See Luke 17:20.

20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation.

Second, verses 10-11 introduce us to the proud Pharisee and the publican or tax collector. They both went to the temple to pray, which was generally at 9 AM and 3 PM.

In verse 11, we are reminded of their positions. The Pharisees were Jewish religious leaders known for their knowledge of the Old Testament and their spiritually.

The publican or tax collector was also Jewish, but he worked for the Roman government. Therefore, he was considered to be a traitor.

He was generally dishonest. He collected the tax that he turn paid to the government. However, he also collected some for himself, and he was despised by his countrymen for his position.

Third, verse 11 speaks not only of their positions, but also of their posture. The proud Pharisee stood and seemed to pray loudly so that others could hear.

When the text says that he “prayed thus with himself,” that literally means that he prayed to himself. His posture was also one of pride as he prayed listing his resume.

However, the publican or tax collector’s posture was just the opposite in verse 13. He stood far off away from others. He didn’t feel worthy.

He also beat his chest. This was a sign of contrition and deep sorrow.

Fourth, notice their prayers. The proud Pharisee listed his resume of how he kept the OT laws of fasting and tithing.

The OT required fasting once a week, and he fasted twice. He also tithed of all that he possessed.

There is no debate. He had been obedient.

BTW…Brothers and sisters, as follower of Christ, we should be obedient to God’s word.

In John’s gospel, Jesus said that if we love Him, we ought to be obedient. See John 14:15.

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

Then John said in 1 John 2:3 that obedience can assure us of our knowing Christ.

3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

Not only did the proud Pharisee list his resume, but he also spoke negatively of others including the publican or tax collector. He thanked God that he wasn’t like extortioners, the unjust, adulterers, and this tax collector.

On the other hand, the publican or tax collector’s prayer was seven words. He called out to God for mercy as he was a sinner.

The proud Pharisee’s prayer was self-righteous and judgmental. The publican’s prayer acknowledged his need and stayed in his own lane.

Fifth, what was the problem with the proud Pharisee’s prayer? His standard for living was other people.

Sixth, what was the positive with the publican’s prayer? His standard for living was God, and he knew that he fell woefully short.

Seventh, this parable contains a major paradox. Look what Jesus said in verse 14.

He was pointing to the publican when He said, “This man went down to his house justified.” For the first century listener, this blew their mind!

Justified means to be made right or even saved. Jesus just said that this good man was not saved even though he had done all of this stuff. On the other hand, this dishonest publican was saved. This didn’t make sense.

Eighth, so what is the point of the parable? Again, it isn’t primarily about prayer. However, it can teach us to pray with humility like the publican instead of self-righteous pride like the proud Pharisee.

The main point of this parable is about salvation and that no individual can be found by God until he or she realizes he is lost without God. In other words, no one can be saved until they realize they need to be saved. Finally, you can’t have personal saving relationship with God until you realize that you need one and don’t have one unless you make that conscious, personal decision.

Paul affirms this key theological truth and reality in Ephesians 2.

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Conclusion

Listen to that again. If you have never made a conscious decision to recognize your need for a savior and call on Jesus, you are spiritually dead in your sins. The devil is your boss, and he is the one who is calling the shots. You are by nature a child of God’s wrath.

You must understand that you are lost. You must understand that you need to be saved. Today, I invite you to be saved and found by God.

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If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find Luke 18:1. I want to share a message with you that has a question for its title, “Do You Nag God?”

Generally speaking, when we think of “nagging,” we don’t think positively. As a matter of fact, we probably had some husbands answering in their minds a moment ago about their wife.

In the book of Proverbs, this idea is seen multiple times with the word, “contentious.” BTW…Let me encourage you in the new year to read through the book Proverbs each month by reading the chapter that corresponds with the date.

Proverbs 21:9 9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

Proverbs 21:19 19 Better to dwell in the wilderness,

Than with a contentious and angry woman.

Proverbs 25:24 24 It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

Proverbs 26:21 21 As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,

So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

Proverbs 27:15 15 A continual dripping on a very rainy day

And a contentious woman are alike;

However, in today’s text, we are going to see a parable from the Lord Jesus in which His encourage for us is to nag God. We do this in a positive way with our persistent prayers.

Depending on your translation of the Bible, this parable goes by multiple names. It has been titled a parable on prayer. It has been entitled the Parable of the Persistent Widow, and it has been entitled the Parable of the Unjust or Unrighteous Judge.

Don’t forget what is a parable. It is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning or a spiritual meaning.

In verse 1, we see that Jesus spoke this parable to them. There doesn’t seem to be a reason that we should change contexts. Therefore, Jesus spoke this parable to His disciples.

Remember, this is not a special class of Christians. These are Jesus’ followers. If you are a Christian, you are a disciple of Jesus.

Fortunately for us, we don’t have to wonder or guess what this parable means. Jesus told us in verse 1. We ought to pray and not lose heart.

We are to pray and keep in praying and be persistent in praying. Consequently, don’t become discouraged. Don’t faint or tire. Don’t give up.

The Unjust Judge

The first character we are introduced to in this parable is a judge in a certain city in verse 2. We also see something about his character.

He did not fear God, and he didn’t regard man. In other words, he didn’t respect people.

Look what Jesus called him in verse 6. He is called an unjust judge or an unrighteous judge. That is where some get the title for this parable.

The Persistent Widow

The second character is a widow in the same city. She is introduced in verse 3.

BTW…In this day and age, widows were considered outcasts. They didn’t have anyone to care for them. That is why Luke highlights them regularly in his gospel demonstrating the gospel is for everyone.

The reason this widow came to the judge is because he was only one who could defend her or fight for her. Therefore, she came to him and requested that he get justice for her from her adversary.

Your bible may say opponent or enemy. Even though we don’t know the specifics, someone had taken advantage of her.

However, she didn’t just come to the judge with this request once. She can EVERY single time he held court. She came again and again and again.

The judge thought she would give up. He thought he could wait her out. However, he couldn’t.

Finally, he decided to give in. Even though he didn’t fear God and didn’t care what others thought of him, he got tired of her nagging him.

Verse 5 says he didn’t want her to trouble him and make him weary. She was wearing him out by her continual coming.

Conclusion

Verses 6-7 contain the point or conclusion of this parable. Again, we don’t have to wonder or guess because Jesus told us.

It is somewhat odd, but we learn a good lesson from a bad example. If the unjust judge acts this way, how much more will God our heavenly father do.

Therefore, yes, the unjust judge is God the Father. However, this is a great time to remind you not to press the parable too much.

For example, first, is God an unjust or unrighteous judge? No, He is not.

Second, do my prayers bother God or make Him tired? No, they do not.

Third, does God care about us unlike the unjust judge? Yes, He not only cares for you, but He loves you.

If the unjust judge answered the plea, how much more will God answer ours? Notice in verse 7, we are called the elect.

Don’t forget that reality in 2026. Long before you chose God, God chose you!

As His elect, we ought to be crying out to Him night and day with our prayers, and yes, He will answer. Therefore, keep doing good. See Galatians 6:9.

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Also, don’t forget that God’s timing is not our timing. See 2 Peter 3:8-9.

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Finally, look at the end of verse 7. Will Jesus find us faithful in our persistent praying when He returns?

Think about this. What if God is ready to answer your prayers with one more prayer from you?

What if God will save that family member or friend with one more prayer? What if God will save that marriage with one more prayer? What if God will reconcile that relationship with one more prayer? What if God will take away that cancer with more prayer? What if God will provide that money with one more prayer?

Will we be faithful in persistent praying? God wants you to nag Him in 2026!

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Statisticians tell us that our world’s current population is approximately 8.3 billion people. That is an 8, a 3, and 8 zeros (8,300,000,000).

Those same statisticians tell us that in all of human history, approximately 117 billion people have lived. That is 117 with nine zeros.

Of that 117 billion people who have ever lived, some have been male. Some have been female.

Some have been red. Some have been yellow. Some have been black, and some have been white, but they have all been precious in God’s sight!

Some have gone on to be doctors. Some have been lawyers. Some have been Indian chiefs.

However, there is no more significant birth or child in all of human history than the one we celebrate this Christmas season, and that is the birth of Jesus Christ. Today, let’s remember the first Christmas in the gospel of Luke and chapter 2.

The Incarnation of God, Luke 2:1-7

The word incarnation means became flesh. The Christmas story is about God becoming a man.

In the first three verses of this chapter, we see the context for Joseph and Mary getting to Bethlehem. A census was being taken, and we can conclude that Joseph owned property in Bethlehem.

Therefore, he had to go there to register his family. Rather than leave Mary behind and be absent at the birth of his son, Mary went with him to Bethlehem.

First, as it relates to the incarnation of God, I want you to see is that it was prophesied in the Old Testament.

By leaving Nazareth, but unbeknownst to Joseph, he was following the predetermined plan of God revealed in the Old Testament. See Micah 5:2.

Micah 5:2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

Second, I want to remind you that the incarnation of God was conceived by the Spirit.

Verse 5 tells us that Mary was with child on this trip. It is very difficult for us to even imagine this young, teenage mother walking and or riding on a donkey for any prolonged period of time at nine months pregnant.

However, that is what we have here, but don’t forget how this happened. It was miraculous!

Had she been with another man and unfaithful to Joseph? No.

Had Mary and Joseph consummated their marriage? No.

Even though they were legally married, they were still in the betrothal period, and were sexually pure. See Luke 1:35.

Luke 1:35, And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Third, in the simplicity of two verses (6-7), Jesus was born. God became flesh. God was incarnated.

Verse 7 says Mary gave birth to her firstborn son. In other words, she would have more.

The Proclamation by the Angels, Luke 2:8-14

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Beginning in verse 8, we are introduced to a group of shepherds. They were herding their sheep which is what shepherds did, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them and scared them.

In verse 10, the angel began to speak. He tried to calm the shepherds down and let them know that he had good news or good tidings for them and for us.

The first part of the good news is that the Savior was born.

Jesus was born, and He is the Savior for all people. He isn’t just the Savior for a few or for a certain denomination or a certain race or a certain social-economic class. Regardless of who you are and where you’re from and what you’ve done, Jesus came to be your Savior.

The second part of the good news is that God offers salvation to those who believe.

He is a Savior sent for you, but you have to make the personal decision to receive Him into your life or trust in Him as Lord and Savior or call on Him to be saved from your sins.

I can’t do it for you. It isn’t applied to you just because of what your parents have done or who your grandfather was.

God didn’t just create you for 70 or 80 or 90 years of living on earth. He created you to live with Him for eternity.

The third part of the good news is that we can be at peace with Him by receiving His Son as our Savior. Salvation only comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Suddenly, in verse 13, a multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the original angel. Was this fifty more? Was this one hundred more? Was this one thousand more?

Probably, it was the latter. Thousands and thousands of angels began to exalt the Lord in song, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

Every human being since Adam has been at odds with God because of sin. No man has been at peace with God on his own.

However, God has provided a way. The way is Jesus.

The angels exalted God in heaven as they proclaimed Jesus as the only way to be saved. See Romans 5:1.

Romans 5:1, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, on this Sunday before Christmas, I extend an invitation to you to be saved. Jesus came to save you, but you have to receive Him.

You have to accept His invitation.

The salvation that Jesus offers is only applied to your life when you personally believe in Him. Will you do that today?

The Exaltation from the Shepherds, Luke 2:15-20

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

In verse 15, the shepherds went on their way after the angels left. They headed to Bethlehem.

Verse 16 says they came to Joseph and Mary and the baby, and they told them all that the angels had said. Therefore, the shepherds experienced Jesus personally.

In verses 17-18, they told others about this Savior. In other words, they shared their experience.

Isn’t that all that evangelism or witnessing is…sharing your experience with Jesus?

In verse 20, the shepherds then left, and they went back glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard. Ultimately, they exalted God for He what He had done in providing for them a Savior.

Conclusion

So my question for you this morning is simple. How will you respond to the story of the most significant birth in all of human history?

Will you accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior and the only way to be at peace with God? Will you share your experience and point others to Jesus who may not know?

Jesus’ birth is the most significant of one hundred and five billion. What will it mean for you?

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Introduction

If you have you Bibles, take them and find Luke 17:20. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Will You Be Left Behind?”

We return to Luke’s gospel this morning, and let me remind you where we are, and where we’ve been. Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem. See Luke 17:11.

11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

However, please remember, He isn’t on a pleasure trip. He is on His way to die. He is on way to the cross to die for us.

The last time we were in Luke 17, Jesus healed ten lepers. However, if you remember, only one returned to thank Him. Now, He is going to answer some questions for the Pharisees and His disciples.

Today, I want you to see two truths about the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is Christ, and the kingdom of God is coming.

We have seen Jesus talk about the kingdom of God on multiple occasions, and He spoken about the kingdom of God in multiple ways. First, the kingdom of God has referred to heaven.

The kingdom of God has also referred to God’s will and plan working out in the lives of His followers. That would be you and me.

Jesus has also referred to the kingdom of God as Himself. He is the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of God can refer to His kingdom that will come on earth. In other words, the kingdom of God is also Jesus’ reign on earth.

The Kingdom of God is Christ, Luke 17:20-21.

20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

In verse 20, the Pharisees asked Jesus about when the kingdom of God. They were expecting a military Messiah.

His response was that they wouldn’t see signs of His coming. However, that wasn’t because there wouldn’t be signs. That is because they had wrong expectations.

The end of verse 21 says that the kingdom of God was within them. However, in the language of the NT, the end of verse 21 actually says the kingdom of God was in their midst.

In other words, the kingdom of God was standing in front of them. Brothers and sisters, that is the gospel.

Knowing the world was in need of a Savior, God sent His one and only Son. We celebrate that at Christmas. His name is Jesus.

He came to earth and lived a sinless, perfect life. He then died on the cross in our place and for our sin. To authenticate and affirm everything He had said and did, He was resurrected from the grave and ascended to heaven to be with His Father.

If you have never accepted Him as Lord and Savior of your life, that is my invitation to you this morning and this Christmas. The kingdom of God in your midst, and Jesus wants to have a personal, saving relationship with you today.

You will never earn heaven and eternal life on your own. You can’t do with your morality or ingenuity or generosity. You can have heaven, eternal life, and forgiveness of sins today by admitting that you are a sinner in need of a Savior, repenting of our sin, and calling on Him today to save you.

The Kingdom of God is Coming, Luke 17:22-37.

22 Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them. 24 For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. 25 But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” 37 And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?” So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”

In verse 22, Jesus turned His attention of His disciples. He was speaking to us.

Starting in verse 22 and through the end of the chapter, Jesus used His favor title for Himself. He called Himself the “Son of Man,” and He spoke of His Second Coming or His return or the kingdom of God to come.

First, He said it would not be seen by everyone. In other words, some would die and not be alive when He returned again for the second time. That includes approximately 2,000 years of His followers.

Second, His coming would be obvious to all of those who were alive at the time. It would be so obvious like that of lightening in the sky. Matthew 24:29-30 give us some descriptions.

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Third, His coming will be after suffering and rejection in verse 25. Remember, He was on His way to Jerusalem. His trip would end in suffering and death on the cross for our sins.

Fourth, His coming will be an act of judgement. In verses 26-30, He reminded us of two Old Testament examples of judgment.

First, remember Noah. Noah preached and warned, but the people ate, drank and were married. None of that is wrong, but they didn’t listen to Noah.

Consequently, when the flood came, Noah and his family were saved. However, the rest were destroyed. See Genesis 7:21-23.

21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. 22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. 23 So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.

Also, don’t forget about Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah. They also carried on with their daily lives without any regard for God.

What was their fate? Fire and brimstone rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. The only survivors were most of Lot’s family. The day when Jesus returns will be similar.

Fifth, Jesus’ coming will be unexpected. Look at verses 31-36.

Jesus gave four scenarios. When Jesus comes unexpectedly, you can’t gather all your goods. It will simply be time to go.

Don’t be like Lot’s wife who missed out. You can’t have this life and life and heaven.

Beginning in verse 24, two men will be sleeping. One will be taken. The other left behind.

Two women will be working. One will be taken. The other left behind.

Two men will be in the field. One will be taken. The other left behind.

The question is whether the one taken is saved or is it the one left behind. With the context of Noah and Lot in the previous verses, they were taken or saved. Those left behind were destroyed.

My question for you is this. When Jesus comes, will you be left behind for the judgement?

I hope not. I pray not. I’m offering the invitation today to be saved by Jesus and not left behind, but the decision has to be made by you.

Our text ends by giving us a gruesome picture of judgement. Look at verse 37.

The bodies left behind will be spiritually dead. They will encounter God’s judgement for rejecting His Son.

Consequently, the eagles or your Bible may say vultures will be circling. This will be a sure sign of spiritual death.

Conclusion

The kingdom of God is Christ, and He is coming. Will you be left behind? If not, are you warning and inviting your spouse, coworker, and neighbor to be saved by Jesus?

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I want you to take your Bibles and turn to Proverbs 6:6. I want to share a message with you entitled, “RISE UP: 3 Years Later and Moving Forward.”

Think with me back to the summer of 2022. We had approved construction plans for our Family Life Center, and we turned our attention capital fundraising.

BTW…Please always remember that a FLC is not a silver bullet or the magic solution to seeing people saved in Emory and Rains County. That is Jesus and only Jesus.

If you’re here this morning and aren’t saved, the gospel is that man has sinned and is separated from God because of our sin. That includes you.

However, Jesus died on the cross for your sins and paid your sin debt. His death has made it possible for us to be saved in relationship with God again.

I invited you to be saved this morning if you aren’t already. That is the main thing.

In September and October of 2022, we experienced a church-wide campaign called “RISE UP!” That theme and encouragement came from Nehemiah 2:18.

18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.

For the Sundays in September and October, we did a survey study of Nehemiah. This was true for our Sunday School Small Groups and my Sunday morning sermons.

Then, at the end of our study, your were challenged to make a commitment to pay for the Family Life Center. These commitments would be above and beyond your tithes. It would be your offering.

At the end of November 2022, 79 families or giving units pledged $927,405 over a three year period. However, at that time, our deacons and FLC Committee decided to pause our construction plans until we had more cash on hand.

We resumed our plans in 2024 with the selection of Bearing General Contractor as our builder. They committed to build our Family Center for $3,999,009, and construction began on May 1, 2025.

Today is the last day of three-year giving period that started on December 1, 2022. Some would give once. Others would give annually. Even others gave monthly or weekly.

I am so proud to report to you today what you gave over that three-year giving period. We exceeded our commitments, and gave $1,271,236, and we aren’t done yet.

Before we move any further, let’s turn attention to Proverbs 6:6-11. We are encouraged to got to ant and watch and learn be. Watch how the ant acts. Learn from the ants ways. Be wise!

What exactly will we see? What can we learn? Ants are eager in their organization. Ants are earnest in their preparation. Ants are expectant in their realization.

Ants are eager in their initiation, 6:7.

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard!

Consider her ways and be wise,

7 Which, having no captain,

Overseer or ruler,

Solomon tells the reader, that he also calls a sluggard, or lazy to go and watch the ant. We are to watch how they act and learn how they behave, and be wise.

Notice verse 7. They don’t have anyone telling them what to do. They don’t have a captain or overseer or ruler.

Instead, they take the initiative. They don’t wait to be told what to do.

Emory Baptist Church, before we know the price of this project, we made our commitments. Before we went to the bank to borrow money, we made our commitments.

The ants are eager in their initiation. Emory Baptist Church is too as the FLC Fund existed long before the FLC construction project.

Ants are earnest in their preparation, 6:8.

8 Provides her supplies in the summer,

And gathers her food in the harvest.

Summer is not a time that you would normally work in storing food, but the ant did. The ant was getting ready for the fall during the summer.

The ant prepares in advance, and they work hard in doing it. They also work hard during the harvest.

The bottom line is that the ant always works hard. They are diligent and industrious.

I commend you brothers and sisters for your hard work. I know that when you have given to the FLC, you have given above and beyond your tithe.

Many of you have given from your savings. Others have given from your retirement. Even others have given from their estate.

You have committed and sacrificed for this project. You have worked hard in your preparation.

Ants are expectant in their realization, 6:9-11.

9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard?

When will you rise from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber,

A little folding of the hands to sleep—

11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,

And your need like an armed man.

Why do ants do what they do? Because they know winter is coming. They expect reality.

Verses 9-11 speak to the reality of poverty if you don’t work. It will come and try to take away what you have.

Brothers and sisters, our reality is that we had to borrow money to complete this project. A second reality is that we will have to make loan payments as soon as our cash is spent.

Therefore, I congratulate today, but I also challenge you. Keep giving.

You have already proved to yourself that you can do it. Please keep doing it.

The more you give, the less we have to actually borrow. The more you give and the sooner you give, the later we have to borrow.

When all is said and done, we want to borrow less and at a lower rate. The reality is that we will have to pay back whatever we borrow.

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Introduction

If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find Luke 17:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Prioritizing Others.”

In 2002, California pastor and author, Rick Warren, wrote his best-selling work, “Purpose Driven Life.” It was written as a forty-day devotional. If you’ve never read it, I highly encourage it.

The very first sentence of Day 1 says, “It’s not about you.” Wow! You know what? He’s right.

Turn to your right and say to your neighbor, “It’s not about you.” Turn to the neighbor on your left and say, “It’s not about you.” Look this way and say about yourself, “It’s not about me.”

We’re continuing our study of Luke’s gospel this morning, and today’s message is about this profound truth. Following Jesus is a call to prioritize others above or before self.

17:1-10 points out three specific ways we can prioritize others. Consider others sacrificially. Forgive others completely, and serve others dutifully.

Consider others sacrificially, Luke 17:1-2.

1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

Verse 1 tells us that Jesus is talking to us. He’s talking to disciples, followers, believers, Christians.

1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!

He then said that it is impossible to avoid offending everyone. However, do your best not to offend or be a stumbling block to younger Christians. That’s who is in sight when He said “little ones” at the end of verse 2.

2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

If you do offend younger Christians or cause them to stumble or sin, it would be better for you to die than to have to answer to God for that. That’s what it means to have a millstone or cinder block tied around your neck and thrown into the sea.

In Jesus’ day, just like our day, there were controversial issues. We have even seen some in our study such as healing on the Sabbath.

We have controversial issues today. Sometimes, we call them “gray areas.” Is it ok for a Christian to drink alcohol? Is it ok for a Christian to gamble?

There were also controversial issues in Paul’s day. A well-known one was eating meat sacrificed to idols.

Was it ok for Christians to eat meat that from an animal that was sacrificed to a pagan idol? Paul gives us some counsel in Romans 15:1-3, and it mirrors Jesus’ counsel here in Luke 17.

1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”

Paul’s counsel was to not please ourselves, but please our neighbor first like Jesus. In other words, consider others sacrificially. Sacrifice your liberty for your neighbor’s good.

Forgive others completely, Luke 17:3-4.

The second way we can prioritize others is by forgiving them completely when they hurt us. Look at verse 3.

3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

The family titles here are our spiritual family. If our brother or sister sins against us, rebuke them and forgive them when they repent.

Did you read that? Jesus gives us the responsibility to call out the behavior of spiritual family members.

When that family member repents, we are to forgive regardless of the hurt. We are even to forgive again and again and again.

4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

However, if they sin an eighth time, we don’t have to forgive. No, that is not what Jesus said or meant.

When He said forgive seven times in a day, He used seven as the perfect number. It means completely. Don’t hold any of your forgiveness back.

Again, we can turn to the Paul in his letter to the Ephesian Christians and find similar instruction. See Ephesians 4:32.

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Paul also calls us to forgive our spiritual family, but notice our standard. Our standard is not others, but God.

Forgive as God forgave you. Forgive others completely.

Serve others dutifully, Luke 17:7-10.

7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? 8 But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”

Verses 7-10 encourage us to prioritize others by serving them dutifully or because that’s our duty. Notice the rhetorical question in verse 7.

7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?

The implied answer is no one. No one would invite a servant in from the field to sit down and eat.

You would tell your servant to come in and prepare the meal. When you had finished eating, they could eat.

You wouldn’t thank your servant for doing his or her job. That’s simply their job.

In a similar way, we are servants of God. Therefore, our duty is to serve Him by serving others.

For a third time, Jesus is our example. Remember Hebrews 12:2.

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus endured the cross for His Father and for us. It was His duty, and He did well.

It is our duty to serve God by serving others. We shouldn’t need an “attaboy” for doing what were supposed to do.

Key

5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” 6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

You might be saying right now, “Bro. Richard, This is so hard.” You’re in good company.

Look at verse 5. The disciples thought the same thing, and said to the Lord, this is so hard we need more faith.

Jesus said you don’t more faith. You just need the faith of the mustard seed.

This is not the only time Jesus said this. See Matthew 17:20, 21:21, and Mark 11:23.

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.

23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

If we are going to prioritize others as followers of Jesus, the key is not more faith but refocusing the object of our faith. Your faith must be in the mountain mover rather than the mountain. You faith must be in the mover of the tree rather than the mulberry tree.

Everything Jesus said for us to do in today’s text, He said that He is object of our faith. He is the source of action. He is the reason for our behavior.

How do consider others sacrificially? Like Jesus considered us sacrificially.

How do we forgive others completely? Like Jesus forgave us completely.

How do we serve others dutifully? Like Jesus served us dutifully by going to the cross.

Conclusion

Scott Drew is the head men’s basketball coach at Baylor University. Several years ago, he received a lot of national attention because of his team’s success and their mantra.

Their mantra was “Choose J.O.Y.” Notice that choose is an active verb. It takes intentionality.

JOY is both an object and a result. He encouraged his players to choose JOY. That acronym stands for Jesus, Others, You…J. O. Y. Their success as a team was based on their choosing JOY.

I would say the same about us. When we choose JOY in that order, we can consider others and forgive others and serve others even when its hard.

And you know what we’ll receive in return? Our result will be joy.

Today, have you chosen Jesus? Today, will prioritize others. Following Jesus is not about you!

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Money Can’t Save You!

Luke 16:19-31

Sunday, November 9, 2025, 10:30 AM

Emory BC

19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

Introduction

If you have your Bibles, take them, and find Luke 16:19. I want to share a message entitled, “Money Can’t Save You!”

Here in Luke 16, money has been a common topic. In Luke 16:1-13, Jesus told us the parable of the unjust steward. Jesus commended his shrewdness or wisdom in spending money on others and planning for the future.

In Luke 16:14-18, Jesus addressed the Pharisees. Dr. Luke called them “lovers of money,” and Jesus condemned their unrighteousness.

Today’s text includes another parable. However, some don’t think it is a parable but a real-life story about a rich man and Lazarus.

I do believe this is a parable, and it is another parable that is unique to Luke. Contrary to what you may have been taught, it is not a parable that is primarily about end-times or even heaven and hell.

The main idea of this parable is about money. The truth is that money can’t save you, and it doesn’t matter how much we are talking about. Elon Musk will not go to heaven because of his new worth.

Today’s parable revolves around three scenes, and the main character is a certain rich man. The first scene is about life on earth. The second scene is about after-life on earth. The final scene is about eternal choices.

Life on Earth, Luke 16:19-21

The parable begins in verse 19 with a certain rich man. He doesn’t have a name although this parable is sometimes known as the parable of Dives and Lazarus. Dives is the Latin word for rich.

The certain beggar named Lazarus is introduced in verse 20. While still being a parable, this is the only parable that Jesus used a proper name.

As for life on earth, these two men were complete opposites. Verses 19-21 speak to that.

One was rich. The other was a poor beggar. On wore purple and fine linen undergarments. The other wore sores. One lived sumptuously or luxuriously every day. The other was laid at his gate every day. One ate like a king. The other desired the table scraps. One certainly felt the hands of his servants. The other felt the tongues of the wild dogs who licked his sores.

In the minds of the Pharisees gathered around, they knew exactly why these men were like this. The rich mad had honored God with life and wealth, and now God was blessing him. The poor man was suffering from some sin and rebellion and disobedience.

Therefore, when Jesus uttered what was next, their worlds were turned upside down. Jesus said they both died, but the rich man went to Hades, and the beggar went to Abraham’s bosom. Their gasps were audible!

After Life on Earth, Luke 16:22-26

22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

Verse 22 says that both men died. Shockingly to the Pharisees, the beggar was carried by angels into Abraham’s bosom. This was Jewish idiom that meant the presence of God.

BTW…We are told that the beggar died, but we aren’t told that he was buried. He probably wasn’t. He was probably was thrown into the city trash dump.

However, the rich man was buried, and probably had a funeral. It would have been very well attended and very elaborate going on and on about his wealth.

Verse 23 is where the story turns. The one who was thought to have God’s favor on his life was now in Hades and in torments.

BTW…It is commonly thought that before Jesus returns, Sheol is the place of the dead, and Sheol has two compartments. One is upper, and the other is lower.

The upper compartment is Abraham’s bosom or Paradise. It most certainly is the presence of God.

The lower compartment is Hades or hell. It most certainly is the absence of God.

There will be an eternal heaven and an eternal hell. These are not them.

Verse 24 says that the rich man looked up and asked Abraham to send Lazarus to comfort him with a drip of water. Verse 25 says his request was denied.

In verse 26, Abraham makes it clear that there is not a going back in forth between Abraham’s bosom and Hades. The great gulf or chasm is fixed. In other words, it is permanent.

Here we see the main point of this parable. The majority of this first century audience was shocked and dismayed to hear about this rich man in Hades, but money can not and will not save you.

It matters not what your bottom line is. When it comes to after life on earth, the only thing that matters is what have you done with Jesus?

Have you received Him as Lord and Savior or rejected Him? Only Jesus can save and will save!

A secondary point of this parable is that proof or evidence of our salvation is demonstrated in how we treat others. This rich man didn’t go to Hades because of how he treated Lazarus.

How he treated Lazarus was evidence of this man’s rejection of Christ. Conversely, Lazarus had been helped by God, and he went to Abraham’s bosom not because he was poor, but because he recognized his need and called on the Lord to save.

Just to be clear, there will be many rich people in heaven and many poor people in hell. There will also be many rich people in hell and many poor people in heaven.

The key is not your wealth. The key is what you do with Jesus, which takes us to our final scene.

Eternal Choices, Luke 16:

27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

In verse 27, the rich man in Hades turns his attention to his lost brothers. He asked Abraham to send someone to warn them about this place of torment.

Again, Abraham denied his request. They should have read their Bibles and listened to the prophets.

The rich man made one last request. He requested that Abraham send someone who had risen from the dead.

For the third time, the rich man’s request is denied. If they didn’t read their Bibles and didn’t listen to their prophets, they wouldn’t be persuaded by the miraculous.

Conclusion

If you haven’t already, you have a choice to make. Where will you spend eternity?

Your choices are with God or apart from God. With God will mean receiving God’s Son, Jesus, as Lord and Savior.

If you do nothing, it will be as if you rejected Jesus. There will be no second chances, and your eternity will be one of torment and torment and torment.

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If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 16:14. I want to share with you a message entitled, “God’s Way is Better Yours!”

We return to Luke 16 and our study of Luke’s gospel. If you were here last Sunday, you remember that were at the beginning of Luke 16 and the parable of the unjust steward.

That parable was addressed to Jesus’ disciples and encouraged us how to use money that God gives us in this life. Like the unjust steward, we should act wisely and responsibly by generously spending our money on others and planning for the future.

Some commentators believe today’s text is out of place. However, it is the mention of money here in verse 14 that ties it to last week’s parable.

Before we read the text together, look at verse 16, and notice the phrase “kingdom of God.”

We have seen this previously in Luke’s gospel, and it has multiple meanings. It can refer to heaven. It can refer to life on earth during Jesus’ millennial reign.

It can refer to Jesus Himself. It can refer to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It can refer to the way Jesus’ followers live out their lives on earth honoring Him. In verse 17, it seems to refer to both the gospel of Jesus Christ and how we as His followers are to live out our lives on earth honoring Him.

God’s Kingdom values the internal more than external, Luke 16:14-15.

14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. 15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Even though Jesus was previously addressing His disciples, the Pharisees heard the parable of the unjust steward. Do you remember who these people were?

The Pharisees were male Jewish religious leaders who were experts in the Old Testament Law. They were assumed to understand it and how to apply it.

They gave every outward appearance of being devoted followers of the God of Israel. However, their hearts indicated otherwise.

Jesus said they were lovers of money. Is that bad? Actually, it was.

If you remember from last Sunday, I reminded you of 1 Timothy 6:10. Paul didn’t tell Timothy that money was bad. However, he did say the love of it was the root of all evil.

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Because the Pharisees loved money, they didn’t like what Jesus had to say last week. Specifically, you can’t serve God and money.

Consequently, they derided Him. They literally turned up their noses at Him. Your translation may say they ridiculed Him.

Jesus responded to them in verse 15 by pointing out that God knew their hearts, and their hearts didn’t value what God valued. They thought money was an indication of God’s favor and blessing.

They were more concerned about their outward appearance than the condition of their heart. Jesus said that was an abomination in the sight of God.

The Bible is consistent. God and His kingdom have always valued the internal more than the external.

Do you remember Saul and David? Israel demanded that God give them a king. Do you remember why chose Saul? See 1 Samuel 8:4-5 and 9:1-3.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

Turn to 9:1. There was one candidate that caught their eye more than the others.

9:1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.

If you know anything about Saul’s reign, you know it didn’t end well. In this, God let Israel have their way.

Do you remember when Goliath was taunting Israel? They almost overlooked David for the same reasons. See 1 Samuel 16:1-13.

1 Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have [a]provided Myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” But the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you.” 4 So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify[b] yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have [c]refused him. For[d] the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 8 So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not [e]sit down till he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with [f]bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

Brothers and sisters, more than your physical appearance and worldly success, how are fruits of the Spirit growing? See Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

God’s Kingdom will endure, Luke 16:16-17.

16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

In verse 16, Jesus said the law and the prophets were until John. This is John the Baptist, and he was the last Old Testament prophet.

However, the Biblical record didn’t end with him because he was also the forerunner for Jesus. That means he announced Jesus and pointed others to Jesus as the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophesied about.

Since John arrived, the kingdom of God was preached. That is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and there were plenty who were excited about it.

However, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that the Old Testament offered one way to be saved and the New Testament offered another. That is NOT true.

Sometimes we think that only Jews were saved in the Old Testament. That is not true. There were plenty of Gentiles who followed and were worshipers of Yahweh.

Sometimes, we think that people in the Old Testament were saved by keeping the Old Testament Law. No one was perfect then, and no one is perfect now.

Turn to Romans 10:13. This is a verse that we often use in personal evangelism.

13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

We believe that Paul is talking about Jesus. Call on Jesus, and you will be saved.

However, notice something unique about this verse. Paul is actually quoting the Old Testament.

Did you know that? See Joel 2:32.

32 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.

In Joel 2:32, they were to call on Yahweh to be saved. Yahweh in the Old and Jesus in the New…we are talking about the same God and the same way to be saved.

God’s Kingdom endures. It doesn’t change, and it won’t fade away.

It is here today and will be here tomorrow. That is illustrated in His word enduring.

Not even the smallest Hebrew marking will change or fade away. The jot or tittle will endure illustrating the same is true for God’s Kingdom.

God’s Kingdom and plan are always best for us, Luke 16:18.

18 “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.

Our text ends this morning on what you might think is an odd subject. Jesus spoke on divorce and remarriage.

However, in reality, He was continuing to expose the evil of the Pharisees. They believed that Old Testament only prohibited divorce and remarriage for women.

In other words, when they did it, it wasn’t adultery. Jesus had something to say about that.

BTW…This is not Jesus’ comprehensive position on divorce and remarriage. However, it is certainly representative.

God’s plan for you is to get married and stay married. You might think your life would be better if you weren’t married to your spouse, but God’s plan is better.

Here is one more thing before we leave here. I don’t think the Bible teaches that if you commit adultery that you are living in the perpetual sin of adultery.

Why not? Would the solution be divorce? Absolutely not.

If you’re married now, God’s plan is for your to stay married. If you plan to get married, God’s plan is for your to find your spouse for a lifetime.

Conclusion

As we think about God’s Kingdom and plan this morning, consider these two invitations.

God has a plan to save you, and its better than your plan. Will you call on Jesus today to save you?

God’s plan is for you to be connected one, single, local church, and commit your lives to it. Will you join EBC today and make that commitment?

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If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 16:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “God’s Money in the Devil’s World.”

We are studying the gospel of Luke here at EBC on Sunday mornings. Please don’t think today’s sermon is some special occasion for a special audience. It is simply the next text as we left off from last Sunday at the end of Luke 15.

Again, we are going to see another one of Jesus’ parables. While some parables can be found in other gospels, today’s is unique to Luke.

Also, it is hard parable to understand. Most commentators agree that it is the most difficult to understand in Luke’s gospel. Therefore, today, I am going to do the best I can in teaching it to you.

Here is what I think is the best understanding and main point of this text. For followers of Christ, we are to be as responsible as we can be with God’s Money in the Devil’s World specially with generosity to others and planning for the future.

Here is one more think before we look at this text. One of the reason today’s parable is so difficult is because Jesus use a bad example to teach us a good lesson.

However, that is not new for us. Think about the lesson, “Don’t drink and drive.” That is a good lesson from a bad example. Hopefully, remember this, that Jesus can use a bad example to teach a good lesson, will help us today.

The Parable of the Unjust Steward, Luke 16:1-7

1 He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. 2 So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ 3 “Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.’ 5 “So he called every one of his master’s debtors to him, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 And he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ So he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ So he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

Before we get to verse 1, look at verse 8. In that verse you find the phrase “unjust steward.” This is how the parable gets its traditional name.

Notice in verse 1 that Jesus was speaking to His disciples. Therefore, this parable is meant for followers of Christ and to reveal mysteries about the way God’s wants us to live.

The parable begins with a certain rich man who had a steward. We don’t use that word often, but other translations use the word “manager.

This manager was in charge of the rich man’s wealth. We might think along the lines of a financial planner.

Some people who knew the rich man and his manager brought an accusation to the rich man that his manager was not doing a good job. In fact, the accusation was that he was wasting his goods.

This is the reason he was called an unjust steward. Other translations say unrighteous manager of dishonest manager.

As a result, look at verse 2. The rich man called him in and made him give an account of his behavior.

Consequently, the rich man had one thing to say to the unjust steward. YOU’RE FIRED!

However, because of the rest of the parable, it seems that the unjust steward had a little time with the rich man’s business before he gone completely. The text indicates he went to some of the rich man’s business partners.

Why did he did this? He realized an awful reality. He no longer had a job.

Therefore, he thought through several options. First, he thought manual labor, but knew that wasn’t for him.

Second, he thought about becoming a beggar. However, he was too proud for that.

Verse 4 said another idea came to him. He would go to the rich man’s business partners and make friends with them by doing something favorable to them so that they might remember him when he was jobless.

In verses 5-7, we have to examples. First, the unjust steward told this man to only payback to the rich man half of the olive oil he owed him.

Second, the unjust steward went to another man who owed the rich man wheat. He was told to only pay back 80% of what he originally owed.

One of the difficulties of this parable is to figure out how the unjust steward got away with this. I would say that the difference in what was paid back was either his commission or interest.

Regardless, these two business partners now the viewed the unjust steward as favorable. He decreased their bill but yet the rich man wasn’t out anything. He gained nothing, and he lost nothing.

The Point of the Unjust Steward, Luke 16:8a

8 So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.

In verse 8, the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. However, this verse is full of questions.

Is the master the rich man in the parable or Jesus? I would say the rich man.

What made the manager unjust? Remember why he was fired? He was wasting the rich man’s wealth.

What had he done that was shrewd that deserved commendation? Maybe, we should try to understand the word shrewd.

As I have referenced others translations this morning in trying to understand this parable, consider the King James Version. Instead of shrewd, it uses the word wise.

I would say the master commended the steward for dealing wisely. How so?

He planned for the future by treating benefiting the rich man’s business partners? How was this wise?

Look back at verse 4. By giving them a break, they might remember him when he was out of job and needed a place to live.

Do you remember what I told you was the main point of this parable? As followers of Christ with God’s money in the Devil’s world, we should be responsible with our resources specially by being generous to others and planning for the future.

That is what the unjust steward did. He cut their bill being generous, and the was planning for the future by endearing them to him.

At the end of verse 8, Jesus said we can learn a lesson from lost people. They are often more responsible with their money in planning for the future than Christians are.

Our Practices because of the Unjust Steward, Luke 16:9-13

9 “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. 10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? 13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

So what should we take away from this parable? What should be our application or practices?

First, look at verse 9. Use God’s money in the Devil’s World being generous to others so that you may be rewarded in heaven.

Make friends for yourself. In other words, spend you money on others rather than self.

When you fail or literally the money fails and is no longer good, they, being your friends that you have evangelized and discipled, will welcome to you in heaven.

Don’t bribe people, but spend your more generously on others with a spiritual goal in mind. When we do this, we are investing in eternity.

Second, look at verses 10-12. Use God’s money in the Devil’s World responsibly so that God will give you more.

God will give me more money? Not necessarily, but maybe.

These verses seem to indicate God will give more responsibility to those who are faithful in using the resources they have responsibly like being generous to others and planning for the future.

Finally, if ever you think you must choose between money and God, choose God. You can’t serve both. They are mutually exclusive.

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Our Faithful Father Who is Waiting on You!

Luke 15:11-24

Sunday, October 19, 2025, 10:30 AM

Emory BC

11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. 25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’

Introduction

If I were a betting man, I would bet that Luke 15 is one of your most cherished chapters in all of the Bible. I understand why.

Last week, Bro. Ronnie preached to you the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin. Today, I am going to remind you of the parable of the lost son.

Remember that parables are earthly stories with spiritual or heavenly meanings. BTW…Charles Dickens is on record as saying that the parable of the prodigal son is “the finest short story ever written.”

In short, Luke 15 illustrates the act of salvation. The parables of the lost sheep and lost coin teach us that God seeks to save those who are lost.

The parable of the lost son teaches us that God can’t make that decision for us. We must respond to God’s initiative.

In today’s story, we are going to see three main characters. A father has two sons. Obviously, one is older, and one is younger.

As it relates to symbols, traditionally, the father is a picture of God. The prodigal symbolizes the lost or the unsaved, especially those referenced back in 15:1-2.

1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”

The older brother pictures the self-righteous leadership of the Jewish People. These were the Pharisees and scribes.

The Younger Rebellious Son, Luke 15:11-19

Here you have a Jewish family consisting of a father and two sons. The younger son was probably around 17 years of age or so.

In verse 12, he decided in his own mind that he is old enough and wise enough to take the world on by himself. Therefore, he asked for his inheritance early, before his father died.

12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.

BTW…This was unheard of. He was essentially saying to his father, “You are dead to me. Give me my inheritance.”

What did the father do? The father obliged and gave him his part. According to the OT, that would have been 1/3 of the estate leaving 2/3 for the older son.

In verse 13, the text seems to indicate that this younger son liquidated whatever was his and left town. However, he not only left town, he left the country. He went into a country that probably was Gentile.

13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

We aren’t told exactly what he did with his money. However, we are told that he “wasted his possessions with prodigal or wasteful living.”

15:30 tells us that this “prodigal living” definitely included harlots or prostitutes. I would guess it also included drunkenness and gambling.

30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

Verse 14 says he spent it all, and his problems only got bigger as a severe famine swept the land. Not only was he broke, but now he was hungry, yet no prospect of eating.

14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.

So he got a job, but not just any job. He got a job feeding pigs, and his boss was a Gentile.

Remember this young boy was Jewish. His family saw pigs as the scum of the earth. He had hit rock bottom.

It got so bad that he was not only feeding the pigs, but he also began to eat the pigs’ food. Hitting rock bottom may describe some of you this morning.

However, look at 15:17. The younger, rebellious son came to his senses. The light bulb came on.

Implied in this verse is the idea of repentance. Repentance means to turn around or change behavior.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

He realized that it didn’t have to be this way. He didn’t have to live at rock bottom. He didn’t have to eat pigs’ food.

Verses 18-19 tell us about his plan. He had been humbled, and that humility was demonstrated in his planned speech.

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

BTW…When we sin, every sin is first and foremost sin against God. It may also be sin against our neighbor.

The Faithful, Waiting Father, Luke 15:20-24

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

Its in verse 20 and following that our attention turns to the faithful, waiting father. However, to be candid, this story is more about the faithful, waiting father than anyone else.

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

We talk about the prodigal son and the lost son. However, count the number of times the word “father” is in this parable…12.

The main character of this parable is the father. The secondary characters are the sons.

In verse 20, when the son had gotten home, his father didn’t even let him finished his rehearsed repentance speech. His father just embraced him and brought out the best robe for him, and killed the best calf for him, and gave him the best shoes because his son was lost, but now he was found.

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

Also in verse 20, we see that all this time, his father had been waiting for him. We aren’t told how long it was. Maybe it was days or weeks or months.

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

Regardless, every day that the son was gone, his father had gone to the top of the hill and looked down in the valley and said, “Maybe today my son will be home.”

In the son’s own mind, he thought his actions deserved that of being a slave and he was prepared for that. However, his father restored him to being a son.

He was a son worthy of honor and praise and celebration. For he was lost, but now he was found.

For those rebellious sons and daughters, there is a faithful, heavenly father waiting on you. For those who think you have to get cleaned up before you come to Jesus, come to Him first. Then, He will clean you up.

The Self-Righteous Older Brother, Luke 15:25-32

25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’

This father had two sons. Now, we encounter the second. He was the self-righteous, older brother.

Verse 25 says he was out doing his thing. He was out being faithful at work, but he heard all of the commotion.

25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

Verse 26 says he asked a servant what was going on. The rebellious, younger son had come home safe and sound.

26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

This was reason to celebrate, right? Verse 28 says the older brother was ANGRY!

28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

How could dad take him back and not ask where he’d been and where was his money and what had he been doing? How could dad take him back and even celebrate?

He was so mad that he wouldn’t even go in the house. However, the father went to him.

Verse 28 says the father pleaded with him to welcome back his brother. All he could do was share his resume and claim what he deserved.

28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

You know what the older brother was guilty of? We hear a lot about it today. The Republicans charge the Democrats with it. The older generations describe the younger generations this way.

The older brother felt he was entitled! He felt he had earned his father’s favor and approval.

BTW…If this parable is about salvation, you can never earn God’s favor, and you cannot work for your salvation.

In verses 31 and 32, the faithful father assured the older brother of his love for him. However, he also assured him of his love for his son that was lost and was now found.

31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’

Conclusion

This story doesn’t end like we think it should. We don’t know what the older brother did.

However, in one regard, you can decide how this story ends by identifying with a brother. Do you identify with the rebellious, younger brother?

If so, I invite you to come home today. God isn’t going to ask where have you been. He isn’t going to ask what have you been doing. He isn’t going to ask why did you go.

He is only going to embrace you and kiss you and say, “You’re home. I love you!” English Baptist Pastor Charles Spurgeon said, “Slow are the steps of repentance, but swift are the feet of forgiveness.”

If you identify with the self-righteous, older brother, my invitation for you is to get over yourself, and also to come to the father. In the same way the faithful, waiting father forgives disobedience and rebellion, He also forgives self-righteous arrogance and pride.

Helmut Thielicke, “In our lives, we may have squandered what we would. Perhaps we have squandered and mismanaged our marriage. We may have squandered away our good reputation. We may have ruined our bodies or our imaginations. Perhaps our thinking has been corroded by envy and the heat of harmful passions. Perhaps we have dragged the faith of our childhood in the gutter and become nihilists and cynics. All this maybe true. But right here comes the great surprise. God has not given me up. He still counts me his child. He tells me that he cannot forget me. When anybody has done as much for me as my Father in heaven has done, when he sacrifices his best beloved for me, he simply cannot forget me. And therefore, I can come home to him. God pays no regard to what I have lost. He thinks only of what I am…his unhappy child, standing there at his door again.”

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Please take your Bible and find Luke 14:25. I want to share with you a message entitled, “Count the Cost.”

In Luke 14, we have been looking at what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. That word means a learner or student.

It is not a special class of Christians or a more mature group of Christians. It is used in the NT synonymously with Christian, and it is found three times in today’s text: 26, 27, and 33.

What have we seen and heard in the recent Sundays? First, a disciple of Jesus does the right thing even in the face of criticism. Jesus did that when He healed the man with dropsy on the Sabbath at the home of a Pharisee.

Second, a disciple of Jesus demonstrates humility when we consider others more important than ourselves. Jesus told us that whoever humbles himself will be exalted, and whomever exalts himself with be humbled. That is true on earth and in heaven.

Third, a disciple of Jesus decides that the only way to heaven is through a saving relationship with Jesus. That happens when we RSVP for the supper in heaven.

Today, we are concluding Luke 14. If you are going to be disciple of Jesus, you must count the cost of following Him, and followers of Jesus will devote everything of their lives and in their lives to Him.

Again, notice the phrase “My disciple” in today’s text: 26, 27, and 33. Also, notice the phrase “count the cost” in verse 28.

Let’s stand for the reading of God’s word. Follow along in your Bible or on the screens behind me.

Exposition

We begin in verse 25. Great multitudes went with Jesus. It is really important to remember where Jesus was headed.

He was on His way to Jerusalem. See Luke 13:22.

22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

Why is this so important to remember? What was going to happen in Jerusalem?

Jesus was going to die on the cross. He headed to death without fear and following God’s plan.

First, if you are going to be a follower of Jesus, it will cost your family. Look at verse 26. He said if anyone comes to Him and doesn’t hate family, he can’t be my disciple.

For those of you who don’t know, let me be clear. Jesus is not telling us we have to disobey explicit Bible commands to follow Him.

The 5th commandment in Exodus 21 and then repeated in Ephesians 6:1 are crystal clear.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

This word and idea for hate is different than ours. It means to love less by comparison. If you are follower of Jesus, you are to love your parents less than you love Jesus.

The Bible uses this language in a similar way elsewhere. See Malachi 1:2-3.

2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved; 3 But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness.”

For followers of Jesus, your loyalty has to be to Jesus first. Family comes second.

We have even seen this idea earlier in Luke. See Luke 12:51-53.

51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Second, if you are going to be a follower of Jesus, it will cost you personally and maybe even painfully. Look at verse 27.

Jesus said you must bear your cross. What did He mean?

The cross was the vilest means of execution. It would be akin to our electric chair or firing squad.

Rome made their criminals sentenced to die by crucifixion carry the cross beam through town. Why? It was a deterrent to crime, but it was also meant to demonstrate guilt of the criminal.

For followers of Jesus, the cross was a means to death. Jesus was going to die.

Therefore, you and I would have to die…not physically but to ourselves and being the one in control. Now, Jesus would be in control.

Third, if you are going to be a follower of Jesus, it will cost you entirely. Look at verse 33.

Followers of Jesus must forsake all, and the implication is every part of your life. When I baptized Dilan, he wasn’t holding his wallet out of the water. He wasn’t holding his wedding ring out of the water.

If you’re going to be a follower of Jesus, you must not hold anything back. That includes your marriage and your job and your kids and your checkbook and your hobbies and your language and your recreation.

Illustration

To illustrate Jesus’ point of counting the cost, He told two parables. They are in verses 28-32.

The first is the parable of the tower. The point is simply this. If you are going to be build a tower and finish building a tower, you better make sure you know what all is involved money wise so that you don’t run out of money and look like an idiot.

The second parable is about having to go to war. If you only have 10,000 troops to fight 20,000 troops, you probably should consider making peace.

The point of this parable is not that we can negotiate with Jesus. The point is that Jesus requires total surrender of His followers.

Conclusion

Our text concludes with an invitation to hear and act in verse 34. It also concludes with a reminder about salt.

In the first century, salt was used to season, to preserve, and to fertilize. However, if it has become contaminated by another element such as gypsum, the effectiveness of the salt has significantly decreased.

Jesus said it would have lost its flavor. Consequently, it was no good for the land or even pile of waste. It just needed to be thrown out.

In other words, if you claim to be a follower of Jesus, your life ought to look like it. Otherwise, of what use are you? Will you be thrown out?

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Please take your Bibles and turn to Luke 14:15. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Have You RSVP’d for the Supper?”

We are still with Jesus on the Sabbath and in the house of a Pharisee. Remember that Jesus was the guest preacher at the local synagogue and had been invited to lunch after worship.

However, Jesus wasn’t invited because they wanted to get to know Him better. He was invited for them to trap Him.

Also invited was a man who was retaining fluid and he was swollen all over. This was due to a diseased heart or diseased kidney or diseased liver.

Because it was the right thing to do, Jesus healed him even on the Sabbath. However, this did not sit well with the Pharisees because it violated their interpretation and application of the OT Law.

Last week, Jesus made a point about a humility and generosity by telling a parable. His point was that followers of Christ not only do the right thing in the face of criticism, but they also demonstrate humility by considering the needs of others more important than their own.

Today, we are going to see and hear Jesus tell another parable. He used these earthly stories with spiritual meanings to reveal mysteries, conceal realities, and fulfill prophecies depending on the makeup of His audience.

You’ve probably received an RSVP in the mail. They typically are related to an invitation to an event.

RSVP is actually French and means respond if you please or please respond. For Texans, you might get away with respond soon very pronto.

In other words, the host wants to know if you’re coming. They want to know either way so that they can plan accordingly for space and or food.

What supper are we talking about? It is the one here in Luke 14. Jesus calls it a great supper as He tells another parable.

Exposition

Again, we are at a Pharisee’s house, and it seems to be the midday meal. Jesus had someone sitting next to Him who seems to be one of His followers.

How do we know? Look what he said. Blessed or happy is the he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

We haven’t seen that term in a while, but it is what chapter 13 is all about. In this instance, it most likely is a reference to heaven. In other words, he was saying that being saved and having a home in heaven is the decision that will make you the happiest in life.

In response to this man’s declaration, Jesus told the parable of the great supper. It begins in verse 16.

A certain man was hosting a great supper and invited a lot of people. On the actual day of the event, he sent another invitation saying, “Y’all come.”

This was common practice to send two invitations. The first would be akin to our save the date invitations. Those are then followed up with a more formal invitation.

When this man’s second invitation went out, all those who were invited made up excuses as to why they couldn’t come. Jesus shared with us three.

First, his excuse was that he had to look at a piece of property he already purchased. Why couldn’t that wait? Wouldn’t it still be there? Did he buy it sight unseen?

Second, his excuse was similar. Could the testing not wait? Could the oxen not be tested later?

Third, his excuse was that he need to stay home with his newly married wife. More than likely, no first-century Jewish male would have said this.

All of these excuses were flimsy. They were ridiculous.

Because the host was insulted, he told his servant to invite others. These folks would be thankful because they were they outcasts of society. They probably hadn’t been to a supper like this before.

However, there was still more room and more food for more people. The servant was then directed to go outside of the city and invite more.

In verse 24, Jesus made a shocking statement to the man from verse 15. He indicated that the supper would be His and none of those initially invited would now be welcome.

Identification

Now, let’s try to identify some of the characters and objects in the parable. First, the certain man hosting the great supper is God the Father.

The great supper is heaven and eternal life. The first invitation was the OT prophets. The second invitation delivered by the man’s servant was Jesus Christ.

The initial invitation went to the nation of Israel and specifically their leaders such as these Pharisees. The poor, maimed, lame, and blind were probably also Jews but the lower segment of society.

Those outside the city on the highways and hedges were the Gentiles. That is us.

Invitation

The point of this parable is that God is inviting us to be saved and an eternity at His great supper in heaven. We can accept by the invitation by accepting His Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior. However, if you don’t accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, you are rejecting His invitation to be saved.

I don’t want to take this for granted, but a follower of Jesus does the right thing, demonstrates humility, and decides to receive the invitation to heaven. It doesn’t happen automatically. It has to be a conscious decision.

However, just like this parable, there will be those who reject. They will even make similar, ridiculous excuses. Here are the most prevalent.

First, I’m too bad. You don’t know what I’ve done. God can’t forgive me.

False. God can and will if you confess and repent. Jesus Christ died on the cross for murderers, adulterers, liars, thieves, and self-righteous religious hypocrites. He did on the cross for you.

Second, I’m too good or I don’t need to be saved. False.

You may be relatively good compared to your neighbor. However, you’re not perfect, and perfection is the standard.

You can’t be saved by authenticity, generosity, genealogy, ingenuity, or morality. You can only be saved through Jesus Christ and inviting Him to be your Lord and Savior.

Third, your beliefs are no good. Look at all of the hypocrites.

If men are your standard, you will never be satisfied. If Jesus is your standard, you’ll never be disappointed.

Today, my invitation is for every man and every woman. It is for every boy and every girl. Listen to Psalm 34:8.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Will you come to Him today and taste and see? RSVP now.

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Please take your Bibles and find Luke 14:7. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Descending into Greatness.”

That sermon title ought to surprise you and cause you to think twice. In our country and in your culture, you don’t go down to be great. You go up.

If you want to be great, you go up at work in sales and in revenue. If you want to be great in school, you go up in GPA and test scores. If you want to be great in sports, you go up in wins and points per game.

However, Jesus said if you want to go up to greatness in the kingdom of heaven, you have to go down. Jesus advocated descending into greatness.

I wish I was smart enough to come up with that title on my own. However, Bill Hybels wrote the book in 1993.

In our verse by verse and chapter by study of Luke’s gospel, we have come to 14:7. In reality, it is a continuation from last Sunday. Today’s text is the same story on the same day in the same house with many of the same characters.

Jesus told a parable. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly or spiritual meaning.

Jesus used parables to reveal mysteries to those who had received Him. He used parables to conceal realities from those who had rejected Him, and He used parables to fulfill prophecies for both.

Remember from last week that it is the Sabbath. Jesus was the guest preacher at the synagogue, and was customarily invited to a local house for lunch after the morning worship.

The local house belonged to some Pharisees who were Jewish religious leaders. However, they had not invited Him to get to know Him better or show hospitality.

They invited Him to trap Him. Not only did they invite Jesus, but they had also invited a man whose body was significant swollen. He was retaining fluid in his arms and legs and abdomen from an illness with his heart or liver or kidneys.

The Pharisees wanted to see if Jesus would heal this man, and He did. It was that healing that put Jesus more at odds with Him. However, it wasn’t because He had dishonored or broken Sabbath law. He had just gone against their man-made convictions or unbiblical applications.

Today’s text continues on the same day and at the same house and with the same people. We will see an observation, an illustration, and an application.

An Observation of a Problem, Luke 14:7

7 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them.

Jesus is the He of verse 7, and I have already told you what a parable is and why Jesus used them. The parable to follow was addressed to those who were invited.

Who was that? Go back to 14:3.

3 And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

Those in attendance for lunch included Jesus, the man who sick, lawyers, and Pharisees. Again, the Pharisees were Jewish religious leaders and experts in the Old Testament Law.

What was the problem that Jesus observed? They were scurrying to get the best places to sit at lunch.

In this day, that would have been those places seated closest to the guest of honor. In our day, it would be the places closest to the food or at the front.

An Illustration with a Parable, Luke 14:8-10

8 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9 and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you.

In this instance, Jesus used this parable to reveal mysteries. He told this parable to make a point.

The parable begins in verse 8 and is at wedding feast. The instruction is not to sit at the best places so that someone better doesn’t come and need you to move. That would be humiliating.

Instead, choose the worst place to sit. If you do that, then you might be asked to move up to a better place. If this happens, you won’t be humiliated. You will be honored as those around you think highly of you.

An Application for the People/Us, Luke 14:11-14

11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 12 Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

What was Jesus’ point? Look at verse 11.

Whoever exalts himself with be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. In the language of the NT, this verse is in the theological passive.

In other words, if you promote yourself, God will humble you. If you humble yourself, God will lift you up. Even though the word God is not present, God is implied.

Jesus then goes one step further and not only promotes humility but also generosity. Look at verse 12-14.

Again, He spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees. When you have a dinner, don’t only invite those who will simply return the favor like your friends and family and neighbors.

Instead, invite those who have no means at all to repay. Invite the outcasts of society and culture. Invite the poor and crippled and lame and blind.

In return, you will be blessed. This act will also demonstrate your salvation, and you will be rewarded in heaven.

Conclusion

So last week, we saw that a disciple of Jesus does the right thing even in the face of criticism. Today, a disciple of Jesus will demonstrate humility by considering others more important than him or herself.

Turn to Philippians 2:5.

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

What mind are we talking about? See Philippians 2:3-4.

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

How did Jesus model this for us? See Philippians 2:6-11.

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In other words, Jesus demonstrated humility by considering our needs more important than His needs. Specifically, He died on the cross because we needed a Savior.

What might this look like our lives? First, think about home. What would happen if spouses thought each other’s needs were more important than your own and acted in the same manner? Marriage would be saved and thrive.

What would happen if children thought their parents’ needs were more important than their own? It might mean rest and recovery for parents to better serve their children.

What would happen at school and work if students demonstrated humility by thinking the needs of others’ needs were more important than your own or your coworkers were more important than you? I would suggest learning and production would increase.

What would happen if church members demonstrated humility by thinking others’ needs were more important than your own? I know what would happen. Our prayer room ministry schedule would be full, we would have more nursery volunteers than we need, and we might not have to borrow funds to build a FLC.

If you want to be great brothers and sister, go down. Jesus will lift you up.

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Please take your Bibles and find Luke 14:1. I want to share a message with entitled, “Do the Right Thing.”

However, I want to continue that thought. Do the right thing in the face of criticism. Disciples of Jesus should do the right thing even when others will find fault.

After we read today’s text, you might think, “This sounds really familiar,” and you’re right. We had a similar story back in Luke 13:10-17.

If Luke 13 was about the kingdom of God, Luke 14 is about being a disciple of Jesus. What is a disciple? A disciple is a dedicated student of a certain follower. In this case, we are talking about Jesus.

Lastly, before reading the text, I need to remind about the Sabbath. The Sabbath was the seventh day of the week that God intended for rest, and it goes all the way back to Genesis 2.

2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Keep in mind that God didn’t rest because He needed it. He rested as an example for us. He knew that we would need it.

Consequently, resting and worship is so important, it is one of the ten commandments. See Exodus 20:8-11.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Evidently, the Sabbath was a regular subject of controversy as this is now the fourth instance we encounter it in Luke. See Luke 6:1, 6:6, and 13:10-11.

1 Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands.

6 Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered.

10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.

Therefore, the Sabbath was important. It was important to keep it, and to understand what we should do and shouldn’t do on it.

BTW…The Sabbath is still important. Brothers and sisters, you need a day of rest. It doesn’t matter who you are or how old you are. You need 24 hours of rest from your normal work, job, or vocation.

God created you that way. To do otherwise would be you thinking that you know better than God.

In today’s text, I am going to make three observations with you. You will see an invitation to fail, an illustration of good, and the incrimination of self.

An Invitation to Fail, Luke 14:1-3

1 Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. 2 And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

Verse 1 opens on a Sabbath. As I said previously, this story is all about the Sabbath. You find it three times in verse 1, verse 3, and verse 5.

More than likely, worship had already taken place in the synagogue, and Jesus was probably the guest teacher for that day. As it was customary, the guest teacher was then invited to local house for lunch.

This house belonged to a ruler of the Pharisees. They were Jewish religious leaders who were known for their knowledge of the Old Testament Law and for their man-made traditions.

Notice the end of verse 1. They watched Him closely.

Why? They were setting a trap for Jesus. They invited Him to lunch to watch Him fail.

One of the reasons why this seems to be true is because of who else we see at lunch. Verse 2 says there was a man with dropsy.

This was a physical condition of retaining fluid. His arms and legs and abdomen were all swollen as they retained water.

The NIV says swelling of his body. The NASB says edema.

Regardless, he had a physical condition that was seen as punishment for his sins. He would be considered unclean and a very unlikely guest at this lunch unless he was being used for bait in the invitation to fail.

Verse 3 says Jesus spoke to the Jewish religious leaders about the man. He asked if it was lawful to heal him on the Sabbath?

Keep in mind that He was referring to the Old Testament Law. He was not referring to man-made tradition.

Nowhere did the OT prohibit healing on the Sabbath. However, the Pharisees had man-made traditions that said otherwise.

If they said no, they would have been considered inhumane. If they said yes, they would have been violating their own conviction and discrediting their character and authority.

So what happened? Look at verse 4.

An Illustration of Good, Luke 14:4

4 But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go.

When the Pharisees kept silent, Jesus did good. He took the man who was swollen with fluid retention, and healed him, and sent him on his way.

Did Jesus heal his diseased liver or kidney or heart that was causing him to retain fluid? Or, did He just cause the fluid to disappear?

We don’t know for sure, and I don’t think it matters. Jesus healed Him because it was the right thing to do, and He did it.

The Incrimination of Self, Luke 14:4-6

4 But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. 5 Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” 6 And they could not answer Him regarding these things.

In His dialogue with the Pharisees, He asked two questions of them. The first was in verse 3 about whether it was lawful to heal this man on the Sabbath.

The second is here verse 5. If your animal fell into a pit on the Sabbath, would you get him out?

This was a rhetorical question. The implied answer was yes.

For the Pharisees, their answer to both questions was the same. They were silent.

Consequently, they incriminated themselves. What were they guilty of?

I think there are multiple answers to that question. However, in this specific instance, they were guilty of not doing good.

Applications/Conclusion

So what do we learn and apply from today’s text. Let me give you three.

First, the Sabbath is important. It is from God. It is for us. Take time to rest.

Second, this man’s physical healing is a picture of our spiritual healing. Jesus still heals today. Call on Him.

Jesus still saves today. Notice that Jesus initiated healing this man. Jesus is calling you today to be saved. Will you answer?

Third, if you are a disciple of Jesus, you ought to be committed to doing the right thing even in the face of criticism. Do the right thing even when it is hard. Do the right thing even when no one else is doing it at home in your marriage, at work with your boss and coworkers, at school with your teachers and classmates and teammates, and wherever God takes you.

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If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 13:31. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Reviewing the Kingdom.”

In the recent weeks, we have found ourselves in Luke 13. I know you’ll remember that Luke 13 is all about the kingdom of God.

We have talked about entrance into the kingdom. We have talked about opposition to the kingdom. We have talked about growth of the kingdom.

Last Sunday, Bro. Ronnie preached from Luke 13:22-30. In verse 22, the path of the kingdom included Jerusalem. That is where Christ was headed, and that is where He would be crucified for my sin and your sin.

Verses 23 and following speak of to the plan for entrance into the kingdom. It is not about semantics or saying the right words. It is not even about service and doing the right things.

In verse 28, they will come from all directions into the kingdom. They will come not because of semantics or service but because they have surrendered unto the Lordship of Jesus Christ in their lives. In other words, King Jesus is on the throne of each heart in the kingdom.

However, if you reject King Jesus and you are intent on self sitting on the throne of your heart, there will be punishment for missing the kingdom. That punishment is described in verse 28. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in hell.

Today, we come to the end of Luke 13. Some things will be new. Some things will be review.

When it comes to the kingdom of God, there will always be opposition, Luke 13:31.

31 On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.”

On that very day? About which day are we speaking? It was that same day that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, and He was teaching in the cities and the village.

In this stance, the opposition was Herod. This was Herod Antipas and the same Herod who had John the Baptist beheaded.

Both the Pharisees and Herod were opposed to Jesus. However, the Pharisees just wanted Jesus out of this place. Herod wanted to end His life.

If you attempt to live your life for the kingdom of God, there will always be opposition. It may come from normal enemies. It may come from surprise enemies.

Regardless, Jesus didn’t let opposition to the kingdom keep Him from wanting to do God’s will. He pressed on.

When it comes to the kingdom of God, surrender is the answer, Luke 13:32-33.

32 And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’ 33 Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.

Jesus had word for Herod. Actually, there is the only time and only person that Jesus demonstrated animosity. Fox wasn’t a term to describe Herod’s sly or cunningness.

It was used to say that Herod was not significant. Herod wasn’t going to get in Jesus’ way. He was moving forward to Jerusalem, and Herod couldn’t stop Him.

In spite of opposition, Jesus was going to continue to minister and He was going to continue to follow God’s plan. That included dying and being resurrected.

Verse 33 says that Jesus MUST keeping moving forward. Why? Jerusalem was God’s place for the kingdom.

Jesus was going to die. That would happen in Jerusalem. Jesus was going to be raised. That would happen in Jerusalem.

BTW…Some people say Jesus never spoke about dying and being resurrected. Really? He sure did here in Luke 13:32-33.

He prophesied such. He fulfilled such.

Brothers and sisters, Can I remind you that God’s plan and God’s kingdom is always perfect and worth it and what is best for you even if it is hard, and even if it hurts. Jesus followed God’s plan and kingdom to the point of death, and it was perfect and right.

When it comes to the kingdom of God, Jesus invites you join Him, Luke 13:34-35.

34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

In verse 34, we see Jesus’ love and compassion for people, but specifically Jerusalem and the nation of Israel. However, don’t misunderstand Israel’s guilt.

They were guilty as charged for rejecting Jesus and God’s plan and God’s kingdom. However, Jesus still loved them.

In a very unique instance, Jesus verbalized maternal instincts. He called Himself a hen, but Jerusalem wasn’t willing to surrender.

BTW…What we see here in Luke 13:34 as well as Psalm 122:6 is why I pray for Israel to recognize Jesus as their promised Messiah. No person will enter the kingdom because of their ethnicity. Every Jew must confess Jesus as Lord and Savior in order to be saved, and many will. I pray for it sooner rather than later.

122:6, Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.”

Verse 35 speaks to Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We’ll get there in Luke 19.

So what about you? What about you and the kingdom of God?

Conclusion

Like Israel, you and I are guilty as sinners. We don’t deserve any part in the kingdom of God.

However, Jesus wants you in His kingdom. Would you receive Him as your Lord and Savior today?

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If you have your Bibles this morning, and I trust that you do, please take them and find Luke 13:18. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Parables of Kingdom Growth.”

We are studying Luke’s Gospel verse by verse and chapter by chapter. Today is also Back in the Game Sunday, and today’s text in Luke fits perfectly for this time and this Sunday in the life of our church.

Luke 13 is all about the kingdom of God. We will even see that wording in today’s verses 18 and 20.

So far, we have talked about entrance into the kingdom of God. It happens by or through repentance.

We have also talked about opposition to the kingdom of God. The ruler of the synagogue filled that role last Sunday, and Jesus called him a hypocrite.

Next Sunday, we will look at the triumph of the kingdom of God. Said another way, we will see the ultimate victory of the kingdom of God.

However, today’s parables, and there are two, speak to the growth of the kingdom of God. This was encouraging word to these disciples because they had just heard Jesus confront opposition to the kingdom of God, and perhaps, they were worried.

When we talk about parables, we need a working definition. A parable is an earthly story or a familiar story that had a double meaning. It had the normal, earthly meaning, but it also had a spiritual or heavenly meaning.

Also, from past studies, please remember Jesus’ purposes in using parables. He used these stories to conceal realities from those who were opposed to Him or didn’t want to understand.

He also used parables to reveal mysteries like He did in today’s text. He did this for His disciples and those who received Him and wanted to know and understand more.

Third, Jesus used parables to fulfill prophecies. That could also be said about today’s parables about kingdom growth. Jesus was predicting the future through these two earthly stories.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

In other instances, Jesus has used the mustard seed to teach us about our faith. See Matthew 17:20.

In another instance, Jesus used the mustard seed to teach us about our forgiveness. See Luke 17:3-6.

3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” 5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” 6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

In Luke 13, Jesus used a mustard seed to teach about the kingdom’s future. Remember, He had just talked about opposition to the kingdom. Therefore, I believe these parables speak positively and are meant to encourage us.

In verse 19, the kingdom of God was compared to a tiny, black mustard seed. It was the smallest seed known to this audience.

In the parable, a man took this seed and put in his garden, and surprise! Picture in your mind a fleck of pepper.

The tiniest of seeds grew into such a large tree, that birds of the air could nest in its branches. This tree would have been between 10-15 feet tall.

In other words, the kingdom of God may start off in seemingly small fashion. However, take heart. It will grow in enormous capacity.

We see this reality illustrated in Jesus’ life. See Isaiah 53:1-2.

1 Who has believed our report?

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,

And as a root out of dry ground.

He has no form or comeliness;

And when we see Him,

There is no beauty that we should desire Him.

But do you remember how Jesus will return? See Revelation 19:11-16.

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND

LORD OF LORDS.

This first parable was agrarian in nature. The primary audience was probably men, and it speaks of the kingdom’s future, external growth even through it started small.

Apply this parable to ministry opportunities here at EBC. You might think of them as small or insignificant. However, don’t underestimate the kingdom of God growing enormously from small acts or humble beginnings.

This is true for being part of our Celebration Choir. It is true for praying in our Prayer Room. It is true for sewing quilts or Backpack Buddies or handing out candy at our Fall Festival.

The kingdom of God WILL grow mightily. Will you commit to small acts or planting seeds of ministry?

The Parable of the Leaven

Your Bible may say yeast. However, look at verses 20 and 21.

Again, Jesus asked what the kingdom of God was like. Keep in mind that in other instances, leaven is used to represent evil. That is not true here.

This parable is not about agriculture but cooking. It doesn’t involve men but women. It doesn’t focus on the external that you can see. It focuses on the internal that you can’t see.

In this parable, a woman takes a pinch of leaven because that is all that is needed. She then kneads it into 60 pounds of flour, and that small amount leavened the entire batch.

Think of about this parable as it relates to discipleship. When you allow the kingdom of God or the Gospel to affect just a little of your life, because of the nature of the kingdom and the gospel, it will begin to infect all of your life.

Follow Jesus in your marriage, and then Jesus will infect your parenting. Follow Jesus in your parenting, and then Jesus will infect how you handle money. Follow Jesus in how your handle money, and Jesus will infect how you live your life at work and school and how you recreate.

The kingdom of God and the Gospel, though small and working internally, can affect and infect every area of our lives and our church and our community and our county. Our job is get the gospel inside of us.

You will get the Gospel in a Sunday School Small Group and our study of Luke. You will get the Gospel in our Sunday night study of 2 Samuel. You will get the Gospel in Wednesday Worship and Grief Share and Celebrate Recovery and WOM and TEL and our reading groups.

When you get it, it will affect and infect every part of your life. Will you get as much as you can?

Conclusion

Our invitation today is twofold. First, will accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior admitting you are lost and in need of Savior? He is the only qualified Savior period.

Second, will you get back in your game taking in the Gospel through discipleship and sowing the seeds of ministry? My challenge for you today is for you to do that in our church and in our community and in our county.

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Take your Bibles this morning and find Luke 13:10. I want to share message with you entitled, “The Scandal of a Sabbath Healing.”

Last Sunday, we resumed our study of Luke’s Gospel, and we started back in Luke 13. This chapter is all about the kingdom God.

Remember, that wording is used in our text for next Sunday. See 13:18 and 13:20.

18 Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?

20 And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?

In the first nine verses, Jesus spoke about entrance into the kingdom of God. How do you enter? You must repent or perish.

Today, we are talking about opposition to the kingdom of God. The rest of the chapter speaks to the growth of the kingdom of God and the triumph of the kingdom of God.

In our text, I want to make three observations with you. They are a demonstration by the Healer, indignation about the healing, and the humiliation of the hypocrites.

A Demonstration by the Healer, Luke 13:10-13

10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” 13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

In verse 10, we see Jesus was teaching the synagogue. It was the Sabbath.

That means it was Saturday, and we know what the 4th Commandment is. See Exodus 20:8-11.

Verse 11 introduces another main character. This woman shuffled into Jesus’ sight hunched over because a demon had afflicted her with a physical condition for 18 years. The end of the verse says she was bent over and could not straighten up.

Her three strikes were she was a woman. Second, it was thought that she was suffering for her sin. Third, she had endured this for 18 years.

BTW…It seems that this woman may have been like Job. God may have been testing her faith. She wasn’t demon possessed at this time, but Satan had definitely caused her sickness. God may be testing your faith as well.

But Jesus saw her, and called out to her in verse 12. He spoke her healing, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.”

The language of the NT indicates she was healed and would be healed permanently. That mirrors our salvation. When God saves, He saves us for eternity.

Then, in verse 13, laid His hands on her. She was then made straight. Her back was no longer bent over or double.

BTW…Long before this woman saw Jesus, He saw her. Before she spoke to Him, He spoke to her. Long before you chose Jesus, Jesus chose you. Long before you wanted to be saved, Jesus wanted to save you.

Immediately, she was healed. Then, she glorified God who healed her and for her healing.

BTW…When Jesus answers our prayer, we should praise Him and glorify Him with our words and lives.

Indignation about the Healing, Luke 13:14

14 But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore, come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”

The ruler of the synagogue saw what happened, and it greatly displeased him. That is what indignation means.

However, keep in mind that healing on the Sabbath is nowhere prohibited. Jesus spoke, and Jesus touched.

Instead of speaking to Jesus, he spoke to the crowd, and insinuated that work had been done, and Jesus was guilty.

The Humiliation of the Hypocrites, Luke 13:5-17

15 The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? 16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” 17 And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

In verse 15, Jesus responded. He not only spoke to the ruler, but to the people as well.

He called them hypocrites. Why?

He asked a rhetorical question at the end of verse 15 regarding treatment of their animals. If their animals were thirsty on the Sabbath, would they lead them to water to drink? The answer is an implied yes.

Guess what? If that is true of animals, it should be true for human beings. This woman was a faithful Jew, but Satan had attacked her for 18 years. However, she was more important than animals.

BTW…So are you. I get it that we love our pets, and they become family. However, they are not as important or more important and valued as humans are. God loves those He created in His image more than animals.

In verse 16, should this woman be loosed the same way these animals should be? Yes, of course.

Consequently, Jesus opponents were put to shame. They were humiliated. However, there were others who rejoiced at what He had done.

Applications

So what do we take away?

First, there will always be opponents of the kingdom of God. Make sure that is not you. Will call on the name of the Lord to save you today?

Second, Jesus wants ultimately heal you spiritually. However, I believe He also desires to heal you physically. Will you all on Him to heal your sickness and disease and condition today?

Finally, when you question God or God’s people, make sure your standard and final authority is God’s word, the Bible. In other words, recognize your preferences for what they are. They are just preferences.

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If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 13:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?”

Back in May, we took a break from our study of Luke’s Gospel. Today, we are returning, and we are returning with an age old question.

Haven’t we asked this question in our own lives? Haven’t we asked that question about our own family and friends? Haven’t we asked that question about ourselves?

We look at different persons and wonder why they got that cancer diagnoses. We look at different parents and ask why their kid was in that accident. We even look at different places and ask they had that storm.

In 2005, I know for a fact that people said Hurricane Katrina was God’s judgement on New Orleans. Really?

Then was Hurricane Harvey God’s judgement on Houston? Was last month’s flooding God’s judgement on the Hill Country?

In Luke 12, Jesus was talking about end time events and our needs to be at peace. We need to be at peace with God and at peace with one another.

Luke 13 is all about God’s Kingdom. Notice that wording in verses 18 and 20.

18 Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?

20 And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?

In 13:1, there were some present with Jesus at that season or during that time who told Him an incident involving Pilate and some Galileans.

Considering Jesus’ answer starting in verse 2, it seems that their question is our question for the day. Why do bad things happen to good people?

The Tragedy at the Temple, Luke 13:1-3

This is an extra biblical event. That means the only record of it is here from Dr. Luke. However, it does seem consistent with Pilate’s character.

Some Galileans had come to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices. While they were participating in a religious activity, Pilate had his soldiers execute them.

Can you even imagine? This would be akin to a mass shooting at a church to synagogue or mosque today.

Notice what Jesus asked at the end of verse 2. Did this happen because God’s was punishing them? Did this happen because they were worse sinners than the other Galileans?

The Tragedy from the Tower, Luke 13:4-5

4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

In verse 4, Jesus spoke of a second tragedy. This one involved a tower.

18 Jerusalemites were killed when a tower in Siloam fell on them. Siloam was a part or section of Jerusalem.

The end of verse 4 askes the same question that Jesus asked regarding the temple. Were these 18 worse sinners than other Jerusalemites who didn’t die?

The Tragedy of the Tree, Luke 13:6-9

6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’”

In verses 6-9, Jesus told a parable. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning, and this parable involved a tree.

In the Bible, the fig tree often symbolizes Israel and the people of God. The certain man in verse 6 is God the Father. The keeper of the vineyard in verse 7 is Jesus Christ the Son.

The certain man who planted the fig tree for the sole purpose of growing figs came to the tree for three straight years expecting fruit. However, for three straight years, he found nothing.

He wanted to cut it down, but the keeper of the vineyard talked him into being patient and waiting one more year. In that time, the vineyard keeper would tend it and fertilize it. Then, if there was no fruit, it would be cut down.

Application

So what is the answer to our question? Before I go any further, it is important to recognize the question as flawed.

As Bill Beasley used to say, no one is good. He was right, and that is exactly what the Bible says. No one is good.

1 Kings 8:46, 46 “When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to the land of the enemy, far or near.

Psalm 14:1, 1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.

Psalm 143:2, 2 Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no one living is righteous.

Romans 3:23, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23, 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

However, what did Jesus say specifically in this text? He gave three answers.

First, we live in a fallen world, and bad people experience good, and good people experience bad. When He asked rhetorical questions about the people murdered in the temple and the people killed by the tower, in both instances, He said, “I tell you no.”

We can’t always blame individuals for the tragedies of life. See Matthew 5:45.

45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Second, instead of worrying about others and comparing yourself and your experiences to others, repent and bear fruit today!

To the “some” who told Jesus about the Galileans in verse 1, Jesus told them the same thing twice. See verse 3 and verse 5.

Repent or you will perish. Repent means to turn from something and go in the complete opposite direction, and the implication is urgency. Do it now!

As it relates to salvation, repent. Turn from your lie that you can save yourself and turn to Christ alone who can save.

As it relates to sanctification or becoming more like Jesus, repent. Turn from your sin of coveting or disobedience or immorality or lying or pride and turn to Jesus and His way.

In the parable of the fig tree, bearing fruit is equivalent to repenting. God saved you to bear fruit. If you aren’t bearing fruit, has God saved you?

Apart from the rapture, every single person will die and be judged. Either you will be judged for your sins or Jesus will be judged for your sins. See Hebrews 9:27.

27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.

Third, repent today, and God is patient not wanting anyone to be judged for their own sins. See 2 Peter 3:9.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

God’s desire is for you to repent today. Turn to Jesus today.

Conclusion

Why do bad things happen to good people? The truth is that it is hard to know, but rather than getting stuck there, will you turn from your sin and self and turn to Jesus today?

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Introduction

We have come to our last sermon in this summer sermon series on a life full of pain. We have talked about painful decisions, painful finances, painful health, painful losses, painful relationships, and, now, painful sins.

Don’t forget, while this earthly life will always be full of pain, Jesus promises eternal life free from pain. That will be in heaven and only for those who made a personal decision to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Also, please remember that we haven’t been only identifying painful experiences. We have also identified how we as followers of Christ can survive.

Here in John 21, Jesus and seven of His closest disciples were in Galilee. The 7 had spent all night fishing and caught nothing.

Jesus told them to throw their net on the right-hand side of the boat. They did and caught 153 large fish. They then sat down with the post-resurrected Christ for breakfast.

Today’s verses focus on Peter. Peter was the unofficial leader of the 12 and was the second closest to Jesus next to, John.

Remember how Peter had recently failed the Lord? Peter denied Jesus on three different occasions late Thursday night and early Friday morning before Jesus was crucified.

John 18:17 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”

John 18:25 25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore, they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not!”

John 18:26 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

As we talk about painful sins this morning, we are not going to talk specifically about any one sin of SEVEN DEADLY SINS or breaking any of the TEN COMMANDMENTS. We are talking about denying Christ.

However, don’t think you are off the hook. Every sin is ultimately a denial of Jesus’ Lordship in our lives. When you disobey parents, you are denying Christ. When you lie, you are denying Christ. When you lust, you are denying Christ. When refuse not to witness, you are denying Christ. When you are sexually immoral, you are denying Christ.

The good news is that in today’s story, Peter is forgiven and restored. You can be too.

Jesus Restored Peter’s Past Failures, John 21:15-17.

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

In verse 15, Jesus turned to Peter and asked him this question, “Do you love Me more than these?” Remember that they are probably sitting around the fire that cooked their fish, and it was around a fire that Peter first denied Jesus on Thursday night.

Notice that Jesus called Peter “Simon, son of John.” It was this name that Jesus first called Peter to follow Him in John 1:40-42.

40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).

As for His question, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him more than these. Jesus asked this question of Peter three times to mirror the three times that Peter denied Jesus, and Jesus used the word “agape” to describe that perfect, total, complete, all-encompassing love that He desired.

What did He mean by “more than these?” Was He talking about the fish and fishing and Peter’s former profession? Was He talking about Peter’s love for the other disciples? Was He talking about Peter’s love for Jesus compared to the other disciples’ love for Jesus?

I would contend that Jesus was talking about Peter’s love for Him compared to the other disciples’ love for Him. Peter had said previously that he would follow Jesus regardless, but we know that didn’t happen. It was important for Jesus to remind Peter what he said and then what he had done.

BTW…Before we glorify in God’s grace, we have to be reminded of our wretchedness. The wages of sin is death!

I believe Peter grieved his failures in verse 17. Jesus had asked him three times if he loved Him. Three times, Peter said yes, and three times Jesus restored him to ministry after his three denials.

There is not a person in the room this morning that hasn’t failed in some form or capacity. Some have failed as employees. Some have failed as friends. Some have failed as parents. Some have spouses. We have all failed as Christians and church members. I have failed as a pastor and your pastor.

However, I have good news for you today. Peter failed, and yet, Christ restored him completely to ministry and service and to lead the first century church when He was gone.

Jesus Revealed Peter’s Painful Future, John 21:18-19.

In verse 18, Jesus continued His conversation with Peter, and reminded Peter of what life was like when he was young. When you are young, you make decisions for yourself and go your own way.

However, when Peter would get older, Jesus revealed that others would lead Peter were they wanted him to go, and he would do what others decided he would do.

BTW, if you are here today and you are adult children caring for your elderly parents, be considerate of the decisions you make for them on their behalf. More than likely, what you do with your parents when they are old will likely come back to you from your children when you are old.

Verse 19 tells us that Jesus was talking about how Peter would die. His arms would be stretched out in order to be tied to or nailed to a cross, and he would be crucified like Jesus was.

Church history confirms this fact as Jesus was correct in His revelation. Peter indeed was led away against his will and crucified on a cross but upside down at his own request as Peter believed that he was not worthy to die in the exact same fashion that Jesus had died.

Jesus Rebuked Peter’s Premature Focus, John 21:20-23.

20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” 23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

In light of what Jesus had to say about Peter’s future, Peter was curious about John’s future. Peter saw John there close by and asked Jesus about him in verse 21.

Notice Jesus’ response in verse 22. He rebuked Peter’s premature focus.

Peter shouldn’t be worrying about John. Peter should be worrying about Peter, and Jesus told him that. Don’t worry about John. You worry about Peter and just keep following Me.

In verse 23, Jesus then corrected some misinformation within the group. He didn’t say that John wouldn’t die. He simply said that if He wanted John to live that was nobody’s business but His.

It’s real easy to worry about everybody else except the person in the mirror. We can point fingers and name names and criticize everyone else’s actions and words and failures.

Jesus said stop. You worry about you, and let Jesus take care of everybody else.

Conclusion

What is the antidote to painful sins? How can we survive painful sins?

Twice in our text, Jesus said these two words, “Follow Me.” He said it at the end of verse 19 and the end of verse 22.

Here is how Jesus said it in in Luke 9:23.

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

First, deny self. Second, prepare to die to self daily. Then follow Jesus.

Submit to His leadership in your life. That is how you survive painful sins.

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We’re still talking about a life full of pain here at Emory BC. This our Sunday morning sermon series for the summer.

We’ve talked about painful decisions, and painful finances, and painful health, and painful losses. Today, we are talking about painful relationships.

Please remember, we are not just identifying painful experiences. We are also trying to identify means of surviving a life full of pain.

Everyone’s life in the room is full of relationships. We have family relationships. We have work relationships. We have school relationships. We have relationships with friends and neighbors.

However, sometimes, relationships can be painful. Relationships can hurt, and hurt really badly.

This morning, I want to remind you of a relationship in the book of Acts that went experienced a lot of pain. It was a relationship between Saul or Paul and Barnabas.

I suspect that many of us know quite a bit about Paul. However, we might not be as familiar with Barnabas.

Barnabas and Saul/Paul

Let’s find out more. Turn to Acts 4:36.

Acts 4:36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus.

Barnabas was an early convert to Christianity from the ministry of Peter and John. We also note something of his character. He was encourager and came from a family of encouragers.

Acts 9:27 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

He was one of the first Christians to welcome Saul. This is key. Their friendship was long.

Acts 11:22 22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.

In a sense, he was a local-church missionary sent out from Jerusalem to Antioch.

Acts 11:25 25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.

He and Paul were ministry partners.

Acts 11:30 30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

The two of them carried an offering back to the Jerusalem Church and their missions.

Acts 12:25 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.

They welcomed John Mark, Barnabas’ cousin, to minister with them.

Acts 13:1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Barnabas become an official and recognized leader in the church at Antioch.

Acts 13:2 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

He was then sent out, along with Saul, on their first missionary journey.

Acts 13:50 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.

These two were persecuted for their faith in Christ.

Acts 14:12 12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

Barnabas was involved with miracle that Paul performed at Lystra.

Acts 15:2 2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

He was part of the Jerusalem Council that welcomed Gentiles into the first church.

Acts 15: 12 12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.

He then confirmed how God was working in their lives.

Acts 15:22 22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

He and Paul then want back to Antioch.

Acts 15:35 35 Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

They stayed there in Antioch teaching and preaching the Bible until they were set to leave on their second missionary journey.

Do you see how connected these two were? Barnabas was one of the first to welcome Saul. They then traveled all over making disciples and starting churches. When they are named in Acts, it is often together.

Acts 15:36-41 36 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

But then, Acts 15:39 happened, and it was painful. It was all over John Mark.

Make no mistake about here. This argument was bad.

Most English translations use the word sharp to describe their contention. The word in the New Testament is paroxysm.

It means a sudden outburst. It means a fit of rage. These two men were mad!

They were so mad, they severed their ministry partnership. Barnabas and John Mark went their way, and Paul and Silas went theirs.

BTW…God promises to bring good from evil. God brought two mission teams from this sharp contention and more people heard the gospel.

But what was the deal? Why did they get so mad? Let’s find out about John Mark.

John Mark

We are introduced to John Mark in Acts 12.

Acts 12:12 12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.

He lived in Jerusalem. His mother was a Christian, and we learn from Colossians 4:10 that he was Barnabas’ cousin.

Acts 12:25 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.

On their way to Antioch and on to their first missionary journey, they invited John Mark to come with them.

However, something happened on the trip.

Acts 13:13 13 Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

Why did John leave them? Was he a momma’s boy and couldn’t be away from home? Was the persecution so tough that he couldn’t take it? Did he not like Paul?

The bottom line is that we don’t know. However, we do know this. It made Paul mad!

It made him so mad that he would rather part ways with Barnabas than take him on another trip. This just became a painful relationship.

Reconciled

However, I have great news! Paul and Barnabas and Paul and John Mark were reconciled.

Paul included Barnabas in statement he made to the Corinthian Church about how they should be paid.

1 Corinthians 9:6 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?

Colossians 4:10 10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),

Paul told the Colossians Christians to welcome Mark when he came to them and mentioned him with other faithful brothers in Philemon 1:24.

Philemon 1:24 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.

His most significant statement about John Mark came in 2 Timothy 4:11.

2 Timothy 4: 11 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.

He called the one who once deserted him now useful to him.

Let me share one other comment that Peter made about John Mark.

1 Peter 5:13 13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.

Peter called him his son.

BTW…we assume that John Mark quit the ministry for whatever reason, he obviously came back. In other words, just easily as you stop a ministry, you can start a ministry.

Peter took John Mark under his wing, mentored him, and who wrote the second Gospel? It was John Mark from Peter’s eye-witness accounts.

Application

So here’s my question. What happened to bring these folks back together after their paroxysm?

First, relationships are painful. They hurt. They cause us to get mad and angry.

Second, relationships are messy. Disagreements happen between best friends. Disagreements happen between family. Disagreements happen between Christians and Christian leaders.

Third, relationships that are painful and messy can be reconciled. How?

Acknowledge that it takes two to tango. Who was right between Paul and Barnabas?

There was Paul’s take, and there was Barnabas’ take, and somewhere in the middle was reality. Or, there was Paul’s truth, and there was Barnabas’ truth, and somewhere in the middle was THE truth.

Ask for forgiveness. In other words, be willing to say “I am sorry.” I can’t tell you how many times I have needed to say I was wrong and needed forgiveness, and it was mostly to Christy and my daughters.

Finally, accept an apology. In other words, be willing to forgive.

From Jesus lips to our ears:

Matthew 6:12 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

Matthew 6:14-15 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Mark 11:25-26 25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Luke 6:37 37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

And from Paul and Peter:

Ephesians 4:32 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

1 Peter 4:8 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

If you want to be godly, forgive like God. If you call yourself a Christian, forgive like Jesus.

And there is not pain or hurt in the room that is as bad as our how bad and hurtful our sin is to a holy God.

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Today, we return to our summer sermon series on Sunday mornings entitled, “A Life Full of Pain: How Can Believers Survive?’ If you have your Bibles, find 2 Corinthians 1:3, and let’s talk about “Painful Losses.”

In the recent weeks, we have talked about painful decisions. We looked at King Saul in 1 Samuel 15. Our encouragement was to obey God completely instead of partially.

Next, we talked about painful finances. We looked at the Apostle Paul’s experience in Philippians 4. Our encouragement was to learn the spiritual discipline of contentment.

Then, we talked about painful health. We looked at a man born lame who encountered Peter and John in Acts 3. Our encouragement was to pray to God asking for healing and ask others to pray for our healing as well.

Before I move on, remember that even though this life is full of pain, there is a time and place that is free from pain. That place is heaven, and that time is eternity, but it is reserved only for the followers of Christ.

This morning, we are talking about painful losses, and everyone can relate. There is no one who is immune to loss.

Generally speaking, losses can be grouped into three broad categories. First, there is loss of position. This may mean loss of job or loss of status.

Second, there is loss of possession. This may mean income, retirement, home, etc. Multiple families lost many possessions in the 2017 EF-3 tornado in Rains County.

Third, there is the loss of person and or pets. Even though my message today speaks primarily to the loss of person, losing a pet is painful.

I used to not think this was true. Early on as a pastor, when church members asked me to pray for them because their dog died or cat died, I did, but I was laughing inside.

However, in the past 15 years or so, I have lost three Labrador Retrievers, and I have cried every time. Losing a pet is painful!

When we talk about losing a person, the Bible is not silent. There are multiple examples of the death of a spouse, death of a child, death of a friend.

Remember Abraham who lost his wife Sarah. See Genesis 23:1-2, 17-20.

1 Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

17 So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded 18 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 So the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial place.

Notice that Abraham mourned and wept and secured a burial for his wife. Responding in kind to a loss of person is normal and right.

Naomi did the same in Ruth 1. She lost her husband named Elimelech.

3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.

However, she not only lost her husband, but she also lost her adult sons. They were also spouses to Orpah and Ruth.

I’m sure you know the shortest verse in the Bible. See John 11:35.

35 Jesus wept.

Why did Jesus cry? His dear friend, Lazarus, had died.

Finally, even though we are prone to skip this one obvious example. God the Father experienced the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Personally, I have not experienced the losses that many of you have. However, I experienced my own losses.

My family and I were set to adopt a set of brothers in the summer of 2014. We had gone through all of the paperwork and home studies, and then found out another family had adopted them because our paperwork got misplaced.

I lost three of my closest friends on September 11, 2014 when three deacons at my previous church wanted me to change the gospel message that I was extending to blacks in our community. I wasn’t going to change my message so I changed churches and landed here at EBC.

On Wednesday, February 24, 2021, I lost a father-figure when Dr. Jimmy Pritchard died due to complications with COVID. He wasn’t my biological father, but he was my spiritual father and mentor.

Exposition

In 2 Corinthians 1, I want to comfort you as God wants to comfort us through Paul. Notice that Paul used that word 6 times in verses 3-6.

Paul experienced his own trials and tribulation and suffering according to verse 5. They were so bad that verse 8 describes them as beyond measure, above strength, and made them think they weren’t going to live through them.

What were they? 2 Corinthians 11:24-27 lists some.

24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

In this letter to the Corinthians and in effort to comfort them, Paul began by reminding to praise God for His mercies and comfort. Certainly, that is a strange place to start because we think that we should be immune from loss.

Then, when we suffer loss, we are thinking about praising God. We are thinking about cursing God. However, the truth is, no one is immune from loss…no one.

We also see in verses 3-4 that God wants to comfort us in any and every loss. Notice the use of the word all and any.

After praising God for His mercy and comfort, Paul says come to God for comfort again and again. That word comfort in verse 4 is present active participle that means God will comfort over and over and over again.

In verse 5, we actually see that this idea has a financial connotation. When our loss is this much, His comfort is always more.

Finally, after praising God and coming to Him for comfort, we should recognize that He gives us opportunities to share that same comfort with others in our same situation.

So here is the idea. God comforts us in our loss. We then comfort others in the same way that God comforted us.

Therefore, our challenge is not to waste our loss. Of course, we wouldn’t choose it. However, we can choose to use it according to God’s plan to comfort others in need like we were and are.

Invitation

Our invitation is always first to trust Christ. If you have never made that personal decision to follow Jesus, I’d invite you to do so today.

Also, I’d invite you to connect formally to EBC. If you are just visiting, what’s keeping you from making that next step?

Lastly, you just may need to be comforted today. Just sit in silence and be comforted by the HS within you.

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If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find Acts 3:1. I want to continue in our summer sermon series on Sunday mornings talking about “Painful Health.”

This summer, we are talking about a life full of pain. So far, we have talked about painful decisions in Saul’s life from 1 Samuel 15, and painful finances from Paul’s life in Philippians 4.

BTW…Please remember that life on this earth will always be full of pain. However, a life in heaven for eternity will be painless and pain-free, but you can only experience such through a personal and saving relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

When we talk about painful health, almost all of us can identify. So many of us have had the dreaded cancer diagnosis. Others have diabetes.

You can add arthritis to list and migraines torn muscles and tendons and ligaments. We can all identify.

BTW…I want to publically thank EBC for the insurance that you provide for me and my family and our ministers. If it were not for our very good insurance, my wife and I would have had to declare bankruptcy after two hospital stays last summer and trying to pay for college. Thank you!

A Man Who was Hopeless, 3:1-3

1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.

Here in Acts 3, Peter and John were on their way to the temple to pray. It was 3 PM. The ninth hour refers to from 6 AM.

They met a certain man who had been unable to walk since his birth. Acts 4:22 says this man was 40 years old.

Friends and family took him to the temple every day for him to be seen and cared for with the donations of others. Of course, because of his physical handicap, he couldn’t work and couldn’t provide for himself.

Alms were offerings that were being given. In our day and time, he would be considered a “panhandler.’

BTW…Was this man’s condition because of his sin or his parents. John 9:1-3 tells us that this man’s handicap simply could have been a situation to demonstrate glory of God.

Verse 3 says he saw Peter and John. Maybe he hadn’t seen them previously. Regardless, he requested assistance from them.

Otherwise, his situation was hopeless. He had been lame for 14,600 days with no sign of change.

A Miracle of Healing, 3:4-7

4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

Verse 4 says that Peter caught his eyes and began to converse with him. Since many had probably ignored him, when Peter began to talk, the lame man expected that Peter and John were going to help them, and they did, but not in the way he was expecting.

Peter commanded him to get up in the name and authority of Jesus. Then Peter helped him up, and he was healed instantly and completely.

BTW…It was God’s plan for this man to be healed. It was also God’s plan for Peter to play his part, to fulfill his role.

God can save anyone and everyone instantly. However, His plan is use us in sharing the gospel. Brothers and sisters, God left you on earth for a specific purpose, and that purpose is to share the gospel with anyone and everyone that He brings in your path.

Magnifying the Healer, 3:8-10

8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

What happened once he was healed? The who was limping went to leaping.

He praised God, and he showed others what had happened.

Consequently, those in the temple were filled with wonder and amazement. They saw for themselves that a miracle had taken place, and they too knew that God had done it.

Application and Conclusion

First, God still performs miracles of healing today. He can heal cancer, and He can heal diabetes, and He can heal anything and everything.

If you are in need, I invite you to do what the James invited the first-century Christians to do. See James 5:14.

14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

As the single elder of Emory Baptist Church, I have prayed for and anointed multiple people with oil. I would love to do the same for you.

Second, when God does heal, we should praise Him. We should praise Him personally, and we should praise Him publically. That’s what this man did.

BTW…If God doesn’t heal, He is still God, and He is still good. See Job 2:10 and 13:15.

10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.

Third, this example of physical healing is a picture and symbol of our need for spiritual healing. We are all spiritually lame, and we need Jesus, and only Jesus, to heal us and save us.

And this is Jesus’ first priority. It is no good for Jesus to heal physically and then healed men and women spend an eternity in hell because they haven’t been healed spiritually.

This morning, I invite you to let Jesus heal your heart. Will you trust Him today as Lord and Savior?

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If you have your Bibles this morning, I want you to find 1 Samuel 15. I want to share a message with you this morning about painful decisions.

If you were here last Sunday morning, you know that I introduced a Sunday morning summer sermon series. It is about lives full of pain.

However, my aim is not simply to identify pains in this earthly life. My goal is address them biblically, and show us, from God’s word, how to survive.

BTW…the only time and place that is pain free is eternity in heaven. That time and place is secured only for those that receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

Life is full of decisions. One “Psychology Today” estimated that we make 35,000 decisions per day.

Sometimes, we make painful decisions. Typically, they are painful because of the consequences, and that is true of Saul in 1 Samuel 15.

God’s directions and expectations are most of the time clear, 15:1-3.

The reason I saw most of the time is because I don’t think God tells in His word where to specifically to go to college or specifically to work or specifically how many kids to have. However, He does tell us specifically to honor our parents and be honest and don’t murder or steal or commit adultery.

For Saul, God’s directions were crystal clear. See 15:3.

The question that you are probably asking is why. I asked that same question. Isn’t this extra? Isn’t God going overboard…the women, the babies, the animals?

Exodus 17:8-16, 8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; 16 for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

But is this all? This doesn’t sound like much.

Deuteronomy 25:17-18, 17 “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, 18 how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God.

God was angry that Amalek attacked His people? How did he attack them? He attacked them from behind and when they were tired and weary.

When God gives instructions and directions, He expects us to obey. The challenge that you and I face is deciding whether we know better than God.

God hates sin, and partial obedience is sin, 15:4-25.

For Saul, he thought his human wisdom was better than God’s instruction. Consequently, this led him down the road of partial disobedience and a series of painful decisions.

Yes, he obeyed God partially. However, partial obedience is disobedience.

Instead of what God had said, what did Saul do? Look at verse 9.

He spared the king and the best animals. This was painful decision number 1.

When Samuel confronted him, Saul lied. Look at verse 13. This was painful decision number 2.

When pressed even further, Saul blamed his people for his own decision. Look at verse 15. This was painful decision number 3.

In verse 21, Saul tried to justify his painful decision and those of his people by pointing out the good they were going to do. This was painful decision number 4.

However, notice how Samuel responded in verse 22. Obedience is better than sacrifice.

In other words, don’t brag about your obedience in some areas when your disobedience is glaring. Don’t tell me how much you’re giving to offerings when you aren’t tithing. Don’t tell me about how much your serving when your forsaking the assembly on Sunday mornings. Don’t tell me how much you want to know and follow God’s will and then you’re sexually active with your boyfriend or girlfriend.

Saul’s last painful decision is in verse 24. This was number five as he feared the people more than he feared God.

BTW…We typically don’t just make one painful decisions. Once we start downhill, the ball is hard to stop rolling.

Saul’s decisions were most painful because they meant forfeiting God’s blessing, 15:26-35.

Yes, Saul confessed in verse 26. However, it was too late.

Not immediately, but eventually, God would take the nation of Israel from Saul. He would remove him as king.

Did God do that? Of course He did in making David king.

Conclusion

What is God making crystal clear to you right now, and you’re not obeying completely? Is it your money? Is it your commitment to EBC? It is your purity or your relationships?

Partial obedience is disobedience. Disobedience runs the risk of forfeiting God’s blessing. Stop making painful decisions today.

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Life is FULL of pain. That is probably not the encouraging word that you were looking for this morning before you arrived.

However, it is true, and I think you all would agree. As Christians, I sometimes feel that the expectation from others is that we are to just put our head down and go on or bury our head in the sand and act like our pain doesn’t exist. That’s not what we are going to do this summer at EBC.

Earlier this spring, the Hunt Baptist Association hosted a one-day seminar with Dr. Matthew Kim. He wrote this book, “Preaching to People in Pain: How Suffering Can Shaper Your Sermons and Connect with Your Congregation.”

Ronnie and Chris and I all attended this seminar. I especially was impacted to the degree that I felt you, as people in pain, needed to hear from God’s Word.

In the Bible, the word “pain” is used 39 times. 12 times it refers to emotional or spiritual pain. 26 times it refers to physical pain. The most common type of physical pain mentioned is childbirth.

This summer, we will talk about various types and circumstances of pain. See bulletin insert.

I said pain was mentioned 39 times in the Bible. 12 are emotional or spiritual. 26 are physical. 12 plus 26 equals 38.

The last time that pain is mentioned, it actually speaks to the absence of pain. Where?

This life is FULL of pain, and the next life will be an eternity of pain. However, there is a time and place where pain will be no more.

Take your Bibles and turn to Revelation 21:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “No Place Like Heaven.”

Heaven will be pain FREE, Revelation 21:1-5a!

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

In verse 1, John said he saw a new heaven and a new earth because the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. The first heaven and the first earth are what we have now, but when will they pass away?

Revelation doesn’t tell us. However, 2 Peter 3 does.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Remember our timeline. We are waiting on the rapture. Then will be the tribulation. Then Jesus will return. Then He will reign on hearth for 1,000 years. Then eternity will begin.

According to 2 Peter 3, after Jesus comes back and before eternity begins, the first heaven and the first earth will pass away, and there will be no more sea. They pass away because they are tainted with sin.

However, specifically, why will there be no more sea? It is hard to say.

It may something to do with the anti-Christ coming from the sea in Revelation 13. It may have something to do with being the place of the dead in Revelation 20. The bottom line is that Scripture isn’t clear.

In verse 2, John saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. John compared her to a bride adorned for her husband.

Don’t simply pass over the significance of this analogy of a wedding and a marriage that has one bride and one groom. We can probably conclude that John uses this analogy because the holy city will be the home of the bride of Christ, His Church.

The absolute greatest fact about heaven is revealed in verse 3. Heaven will mean the presence of Christ. In verse 3, He is called the Tabernacle of God which reminds us of the Old Testament. However, it also reminds us of John 1:14.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

In His first coming, Jesus became flesh and dwelt or tabernacled among us. He will do that again in heaven.

Now listen to verse 4. Eternity will be a return to Genesis with the new heaven and the new hearth. It will be the presence of God in Jesus Christ, and it will be the absence of sorrow with NO pain.

Verse 4 is one of our favorite and most comforting verses in all of the Bible. There will be NO pain at all…zero, none, nota.

Think about all of the pain in this life. We will talk about painful decisions, painful finances, painful health, painful losses, painful relationships, and painful sins.

However, that won’t be true in the life to come. There will be no illness. There will be no death. There will be no betrayal. There will be no abuse. There will be no loss.

There will be NO pain. Heaven will be pain FREE.

You can’t count on this truth, Revelation 21:5b!

5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

You might be wondering how will there be no sorrow and no pain. The answer is in verse 5. Jesus said He will make all things new.

Here is what I know about this transformation just from one verse. First of all, in heaven, Jesus will be in charge. It won’t be me. It won’t be you. It won’t be anyone other than Him.

Second, His promise leaves nothing out. There are no exceptions. He said, “I will make ALL things new.” There is no need to elaborate. Heaven will be the transformation of every single thing.

Third, this promise is a promise made and a promise kept. It hasn’t happened yet, but it will. These words are faithful and true.

Will your pain end when you get to heaven, Revelation 21:6-8?

6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Finally, in our last three verses for today, there is an invitation to experience life and eternal life. This is an invitation for your pain to end!

In verse 6, Jesus is the Alpha and Omega. Those are the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet. He is the beginning and the end.

He was there in the beginning, and was the Creator in Genesis. He will be there in Heaven in the end for eternity in Revelation, and He invites anyone who thirsts to come to the fountain of the water of life.

He isn’t talking about physical thirst but spiritual thirst. That may be you this morning.

Is there something more to this life? Are you missing something? Are you not at peace with your Creator?

Are you tired of pain and more pain and more pain? Come to Jesus and thirst no more and experience freedom from pain.

However, if your life is characterized by cowardliness, unbelief, anger, murder, sexual immorality, sorcery, idolatry and lies, you haven’t been saved. You don’t have a home in heaven.

You will experience the second death. You will die physically and then spiritually for eternity.

Not only will you continue to experience pain in this life, you will experience pain for eternity. Jesus invites you to be saved today.

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Here in Luke 12, Jesus is talking about the end of time. If you have your Bibles, turn them to Luke 12:54, and I want to share with you a message entitled, “The Peace We All Need.”

Again, in the recent Sundays, we have been talking about end of time events because Jesus has been addressing the end of time. We know that specifically because of Luke 12:40.

40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

When talking about end time events, here at Emory Baptist Church, we generally use this time line. The rapture of the church will be unexpected and begin a seven-year earthly tribulation of Christians. The return of Christ is after the tribulation and begins a one-thousand-year earthly reign. At the end of the millennium, eternity begins.

However, of those events, one is talked about more than others, and for good reason. That is the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Exposition

In Luke 12:45, we see that Jesus was talking to the multitudes. Therefore, all of us need to pay attention this morning.

In verses 55-56, Jesus spoke about the weather. He affirmed that these people were good at know the signs of impending weather. However, they didn’t have radars or weather apps.

What did they have? They had their eyes.

When they saw clouds coming from the west off of the Mediterranean Sea, they knew it would rain soon. Also, when they saw and felt the wind blowing from the south, they knew they were in for some hot weather.

However, Jesus chastised them, and called them hypocrites. Why?

They could see accurately discern the signs for weather. However, the savior of the world was standing in front of them talking, but they didn’t recognize Him.

What should they do? Verses 58-59 contain a parable.

If you are odds or conflict with your enemy, you better get the situation resolved. Otherwise, a judge going to throw you in jail, and you won’t have the means to get out.

The main point of this parable and my message today is found in verse 58. Make every effort along the way to settle with him.

What does that mean for us today? Simply put, be at peace!

Application

Before I get more into peace with whom and how, does the Bible really commend a life of peace? Consider these verses all from the New Testament.

Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Therefore, I think we can say, without question, that the Bible commends a life of peace. However, with whom and how?

First and foremost, and most important, and the primary point of this text at the end of Luke 12 is that we are invited to be at peace with God, our creator. However, that doesn’t happen automatically. See Romans 5:1.

Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Second, we are encouraged and challenged to be at peace with one another or our neighbor. However, we know from the story of the Good Samaritan that our neighbor isn’t just our geographical neighbor but anyone that God puts in our path each and every day.

It may be our across the fence neighbor. It may be our school neighbor. It may be our work neighbor. It may be our family neighbor. It may be our mom or son or daughter.

Be at peace with God. Be at peace with one another.

Mark 9:50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”

Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

1 Peter 3:10 For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

But let me share one last thing with you. For you to be peace with some of your neighbors or one of your neighbors, you might need to say, “I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

And please listen to this. You don’t have to know how you hurt someone to apologize. You just have to know THAT you hurt someone.

And for others of you, for you to be peace with some of your neighbors or one of your neighbors, you might need to say, “I forgive you.”

And you might be saying, “You don’t know how bad he or she hurt me.” That’s true. I don’t, but God does.

And God says this in the Sermon on the Mount. See Matthew 5:21-26 and Matthew 6:14-15.

Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Conclusion

This morning, I invite you to be at peace with God through your faith in Jesus Christ. If you already are, I invite you to be at peace with your neighbor by saying I’m sorry or I forgive you.

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to share a message with you entitled, “Division That Is Inevitable.”

In the recent messages in Luke 12, Jesus has been telling parables that have all had the same main idea. It is found in Luke 12:40.

40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

As we continue to think about the return of Christ today, we are going to look at the subject of division. Generally speaking, division in the church or a church is not positive, and should be avoid at all costs.

Romans 16:17-18, 17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

1 Corinthians 1:10, 10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Titus 3:9-11, 9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

These divisions are avoidable. They are about often about personal preferences and personalities.

However, some division is inevitable. That is the division regarding the person of Christ, and that is our topic for today.

At the end of time judgment, fire will punish the sinner and purify the saint, Luke 12:49.

49 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

So many times in the Old and New Testaments, fire is understood to mean judgment. Since we are talking about the return of Christ, I assume that is what Jesus means here as well.

BTW…as it relates to end of time timeline, here is what I believe in very general terms. Unexpectedly, the rapture of the church will be first. Then, there will be a seven-year earthly tribulation, and it will be really bad.

At the end of that seven years, Jesus Christ will return and begin His one-thousand-year earthly kingdom. Then, eternity will begin.

Just before eternity begins, God will punish unbelieving sinners with fire. See Revelation 20:11-15.

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Also, sometime before eternity begins, God will purify His saints with fire. See 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Why did Jesus say he was looking forward this? It was will be ultimate consummation of God’s plan and kingdom!

With His death on the cross, Jesus received God’s judgment on sin for all who would believe, Luke 12:50.

50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!

Jesus spoke of His judgement as a baptism. Notice it was a future event from the time of this account.

He was talking about His death on the cross, and no one in their right mind would look forward to it. Jesus was distressed about it.

Why? Wasn’t it God’s plan? Yes, but Jesus became every sin every committed and would be committed.

Think about that. He became every act of rape and every act of murder and every act of sexual abuse and every act of drunkenness and every act terror in addition to every anger and every lie and every lust and every pride.

We know this because of 2 Corinthians 5:21. Therefore, either Jesus was judged for your sin or your will be judged for you sin. The choice is yours.

Every single individual will be judged by what he or she has done in relation to the person of Christ, and division is inevitable, Luke 12:51-53.

Because of His character, Jesus will be a source of division and not peace. This is true because of the exclusive claims that Jesus makes about God and Himself.

For example, any individual can only have the peace of God when they are at peace with God through the Son of God, the Prince of Peace. See Romans 5:1.

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

To be justified means to be made right. We need to be made right because we are all wrong because of our sin.

We are only made right through faith in Jesus Christ. However, it is not faith in some good person. It is not faith in some moral teacher. It is faith in the perfect, sinless Son of God as Lord and Savior.

When a person makes that decision, there will be others who don’t, and those others will even be family members. This division is inevitable.

Fathers will disagree with sons and vice versa. Mothers will disagree with daughters and vice versa. Extended family will disagree with extended family and vice versa.

Conclusion

However, Jesus worth it all! See Matthew 19:29.

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

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Introduction

If you have your Bible this morning, please take it and find Luke 12:41. This morning, we are going to look at what is often referred to as, “The Parable of the Faithful Steward.”

On the first Sunday in April, Bro. Ronnie taught us from Luke 12:35-40. Those verses contain at least one parable and possibly two. They certainly contain the parable of the expectant steward and maybe the parable of the surprised master.

In today’s context, steward means someone who is in charge. However, this steward is also a servant or a slave.

Please remember that a parable is an earthly story with a spiritual meaning or even multiple meanings. Also, we would be wise not press the parable too hard. In other words, we don’t have to find a spiritual meaning for noun or verb in the parable.

Look back at 12:40. The point of the previous parable or parables is the point of the today’s parable.

40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

As follower of Christ, we must be ready for the return of Christ. If you’re not a follower of Christ, I would say you are NOT ready for the return of Christ.

Exposition

Peter asked in verse 41 if the previous parable was for the disciples only or for the multitude as well. Jesus didn’t answer explicitly, but I believe the text indicates that previous parable and today’s parable is meant for the multitude.

I want us to see three main characters: the master, faithful steward, and the unfaithful servant.

The Master

Undoubtedly, the master is the Lord Jesus, and let’s notice the master’s role. However, we shouldn’t make the parable say something we know isn’t true.

In verse 42, the master has authority and give authority to the faithful and wise steward.

In verse 43, the master inspects the work of the steward and the servants.

In verse 45, the master goes away for an indefinite period of time.

In verse 46, when the master returns, he holds the servants accountable for their work. He even punishes the unfaithful ones by cutting them in two and grouping them with unbelievers.

Does this mean Jesus cuts unbelievers in two? This is called hyperbole.

Jesus is exaggerating to get your attention. He did this in the Sermon on the Mount when He said pluck out your eye if it causes you to sin or cut off your hand if it causes you to sin.

The Faithful Steward

In verse 42, the faithful steward is also wise. His master has given certain responsibilities to him, and he is faithful to do them.

In verses 43-44, when the master returns from his trip, if he finds the steward or servant doing his will, the master will give even more responsibility to him. This servant will be extremely blessed for his work.

The Unfaithful Servant

In verse 45, the unfaithful servant thinks he has plenty of time before his master returns. Therefore, he begins to beat the other servants and he drinks and gets drunk.

In verse 46, he will be judged by his master with severe punishment. His master will assign a place with the unbelievers.

In verse 47, the unfaithful servant will be punished with many stripes or beatings. Why? He knew his master’s will and did not do it.

BTW…Notice verses 47 and 48 together. This make shock you, but this parable seems to indicate that there will be differing degrees of hell.

The parable seems to say that hell will be hotter or more painful for the one who had knowledge of how to be saved, and yet reject it. For the one who had less knowledge, it will still be hell, but not as painful.

Also, this is related as to why Southern Baptists are so passionate about missions. We give to missions. We pray for missions. We go on mission.

Why? Because we believe that the Bible says that the only way to go to heaven is through a personal relationship with Jesus.

We have to get the gospel to those who haven’t heard. There is no other way.

Applications/Conclusions

First, we must be ready for the return of Christ. We are ready when we are saved.

To not be saved when we have the opportunity is literally playing with fire. See Revelation 20:11-15.

Second, the way for the saved to be ready is to be busy doing the Master’s will. See 1 Corinthians 15:58.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Specifically, what is the work of the Lord? It is pointing others to Christ.

It is sharing your salvation story. It is sharing a gospel presentation. It is sharing an evangelistic tract. It is inviting neighbors and family and friends to church to hear the gospel.

Finally, when you are follower of Christ and you know God’s will, there is a level of accountability for you to live your life honoring Him. To whom much is given, much is required, and for whom much is required, Jesus is more than worth it!

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If you have your Bibles this morning, please find Mark 15:42. I want to share a message with you entitled, “The Three Days of Easter.”

As you are finding our text, I am reminded my annual Easter joke of Brother Billy when he preached his Easter sermon at Main Street BC. In the children’s sermon that morning, he asked them, “Can anyone tell me what happened on Easter?” No one answered.

He persisted by saying, “Now I know that someone here knows what happened a long time ago for us to celebrate Easter today.” Again, no one answered.

Now frustrated, Brother Billy exclaimed, “Somebody please tell me about Easter Sunday!” Little Johnny slowly raised his hand and said, “They killed Jesus!” Brother Billy praised Johnny, “That’s right!”

“And then what?” Little Johnny answered again, “They buried him, and he was in the tomb for three days.” Brother Billy praised Johnny again, “That’s right!”

“And then what?” Little Johnny answered a third time, “And on Easter morning, Jesus came out of the tomb!” “That’s right,” Brother Billy exclaimed.

Then Johnny blurted out, “And if he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter.”

Little Johnny’s account of Easter is mostly true. However, I want to remind you of the Easter story this morning that is completely true, and it revolves around the three days of Easter.

Good Friday, Mark 15:42-47

42 Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. 45 So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.

For us, we celebrate Good Friday, and it was good for us that Jesus died on the cross in our place and for our sins. He became sin who knew no sin so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

As for Good Friday, notice first of all, Joseph of Arimathea. We pick up in verse 42 just before sundown on Friday. The Sabbath started at sundown on Friday and went until sundown on Saturday.

We know that Jesus died on the cross on Friday. He was put on the cross at approximately 9 AM. We know it got dark around 12 noon. We know Jesus died, and the temple veil was torn in two at approximately 3 PM.

Because of the Sabbath, we know that He had to be taken down sometime before 6 PM. Why? See Deuteronomy 21:22-23.

22 “If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.

Therefore, it seems to be probably between 3-4 PM. Verse 43 introduces us to Joseph of Arimathea. He was a prominent member of the Jewish Sanhedrin or council.

Mark’s gospel said he was waiting for the kingdom of God. Therefore, we know had recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah.

Joseph was also very courageous because he came to Pilate to request Jesus’ body. Pilate was not a fan of the Jews and felt like the Sanhedrin forced him to execute an innocent man.

Second, on Good Friday, notice Jesus who died. Pilate verified that fact with the Roman centurion in verses 44-45. He confirmed that Jesus was dead, and Joseph wrapped His dead body in linen and placed Him in a previously unused tomb. Therefore, we have at least three individuals who confirmed that Jesus’ death was a fact and not a figment of someone’s imagination or made up: Pilate, the Roman centurion, and Joseph.

Verse 46 tells us that Joseph buried Jesus’ body. We know from John’s gospel that Joseph and Nicodemus prepared Jesus’ body with probably close to 100 pounds of grave clothes and placed Him in a family tomb belonging to Joseph.

Verse 46 also tell us that the tomb was sealed. The stone was circular and on a track and was rolled down an incline and into place to protect the body from grave robbers and wild animals.

It was not as difficult to get the tomb sealed. However, it would take a supernatural act to move that stone.

In verse 47, we see the Marys followed Joseph and Nicodemus to the tomb. That fact will be important as we move from Good Friday to Silent Saturday.

Silent Saturday, Mark 16:1

1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.

On Saturday, the disciples were afraid. That is understandable right?

They had just witnessed their Lord, their Savior, their Messiah brutally murdered. If the Jews and the Romans did that to Jesus, what would they do to them?

Jesus was still dead. We don’t hear a single word from Him because He literally died. He literally was in the tomb, and the tomb was literally sealed.

However, we do read again about the Marys. Because they didn’t understand what Jesus had told them about His resurrection, they He would still be dead, and they bought spices on Saturday night to anoint Jesus’ body early on Sunday morning after Sabbath was over.

How would they know where to go? Go back to 15:47.

47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.

Now, let’s move from Silent Saturday to Resurrection Sunday!

Resurrection Sunday, Mark 16:2-8

2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” 8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Verse 2 says the Marys came to the tomb on Sunday morning, the first day of the week, to anoint Jesus’ body to keep it from stinking. Again, the end of chapter 15 says they saw were Jesus was laid.

As they were on the way to the tomb, they began to get worried about who would move the stone. As I said previously, this would have been a round stone that would have been rolled down an incline into a track. Therefore, while it was easier to put in place, it would have been difficult to move and would have required the efforts of multiple men.

Matthew’s gospel tells us that a localized earthquake dislodged the stone, and an angel moved it. Keep in mind that Jesus was already gone. Therefore, moving the stone was to allow the witnesses in, not to let Jesus out.

When they arrived, the stone had been rolled away, and they were greeted by an angel. Again, the other gospels tell us there were two angels, but only one of them spoke. However, these women were deathly afraid which is the common human response to interactions with angels in the Bible.

Beginning in verse 6, we see the angel announced a message to the women. He informed the ladies that Jesus was in fact alive. The Jesus they were seeking, who had been crucified, had been raised.

The NKJV says He is risen. In other words, Jesus was alive!

The angel then invited the ladies to look at the place where Jesus had been laid. He was gone. He was not there.

In verse 7, the angel told the ladies to go and tell the disciples that Jesus would be awaiting them in Galilee. Not only was He alive, but they would get to see Him again.

Verse 8 says they left the tomb amazed at the prospect of Jesus, whom they saw die with their own eyes, living again. These women came, and saw, and were sent.

BTW…Look back at verse 7. Remember that Mark’s gospel is Peter’s eyewitness accounts that were written down by Mark.

Verse 7 is talking about the same Peter who back in Mark 14 denied any association with the Lord on three occasions. Then the rooster crowed.

However, in this verse 7, we see the foreshadowing of Peter’s restoration from a mistake and for ministry. Again, Peter didn’t just deny the Lord once or even twice but three times.

It was a huge mistake, but the Lord wasn’t done with Peter. He would later use him mightily in the book of Acts preaching and seeing thousands saved and as a prominent leader in the early church.

Some of you are here today and the devil has told you that your time and opportunity for the Lord using you is done because of mistakes in your past. I want you to know that the Lord can and will restore you for future ministry if you let Him.

Tell the Lord that you’re sorry for those mistakes and ask for His forgiveness. Then, ask Him to restore you and use you again in ministry for His Church.

Invitation

I have two invitations this morning to give to you. If you are a follower of Christ, I invite you to come again to the empty tomb on the pages of Scripture and see that Jesus is alive, and like the Marys, live sent…pointing others to Jesus as Lord and Savior with your words and your life.

My second invitation is for those who have never believed. Today, I invite you to come to the empty tomb on the pages of Scripture and see that Jesus alive and call on Him this morning to save you.

The empty tomb is what separates Jesus and Christianity from every other world religion. Jesus is alive!

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Please take your Bibles this morning, and turn to Luke 12:22. I want to speak to you this morning about the Christian and His Possessions or the Christian and Her Possessions.

If you were here last Sunday, you remember that Jesus was talking to His disciples, but He was interrupted with a request from the crowd. He then took that opportunity to encourage His disciples and the crowd to beware of coveting riches.

Do you remember why we shouldn’t covet riches? The main reason is because they tempt us to forget God.

Jesus illustrated His message with the parable of the rich fool. Jesus called this rich man a fool because his riches had caused him to forget God. He presumed that he was in control of his life instead of God.

This morning, we are going to continue talking about riches or possessions. Jesus is refocusing His attention to His disciples.

Today’s text will sound a lot like Jesus’ sermon on the mount. We are going to see three “do not” statements, and each of them will be countered with a “do” statement.

One more thing to keep in mind today. Nothing that Jesus says today means Christians shouldn’t work hard or Christians should save for the future. Both diligence in our work and discernment for the future are commended in the Bible.

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT POSSESSIONS! Luke 12:22-28

22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

Again, verse 22 begins with Jesus refocusing His attention to His disciples. He then gives our first imperative or command related a Christian and his possessions.

Do not worry! Do not worry about what? Do not worry about this life and our food or our clothes.

Why not? Life is more than food and clothing. Then Jesus gave three reasons why Christians should not worry about our possessions.

First, God takes care of the birds of the air, and we are more valuable to Him than them. Look at verse 24.

God also takes care of the flowers of the field. Look at verse 27 and 28. We are more valuable than them.

Second, look at verses 25-26. We should worry because worry doesn’t accomplish anything. It can’t add time to your life. It can’t change the situation, and it certainly can’t help.

Third, look at verses 29 and 30. We shouldn’t worry about possessions because that is what lost people do.

I mentioned when we began that every “do not” statement is offset by a “do” statement. Instead of worrying about possessions, we should remember these reasons why not to worry.

DO NOT SEEK AN ABUNDANCE OF POSSSESIONS! Luke 12:29-31

29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

Remember from last week, money is not the root of all evil. It is the love of money.

In a similar way, possessions aren’t bad in and of themselves. It is coveting them or seek an abundance of them that crosses the line.

Just like we should not worry about possessions, we should not seek an abundance of possessions. Of course, this doesn’t mean not working hard, and it doesn’t mean not saving for the future.

However, instead of seeking an abundance of possessions, we should seek first the kingdom of God. Making Jesus your first priority.

Why? Verse 30 says God knows what we need like food and drink, and when we seek Him, all these other things will follow.

DO NOT FEAR THE ABSENCE OF POSSESSIONS! Luke 12:32-34

32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The last “do not” statement is in verse 32. Jesus addressed His disciples as little flock. He charged them not to worry about the absence of possessions.

Why? Our good, heavenly Father wants to give the riches of His kingdom.

Jesus then said the unthinkable. He told them to sell their possessions.

I wouldn’t take this as absolute for all disciples to sell all. However, if you’re struggling with coveting, and you’re afraid of the absence of possessions, you might want to consider this antidote.

Instead of fearing the absence of possessions, we should invest in eternity. That is what He means when he says provide for yourselves money bags that don’t grow old.

Invest in the gospel. Invest in missions. Invest in growing God’s kingdom in heaven.

Invitation

Verse 34 is an invitation. It is an invitation to give your heart to Jesus. Make Him the treasure of your life.

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Today, we return to Luke 12. If you have your Bibles, please find Luke 12:13. I want to share with you a message entitled, “The Danger of Riches.”

In today’s text, we are going to look at what has been known as the parable of the Rich Fool, and this parable is unique to Luke. Remember, a parable is an earthly story with a spiritual or heavenly meaning.

Simply put, Jesus’ warning for us can be found in verse 15. Beware of covetousness.

Your translation may say greed. This word means an unusual desire for riches. Implied is a strong desire to acquire more and more material possessions beyond your needs.

I can remember dealing with covetousness as a teenager as well as early in my marriage. First, when I was teenager, I remember only being willing to wear a certain brand of clothing.

I was willing to wear these certain clothes multiple times a week. I would just ask my mom to wash them again.

Consequently, I refused to wear clothes or even shop at certain stores. Ironically, my entire wardrobe today is from that store that I refused to shop at as a teenager.

As an adult and early in our marriage, I developed a very unhealthy preoccupation with televisions, and I fell victim to football season every year.

Do you know what I mean? Every August, all the televisions go on sale. For about 4 or 5 years in a row, I bought a new television thinking I had to have newer and bigger than the year before.

I was guilty of covetousness. I was guilty of greed. I was actin a fool.

The Explanation to Flee Covetousness, Luke 12:13-15

13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

In Luke 11, Jesus was speaking to the crowds. At the beginning of Luke 12, He narrowed His focus to His Disciples.

Verse 13 introduces an interruption from the crowd. It was a brother asking Jesus to settle a dispute between brothers.

The brother who spoke addressed Jesus as Teacher or Rabbi. It was common for Jewish religious leaders to settle disputes or even arbitrate conflicts.

Even though only who brother spoke, we can assume the other brother was close. It seems to that it was the younger brother who was speaking.

In the Old Testament, the older brother would receive 2/3 of the family inheritance, and the younger brother would receive 1/3. This younger brother may have been looking for half, and he didn’t want Jesus to arbitrate as much as he wanted Jesus to rule in his favor.

However, Jesus’ mission wasn’t to settle disputes. His mission was save souls. Therefore, in verse 14, He declined to get involved.

He declined to get involved in the dispute. However, He took the opportunity to teach a lesson.

He warned against covetousness. He went on to declare that life is more the accumulation of possessions.

The Illustration of the Foolishness of Covetousness, Luke 12:16-20

16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

Jesus often used parables to illustrate His point. That is true here.

Remember, a parable is earthly story with a spiritual or heavenly meaning. Jesus introduced this parable in verse 16 to illustrate how foolish coveting is.

The parable begins with a rich man. It is important to remember that this man is already rich when the parable begins.

He is a farmer, and he had an exceptionally good year. He had an abundance of crops on his hands.

Verse 17 reveals an inner conversation. He had more crops that storage. What should he do?

He could have given to the poor. He could have given to the needy. However, he decided to do otherwise.

To get a little foreshadowing of what was to come, notice the use of the first person pronoun “my:” my crops, my barns, my crops, my goods, and my soul. Also, notice I: I do, I have, I will do, I will pull, I will store, and I will say.

He decided to tear down his existing barns. In their place, he would build bigger barns to store all of his crops and goods.

Then, thinking he had many years to live, he would take it easy. He would eat, drink, and do whatever he felt like doing.

BTW…It was true for this man, and it is true for us. We aren’t in charge of how long we live. God is, and we aren’t privy to God’s timetable.

In verse 20, look at what God said to this man in response to his plans. He called him a fool, and told him that he would die this day.

He would have to give an account of his actions. Consequently, his new barns and all his crops and goods would be of no value to him.

He would leave them behind. You’ve never seen a funeral coach with a U-Haul in tow.

Proverbs 23:4-5, 4 Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! 5 Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.

The Application of Forsaking Covetousness and Honoring Chris, Luke 12:21

21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Listen and listen closely. You are fool when seek after riches and material possessions at all costs because the danger of riches is that they cause you to forget God.

Deuteronomy 8:11-14, 11 “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, 12 lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Conclusion

Instead, trust God to provide for your needs and seek after being rich toward God. How do we do that?

First, prioritize Jesus first. See Matthew 6:33.

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Second, ask the Lord to help you be content. See 1 Timothy 6:6-10.

6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Third, use your material blessings to invest in eternity. See Matthew 6:20.

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

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Introduction

In most of the English translations represented here this morning, including the NKJV and the NIV, it is 25 words.
For years and years as a little boy, I saw its reference on televised professional football games at every extra point attempt and every field goal try.
This morning, I want to remind you of the most famous verse in the Bible: John 3:16.

Consequently, I believe it is the most famous verse in the Bible because it speaks to the heart of God.

The Motivation of God’s Heart is His Love.

16 For God so loved the world

Remember the context of this verse. Jesus was talking with Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of Jews who came to Jesus at night time.

He knew Jesus was different and even recognized Him as being from God because of the signs or miracles He had done. Jesus told Nicodemus that in order to be saved, you had to be born again.

Nicodemus was an intelligent man, but he didn’t quite understand what it meant to be born again. So he asked how to be born again, and Jesus gave him the answer in John 3:16.

Verse 16 begins with God. It is the God of creation. He is the eternal sovereign, and for His children, He is their heavenly Father.

We then see what God did. He so loved.

The word in the language of the NT is the word agape. It means a perfect and complete love that considers others before it considers self. It is an unconditional love.

Then notice the object of God’s love. It is the world.

Here is the word kosmos. It means everything and all things. When Christ died on the cross, He provided the possibility for the entire world to be saved.

Jesus’ words probably caught Nicodemus off guard. He knew that God loved Israel as seen clearly from the OT.

However, what Jesus is saying here is that not only does God love Israel, but He also loves Gentiles. He loves the entire world’s population, which is approximately 8.2 billion people.

You could line up every human being alive today, and I believe that God would say I love you to each one of them.

God loves both Jew and Gentile. He loves both male and female. He loves both black and white. He loves both Republican and Democrat. He loves both blue-collar and white-collar. He loves both Aggies and Longhorns.

God loves every person who has ever lived because every person who has ever lived was created in the image of God. Love is the motivation of God’s heart.

The Demonstration of God’s Love is His Son.

that He gave His only begotten Son

How did God demonstrate or prove His love? He gave.

He gave freely. He gave with no strings attached. He gave knowing what would happen.

What did He give? He gave His only begotten and unique Son. He didn’t have another Son. He had only one Son.

This Son was unique in that He was fully divine. Even though born in a feeding trough for cows, He was born fully God.

Jesus described Himself in this verse using the word “monogene.” Mono means one. Gene is seed.

There is only one seed like this. There are no others.

He didn’t give His house or His car or His wallet or His investment portfolio or His most prized toy. God gave His only Son to die by the cruelest means of execution that humanity has ever known, and this is the demonstration of God’s love.

You have heard the cliché that the proof is in the pudding. Actually, it has been shortened from the proof of the pudding is in the tasting. In other words, you know if the pudding is good by tasting it.

You know that God loves you when you read or remember John 3:16. He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross and in your place and for your sins.

The Invitation to Receive God’s Gift is to Believe.

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

God invites us to receive His love, but He will not force us. God gives us an option. We can receive this gift, or we can reject this gift.

What would it mean to receive it? Remember, it is a gift. Therefore, it can’t be earned.

To receive it means to believe in Jesus. However, it is not merely mental ascent. To believe means to trust in, to cling to, and to rely on Jesus.

A person can believe with his mind by trusting that Jesus is the promised Messiah. He can believe with his heart by clinging to Him as the only way to heaven. He can believe with his life by relying on Him to enable you to repent of your old ways of life and living a life that is surrendered to Him.

On the other hand, to reject Him is to say no thanks. However, you are also rejecting Him if you do nothing at all.

On occasion, it may be appropriate to be a something, such as apolitical. However, you cannot be asalvation or aeternallife because that is not an option.

Your options are to receive or reject…no others, and to reject is to perish, to die, to have your soul destroyed, to be spiritually lost and separated from God for eternity, but to receive Him is to have eternal or everlasting life.

Conclusion

The story is told of a little boy living in an orphanage who was a hand full to manage or may be even two hands full. The workers in the home were even looking for an excuse to move him to another orphanage.

One day, they saw the little boy running across the yard, and he climbed up in a tree, and they watched him leave a note posted on one of the branches. After he climbed down, they immediately went and checked it out. The note said, “If anybody finds this, I love you.”

Today, if you are within the sound of my voice, John 3:16 is a note from God, and it says, “I love you.”

Will you respond today by receiving God’s gift of eternal life?

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Introduction

If you have Bibles this morning, please take them and find Luke 12:1. I want to share a message with you this morning entitled, “Following Jesus 101.”

If you are familiar with college classes, they usually have a title and a number. For my experience, 100 level classes were for freshmen, 200 level classes for sophomores, 300 level classes for juniors, and 400 level classes were for senior.

To attach 101 to something is to it is the beginning or the foundation. It is the most basic starting point.

In today’s text, Jesus was speaking to His disciples, and He gave them some beginning instructions. These were some basics for following Jesus.

Avoid the Pharisees’ Hypocrisy, Luke 12:1-3.

1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

Verse 1 says that there were A LOT of people had come to Jesus to see Him and hear him. The text literally indicates thousands.

However, Jesus had some specific words for His disciples. Therefore, He changed audiences from chapter 11 where He was talking to the Pharisees.

The end of verse says beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. Just in case you didn’t understand His figurative language, He said to avoid their hypocrisy.

Most of the time, leaven in the Bible is not good. It is evil.

Leaven is akin to yeast. It makes bread rise.

BTW…Why do we use unleavened bread for the Lord’s Supper? The bread symbolizes Jesus’ body. Jesus’ body had no sin, no evil, whatsoever.

A little leaven is all you need to make bread rise. A little leaven goes a long way as it permeates the entire loaf. The hypocrisy of the Pharisees had permeated or infected every area of their lives.

What is hypocrisy? It literally means wearing a mask. It was a theater term that described actors.

It means to be two different people. You act one way around some folks and act a completely different way around others.

Or, your talk out of both sides of your mouth. You say nice things to someone’s face and bad things when they aren’t around.

Why did Jesus say beware or avoid this behavior? Because all that is hidden will eventually be revealed. All that is said in private places will eventually be made public.

In other words, it is illogical. At the final judgement, there will be no secrets.

Therefore, avoid that behavior now. Conversely, live authentically or genuinely. Be transparent and an open book.

Fear the Personal Deity, Luke 12:4-7.

4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! 6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

And I say to you in verse 4 marks a new section. The instruction here is not to fear men. They can only take your physical life.

Instead, fear God or fear Deity. Fear God because He is in charge of your eternity.

The word fear means to revere or respect or live in such a way that you honor Him by obeying Him.

Before you speak, is that what God wants? Before you act, is this what God wants? Before you respond, is this what God wants?

Why does this matter? The one who doesn’t surrender his or her life to God will spend an eternity in hell without God.

The word hell here is the word Gehenna or the Valley of Hennon. In the OT, this was where pagans sacrificed their children by burning them.

By the time of the NT, this was the city dump outside of Jerusalem. Trash was burning day and night. You could see and smell the smoke.

In the same way, hell is a real place. It is a real place where real lost people go when they really die, and where they will experience real physical and real spiritual pain for a real eternity.

However, this deity is not just any deity. He is the Personal Deity who loves you and wants a personal relationship with you. His name is Jesus.

Verse 6 says that sparrows are cheap, but God loves them. Why? They are part of His creation.

Consequently, the Personal Deity, Jesus, is and wants to be intimately acquainted with the details of your life. He knows the number of hairs on your head. On average, that is more than 100,000.

God loves His creation? Who is the pinnacle of His creation?

You are. He loves you. Fear the Personal Deity!

Confess Jesus Publically, Luke 12:8-12.

8 “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven. 11 “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

The last instruction of following Jesus 101 is confess Him publically. We find that in verse 8.

The word confess means to say the same thing. To confess Jesus is to say that you are His. He would then say the same thing about you. You are His.

If we confess Jesus before men or publically, Jesus will confess us in heaven. However, if we deny Him publically, He will deny us in heaven.

Speaking of heaven, how does a person go to heaven when he or she dies? He or she goes to heaven and is forgiven of sin by not blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is the unpardonable or unforgiveable sin. It is not suicide or divorce or any other thing that folks have made up through the years.

To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is give credit to the devil for doing what only God can do. Don’t think that the devil can do what only God can do.

In chapter 11, the Pharisees said that Jesus cast out a demon by the power of the devil. However, only God can do that, but they were giving the credit to the devil.

How do we do that today? Only Jesus can save you. You can’t be saved any other way.

However, when you reject Jesus as Savior, you are saying with your actions that there is another savior. That is not true.

You are giving the devil credit for only what God can do. This is the unpardonable sin.

And when you stand for Jesus, there will be persecution. However, don’t worry. In that moment, God will give you exactly what you should say and what He wants you to say.

Invitation

If you are here this morning and you’re committing the unforgivable sin, stop. Repent.

Only Jesus can save. Call on Him.

If you are saved, are you living a life of authenticity? Are you fearing God? Have you confessed Jesus publically through baptism and with your daily life?

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We are in Luke 11. Remember that Jesus is talking to some scribes and Pharisees after they accused Him of being demonic instead of divine.

Last week, we saw Him chastise them for asking for more signs instead of obeying what they already knew.

He used two examples to shame them. One was the Gentile Queen of Sheba who traveled far and wide to hear Solomon. The other was the Gentile Ninevites who repented at Jonah’s preaching.

Jesus said He was greater than Solomon and right in the front of them. They didn’t need to travel hundreds of miles.

He also said He was greater than Jonah. He was implying that they should repent at His preaching.

Today, we are talking about light. That word is in today’s four verses six times.

Many of you, if not all of you, are familiar with that song. However, is the light yours? And, are you letting it shine?

Exposition

In Luke 11:33, Jesus told a parable. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

In this day, a lamp was what we might call an oil-burning lantern. I think the KJV uses candle.

When one was lit, it wasn’t put in a secret place or cellar or under a basket. It was put on a lampstand in the middle of the room to light up the room. This was not a mystery.

Verses 34 and following are the heavenly meaning. Jesus said our lamp is our eyes.

If your eyes are good or healthy or clear or doing their job, then we can see and do whatever our body needs for us to do because we have light. That may be to walk or sit or climb or eat or stop.

However, when your eye is bad or can’t see or unhealthy, then we don’t know. It is dark. Imagine what our blind brothers and sister’s lives are like.

Verse 35 is the action point. Therefore, make sure that your light is not darkness. Make sure your eyes are doing their job correctly so that you can behave correctly.

When the light comes in your eyes, it lights your whole body. Then you are like the lamp or lantern that gives off light from verse 33.

Application

First, remember from verse 34 that the light is outside the body, and has to be let in or allowed in through the eye. As Jesus is the light of the world, have you allowed Him to come into your life?

Remember the original hearers. They were unbelieving Jewish Pharisees. Jesus was inviting them to be saved. I am inviting you to be saved this morning.

Don’t turn away from the light! Receive the Light. The little Light can be yours today.

Second, while not the primary point of this text, there are multiple applications for Christians and followers of Christ. For example, are you allowing the Light, Jesus, shine in your life and direct your paths?

In verse 35, Jesus wants our bodies to be full of light. He wants to and has shown us how to live in His word. Are we following His light for guidance in our lives?

Next, if this little Light is yours, are you letting it shine? If you’re not, do you really have the Light?

It is illogical to light a lamp and put it under a basket. I would suggest that God has saved you and kept you on earth for no other reason than to be witness for Him and point others to Christ!

Finally, last week, we talked about obeying what you know. So let’s talk about obedience.

If you aren’t living a life of obedience to Christ, do you genuinely have the Light? Look at verse 36.

If you have light, you will shine it. If you are a Christian, you will be obedient.

If you’re not living a life of obedience, are you really saved? Remember James 2:14-26.

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Do you have the Light? Are you letting it shine? Story of unlit lantern.

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If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 11:29. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Stop Looking for Signs, And Start Obeying What You Know!”

We are continuing this morning in Luke’s gospel, and we are studying it verse-by-verse, and chapter-by-chapter. Last Sunday, Jesus reminded us of the key to God’s blessing. Do you remember what it was? It was and is obedience.

Two Sundays ago, Jesus exercised a demon from a demon-possessed man. Consequently, the Pharisees attributed what Jesus had done to the power of the devil. Instead of seeing the miracle as divine, they saw it as demonic.

The Solicitation for More Proof, Luke 11:29a & Matthew 12:38

29 And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign,

Remember that Jesus had removed a demon from a man. Also, this demon-possessed could not speak.

Verse 29 says the crowds were growing. They were seeking a sign, and we know from Matthew’s account of this story that the Pharisees asked specifically for another sign. See Matthew 12:38.

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

What were they asking for? What is a sign?

A sign was a miracle that would prove or affirm Jesus’ message. In other words, they wanted Him to do the miraculous on command so as to prove He was divine or prove He was the Son of God or prove He was the promised Messiah.

As a result, Jesus called them an evil generation. Certainly, He was including the scribes, the Pharisees, and the crowds.

BTW…How much more proof does a person need? Hadn’t Jesus just exercised a demon from a man? In Mark’s gospel, Jesus has given no less than 14 signs before this story.

1:26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.

1:31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

1:42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.

2:12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

3:5 And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

4:39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

5:13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.

5:42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.

5:34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

6:42 So they all ate and were filled.

6:51 Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.

7:30 And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.

7:35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.

8:8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments.

Sometimes, we do the same. We say, “God prove to me that you love me.” Then, we suggest to Him what that sign might look like. Take away this hurt. Heal my loved one. Fix my marriage. Pay this debt.

In other words, we say, “Lord, prove to me what You have already told me in Your Word.” Or, we say, “Lord, write it in the clouds. Send a messenger to me with Your exact message.”

This was a solicitation or request for more proof. They wanted Jesus to prove one more time that He was who He said He was by giving them a sign.

A Demonstration of Messianic Proportions, Luke 11:29b-30

and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.

By calling them an evil generation, Jesus issued a stinging rebuke to these Jews and their religious leader refusing to surrender their lives to Jesus. That meant they were failing to recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.

They had requested this sign for Jesus to prove His power and authority, but Jesus said they would not receive another sign. As a matter of fact, no more signs would be necessary except the sign of Jonah.

Do you remember that story of the minor prophet? God told him to go to Nineveh to preach His message to them, but Jonah refused and sailed to Tarshish. As an act of discipline, God caused a great storm to overcome Jonah’s ship.

The Gentile sailors on the ship eventually threw Jonah overboard to stop the storm. However, Jonah was swallowed by a great fish, and there he stayed for three days and three nights until he repented. The then fish vomited up Jonah on the shore.

When Jonah was given another chance, he didn’t waste it. He went to Nineveh to preach, and the entire Gentile city turned to God as a result of Jonah’s preaching.

With this example, Jesus foreshadowed and compared His own future death, burial, and resurrection with Jonah’s experience. Like Jonah, He would also be in the earth for parts of three days: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before He was resurrected never to die again.

BTW…There have been a thousand questions asked about this particular story. However, Jesus’ reference to it tells us that Jesus believed the literal meaning of Jonah and the whale or great fish, whichever you prefer.

The resurrection of Jesus was the ultimate sign. It emphatically proved that He was the promised Messiah. An individual resurrected to never die again had never before and has never happened since.

The Condemnation for Missing the Point, Luke 11:31-32

31 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

In verse 31, He also reminded His congregation of a story from 1 Kings 10 involving the queen of the South or the queen of Sheba. She had heard of Solomon’s wisdom, but needed to see it for herself, and she did, and recognized God’s hand on Solomon.

In verse 32, Jesus remind the Jewish religious leaders not only of Jonah’s resurrection, but also how these Gentile Ninevites responded to Jonah’s preaching. Unlike these Jews and the scribes and Pharisees, these Gentiles repented. Consequently, they would one day stand in judgment over Israel who didn’t recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah.

Notice how Jesus compared Himself to both Jonah and Solomon, but He said more. He said He was greater than both. He wasn’t just a prophet of salvation like Jonah. He was the instrument of salvation.

He wasn’t just a wise man like Solomon. He was the source of Solomon’s wisdom.

The irony with these two examples is biting. These Gentiles believed and trusted God’s messengers in Solomon and Jonah, but these Jews, the people of God, were not trusting Jesus, the Son of God, right in front of them.

Application

So how do these verses apply to us today? In a similar way, the Church, the people of God, often are looking for affirmations or sign to confirm what God has already told us.

If you want God to give you a sign to be baptized, He has. If you want God to give you a sign to join a local church, He has.

If you want God to give you a sign that you need to start tithing, He has. If you want God to give you a sign to sacrificially and unconditionally love your spouse, He has.

If you want God to give you a sign that you need to keep your children in church, He has. If you want God to give you a sign, children, to obey mom and dad, He has.

Stop asking for signs and starting doing what the Bible already has said.

If you are here this morning and you’ve never been saved and you’re asking God for a sign as to whether He loves you, look no further than the cross.

Romans 5:8, 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Look no further. Wonder no more. Ask for no more signs.

God loves you and wants a personal, relationship with you. Will you call on Jesus to save you from your sins?

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If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 11:27. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Blood is Thicker Than Blood!”

“Blood is thicker than water” is a proverb that can be dated back to 12th Century Germany. Many of you are familiar with it.

In English, it means that biological family relationships are more important and more significant and stronger than other earthly relationships. However, how do biological family relationships compare to spiritual relationships?

Or, how SHOULD they compare? I would suggest to you that in today’s text that Jesus says that His blood and the blood of the body of Christ is thicker than yours and my biological family blood.

In other words, spiritual family is more important and more significant and stronger than biological family. Therefore, Jesus’ blood is thicker than my family’s blood.

Exposition

Verse 27 begins with “And it happened.” However, please remember this, nothing just happens.

Everything in this life is under the complete control of the eternal sovereign God. Therefore, everything that happens in your life is either for God’s glory and our good, or it is our loving heavenly Father disciplining His children.

Regardless, whatever is “happening” in your life this morning, remember God’s word. See Romans 8:28 and James 1:2-3.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

Verse 27 continues remembering that Jesus just finished speaking. What did He say?

He answered the accusation about Him being part of demonic activity. He explained about spiritual rivalry, and He reminded His congregation and our congregation that you can’t be religiously neutral.

You are either for Jesus or against Jesus. There is no middle ground, and you have to decide whose side are you on.

We are also introduced to a certain woman. This story is unique to Luke, and we don’t know her name.

However, she was a voice in the crowd that offered a blessing in contrast to those also in the crowd who were accusing and testing Jesus. Her blessing was for Mary, Jesus’ mother.

I want to take this opportunity to clarify a little about Mary. We know who she was, but there is some confusion that needs to be explained.

Mary certainly deserves this blessing. Why?

She was surrendered to God’s plan even though she didn’t understand it completely. See Luke 1:38.

38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

She was humble and grateful that God had chosen her. See Luke 1:48.

48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

She was obedient and did all that God had directed her. See Luke 2:22-24, and Luke 2:39-40.

22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

Mary was certainly blessed and deserved those blessings. However, Mary was also not, and we need to understand that.

Not what? Mary was not a savior because she was human only. Mary was not perfect because she was a sinner. Mary was not divine and doesn’t deserve any prayers.

In verse 28, Jesus didn’t correct this woman’s statement. He added to it.

Mary was blessed because she obeyed, and obedience to God’s word should matter most to the child of God and the follower of Jesus. Jesus said, “Blessed are those that hear the word of God and keep it.”

To that I say, “Amen and amen.” Brothers and sisters, we must not only hear God’s word but obey it.

That is what we have been saying in 2025 every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. We are deceiving ourselves if we are hearers only and not doers.

Matthew 21:28-32, 28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ 29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.

Obedience should be a defining characteristic of a follower of Christ. Obedience puts us in the family of God, and obedience to God’s word makes our spiritual family more significant that our biological family.

Conclusion

So what area of your life needs your obedience right now? Do you need to obey and call on the Lord to save you?

Do you need to obey and follower Jesus in believers’ baptism? Do you need to obey and join this local church?

Do you need to obey and leave behind a relationship or a behavior? Do you need to obey and start reading you Bible or tithing?

God is calling you to obedience today! How will you respond?

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Please take your Bibles and find Luke 11:14. As we continue in our study of Luke’s gospel, I want to share a message with you entitled, “Choose Your Side Today!”

Brothers and sisters, we are at war today. However, I’m not talking about the China and the US. I am not talking about Russia and Ukraine. I am not talking about Hamas and Israel.

As the body of Christ, we are at war today with the devil. This war is between Satan and Jesus. This war is between the Spirit and the flesh. This war is between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of the world.

Our text this morning is not about the spiritual armor of God. However, I want to read from that same chapter a few verse before. See Ephesians 6:10-12.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Brothers and sisters, ladies and gentlemen, we are at war this morning, and you have to choose your side today. Will you choose Jesus or will you choose the devil?

An Accusation of Demonic Activity, Luke 11:14-15

14 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

All of a sudden, right here in front of us, Jesus is casting out a demon. The demon was living in a man and wasn’t allowing him to speak. He was mute.

However, when Jesus made the demon leave the man, he miraculously could talk again. I can only imagine his first words may have been, “Thank you Jesus! Praise God! Hallelujah,” and the crowds marveled at what had taken place.

However, there were some who doubted Jesus’ power and authority. They accused Him of working with the devil to cast out this demon.

BTW…in a few weeks, when we get to Luke 12, Jesus talks about the unpardonable sin or the unforgivable sin. What is it? It is attributing to the devil what only God can do.

Only God can cast out demons. Jesus was acting on behalf of God and as God!

An Explanation about Spiritual Rivalry, Luke 11:16-20

16 Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. 17 But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. 18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. 20 But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

In verse 16, there was another group from the crowd who desired to test Jesus. They wanted Him to perform a sign.

However, because He was and is God and is all-knowing or omniscient, He knew their thoughts and gave them this explanation about spiritual rivalry.

First, a kingdom or nation divided against itself cannot stand. We see this all around the world with what are often called “civil wars.”

On some occasions, it has seemed like we were close to that in our country again like we did in the late 1800’s. At times, it is probably more accurate to call us, “The Divided States of America.”

Next, a house divided against itself cannot stand. We see this often with families who have been fractured and split over fights and disagreements.

We see this most clearly in marital relationships. A husband and wife who are divided cannot stand together and end up divorcing.

Therefore, Satan isn’t going to cast out demons. Why not? His kingdom can’t flourish if he does that.

These folks accused Jesus of working for Satan. Beelzebub is another name for the devil.

Originally, this name was for Baal, the god of the Canaanite nations. It then morphed to Beelzebul, prince of demons. Then, it changed to Beelzebub or lord of the flies.

Regardless, in this context, it was another name for the devil. They were accusing Jesus of working for him.

However, Jesus caught them in quandary. If He was casting out demons with the devil’s power, whose power and authority were the Jewish leaders using when they were casting out demons?

Jesus caught them. They were using God’s power, and verse 20 says Jesus was too! Jesus was God in the flesh standing before them.

An Illustration of the Impossibility of Religious Neutrality, Luke 11:21-26

21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. 22 But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. 23 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. 24 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

The end of our text this morning is a parable that Jesus told. It is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

In other words, it is an illustration. This parable illustrates the truth that there is no such thing as religious neutrality.

The strong man is Satan. His palace is his kingdom. His goods are his demons and those he possesses.

Satan cannot be overtaken except by someone who is stronger, one who can bind him. Jesus is stronger than Satan. The Lord Jesus will then set free all who belong to Satan and take them for Himself.

BTW…whether you are talking about the cross or the resurrection or the Jesus’ return, Jesus has defeated Satan. That is the truth!

Look at verse 23. Either you are with Jesus or against Jesus.

You can’t say, “I haven’t decided yet.” Your lack of a decision is your decision. Delayed obedience is disobedience.

When Jesus comes into your heart and Satan leaves, I’m sorry to say this, but Satan will tempt you and test you to see how solid your commitment to Jesus is.

If you’ve decided and you are firm in your commitment, Satan doesn’t have a chance. He has been bound by Jesus.

However, if you waver, if your commitment isn’t firm, if you’re hanging on to elements of your past and your lostness, you should be worried. The devil will come back and try his best to wreck your life completely.

Conclusion

You have to choose your side today. See 1 Corinthians 10:21.

21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.

Are you going to choose Jesus today? Are you going to choose His ways today? Are you going to choose baptism today or church membership today or tithing today?

Either you are for Him or against Him. Choose Jesus today!

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Please take your Bibles and find Luke 11:11. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Who is Asking for a Snake or Scorpion?”

This is rhetorical question, and a reference to today’s text in Luke 11. Generally speaking, the answer is no one.

So far this year, we have been talking about priorities for the child of God and the follower of Christ. I have challenged you to make your first priority daily bible reading.

I have challenged you to make you second priority regular praying in our daily lives. In order to better understand what that might look like, we saw the Jesus’ pattern of prayer also known as the Lord’s Prayer.

Jesus prayed regularly and during significant and stressful times in His life. He prayed alone and with others. He prayed for those around Him and for Himself.

Last Sunday, we were challenged to keep on keeping on in our prayers and with praying. God wants us to persistently ask, seek, and knock like a desperate beggar.

Today, I want to show you what God promises when we pray. In short, because of who He is, He will give us what we need when we come to Him in prayer.

Exposition

In the NKJV of verses 11-12, Jesus asked 3 rhetorical questions, and the answer to all 3 is No. You probably have a footnote telling you why or why not this first question is included in your version.

Regardless, normal earthly fathers are going to give their children what they ask for. Said another way, normal earthly fathers are NOT going to give their children things that harm them like snakes and scorpions.

BTW…I know there are some in the room this morning that had sorry earthly fathers. I hate that, and I am sorry for you. However, please know that God in heaven, the God of the Bible, wants to be your good and perfect heavenly Father if He isn’t already.

In verse 13, Jesus then makes His point from the rhetorical questions. If sinful and evil earthly fathers know to give their children what they need when they ask, our heavenly Father will absolutely give us what we need, and our greatest need is salvation by being born again through the Holy Spirit.

So, allow me explain this a little more.

Our Heavenly Father will give us what we need when pray to Him because of His character.

How do I know this? The Bible tells me so.

Romans 8:32, 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Again, we have a rhetorical question. If God gave His own Son to us, don’ you think He will also answer our prayers according to our needs?

BTW…I recently read these answers to pray, and I want to share them with you.

First, sometimes God answers our prayers directly. That means He gives us exactly what we asked for.

Second, sometimes God answers our prayers differently. He still answered us, but not exactly what we prayed.

Third, there are times when God delays His answer to our prayers. In other words, His answer is wait.

Finally, sometimes God’s answer is no. He denies our request or petition for some good reason.

However, because the Bible is true, we can know that because of His character, He knows our needs and will give us what we need without hesitation or reservation. He is our good, good Father.

James 1:17, 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, even when we don’t understand, I ask you and challenge you to trust Him. He is perfect, and His plan for us perfect.

The second best prayer we can ever daily and throughout the day is to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Christians don’t have to be pray for the Holy Spirit because of Pentecost. If we are saved, we have Him.

Let that sink in. If we are saved, we have the third person of the Holy Trinity within us all the time.

However, like an old bicycle tire, we are prone to leak, and we have to pray to be filled with the Spirit regularly. See Ephesians 5:18.

Ephesians 5:18, 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.

This is the explicit will of God. Therefore, when we have the third person of the Holy Trinity within us, and we are filled with Him or following His lead, what does that mean?

First, it means we will pray in Jesus’ name and according to God’s will. Why does that matter?

John 14:13-14, 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

John 15:16, 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

John 16:23-24, 23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

1 John 5:14-15, 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

It matters because the Bible says God will answer our prayers when we pray in Jesus’ name and according to God’s will. How do we do that? We do this when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and not our own flesh.

Second, being filled with the Holy Spirit means we will be obedient to the Lord Jesus. Why does matter?

John 15:7, 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Not only does the Bible say when we pray in Jesus’ name and according to God’s will that He will answer our prayers, it also says when we are obedient to His desire for our lives that He will answer our prayers.

To abide is synonymous with obey. His words are His commands or the Bible. When we obey His commands or abide in Him, our heavenly Father will answer our prayers.

Conclusion

So, if praying to be filled with the Spirit is the second best prayer you can pray, what is the first? The absolute best prayer you can pray is the prayer of salvation that says, “Father, please forgive me and save me.”

Admit that you are sinner and ask for forgiveness. Then, because Jesus died on the cross for your sins and was raised on the third day, ask Jesus to come into your life to be your Lord and Savior.

You can pray that prayer today and be saved. If you do or will, we want to know.

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This morning, if you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 11:5. I want to share with you a message entitled, “We’ve Got to Keep On Keeping On!”

Today, we are continuing to talk about the subject of regular and personal prayer in the life of a follower of Christ. We introduced this subject last Sunday morning looking at Jesus’ pattern in prayer.

However, I want to go back even further to the first Sunday of the year. I challenged to you make a commitment to daily Bible reading, and so many of you have started.

Praise the Lord, and you can start even today! I challenged you to make this your number one priority as a follower of Christ in 2025.

Then, last week, I challenged to make regular prayer your second priority, and we looked at Jesus’ pattern in prayer. He prayed regularly and for big decisions or crises events. Jesus prayed alone and with others, and Jesus prayed for Himself and others.

Here is the main idea that I want us to see and understand this morning. God wants His children to persist in their prayers and persist in praying.

Look at verse 9. Here, we find that word “persistence.”

The NIV uses the “shameless audacity.” The KJV uses the word importunity.

The word “persistence” means to endure or persevere. Teenagers today might use the word “grit.”

It means to continue an act until the desired effect is realized. It means to keep on keeping on.

Here in Luke 11:5-10, I want us to see the explanation of persistence in praying, an illustration of persistence in praying, and the application of persistence in praying.

The Explanation of Persistence in Praying, Luke 11:8

8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

Beginning in verse 5, Jesus made a point using a parable. A parable is an earthly story with heavenly or spiritual meaning.

The point of the parable is verse 8. Jesus commended man’s persistence or his shameless audacity.

In this context, shameless would be synonymous with bold, and used in a positive way. Again, my main point this morning, and the main point of this text is to commend and advocate for followers of Christ persisting in their prayers or persisting in praying.

An Illustration of Persistence in Praying, Luke 11:5-7

5 And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

Verses 5-8 contain a parable. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly or spiritual meaning.

Here’s the story. A man has an unexpected friend drop by at midnight traveling through town.

Why was the friend traveling at night? It was probably to avoid the hot temperatures in the Middle East during the day.

This man knows that it is incumbent upon him to be a good host. However, he doesn’t have any bread for the friend to eat.

What does he do? He goes to a neighbor and asks for three loaves of bread. Remember, it is midnight.

It’s also important to know the neighbor probably had a one room house. That meant everyone, parents and children, slept in the one room.

When the neighbor hears the knocking or the calling, he goes to the door and essentially says, “Go away! It’s too late.”

Why was this his response? To open the door would mean burning a lantern and unbolting the lock. He was surely to have wakened his children and his wife. For those parents in the room, you know the advice of never wake a sleeping baby.

However, what does verse 8 say. It says that if the man is persistent in his request, the neighbor will oblige.

Can you imagine the scene? It is midnight. It is dark. People are asleep. It is quiet.

Then knocking starts and won’t stop. Then yelling starts and won’t stop.

Finally, both stop. Why? Because the neighbor is tired of all the racket.

BTW…in studying parables, there is always the danger of pressing the parable too far. For example, God, our heavenly Father, is NOT a grouchy old man.

The Application for Persistence in Praying, 11:9-10

9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

One of the great things about today’s text is that Jesus doesn’t leave us wondering about what it means. He is crystal clear.

In verse 9, we find three words that are significant. They are ask, seek, and knock.

In the language of the NT, they what are called “present imperatives.” That means they are commands for continuous action.

Consequently, don’t just ask once. Keep asking. Don’t just seek once. Keep seeking. Don’t just know once. Keep knocking.

The progression in the words is also significant. Ask is verbal. Seek is adding actions to your words. Knock is adding persistence to your words and actions.

As a result, look at verse 10. When you keep asking, you will receive. When you keep seeking, you will find. When you keep knocking, the door will be opened.

The point is NOT that we can manipulate God with our amount of prayers. The point is also NOT that the person who prays the most gets the most desired prayer requests.

The point is that God wants us to pray and pray more and keep praying. We may not know if God has ordained the end.

However, we definitely know that He has ordained the means. Now, let us be found faithful.

Keep praying for your marriage to flourish. Keep praying for your loved one to be saved. Keep praying for your friend to be healed.

However, there is one pray that you only need to pray once. That is the prayer for Jesus to come into your heart and forgive you of your sins and save you today.

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Last Sunday, I began my message verbalizing my gratitude for the providence of God as He planned our last sermon of 2024 to be about the Good Samaritan and meeting our neighbors’ needs and the first sermon of 2025 about Mary and Martha and prioritizing daily bible reading.

Again, I am grateful for God’s providence in planning our second sermon of the new year to be about prayer. As a matter of fact, our next three sermons will be about prayer.

Today, we will look at Jesus’ pattern of prayer. Next week will be about our persistence in prayer. The final Sunday of January will be about God’s products from prayer.

I have entitled this sermon, “A Close Second.” As I said last week, I believe that every Christian’s number one priority for the new year should be daily bible reading. That is God talking to us.

A close second priority of every Christian in the new year is praying regularly. That is us talking to God.

Therefore, I do think it is best for us to listen more than we talk. Perhaps that is why we have only one mouth but two ears.

Exposition

In verse 1, Jesus was praying. Obviously, His disciples heard Him and or saw Him and asked Him to teach them to pray.

Beginning in verse 2 and through verse 4, we find Jesus’ pattern for pray. This is commonly called, “The Lord’s Prayer.” Many of you probably have it committed to memory.

However, you probably memorized the version in Matthew 6. It is found there as well as part of the Sermon on the Mount. Here, Jesus used it in response to a request.

Please understand that Jesus is not advocating a magical formula. What Jesus is doing is teaching us to depend on God for life’s needs. In verses 2-4, you will find six requests.

After we get the great privilege of addressing the Creator of the universe as Father, our first request is that His name be hallowed. That means revered and respected.

This prayer is that you and I would not do ANYTHING to drag God’s name through the mud. It applies to what we say, think, and do.

Second, there is the request for God’s kingdom to come. This is a prayer for Jesus to come and come quickly.

Third, there is the request for God’s will to be done. Consequently, if God’s kingdom comes and God’s will is done, my kingdom has to be destroyed, and my will must fall by the wayside.

BTW…How is God’s will done in heaven? It is done perfectly and without sin. This request is for me and you to live lives in obedience to God’s will.

Fourth, there is the request for daily bread. This is a request for general but daily provisions. It certainly includes but not limited to food.

Fifth, there is the request for forgiveness of sin. Notice also the standard for our forgiveness.

When we forgive others, that is proof or evidence that God has forgiven us. When we don’t, well…

Sixth, there is the request for God to deliver us from temptation and the evil one. We are to pray for God to lead us into safe places where obedience thrives.

Again, this not a magical formula. However, it can be used as a model prayer for our prayers.

Jesus’ Prayer Life

When we think about Jesus’ prayer life, we should remember that HE prayed regularly like here in 11:1. You and should pray throughout the day even during the mundane experiences of life.

However, Jesus also prayed before or during major or significant events.

When He was baptized:

3:21 When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.

When He chose the Twelve:

6:12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

When He was in the Garden of Gethsemane:

22:40 When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

When He was on the cross:

23:46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.

Second, Jesus prayed when He was alone, and when other were present.

5:16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

9:18 And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

9:28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

Third, Jesus prayed for others, and Jesus prayed for Himself.

22:32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

17:1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.

Application

When it comes to your daily prayer time, I advocate the ACTS method of praying. A stands for adoration or praising God. C stands for confession of sin. T stands for thanksgiving, and S stands for supplication or petition or requests.

All of these except for thanksgiving are explicit in the Lord’s prayer, and I believe that thanksgiving is implied. I don’t know that you can adore or praise God without being thankful.

If you listen closely when I pray on Sunday mornings, I use this model as an example for you. I adore all three person of the Trinity. I confess that we are sinners in need of forgiveness. I thank the Lord for our nation and our freedom and our military and first responders and facilities and abundant life. I then pray for us and our neighbors and end to our wars and for the Holy Spirit to meet us here.

I challenge you to make regular prayer part of your daily life. It can easily be accomplished with the notes section on your phone and a daily alarm as a reminder.

If Jesus prayed, and He did, His followers should pray as well. Listening to God is priority number one. Talking to God is a close second.

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If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find Luke 10:38. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Priority Number One.”

I am so thankful for the providence of God. In God’s providence, we ended 2024 looking at the story of the Good Samaritan and were reminded that our neighbors are all around us and in need.

Consequently, Jesus expects His followers to meet those needs. It doesn’t matter what our neighbor looks like or what language our neighbor speaks or how our neighbor votes or what our neighbor did in the past.

We now begin 2025, and we’re still in Luke 10. Like the story of the Good Samaritan, this story in Luke 10:38-42 is unique to Luke.

For the follower of Christ, serving others should be a top priority. However, reading and knowing God’s Word should be Priority Number One!

Exposition

In verse 38, Jesus and His disciples were on their way to Jerusalem, and they came to a certain village. Because of this family of siblings, we know from John’s gospel that this village was Bethany.

In Bethany, a certain woman named Martha welcomed Jesus into her house. This sibling group included Martha, Mary, and their brother, Lazarus.

The text says that this house was Martha’s although it seems they all lived there. Martha was also probably a widow since we never hear or see anything about a husband.

The name Martha means mistress which is another name for hostess. She was the hostess and in charge of the meals and accommodations for this Jesus and His disciples. Let’s call her Meticulous Martha.

In verse 39, we meet Martha’s sister, Mary. Notice what she was doing. She was sitting at Jesus’ feet hearing and listening to His word. We can call her Mesmerized Mary.

BTW…In the first century, rabbis didn’t take women as their students, but that wasn’t true with Jesus. Therefore, you can know that Jesus wants to make disciples of men and women and boys and girls and young and old and black and white and rich and poor and Republican and Democrat.

Verse 40 makes a very sharp contrast between Meticulous Martha and Mesmerized Mary. Martha was distracted with much serving. As I said earlier, she had food to prepare and accommodations to ready.

When you have time to read your Bible, do you get easily distracted with kids, the laundry, the cleaning, the yard, Facebook, your hobbies? Meticulous Martha got distracted with things that needed to be done.

She was so distracted and insulted by the lack of Mary’s help that she rebuked the Lord. In not so many words, she said, “Lord, Don’t you care that I’m doing all this work and Mary isn’t helping a lick? As a matter of fact, tell her to get in the kitchen and help me.”

Jesus never condemned Martha and her hospitality. However, He did commend Mary and her listening at Jesus’ feet.

Look at verse 41. Jesus said Martha’s name twice in His commendation.

In verse 42, He said but one thing is need. It’s as if He said, you’re preparing so many dishes, but just one dish is needed or necessary.

What dish was that? Mary had chosen it. It was the bread of life.

John 6:35, 35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

Matthew 4:4, 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

Main Message

Here is the main message. In 2025, make daily Bible reading your number one priority!

“No spiritual discipline is more important than the intake of God’s word. Nothing can substitute for it. There is simply no healthy Christian life apart from a diet of the milk and meat of Scripture. The reasons for this are obvious. In the Bible, God tell us about Himself, and especially about Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God. The Bible unfolds the Law of God to us and shows us how we’ve all broken it. There we learn how Christ died as a sinless, willing substitute for breakers of God’s Law and how we must repent and believe in Him to be right with God. In the Bible, we learn the ways and will of the Lord. We find in Scripture how to live in a way that is pleasing to God as well as best and most fulfilling for ourselves. None of this eternally essential information can be found anywhere else except the Bible. Therefore, if we would know God and be godly, we must know the word of God…intimately.” Don Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

Furthermore, in addition to what some human says about God’s Word, listen to what God’s Word says about God’s Word. See Psalm 119.

Application

I would suggest to you one of three avenues for application. First, consider our monthly newsletter or member directory and handbook.

Second, consider YouVersion and one of their many plans.

Third, consider a daily Bible.

Regardless, make daily Bible reading your number one priority in 2025!

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If you have your bibles this morning, please take them and find Luke 10:17. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Salvation is Greater than Service!”

Remember the beginning of chapter 10 from last week. Jesus sent out 70 disciples to minister in His name. He sent them out as laborers into the harvest, but this wasn’t an agricultural harvest. This was a spiritual harvest.

They were to go but not take any provisions. Jesus would provide for all of their needs.

They were to look for other like-minded individuals and families who were ready to receive Jesus as the promised Messiah. They were also to heal the sick.

However, they would certainly encounter opposition. They were then to trust God for the judgment of those individuals, families, and cities.

Today, we are going to see the 70 returning. What was their reaction? How did they feel?

A Picture of Joy, Luke 10:17-20

17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Verse 17 says they returned with joy! Why?

They had power of demons. How so? They had healed the sick. They had cast out demons. They saw the lost saved.

In response, Jesus said in verse 18, “I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven.” What did He mean?

In this context, I think He meant that every time a prayer is answered, Satan’s kingdom falls. Every time a saint is obedient, Satan’s kingdom falls. Every time a lost person is saved, Satan’s kingdom falls.

BTW…Satan is real. Jesus thought he was. Satan is also a fallen angel. That happened before time began and seems to be alluded to in Isaiah 14. Finally, the bible teaches us that Satan was defeated with the death and resurrection of Christ. Satan is being defeated every time an individual says yes to Jesus and no to the devil, and Satan will be defeated once and for all when Jesus Christ casts him into the lake of fire for eternity.

The reason that the ministry of the 70 had any success at all was because Jesus gave them authority of the enemy’s power according to verse 19. However, please don’t take verse 19 as your license to handle snakes.

And even though, they rejoiced over ministry and we can rejoice over ministry today, there is something greater than ministry. We’ll come back to that in just a moment.

A Praying Trinity, Luke 10:21-22

21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 22 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

In verse 21, notice that the 70 are not the only who rejoiced. Jesus rejoiced over the ministry as well, and He rejoices over you as well when you serve Him by serving others.

Verses 21 and 22 are a prayer. Jesus the Son prayed to God the Father through the Holy Spirit, and He thanked God for these saints.

God revealed the truths of salvation to these saints and to anyone who will humble himself or herself like a child. We’ve already seen that in Luke 9:48.

48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”

Paul also understood that salvation is not because of our influence or ingenuity. It is because of God’s grace and mercy. See 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.

26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.

Brothers and sisters, don’t ever forget that you and I can’t impress a holy God. When we come to him, it is with empty hands.

In verse 22, we are reminded of the deity of Christ, and God is sovereign and in control of all things. Notice that Jesus is God, and God is Jesus.

BTW…this is proof positive that all religions aren’t the same. Ask a Jew is they believe that Jesus is God. Ask a Muslim if they believe that Jesus is God.

A Private Message, Luke 10:23-24

23 Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; 24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”

After Jesus prayed, He had a private message for His disciples in verses 23-24. He reminded them of their privilege.

Prophets and kings had longed to see what they had seen. What had they seen?

They saw the Kingdom of God. They saw the promised Messiah. They saw God in the flesh. They saw Jesus Christ!

Conclusion

So what is the point of today’s sermon? Go back to verse 20.

20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Ministry or serving others is good, but salvation is greater! It is good to serve others, and we should rejoice in our service. Rejoice when you invite someone to church. Rejoice when T. E. L. goes caroling. Rejoice when our budget is met and when more money is given to the FLC.

However, rejoice more when in your salvation and when lost people are saved. Why? Ministry or service is earthly. Salvation is eternal.

Is you name written in heaven because you have been saved? If not, would answer God’s call to be saved this morning?

How do you do that? Admit that you are sinner. Believe that Jesus died on the cross in your place. Confess Him as your only Lord and Savior.

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If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 9:56. I want to share a message with you entitled, “What Will Following Jesus Cost You?”

I also could have just as easily entitled this message, “The Road to Hell is Paved with What?” I’m sure you know the answer to that question.

Today’s text is about following Jesus as Lord and Savior. Notice that word, follow, in verses 57, 59, and 61.

57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”

59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”

We are going to see three different individuals as they are considering the invitation to follow Jesus. That same invitation will be extended to you this morning, but please understand that following Jesus will mean a radical commitment and may cost you significantly.

Following Jesus may cost you financially, Luke 9:56b-58.

56 And they went to another village. 57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

The end of verse 56 says that Jesus and His disciples went on to another village. If you remember from last Sunday, they went to a Samaritan village, but were not welcomed.

On their journey, a man came up to Jesus and said he was willing to follow Him wherever. In other words, this man pledged his complete commitment to Christ.

However, in one sense, Jesus said, “Are you sure?” In reality, Jesus said He didn’t have a home. Animals had homes like foxes and birds, but Jesus did not.

What did He mean? He meant that following Jesus may cost you comforts and specifically financially.

What might that look like? I am going to share with you some facts. I am not soliciting pity or trying to make you feel sorry for me and my family. Again, I’m just sharing some facts.

My family and I have been members of EBC since January 2015. In 10 years, we have given over $165,000 to EBC in tithes and offerings. That is an average of $16,500 per year.

Also, please understand that we have not given this much because I am the pastor. We have given this much because we are followers of Jesus that believe that the Bible says we are to give 10% of our gross income to the Lord through our local church.

Furthermore, most of you know, I have two daughters in college…at the same time. They have an apartment. They share a car. My wife and I share a car.

Do you think we could have used that money elsewhere? You better believe it. Do we regret giving it? Absolutely not!

Following Jesus may cost you financially!

Following Jesus may cost you your family, Luke 9:59-60.

59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”

With our second individual, Jesus initiated the conversation with invitation to follow Him. However, it was met with another priority.

What was the priority? It was family, and possibly even money.

This man wanted to wait until he had buried his father. However, keep in mind that his father hadn’t died yet.

His father was elderly and dying, but still alive. This man wanted to bury his dad FIRST and then follow Jesus. He may have also been wanting to wait on his inheritance.

Jesus told him to let the dead bury the dead. In other words, let the spiritually dead take care of the physically dead.

Said another way, “You don’t give your attention to death.” Instead, you have the gift of life. Preach it to the world.

Jesus wasn’t saying don’t go to funerals or don’t take care of dying parents. He was saying make sure sharing the gospel is your number one priority.

In my own personal experience, there have been times when I had to choose Jesus and His bride over my extended family, and there are occasions when that is necessary. See Luke 14:26.

26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

Following Jesus may cost you your family!

Following Jesus may cost you your friends, Luke 9:61-62.

61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

In verse 61, we find our last of three individuals. Like the first and different from the second, this man initiated his own conversation with Jesus.

He said he would follow Jesus, but he had some other things to do before. Certainly, he wanted to say good bye to his family and possibly to his friends as well. Verse 61 just says those at his house.

Jesus said you need to quit thinking about the past and give your attention to the future. Otherwise, you’re going to plow crookedly.

In Matthew 12:46-50, Jesus even redefined relationships. That includes family and friends.

46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. 47 Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” 48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

Paul understand what Jesus was saying. See Philippians 3:13-14.

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Following Jesus my cost you your friends!

Conclusion

If you here this morning, and you aren’t a follower to Jesus, I invite you to say yes. If you wondering whether it is worthy in light of what it might cost you, remember Mark 10:29-30.

29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

On the authority of God’s word, and affirmed by my own personal experience, HE IS WORTH IT!

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Please take your Bibles and find Luke 9:51. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Is Your Face Set?”

If you are a guest, we are studying the gospel of Luke verse-by-verse and chapter-by-chapter. That means we have been in Luke for some time, and still have some time to go.

“Is your face set” sounds like a funny question, and not really how we talk in 2024. However, it is the language that Luke uses here in Luke 9.

Notice this language as we read today’s story. Specifically notice verses 52 and 53.

Exposition

Verse 51 begins with a time marker. What we are about to read happened after the transfiguration and the conversation about positions of greatness in the kingdom of God. It is also good to know that this material unique to Luke.

Luke continues that the time had come for Jesus to be received up. The NIV says go to heaven. The NASB says for His ascension.

Luke is describing a sequence of events with a few words. In reality, he is describing the gospel.

So let’s not only describe it, but let’s also define. It begins with a holy God creating man and women, and we were sinless and in perfect fellowship with Him.

However, Adam and Eve sinned. They then passed along their guilty and their sin nature to us. Consequently, we have sinned.

Next, our sin separates us from God because He is holy and can’t commune with sin. Therefore, we are in need of a savior.

Morality can’t save. Ingenuity can’t save. Generosity can’t save. Sincerity can’t save.

The only qualified savior is a man, but He was also God. I’m talking about Jesus Christ, God’s only son, who lived a sinless and perfect life.

Then He died on the cross and in our place and paid our sin debt. He provided the opportunity for anyone and everyone to be back in perfect fellowship with God.

However, you must believe. You must confess your sin and need for a savior and put your faith in trust in Jesus.

How can you know that what I have just told you is true? It is the story of the Bible, and Jesus didn’t stay dead. He was resurrected never to die again to validate and prove all that He said is true.

Then in Acts, that Luke also wrote, after His death and after His resurrection, He ascended to heaven. Where did all of this happen? It happened in Jerusalem.

So when Luke says that His time had come to be received up and that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, all of what I just said is what Luke was talking about. Jesus understand God’s will, and He knew that was the best place for Him, and was at peace with it.

Do you understand God’s will for your life? Aare you at peace with it?

What is God’s revealed will for you? The Bible tells us.

1 Timothy 2:3-4, 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Ephesians 5:17-18, 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 4:3, 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

1 Peter 2:13-15, 13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

1 Peter 4:15-19, 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

God’s will includes more for you, but not less. Are you good with this?

Are you at peace with God’s will? Is your face set?

There was a time in my life when I wasn’t. I was in college, and I knew that God wanted me to be a vocational minister of some kind. However, I thought I had to take a vow of poverty.

Needless to say, I was very materialistic, and had my mind set on riches. I told God that I would wait for Him to change His mind.

In the meantime, I was miserable. There was no peace in my life. I was restless.

Finally, after two years of telling God no, I surrendered to Him and His will. I finally had peace. My face was set. What about you?

Jesus knew God’s plan, and He was good with it. His face was set, and so, He headed to Jerusalem.

Our text says He was going through Samaria. This would have been hostile territory. Therefore, He sent some of the disciples ahead to arrange meals and lodging.

Not surprisingly, verse 53 says the Samaritans didn’t want Him or His disciples in their village. Again, Samaritans considered Jews as their enemies and vice versa. Therefore, this should surprise us.

However, it does remind us of this. Jesus came to be Savior of the world, not just Jews or just westerners or just Americans or just Republicans. He came to be the savior of all.

When John and James found the sentiment of the Samaritans, they were mad. They wanted to nuke them. No wonder Jesus called James and John the sons of thunder in Mark 5:17.

Undoubtedly, they were thinking of what Elijah did in 2 Kings 1. He called down fire twice on those opposing God’s work including King Ahaziah.

Jesus didn’t appreciate their desire, and He rebuked them. That rebuke is found in verse 56.

However, some of you don’t have verse 56. Don’t be alarmed. While verse 56 is not in the oldest Biblical manuscript, it is enough for the NKJV editors to include it.

Furthermore, Jesus sentiment here is found elsewhere. See Luke 19:10 and John 12:47.

First and foremost, Jesus came to save. He came to save you.

Luke 19:10, 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

However, if you reject His invitation to be saved, you will have to answer to God for your sin, and you will have no hope of heaven without Jesus.

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If you have your Bible this morning, please take it and find Luke 9:46. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Jesus’ Recipe for Greatness.”

Generally speaking, we as a culture and individuals in it desire greatness. That is true of employees, employers, students, school districts, players, teams, political candidates, and political parties. However, we all have different plans or recipes in achieving or attaining greatness.

Jesus had His own recipe. It is found here in Luke 9, and it is profoundly different than any other plan or recipe.

For Jesus, in order to go up, you must down. I’ll explain more as we go.

An Argument about Greatness, Luke 9:46

46 Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.

In our first verse, the disciples were talking, and a dispute or argument broke out. It centered on which of them would be the greatest.

It seems that they were under the impression that Jesus would be some type of military or political king who would overthrow the Roman government, and put the Jews, the people of God, into positions of power. However, Jesus had previously told them otherwise, but they didn’t understand Him.

In the recent weeks, we saw Jesus predict His own suffering, rejection, and death. See 9:21-22 and 9:44-45.

21 And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

44 “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”

Jesus prophesied twice about this reality, and a third time is coming in 18:33. However, don’t forget 9:45.

45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.

An Analogy of who is Great, 9:47-48

47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”

Look at verse 47. Luke says that Jesus perceived what they thinking and talking about.

BTW…Why was Jesus able to do this? He was able to do this because He was and is God.

He is omniscient. That means He is all-knowing. He knows right now what every person in the room is thinking.

Jesus then took a child and set him next to Him. This child was probably between 5 and 10 years old.

Keep in mind that in this culture, children were the smallest and most powerless individuals. They were barely seen and not to be heard.

Why did Jesus do this? He was teaching a lesson on who is great.

Look at what Jesus said in verse 48. If you receive this child, then you in turn are receiving Jesus, and in turn are receiving God the Father. You can think of receiving also as accepting.

The disciples were more than likely shocked. Jesus just blew their minds.

BTW…While not the main point of the text, these verse remind us that we should value children. We should value every child in the womb, and we should value every child in this room.

Therefore, don’t get all bent out of shape with children who haven’t learned to sit still and remain quite during the sermon. Love them like Jesus did, and as always, we can use more nursery volunteers.

Furthermore, if we value every child in the womb, let’s make sure we are providing for them outside of the womb through foster and adoptive care if needed. Today is Orphan Sunday, and we’ll see a video at the end of the service regarding a ministry opportunity for those the Lord is calling.

The reason we value every child and every human is because God does as we are all created in the image of God. That includes republicans and democrats. That includes citizens and immigrants and even illegal immigrants.

Jesus’ main point is at the end of verse 48. He who is least will be great.

Again, their minds are blown. Jesus didn’t assign greatness to the smartest or biggest or wealthiest. His recipe for greatness was to go down.

An Answer regarding those not in our Group, Luke 9:49-50

49 Now John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.”

Hearing all this, John spoke up and answered in response to what Jesus had said. What he recounted is not in the gospels.

Someone outside of the Twelve Disciples was casting out demons in Jesus’ name. Consequently, the Twelve told him not to do that anymore.

Why? He wasn’t in in their group.

What did Jesus say? Look at verse 50. Don’t forbid him because he who is not against us is on our side.

In other words, Jesus told them God’s work goes on outside of their group. Therefore, we are on the same team.

Illustration

So what does all of this mean? Jesus’ recipe for greatness is found through humility that leads to submission.

Jesus didn’t just say this. He modeled this. See Philippians 2:5-11.

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The King of the Universe, the Son of God, was born in a borrowed manager. That same King of the Universe, the Son of God, was buried in a borrowed grave.

Jesus embodied humility that lead to submission to God’s plan. God then exalted Him to greatness.

Application

If you want to be great, humble yourself and submit according to God’s will. Peter eventually got it. See 1 Peter 2:9-25.

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Husbands and wives, submit. Parents and children, submit. Republicans and Democrats, submit. Employers and employees, submit.

Don’t think your submitting is dependent on someone else submitting. Your submitting is dependent on whether you want to be obedient to God.

If you want to be great in this world, do exactly what the words say. Go down and let God lift you up.

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If you have your Bible this morning, please take it and find Luke 9:37. I want to share a message with you entitled, “No Elephants Here.”

For some reason, elephants have a reputation for having a good memory. You may have heard someone say, “That person has a memory like an elephant.” Evidently, this reputation has been substantiated by studies of their behavior in the wild.

The reason I say that there are no elephants here is because like elephants have a reputation for good memories, the people of God have a reputation for bad memories. I know this because God is regularly calling on the people of God in the OT to remember.

Consider only the book of Deuteronomy:

Deuteronomy 5:15

And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

Deuteronomy 7:18

you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt:

Deuteronomy 8:2

And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

Deuteronomy 8:18

“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Deuteronomy 9:7

“Remember! Do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day that you departed from the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord.

Deuteronomy 9:27

Remember Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not look on the stubbornness of this people, or on their wickedness or their sin,

Deuteronomy 15:15

You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this thing today.

Deuteronomy 16:3

You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it, that is, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), that you may remember the day in which you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life.

Deuteronomy 16:12

And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.

Deuteronomy 24:9

Remember what the Lord your God did to Miriam on the way when you came out of Egypt!

Deuteronomy 24:18

But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this thing.

Deuteronomy 24:22

And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this thing.

So we see that we don’t remember, but why don’t we remember? Consider Revelation 12:10.

10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

The people of God struggle to remember. We are going to see that was true of the Twelve Disciples as well in today’s story. At the end of my message, I’m going to challenge you to remember.

A Situation that is Dark and Desperate, Luke 9:37-40

37 Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him. 38 Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, “Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child. 39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him. 40 So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”

Verse 37 happened the day after the Transfiguration. Maybe that was at night. If so, it would have been all the cooler.

However, the next day, they came down from the mountain. Notice that they were met but a great multitude of people including a man with a demon-possessed son.

BTW…while mountain-top experiences are wonderful, they are not the majority of life. You and I have to figure out how to survive and even thrive when we aren’t on the mountain top.

To validate the wonderful nature of mountain-top experiences, Peter chronicled for us in 2 Peter 1:16-18.

16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

I hope the truth that the majority of life is not lived on the mountain top is not discouraging. God still works gloriously in the valleys. See 9:43.

43 And they were all amazed at the majesty of God.

This situation is dark and desperate because of this man’s only son. The demon would take control and convulse him and make him foam at the mouth. Those convulsions caused great physical pain and left bruising.

This father asked the Twelve to cast out the demon, but they couldn’t. Why not?

Didn’t they cast out some demons earlier in this chapter? See Luke 9:1.

1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

I would suggest much of our pain and difficulties in the valleys of life are because we fail to remember what God taught us on the mountain top.

A Resolution from God Almighty, Luke 9:41-43a

41 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” 42 And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the majesty of God.

When Jesus was presented with the situation or problem with the father’s only son, He provided the solution.

However, He rebuked the disciples first. He rebuked their lack of faith.

Why didn’t they believe? Again, I would suggest they had bad memories. They had forgotten what they had seen and been told. Consequently, Jesus had to heal the boy instead.

Verse 42 says Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father. Then notice verse 43.

They were all amazed at Jesus? No, they were amazed at the majesty of God. Jesus was God Almighty. Jesus was the omnipotent God.

A Prediction about Jesus’ Death, Luke 9:43b-45

But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, 44 “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.

Now for the second time in Luke’s gospel, Jesus predicted His own death. The first was in 9:21-22. The third time will be 18:33.

Even though this was not the first time they had heard this, they were having trouble comprehending it. Look at 9:45.

Conclusion

So let’s go back to where we started. The People of God are not good remembers.

We need to be constantly reminded to offset our accuser. Therefore, remember in the valley what we have seen and heard on the mountain top. Jesus is more powerful than demons, more powerful than difficulties, and more powerful than death.

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If you have your Bibles this morning, take them and turn to Luke 9:28. I want to share a message with you entitled, “How Can I Help Jesus?”

In the recent weeks, we have been in Luke 9. Remember that Jesus told His disciples that He was going to suffer and die. See Luke 9:21-22

Then, Jesus told His disciples that if they were going to follow Him, they would have to have lose their lives. See Luke 9:24.

24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

Do you think Jesus’ most recent words made them a little anxious or apprehensive? I would imagine so, and I imagine they were in need of some encouragement.

How did Jesus encourage them? He allowed them to experience a little bit of heaven on earth, and He told them that this is what He was going to do. See Luke 9:27.

27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”

An Invitation to Pray, Luke 9:28

28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

In verse 28, eight days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to a high mountain to pray. He did this after eight days and these sayings.

What sayings? Peter had proclaimed that Jesus was the Christ from God. See Luke 9:20.

20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

Then, Jesus invited these men to follow Him daily. See 9:23.

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

John was Jesus’ closest disciple and best friend. Peter, James, and John were the inner circle.

Also, they were about to have a life-changing experience. According to the OT, there should be 2-3 witnesses for such. Therefore, these three were invited initially to pray.

Some say this mountain was Mt. Tabor. Others say it was Mt. Hermon. Regardless, it was a place where they would receive special revelation from God.

BTW…I believe it is absolutely imperative that you and I as followers of Christ be intentional in setting aside specific time to pray. I would also discourage praying at night so as not to fall asleep because it is hard work.

On multiple occasions, these men fell asleep praying at night. We see that in verse 32. We will also see that in the Garden of Gethsemane.

A Demonstration of Heaven, Luke 9:28-33

29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. 30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. 33 Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.

Verse 29 says that when Jesus prayed, His face was altered and His robe became glistening white. Mark used the word “transfigured.”

The word “transfigured” literally means the figure is transformed. Our English word is metamorphosis. Jesus was changed from the inside out into a heavenly state.

Verse 31 says Moses and Elijah appeared and where talking with Him. Why Moses and Elijah?

First, God spoke to Moses and Elijah on Mt. Sinai in the OT just like we are going to see here with Jesus. See Exodus 24:12-18 and 1 Kings 19:8-18.

12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.” 13 So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. 14 And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Indeed, Aaron and Hur are with you. If any man has a difficulty, let him go to them.” 15 Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain. 16 Now the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 The sight of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. 18 So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” 11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” 15 Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. 17 It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Second, Moses symbolized the OT Law and gave the law to Israel. Elijah symbolized the OT prophets and guarded the law for Israel.

Third, Moses began the nation of Israel. Elijah was supposed to usher Israel into eternity.

What were they talking about? Verse 31 tells us that they were talking to Jesus about His departure.

That word decease is the word “exodus” in the language of the NT. It is interesting that Moses broke the literal chains of bondage through the exodus in the OT. Jesus would break the spiritual chains of bondage through His exodus or death in the NT.

In verses 32-33 when Peter and the others woke up, he offered to make three tabernacles or tents or houses, one for each man: Elijah, Moses, and Jesus. Why?

Peter wanted this experience to last so they would need someplace to stay. He wanted this little bit of heaven on earth to last longer.

Notice what Dr. Luke said at the end of verse 33. These were his editorial comments.

He said Peter didn’t know what he was saying. Why was that?

Peter wanted heaven then and now. However, that would have bypassed Jesus’ suffering. Jesus HAD to suffer. He HAD to die.

BTW…Don’t think you and I can have heaven on earth without suffering also. Jesus had to go through some hell on earth to get to heaven.

If you’re longing for heaven, don’t be surprised if next month’s election result creates some future hellish experiences. However, remember they might be necessary to get you closer to God’s Kingdom of Heaven.

An Explanation about Salvation, Luke 9:34-36

34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” 36 When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

Verses 34-35 say a cloud from heaven came forth along with a heavenly voice making a bold declaration. In the OT, clouds were a symbol of God’s presence. In the NT, they are associated with Christ’s return.

A voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, hear Him!” Obviously, this was God the Father.

He was saying to listen Jesus. However, what is implied is obedience to Jesus as well.

Keep in mind what these men had heard in the recent days. He is the Christ. Follow Him. Now, God the Father was saying obey Him.

Then all of a sudden, the transfiguration was over, and the only one left was who? Jesus!

The prophets weren’t left. The law wasn’t left. Only Jesus alone was left.

BTW…If the Transfiguration was a picture of Christ in heaven, could it also be a picture of who will be in heaven? Some have thought that Moses represented the OT Saints or those who died before Christ. Peter, James, and John would be representative of the NT Saints or those who die after Christ. Then Elijah would represent those Saints who would never taste death but, like Elijah, will be raptured to heaven. Perhaps.

When it comes to the act of salvation, we are tempted to think that Jesus needs our help. However, Jesus stands alone by Himself.

We can’t add anything to Him like works or baptism or performance. Jesus doesn’t need one single thing from you to save you, and He doesn’t need one single thing from you to keep you saved. You can’t help Jesus!

Conclusion

First, pray on earth. Second, look forward to heaven. Third, trust only Jesus to get you there!

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Behind the Eight Ball: How Should Christians Vote in 2024?

Proverbs 21:1

Sunday, October 20, 2024, 10:30 AM

Emory BC

1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Introduction

This morning, I am taking a break from Luke to preach a topical sermon. It is different than my normal Sunday morning sermons. Therefore, if you are guest, please come back next Sunday. We will be back in Luke 9.

So why am I preaching this message? First, I am preaching this message because tomorrow begins early voting in our state and runs October 21-November 1.

Second, I believe that the United States is the greatest nation in the world because of the freedoms we enjoy.

Third, I believe we have a responsibility as earthly citizens to vote. I derive that application from Romans 13:1 and 1 Timothy 2:1-2.

1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

However, I believe how we vote should be determined by the Bible because not only do we have earthly citizenship, but we also have heavenly citizenship. See Philippians 3:20.

20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Fourth, I have had multiple church members ask me about this election. They have also requested I speak directly to the situation and to their concerns.

Fifth and finally, I believe this president election and our state senatorial election will have massive consequences for years to come. I want to vote with my daughters in mind.

Therefore, let me direct your attention to Proverbs 21:1 for just a few moments. My message is entitled, “Behind the Eight Ball: How Should a Christian Vote in 2024?”

If you have every played pool, you are familiar with the idiom, “behind the eight ball.” That is not a position desirable position.

It means to be in an uncomfortable or tricky situation. It means to be in trouble. It is similar to being between a rock and a hard spot.

For Christians, I believe we are behind the eight ball in this election. I mean, we are in a very uncomfortable situation. It is a tricky situation. I’ll explain throughout my message.

In Proverbs 21:1, King Solomon was the author. Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he gave us three truths that apply to our current election season.

Every human being has a spiritual heart including elected officials.
Life is often very hard to understand and difficult to predict much like water in a river and can leave us feeling like we are behind the eight ball.
Regardless, God is still sovereign and in control over all things including the USA and will be in control on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.

My Personal History

As early as five years old, I have some political memories. I can remember staying at my babysitter’s and listening to her talk about how she was going to vote for Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale and not Ronald Reagan 1980.
In 1984 and 1988, I can remember liking Jesse Jackson because he was a Baptist minister, and I was a Baptist.
While in high school, I can remember admiring vice-president Dan Quayle because he was a champion of traditional family values and stood toe-to-toe with Murphy Brown.
While in college, I can remember my father voting for Bill Clinton because he was a Democrat and because he was born in Hope, Arkansas.
Since college and seminary, I have been a registered Republican, and I am not ashamed or embarrassed to be that or publicize that.
However, I have voted for several Democrats in state and local elections in Arkansas simply to be able to participate in the process. Otherwise, when only Democrats were running, I would have not had a chance to vote.

What are my political options for our 2024 Presidential Election?

First, I could vote for the Republican nominee. However, personally and candidly, I’m not a fan.

I’m not a fan of how he conducts himself in public and of how he how he reportedly conducts himself in private. In my opinion, his strength is not public speaking or thinking on his feet compared to someone like his running mate or our speaker of the house.

In addition to changing his positions on multiple issues, he is a serial adulterer. Furthermore, he has made his fortune gambling and alcohol. Finally, I don’t believe he is saved.

However, I am thankful for many of his accomplishments from 2016-2020. First and foremost is his following through with who he said he would nominate for the Supreme Court and subsequently the overturning of Roe vs. Wade.

Second, I could vote for the Democratic nominee. However, from my perspective, she is pro-abortion, completely supports the LGBT Agenda, is a threat to my religious liberty, and I personally don’t think is competent enough for the position.

Third, I could vote for a third-party candidate because neither of the two major party candidates are not fit for the presidency of the United States, and I can’t endorse one’s character or the other’s policies.

Fourth, I could not vote.

So what will I do when I feel like I’m behind the eight ball?

First, I WILL vote. I have read some reports that are saying that 51% of Christians will not vote in this election. I believe that is the worst decision you could make.

Second, I will NOT vote for a third-party candidate who has no chance of winning. I think that is the second-worst decision you could make, but I have read an article from Baptist News last week advocating for such. I think that is a terrible idea.

Third, I WILL vote against the Democratic nominee and her policies and for the Republican platform.

Let me speak just a moment to that issue. I have posted two articles on FB this past week. They are from Baptist Press, and they compare the two parties’ platforms with recent Southern Baptist Convention resolutions.

I want to put them on the screens for just a moment. I will talk more about them on Wednesday night so if you want to hear more, come then.

BTW…I do predict that the Republican Platform will become less and less pro-life in the coming years, and I believe it will begin with this year’s Republican Nominee and his wife. The rationale will be to become more electable by independents. I hope I’m wrong.

Does voting for the Republican nominee mean I like him? I do not. I do not like him or endorse him or defend him.

However, …

I do believe he is the lesser of two evils;
And I will vote whole heartedly for the world’s strongest and most powerful military who will defend our country and fight for the freedoms I cherish;
I will vote whole heartedly for securing our border and legal immigration;
I will vote whole heartedly against the LBTQ Agenda and their indoctrination of my children;
I will vote wholeheartedly for religious liberty for all not just those who believe like I do;
Finally, I will vote whole heartedly for the sanctify of every human life, especially those in the womb.

Conclusion

I want to close this morning by answering some objections.

Some say voting for one candidate means I condone everything that candidate has done or will do. It does not.

Every candidate is flawed. If your conscience won’t let you vote for a candidate, that is between you and the Lord.

However, remember that your vote and your non-vote has earthly consequences. Make sure you can live with those, and just like you will answer to God for who you will vote for, you will answer to God for who you don’t vote for.

Some say I won’t vote for either because of their lack of character, and I’ll vote for a third party. Again, that is fine, but remember that your vote or non-vote has earthly consequences. It can be argued that Bill Clinton was elected in 1992 over George Bush 41 and again in 1996 over Bob Dole because of Ross Perot.

Some say I don’t live in a battleground state so my vote doesn’t matter. Don’t be so sure. Remember that 537 votes got George Bush 43 elected in Florida in the 2000 Presidential Election, and in Texas, this election is not only about the presidency but also about our United States Senator.

At the end of the day, I’m voting for God’s design for marriage.

At the end of the day, I’m voting for religious liberty.

At the end of the day, I’m voting for the sanctity of human life.

The reason every life is sacred is because every life is created in the image of God, and God loves you so much that Jesus died on the cross in your place.

If you’re here this morning and have never trusted Jesus to save you from your sins, I want you to know that your life matters to God, and Jesus is ready to save you today.

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Last Sunday morning, we heard Peter’s answer to Jesus when Jesus asked him life’s most important question. Peter answered with personal conviction that Jesus was the Christ from God. In other words, He was the Savior sent from God.

Before we left that text, Jesus predicted His suffering, rejection, and death. Then, I told you that if Jesus suffered and was rejected, those that follow after Him will most likely suffer and be rejected as well. This reality shouldn’t surprise us.

Today, we will see Jesus extend a formal invitation to follow Him. This is a formal invitation to be one of His disciples.

However, today’s text will not elicit a celebration from the world’s perspective. It will seem paradoxical at best, but it isn’t strange. Matthew and Mark recorded this narrative in their gospels as well.

Before we look at the specific aspects of the invitation, notice that it is an invitation for any and all to be one of His disciples. His invitation is not to a special class of disciples but to be a disciple.

This is commonly how Jesus and the biblical writers referred to His followers. See Matthew 28:19, Acts 6:1, Acts 9:1, and Acts 11:26.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

6:1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.

9:1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Now, turn your attention to verse 23. I believe this text identifies three marks of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

A Disciple of Jesus is marked by a conscious decision to follow Him, 9:23a, c.

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

As we said a moment ago, this invitation is for anyone and everyone. Jesus made this invitation to all of those who around Him and listening.

Next, notice His actual words, “If anyone desires to come after Me.” This is the invitation.

To come after Him means to become His disciple. It means to follow Him and His ways. Jesus is the teacher. His followers are His students.

When you decide to study under someone, that doesn’t mean that you become a clone. For example, there are many things that Jesus did that we can’t do. We can’t heal the sick. We can’t calm the storms. We can’t multiple the supplies.

Furthermore, Jesus was single, but that doesn’t mean we are called to singleness. Jesus didn’t have any children, but that doesn’t mean we are called to childlessness.

However, if we are following Jesus, we want to live exactly how He taught. We want to live exactly how He lived.

If we will, we will be happy. We will be blessed. We won’t regret it. See Matthew 5:3-9.

Have you made a conscious decision to follow Jesus? It can’t be my decision. It can’t be your spouse’s decision. It can’t be your parents’ decision.

It has to be YOUR conscious decision. However, it is one you will NEVER regret.

A Disciple of Jesus is marked by a consistent denial of self and fame, Luke 9:23b, 24-25.

let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?

Look at verse 23 again. Here are two words that our world won’t comprehend: deny and die.

Disciples of Jesus are called to deny yourself and take up your cross daily. This is Luke’s first use of the word cross.

What was he talking about? Death by crucifixion was the worst bar none.

The one sentenced to die would carry the cross bar through town to the location where he was then nailed to that cross bar and the upright post as well. There he hung until death.

Jesus was literally crucified. His followers are called to be figuratively crucified. We know that because it literally can only happen once, but Luke says daily.

On a daily basis, you and I called to deny self. On a daily basis, you and I are called to die to self and live according to Jesus.

Listen to what Jesus said in Matthew 10:34-38. Understand that this makes no sense to a lost world as Jesus spoke as to how our relationship with Him should compare to our relationship with others.

34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

Paul also understood this. See Galatians 2:20.

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

So what does that look like? It means instead of you and your will and your way and your thoughts and your actions and your reactions and your attitude, it is Jesus first.

Some might say that sounds awful. Others think it is the greatest joy this life has to offer.

Scott Drew is the Men’s Basketball Coach at Baylor University. His teams’ theme for the past several years has been “Choose JOY!”

Write JOY down on your bulletin. What does Jesus start with? What does others start with? What does you start with?

A follower of Jesus chooses joy. A follower of Jesus will then receive joy.

Verse 24 says we can’t keep what the world has to offer. However, we can keep with Jesus has to offer.

Does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul? No, you can’t anything with you.

Missionary Jim Elliot is known for having written, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” You are smart to give away what you can’t take with you and choosing Christ. He can’t be taken away.

A Disciple of Jesus is marked by a courageous declaration of allegiance to Christ, Luke 9:26-27.

26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”

Look at verse 26. Jesus spoke about those ashamed of confessing Him as Lord and Savior on earth. In turn, those will be rejected by Jesus for eternity.

Again, if you reject Jesus on earth, He will reject you in heaven. Instead make a courageous declaration this morning that are a follower of Jesus Christ!

Verse 27 foreshadows next week’s message about the transfiguration. The transfiguration demonstrated the kingdom of God.

Conclusion

This morning, I am going to close by reading a prayer from a classic Christian work called “The Valley of Vision.” The author is Arthur Bennet.

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly…

Let me learn by paradox

that the way down is the way up,

that to be low is to be high,

that the broken heart is the healed heart,

that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,

that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,

that to have nothing is to possess all,

that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,

that to give is to receive…

Let me find Thy light in my darkness,

Thy life in my death,

Thy joy in my sorrow,

Thy grace in my sin,

Thy riches in my poverty

Thy glory in my valley.

Will you follow Jesus today?

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This morning, we continue in our study of Luke’s gospel, and we are going to see life’s most important question. It comes from the mouth of Jesus in 9:20.

However, this is not the first time we have heard this question. We heard a very similar question from Herod just a few weeks ago. It is found in 9:9.

9 Herod said, “John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?” So he sought to see Him.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Please listen carefully. How you answer this question, life’s most important question, will determine where you spend eternity. You will either spend eternity living in heaven, or your will spend eternity dying in hell.

Exposition

In verse 18, we see that Jesus was alone praying. However, His disciples were close by.

BTW…If Jesus spent time alone in prayer, don’t you think you and I should as well? What is prayer? Prayer is simply talking to God.

The most I talk to God is first thing morning after I have let God talk to me by reading my Bible. Then I pray for about 30 minutes.

I pray for me. I pray for my family. I pray for you. Then I pray thought out the day as needs arise or the Lord brings them back to mind and heart.

An Answer of Public Consensus, Luke 9:19

19 So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.”

When His twelve disciples joined Him, He asked them who they crowds were saying He was. In verse 19, they answered Him.

Their answer was one of public consensus. In other words, this is what the crowds were saying.

Keep in mind, these are the same crowds who had heard Him teach, and they had seen Him heal. Therefore, their answers were not surprising.

Some said John the Baptist. Others said Elijah. Other said an older prophet who had come back to life, possibly Moses.

BTW…Do prophet still exist today? Yes, and no, they are similar to apostles.

Apostles with a capital A witnessed the resurrected Christ and wrote Scripture. They don’t exist today. However, apostles with a lowercase a are sent ones who are Christians sent to the Lost with the gospel.

Prophets like Moses and Elijah and John the Baptist spoke the very words of God. They don’t exist today.

However, prophecy is a spiritual gift, but not one that predicts the future. It is boldly proclaiming the truths of the Bible.

Essentially, Herod reported the same earlier in this chapter. See 9:7-8.

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again.

The public consensus was that Jesus was some type of prophet. Today, multiple religions say similar. This would be true of Islam.

Hinduism believes that Jesus was some type of self-realized saint. Buddhism believes that Jesus was a great moral teacher. Judaism believes that Jesus was a crazy man.

An Answer of Personal Conviction, Luke 9:20

20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

After the disciples spoke about the crowds, Jesus looked directly to them, and asked life’s most important question, “But who do you say that I am?” Keep in mind, how you answer this question will determine if you spend eternity living in heaven or dying in hell.

Peter spoke for the group. He confessed that Jesus was the Christ of God.

What does that mean? In the language of the NT, Christ is word for Messiah. Jesus was the Messiah sent from God.

What does Messiah mean? It means that Jesus was and IS the savior sent from God.

Why is that significant? Sending a savior implies we need a savior, and we do.

Let’s work backward. We need a savior because we are sinners.

Consequently, our sin separates us from God because God is holy and cannot have fellowship with sin. Therefore, we need a savior.

However, our man-made saviors don’t qualify. What do I mean?

First, morality won’t save. We can’t ever be good enough.

Second, genealogy won’t save. Our family can’t ever be good enough.

Third, generosity won’t save. We can’t ever give enough.

Fourth, ingenuity won’t save. We can’t ever be smart enough.

Fifth, authenticity won’t save. We can’t ever be sincere enough.

As a matter of fact, unless you trust in Christ, regardless of your authenticity, you can simply be sincerely wrong. Jesus is the only qualified savior because He is the only sinless, perfect Son of God.

Next, it was this sinless, perfect Son of God that died on the cross for our sins and in our place. To authenticate all He said and did, Jesus didn’t stay dead. He was resurrected from the grave and now reigns in heaven.

Conclusion
Today’s text ends with verses 21 and 22. In verse 21, Jesus warned all of His disciples not to proclaim this truth yet.

Why? It wasn’t God’s time yet, and this announcement at that time might have been perceived as Jesus being a political and military savior rather than a spiritual savior.

In verse 22, Jesus predicted His death and resurrection for the first time in Luke’s gospel. He would do it two more times in 9:44 and 18:31.

BTW…If Jesus predicted He would suffer and He would be rejected and we are His followers, what should that say about us? More than likely, we will suffer, and we will be rejected.

The end of verse 22 is the gospel in brief. Jesus would die on the cross for our sins, but He would be resurrected from the grave, and invites us to be saved.

Paul said the same thing in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

How will you answer life’s most important question today? Is Jesus your savior? If not, would you receive Him today?

If He is, what is now your job? God didn’t leave you on earth to live the good life chasing the American Dream. He left you after saving you to share the gospel again and again and again and again. Will you commit to that today?

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Have you ever found yourself in a seemingly impossible situation? Maybe it was with your marriage or your money or a member of your family.

Did you think it was impossible for your marriage to work or someone else’s marriage? Did you think it was impossible to ever have enough money to pay off that bill? Did you think it was impossible for a member of your family or someone’s to be saved or reconciled?

This morning, in Luke 9:10-17, we’re going to see that there’s no such thing as impossible with Jesus. This story is found in all four gospel accounts: Matthew 14, Mark 6, John 6, and here in Luke 9.

Remember, Jesus sent out the sent ones last week. He first called them apostles in 6:13.

13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.

Guess what? They came back.

Verse 10 says the apostles returned. Remember that apostle means sent one. Therefore, you and I are also sent ones in the informal and general sense, and we have been sent across the street and across the hall and across the locker room with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The apostles returned and told Jesus all that they had done. Perhaps they were tired. I know I am after a mission trip or after a long day on a mission trip. Therefore, Jesus took them to a deserted place for some privacy.

However, their private place wasn’t private for long. They had been followed because people were attracted to Jesus.

BTW…If people were attracted to Jesus, in one sense, they should be attracted to Christians. However, if you’re the kind of Christian that is rude and obnoxious and people can’t stand you, that isn’t biblical Christianity that you are practicing.

Verse 11 says Jesus received them and shared the kingdom of God with them. What is the kingdom of God?

He shared the gospel with them. Then, He healed them to authenticate and affirm the gospel message.

That is what life changes does. When lives are changed, the truth of the gospel is verified.

A Legitimate Problem, Luke 9:12

12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.”

In verse 12, it seems to be near the end of the day. The twelve came to Jesus and encouraged Him to send the crowds home so that they could find a place to stay and get something to eat.

The end of verse 12 calls this place deserted. That meant no place to stay and no food to eat.

Verse 14 says this was about 5,000 men. Including women and children, this crowd could easily have been large than Rains County.

So what would you do? This was a legitimate problem.

The Human Solution, Luke 9:13-14a

13 But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.” 14 For there were about five thousand men.

In verse 13, Jesus told the twelve to take care of the situation. He told them to get the crowd something to eat.

BTW…Jesus could have snapped His fingers and solved this problem. However, He didn’t.

Why? His plan is use the body of Christ to share the gospel and pray and minister to people.

However, this was problematic. They only had five loaves and two fish. John 6 says they belonged to a little boy.

Keep in mind this wasn’t Texas Toast and 30-pound channel cats. These were five biscuits and two sardines.

Perhaps they could have purchased some food. However, it still wouldn’t have been enough for this number of people.

The disciples were thinking with their minds rather than their hearts. In some cases, that is right, but not when Jesus tells you otherwise.

Divine Intervention, Luke 9:14b-17

Then He said to His disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of fifty.” 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.

What happens when Jesus gets involved with our legitimate problems after we have tried our solution? What happens the Divine intervenes?

At the end of verse 14, Jesus told the twelve what to do. They had the crowds sit down in groups of 50. We assume this was simply for organizational purposes.

Verse 16 says Jesus took the boy’s food. He took the five biscuits and two sardines, and He looked toward heaven and thanked His Heavenly Father for the food. Then, He gave and gave and gave until everyone had something to eat.

Verse 16 is the miracle. Verse 16 is where Jesus suspended natural law. Verse 16 is where the Divine intervened.

Keep in mind, this was a bite or two. Verse 17 says they ate and were full.

There were even leftovers. Why twelve baskets full? There were twelve disciples, and each on saw this miracle personally and up close.

Application and Conclusion

So what? One point of this story is to demonstrate that Jesus is the Messiah. However, that is not the main point because Jesus could have done all of this without anyone’s help.

Therefore, what is the main point? Jesus wants us to depend on Him all day and in every way, but especially when life seems impossible.

He wants us to trust and obey. Notice that the miracle is verse 16.

What happened before verse 16? Verse 15. They disciples obeyed in verse 15.

When life seems impossible with your money and your marriage and members of your family, trust and obey. See Psalm 37:5.

5 Commit your way to the Lord,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.

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In the last three weeks, we have been reminded again and again that Jesus Christ is Lord over all. In other words, He has complete power over all of life. He has complete authority over all of life, and that includes storms and Satan and sickness.

Therefore, if we are His followers, and we have Jesus living with us, and He is Lord over all, what does that mean for us? It means that in order to maximize efficiency, Jesus is sending us on His behalf to do His work.

Take your Bibles and find Luke 9:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Sending Out the Sent.”

We are going to see in today’s text that Jesus sent out the twelve disciples on His behalf to do His work. These men are also called the twelve apostles.

The word apostle means sent one or messenger. In verse 2, we see that word, “sent.” Therefore, Jesus sent out the sent ones.

Jesus sent out the sent ones with authority, Luke 9:1.

1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

So Jesus called the twelve together and gave them the power and authority that He had. Jesus had power and authority over demons and over disease, and He gave that power authority to the twelve.

Do you remember how we know that Jesus had authority over demons? In 8:27-29, Jesus removed the demons from the Gaderene Demoniac.

27 And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” 29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.

Do you remember how we know that Jesus had authority over diseases? In 8:47-48, Jesus healed a woman who had been diseased for twelve years.

47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. 48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

Furthermore, Jairus’ daughter had died from some disease, but Jesus healed her as well by bringing her back to life. See 8:54-55.

54 But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.” 55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.

Jesus sent out the sent ones with authority.

Jesus sent out the sent ones with orders, Luke 9:2-4.

2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. 4 “Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.

Jesus sent out the sent ones with authority and with orders. What were they? They were three: what to do, what to take, and where to stay.

First, what did He order them to do? They were to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick. In other words, they were to preach the gospel and see lives changed.

And this exactly what they did. See 9:6.

6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

BTW…let’s remember what is the gospel. First, the God who is Creator is holy. That means He is without sin and perfect. Second, He created us to be in a personal relationship with Him. Third, but we sinned, and our sin separates us from God. Fourth, Jesus, God in the flesh, came to earth and lived a perfect, sinless life, and died on the cross for our sins.

In order to authenticate all that He did and said, He didn’t’ stay dead. He rose from the grave, and has invited the entire world to follow Him and be saved from their sins.

Second, as the twelve were going and doing, what were they to take? In verse 3, Jesus said don’t take anything. This order demonstrated brevity of the trip and the need for them to trust Jesus to provide.

Remember, it is a biblical truth that were God guides, He also provides. That was true then. It is true today. It is true in sharing the gospel. It is true in building a Family Life Center.

Third, where they to stay? They were to stay with locals who had also chosen to follow Jesus, and stay with them the entire time. Don’t jump from house to house.

Jesus sent out the sent ones with orders.

Jesus sent out the sent ones with opposition, Luke 9:5.

5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”

Just like no fisherman has ever been perfect, not witness will ever be perfect. Jesus prepared His sent ones for rejection.

They were to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against them. However, notice this is a one-time act that trusts God for the judgment.

So many times, we think when someone doesn’t agree with us or isn’t ready to commit that then are enemies. That it isn’t true, but even if it was, God is the judge not us.

When people reject the gospel, we don’t have to post about them on FB. We need to pray for them to repent.

In verses 7-9, Jesus and the sent ones had garnered the attention of Herod. Because of what he was hearing, he wanted to find out more.

Conclusion

So what does all of the mean for us today here at EBC? Like these twelve disciples, we also as follower of Christ, have been sent.

Furthermore, as we have been sent, we have authority to lead to share the gospel and lead people to faith in Christ. However, our message isn’t going to be authenticated by casting out demons and healing the sick.

Instead, our message is authenticated when we live changed lives because of Jesus. When we are faithful to our spouse and the hardest working employees and tell the truth at school, our message is authenticated, and that is the way it is supposed to be.

However, when our walk doesn’t match our talk, you know what else happens? We end up turning people away from the gospel. We are stumbling blocks to others when we don’t love our spouse and don’t obey our parents and are lazier workers than lost people.

But here me say this, God is not disappointed that His mission has fallen to us. We aren’t plan B. The Church is plan A in taking the gospel to the world!

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If you have your Bibles, please take them and turn to Luke 8:40. Today, we come to the end of chapter 8, and this mini-series about Jesus being Lord over all.

When I say Jesus is Lord over all, I mean that Jesus is more powerful than. I mean that Jesus has authority over.

Last week, we saw that Jesus is Lord over all including Satan. Satan is very intelligent, but Jesus is omniscient.

Satan is very powerful, but Jesus is omnipotent. Jesus is Lord over all including Satan.

The Sunday before, we saw that Jesus is Lord over all including storms. Some storms are literal and physical. Other storms are emotional and spiritual. Regardless, Jesus is Lord over all including storms.

Today, I want to remind you that Jesus is Lord over all including sickness. Some sickness is also called disease. Some sickness leads to death. Regardless, Jesus is Lord over all including sickness.

We are actually going to look at two miracles here at the end of Luke 8. In the past, I have preached them in two different sermons, but today, I will join them together as one is sandwiched in by the other.

Sickness that can be called, “disease,” Luke 8:43-48

43 Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. 45 And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” 46 But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. 48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

I want you to skip down to verse 43. As Jesus was making His way to Jairus’ house, He was surrounded by a multitude of people.

In this verse, we are introduced to a woman who had sickness or disease. Notice that it was chronic. She had it for twelve years. Most commentators believe this was some type of ongoing bleeding in her uterus.

Notice that it was also costly. She spent all her livelihood on physicians, but to no avail. Look at Mark 5:26.

26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.

Verse 44 says she came from behind Jesus and touched the border or hem or tassel of His garment. What happened? Immediately, the flow of blood stopped.

What else happened? Jesus knew it. The crowded denied it. Peter mocked it.

BTW…Jesus knew it because He is omniscient. He knows all.

We see that again in verse 46. He perceived power going from Him.

In addition to being omniscient, Jesus is also omnipotent. He is all-powerful.

In verse 47, Jesus called her out so to speak. Following her faith and her healing, Jesus called her to confess Him publicly.

BTW…Jesus does the same today. When you are saved by grace and through faith in Christ, you are called to confess Him publicly through believers’ baptism.

This woman’s healing is a picture of salvation, and we will talk more about that in a moment. However, notice what Jesus called her verse 48.

He never uses this title anywhere else but here. This woman was now a child of God the Father.

Sickness that can lead to death, Luke 8:40-42, 49-56

40 So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him. 41 And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. 49 While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” 50 But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” 51 When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl. 52 Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.” 53 And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.” 55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. 56 And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Look at back 40. Remember how we left Jesus last week. The distraught herdsman or pig farmers didn’t want Jesus around.

This is a different reaction in verse 40. The multitude welcomed Him. I pray that is your response to Jesus.

Rather than wanting Him to leave because of what He may require of you, I pray that you welcome Him into every area of your life.

As we consider a sickness that lead to death, remember that death is no respecter of persons. The mortality rate of human history is 100% even for those who are good folks and even welcome Jesus into their lives.

In verse 41, we are introduced to Jairus, and he was in charge of the local synagogue. That meant he decided the order of service for the Jewish worship services. He decided who sang and who preached and who prayed.

He came to Jesus out of desperation. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house. Why?

Jairus had one daughter. She was twelve years old, and was at death’s door. She was dying. Being the father of three daughters, this story hits close to home.

He had obviously witnessed or at least heard about how Jesus had healed others. With nowhere else to turn, he invited Jesus to come to his home to save his daughter.

Skip to verse 49. As death is no respecter of persons, death also causes significant pain.

As Jesus was finishing up with the woman who touched His garment, He received notification from Jairus’ house. A messenger arrived to tell Jairus that his daughter had died. Therefore, there was no need for Jesus to come.

I can’t even imagine Jairus’ grief. Jesus was on His way, but was interrupted.

Without this interruption, would Jesus have arrived in time? We’ll never know, but this story doesn’t end here.

BTW…in God’s economy, there is no such thing as an interruption. There are only divine appointments.

Look at verse 50. Jesus did a miracle. He brought this girl, who was dead, back to life.

This miracle occurred because of Jesus’ compassion. He hated that this father was faced with the possibility of losing his only daughter. Jesus encouraged him in verse 50 not to be afraid because He was going to intervene.

Verse 50 also says that Jesus told Jairus to continue to believe. He had faith in coming to Jesus. He needed to continue to have faith that Jesus could do what he originally thought.

Remember that death causes significant pain. Jairus’ immediate family and his extended family thought any more interaction with the girl was futile.

Why? She was dead. What else could be done? Verse 52 says they wept and mourned.

However, as we said previously, the story isn’t over. When Jesus told the mourners that they didn’t need to cry any more, they laughed at Him. They didn’t think He or anyone for that matter could do anything at this point.

She was dead. Her heart had stopped. She wasn’t breathing.

However, in verses 54-55, Jesus brought her back to life. Her spirit returned, and just to make sure that no one believed this was a dream, she ate some food.

Application

Jesus is absolutely Lord over all including sickness. He can heal your disease and rescue you from death.

However, these two stories about physical sickness give us a picture of spiritual salvation. Here is what I mean:

Sin is our spiritual disease that leads to spiritual death if we are not healed and saved.
Every person is infected with sin and in need of healing and salvation. That is true for males and females, young and old, rich and poor. Remember, death is now respecter of persons.
Sin hurts and causes major pain. Sin causes us to separated and isolated from one another and from God.
However, healing and salvation is possible when we start by acknowledging the Healer. See verses 41 and 47. Both fell at Jesus’ feet. Said another way, we admit we are sinners and believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sin.
Finally, healing and salvation is activated by our faith. See verses 48 and 50. Any person can be healed and saved today by God’s grace through our faith in Christ alone.

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Introduction

If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 8:26. Today, I want to share a message with your entitled, “Jesus is Lord Over All including Satan!”

If you were here last Sunday, you saw from Luke 8:22-25 that Jesus is Lord over all including storms. That means literal storms and emotional or spiritual storms.

This is actually a three-part series here in Luke 8. Jesus is Lord over all including storms and Satan and sickness.

When we saw Lord over all, I mean that has authority over. I mean that He is more powerful than.

Jesus has authority over and is more powerful than storms. Jesus has authority over and is more powerful than Satan.

On the pages of Scripture this morning, we are going to see a man who was demon-possessed. I want you to know that I believe that Satan is real and demons are real.

I believe in the demon-possession of individuals in the first century as evidenced in the Bible. Also, I believe in the demon-possession of individuals in the twenty-first century.

However, I’m not talking about people bipolar schizophrenic or epileptic or ADD or ADHD. Demon possession is a spiritual condition. It is not a medical condition.

In today’s story, we are going to see the Divine, the Disturbed, and the Distraught. The Divine is Jesus. The Disturbed is the demon-possessed man, and the Distraught is the group of herdsman working with these pigs.

The Divine: Jesus

Verse 26 says that Jesus and His disciples sailed to the country of the Gadarenes. They had previously been in a storm on the Sea of Galilee.

In verse 27, He was met by the demon-possessed man. As we are thinking about the Divine, who was Jesus, I want you to see that He commanded, and He was compassionate.

Jesus commanded because He was and is God. Even the demons knew that as evidenced by their pronouncement at the end of verse 28.

We also see the divinity of Jesus evidenced in the man’s posture. The first part of verse 28 says he came and bowed down to Him.

Then, we see that Jesus was divine in the demons’ plea. They knew that Jesus was in charge. They knew that Jesus was Lord over all including Satan.

In verse 31, they begged Him to let them enter the pigs. Jesus obliged.

Not only did Jesus command because He was divine, but He was compassionate toward the disturbed. Jesus loved people more than pigs. Jesus loved souls more than swine.

Jesus saw how this man was suffering, and He healed him. He saved Him eternally by delivering him personally.

The Disturbed: The Demon-Possessed Man

When we think about this disturbed man who was demon-possessed, I want you to see that he was saved, and then he was sent.

Verse 30 tells us that this man was possessed by many demons, maybe even thousands as his name was Legion.

Notice what he like before he was saved. First, he was characterized by unusual surroundings. Look at verse 28. He wore no clothes, and he lived in a cematery.

Second, he was characterized by unusual strength. Verse 29 says he was often bound by chains and shackles. This was probably by the townspeople, but he broke them.

Third, he was characterized by unusual suffering. Mark 5:5 says, “5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.”

However, notice what had changed when Jesus saved this man. Verse 36 says he was healed or saved.

His actions changed. Verse 35 says he was sitting at Jesus’ feel.

His appearance changed. He was clothed.

He attitude changed. He was in his right mind.

Once he was saved, he was then sent. Look at verse 38.

Go to the people who know you best. Tell them what God has done. Tell them your story.

Brothers and sisters, our assignment is the same. God puts specific people in our path every day. Talk to them about God. Tell them you story of how God changed you.

The Distraught: The Herdsman

The herdsmen are introduced in verse 34. They heard about what happened, and they saw what happened with their own eyes.

The end of verse 35 and the end of verse 37 says they were afraid and seized with great fear. In other words, they were distraught, but why?

First, I would suggest they were afraid because of what Jesus did to their pigs. Undoubtedly, because Jesus loved people more than pigs and souls more than swine, He cost them a lot of money.

Second, I would suggest they were afraid because of what Jesus might do to them. If Jesus stuck around, would their lives have to change? Would their behavior have to change? Would their relationships have to change?

That is usually how Jesus works. Therefore, they asked Him to leave. See verse 37.

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, we can’t be like Jesus, the Divine. We shouldn’t be like the Distraught keeping areas of our lives off limits to Jesus. However, we must be like this disturbed, demon-possessed man who, after he was saved, was sent.

We must go to our family and friends. We must tell them about Jesus. We must tell our story of how Jesus found us and saved us.

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If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find Luke 8:16. I want to share a message with you entitled, “This Little Light of Mine.”

Many of you are now singing in your head. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. I hope so.

The last time we were in Luke, we looked at the parable of the soils. Remember, a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

Also, Jesus told us last time that parables have two purposes. See Luke 8:10.

10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’”

First, Jesus told parables to reveal truths about the kingdom of God to His followers who had received Him. Second, Jesus told parables to conceal truths about the kingdom of God to those that had rejected Him.

Today’s parable is in Luke 8:16. Some Bibles call it the Parable of the Lamp. Others call is the Parable of Revealed Light.

Imagine with me that you were standing in a completely dark room. You can’t see anything right in front of your face. There is zero light from anywhere else. Again, you are standing in complete darkness.

If you had a match and lit it in order to see, it would be illogical and counterproductive to cover that match with your hand. You want and need the light to shine in the darkness so that you and others can see.

That is true today, and that was true in the first century when Jesus told this earthly story that had a heavenly meaning. Continue to keep this question in mind. Am I shining my light or covering my light?

Exposition

16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.

The parable of the lamp is just one verse, verse 16. In the first century, each home had one or two oil burning lamps.

They might have looked similar to what we would call a lantern. When the sun went down, the lamp would be positioned in the middle of the room or on a wall in an attempt to illumine the entire room.

Keep in mind that the purpose of these lamps was to illumine the room. It would be illogical and counterproductive to light the lamp and then cover it with a container or put it under the bed rather than on a lampstand.

17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.

Consequently, when you use lamps appropriately, to light up the room, nothing is hidden. All will become evident. Everything that is secret will be known and come to light.

By the way, did you know that is true for life as well? You may have individual secrets. Your family may have family secrets. Our church may have church secrets, but one day, they will all be revealed.

One day, they will all be made known. See Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 2:16; and 1 Corinthians 4:5.

14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

The key to understanding this parable is found in verse 18. So take heed or care how you hear or listen.

The meaning of this parable is clear. It is about hearing or listening and responding to God’s Word with obedience.

The lamp is God’s Word or God’s instruction for you. To cover it is disobedience, illogical, and unproductive. To put it on the lampstand is to obey, logical or appropriate, and fulfilling its purpose.

Therefore, just make sure we all understand, listen closely. God has given each of His followers a lamp or a light. Yes, that can be gospel, but it is also all of God’s Word and instruction for you.

What then do you do with it? If you hide it or cover it, that is disobeying. He gave it to shine. To hide it or cover it is illogical and unproductive in illuminating your situation.

On the other hand, to take that light and let it shine is to hear and obey. The light is to be put on the lampstand to illumine the situation. That is what is supposed to happen and is logical and fulfills the intended purpose of the light. Therefore, take care how you listen.

Now pay close attention to the rest of verse 18. For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.

To be sure, this does not have anything to do with social classes in the United States or any other place in the world. Simply put, Jesus said regarding instruction and direction that He has given…use it or lose it.

If you as an individual follower or your family or a church doesn’t use the instruction, direction, and or guidance that God has given, He will not continue to give more instruction, direction, and or guidance.

Allow me to illustrate. If a man who owns his own business is considering a big decision. To more forward could bring in more profit eventually, but would also cost him up front. What should he do?

If he prays about it again and again and again, but yet he is not tithing on his existing income and is even being dishonest in the reporting of his current profit, it is illogical and unproductive to pray for God to direct him.

If a teenager is at the point of deciding on college and prays and asks God for guidance, but this same teenager is sexually active with his girlfriend, it is illogical and unproductive to expect God for guidance regarding college.

If a church wants to reach their community for Christ, and God gives them a vision for a tool like a family life center, but the church keeps saying again and again, “We can’t afford that,” God probably isn’t going to keep answering prayers.

Do you understand what Jesus is saying? One commentator put it like this, “Truth received brings more light. Truth refused brings the night.”

19 Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. 20 And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.”

The last part of today’s text may seem out of place. However, it is simply another illustration of the importance of obeying the instruction and direction that God gives you.

By the way, what is the primary means of God giving instruction and guidance today? It is right here. When you say no to what this books says, you are saying no to God and discarding the light you have been given.

Evidently, Jesus was in a private room with His disciples. His mother and brothers had arrived and wanted to speak to Him.

By the way, this little experience tells us much about Jesus’ family. More than likely, Joseph had passed at this point. That is speculation, but he is never mentioned again alive beyond Luke 2.

We also see that Joseph and Mary evidently had other children after Jesus. These are Jesus’ half-brothers. In other words, the idea that Mary had perpetual virginity is not true. The Bible witness just does not support that belief.

Jesus’ mother and brothers wanted to see Him, but couldn’t get through the crowd. Therefore, they sent word to Jesus.

21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

Notice Jesus’ response in verse 21. He didn’t reject His biological family, but He did redefine His family. For Jesus, His family is those that hear the word of God and do it.

In other words, a right relationship with Jesus is dependent on your obedience. You cannot be right relationship with God while simultaneously disobeying God’s Word.

Jesus’ brother, James, learned this truth. Maybe he was even here in Luke 8. See James 1:22-25.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Conclusion

So what are you doing with the instruction or direction or guidance that God has already given to you? Are you hiding your light?

Do you need to apologize?
Do you need to get baptized?
Do you need to change your attitude?
Do you need to confess a sin?
Do you need to forgive a sin?
Do you need to honor your parents?
Do you need to join the church?
Do you need to repent of your immorality?
Do you need to start tithing?
Do you need to witness to your neighbor, coworker, or classmate?

Don’t hide your light! It is illogical and counterproductive. Let your light shine!

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Last Sunday morning, I shared my annual sermon on the Lord’s Supper. As I was preparing to preach that sermon, I thought it might a good idea to preach a similar sermon on Baptism since we consider them as the two ordinances we practice at Emory Baptist Church.

However, if the Lord is willing, we will be back in Luke next Sunday. Our text will be Luke 8:16-17.

Like we looked at the top ten questions about the Lord’s Supper last Sunday, I want to look at the top ten questions today about Baptism, and I’m going to use the term Christian Baptism. I think it will be obvious why soon enough.

Is Christian Baptism required for salvation?

I pray that you understand that obviously here at Emory Baptist Church, we believe the answer to this is a resounding no.

If baptism was required for salvation, how could Jesus say what He said to the thief on the cross?

Luke 23:43, 43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

If baptism was required for salvation, why would Paul say what he said to the Corinthian Church?

1 Corinthians 1:17, 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Therefore, and again, of course, we don’t believe that baptism is required for salvation.

As I said last week, we believe that any individual and every individual is only saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Ephesians 2:8-9, 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Is Christian Baptism essential to obedience and right standing with the Lord Jesus?

Again, I think the answer to this question is obvious because of our very name. For 100 plus years, this church has chosen to identify as a Baptist church. Therefore, we think very highly of the act of baptism

So yes, we believe that every follower of Christ should be baptized. Why?

Matthew 3:13-17, 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus was baptized, and this pleased God His Father. Therefore, we can conclude that every follower of Christ should be baptized as well.

Not to do so would be disobedience. Therefore, if you are waiting for some reason, wait no longer.

Your delayed obedience is disobedience. Choose obedience instead of disobedience today!

Who should be baptized?

At Emory Baptist Church, we believe any and every individual who has trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior should be baptized. After all, we have chosen to have Baptist in our church name.

That includes any Catholic, any Lutheran, any Presbyterian, any Episcopalian, any Methodist or otherwise.

We believe that every Christian should be baptized.

How should every Christian be baptized?

The New Testament pattern and example of baptism is immersion.

However, let me explain how it is redundant to say baptism by immersion.

In the New Testament, and using biblical language, there is a word for sprinkling. There is a word for pouring.

However, the word for immersion is baptize. Therefore, when we say baptize, we are NOT talking about any other method except immersion.

Allow me to illustrate. If you are lover of Dr. Pepper, you recognize your favorite soft drink by its name and the color of the can and the color of the drink.

If someone handed you a Dr. Thunder and told you to enjoy the Dr. Pepper you were just handed, you would think there’s no way.

However, the name is similar, and the color of the can is the same, and the color of the drink is the same.

At Emory Baptist Church, we don’t believe sprinkling is baptism. We believe sprinkling is sprinkling.

So what are some reasons for baptism by immersion?

First, Jesus was immersed. If we want to follow His example, that example is immersion.

Second, we believe that baptism should be the decision of the saved individual and not the decision of well-meaning family members including parents.

Third, every baptism in the New Testament is by immersion. There are no examples of sprinkling or pouring in the New Testament.

Fourth and finally, an immersed body is the best picture of the death and burial of Jesus Christ and the old self.

Only then can an individual be a picture of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and being raised to new life.

What have church fathers said about immersion?

When I say church fathers, I’m talking about human founders of mainline denominations.

Martin Luther (Father of the Lutheran Church), “I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed as the word (Bible) implies and the mystery signifies.” (Luther’s Essay, “The Babylonian Captivity of the Church”)
John Calvin (Father of the Presbyterian Church), "The word 'baptize' signifies to immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient church." (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 4:15:19)
John Wesley (Father of the Methodist Church), “Buried with Him, alludes to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church.” (Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on the New Testament, Romans 6:4)
When should a new believer be baptized?

Again, we look to God’s Word, and the New Testament pattern is as soon as possible.

Acts 16:14-15, 14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

Acts 16:33, 33 And he (Paul) took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

Therefore, if you haven’t been baptized this morning, you are in one of three situations.

First, you may not have ever believed in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior because you have never been convicted that you are lost without Him. If that is true of you, I invite you to be saved today and baptized ASAP.

Second, you may know that you are lost and you may know how to be saved but you haven’t acted on it. Gamble with your eternity no more! Be saved today and baptized ASAP.

Third, you may be saved and not baptized. Remember, your delayed obedience is disobedience. Make that commitment today and be baptized ASAP.

Do I become a member of EBC once I am baptized?

Remember, we believe that baptism is a church ordinance. Therefore, yes, you become a member of Emory Baptist Church if we baptize you.

However, I do want to be fair and mention one exception. The Ethiopian Eunuch was baptized by Phillip in Acts 8, and there doesn’t seem to be a local church involved.

However, this is the exception and not the rule.

What if I was baptized as a child or youth but wasn't saved until later?

That is a great question, and one that deserves an honest answer.

At Emory Baptist Church, not only do we want to be faithful to the New Testament example of immersion, but we also want to be faithful to the New Testament sequence of events.

The New Testament pattern is always believing first and baptism second. Therefore, if you have not been baptized since you were saved, we would invite you be baptized after salvation in what we often call believer's baptism.

What if I was sprinkled as an infant?

Again, that is a great question, and one that deserves an honest answer.

Since our final authority is God’s Word, we look again to the New Testament. The New Testament pattern is immersion after salvation.

That’s why in order to join EBC, an individual must be immersed after salvation.

That’s also why salvation and baptized by immersion is implied when we take the Lord’s Supper.

When does EBC baptize?

EBC baptizes at the beginning of our Sunday AM and Sunday PM worship services.

However, we will baptize at the most convenient time for person being baptized.

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For the next two Sundays in our study of Luke’s gospel, we will look at two parables that Jesus told in Luke 8. Today, I want to share a message with you entitled, 8 Ears and 4 Hearts.

A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. In other words, Jesus often told a story with familiar characters and objects in order to illustrate a spiritual truth.

Your Bible probably calls today’s text the parable of the sower. However, I think a more accurate title is the parable of the soils, and it has to do with farming and would have made much sense to first-century Palestinians and especially those who farmed.

The Parable Described, Luke 8:4-8

4 And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Verse 4 tells us that a large crowd was coming together to hear and see Jesus. They must have heard about His healings and miracles.

Keep in mind that this crowd was made up of a lot of different people and different kinds of people. Some would be receptive to Jesus. Others would not.

Verse 4 says that Jesus spoke a parable to this great multitude. He spoke to them an earthly story that had a heavenly or spiritual meaning. The good news about this parable is that Jesus told the parable and explained the parable.

Verse 5 say that the sower went out to sow his seed. In this first century culture, the farmers sowed first and plowed second.

Picture this farmer with a pouch draped over his shoulder. Sowing was doing between October and December since the harvest came around June.

He would take a handful of seed and broadcast the seed from left to right or right to left. Obviously, seed cast in broadcast form would land on multiple types of soil.

Some fell on the road or path that was hard and had been trampled down. Therefore, it served as bird feed.

Other seed fell on rocky soil. This was soil with a thin layer of top soil but rocks underneath. This seed grew fast but soon died for lack of water.

Other seed fell into the thorns or weeds. It was choked out.

Finally, some seed fell on good soil. It grew and produced fruit.

By the way, that is purpose of planting seed right? If no fruit or crop is produced, the plant is dead.

In verse 8, after Jesus finished the parable, He said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” In other words, if you can understand the parable, that is great.

Understand it and apply it to your life. Hear and do.

The Parable’s Desire, Luke 8:9-10

9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?” 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’

In verse 9, Jesus’ disciples asked about the meaning of this parable. His answer is verse 10.

He gave two desires of any parable. The parable will reveal, or the parable will conceal.

To the disciples, the parable was meant to reveal the mysteries of the kingdom of God. The parable was meant to explain the secrets or hidden truths about salvation.

However, for the rest, the parable was meant to conceal. The parable’s desire was convict or judge the hearer.

In verse 10, He quoted Isaiah 6:9-10. The Lord sent Isaiah to unbelieving and rebellious Israel to preach to them, and even though they saw, they didn’t see. Even though they heard, they didn’t understand.

In the crowd that day, there were those that had already made up their minds that Jesus was not the promised Messiah. He spoke in a parable to judge them.

They saw Him, but they didn’t understand. They heard Him, but they didn’t understand. This parable concealed truth from them because they had already rejected Him.

The Parable Disclosed, Luke 8:11-15

11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

Evidently, Jesus’ disciples were looking for a fuller explanation. The seed is the word of God preached. In that day, the sower was Jesus. Today, it is anyone who preaches or shares the gospel.

The first soil can be likened to a heart that is subverted by a predator. The gospel is preached or shared, but before it takes root, they devil steals the seed and prevents these individuals from believing and beings saved. An example would be the Pharisees.

The second soil can be likened to a heart that succumbs to problems. Look at verse 13. The gospel is received initially with joy, but it is not cultivated and gives way to temptations or trials or distress or problems.

These folks begin following Jesus so enthusiastically, but appear to fall away when they experience difficulties. An example of this second set of ears and second heart maybe those who came to Jesus excited about His miracles of healing but didn’t for long.

The third soil can be likened to a heart that surrenders to pleasures. Verse 14 says the seed or gospel is received but instead of surrendering to the word of God, this heart surrenders to the cares or riches or pleasures of this life.

Following Jesus was going to cost them too much. These individuals were dooped into thinking that Jesus wasn’t worth it. An example of this third set of ears and third heart would be the Rich, Young Ruler.

The fourth and final soil can be likened to a heart that succeeds with perseverance or patience. This heart welcomes the word of God immediately and deeply and exclusively and bears fruit because ultimately.

This individual’s heart is obedient to God’s word. This set of ears and this heart is that of the disciples.

Invitation

First, the invitation for some of you today is to hear the gospel in that you are a sinner and if you are left to answer for your sin alone, you will not be able to stand, and you will be judged to hell by holy God because of your sin.

However, if you recognize that you are a sinner and understand that Jesus died on the cross in your place, you can confess Him today as Lord and Savior of your life surrendering your life to His will and His way.

Second, if you are here today and you have welcomed the gospel into your life, don’t fall to the distresses of this life. Don’t fall to the desires of the world. Persevere in following Jesus through thick and thin, in good times and in bad, for better and for worse.

Finally, don’t forget that you are now a sower of the seed. Don’t worry about the seed. It is God’s word.

Don’t worry about the soils. That is not your concern, but sow the seed wherever you go and with whomever you meet.

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I want you to take your Bibles and find Luke 8:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Jesus Loves Women!”

These three verses that begin chapter 8 may seem relatively innocent in meaning. However, there is much here especially as it relates to females.

As we continue in our study of Luke’s gospel, I want to show you three reasons why Jesus loves women. Jesus loved the women in this passage, and He loves women today.

Jesus loves women as demonstrated by His creating them, Luke 8:1-2a.

1 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, 2 and certain women…

Beginning in verse 1, we see that Jesus went from town to town preaching and evangelizing. As a matter of fact, when some people think of Jesus and His earthly ministry, they think He was primarily about ministering and healing and caring for those in need.

While He did do those things, Jesus was primarily a preacher. Furthermore, His primary ministry was preaching and evangelizing.

Luke said that He was bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. Literally, that means he was preaching the good news or the gospel of the kingdom of God.

What is the gospel of the kingdom of God? God is holy, and He created humanity holy. However, Adam and Eve sinned and every human to come after them has sinned too except Jesus.

Because we have sinned, our sin has separated us from a holy God. Therefore, everyone human is in need of salvation and a savior.

The only One qualified to save us is Jesus. Why? Jesus is the only One who has ever been sinless, and He died on the cross in our place for our sin.

Therefore, anyone who put his or her faith in Christ alone as Lord and Savior will be saved. That is the good news of the kingdom of God.

That was Jesus’ message. That is our message, and His resurrection from the grave never to die again affirmed the truth of the gospel.

Verse 1 continues and says that the twelve disciples or twelve apostles were with Jesus along with certain women. Luke goes out of his way to differentiate these women from the others.

Why? Jesus created women. Keep in mind, these aren’t men identifying as women. These aren’t effeminate men. These are biological women.

Jesus created them as women. Jesus loved them as women, and Jesus loves women today.

BTW…If you are going to promote a story, this was not the way to do it in the first century. Women were not valued and to include them in your inner circle was counter-cultural. This reality demonstrates the authenticity of Jesus’ ministry and Luke’s account thereof.

Also, did you know that Luke has been called the gospel for women because it is the gospel that spotlights so many women? Consider these examples.

1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

2:36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity.

7:37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil…7:50 50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

10:38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.

13:10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.”

15:8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

18:3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”

21:1 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

Evidently, Luke was greatly impressed by Jesus’ ministry to women. He continued to spotlight them in Acts: Dorcas or Tabitha in Acts 9, Lydia in Acts 16, Damaris in Acts 17, and Priscilla in Acts 18.

Jesus loves women as demonstrated by His healing them, Luke 8:2b-3a.

2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna…

While it is true that women were not highly thought of in the Old Testament and in first century Judaism, that is very far from the truth with Jesus. Jesus absolutely loved and valued women, and we can see that here in verses 2 and 3.

Again, it is highly unusual for Luke to mention these three women by name: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna. These three women, along with others, were some of the first followers of Christ along with the twelve male disciples.

Even though Mary Magdalene often carries a bad reputation as having been a prostitute, that is only speculation. Folks have said that about her as they have connected her as the sexual sinner from the end of Luke 7.

The truth is that all we know about her, other than she witnessed the resurrected Christ, is found her in Luke 8. She was demon-possessed but then fully and complete healed by Jesus. Remember, the number 7 is often times used to connote full and complete.

As for Joanna, she too was an eye witness of the resurrected Christ, and she was the wife of one of Herod’s men. Evidently, the gospel had made it to the palace.

As for Susanna, she is never mentioned again in all of the Bible. However, her legacy and memory live on here and for approximately 2000 years.

Jesus loves women as demonstrated by their providing for Him, Luke 8:3b.

And many others who provided for Him from their substance.

The last part of verse 3 tells us that of these first century followers of Jesus, many were women, and they provided for Jesus from their substance. Your translation may say, “them,” so that would be Jesus and the Twelve.

These women didn’t just receive from Him. They gave back to Him and the twelve and their ministry. Thinking back to last week and Self-righteous Simon and the Sexual Sinner, if you love Jesus, it will be proven more with your works than your words.

Today, women in this church love Jesus, and they demonstrate that love by giving to Him and His ministry. They give financially. They give their prayers, and they give by ministering to so many.

Invitation

As I close this morning, here me again. Jesus loves women, and that includes you. If you didn’t know that previously, maybe your response today is calling on Him to save you.

Because Jesus loves women, EBC needs to love women. If this is the church that God is calling you to join, would you respond to this morning’s invitation?

Finally, Jesus loves women, but do you? You may need to repent of your feelings and behavior toward women. Our invitation is for you.

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This morning we continue in our sermon series entitled, “Ordinary People with an Extraordinary God,” and we turn our attention to the New Testament. Last month, we looked at the Old Testament and the lives of Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and David.

Today we turn to the gospel of Luke and a story that is often confused with another. This morning, you’re going to see a woman pour perfume on Jesus’ feet and wipe them with her hair. Some believe this story is the same as one in Matthew 26 and Mark 14. However, those happened during the last week of Jesus’ life. This story in Luke 7 happens toward the beginning of His earthly ministry. Those stories in the other gospels are about Mary, Lazarus’s sister. The woman in Luke 7 is unnamed.

In Luke 7:36-50, I want you make three observations with me. Notice a party with a controversy, a parable of conviction, and a principle for consideration.

A Party with a Controversy, Luke 7:36-39.

Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to [a]dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 (A)And there was a woman in the city who was a [b]sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were (B)a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a[c]sinner.”

In this first scene, we have two main characters other than Jesus. They are sophisticated Simon and a sexual sinner. Verse 36 tells us that Jesus was invited to a dinner party by a Pharisee. His name is revealed as Simon in verse 40. Therefore, Jesus came as requested and was reclining at the dinner table.

Remember that the tradition here would have been for the guests to be on the floor leaning on their left arm with their head closer to the table, and their feet would have been further away from the table.

Also, whenever a Rabbi visited a home, it was not uncommon for many different townspeople to drop in even though they may not have been personally invited.

Verse 37 introduces our sexual sinner. This sinner is a woman, and if you look at the footnotes in your Bible, it probably says she was an immoral person. More than likely, she was a prostitute. Even though uninvited guests could attend this dinner party, it took some courage for her to be here.

We also see in this verse that she brought an alabaster vial of perfume. This was probably a rounded container with a longer neck. Once the neck was broken to pour the perfume, all of the perfume had to be used as there no way to use the container again.

Perhaps she was going to pour the perfume on Jesus head, anointing Him with oil. However, she could only get as close as His feet. When she began to pour the perfume on His feet, she was overcome with emotion and began to cry. She then perhaps was embarrassed and began to wipe His feet with her hair trying to clean off her tears. Another reason she is considered to be a prostitute is because it was considered very immodest for a Jewish woman to have her hair down in public. However, this woman doesn’t seem to be concerned.

Her final act was not only to anoint Jesus feet and wipe them with her tears, but she also began to kiss His feet again and again and again.

All the time this going on, Sophisticated Simon is just watching, and in verse 39, he draws three conclusions. First, Jesus must not be a prophet because He didn’t know who was touching Him. Second, if He knew what king of woman this was, He wouldn’t let her touch Him. Third, since He did let her touch Him, He is no prophet and shouldn’t be called as such.

A Parable of Conviction, Luke 7:40-43.

40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he [d]replied, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred edenarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they (D) were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

As Jesus often did, He used a parable in the next four verses to illustrate a point. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning, and He directs it as Simon. A moneylender had two debtors. One owed him almost 18 months worth of money. The other owed him about two months worth of money. They were both unable to pay. Therefore, the moneylender graciously agreed to forgive both debts. Jesus then asked who loved the moneylender more.

Surely, this wasn’t a hard question. The one that Jesus forgave more loved more, and Simon got it correct.

A Principle for Consideration, Luke 7:44-50.

44 Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you (E) gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You (F)gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.46 (G)You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. 47 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.” 48 Then He said to her, “(H)Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say[f]to themselves, “(I)Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50 And He said to the woman,“(J)Your faith has saved you; (K)go in peace.”

The principle that Jesus taught the Pharisee and us is found in verse 47. The person who has been forgiven much, loves much. The person who has been forgiven little, loves little. Simon the Pharisee embodied indifference. Simon didn’t give Jesus any water to wash his feet. He didn’t give Jesus a kiss as a greeting. He didn’t anoint Jesus’ head with oil as was the custom of the day for hosts to do to their guests.

This sexual sinner on the other hand demonstrated indebtedness. She wet Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. She didn’t stop kissing Jesus feet, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with her perfume.

She recognized that had sinned much and was forgiven much, and consequently, she loved much. Simon only recognized that he had sinned little and was forgiven little, and consequently, he loved little.

Jesus then turned to her and verbalized her sins being forgiven. That action drew much ire from the crowd. They didn’t recognize that He was God and could forgive sins. He then dismissed the woman in peace and rightfully commented that her faith had saved her.

What caused Jesus to transform this woman from filthy sinner to forgiven saint? It was her faith and can be your faith, and her faith was demonstrated in brokenness over her sin as she cried, gratitude for Jesus’ mercy as she kissed His feet, and worship of God as she anointed His feet with perfume.

Conclusion

Jesus is ready to transform you this morning as well if you’ll believe. If you’ll put your faith and trust in Him as Lord and Savior, He’ll save you…even sexual sinners can be transformed to forgiven saints.

If you here this morning, and you think you’re saved but have never been broken over your sin or grateful for Jesus’ mercy or genuinely worshipped God, you might not be saved. It is debatable whether Simon was saved, but don’t worry about Simon. What about you?

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Whether you are a parent or a child, I think you will agree that the death of child is maybe the greatest fear every parent of every parent in the room. Even some of you here today have experienced your child preceding you in death.

My heart goes out to you. I hope today’s message is encouraging to you. Jesus feels your pain and is more than sorry for your loss.

Today’s story is only in Luke. However, it is very similar to a story found in 1 Kings 17:8-24 that we will see in just a moment.

In our study of Luke so far, we have seen that is Lord and has authority over demons in Luke 4-5. We have also seen that Jesus is Lord and has authority over disease. We saw that just last Sunday. Today, we are going to see that Jesus is Lord and has authority over death.

A Dire Situation, Luke 7:11-12

11 Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. 12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her.

Verse 11 tells us that Jesus went next to the city of Nain the day after He healed the centurion’s servant. Nain was approximately 25 miles south of Capernaum. That would have been a day’s journey beginning at sunup.

Along with Him were His disciples and a larger crowd as well. More than likely, it was closer to the end of the day, and at the edge of town, Jesus met a funeral procession.

BTW…Here is another example demonstrating that all of Jesus’ followers were called disciples. Disciples is not a more mature group or a more committed group. All Christians are disciples of Christ.

This man probably died earlier in the day. It was the custom of the day to bury your dead as soon as possible since they did not having the embalming technologies that we have today.

He was now being taken outside the city where he would be buried and then covered with rocks to mark his grave. Even though NKJV uses the word coffin in verse 14, more than likely, this was a bier (beer), which was an open coffin. Therefore, you could see inside.

BTW…The traditional after-life process for the follower of Christ in the Bible was burial, and that is still true today. However, the Bible does not prohibit cremation if that is your choice.

Jesus saw this deceased young man on the bier (beer), and his mother was leading the procession along with many of her friends from the community. Why is this a dire situation other than the obvious?

Notice how verse 12 describes this family. This woman was a widow. Therefore, we know that she already experienced the loss of her husband. Now, it is her only son.

She was in emotional trouble because she outlived her child. That hurts. This is a parent’s greatest fear.

She was in physical trouble. She didn’t have any male family to physically protect her.

She was in financial trouble. She had no income and no one to provide for her.

She was in trouble. Jesus recognized her trouble, and was about to change her situation.

Don’t overlook what this story tells us about those experiencing the death of a loved one. They need friends during that time. They need family during that time.

They need others to help them make it. Don’t neglect ministry opportunities like this.

A Miraculous Demonstration, Luke 7:13-15

13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.

When Jesus saw this scene, His heart broke. He felt compassion for her. He felt pity for her. He felt sympathy for her. His inward emotions were distraught.

Why? Jesus cares for you. He hates to see people hurt. He hates to see you hurt, and this woman was hurting.

In this day, the mother would be leading the way, and she was crying. In verse 13, Jesus didn’t dismiss her hurt and pain by telling her to stop crying. He told her to stop crying because He was about to change her situation.

Jesus stopped the procession in verse 14. He came up to the bier (beer), and touched it, and spoke to the dead body.

Notice what He said. “Young man, I say to you, arise!” The corpse sat up.

Can you even imagine this? Jesus just brought death to life. Jesus just did the impossible. He just did the unbelievable.

In order to prove this miracle was real, the young man spoke. We don’t know what he said, but that is irrelevant. He was alive and talking, and Jesus returned him to his mother.

BTW…You may think this morning that your situation is beyond hope. You may think your marriage is dead or your relationship with your adult child is dead or your finances are dead or your health is dead and hopeless.

Don’t be so sure. Jesus can bring death to life.

A Positive Reverberation, Luke 7:16-17

16 Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” 17 And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.

As you can imagine, when the crowd saw the dead man alive, they were awestruck. Verse 16 says fear gripped them. That wasn’t fear as in they were afraid.

They were fearful in the sense of reverence and respect. They recognized and admitted that in fact Jesus was a great prophet.

This admission was not complete, but it was accurate in what it stated. Not only was He a great prophet, they recognized and admitted that God had visited them.

Consequently, this news spread throughout the surrounding area. As I said previously, this story will be the basis for our next look at Luke’s gospel as some of John the Baptist’s disciples come on the scene.

Illustration: 1 Kings 17:8-24

8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’” 15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah. 17 Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him. 18 So she said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?” 19 And he said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?” 21 And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.” 22 Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives!” 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth.”

Invitation/Conclusion/Application

So how does story apply to you?

First, the main point of this story is that Jesus is Lord over death. Jesus can bring death to live any time and any place.

Most applicable to us this morning maybe Him bringing the spiritually dead to life. Jesus is ready to save you this morning who are spiritually dead and on your way to an eternity in hell separated from God.

Second, Jesus is full of compassion for those who are hurting this morning. If you’ve lost a child, Jesus hurts with you and for you, and is here to comfort you.

If you’re hurting because of your marriage, your relationship with your children, your health, your finances, whatever, Jesus wants to comfort you today. He wants to help you today.

Third, Jesus is worthy of worship and worthy of praise because of what He has done. He is also worthy of worship and praise because of who He is.

He is the Son of God and the Son of man. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is our Lord and Savior and coming King!

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This morning, we have come to Luke 7. If you have your Bibles, please stand in honor of God’s Holy Word.

I want to share a message with you this morning entitled, “Marvelous Faith.” Our text is Luke 7:1-10.

Today’s story is found here and also in Matthew 8. In both instances and in Acts 10, we find God’s Word highlighting the faith of Roman Centurions. In the gospels, it is faith at which Jesus marvels.

Exposition

In verse 1, Jesus had finished His Sermon on the Mount, or some would say, “Sermon on the Plain.” Then, He moved onto Capernaum.

It was there that we are introduced indirectly to a Roman Centurion. A centurion was a member of the Roman Army who had approximately one hundred men in His battalion and under his leadership.

This particular centurion mentioned in verse 2 must have also been somewhat wealthy since he owned a slave. We also find out that this slave was sick and about to die. Matthew’s gospel tells us that he was paralyzed.

We also see in verse 2 that this centurion loved his slave dearly. This slave was highly regarded by his owner, and must have been extremely valuable beyond utility.

In verse 3, the centurion had heard about Jesus healing many people and must have thought He could help in this situation. Therefore, he wanted to be in contact.

However, because he was a Gentile, he may have been afraid that Jesus wouldn’t respond if he spoke to him directly. Therefore, He sent some Jewish elders with is request. These may have been religious leaders, or they may have been simply older Jewish men that the centurion knew well.

When these Jewish elders met Jesus, they begged Him to come and save this slave’s life. Notice their reasoning in verses 4 and 5.

This centurion was a trusted friend in their eyes. From their perspective, he loved Israel and these Jews. He even helped build their synagogue either physically or financially.

Some commentators call him a “God-fearer.” While he hadn’t been circumcised and thus converted to Judaism, he did fear the God of Judaism and respected the followers of that God.

In verse 6, Jesus started on His way to answer the request of the centurion and heal his slave. In the mean time, the centurion had another thought.

Realizing more of who Jesus truly was, he recognized that he was not worthy to be in His presence. Therefore, he sent another delegation of friends to intercept Jesus and ask Him to simply command the healing of this slave. Notice the message the centurion sent in verses 7 and 8.

In verse 7, he said he wasn’t even worthy to speak with Jesus directly. He had so much respect and reverence for Jesus’ authority to heal that Jesus could simply speak the words and his slave would be healed.

In verse eight, he explained further his understanding of authority. He was one under authority and one with authority in the Roman Army.

BTW, Do you recognize Jesus’ authority in your life by obeying Him? If Jesus said it, does that settle the issue for you, and does your life reflect it?

Take this little quiz from Matthew’s Gospel. See 10:32, 12:36-37, 16:24-25, 18:8-9, 18:15-17, 18:21-22, 19:6, 24:42, 28:19-20.

In verse 9, Jesus responded to this man’s respect and reverence for His authority. Luke says that Jesus marveled at him. He was amazed at what He just heard. You might even say this centurion had marvelous faith.

But why? This man was an uncircumcised Gentile. He was not raised in a believing covenant community. His parents had not raised him going to the synagogue and reading and studying the Torah.

However, he had faith. He had marvelous faith.

In verse 10, Jesus then turned to the crowd that included His disciples and most likely included some Jewish religious leaders and said that He had not found faith like this among religious Jews. His comments served two purposes: to chastise the Jews and to commend the centurion.

When the second delegation got back to the centurion’s home, the slave was well. He had been healed.

The Centurion

In this text, we might first look at the centurion. Notice his character. He was compassionate with his slave. He was kind to the Jews. He was reverent to Jesus.

We have already spoken of his marvelous faith. He had faith that Jesus would could heal. He had faith Jesus would heal. He even had faith Jesus could heal and would heal from a distance by just speaking a word, and He did.

The Savior

We also need to make sure that we focus on the Savior. Notice that He cares for all. He cares for the Gentile and his servant, and He cares for the Jew. He also cares for the wealthy and the poor.

Second, Jesus has authority over all. We have seen already from Luke, and we will continue to see that He has authority over demons and disease (today), and death (next Sunday).

Third, Jesus loves all. He loved this centurion. He loved the Jews that the centurion sent, and He loved the centurion’s servant. We know that because He healed him, and He wants to heal you too.

The Sinners

Jesus is inviting you sinners today to come to Him. Come to Him just like the centurion, but come humbly recognizing your sin and Jesus’ holiness.

Jesus is inviting you sinners to ask of Him just like the centurion. Ask Him to save you. Ask Him to heal you.

Finally, Jesus is inviting you to believe in Him just like the centurion. Believe in Him as your Savior. Believe in Him as the Lord of your life.

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This morning, we come to the end of Luke 6. In the past several Sundays, we have been looking at one of Jesus’ sermons.

It may be Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount. There certainly are some similarities with Matthew 5-7. However, there are more differences. Therefore, it is most likely another sermon with similar material.

This sermon began with 4 blessings and 4 corresponding woes. Next, Jesus articulated the Golden Rule in positive terms. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

In a lost world, live unnaturally with your deeds, your words, and your prayers. In other words, love your enemies.

Finally, last week, we looked at some of House of Faith Rules. Because our relationship with brothers and sisters in Christ is based on our relationship with Jesus, we should treat them differently…differently in a good way.

Today, we come to the invitation of this sermon. Jesus will give us two choices.

BTW, Every biblical sermon must have an invitation. However, an invitation is not the same as an alter call.

Sometimes, people say to me that a church they visited didn’t offer an invitation. What they mean is that the church didn’t offer a “walk the aisle” alter call or come to the front alter call.

Every sermon must have an invitation, an opportunity to respond. However, every sermon doesn’t have to have an alter call.

Exposition

Today’s text begins in verse 46, and Jesus asked a question. It’s one you probably remember as it was our verse of the year for 2023, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I say?”

This congregation included the Twelve Disciples. It included the Pharisees, Jewish Religious Leaders. It included those who said they were followers of Jesus, but didn’t live like it. I would presume our congregation today is made up of similar groups.

The term Lord means master and boss. A person’s Lord is the one who calls the shots, make decisions, who is in authority. It makes no sense to address someone as such and not treat him as such.

Beginning in verse 47, Jesus told a parable. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly or spiritual meaning. This first century congregation would have identified personally with this story.

The one who comes to Jesus and hears what Jesus is saying and then does what Jesus says is like a man who built a house. In building this house, the man dug deep into the ground and laid a secure and firm foundation on the rock.

Consequently, when this house was subject to rain and flooding and torrential storms that beat vehemently on the house, it withstood the storm. Why? It withstood the storm because of the foundation that was dug deep and on the rock.

However, this parable included another man. He also built a house. The parable implies in the same area because this house also experienced the same rain and the same flood and the same storm.

It also beat vehemently against the house, but the result was different. This house fell and fell immediately. Why? It fell because this man built his house without a foundation.

Verse 49 says he just built his house on the earth. We there this today, and his folly is obvious to us.

What is the spiritual and or heavenly meaning here? The first builder is like a man who comes and hears and is obedient to Jesus. Today, you are invited to come to Jesus and hear Jesus.

BTW, Can I give you some tips when it comes to hearing Jesus on Sunday mornings here at Emory Baptist Church?

First, be intentional. Come ready to hear. Come committed to listening. Come with your Bible.

Second, pray for yourself. You hear me pray this most Sunday mornings, but pray for eyes to see and ears to hear. The Bible says those are gifts from God, and pray for a heart that is receptive.

Also, pray for no internal distractions and no external distractions. Internal would be worries or concerns that occupy your thoughts. External would be within our Sanctuary with the noises or sounds or folks getting up and down in the service.

Third, take notes. We provide for you a notes sheet in each bulletin. They don’t have to be exhaustive or comprehensive, but I usually try to give you three main points or so.

This first builder is like the one who comes to Jesus and hears Jesus and is obedient to Jesus. The second builder may come to Jesus and hear Jesus but isn’t obedient.

Application

Now, let’s move to why disobedience is bad.

First, it is illogical. We see that back in verse 46. It is makes no sense to call Jesus Lord, your boss, the one who calls the shots in your life and then not obey? Is He Lord or isn’t He?

BTW, The idea that you can have Jesus as your Savior and not surrender to Him as Lord is foreign to the New Testament. That idea is a misnomer.

Second, disobedience for the follower of Christ is unwise. Whether you are a Christian or not, you will experience the storms of life. They will happen, and they will be severe, and they will beat on you.

It may be death or disease. It may be financial loss or an unfaithful spouse. It may be prodigal children or caring for aging and elderly parents.

The only way to survive is with Jesus as your foundation. You will not survive otherwise.

Third, and related to the second, disobedience in the life of a Christian is unsafe. Verse 49 says the second house fell, and the ruin of the house was great.

A common consequence of disobedience in the life of a Christian is God removing His protection from you. You expose your health. You expose your marriage. You expose your family. You expose your finances.

Conclusion

As I conclude, for the Christian living in disobedience, repent. Don’t be like this description from Arthur Pink:

They bring their bodies to the house of prayer but not their souls; they worship with their mouths, but not “in spirit and in truth.” They are sticklers for immersion or early morning communion, yet take no thought about keeping their hearts with all diligence. They boast of their orthodoxy; but disregard the precepts of Christ. Multitudes of professing Christian abstain from external acts of violence, yet hesitate not to rob their neighbors of a good name by spreading evil reports against them. They contribute regularly to the “pastor’s salary,” but shrink not from misrepresenting their goods and cheating customers, persuading themselves that “business is business.” They have more regard for the laws of man than those of God, for His fear is not before their eyes.

However, for others this morning, you have heard Jesus’ words to repent and believe and you have not. Storms are coming, and your greatest storm will be the storm of judgment in Revelation 20:11-15.

Revelation 20:11-15, 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Will you repent and believe today? The decision is yours, but you only two options. One option takes you heaven. The other sends you to hell.

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If you have your Bibles, please find Luke 6:37. I want to share a message with you entitled, “House Rules.”

Many of you know what I mean when I say “house rules.” There are some instances when special rules are allowed in a certain location or under special circumstances in sporting events.

For example, some basketball tournaments that Caroline plays in plays 4 quarters like high school ball. Others play 2 halves like college ball. Some use a regular clock. Others use a running clock. Some allow 5 fouls. Others allow 6 fouls.

If you have ever played Uno, some families have special house rules. For example, when multiple Draw 2 Cards are played consecutively, does the person have to only draw 2 or the sum of the consecutive cards played?

Last week, Jesus reminded us of our ethic as followers of Christ for the world. He gave us the Golden Rule in positive terms. We are to treat others as we want to be treated. We are to love our enemies.

Today, how are we to treat our brothers and sisters in Christ? What are the rules or guidelines or instructions for this house of faith? What are our house rules?

Be as gracious as you can be, Luke 6:37-38.

37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

It is interesting to note these four imperatives. They are don’t judge, don’t condemn, pardon, and give.

If you follow the instructions, Jesus said God will then treat you accordingly and others will most likely treat you accordingly.

Verse 38 then ends with a picture of this idea of reaping what you have sown. If you don’t judge or don’t condemn and pardon and give, God will or THEY will pour into your lap.

They will pour into your laps a good measure into your jar. You will then shake it up and let it settle further down, and they will give more to the point of running over. You then have an abundance. By your standard of measure it will return to you.

As it relates to folks in this house of faith, let’s be as gracious as we can and not judge and not condemn. Let’s be as gracious as we can be forgiving and giving.

Why? Because what is how we want to be treated. That is how we want God to treat us and how we want others to treat us.

However, nothing that Jesus said here precludes biblical Christian accountability and biblical Church discipline. If you sin publicly and egregiously and with an unrepentant heart and attitude, you should be held accountable by this house of faith because you will be held accountable by your Father in heaven.

I will talk more about the multiple New Testament passages that speak to Christian accountability on Wednesday night. However, generally speaking, we want to be as gracious as we can be with our brothers and sisters in Christ. That is a house rule.

Stay in your lane, Luke 6:39-42.

39 And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. 41 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

In verses 39-40, Jesus asked some rhetorical questions. Can a blind guide lead anyone? No, he can’t. Will anyone who follows a blind guide end up in a ditch? Yes, they will.

This parable hit home with all of the Pharisees in the congregation. For a follower of Jesus, He is the ultimate leader to follow.

In verse 41, Jesus returned to our next house rule, but He used a humorous illustration. It is the example of a speck and a plank or a speck and a log.

Humorously and logically, you can’t take the speck out of someone else’s eye when there is a plank or log or beam in your own. You just can’t do it. It is silly to try it.

First, you have to take the log out of your own eye. Then you can see clearly in helping your brother. Therefore, stay in your own lane.

At the end of John’s gospel, Jesus gave this stark reminder to Peter. See John 21:18-23.

18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” 20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” 23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

Brothers and sisters, let’s make sure we worry the most about the person in the mirror. Let’s trust the Holy Spirit to take care of those around us. Let’s stay in our own lane.

Guard your heart, Luke 6:43-45.

43 “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

The last three verses of this text speak of a tree and its fruit. The reality is this. Trees produce a specific type of fruit.

Apple trees don’t produce oranges some of the time and apples the rest of the time. They produce only apples. The same is true for peaches or pares.

That applies to you as well. If you are good or saved, you will produce good fruit or the fruit of the Spirit.

If you are not saved, you will produce fruit of the flesh. If you are producing fruit of the flesh but you think you are saved, you might want to check again.

This specifically applies to what you say with your mouth. It also applies to what you say with your fingers on social media. From your mouth and with your fingers, you speak what is in heart.

We have to make sure and guard our hearts or otherwise we produce unwanted fruit. See Proverbs 4:23.

23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

Charlie Woolwine

Started attending on Sunday morning, Sunday nights, and Wednesdays.
Came to my office to talk about joining; told me he was a registered sex-offender, but he still wanted to join.
I listened to his story, and told him the congregation would have to know. He agreed.
He stood with me during a member’s meeting, and I told the congregation his story. I told them he could never be in our children’s building or memorial hall for any reason. They were to watch for him.
They voted him in and agreed to hold him accountable. He went on to be a faithful member even singing in the choir until he moved.

We tried to be as gracious as possible. We wanted to stay in our lane but understood our lane to be the good of Emory Baptist Church. We want to guard our heart because sin breaks God’s heart as Charlie’s sin broke guards heart.

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In our culture today, there are a lot of sayings that attributed as being in the Bible, but are not. For example, you will not find any of the following as God’s Word in the Bible: money is the root of all evil; God helps those who help themselves; and follower your heart or be true to yourself.

However, is the Golden Rule in the Bible? Actually, the Golden Rule predates the Bible stated negatively. However, for the first time, Jesus stated what we know as the Golden Rule, in Luke 6:31:

31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

Normally, we say, “Do unto others as you want other to do unto you.” Therefore, let’s look closer at the Golden Rule and how it applies to our lives.

Last Sunday, we saw multitudes coming to Jesus for healing. While in His presence, Jesus preached to them the Beatitudes of Luke 6: blessed are the poor, blessed are the hungry, blessed are those who weep; and blessed are those who are hated for being a follower of Christ.

Jesus then followed those beatitudes with four woes. Woe are the rich. Woe are the full. Woe are those who laugh, and woe are those who are spoke of well. Of course, all of these beatitudes and woes need to be understood in context.

The Explanation of the Golden Rule, Luke 6:31

31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

As I said previously, the Golden Rule predates the Bible. However, Jesus was the first to state it positively.

Also, please understand that it is not treat others how they treat you. That is an eye for an eye, and we will talk more about that in a moment.

The Golden Rule for the lips of Jesus is to treat others the way you want to be treated. Also found in Matthew 7:12, Jesus said:

12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

The Illustrations of the Golden Rule, Luke 6:27-30

27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.

To be clear, the golden rule is unnatural. It is unnatural to love your enemies. However, that is what Jesus has called His followers to. He has called us to unnatural deeds, unnatural words, and unnatural prayers.

As for deeds, do good to those who hate you. As for words, bless those who curse you. As for prayers, pray for those maliciously use you and take advantage of you.

Furthermore, in verse 29, when it comes to your means and your resources and how God has blessed you, give and give and give.

Again, the behavior is not normal. It is not natural. It is abnormal and unnatural.

I mentioned an eye for an eye a moment ago. That was the standard for the Old Testament Law. The Latin is Lex Talionis. That means the punishment should match or fit the crime.

In other words, it is the law of revenge or retaliation. Brother and sisters, while that was the standard for the Old Testament Law, Jesus Christ offers us a higher law, a higher standard. That is the Golden Rule.

And Jesus knew what He was talking about. He wasn’t just offering an opinion. He spoke absolute truth, and lest you think Jesus doesn’t know your situation or hasn’t walked in your shoes, remember the Thursday night of Passion Week.

John 13:1-5, 1Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

John 13:21-27, 21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. 23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. 25 Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”

On the very night that Judas betrayed Him, Jesus washed Judas’ feet. He did unto Judas what He wanted Judas to do unto Him.

I have tried to practice this in my own life, and I can tell you, it works. Consider Thera Lou Adams.

The Justification for the Golden Rule, Luke 6:32-36

32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Being obedient to our Lord Jesus should be all the motivation we need. However, He also gave more reasons to live out the Golden Rule here in Luke 6:32-6.

First, to not do so is how the lost world acts. Lost people love those that love them. Lost people do good to those who are good to them. Lost people lend money to those they know will repay them. Be different than the world.

Second, to live out the Golden Rule will be rewarded. Our reward is that we will be known as children of God. Obeying the Golden Rule doesn’t make us children of God, but it proves that we are such.

Third and finally, live out the Golden Rule because that is how God loves you. Be merciful just as your Heavenly Father has been merciful to you.

Conclusion

We live in such a divided world today. We have drawn so many lines in the sand. It seems we are at odds with someone all the time.

We are divided over our Presidential Choice between President Biden and President Trump. We are divided on whether Ukraine and Israel or just Ukraine needs any more financial support from our country. We are divided over the war in Israel and who deserves that land, and that conflict has made its way to our soil and our college campus.

We are so divided. Yet, Jesus calls us to a higher standard. He calls us to the Golden Rule. Do unto others as we want others to do to us. Love our enemies.

And if we think we can’t, remember Romans 5:5.

5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

The love of God has been put in your heart by the Holy Spirit. If it hasn’t, are you saved?

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Here in the middle of Luke 6, we find a list of the twelve disciples or as some like to call them…the Big 12. Therefore, we are not looking at an athletic conference this morning, but the 12 apostles.

This list is not only found here in Luke 6. You can find this list and another similar to it in Matthew 10:1-4, Mark 3:13-19, and Acts 1:12-13.

You might wonder what in the world can we learn from a list like this. However, there is much more here than you might have originally thought. I am going to share with you a few 5 observations, and then an application for everyone.

Observation #1-6:12

12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Verse twelve tells us that Jesus went off to the mountain, and He spent the whole night in prayer. It seems that He was alone. Why would He do this?

Simply put, it was to be alone with His Father. Remember that Jesus was fully God and fully man. However, there are times when His own knowledge is restricted by God the Father.

Perhaps, this was one of those times. Therefore, He went away to ask God whom He should choose from His followers to be in His inner circle.

Notice also that He spent the whole night in prayer. That would have been anywhere between eight and ten hours. Can you even imagine it? Spending an entire workday in prayer is mind-boggling.

Consequently, if Jesus needed to spend time in prayer before decisions were made, shouldn’t you and I be committed to the same?

Not to do so would demonstrate our folly or our arrogance. Which is it for you?

Even though Jesus tells us to pray and teaches us to pray, prayer is often not popular for us, the church. How do I know? Your pastor struggles with prayer. We struggle to staff our prayer room. Wednesday night prayer meeting is often our smallest gather of the week.

Brothers and sisters, help me and allow me to help us be more committed to prayer. Pray before we act. Pray before we talk. Pray first and pray last. Pray for the little, and pray for the big.

Observation #2-6:13a

13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.

Notice in verse thirteen that Jesus called His disciples to Himself. Then He chose the 12 from the whole.

What does that mean? There were more than twelve. A disciple is a follower, learner, and student. Is that true of you?

Do you consider yourself a disciple of Jesus or is that a term reserved for those radical Christians? The reality is that every Christian is a disciple. Let’s make sure that we are living like it.

Observation #3-6:13b

13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.

From His disciples, He chose twelve to be His closest followers. He would pour His life into them for three years and then send them out with His authority as apostles.

The word “apostle” mean sent one. It also assumes that you are carrying a message.

In one regard, we are all apostles if you have been born-again. We are commissioned to carry the gospel everywhere. That is true for pastors and church staff and deacons and each and every church member.

In another sense, these men were special. These men were Apostles with a capital “A.”

They were Jesus’ inner circle. They witnessed the resurrected Christ, and many of them went on to write books of the Bible. In that regard, these type of Apostles no longer exist today.

Why 12? I believe this “twelve” corresponds with the twelve tribes of Israel. They led God’s chosen people. Consequently, this twelve would lead the bride of Christ also as God’s chosen people.

Observation #4-6:14-16

14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

The twelve apostles were ordinary and uneducated men. BTW, Peter is always listed first as he was their unofficial leader. Judas was always listed last as the traitor.

At least four were fishermen: Peter, Andrew, James, and John. One was a despised tax collector: Matthew.

Another was a political activist who would have hated the tax collector: Simon. Matthew worked for Rome, and Simon the Zealot hated Rome.

There was nothing special about these men. They weren’t popular. They weren’t intelligent. They weren’t wealthy by the world’s standard.

As a matter of fact, most of them were poor and would become poorer in following Jesus, and yet, they changed the world. What does Jesus want from you? I would say He simply wants total surrender, and He can use you to change the world.

Oswald Chambers said, “God can achieve His purpose either through the absence of human power and resources, or the abandonment of reliance on them. All through history God has chose and used nobodies, because their unusual dependence on Him made possible the unique display of His power and grace. He chose and used somebodies only when they renounced dependence on their natural abilities and resources.”

Observation #5-6:16

16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

Judas Iscariot with was Jesus for three years. He ate, slept, walked, fished, did ministry with Jesus and the other eleven.

He fooled them, and he fooled plenty of people beyond them, but he didn’t fool God. When Judas died, he was immediately separated from God and Christ in hell for eternity.

You may be a member of EBC, and you may have been married for fifty plus years. You may have fooled your family and your friends and all of Emory and Rains County, but if you died today, you would spend an eternity in hell because you have never been born-again. Today, I invite you to be saved.

Application for All

11 But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Go back and look at Luke 6:11. The Pharisees were outraged at Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, and from this point forward, were looking to take Him down.

What do you do when opposition comes? What do you do when problems occur? What do you do when trouble ensues?

Consider this. Pray through it. Gather a team. Expect to change your world and maybe even the entire world!

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If you have your Bibles, please find Luke 6. As we continue in our verse by verse and chapter by chapter study of Luke, I want to share a message with you entitled, “Who Needs a Rest?”

The answer to that question is all of us do. God created us this way, and He created a Sabbath for us.

Sabbath is a word found throughout the Old and New Testaments, and it literally means an interruption for rest. It is related to a word that means to cease or to desist.

I feel like this is a fairly well-known fact, but in case you didn’t know, God created the Sabbath in Genesis 2 after creation. See Genesis 2:1-3.

1 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Therefore, God rested on the seventh day or what we know as Saturday after six days of work creating everything. He didn’t rest because He needed it, but He knew we would need it and thus provided an example.

In the OT, the Sabbath was on Saturday or literally sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. It was a day of rest and worship for the nation of Israel, and had specific instructions attached to it. The most well-known would be those found as part of the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20:8-11.

Consequently, the OT also contains a lot of laws pertaining to the Sabbath and what could be done and what shouldn’t be done. With that in mind, look at Luke 6:1.

The Interrogation of Jesus by the Pharisees about the Sabbath, 6:1-2

1 Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went through the grain fields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. 2 And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?”

It was the Sabbath on Saturday, and Jesus and His disciples were walking through a field picking and eating grain. Some Pharisees saw them and accused them of violating the Sabbath.

How so? Was it wrong to eat the grain? No, it wasn’t wrong to eat the grain.

In the eyes of the Pharisees, what was wrong was what happened before they ate. What did they do before they ate?

They had to have picked and rubbed the heads of grain in their hands. That amounted to harvesting and was prohibited work on the Sabbath.

Were they not aware of Deuteronomy 23:25?

25 When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain.

Surely, they were. However, they considered work to have happened regardless.

The Explanation from Jesus to the Pharisees from God’s Word about the Sabbath, 6:3-5

3 But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?” 5 And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Jesus answered them with the Bible. Jesus reminded the Pharisees of a story about David from 1 Samuel 21.

BTW, King David was a type of Christ. What does that mean? In many ways, but not all, King David foreshadowed Jesus Christ.

David was with some of his army, and they were hungry and needed to eat. Therefore, they entered the temple and ate some bread that was supposed to be for the priests only.

However, it was the priest who gave David the bread and authorized his eating along with his men. In effect, Jesus was saying if David could reinterpret the Law, and I am greater than David, then it is ok to for my disciples and I to pick grain and eat it on the Sabbath.

Notice verse 5. He said, the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath. Who was the Son of Man?

It was Jesus. He was claiming to be God, and claiming to have the authority to reinterpret the Law as He sees fit.

An Illustration of Mercy that took place on the Sabbath, Luke 6:6-11

6 Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. 8 But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?” 10 And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. 11 But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Verse 6 takes us to another Sabbath or Saturday. Jesus went to a local synagogue and was preaching. There was also a man whose hand was withered. We might say atrophied.

This is significant because the left hand was considered evil in Jewish culture, and therefore, this man could not work or hold a job if his only option was working with a withered right hand.

The scribes and Pharisees watched Jesus closely. They were like predators ready to pounce on their prey. However, Jesus knew their schemes and their evil desires, and so He asked them a question about the man before He healed him.

BTW, How did Jesus know their thoughts? He knew their thoughts because Jesus was God, and God is omniscient or all-knowing.

And, remember the Pharisees have their own idea of work. The text seems to indicate that they would have considered healing as work and violating the Sabbath.

He asked in verse 9, “Is it lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath, to save a life or destroy it?”

Understand what Jesus did. He equated good with saving a life and evil with destroying a life. They were speechless.

Consequently, Jesus acted…on the Sabbath. He did good to this man. He mercifully healed his hand and restored life to him enabling him to work and live normally in society.

How did the Pharisees respond? Look at verse 11. The Pharisees were filled with rage because Jesus decided to save a man’s life…even on the Sabbath.

Conclusions

What does all of this mean for you and me this morning, and how does it apply to our lives?

First, the Sabbath is important. We need to rest. It doesn’t have to be on Saturday, but it needs to be 24 hours in a week.

Exodus 23:12, 12 Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed.

Exodus 31:12-17, 12 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 14 You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”

Exodus 35:1-3, 35 Then Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said to them, “These are the words which the Lord has commanded you to do: 2 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. 3 You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”

However, the Sabbath is not only important for the Christian, but the only true rest that any person can every have is in Jesus. Stop trying to work your way to heaven.

Matthew 11:28-30, 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

This is an invitation to be saved.

Second, Jesus is God, and how He interprets the Law is right. He can reinterpret the Law. He can heal a withered hand, and He can save your life today.

Third, whether it is the Sabbath or any other day, when you have the opportunity to do good, do it. That doesn’t mean we skip corporate worship for service and ministry projects.

However, we need to remember Proverbs 3:27.

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.

It has also been well said, “Good omitted is evil committed.”

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This morning, we join Christians all over the world celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We’ll see that in just a minute from John 20.

However, I want to begin this morning reminding you why Jesus’ resurrection is different than every other resurrection. The reason is that, truthfully, while there have been multiple resuscitations, there has only ever been one resurrection.

What’s the difference? Someone who has been resuscitated eventually died again. That’s not true with Jesus. He was resurrected never to die again.

In the OT, there were multiple resuscitations before Jesus. Elijah resuscitated a widow’s son. Elisha resuscitated the Shunammite’s son, and a dead man was resuscitated when his body touched Elisha’s buried bones.

1 Kings 17:21-22, 21 And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.” 22 Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived.

2 Kings 4:20, 20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

2 Kings 4:32, 32 When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed.

2 Kings 4:35, 35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

2 Kings 13:21, 21 So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

In the NT, there were multiple resuscitations after Jesus. Peter resuscitated Tabitha. Some believe Paul was resuscitated, and Paul, himself, resuscitated Eutychas.

Acts 9:40-41, 40 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

Acts 14:19-20, 19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Acts 20:9-12, 9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” 11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.

There were even multiple resuscitations in the NT by Jesus. He resuscitated Jarius’ daughter, a young man at Nain, and His friend Lazarus.

Mark 5:41, 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”

Luke 7:15, 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.

John 11:43-44, 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

And it was the resuscitation of Lazarus that set the stage and foreshadowed the RESURRECTION of Jesus!

John 11:25, 25 Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

Now, turn your attention to the Resurrection Morning of Jesus, and honestly answer this question, “Will you believe?”

John believed because of what he envisioned, John 20:1-10.

1 Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. 11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.

John 20 begins on Sunday morning after Jesus had been crucified in John 19 and laid in a garden tomb. It was still dark, but Mary Magdalene came to the tomb to finish preparing Jesus’ body in their embalming process.

When she arrived, she found the stone already rolled away, and this sent her into panic. She thought Jesus’ body had been stolen.

Out of fear, she ran to tell John and Peter. When they heard, they then ran to the garden tomb to see for themselves.

Peter went in first and examined the grave clothes. Then John joined him, and verse 8 tells us that John believed after he saw or envisioned what had happened.

In fact, Jesus had been resurrected just like He said He would, and now John got it. It sunk in. It clicked.

We see some really obvious evidences for the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection in these first few verses. First of all, we see how history has evolved. Because Sunday was the day that Jesus was resurrected, the Christian church began worshipping on Sunday rather than Saturday, and has done so for approximately 2000 years.

Second, the first witness of the empty tomb was a woman. If this was a fictional story, that is not how it would have been written in the first century.

Third, the tangible evidence was overwhelming. The stone had been moved, and the body was gone. John believed because of what he envisioned. Will you believe?

Mary believed because of who she encountered, John 20:11-18.

11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

Unlike Peter and John, Mary didn’t go inside the tomb, and evidently didn’t talk with Peter and John when they exited. Therefore, she was still under the impression that Jesus’ body had been stolen.

In verses 12-13, we see Mary’s conversation with the angels who were there at the tomb. Mary eventually saw Jesus even though she didn’t recognize Him at first.

She thought He was the gardener of the garden tomb, but when He said her name, she believed because of who she had encountered. She had encountered the resurrected Jesus.

In verse 17, not wanting to lose Him again, Mary grabbed Jesus around the legs, but Jesus reminded her that He still had to go to His Father. Therefore, she couldn’t continue to hang on to Him.

Mary then went to the other disciples to let them know who she had encountered, and she believed because of who she encountered. Will you believe?

Thomas believed because of what he experienced, John 20:19-29.

19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” 26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

In verse 19, it was Sunday night, and this group of disciples was hiding for fear of their lives and what they had seen happen to Jesus. When He joined them in the room, He showed them His hands and feet where the nails had pierced His body.

They rejoiced when they saw Him alive. However, at this time, Thomas wasn’t with them, and verses 24-25 record his response to their report.

Fast-forward to approximately a week later in verse 26. Thomas was with them now, and Jesus came to them again.

In verse 27, He had Thomas put his fingers into the actual holes in His body. Because of what Thomas experienced, He then believed crying out, “My Lord and my God” in verse 28.

Thomas believed because what he experienced. Will you believe?

Conclusion

John believed because of what he envisioned. Mary believed because of who she encountered. Thomas believed because of what he experienced. What about you?

Did you know that this gospel was written for that very purpose? Luke recorded these events in great detail so that you and I would believe. See 20:30-31.

30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

This morning, will you believe and be saved? You can do that by admitting that you’re a sinner, believing that Jesus died on the cross for your sin, but He didn’t stay dead. His resurrection affirms all that He said.

Now, will you call on Him to save you and confess Him as your Lord and Savior?

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Take your Bibles and turn to Luke 5:33. I want to share a message with you this morning entitled, “Oil and Water Just Don’t Mix.”

Oil and water don’t mix because of their molecular properties. You have probably observed such in a science fair project, and we have certainly seen this reality in oil spills in the oceans around the world.

In today’s text, Jesus reminds us that Judaism and Christianity don’t mix. This is because Jesus is Superior!

A Comparison of Students, Luke 5:33

33 Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?”

Look at verse 33. It seems that the Pharisees asked the question of why Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast and pray like the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees.

These comments were probably a reference to Jesus’ disciples eating and drinking at the reception thrown by Levi or Matthew in honor Jesus. They were seen as party animals by the scribes and Pharisees.

The Bible is full of different types of fasting which is the abstention from food. Most of the time, the occasions were sorrowful or mournful, and fasting was seen as demonstration of God providing during a difficult time with His presence than actual food.

Jesus’ Comments on Sorrow, Luke 5:34-35

34 And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”

Beginning in verse 34, Jesus answered the question about His disciples and their not fasting with an analogy about weddings. In short, He said this time was not a time of sorrow with fasting but one of celebration like a wedding.

In first century Jewish culture, newly married couples didn’t go on a honeymoon immediately following the wedding ceremony. Instead, they joined family and friends for a wedding reception that usually lasted seven days. It was a multiple-day event that was an occasion for celebration.

Therefore, while the bride and groom are present, let’s celebrate. Jesus was making Himself out to be the groom, and His disciples, or the church, was the bride.

In verse 35, Jesus went on to say that when the groom is taken away from the wedding party, that will be a time to fast and mourn. This is veiled reference first of all to Jesus’ death by crucifixion and second to His ascension and departure from the earth.

When He is present, don’t demonstrate sorrow with fasting. Celebrate His presence with joy!

Christ is Superior, Luke 5:36-39!

36 Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. 39 And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’”

Our last section is the continuation of Jesus’ words with three parables. Each parable begins with the words “no one” in verses 36, 37, and 39.

Remember that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus gave three very common and well-understand illustrations of the truth that Judaism and Christianity just don’t mix.

The first parable is found in verse 36. If you have an old garment, and it develops a hole, don’t patch the hole with a new garment.

Why not? When the new garment patch is washed, it will shrink and tear away from the old garment. Also, the new garment won’t match the old garment. New and old just don’t mix, and Judaism and Christianity just don’t mix.

The second parable is found in verse 37. It involves wineskins. Wineskins were animal skins that were used to hold grape juice while it fermented.

As the juice fermented, it expanded the wineskin. Then the empty wineskin would dry and become brittle. Therefore, you would not put new grape juice that had not fermented into an old wineskin that had already expanded once, had then dried out, and was now brittle.

Instead, you should put new wine into new wineskins. Why? If you didn’t, the old wineskin would bust when the new win expanded during fermentation.

You would lose the wineskin and all of the grape juice. New and old just don’t mix, and Judaism and Christianity just don’t mix.

The final parable is in verse 39. However, it not only is a parable, but it is also a condemnation.

Jesus said that once you drink old wine or fermented juice, you will not settle for new wine or unfermented juice if old wine is what you’re wanting. You will say that the old is good enough. Old and new just don’t mix, and Judaism and Christianity just don’t mix.

Conclusion and Application

So what does all this mean? The Pharisees were wanting to take a few of Jesus’ practices and teachings and ad them to Judaism, and then everything would be just right.

Here’s the problem. Judaism and Christianity just don’t mix. Old and new just don’t mix. Oil and water just don’t mix. Why? Jesus is superior!!!

Now, let me conclude with three very specific applications. First, if you’re here this morning, and you have yet to call on the name of the Lord to be saved, and you’re thinking that you will add a little of Jesus to your morality.

It won’t work. Oil and water just don’t mix. Jesus doesn’t need any help in saving you. When it comes to forgiveness of sins, heaven, and eternal life, it is only Jesus saves. Will you call on Him today?

Second, Christians today often try to mix the ways of the world with the ways of the God. It won’t work. Oil and water just don’t mix. See 1 Corinthians 10:21.

21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.

This morning, as it relates to salvation and sanctification, Jesus is superior. Therefore, trust in Jesus alone to save you and sanctify you making your more like Himself.

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I invite you to find Luke 5:17-26. This morning’s sermon is entitled, “Can We See Strange Things Happen at Emory Baptist Church?” That question will make more sense after we read today’s text.

Just for your information, this same story is also found in Matthew 9 and Mark 2. In our sermon series through those books, I have shared a sermon entitled, “Four of Kind Beats a Full House.” I wish I could take credit for that sermon title, but I actually heard it from Steve Stroop, pastor of Lakepointe Church in Rockwall.

Let me take just a moment to trace that thought. As it relates to how poker hands rank, I know that the best hand possible is a Royal Flush. That is a ten, a jack, a queen, a king, and an ace all in the same suit. The next best hand is the Straight Flush. That is something like 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 in the same suit.

Just under a Straight Flush is four of a kind. That could be four 2’s or four 7’s or four 10’s. And just under four of a kind is a full house, which is three of a kind and one pair. Four of a kind beats a full house. Four of a kind beats a full house in poker and in today’s story from Luke 5.

Jesus’ Audacious Claim, 5:17-20

17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. 20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

Verse 17 begins with Jesus teaching. Even though Luke doesn’t specify, we know from Mark that this occasion happened in an individual’s house, and as you will see, it must have been a large house due to the size of the crowd.

In this house, along with common folks, were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting and listening to Jesus. They had come from every village of Galilee and Judea.

These were Jewish religious leaders. They were known for their strict and literal understanding of the OT.

The end of verse 17 tells us that the power of the Lord was present for Jesus to perform healing. We have seen Him heal previously and will continue, but keep in mind that this occasion begins as one devoted to teaching as that was Jesus’ primary ministry on earth.

In verse 18, we are introduced to some more individuals in this story. Luke says some men were carrying a paralyzed man on a bed or mat. Mark says it was four friends. Evidently, they heard about Jesus’ ability to heal and were trying to get their friend to Jesus.

However, verse 19 says they couldn’t get through because Jesus was in the middle of the room, and the crowd was too thick all the way around Him. This was a full house.

BTW, this is the way it should always be. When there is preaching, the house should always be full, and that should be true regardless of the preacher. Why? Because the preaching of God’s Word is more important than your day off. The preaching of God’s Word is more important than your “honey-do’s.” The preaching of God’s Word is more important than your hunting, fishing, or golfing, and the preaching of God’s Word is more important than your child’s extracurricular activities.

Therefore, they went to plan B. They used an outside ladder to carry their paralyzed friend on the roof. They then begin to take the roof apart in order to lower him down setting Him at Jesus’ feet. Can you even imagine the scene?

In verse 20, Jesus had stopped teaching and spoke directly to the paralyzed man. However, notice how Luke worded this verse. When Jesus saw THEIR faith, He spoke to the man.

In this text, we see the power of intercession. We see how absolutely essential it is that we act on behalf of others. We must pray for them. We must go to them. We must bring them.

This is the picture of four of a kind beating a full house. It does in poker, and it did here when these four men brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus.

These four had cooperation. When was the last time you picked up 175 pounds of dead weight? It’s not easy. The cooperated together and carried this man who was helpless otherwise.

These four had determination. They couldn’t get him into the house. Did they give up? Did they wait? Did they ask Jesus to come outside? No, they made their way to the roof, dug a hole, and lowered him down and placed him at the feet of Jesus.

These four had motivation. They knew Jesus could heal their friend.

However, first, Jesus saved him, and when the words of forgiveness came from Jesus’ mouth, the Pharisees were in disbelief. This was an audacious claim.

BTW, look at exactly what Jesus said. Your sins are forgiven.

Ladies and Gentlemen, did you know that your sins separate you from God? God is holy, and He cannot have fellowship with sinners. See Romans 6:23.

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Our sin is a stench in His nostrils. Our adultery deserves death. Our arrogance deserves death. Our gluttony deserves death. Our greed deserves death. Our laziness deserves death. Our selfishness deserves death.

However, when we receive God’s Son, Jesus, as our personal Lord and Savior, God can and will have fellowship with sinners through His sinless Son, and He gives us the gift of eternal life in heaven. The OT has wonderful word pictures of what forgiveness means.

Psalm 103:12, As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Isaiah 38:17, Indeed it was for my own peace That I had great bitterness; But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

Jeremiah 31:34, No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Micah 7:19, He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

The Pharisees’ Appropriate Question, Luke 5:21

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

They were thinking that Jesus had just committed blasphemy. That is to put yourself in the place of God.

They knew that only God could forgive sins…and they were right. So, do you know what Jesus was saying? He was saying, “I am God!”

The Paralytic’s Amazing Conduct, Luke 5:22-26

22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”

Jesus knew what the Pharisees were thinking, and so He posed a dilemma in verse 23. Is it easier to say a person’s sins are forgiven or to say get up and walk?

It is certainly easier to say a person’s sins are forgiven because you can’t see that. Nobody knows if they are or aren’t.

However, if you say to a paralytic, “You are healed,” and yet, he can’t walk, you are a fake. You are a fraud. Therefore, it is much easier to say a person’s sins are forgiven.

However, Jesus didn’t leave the situation. He not only saved the man, look at what He also did.

Look at verse 24. In order to verify that in fact He was God, Jesus told the man to get up and walk. You know what? He did.

Verse 25 says he immediately got up and picked up his bed and went home glorifying God. God had saved him and healed him instantly.

Verse 26 says all who saw this miracle and heard this miracle were amazed. The paralytic’s conduct was amazing. He couldn’t walk, but now he walked.

The story ends with the crowd including the Pharisees and teachers of the law being in awe of what they had just witnessed with their own eyes. They were glorifying God as well and saying, “We have seen strange things today.”

That phrase literally means paradox. A paradox is a statement or experience that seems to contradict itself. In this instance, the paralytic came into the house unable to walk. However, he left the house walking on his own power. Another paradox is that most of the crowd would have thought this man had committed some really bad sins, and as a result, God punished him with paralysis. However, he left the house having been saved with his sins forgiven. That is a paradox.

Conclusion

So here is my question. Can we see strange things happen at Emory Baptist Church? Can we see terrible sinners gloriously saved? Can we see the deathly ill miraculously healed?

It depends. It will depend a lot on you. Remember what verse 20 says, “Seeing their faith…” Much of what happened to the man involved the faith of his friends.

Last Sunday, we had Friend Day at EBC. Thank you for inviting friends, and thank you to friends for coming.

On March 24, we will celebrate Palm Sunday, and our Celebration Choir will be sharing their Easter Music Presentation. Will you bring someone with you to church?

Easter Sunday will be March 31. In 2021, we had 390 on Easter Sunday. In 2022, we had 410 on Easter Sunday. In 2023, we had 440 on Easter Sunday.

In 2024, I am challenging you to have pack this auditorium with 500 people. Here’s why.

The point of this story is that Jesus could forgive sins because Jesus was God. He was omnipotent in verse 17. He was omniscient in verse 22. He was omni-benevolent in verse 23.

Jesus was God, and only God can save and forgive sins and give eternal life, and that is the message that we want to share at Easter. See John 11:25.

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

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When one speaks of being a disciple of Jesus, some church members through the years have tried to convince me that being a disciple is different than being a Christian. They have essentially tried to convince me that being a disciple requires more than being a Christian.

However, the New Testament knows no difference between disciples and Christians. To be one, was to be the other.

As a matter of fact, the books of Acts uses the term “disciples” on 27 occasions. All 27 occasions refer to Christians not more mature Christians. See Acts 11:26.

The occasion of Luke 5:1-11 can also be found in Matthew 4 and Mark 1. However, it is not the same event John 21. While there are similarities, there are too many differences.

In Luke 5, it was mid-morning. Peter, Andrew, James, and John had been out fishing all night, and they had caught nothing.

In calling it a day, they had beached their boats. They were then cleaning their nets and getting them ready for the next night. That’s what professional fishermen did day after day and night after night.

In today’s text, Jesus called these men to be His disciples. Specifically, that meant Simon Peter. What did that mean?

Following Jesus can seem illogical, Luke 5:1-4.

1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

In verse 1, the multitude of people had heard about Jesus’ preaching and His healing ministry. They wanted more.

Notice, in verse 1, that they understood that God was speaking. The “word of God” doesn’t refer to our Bibles. It refers to Jesus being God.

He was originally on the shore of the Lake of Gennesaret. This body of fresh water was also known as the Sea of Galilee.

Jesus saw two fishing boats that would been 20-30 feet in length. However, at the time, they were empty because Peter and Andrew and James and John were washing their nets getting ready for the next night.

In order to get a better hearing, Jesus got into Simon’s boat, and asked him to put out in the water just a bit. This would allow folks to see and hear better.

After He finished preaching, Jesus told Peter to do the illogical. Why was it illogical?

Jesus was a carpenter by trade. Peter was a professional fisherman. He had fish all night. He caught nothing. Why would he take the word of the non-fishing carpenter? It was illogical.

Following Jesus can also be illogical. There will be times when it doesn’t make sense.

For example, it may not make sense to just pray rather than taking action. It may not make sense to give your tithe when you “need” a new car. It may not make sense keeping yourself sexually pure when the world’s mindset is that you should never buy a car without testing driving it first.

Also, consider the sermon on the mount when Jesus talked about true happiness in this life. See Matthew 5:3-10.

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

For they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

For they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

For they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

For they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

For they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they shall be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Following Jesus will always be worthwhile, Luke 5:5-8.

5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

Even though it was against Peter’s better judgement, he obliged. Look at verse 5.

BTW…The devil will try to convince you like he tried to convince Peter that this carpenter doesn’t know about your situation.

How could He know about marriage? He was never married. How could He know about raising kids? He wasn’t a parent. How could He know about money? He was poor.

Jesus’ was and is omniscient. That means He knows all, and that includes everything that is best for you regardless of what area of your life.

Therefore, Peter believed and obeyed. Verse 5 says he let down the net in the deep water.

BTW…Without faith and obedience, it is impossible to please God. That is what Peter did here. He believed, and He obeyed. See Hebrews 11:6.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Was it worth Peter’s while? Look at verse 6. A miracle happened.

They caught so many fish that the nets were breaking and the boats were sinking. This was an act of the not only omniscient Jesus but the omnipotent Jesus. He caused their nets to be full of fish.

In verse 8, when he recognized why the nets were, he also recognized who he was in light of who Jesus was. Consequently, he fell at Jesus’ feet and confessed his sinfulness.

Peter’s confession is reminiscent of Isaiah. See Isaiah 6:5.

5 So I said:

“Woe is me, for I am undone!

Because I am a man of unclean lips,

And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;

For my eyes have seen the King,

The Lord of hosts.”

Needless to say, I don’t think Peter regretted doing the illogical. I never have either.

I have never regretted writing a tithe check. I have never regretted sharing the gospel. I have never regretted being faithful to my wife. I have never regretted praying too much, and neither will you.

Following Jesus may cost you everything, Luke 5:9-11.

9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

Verse nine says that Peter and all those with him were astonished or amazed at all that had happened. Jesus told them not to let this miracle scare them.

Why would they be scared? This miracle was supernatural. It was contrary to nature. Think about if you were in their shoes. If you were Peter or Andrew or James or John, would this be a little creepy or cringe?

At the end of verse 10, these two sets of brothers were given their assignment from that point forward. However, it wasn’t just their assignment. Brothers and sisters, it is our assignment as well.

We are to catch men alive or catch men for life. That is literally what the end of verse 10 says.

Consequently, as Christians, as Disciples, as Followers of Jesus, our job is point people to Jesus. Whoever God brings in our path, that is the only reason He didn’t take us to heaven already so get to work!

In verse 11, these two sets of brothers left every thing and every one and followed Jesus. They left everything behind.

Jesus would extend this invitation multiple times in Luke’s Gospel. See 14:33 and 18:22.

33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

These men left behind the greatest catch ever. They left behind their business. They left behind their family. They left behind their friends.

Are you willing to do the same today? If Jesus called you to sell your business and do something new for Him, would you do it?

If you follow Jesus and your family isn’t on board, will you still do it? If you follow Jesus and your friends don’t want to come, will still follow?

Invitation

My first invitation is for anyone to follow Jesus for the first time by admitting that you are a sinner, believing that Jesus died on the cross in your place, and call on Him to save you.

My second invitation is for anyone to follow Jesus completely in every area of your life. That means your marriage and your parenting and your money and your business and baptism and church membership.

My second invitation is for anyone to follow Jesus into vocational ministry. It may mean leaving behind everything including your business, your family, and your friends.

However, following Jesus for the first time or again is always worth it. Won’t you do it today?

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I want you to take your Bibles this morning and turn to Luke 4:31. I want to talk with you this morning about a subject matter that is not too common of a topic in Baptist churches. I want to talk you about the ministry of physical healing.

In today’s church culture, when we talk about a physical healing ministry, that is usually in reference to an individual’s physical healing ministry. However, I don’t believe that spiritual gift is still active today, but you are more than welcome to disagree with me.

This morning, we are going to see in Luke 4 the physical healing ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. While I don’t believe that individuals can heal others today, I certainly believe that Jesus physically heals and can heal you this very morning.

Even though we are going to see Jesus physically healing many this morning in Luke 4, the primary message from today’s text is Jesus’ absolute authority. You will find that word twice in today’s text: 32 and 36.

Jesus’ absolute authority applies to His teaching ministry. Remember, that was His primary ministry, and He began that ministry close to home in Galilee. That is like a county. Last week, we saw Him in Nazareth.

Today, He is in Capernaum, and He first ministered to His countrymen on the Sabbath and in the synagogues. That’s what verse 31 tells us.

Verse 32 says that people were astonished at His teachings. Why? His word was with authority.

Now, in order to demonstrate His authority further or authenticate His authority, Jesus healed many. His miracles authenticated His message.

In the next several verses, we are going to see that Jesus’ absolute authority was demonstrated when He healed an individual spiritually. He then healed an in-law physically, and He then healed in mass completely.

Jesus’ absolute authority was affirmed when He healed an individual spiritually, Luke 4:33-37.

33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. 36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37 And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

Look at verse 33. There in Capernaum in the synagogue was a man who was demon possessed.

BTW…Let me take this opportunity to remind you that demons are real. They were real in Luke 4, and they are real today, and just like this individual was demon possessed 2,000 years ago, individuals can be demon possessed today.

Also, demons are spirit beings, and they are evil. If you are a follower of Christ, you cannot be demon-possessed because darkness and light cannot occupy the same space. However, demons can and will terrorize Christians and attempt to make their earthly lives hell on earth.

Finally, demons are extremely powerful. Here in Luke 4, this demon physically threw this man to the ground. However, they are not omnipotent. That is reserved for God, and each and every demon is less than the one, true, and living God.

This demon spoke through the man and begged Jesus to leave them alone. Notice that this demon was very aware of and knowledgeable of who Jesus was.

He knew Jesus was from Nazareth. He knew Jesus was more powerful and could destroy him. He knew Jesus was the Son of God, the promised Messiah.

BTW…This demon is proof that knowledge alone doesn’t save. Remember James 2:19.

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

This demon believed the truth. However, to be saved, you must believe personally and repent. You must turn from your sin and yourself and turn to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

In verse 35, because Jesus has absolute authority, He rebuked or commanded the demon to shut up and come out. What happened? The demon obeyed, and this individual man was healed spiritually.

The people confirmed it, and this miracle affirmed Jesus’ absolute authority and the message He was preaching. Consequently, word began to travel about all that Jesus was doing.

Jesus’ absolute authority was affirmed when He healed an in-law physically, Luke 4:38-39.

38 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. 39 So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.

Look at verse 38. After Jesus healed the individual man in the synagogue, He made His way to Simon Peter’s house.

When He arrived, He found Simon Peter’s mother-in-law with a high fever. Remember, Luke was a physician so he described her fever as high while the other Gospel writers just said fever.

BTW…Notice from this text that Peter had a house and was married. The idea that ministers shouldn’t own property and can’t be married doesn’t find its basis in the Bible.

Jesus was then asked to heal her. Again, like He did previously with the demon-possessed individual man, Jesus rebuked or commanded the fever to be gone, and it was. Why? Jesus has absolute authority, and these miracles authenticated and affirmed His message.

Also, while this in-laws healing was physical, it was a picture of the spiritual. When Jesus healed Peter’s wife’s mother, she immediately began to serve others.

When Jesus saves you, He doesn’t save you to sit and soak. He saves you to serve Him by serving others. Commit to and find your place of ministry today!

Jesus’ absolute authority was affirmed when He healed in mass completely, Luke 4:40-41.

40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.

Brothers and sisters, if words have meaning, and they do, these next two verses are going to astonish you. Look at verse 40.

When word began to get out of the miracles that Jesus was performing, the crowds came. Verse 40 says that at sundown, folks were bringing their sick and infirmed family, friends, and neighbors to Jesus for Him to heal them.

And you know what? He did…every single one of them.

Jesus not only continued to heal in mass, but He also continued to heal spiritually by casting out demons. How could He do this? He did this because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world has absolute authority. That means His authority is supreme, and all other authority is subservient to His.

Finally, in verses 42-44, we end in a similar way as we began. Jesus’ primary ministry was a teaching/preaching ministry. Remember, the crowds were amazed at the authority with which He preached.

Jesus even said in verse 43 that preaching and teaching was why He came. That message was affirmed and authenticated through miracles.

Again, remember His ministry started close to home. Verse 44 says He preached in all the synagogues in Galilee. Going to the synagogues reminds us that Jesus first tried to take His message of hope first to His own countrymen, the Jews.

Conclusion

So allow me to conclude with two final thoughts. First, spiritual healing is far more important than physical healing. In other words, healing the heart of sin is better than healing the heart from clogged arteries.

Let me explain further. Jesus is the great physician, and He can heal any sickness, any disease, any infirmity, any time and any place and for any one.

However, if that person who is physically healed has not been spiritually healed and dies and goes to hell, what good is a cure for cancer? What good is being able to walk again? What good is being about to see again?

Before Jesus heals you physically, His first desire is to heal you spiritually by saving your soul. Today, you can begin a personal relationship with Jesus and having forgiveness of sin, a home in heaven, and eternal life if you will admit you are a sinner and call on Jesus to save you today.

Secondly, and this what you might not have expected to hear this morning, I believe that God’s will is always physical healing unless the person who is sick personally knows otherwise. Consequently, when I pray, I pray in that manner.

Let me explain. Matthew 6:10 says for us to pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

How is God’s will done in heaven? It is done perfectly without sin. That means there is not sickness. See Revelation 21:4.

4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Therefore, I believe God’s will is always to heal unless the person who is sick knows otherwise. See 1 Corinthians 11:29-32.

29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

These Corinthians Christians were sick and died because of their sin specifically related to the Lord’s Supper. Therefore, it was not God’s will to heal them. It was God’s will to discipline them.

Therefore, if you are sick and need healing, I invite you to confess your sins to the Lord and believe that His will is for your healing. And I would be more than happy to anoint you with oil and pray over you.

14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

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We return to Luke 4 this morning and consider Jesus’ earthly ministry. Last Sunday, Bro. Ronnie showed Jesus’ temptation from the devil in the wilderness.

In one sense, you could say that Jesus’ baptism started His earthly ministry. His temptation then prepared Him for His earthly ministry. Today’s text then shows us the beginning.

Jesus’ earthly ministry was furthered by the Holy Spirit, Luke 4:14-15.

14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. 15 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

Verse 14 says that Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. This was the Holy Spirit furthering or empowering His earthly ministry that included a strong teaching/preaching component.

Dr. Luke often highlights the presence and work of the Holy Spirit more so than the other gospels. So far, we have seen that to be true specifically in Jesus’ life.

Luke 1:35, 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Luke 3:22, 22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

Luke 4:1, 1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.

Also, in these first two verses, we see that Jesus had returned home to minister. That home was Galilee.

And, He gave His initial attention to the Jews. We know that because He taught in their synagogues. His ministry first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles is very important for today, and we will come back to that in just a minute.

BTW…If my ministry and our ministry at Emory Baptist Church is not furthered and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are wasting our time. Consequently, you will hear me pray for the Holy Spirit to be at work in our worship service. We need to ask the Lord to fill us with His Spirit when we evangelize our coworkers and classmates. We need to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our community ministries.

Jesus’ earthly ministry favored the outcast, Luke 4:16-19, 23-27.

16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

In verse 16, Jesus came home, and He went to the local synagogue on Saturday to preach. In verse 17, He took the scroll of Isaiah and read from Isaiah 61.

In verse 18, Luke again highlights the Holy Spirit furthering and empowering Jesus’ ministry. He then spoke of 5 different groups of people that His ministry would include, and they all could be considered to be outcasts of society.

First, Jesus would preach the gospel to the poor. Second, He would heal the brokenhearted. Third, He would proclaim freedom to the captives or prisoners free. Fourth, He would help the blind see, and fifth, He would set free those who were oppressed.

In conservative Baptist circles, we like to think Jesus was talking spiritually about these groups: the spiritually poor and the spiritually broken and the spiritually addicted and the spiritually blind and the spiritually oppressed. And He was.

However, brothers and sisters, Jesus’ earthly ministry favored the literal poor and literal broken and the literal prisoner and the literal blind and the literal oppressed. Why? Because they knew they needed a Savior.

Consequently, if Jesus’ ministry favored these outcasts, our must too. We can’t be like Jesus and shy away from these messy, different, groups that are in desperate need.

Yes, it will take time. Yes, it will be messy, and yes, it will require patience. And that is exactly what Jesus did and wants from us.

Jesus’ earthly ministry favored the socially outcast and also the ethnically outcast. That is the reason for verses 25-27.

25 But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”

In verse 25-26, Jesus reminded His hometown folks that God sent Elijah to one widow in Israel. Do you know what was unique about her? She was a Gentile.

In verse 27, what was unique about Naaman the Syrian who was a leper being cleansed and healed? He also was a Gentile.

Brothers and sisters, if we are going to ministry to this community, we have got embrace who our community is. If you want to minister to those in Allen or Frisco or Lewisville, then you should go to church there.

Now I want to make a very specific application, and that is to immigrants. Our country has an immigration problem. Our immigration system is woefully broken, and the greatest nation in the world, in my opinion, needs comprehensive immigration reform.

First, we need to secure our borders. Second, all of those who are here illegally need to go to the end of the line for naturalization. Third, they need to undergo a criminal background check. Fourth, they need to pay some type of monetary fine for coming or staying illegally. Fifth, they need to learn our primary language of English.

However, what about those who are here? Do we give them amnesty? We do not. Do we deport them? We do not.

As a church, we must welcome them, love them, and minister to them. Jesus’ earthly ministry favors them, and ours should too.

Jesus’ earthly ministry fulfilled prophecy, Luke 4:20-22.

20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

After Jesus read from Isaiah, notice what He said in verse 21. He said that He was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 61. In other words, He was the promised Messiah, and He was the central figure or character in God’s plan.

We have seen these in recent Sundays, but it is so paramount that we must proclaim it again and again. Jesus is promised Messiah. He is the Savior of the Jews and the Gentiles. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world.

Consequently, that is the message that God planned for Jesus to share with hometown first. And that is the message that we are to share with our families first.

However, family ministry is hard. It was hard for Jesus, and it will be hard for us.

23 He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.’” 24 Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.

In verse 23, the Nazarenes wanted to see some miracle to validate Jesus’ message. Jesus then rebuked them with verse 24. No prophet is accepted in his own country.

Family and community ministry is hard. However, family and community ministry is worth it.

Some will be amazed like those in verse 15 and verse 22. Others will be angry like those in verses 28-30.

15 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.

28 So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. 30 Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

Conclusion

Our ministry should follow Jesus’ ministry: furthered by the Holy Spirit, favoring to the outcasts who recognize their need, and fulfilling the plan of God specifically to our families and community.

Also, if you don’t receive the message God has shared with you, eventually, His mercy will move. That is what we see in these Nazarenes being so upset with Jesus that they wanted to kill Him. My invitation is to receive Him today.

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Genealogy is the study of family history. Different people embrace this activity or hobby for different reasons.

Some are simply looking to have fun, and for entertainment purposes, they research their family history and family tree. For others, they are in search of significance or importance for what they otherwise see as an uneventful or meaningless life.

Many spend countless hours and countless dollars and a lot energy on their genealogy, and our Mormon friends are also interested in such so that their dead family members can be baptized by proxy in what is known in the Mormon Church as baptism for the dead.

In Matthew’s gospel and Luke’s gospel, you will find the genealogy of Jesus. Before I direct your attention to the differences between the two records, consider these five reasons why genealogies were important in Bible times according to Pastor John MacArthur:

your family tree determined land divisions.
your family tree determined your inheritance rights.
your family tree was vital to the idea of kinsmen redeemer as in Ruth.
your family tree determined the amount of taxes you paid.
your family tree determined one’s eligibility to serve as a priest.

As for Jesus’ genealogy, you can find it in Matthew 1:1-17 and in our text for this morning, Luke 3:23-38. However, it may surprise you that the two accounts are very different from one another.

First, Matthew’s account works from the past to the present. Luke’s account works backward from the present to the past.

Second, Matthew’s account includes 42 names. Luke’s account includes 77 names.

Third, Matthew’s account traces Jesus’ lineage back to Abraham. Luke’s account traces Jesus’ lineage back to Adam.

Why the discrepancies? The honest answer is that we simply don’t have enough information as to why the two accounts are vastly different.

Are they discrepancies irreconcilable? No, we just don’t have all the necessary information to answer dogmatically.

My answer to you this morning is that Matthew is tracing Jesus’ lineage through Joseph. Luke is tracing Jesus’ lineage through Mary, and consequently, you will see in Luke’s gospel a greater emphasis on Mary as Matthew puts more emphasis on Joseph. These two genealogies even come together as both Joseph and Mary were descendents of Adam, Abraham, and David.

In our remaining time, let me answer for you the question that serves as my sermon title, “Can we learn anything from the genealogy of Jesus?” Absolutely, we can.

Jesus’ Genealogy Acknowledges His Ministry, 3:23.

23 Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age,

Luke tells us that Jesus was 30 years old when He was baptized and began His public ministry. I think you will find it interesting to know that other biblical characters also began certain ministries at 30 years of age.

In Genesis 41:46, Joseph became the prime minister of Egypt.

46 Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

In 2 Samuel 5:4, David was 30 years old when he became king of Israel.

4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

In Ezekiel 1:1, Ezekiel began his prophetic ministry when he was 30 years old.

For me personally, 30 will always be significant as I was 30 years old when I pastored a church for the very first time. Jesus’ genealogy acknowledges His ministry.

Jesus’ Genealogy Affirms His Deity, Luke 3:23.

23 Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli…

Notice in verse 23 what Luke writes regarding Jesus’ relationship with Joseph. He wrote, “…being, as supposed, the son of Joseph.”

Did Luke not know that Jesus was born of a virgin? Of course he did. He described the miraculous conception in chapter 1. See Luke 1:35.

35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Why did he write this? Even though Luke knew that Jesus was born of a virgin and was the Son of God, to the general population, Jesus was the son of Joseph.

That is what the public supposed because Joseph was married to Mary and had adopted Jesus. In a very unique fashion, in Jesus’ genealogy, Luke affirmed His deity or being God.

Jesus’ Genealogy Announced His Humanity, Luke 3:24-38.

I want to point out four names in this genealogy that are certainly more recognizable than others.

First, notice that Jesus was the son of David in verse 31 meaning Jesus was of the royal line and a fulfillment of prophecy. Second, notice that Jesus was the son of Abraham in verse 34 meaning that Jesus was the Savior for the Jews. He was the promised Messiah.

Third, notice that Jesus was the son of Adam in verse 38 meaning that Jesus was the Savior not only for the Jews but for all of humanity. God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son that anyone who believes in Him would not die by have eternal life.

Fourth, Jesus had to be like man to be the Savior of man, but to be the Savior of anyone and everyone, He had to be like God, and that is where this text ends in verse 38. Jesus was the only begotten Son of God.

Conclusion

Let me show you two more Scriptures, and we’ll be done. See Romans 5:17-19 and 1 Corinthians 15:45-49.

17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

If you don’t hear anything else this morning, hear this. Jesus is not just the Savior for the Jews. He is the Savior of the world: red, yellow, black and white, male and female, young and old, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, good and bad, and everyone else that somehow got left out.

Will you confess Him as your Savior today for the very first time?

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with you this morning entitled, “Jesus is Superior!” Most dictionaries list these words as synonyms: better, greater, higher, excellent.

Our text this morning will demonstrate that Jesus is superior in all things and over all things. However, before we get there, I want to answer five (5) questions that this text raises.

Was John the Baptist the Messiah?

15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not…

After hearing the powerful preaching of John the Baptist and seeing all those who were coming to be baptized, the people began to wonder if John the Baptist was the Messiah. John himself answered that question in 3:16 by saying that he was definitely different and inferior to the One who was coming. John was not even worthy to untie the thong of His sandal.

However, we knew the answer to this question from chapter one. See 1:16 and 1:76.

16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.

What is baptism with the Holy Spirit or by the Holy Spirit or in the Holy Spirit?

16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

In all four gospels, the Biblical writers say that Jesus will baptize with or in the Holy Spirit. This is true for Matthew, Mark, John, and we’re seeing Luke’s words here.

In the book of Acts 1:5, Jesus said that these first century followers of Christ would be baptized with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The only other reference in the NT to a baptism with or in or by the Spirit is 1 Corinthians 12:13. Paul said we are all baptized by the Spirit into one body.

13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Therefore, my contention from these texts and their context is that baptism with the Holy Spirit or by the Holy Spirit or in the Holy Spirit takes place at conversion and not after salvation. In other words, to be saved means you are baptized with, by, and in the Holy Spirit.

Also, when you are baptized by the Holy Spirit, that means you are regenerated or born-again. That also means you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit for eternity. Finally, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, your salvation is no longer up for debate.

Does baptism save?

This question can only be answered if the type of baptism in question is identified. If you are talking about physical, water baptism, the answer is obviously no.

For those that believe water baptism saves, the thief on the cross is the proverbial fly in the ointment. Jesus said he would be with Him in Paradise, and yet, he wasn’t baptized. See Luke 23:40-43.

40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Another text to consider is 1 Peter 3:21-22. The baptism that saves here is not a physical, water baptism, but a spiritual and internal baptism.

21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Therefore, water baptism never saves, but spiritual baptism with or by or in the Holy Spirit always saves.

Why was Jesus baptized?

21 When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.

He wasn’t baptized to be saved. He wasn’t baptized to wash away original sin. I would suggest at least three reasons for Jesus being baptized and by John the Baptist.

First, Jesus’ baptism validated the ministry of John the Baptist. In many ways, John was seen as an outcast type of character clothed in animal skins and eating grasshoppers and honey. Baptizing Jesus legitimized John’s ministry.

Second, Jesus was baptized to signify the beginning of His public ministry. In His baptism, we see the Holy Spirit descending upon Him as the power and temperament for His ministry. Next, the Father approved of His only Son and all that He would do.

Third, Jesus was baptized because it was simply the right thing to do. See Matthew 3:13-15.

Consequently, if it was the right thing for Jesus to do, it is the right thing for you to do if you are a follower of Jesus. Furthermore, if it is right to be baptized, it is then wrong not be baptized.

Also, John’s baptism looked forward. Jesus’ baptism set the example for us. Christian baptism looks back to the coming of the Holy Spirit and the death of Christ and identifies with Him in death, burial, and resurrection.

Is the Trinity a biblical doctrine?

22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

Even though the actual word never appears on the pages of Scripture, the idea is certainly here as seen in the baptism of Jesus. The Son was baptized, the Spirit descended, and the Father approved.

One Main Point

At the end of the day, we always want to identify the one main point of any preaching text. For today, it is that Jesus is superior in all things and over all things.

First, He is superior to John. John himself made that clear in verses 15 and 16 in his humility and their two different baptisms. John would baptize with water. Jesus would baptize with Holy Spirit.

Second, He is also superior to judge. Look at the end of verse 16 and 17. To be baptized with fire is a reference to judgment. For those that receive Jesus, He will baptize you with the Spirit and with fire and it will cleanse you of all sin.

If you reject Jesus, like chaff that is separated from the wheat, you will be gathered and thrown into the unquenchable fire at the end of the age. Certainly, that is a reference to hell.

Third, He is a superior Savior. If Jesus hasn’t baptized you with Spirit, you haven’t been saved.

In fact, there is no other way to be saved. Baptism won’t do it. Morality won’t do it. Genealogy won’t do it. Ingenuity won’t do it.

The only way to be saved is to be baptized by Jesus with the Spirit. He is superior to save.

This morning, He wants to superior in your life. What about it? Will you let Him save you? Will you let Him lead you? Will you let Him mold you and shape you? You can’t make a better decision.

He is superior!

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The title of my message this morning is a question that is asked on three different occasions and by three different groups of people in our text for this morning. It is a question that all of us should ask after we hear a sermon or a Bible study. The question is, “What shall we do” or “What shall we do in response to what we have heard?”

Today, we continue in Luke’s gospel, and we are fast forwarding 18 years. Last week, Jesus was 12. This week, we briefly turn out attention to John the Baptist, and the next time we see Jesus in Luke 3, He will be 30 years old.

As we begin, I want to share a truth with you and then spend the rest of our time defending or supporting this truth. Here it is, “If you are not willing for your life to change, you are not ready to follow Jesus.”

The Preparation by the Messenger, Luke 3: 1-6

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

In Luke 3, John the Baptist is now 30 years old. That is six months older than his cousin, Jesus.

It has often been said that John the Baptist was the forerunner or the announcer or the messenger of Christ. First of all, notice the moment.

In verses 1-2, Dr. Luke gave the historical setting. It was AD 29. While not meaning much to us, we are reminded once again of the Bible’s trustworthiness demonstrated by Luke’s attention to detail.

At the end of verse 2, we see the man. This messenger was a man sent from God with the word of God, and is none other than John the Baptist, son of Zacharias and Elizabeth that we met in Luke 1.

Next, in verses 3 and following, notice his method. John the Baptist was to make ready the way for Jesus. He was to prepare the people for the coming Messiah, and he did that through preaching a very bold and convicting message like OT prophets.

In describing how John would prepare the way as the messenger, Luke quoted from Isaiah 40:3-5. He was to make the paths straight and as free from obstacles as possible. The ravines were to be filled, and the mountains were to be flattened. The curves were to be made straight, and the rough roads were to be made smooth. The image here is of a monarch who would send a crew of workman ahead of him in order for them to literally prepare the roadway for the king to travel safely and efficiently.

John the Baptist was to make ready the way for Jesus. He was to prepare the people for the coming Messiah, and John’s announcement was not just to Jews, but to Gentiles as well. Notice verse 6. All flesh, both Jew and Gentile, will see the salvation of God.

Before we leave this first six verses, let’s talk about John’s baptism. The word baptism means to submerge all the way in water and coming all of the way out of the water.

We’ll talk more about baptism next week as we look at Jesus’ baptism, but the word is very specific in spite of what our Catholic, Methodist, and Presbyterian friends believe. It literally means to immerse or dip. It does not mean to sprinkle.

Also, John’s baptism was one that symbolized repentance. Repentance means to change your mind and turn around. It has an internal component and an external component.

For example, to repent of taking illegal drugs would include the belief that illegal drugs are wrong to take. That is the changing of the mind.

However, it would also include the action of abstaining from using any illegal drugs. It is a change of mind that leads to a change of action.

Finally, notice one more component. John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance that led to a forgiveness of sins.

This phrase implies that someone has been offended, and that someone is God. Our sins have offended Him because He is holy, and that which is unholy or sinful is offensive to God.

When we sin, we sin against Him and are in need of His forgiveness. Therefore, John is preaching repentance. Again, that means changing your mind and changing your actions or changing your belief that leads to changing your behavior.

However, please know this. It is not baptism that leads to forgiveness of sins. It is the repentance or the willingness for your life to change or repent that results in forgiveness of sins.

The Explanation of His Message, Luke 3:7-9

7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Gathering around to hear John’s preaching was a multitude of folks including many orthodox Jews. He called them a “brood of vipers.” Today, that would be like calling someone a “snake in the grass.” They probably also took it personally remembering Genesis 3 very well. John was calling them children of the devil.

Notice what John said next. He told them that their repentance not only needed to be demonstrated in baptism but also in fruits or proof or actions.

By their words, they obviously thought being Jewish was enough to earn God’s favor and ultimately His forgiveness of sins. John reminded them that wasn’t true. They couldn’t ride anyone else’s coattails then, and we can’t today.

Let me know say a strong word to my brothers and sisters of Emory Baptist Church. If you are hanging your salvation on the phrase “once saved, always saved,” you might very well will spend an eternity in hell separated from Christ.

When God Almighty asks why He should let you into the Kingdom of Heaven, if your answer is you were a member of Emory Baptist Church or baptized as a kid, you are going to be eternally disappointed.

John said in verse 9 that the axe was already laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Repentance must bear fruit or it isn’t repentance and without repentance you will not see heaven.

The Application for the Multitudes, Luke 3:10-14

10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” 11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” 12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.” 14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

Within the multitudes that came to hear John preach, three groups asked, “What shall we do?” In other words, how should John’s message be applied to their lives.

The first group is in verses 10-11. John said demonstrate generosity and kindness. The man who has two tunics or coats is to share with the man who has none. You can’t wear more than one tunic at a time. The same is true for food. Be generous. Be generous and kind and share with those in need.

The second group was tax collectors and found in verses 12-13. These were Jews working for the Roman government and collecting taxes for them and a little for themselves from their own countrymen.

They were hated for working for the Romans. They then taxed more for people hating them. They were then hated more for taxing more. It was a vicious cycle.

When they asked what to do, John said collect only what you are ordered to collect. Be honest and just and don’t collect more than is owed. Brothers and sisters, live your life with honesty and integrity, and treat others how you want to be treated.

The third group were soldiers, and they asked what they were to do. John said don’t take money from anyone by force and learn to be content with your pay. We Christians so need to hear this and live out contentment in a consumer-driven, materialistic world.

Conclusion

So let’s go back to our original summary statement or main truth that I shared in the beginning. If you aren’t willing for your life to change, you are not ready to follow Jesus. That was John’s message.

Therefore, what about you? Are you willing for your language to change? Are you willing for your marriage to change? Are you willing for your attitude to change? Are you willing for your spending to change? Are you willing for your schedule to change?

Here is what I mean. Instead of trusting your morality or your heritage or your intelligence to save you, are you willing to change and trust Jesus to save you?

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I hope my title for this morning’s sermon has peaked your interest. When we hear the word “lost,” especially in a spiritual context like church, we are thinking spiritually lost or not saved. If that was what I was meaning, then our answer would be “no.”

However, I’m actually referring to physically lost, and from His parents’ perspective, there was an occasion when Jesus was lost. That is actually our text this morning from Luke 2 so let’s find Luke 2:41.

This morning’s sermon is entitled, “Was Jesus Lost?” I want to share three challenges with you: a challenge to Joseph and Mary, a challenge about Jesus Christ, and a challenge for you and me.

A Challenge to Joseph and Mary, Luke 2:41-45

41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.

We begin this morning in verse 41 with Joseph and Mary. As we have already know, they were devout Jews, and verse 41 says they were in Jerusalem for the Passover. That was according to Old Testament Law. However, the Law only required the husband or male to attend. To see Mary with her husband demonstrates her devotion and faithfulness to the Lord.

Let me remind you what the Passover was. In Exodus, Israel was being held captive by Pharaoh. In an effort to get Pharaoh to let them go, God struck Pharaoh and Egypt with multiple plagues. On several occasions, Pharaoh said he was going to let Israel go free, but he always ended up changing his mind.

The Lord had finally had enough. This last plague would be the death angel in Exodus 12.

The Passover was a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. You were passed over by the death angel if you splattered the blood of a sacrificed lamb on your doorway.

In the same way, God gives eternal life to those who have had the blood of Jesus splattered or applied to his or her heart. If you haven’t, you will experience a second death, a spiritual death in hell separated from Christ.

In verse 42, we see Jesus. He was twelve years old. Another valuable truth we learn this morning is that the Bible is silent on some issues. The Bible is virtually silent on the first twelve years of Jesus’ life after He was born.

Also, the Bible is virtually silent on Jesus’ life from age twelve to age thirty. After this morning, we won’t see Jesus again until John the Baptist sees Him at thirty years of age.

Like it or not, the Bible is silent on some issues. Where the Bible is silent, we can speculate, but we should not be dogmatic.

Because Jesus was with Joseph and Mary, many believe Joseph was preparing Him for His Bar Mitzvah. That would have been His official transition from adolescence to manhood that took place at 13. Fathers would often take their sons to festivals like this several years in advance in preparation for the future.

Keep in mind that there were hundreds of thousands of Jews in Jerusalem at this time. Therefore, the city was teeming with people and with activity.

Joseph and Mary had come from Nazareth which was approximately 80 miles away and probably a three to four day journey on foot. In these days, extended families and friends traveled in groups or a caravan for protection and fellowship. That seems to be true in this instance as well.

Verse 43 says Joseph and Mary decided to head back, and they traveled a full day assuming that Jesus was with the other or at least in the caravan. Evidently, when they stopped to spend the night, they discovered He was nowhere to be found.

Can you even imagine this anxious night? The next morning, they got up and returned to the city, but then endured another anxious night as it was too late to be out hunting for Him. Finally, on the third day verse 46 says, they found Jesus in the temple.

When Joseph and Mary found Jesus, He was sitting among Jewish religious teachers listening and asking questions. That is an excellent educational model. It is not purely lecture. It is dialogue.

We need to do a lot of listening! We also need to ask a lot of clarifying questions. Sometimes, questions are seen as divisive or insubordinate. In reality, questions can simply clarify. Jesus asked questions, and it was fine.

If you are a parent and ever lost track of your child or children, you can understand Joseph and Mary’s alarm that was verbalized in verse 48. It appears that she tried to guilt Him. She asked why He had treated them “this” way. She went on to tell Him that she and Joseph had been “anxiously” looking for Him.

Evidently, keeping up with Jesus was a challenge to Joseph and Mary. To them, He was temporarily lost.

If truth be told, parenting is hard. There are no experts. A lot of parenting is trial and error, but we have this book, and we have one another. Use both!

A Challenge About Jesus, Luke 2:46-52

46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” 49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. 51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

In verses 46-50, we see a challenge about Jesus. That challenge is believing and understanding that Jesus was and is fully God and fully man at the same time.

In verse 47, why were all the people astonished when they listened to Jesus and heard Him answer questions of the teachers? And why were His parents amazed when they saw Him in the temple? They were astonished and amazed because this wasn’t just any twelve-year-old.

This twelve-year-old claimed to be the Son of God in verse 49. These are the first words that we have recorded by Jesus, and this is the first instance in all of the Bible when someone claimed God as their personal Father.

Ultimately, this is what got Jesus murdered. When Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, He was claiming equality with God. Even at age 12, I would suggest that Jesus was aware of His divine relationship with God.

However, Jesus was not only fully God, He was fully man too. Notice verse 51. Jesus minded his momma and his daddy. Do you know why? The fifth commandment says honor your father and mother.

Verse 52 ends chapter 2 and today’s text by letting us know that from this point Jesus grew up. He grew in wisdom. That means He grew mentally. He grew in stature. That means He grew physically. He grew in favor with God. That means He grew spiritually.

Even at twelve years old, Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man. Although it is a challenge to understand, we must believe because the Bible tells me so.

A Challenge for You and Me

In verse 49, Jesus said He was in the temple because that was His Father’s business, and He had to be about His Father’s business. What does that mean?

I think the answer is found in a word that is repeated multiple times in this text, and it is the word, “seek.” We need to pay attention when biblical writers repeat words.

Notice how Mary and Joseph sought Jesus. That word is in verse 44 and 45 and 48 and 49, and I believe that is what it means for you and me to be about our Father’s business. It means to seek His Son, Jesus Christ.

For Jesus, this translated into visible obedience. He didn’t say He was about God’s business and then did whatever He wanted. If you’re about God’s business, you’re going to be obedient to God’s Word. That is why He was obedient to mom and dad.

Conclusion

What about you? Don’t just mouth it. You’ve got to live it. That’s my challenge for you in 2024.

Your Father’s business means reading your Bible. Consider reading it through in a year.

It means giving financially. That means your tithe and offerings. Will you be a World Mission Fund Family in 2024? Will you give to our FLC in 2024?

It means praying. Will you sign up for an hour in our Prayer Room?

It means connecting with a small group. What is keeping you from connecting to a Sunday School Small Group every week and throughout the week?

It means serving this Body of Believers. We need more servers in our nursery and welcome teams and security and choir and Backpack Buddies.

Finally, Jesus was lost physically for a time, but are you lost spiritually now? If you die that way, it will be for eternity. Will you be found today?

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Statisticians tell us that our world’s current population exceeds seven billion people. That is a seven with nine zeros.

Those same statisticians tell us that in all of human history, approximately 105-110 billion people have ever lived. That is one hundred and five with nine zeros.

Of that one hundred and five billion, some have been male and some have been female. Some have been red and yellow and black and white. Some have gone on to be doctors, lawyers, and Indian chiefs.

However, there is no more significant birth than that we celebrate this time of year, and that is the birth of Jesus Christ. This morning, we consider the Christmas story.

The Incarnation of God, Luke 2:1-7

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In the first three verses of this chapter, we see the context for Joseph and Mary getting to Bethlehem. A census was being taken, and we can conclude that Joseph owned property in Bethlehem. Therefore, he had to go there to register his family. Rather than leave Mary behind and be absent at the birth of his son, Mary went with him to Bethlehem.

The first detail about the incarnation of God that I want you to see is that it was prophesied in Scripture. By leaving Nazareth but unbeknownst to Joseph, he was following the predetermined plan of God that we saw from last week’s presentation. See Micah 5:2.

The second detail that I want to remind you of is that the incarnation of God was conceived by the Spirit. Verse five tells us that Mary was with child on this trip.

It is very difficult for us to even imagine this thirteen or fourteen year-old mother to be walking and or riding on a donkey for any prolonged period of time at nine months pregnant. However, that is what we have here, but don’t forget how this happened.

Had she been with another man and unfaithful to Joseph? No. Had she and Joseph consummated their marriage? No, they were still in the betrothal period and sexual pure. See Luke 1:35.

Jesus can be conceived by the Spirit of God.

Finally, in the simplicity of two verses, Jesus is born. God becomes flesh incarnate. Verse seven says Mary gave birth to her firstborn son. In other words, she would have more.

However, this one verse is all there is specifically addressing the birth of Jesus. Matthew’s gospel only has three verses. Keep in mind, the birth of Jesus was not supernatural. It was His conception that was supernatural.

A third detail that I want you to be aware of regarding the incarnation of God is that Jesus was adopted by Joseph. I want you to know going into 2016 that adoption is near to the heart of God.

Jesus was adopted, and Paul uses the imagery of adoption when he refers to what God our Father has done in our life through salvation.

The Proclamation of the Angels, Luke 2:8-14

Beginning in verse eight, we are introduced to a group of shepherds. They were herding their sheep which is what shepherds do, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them and scared them.

By the way, you will never find an instance in the Bible when people encounter angels and are not scared out of their mind. If someone today tells you that they saw an angel, ask them if they were scared out of their mind. If they say no, it probably wasn’t real.

In verse ten, the angel began to speak. He tried to calm the shepherds down and let them know that he had good news. He literally uses that phrase, “good news” or “good tidings” in verse ten.

Here is the first part of the good news. God incarnate or Jesus has been born, and He is the Savior for all people. He isn’t just the Savior for a few or for a certain denomination or a certain race or a certain social-economic class. Regardless of who you are and where you’re from and what you’ve done, Jesus came to be your Savior.

However, the salvation that Jesus offers is applied to those who believe. He is a Savior sent for you, but you have to make the personal decision to receive Him into your life or trust in Him as Lord and Savior or call on Him to be saved from your sins. I can’t do it for you. It isn’t applied to you just because of what your parents have done or who your grandfather was.

Third, the salvation that comes through a personal and saving relationship with Jesus is the only way to be at peace with God.

Suddenly, in verse thirteen, a multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the original angel. Was this fifty more? Was this one hundred more? Was this one thousand more? Probably, it was the latter. Thousands and thousands of angels began to exalt the Lord in song, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

Every man since Adam has been at odds with God because of sin. No man has been at peace with God on his own. God has now provided a way. The way is Jesus. He is the one and only way to be at peace with God the Father.

Morality won’t do it. Ingenuity won’t do it. Ancestry won’t do it. The angels exalted God in heaven because only Jesus would do it. He is the only way. See John 14:6.

John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Romans 5:1, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, on the Sunday before Christmas, I extend an invitation to you to be saved. Jesus came to save you, but you have to receive Him. You have to accept His invitation. The salvation that Jesus offers is only applied to your life when you personally believe in Him. Will you do that today?

The Exaltation of the Shepherds, Luke 2:15-20

In verse fifteen, the shepherds go on their way after the angels left. Verse sixteen says they came to Joseph and Mary and the baby, and they told them all that the angels had said. Therefore, the shepherds experienced Jesus personally.

In verses seventeen and eighteen, they told others about this Savior. In other words, they shared their experience. Isn’t that all that evangelism or witnessing is…sharing your experience with Jesus?

In verse twenty, the shepherds then left, and they went back glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard. Ultimately, they exalted God for He had done in providing for them a Savior.

Conclusion

So my question for you this morning is simple. How will you respond to the story of the most significant birth in all of human history?

For some of you that means accepting the invitation that God offers to you of eternal life through a personal relationship with Jesus. He came to be the Savior of the world. However, He can only be your Savior if you agree to it.

For others, during this Christmas season, will you share your Jesus experience with others? That is what the shepherds did. That is what God calls us to do.

Jesus’ birth is the most significant of one hundred and five billion. What will it mean for you?

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Luke 1 contains two very famous songs about two very famous children, John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ. Remember, John’s parents were Zacharias and Elizabeth, and Jesus’ parents were Joseph and Mary.

The first song in chapter 1 is called the Magnificat and was sung by Mary after the announcement of Jesus’ birth. It is found in 1:46-55.

The second song is called the Benedictus and was song by Zacharias after the birth of John the Baptist. It is this second song that will be our focus this morning in a message I have entitled, “We All Need a Sunrise!”

Zacharias’ song focused on two main individuals. They are his son, John the Messenger and his Savior, Jesus the Messiah.

According to verse 67, we can see that this song is inspired by the Holy Spirit and should be treated as prophesy. Interestingly enough, when we normally think of prophesy, we think of telling the future, and that is true.

However, in verses 68-69, Zacharias used three past tense verbs. They are visited, redeemed, and raised. Why did he use past tense verbs in telling the future?

These are called prophetic pasts. Zacharias was prophesying about the future by remembering the past. Zacharias was so confident that God’s plan would come to pass that he spoke of it as already having happened.

Also, notice again that Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit. That was true of his entire family.

His wife, Elizabeth, was filled with the Holy Spirit. See 1:41.

41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

His son, John, would also be filled with the Holy Spirit. See 1:15.

15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

Before Pentecost or the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit did not permanently dwell within God’s people. In the OT and even here in Luke 1, the Holy Spirit came upon individuals and would then leave them.

However, in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit came to indwell God’s people permanently from that point forward. When any and every person confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit causes that person to be born again and begins to live in that person for eternity. The Holy Spirit becomes the seal on that person’s heart.

Another action of the Holy Spirit is to fill us in daily living. Even though every saved person is already indwelt by the Holy Spirit, the older we get, the more we become like an old bicycle tire or old basketball.

We leak air, and need to be aired up again. In a similar way, we leak the filling of the Holy Spirit and need to be filled each and every day and maybe multiple times throughout the day.

How does that happen? It happens by reading or remembering and mediating and applying God’s word to our lives every day and throughout the day.

As for Zacharias’ song, notice in verse 76:

The Occupation of John the Baptist, Luke 1:76

76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;

For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

In pointing to his own son, Zacharias prophesied of the occupation of John the Baptist. He will be called the prophet of the Highest or Most High, and he will go before the Lord to prepare His ways.

Don’t let his occupation or job of John the Baptist casually escape you. Israel had not had a speaking prophet in 400 years since Malachi, and John the Baptist would be the next.

That is huge, and he would prepare the way of the Lord. In other words, he would point people to Jesus.

Did you know that if you have been born-again, that is your job as well? It was John’s occupation or job to point people to Jesus, and it is your job too.

It is your job at work and at a school and at Wal-Mart and at El Manna. Just like John the Baptist, our occupation is to point people to Jesus.

The Gratification from Jesus the Christ, Luke 1:68-75, 77

68 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,

For He has visited and redeemed His people,

69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us

In the house of His servant David,

70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,

Who have been since the world began,

71 That we should be saved from our enemies

And from the hand of all who hate us,

72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers

And to remember His holy covenant,

73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:

74 To grant us that we,

Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

Might serve Him without fear,

75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

In verse 68, as John the Baptist will have his attention on one person, Zacharias turned his attention to that same person, Jesus the Christ or Jesus the Messiah. Zacharias is now going to demonstrate how Jesus the Messiah is the gratification or satisfaction of a promise to David, a promise to Abraham, and a promise to God’s People.

First, look at verses 68-69. Verse 68 begins with “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel.” In Latin, “blessed” is translated Benedictus.

Even though it hadn’t happened at the time of this prophecy, Jesus would be the fulfillment of this promise to David about the Messiah visiting and redeeming His people and raising up a horn of salvation. The end of verse 69 tells us that this Messiah would come from the house of David.

This original prophecy is recorded in 2 Samuel 7:8-17. The Lord spoke through Nathan to David. To summarize, the promised Messiah would persevere as this prophecy was initially fulfilled in Solomon and will be ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.

Second, not only will the Messiah be the gratification of a promise to David, but He will also be the gratification of a promise to Abraham. Verse 70 says that God spoke by the mouth of holy prophets of old and remembered His holy covenant that He swore to Abraham.

That oath was to protect Israel from her enemies, but it was not only to protect. It was to protect with a purpose. God saved Israel so that they would serve God. They would serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness.

This promise to Abraham can be found in Genesis 22:15-18. After the Lord saw that Abraham was willing to offer his only son, God would in turn eventually offer His only Son as the promised Messiah as the gratification of this promise to Abraham.

Third, the promised Messiah is the gratification of a promise to God’s People. John the Baptist will point people to Jesus in order for them to be saved. Look at verse 77. John the Baptist will tell people to be saved by the remission or forgiveness of their sins.

Let that sink in just a moment. Here is the GOSPEL. First, God is holy. Second, you and I are sinners. Third, our sin separates us from God. Fourth, reconciliation or remission or forgiveness of sins only comes through repentance and faith in Jesus the Christ.

In the mercy of God, Jesus offers forgiveness of sins. He spoke about it Himself. See Matthew 26:28.

28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Peter spoke about it. See Acts 10:43.

43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

John the Revelator spoke about it. See 1 John 1:9.

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

You and I need our sins forgiven by Jesus. That is what it means to be saved. Jesus is the gratification or fulfillment of a promise made to God’s People.

The Invitation for You the Sinner, Luke 1:78b-80

78 Through the tender mercy of our God,

With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;

79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,

To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Verses 78-80 give a beautiful picture of forgiveness. It is like sitting in darkness.

Have you ever done that? Have you ever sat or stood in complete darkness? It is very odd not to be able to see your hand in front of your face.

That is what sin does. It makes you lose any sense of direction. It keeps us from knowing which way to go. It handicaps any and all progress.

However, Jesus the Messiah is the Dayspring or Sunrise or Dawn from on high, and when the sun rises, the darkness flees. When the sun rises, it lightens the path.

When the sun rises, according to verse 79, you can have peace with God. Paul confirmed that truth in Romans 5:1.

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Invitation

Some of you here this morning are sitting in darkness as we speak. You’re sitting in darkness because you have never had Jesus forgive your sins.

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been a sinner. It doesn’t matter how you’ve sinned.

What matters is that you’re ready to respond to God’s invitation to let the Dayspring or Sunrise on high visit your life. You’re ready for Jesus to save you and forgive you and guide you and direct you.

Our invitation is for you this morning. Will you come?

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If you have a Bible this morning, please take it and find Luke 1:39. This morning, we are continuing our study of Luke’s gospel, and we’ll remain in Luke 1.

Last week, we saw the announcement of John the Baptist’s birth and the announcement of Jesus’ birth. Both came from Gabriel.

As we pick back up in the Christmas Story, consider Mary and Elizabeth and what is traditionally know as Mary’s Song.

Mary

After Gabriel announced Jesus’ birth to Mary, we find her in verse 39 making a trip to the house of Zacharias and Elizabeth. They would soon be the parents of John the Baptist who was six months older than Jesus.

In verse 41, we see that Mary entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. Even though we aren’t told of what she actually said, we see that her voice caused John the Baptist to leap in Elizabeth’s womb.

BTW…John the Baptist leaped because that which was in Elizabeth’s womb was a person, not a fetus, not a mass of tissue. He was a baby made in the image of God.

After this experience, notice Elizabeth’s words to Mary in verse 42. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. The actual wording says that Mary was the most blessed among all women, and the reason for this is because she was carrying the Son of God and the Savior of the world in her womb.

After a statement of her own gratitude, Elizabeth again commented on how blessed Mary was. Look at verse 45. We see here why Mary was blessed.

What was the key to her blessing? Blessed is she who believed that there would be fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.

Mary is blessed because of her belief and availability and submission. Even though Mary didn’t understand how a virgin could conceive and give birth, she was submissive to the Lord and available to His plan and believing of His Word. As a result, she was blessed.

BTW…this is an excellent opportunity to see the difference between obedience and disobedience or faith and doubt. Don’t you know that Zacharias was probably close? This is the same Zacharias that was told by Gabriel that his wife would give birth to a son in her old age, but Zacharias didn’t believe him. As a result, the Lord took away his speech.

Mary’s response was much different. She believed Gabriel and consequently believed God. She believed, and Zacharias doubted. She was faithful, and Zacharias was faithless. She obeyed and was blessed. Zacharias disobeyed and was disciplined.

How do you respond when God tells you His plans for your life? Obey and be blessed. Disobey and get ready for discipline.

Elizabeth

It is amazing to me how we see Elizabeth responding to all of Mary’s circumstances. Keep in mind that Mary is between the ages of thirteen and fifteen. Elizabeth is beyond childbearing age. Mary will give birth to the Son of God. Elizabeth will not. Elizabeth could have been jealous and resentful, but she wasn’t. She was humble and grateful.

In verse 41, we see her filled with the Holy Spirit. This was only for a short time as the Holy Spirit was only temporarily present in individual lives at this point.

In verse 43, we see her humility and gratitude voiced as she was humbled that the Lord’s mother, Mary, would visit her. She obviously didn’t think she deserved such.

Finally, throughout this dialogue, Elizabeth is full of compliments and encouragement for Mary and what God had chosen for her.

Let me ask you, would your closest family and friends describe you as humble and grateful? Or, would they describe you as prideful and greedy? Are you angry when your family and friends succeed or are blessed and you aren’t? Are you always trying your best to keep up with the Jones’s and their house and their car and their toys?

Mary’s Song

It is so important in this text for you to see how Mary respond to the Lord’s blessing in her life. Verses 46 through 55 are called the Magnificat or Mary’s Song. Magnificat is Latin for praise or make great.

In response to the Lord blessing her, Mary sang a song praising Him. Specifically, she praised Him for who He is and for what He had done. Her Father in heaven was worthy of her praise.

Notice in verse 46 that she exalted the Lord or praised the Lord. She rejoiced in God her Savior.

BTW…how do we know that our Catholic friends are mistaken in their worship of Mary? In verse 47, Mary had a Savior. If you need a Savior, you aren’t worthy of worship. Mary was a sinner just like you and me.

In verse 49, Mary praised the Lord for His holiness. In verse 50, Mary praised the Lord for His mercy. She praised the Lord for who He was.

Beginning in verse 51, she praised the Lord for what He did. He executed justice by scattering the proud, exalting the humble, and providing for the poor. Not only did He execute justice, He protected Israel, His chosen people.

Verse 56 ends with Mary staying with Elizabeth for about three months and then returning to be with her parents in her house. In the remainder of today’s text, I want to show you three lessons on obedience from the Christmas Story. They involve Zacharias and Elizabeth and the birth of John the Baptist.

Obedience never gets old, Luke 1:57-58.

57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

In verse 57, Elizabeth had carried John the Baptist to term, and it was now time for her to give birth. Her friends and her family had heard that the Lord had been merciful to her in opening her womb, and they came to rejoice and celebrate with her the birth of John the Baptist.

When I say that obedience never gets old, I have two applications in mind. First, a Christian never reaches an age where obedience is no longer right. In some contexts, we give senior adults a pass. We say they have done their time, and they are no longer required or expected to follow the rules. That never is true in Christianity.

Luke 1:7 and 1:18 tell us that Zacharias and Elizabeth were “advanced in years.” We don’t know their age specifically, but I think it is safe to conclude that they were both senior adults. However, they were still obedient and faithful to the Lord in their old age.

Obedience in the lives of our senior adults blesses my heart. For years, I have seen senior adult ladies who drive to church on Monday morning to turn in their offering envelopes if they were sick or out of town the day before.

From my perspective and the church’s perspective, could this have waited? Sure it could. However, it could not wait in their minds. Keep in mind that these ladies were on fixed incomes and may have had more medical bills than they could pay, but they never reached an age where obedience wasn’t expected of them.

Second, when I say that obedience never gets old, I mean that it is always right to do the right thing. Sometimes, we believe the lie that it’s alright to be disobedient in certain circumstances. It is ok to lie in certain circumstances. It is ok to use profanity in certain circumstances. Abortion is ok in certain circumstances. Not tithing is ok in certain circumstances. Obedience never gets old.

Zacharias and Elizabeth had lived lives of faithful obedience for many years. They were devout Jews, and Luke 1:6 says they were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

However, wouldn’t God understand if in these circumstances of old age, they decided not to trust or decided not to believe? Obedience never gets old. It is always right to do the right thing.

Obedience will sometimes be very unpopular, Luke 1:59-61.

59 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”

Generally speaking, obedience will most of the time bring support and rejoicing for the follower of Christ. However, there are also some times when obedience will be very unpopular because of the crowds and because of culture.

In verse 58, we saw friends and family who were rejoicing and celebrating what God was doing through Elizabeth. Elizabeth had been obedient. Consequently, her neighbors and relatives or family and friends rejoiced with her.

That should be true of this body of believers and Christians in general. When we hear of a brother or sister in Christ being obedient, we should rejoice. We hear that a couple decides to work out their marriage in spite of an affair rather than get a divorce, the body of Christ should rejoice, and not tell them they are stupid and will only get hurt again.

Rejoicing over Elizabeth’s obedience and God’s mercy quickly changed when Elizabeth’s obedience didn’t match what her family and friends thought she should do.

Remember that Zacharias and Elizabeth were devout Jews. We see that from verse 6, and we see it in having their son circumcised on the eighth day.

However, popular opinion changed quickly when it came to naming the boy. It was Jewish custom to name the son after his grandfather. Even to name him after his father would have been fine. In this case, it would have been Zacharias, Jr, but that was not what God wanted.

Somehow, Zacharias had communicated to Elizabeth that Gabriel told him to name the boy John. For Elizabeth, that settled it. His name would be John because that is what God wanted. Notice the response of the culture and the crowd in verse 61. There is no one in your family with that name.

Brothers and sisters, obedience will sometimes be unpopular. Don’t let culture or the crowd lead you astray. Don’t ever let culture be your excuse for disobedience. For the follower of Christ, if culture and the Bible are opposed to one another, you better kick culture to the curb or risk the hand of God’s discipline in your life.

Don’t let culture lead you astray when it comes to gender identity. Don’t let culture lead you astray when it comes to the definition of marriage. Don’t let culture lead you astray when it comes the sanctity of every life. Don’t let culture lead you astray when it comes to faithfulness in your marriage. Don’t let culture lead you astray when it comes to supporting Israel and trying to end terrorism.

Just like the follower of Christ shouldn’t let culture keep you from obedience, don’t let the crowd keep you from obedience. The crowds don’t like sexual purity teenagers. However, it is right, and it is God’s will, and God will bless it. Obedience will sometimes be very unpopular with culture and crowds.

Obedience can change your situation immediately, Luke 1:62-66.

62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

After the neighbors and relatives balked at Elizabeth naming this boy John, they appealed to Zacharias. Remember that Zacharias had been deaf and mute for nine months and much time to think about God’s plan in complete silence. How would he respond?

Verse 63 says he took a tablet, and that wasn’t an iPad, and he wrote, “His name is John.” In thinking about what God wanted for 9 long months, Zacharias decided to believe God and obey God.

Obedience can change your situation immediately for the individual. Notice verse 64. And at once, Zacharias could speak and hear. Immediately, obedience changed the situation of this individual.

Some of you are hear this morning and you need to be healed. Some of you have a hardened heart because you won’t forgive, and you need to be healed. Some of you have a peaceless heart because you won’t change your attitude or mindset or belief, and you need to be healed. Some of you have a passionless heart because you’ve given up on your marriage and won’t fight for what God’s plan is, and you need to be healed.

Decide to obey this morning and be healed immediately. Decide to obey and change your situation immediately. Decide to forgive and be healed immediately. Decide to change your belief and be healed immediately. Decide to fight for your marriage and be healed immediately.

Notice also that obedience can change the situation of others immediately as well. When everybody who was around saw that Zacharias’ wish matched what Elizabeth said, they knew God was up to something. Everyone was filled with reverence or awe and couldn’t stop talking about what happened, and they knew that God was going to be up to something big with John the Baptist. Obedience can change your situation immediately and the situation of others.

Conclusion

So what about you? In what area of your life do you need to obey? For some of you, it is the call to salvation. You will never be too old to trust Christ. It may not be very popular with your friends and our family, but being obedient and trusting Christ this morning can change your situation immediately. Your eternity will change from hell to heaven in the blink of an eye.

For others of you, you will never be too old to be baptized. You will never too old to join the church. You will never be too old to tithe or share your faith or be faithful to your spouse or forgive an offense. It may not be popular to do it, but obedience will change your situation immediately.

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On this first Sunday of December, we turn our eyes and hearts toward Christmas. There may be any better place to begin that journey than Luke 1. Today, we begin a verse by verse study that most likely will include all of 2024 and even part of 2025.

In this study, we will look at the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. In the process, we will ask and answer, from the Bible, many questions. Our first is, “Can a Virgin Give Birth?”

The Administration of Luke, 1:1-4

1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

In the first four verses, we were introduced to Luke. He is the author. He was also a doctor, the personal physician of the Apostle Paul. He not only wrote the gospel bearing his name, but he also wrote the book of Acts. They should be viewed together as two volumes documenting the historical reality of Jesus Christ and the birth of the New Testament Church.

His aim in this writing was to give a historical account of the life and ministry of Jesus. In other words, he recorded history, and this third book of the New Testament is in narrative form.

Also, because Luke was a Gentile, this gospel is very unique. He is the only Gentile author of the 66 books of the Bible. Another purpose of his was to demonstrate that gospel is for every single individual and every single type of person…even though they might be the outcasts of society including Gentiles, women, the poor, and the sick.

Notice his audience. It was an audience of one. What do we know about Theophilus? It seems that he may have been a new believer. This record of Jesus’ life would serve as the foundation of Theophilus’ new found faith.

A Declaration to Zacharias, 1:5-25

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. 8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” 21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. 23 So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. 24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

In short, an angel, Gabriel, in verse 13, said that Zacharias and his wife would have a son. That son would be John the Baptist, cousin of Jesus Christ. John’s purpose would be to prepare the way for the Lord.

The Salutation from Gabriel, Luke 1:26-29

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.

Verse twenty-six begins with a time reference of six months. It refers to the announcement of John’s birth. Therefore, John the Baptist was six months older than his cousin, Jesus Christ.

In the same way that Gabriel went to Zachariah in announcing John’s birth, we see Gabriel in verse twenty-six being sent by God to Nazareth to a virgin that was married to Joseph. Verse twenty-seven tells us that this virgin’s name was Mary.

I need to remind you about the two significant parts of a first-century Jewish marriage agreement. Our translation says betrothed. Yours may say engaged. This meant the betrothal period. It was the first part of the marriage arrangement.

The husband’s family would offer a payment to the wife’s family initiating this arranged marriage. Joseph and Mary would then be considered married even though they would not live together and would not consummate the marriage sexually until after the ceremony almost one year later.

For at least a year, Joseph and Mary were considered husband and wife, and if their relationship ended, it would have to be by divorce. Therefore, you can see their engagement was much more binding than what we know as engagement.

After one year, there would be a wedding ceremony and marriage feast that would last about one week. Joseph would send for Mary. The ceremony would take place. The feast or reception or party or celebration would last a week. Then Joseph and Mary would sexually consummate the marriage and hopefully live happily ever after.

However, as you know, these plans would be radically altered. Verse twenty-eight records Gabriel’s salutation or greeting to Mary as he calls her “highly favored one” and tells her that the Lord is with her.

According to verse twenty-nine, she was troubled or confused. I can understand because I have never had an angel speak with me. Nonetheless, the angel called her “favored one.” What did that mean? Why was she favored? We’ll find out more in just a moment.

My last comment regarding these four verses is to point out the repetition of “virgin.” You see it twice in verse twenty-seven. Keep in mind that Mary was mostly likely a young teenager. Let that sink in. She was probably younger than my youngest daughter.

Undoubtedly, she was sexually pure. By the way, just as that was good at this time, it is good today young ladies and young men. Remaining sexually pure until marriage is God’s undeniable desire for your life, and you will never regret it.

Mary was a virgin. She was sexually pure, and she had been 100% completely faithful to Joseph and their marriage.

The Proclamation about Jesus, Luke 1:30-35

30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

This next section is about the proclamation or announcement of Jesus’ birth. Obviously from verse thirty, Mary was afraid as would I be.

Again, Gabriel told her that she had found favor with God. We will soon see that this favor is because she will give birth to the Son of God. Mary didn’t do anything to deserve this honor. God graciously chose this first-century, undeserving, anonymous before now, peasant girl, to conceive and give birth to Jesus the Christ.

Verse thirty-one is the formal proclamation. Mary will conceive and give birth to a son. His name will be Jesus, which means Yahweh saves.

In verses thirty-two and thirty-three, Gabriel predicted five things about Jesus. First, He will be great. Second, He will be called Son of the Most High or Son of God. Third, He will be given the throne of David as coming through that line or heritage. Fourth, He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. Five, His kingdom will have no end. These last three will be realized in the one-thousand-year earthly reign of Christ after the rapture of the Church and the seven-year earthly tribulation period chronicled in John’s Revelation.

As you can imagine, Mary was not only troubled and confused and afraid because of this angelic encounter in and of itself, but the fact that she would conceive and birth this baby was extremely confusing.

Why? She was a virgin. In her words, “How can this be?” Please note this is now the third use of the word “virgin.”

In verses thirty-five and thirty-six, Gabriel informed Mary how this would happen. The Holy Spirit would come upon her and the Most High or God would overshadow her. By the way, there is not one hint of any type of gross sexual immorality here between God and a human being even though that is what our Mormon friends believe.

This act is mysterious. It is not fully-understandable. It is the miraculous conception. It is supernatural. It never happened before and has never happened since.

The Veneration of Mary, Luke 1:38

38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

When I say the “veneration of Mary,” I mean something different than what our Catholic friends mean. They mean the veneration or honoring or worship of Mary. Mary is the object of their veneration and honoring and worship.

I mean Mary is the source of the honoring. Mary is the one doing the honoring. Look at verse thirty-eight and how Mary responded to Gabriel’s announcement of her pregnancy and Jesus’ birth.

She calls herself the Lord’s “maidservant” or slave. That communicates submission. She would be submissive to God.

She then said, “Let it be to me according to your word.” She was willing to do what Gabriel said.

Third, she believed. She believed God’s plan would happen as described by the angel. Mary couldn’t have responded better, and is an example to us in that regard.

Conclusion

36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”

What is the point of this text and my message to you this morning? The point is Luke 1:37.

Read it with me. Read it again. Read it a third time. Memorize it. Write it down and put it on your bathroom mirror and refrigerator and the dashboard of your car. For nothing will be impossible with God.

Gabriel illustrated this truth with Elizabeth and Zacharias, but this miracle is much more. This isn’t the elderly giving birth even though it was hard to believe.

This is a virgin conceiving birth, and we’re not talking about artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization. We’re talking about a virgin conceiving and giving birth to the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

This statement made to Mary is similar to the question that was a statement made to Sarah in Genesis 18:14, “Is anything too difficult for the LORD?”

The virgin birth was prophesied about in Isaiah 7:14 and is affirmed in Matthew’s gospel 1:23. For nothing will be impossible with God.

Now, what about you? Do you believe it? Do you believe Luke 1:37 and its application to your life?

Can God save you and forgive all your sin? Can God fix your marriage in spite of falling out of love or infidelity? Can God heal your disease even if its cancer or the doctor has said there is no hope? Can God break your addiction even if its alcohol or pornography?

For nothing is impossible with God. If God can cause a virgin to give birth, I think He can handle your greatest concern!

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Paul’s letter to the Philippian Church is a letter of joy. He encouraged them how to respond to adversity in the church, specifically a conflict between two women that was dividing the church.

Last week, we saw in 4:2-7 his encouragement to rejoice in the Lord, relax because Jesus is returning soon, and request or pray to the Lord about all things. Instead of allowing your mind to be dominated by worry and anxiety, do something else. Think on the opposite.

What is the key to godly living? The key to godly living is godly thinking. Right thinking leads to righteous living.

The secular world knows this. When you put garbage in, do you know what you get in return? Garbage in translates into garbage out.

However, long before GIGO, we had Solomon and Jesus. See Proverbs 23:7 and Mark 7:20-23.

7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

Exposition

Today, we see Paul encouraged right thinking. He then advocated righteous living.

Look at the end of verse 8. Meditate on these things or your Bible may say think or dwell.

The idea is to take into account or consider. Then reflect. Then let that truth shape your behavior.

Behavior is seen in verse 9. Paul says do these things. So again, the key to godly living is godly thinking. Right thinking leads to righteous living.

Therefore, what should occupy our thoughts if not worry and anxiety? For the Christian, Paul outlined six (6) virtues in verse 8. Notice also that he doesn’t have just one thing in mind. He used that plural phrase “whatever things” six times.

Now let’s look at the virtues.

First, think on whatever things are true. This is opposed to false. Brothers and sisters, a lot on Facebook and Instagram is NOT true. Discipline yourself not think and meditate and dwell on social media.

Second, think on whatever things are noble. This is also translated dignified or worthy of respect. Television and movies often fall short of noble.

Third, think on whatever things are just. Your Bible may say right or fair. Stop dwelling on your think that referee caused your team the game. Stop thinking about how you think your boss or supervisor treated you unfairly. Stop thinking about how your friend or family member hurt you with their words.

Fourth, think on whatever things are pure. The idea here is wholesome and holy. In other words, don’t let your mind continually dwell on sin. For example, stop thinking about life with that other person who is not your spouse. Stop thinking of how you would retaliate for your hurt.

Fifth, think on whatever things are lovely. Lovely things make for peace as opposed to conflict.

Sixth, think on whatever things are of good report. Think positive thoughts instead of negative. Instead of dwelling on all of the short comings of EBC, dwell on our strengths. Instead of dwelling on all of the short comings of Rains ISD, dwell on the good. Instead of dwelling on all of the weaknesses of your spouse, dwell on the positive.

Whatever things are virtuous and or worthy of praise, meditate, think, dwell on these things. Change your way of thinking. Habitually guard your mind.

Jesus was getting at this in His sermon the mount. See Matthew 5:21-22 and 5:27-30.

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

First, meditate on what is praiseworthy. Second, imitate the Apostle Paul.

In verse 9, Paul said these do. What are these? These are the things Paul taught (learned and received) and what Paul did (heard and saw).

However, here’s the key in imitating a human. Imitate them as they imitate Christ. See 1 Corinthians 11:1.

1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Naturally, I will disappoint you. Paul will disappoint you.

However, when I am living supernaturally imitating Christ and being led by the Holy Spirit, follow me and follow Paul. Godly thinking leads to godly living. Right thinking leads to righteous living.

Conclusion/Invitation

So here is today’s invitation. First, for my brother and sisters in Christ, win the battle of your mind. Make it a daily habit to guard your mind and think on the things of the Lord. Godly thinking leads to godly living. Right thinking leads to righteous living.

If you are not at peace with God through Jesus Christ, that is your first order of business. Be at peace with God through Jesus Christ and receive the peace of God.

Admit that you are a sinner. Believe that Jesus died on the cross for you sins and in your place. Confess Him as Lord and Savior. Call on Him to save you!

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What do you do when adversity strikes? In our study of Paul’s letter of joy to the Philippian Church, we have talked a lot about adversity, and the fact that no one is immune from adversity. Every person in the room is either in the middle of adversity or just coming out of adversity or about to enter adversity.

One of my closest friends from college is a husband, father of 3 boys, and pastor. He and his family started a church on the East Coast and pastored that church for 10 plus years before returning to Texas and taking an associate pastor position at a church in Austin.

Last month, my friend and his wife entered adversity. Their oldest son, almost the same age as Caleigh, who is a collegiate athlete, found out that he has cancer, and he is 20 years. It is cancer that started in his groin but is also in his stomach, lungs, around his heart, and has a spot on his brain. What do you do when adversity strikes?

In Philippians 4, Paul addressed a crisis in the Philippian Church. Now don’t get me wrong. On paper, it certainly doesn’t seem like their crisis is of the same magnitude as the crisis I just described.

However, for them, I’m sure it was. For Paul, I’m sure it was. Certainly, Paul experienced his own different crises throughout his life and ministry. Remember his experience in this same place, Philippi, from Acts 16:11-25.

In verses 16 and 18, he encountered a girl who was demon-possessed. In verses 19-21, he and Silas were arrested. In verses 22-24, they were stripped, beaten, and locked-up in prison. Paul knew crisis.

At this time, there was significant division in the Philippian Church. Two women in particular were at odds with each other. Again, that doesn’t sound like a big deal, but to them, it was.

We see Paul address them in verse 2. They were Euodia and Syntyche, and Paul implored them, begged them, pleaded with them to be of the same mind in the Lord.

In verse 3, Paul even called on others in the church to help these two sisters in Christ come together. The NKJV translation says “true companion,” but more than likely, this was the proper name of a man that Paul was calling on to help. His name literally meant yokefellow, and Paul wanted the yokefellow to yoke these two ladies together or bring these two ladies together. Paul also called on Clement to assist as well.

By the way, we in the church, brothers and sisters in Christ, are supposed to work out our conflicts differently than the world. We live in such a litigious culture, and shame on us when we let that culture come into the Body of Christ. Paul called on others in the church to mediate this conflict between Euodia and Syntyche.

Also, do you know for certain this morning that your name is written in the Book of Life? That is God’s book that has written in it each and every name of every person who has and who ever will call on the name of the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, to save him or her. You can make sure your name is written there today by calling on Jesus to save you this morning.

From God’s Word, how do we respond?

Rejoice in the Lord, Philippians 4:4.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

First, we can and should rejoice. But what is there to rejoice about? Notice the text. Rejoice in the Lord. Paul even said it twice. We are to rejoice in and because of the Lord.

To rejoice is to make an intentional decision of choosing joy rather than being slave to our feelings and letting our circumstances determine our emotion.

We can rejoice that God is in still in control: Psalm 103:19.

9 The Lord has established His throne in heaven,

And His kingdom (or sovereignty) rules over all.

We can rejoice that God is working all of life for our good and for His glory: Romans 8:28.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

We can rejoice that God promised to see us through: Psalm 1:1-3.

1 Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

We can rejoice that God will meet our needs: Philippians 4:19.

19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

And, we can rejoice that God cares for us: Matthew 6:25-34.

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

When adversity strikes, rejoice in the Lord.

Relax because of the Lord, Philippians 4:5-6a.

5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing.

Verse 6 says to be anxious for nothing. Don’t worry about anything. Instead, relax.

Can we relax because we are immune to adversity? Can we relax because adversity won’t hurt us? We can relax because the Lord is at hand or near. Heaven is so close.

I have said this before and repeat it this morning. If you are follower of Christ, even the best of this life is the worst you will ever experience because of your future home in heaven. However, if you aren’t a Christian, this life is the best you every experience as your eternity will be in hell.

Because the Lord is at hand, I can relax, and I can make sure that my gentleness is known by everyone that God puts in my path. Why? Because I am on my way to heaven.

Our English translations don’t seem to have an exact way to translate Paul’s sentiment in verse 5, but the NKJV says let your gentleness be known to all men. Your translation may say graciousness or kindness.

Brothers and sisters, the world is watching how we handle adversity. Will we get mad and seek revenge or hold a grudge or get mad at God and leave the church? Relax because of where you’re headed and let your gentleness and kindness be known to every person that God puts in your path.

Request of the Lord, Philippians 4:6b.

…but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Instead of being anxious or worrying, we need to make our requests known to God through prayer.

Thanksgiving should be our attitude in prayer. In all things, we are to be thankful for the fact that God is good, and He does good to us and for us.

It is hard to distinguish prayer and supplication. They both mean to speak or ask for definite answers to prayer.

Instead of worrying about your marriage, request of God in prayer to fix you and your spouse. Instead of worrying about your finances, request of God in prayer to fix your income and expenses. Instead of worrying about your job, request of God in prayer to fix you coworkers and your employer. Instead of worrying about your health, request of God to fix your family and your loved ones.

In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.

Conclusion

Perhaps the best part of today’s text is verse 7, and it is our conclusion.

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

In verse 7, Paul described the result of all that he instructed in verses 2-6: rejoice, relax, request. It is the peace of God…which is hard to explain because it surpasses all comprehension.

Inner peace doesn’t make sense to the outside world. When adversity strikes, it makes sense to panic and worry. However, the follower of Christ can have this mysterious peace of God.

Furthermore, it is that peace of God that stands as a guard over our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Why do we need our heart and mind guarded in adversity?

When adversity the strikes, the devil may say to you, “Is God for real? If He was, would you even be experiencing this?”

The devil may also say, “If God is real, does He really love you? If He did love you, wouldn’t He protect you from this?”

Or, “If God is real and does love you, is He still with you now? It sure doesn’t feel like He is with you. Don’t you really feel alone and abandoned?”

When you rejoice and relax and request, God guards our heart and mind from doubt. We need that brothers and sisters.

Finally, for some of you this morning, I want you to notice one caveat that pervades this passage of Scripture. If you are not in Christ, what we have talked about today will be impossible for you.

You can’t have the peace of God until you are at peace with God. And that only comes through a personal and saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 says it like this.

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, if you are a follower of Christ, I hope you are encouraged from God’s Word.

If you’re not, will you admit that you are a sinner? Will you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins? Will you call on Him as Lord and Savior and be saved?

At this time, please bow your heads and close your eyes.

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This past Monday, Christy and I went to the Regional Cross Country Meet to watch four EBC members run. The meet was held at Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie on the banks of Joe Pool Lake.

In our particular region, there were 179 girls and 182 boys running for the prize. Our girls were running two miles. Our boys were running 3.1 miles. At this meet, the prize was the opportunity to run at the State Cross Country Meet.

In Philippians 3:12-16, Paul used a racing analogy for the Christian Life. If you were here last Sunday, the Christian’s greatest desire is to know Christ more. To say it another way, eternity with Jesus is the prize. Are you running for the prize?

Forget what’s behind you, Philippians 3:12-13.

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.

If you have ever run a race, what is behind you is in the past. Don’t worry about the past. Don’t be concerned with what is behind you.

In verse 13, Paul said he was forgetting those things that were behind him. This could include both good and bad things.

The message that he communicated to the Philippians was that in the Christian Life, even Paul had not mastered it. In verse 12, he said that he had not already attained it, and he had not achieved perfection. In verse 13, he said he had not apprehended the prize.

What good things might he have forgotten? Remember the resume that Paul listed in verses 5-6? None of those things were any good to him now. He was forgetting them.

He also could have been thinking about past failures. Satan loves to remind us of our failures. However, Paul was forgetting those too.

You mean Paul had failed? Of course he had failed as has every person in the room. Most, if not all, can identify with Romans 7.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Regardless, if it is good or bad, in running for the prize of eternity with Jesus, forget what’s behind you. Looking back generally is not good. See Genesis 19:15-26.

15 When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” 16 And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” 18 Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! 19 Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. 20 See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.” 21 And he said to him, “See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. 22 Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore, the name of the city was called Zoar. 23 The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. 25 So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Instead, what did Jesus say? See Luke 9:62.

62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Press toward the prize, Philippians 3:12-14.

The idea is found here in verse 12. Paul said he pressed on. In verse 13, he said he was reaching forward to those things which are ahead. In verse 14, he said he pressed toward the goal for the prize.

Perhaps Paul was a sports fan. He often used sports analogies. See 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

I’m not sure who wrote Hebrews. However, that author also appreciated sports. See Hebrews 12:1.

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

At the meet on Monday, a lot of runners were giving it everything they had. They were pressing on and reaching toward the goal of that finish line. Others seemed to be just enjoying a day out of school.

For this group, I could say the same. Are you pressing on toward the goal? Are you reaching forward to the prize? Or, are you just content with your fire insurance?

Know for certain for the prize is, Philippians 3:15-16.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

In our last two verses for today, Paul makes another appeal for unity. We’ve seen and heard this previously as there was an issue dividing the Philippian Church.

Regardless, Paul appealed for them to be of the same mind regarding the prize. Make no mistake. The prize was and is eternity with Jesus Christ.

However, if you don’t agree, like Paul, I think God will convince you of otherwise. Jesus is the prize!

Conclusion

For the casual observer this morning, Jesus is the prize. Therefore, it is not being a better person. You will never be good enough to go to heaven. Today, I invite you to receive the gift of eternal life with Jesus in heaven.

For my brothers and sisters, the American Dream is not the prize. Early retirement is not the prize. Our team winning the championship is not the prize. Becoming more like Jesus is the prize!

Jim Elliot, missionary to Ecuador, is famous for this quote, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

You cannot keep the American Dream, your riches, or your life. If you are follower of Christ, you cannot lose Jesus.

Becoming more like Jesus is captured in one word, “obey.” Forget what is behind. Press on toward the prize. Obey the Lord Jesus.

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Today, let’s turn our attention to Philippians 3:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “The Christian’s Greatest Desire.”

In verse 1, we recognize that Paul was a Baptist Preacher. How so? He says, “Finally,” and has two more chapters before he’s done.

Also, in verse 1, we know that he is still talking to us, brothers and sisters in Christ. We also find our first imperative or command in today’s text.

Rejoice in the Lord, 3:1!

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

We have seen in the past that this is a letter of joy that Paul wrote to the Philippian Church, and joy is a theme that runs throughout the letter.

Remember the difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is a positive emotion that usually out of our control but is determined by outward circumstance.

On the other hand, joy is a positive emotion that can be decided because of an inward reality. For the Christian, our inward reality is our saving relationship with Christ.

And let’s talk about our that saving relationship works as I believe that is why Paul commanded us to rejoice.

The Protestant Reformation was started by Martin Luther and was the reforming of the Catholic Church. From that reformation, the Protestant Church came or at least grew.

Also, as it relates to salvation, Protestant Christians endorsed and propagated the truth that salvation is in Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone. However, you normally hear it expressed by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Our text today gives a different order, but I don’t see it as consequential. Notice the truth of being in Christ in verses 1, 3, and 9.

Also, I believe God’s grace, while not explicit in these verses, is certainly applied. What is grace?

Grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve. It is implied regarding righteousness at the end of verse 9.

Our response to God’s grace is faith. Again, look at verse 9. We have faith in Christ which is the righteousness from God by faith.

So what does that have to do with Paul’s command to rejoice? I can rejoice because salvation is not up to me. Otherwise, I would fail, and so would you.

Only Jesus can save. Therefore, my invitation today is for you to be saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!

Beware of False Hope, 3:2-6!

2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

We find our second imperative in verse 2…beware, beware, beware! Beware of dogs, evil workers, and the mutilation!

Who are these people? These people were called Judaizers. They were Jews who gave the impression that they had converted to Christ. However, they added to the gospel.

Their gospel wasn’t by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Their gospel was Jesus plus circumcision, and that is no gospel at all.

In a sarcastic tone, Paul referred to them as pesky, flea-ridden, mangy mutts. He also called them evil workers, and in a direct reference to circumcision, he called them mutilation.

By the way, circumcision was the precise cutting away of the foreskin of the mail reproductive organ that was the outward sign of the old covenant. Paul called them carless cutters of flesh.

Then, in verse 3, he declared followers of Christ as the true circumcision. Those are the ones who have been spiritually circumcised by cutting away the outward skin of our hearts that are now committed to worshiping God and rejoicing in Jesus and putting no confidence in the flesh or human morality.

However, Paul had every reason to boast about his life. His heritage was pristine. There was not more deserving person than Paul in light of his family tree and the life he lived. Concerning righteousness of keeping the law, he would have been found blameless.

With Paul’s credentials, we are reminded that there is no hope in our genealogy. There is also no hope in our morality.

However, let also take this reminder one step further to some thoughts I am hearing and seeing today. There is no hope in generosity. There is no hope in ingenuity, and there is no hope in nationality.

Brothers and sisters, beware of false hope in anything or anyone other than Jesus. The good news of the gospel is that eternal salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!

Know Christ More, 3:7-11!

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

As we are aware of false hope and false gospels and because there is only salvation in Jesus, the Christian’s greatest desire ought to be, should be to know Christ more. That was Paul’s testimony.

In verse 7-8, he said everything earthly means nothing. He counted it as loss, and Paul suffered loss because of his decision to follow Christ.

In verse 9, he could never have the righteousness of Christ doing good. It can only come through faith in Christ. You can’t achieve it or earn it. You can only receive it. It is by faith.

Consequently, I want to know Christ more. That is verse 10. I want to know that He is superior. Everything is loss compared to him. The American Dream is loss. Early retirement is loss. Grandchildren are loss.

I want to know that His power is supreme. That power is what raised Him from the dead. It can save your marriage. It can save your relationship with your children. It can save your business.

I want to know the fellowship of his sufferings. If you follow Christ, like Paul, you will suffer at some point. However, because of the fellowship we have with Jesus, He promises never to leave us or forsake us. We will never be alone.

Conclusion

Today, our invitation will be different. With your heads bowed and eyes closed, will you put your faith in truth in Christ this morning? Will you stop trusting in genealogy or morality or generosity or ingenuity or nationality? Today, will you be saved by grace alone through faith a lone in Christ alone?

Also, if you are a Christian, if your desire is to Christ more, would you stand? If you will commit to make that your desire, would you stand?

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This morning, we find ourselves at the end of Philippians 2, and we will be looking at verses 19-30. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Esteem Them Highly!”

In today’s text, Paul mentioned two friends by name. He had mentioned one previously, and introduced a new person as well. We know of Timothy from Philippians 1:1, and after today, we will now of Epaphroditus.

1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.

Allow me to set the stage. Paul is in Rome on house arrest for sharing the gospel. For two years, he is chained to Roman Guard. If goes to eat, he is there. If he goes to sleep, he is there. As he wrote this letter, he was there.

It seems that Timothy was also with him in the area along with Epaphroditus. Once this letter was complete, Epaphroditus carried it from Rome to Philippi. Timothy then visited Philippi on Paul’s behalf to see that they received the letter and got a report to take back to Rome.

Here in Philippians 2, I hope to lead us in admiring these two men. I also want to encourage you to esteem our minsters highly.

Paul the Apostle

When we think about Paul, today’s text reminds us that he was committed to the Lord, concerned for these Philippian Believers, and commissioned Timothy.

First, Paul was committed to the Lord above all else. Look at verse 19. You see the first of two times when Paul said his hope was in the Lord Jesus. You’ll also find those words in verse 24.

In other words, in all things and at all times, Paul trusted in the Lord. He was saying, “The Lord’s will be done” above all else.

Can you say that in all things and at all times? Remember, Paul was on house arrest when he wrote this letter of joy to the Philippian Church.

Second, he was concerned about the Philippian Believers. He was looking forward to hearing from Timothy about their state or condition. He wanted to know how they were doing even in his absence.

How is your concern for those around you? What about those that you haven’t seen at EBC in a number of weeks or months or even years? Is it your attitude that that is Bro. Richard’s job or is out our job?

Third, Paul commissioned Timothy to go to Philippi. Timothy was the only one that Paul could trust, and so Paul sent him after Epaphroditus delivered the letter and looked forward to his report.

Timothy the Son

In addition to these first several verses reminded us of Paul, they also remind of Timothy. He was the same as Paul in his heart, sympathetic to Philippian Church, and a servant to the Lord and to Paul.

First, Timothy was the same as Paul in his heart. Verse 20 says they shared the same psyche. They wanted the same end goal.

Second, Timothy was sympathetic to the Philippian Church. Why? Philippi was one of the first cities that he and Paul ministered in after he was converted to Christ.

Timothy knew these Christians, and these Christians knew him. See Acts 16:1-12.

1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. 6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11 Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days.

Third, Timothy served the Lord and Paul. Because of his relationship with Lord, Timothy served Paul by checking on the Philippian Church and reporting back.

What about you? Are you serving the Lord by serving others? If you’re not serving others, are you serving the Lord? Find your place of service!

Epaphroditus the Charming

Epaphroditus is mentioned for the first time in verse 2, and his name means “charming.” These final verses remind us that he was a messenger from Philippi, a minister to Paul, and he was medically sick while working for the Lord.

First, Epaphroditus was from the Philippian Church. He had brought their financial gift to Paul. That is alluded to verse 30 and confirmed in 4:18.

18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

Second, he was a minister to Paul. Paul used those very words in verse 25. In verse 30, he supplied from the Philippians what Paul lacked.

Third, Epaphroditus was medically sick working for the Lord. Verse 27 said he was so sick that he almost died. Verse 29 says he risked his life for work of Christ and came close to death. However, praise the Lord, God healed him!

Conclusion

My invitation this morning is three fold. First, like Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus, if you aren’t in Christ, I invite you to receive the gift of eternal life that He is offering today.

Second, all three of these men had many admirable qualities that can and should be emulated. However, the one I remind you of lastly this morning is their loyalty, commitment, and faithful to their family…that is their spiritual family.

Paul called Timothy his son. However, that was not biological but spiritual. Timothy served Paul because of his relationship with the Lord Jesus. Epaphroditus was a brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, and even risked his life ministered to Paul on behalf of the Philippians because of his relationship with Christ.

EBC, we are family. Let us love and care for one another like it.

Finally, Paul encouraged the Philippians to receive Epaphroditus and esteem him highly. Brothers and sisters, I invite you and encourage not to take for granted what you have.

Bro. Ronnie faithfully shepherds our teenagers. Esteem him highly.

Bro. Chris faithfully leads us in worship and shepherds our senior adults. Esteem him highly.

Cecily faithfully leads our day school and shepherds our preschoolers. Esteem her highly.

The Lord has blessed us richly. Let us thank Him and thank them!

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If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and turn to or find Philippians 2:12. Also, I want you to find Matthew 5:14-16. I want to share a message with you entitled, “How Can Your Light for Christ Shine Brighter?”

Matthew 5 is Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. What did He say about His followers and their role in the world today?

Notice also what Paul said of the Philippians Believers at the end of verse 16. You shine as lights in the world.

However, how can we shine brighter? Why? Because we are living in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.

Exposition

Chapter 2:12 begins with “Therefore” encouraging us to look back at what was said previously.

The Philippian Church was divided for one reason or another. Paul eventually got to the point of naming two women specifically who were part of the problem: Euodia and Syntyche. See 4:2.

2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

However, he introduced this theme of unity in 1:27 and sought to develop it throughout the rest of his letter. See 1:27.

27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.

In other words, good citizens of heaven are united in spirit and mind striving together.

Chapter 2 continues the development of that thought. He pled with them to please their pastor or make Paul’s joy complete by being united because of who they were and who they loved.

1 Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

In verses 1 and 2 are the solution to the problem of division is unity, then verse 3 and 4 give the specifics of how to be united. First, think of the other person as more important, and secondly, think of your self less often.

Of course, the best example of humility is the Lord Jesus. In 2:5-7, even though He was God, He laid aside some of His divine privileges and became fully man taking the form of a bond servant.

However, He went even further by dying on the cross for our sin. That was accomplished through His obedience to death on the cross.

Now, we are caught up. Turn your attention to verse 12.

Paul encouraged his brothers and sisters to work out their salvation. In other words, put into practice what they had been asked to do.

Notice that he didn’t say work for your salvation but work out your salvation. The NT speaks of three aspects of our salvation.

Justification is when we are converted or born-again. Sanctification is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our life making us more like Jesus. Glorification is when we are with Jesus in heaven.

Here in verse 12, Paul spoke of sanctification. Do what you know to do, and work out what God has worked in you.

That is what is said in verse 13. God will aid you obeying, in being united, in becoming more like Jesus. It will be a joint effort between you and God.

The specific way you can do that in the Philippian Church is by doing everything you do without complaining and disputing. In today’s vernacular and not as nice, we would say, “Stop whining!”

Certainly, he had Israel in mind and they regularly complained to Moses about God. However, here, it seems the Philippians Believers were complaining about one another.

Do you know why Paul encouraged them to stop? Because it is an awful witness to a watching world.

If you stop, you will become blameless and harmless for world that is watching, and your light for Christ will shine brighter living in a dark, crooked, and perverse world. Did you know that the same is true today?

Brothers and sisters, it is an awful witness for Christ and this church when a watching world hears you bemoan your brothers and sisters in Christ! Please stop for the sake of the gospel. Please stop at work and at school and in your friend groups and on FB.

We don’t have to all agree. We don’t have to share the same preference or opinion. However, we don’t have to share our displeasure with one another in front of a watching world.

However, let me take this one step further. I would not only ask you to stop complaining about brothers and sisters in Christ, but also, stop complaining about the world.

You are hurting EBC and the gospel if you are always complaining to the principal and always complaining to coach and always complaining to the restaurant owner and the store manager. Now, that doesn’t mean you settle for mediocrity.

However, there is a big difference in always pointing out the problems and willing to be part of the solution for the problems. Instead, Paul’s admonition is stop complaining and decide to rejoice.

That is verse 18. However, notice verse 17. It seems that he isn’t as confident in his return to the Philippian Church. Instead, it seems that he is thinking about martyrdom.

Verse 17 says he is being poured out as a drink offering as a sacrifice and service to the faith. He used similar language in 2 Timothy 4:6.

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.

Regardless of what the future held, Paul asked the Philippian Believers to be glad and rejoice with him. Remember, he penned those words chained to a Roman Soldier.

Conclusion

To shine brighter in the world today, work out your salvation, become more like Jesus by doing all things without complaining. Stop complaining about your brothers and sisters in Christ, and stop complaining about the world. Instead, decide to rejoice because of the internal reality of our hope in Christ.

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Have you ever been a part of or known about a church division? Churches have divided over a number of issues through the years. Some have been sincere and significant. Others have been silly and senseless.

Churches have divided over a pastor’s leadership style. Churches have divided over the handling of sin. Churches have divided over facilities and location. Churches have divided over money and how it is spent. Churches have divided over music styles and song selection.

The Philippian Church was divided over something. We aren’t sure what. However, because Paul began this thought of unity last week in 1:27, and it continues in chapters 2. He even named names of two women that were involved in the conflict in 4:2.

2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

In our text for this morning, Paul is going to appeal to his intimate relationship with this year and plead for their unity. Ultimately, he told them to follow the example of Jesus.

Exposition

This second chapter begins with Paul using 4 conditional statements that are all assumed to be true and serves to remind the Philippians what they share with one another. All of the Philippians have consolation or encouragement in Christ. All of the Philippians have the comfort of Christ’s love. All of the Philippians share the same Holy Spirit, and all of the Philippians have affection and mercy.

In 2:2, Paul makes his ultimate request: fulfill my joy! In other words, what follows is how you can please your pastor.

Be Unified, 2:1-2.

1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Paul based this request, first, on who the Philippians were. They were in Christ. Consequently, they were consoled. They were comforted. They did share the same Holy Spirit. They were affectionate and merciful, and again, this was all true because of who they were in Christ.

Also, Paul appealed to whom they loved. Because they loved Jesus and loved him, be unified. Notice the unity that he screamed from 2:2:

Be like-minded. Be of one accord. Be of one mind. In other words, Paul said there was no room for division here at Philippi.

This must have been a fairly serious issue. The reason I say that is because we know how Paul spoke and wrote to others churches and affirmed their diversity.

As I said last week, we can differ in our opinions. We can differ in our preferences. We cannot differ in what is the gospel.

Because we have many guests today and in case you weren’t here last week, the gospel has four essential components. Remember, morality is not the gospel. Baptism is not the gospel. Church membership is not the gospel. Republican conservatism is not the gospel. Christian Nationalism is not the gospel.

The gospel is that there is one true God, the God of the Bible, and He is completely holy. Unfortunately, we are not because of sin, and therefore, we are in need of Savior. The good news is that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross in our place, and was raised to life to validate everything He ever said and did, and today invites you to call on Him to be saved. That is the gospel, and we must strive together and be united in the gospel if we are going to be good citizens of heaven.

Be Selfless, 2:3-4.

Paul’s second piece of instruction in pleasing your pastor is to be selfless, and he talks about two ways this is accomplished. First, esteem or think of others as more important than yourself.

Now this exhortation is completely opposite of what we as humans would naturally do. We naturally consider ourselves to be most important. Even the nicest person you know is naturally wired to be self-centered. Therefore, Paul instructed the Philippians to do the supernatural.

Second, in 2:4, he goes even further. Not only think of others as better than self, but also think of self less.

Naturally, we are going to take care of self. We do that with eating and sleeping and bathing, etc.

However, Paul’s instruction is to think of self less and others more. Don’t completely stop thinking of self, but think of self less.

I think one of the best illustrations of what Paul is trying to teach the Philippians is a mother with her newborn baby. I watched my own wife with three daughters put them first and self second.

When Christy wanted and needed to sleep, they came first. When Christy wanted and needed to eat, they came first. When Christy wanted and needed to rest, they came first.

Think what might happen if we, at EBC, practiced selflessness. Think about what would happen in your marriage, husbands, if you practiced selflessness. Think what would happen on your job or on your team if you practiced selflessness.

Think like Jesus, 2:5-11.

In 2:5, Paul literally says have the same mind as Christ. However, we are not just to think like Jesus. We are to behave like Jesus as it relates to conflict and division.

Remember, Jesus was God. That is what verse 6 says, and there is no debate about that.

However, Jesus was also man. Jesus Christ made a conscious decision not to hang onto His divine privileges. Verse 6 says He didn’t consider it robbery to be equal with God.

In other words, He didn’t consider being God a thing to be grasped or held on to. He could have demanded His due as God, but He made a conscious decision not to.

Matthew 26:39 gives us perfect proof of such. Jesus was under great distress and in the Garden of Gethsemane.

39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was on His face and if no other time, this was the one time that He wanted out. He wanted out of what God had called Him to do.

However, even though He could have said no, He didn’t. He resolved to not demand His due.

In verse 7, Jesus Christ was make Himself of no reputation. He laid aside all that He could have done as God.

He took the form of a bondservant and was made in the likeness of man. He became one of us. He extended Himself to humanity by becoming flesh.

In verse 8, Jesus Christ was obeyed to the point of death. It was God’s will for Jesus Christ to be crucified. Otherwise, in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus asked if there was another way, God would have told Him about it. In the cruelest form of execution know to mankind, Jesus Christ died for my sins and your sins.

Conclusion

Because of what Jesus did, God exalted His only Son. How so? He gave Him the name that is above every other name. It is the most important and the most powerful.

Consequently, every knee will bow at the name of Jesus. That means for those on earth, in heaven, and in hell.

That also means every tongue will confess what is true. Jesus is Lord.

Therefore, not only does Paul invite the Philippians and us to please our pastor. When we do, by following the example of Christ, we will be giving glory to God the Father.

However, there is also an invitation here to be saved. Every person will bow their knee to Jesus and confess Him as Lord. It can happen voluntarily on earth and in heaven. Or, it can be coerced in hell. The choice is yours.

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We are in Philippians 1, and I want to talk to you this morning about being a good citizen in 2023. However, if you think I am about to talk politics, you will be very disappointed.

In Philippians 1, Paul is chained to a Roman Guard. He is under house arrest for preaching the gospel. However, in an effort to comfort and encourage his brothers and sisters in Christ in Philippi, he has written this letter of joy to them.

As we spoken about adversity in the recent Sundays, please remember that no is immune from adversity. Also, please recognize that everyone is either in an adversity, just coming out of an adversity, or about to enter an adversity. There are not exceptions.

If you remember from last week and 1:19-26, Paul recognized that he would either die in chains or be released after being found not guilty. He then gave us an internal POV as to his desire to stay on earth and or go to heaven.

The end of chapter 1 addresses how the Philippians should respond if he stayed with them or went to heaven. His encouragement to them is singular…be a good citizen!

Exposition

Look at verse 27. Only begins the verse, and Paul has only one point or one course of action or one action point.

Let your conduct be worthy. The language of the NT says be a good citizen. However, in finishing this thought, Paul was concerned about being a good citizen of Rome, although that is what they thought.

This morning, we aren’t going to talk about being a good citizen of the gold ole USA or Republic of Texas or even Rains County. We want to understand what it means to be a good citizen of heaven or in other words how we make sure our conduct is worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Paul continued with his encouragement being the same whether he stayed on earth or went to heaven. He wanted to hear about the Philippians being good citizens of heaven in all of their affairs. What does that look like?

Being a good citizen of heaven means standing strong in the face of adversity, 1:27a.

That is what he said there in verse 27…that you stand fast or stand strong or endure. You have certainly heard the secular cliché of, “Tough times don’t last but tough people do.”

For the follower of Christ, there is some truth there IF…you are faithful in being obedient to the word of God. See Matthew 7:24-27.

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Rick Warren shared this prayer last week on FB.

“Father, there are many areas in my life where I know what you want me to do. I just haven’t done it. And I’m sorry. Please forgive me for my disobedience. I now realize that it was a lack of faith. I wasn’t trusting that you knew best. I ask you, Jesus Christ, to give me the strength to follow your directions immediately, completely, joyfully, and continually for the rest of my life from this day forward. I will trust you to fulfill all of these promises in my life. In Your name I pray, amen."

Stand strong in the face adversity by being obedient to God’s word.

Being a good citizen of heaven means striving together in the face of adversity, 1:27b.

Not only can individuals experience adversity like Paul, but groups can experience adversity as well. If Paul had died in chains at the hands of the Romans, that would have been an adversity for all the brothers and sisters at Philippi. That would have been an adversity for the entire church.

Paul told them to strive together or remain united for the faith of gospel. We too, brothers and sisters, must strive together or remain united here at Emory Baptist Church for the faith of the gospel.

We don’t have to agree on all doctrine to fellowship and worship with one another. However, we have to agree on what is the gospel. We must strive together and be united on what is and what is not the gospel.

Morality is not the gospel. Baptism is not the gospel. Church membership is not the gospel. Republican conservatism is not the gospel. Christian Nationalism is not the gospel.

Being a good citizen of heaven means signaling courage in the face of adversity, 1:28.

So in the face of adversity, if we are going to be good citizens of heaven, if we are going to make sure our conduct is worthy of the gospel of Christ, we will stand strong and strive together, and signal courage.

In Verse 28, Paul said don’t be terrified in any way by your adversaries. However, that is easier said than done.

I have also reminded you recently that the devil can do NOTHING to threaten the believer’s eternal security in heaven. However, he will attempt to make our lives hell on earth, and he does that through lost people.

BTW…always keep in mind who are enemy is. It isn’t lost people. It is the devil.

How are we to signal courage to our adversaries? We remember and remind the devil of his place. See Matthew 16:18.

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

The rock is Jesus and Peter’s testimony of Jesus saving him, and the gates of hell will NOT prevail against the church of the living God. Brothers and sisters, signal courage!

Conclusion

One more thing, and we’ll be done. In verses 29-30, a very hard truth but a valid truth nonetheless is that sometimes our suffering or our adversity is exactly what God has planned, and verses 29-30 say it is a gift.

It has been granted to us from Christ to believe in Him and to suffer for His sake or because of Him. That is what Paul was doing. He was under house arrest because he had preached the gospel.

When you are being a good citizen of heaven, there is a good chance that you will upset the lost, pagan world. Consequently, you might experience some adversity or suffering.

Consider it a gift from Christ, and you are in good company with Paul, and you are being made more like Jesus. See 1 Peter 1:6-7.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

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It has been well said that for a Christian, a follower of Christ, that this life, life on earth, is the worst that he or she will ever experience. That means that our eternity in heaven will far greater than anything and everything we experience on earth.

If you have your Bibles, please take them and turn to Philippians 1:19. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Viewing Life as a Win/Win Situation.”

What does a “win/win situation” mean? It means that both options are available are good and pleasurable or beneficial.

If you understand that you have two options of either living or dying, and you are a follower of Christ, do you view that as a win/win situation? Paul did, and I pray that we will soon enough.

Remember our context. Paul was under house arrest for two years in Rome. He was living in a rented house and chained to a Roman Guard twenty-four hours a day. During that time, he penned his epistle to the Philippian Church, a letter of joy.

In today’s text, let’s see his confidence, his conflict, and his commitment all the while in chains in Rome. He viewed life as a win/win situation.

While in chains, Paul was confident, 1:19-20.

19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

Verse 19 begins with “I know.” In those words, we see Paul’s confidence that his adversity would be resolved soon enough. He said that he would soon be delivered.

What did he mean? He meant that he was either going to be set free or he was going to die, and both could be seen as deliverance or salvation.

Why was he so confident? He was confident because of the prayers of the saints, the power of the Spirit, and the provision of the Son.

First, the Philippian Church was praying for Paul, and he knew it, and he felt it. He knew their prayers were going to make things happen.

BTW, prayer matters. However, some might say that if God is all powerful and he can do anything He wants, why pray?

We pray because God tells us to pray. I believe that not only can God ordain the end, God also ordains the means. Yes, God can do anything He wants, and God also wants to accomplish His purpose through our prayers. He has ordained the means of prayer.

This is why I have kept our Prayer Room in front of you for multiple weeks. We need more prayers in the Prayer Room. Why have you not signed up yet?

Paul also was confident in the power of the Spirit. This is the Holy Spirit, and Paul spoke of His supply in verse 19.

You could also understand His supply as His power. It was the Holy Spirit that raised the Jesus from the dead. If He did that, what can He not do in your life?

Third, Paul was confident because of the provision of the Son. In verse 20, Paul expected with confident hope that Christ was going to be magnified regardless of what happened.

In your adversity, are you confident that your life is a win/win situation?

While in chains, Paul was conflicted, 1:21-23.

21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

In verse 21, you see what is arguably the most well-known verse in Philippians. Paul laid out his two options. For him, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. In other words, his options were to stay or go.

If he stayed, that was a win because his life was identified with Christ. He knew Christ. He proclaimed Christ. He served Christ.

Everything about him was Jesus. See Galatians 2:20.

However, if we died, he knew immediately where he would be. He would be with Jesus in heaven. That was a win. That would be gain.

BTW, Paul knew that this choice was up to him. He was merely identifying the possible outcomes. See Psalm 139:16.

16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

In verse 22, Paul went further in thinking about these two possible outcomes. To stay or live would be fruitful or beneficial for the Philippian Church. They could benefit from Paul’s teaching and leadership.

However, verse 23 considers the other possible outcome. If Paul died or went to heaven, he would be with Christ, and that would be far greater personally. What could be better than being with Christ?

BTW, when a Christian dies, he or she immediately enters the presence of Christ in heaven. There is no such thing as an intermediate state or purgatory or soul sleep. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Do you really agree with Paul? Is being with Jesus the absolute best? Better than your spouse? Better than your children or grandchildren? Better than ________? See Psalm 84:10.

10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

For Paul, he was conflicted. Staying would be better for the Philippians. Going would be better for him. He was hard-pressed or torn or conflicted in his desires.

While in chains, Paul was committed, 1:24-26.

24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

Again, not that Paul could have made this decision on his own, but it appears that he experienced some kind of revelation that he wasn’t going to die in chains but was going to have the opportunity to keep ministering. That was what was best for them.

Therefore, he was committed to serving the saints before self. He decided to lay aside his personal desires and serve the Philippian Church instead. Ministering to them would result in their progress or spiritual growth and their joy.

However, know that ultimately, even in Paul’s service of the saints, he was serving the Lord. He served the Philippian Church because of his love for the Lord Jesus.

That is true here at EBC. We have folks who serve others every Sunday in our Sunday School Small Groups and Choir and Nursery and as Greeters and Security Team. However, ultimately, they are serving the Lord by serving one another.

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, do you view your life as a win/win situation? When God left you here after He saved you, He had one purpose in mind.

Do you know what it is? It is to serve Him by serving others. Specifically, it is telling others about Jesus. It is pointing others to Christ, and even all of that is the worst that you will ever experience because of how good Jesus will be in heaven.

However, if you are not saved this morning, this life is as good as it will ever get. That is a sad reality, but I want to invite you this morning to put your faith and trust in Christ and call on Jesus to save you.

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We are continuing our study this morning in Paul’s letter to the Philippian Church, the letter of joy. If you were here last Sunday, you saw Paul praying for these believers that they would grow in their love and knowledge and example of Christ.

Today, Paul is going to remind of his adversity. When we speak of adversity, we might use that word, but we also might use trial or tribulation or suffering.

Bro. Jimmy Pritchard, long-time pastor of FBC Forney, used to say that no one is immune from adversity. That includes Christians and non-Christians.

As a matter of fact, every individual is currently in one of three places as it relates to adversity. Some of you are experiencing adversity right now. Others of you just came out of adversity. There are still others who are about to be in the middle of adversity.

Regardless of where you are, I have one question for you. Will your adversity advance the gospel? I would dare say that Paul answered this question yes. I would even say he decided that his adversity would advance the gospel. What about you?

As we look at the text, let’s examine what adversity can look like.

Sometimes, adversity can come in the form of physical limitations, 1:12.

12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.

Obviously, the Philippian Church was worried about Paul and his adversity. However, he wanted to put them at ease with this letter of joy.

What was Paul’s adversity? He was under house arrest in Rome for preaching the gospel. That story is in Acts 28. We will look there closer in just a moment.

We know from the end of Acts that he rented a house. However, for a period of two years, he was chained to a Roman soldier to write, to eat, to sleep, and everything else. He referred to his chains four times in this first chapter: 7, 13, 14, and 16.

BTW, the NKJV translates verse 12 the things which happened to me. Notice that “which happened” is italicized. That means the editors supplied those two words to make the English flow better, and that is fine.

However, know this morning, Brothers and Sisters, that nothing ever just happens in your life. God is control of all things. Even adversity doesn’t just happen. Either God caused the adversity, which is called discipline, or He allowed the adversity.

There is nothing in your life that is an accident or coincidence. It is all providence meaning under the control of the Eternal Sovereign.

Paul’s adversity had literal, physical limitations. He couldn’t go anywhere he wanted. He had to go where the soldier wanted, and he never went anywhere alone.

Some of you today are experiencing adversity in the form of physical limitations. It might be cancer. It might be diabetes. It might be kidney failure. Your adversity might be any number of literal, physical limitations.

Sometimes, adversity can come from the fallen world, 1:13.

13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ.

Don’t lose sight of the fact that Paul’s adversity was at the hands of the pagan Jewish World and the pagan Roman World. See Acts 28:16 and 28:30.

16 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him.

Some of you today are experiencing adversity at the hands of the fallen world. Make no mistake about it. If you are a follower of Christ, Satan cannot endanger your eternity. However, he will do everything he can to make your life on earth a living hell, and he will use lost people to do it.

Sometimes, adversity can come from the fellowship of believers, 1:14-18.

14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: 16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

This may surprise you, but sometimes adversity can come from other brothers and sisters in Christ. In verses 14-18, there is an unnamed group of gospel preachers who trying to add more adversity to Paul’s adversity. That is what he said in at the end of verse 16.

This group preached Christ from envy and strife. They were guilty of selfish ambition. Maybe they were jealous of Paul and his influence in the church.

Unfortunately, some of our greatest adversity can come from within these walls. However, it shouldn’t be so.

Application

So how can we apply today’s text to our everyday lives?

First, for me, when I was younger and immature, I thought it was my calling in life to point out the error and be hypercritical of other preachers. I did this for those I read and those I saw on television.

That was not Paul’s practice. He did point out these brothers in Christ were different than him and even trying to hurt him. However, notice what he said in verse 18. He rejoiced in Christ being preached regardless of the motivation.

Keep in mind, these brothers weren’t preaching a false gospel. They were preaching the true gospel but with the wrong motives.

Consequently, I’m not interested in pointing out to you or the world how I disagree with other brothers and sisters in Christ outside of this church. If you want to know my opinion, feel free to ask, but I’m not going to openly and publicly criticize other brothers and sisters in Christ unless they are preaching heresy. See Ephesians 4:29.

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Second, God can use your adversity for His glory and your good. God used Paul’s adversity to embolden the Philippian Church in sharing the gospel. That is what verse 14 says. Furthermore, he said in verse 12 that his adversity had furthered the gospel.

Remember, there are not accidents or coincidences in your life. Romans 8:28 reminds how God works all things for His glory.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

However, He also works all things for our good including adversity. See James 1:2-4.

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Third, how you hand your adversity will either point others to Christ or turn others away from Christ. Paul chose the former.

He didn’t let his adversity rob his joy, and he took the opportunity to tell everyone he met about why he was in chains. Look back at verse 13.

It became evident to the entire palace guard and all of the rest that he was in chains because of Christ? But how did that happen when he was chained to only one at a time? One by one.

Paul used his adversity to point others to Christ. Jesus tells us to do the same in the Sermon on the Mount. See Matthew 5:16.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

However, this isn’t the first time Paul did this. See Acts 16:25.

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

The prisoners in Philippi were listening and watching how Paul and Silas would handle their adversity. Brothers and sisters, the world is watching how you will handle your adversity.

Will your adversity advance the gospel or hinder the gospel? I pray the former and not the latter.

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This morning is a special morning as it is our annual Back in the Game Sunday. In the next few minutes, we are going to be looking back at the previous 11 months and looking forward to the next church year that will begin in October.

BTW, why do we do this every year? That’s a great question. We need to be reminded at least every year, why we exist and what is our job.

But Bro. Richard, that’s boring. We have already heard that. Great! Let’s get to work.

Brothers and sisters, can I suggest to you that as followers of Christ, there is a very real temptation to grow bored with following Jesus daily. Our culture has conditioned us to long for the mountain top experience.

While there are plenty of mountain top experiences in following Christ, many days would not be described that way. However, we are called to follow any way and every single day, and so I want to remind you of that today, and encourage you to embrace the challenge of following Christ every day not just on the mountain top.

In addition to looking back and looking forward, we will remember why we exist at EBC and find our purpose in Matthew’s Gospel, and I will be encouraging you to get “Back in the Game!”

Looking Back

In 2022-2023, God was kind to us and God blessed us, and we need to celebrate that. Specifically, we need to celebrate some individuals and some families.

In today’s bulletin, you will find a Back in the Game Brochure. Please find that and notice on the very back panel. In 2022-2023, God added 21 new members to Emory Baptist Church. Of those 21, 5 were baptized by immersion and after salvation. Praise the Lord!

Looking Forward

Not only do we want to look back, but we also want to look forward. In that same brochure from your bulletin, you will find some ministries and events that we hope you will consider joining.

First, our largest and in many ways, our most important ministry at Emory Baptist Church is our Sunday School Small Groups.

In this next church year, we will have 21 Sunday School Small Groups. I cannot say enough about the importance of you as an individual and as a family, as adults and teenagers, and children, of being part of one of these small groups that meet every Sunday morning at 9:15 AM all over our property.

Beginning in September, almost all of those adult options will be studying the Gospel of Mark. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about different classes teaching different subjects. You simply decide on which teacher and which class members you like the best.

On Sunday mornings, we began a new sermon series last week in Philippians, and that will continue next Sunday and through the fall. On Sunday evenings, we will continue to study Deuteronomy.

Why Does EBC Exist and What is Your Purpose?

More than informing you about calendars and schedules, I want to remind you of our purpose at EBC and why we exist and challenge you to get back in the game. God’s Word tells me that EBC exists for three reasons, and these three reasons could also be considered or called our purposes.

However, they aren’t just the three purposes for our church. They are also the three purposes for every EBC member.

Therefore, we exist and you exist to love God, love people, and make disciples. Summer is over. Vacations are done. School has started. Sports and band have begun so it is time to get back in the game.

Love God, Matthew 22:36-38!

Our first purpose and expectation is to love God. In Matthew 22, Jesus was asked by a lawyer what is the great commandment in the law.

In short, Jesus responded with love God. You are to love Him with everything you are. You are to love Him with your heart and your soul and your mind. Consequently, this is the first and greatest commandment.

How do we love God? The answer is worship. We love God by worship individually and worshipping collectively as a church.

Paul called every follower of Christ to worship God individually in Romans 12:1.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

The NIV says presenting your bodies to the Lord is proper worship. The NASB also reads this way.

Monday through Saturday, my challenge to you is to love God by worshipping Him individually with your daily living. That includes your job and your marriage and your family and your school and your games and your entertainment and your finances and your health. Love God.

We are also to love God by worshipping collectively as a church. Hebrews 10:25 contains a warning for me and you.

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

This verse contains a command not to forsake the assembling of the saints in worship when they meet. In other words, make sure Sunday worship is a priority for you and your family.

It is so sad and such a terrible indictment on the local church today that regular worship attendance has dropped to once or twice a month. That’s not how you would play a game. You don’t just play half the game. As a player, you should be ready to play the entire game.

Therefore, Brothers and Sisters, don’t settle for once or twice a month. If you are a member of EBC, I want to challenge you to be here each and every Sunday.

Don’t forsake this assembly. Make Sunday worship a higher priority than your recreation and your work.

I know…you’re busy, and you’re tired. Guess what? You’re in good company.

The bottom line is that you need this church and this church needs you. Love God by worshipping Him individually and worshipping Him collectively.

Love People, Matthew 22:39-40!

39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

In answering the lawyer in Matthew 22, Jesus didn’t stop with love God. He added love people too. He said the second is like the first. In addition to loving God, your job is also to love your neighbor. In other words, love people.

How can you love people at EBC? You can be a part of one of those 21 small group Sunday School classes. You can love people through fellowship. You can love people through life experience and discussion and learning of God’s word.

We need one another, and God’s word confirms such. See 1 Corinthians 12:14-18.

14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.

This is the body of Christ. You can love people with your participation in one of our small groups.

You can also love people by serving them through ministry. Did you know that if you have been born-again, God has given you at least one spiritual gift that is to be used in serving this body of believers? See 1 Corinthians 12:7.

1 Corinthians 12:7, 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.

God has given each member a spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit to be used in serving or for the profit or benefit of all, the entire body.

Brothers and sisters, how are you serving? In the choir? In the Prayer Room? Through Backpack Buddies? Through Little Free Pantry?

How are you loving people through service and ministry? Don’t just come and sit. Go and serve.

Make Disciples, Matthew 28:19-20!

Matthew 28:19-20, 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

You can know what Jesus said in Matthew 28 was important because it was the last thing He said to us. Not only do we exist to love God and to love people, but we also exist to make disciples.

That starts with sharing the gospel, and that is not just the responsibility or obligation or ministry of some but of all. BTW, come this next Wednesday night, and I will share with you the absolute easiest way to share the gospel.

If you’ve been saved, the power of the Holy Spirit has come upon you. If that is true, you are to be His witnesses.

Every believer is to be a verbal witness. God gave you a testimony to share.

You received the gospel. Share the gospel.

We also make disciples by small group Bible studies. That can happen on Sunday mornings or Monday nights or Tuesday nights or Wednesdays.

God called you as a disciple. Then He called you to make disciples.

Conclusion

So I want you to leave this morning informed and challenged to get back in the game at EBC by loving God, loving people, and making disciples. Not only is this information and a challenge, but this also why we exist as a church and church members.

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Today, turn in your Bibles to the Philippians 1:1. We’ll start today and finish this four-chapter book of the New Testament before the end of December. You could simply call our entire study but also this first message, “The Letter of Joy.”

The Author and His Associate

1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ

The Apostle Paul is the author of this letter to the Philippian Church. Remember, he is the most prolific author of our New Testament writing at least 13 books.

What do we know about this man? His resume of sorts can be found later in this letter, 3:5-6.

5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

However, in Acts 9, we learn of his conversion experience, 9:3-9.

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

BTW, Saul’s name wasn’t changed to Paul. Saul was his Hebrew name. Paul was his Gentile name. Because he was the Apostle to the Gentiles vs. Peter, the Apostle to the Jews, we are more accustomed to his Gentile name.

Paul’s associate was a young man named Timothy. In 1 Timothy 1:2, Paul called him his son in the faith.

Paul was introduced to Timothy in Acts 16:1-3. We know that Timothy was introduced to Christ by his mother and grandmother, 2 Timothy 1:5.

5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

BTW, here is your T. E. L. It doesn’t stand for The Elderly Ladies but Timothy, Eunice, and Lois.

Together, Paul and Timothy were bondservants of Jesus Christ. If you have been saved, that should be true of you too. If Jesus isn’t your master, you haven’t been born again.

The Audience

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons

There was only one church in Philippi composed of all the saints. However, “saints” doesn’t refer to dead people. These are living and breathing brothers and sisters in Christ.

Also, “saints” isn’t some extra special class of Christians. Saint means holy one, set apart from sin and self and set apart to God.

If you a Christian, a brother or sister in Christ, been saved, born again, are a follower of Jesus, you are a saint because that is who we are in Christ Jesus. You aren’t holy in and of yourself, but we are holy when we are in Christ.

Who were some of these saints in Philippi? Turn to Acts 16.

In Acts 16:14-15, Lydia and her family were saved.

14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

In Acts 16:29-33, the Philippian Jailor and his family were saved.

29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

And there seems to have been even more who met at Lydia’s house for church.

40 So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.

Paul not only wrote this letter of joy to the saints in Philippi, but that also included the church leaders. He mentions the two offices of the church then and today.

First is the bishop. This single office is referred to in the New Testament by multiple titles. Bishop, overseer, elder, and pastor all refer to the same office, the same position.

Second is deacon. This is also an office of the church but without the responsibility of teaching.

Paul’s Ambition for Writing

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 2 is a very common Pauline greeting. Grace is the giving of what we don’t deserve. Namely, we could never deserve salvation, but God gave us the opportunity to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ.

And when a person receives Jesus as Lord and Savior, he or she receives peace from God because that person is now at peace with God. You can only be at peace with God and receive peace from God through a personal, saving relationship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

I would suggest to you that Paul had at least three ambitions or goals in writing this letter of joy. First, he wanted to give a report on Epaphroditus. Evidently, this saint had brought a gift to Paul from the Philippian Church.

While on the trip, he became very sick. He almost died, but Paul sent this letter of joy back to the church reporting what happened. See 2:25-30.

25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

Second, Paul wanted to thank the Philippian Church for their support of him while he was in jail. They seemed to have sent some type of financial support to him. See 4:10.

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.

Paul’s third and final ambition in writing this letter was to encourage these Christians to choose joy! See 4:4.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

The noun “joy” or the verb “rejoice” is found some 16 times in this letter. That is why it is often called the letter of joy.

Notice that Paul encourages the Philippians to choose joy in all situations. You might even say he commanded such.

How in the word could he do that? How could he do that in light of his situation?

Remember, Paul wrote this letter from a Roman Prison Cell. How do we know? Look back at chapter 1.

1:7, just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.

1:13, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;

1:14, and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

1:16, The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;

Paul chose joy himself, but going forward, let’s understand what joy is by understanding what is not.

Joy is not happiness. Happiness is the positive feeling that you get when external circumstances are going your way. Most of the time, these circumstances are beyond our control.

Joy, on the other hand, is the positive feeling that a Christian can choose because of the internal reality of being saved. Even though Paul’s external circumstances didn’t produce happiness in him, he chose to rejoice because of who he was in Christ.

The world is full of reasons not to be happy. And of course, there are some people who naturally choose mad instead of joy. We even have some of those folks at EBC.

They are down on Emory and Rains County and Rains ISD and the school board and the high school and the junior high and the intermediate and the elementary school. They are down on the Rangers and the Cowboys and the Mavericks. They are down on Bro. Richard and Bro. Ronnie and Bro. Chris and their Sunday School Teacher. They are down on the Texas and the US and the world.

Brothers and sisters, in a watching world that needs to see the difference that Christ makes, I invite you to make it a habit of choosing joy! It is a conscious decision, and you can start today.

Conclusion

However, it is next to impossible if you have never received the grace of God in your life by receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Would you do that this morning?

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We have finally come to the end of the gospel of John. We started this study in November 2021. After 22 months, we will finish today.

From last Sunday in John 21, Jesus and seven of His closest disciples were in Galilee. The 7 had spent all night fishing and caught nothing.

Jesus told them to throw their net on the right-hand side of the boat. They did and caught 153 large fish. They then sat down with the post-resurrected Christ for breakfast.

Today’s verses focus on Peter. Peter was the unofficial leader of the 12 and was the second closest to Jesus behind the author of this gospel, John.

Remember how Peter had recently failed the Lord? Peter denied Jesus on three different occasions late Thursday night and early Friday morning before Jesus was crucified.

Now it was time for him to be forgiven and restored. This morning, let’s think about second chances and minding our own business.

Jesus Forgave Peter’s Past Failures, John 21:15-17.

I rather suspect that most everybody in the room this morning has heard some kind of sermon or Bible study regarding our first 3 verses. Bible students have been discussing and debating Jesus’ words in this text for years without ever coming to a solid consensus.

I’m sure we won’t arrive at a consensus today, but I believe the point here is not to remind Peter of his past failures. However, I do believe that Jesus forgave Peter and restored a broken man to his rightful place of leadership among Jesus followers.

Notice that Jesus called Peter “Simon, son of John.” It was this name that Jesus first called Peter to follow Him in John 1:40-42.

Peter answered the Lord by using the word “phileo.” That is different from “agape” and is a love that is based more on emotion rather than obedience. It is a feel-good love that is seen in the word “Philadelphia,” which is the city of brotherly love.

Once Peter responded, the Lord told him to tend or feed or provide for His sheep. Again, Jesus is restoring Peter to ministry, and Peter was to care for Jesus followers then and in the future as Jesus would soon depart again. This time would be permanent and to the right hand of the Father.

Jesus asked Peter the same question a second time in verse 16. Again, He used the word agape, and Peter responded with phileo. Then Jesus told Peter to shepherd His sheep. Again, care for His followers.

Then Jesus asked Peter the same question a third time. However, in this third instance, Jesus used the word that Peter had used previously, phileo. This is why I am not 100% sure that there is as much difference between these two words as we have often heard in sermons and from preachers.

Now for a third time, Peter answered yes with phileo, but Peter was now upset. He was grieved. His feelings were hurt because he heard Jesus asking the same question on three successive occasions.

In all three of his responses, Peter appealed to Jesus’ omniscience, His knowledge of all things. He knew that Peter loved Him, but had failed at following Him, and Peter knew that too. Jesus told Peter then for the third time to tend or care for His sheep.

Jesus went to Peter personally and tried to remind Him of His past failures only to restore him for future ministry. There is not a person in the room this morning that hasn’t failed in some form or capacity.

Some have failed as spouses. Some have failed as parents. Some have failed as friends. Some have failed as employers and employees. Some have failed as business owners. Some have failed as students. Some have failed as athletes. Some have failed as Christians and church members. There have been times that I have failed as a pastor and your pastor.

However, I have good news for you today. Peter failed, and yet, Christ restored him completely to ministry and service and to lead the first century church when He was gone.

You can be restored today, and we should be a people that helps in restoring others from past failures. Do you need to be restored today? Do you need to forgive and move on and help in restoring someone close to you?

Jesus forgave and restored Peter from past failures.

Jesus Forecasted Peter’s Painful Future, John 21:18-19.

In verse 18, Jesus continued His conversation with Peter, and reminded Peter of what life was like when he was young. When you are young, you make decisions for yourself and go your own way.

However, when Peter would get older, Jesus forecasted or predicted that others would lead Peter were they wanted him to go, and he would do what others decided he would do.

BTW, if you are here today and you are grown children caring for your elderly parents, be considerate of the decisions you make for them on their behalf. More than likely, what you do with your parents when they are old will likely come back to you from your children when you are old.

Also, spell out in writing such as a last will and testament or directives as to what you want at the end of your life. The more decisions that are made now means that few decisions to be made then.

Verse 19 tells us that Jesus was talking about how Peter would die. His arms would be stretched out in order to be tied to or nailed to a cross, and he would be crucified like Jesus was.

Church history confirms this fact as Jesus was correct in His prediction. Peter indeed was led away against his will and crucified on a cross but upside down at his request as Peter believed that he was not worthy to die in the exact same fashion that Jesus had died.

Notice then two more facts about these verses. Jesus said Peter’s death would be glorifying to God. I hope that can be said of your death as well.

Death is difficult in the sense of no longer having that person in our presence. However, death can be good if you point people to Jesus in the process.

You then can glorify God in your death. Then Jesus said to Peter those same two words that were some of Jesus’ first words to Peter, “Follow Me.”

Jesus Frowned Upon Peter’s Focus, John 21:20-23.

In light of what Jesus had to say about Peter’s future, Peter was curious about John’s future. Peter saw John there close by and asked Jesus about him in verse 21.

Notice Jesus’ response in verse 22. He frowned on Peter’s focus.

Peter shouldn’t be worrying about John. Peter should be worrying about Peter, and Jesus told him that. Don’t worry about John. You worry about Peter and just keep following Me.

In verse 23, Jesus then corrected some misinformation within the group. He didn’t say that John wouldn’t die. He simply said that if He wanted John to live that was nobody’s business but His.

It’s real easy to worry about everybody else except the person in the mirror. We can point fingers and name names and criticize everyone else’s actions and words and failures.

Jesus said stop. You worry about you, and let Jesus take care of everybody else.

John’s final two verses remind us again of John’s eyewitness testimony. That which he experienced, he wrote about. It wasn’t exhaustive or complete. There aren’t enough books in the world to contain all that Jesus did, but instead of worrying about what is not here, you and should be sure to take sincere notice of what is here.

Conclusion

Here is the bottom line. Jesus expects total and undivided commitment from those who choose to follow Him. Would you make that choice this morning to follow Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

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In one regard, we come to John 21, and it is anticlimactic because it serves as an epilogue or an addition to the ending of this gospel account. Jesus has already been resurrected in chapter 20, and that is certainly the climax of the Christian story.

However, there is still much that we can learn from this last chapter, and is testifies to the authenticity of John’s eye-witness account. We spend today and next Sunday finishing this fourth gospel of our New Testament.

Let me remind you of what happened in chapter 20. It was Sunday morning after Jesus was crucified on Friday. First, Mary and Peter and John found an empty tomb.

Second, Mary spoke to the resurrected Jesus. She thought He was the gardener or caretaker of the garden tomb.

Third, Jesus appeared to the scared disciples in an upper room on Sunday night. Fourth, a week later, Jesus appeared to the disciples again. This time, Thomas was present and verified that the Jesus who had been crucified was now alive.

Fifth, John 20:30-31 reminded us of the purpose of John’s writing.

Do remember these 7 signs in John’s Gospel? 1. Jesus turned water into wine (2); 2. Jesus healed the nobleman’s son from a distance (4); 3. Jesus healed the paralyzed man after 37 years (5); 4. Jesus fed 5,000 with two fish and five loaves (6); 5. Jesus walked on water and calmed the storm (6); 6. Jesus healed the man who was born blind (9); and 7. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (11).

In the first half of John 21, I want to show three pictures to you. I want you to see a picture of futility, a picture of prosperity, and a picture of unity. Then, at the end, I want to ask you, “Why is your net empty?”

A Picture of Futility, John 21:1-3

1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.

Verse 1 tells us that after the resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples on other occasions. This particular occasion occurred in Galilee.

Remember that Jesus had told His disciples to go there, and that He would see them there in Matthew 28:10. Galilee was north of Jerusalem, and the Sea of Tiberias is another name for the Sea of Galilee.

10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Verse 2 tells us that those present were Peter, always mentioned first as the unofficial leader of the twelve. There was also Thomas, Nathanael, James, John, and two other unnamed disciples.

In verse 3, Peter decided to go fishing. Remember that was his profession before he left everything to follow Jesus. If he was waiting on Jesus, and wasn’t sure what else to do, it would make total sense that he would fall back on what he knew best.

The others agreed to go as well. We also know that James and John were professional fishermen too.

They went out on the Sea of Galilee at night because that was when fish were known to be active in feeding. However, pay close attention to the end of verse 3.

They caught nothing…not one single, solitary fish. These were professional fishermen who had been doing this for a long time. It was the family business, and yet, this is a stark picture of futility.

A Picture of Prosperity, John 21:4-8

4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.

The disciples had been on the water the entire night, and it was now getting close to dawn or sun up, and they had caught nothing. Verse 4 tells us that Jesus was on the shore, but they didn’t know it was Him.

Maybe He was too far away. Maybe the water was splashing in their faces. Maybe it was because of the darkness giving way to sunlight, but He yelled at them and told them to cast on the right side of the boat.

In one regard, you wonder why they would do what He said if they simply thought it was some stranger yelling at them. However, on the other hand, what could it hurt if they hadn’t caught anything all night long?

So they did it, and look what happened in verse 6. They were not able to haul in the net because of all of the fish they had caught.

Now why did Jesus tell them to cast on the right side? Was it because He could see a school of fish there? No, He caused the fish to be there.

By the way, one of the great truths of this story is that God blesses obedience. When Peter and the others did what God the Son told them to do, God the Son blessed them with an enormous mess of fish.

Brothers and sisters, don’t ever doubt this truth. God blesses our obedience. Do you want God’s blessings in your life and on your life? Do whatever He tells you to do through His Word!

When this happened, John knew immediately it was Jesus, and he told Peter. Peter acted instinctively and jumped into the water and started swimming to Jesus.

The other disciples stayed in the boat and hauled in the net full of fish that they had caught after casting on the right side doing what Jesus told them to do. This is a picture of prosperity.

A Picture of Unity, John 21:9-14

9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” 11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

In verse 9, Jesus evidently had supplied His own fish and bread, and we know He can do that, but He asked the disciples to bring some of their fish as well. Why? Because God has chosen to partner with us in accomplishing His will. Yes, He can do it all, but we get to be join Him in this picture of unity.

God can cause the whole world to be saved in a nanosecond. However, His plan is for us share the gospel, and He will open hearts. We join Him in that work.

God can accomplish anything, anytime, anyhow. However, His plan is for us to pray, and He will bring His will to pass. We join Him in that work.

We know that John’s account is an eye-witness account because of the details. He chronicled 153 fish that were caught that day.

Is that a special number or have some special meaning? I think it only means that John was there and saw it with his own eyes and wrote about it with own hand.

By the way, don’t miss the end of verse 11. Although there were so many fish, the net was not broken.

It seems that John is saying that normally, a catch of that size would break the net. This time, it didn’t.

When we are obedient, God will work beyond what we think is normal or reasonable. Paul said something similar in Ephesians 3:20.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

So think about this related to our FLC and John 21:11. Normally, a church our size wouldn’t be able to raise the money, and normally, the net would have broken on a catch that size.

However, when they didn’t what Jesus said, God worked beyond what they thought was normal. When we do what God says with our finances, I believe that God will work beyond what we think is normal. Paul said He can do more than we ask or even think according to the power that works in us.

What power is that? The Holy Spirit is in in us, and our job is to obey His leading.

In verses 12-13, these men had breakfast as Jesus had provided for them. This was now then the third time that He had appeared to this group after the resurrection.

The first was when Thomas was not there. The second was with Thomas, and now this.

Conclusion

So here is what I want to ask you this morning. Why is your net empty?

Is your salvation net empty because you’re casting on the self-righteous side of the boat instead of the trust Jesus side of the boat? Call on Him to save you today.

Is your ministry net empty because you’re casting on the self-seeking side of the boat instead of the honor God side of the boat? Ministry isn’t about you. It’s about honoring Him and giving Him glory.

Is your marriage net or your parenting net empty because you’re casting on the self-serving side of the boat instead of the serve other side of the boat?

Marriage is about serving your spouse. You can teach your kids about leadership by modeling for them servant leadership.

That’s what Jesus did when He died on the cross. He served me and you by giving up self.

If your net is empty this morning, would you throw it on the Jesus side? If you will, you’ll be blessed beyond measure.

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Let me begin this morning with a question. “What are you willing to do to preserve the life of the person sitting next to you?”

If it is your spouse or your child, you would probably be willing to give your life, but would you be willing give your life for the person close by who is not your spouse or your child? Most of us would not, and this is normal, but today, we look closely at the abnormal.

Last Sunday, we saw Jesus undergoing His Roman Trial at the hands of Pontius Pilate. Today, we continue with that trial in John 19:1-16.

It is Friday morning, and Jesus is at Pilate’s residence, and the Jewish religious leaders are outside demanding Jesus’ death by crucifixion. Pilate doesn’t really want to act on this issue, but he is in between a rock and a hard spot.

The Humiliation by the Soldiers, John 19:1-3

1 Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; 3 and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him slaps in the face.

Because Pilate didn’t want to sentence Jesus to death, he thought that beating Him and humiliating Him would pacify the Jews. Therefore, he had Him scourged or beaten.

Jesus’ hands were locked down on a stump with His back exposed, and two Roman soldiers took turns beating Him with a “cat of nine tails.” This instrument had a wooden handle with strips of leather extending from it. At the end of each leather strip were bits of metal or bone or glass and would tear the flesh into bloody strips. Many criminals didn’t survive this flogging as these Roman soldiers beat Him up to 39 times.

They then took a vine of thorns and twisted into a crown. These thorns may have been 3 inches in length and pressed this crown down on Jesus’ head penetrating His scalp.

At this time, they were also beating Him and slapping Him and spitting on Him. Finally, they took a purple robe from nearby and draped it over His back and mocked Him as “King of the Jews.”

The Presentation of a King, John 19:4-7

4 Pilate came out again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” 5 Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!” 6 So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate *said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.”

Again, we see in verse 4 that Pilate didn’t want to execute Jesus. He was hoping that a severe beating would get the Jews off his back.

Therefore, he presented the bloody Jesus to them, but they wouldn’t have it as they responded to the presentation of Jesus with chants of “Crucify Him.”

Now for the third time, Pilate told them that Jesus was innocent. He did it in 18:38. He did it again in 19:4. This is now the third time here in 19:6.

38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

4 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”

6 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

Pilate knew the truth, but he refused to act on the truth. His lack of action was an action in and of itself.

By the way, if you think your defense before God someday will be that you didn’t reject His Son, it won’t work. If you don’t receive Jesus, then you are rejecting Jesus.

The Jews then told Pilate that Jesus had broken their law of blasphemy. He claimed to be the Son of God and equal to God.

For that, they believed Jesus was guilty of breaking the OT Law. See Leviticus 26:14.

16 And whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death.

The Condemnation from the Jews, John 19:8-16

8 Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; 9 and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” 12 As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.” 13 Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” 15 So they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified.

Verse 8 tells us that Pilate became more afraid. He was afraid that He was making a big mistake. He began to wonder exactly who Jesus was.

Jesus claimed to be a King and the Son of God, and remember that Pilate’s wife had a disturbing dream about Jesus. See Matthew 27:19.

19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”

Therefore, Pilate began to question Him again or interrogate Him, and initially Jesus remained silent fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53.

In verse 11, Jesus finally responded after Pilate had grown frustrated with His silence. Jesus reminded Pilate that all authority comes from God, and he would have no authority if it weren’t for God.

We see here in this 11th verse there is nothing beyond the control of God. We may not understand it, but God is over all things.

We also learn from verse 11 that there may well be degrees of sin. All sin is unholy and an abomination to a holy God, but Jesus talked about a greater sin.

I would suggest that He is talking about Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the Jewish high priest and had the Old Testament Law to point him to the Messiah. Yet, he missed it by handing Jesus over to Pilate to be executed.

The Jews then made Pilate choose. They gave him only two options. He could choose to execute Jesus and follow their desires or he could release Him and be at odds with Caesar.

For Pilate, his choice was clear. He wanted nothing to do with the animosity of Caesar. Therefore, he sentenced Jesus to be crucified.

In verse 13, after seeing and hearing that the Jews were not backing down, he brought Jesus one final time and put Him before the people. It was mid morning on Friday, and he gave them their king.

They responded with “Crucify Him.” That word “crucify” or some form of it is in this text on 7 different occasions.

This text is about Jesus being crucified, and so Pilate handed Jesus over for just that. It is so strange that in verse 15, the Jews pledged their support to a Gentile, oppressive king and rejected their promised Messiah.

Conclusion

Let me be as simple as I can. Today’s message is that Jesus went through all of this for you. He died for you. We owe God because of our sin, but yet, we have no means to pay God, but Jesus does.

He lived a perfect, sinless life, and died in your place and for you sins. He was our substitute.

To receive Him as Lord and Savior is to have forgiveness of sins, heaven, and eternal life. See Romans 5:8.

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and denied in the wee hours of Friday morning. He was taken to the house of Annas, the high priest emeritus where an informal trial was conducted sometime before daylight.

This morning, we pick up in John 18:28, but John has left out something the other gospel writers included. Remember, Jesus had two official trials.

We are going to see the beginning of His Roman Trial today, but before that, He had a religious trail that was conducted by Caiaphas, the high priest, and son-in-law of Annas.

The result of that trial was that Jesus was condemned to die because He claimed to be God. However, the Jews couldn’t authorize capital punishment. Therefore, John doesn’t include those details, and he jumps straight to Jesus’ Roman Trial.

The Examination of the King, John 18:28-32

28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. 29 Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” 30 They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.” 31 Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” Therefore, the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” 32 that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.

Verse 28 begins with “they.” These were the religious Jews who had Jesus arrested and brought to trial before Caiaphas. Now, it is probably close to 6 AM, and they led Jesus from Caiaphas’ residence into the Praetorium or the hall of judgment.

In verse 29, Pilate, the Roman governor at the time, greeted them and asked what their accusations of Jesus were. Again, under Roman law, the Jews had no authority to execute anyone except by stoning, but that is not what they wanted for Jesus.

They wanted Him crucified, and so they needed the judgment of Pilate. Interestingly enough, by wanting Him crucified, they were fulfilling prophecy. If they stoned Jesus, surely He would have suffered broken bones, but according to Psalm 34:20, that could not happen to the Messiah. The Messiah was to be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent according to John 3:14.

Psalm 34:20, 20 He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.

John 3:14, 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.

Why did these religious Jews want Jesus put to death? Go back to Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas in Mark 14:60-64. Jesus equated Himself with God, and to these Jews, that constituted blasphemy.

Mark 14:60-64, 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 61 But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.

The Explanation of His Kingdom, John 18:33-38

33 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” 37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” 38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

Beginning in verse 33, we see a somewhat private conversation between Pilate and Jesus as Pilate, the Roman governor, asked Jesus some questions. The first question is if He was King of the Jews. Jesus answered that question with a question, and then explained about His Kingdom.

Jesus said that His kingdom was not of this world. Otherwise, His followers would be fighting right now for His release. However, they weren’t, and then Jesus recounted in verse 37 why He came into this world. It was to testify to the truth.

So if we were to answer Pilate’s question this morning, what would you say. The world around us today would say that truth is relative, and in some contexts, that is correct.

For example, I am a tall person. This is truth relative to any of my daughters. However, it is not true compared to anyone who is taller than six feet.

Truth is also absolute. Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. There is no wavering on these scientific realities.

Here is a truth: Jesus is different. When Pilate was questioning Jesus in private, we know that he was concerned about Jesus being a king because that threatened Pilate’s kingdom. However, Jesus’ kingdom is not political but peaceful.

Jesus wasn’t a threat to the Roman government. However, He could have summoned His followers to fight or battle on His behalf, but He didn’t. His kingdom was about peace and heaven and eternal life.

Jesus is different, and as a result, His followers are called to be different. When it comes to money, as followers of Christ, we are to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven rather than treasures on earth. When it comes to marriage, our spouse is our ally rather than our adversary. When it comes to meaning in this life, we find our purpose in our Savior rather than sex or substances or success.

Jesus is different, and His followers are to be different as well.

The Emancipation of a Criminal, John 18:38-40

39 “But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

In verse 38, Pilate went back out to the Jews, and even though he didn’t find any fault with Jesus, he let the Jews choose what to do with Him, and they chose to emancipate or release a criminal.

The text says his name was Barabbas. That was actually like calling him John Doe. Barabbas means son of a father, and this man was more than a robber.

Barabbas was a terrorist, who had murdered and stolen. However, he was released, and Jesus’ Roman Trial will continue next week in John 19.

Invitation

Before we close, I need for us to go back to Pilate’s profound question, “What is truth?” Pilate’s experience with Jesus is fascinating and unfortunate.

Pilate asked about the truth. Some of you have asked about the truth and what is truth. You want to know what the world says and what the Bible says.

Pilate also associated with the truth. He associated with Jesus in this trial, and every Bible ever printed records Pilate’s association with the truth.

Again, some of you associate with truth. You come to church. You are in a family full of Christians.

However, Pilate never accepted the Truth. He never accepted the truth that God is holy, man is sinful, and Jesus is the only way to God. He never accepted Jesus and His Lord and Savior. What about you?

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This morning, we are in John 18:12, and we have now ventured into the wee hours of Friday morning, and 600 plus Roman soldiers came to arrest Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane, and that is where we pick up today’s story.

As we continue in John 18 this morning, we are going to be seeing two different scenes that took place at the same time. The first scene is with Jesus and Annas and Caiaphas and John. The second scene is with Peter.

Jesus was detained, John 18:12-14.

12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

In verses 12-14, we see that Jesus was detained or arrested or incarcerated. The Roman cohort did not arrest Jesus disciples as they fled, but they did arrest Jesus, and they bound Him probably meaning that His hands were tied behind His back.

In verse 13, we see that the first place Jesus was led was the residence of Annas. Who was Annas? Evidently, he was the high priest emeritus. Even though he wasn’t the acting high priest, he still exercised a lot of influence as his daughter’s husband was the acting high priest.

It seems that Annas saw Jesus first in an informal setting. You might even think of this like we see on television when detectives interrogate suspects in the police station.

Jesus would experience two trials on this Friday. The first was at the hands of the religious leaders, and the second was at the hands of the Roman leaders. The religious trial was conducted by Caiaphas. The Roman trail was conducted by Pilate.

Notice one last item in verse 14. John reminded us that it was Caiaphas who prophesied that Jesus would die on behalf of all the people. See John 11:49-52.

49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

I made this point last week, but it certainly bears repeating. Jesus died for the sins of the world. He died physically so that you and I would not have to die spiritually if we confess Him as Lord and Savior.

Always remember that. Jesus died for your sins and my sins.

Jesus was demeaned, John 18:19-24.

19 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. 20 Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed, they know what I said.” 22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?” 24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Skip down to verse 19. Jesus was before Annas, the high priest emeritus. Annas questioned Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine or teaching.

Jesus spoken plainly and told him that He taught openly and in the Jewish synagogues and in the temple. He taught nothing in secret.

After His answer, one of those soldiers present evidently thought Jesus was being disrespectful to Annas and hit Jesus in the face. Jesus was demeaned.

However, Jesus responded by asking what He had done wrong for which there was no answer. In verse 24, Annas sent him on for His official religious trial with the Jewish religious leaders which would be conducted by Caiaphas, the sitting high priest.

Jesus was denied, John 18:15-18, 25-27.

15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore, they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not!” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

Not only was Jesus detained and demeaned, but we also see that Jesus was denied. It is almost like we have split screens as we see these two different scenes taking place at the same time.

In verse 15, Peter and most likely John followed behind the soldiers as Jesus was taken to Annas’ residence.

In verse 16, John had enough of a connection with the high priest that he was able to bring Peter inside. However, Peter remained outside or at least in the doorway.

In verse 17, the doorkeeper asked or accused Peter of being one of Jesus disciples, and at the end of verse 17, we have the first of three times in which Peter denied any association with Jesus. Again, Peter decided not to come inside and remained outside and gathered around a fire with some of the Roman soldiers.

Now, move to verses 25-27. Again, Peter was standing outside around the fire. Jerusalem is approximately 2500 feet about sea level. Therefore, it is appropriate to see the coolness of the weather in the wee hours of this spring morning.

For the second time, Peter was asked or accused of being one of Jesus’ disciples. For the second time, he denied Christ.

Finally, a relative of Malchus, the man that had his ear cut off by Peter, asked or accused Peter of being a disciple of Jesus, and for the third time, Peter denied Christ.

At that very moment, a prophecy was fulfilled when the rooster crowed. By the way, that rooster crowing probably signaled 3 AM.

Turn over to Luke 22:61-62. The eyes of Peter and the eyes of Jesus met, and Peter was devastated.

61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Applications

Frist, we should get used to earthly injustice as followers of Christ. All that took place with Jesus and Annas was not legal according to Jewish law on several levels.

First, it was illegal for a trial to take place in secret or at night. Second, it was illegal for a trial to take place somewhere other than the hall of judgment, which was in the temple. Third, the accused could not be compelled to testify against himself or asked self-incriminating questions. Fourth, Annas provided no witnesses of Jesus’ accused crimes. Fifth, to strike the accused who had not been proven guilty was also illegal.

All of this goes to show that Jesus was not treated fairly. As a result, it is foolish on our part to think we will encounter anything but injustice in this life if we are followers of Jesus. We should get used to the world treating us unjustly if we are going to name the name of Christ as Lord and Savior.

Second, we can learn from Jesus to be the same person in public as in we are in private. Jesus told Annas that He hadn’t done anything in secret. He was not ashamed of any of His actions or teachings. He was the same man.

As a follower of Christ, after we attend church on Sunday, are we the same Christian on Monday through Friday at work or on Saturday at the ball game or golf course or deer camp? The church has lost much of our influence because of hypocrisy in the pulpit and in the pew.

Let’s be real. Let’s be genuine. Let’s be authentic, and may our walk match our talk.

Finally, here is what I think is the main idea of this text. We should thank God for second chances. We are all need of second chances, and Peter was no different.

We sometimes are hard on Peter for denying Christ on these three occasions, yet many of us deny Christ every day when we refuse to be obedient or refuse to speak up or out about Jesus. Peter got a second chance and was restored in John 21, and we know that he was a primary leader and preacher in the book of Acts as Christianity spread around the world.

I need second chances as a husband and father and pastor. You need second chances in the same way. We all should thank God for second chances.

Initiation

Our invitation today is for you to become a follower of Christ. It will not be an easy life. As a matter of fact, it will probably cause you much pain and injustice, but it will also mean forgiveness of all sins, heaven and eternal life, and peace with God. Will you call on the name of the Lord today and be saved?

Our invitation is also for you, as a follower of Christ, to leave your hypocrisy. Would you confess your sins today and repent and commit to be the same person in private that you are in public? There needs to be no more living one way on Sunday morning and living another way the rest of the week.

Finally, our invitation is for you to hear the words, “I forgive you.” Jesus forgave Peter. Jesus can forgive you.

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If you are a guest with us this morning, again, thank you for joining us. On Sunday mornings for well over a year now, we have been studying the gospel of John verse by verse and chapter by chapter. As a matter of fact, we started John in November 2021, and will finish in August 2023. I think that is 22 months.

We study the Bible that way because here at Emory Baptist Church, we believe that the Bible is God’s Word, and we want to know every bit of it, and we recognize it as the authority in our life on all matters. Today, you can turn to John 18:1.

In this account of Jesus’ life on earth, we have to the week of His life when He died on the cross. In today’s text, it is very, very late on Thursday night or very, very early on Friday morning, and we have seen Jesus in the upper room with His disciples.

I had told you previously that Jesus’ high-priestly prayer in John 17 probably took place as they were walking. However, the beginning of chapter 18 could make the case for He and His disciples not leaving the upper room until now. I’ll let you come to your own conclusions.

Exposition 18:1-3

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

John 18:1-11 has three primary characters: Jesus, Judas, and Peter. In verse 1, Jesus and His disciples headed east outside of Jerusalem’s city walls. They went through the Kidron valley up to the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane.

In verse 2, we see Judas. Judas was the one that betrayed Jesus. Never is Judas mentioned in the Bible without connecting him with his betrayal. Even at the beginning of the gospels, when the disciples are listed, Judas is listed last and as the betrayer. Remember that Jesus predicted this, and Judas fulfilled it for thirty pieces of silver.

Verse 2 also tells us that Jesus often took His disciples to Gethsemane. In verse 3, Judas was leading the way to Jesus along with a Roman cohort.

We know this to be approximately 600 men, and they were carrying lanterns and torches because it was the middle of the night. They were also carrying weapons because they heard that Jesus had disciples, and they were expecting a fight.

Judas was clearly a foe of Jesus. Foe means an opponent or an adversary.

Exposition 18:4-9

4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” 5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

In verse 4, we see the deity of Jesus and His omniscience as He was fully aware of all that was happening and about to happen. In other words, Jesus was all-knowing.

Jesus wasn’t just any man, but He was God the Son. Notice that Jesus didn’t hide or try to run. He boldly presented Himself and asked who they were looking for. They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

What was Jesus’ response? Jesus answered, “I AM.” The word He is not in the original language, and that is significant. Jesus declared Himself to be God. He called Himself the God of the OT as named in Exodus 3:14.

14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

At the end of verse 6, John noted their response. Why did they fall back and gasp? Again, because Jesus declared Himself not to be just any man, but the God Man.

In verse 7, Jesus asked again who they were seeking. Again, they answered Jesus.

In verse 8, now for the second time, Jesus said, “I AM.” Don’t let anyone ever lead you astray in thinking that Jesus never thought He was God. He knew He was God, and He declared Himself to be God.

In verse 8, you see Jesus calling for the release of His disciples. In verse 9, Jesus fulfilled a promise that He had made in the upper room by protecting all of His disciples and delivering them from death. See John 17:12.

12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

Judas was the son of perdition, and he was lost because He was never saved.

Jesus knew and cleared declared with His actions and His words that He was God the Son.

Exposition 18:10-11

10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

In verse 10, we see Peter doing what Peter did. He acted abruptly, and in an attempt to defend Jesus, He drew a large knife and cut off the ear of Malchus. He was certainly aiming for his head, but missed.

To some degree, Peter still didn’t get it. He would eventually as he would later receive the Holy Spirit permanently and preach and see thousands saved.

Regardless, Peter was a friend of Jesus. He was ready to go to battle with Jesus.

Conclusions

So what lessons can we take away from this narrative? There are a few that are secondary and one that is primary.

First, following God’s will is not always nice and neat and comfortable. Jesus knew full well what God’s will was. It was for Him to be betrayed, arrested, beaten, and murdered.

Did He refuse? Did He throw a pity party? Did He complain? No, He submitted.

Second, Jesus died for you and me so that we wouldn’t have to die. Look back at verse 8. We see that truth foreshadowed here. Every person in this room will die physically unless Jesus returns first, and every person in this room will die spiritually if you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Third, for everyone that calls on the Lord to save them, you are secure for eternity. Verse 9 says that Jesus will not lose you. If you are saved or when you are saved, you saved for eternity and safe and secure from all alarm.

However, here is the main point of today’s text. Jesus is the God the Son. Will you treat Him as a foe like Judas or a friend like Peter?

A foe says I don’t like Jesus or believe in Jesus or want to have anything to do with Jesus.

However, a friend says, I am sinner. Therefore, I need Jesus as my only Savior. I will call on Him to save me from my sins.

Foes of Jesus will spend an eternity in hell with Judas. Friends of Jesus who have called on Him to save them will spend an eternity in heaven with Peter but more importantly with Jesus, God the Son.

How will you respond to Jesus this morning?

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This morning, we return to John 17 and pick up we were left off last week. Remember, we are looking at the Lord’s prayer, but it’s not the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6 where Jesus taught us to pray. It is the Lord’s prayer in John 17 where Jesus prayed.

In John 17, Jesus prayed for Himself, His disciples, and for us. It was very late on Thursday night or maybe even early Friday morning. Jesus and His disciples were on their way if not already in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Exposition

Before we get to Jesus’ prayer for His disciples, Jesus was talking to His Father in verses 6-8. By the way, that is all that prayer is…talking to your heavenly Father.

In verse 6, Jesus portrayed His Father to His disciples. In turn, His disciples obeyed God’s word.

Finally, because Jesus portrayed His Father to His disciples, they knew that God the Son had come from God the Father. In other words, Jesus was God!

Jesus prayed for His disciples’ security for eternity, 17:9-14.

9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

This word “security” or secure is wrapped up in the word “keep” and “kept” in verses 11-12. Jesus prayed for the Father to keep or secure His disciples.

Notice why they were kept. They were kept because they belonged to God the Father and God the Son. God the Father gave them to God the Son in verses 9-10.

They were also kept because of the Father’s name. That means according to His character. In this instance, His character was that of faithfulness.

Because they were secure for eternity, that should mean the joy of Jesus in them according to verse 13. The world hated them. However, God the Father and God the Son loved them and would secure them for eternity.

Jesus prayed for His disciples’ safety from the evil one, 17:15-16.

15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

God’s word never says that He will take you out of a trial or tribulation. However, Jesus does pray that God will protect His disciples from the evil one or in other words, the devil.

By the way, why did God not take Jesus’ disciples out of the world? He left them to do a job. We’ll come back to that in a minute.

Jesus prayed for His disciples’ sanctification on earth, 17:17-19.

17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

In verses 17-19, Jesus prayed for His disciples to be sanctified by God’s truth. To be sanctified means to be set apart for a specific purpose. It means to be dedicated or devoted.

Multiple times in verses 6-19, Jesus said that even though His disciples were in the world, they were not of the world. In other words, they were supposed to be distinctly different and set apart from the world.

Conclusion

Even though this is Jesus’ prayer for the 11 disciples, there is much application for us as well. By the way, I didn’t address Jesus’ comments about the son of perdition at the end of verse 12, but I will on Wednesday Night at Digging Deeper. We’ll meet at 6:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall and look at a proverbial fly in the ointment.

First, as Jesus prayed for His disciples’ security, we too are secure for eternity if we have decided to follow Jesus. However, our security is not because of anything about us.

I am secure for eternity because of God’s faithfulness. Again, you aren’t secure because you walked an aisle in a Sunday morning alter call. You aren’t secure because your church believes in “once saved, always saved.” You are secure because you have been baptized. You certainly aren’t secure because of your own personal morality or righteousness.

If you are saved, you have been saved by God’s grace. You are secured by God’s faithfulness.

Second, as Jesus prayed for His disciples’ safety from the devil, we too are safe from the devil. However, I am not talking about physical safety from the devil but spiritual safety.

Remember, all of the disciples except John died a martyr’s death. If Jesus meant physical safety, God didn’t answer Jesus’ prayer, and that would be somewhat troubling.

The devil will do whatever he can on this earth to harm you. He will inflict you with sickness. He will destroy your family. He will take away your money. He will do anything and everything to destroy your witness.

By the way, your witness is why God left you here right now. He left Jesus’ disciples to do a job. That was to lead the first church.

When He saved you, He could have taken you to heaven immediately, and He can do that at any point. However, He left you to minister.

He left you to witness. He left you to point others to Jesus and for no other reason, but the devil will be working against you even though your soul is safe from him.

Third, as Jesus prayed for His disciples’ sanctification, we too are called to live in the world but not of the world. Our speech and ethics and spending and recreating and morality should be distinctly different than lost people.

I would submit to you this morning that one reason why churches have lost influence in the community today is because we have become too much like the world. There isn’t a lot of discernable difference.

Today, we have pastors with no integrity who have a love for money and a love for sex, and they are caught regularly with their hand in the offering plate and caught with their pants down.

Today, we have adults with no bravery. In elections, they vote for the economy and jobs rather than morality and justice.

Today, we have teenagers with no morality. They are cheating their way through school, sleeping around, and blending in with their lost friends just to stay popular.

Brothers and sisters of all ages, let us be set apart from the world living our lives according to God’s word.

Invitation

If you are here this morning, and you have never called on Jesus to save you, He will today if you are answer His call to salvation.

If Jesus is leading you to unite formally with EBC, will you obey Him today?

If Jesus is leading you to repent of sin and disobedience in your life, will you obey Him today?

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This morning, I want to share a message with you entitled, “The Lord’s Prayer.” However, we aren’t in Matthew 6 but John 17.

In Matthew 6, Jesus taught us how to pray. In John 17, we see and hear Jesus praying. If not called the Lord’s Prayer, this chapter is often called “Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer.” It is unique material that is only found in the gospel of John.

Including today, our next three times in John will be here in John 17. Today, we will hear Jesus praying for Himself. Next week, we will hear Jesus praying for His disciples, those remaining Eleven. Then, we will hear Jesus praying for us.

Please remember, it is still Thursday night or maybe Friday morning. Chuck Swindoll puts John 17 at midnight. Jesus and His disciples seem to be on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Keep in mind that they are distressed as Jesus was leaving them, Judas was going to betray Jesus, and Peter was doing to deny Jesus. They were surely exhausted at this point, and maybe they were hungry.

Exposition

These first verses are a chiastic structure. What that means is that main point is found not at the beginning or the end but in the middle.

Jesus prayed for God the Father to glorify God the Son. That means to praise Him and honor Him and celebrate Him.

Therefore, this prayer focuses on eternal life. You will find that phrase in verses 2 and 3. Let’s look at the text to see what Jesus prays and what we can learn about eternal life.

Eternal Life is knowing God the Father.

We see this truth in verse 3. Remember our chiastic structure.

Jesus can hardly be more explicit. Eternal life is knowing God, and Jesus called Him Father in verse 1.

This word “know” is used when talking about close friends and even spouses. Therefore, it means to know intimately.

Jesus then called God the Father the true God. Therefore, He is true and other are false.

Consequently, God the Father is the only true God. There are no others.

By the way, the absolute and best possible way to know God is to know His Word. Read your Bibles, and if you want to hear God speak audibly to you, then read your Bibles out loud.

Eternal life comes through Jesus Christ, God the Son.

Check out the beginning of Jesus’ prayer in verse 1. Glorify Your Son.

Verse 2 says God the Father gave God the Son authority over all flesh. It also says that Jesus Christ, God the Son, will give eternal life to as many as God the Father has given to Him.

In verse 3, not only is eternal life knowing God the Father, but it is also knowing God the Son. I would be so bold as to say what God’s Word says, and that is that you can’t know God the Father without knowing God the Son.

John 14:6, 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Romans 5:1, 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 Corinthians 4:6, 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 1:1-3, 1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Giving Eternal Life is why Jesus came to earth.

In verse 1, Jesus said the hour has come. What was He talking about? He was talking about the time for Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of the world.

However, this was a very specific time, and we have seen earlier in our study when the time had not come yet.

John 2:4, 4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”

John 7:6, 6 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.

John 7:8, 8 You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.”

John 7:30, 30 Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

John 8:20, 20 These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.

However, by John 12, Jesus knew that His time had come, and this hour and time for Him to die was His express reason in coming to earth with flesh and blood.

John 12:23, 23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.

John 13:1, 1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

Eternal Life in heaven for any individual is an act of God.

In verse 4, Jesus said that He had glorified God the Father on earth by finishing the work that God the Father sent Him to do. He speaks of the cross as an already accomplished act in the past.

However, notice that the work is not something that you or I did or can do. The opportunity for eternal life is an act of God.

Back in verse 2, the individuals who will have eternal life are the ones that God gave to Jesus. In other words, salvation is not about us. It is not about you.

It is not our goodness or morality or merit or righteousness. I would even say it is not our faith, but the faith that God gives us.

Ephesians 2:8-9, 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

In the language of the NT, nouns have gender. Grace and faith are both feminine. Therefore, you would expect “that” and “it” to be feminine too.

However, “that” and “it” are neuter. What that means is that not only is the grace not of yourselves but the faith is also not of yourselves. In other words, God gives you the faith to believe making it His faith so both grace and faith and salvation are all acts of God.

Eternal life in any individual was decided before the foundation of the world.

In verse 5, Jesus points back to the glory that He and God the Father shared before the world was. I would suggest glory was about eternal life just like this glory here is about eternal life. Listen to Paul in Ephesians 1:3-4.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

And here is John in Revelation 13:8 talking about who isn’t saved.

8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Invitation

Our invitation this morning is for you to receive eternal life. Verse 2 says that Jesus is glorified when He gives eternal life, but will you receive it?

John 1:12-13, 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

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Introduction

I want you to take your Bible and turn to John 16:16. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Remember Easter!” Notice that is an imperative.

Last week, Bro. Ronnie took you through the first half of John 16. Let’s go back before Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday.

In our text, it is still Thursday night. The disciples have been with Jesus in the Upper Room. Jesus washed their feet. Jesus served the Passover Meal to them. Then Judas left.

After Judas left, they then followed Jesus to Garden of Gethsemane. That is where they are in John 16, but it is very late, and they haven’t slept, and they haven’t eaten any more, and Jesus has told them that He is going away.

In John 16, Jesus tried to encourage them during difficult times. He told them to remember He knows the future. He also told them that He was going to send His Spirit to them.

When we find ourselves in difficult times, we should remember the same. Jesus or God knows the future and is in complete control. Our trial may not be for testing but to demonstrate how great God is.

Furthermore, we also have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. Remember that He is the third person of the Trinity, and 1 John 4:4 says He is greater than the devil in the world.

He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Exposition 16:16-19

16 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.” 17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” 18 They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.” 19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’?

In verse 16, we see the Lord giving a prediction to His disciples. In a little while, He will be gone, but in a little while, He will return. When was He talking about?

You can see from verse 17 that the disciples didn’t understand what He was saying. However, they tried to talk it over for more understanding.

In verse 19, Jesus began to explain further what He meant. It seems that He had His death, burial, and resurrection in mind.

Once He was dead and buried, they would not see Him. However, they would see Him when He was resurrected.

He pointed them to His future resurrection. It would be the ultimate game changer.

After it happened and to remember it, would bring us joy, give us confidence in prayer, and give us peace in difficult times.

In difficult times, remember Easter, and rejoice, John 16:20-22.

20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

In verse 20, Jesus seems to be pointing toward a specific event. The disciples will be weep and lament, but the world will rejoice.

The disciples will be sorrowful, but their sorrow will be turned to joy. What could Jesus be talking about?

The disciples were certainly grieved to see Him die on the cross. However, the unbelieving world loved it. They rejoiced.

In verse 21, Jesus used an illustration to prove His point. It was about childbirth.

Childbirth is unbelievable pain or so I am told. However, once that mother has birthday that baby, her anguish and pain turns to joy when she holds her newborn.

In verse 22, He will see them again, and they will rejoice, and no one will take that joy from them. What was Jesus talking about?

Some say that He was talking about the Holy Spirit. However, that doesn’t seem to fit the most immediate context.

Again, I would suggest to you that He was talking about His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. After He was crucified, He would go away for a little while. That was three days in the tomb. However, He would return to them after His resurrection, once they experienced the resurrected Christ, no one could take that joy away from them.

Therefore, here is our first big idea. The disciples’ grief turned to joy when they experienced the resurrected Christ. Their grief turned to joy. God brought pleasure from their pain.

If you’re in the middle of difficult days, remember Easter that Jesus was raised, and we can rejoice because Jesus won! He is the winner, and we are too.

Romans 6:8-11, 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:57, 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:12, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

1 John 5:4-5, 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Remember Easter, and rejoice!

In difficult times, remember Easter, and pray with confidence, John 16:23-30.

23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 25 “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. 28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.” 29 His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30 Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”

Because of the resurrected Jesus, we can pray with confidence during difficult times. See verses 23-24.

When Jesus was resurrected and ascended, we can pray with Jesus as our go between. He will be our intercessor. We can come to God on His behalf.

In verse 24, we can ask anything in His name or according to His will, and it will be granted. That is not some magical formula but an attempt to help us align our desires with His desires. Because of the resurrected Jesus, we can pray with confidence during difficult times.

You can pray with confidence for God to save your marriage. You can pray with confidence for God to break your addiction with self-control that He gives. You can pray with confidence for G

We also see in this section that because of the resurrection, the disciples knew for certain that Jesus was God’s Son. Look at verse 30. The resurrection didn’t make Jesus God’s Son but rather proved Him to be God’s Son.

It was the crowning moment when we know that we could trust everything that He ever had said because He did what had never been done. Jesus came from the Father because He is God’s Son, and He is returning to the Father because He is God’s Son.

In difficult times, remember Easter, and experience peace, John 16:31-33.

31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

In verse 32, as the disciples acknowledged finally being able to understand Jesus, Jesus predicted their abandoning Him in the coming hours. However, these things that He told them would ultimately turn their grief to joy when He conquered death.

In verse 33, He even spoke of it as an already accomplished fact. Jesus overcame the world. He conquered the grave.

The pleasure of the resurrection was worth the pain in His dying. His suffering was worth our salvation, and now, if we have Jesus as Lord and Savior, we have peace.

How so? He has overcome the world. Regardless of my difficult times, the greater truth is that God raised Jesus, His Son, from the grave never to die again.

Conclusion

Are you grieving today? Does life have you tied up in knots? How about remembering Easter?

Easter won’t necessarily make your difficult times go away, but they might fade into the background. Because of Easter, we can rejoice, we can pray with confidence, and we can experience peace that surpasses all understanding.

If you have never been saved, putting your faith and trust in Christ is the only way to be at peace with God and experience this peace from God. Would you be saved today?

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Introduction

This morning is Palm Sunday, and we are taking a break from John’s Gospel for the next two Sundays, but we will return on April 16. Today, please take your Bibles and turn to 1 Corinthians 15:1. I want to tell you my story of what happened to me 38 years ago today.

Growing Up in Venus

I was born in Cleburne, Texas on March 11, 1975. My dad was from Waldron, Arkansas but had come to Texas to work, and he so working for Vought Aerospace and Defense in Grand Prairie until he took early retirement and moved back to Arkansas.

My mom grew up in a small town in Johnson County called Venus. She came from a large family with 3 brothers and 2 sisters. She went to school there and has now moved back, and she lives there today.

I am the only child of my mom and dad, and we lived in Venus until I was 7 years old, but when I was five, my mom and dad divorced. I lived with my mom but would go and stay with my dad every other weekend and for a week or two in the summer, and we rotated Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays.

My mom and I lived in Venus for two more years after the divorce until I was seven. I attended Kindergarten and First Grade at Venus Elementary School. While having a broken family was hard, my maternal grandparents and multiple aunts and uncles and cousins also lived in Venus, which I liked.

My family attended and were members of First Baptist Church in Venus. My mom was the church pianist, and my dad was a deacon, and like I said previously, a lot of my mom’s family also were members at First Baptist Church Venus.

Moving to Alvarado

After I finished the first grade, my mom remarried, and we moved to Alvarado, just seven miles west, into a house with my stepdad. He had three sons that were all older than me but lived with their mom.

I started the second grade at Alvarado Elementary in 1982, and I continued in school there through the twelfth grade. I graduate from Alvarado High School in 1993.

April 2, 1985

On Tuesday, April 2, 1985, my life was changed forever. I was in the fourth grade at Alvarado Elementary School.

As I mentioned previously, my family and I attended FBC Venus. That remained true for me and my mom even after we moved to Alvarado, but my stepdad rarely attended if ever.

I was ten years old in 1985 and began having questions about life after death. I was somewhat familiar with the subjects of heaven and hell as my mom and I attended Sunday School every Sunday as well as Sunday morning church and Sunday evening church.

I began to wonder what would happen to me if I died? Would I go to heaven or hell?

As Venus was about a ten-minute drive from Alvarado, I started asking these questions of my mom during our weekly drives. Like many parents, she thought it would be best for me to talk to our pastor so she made an appointment for Bro. Doug Riggs to come by our house.

Because my mom and step-dad both worked in Cleburne when I was a kid, I came home after school each day and stayed by myself. In that day, I was what was called a latch-key kid.

It was Tuesday, April 2, 1985, and I got out of school about 3 PM. Bro. Doug was coming from Venus and was supposed to be at our house about 4 PM.

I came home after school that day and confess that I was nervous about talking with Bro. Doug. My mom had made arrangements to also be there leaving work early that day.

In our living room, we had a large window that you could see out of if you were sitting on the couch. I had the curtains open that afternoon watching for Bro. Doug.

Our house number was 506, but it wasn’t easy to see, especially if our bushes were over grown. I remember seeing what I thought was Bro. Doug’s car pass by once and then again. I didn’t know if I should go out in the front yard and flag him down, but he finally stopped and came to the front door.

My mom wasn’t home yet so Bro. Doug and I waited on her, but it was so awkward! Do you know what I mean? What were we supposed to talk about? Do preachers even know about anything other than the Bible? So I just turned on the TV, and we watched the Dukes of Hazzard. Finally, after what seemed like hours, my mom got there.

Bro. Doug then asked me about my questions regarding heaven and hell. He then very plainly and clearly explained to me the gospel of 1 Corinthians 15.

The Gospel

If you look there in verse 1, you will find the actual word “gospel.” It literally means “good news.” The gospel is good news for you.

In verses three and four, Paul explained the gospel for all to understand. There are essentially two parts to the gospel that cannot be separated. They are like two sides of a coin.

The first part is death. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world. He died in our place.

However, there are several conditions implied before His death. First, it is implied that there is a holy God. He is holy. He is without sin. He is completely good.

Second, it is implied that we are sinful. We were born into sin and make choices that are sin, and it is our sin that separates us from a holy God and requires someone paying a penalty for our sin.

We as humans were not capable of paying the penalty because we are sinners. However, Jesus was sinless. Therefore, He was capable and qualified to pay our sin debt by dying on the cross. The sinless Savior died on the cross in the place of sinful humanity.

The second part of the gospel is life. Jesus died on Friday. He was placed into a garden tomb that same evening and was there through early hours of Sunday morning.

Verse 4 says that Jesus was raised on that third day. He was brought back to life by the Holy Spirit never to die again, and because of that reality, you too can have eternal life today.

If you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you can immediately have forgiveness of sins and a home in heaven when you die. Bro. Doug asked me if I wanted to be saved, and I said yes.

Bro. Doug then invited me to pray after him. So right then and there in my living room on the couch with the Dukes of Hazzard playing in the background, Bro. Doug prayed, and I repeated after him, and Jesus came into my life and saved me from my sins. That was a Tuesday afternoon, 38 years ago today.

The next Sunday was Palm Sunday, April 7, 1985. After Bro. Doug preached that morning, he gave a public invitation just like I am going to give in just a moment.

As he was standing there at the front of the auditorium and we were all singing, I stepped out into the aisle and met him at the front and told him that I would like to join the church and be baptized since I asked Christ to come into my life and was saved last Tuesday.

He prayed with me again that morning, and then introduced me to the church. He also shared with the church about him coming to my house on Tuesday and explaining the gospel to me, and I was saved.

The reason I am came forward during that Sunday morning invitation is because no one is born saved. That is a personal decision that every individual must make on their own. Mom and dad can’t make it for you, and church membership is also an individual decision.

Like Emory Baptist Church, if you wanted to join FBC Venus, you had to request such. You weren’t considered a member just because you attended.

The next Sunday was Easter Sunday, April 14, 1985. I was baptized that Sunday morning, and I will never forget it.

Invitation

Today, I want to extend the same invitation that Bro. Doug gave to me. Have you received Jesus into your heart and life as Lord and Savior like I did 38 years ago? If not, would you like to receive Him today along with forgiveness of sin, a home in heaven when you die, and eternal life?

If you would, during this morning’s public invitation, I invite you to walk down one of these aisles and meet me or Bro. Ronnie like I did at FBC Venus. I will pray with you and celebrate with when you come.

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This morning, I invite you to take your Bibles and turn to John 15:18. We are going to finish John 15 in our verse by verse and chapter by chapter study of John’s gospel. I want to share a message with you entitled, “The Truth We Would Like to Forget.”

Today’s message is not going to be popular. It is not going to be one that gets the most likes on YouTube. It is not going to be one that results in many sermon CD’s requested. It is not going to be one that you say at lunch, “You should have heard my pastor this morning.” It is not going to be one that leaves you feeling like you can conquer the world. Instead, it will be one that we wish we could forget.

To be completely honest, I have bad news. Follow along as I read John 15:18-27 and see if you can figure out what this bad news is.

Here it is. If you are a follower of Christ, the world is going to hate you. That’s it.

In John 15, Jesus has been giving us instructions about relationships. Two weeks ago, we saw how believers are to relate to Christ. They should abide in Him.

Last week, we saw how believers are to relate to one another. We should love one another.

Today, this text is about how believers relate to the world. In short, the world will hate us. That is what this text is about.

In John 15:18-27, the word world (kosmos) is used some 6 times. The word hate is used 8 times. The word you is used 12 times. The world is going to hate you.

Look at verse 18. Jesus said that if (assumed to be true) the world hates you, it hated Me before it hated you.

The one command in this text is to remember fond in verse 20. Now, let’s look at the text and remember 3 reasons why the world will hate us.

If you are believer, remember that the world will hate us because we are identified with Christ, John 15:19-20.

19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

Again, the world that Jesus is speaking of is the lost world or unbelieving world. If we were like them, they would like us because birds of a feather flock together.

However, we are not like them, but Jesus has chosen us out of the world. Consequently, we are now identified with Him.

The title of “Christian” means little Christ. That is who we are supposed to be…little Christs.

We identify with Christ by receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior, by being baptized as a believer, by taking the Lord’s Supper, and by living a life with Him in control. Have you identified with Him?

In verse 20, Jesus reminded us that we, as slaves to Christ, are not greater than our master. Therefore, we will be hated because we as believers are identified with Christ.

If you are a believer, remember that the world will hate us because they are ignorant of God, John 15:21.

21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.

In verse 21, Jesus said that all of the hateful things done to believers because of Jesus’ name will be done out of ignorance about the Father. An unbelieving or lost world does not know God because they don’t accept His Son.

If they really and truly knew God, they would understand that Jesus is God’s only begotten Son and would receive Him as such. The world hates believers because they are ignorant of God.

If you are a believer, remember that the world will hate us because Jesus was impeccable on earth, John 15:22-25.

22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’

There is a third reason why the world will hate us. It is because of who Jesus was on earth. He was impeccable or perfect or sinless.

Because Jesus lived a sinless life, everyone who fails to do so is now living in their sin and responsible for their sin. In other words, Jesus exposed sin as falling short of the glory of God.

If He had never come, the world could not have been guilty of rejecting Him. However, He did come and proved Himself as God’s Son with His miracles and signs and wonders.

We have seen that again and again in John’s gospel alone with His 7 miracles signs. Do you remember them? He turned water to wine, healed the nobleman’s son, healed the paralytic, fed the multitudes, walked on water and calmed the storm, healed the man born blind, and raised Lazarus from the dead.

Jesus should have been welcomed and worshipped. However, instead, the world hated Him for no reason and fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 69:4 that is mentioned in verse 25.

Illustration

Brothers and sisters, this is bad news. The world is going to hate you. Jesus said it, and even Paul knew it. See 2 Timothy 3:12.

12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

So let me give you some examples of what to believe to ensure the world will hate you.

The Bible is the authoritative word of God.
God was the Creator, and Darwinian evolution is a myth.
Jesus is the only way to heaven.
People who reject Jesus go to hell.
Marriage was designed for a lifetime.
Marriage is between a man and a woman.
The husband should be the leader of the home.
Any sex outside of marriage, hetero or homo, is immoral.
God only assigned two genders.
Life begins at conception.

If you believe these historic and fundamental Christian truths, the world will hate you.

We have seen this with football coaches that simply pray on the field after a game by themselves. We have seen this photographers and bakers and florists who won’t use their talents and gifts to compromise their convictions. We have seen this with professional athletes who choose not to wear certain uniform or participate in public campaigns.

Application and Conclusion

So what should we do? Should we just go underground? Should we just shut up? Should we just retire?

No, find encouragement in today’s text knowing that the Holy Spirit was sent for the very purpose of witnessing about Jesus through us.

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

CS Lewis, “As Christians, we are tempted to make the unnecessary concessions to those outside the Faith. We give in too much. Now, I don’t mean that we should run the risk of making a nuisance of ourselves by witnessing at improper times, but there comes a time when we must show that we disagree. We must show our Christian colours, if we are to be true to Jesus Christ. We cannot remain silent or we’ll concede everything away.”

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Last week, we started John 15, and I reminded you that this is still Thursday night. However, it seems that Jesus and His eleven disciples were making their way to the Garden of Gethsemane.

In verses 1-8, Jesus began His instructions on relationships. Last week, we looked at our relationship with Him. Today, we are going to talk about relationship with others. Next week, we will look our relationship with the world, and when I say our, I’m talking about followers of Christ.

There was one key word from last week as it pertains to the believers’ relationship with Christ, and that key word is abide or remain. It John 15, it means to believe in Jesus, continue in Jesus, and obey Jesus.

After Jesus is gone, we will have the Holy Spirit. However, we are also to abide in Christ. That is the command regarding our relationship to Christ.

Exposition

If abide is the key word regarding our relationship with Christ, love is the key word regarding our relationship with others.

In the same way that abide was commanded by Christ last week, love is commanded by Christ this week. See verses 12 and 17.

12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

The word for love here is not the sexual eros love or the brotherly philo love. This is the unconditional and sacrificial agape love, and again, it is commanded by Christ to be demonstrated to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

When we love others, we must love like Jesus loved us.

See verses 9 and 16.

In verse 9, Jesus said that His Father loved Him, and in turn, He loved us. In verse 16, He said He chose us rather than us choosing Him.

And in this command in verse 12, our love for others should be based on Jesus’ love for us. How did Jesus love us unconditionally? What does that mean?

To love unconditionally means that you love without condition. You don’t love based on someone loving you. You love first, and this hard because we make ourselves vulnerable, and yet this exactly what Jesus did for us.

Jesus didn’t love you and choose you because He knew you would be a faithful Christian. He loved you and choose you unconditionally because that is the nature of agape love.

Jesus even said that we ought to love our enemies with this unconditional agape love. See Matthew 5:43-48.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

So think about someone that is hard for you to love here at EBC. Jesus said it wasn’t an option, and we need to remember to love them as He first loved us.

When we love others, we are abiding in His love, and our love is demonstrated in our obedience and our answered prayers.

Here is a word that first saw last week. It is the word abide or remain.

Jesus told us in verse 9 to abide in His love. Remain in His love. Continue in His love. Obey His love.

How will our abiding be proven? It will be proven with our obedience.

Our love for Christ and our love for others will be proven by our obedience to Christ.

Jesus said these words in the previous chapter in John 14:15 and 14:23.

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.

We touched on this last week too, but look at the end of verse 16. Our obedience can be demonstrated in answered prayer.

Verse 16 says that Jesus choose us to bear fruit, and our fruit should be lasting, and whatever we ask in Jesus’ name, the Father will give to us.

I don’t mean to sound like prayer is easy and answered prayer is easy. I am simply trying to preach what the word says, and the word says that our answered prayers can be a sign of our obedience and our abiding in Christ’s love.

When we love others, it is a great joy for us and a sacrifice to them.

After the instruction to abide in Jesus’ love, we find verse 11. Jesus said these things which He said to us lead to our fullest joy.

In other words, our fullest joy in live will come when we love others as Christ has loved us, and this is very ironic. You would think our fullest joy would come when we are loved, but Jesus said it comes when we love.

However, not only will loving others be our greatest joy, but it will be a great sacrifice to them. Verse 13 speaks of the greatest love, and that is to lay down your life for a friend.

Verse 14 says that we are Jesus’ friends, and this is what He has done for us. See Romans 5:6-8.

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Christ’s death for us is a perfect picture of unconditional and sacrificial agape love.

Conclusion

This morning, my invitation is twofold. I have an invitation for the non-Christian and for my brothers and sisters in Christ.

First, if you have never put your faith and trust in Christ, I invite you to be saved this morning. Admit that you are a sinner. Believe that Jesus did the most loving thing imaginable in dying for you. Call on Jesus to save you by confessing Him as Lord and Savior.

Second, if you are saved, who is has God brought to your mind this morning that you need to love unconditionally and sacrificially as Christ has loved you? Is it a coworker or a neighbor or classmate or a family member or church member?

Today’s message and invitation can be summarized in 1 John 3:16.

16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

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It is still Thursday night, and it seems that Jesus and the 11 have left the upper room and are on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane according to 14:31. If so, they would have left the upper room in Jerusalem, gone down into the Kidron Valley, and across to the Mount of Olives.

As they walked, they would have seen the great golden vine on the front of the temple as they passed. As a result, it would have been very appropriate for Jesus to tell them a parable or analogy of the vine and its branches. That is John 15.

Remember, in John 14, Jesus told His disciples that He was leaving them for a while. Of course, they were troubled, but He foreshadowed the coming of the Holy Spirit for them, and we will come back to the Holy Spirit in chapter 16.

However, in John 15, Jesus spoke to His disciples about relationships. In verse 1-8, He spoke about our relationship with Him. In verses 9-17, He spoke about our relationships with others. In verses 18-27, He spoke about our relationship with the world. Therefore, that will be our pattern for the next three Sundays beginning today.

Exposition

Beginning in verse 1, Jesus made His 7th I AM statement. He has already said that He is the bread of life, the light of the world, the door or gate for His sheep, the good shepherd, the resurrection and life, and the way, the truth, and the life.

Also, in verses 1 and 2, I need to identify some parts of this analogy for us. In verse 1, Jesus is the true vine. God the Father is the vinedresser or gardener or the husbandman.

In verse 2, the branches are both authentic believers and apparent believers. God the Father takes away the apparent believers such as Judas, and He prunes the authentic believers such as Peter.

BTW, brothers and sisters, don’t waste your trial. When God prunes you, it is for your good and His glory. His desire is for you is to produce more fruit. His desire is for you to look and act more like Jesus.

In verse 3, those present are authentic believers. Again, Judas had already left, and these brothers were clean or saved or authentic in their following of Christ.

Abide

Now here in verse 4, we have the only imperative for today. The only command that Jesus gives to His disciples and to us is to abide or remain.

The command is in verse 4, but you will see this word 7 times in today’s text and 3 more times in verses 9-10.

What does it mean to abide? It means to believe in Jesus. It means to continue in Jesus. It means to obey Jesus, and we will see all of those meanings as we talk the next three weeks about relationships.

What happens when a believer abides in Christ?

First, abiding in Christ means that you will bear fruit. Remember, the command is not to bear fruit. The command is to abide. Look at verses 4-5.

However, when you abide, you will bear fruit. That word is used some 8 times in verses 1-17.

What is fruit? In the OT, we see fruit mentioned in Isaiah 5:1-7.

1 Now let me sing to my Well-beloved

A song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard:

My Well-beloved has a vineyard

On a very fruitful hill.

2 He dug it up and cleared out its stones,

And planted it with the choicest vine.

He built a tower in its midst,

And also made a winepress in it;

So He expected it to bring forth good grapes,

But it brought forth wild grapes.

3 “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah,

Judge, please, between Me and My vineyard.

4 What more could have been done to My vineyard

That I have not done in it?

Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes,

Did it bring forth wild grapes?

5 And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard:

I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned;

And break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.

6 I will lay it waste;

It shall not be pruned or dug,

But there shall come up briers and thorns.

I will also command the clouds

That they rain no rain on it.”

7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel,

And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant.

He looked for justice, but behold, oppression;

For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.

Therefore, fruit from Isaiah 5 was justice and righteousness.

In the NT, we see fruit in Galatians 5:22-23.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Are you bearing fruit? Ask your spouse. Ask a friend.

Second, abiding in Christ demonstrates that you are saved. Jesus said it negatively in verse 6. If you aren’t abiding, you aren’t saved.

Third, abiding in Christ accomplishes answered prayer. Do you want God to answer your prayers? Abide in Christ. Continue in Christ. Obey Christ. Look at verse 7.

What happens if I don’t abide in Christ?

You are an apparent believer not an authentic believer. You look like a believer but you aren’t producing any fruit.

Listen to this warning in verse 2. If you don’t bear fruit, the vinedresser or God the Father takes you away. In verse 6, the fruitless branches are gathered, throne into the fire, and burned.

Make no mistake. This is an allusion to hell, and eternal judgement.

Conclusion

So what about you? Are you abiding in Christ? If not, what about today?

If you think you are abiding in Christ, where is your fruit? If you aren’t sure, ask a friend.

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This morning, we find ourselves still on Thursday night of Passion Week. It is the last week of Jesus’ life on earth.

The gospel of John is unique in that it is the only gospel to contain this material that is found in John 14-17, all of which is with the twelve disciples, except Judas, on Thursday night in the upper room.

A significant portion of these chapters deals with the role of the Holy Spirit. That material will be introduced this morning and will be addressed again in chapter 16.

In today’s text, I to help us understand from God’s Word how to navigate the grey areas of the Christian life. What do I mean by grey areas? These are parts of life that are not specifically addressed in God’s Word.

For example, God’s Word is crystal clear or black and white in that Christians should not marry non-Christians. However, which specific person to marry would be a grey area.

Another example would be related to your job. God’s Word is crystal clear in that if you are able, Christians should have a job, a paying job. However, which job or which vocation would a grey area.

Therefore, how do we as followers of Christ, who are committed to God’s Word, navigate the grey areas? How do we know which choice to make if God’s Word doesn’t specifically address our situation?

Obedience to Christ is a sign of love for a Christian to Jesus.

This abundantly clear throughout our text for this morning. Jesus said it 14:15.

However, He said it again in 14:21. He said it again in 14:23.

This idea of “keeping” Jesus’ commandments means being obedient to them or obeying them. Does this mean the Ten Commandments? It certainly does.

However, it also means so much more. It means loving God and loving your neighbor that are commanded in Matthew 22. It means carrying out the Great Commission from Matthew 28. It means serving others like we saw Jesus do when He washed His disciples’ feet in John 13.

Conversely, if you don’t keep Jesus’ commandments, that is a sign that you don’t love Jesus. Is that being too harsh? It is what Jesus Himself said in 14:24.

Therefore, if you love Jesus, don’t just talk about it. Prove it by being obedient to Him. If and when you are obedient, that is a sign of your love for Christ.

The Holy Spirit is real and essential for every Christian.

Verse 16 speaks to the character of the Holy Spirit. Jesus called Him another Helper.

In the language of the NT, there are two words that mean “another.” One meaning is another of a different kind. The meaning here is another of the same kind.

Jesus is saying that He will ask the Father for another Helper just like Him. In other words, the Holy Spirit is divine or deity. We are mistaken when we see or understand the Holy Spirit to be anything less than God.

Also related to the character of the Holy Spirit, He is the Spirit of truth. This means that He is truth and guides us into all truth.

Conversely, He doesn’t ever guide us into error or lead us astray. Therefore, He will never lead us to do that which contradicts the nature of Christ or the Scriptures.

Jesus also speaks of the role of the Holy Spirit. The various English words in your translations include Helper, Comforter, Advocate, and Counselor.

In the language of the NT, it is the word Paraclete. It literally means one who comes along side of us to assist and encourage.

Imagine an athlete who is injured during a game. Then you might see a trainer or a coach come to his aid or her aid and help him or her off of the field or court, and that athlete might have his or her arm draped over the coach’s shoulder.

Perhaps that is a good illustration of what the Holy Spirit does in our lives. He is our helper.

However, He is also that advocate. Another illustration would a defense attorney who defends his client.

Remember, Satan is the Accuser accusing us 24 hours a day. If you are saved, the Holy Spirit is your advocate, your defense attorney defends you who are in Christ against every accusation that Satan says about you.

Thirdly, the people of the Holy Spirit is addressed in verse 16. For the Christian, the Holy Spirit indwells you permanently starting at conversion.

In the OT, He came upon people and then left. He only rested on individuals temporarily as can be seen in the life of Samson in Judges and David in the Psalms. However, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would be with His disciples forever, and this is still true today.

And the Holy Spirit is only for the Church. In other words, He only resides in those who have been born-again. The world cannot receive Him according to verse 17 because it does not see Him or know Him.

If we love Jesus, we will then obey Him, and when we obey Him, the Holy Spirit leads into more obedience and greater intimacy.

Go back to this nugget of truth at the end of verse 21. Jesus said that whoever loves Him, keeps His commandments and is loved by the Father and Him, and He will disclose Himself to him.

Many Christians get this sequence out of order. We want God to disclose His plans for us so that we can decide whether or not we want to obey. Instead, Jesus said obey Me, and then I will disclose Myself and plans to you.

First, consider this scenario. Your family is trying to decide on whether or not to make a specific big purchase. It might be a car or boat or vacation home or whatever, and you ask God to show you His will. However, you aren’t tithing currently. Don’t expect God to disclose Himself and His plans to you before you have been obedient to what He is already telling you to do. Furthermore, He isn’t going to tell you to buy whatever toy if that toy is going to keep you from being obedient in your giving.

Second, here is another one. You have received a new job offer, and you pray and ask God to show you what to do. However, in your present job, you have not been honest with your boss and have even stolen some petty cash and supplies. Don’t expect God to disclose Himself and His plans for you until you have been obedient in what you already know to do.

Third, this is for students, it often plays out like this. Students want desperately to know where to go to college so you pray and ask God. However, you’ve been cheating your way through high school and lying to your parents about where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing. Don’t expect God to disclose Himself before you have been obedient.

Fourth, here’s another example with students. College students and young adults want God to show them His will regarding who they are to marry. Therefore, they pray and ask God for guidance. However, they are sexually involved with their current boyfriend or girlfriend. Don’t expect God to disclose Himself before you have been obedient.

Obedience comes first. Revelation comes second. Don’t switch the order, and this order is the key to navigating the grey areas.

Invitation

This morning’s invitation is very simple. There are plenty of us here today who need to confess our sin and repent of our disobedience. If you love Jesus, you will obey His commandments. We need to repent of our disobedience, and we need to recommit and rededicate our lives and our church to being obedient to what God has given us to do today!

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If I went around the room this morning and asked who all has been discouraged this week, maybe one or two or handful would raise their hands. However, we have all seen and heard the news this past week in some form.

We are approaching a year with the war in Ukraine. Multiple surveillance balloons have been shot down in our country, and how many more are there? The causality number in from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria is now in excess of 35,000. Mass shootings seem to be becoming more prevalent, and inflation is running wild.

This morning we come to John 14. It is one of my favorite passages in the entire Bible and one that I have used so many times to encourage families at funeral services.

Remember that it is Thursday night before Friday’s crucifixion. Jesus and His disciples had gathered in the upper room to celebrate the Passover, and He had washed the disciples’ feet. He had dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas, and Judas left. That left Jesus in the upper room with 11 disciples and leads us to John 14:1.

In John 14:1, Jesus encouraged His disciples not to let their hearts be troubled or stirred or agitated. Why would He say that?

They had recently heard some very hard truths. See 13:18, 21, 33, and 38.

18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’

21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”

33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.

38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

In today’s troubling times or tomorrow’s or next year’s or 15 years from now, I want to show you 5 timeless truths for your encouragement.

Jesus is God, 14:1, 6, 7, 9-11.

In verse 1, Jesus challenged His disciples to believe in Him personally. That is a challenge for us today as well because Jesus isn’t just a good person or a good moral teacher or a good prophet. Jesus is God.

In verse 6, He said that He was the only way to the Father. This is the sixth I AM statement. He is the bread of life, the light of the world, the door of the sheep, the good shepherd, the resurrection and life, the way, the truth, and the life, and the true vine.

Again, Jesus isn’t just one way among many to the Father. He is in the only way, and no one comes to the Father except through the son.

In theological terms, this is called the exclusivity of Christ. Going through Jesus to get to God is exclusively the way.

In other words, unless you go through Jesus, you cannot and will not be saved. That applies to any other religion or belief system including Judaism and Islam and Hinduism and Buddhism.

In verse 7-9, Jesus said He and the Father are the same. If they had known the Father, they would have known Him. He and the Father are the same.

It is a common misconception in our world today that you can know God and have nothing to do with God’s Son. I would submit to you the impossibility of that experience. If you reject Jesus, then you are rejecting God because they ARE the same.

Jesus and the Father also SPEAK the same. Look at verse 10. Jesus did not speak on His own initiative but the words of His Father. So again, if you don’t agree with that which Jesus said, you are disagreeing with God the Father because Jesus and the Father SPEAK the same.

Finally, Jesus and the Father ARE the same and SPEAK the same and DO the same. In verse 11, Jesus said He was in the Father and the Father in Him, and that reality is affirmed by their works. What Jesus did was what the Father did. Jesus and the Father DO the same.

Therefore, if Jesus and the Father are the same and speak the same and do the same, guess what? Jesus is God.

Heaven is real, 14:2.

Secondly, heaven is real. In verse 2, Jesus called heaven His Father’s house, and this house has many dwelling places or rooms, and Jesus is preparing them for His disciples.

The KJV uses the word “mansions.” However, that word does not mean lavish and expensive but abundant in number. The Father’s house has MANY dwelling places for all of His children.

When the disciples heard this, they immediately thought of the custom of the day for a son to marry and then add on a room for his new family to his father’s home. Therefore, if a family had 4 sons, then there would be four additional rooms or dwelling places added on to the original family dwelling.

I would submit to you this morning that heaven is real. It is the Father’s house, and it is the place where Jesus currently dwells, and John described the Father’s house in Revelation 21 as a place of no tears, no death, no mourning, no crying, and no pain. I love to think of heaven and being there one day. Heaven is real.

The Bible is true, 14:3-4.

The Bible is true because it is the word of God, and therefore, whatever it says, we can believe. For example, Jesus is coming back for us, and because Jesus is God, and because the Bible is God’s word, I can trust this promise.

Look at verse 3. Jesus said He was going to prepare heaven, but He would return for His disciples. That is a promise, and a promise that will not be broken.

I have broken promises in my life. I have been on the other end of broken promises, but Jesus has never broken a promise, and He won’t begin with this one.

The question arises if His statement here is talking about the Rapture or the Second Coming. I have no problem in saying both. He will return for His Church before a 7- year tribulation period, and He will return to this earth after the 7-year tribulation period for those who became Christians during that time.

Therefore, even though the context is vague, we can say both this morning. We can trust or believe in the promise of Christ’s return. We trust the Bible is true.

The Holy Spirit is powerful, 14:12.

In verse 12, I believe Jesus is pointing to the power of the Holy Spirit in this lives of His followers. Allow me to explain what I believe Jesus meant when He said greater works.

He told His disciples and us that they and we will do greater works than Him. I believe He certainly was talking about quantity of works as Jesus lived on earth only 33 years, and His disciples have been doing works for approximately 2000 years.

However, in another regard, He may even have been talking about quality of works as well. Here is one example. As odd as it may sound, when Jesus preached, we don’t have any record of mass conversions. However, when Peter preached in the book of Acts, thousands were converted. Therefore, “greater works” could have multiple meanings.

Regardless, if you are follower of Christ, the Holy Spirit is the seal on your heart, and when you surrender completely to Him, His power is unbelievable!

Prayer works, 14:13-14.

In verses 13 and 14, Jesus gave His disciples the formula for success in prayer as He instructed them to pray in His name. He said that they could ask whatever, and He would do it if they ask in His name.

He even said it twice, once in 13 and again in 14. It applies to anything and everything: marriage, work, school, finances, future, houses, cars, guidance, health, whatever.

However, here is the question, what does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name? Is it some ritualistic formula? Jesus will repeat it two more times in John 15:16 and 16:23.

16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.

For maybe the best explanation, let’s turn to another NT book written by the same author of this gospel. Turn to 1 John 5:14-15.

14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

I would say that to pray in Jesus’ name is to pray according to God’s will or wanting the will of God to be accomplished in our prayers.

It means His purposes not ours. It means what He has done and what we cannot do. It means His glory and fame not anyone else’s.

Conclusion and Invitation

For some of us today, our hearts are being attacked this very minute. We are being attacked by distress and doubt and depression. My invitation for you this morning is to believe and remember the truths of God as revealed in the Bible.

Do you believe that Jesus is God, heaven is real, the Bible is true, the Holy Spirit is powerful, and prayer works? If not, would you believe this morning for the first time and be saved? If you already believe, my invitation for you is to remember and be encouraged in these troubling times.

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In 1970, Christian author Frances Schaffer wrote a book entitled, “The Mark of a Christian.” What do you think that book was about?

Do you think he wrote about baptism or taking the Lord’s Supper? Do you think he wrote about wearing a Christian t-shirt or a cross necklace or having a Christian bumper sticker or fish symbol on our cars?

No, I don’t think he mentioned any of those things. Instead, he pointed to John 13 and the words of Christ.

Jesus and His disciples were in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. That is the celebration of the angel of the Lord passing over the Israelites in Egypt while killing the first born of Egyptian males and animals.

It was Thursday night, and Jesus was with the entire twelve (12) disciples in the upper room. This was the Thursday night before the Jesus’ Friday crucifixion and Sunday resurrection.

Earlier in chapter 13, Jesus has washed the disciples’ feet, and He prophesied about Judas’ betrayal. As a result, Judas then left them in the room and put into action his plan to sell out Jesus for thirty (30) pieces of silver.

Now, we pick up the story in John 13:31. I want to share a message with you entitled, “One Single Mark.”

Exposition

In verse 31, again, we see that Judas had left, and this now got the ball rolling or started the dominoes falling in Jesus’ betrayal, murder, and resurrection. The end of verse 31 and 32 speak to Jesus’ ultimate mission in coming to earth.

Jesus was glorified because He would be perfectly obedient to the Father’s will. Consequently, God would be glorified because Jesus is God’s Son and was the incarnation of God on earth. Glorified is simply another way of saying praised or exalted.

Jesus would be praised and then God would be praised and then Jesus and then God. Jesus would be glorified immediately as He was obedient to the point of death and then resurrected on the 3rd day.

In verse 33, Jesus spoke tenderly and affectionately to His disciples in calling them “little children.” He again told them that He would not be with them much longer.

Consequently, they would not be able to go with Him yet. He would need to die first, and then they would eventually die and join Him in heaven, but His mission must be completed first.

What was that mission? See Mark 10:45.

45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Verses 34 and 35 are our focus verses for today. By the way, I wish I was smart enough to plan this stuff on my own. However, you know better.

Today is the Sunday before Valentine’s Day. Our entire culture is thinking about love, but they are thinking about eros. In verses 34 and 35, Jesus spoke of agape.

Jesus told His disciples of a new commandment, but was it really new? It wasn’t new in the sense of never having been taught previously. See Leviticus 19:18.

18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

However, it was new in relation to the New Testament. Whereas Leviticus 19:18 was given under the Old Covenant, John 13:34 was given under the New Covenant.

His disciples were to love one another as He had loved them, and that would be the Church’s defining characteristic for centuries to come. It is and should be the one single defining mark of every Christian.

Big Idea

We are to love, 13:34a!

You and I as followers of Christ are given a commandment from the mouth of the Lord Jesus, and it is to love one another. It is not an option or a suggestion, but a commandment coming from our highest authority.

In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus called loving our neighbors one of the two greatest commandments.

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Paul repeated it in Romans 13:8-9 and Galatians 5:14.

8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

James quoted it in James 2:8, and lest you wonder about who is your neighbor, remember that your neighbors are those who are close by and those that God brings across your path on a daily basis. We are to love our neighbors!

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well;

We are to love like Jesus, 13:34b!

The love that we are commanded to love our neighbor with is the love that Jesus loves us with. Here are three characteristics of His love for us.

First, He loves us unconditionally, and we are to do the same. He loves us and all of our weaknesses and shortcomings and warts and deficiencies.

That is the way that we are to love one another. We don’t have to love everything about one another, but we can love unconditionally.

Second, we can love sacrificially. Jesus gave his life on the cross for our sins. He sacrificed for us, and we can sacrifice for others.

Don’t let it be about you. Consider your spouse. Consider your children. Consider your parents or your friend. Consider your fellow church member and what they like and what they want and what they need.

Sacrifice your time and your money and your energy and your desires for someone else. Love sacrificially as Jesus sacrificed for you.

Third, we can love righteously. Jesus died to save us from our sins. He died because sin would kill us if there wasn’t another option.

Our love for one another ought to be righteous in wanting God’s best for that person. Sometimes that means holding one another accountable.

It may mean calling into question certain behaviors or lifestyle choices. If you see that a friend is making some bad choices, out of love be willing to ask them about it and encourage them to do God’s will. Love righteously.

Our love should be visible, 13:35.

Notice verse 35. Our love for one another will be how the entire world knows that you are a follow of Christ.

Therefore, it is not enough to simply say you love your neighbor. We must show we love our neighbor. We must demonstrate we love our neighbor. We must prove we love our neighbor.

It should be evident to the world, and it should be evident to the church. See 1 John 3:14.

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

Conclusion

36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” 37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” 38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

This visible nature of Jesus’ unconditional and sacrificial and righteous love was already demonstrated with Judas and is illustrated again with Peter in verses 36-38.

Even though Peter pledged his love to Jesus, Jesus told Peter that talking about it wasn’t enough. He must demonstrate it when given the opportunity, and Jesus knew that Peter wasn’t ready for that.

Consequently, He prophesied about Peter’s failure that would occur soon enough. However, even though Judas would betray Him and Peter would deny Him, the Lord Jesus loved them and us unconditionally and sacrificially and righteously as He went forward with God’s plan of Him dying on the cross in our place and for our sin.

Brothers and Sisters, are you loving this morning? If yes, are you loving like Jesus? If yes, does it show? If no to any of these questions, then start today by loving and the loving like Jesus and then loving like Jesus in a way that is obvious to all of those around you.

If you’ve never accepted Jesus’ love for you, would you do that this morning?

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This morning we return to John 13, and I want to set the stage for you. Last Sunday morning, we looked at John 13:1-20. It was Thursday of Passion Week, Jesus’ last week on earth before His crucifixion, and it was evening time as Jesus and His disciples had gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover Feast.

Remember that Jesus taught a very powerful lesson on humility and service as His disciples were arguing about who was the greatest. In an act of humility, the Son of Man washed the feet of His disciples including Judas, and He told us to do the same.

In going one step further, let’s talk about the set up of this room. It was not as you might think and as it has been depicted in famous paintings.

It actually was probably more like this. The room and setting probably included what is called a triclinium. That was a low, rectangular dining table around which seats or couches were arranged on three of the four sides.

The opening allowed for food to be served. Those in attendance would be lying on their stomachs and leaning on their left arms with their heads toward the table and their feet away from the table. The right arm was then available to reach and get food.

More than likely, John was to Jesus’ right, the place of special honor. To His left was Judas, the next highest place of honor.

This morning, I want to examine Judas in more detail and see what he did and how it affected the Lord. Did you know that Judas Iscariot is mentioned by name 10 times in the NT?

Of those 10 times, his act of betrayal is connected with his name 10 out of 10 times. In other words, that was who Judas was. Judas is known the world over for his betrayal of the Lord Jesus.

Judas’ betrayal hurt Jesus deeply, 13:21.

21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”

The “these” in verse 21 was Jesus announcing that fact Judas would be the one to betray Him as a fulfillment of OT prophecy, specifically Psalm 41:9. As a result, He was troubled in His spirit.

The NLT says, “deeply troubled.” It must have broken Jesus’ heart to have invested His life into Judas for three years, and yet, He knew full well that Judas was going to sell Him out for thirty pieces of silver.

By the way, if you have ever had a close friend turn on you, betray you, hurt you, you’re in good company. Jesus knows exactly how you feel, and it’s ok for you to feel hurt when friends betray you.

In verse 22, the disciples didn’t understand who Jesus was talking about. The other Gospel accounts record them each asking if it was him. See Matthew 26:22.

22 And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”

In verse 23, John was the closest to Jesus. He was probably to His right.

In verse 24, Peter may have been a few persons away. Regardless, Peter wanted to know who was going to betray his Lord and so he asked John to ask Jesus. Peter was mad, and he was ready to act.

Judas’ betrayal hurt Jesus deeply.

Judas’ betrayal was orchestrated by the devil, 13:26-27.

26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”

Verse 26 contains Jesus’ answer. Jesus said it would be the one to whom He gave the piece of bread after having dipped it.

What do you think happened? He took and gave to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.

Verse 27 is one of the worst in the entire Bible. After taking the bread, Satan then entered into Judas, and Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”

This is not the first time that we have seen this language. See John 6:70, 13:2.

6:70, Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”

13:2, And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him.

Judas’ betrayal was orchestrated by the devil.

Judas’ betrayal was mysteriously part of God’s plan, 13:28-30.

28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.

After Jesus said this to Judas, he had so fooled those around him that the other disciples didn’t even know what Jesus meant even though He had told them explicitly. Then Judas left.

How was Judas’ betrayal part of God’s plan? Back in John 6:70, Jesus said He had chosen Judas, but he was a devil.

6:70, Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”

In John 13:18, Jesus said Judas’ betrayal was a fulfillment of prophecy. He quoted Psalm 41:9 when Ahithophel betrayed King David and hung himself just like Judas.

18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’

Why do I say Judas’ betrayal was mysteriously part of God’s plan? Even though Judas’ betrayal was part of God’s plan, Judas was completely responsibly for his actions and would spend an eternity in hell because he rejected Christ.

In the past two Sundays, we have seen Jesus reach out to Judas continuing to give him a chance to repent. He sat him in a position of honor. He washed Judas’ feet. He fed Judas the supper.

All of these actions were acts of friendship. All of these were opportunities for Judas to repent.

Judas had fooled most everyone. He most assuredly had been baptized. He had done ministry with the others. He held a position of leadership as treasurer.

However, he hadn’t fooled God. What about you?

Conclusion

Today, are you just like Judas…almost saved? Jesus has invited you over and over again to be completely His, and you have fooled your family and your friends.

You might even be a church member like Judas was a disciples’ member. You might have even engaged in ministry like Judas. You might even hold or have held a position of leadership like Judas.

However, it doesn’t matter what others think or say. It matters what God says.

My appeal for you today is not to be almost saved, but to be saved certainly and completely from hell and to heaven beyond a shadow of doubt. Today, our invitation is for you.

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We are in John’s Gospel, and we are in chapter 12 and verse 37. This morning, we are going to finish John 12, and today’s text will be somewhat of a transition text.

Here is what I mean. John 12 begins on the Friday before Palm Sunday. In the recent weeks, we saw Mary anoint Jesus’ feet with oil and wipe them with her hair.

We then saw Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, and He was hailed as the promised Messiah. In chapter 12 is also where Jesus acknowledged that it was time for Him to do what God sent Him to do, and that was to die.

John 12 will end Sunday, and some say even Monday. Next Sunday, we will pick up in John 13, and it will be Thursday night before the cross on Friday, and those events will be chronicled in chapters 13-21.

By the way, the Bible isn’t silent about what happened on Monday-Wednesday. Matthew 21-26 has a lot to say about the events of those days.

In today’s text, we see several responses to Jesus’ public ministry. Primarily, we will see how the Jews responded.

Some Jews Couldn’t Believe, John 12:37-41.

37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” 41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.

In verses 37-41, we see that some Jews, and I would even say many Jews, didn’t believe in Him even though they saw so many signs.

Keep in mind, many of them, if not all of them, were familiar with Jesus’ miracles. See 7:31 and 11:47.

31 And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?”

47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.

However, these weren’t just any signs, there were seven miraculous signs, and the last was raising someone from the dead. Jesus turned water to wine, healed the nobleman’s son, healed the paralytic of 38 years, fed the 5,000, walked on water and calmed the storm, healed the man born blind, and raised Lazarus.

They saw signs, and they saw many signs, and they still didn’t believe. For John, this reminded him of the Jews in the Old Testament in Isaiah 53 as he quoted that passage in 12:38.

By the way, John, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, saw the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 as a prophecy fulfilled in Jesus Christ. In other words, Jesus was the promised Messiah.

In verse 39, John said they could not believe. Why was that true? It was true because they continued to reject all of the proof and evidence that God was providing them. The more they rejected, the harder their hearts became, and they couldn’t believe.

Again, John is reminded of Isaiah. This time, he quotes Isaiah 6, and tells us explicitly that these Jews were a fulfillment of prophecy in how they responded to the promised Messiah.

In verse 41, John again equated Jesus with the promised Messiah and God by looking back to Isaiah 6. When Isaiah saw God, he saw the pre-incarnate Christ.

Some Jews Wouldn’t Believe for long, John 12:42-43.

42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

In verses 42-43, John said some rulers believed in Him, talking about Jesus. In other words, they believed initially.

However, I don’t think they believed ultimately and consequently weren’t saved. They didn’t confess Jesus as Lord and Savior in the synagogue or in public.

This is problematic because of the words of Christ in Matthew 10:32-33.

32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Verse 43 tells us more about their hearts. They desired compliments from men rather than the Christ who can save.

Will You Believe?

44 Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

In our last several verses, Jesus reminded us that to believe in Him is to believe in God. Look at verse 44-45.

Consequently, if you don’t believe in Jesus as God, you only believe in the God of your imagination. You only believe in the God you created in your mind because Jesus is God.

Also, if you do believe in Jesus, the proof or evident of your belief will be your obedience. Verse 46 says because Jesus is the light, if you believe in Him, you won’t walk in darkness. In other words, you will be obedient to Him.

Christian, is that true of you? Are you walking according to the light in your marriage and with your kids and at work?

Finally, if you believe in Jesus, you receive a pardon from judgment. Jesus didn’t come to judge you. He came to save you.

However, because of His teachings and His claims, judgment will inevitably come to everyone who doesn’t believe in Jesus because Jesus’ teaching and claims are from God.

When I read this end of John 12 and how the Jews responded to Jesus, some couldn’t believe and some wouldn’t believe, I think of Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23 and the parable of the soils.

3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

The first soil is those who couldn’t believe. They second and third soils are those that wouldn’t believe ultimately even though they believed initially.

The fourth soil welcomed the seed and growth occurred. When you welcome the claims of Christ as God and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, growth will occur because of the new life.

Invitation

What could be said of these Jews this morning can also be said of so many Gentiles maybe even in this room. Some Gentiles can’t believe. Some Gentiles won’t believe.

What about you? Will you believe in Jesus today? To believe in Jesus is everlasting life in heaven with forgiveness of sins.

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I want you to take your Bibles and turn to John 12:12. Today’s message is entitled, “The Glory of Jesus,” and begins the last week of Jesus’ life on this earth.

If you are visiting with us today, we have been studying John’s Gospel verse-by-verse and chapter-by-chapter. Remember that John 1-11 highlights parts of Jesus’ life during His three-year earthly ministry. John 12-21 covers essentially the last week of His earthly life.

Last week, Jesus went to Bethany on Friday night and stayed with Lazarus and Mary and Martha. On Saturday, there was dinner hosted by Simon the Leper in honor of the Lord. It was here that Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with oil and wiped them with her hair.

Today, we begin in John 12:12. This would have been what we call “Palm Sunday” and Jesus’ Triumphant or Royal Entry into Jerusalem.

Exposition

Actually, let’s begin with verse 23. On multiple occasions in this gospel, we have seen Jesus say that it wasn’t His time yet. He usually said that in relation to His enemies trying to trap Him or arrest Him.

In verse 23, He said now was the time. Specifically, He said, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.” In other words, it was not time for the events to be set in motion for His purpose in coming.

It was time for Him to be glorified. However, what does that mean? Now, we will go back to verse 12.

The Glory of Jesus is that He came to Save, John 12:12-13.

12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!”

As I said previously, verse 12 begins by moving us to the next day. Mary anointed Jesus with oil on Saturday. Therefore, this is Palm Sunday, and begins the last week of Jesus’ life on earth.

The great multitude had come to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. In verse 13, we see that the large crowd took palm branches and waved them at Jesus and begin to shout.

They shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel.” There shout was a quotation and fulfillment of Psalm 118:26.

Hosanna meant Praise God! Save us now! The large crowd was declaring Jesus to be the Messiah they had been waiting for.

Of course, we know that Jesus came to be the Savior of Israel. However, verse 20 foreshadows the fact that Jesus not only came to save Israel but to save Gentiles as well. These Greeks mentioned in verse 20 remind us that Jesus came to save the entire world. Consequently, anyone who would believe in Him would be saved.

The Glory of Jesus is that He came in PEACE, John 12:14-15.

14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

Verse 14 says Jesus then found a young donkey and rode on it into the city. Verse 15 is the quotation and the fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9.

Jesus coming into Jerusalem on a donkey is ironic. It is a paradox. This large crowd hailed Him as the King of Israel. Normally, the king would come riding on a war horse dragging his conquered kings behind him or perhaps in a chariot leading his army.

That is not what is happening here. The donkey was a sign of peace and humility, and this King is not a warrior-king they assumed but the Prince of Peace.

Think about this and how it relates to you in 2023. Do you want the glory of Christ on display in your life? If so, remember that does happen when you win all the time and run rough shod over your spouse and your family and your coworkers or employees with your words and your social media.

If you want the glory of Jesus, live a life of peace. Paul commanded the same in Romans 12:18.

18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

In verse 16, there appears to be a second group of disciples, and John is writing about their experience well beyond their actual happenings in real time. These disciples didn’t originally understand all of who Jesus was.

However, after He was glorified, which refers to His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, they did remember that these things were written about Jesus, and He was who He said He was. They realized He was the one Lord and Savior.

These particular disciples were onlookers or eyewitnesses of Jesus calling Lazarus out of the tomb. As a result, they bore witness about Jesus. Their response was telling others what happened. Consequently, verse 18 tells us that people were coming to Jesus to meet Him because He had performed these signs.

Unfortunately, when the Pharisees saw the popularity that Jesus was gaining and how His followers were increasing, these opponents of Christ were very upset. They were very angry. They were resentful.

Look at verse 19. They were talking to one another and claimed that they had done no good since many were coming to Christ.

The Glory of Jesus is that He came to DIE, John 12:20-26.

20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. 23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Verse 20 tells us that some Greeks or Gentiles had come to Jerusalem. It is says there were there to worship. Perhaps they were close to being converts to Judaism.

By the way, some commentators believe we have now moved to Monday. That debatable and probably not that significant, but I wanted you to know.

They then came to Philip and told him that they wanted to see Jesus. Perhaps they went to him because his name is a Greek name, and they knew he was a disciple of Jesus. Philip then told Andrew, and they came and told Jesus.

When they told Jesus, in verse 23, He said that the hour had come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Remember that Jesus had escaped and eluded His enemies on several previous occasions because it wasn’t His time. Now, it is.

In verse 24, Jesus used an agrarian illustration of a grain of wheat falling into the earth and dying or being buried. If it doesn’t die and isn’t buried, it remains alone. If it does die and is buried, then it bears much fruit.

He then applied this illustration personally in verses 25-26. He who loves his life, loses it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.

He was talking about gaining a future eternal life. However, you don’t gain like you would think. It comes to those who lose their life and to those who hate their life.

However, Jesus isn’t speaking literally but relatively. Jesus died so that He would live.

Conclusion

And so here is the conclusion and invitation for us. In order for us to live, we must die too. It can’t be about us and what we want, but about Him and what He wants.

Verse 26 then is an invitation to follow. If you want to serve Jesus, you must follow Him. You will then be with Him in heaven, and God will honor you for serving His Son.

Paul understood this idea as he wrote to the Galatian Church. See Galatians 2:20.

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What constitutes a God-Honoring Life? I think we will see our answer in today’s text.

John’s Gospel is an interesting read. John used 11 chapters to talk about 3 years of Jesus’ life. Chapters 12-20 cover just over 1 week. Needless to say, he is going to slow things down a lot.

Today’s story is also found in Matthew 26 and Mark 14. A similar story is found in Luke 7, but it is not the same.

Scene One: A Party with Friends, 12:1-3

1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

The setting was a few days before Golgotha in a private home in Bethany. Jesus probably got to Bethany on Friday night. Perhaps He was staying with His close friends: Lazarus, Mary, and Martha.

On Saturday, there was a supper in Jesus’ honor. Mark’s Gospel tells us it was at Simon the leper’s house. It seems that this party was honor Jesus and celebrated Lazarus and Simon. Can you even imagine them sharing healing stories?

Martha was doing her thing…serving others while verse 2 says that Lazarus was at the table with Jesus. Because Matthew’s Gospel says that all of the Twelve were there, this is a party with friends that included at least 17 people.

The Lord Jesus was reclining at the table with His disciples and Lazarus. Then Mary entered the room and brought to Him a pound of very costly oil of spikenard.

This was about 11 ounces of perfume that had been imported from India. She knelt at Jesus’ feet, broke open the flask, and poured it out upon His feet. She then wiped His feet with her hair.

Think about this act. A Jewish woman touches another person’s feet. This other person was a man that was not her husband. She undid her hair in public and did the unthinkable. Why? Because of her love and appreciation for Jesus.

This nard was used to anoint kings. Jesus was Mary’s King of Kings.

Picture them reclining at a center table that was maybe 18 inches off the floor. They would have been leaning on one elbow while eating with the other hand, and their legs and feet would have been extended away from the table.

The fragrance filled the whole house not just the room where they were. Everyone was touched by the smell. Sooner or later, everyone in the house would know what Mary had done because of the pleasing smell.

Scene Two: A Perturbed Foe, 12:4-6

4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

From Judas’ perspective, he couldn’t understand why this perfume was not sold. In Matthew 26:8, he called it “a waste.” By the way, Judas is always described in Scripture as a foe, the one who would betray Jesus.

He gave the perception that he was concerned about the poor, but in reality, he had other plans for the money that the oil would have received.

300 denarii was considered to be a year’s wages. In thinking about this, you might see this perfume as being worthy $20-$25-$30,000.

By the way, Judas was thinking with his pocketbook rather than his heart. In 2023, don’t be a Judas. Be more like Mary who acted on her heart and not her pocketbook.

Scene Three: A Prediction about the Future, 12:7-8

7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

In Matthew’s Gospel (26:10), Jesus said, “For she has done a good work for Me.” Of all those in the home that night, Jesus offered the lone compliment or praise. His was the one that counted.

Notice that this offering was “for Me.” It wasn’t for the giver or the audience. It was for Christ.

However, we can’t help but think about the future as Jesus said she had kept this for the day of burial. Little did they know that in a week’s time, Jesus would be dead and buried.

Verse 8 isn’t a derogatory remark about the poor. Jesus simply stated the facts. He wouldn’t always be with them, but the poor would.

Conclusion

So what can we take away from this story from three of the four gospels?

First, a God-Honoring Life will be pleasant to many. Undoubtedly, what Mary did inspired many. Her offering filled the entire house. Listen to Matthew 26:13.

Matthew 26:13, “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” She is remembered forever because of the offering she gave.

If you’re living a God-Honoring Life, you will inspire many. I look back and think about people like Bill Beasley and Dave Craddock. They inspired me.

I think about Phyllis Friday and Carolyn Potts. They inspired me. Will you live a God-Honoring Life in 2023 that will be pleasant to many?

Second, a God-Honoring Life will perturb others. Mary didn’t mean to perturb Judas, but God convicted Judas with Mary’s act.

That happens today as well. When you live a life that is honoring of the Lord, you will irritate others. Why? Because they aren’t living a life that is honoring the Lord.

You didn’t mean to do that. However, that is how the Holy Spirit sometimes works to convict others of their sins.

Third, above else, let me challenge you to live a life that pleasing to One. That is Jesus. Mary’s act wasn’t for her. It wasn’t for the audience. It was for Jesus, and that is all that matters.

Today’s story ends with some Jews believing in Jesus because of the miraculous sign of Lazarus being resurrected from the dead. Others continued to reject Jesus. What will you do with Him today and in 2023?

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Statisticians tell us that the world’s population will exceed eight billion people in 2023. That is an eight with nine zeros.

Those same statisticians tell us that in all of human history, approximately 105-110 billion people have ever lived. That is one hundred and five with nine zeros.

Of that one hundred and five billion people, some have been male, and some have been female. Some have been red, and some have been yellow, and some have been black, and some have been white. Some have gone on to be doctors and lawyers and Indian chiefs.

However, there is no more significant birth in all of human history than the one that we celebrate this time of year, and that is the birth of Jesus Christ. This morning, we consider the Christmas story.

A Baby was Born, Luke 2:1-7.

In the first three verses of this chapter, we see the context for Joseph and Mary getting to Bethlehem. A census was being taken, and we can conclude that Joseph owned property in Bethlehem.

Therefore, he had to go there to register his family. Rather than leave Mary behind and be absent at the birth of his son, Mary went with him to Bethlehem.

The first detail about the incarnation of God that I want you to see is that it was prophesied in Scripture. By leaving Nazareth, Joseph was following the predetermined plan of God that we know of from Micah 5:2.

The second detail that I want to remind you of is that the incarnation of God was conceived by the Spirit. Verse five tells us that Mary was with child on this trip.

It is very difficult for us to even imagine this young, teenage mother to be walking and or riding on a donkey for any prolonged period of time at nine months pregnant. However, that is what we have here, but don’t forget how this happened.

Had she been with another man and unfaithful to Joseph? No. Had she and Joseph consummated their marriage? No, they were still in the betrothal period and sexually pure. See Luke 1:35.

Jesus was conceived by the Spirit of God.

In verses 6 and 7, Jesus was born. God became flesh incarnate.

A baby was born that was a fulfillment of prophecy and conceived by the Holy Spirit.

God was Glorified, Luke 2:8-14.

Beginning in verse eight, we are introduced to a group of shepherds. They were herding their sheep which is what shepherds do, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them and scared them.

In verse ten, the angel began to speak. He tried to calm the shepherds down and let them know that he had good news. He literally uses the phrase, “good tidings” in verse ten.

The first reason that God is to be glorified and is glorified is because when Jesus was born, He was God’s provision for all people to be saved. He isn’t just the Savior for a few or for a certain denomination or a certain race or a certain social-economic class. Regardless of who you are and where you’re from and what you’ve done, Jesus came to be your Savior.

However, the salvation that Jesus offers is only applied to those who believe. He is a Savior sent for you, but you have to make the personal decision to receive Him into your life or trust in Him as Lord and Savior or call on Him to be saved from your sins. I can’t do it for you. It isn’t applied to you just because of what your parents have done or who your grandfather was.

Second, God is to be glorified and is glorified because having a personal relationship with only Son is the only way to be at peace with God. Look at verses 13-14.

Suddenly, a multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the original angel. Was this fifty more? Was this one hundred more? Was this one thousand more? Probably, it was the latter.

Thousands and thousands of angels began to exalt the Lord in song, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

Every man since Adam has been at odds with God because of sin. No man has been at peace with God on his own.

God has now provided a way. The way is Jesus. He is the one and only way to be at peace with God the Father.

Morality won’t do it. Ingenuity won’t do it. Ancestry won’t do it. The angels exalted God in heaven because only Jesus would do it. He is the only way. See John 14:6.

John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Romans 5:1, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, on Christmas Sunday, I extend an invitation to you to be saved. Jesus came to save you, but you have to receive Him. You have to accept His invitation.

The salvation that Jesus offers is only applied to your life when you personally believe in Him. Will you do that today?

Worshippers Witnessed, Luke 2:15-20.

In verses seventeen and eighteen, they told others about this Savior. In other words, they witnessed for Jesus publically. Isn’t that all that evangelism or witnessing is…sharing your experience with Jesus?

In verse twenty, the shepherds then left, and they went back glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard. The worshippers witnessed.

Conclusion

As I conclude this morning, I want you absolutely, positively remember the true story of Christmas on this Lord’s Day.

However, as the Body of Christ, we don’t remember the story of Christmas but also the why of Christmas. Why was Jesus born?

He was born to die. He was born to die on the cross and for our sins. His mission wasn’t just about the cradle but also the cross.

Therefore, how will you respond to the story of the most significant birth in all of human history?

For some of you that means accepting the invitation that God offers to you of eternal life through a personal relationship with Jesus. He came to be the Savior of the world. Is He your personal Lord and Savior?

For others, during this Christmas season, will you share your Jesus experience with others? That is what the shepherds did. That is what God calls us to do.

Jesus’ birth is the most significant of one hundred and five billion. What will it mean for you?

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This morning, we come to the end of chapter 11, and I want to share with you a sermon entitled, “Only Two Choices.” Today’s text will be John 11:45-57.

If you will remember from last Sunday, we look at John 11:1-44. A close friend of Jesus’, Lazarus, was sick. Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, seemed to want Jesus to come.

However, Jesus didn’t get to Lazarus until he had already died, but God had a plan. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Obviously, Mary and Martha witnessed this miracle as did others were present comforting the two sisters.

How did they respond to this miracle? How will you respond to this miracle? There are only two choices.

The Choice to Believe, John 11:45

45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him.

Notice verse 45. I’m not sure why Mary is mentioned and not Martha. However, many of the Jews who had come to Mary, presumably to comfort her, saw the things that Jesus did and believed in him. In other words, they were saved.

Remember, John’s Gospel is built on these seven miraculous signs. They began in John 2. Look at 2:11 after Jesus turned the water to wine.

11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

When Jesus turned the water to wine at this wedding demonstrating that He could bring something from nothing, that was the first miraculous sin. Raising Lazarus from the dead was the seventh miraculous sin demonstrating He was Lord over life and death.

Let’s remember all of the signs. First, He turned water to wine demonstrating He could bring something to nothing. Second, He healed the nobleman’s son who was some 15-20 miles away. Jesus was master over distance.

Third, Jesus healed the paralytic who had been that way for 38 years demonstrating He was master over time. Fourth, Jesus fed over 5,000 people with two sardines and five biscuits demonstrating He was the bread of life that could satisfy for eternity.

Fifth, Jesus walked on water and calmed the storm demonstrating He was master over nature. Sixth, Jesus healed the man who was born blind demonstrating He was the light of the world that can enable the spiritually blind to see.

Seventh and finally, Jesus raised Lazarus demonstrating He was the master over life and death. When He did these signs, many believed in Him along the way.

By the way, remember again that was the purpose of this book and these signs. See John 20:30-31.

The Choice NOT to Believe, John 11:46

46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.

However, the choice to believe is yours, and no one can force you to believe. Therefore, there is the choice of not believing. That is what we see in verse 46.

There are many who saw Lazarus raised, and they believe in Jesus, but some choose not to believe and went to the Pharisees to rally the troops.

There are some of you in this room this morning who have never believed in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. I wish I could make that decision for you, but I can’t. Only you can.

However, I invite you to do that again today. Consider all of the miraculous signs Jesus did. Those miracles affirm all that Jesus said, and last Sunday, we read these words and this invitation from Him. See John 11:25-26.

25 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Conclusion

From the rest of this text, I want to draw your attention to one final observation and a very ironic one at that.

In verses 47-50, those that chose not to believe in Jesus and the Pharisees were worried. They were worried about His popularity and a potential uprising.

However, Caiaphas, the high priest at the time, talked them off the ledge with some ironic logic. He convinced them to seize Jesus and ultimately murder Him rather than their entire nation be overthrown.

John then added his own editorial comments in verses 51-53.

51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. 53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.

Under the sovereignty of God, Caiaphas prophesied about the substitutionary death of Christ. What does that mean? It means that Jesus died on the cross and in the place of sinners. He died so that we wouldn’t have to die.

That’s the message for this morning. You don’t have to die spiritually. You can decide for yourself and make the choice to believe in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. If you do, you will be at peace with God, receive forgiveness of sins, and a home in heaven with God for eternity.

However, if you make the choice not to believe in Jesus, you will die physically, and you will die spiritually and spend eternity in a Christless hell separated from God.

You have only two choices!

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This morning, we come to the end of John 10.

In the recent Sundays, we have heard Jesus telling an allegory of a shepherd and his sheep. We know that Jesus is the shepherd, and we are His sheep.

Today’s text is related to that allegory, and we will finish John 10 today. The next time we are in John’s gospel, it will be in John 11.

I want to share a message with you this morning entitled, “Safe and Secure from All Alarm.” In today’s text, I am going to show you three proofs.

The First Proof is the Proof of Jesus’ Deity, John 10:22-25, 30

22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 30 I and My Father are one.”

In this first section, John tells us that it was winter. Keep in mind, there is probably a three-month gap between John 10:21 and John 10:22.

Jesus was in Jerusalem, and it was the Feast of Dedication. This feast was not one of the main three in Judaism, but it was the celebration of the rededication of the temple by Judas Maccabeus. Today, it is known as Hanukkah.

Jesus was in Solomon’s porch under the covering and out of the cold weather and rain. The Jews surrounded Him and told Him to verify His identity. Specifically, they wanted to know if He was the Messiah.

Notice Jesus’ answer. Essentially, He said yes, and I have already told and shown you. Two proofs of Jesus’ deity were His words and His works.

As for His words, I have told you about the 7 I AM Statements in this Gospel. So far, we have seen four.

In every instance, Jesus is claiming to be God, the Promised Messiah, the Christ. I am the bread of life. I am the light of the world. I am the good shepherd. I am the gate for the sheep.

In verse 30, He said He and the Father are one. That doesn’t mean the same person, but it does mean the same purpose. They are unified in their purpose as they are both God.

In addition to His words, Jesus’ works are also proof of His deity. The gospel of John is not only built around 7 I AM Statements but also 7 Miraculous signs.

So far, we have seen six of the seven. Jesus turned water to wine. He healed the nobleman’s son from a distance. He healed a man who was a paralytic for 38 years. He walked on water and calmed a storm. He fed 5,000 men. He healed a man born blind. When we get to John 11, He will raise the Lazarus from the dead.

Jesus did what no else had done and what no one else could do. His words and His works were proofs of His deity.

The Second Proof is the Proof of the Believers’ Security, John 10:26-30

26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”

In our next few verses, we see two proofs for the Believers’ eternal security. There is an external proof, and there is an internal proof.

The external proof is the believers’ intimacy with the Shepherd. Unlike the Pharisees and false prophets who did not believe, Jesus’ sheep hear His voice and know Him and follow Him. There is an intimacy between the Good Shepherd and His sheep.

It is that intimacy that is the external proof of a believers’ security. Our obedience and following Jesus is what the watching world sees and proves that our salvation is secure, and when were not obedient and living in rebellion, the watching world begins to wonder.

On the other hand, the internal proof is remembering the authority of the Son. In verse 28, Jesus gives us eternal life, and the thieves and or robbers will never snatch us from Jesus’ hand. We are safe and secure from all alarm.

But please remember, we aren’t safe and secure because religiosity or generosity or genealogy or ingenuity. Our security is based on Jesus and the authority He has that was given to Him by His Father, and no one is able to snatch us from Jesus’ hand or the Father’s hand.

Our intimacy with the Shepherd and the authority of the Son are the two proofs that a believer is secure for eternity in heaven. He or she is safe and secure from all alarm.

The Third Proof is the Proof the Unbelievers’ Futility, John 10:31-42

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” 33 The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’? 35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” 39 Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand. 40 And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed. 41 Then many came to Him and said, “John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.” 42 And many believed in Him there.

In verse 31, the Jews took up stones to stone Jesus. Jesus asked them why, and it was because He claimed to be God.

The unbelievers’ first proof of futility was the charge of blasphemy. They didn’t think Jesus was God so when He said He was God, that was blasphemy in their minds.

Jesus challenged the logic of their charge by taking them back to the Scriptures. In Psalm 82:6, God called Jewish judges gods…with a little “g.” They were gods because they made judgments, and this is what the Bible says.

Therefore, if the Bible says this, and the Bible can’t be wrong, and God the Father called them gods with a little “g,” then surely it should be ok to call the One that God sent the Son of God. Again, Jesus put them in their place.

Not only do we see their charge against Jesus as a proof of their futility, but we are so their lack of belief in Jesus as a proof of their futility. In verse 37-38, Jesus took them to His works again.

If they believe remember and believe His works, they can believe that God sent Him. However, verse 39 says they attempted to seize Him again.

Chapter 10 ends with a brief description of Jesus’ ministry in another area. Some believed Jesus because of the witness of John the Baptist.

Conclusion

Do you need proof that Jesus is God? Think about His words and His miraculous works.

Do you need proof that you as a believer are security for eternity? The proof for the world is our intimacy with Shepherd. The proof for us is remembering the authority of the Son.

Do you need proof that unbelievers will end their lives in futility? They will when they claim Jesus isn’t God, and the fail to believe what He did.

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If you are visiting EBC this morning, we study God’s Word during our Sunday Morning Worship Service verse-by-verse and chapter-by-chapter. Today, we are in John 10.

In John’s Gospel, Jesus makes 7 “I AM” statements declaring He is God. We know that because of the language He used and because of the OT Name of God.
His fourth I AM statement is the one we will look at this morning. He said He was the gate for the sheep.
Before that, He first said He was the bread of life. Next, He said He was the light of the world. Fourth, He said He was the good shepherd.
Jesus is using an allegory or symbolic story to help His first century hearers understand who He was. This allegory is that of a shepherd and his sheep. Jesus is the shepherd, and we are the sheep.
During the summer months, shepherds would lead their sheep and stay with their sheep overnight in the pasture. They would carry temporary fencing with them that might be akin to the temporary orange construction fencing that we often use. Once all of the sheep were accounted for, the shepherd would literally lie across the opening and act as a gate for the sheepfold. In this allegory, Jesus said, “I am the gate.”

Exposition

Entering through Jesus as the gate is salvation, John 10:7-9.

7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.

Notice again Jesus’ I AM statement in verse 7. Jesus is the gate for the sheep. Knowing a little about first-century shepherd helps us picture exactly what Jesus was saying.

Compared to thieves and robbers, true sheep follow their shepherd and not those they don’t know. These thieves and robbers were the Pharisees and the false shepherds of Ezekiel 34 that we looked at last week. They only looked out for themselves and not the sheep of God.

Again, in verse 9 now, Jesus said He was gate. When the sheep would enter the sheepfold and the shepherd was their gate, they were safe or saved. The shepherd saved them, and the thieves and robbers couldn’t get to them because the shepherd acted as the gate.

Ladies and gentlemen, that is true today as well. Jesus is inviting us to be saved by entering through Him as the gate.

That invitation is comprehensive in that it is open to anyone. That invitation is consensual in that you can never be forced to enter Jesus as the gate. You are only invited. The result of that invitation is certain if you accept it. You will be saved.

This morning, I extend that invitation to anyone and everyone in the room that is not saved. Enter through Jesus as the gate, and you will be saved.

That means admitting that you are a sinner and recognizing that your sin separates you from God. Believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sin. Call on Him as your Lord and Savior. Your entrance to heaven is through Jesus as the gate.

Entering through Jesus as the gate is ONLY way to be saved and to have access to the Father.

In theological terms, this idea is called the exclusivity of the gospel. Salvation and eternal life in heaven come exclusively through Jesus Christ and no other way.

Jesus said this of Himself in John 14:6.

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Peter said this about Jesus in Acts 4:8-12.

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ 12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Thirdly, this is what the majority writer of the New Testament, Paul, said in Romans 5:1.

1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

Therefore, Jesus is not one of many ways. We all aren’t trying to climb the mountain of God and some get up the Christian side and some get up the Jewish side and some get up the Muslim side.

There is only one way to heaven and eternal life and forgiveness of sin and peace with God. It is exclusively through Jesus as the gate.

However, entering through Jesus as the gate is not an easy or popular choice, Matthew 7:13-14.

13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

Toward the end of the sermon on the mount, Jesus told another parable and equated Jesus with narrow gate. Verse 14 says taking the gateway of life is very narrow, and the road is difficult or not easy.

Furthermore, it’s not the popular choice. Only a few find it.

To be more explicit, you have to turn from your sin and self and turn to Jesus. You have step down off the thrown of your heart and allow Jesus on the throne. You have to die to self and allow Jesus to live in you.

The other choice is the highway to hell. It is broad or easy with plenty of room even through many choose this way.

However, it leads to eternal destruction. It leads to an eternity in hell separated from Christ. Please don’t choose that way today.

Invitation

I have tried to be as explicit and clear and simple as I can be today. Now, as I have preached publicly to you the Word of God, I am going to invite you to publicly respond to the Word of God and the invitation to walk through the gate that is Jesus to heaven and eternal life and forgiveness of sin.

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In John 10, Jesus was still speaking to the man who born blind but was healed and the Pharisees. He told them a parable or a parable-like story about shepherds and sheep.

This was a very common and familiar analogy as Genesis tells us that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all shepherds, and Moses and David were both shepherds. Therefore, the people knew this language and imagery.

Furthermore, Ezekiel 34:1-10 serves as a backdrop for Jesus’ analogy. He indicted some bad shepherds in John 10 that were similar to those indicted in Ezekiel 34.

1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.” 7 ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 “As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock”— 9 therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord! 10 Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.”

As we think about Jesus as our Good, Good Shepherd, I want you to see that He pastors us intimately, provides for us abundantly, and protects us sacrificially.

As our Good, Good Shepherd, Jesus pastors His Sheep INTIMATELY, John 10:1-6.

1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.

Verse 1 is a nighttime scene, and we are introduced to the thief or the robber. He does not enter the door of the fold, but climbs over the top trying to be stealth.

In verse 5, he is called a stranger. In verse 10, he comes only to steal, kill and destroy.

These are simply false prophets or false messiahs or false teachers. They attempt to lead astray and be something they are not. The thief is not necessarily Satan, but what is true of the thief is also true of Satan.

The sheep are Jews. However, verse 16 mentions “other sheep,” and we will talk more about them in just a moment.

The shepherd is mentioned in verse 2, and the shepherd is Jesus, and Jesus is our Good, Good Shepherd. We know that also because of verse 11.

That word shepherd comes from the same root word that means pastor. Therefore, my position and my ministry is sometimes referred as the shepherd shepherding the sheep or the people.

Very quickly and almost without notice the scene switches to morning shepherding. Shepherds would often use mountains and cliffs and caves as their pins with two or three flocks in the same pin.

The shepherd would access his flock through the door, and enter the pin after the doorkeeper opened the door. We aren’t told specifically who the doorkeeper is, but the shepherd goes into the pin.

Demonstrating his intimacy with his sheep, the shepherd would specifically call for his sheep. Maybe at the same time, another shepherd would call for his sheep out of the same pin.

His sheep know his voice, and he calls them by name. He then leads them out.

The shepherd is not driving the sheep from behind but leading the sheep from the front. The sheep will not follow unless they recognize the unique voice of their shepherd.

Verse 6 tells us that Jesus told this story, but it wasn’t understood. Therefore, the remainder of our text is a further explanation of the story.

As our Good, Good Shepherd, Jesus pastors us intimately.

As Our Good, Good Shepherd, Jesus provides for His Sheep ABUNDANTLY, John 10:10.

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

I’m going to come back to verse 7-9 next week. Jesus’ first IAM statement was I am the bread of life. Then He said I am the light of the world. Today, we see that He said I am the good shepherd. Next week, for Friend Day, we will see Him say I am the door of the sheep.

In verse 10, the safety of the shepherd is contrasted with the danger of the thief. The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy.

On the other hand, Jesus came to give live and give it abundantly. We often take that to mean physical or material blessings, but I don’t think that is what Jesus had in mind here.

The life that Jesus spoke of here is certainly eternal life. However, it is also abundant life on earth that doesn’t come from more money or a bigger house or the latest toys.

The abundant life that Jesus provides for His sheep is peace and satisfaction and fulfilment in living your life in the middle of God’s will and according to God’s word. There is no satisfaction like it in the world.

Jesus wants that for you, and has provided the way for you to have by giving us His word. However, we have to be obedient. We have to say no to self and yes to Him.

As our Good, Good Shepherd, Jesus provides for His sheep abundantly.

As Our Good, Good Shepherd, Jesus protects His Sheep SACRFICIALLY, John 10:11-21.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” 19 Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. 20 And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

In verse 11, Jesus said He was the good shepherd and He lays down His life for the sheep. He is foreshadowing His substitutionary death.

Verses 12-13 speak of the hired hand. He is the opposite of the shepherd. The shepherd is concerned about the sheep. The hired hand is concerned about himself. Therefore, if danger ensues, the hired hand will run to protect himself, but leave the sheep behind unprotected.

In verse 15, Jesus again speaks of laying down His life for His sheep. He sacrificed His life for His sheep.

In verse 16. Jesus said He had other sheep which are not of this fold. He must bring them in and make one flock with one shepherd. If you understand that His immediate audience was Jewish, the other sheep seem to be Gentiles.

Again, for the third time, Jesus said in verse 17 of laying down His life for His sheep.

In verse 18, Jesus did what He did in dying not because anyone forced Him to do it. He went to the cross on His own initiative. He protects His sheep sacrificially.

All of these comments confused and divided the Jewish listeners. They couldn’t completely figure out Jesus.

As our good, good shepherd, Jesus protects His sheep sacrificially.

Conclusion

As I close this morning, is Jesus your good, good shepherd? He wants to be. He wants you to be one of His sheep.

How does that happen? Admit that you are sinner. Believe that Jesus died on cross for your sins. Call on Him to save you.

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This morning, it is my pleasure for us to return to John’s gospel after six weeks in Nehemiah. If you have your Bibles, please turn to John 9:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Seeing is Believing!”

The last time we were in John 8, the Feast of the Tabernacles was finished. The giant menorahs were extinguished, and Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the Light of the world.”

This was Jesus’ second I Am statement following, “I am the bread of life,” and today, you will see the sixth of seven miraculous signs in John’s gospel that Jesus performed proving that He was the promised Messiah.

Chapter nine is lengthy with 41 verses, and we will look at all of them today. As we do, keep in your mind these three characters or groups of characters: a Seeing Sinner, a Gracious God, and Fallible Pharisees.

Exposition 9:1-12

1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. 8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?” 9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” He said, “I am he.” 10 Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.” 12 Then they said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.”

In walking through Jerusalem, Jesus came across this man who was probably a beggar. He was a probably a beggar because he was blind from birth, and he most likely didn’t have any other source of income.

Jesus disciples saw this man, and somehow, they seemed to be familiar with him and his situation. They knew that he had been blind since birth, and their curiosity led them to ask why.

It was a very common Jewish belief that either somehow this man sinned in the womb as a baby or his parents had sinned. These were the two options for him having been born blind. This mindset came from passages of Scripture like Exodus 34:6-7.

6 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”

However, Jesus denied both of these options. Instead, He said that this situation was an opportunity for God to work in this man’s life. Does that mean that God made Him blind? It means that God allowed to be such. However, it was not to punish him or his parents.

Jesus went on to say how He and His disciples had much work to do for God. They would not have forever but only a temporary period of time as Jesus is the Light of the world in order to light the world.

Brothers and sisters, that is true for us as well. Because we aren’t guaranteed tomorrow, we need to demonstrate some urgency in doing what God wants for us to do today!

In 9:6, He then spat on the ground or into the dust and made clay and put it on the blind man’s eyes. Next, He told the man to go and wash the clay off in the pool of Siloam, and he went and did it, and could see. It was a miracle. He was blind, but now he could see. This man was now a Seeing Sinner.

Once this man had been healed, the masses of people who knew him couldn’t believe it. They thought their eyes were deceiving them so they asked him how it all happened, and he told them.

Exposition 9:13-34

13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” 18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” 25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” 28 Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.” 30 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” 34 They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out.

When the Pharisees heard about all that went on, they were upset with Jesus but reprimanded the man who was healed. Jesus had broken their understanding of the Sabbath and what was allowed by kneading the clay and applying it to man’s eyes. Therefore, they denied the claims that He was from God and God.

However, the people said otherwise. They knew not just anyone could perform miracles, and that is exactly what took place.

The Pharisees went so far as to verify what happened with the man’s parents. They affirmed the truth, but otherwise, didn’t want to get involved.

When this man was questioned for the second time in 9:24, he simply told again what Jesus had done for him. He shared his testimony.

Brothers and sisters, can we not do the same? When God gives us those opportunities, and He does every day, can we simply tell what God has done for us? We can.

Before the Pharisees kicked this man out of the synagogue, he did his best to convince them that Jesus was from God. No one had ever been healed from congenital blindness until Jesus. He must be God, and I would say that He was a Gracious God for doing for this man what he couldn’t do for himself.

Exposition 9:35-41

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” 36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” 37 And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” 38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. 39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” 40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore, your sin remains.

Afterwards, Jesus went to find him. Once He found him, He began probing his spiritual condition. Jesus asked him about the Son of God to which he replied that he didn’t know him. Jesus then confessed to being Him, and the man instantly believed and began to worship Jesus on the spot.

Jesus then had some commentary for the Pharisees that were there as well. Keep in mind that Jesus’ words in 9:39 should not be understood to mean that Jesus’ purpose was judgment, but it was a result. He came to bring light to the blind, and consequently, those who could see were choosing blindness by their rejection of Him.

In verse 40, the Pharisees then asked if they were blind too. Remember we are talking about spiritual blindness.

Jesus told them if they were blind, they would have no sin. In other words, if they had no knowledge of the truth, they couldn’t be held accountable. However, since they claimed to have knowledge of all truth and were spiritual enlightened, their sin remained.

Contrary to their own opinions, they were fallible Pharisees. That means they were capable of error and were in error.

Conclusions

Make no mistake about it. This story has one point, anyone that is spiritually blind can see when Jesus touches your life.

This man was healed after Jesus touched him and he believed and acted. In other words, he trusted and obeyed.

The text says in verse 7 that he came back seeing after he went and washed. Today, you can be saved if you will trust and obey. Seeing is believing, but first, you have to admit that you can’t see and need Jesus to heal you.

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Today is our last Sunday of the 6-week intensive period of our RISE UP! Capital Campaign.
Next Sunday, October 30, we will return to the Minor Prophets in our Sunday School Small Groups…Hosea I believe and John 9 in our Morning Worship.
Thank you for your faithfulness and support during these past six weeks.
Also, I just want to remind you that we will be announcing our total dollar commitments next Sunday, October 30.
Finally, please plan to give as much of your commitment as possible for our First Fruits Offering on Sunday, November 6. Whatever you give on that Sunday will of course count toward your total commitment, and God bless you for those commitments.

This morning, I am going to finish Nehemiah, and I understand this is not ideal, and we may come back to it at another time. However, I want to get back to John

In chapters 7-13, I am going to show you what happened in Jerusalem after Nehemiah and the remnant rebuilt the walls and gates. However, as I show you what they did and what EBC will be doing, I want you to know that this is what we will be doing with or without a FLC.

We will be committed to proclaiming God’s Word, Nehemiah 8:1-8.
1. Ezra read from the Law on a wooden podium while the people were standing
2. Their response to the Law was their worship.
3. The priests then helped them understand the Law and its application to their lives.

At EBC, we will be committed to the study and application of God’s Word in all that we do with everyone who attends our church.

We will be committed to remembering God’s Faithfulness, Nehemiah 9:1-38.

God was faithful again and again, and the people made a covenant with God and wrote it down.

I know some have pushed back against signing commitment cards. This is what is happening here. They are putting their commitment in writing, and we do that today for cars and houses and boats and land. Why not for the Lord?

We will be committed to living according to God’s Will, Nehemiah 10:28-31.
1. May this be true for us individually-10:28-29
2. May this be true for us in our families-10:30
3. May this even be true in our businesses-10:31
We will be committed to giving to God’s Work, Nehemiah 10:32-39.
1. For us, God’s work is the local church-10:32
2. That means our offerings-10:33-34
3. That means our tithes-10:35-39
We will be committed to celebrating God’s Worth, Nehemiah 12:27-43.
1. By singing
2. Young and old
3. To God about God

Conclusion

I hope and pray that you individually and EBC collectively are committing on this day to do the financial work for the FLC. Regardless, we are going to be committed at EBC to proclaiming God’s Word, remembering God’s faithfulness, living according to God’s Will, giving to God’s Work, and celebrating God’s Worth.

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Today is Week 5 and the next to last week of our RISE UP! Capital Campaign. Thank you for being committed to this process and faithful through these weeks as we have temporarily departed from the Minor Prophets in our Sunday School Small Groups and John’s Gospel in our Sunday Morning Worship Service.

In Week 1, we remembered God’s faithfulness. In Week 2, we were reminded of the importance of kneeling down in prayer and calling on God to be involved. In Week 3, we saw God’s vision for Nehemiah to rebuild the city and heard our vision of making disciples and how a Family Life Center can assist in that. In Week 4, we assessed the reality of opposition and were challenged to replace our fear with faith.

Today, our challenge is to RISE UP! And Do the Work. However, even though we will see Israel do the actual manual labor for Jerusalem, our work will be of a different type.

Our work will be financial. Allow me to explain the Commitment Cards in detail.

Commitment cards or pledge cards are normal when it comes to churches doing capital campaigns. I have used them now in four churches.

They are also very helpful when we go to a lending institution and ask to borrow money. Even though they aren’t guaranteed, they are beneficial from a bank’s perspective.

I am asking you to pray and ask God how much you can commit to give above your tithe for the next three years. Again, when churches do capital campaigns, three years is the industry standard.

When you make your commitment and turn it in, the only person at EBC who will see or know your commitment is our financial secretary. I won’t know it. Our deacons won’t know it. Our capital fund raising team won’t know it.

What if you can’t fulfill your commitment? Then so be it. No is going to know except he financial secretary, and no one is going to hold you accountable. That is between you and the Lord.

On the commitment card, those numbers are simply examples. You don’t have to choose one of those denominations.

When Christy and I filled out our card, our total commitment number is not on here, and you can give your commitment all at once on the front end, all at once on the back end, and any time in between.

We are asking for all commitment cards to be turned in by Sunday, October 23, and we are asking you to give as much of your total commitment that you can give on Sunday, November 6, for our First Fruits Offering.

For example, let’s say you commit to $1,000 over three years. Then you bring $500 for November 6. Then you will give the remaining $500 over three years, and the three-year giving period is November 2022-October 2025.

By the way, when we seek a loan, that loan will be 25-30 years even though we will try to accomplish a miracle of epic proportions by paying it off in 3 years. However, if we can’t, then we will simply pay on it until it is paid in full.

So let’s look at the work that the people did in Nehemiah 2-6.

2:17 Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.

In verse 17, Nehemiah shared his vision with the remnant there in Jerusalem. He also invited them to join him.

In verse 18, he told them that the king had given him permission, but more important than anything else, this was God’s vision and so God’s hand was on him.

How do you think the people responded? Look at the text. They said, “Let us rise up and build,” and that is what you have in chapter 3. They people did the actual work themselves.

Beginning in verse 1 and through 32, I counted somewhere between 40-45 families that came together and helped rebuild the wall and gates and city, and notice the end of 4:6. They had a mind to work.

Therefore, here is my question for Emory Baptist Church. What if we followed the Lord and followed our leaders and set our minds and hearts to doing the work, what could be done?

We could do more than we ever thought.

We saw last Sunday that the leaders of Samaria didn’t want Jerusalem to be rebuilt because they wanted Israel to be easy to take captive. When they heard what was happening, they acted in opposition. See 4:7-8.

7 Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, 8 and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion.

How do you think Israel would respond? Could they keep working and finish the wall? Did they have to stop working and fight? What would say if I told you they did both? They did more than they ever thought. See 4:13-18.

13 Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” 15 And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work. 16 So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. 17 Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. 18 Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me.

They kept building the wall, and they protected themselves from adversaries.

Some of you might be thinking, “I can tithe or I can commit to the FLC, but I can’t do both.” Really? Are you sure about that? Have you asked God?

Go back and look at 4:9. Also, don’t forget 14-15.

9 Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.

Follow God and your leaders and commit your mind and heart to do it, and see if God doesn’t enable you to do more than you ever thought.

We could overcome economic adversity.

Perhaps economic adversity is one of our biggest challenges right now, and I understand. Since January, I have lost over $80,000, and I looking at sending three daughters to college. I get it.

In Nehemiah 5, there was a famine, and working on the walls had kept the remnant from working their crops, and so they were in need of food. What did they do?

Verse 3 says they mortgaged their land and vineyards to buy food. However, they needed to borrow more money to pay the king’s taxes. They ended up selling their children into slavery to pay their bills.

The rest of chapter 5 says that Nehemiah was able to step in and help alleviate their hardship.

Brothers and sisters, I know times are tough right now. I buy the same groceries as you. I buy the same gas as you. I have lost the same investments as you, and yet I believe that God wants to do a miracle that can’t even comprehend as it relates to funding our Family Life Center. However, He isn’t going to do it apart from the obedience of His people.

We could accomplish our goal.

I said to you last week that Nehemiah would have many challenges along the way. We saw Nehemiah’s first opposition but not his last.

Today, we have seen challenges from the outside trying to attack the people. We have seen challenges from the inside and economic adversity.

Chapter 6 has more challenges for Nehemiah personally. His opponents tried to smear his reputation and sabotage his leadership.

However, look at 6:15-16.

15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.

The wall was completely rebuilt in 52 days. Remember how it long it had been in ruins? 140 years.

Conclusion

So let me paint a picture. What if you said God is in this? God brought us to this point, and God is leading our pastor and deacons and FLC Committee and CFT.

Because this was of God, you committed to following our leaders and putting your mind and heart into working financially to make this happen.

God could allow you do more than you ever thought. God could help you overcome economic adversity that is crippling our country, and we could accomplish our goal.

However, all of that most likely won’t happen if don’t commit to follow the Lord and follow our leaders and commit our mind and heart to obeying the Lord in what He says to give.

Brothers and sisters, I am inviting you to ask God what you should commit and then rise up and do the work.

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Today is week of 4 of our RISE UP! Capital Campaign. Where have we been in the recent weeks?

Week 1 was RISE UP! And Remember God’s Faithfulness! Has God been faithful to you? Has God been faithful to us? Don’t forget it!

Week 2 was RISE UP! And Kneel Down! This capital campaign will not be successful unless we pray and ask God to intervene and ask how we should participate. By the way, we still have two one-hour time slots left for our 24-hour prayer vigil. They are 2 and 3 AM.

Week 3 was RISE UP! And Reclaim God’s Vision! God’s vision for Nehemiah was to rebuild the city walls so that people of God would be safe and secure in the city of God.

At EBC, our vision is to love God and love people and make disciples. Our vision is to make disciples of this generation and the next generations of children of teenagers. A Family Life Center can help with this vision tremendously.

Week 4 is RISE UP! And Access Reality. Today, for the first time, but not the last time, we will see that when an individual or a group of individuals is seeking to following the follow the Lord, the reality is that there will be opposition.

I want you to see this morning that opposition can come from people, passivity, and perspective.

Opposition can come in the form of people, 2:9-10.

9 Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.

Verse 9 says that Nehemiah went to the governors beyond the Euphrates River and gave them the letters from the king. What is that about? Look back at 2:7.

7 Furthermore I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah.

In order to get the timber needed from the king’s forest to rebuild the walls and gates, Nehemiah had to pass through enemy territory. Therefore, he requested letters from the king that gave him permission.

However, that didn’t sit well with these governors. The king had even sent an entourage with Nehemiah to protect him, and verse 10 shows the first opposition that Nehemiah encountered.

Sanballat and Tobiah were their names, and they didn’t like the idea of Nehemiah rebuilding the city because of what that would mean for Israel. These men were leaders of Samaria, and Nehemiah’s efforts, if successful, would embolden Israel and make them harder to conquer. Therefore, they didn’t like and opposed what Nehemiah was planning.

I know there are some church member today that don’t think we need a FLC. There are others who are fine with a FLC but not right now. There are others who are fine with a FLC but not for that price.

I understand, but I want you to remind you that we haven’t gotten to this point over night. We also haven’t gotten here because of the vision of one person but of many, and it has been well-said that delayed obedience is disobedience.

In Deuteronomy 1, Israel turned an 11-day journey into the Promised Land into a 40-year wandering in the wilderness. How? They were fearful and disobedient to what God told them to do and had even provided for them.

Opposition can come in the form of passivity, 2:11-12.

11 So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode.

Verse 11 says that Nehemiah came to Jerusalem for a three-day tour. Verse 12 says that he did his surveying and accessing of reality at night, and he had some men with him that evidently shared his vision.

The end of verse 12 gives us insight into what drove Nehemiah. God had put in his heart to rebuild Jerusalem. It was Nehemiah but God.

However, think about this. What if Nehemiah would have said to God, “Thanks but no thanks.” What if he chose not to act on what God wanted him to do for whatever reason?

Well, simply put, that would have been disobedience, and Nehemiah would have run the risk of discipline for himself and the remnant if he would have responded passively to what God put in his heart.

I did this last week so I won’t do it again, but over 14 years ago, God put it in the heart of EBC to build a FLC, and you approved. For the past 14 years, EBC has been acquiring property to make that happen, and you approved. In the past two years, we hired an architect to design a FLC, and you approved, and God provide the property to build it on this block, and you approved.

Now, I am asking God to provide the money through His people. You get another opportunity to actively approve rather than passively do nothing.

Opposition can come in the form of perspective, 2:13-16.

13 And I went out by night through the Valley Gate to the Serpent Well and the Refuse Gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were burned with fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass. 15 So I went up in the night by the valley, and viewed the wall; then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who did the work.

When Nehemiah went out at night, what do you think he saw? He saw exactly what we knew he would see.

The walls were broken down. The gates had been burned. There was so much ruin piled up that his donkey couldn’t pass through.

The story of Nehemiah is that he responded to God’s vision with faith instead of fear. What is the difference? It is all about perspective.

The perspective of fear sees circumstances instead of God. In this case, the circumstances were a city in ruins, 140 years, too few people to do anything about it.

The perspective of faith sees God in the circumstances. Faith doesn’t deny the circumstances. However, faith sees God in the circumstances and able to overcome the circumstances.

Think back with me to three very familiar Old Testament Bible stories. What if Noah responded with fear instead of faith to what God told him to do? He had never heard of rain. No one ever needed a boat of that size. How could one man and his family accomplish such? See Genesis 6:12-14, 22.

12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.

What if Joshua responded with fear instead of faith when God told him how to take Jericho? Obviously, God had never attended West Point. He must have failed military strategies. You want me to circle the city in silence for six days? On the seventh day, you want me to circle and then yell? That’s going to bring the walls down and give us the city? See Joshua 6:1-5.

Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.”

What is David responded with fear instead of faith when Goliath taunted the God of Israel? Goliath was too big. He had already killed too many. David was just a little shepherd boy. 1 Samuel 17:10, 37, 45.

10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”

37 Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

Brothers and sisters, I want to ask you to ask God to replace your fear with faith…faith in Him, and faith in your leaders, but that isn’t all.

Tony Evans said, “Obedience is the visible, verifiable proof of your faith or trust. I’m not just asking you to trust but also to obey.”

Trust and obey…that would make a great song.

When we walk with the Lord

In the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way;

While we do His good will,

He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise,

Not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear,

Not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear,

Not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss,

Not a frown or a cross,

But is blest if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove

The delights of His love,

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows,

And the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet

We will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;

What He says we will do;

Where He sends, we will go,

Never fear, only trust and obey.

But that song isn’t simply some one’s thoughts and ideas, it is the truth of Scriptures. See Proverbs 3:5-6.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

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We are in week 3 of our RISE UP! Capital Campaign. In the recent weeks, we have begun studying the book and story of Nehemiah. Two weeks ago, we were challenged to RISE UP! And Remember God’s Faithfulness. Last week, we were challenged to RISE UP! And Kneel Down. That was a reference to prayer.

By the way, we still have available 1-hour time lots for our weekly prayer room and our 24-hour prayer vigil scheduled for October 15-16. Brothers and sisters, if you are retired or determine your own work schedule, help me understand why you aren’t part of our weekly prayer room ministry. Furthermore, with the 24-hour prayer vigil happening on Saturday and Sunday morning, it should not take us long to fill all of those time slots.

Today, we turn our attention to Nehemiah 2:1-8, and consider the challenge of RISE UP! And Reclaim God’s Vision, and vision is important. I know that you are familiar with KJV of Proverbs 29:18.

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish.

What was God’s vision in Nehemiah 2?

Exposition

In verse 1, we see that this scene takes place approximately 4 months after chapter 1. Back in the chapter 1:1, we saw that the time marker was the month of Chislev. That is our November and December.

Here in 2:1, it is the month of Nisan. This our March and April.

Also in this first verse, we see Nehemiah doing his job. Remember, he was the king’s cupbearer. A cupbearer was a trust individual whose job was to drink the king’s drink and eat the king’s food to make sure it was safe for the king.

Nehemiah took the cup of wine after he had tasted it, and gave it to the king. However, the king noticed something about Nehemiah that he had never seen before. Nehemiah was sad, and the king could tell it.

When asked why, Nehemiah became deathly afraid. He didn’t want the king to think his sadness had anything to do with him.

In verse 3, we see the reason for his sadness. He was grieved at the state of Jerusalem. Remember, King Nebuchadnezzar ransacked Jerusalem in 586 BC, and it had laid in ruins for 140 years.

Without saying the name of the city, he said the place where his fathers’ tombs were laid in waste. Furthermore, the gates had been burned with fire. In case you are thinking about gates that we are accustomed to, these were wooden gates. In verse 4, King Artaxerxes asked what Nehemiah wanted him to do.

To be clear, God’s vision was Jerusalem, His holy city, to be safe and secure. Consequently, He put that vision in Nehemiah’s heart, and Nehemiah’s part was then to rebuild the walls and gates.

Here at Emory Baptist Church, what is our vision? Our vision is to love God, love people, and make disciples.

Of course, the first step in making disciples is evangelism, and if you were here last Sunday, you remember how I demonstrated the importance of evangelism children and teenagers because once they turn 18 years of age, there is only a 16% chance that will be saved as adults.

Consequently, God’s vision is to save the children and teenagers of Rains County. A Family Life Center can be a tremendous resource and tool in aiding that effort.

That is the big picture goal…making disciples. However, what is the specific goal of RISE UP? You can find it on page 8 of your RISE UP! booklet: To pay for the entire cost of our Family Life Center in a three-year period beginning November 2022 by engaging every member of Emory Baptist Church in biblical financial stewardship.

Therefore, how do we accomplish our vision in light of God’s vision? What did Nehemiah do? Look at verse 4.

Nehemiah prayed, 2:4.

So I prayed to the God of heaven.

Nehemiah’s normal practice was to pray. He prayed here, and we saw him pray last week.

Do you remember the contents of his prayer? He asked for God’s attention. What is a great way to get God’s attention in prayer? Tell Him how great He is.

Next, Nehemiah confessed his and Israel’s corruption or sin. In short, they were disobedient to God’s commands given to them through Moses.

What are your sins to confess specifically as it relates to RISE UP? Are you guilty of fear or doubt or self-indulgence?

Finally, he petitioned God for prosperity. Nehemiah prayed for God to prosper him in his efforts to rebuild the walls and gates.

What would prosperity or success for us look like in this capital campaign? Join me in praying for our construction costs to be no more than $225/square foot. Join me in praying for every single EBC Family to live out biblical, financial stewardship, and that starts with giving and working toward tithing.

Finally, join me in praying for God to provide every single cent to pay for our Family Life Center in a three-year period. Humanly, it can’t be done, but when you call on the Lord God Almighty who owns the cattle on a thousand hills and can feed 5,000+ people with 5 biscuits and 2 sardines, He can turn our impossible to possible.

Nehemiah planned, 2:4-8a

5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.” 6 Then the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him), “How long will your journey be? And when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 7 Furthermore I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.”

When the king asked Nehemiah what he wanted or needed, he had obviously been thinking about it and planning it out. Verse 5 says that Nehemiah told the king that he wanted to go and rebuild the city.

Of course, the king asked some details questions about timing, and then Nehemiah make some more requests of the king. Verse 7 says that he requested some letters of permission and protection as Nehemiah traveled into enemy territories.

Verse 8 is how we know that Nehemiah was rebuilding and repairing wooden walls and gates. He needed access to king’s forest.

At least since August 2008, I believe EBC has been planning for where we are today. Keep in mind, that is at least 14 years in the making.

Slide 1: August 24, 2008-First worship service in existing facility
Slide 2: May 23, 2010-EBC votes to establish our first Family Life Center Committee
Slide 3: May 15, 2011-EBC votes to purchase first of 4 lots on the east side of Ravine Street for future growth
Slide 4: August 17, 2014-EBC votes to build a Family Life Center
Slide 5: August 17, 2014-EBC votes to purchase the second of 4 lots on the east side of Ravine Street for future growth
Slide 6: November 16, 2014-EBC votes to call Richard Piles as their 29th pastor
Slide 7: July 2017-EBC is completely debt free having paid off our note on this main building
Slide 8: 2017-EBC acquired the Avon Rice property on this city block
Slide 9: January 2020-EBC votes to purchase the Wright property on this block
Slide 10: December 2020-EBC votes to hire Godwin Design Architects for our Family Life Center
Slide 11: January 2021-FLC Committee received input from the congregation on the design of the FLC through multiple bulletin inserts and multiple listening sessions
Slide 12: March 20, 2022-EBC votes to approve GDA’s design for our FLC
Slide 13: March 20, 2022-EBC votes to establish the Capital Fund-Raising Team for the FLC
Slide 14: September 18, 2022-RISE UP! Capital Campaign begins for 6 weeks
Slide 15: September 25, 2022-EBC votes to purchase third and fourth lots of 4 on the east side of Ravine Street for future growth

Brothers and sisters, we have not rushed to where we are today. As a matter of fact, we have been planning, like Nehemiah, for 14+ years moving closer to our goal.

The King perceived, 2:8b

And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.

At the end of verse 8, Nehemiah said the king granted his request. Why did he do this? He granted his request because he perceived or trusted that God was leading Nehemiah.

Brothers and sisters, sooner or later, as it relates to our FLC and how to pay for it, you are going to have to perceive whether or not your leaders are being led by God. Is your pastor following the Lord? Are you deacons following the Lord? Is your Family Life Center Committee following the Lord? Is your Capital Fund-Raising Team following the Lord?

If no, then sit back and do nothing but watch. If yes, then it is incumbent upon you to follow your leaders as they follow the Lord.

Here is one couple that doing just that.

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Last week, we began our six week RISE UP! Sunday School Series and Sunday Morning Sermon Series. If you weren’t here, we looked at Nehemiah 1:1-3, and we remember God’s faithfulness.

In that text, we were reminded of God’s faithfulness in being in control, in always providing, and in being holy and calling us to the same. As a matter of fact, the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and the gates were burned with fire as God was disciplining Israel for their disobedience. God is faithful to always bless obedience and always discipline disobedience.

Specifically, in 586 BC, Nebuchadnezzar had attacked the city, its walls, and its gates, and they had been in ruins for 140 years before Nehemiah. RISE UP! is about God raising up Nehemiah to lead the people in restoring what had been destroyed and raising up the people of EBC to build what God can use to bring more people to Himself for salvation.

The Cause of Nehemiah’s Prayer, 1:4

4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Verse 4 says that Nehemiah heard some words, and when he did, he prayed. What words had he heard? Look at verse 3.

3 And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

Jews who had escaped and survived the Babylonian captivity were now in Jerusalem, and they reported to Nehemiah through his brother, Hanani, that wall of Jerusalem was broken down, and the gates had been burned with fire.

Understandably, this broke Nehemiah’s heart. How do we know? After he heard, he sat. When he sat, he cried. In his crying, he mourned for many days.

However, his grief and his mourning drove him to his knees. He fasted and prayed before the God heaven.

Brothers and sisters, the walls had been torn down, and they needed to be rebuilt. It was this need that drove Nehemiah to his knees in prayer.

I am not going to stand before you this morning and tell you that a Family Life Center is a need that we have. However, I will tell you that ministry to children and teenagers in our community is absolutely a need, and FLC would be a tremendous resource and tool that could help us in this ministry.

By the way, statistics tell us again and again, that an individual doesn’t accept Christ as Lord and Savior as a child or teenager, chances are he or she won’t after they turn 18. Specifically, 84% of Christians came to Christ before 18 years of age. After 18, the number drops to 16%.

Personally, I want you to know our CFT understands this need. Consequently, back on August 14-17, we did intermittent fasting for 3 days. We fasted from breakfast and lunch on Monday and ate dinner. We fasted from breakfast and lunch on Tuesday and ate dinner. We fasted from breakfast and lunch on Wednesday and ate dinner.

During breakfast and lunch, what did we do? We read the entire book of Nehemiah in parts, and prayed. We asked God to give us the resource and tool that would help us tremendously in reaching more children and teenagers in Rains County for Christ.

The Content of Nehemiah’s Prayer, 1:5-11a

5 And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, 6 please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; 9 but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’ 10 Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. 11 O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name.

I see three parts to Nehemiah’s prayer. You may see more, but first, he asked for God’s attention in verses 5-6.

Verse 6 says please let Your ear by attentive and Your eyes open that He might hear our prayers. Do you know the best way to get God’s attention in my opinion?

Tell Him how great He is. That may sound odd or weird, but isn’t that exactly what Nehemiah did? Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments.

As it relates to building a FLC debt free, we at EBC cannot do it! But God…the God who is great and awesome, the God who loves children, the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the God of the possible and not the impossible. But God can, and when He does, He will get all the glory and honor.

Let’s pray and first ask for God’s attention.

Second, notice that Nehemiah confessed their corruption or their sin. There in verse 6, he said they had sinned against God. They acted corruptly in verse 7 by not keeping or obeying God’s commands.

By the way, the truth of verses 8 and 9 is all throughout the OT and needs to remain before us in our study of Nehemiah. God is always faithful to bless our obedience, and He is faithful to discipline our disobedience.

Verse 8 says He will scatter because of disobedience and gather because of obedience. Whether we are talking about a FLC or not, brothers and sisters, learn this truth. Live this truth. Heed this truth.

What is your corruption or sin that needs to be confessed this morning? As it relates to the FLC, is it the sin of fear? Did you know that “feat not” is the most prevalent command in the entire Bible? God knows what He is doing, and His time is always right, and I believe that we are following God’s timing.

Maybe you need to confess the sin of doubt. Where is your faith? Do you have more faith in the mountain or the mountain mover? If we have the faith of a mustard seed, we can say to that mountain go, and into the ocean it will go.

Maybe you need to confess the sin of self-indulgence. I read just this week that every adult in Texas has on average $5,308 in CC debt. That means $10,000 per couple. I’ve been there, and it was sin, and Christy and confessed and repented never to go there again.

Third, Nehemiah prayed for prosperity. Why was it ok for Nehemiah to prosper? What was Nehemiah doing? He was leading the people of God to be obedient to the word of God and rebuild the walls of the city of God.

If we are able to build a FLC debt free, it will only be because God has provided. Logically and financially, it doesn’t work out on paper, and people thought Noah was crazy building an ark when they had never seen rain.

What would prosperity look like for this occasion? First, pray for construction costs to come down to at least $225 per square foot.

Second, pray for God to drawn in every single family at EBC to live out biblical, financial stewardship. That means honoring God with you spend your money. That means not spending more than you take in. It means tithing. It means being generous.

Third, pray for God to provide every single cent to pay for this FLC in three years’ time beginning November 2022.

The Consequence of Nehemiah’s Prayer, 6:16-16

The consequence of Nehemiah’s prayer is that it was answered by God, and it was God who rebuilt the wall. Remember, this remnant did the unthinkable. They rebuilt the wall in 52 days after having been broken down for 140 years.

When God pays for this FLC through your generous giving, all the naysayers will be forced to say, “God showed up!” I look forward to that day.

What can you do today? Pray individually. Pray during our 24-hour prayer vigil. Pray in our prayer room weekly.

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In the recent weeks, we have been looking at the ongoing dialogue between Jesus and Jewish religious leaders who did not believe His message. It all takes place in Jerusalem, and for the most part, they are trying to trap Jesus and discredit His ministry.

However, what usually happens is that He refutes their claims and ends up making them look ridiculous which further multiplies their anger.

Today, we finish John 8, and I want to give you 5 signs of a true follower of Christ in this message that I have entitled, “Believing is the Beginning not the End of Salvation!”

A true follower of Christ perseveres in life, John 8:31.

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

Evidently, there were some Jews who may have been starting to give Jesus a listen. We ended last week with verse 30 that said that many believed in Him.

However, believing is just the beginning of salvation not the end. In verse 31, Jesus pointed them to the next step in their salvation journey.

The first evidence of a true follower of Christ is one who abides in His word or perseveres in life. True followers may fall a way for a time but not forever. All true followers of Christ return to Him before they die.

People ask me regularly if I think this person or that person was a Christian. I always say it doesn’t matter what I think, but if they walked away from Christ and never returned, the answer would appear to be no.

John talks about some people who left the church he was pastoring in 1 John. See 1 John 2:19.

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

We have members of EBC who joined our church at one time but no longer attend. Did they lose their salvation? I would say that if they don’t return, they were never saved in the first place, and that should scare us to death because plenty of those people are close friends and family members.

We ought to be do all that we can to minister to them and hopefully see them return to Christ and His church. A true follower of Christ perseveres in life.

A true follower of Christ is pure in his living, John 8:32-36.

32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Not only will a true follower of Christ persevere in life, but he will also be pure in his living. Does that mean that Christians are perfect? Does that mean that Christians don’t make mistakes? No, it means that Christians are not slaves to sin.

In verse 32, Jesus said you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. The truth is liberating.

However, these Jews did not understand Jesus to be speaking spiritually but literally and physically. In verse 33, they contended they had never been enslaved to anyone. This statement makes you wonder. Had they forgotten about Egypt? Were they not enslaved to the Romans right then?

Regardless, Jesus was speaking spiritually and told them that the one who commits sin, that is habitually practicing it with no remorse, is the slave to sin. In verse 35, He used an analogy to illustrate that they would certainly understand.

The slave is not a slave forever and doesn’t get to stay in the house. However, the son is always a son.

Wasn’t this true with Ishmael and Isaac? Ishmael was the son of the slave woman and even though he was a son of Abraham, he was not the son of promise.

The son of promise was the son of the free woman, Sarah. That was Isaac, the son from which Christ eventually came.

Therefore, if the Son, that is Jesus, saves you, you are free from sin and no longer a slave to it. That is exactly what Paul said in Romans 6:1-7.

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.

Again, you are perfect as a follower of Christ. You are a sinner but you hate sin and want very much to be pure in your living.

A true follower of Christ has a paternal likeness, John 8:37-39.

. 37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” 39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.

In talking about Abraham, Jesus challenged them on the point of being Abraham’s descendents because they were trying to kill Him. Rather Jesus insisted they had another father in verse 38.

Again, they didn’t get it. They retorted that indeed Abraham was their father. Jesus said to them, if that is true, then act like your father. Demonstrate your paternal likeness. After all the cliché says, “Like father, like son?”

Well, what exactly were they to imitate about Abraham? See James 2:21-24.

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

Abraham believed and obeyed. He didn’t try to kill Jesus, yet that is what you’re doing. A true follower of Christ has a paternal likeness.

A true follower of Christ is passionate about the Lord, John 8:40-42.

40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.

However, in reality, the Jews were demonstrating paternal likeness, but their father was not Jesus’ father. If so, they would love Jesus or they would be passionate about the Lord.

Jesus was the Son of God. He was God’s messenger. He came from God and acted on God’s initiative. However, they didn’t welcome Him.

The same is true today. We have plenty of people who claim to believe in God.

However, believing in God is of no benefit if you don’t receive His Son, Jesus. True followers of Christ are passionate about the Lord meaning they love Jesus and obey Jesus.

A true follower of Christ is perceptive in listening, John 8:43-47.

43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

These Jews did not understand Jesus because God was not their father. Their father was the devil, and he is the father of lies and has been lying since Genesis 3. They did not believe Jesus, and they couldn’t hear God because they were not of God but the devil.

The same is true today. Isn’t it amazing how when witnessing to a lost person, they just don’t understand.

Someone who is not a Christian doesn’t “get” the Bible. It doesn’t make since. It is illogical.

Paul told us the same in 1 Corinthians 1:18 and 2:14. A true follower of Christ is perceptive in listening.

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Conclusion 8:48-59

48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” 52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55 Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” 59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

As a result, the Jews resorted to character assassination. In verse 48, they called Him a Samaritan and said that He was demon-possessed.

Of course, He wasn’t a Samaritan, and He wasn’t demon-possessed. He was doing the will of the Father, and if they wanted to spiritually live forever, they would have to keep His word or in other words believe and obey.

However, they went on with their attacks because they didn’t understand in verse 52. The earthly Jesus had not seen Abraham, but the preincarnate Christ had, and Abraham was glad and welcomed the Messiah. Actually, Jesus said He was before Abraham because He was God.

This they couldn’t handle. It was blasphemy, and they were ready to carry out stoning right then and there, but it wasn’t God’s time.

So what about you? Are you a true follower of Christ? Will you preserve in life? Are you pure in your living? Do you have a paternal likeness? Are you passionate about the Lord? Are you perceptive in listening?

You may be a member of EBC, but are you a member of heaven? You may be a regular church attender, but we you live in heaven for eternity?

If you are not a true follower of Christ, today will you call on the Lord and be saved? If you are, will you begin living like it?

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The last time we were in John 8, we heard Jesus say in 8:12, “I am the light of the world.”

If you remember, He said that at the conclusion of the Feast of Tabernacles. The four enormous menorahs had been extinguished, and as the darkness grew and where hundreds and hundreds of people could hear Him, He said, “I am the light of the world.”

We then found out what that means for those who come and follow Jesus. He can dispel the darkness of unbelief in you. He can dispel the darkness of ignorance in you. He can dispel the darkness of unbelief in others.

Here in John 8:21, Jesus is still addressing the Pharisees, who were the Jewish religious leaders.

Exposition

8:21-22

21 Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?”

In verse 21, Jesus said again to these Jewish religious leaders that He was going away. He was foreshadowing His death on the cross, and His resurrection from the grave and His ascension to His Heavenly Father. Then He said they would seek Him, but would die in their sins. For where He was going, they could not come.

Jesus’ comments provoked this question in verse 22, “Will He will kill Himself?” There question was snarky and insulting to the utmost degree.

These Jews thought they were on their way to heaven. They also thought that Jesus claimed to be headed there as well, but this statement through them off. If He was going to heaven, why couldn’t they go there?

They then concluded that He was talking about suicide, and Jewish thought was that suicide would send a person to hell. They thought they were going to heaven, and Jesus was going to hell.

8:23-24

23 And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

In verse 23, Jesus said that He was from God in heaven, and they were from the world. Of course, that is true.

By the way, even though all of us are from the world, if have put our faith in trust as Jesus as Lord and Savior, we better not be friends with the world or love the world. See James 4:4 and 1 John 2:15.

4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

In other words, when you accepted Christ, all things should have become new. If that is not true, you ought to be worried.

Brothers and Sisters, our marriage cannot be the same as the world. Our speech cannot be same as the world. How we recreate cannot be same as the world. How we parent cannot be same as the world. How we spend our money cannot be the same as the world. If the only difference between you and the world is where you spend Sunday mornings, you might be on your way to the same the place the world will go when they die.

Furthermore, Jesus went on to say they would die in their sins if they didn’t believe that Jesus was God. What does it mean to die in your sins? I’m going to answer that in just a moment.

8:25-30

25 Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.” 27 They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. 28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” 30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

In verse 25, they asked Jesus, “Who are You?” Jesus told them that His answer is the same as it always has been, and they can trust what He says because He speaking on behalf of the one who sent Him. Of course, they didn’t understand that He was talking about God the Father.

In verse 28, Jesus prophesied of His death on the cross. Some of them would finally recognize His true identity after seeing Him crucified and resurrected because Jesus was going to do everything His Father sent Him to do as they experienced perfect unity.

Applications

Will suicide send a person to hell? Or, is suicide the unpardonable sin?

In short and according to the Bible, a person who commits suicide is not necessarily going to hell. The only sin that cannot be and will not be forgiven is the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit or attributing to man only what should be attributed to God. See Matthew 12:31-32.

31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

Therefore, suicide is not the unpardonable sin. Rejecting Christ is or thinking that you can save yourself and don’t need to be born of the Holy Spirit.

What about Judas? I believe Judas went to hell when he committed suicide, but it was because he rejected Christ and not because he hung himself.

What does it mean to die in your sins?

Jesus uses that phrase on multiple times in 8:24. We are all sinners, and we are all living in our sins unless we have asked Jesus to forgive us and confessed Him as Lord and Savior.

For the person who receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, that person does not die in his or her sins, but trades his or her sins for Jesus’ righteousness when you call on the name of the Lord to save you.

However, if you do not receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, then you are depending on your own morality to get you into heaven, and you will die in your sin even if it is only one sin because even one sin violates God’s perfect holiness.

Who is Jesus?

That is exactly what the Jews asked in verse 25. First, Jesus claimed to be God. He did this in verses 21, 23, and 28. Every time Jesus said, “I am,” He was claiming to be God, and we know this was true because He was God’s Son.

Second, Jesus claimed to be Promised Messiah. When He spoke in verse 28, He was both looking back and looking forward. He was looking back comparing Himself to Moses who lifted up the brass serpent to heal the people. He was looking forward to when He would die on the cross for the sins of the world.

Third, Jesus can be your personal savior. In verse 30, many believed in Jesus. Is Jesus your personal savior.

Back in 8:12, Jesus invited His audience and us to follow Him as the light of the world. Would you follow Him today as light of the world and let Him dispel the darkness of unbelief in your life?

How you answer “How is Jesus” will determine where you spend eternity. I pray that you have chosen Him as Lord and Savior and eternity in heaven.

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Has there ever been a time in your life when you were scared of the dark? When my girls were younger, they all preferred to have some type of nightlight on so that their rooms are not completely dark while they’re sleeping. Many of us can identify with that in thinking back to our own childhoods.

In another regard, I am still afraid of the dark today. I am afraid of spiritual darkness, and I hate to be the barer of doom and gloom, but I believe that the Bible teaches that until Jesus returns, our world and our culture will grow darker and darker as it relates to violence and immorality and injustice. All you have to do is see the news on the internet or watch a local newscast.

However, I have good news for us in John 8:12. Please allow me to give you some context.

Last week, Jesus was in the temple when He didn’t condemn and forgave the woman caught in adultery and told her to her to sin no more. Today, He is still in the temple most likely in the Court of Women.

Also, remember that this was the end of the Feast of the Tabernacles. Bible commentators tell us that during that festival, four gigantic menorahs or candelabras were used to light the entire city of Jerusalem. However, at the end of the festival, they were extinguished.

It was with this backdrop that Jesus mage His second “I am” statement in John’s gospel when He said in 8:12, “I am the light of the world.” His first “I am” statement was in John 6:35 when He said, “I am the bread of life.”

Notice that Jesus didn’t say He was a light. He said He was the definitive light of the world.

With this statement, He was again claiming to be God as light is symbolic of God throughout the Scriptures. See Psalm 27:1, 36:9; Acts 9:3-5; 1 John 1:5.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

9 For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

And of course, many of us remember God in the OT demonstrating Himself in a flame at night as He guided the nation of Israel and the people of God at night. The gigantic menorahs I spoke of earlier were supposed to remind these orthodox Jews of that experience during the Feast of the Tabernacles.

However, as we have come to expect, Jesus’ declaration was again challenged by the Pharisees, the Jewish religious leaders of the day, and in today’s text, we see how Jesus who or what affirmed Jesus as God.

Exposition

Jesus was affirmed as God by Himself, 8:13-14.

The Pharisees accused Him of lying because they didn’t think He had others to testify on His behalf, but He assured them of the contrary. His testimony was true as He knew where He came from and where He was going.

He clearly knew that He was God. He clearly knew He came from God, and He clearly knew that He was returning to God after He completed His mission.

Jesus was affirmed as God by the Father, 8:15-16.

15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.

Jesus countered their attacks with an assertion of His own. They judged Him according to the flesh or what they saw. He did not measure up to their physical visions of what a Messiah should be. He was not political leader. He was not a military power. He was not an earthly king.

However, Jesus did not come to judge anyone but to save, but even if He did come to judge, His judgment would be true as God the Father had affirmed Him.

Jesus was affirmed as God by the Scriptures, 8:17-18.

17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”

With this affirmation, Jesus’ testimony would even now hold up in a court of law according to the OT because He had another witness making two. See Deuteronomy 19:15.

15 “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.

After Jesus mentioned His Father in 8:18, the Pharisees sarcastically asked Him about His father in 8:19. Look at His response.

Jesus said that they didn’t know His Father because they didn’t know Him. That statement got all over them

However, as we have seen before, Jesus didn’t operate on His own time table. He operated on God’s time table, and because of that, He was protected until it was time for Him to lay down His life.

Applications

When we think about applications for this text, the invitation is clear, and that is for you to come to the Light of the world. If you do, here’s what happens.

First, Jesus will dispel the darkness of unbelief. Because Jesus is the light of the world, if you come to Him, you will be saved because He is the light of life in 8:12.

Even Simeon said this about Jesus in Luke 2:27-33.

27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” 33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.

Second, Jesus will dispel the darkness of ignorance. By nature, light illumines the path and shows us where to go.

If you come to Jesus, He will provide light and guidance for daily living. Consider Matthew 18-19.

15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. 18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Jesus doesn’t want you to live in sin.
The Church is God’s plan for your spiritual maturity and that includes holding you accountable for the life you live.

1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there. 3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” 4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

There are only two genders, and those genders are the two that God assigns at birth.
Marriage is only between one husband and one wife at one time.
Divorce is not God’s ideal for you.

Therefore, when we come to Jesus, we don’t have to live in the darkness of ignorance. Jesus will light the way for us.

Finally, if you come to Jesus, He will also dispel the darkness in others through you because you will become the light as well.

God’s plan for you right now wherever you are and whatever you’re doing is to be the light for others. Otherwise, He would have already take you to heaven.

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Have you ever been caught red-handed? What does that mean? It means you were doing something you weren’t supposed to be doing, and you were caught in the act.

Maybe you were eating something you weren’t supposed to be eating. Maybe you were watching something you weren’t supposed to be watching. Maybe you bought something you weren’t supposed to buy. You were caught red-handed or in the very act.

This morning, we come to a text that is probably very familiar to many of us. However, it is surrounded in controversy, but the controversy is more about its origin rather than its content.

I suspect that every Bible in the room has some kind of comment or footnote regarding this text. Most comments allude to the fact that these verses were not included in our earliest copies of the NT. However, they are in most copies of our earliest NT and in every Bible in the room this morning.

Therefore, we will trust them to be profitable for us today as we continue our study of John’s gospel. Let’s read the text from 7:53 to 8:11.

I need to rewind for just a moment. Go back to 7:2. Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of the Tabernacles.

2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.

One of His many invitations to those who were listening to Him and dialoguing with Him was to come and drink of Him. We see this 7:37.

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.

As you know, there were mixed responses to this invitation. Look at 7:40-44.

40 Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people because of Him. 44 Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

This takes us to the end of chapter 7. At the end of the day, everyone went to his own house, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Maybe He was sleeping under the stars. Maybe He stayed with friends.

Regardless, verse 2 takes us to the next day, and it was early in the morning, and Jesus was in the temple again teaching. Notice also that many people were coming to Him. Why? Look at 7:45-46.

45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him?” 46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”

His teaching was like nothing they had ever heard. His ability to explain the Scriptures to them left them in awe.

An Attempt to Entrap, John 8:3-6

3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him.

This attempt to entrap involves three parties. First of all, we have the cynics played by the scribes and Pharisees in verse 3. The scribes were experts in the law. The Pharisees were the Jewish religious leaders. Evidently, they broke into the circle bringing some woman they had supposedly caught sinning and throwing her into the middle of the circle.

Even though they called Him “Teacher” in verse 4, you can bet it was sarcastic as you see their motivation in verse 6. They were saying these things to test or trap Him.

The second party here is the sinning woman. There is no question of her guilt. She was guilty of the alleged crime. The question was her punishment or discipline.

The third party is the Savior. Again, the cynics wanted to trap Jesus. They wanted to get Him to say something that they could use against Him later with the people.

As it relates to their question, the cynics were right. This woman was guilty and deserved stoning according to the OT Law. See Exodus 20:14 and Deuteronomy 22:22.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

22 “If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then both of them shall die—the man that lay with the woman, and the woman; so you shall put away the evil from Israel.

However, we should ask a couple of questions. First of all, where is the man? Isn’t he guilty as well? Secondly, if they caught them in the very act, are these cynics guilty of lust of the flesh which Jesus equates to adultery in Matthew 5:27-28?

However, the cynics thought they had trapped Jesus. If he said let her go, He would have been guilty of contradicting the Mosaic Law.

If he said stone her, He would have compromised His mercy and compassion, and furthermore, He would have been trouble with the Romans because Jews were not allowed to carry out the death penalty (See John 18:31). What was He to do?

31 Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,”

An Answer that was Enigmatic, John 8:6-9

But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. 7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

The middle of verse 6 tells us that Jesus began writing on the ground. What was He writing?

Was He writing the names of all those present that were guilty of adultery? Was He writing the sins of those present? Was He writing the ten commandments that we have all broken?

The bottom line is that no one knows. Anyone who tells you certainly what Jesus wrote is not be honest. Any and all answers are speculation. John didn’t feel like it was important for us to know.

Jesus continued to write in the sand and not answer the cynics until they persisted. Finally, He stood up and instructed them to go ahead and stone her, and the one without sin should throw the first stone.

This was also part of the OT Law. See Deuteronomy 19:15-19.

15 “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established. 16 If a false witness rises against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, 17 then both men in the controversy shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who serve in those days. 18 And the judges shall make careful inquiry, and indeed, if the witness is a false witness, who has testified falsely against his brother, 19 then you shall do to him as he thought to have done to his brother; so you shall put away the evil from among you.

In other words, the witnesses had to be credible. They had to be seeking justice rather than malice. He stooped down and wrote some more.

Now let’s be clear. This passage does not teach that Christian brothers and sisters cannot hold each other accountable. See Matthew 18:15 and Galatians 6:1.

15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

When no credible witnesses could be found, the crowd of cynics thinned beginning with the older. Was it because they were humbler and recognized their faults? Was it because they had accumulated more faults by living longer? The story doesn’t say.

Applications for Everyone, John 8:10-11

10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Finally, it was just the woman caught red-handed and Jesus. He asked her if she had any more accusers. Answering respectfully, she said, “No one, Lord.”

Notice then Jesus’ response in verse 11. No one condemned her and neither did He.

First, there’s an application for the saints: don’t be two-faced. Stop your hypocrisy.

See 8:7. Live a life that honors Jesus and is the same whether in public or private.

Also, learn to be gracious and compassionate. There is only one Holy Spirit and you aren’t Him.

Second, there’s an application for sinners: stop sinning. See 8:11. Jesus didn’t condemn this woman who caught red-handed, but He emphatically told her to stop her lifestyle of sinning.

Christians who are sinners: stop your griping and complaining, stop cheating on your spouse, stop being racist at work, stop spending so much money trying to have all the new toys and gadgets that you don’t give to your local church, stop worshipping youth sports.

For those of you who are lost: stop your sinning with unbelief. Call on the name of Jesus to save you.

Finally, there’s an application about the Savior. This story has one main character. It is not Pharisee who spoke. It is not the adulterous woman. It is Jesus.

He is worthy of our worship and worthy of our praise. He is authoritative in His teaching. He is wise in His judgement. He is forgiving in His treatment of us.

Will you ask Him to forgive you this morning as you’re caught red-handed?

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This morning, we are taking a break from John’s gospel, and I want to take the opportunity not only to lead us in taking the Lord’s Supper in just a few minutes but also understanding the Lord’s Supper before we take it.

Today’s sermon will be more of teaching than preaching as I attempt to answer some of the more important questions regarding the Lord’s Supper. As a matter of fact, you might call them our Top 10 Questions about the Lord’s Supper.

Is the Lord’s Supper a sacrament or an ordinance?

Our friends from liturgical congregations, such as Catholics and Episcopalians and Methodists and Presbyterians call it a “sacrament.” When I say, “liturgical,” I mean related to liturgy or ritual in a worship service.

Those in the free church tradition, meaning there is no pope over us or hierarchy for that matter (autonomous), have chosen not to use the word “sacrament” because not only does it mean what is sacred, but also it has come to mean dispensing or giving out of grace or a tool or vehicle for salvation. In other words, it saves you.

Baptists believe that salvation is through grace alone and faith alone in Christ alone. Therefore, we have chosen to use the word “ordinance” which means ordained or ordered and specifically ordered by the Lord Jesus.

When we baptize here at EBC, we are practicing one ordinance. In a few minutes, we will practice what we understand as the second of two ordinances, the Lord’s Supper.

Therefore, Baptists recognize only two ordinances in the NT for the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

What should we call this ordinance that has many names?

There are actually several of what I would call biblical names for the ordinance that we most often call “The Lord’s Supper.”

In Acts 2:42, Luke called it “the breaking of bread.”

Acts 2:42, 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

In 1 Corinthians 10:16, Paul used the word, “communion.”

1 Corinthians 10:16, 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

By communion, we mean a mutual participation or communing or sharing or fellowship with one another. As the body of Christ, we commune with the Lord and one another.

In 1 Corinthians 11:20, Paul used the word that is probably most common in Baptist churches, but this verse is actually an indictment to the Corinthian Church.

1 Corinthians 11:20, 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.

They were coming together to sin rather than to take the Lord’s Supper.

Another word that is often used in more liturgical churches like I mentioned previously, Catholics and Episcopalians and Methodists and Presbyterians, is the word “Eucharist.”

It comes from a New Testament word that means to give thanks. See 1 Corinthians 11:24.

1 Corinthians 11:24, 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

A final word that I want to mention that does not have its origin in the Bible is the term “mass.”

It was originally used as the closing blessing or benediction of any worship service.

In the Roman Catholic Church, it eventually was applied to the liturgy of the Word or preaching and the liturgy of the Eucharist or Communion.

Do we understand the Lord’s Supper to be a “Christian ordinance” or a “Church ordinance?”

In other words, are the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper given to any Christian to observe on any occasion and in any circumstance or were they given to the local Church to administer?

Historically, and I believe biblically, these ordinances were given to the local church, and here’s why. Listen to the 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 and notice the repetition of a particular phrase.

17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

On five occasions, Paul speaks of coming together. Individual Christians don’t come together. Churches come together.

Therefore, again, I would contend along with Baptists through the years, that believers are to participate in baptism and the Lord’s Supper under the authority and administration of a local church.

Consequently, when we take teenagers to youth camp and preteens to children’s camp, we don’t go to camps that baptize and take the Lord’s Supper. Why? Because that is not the local church.

Furthermore, the local church is also not your uncle Joe and your aunt Mary and your cousins. Therefore, we don’t recommend being baptized by your uncle in his pool or taking the Lord’s Supper on vacation with your grandparents.

Why? Because they aren’t Christians? No, because they aren’t a local church.

When did the Lord’s Supper begin?

The Lord’s Supper began with Jesus and is recounted for us in Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22.

Let’s look at Mark’s account beginning in Mark 14:12.

12 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?” 13 And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. 14 Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 15 Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.” 16 So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover. 17 In the evening He came with the twelve. 18 Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.” 19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, “Is it I?” And another said, “Is it I?” 20 He answered and said to them, “It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish. 21 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.” 22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

As you can see from Mark 14, the Lord’s Supper is closely tied to the Passover. However, do we remember what the Passover was?

What is the Passover?

The nation of Israel was being held captive by Pharaoh of Egypt. The Lord had brought nine plagues on Pharaoh and his people in an effort to force him to let His people go. However, he still refused.

The Passover is then introduced in Exodus 11 and described in Exodus 12:12-14.

As a tenth plague, God had announced that He would take the life of every first-born Egyptian male child and animal.

Consequently, each Jewish family was to sacrifice an unblemished lamb and mark the doorway of their home with its blood.

The Lord would then see the blood and pass over that home in His looking for the first-born Egyptian male children and animals.

Exodus 12:12-14, 12 ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. 13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 ‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.

Therefore, the Passover and the Lord’s Supper are tied together in that the Lord Jesus is the perfect Lamb whose blood was shed.

When the blood of Christ is applied to your heart by Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, the judgment of God passes over you and gives you eternal life in heaven.

What elements should be included in the Lord’ Supper?

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 mentions two: the bread and the cup.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26, 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Therefore, we normally offer unleavened bread and grape juice.

Why unleavened bread? Leaven in the Bible is often used to symbolize sin.

The first church probably used a single loaf of a bread, and drank wine from a common cup.

When church members ask me about using real win so we can be more biblical, I ask them if they want to use a common cup as well to be more biblical.

For some reason, they usually reconsider.

Christy and I, have actually used a common cup and real wine when taking the Lord’s Supper at a Baptist church in Kiev, Ukraine. I don’t recommend it.

When should we take the Lord’s Supper?

Some of you will probably be surprised at my answer to this, but the Churches of Christ got it right.

In the New Testament, the Lord’s Supper was taken weekly…every time the church met…and probably on Sunday night.

Acts 20:7, 7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

My experience growing up at FBC Venus and FBC Alvarado, the Lord’s Supper was observed on a quarterly basis.

For many of you, I think that was also true here at EBC in the past.

Personally, I prefer monthly compared to quarterly, and the Bible does not prescribe how often we should take it.

What does the Lord’s Supper mean?

The answer to this question is what separates denominations.

By the way, I don’t think having denominations is bad when we separate over Biblical interpretation.

While it won’t be that way in heaven, I don’t think it is bad here on earth…especially since we can’t interpret perfectly here, but we will there.

Our Catholic friends hold to what is called transubstantiation. Transubstantiation “simply means ‘the bread and the wine actually become (or are transformed into) the body and the blood of Christ. This happens at the moment the priest says, ‘This is my body’ during the celebration of the mass’” (White, 144).

Where did this idea originate? See John 6:53-56.

John 6:53-56, 53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.

Our Lutheran friends differ just a little from the Catholic Church. They hold to what is called consubstantiation. This means “that the bread and the wine contain the body and blood of the Lord but the elements themselves are not substantively changed” (White, 146).

Our Presbyterian friends hold to the Spiritual Presence view of communion.

They believe that Christ is present in the Lord’s Supper, but it cannot be His literal body and blood because He ascended into the heavens.

Most Baptists believe in what is called the Memorial or Symbolic view of Communion.

This view is credited to Ulrich Zwingli who said the Lord’s Supper is taken in memory of what Christ has done, and the elements are symbolic of the Lord’s spiritual presence (Hammett, 280).

In other words, the bread symbolizes Jesus’ body. The cup symbolizes Jesus’ blood, and we do this in remembrance of Him.

Why do we take the Lord’s Supper?

We find our answers to this question from 1 Corinthians 10-11, and there are four.

First, we take the Lord’s Supper to renew our commitment to Christ and to one another, brothers and sisters in Christ who are mostly committed to one church, Emory Baptist Church.

1 Corinthians 10:17, 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

Second, we take the Lord’s Supper to give thanks.

1 Corinthians 11:24,…24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Third, we take the Lord’s Supper to remember what Jesus did for us through His death on the cross.

1 Corinthians 11:24-25, 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Fourth, we take the Lord’s Supper to proclaim the message of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:26, 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Who should be invited to take the Lord’s Supper?

The answer to this question will be different depending on how you interpret the Bible.

From my understanding of the Scriptures and as pastor of this church and not any other church, I believe the Scriptures speak to two general qualifications for taking the Lord’s Supper.

First, you should be a follower of Jesus Christ. It makes no sense for a lost person to take the Lord’s Supper. See 1 Corinthians 10:21.

1 Corinthians 10:21, 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s Table and of the table of demons.

Keep in mind moms and dads that this applies to children as well.

Caleigh and Sarah didn’t start taking the Lord’s Supper until they were in the fifth grade, and Caroline started taking it when she was in the third grade.

That is not meant to be mean or insensitive. That is an effort to be biblically responsible.

Therefore, don’t neglect the opportunity that taking the Lord’s Supper brings for you to share the gospel with your young children.

The second requirement for taking the Lord’s Supper is that you be in right standing with the Lord and with your neighbor. See 1 Corinthians 11:27-30.

1 Corinthians 11:27-30, 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

What does it mean to be in right standing with the Lord and with your neighbor?

Is there any unconfessed sin in your life?
Is there any unrepentant sin in your life?
Are you fighting with your spouse?
Are you fighting with your parents?
Are you unforgiving and bitter toward your neighbor?

These are the types of questions that you should ask every time you take the Lord’s Supper, and on some occasions, it would be better if you don’t take it all.

Why? Look again at 1 Corinthians 11:29-30.

29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

In Corinth, these Corinthian Believers were using the occasion of the Lord’s Supper to engage in sexual and drunken debauchery.

As a result, the Lord disciplined them with sickness and even death. Don’t run that risk when you take the Lord’s Supper.

There is one last thought I need to share regarding being in right standing with the Lord.

I don’t think you have to be a member of EBC to receive the Lord’s Supper.

However, as Baptists, we understand believer’s baptism to be an act of obedience for every Christian, for every follower of Christ.

In the same we way that we invite those who are saved and baptized to join EBC every Sunday morning, we invite those that are saved and baptized to take the Lord’s Supper.

To require baptism for church membership but not to take the Lord’s Supper would undermine our commitment to baptism and an act of hypocrisy.

We invite anyone who is a member of EBC and anyone who could be a member of EBC to take the Lord’s Supper.

You can be Baptist or Catholic or Lutheran or Methodist or Pentecostal or Presbyterian as long as you have been born-again and are in right standing with the Lord and have followed through with believer’s baptism by immersion.

But before we take the Lord’s Supper, I invite you to repent and be saved from your sins? If you’re without Christ this morning, would you answer the call this morning to put your faith and trust in Him as Lord and Savior of your life?

Would you unite with Emory Baptist Church this morning if you are guest and the Lord is leading you formally join this church?

Our invitation is for you!

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Here at Emory Baptist Church, we study books of the Bible on Sunday mornings verse by verse and chapter by chapter. We do that because we believe the Bible is the very word of God and has the power to change lives.
Right now, we are studying the Gospel of John. It is one of four gospels that tell the story of the life of Jesus. Matthew, Mark, and Luke generally record the life of Jesus in chronological order.
However, John’s Gospel is different in that it was written to prove to the readers that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. On multiple occasions, it fills in the gaps of the other gospels with unique material.
This morning, the text is going to present to us three questions that we will answer together: where was Jesus from, how did Jesus operate, and where was Jesus going?
Where was Jesus from, John 7:25-29?

25 Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? 26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? 27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” 28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”

Jesus was in Jerusalem at this time, and some of the local residents had heard rumors that the Jewish Religious Leaders were going to try and kill and Jesus because the people were beginning to follow Him more than them.

However, according to verse 26, the Jewish Religious Leaders were not carrying out their plans yet. Perhaps they had changed their mind deciding to believe that Jesus was the Christ, Savior of the world.

Verse 27 says the local residents knew where Jesus was from. However, they knew physical origin not His spiritual origin. They knew He was born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth.

In verse 28, we know here Jesus respond. He cried out with passion and conviction. You know Me on a physical level and where I am from physically. However, you don’t know where I am really from, and you don’t know who sent Me.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Jesus is from heaven and sent by God the Father. He is God’s only Son, and God sent Him to earth to be God the Father’s representative being God Himself.

How did Jesus operate, John 7:30-31?

30 Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 31 And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?”

According to verse 30, the Jewish Religious Leaders finally decide to put their plan of taking Jesus into place. However, something very interesting happened according to the end of verse 30.

They were not able to because God it was not God’s time yet. In other words, Jesus operated on God’s timetable. His enter life was according to God’s perfect timetable.

Furthermore, Jesus not only operated on God’s timetable, He operated according to God’s purpose. God’s purpose for Jesus was to provide salvation for anyone who puts their faith and trust in Christ.

Ladies and Gentlemen, God created you to having a personal relationship with Him. However, our sin has broken that fellowship and separates us from God, but because Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life, He offers salvation, fellowship with God, forgiveness of sin, heaven and eternal life to any who will believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Where was Jesus going, John 7:32-36?

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. 33 Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. 34 You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.” 35 Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?”

In verse 32-33, Jesus says that He is going somewhere. He is going back to the God the Father in heaven. However, they couldn’t go where Jesus was going because they didn’t know God.

Jesus did go back to heaven after He died on the cross and after He came back to life from the dead. He went back to heaven with God the Father after He accomplished God’s purpose for Him and that job was done.

Conclusion

If you saw this morning’s bulletin, my sermon title reflected the message of this text from John 7. If you know Jesus as Lord and Savior, you also know God because not only is Jesus God’s Son, Jesus is also God too.

However, if you say to Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, you are saying no to God, and if you can’t know God the Father in heaven any other way than by knowing God the Son, Jesus Christ.

This morning, if you don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior, I invite you to be saved. First, admit that you are a sinner. Second, believe that Jesus died on the cross and for your sins. Third, call on Him to save you.

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If you were here last Sunday, Jesus was sarcastically encouraged by His brothers to go into Jerusalem to do some signs to show all the people that He really was the Savior of the world. Also, it is probably sometime in October, and the Feats of the Tabernacles or Booths was taking place with thousands of orthodox Jews in Jerusalem.

I also mentioned to you last week the well-known theory of the British, Christian author CS Lewis. In “Mere Christianity,” he reminded us that when it comes to what a person does with Jesus, there are only three options. You must conclude that He was a liar, a lunatic, or Lord.

Most honest observers conclude that Jesus wasn’t a liar. That is not characteristic a great moral teacher like all world religions teach.

Today, we look at that second option. Was Jesus a lunatic? Many of these first-century Jews drew this conclusion as noted in John 7:20, “You have a demon.”

However, were they correct? Did Jesus have a demon? In today’s text, we will answer that question.

Exposition of John 7:14-15

14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”

Again, verse 14 reminds us that Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of the Tabernacles. He had also gone into the temple to teach, and the Jews were amazed at His teaching.

They wondered how in the world He could teach with such authority having never been educated. He knew God’s word backward and forward.

Jesus was God-sent, John 7:16-17.

16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

In verse 16, Jesus answered their question by essentially saying that He was God-sent. Consequently, what He was teaching was from God. It was God’s teaching.

We can know this is true because Jesus didn’t seek to do His will or seek His own glory. He sought God’s will and sought God’s glory.

Let me ask you this morning. In the way your make decisions, can others recognize that you have screened your options according to God’s word?

Think back to last week. Whose timetable is more important in your life? Is it yours or God’s?

When you are making decisions, do you go to God’s word? For example, when it comes to your relationships, whether they are marital, dating, personal, or business, are you unequally yoked with an unbeliever?

God’s word is abundantly clear. Believers are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers? See 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore, “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.”

Adults and students, your best friends ought not be lost people. Adults, your primary business partners ought not be lost people. Students, your boyfriend or girlfriend ought not be a lost person.

If you are unequally yoked, you are not screening your decisions according to God’s word, and while we want to be evangelistic in our relationships, more often than not, if we are unequally yoked, lost people usually bring us down in our behavior rather than bringing them up.

Jesus was God-sent, and all of His decisions were screened according to what God wants and according to God’s word.

Jesus was God-spoken, John 7:18.

18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.

Not only was Jesus God-sent, He was also God-spoke. I mean all that He said was from God.

Jesus didn’t speak His own words. He spoke the very words of God.

How do we know what the words of God are? We have them right here.

Does that mean that is all that God spoke? It doesn’t necessarily, but this is all that God thought we needed.

Some argue that we cannot keep boxed up through His word. I have news for you. The Bible is the word that God created for Himself, and again, it is all that we need.

Are you speaking God’s word? Are you speaking God’s word to your spouse? Are you speaking God’s word at your job? Are you speaking God’s word this summer at the lake and the ballfield and on the golf course? See Psalm 19:14.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

Ephesians 4:29, 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Luke 6:45, 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Jesus was God-sent, and He was God-spoken.

Jesus was God-sanctified, John 7:19-24.

19 Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” 20 The people answered and said, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?” 21 Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

In verse 19, Jesus accused the Jews of being out to kill Him, and they were. However, they denied it, and tried to make Him out to look like a crazy man as they said, “You have a demon!”

In verse 21, Jesus pointed back to the straw that broke the camel’s back for them and what they thought about Jesus when He healed the lame man in John 5.

Do you remember that? In John 5, Jesus healed the paralytic who could never make his way into the pool of water outside of the Sheep’s Gate. He had been lame for 38 years, and Jesus healed him. However, it was on the Sabbath, and they Jews went ballistic.

Why? Jesus challenged how they were sanctified. They were guilty of legalism. They had raised their traditions and their preferences to the level of authority that should only be true of God’s word.

When the Bible talks about legalism, there are two types. There is legalism as it relates to salvation. We have that today when we say that something else is necessary to be saved in addition to faith and repentance.

These Jews said that circumcision was necessary for salvation and not just faith and repentance. Today, there are some churches that say that baptism is necessary for salvation. That is legalism.

In this text, we see the legalism that is related to sanctification. These Jews said with their actions that observing the Sabbath was necessary to be sanctified or more like Jesus.

In days gone by, many of you were taught that the way a woman dresses makes her more sanctified. Therefore, women were taught not to wear pants to church or not to wear make-up. Men were taught they couldn’t have facial hair if they wanted to be sanctified.

Today, we say that a Christian can’t have piercings or be tattooed or never drink alcohol. If they do, they aren’t sanctified and living like Jesus.

Let me be clear, I don’t wear piercings and I don’t have any tattoos and I don’t drink alcohol ever. However, if I say that God’s word forbids such, I am being legalistic. These are my preferences, and they are informed by God’s word, but those actions aren’t forbidden in God’s word.

Jesus was God-sent, His words were God-spoken, and He taught that only what is explicit in God’s word sanctifies.

Conclusion

So now we come back to our original question? Was Jesus Demon-Possessed? Was He a lunatic?

He was not demon-possessed. He was not a lunatic, and He was not a liar.

Therefore, if He was not a liar and He was not a lunatic, then He must be Lord. Is He Lord of your life?

If He is not, will you receive Him today as Lord and Savior? If He is Lord of your life, make sure that you are screen your decisions according to God’s word and speaking God’s word and letting God’s word sanctify you rather than traditions and personal preferences.

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We have finished chapter 6 and Jesus’ bread of life discourse and are now moving to chapter 7. Remember that John is not writing a comprehensive account of Jesus’ life but rather filling in the gaps from the synoptic gospels.

Verse 1 of chapter 7 begins, “After these things.” There is probably a six month period of time between chapters 6 and seven. We know this because at the beginning of chapter 6, it was time for the Passover which was in April. See John 6:4.

4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.

According to John 7:2, it is now time for the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths, which takes place in October. What did this feast celebrate?

The Feast of Tabernacles took place in the fall and was a time of thanksgiving for the harvest. It was a happy time, and a time of celebration.

As for demonstration, and for one week, devout Jews would live outdoors in tabernacles or booths made of tree branches. Their actions remembered God’s provision in the desert during their forefather’s wanderings. See Leviticus 23:39-43.

39 ‘Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the Lord for seven days; on the first day there shall be a Sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a Sabbath-rest. 40 And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. 41 You shall keep it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43 that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.’”

From this morning’s text, I want to ask you the question, “Whose Timetable is More Important?” Our society and culture operates on time. Our work day is timed. Our school day is timed. Our lives are timed, but whose timetable is more important, yours or God’s?

When it comes to taking a job or changing jobs, whose timetable is more important? When it comes to making a significant purchase, whose timetable is more important? When it comes to beginning relationships or ending relationships, whose timetable is more important? Are you going to live your life according to your time or God’s timing?

However, before we answer that question, I want you to see three different groups of people and how they related to Jesus: His foes, His family, and some other folks.

His Foes wanted to Murder Him, John 7:1.

1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him.

So, now we are in October, and Jesus had been ministering in Galilee healing the sick, exorcising demons, preaching the gospel, and discipling the Twelve. He remained in Galilee because the Jewish religious leaders or His foes were opposed to Him, and they were ready to murder Him.

He exposed their hypocritical and self-centered religious traditions, and they saw Him gaining influence quickly among the people. They wanted to kill Him soon.

By the way, this right here is exactly why Jesus said what He did in Matthew 5:21-22.

Because these Jews let their anger go unchecked, it had progressed to a desire for murder. Brothers and sisters, God’s plan for you is to kill your sin not curb your sin. If you don’t kill your sin, it will end up killing you.

His Family Misunderstood Him, John 7:2-9.

2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him. 6 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” 9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.

As I mentioned previously, verse 2 tells us that the Feast of Tabernacles was near. Elsewhere, this is called the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Shelters, and it was celebrated in Jerusalem.

Again, it was a time of thanksgiving and remembering how the Lord provided for the nation of Israel during their wanderings in the wilderness in the Old Testament. As a sign, devout Jews made a booth out of tree branches and lived in it for seven days while celebrating this feast.

In verse 3, we see the introduction of Jesus’ brothers. These were actually half brothers from Joseph and Mary. See Matthew 13:55.

55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?

They wanted Jesus to go on to Jerusalem as many people would be there for the Feast of Tabernacles, and He could do some signs and demonstrate that He truly was the Messiah. They thought Jesus wanted fame and notoriety and to gain a following.

However, they misunderstood Jesus. Jesus had a different agenda. He didn’t come to entertain. He came to be executed and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Verse 5 says at this time, they didn’t believe in Him. How does your family treat you and your commitment to Christ?

Like these brothers here in verses 3-4, some family will be sarcastic. They will mock you and your decision to follow the Lord.

Beginning in verse 6, some family will be totally secular and antagonistic. Jesus said that He and His brothers didn’t share the same timetable, and they didn’t share the same world-view.

If you are a follower of Christ, your worldview is spiritual. If you aren’t, your worldview is secular, and the world loves you.

In verse 8, Jesus told them to go ahead of Him, and perhaps He would come later. Verse 9 says He remained in Galilee for a while.

Jesus also had a different timetable. Notice verse 6. He said His time had not come because He was living according to His timetable but God’s timetable. How are you living this morning? Are you trying to live your life and accomplish your agenda on your timetable? Have you ever considered God’s timetable for your life? Jesus commented that his brothers could come and go as they please because they weren’t operating on His timetable.

Jesus also had a different standard. He said the world cannot hate His brothers because His brothers were of the world. They would not hate their own. However, Jesus had demonstrated to the world that the problem with the world is the world, and people didn’t like that. The same is true today. Do you know what the problem with the world is? It is me and you. It is us. Do you know that the problem with the church is? It is church members. Jesus’ standard was perfection, and ours is less. As a result of having a different agenda, a different timetable, and a different standard, Jesus’ family misunderstood Him.

In verse 8, He tells them to go to the feast themselves. Again, He is on God’s timetable, and it wasn’t time yet. Therefore, He stayed in Galilee a little while longer as His brothers traveled. He then went Himself secretly so as not to draw attention as the Jews, His foes were looking out for Him.

Some Folks sent Mixed Signals about Him, John 7:10-13.

10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” 12 And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” 13 However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

Verse 10 says that Jesus’ brothers did go up to Jerusalem, and He went eventually, but not at the same time and not with them. He even went covertly because He knew there were those after Him.

When talking about Jesus in verses 11-13, there wasn’t a firm consensus. Some thought Jesus was good. Others said He was a liar so these folks as a whole were sending mixed signals.

By the way, life’s ultimate question is what do you do with Jesus? CS Lewis said He is either a liar or a lunatic or your Lord. So, which is for you? Will you continue to reject Him or will you receive Him today?

Conclusion

Back to our original question. Whose timetable is more important? Notice verse 6. Jesus said His time had not come because He wasn’t living according to His timetable but God’s timetable.

In verse 8, Jesus said something similar. He told His brothers to go to the feast themselves. However, He wasn’t going then or with them. Why? He was on God’s timetable, and it wasn’t time yet.

How are you living this morning? Are you trying to live your life and accomplish your agenda on your timetable? Have you ever considered God’s timetable for your life?

If you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, would you also surrender to His timetable? His timing for your life and your job and your money and your relationships is far better than your time.

If you don’t believe, try Him, and let me know how it works out. I am confident that you won’t be disappointed.

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Have you ever faced a situation that seemed impossible? Probably all of us have.

It may have been at work or at home or at school or with your family or with your children or with your finances or at your church? However, when God steps in, the impossible becomes possible because “impossible” isn’t in God’s dictionary.

In John 6, the disciples faced an impossible situation. God gave them a test of their faithfulness, and when Jesus stepped in, the impossible became possible.

A Serious Problem, John 6:1-6

1 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.

In verse 1, “after these things” certainly applies to Jesus defeating a disease, declaring Himself to God, and defending His own authority. However, we know from comparing the four Gospels that John doesn’t necessarily write according to exact chronology.

His desire often was to fill in the gaps left by the other Gospels. Today’s story may have been six months after the end of chapter five.

However, we know this story at the beginning of John 6 is of the utmost importance. Why? Besides the resurrection of Christ, it is the only miracle included in all four Gospels.

Jesus and His disciples had left Jerusalem again and headed north back to Galilee, and they went to eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. Following them was a large crowd according to verse 2. However, they are following Jesus because they saw Him do some amazing miracles including healing the sick, and they wanted to see more. At the end of John 4, He healed the nobleman’s son. At the beginning of chapter 5, He healed the paralytic that had been that way for 38 years.

However, Jesus was trying to find some peace and quiet for Him and His disciples up on a mountainside.

Verse four tells us that it was close to spring time as the Passover was near. Jesus then looked up and saw the large crowd drawing closer, and He had an idea of how to grow His disciples’ faith.

He asked Philip where they were to could buy bread to feed all these people. It was very logical for Jesus to ask Philip as he was from Bethsaida and would have known the area.

In verse six, we see explicitly that Jesus wanted to test him. By the way, the testing of Phillip’s faith was never to harm him but to grow him. The same is true for you and me this morning. Regularly, God will test our faith. His desire is that we pass the test and grow our faith. However, because we are sinners, failure is always possible.

A Human Solution, John 6:7-9

7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”

However, Philip saw this as an impossible situation seeing the crowd of anywhere from 10,000-20,000 people. He reported that it would cost two hundred denarii, which was approximately eight months’ wages, and thus, there was no way to logically feed these people.

By the way, I understand Philip. He was bean counter. I am a bean counter. Perhaps you are a bean counter. On paper, this was an impossible situation.

In verse 8, it seems that Andrew was doing his best to help the situation. He brought a little boy to who had some food.

This boy was probably a teenager who had five loaves of bread and two fish. Keep in mind that we aren’t talking about 2-pound crappie or 3-pound catfish. We are talking about 5 biscuits and 2 sardines.

Verse 9 seems to put Andrew in the same boat as Philip. There just wasn’t any way this situation was going to work out.

Divine Intervention, John 6:10-15

10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

In verse 10, Jesus was about to teach His disciples how quickly things could change when He gets involved. Again, the men numbered 5,000. Therefore, the total could have been between 10,000 and 20,000.

After the crowd was seated and in verse 11, He took the boy’s food, and He thanked God for it and began to distribute it, and here is where the miracle occurred. He passed out the bread and fish to all the people, and they got as much as they wanted. No one was in need or went without.

He then told His disciples to gather up the leftovers, and they gathered up twelve full baskets. Twelve is significant in that there was one for each disciple. Surely, Jesus wanted each of the twelve to understand what just happened.

In verse 14, when the people saw that a miracle had occurred, they recognized Jesus for who He truly was, a man of God. However, this story ends in verse 15 with Jesus leaving the scene as the crowd wanted to force Him to be their leader, and yet, that was not according to His Father’s plan.

Application and Conclusion

Allow me to recap, and then apply. First, God tests our faith in Him.

Second, we often and sometimes only see life’s situation from a human perspective. We don’t consider Jesus enough.

Third, when Jesus gets involved, the impossible becomes possible because impossible isn’t in His dictionary. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

For our graduates, going to college or paying for college may seem impossible. Jesus might be testing your faith. If you will involve Him, your impossible can become possible.

For EBC, building a $5 million FLC is impossible for a church our size. However, Jesus maybe testing your faith, my faith, our faith.

Let me remind you. If we make sure Jesus is involved, the impossible is possible because impossible isn’t in His dictionary. See Psalm 37:5 and Proverbs 16:3.

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Has anyone ever questioned your authority? What about as a spouse? What about as a parent? What about as an employer? What as a co-worker? What about as a teacher or a coach? Have I ever had someone question my authority as a pastor?

Of course, the answer to this question in all of the scenarios is yes. The good news is that we are in good company. At the end of John 5, we’re going to see that the Jews were questioning Jesus’ authority, and as we have defended ourselves and our position and our authority, Jesus is going to do the same.

In John 5:1-15, Jesus healed a man who had been crippled for 38 years. Instead of celebrating, many questioned Jesus’ authority to do this.

Jesus then began in verse 24 defending Himself by claiming that He was God. He then continued by claiming that He was the giver of life.

In today’s text, Jesus is going to defend Himself by reminding the Jews and us of that testified to witnessed to His authority. He is going to point to God the Father, John the Baptist, His own works or signs, the Holy Scriptures, and the prophet Moses. All pointed to Him and His authority.

Keep in mind that He couldn’t just say, “I have authority” because being a good Jews, He knew what the Old Testament required. See Deuteronomy 17:6 and 19:15.

6 Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.

15 “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.

Jesus acknowledged His understanding and submission to the Old Testament Law in 5:31.

The Testimony of God the Father, John 5:32, 37-38

32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true…37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.

In verse 32, He speaks of another who truthfully and accurately testifies of Him. Jesus is actually talking about God the Father. We know that by the use of the word “another.” Jesus is speaking of “another” of the same kind meaning deity or divinity. God the Father testifies about His Son and testifies truthfully.

Verses 37-38 further expand the Father’s testimony, but these Jews had never heard His voice or seen His form like their ancestors. As a result, they did not have His word abiding in them, and they didn’t believe Him even though He was telling the truth.

You may be wondering when the Father testified about Jesus. Certainly, the entire Old Testament points to Christ, but we explicitly see the Father testifying about the Son at His baptism. See Matthew 3:13-17.

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

We also see God the Father testifying about His Son at the Transfiguration. See Matthew 17:1-5.

1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

God the Father testified about the authority of Jesus.

The Testimony of John the Baptist, John 5:33-35

33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.

Second, Jesus presents the testimony of John the Baptist, the forerunner to Christ. These Jews were so interested and curious about John the Baptist, they sent a delegation to question him back John 1:19, but they didn’t believe him as he testified about the truth of Jesus.

19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

Verse 34 says that Jesus didn’t need John’s testimony, but His critics would have been wise to heed John’s testimony as John said what he said concerning their salvation. See John 1:29-34.

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.” 32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

These Jews did receive and respect John’s witness for a while. However, they did not accept it ultimately.

By the way, notice the past tense in verse 35. He was the burning and shining lamp. John the Baptist was either in prison or could even have been dead already, but he testified about the authority of Jesus.

The Testimony of Miraculous Signs, John 5:36

36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

The third evidence that Jesus gives regarding Himself is the miraculous signs or works that He has performed. Verse 36 says that these works testify to the authenticity of Christ.

Up to this point, John has recorded Jesus turning water into wine: John 2:11.

He healed royal official’s son: John 4:54.

Most recently, in 5:1-15, He healed this crippled man who had been lame for 38 years. These signs or works testified to the watching world that Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah, and they testify to His authority.

The Testimony of the Scriptures, John 5:39-44

39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. 41 “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

In our next six verses, beginning in verse 39, Jesus acknowledged that His critics were faithful students of the Scriptures. However, they have the forest because of the trees. They were so preoccupied with the details of Scripture that they have missed the big picture of Scripture, and that is the fulfillment of Jesus as the Promised Messiah.

As a result, they were missing out on eternal life because they thought the Scriptures gave eternal life rather than Jesus. This is remarkable. The focus of divine revelation is God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and these folks missed it.

They had received others who were false prophets, but because they were unwilling according to verse 40 and prideful according to verse 44, they did not receive the one and only true God. It simply escaped them even being right under their noses.

The Testimony of Moses, John 5:45-47

45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

Finally, in these final three verses, Jesus gave His fifth piece of evidence that testifies about Himself, and that is the testimony of Moses. Moses is second only to the promised Messiah as far as rank and authority in Judaism.

However, Moses testified about Jesus in His writings, and yet, these Jews didn’t believe Him and are now not believing Jesus. See Deuteronomy 18:15-22.

15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, 16 according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’ 17 “And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. 18 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 19 And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

Applications and Conclusions

For the saved person, does Jesus have authority in your life? Is He the authority in your marriage and with your children and with your money and at your Job and in your classroom? If not, would you surrender to Him today?

So how does all of this apply to me this morning? For the lost person, would you believe today after hearing these evidences? Would you believe today while you still have a chance because there will come a day when your chances will be gone. See Luke 16:19-31.

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We began John 5 two Sundays ago, and our focus has been the Lord Jesus. In John 5:1-15, we saw the Jesus was Lord and Master over time. He physically healed a man who had been crippled for 38 years. He also can save a person regardless of how long he or she has been lost, and He can reconcile individuals regardless of how long they have been divided. Jesus is Lord and Master over time.

Last week, we saw that Jesus was united with God. In other words, Jesus declared that He was God, and that reality has consequences. They share the same work and knowledge and power and authority and honor. Consequently, the Jews wanted Jesus dead.

Today, our text tells us that Jesus is the giver of life. He is the giver of spiritual life, and that life is everlasting and exclusive to faith in Christ and evidenced by good works.

Before we look at our text in John 5, I need to remind you why this spiritual life that Jesus gives is important and necessary. It is because apart from spiritual life with Christ, we are dead.

All humans start out spiritually dead. See Psalm 51:5.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me.

All humans start out completely spiritually dead. See Ephesians 2:1-3.

2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

All humans start out completely spiritually dead, and therefore are separated from God. See Romans 3:23.

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Therefore, we are in need of spiritual life.

The spiritual life that Jesus gives is everlasting, 5:24.

24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Verse 24 begins with “most assuredly.” Literally, Jesus said, “Amen, amen!” We might say, “Listen up!”

Jesus said that he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

Who sent Jesus? It was God the Father, and the life God the Father and God the Son give is everlasting life, and if you believe, you miss judgment or death and pass into life.

It is interesting to know that this word “everlasting” is used often in John’s gospel in talking about the spiritual life that Jesus gives. You can find it in John 3:16, 3:36, 4:14, 5:24, 6:27, 6:40, 6:47, and 12:50.

Additionally, it is found in Acts 13:46, Romans 6:22, Galatians 6:8, and 1 Timothy 1:16. What will this eternal life be like? See Revelation 21:4.

4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

However, just like there is such a thing as everlasting life, there is also everlasting death. See Matthew 18:8, 25:41, 25:46, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, and Jude 1:6.

Furthermore, Jesus speaks vividly of this everlasting death in Luke 16:22-31.

19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”

The spiritual life that Jesus gives is exclusive to Him, 5:25-27.

25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.

Notice in today’s text that Jesus the speaks of hearing His word in verse 24 and then again in verse 25. Those that hear the voice of the Son of God will live. In verse 26, the Father has granted the Son to have life in Himself. Verse 28 speaks again of those that hear the Son’s voice, and the Son has been given authority to judge.

This word for judge means to divide or sift or separate, and Jesus’ judgement is right. Why? It is right because it comes from the Father.

Some in our world today want to make us believe that spiritual life can come through morality or genealogy or generosity or ingenuity. However, the Bible is clear. See John 3:16, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, and Romans 5:1.

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The spiritual life that Jesus gives is evidenced by good works, 5:28-30.

28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

In verse 28, Jesus begins looking to the future for a judgment to come, and that judgment will involve resurrections so now we are not only talking about spiritual life but also physical life.

When we think about the future resurrections, I believe the Bible is clear. Without getting too complicated this morning and off in a rabbit hole, I believe that all Believers will be resurrected before Jesus’ 1000-year earthly reign, and the I believe that all non-Believers will be resurrected after Jesus’ 1000-year earthly reign.

Am I being very general this morning? Yes, I am because the point of what Jesus is saying in verse 29 is that there will be two resurrections. They will be distinguished by the lives of those resurrected.

Those who have the spiritual life that Jesus gives to those that believe will live lives of good works, and they will part of the resurrection of life. However, this resurrection is not because of their works but because of their faith in Christ.

On the other hand, those who have not believed in Jesus will have led lives doing evil, and they will experience the resurrection of condemnation.

As to this idea of our works evidencing our faith, Jesus spoke about such in John 15.

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Invitation

I want to close this morning with an invitation for this spiritual life that is everlasting and exclusive with Jesus and evidenced by good works. Look at 5:25.

25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.

The time is now for you to hear the Son of God and live. Don’t put it off until later. This text is full of the present tense, and don’t think that Jesus’ invitation can’t reach you. See Romans 8:1.

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

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The last time we were in John’s gospel was two weeks ago, and we were at the end of chapter 5. Jesus demonstrated that He was Lord over distance by healing the nobleman’s son that He couldn’t see and couldn’t touch but physically healed.

If you remember, the book of John is built around seven (7) signs that Jesus performed so that peopled would believe in Him as the Promised Messiah. Healing the nobleman’s son was the second sign. Again, it showed us that Jesus was Lord and Master over distance.

Do you remember the first sign? Jesus’ first sign in John’s gospel was turning the water to wine at the wedding in Cana. That is found in John 2. What did that sign show us? It showed us that Jesus can bring something from our nothing.

Today, we are back in Jerusalem for the third sign. Keep this question in mind, “Has it been too long for God to act?”

An Unusual Situation, John 5:1-4

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.

The very first words of chapter 5 serve as a time marker and seem to refer to the events of chapter 4. However, in reality, they let us know that John’s gospel is not necessarily laid out chronologically as the other gospels are.

However, we know that Jesus was now on His way back to Jerusalem. John also mentions that there was a feast going on at the time. However, he doesn’t specifically identify it. That lets us know that this story is not tied to the specific feast, but it certainly could have been the Passover.

Notice verse 2. Jesus could have entered the actual city in a myriad of different ways but intentionally chose to go by this pool near the Sheep Gate. What was a sheep gate? It was the gate where the sheep came in before they were sacrificed.

At this gate was a pool. It was called Bethesda, which meant house of mercy. That was an appropriate name as there were many sick who had gathered there hopefully to be healed.

Verse 3 says the sick were there. The blind were there. The lame were there. The paralyzed were there all waiting for the waters to be moved or stirred.

It seems that local superstition credited an angel of the Lord with stirring the waters, and whoever was in the water first after the stirring was healed from whatever disease. We don’t know if this is true, but it appears to be local belief.

In reality, this was probably and intermittent spring. Every so often, the waters were stirred, and legend attributed it to angels that provided healing through the waters.

By the way, if you claim that you want to a little Christ or that you want to be more like Jesus, take note of this story. As I said previously, Jesus could have entered Jerusalem in any way He desired, and He desired to enter where the sick were, and I can assure you, they were not pleasant to see.

Secondly, you will see in just a minute that He spoke to a sick man personally and compassionately. He didn’t preach to him. He didn’t correct his wrong theology. He asked him if he wanted to be made well.

Thirdly, He offered specific help for this specific man. He met the most pressing need that this man had.

Jesus was compassionate and helped those in need. This was an unusual situation.

An Unceasing Sickness, John 5:5-9

5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.

Here at Bethesda was a certain man with an infirmity who had been sick for thirty-eight years. I can’t even imagine that. I have read that the average life-span for first century males in the Roman Empire was less than 40 years. In other words, this man had probably been sick his entire life.

We aren’t told about his sickness other than he couldn’t walk or at least couldn’t walk very fast. Otherwise, we don’t know any more specifics.

In verse 6, Jesus saw this man and knew of his condition, and He inquired as to his desire for healing. We don’t know if Jesus knew of him out of His omniscience or He overheard some people talking about him. Regardless, He make sure that this man recognized his own need.

In verse 7, this man expressed his dire situation. Whenever the waters were stirred, he had no one to help him get in the water. Therefore, his sickness and condition was unceasing for thirty-eight years.

Then out of no where, Jesus gave him three commands in verse 8: rise, take up your bed, and walk.

Can you imagine what that man began to feel as immediately his body was healed? He obeyed and did exactly what Jesus told him to do. He had been completely healed.

Verse 9 ends with a small fact that had massive ramifications. Jesus healed this man on Saturday, the Sabbath. As you are about to see, that was a problem.

An Unreasonable Standard, John 5:10-15

10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” 11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’” 12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” 15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

Don’t you know that the news of this man being healed spread like wild fire? After all, he had been sick for thirty-eight years.

I speculate that he was well-known simply because of how long he had been sick. Consequently, I also speculate that his healing was well-known too.

In verse 10, the Jews began to question this man about carrying his bed or matt. Isn’t it interesting that they didn’t question his healing?

They wanted to know why he was breaking tradition. That’s right. He wasn’t breaking the OT Law. He was breaking oral tradition.

By the way, this is what is known as legalism. When you or I add elevate our personal preferences or personal applications of God’s Word to the same level and authority as God’s Word, we are guilty of legalism. That is what was happening here.

In verse 13, they wanted to know who this healer was. However, the man didn’t know because Jesus didn’t tell him, and Jesus slipped away into the crowd.

These Jews had unreasonable standards of behavior. He wasn’t carrying his bed in an effort to work. He was carrying his pallet out of necessity because he had been healed.

In 5:14-15, we find Jesus and the healed man in the temple. Why was the healed man there? We aren’t told.

However, we do get a small glimpse into the possible reason for his sickness. Jesus appears to tell him to stopping sinning so that nothing worse would happen to him.

By the way, was Jesus linking this man’s sin to his sickness? Is it possible that our sin causes sickness? Well, it is possible. See 1 Corinthians 11:29-30.

29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

However, it is not an absolute. See John 9:1-4.

Also, because this man’s physical healing is a picture of spiritual healing, the Saved shouldn’t be continuing to live in sin. For those who are saved this morning, stop sinning.

Then finally, if this man doesn’t stop sinning, hell is going to be a worse state than his inability to walk. He wasn’t able to walk for 38 years. He would be in hell for eternity.

In 5:15, the man goes away and tells the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

Application and Conclusion

When we think about the main idea of this text and the meaning of this third sign, I want to be clear. Jesus is Lord over time. That is the main idea of this text. There are certainly many truths this story teaches and addresses, but the main idea is singular.

First, and obviously, Jesus is Lord over time, and God can heal you physically today regardless of how long you have been sick. My encouragement to you is ask or pray.

Second, this story symbolizes more than physical healing. It points to spiritually healing as well. Jesus is Lord over time, and God can heal you spiritually today regardless of how long you have been lost. My encouragement to you is to believe. Believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior after you recognize your need to be saved.

Finally, and perhaps more appropriately for many in the room, Jesus is Lord over time, and God can heal you emotionally today regardless of how long you have been hurt. My encouragement to you is to forgive.

Regardless of whether you are sick, lost, or hurt, Jesus is Lord over time, and it hasn’t been too long for God to act. Today, He can heal. Today, He can save. Today, He can restore.

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If you have your Bibles or your smart device this morning, I invite you to turn to Luke 24. Unlike Jesus’ birth, all four gospels give an account of His resurrection, and while I wouldn’t say one is better than the other, we are giving our attention this morning to Dr. Luke’s account.

In this last chapter of Luke’s gospel, it focuses exclusively on Resurrection Day. However, it can be easily divided into three scenes that are noted by three different times during that day: the morning, the afternoon, and the evening.

The Miracle in the Morning, Luke 24:1-12

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’” 8 And they remembered His words. 9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

A group of women made their way to the tomb early in Sunday morning to anoint His body with spices to combat the odor that they expected to find because they thought He was still dead. According to verse 10, these women included Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James. This would have been Jesus’ aunt.

They were also accompanied by other women. However, they are left unnamed.

When they arrived, the stone had been rolled away. Matthew’s gospel tells us that there had been a localized earthquake that had dislodged the stone, and an angel rolled it away. However, keep in mind that Jesus was already resurrected meaning that the stone was not rolled away to let Jesus out but to allow the witness to come inside and see.

Verse 3 tells us what they found. Jesus was not there even though they were fully expecting to find Him there.

Verse 4 introduces two angels. Of course they were majestic in appearance, and the women responded accordingly in verse 5.

The angels then asked the women why they were looking for the living among the dead. They also reminded them of what Jesus had prophesied, and they made this historical declaration, “He is not here, but is risen!”

Jesus had told them this was going to happen. However, they couldn’t wrap their minds around what they had a hard time believing.

By the way, did Jesus tell them this in advance. Yes, He did on multiple occasions.

The women then left the tomb and returned to tell the men what they found. As you know, they didn’t believe them, and Peter had to see for himself as described in verse 12.

All three of our scenes this morning offer an invitation for you. You may be here, and you’re doubting the supernatural of the resurrection. I invite you this morning to believe that Jesus was literally resurrected from the grave never to die again.

In these twelve verses alone, we have multiple proofs. The first is obviously the empty tomb. The second is Sunday worship. The third is fulfilled prophecy. The fourth is female testimony. The fifth is changed lives. This Peter, who had denied Christ previously, preached in Acts, and thousands were saved by repenting and believing in Jesus.

The Appearances in the Afternoon, Luke 24:13-29

13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” 18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. 28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.

Beginning in verse 13, we see what is often called the road to Emmaus and the first of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances on Sunday afternoon. Verses 13-18 speak of these two eye-witnesses, and one of them was named Cleopas. Perhaps it was he and his wife.

However, initially, they didn’t recognize Jesus because God didn’t allow it. That is what verse 16 says.

Jesus asked them why they were sad. Obviously, they were still under the impression that Jesus was dead. They had heard the report of the women and even saw the empty tomb, but they hadn’t seen Jesus alive.

While still not recognizing them, Cleopas asked how Jesus had not heard of His awful death. Evidently, it was common knowledge in Jerusalem since it happened.

Verse 21 tells us that these earliest disciples were hoping Jesus would empower an immediate and earthly kingdom. Even after Jesus explains how the Old Testament had prophesied all that had happened, they still didn’t recognize Him.

However, they wanted to hear more and kept Jesus from moving on. Verse 29 says that Jesus stayed with them for a while.

The afternoon appearances invite you to experience the resurrected Christ. Don’t just believe that the tomb is empty and Jesus is alive. Put your faith and trust in Him as Lord and Savior of your life.

All of God’s word is true. The resurrection confirms this truth, and I invite you to be saved this morning by admitting that you are sinner, believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, and call on Him to save you.

Encouragement in the Evening, Luke 24:30-53

30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. 36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” 40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence. 44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” 50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

It is now evening, and Jesus sat down with this group of disciples and shared a meal with them. Evidently, this triggered memories of Thursday night or even of Him feeding the thousands. Verse 31 said they knew Him, but He then vanished.

In a mysterious way, Jesus resurrected body could be seen and heard, and He could eat. However, He could also defy time and space limitations and move at will.

Because of what they had seen and heard, they had to tell others. Therefore, they went back to Jerusalem from Emmaus and told the other disciples that they had witnessed the resurrected Christ.

In verse 36, Jesus then joined them in Jerusalem. In order to calm them and prove that it was really Him, because they were scared, Jesus offered for them to touch Him and feel Him. He then asked them for some food, and He ate fish in their presence.

Beginning in verse 44, Jesus encouraged them in the evening with these three truths. First, the Bible is true, and you can trust it. All of what is happening has been prophesied and is being fulfilled.

Second, the gospel is sufficient, and the gospel is clear. Jesus died because we are sinners, but He was raised and offers eternal life to all who believe. That is our message.

Third, the Church is Plan A to evangelize the world. In verse 48, we are witness to these things, and this is the message to share with the world. Furthermore, you will have the Promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, to empower you for the task.

This encouragement in the evening gives our last invitation to do our job, to fulfill our responsibility. The isn’t a better way to evangelize the world. There isn’t another way. Brothers and sisters, we are God’s predestined way. Now, let us be found faithful.

Conclusion

Sunday and chapter 24 and Luke’s gospel end with Jesus ascending and His followers worshipping and praising God. May we be found faithful in doing the same.

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This morning, if you have your Bibles, please turn to the John 4:43 as we finish this chapter looking at Jesus moving from Sychar in Samaria north to Cana in Galilee. You can locate these places on one of the maps in the back of your Bible.

Remember, the last time Jesus was in Cana, He helped a young, newly-wed couple avoid social catastrophe by turning water into wine when the wine had run out at their wedding reception. He left this area and went to Jerusalem, and then while traveling back, He stopped in Sychar in Samaria before coming to Cana of Galilee.

I want to share a sermon with you this morning from John 4:43-54. It is entitled, “The Giver and Gift of Life.”

Notice in verse 43 John’s editorial comments specifically about Jesus, the Samaritans, and the Galileans. Jesus spent two days in Sychar. That fact corresponds with 4:40.

40 So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.

He then left and was on His way to Galilee, which is north.

In verse 44, John repeated something that Jesus had said. Jesus knew that a prophet was without honor in his own country. Jesus’ home town was Nazareth of Galilee, and it was there that He had some of His greatest challenges, and John’s inclusion of this proverb foreshadows some experiences to come.

BTW, I can testify to this reality as well. Some of my greatest challenges in my ministry have come from my family members. Sometimes, they are some of least receptive of me.

At the same time, can I encourage not to take for granted your family of believers if that is true of you. So many families are divided spiritually, and I am so thankful that my immediate family is not. However, many are, and their lives are a living hell every day and every weekend and every holiday. Don’t take your believing family for granted.

The oddity of this verse is its placement. Why would this verse be placed between two verses that speak of Jesus returning to Cana? Why would this proverb seem to be speaking of Cana?

That truth is that Jesus was well aware of how He would be treated, but He also knew that some in Galilee would receive Him and believe in Him. Therefore, He went.

When Jesus arrived in Cana, He did receive a favorable welcome, but it was superficial. The Galileans were hoping that He would perform some signs and miracles as He did in Jerusalem. They were attracted to Him for the show not as their Savior.

Desperation for a Son, John 4:46-49

46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” 49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”

In 4:46, we see that when Jesus came back to Cana, He was met there by a nobleman, or your translation may say “royal official.” This man was probably an official in King Herod’s court, and he had a son who was sick about 15-20 miles away to the east in Capernaum.

Evidently, he had heard about Jesus and His miracles and was desperate for Jesus to heal his son. You can be sure that because of this man’s position, he had significant financial resources. However, those must have been exhausted, and his son was in dire straits as he came to Jesus.

The end of 4:47 says that he came to Jesus imploring Him to come down to Capernaum and heal his son. He was close to dying.

That word “implore” is translated in other versions as begged. He begged and pleaded over and over again for Jesus to come and heal his son. The wording of the original language also indicates that he followed Jesus around begging and pleading for help. Otherwise, he would die.

BTW, as this boy was on the verge of death and doctor’s had done all they could do, Jesus turned to Jesus. Medicine could do more. Therefore, this man went to Jesus and implored Him, begged Him, pleaded with Him over and over again to make his son well.

Is this how you pray? Isn’t that how we should pray? See Luke 18:1-8.

1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” 6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

At first glance, Jesus’ response in 4:48 seems harsh, but understand that Jesus was making a point to all of the Galileans who had gathered. Jesus wanted the people to believe without having to see a miracle.

Then in 4:49, the royal official pleaded with Jesus again to come down to Capernaum and heal his son before he dies. Down is a reference to elevation not direction.

An Illustration of the Supernatural, John 4:50-51

50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”

In verse 50, we find Jesus’ unusual response. Rather than obliging the official and going to Capernaum, Jesus simply and calmly said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.”

According to the text, that is the end of this conversation. Jesus doesn’t say anymore. The official doesn’t argue with Him or debate what Jesus said. Verse 50 just says that he believed what Jesus said and started off on the journey home.

In verse 51, as this man was on his way back to Capernaum, he was met by one of his slaves saying that his son was living.

BTW, Don’t miss the fact that this miracle was accomplished when Jesus spoke. He didn’t have to touch or even physically see this boy. Because He is God and all-powerful or omnipotent, Jesus spoke, and this boy lived even though he was some 15 miles away.

Confirmation of Salvation, John 4:52-54

52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household. 54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

In verse 52, after hearing from his servants that his son had been healed and was alive, the father asked his slave at what time did this take place. The servant responded that his son’s fever left him at the seventh hour or 1 PM, and the father knew that it was the same time that Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.”

When the father put two and two together, he believed in Jesus as Lord and Savior as well as his entire household. Earlier, he had believed what Jesus said. Here, he believed in Jesus for salvation.

BTW, There are no coincidences in your life. There is no such thing as chance or luck. God is completely sovereign or in control of the smallest atom of the universe and every detail of your life.

When Jesus spoke, this son was healed. His fever left him, and he was no longer close to death.

John concluded this chapter by telling the readers that this was the second sign that Jesus performed. The first was turning the water into wine.

Conclusion

First, Jesus is the giver of life. Jesus gave live to this son.

Consequently, if Jesus is the giver of life, stuff is not the giver of life. The story of the rich young ruler teaches us that.

Sex is not the giver of life. The story of the woman at the well teaches us that.

Sports is not the giver of life. Kids all over our country, all over our state and this county and even in this church are being sacrificed to the idol of youth sports.

Parents, when your children leave your house, they are going to have lots of medals and rings and team pictures. However, they are going to be spiritually dead because you allowed them to think and even supported the idea that youth sports is a greater priority that Jesus and His bride.

Second, not only is Jesus the giver of life, He gives the gift of life. Notice a statement that is found three times in this story. It is “your son lives.”

Why did this son live? He lived because Jesus gave him the gift of life. Yes, Jesus healed in physically. However, that truth serves to point us to a greater truth, and that is that Jesus heals spiritually.

Jesus wants to give you the gift of abundant life. See John 10:10.

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Jesus wants to give you the gift of eternal life. See John 11:25-26.

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Finally, do you believe Jesus? Like the royal official, we need to believe the words of Jesus without argument and even without evidence or proof.

This man had two options when Jesus told him to go because his son lives. He could either not believe Jesus and allow his son to die or he could trust Jesus and return without any proof that Jesus was telling the truth.

When Jesus said He was the only way and the only truth and the only life, we need to believe Him call on Him to save us. Will you do that this morning?

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In John 4, Jesus was going to Galilee from Judea, and He had to go through Samaria. Because of the Jews hatred for Samaria, we know that Jesus had to do this because He knew of the divine appointment that awaited Him.

Going against so many religious and social norms of the day, Jesus began a conversation with an immoral, Samaritan woman in public and in broad daylight. Why? Because she was lost and in need of personal and saving relationship with the Savior of the world.

On this day, this immoral Samaritan woman believed in Jesus and share her experience with the men in her city of Sychar. Consequently, I want to share a message with you this morning entitled, “A Picture of Biblical Evangelism.”

The word “evangelism” means sharing or communicating or verbally telling the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. Certainly, the integrity of the messenger is very important. However, don’t misunderstand this point. Evangelism is verbally sharing the gospel.

What is the gospel? The gospel starts with the fact that we, humanity, are sinners, and our sin separates us from a Holy God.

Romans 3:23, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

However, the good news is that Jesus loved us so much that He died on the cross in our place and for our sins.

Romans 5:8, 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21, 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Finally, from cover to cover, the Bible offers sinners an invitation to call on the risen Savior, Jesus Christ, to save us, and when we do, He does.

Romans 10:13, 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

This is true for male and female, young and old, black and white, Jew and Gentile, religious and immoral, and every other person on the planet.

In today’s brief text, I want you to see this picture of biblical evangelism. It is a picture that I pray is true EBC.

Biblical Evangelism can be practiced with words from the Saved, 4:39.

39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.”

Verse 39 says that many of the Samaritans of Sychar believed in Jesus because of the words or the testimony of the Samaritan woman. Go back to 4:28-30.

28 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, 29 “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” 30 Then they went out of the city and came to Him.

Keep in mind that this woman hadn’t been to seminary. She hadn’t taken any evangelism classes. She hadn’t had time to clean up her life. She simply went to the people she knew and told them of her personal encounter with Jesus. In other words, she verbally shared her story or her testimony.

Do you remember our sermon series called, “Every Believer a Witness?” What did we work on for several Sundays in this room and at this time? We worked on our salvation testimony.

Do you remember it had three parts? It began with my life before Christ. The second part was how I met Christ including the gospel. The third part was my life after meeting Christ.

Was that some cute trick that I brought to you from a pastor in North Carolina named Dennis Nunn? No, that is what Paul did in Acts 26:1-23.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.”

1 So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: 2 “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, 3 especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently. 4 “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. 5 They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. 7 To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. 8 Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead? 9 “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

12 “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. 21 For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— 23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

Consider that model for your own salvation testimony: my life before Christ, how I met Christ, and my life since or after I met Christ. Here is mine.

Who in your circle, where God put you, needs to hear your story, your salvation testimony? This woman cared enough about the salvation of her neighbors that she left her water pot behind and went to tell them of her encounter with Jesus.

Biblical evangelism can be practice with words from the saved!

Biblical Evangelism can be practiced with words from the Savior, 4:40-41.

40 So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of His own word.

These men that she shared her testimony with came to meet Jesus personally. They then invited Jesus to spend some time with them over the course of two days.

Consequently, they were even more Samaritans who were saved after hearing the words of the Savior. I want to commend to you this morning not only the resource of your personal testimony but also the resource of gospel tracts because these gospel tracts contain God’s words or the Savior’s words.

These tracts that we provide for you all carry the same title, “Steps to Peace with God.” They were all written by Billy Graham. We have them English and Spanish and for adults and for children.

Carry them in your purse and car. Leave them at the restaurant and the doctor’s office. Share them with friends and strangers.

Biblical Evangelism CANNOT be practice with Jesus the Savior, 4:42.

42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

The word “Savior” is only used one time in all of John’s gospel, and it used by the Samaritans. That is interesting because we would think it would be the disciples who say this.

However, it was the Samaritans who remind us that Jesus is the Savior and the only Savior of the entire world. There is no other Savior and no other way to be saved apart from believing in Jesus and Lord and Savior.

Conclusion

I conclude this morning with words of Jesus from John 4:35.

35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

Now is the time to put aside man’s prejudice and misplaced priorities and consistent procrastination. Now is the time to share your personal testimony and gospel tracts with God’s word with lost family and friends who need to know that God loves them.

Now is the time for Emory Baptist Church to make sure that we are a picture of biblical evangelism.

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If you have Bibles this morning, I want you to find John 4:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Our Impartial God.”

Today, we make a transition. We are transitioning from John 3 to John 4. However, we are also transitioning from the old of John the Baptist to the new of Jesus the Christ.

Today’s text has so much truth and application. However, time will not permit me to cover it all. Therefore, please join me on Wednesday, March 9, at 6:30 PM for us to dig deeper during our Wednesday Worship. We will talk about the nature of Christ, personal evangelism, and the worship that God desires.

Exposition

In verses 1-3, John tells us that the Lord Jesus became aware of the Pharisees’ knowledge of His growing popularity. As a result, Jesus left Jerusalem and Judea. He didn’t want to involve Himself with any more conflict at this time.

By the way, notice verse 2. John tells us that even though Jesus’ disciples baptized for Him, Jesus didn’t baptize anyone personally. I don’t know why for certain. However, what this tells me is that baptism can’t save. Otherwise, what kind of Savior would Jesus be if He didn’t practice the act that saves?

In verse 4, we see that Jesus needed to go through Samaria to get to Galilee. The interesting point about this statement is that no respectable Jew took this route. Almost all, if not all, Jews went around Samaria to avoid it. The hatred that Jews had for Samaritans then perhaps could be compared to the hatred that some Americans have had for blacks through the years and even today.

However, Jesus needed to go through Samaria. Why? He knew of a divine appointment waiting for Him.

Verse 5 says that He came a well in Sychar. It was known as Jacob’s well that he had given to his son, Joseph, as referenced back in Genesis 48:21-22.

21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”

In verse 6, we see that Jesus took a break there and sat down at the well. He is a great example of Jesus’ humanity as John tells us that Jesus was tired from the trip.

Perhaps one of the reasons for Jesus’ fatigue is what John tells us next. It was about the sixth hour. That meant the sixth hour from sun up or 6 AM. In other words, it was high noon. The sun was surely straight overhead and shining brightly.

In verse 7, we meet a Samaritan woman. She came to well to draw water. Ironically, she was alone, and that seems to be because no one wanted to be around her.

Other women would have come first thing in the morning to beat the heat. They also would have come in a group for protection.

However, she is alone, and Jesus asked her for a drink because Jesus was also alone. His disciples had gone into town to get some food for lunch.

Her response was one of disbelief and sarcasm. In her experience, Jews only talked to Samaritans when they wanted something in return. Furthermore, for a male to being speaking to a female in public who was not his wife was unheard of.

In verse 10, Jesus begins a veiled and cryptic gospel conversation as He introduced living water. The woman didn’t understand and asked Him to explain further.

In verses 13-14, Jesus said that living water would quench thirst immediately and satisfy her eternally. Of course, He was speaking of her spiritual thirst. In verse 15, she asked Jesus for this water.

In verses 16-18, you might think that Jesus changed the subject. In reality, He did not because her belief and our belief drive our behavior.

Because this woman had never drunk living water and been satisfied by the one true and living God, she sought satisfaction in men. Jesus told her to go and get her husband.

She responded that she didn’t have a husband, and she was right. She had been in at least five relationships and was now in a sixth, but she wasn’t married to the man she was living with.

By the way, the act of divorce and the act of fornication immoral. They were both immoral and sin here in John 4, and they are still immoral and sin today. God’s plan for couples is one man married to one woman for one lifetime.

Because Jesus knew the intimate details of this woman’s life, she realized He was different. In fact, she began to understand that He was a man of God so she began to talk about worship.

However, her worship was misplaced in its object and practice. Jesus told her that a time was coming when worshippers of the true and living God would recognize the true object and worship, and that worship cannot be confined to particular location.

In verse 22, because Jesus was a Jew, salvation came from the Jews and would be realized by more and more after His resurrection and with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

In verse 25, this Samaritan woman acknowledged at least some understanding of her need and promise of a coming Messiah. Undoubtedly, Jesus blew her mind by revealing that He was the Christ!

Conclusion

As I said previously, this story touches so many topics and has so much truth and application related to the nature of Jesus and personal evangelism and worship. However, what is its one main point?

Jesus, God’s Son, and therefore, God, is completely impartial. In other words, He is never prejudice and never plays favorites.

How do we know? We have to remember John 3 as we think about John 4.

Nicodemus

Samaritan Woman

Place

Jerusalem

Sychar

Time

Night

Noon

Occasion

Planned

By Chance

Initiator

Nicodemus

Jesus

Ethnicity

Jew

Samaritan

Gender

Male

Female

Public Perception

Religious Teacher

Immoral Outcast

The point is that Jesus is the Savior of the world because God is impartial. He offers to save whomever will believe in His Son.

Deuteronomy 10:17

2 Chronicles 19:7

Acts 10:34

Romans 2:11

Romans 10:12

Galatians 2:6

Galatians 3:28

Ephesians 6:9

Application

So if Jesus is Savior of the world, and saving the world and ministering to the world is the heartbeat of God, then we had better love and welcome anyone that God brings through those doors and into Rains County. And if we won’t, if you won’t, you might want to find another church.

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If I were to ask you this morning who is the greatest person to ever live, who would you say and why?

Do you know how Jesus would answer this question? He wouldn’t say Abraham or Jacob or Joseph or Moses or David or Isaiah or Daniel or Peter or Paul. He would say John the Baptist. See Luke 7:28.

28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Ironically, John went down to be great. Normally, we think of up as great, but again, John went down, and Jesus called him the greatest man to ever live.

In today’s text, John 3:22-36, we are going to see the last of John the Baptist as far as the gospel of John goes. He is going to go down or descend and at the same time go up.

Today’s text is a transition from John the Baptist to Jesus the Christ, and it is also a transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. My message this morning is entitled, “Descending Into Greatness.”

Jesus and John were Similar, John 3:22-24.

22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. 24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison.

Verse 22 begins with Jesus and His disciples, and John enters the picture in verse 23. In these three verses, we see three similarities between Jesus and John.

First of all, both had disciples. 3:22 mentions Jesus and His disciples coming into the land of Judea, and 3:25 reminds us that John had his own disciples as well.

Second, Jesus and John also both went about preaching. Turn to Matthew’s gospel to see this explicitly. See Matthew 3:1-2 and 4:17.

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 3:1-2 says that John preached a message of repentance, and Matthew 4:17 says that Jesus preached a message of repentance.

Thirdly, Jesus and John both baptized. Jesus and His disciples were baptizing in 3:22, and John was baptizing in Aenon where there was a lot of water.

By the way, some have argued that immersion could not have been the prescribed mode of baptism in the New Testament because there would not have been enough water to baptize all those people in a desert and extremely hot environment. John 3:23 seems to say otherwise.

Again, Jesus and John were similar!

However, John was Subordinate, John 3:25-31.

25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” 27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

In verse 25, we are introduced to a discussion that probably arose due in part to the jealousy of John’s disciples. We don’t know all of the details about this discussion or argument. We simply know it was about purification, and this is probably about whose baptism was better, John’s or Jesus’?

Therefore, they came to John with their complaint. Essentially they said that Jesus was gaining in popularity, and more people were going to Him to be baptized than John.

Needless to say, John’s disciples didn’t like that. However, John answered them with a great observation. He said in verse 27 that no minister prospers without the blessing of God. You can rest assure that all is well because the hand of God is on Jesus.

In 3:28, we see three reasons why John was subordinate to Jesus. First of all, John was the forerunner. He says plainly and clearly in this verse that he was not the Christ. He was the one sent before Him. He was the forerunner.

Secondly, John was the friend. He uses a wedding analogy to explain the relationship between himself and Jesus. Jesus is the bridegroom. John is the friend or the best man. All the best man wants to do is make the groom look good. Doing that gave John a heart full of joy.

Thirdly, John was from earth. In 3:31, John said that Jesus was from above, but he is of the earth and speaks earthly things. On the other hand, Jesus is from heaven and is above all.

Again, John is subordinate because he is the forerunner, a friend, and from earth.

Jesus is Superior, John 3:31-36.

31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Yes, Jesus and John were similar. However, John was subordinate, and Jesus is superior.

Even though there is some debate about whether verses 31-36 were the words of John the Baptist or John the Apostle, the content is still the same. Jesus is superior.

Why? First, He is superior because He is from heaven in verse 31. Second, He is greater because He is divine. Being the second person of the Trinity, He has the experience of God and testifies to such in verse 32. Third, He is greater because He speaks on behalf of God and has the fullest measure of the Holy Spirit in verse 34. Finally, He is greater because God loves Him and has given Him all things in verse 35.

Application/Conclusion

So Jesus and John are similar, but John is subordinate, and Jesus is superior. So what?

First, if you claim to be a follower of Christ but haven’t been baptized, I would encourage you to do it. John baptized. Jesus was baptized and baptized, and it is their baptisms that point to Christian baptism by immersion that pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

Second, there is a call here for Christians to model humility. Because we are naturally self-centered people, it is easy for us to get jealous and resentful and bitter when those around us are succeeding but we aren’t. This happens at work and in the neighborhood with houses and cars. It can even happen with hunting and who killed the biggest buck and golfing and who shot the lowest score.

However, John the Baptist sets for us an incredible example of humility. When his disciples came to him and expressed their frustration with Jesus’ growing popularity, what did John say? He ultimately responded with the utmost humility and said in 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John was grateful and thankful and overjoyed with the success of Jesus’ ministry.

We also as followers of Christ are to model humility, and humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. See Philippians 2:3-4.

Finally, there is a call here for the non-Christian to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Because Jesus is superior, He is also Savior and offers eternal life to all who believe in Him.

If you believe in Him as a follower or disciple of Christ, you currently and will have eternal life in heaven and forgiveness of sins. However, if you do not believe and do not obey and do not receive Him, the wrath of God abides on you now and will abide on you in a literal, Christless hell separated from God.

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Last Sunday morning, we heard Jesus explain further what it meant to be born again because without being born again, a person cannot see and enter the Kingdom of heaven. Nicodemus’ role in that life-changing experience was faith or belief in Jesus as the Savior of the world, and that is our role as well. When we believe in Jesus, we will not perish but have eternal life.

Beginning in verse 17, Jesus clarified why He came to earth. He stated it negatively and then positively. By the way, Jesus coming to earth is called His incarnation.

Jesus’ Incarnation and Its Results, 3:17-19a

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world

God did not Jesus into the world to condemn or judge the world. That was not his primary purpose in coming. Instead, God sent Jesus to save the world.

God’s reason for sending Jesus implies what? It implies that we need saving, and we do because we are sinners, and our sin has separated us from God.

However, not everyone will be saved because everyone won’t believe. Consequently, when a person doesn’t believe in Jesus or rejects Jesus, that person is condemned. Why?

Jesus was incarnated to save, but with His incarnation came condemnation and judgement because there is only way to be saved. There is only one way to have eternal life. There is only one way to be at peace with God the Father, and that is through believing in God the Son, who is also the light of verse 19.

Again, when Jesus came in to the world, He revealed God’s standard of righteousness, which was sinless perfection. See Matthew 5:48.

48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Man’s Condemnation because of His Rebellion, 3:19b-20

and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

Naturally, humanity loathes the Light because the Light exposes the darkness and sinfulness of our deeds. Jesus’ sinless perfection exposes our sin.

When I was a teenager and could drive, my curfew was midnight. That was true even when I was a senior in high school. I argued and griped and complained about that until I was blue in the face, but my mother would never budge. Why? I can hear her saying it now, “Nothing good happens after midnight!”

Isn’t that true? When is evil most rampant? It is when the sun goes down.

Ever since Genesis 3:6, man has loved sin and darkness, and Paul reminds us of this truth as well. See Genesis 3:6-8 and Ephesians 5:1-14.

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

The Christian’s Manifestation of Righteousness, 3:21

21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Even though humanity naturally loathes the Light, Christians love the Light. Christians practice truth and come to the Light so that our deeds can be manifested or shown and identified as from God and therefore, righteous.

However, when we do sin, and we will confess and acknowledge our sin and repent of it. Lost people loathe the Light. Christians love the Light. See 2 Samuel 12:1-13 and Psalm 51. See 1 John 1:5-10.

1 Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. 3 But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. 4 And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! 6 And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.” 7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! 9 Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. 10 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’” 13 So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

1 Have mercy upon me, O God,

According to Your lovingkindness;

According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,

Blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,

And my sin is always before me.

4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,

And done this evil in Your sight—

That You may be found just when You speak,

And blameless when You judge.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me.

6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,

And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me hear joy and gladness,

That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

9 Hide Your face from my sins,

And blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

And sinners shall be converted to You.

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Conclusion

This morning’s invitation is going to be a little different. If you have never been born again, I invite you today to believe in Jesus and call upon Him to save you.

If you are saved but living in sin and the deeds of darkness, I am inviting you to repent. See Galatians 5:19-21.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

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In the NKJV, it is 25 words.
The German Reformer Martin Luther called it, “the Gospel in miniature.”
The 19th Century American Evangelist DL Moody said this verse brought him to an understanding of God’s love.
SB NT Scholar AT Robertson called it, “the little Gospel.”
SB Statesman Herschel Hobbs called it, “the Gospel in superlatives.”

For years and years as a little boy, I saw its reference on televised professional football games at every extra point attempt and every field goal try. This morning, I want to remind you of the most famous verse in the Bible: John 3:16.

Consequently, I believe it is the most famous verse in the Bible because it speaks of God’s heart.

The Motivation of God’s Heart: His Love

16 For God so loved the world

Remember the context of this verse. Jesus was conversing with Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of Jews who came to Jesus at night time. He knew Jesus was different and even recognized Him as being from God because of the signs or miracles He had done. Jesus informed Nicodemus that in order to know or see the kingdom of God, one must be born again.

Jesus went on to tell Nicodemus about being born of water and the Spirit. I suggested to you that this could be a reference to the single act of faith and repentance that leads to salvation.

Nicodemus was an intelligent man, but he didn’t quite understand being born again. So he asked how to be born again, how to be born of the Spirit, and Jesus gave him the answer in John 3:16.

Verse 16 begins with God. It is the God of creation. He is the eternal sovereign, and for His children, He is their heavenly Father.

We then see what God did. He so loved. The word in the language NT is the word agape. It means a perfect and complete love that considers others before it considers self. It is an unconditional love.

It is not hard to believe God’s love because His word says that is who He is. See 1 John 4:8.

8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Then notice the object of God’s love. It is the world. Here is the word kosmos. It means everything and all things. When Christ died on the cross, it provided the possible redemption for the entire world either soon or later.

Now please don’t let anyone ever tell that you God only loves His elect or that God only loves the church. He loves the world. See 1 John 2:2.

2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Jesus’ words probably would have caught Nicodemus off guard. He knew that God loved Israel as seen clearly from the OT. However, what Jesus is saying here is that not only does God love Israel, but He also loves Gentiles. He loves the entire world’s population, which is over 7 billion people.

You could line up every human being alive today, and I believe that God would say I love you to each one of them. God loves both Jew and Gentile. He loves both male and female. He loves both black and white. He loves both Republican and Democrat. He loves both blue-collar and white-collar. He loves both Aggies and Longhorns.

Furthermore, He loves every sinner. He loves every racist and every adulterer and every liar and every thief and every homosexual and every murderer and every rapist and every child molester and every addict and every alcoholic. God loves every person who has ever lived because every person who has ever lived was created in the image of God. Love is the motivation of God’s heart.

The Demonstration of God’s Love: His Son

that He gave His only begotten Son

How did God demonstrate or illustrate or prove His love? He gave. He gave freely. He gave with no strings attached. He gave knowing what would happen.

What did He give? He gave His only begotten and unique Son. He didn’t have another Son. He had only one Son.

This Son was unique in that He was fully divine. Even though born in a feeding trough for cows, He was born fully God.

Jesus described Himself in this verse using the word “monogene.” Mono means one. Gene is seed. There is only one seed like this. There are no others.

You have heard the cliché that the proof is in the pudding. That has actually been shortened from the proof of the pudding is in the tasting.

In other words, you know if the pudding is good by tasting it. You know that God loves you when you read or remember John 3:16. He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross and in your place and for your sins.

The Invitation to Receive God’s Gift: To Believe

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

God invites us to receive His love, but He will not force us. God gives us an option. We can receive this gift, or we can reject this gift.

What would it mean to receive it? Remember, it is a gift. Therefore, it can’t be earned.

To receive it means to believe in Jesus. However, it is not merely mental ascent. To believe means to trust in, to cling to, and to rely on Jesus.

On the other hand, to reject Him is to say no thanks. However, you are also rejecting Him if you do nothing at all.

On occasion, it may be appropriate to be a something, such as apolitical. However, you cannot be asalvation or aeternallife because that is not an option.

Conclusion

Today, if you are within the sound of my voice in this room, internet, or CD, John 3:16 is a note from God, and it says, “I love you.”

Will you respond today by receiving God’s gift of eternal life?

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If you were to take a survey of your office or your neighborhood or your class or your friend group and asked the following question, “What do you think it takes for a person to go to heaven,” there is one answer that more than likely would be the most popular.

That answer is, “Be a good person and don’t hurt anybody else.” While that sounds good initially, it is contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ as revealed in New Testament, specifically the gospels.

Jesus answered that question in today’s text, and His answer is, “You must be born again.” His answer will also serve as the tittle of my sermon this morning, “You must be born again.”

Exposition

Remember from last Sunday that Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover. According to the final verses of chapter 2, while He was there, He performed some signs or miracles. Consequently, there were some folks that made an initial decision to follow Him because of what they saw.

In verse 1, a man named Nicodemus came to meet Jesus at night. 3:1 says he was a man of the Pharisees. They were Jewish Religious Leaders that were expert students and then teachers of the Old Testament Law.

Also, he was a ruler of the Jews. In other words, he was a member of the Sanhedrin. This was the Jewish “supreme court” that governed religion matters and civil matters.

Why did Nicodemus come by night? Some say that he was afraid to be seen with Jesus. Other say the darkness symbolizes Nicodemus’ heart.

However, it is probably simplest to understand that he wanted to talk to Jesus uninterrupted without the crowds. Nighttime was also seen as the time to study the Scriptures and talk theology after work had been finished.

In verse 2, we see that Nicodemus did have some experience with Jesus. Perhaps he had heard about Him or may have even seen Him do a miracle because he talked about that being evidence that Jesus was from God.

Nicodemus knew enough to know that the average person couldn’t do what Jesus had done. Jesus’ power and supernatural ability had to come from God.

In verse 3, Jesus responded to Nicodemus’ statement with one of His own. He said that unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God.

Born again is the idea of regeneration. It means to come to life again.

Why would Jesus say this? He knew the condition of Nicodemus’ heart. The story of Nicodemus actually began back at the end of chapter 2. It seems that he was one of those that initially believed because of what he saw Jesus do. Remember, that didn’t go over well with Jesus.

Nicodemus, like most Jews, thought that participation in God’s kingdom was reserved for the Jews. However, Jesus made the requirement not one of race or ethnicity but of being born again.

At that time, Nicodemus had not been born again and was not a part of God’s kingdom. This was shocking to him.

What does it mean to be born again? Nicodemus wondered the same question in 3:4. He seems to sarcastically ask if a man could enter his mother’s womb a second time. I don’t think Nicodemus was stupid, but he was confused as to what Jesus meant.

In 3:5, Jesus explained. He said a man must be born of water and the Spirit. Now what does this mean? Let’s begin with what this doesn’t mean. There have been those who had said this verse teaches baptismal regeneration or being saved through the physical act of baptism. This verse cannot mean that because that would contrary to the rest of the New Testament.

Another option could be that Jesus was referencing to physical birth. Nicodemus mentioned a woman’s womb. Jesus is talking about flesh in 3:6. He might be saying that a person had to be physically born when a woman’s water breaks and then born again by the Spirit or born from above to enter heaven.

However, I have come to believe that Jesus may also be meaning water to represent repentance. Nicodemus would have been familiar with John the Baptist and his message. His baptism was one that demonstrated repentance, and we know that the Bible teaches that act of faith and repentance is necessary for salvation.

Therefore, Jesus could be saying that a person must repent and be born of the Spirit. Regardless, He says you must be born again or you cannot enter the kingdom of God.

In verses 6-8, we find out more truths about being born again. First of all, it is essential for salvation. Jesus said you must do it. You cannot be saved or enter the kingdom of God or go to heaven without being born again.

Secondly, notice that it is personal. This entire dialogue is with a single person, Nicodemus. However, in 3:7, when Jesus said you must be born again, you is plural. It applies to everyone.

Lastly, it is mysterious. In 3:8, Jesus compared the act of regeneration to the wind. You can hear the sound of the wind and the see the effects of the wind, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going.

Likewise, you can see the effects of being born again, but you don’t know how it happens, and can’t see it happen. It is mysterious. This is regeneration by the Spirit.

In 3:9, Nicodemus still couldn’t understand the idea of regeneration or being born again and asked, “How can these things be?” Therefore, Jesus explained further.

In 3:10, He questioned Nicodemus’ experience. He was a prominent teacher for the Jews. Jesus insinuated that he should have known if he knew the Scriptures. Perhaps, He had Ezekiel 36:25-27 or Joel 2:28-29 in mind.

25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

28 “And it shall come to pass afterward

That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your old men shall dream dreams,

Your young men shall see visions.

29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

In 3:11, Jesus was at least including His disciples but also maybe the Godhead. Nicodemus represented the nation of Israel. They did not accept the testimony of Christ.

Furthermore, Jesus tried to explain regeneration through earthly analogies like water and wind but didn’t get anywhere. How would Nicodemus understand spiritual matters like the Trinity or the Incarnation or the Resurrection of Christ?

In 3:13, Jesus was talking about Himself having come from heaven to earth and having heaven’s authority. This verse also speaks to Jesus eternality and His pre-incarnation in heaven.

In verses 14-15, Jesus illustrated the idea of regeneration and salvation from Numbers 21. God had sent poisonous snakes to punish disobedient Israel, but when Moses lifted up the serpent, and they looked at the serpent, they were healed.

In the same way, when Jesus is lifted up on the cross, and whoever looks to Him in believing faith, that person will be saved, having eternal life in heaven.

Conclusion

What is the one single point of Jesus’ dialogue with Nicodemus? Every person in this room will one-day die physically. After you die, you will then spend an eternity in one of two places: heaven or hell. The decision of where you will spend eternity will be made while you are alive on earth.

In order for you to spend eternity in heaven, Jesus says that you must be born again of water and the Spirit through the single act of faith and repentance. This is the one and only way to spend eternity in heaven rather than eternity in hell.

This was true for Nicodemus. It was true for the woman at the well that we will see in the next chapter. It is true for me and for every person in this room this morning.

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, brothers and sisters, you must be born again to see and enter God’s kingdom of heaven. Will you do that this morning through the single act of faith and repentance?

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If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find John 2:12. I want to share with you a message entitled, “Are You Concerned about What Concerns Jesus?”

Last Sunday morning, we were at a wedding feast with Jesus and His mother and His disciples. Today, we find ourselves in Capernaum and Jerusalem. Most likely, it is the early spring AD 30.

Jesus was Passionate about Righteousness, John 12:12-17.

12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days. 13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”

Before we get to the temple in Jerusalem, 2:12 tells us that Jesus and His family and His disciples when down to Capernaum. I want to make two observations here that the casual observer might overlook.

First, notice John’s use of direction. When John says they went down to Capernaum, he isn’t talking about south but elevation. Cana was in the hills. Capernaum was in the valley of the Sea of Galilee.

We see that again in 2:13. Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Jerusalem wasn’t north of Capernaum, but it was higher in elevation than Capernaum. This why Psalms 120-134 are called Psalms of Ascent. The Israelites sang those songs when they specifically ascend up to the temple in Jerusalem.

The second thing I want you to notice in verse 12 is the presence of Jesus’ brothers. This fact lets us know that Mary was only a virgin until Christ was born. Jesus had younger half-brothers from Joseph and Mary. Since Joseph wasn’t mentioned here, he was probably already deceased.

In 2:13, we see that the Passover was near. Remember that the Passover is the celebration and remembering when angel of the Lord passed over Egypt and killed the first-born Egyptians and spared the Israelites.

Consequently, He freed the nation of Israel from Egyptian slavery. Each and every year, the Passover was celebrated in Jerusalem with thousands of Jews in attendance. Jesus and His family and His disciples were there also. See Exodus 12:12-16.

12 ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. 13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 ‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance. 15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you.

When He came to the temple, He found it in disastrous shape. More than likely, Jesus was in the court of the Gentiles, which was the outer court. It had been turned into what we might think of as a bazaar or flea market of sorts.

Remember, Jews came from all over and were expected to make their sacrifices and pay their taxes. Rather than travel with their animals for sacrifice, they began to buy their animals for sacrifice here in Jerusalem in the court of the Gentiles.

The text says there were oxen and sheep and doves and all of their waste, and as you can imagine if you know some simple economics, the prices were less than fair.

When demand is high and supply is low, prices are high. They were greatly inflated.

Not only were animals being sold for sacrifice at outrageous prices, but Jewish currency was required to pay the annual temple tax. Therefore, if you need to exchange your Roman currency for the required Jewish currency, that service was available as well but also at inflated exchange rates. The temple, which was a place of worship, had been turned into a first-class racket.

Jesus wouldn’t stand for it. Jesus was righteously angry, and in verse 15, we see His passion for righteousness.

He made a whip and turned the animals loose and turned over the tables and the money boxes. He cleansed the temple for the first time. By the way, the Synoptic Gospels tell us that Jesus did this again during the last week of His life.

Pandemonium ensued. Animals were running here and there. Merchants were chasing coins all over. It was chaos, and Jesus charged them not to make His Father’s house a place of business, and His disciples remembered Psalm 69:9.

9 Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up,

And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.

Jesus was passionate about righteousness. It matters to Him what happens in this place. It isn’t a place to be entertained or a place to be taken lightly, but it is a place to worship God and lift up Jesus and minister to people’s needs. Jesus was passionate about righteousness.

Jesus Predicted His Resurrection, John 2:18-22.

18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” 19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.

After all the animals had been released and Jesus had a made a real mess of things, the Jews wanted to know who or what authorized Him to do all this? They wanted a sign to demonstrate His authority.

In one way, Jesus obliged. He told them of a sign in future. He told them to destroy the temple, and He would raise it up again in three days.

They thought He was talking about the physical temple. It took years to build and wasn’t even finished. However, writing after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, John tells us that He was talking about His body and predicting His resurrection from the dead.

Again, her are few more observations that the casual reader might miss. First, generally speaking, lost people don’t understand spiritual truth likes these unbelieving Jews. Therefore, we have to pray for God to give them eyes to see and ears to hear. These Jews thought Jesus was talking about the temple when Jesus was predicting His resurrection.

Second, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the difference maker. It sets Christianity apart. Judaism doesn’t have a resurrected Savior. Islam doesn’t have a resurrected Savior. Hinduism and Buddhism doesn’t have resurrected Saviors.

The resurrection of Jesus makes Christianity unique and supreme. Consequently, this ultimate sign or miracle authenticates all that Jesus ever did and said.

Jesus Passed on Renown, John 2:23-25.

23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

While in Jerusalem, Jesus, evidently, performed multiple miracles or signs that obviously got the crowds stirred up. However, Jesus wasn’t looking for renown or popularity.

The end of verse 24 says He knew the heart of man. He knew these folks had only gotten excited about the supernatural and where here today and gone tomorrow.

In same way, brothers and sisters, Jesus knows your heart this morning and if you’re a member of the body of Christ so that your ticket is punched to heaven or if you have surrendered your life to Him as your Lord and Savior.

By the way, in reality, I’m not certain that simply having your ticket punched means you’ll be in heaven. I believe you have to have been born-again.

Conclusion

So what can we conclude regarding Jesus’ clearing the temple? Do we have temples today like this? Well, not exactly, but it is interesting how Paul used this word in 1 Corinthians 3 and 1 Corinthians 6.

3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

In chapter 3, the temple of God is the local church, and Jesus is concerned or passionate about who is in the local church and what the local does, specifically their holiness.

In chapter 6, the temple of God is not the local church but the individual Christians. However, that makes perfect sense because the parts make up the whole.

Therefore, Christian, because Jesus is concerned about our righteousness, He is concerned about your righteousness and how you live and talk and recreate and parent and spend your money and work and treat your spouse.

So I pray that you are concerned about the righteousness of your temple because Jesus is concerned about the righteousness of our temple.

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The purpose of John’s gospel is to reveal the signs or miracles in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ to prove His identity. Jesus performed miracles to demonstrate His true identity so that those who saw and heard might believe in Him as Lord and Savior. We saw that in our first message from this book as we looked at John 20:30-31.

In today’s text, we see the first of thirty-five plus miracles to come in twenty-one chapters of the gospel of John. Today’s message is entitled, “Turning Your Water into Wine.”

An Invitation for Jesus to Intervene, 2:1-3

1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”

Verse 1 begins with “on the third day.” As we have seen before, this is a time marker probably regarding the last time marker in John 1:43. Today’s scene is three days from when Jesus called Phillip and Nathaniel, and it probably took three days of travel time from Bethsaida to Cana.

The situation here is a wedding, and Jesus and His disciples and His mother were all in attendance. It was probably the wedding of a family member or close friend of Jesus’ family.

The fact that Jesus’ attends this wedding and his first miracle takes place at this wedding should not be lost on us. Jesus is pro-marriage. He is pro-family. He is not about living together. He is not about multiple wives or multiple husbands or homosexual unions or homosexual marriages. Jesus is pro-marriage and pro-family.

In this day and time, weddings differed than what we know today. Marriages were arranged by the parents of the bride and groom. The bride was between thirteen and fifteen years of age. The groom was between eighteen and twenty-four years of age.

The marriage was arranged and contracted but not consummated as quickly as we do. Once the contract had been formalized, there was what is called a betrothal period of between two and twelve months.

During this time, the bride lived with her parents, and the groom lived with his parents, but they were still considered married. This was the context when Joseph found Mary to be with child. They were in the betrothal period.

After the betrothal period, the groom and his wedding party made their way to the bride and her home, and brought her and her wedding party back to his house. Then the wedding feast began and last up to seven days. This was a joyous, festive occasion with lots of social interaction including food and drink of which the groom and his family were completely responsible.

However, this joyful situation turns tragic in verse 3. The wine ran out. This was the faux pas or all faux passes. This would have been social embarrassment for the couple but especially for the groom and his family.

When we see Jesus’ mother taking this very proactive position, we can again conclude that this was a close family member, and perhaps she had some type of official responsibility at the wedding feast. She came to her son and by implication was inviting Him to intervene.

We also can infer from this that Joseph was out of the picture at this time. Christian tradition holds to Joseph dying sometime in Jesus’ teen years.

An Explanation of Jesus’ Timing, 2:4-5

4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

Notice Jesus’ response to His mother in 2:4. In our minds, it may seem rude. He says, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with me?” As Bro. Ronnie would say, “Not my circus; not my monkeys.”

However, actually, it would be akin to our ma’am or madam. He then essentially says that this is not His problem solve. Why?

For His time has not yet come. That means the full revelation of His character on the cross as the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Regardless, Mary told the servants to do whatever He said.

A Demonstration of Jesus’ Power, 2:6-10

6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” 11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

Even though Jesus was not obligated to help out in this situation, we see His kindness and grace sparing this young married couple and their family from colossal social embarrassment.

In 2:6, we are introduced to six stone waterpots that was used for the guests to wash their hands before eating. John tells us that there was about 120 to 180 gallons of water here. We see this behavior described in Mark 7:3-4.

3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

Seeing these, Jesus instructed the servants to the fill them with water all the way to the top. Something special is about to happen, but Jesus doesn’t want anyone to think that a bait and switched has occurred. The water was all the way to the top so you couldn’t add wine to the pots.

He then told the servants to draw out what was now in the pots and take it to the headwaiter or what John calls the master of the feast. They did.

Somewhere along the way, Jesus turned that water into wine, some 120 to 180 gallons of wine. One commentator estimated around 2,400 servings.

That fact doesn’t need to escape you either. Jesus blessed this couple not only for this particular situation but with wine for days to come.

When the headwaiter tasted the new, fresh, sweet wine, he was caught off guard, and he went to commend the groom. Most of the time, the good wine is served first, and people drink it and get intoxicated, and their senses are dulled. The poorer wine is then brought out, and at this point, it isn’t that important because the people are intoxicated, and they don’t care. However, that wasn’t true here.

In this case, the good wine was served at the end. For this, the headwaiter was surprised and impressed.

The reality is that the groom and his family had not planned well. However, Jesus stepped in and bailed them out, but why?

In verse 11, we find the significance or the reason behind all of Jesus’ miracles. He did what He did to demonstrate who He was so that men and women and boys and girls might believe in Him as Lord and Savior.

One more point before I conclude. Jesus did what He did in response to Mary’s surrender and the servants obedience. Don’t miss that.

Conclusion

First, Jesus was different, and Christianity is better than Judaism. As for Jesus, He was not just a man. He wasn’t just a son or just a brother. He was the God-man, and this story demonstrates such. He was the promised Messiah. Jesus was God!

As for Christianity compared to Judaism, we see that in verse six and following. Notice how John mentioned the Jewish custom of purification. When Jesus turned the water into wine, He was demonstrating that Christianity will be more joyful and abundant than religion, especially Judaism.

Religion is man’s attempt to reach God. Christianity is God’s success in reaching man. Christianity provides the joy and abundance of earthly life and eternal life that Judaism cannot.

Second, Jesus’ timing is not our timing. As a follower of Christ, not only should surrender our will to Jesus but also our watch to Jesus. It is so hard to wait, but waiting maybe exactly what God wants for you because His timing is perfect every time.

Third, Jesus can still turn water into wine today. He does when He turns a sinner into saint, when He turns sick to health, when He turns a rocky marriage into a prospering marriage, when He turns an addict into sobriety.

All across the room this morning, there are people whose wine has run out. Today, Jesus can turn you water to wine through surrender and obedience. See Romans 8:28.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

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This morning, we come to the end of John 1, and I want to share a message with you entitled, “Jesus Is Your Only Ladder!”

Last Sunday, we saw we were introduced to Andrew and Peter as some of Jesus’ first disciples. Today, we are going to be introduced to Phillip and Nathanael.

Exposition

43.

In verse 43, we see another one of John the Apostle’s time markers. It is the next day, and Jesus went to Galilee. When He got there, He found Phillip. By the way, on Wednesday nights now, we are digging deeper in John’s Gospel.

It is not a repeat of Sunday morning, but it is in addition to Sunday morning. This coming Wednesday, we are going to look at the often maligned doctrine of election. Notice that it wasn’t that Phillip that found Jesus. Jesus wasn’t lost. It was Jesus who found Phillip because he was lost, and I would say the same about me and you if you are a follower of Christ.

As I said last Sunday, at first, when Jesus said to Phillip to follow Him, He was speaking literally. He wanted Phillip to literally follow behind Him. However, this term would evolve to mean following Jesus as a disciple.

44.

From verse 44, we know that Phillip was probably a fisherman like Andrew and Peter. That is because of where he was from. Bethsaida means house of fishing or house of fishermen.

45.

In verse 45, we see that Phillip couldn’t keep quiet about what he had discovered much like Andrew last week. Andrew found Peter and told Peter and brought Peter. Phillip did the same.

Phillip found Nathanael and told Nathanael, and in verse 46 with his invitation to come and see, he brought Nathanael to Jesus.

More than likely, this Nathanael is who Matthew, Mark, and Luke call Bartholomew. The synoptic gospels never mention a Nathanael but always pair Phillip with Bartholomew.

Similarly, John never mentions a Bartholomew but always pairs Phillip with Nathanael. Perhaps this man’s name was Nathanael Bartholomew, which means Nathanael son of Tolmai.

What did Phillip tell Nathanael after he found him? Not exactly the same, but in a similar way, Phillip told Nathanael that Jesus was who the Old Testament promised.

Moses wrote about the promised Messiah in the law. The Old Testament prophets also wrote about the promised Messiah, and Jesus was Him.

Even though He was born in Bethlehem, He had moved to Nazareth and was raised there. We also know that even though Joseph wasn’t Jesus’ biological father, he was His adoptive father. Did you ever think about that? Joseph adopted Jesus as his Son?

46.

Verse 46 contains Nathanael response to Phillip. Evidently, he was very impressed or partial to Nazareth.

Nathanael couldn’t believe that anything good could come from Nazareth. He probably thought the promised Messiah would come from Jerusalem.

Perhaps it was a rival or competing community. However, Phillip invited him to investigate for himself with the invitation of “Come and see.”

By the way, here is great example of handling conflict. When Phillip heard Nathanael’s response, notice that he didn’t argue with him. He simply asked him to see for himself.

47.

In verse 47, we come back to Jesus, and Jesus saw Nathanael. He saw him physically, but He also saw him spiritually.

He described Nathanael as a fine, upstanding Israelite. Your translation may say without any deceit or without guile or guileless. Literally, this word for deceit means bait or a trap. There was nothing about Nathanael that would try to trick you or trap you. Compared to Jacob, who name and character was deceiver, Nathanael was a good man.

48.

Nathanael needed to know how Jesus knew him. Had they met before? Had their paths crossed previously?

How did Jesus know him? In fact, He was the promised Messiah, and He was the Son of God who knew all through His omniscience.

By the way, Jesus everything about you as well. Do you remember Psalm 139? Listen to Psalm 139:1-8.

1 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.

2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;

You understand my thought afar off.

3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,

And are acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word on my tongue,

But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

5 You have hedged me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is high, I cannot attain it.

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”

Even the night shall be light about me;

12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,

But the night shines as the day;

The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

13 For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

When I awake, I am still with You.

Jesus answered that He saw Nathanael under the fig tree. Because of what Jesus has already said about him and because of what Jesus will say shortly, Nathanael was probably under the fig tree reading the Old Testament. Regardless, Jesus, because He was God’s Son, the promised Messiah, Jesus already knew everything about him even though had not previously met.

49.

In verse 49, that was all Nathanael needed to hear. Jesus’ omniscience was proof enough for Nathanael to confess Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel. Jesus was Nathanael’s promised Messiah.

In verse 50, Jesus promised Nathanael that he would see greater things than simply knowing about him before they met. Beginning next Sunday morning in John 2, commentators tell us that there are some 35+ miracles in John’s gospel that certainly Nathanael witnessed as well.

51.

Finally, in verse 51, Jesus was more than likely referencing what Nathanael was studying under the fig tree. The story is found in in Genesis 28.

In Genesis 28:10-17, Jacob had stolen Esau’s birthright, and he was running for his life. While sleeping at night outside with his head on a rock, Jacob had a vision of angels ascending and descending from heaven to earth on a ladder.

God promised Jacob of his descendants in that land. Jacob responded with recognizing the grace of God and His presence.

Here in 1:51, Jesus equates Himself with ladder. He is God’s connection with man on the earth. He is God in the flesh, fully man and fully God, and our only hope for heaven.

Conclusion

Allow me to make this clear. Last week, the garland around the baptistery needed to be taken down. However, nobody that I knew of was tall enough to do it on their own. Therefore, we need some type of elevation assistance.

I won’t tell you what Ronnie and Chris and I did with scaffolding and a ladder to get that garland down for fear of an appointment with OSHA tomorrow morning. However, the point is that the scaffolding and ladder was necessary for the reality of the garland being around the baptistery no more.

Ladies and Gentlemen, listen closely. You and I need a ladder to get to God the Father in heaven, and our ladder is being a good person. Our ladder isn’t giving more money. Our ladder isn’t who is our father or mother or grandfather or grandmother.

Our one and only ladder is Jesus Christ. That is what Jesus said here and in John 14:6 and Peter in Acts 4:12 and Paul in Romans 5:1.

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Secondly, one lighted torch lights another. Back at our Christmas Eve Service, I lit my candle from the Christ Candle. I then lit Christy’s candle. Christy and I then lit your candles one by one.

Andrew found and told and brought Peter. Phillip found and told and brought Nathanael. What about you? Has your torch not been lit? Lighted torches light others. If you want first century Christianity like on the pages of Scriptures, you need to starting living like first century Christians.

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Statisticians tell us that our world’s current population exceeds seven billion people. That is a seven with nine zeros.

Those same statisticians tell us that in all of human history, approximately 105-110 billion people have ever lived. That is one hundred and five with nine zeros.

Of that one hundred and five billion, some have been male and some have been female. Some have been red and yellow and black and white. Some have gone on to be doctors, lawyers, and Indian chiefs.

However, there is no more significant birth than that we celebrate this time of year, and that is the birth of Jesus Christ. This morning, we consider the first Christmas.

I hope and pray that all of you will have an encouraging and joyful Christmas this next week. However, when we think about the first Christmas, there were some other emotions that we were prominent.

In Luke 1:29 and 34, Mary was worried and confused.

29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was…34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

In Matthew 1:19, Joseph was hurt and brokenhearted.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

In Luke 2:9, the shepherds were afraid.

9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

Regardless of your Christmas this year, I want you to know that as evidenced by the first Christmas, God wants to share eternity with you. Think about that. God didn’t just create for 70 and 80 and 90 years of living on earth. He created you for billions of years of living with Him in eternity. We know that because of the first Christmas.

The First Christmas was Detailed by God, Matthew 1:18-21.

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Verses 18-25 of Matthew 1 tells us of the first Christmas in Matthew’s Gospel. Luke 2 also speaks of the first Christmas.

Our story today begins with Joseph and Mary. We know that Joseph was probably a carpenter. As for Mary, she very well could have been a young teen ager at this time. It was not uncommon for Jewish girls to be married as young as twelve years of age.

Verse 18 says that they were betrothed. This would be similar to our engagement but more significant. Jewish families would often arrange the marriages of their children. The prospective groom’s family would enter a contract that included paying money to the bride’s father for wedding expenses.

After the arrangement, the couple was considered to be in the betrothal period. This time could last up to one year and served as a probationary period. Even though the couple was considered married at this point, they did not live together and were not physically intimate.

After the probationary period, the groom would send for the bride, and a weeklong wedding feast would ensue. This was a weeklong celebration that included both families and the community.

Once the wedding feast was over, the bride and groom would finally consummate the marriage physically. However, at this point, up and to this point, they had kept themselves pure, but verse 18 introduces a dilemma for Joseph. It was revealed that Mary is pregnant. The problem was that Joseph was not the father.

Joseph had two options. If Joseph wasn’t the father, the only other human explanation was that Mary had been unfaithful. Believe it or not, the OT allowed capital punishment for adultery or he could choose to quietly divorce her.

As you can see in verse 19, his initial choice was the latter. He was going to quietly divorce her because even though it appeared that he had been wronged, he was a kind and compassionate man.

But how did all this happen? Verse 18 simply says, “She was found with child of the Holy Spirit.” This was a miracle by the Spirit of God.

The conception of Jesus was miraculous. It was mysterious, and it was marvelous. It was in no way sexual or improper.

Science cannot explain it. Our finite minds can’t comprehend it. However, the Holy Spirit accomplished it.

A third detail to note about the birth of Christ is the message for the world.

Mary was going to have a baby boy who was to be named Jesus, and here’s the message for the world and how we know that God wants to spend eternity with us. Jesus was going to save His people from their sins.

Please don’t miss the implication. The implication is that we are sinners and separated from God because of our sin. In other words, we are in need of a Savior because we cannot save ourselves. Therefore, God made salvation possible for anyone who would turn from his or her sins and turn to Jesus Christ in faith because He created us to spend eternity with Him.

If you are here this morning and you’re trying to live a good enough life to save yourself, it will never happen. We can’t be good enough, but we don’t have to be. We only have to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.

The First Christmas was Described Long Ago, Matthew 1:22-23.

22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Beginning in verse 22, we see that the birth of Jesus was declared long ago by the Lord and through His prophets. In other words, the birth of Jesus is a fulfillment of prophecy.

Even though these men were human, it was God, the Lord, speaking through them. Therefore, these prophecies were made by God but through men and about the Savior.

Dave Reagan’s Lamb & Lion Ministry says there are at least 19 fulfilled prophecies in the birth of Christ, but I’ll just remind you of three.

Micah 5:2, 2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

Luke 2:4-6, 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.

Isaiah 9:6, 6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Matthew 1:21, 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Isaiah 7:14, 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23, 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

The First Christmas Demands a Response, Matthew 1:24-25.

24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

In the last two verses of Matthew 1, we see Joseph’s commitment to the Lord, and that commitment is seen in one word, “obedience.”

We see that here and elsewhere.

Look at Matthew 2:13-14. What did Joseph do? He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt.

Look at Matthew 2:19-21. What did Joseph do? He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

Joseph obeyed personally. Joseph obeyed in his marriage. Joseph obeyed in his parenting.

Unfortunately, he is often the forgotten man of Christmas.

We don’t ever hear Joseph speak. Therefore, we don’t ever hear him quoted. We don’t normally sing about Joseph. We sing about Jesus and Mary and the angels and the shepherds and the wise men and Bethlehem, but not generally about Joseph.

However, Joseph shouldn’t be a forgotten man. His response to the first Christmas should be commended and followed.

Conclusion

How will you respond this morning to the first Christmas? Remember, God wants to spend eternity with you. We know that because Jesus came to save His people from their sins.

If you have never received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you will die in your sins and spend eternity in hell separated from God. However, if the Holy Spirit is convicting you of your lostness and has given you faith to believe, would you call on Jesus this morning to save you?

For others, your response to the first Christmas needs to be obedience. Will you be obedient to forgive someone who has hurt you? Will you be obedient to say, “I’m sorry?” Will you be obedient to loving your spouse? Will you be obedient to obeying your parents? Will you be obedient to be baptized as Jesus was? Will you be obedient in uniting with a local church? Will you be obedient in sharing the message of the first Christmas?

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In our brief time so far in John’s gospel, we have considered John the Apostle, and we have considered Jesus the Word. This morning, we are going to turn our attention to John the Baptist.

The Message of John the Baptist, 1:19-23

19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,”’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

We see in 1:19 that John was beginning to gain popularity to the degree that the Jews sent priests and Levites to find out more about him. They wanted to see who was the source of all the hype, and they went to him and asked, “Who are you?”

Before we go any further, let’s consider also what Mark and Luke say him.

Luke 1:14-17, 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

He was set aside to be a Nazirite which meant he wouldn’t cut his hair or touch anything dead or drink any alcohol. He would be filled with the Holy Spirit. He would be a forerunner to the Messiah like Elijah was, and he would help get Israel ready for the Christ.

Luke 1:57-66, 57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her. 59 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

He was the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth. As a Jew, he was circumcised. He was chosen by God to be named John and chosen for his mission.

Luke 1:76-80, 76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, 77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; 79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.” 80 So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

He would be a prophet of God. He would speak the message of salvation. He lived in the desert until his public ministry.

Mark 1:6, 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

He was a rustic dresser with camel’s hair and a leather belt while eating locusts and honey.

Now we return to our primary text to see how John answered this question of “Who are you?”

First, he denied that he was the Christ. The construction of the sentence shows his emphatic denial of being the Christ, the one to save Israel of her sins.

Second, he was asked if he was Elijah. Even though he could be compared to Elijah and even though he certainly was a like Elijah in multiple ways, he denied being Elijah.

Third, he was asked about being the Prophet. This is a reference to Deuteronomy 18:15, and notice how the NKJV capitalizes Prophet.

15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren.

Yes, John was a prophet like Moses, but again, he was not THE Prophet.

However, if he wasn’t the Christ and he wasn’t Elijah and he wasn’t THE Prophet, then who was John the Baptist?

John answered with the utmost humility. He said he simply was a voice as he pointed back to another Old Testament prophet. He quoted from Isaiah 40:3.

3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.”

Simply put, John’s message was get ready. Get ready for the promised Messiah.

In Old Testament times, workers were sent a head of the King’s entourage to smooth the ground and make the dirt roads or the way as easy and smooth to travel on as possible. That was John’s message. Get your lives ready for the Lord.

The Method of John the Baptist, 1:24-26b

24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water.”

John had a very specific method or demonstration for his message. He baptized folks.

Let me take just a moment to clarify the meaning of words. If you drink Dr. Pepper religiously, I would bet that you also agree that Dr. Thunder is not Dr. Pepper. Yes, they are both brown, carbonated beverages in maroon cans. However, Dr. Thunder is not Dr. Pepper.

The word baptize means immerse. It doesn’t mean sprinkle, and it doesn’t mean pour. Therefore, what our Methodist and Presbyterian and Luther friends do at the church, even though it is down in a church and uses water, sprinkling is not baptism.

However, it was strange because he wasn’t baptizing Gentiles converting to Judaism. He was baptizing Jews.

The Pharisees noticed this and wonder why. Specifically, they wanted to know what gave him the right to baptize anyone since he didn’t have a special title like Christ or Elijah or the Prophet.

Rather than even talking too much about his baptism and what it meant, John wanted to talk about his Messiah.

By the way, I will be sharing in the coming weeks what is the difference between John’s baptism and Christian baptism.

The Messiah of John the Baptist, 1:26b-28

but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

According to the end of verse 26, Jesus was evidently present or at least close by. However, the Pharisees didn’t know Him.

As John said last week, even though Jesus was younger than John by six months, He was to be preferred because He has always been. He is God.

John understand who he was in light of who Jesus was. John was not even worthy to untie His sandals because Jesus was the promised Messiah. Jesus was John’s Messiah. Jesus was and is the Christ!

Conclusion

What does all of this mean for us this morning?

First, like John the Baptist, my message is get ready for Jesus. If you have never received into your life as Lord and Savior, One you rely on and commit to and obey, I invite you to do to receive Him.

Second, if you have been saved and you claim Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, are you ready for His return? You’re not if you’re living in sin. You’re not if your relationships around you aren’t in order. You’re not if your life is not well pleasing to Him. See 2 Corinthians 5:9-10.

9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

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We find ourselves in John’s Gospel this morning, and please find chapter one and verse fourteen. Today, I want to share a message with you entitled, “What Makes Jesus Special?”

In the recent Sundays, we have asked, “Who Is the Real Jesus” and “Are You a Child of God?” In answering today’s question, I want you to see five realities that make Jesus special.

His Humanity, 1:14a

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…

We know that John is talking about Jesus when he uses Word. Jesus is the mouth of God, and that verse reminds that He was God in the flesh.

He didn’t lose His deity, but God took on humanity. Jesus ate and drank and slept and went to the bathroom and got hungry and tired and fished and cooked.

The word “dwelt” literally means tabernacled and comes from the Old Testament referencing when the presence of God was in the Tabernacle. See Exodus 40:34.

34 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

This reality is also described by Paul in the Philippians 2:5-8.

Finally, we will celebrate and sing about this reality next month. Wesley wrote in Hark the Herald Angels Sing:

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see

Hail the incarnate deity

Pleased as man with men to dwell

Jesus, our Emmanuel

Pleased as man with men to dwell

Jesus, our Emmanuel.

His Deity, 1:14b

and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The end of verse one reminds of Jesus’ deity. Not only is He fully man, but He is also fully God as He is God’s Son.

We are children of God if we have received Jesus as Lord and Savior. However, God only has one Son, and it is Jesus.

However, don’t think that Jesus’ deity somehow began. It has always been, and we learned that from 1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word with God, and the Word was God.

Paul reminded the Colossian Church of Jesus deity in Colossians 2:9.

9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

Finally, He is gracious, and He is the truth. Whatever He says and does or said and did is right.

His Exclusivity, 1:15-16

15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

In verse fifteen, we are reminded that John the Baptist bore witness or testified of Jesus. We saw that last week.

Notice what else John said. He said Jesus was preferred or superior to him. What is ironic about that?

In the OT, the older is presumed to be superior. How is older John the Baptist or Jesus? John the Baptist is six months older than his cousin Jesus.

Therefore, it would be assumed that John the Baptist is preferred or superior. However, it is Jesus because He was before John. How is that? Jesus is eternal.

In verse sixteen, John the Apostle reminds us who have received Him as Lord and Savior are blessed again and again. That is what grace for grace means. When one act of grace or God’s blessing ends or runs out, another one begins.

His Generosity, 1:17

17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

In the OT, the law was unable to save. It was impossible to keep. No human could perfectly keep all six hundred plus laws for a lifetime.

However, the law did make it perfectly clear that humanity needed a Savior. His name is Jesus. See Galatians 3:24.

24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Jesus perfectly kept the law for thirty-three years and was a sinless Savior. Consequently, our faith in a sinless Savior is how we are made right with God.

The law was not generous. However, Jesus was generous and full of grace and truth.

His Intimacy, 1:18

18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Verse eighteen can be a little confusing. What John means is that no one has ever seen the fullest essence of God.

However, because of Jesus’ intimacy with the Father, He is able to declare or explain or literally exegete Him.

When John speaks of Jesus’ intimacy with the Father, he compares it to his intimacy with Jesus. See John 13:34.

23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

John was intimate with Jesus. However, Jesus was more intimate with the Father.

Conclusion

In light of how special Jesus is, if you haven’t received Him today, would you?

If you have received Him today, would you point others to Him specifically with your words?

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Last Sunday morning, we began looking at John’s gospel, and we were answering the questioning of who is the real Jesus. Today, we continue in chapter 1 and answer another question. Are you a child of God?

This morning, not only will we continue to talk about Jesus, but John the Apostle of Love introduces us to another John. If you have your Bibles, would you please join me in John 1:6, and please stand in honor of God’s word.

A Man Named John, 1:6-8

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

First of all, consider his dawning in verse 6. John the Apostle moves from the heavenly to the earthly in introducing us to another John. However, this is not John the Apostle but John the Baptist.

Even though that is never how John the Apostle describes the Baptizer, we know that any time you see the name John in this gospel, it is referencing this man of John 1:6 as John the Apostle never names himself in this gospel.

Verse 6 tells us that John the Baptist came from God. God is his dawning or origin or source.

God had been silent for approximately 400 years since Malachi, but now John the Baptist is introduced, and he will speak for God like an OT prophet.

Second, consider his duty in verse 7. John’s duty or mission was crystal clear. He came as a witness of Jesus or to testify about the Light that we know was Jesus. He didn’t come for any other reason. Remember what Matthew said in 3:1-3.

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’”

Third, consider his difference that we see in verse 8. John the Baptist was not Jesus. He was not the Light. He was different than the Light.

The Light Who was Jesus, 1:7-11

7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

Last week in John 1:1-5, we identified Jesus as the Word and Light. We see that again today in verse 7. The NKJV helps us in our efforts by capitalizing Light in verses 7-9.

In thinking about light, we know that shines out the darkness and provides guidance and direction. Consequently, light is a beautiful illustration of Jesus.

He shines out the darkness in our hearts convicting us that we fall short of His sinless perfection and need Him as Lord and Savior. Once we believe, He then provides guidance and direction for life as we consider what would Jesus do and attempt to follow His lead.

As the true Light, He was the real thing and not a shadow or a representation. The OT pointed to the true Light and foreshadowed the true Light, but the NT revealed the true Light…the Light who was Jesus.

And when He came into the world, He gave light to every man. Now that statement can have at least two meanings. First of all, the reality of Jesus and who He was, a sinless Savior, enlightens every man and every woman to the fact that we are in need of a Savior. No one is excluded: rich or poor, male or female, black or white, educated or not. Man needed and still needs a Savior.

Furthermore, perhaps this verse speaks to a person’s conscience and an inherited ability to know the difference between right and wrong and good and bad. Remember what Paul wrote in Romans 1:18-21.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

This is what we call general revelation. Man can look around at God’s creation and know that there is a God, and man is not God. However, in order to be saved, man must receive God’s Special Revelation, which is the Light who is Jesus.

Verse 10 says that Jesus was in the world and even made the world. We said that last week as well. However, the world didn’t know Him. The world didn’t recognize Him as Messiah.

Furthermore, verse 11 says He came to His own people, the Jews, and they didn’t receive Him. They rejected Him, and Isaiah 53:1-3 prophesied that very reality hundreds of years earlier.

1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

The Children Born of God, 1:12-13

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Beginning in verse 12, even though many rejected Jesus as the Christ, some received Him, and to them, He gave the right or privilege of becoming a child of God.

Let’s be clear about what this verse says. Not everyone has God as their Father, only those who have received Jesus, His Son, only those who believe in His name and His character, only those who have been born-again, born of God.

Did you catch that? We all aren’t God’s children. You aren’t a child of God unless you have received His Son.

What does it mean to receive Jesus? It is more than simply intellectual affirmation of His existence. It means to rely on Him, commit to Him, and obey Him.

To believe in His name is to believe that salvation is found only in Jesus. Remember what Peter said in Acts 4:12?

12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

To be born of God means to be born again. We all have been born physically, but to be born again and of God means to be born spiritually.

And just like in physical birth, you can’t make yourself be born again. That is God’s work. It is not the will of the flesh or the will of man. It is you answer the call to be saved, and God causing you to be born again.

Invitation

Today’s invitation is very simple. First, there are some of you here today who have never received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and if you haven’t received Him, by default, you have rejected Him.

Consequently, you are not a child of God. Furthermore, if you died today, you would spend an eternity in hell because God would say He never know you because you haven’t received His Son. Will you receive the Light who was Jesus today? Will you rely on Him, commit to Him, and obey Him?

For those of you have received the Light, are you reflecting the Light? That was John’s duty, and that is our duty. Our duty and mission and goal should be to reflect the Light of Jesus in our lives, in our families, in our very being. Will you reflect the Light today?

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If you have your Bibles this morning, I invite you to find John 1:1. Today, we begin our study of the Gospel according to John. If you are new to EBC or visiting EBC, for the foreseeable future, every Sunday morning except the one before Christmas and Easter Sunday, we will be here.

This morning, I want to build today’s message around three headings: the person of John the Apostle, the purpose of John’s gospel, and the prologue about John’s Jesus.

The Person of John the Apostle

Even though his name is never mentioned specifically in this book, church history and tradition tell us that John is the writer of this gospel that bears his name. God’s Word tell us that John had a brother named James, and together, they were sons of Zebedee also called the sons of thunder.

Mark 3:17, 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”.

It is really amazing how Jesus changed John’s life and demeanor. When Jesus first called him, he was a son of thunder. He was brash and loud. At the end of his life, he was known as the Apostle of Love.

It is John who was Jesus’ closest friends, and with Peter and James, formed His inner circle of three. It is John who was one of the first eye-witnesses of the empty tomb and the resurrected Lord. It is John, the beloved disciple, who wrote this book along with 1, 2, and 3 John and the Revelation making him the second most prolific writer of our New Testament only behind Paul.

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

John 20:30-31, 30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

The purpose of the gospel according to John is two-fold. First, it is apologetic. That means this book of the Bible makes a defense. John sought to prove that Jesus was the promised Messiah. He did this through his 7 signs and 7 I AM statement.

Second, it is evangelistic. He invites Jew and Gentile alike to believe that Jesus is the Christ and accepting Him as Lord and Savior is the only way to have eternal life.

The Prologue about John’s Jesus

Prologue simply means beginning. John even starts his gospel with, “In the beginning.” That is the same way that Genesis 1:1 begins.

It is also interesting with whom this gospel begins. Matthew’s gospel begins with Abraham. Mark’s gospel begins with John the Baptist. Luke’s gospel begins with Theophilus. John’s gospel begins with the Word or Jesus, and here are three truths about John’s Jesus, the real Jesus.

Jesus is Equally God, 1:1-2.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

Verse 1 talks about the “Word.” If you will look down at 1:14, we know from this verse and following that the “Word” is Christ.

John 1:14, 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Christ was in the beginning, and He was with God. That literally means He was face-to-face with God.

Then, John took that idea one step further, Christ is God. The Father and the Son are two distinct persons, but the same God.

John testified to this truth throughout his gospel, but was explicit here. See John 1:18 and 20:28.

John 1:18, 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

John 20:28, 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

We also see this explicitly in Paul’s letter to the Colossian Church. See Colossians 1:15.

Colossians 1:15, 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

In verse 2, John simply summarized verse 1. Jesus was in the beginning with God.

Jesus is the Eternal Creator.

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Verse 3 tells us that all things came into being through Jesus. To say it negatively, nothing has ever been created apart from Him.

Regardless of when you believe the earth was created, whether thousands of years ago or millions of years of ago, Jesus was there, and Jesus did it. Jesus was the creator.

This is also the testimony of the rest of the NT. See 1 Corinthians 8:6, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:2.

1 Corinthians 8:6, 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

Colossians 1:16, 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Hebrews 1:1-2, 1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.

Remember also that I said Jesus was the eternal Creator meaning that Jesus has always been. We can see that in how John contrasts Jesus, the Creator, with His creation.

In verse 1, was is the past tense of the verb to be. John uses it on 4 occasions in the first two verses. However, when talking about creation in verse 3, he says creation came into being. Jesus has always been or eternal. Creation came into being. Creation had a definite beginning.

Jesus is the Effective Light.

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Verse 4 tells us that Jesus was life, and the life was the light of men. The word for life here is not “bios,” which means physical life, but it is “zoe,” which means eternal life.

Also, notice that in these two verses, life and the light cannot be separated. They are synonymous.

Verses 5 says that light shines (present tense) and is still shining today, and it is shining in the darkness. However, the darkness cannot comprehend it.

Literally, the darkness could not overcome the light because the light is more powerful or effective. Satan tried to overcome Jesus with the cross, but Jesus overcame Satan with the resurrection. He is the effective Light.

Application

Let me now draw three points of application from our text to our world of faith. First, to have the eternal life that John speaks of in 1:4, you can’t believe like our Jehovah’s Witness friends believe. Instead of translating the end of verse 1 as the Word was God, their copy of the Bible, the New World Translation, reads, “the Word was a god.” Jesus is not one God among many, but the one and only God, and you cannot believe otherwise and receive eternal life.

Second, to have the eternal life that John speaks of in 1:4, you can’t believe like our Mormon friends. They don’t believe that Jesus always has been but that He was created or born or begotten. They fail to recognize the reality of 1:1-2 and that He is eternal and has always been, and you cannot believe otherwise and inherit eternal life.

Finally, to have the eternal life that John speaks of in 1:4, you can’t believe like our Unitarian friends. They don’t believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven. He is one way among many ways. However, that is not what 1:4 says. In Him and only in Him is life, and He and only He is the Light of men, and you cannot believe otherwise and inherit eternal life.

Invitation

My invitation is two-fold. First, have you trusted in John’s Jesus, the real Jesus for your salvation? Have you trusted in the Jesus that is God, the Jesus that is eternal, the Jesus that is creator and the Jesus that is the light of men? If not, will you trust Him today as Lord and Savior?

Second, if you are saved, will you let the real Jesus have complete control of your life to the extent that you become a bold witness for Him each and every day? There is so much misconception about Jesus, but John speaks of the real Jesus. Will you speak of the real Jesus with your family, friends, and coworkers?

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Today’s sermon title was actually the title of book written by Chuck Colson in 1999, and I believe that he adapted it from Francis Schaffer’s “How Should We Then Live?” written in 1976.

Ultimately, both of those authors borrowed the thought from Peter here in 2 Peter 11-12. Peter said in verse 11, “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of person ought you to be?”

It was a rhetorical question but one that Peter answered in today’s text. This the final message in our study of 2 Peter, and we’re asking that question this morning, “How Now Shall We Live?”

The NT often teaches the truth that moral imperatives follow eschatological indicatives. Do what? The commands we live out depend on what we believe to be true about the end times. Our conduct is determined by our convictions. Our behavior is determined by our beliefs.

In verse 11, since the Day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night, and the Lord will destroy the present heavens and earth with fire before He creates a new heaven and new earth, you should be characterized by hopeful looking and holy living.

Notice “therefore” is used three times in these closing verses: 11, 14, and 17. Because of what we know, a certain behavior should follow.

First is looking forward with hope that Jesus will return. Verse 12 says looking for and hastening the coming day of God. Verse 13 says we look for new heavens and a new earth. Verse 14 says looking forward to these things.

Second is holy living. Verse 11 uses the words holy conduct and godliness. Holy means set apart from sin and set apart to the ways of God. Godliness means imitating and following the way God would act.

Therefore, because Jesus is coming again, our lives in the last days should be characterized by hopeful looking and holy living. However, specifically, what does that look like in daily living?

The remainder of today’s text is built on four imperatives or four commands from Peter to these first century Christians and us. Because Jesus is coming again, work hard in being saved, remember the Lord is patient, be aware of false teachers, and grow in your relationship with Christ.

Because Jesus is coming again soon, work hard in being saved, 2 Peter 3:14.

14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.

In verse 14, Peter said be diligent or work hard to be found by Him in peace. He is talking about being in peace or at peace with God.

What does that mean? Paul tells us in Romans 5:1.

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

To be justified means to be made right. Every individual has that need because our sin has separated us from God.

How does it happen? It happens when you put your faith and trust in Christ to save you and not yourself. Nothing else and no one else can save except Jesus.

When you make that personal decision, you are justified. You are made right. You are saved. You are at peace with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Make sure you have made that personal decision. Work hard at it. No one can make it for you, and it doesn’t happen because you’re good enough or smart enough or come from a certain family.

Consequently, and don’t this, when you are at peace with God through Jesus, you are without spot and blameless. It isn’t because of you and your behavior. It is because of Jesus and His Sinlessness in you.

However, if you are saved, at peace with God, born again, your behavior ought to be without spot and blameless. As Christians, that is what we are called to brothers and sisters.

If the word is characterized by fighting and bickering, we should not be. If they world is characterized by immorality, we should not be. If the world is characterized by alcoholism, we should not be. If the world is characterized by consumerism, we should not be. Our position in Christ should dictate our practical and daily living.

Because Jesus is coming again soon, remember that the Lord is patient, 2 Peter 3:15-16.

15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

Notice if you will, in 3:15, this is not only what Peter taught, but this is also what Paul taught. Peter may have been thinking about Romans 2:4 that we saw last week.

4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Peter said remember God’s patience with you, and He is tarrying and remember that the apostle Paul reminded you of the same truth. However, the false teachers have twisted this truth.

The “untaught” and “unstable” are the false teachers. They say He isn’t coming back or you have missed His coming. They twist and distort the truths of God’s Word.

Let me take just a side street here and make a comment on a golden nugget here in 3:16. Notice the phrase, “the rest of Scripture.” What is Peter including as Scripture? He is including the writings of Paul.

This is monumental that Peter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit affirms that Paul’s writings are authoritative as Scripture. This is a big deal on a major issue in our country right now.

When talking about same-sex relationships, have you ever heard anyone say, “Jesus never spoke to the issue.” Actually, that isn’t true, but even if it was, Paul spoke to the issue in Romans 1, and Peter said that was Scripture.

Brothers and sisters, don’t be duped by the logic of the world. 2 Timothy 3:16 said that all Scripture was breathed out by God and therefore authoritative. Of course that includes the gospels, but it also includes the OT and the rest of the NT.

God’s Word speaks authoritatively on many more issues than the world thinks. Therefore, for Christians, that should settle many cultural issues.

Because Jesus is coming again soon, be aware of the false teachers, 2 Peter 3:17.

17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked.

We saw this last week with the false teachers, but in the last days, we must be aware lest they lead us away. Peter warned that the false teachers wanted to lead us in to error.

Does this mean we can lose our salvation? It doesn’t if you’re truly saved. However, there are plenty who profess God but aren’t possessed by God.

If you’ve been truly and genuinely saved, you cannot and will not lose your salvation. However, if you haven’t been, you will. John said it like this in 1 John 2:19.

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

Because Jesus is coming again soon, grow in your relationship with Christ, 2 Peter 3:18.

18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

In this last verse, Peter encourages us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. We must grow in grace and give Him glory.

One commentator wrote, “The Christian life is like…riding a bicycle. Unless you keep moving, you fall off!” Friend, if you don’t keep growing in your knowledge of Christ, you will spiritually dry up and wither away.

Every day, I read God’s Word, and He speaks to me. Every day, I pray, and I speak to Him. I do this not because I am a pastor. I do this because I am a Christian who wants to grow in my relationship with the Lord.

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, because Jesus is coming again soon, let us be busy with our hopeful looking and our holy living.

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If you have your Bibles, please take them and find 2 Peter 3:1. I want to share a message with you this morning entitled, “The Lord Uses a Different Watch!”

Today is our next to last message in 2 Peter. We will finish this short book next Sunday morning.

I hope you remember that 2 Peter is primarily about false teachers within this church. They were guilty of denying the Lord. That may have meant they denied His deity or humanity or Lordship. Regardless, they were heretics.

Peter uses this letter to warn these first century Christians and remind them of the truth. If you go back to chapter 1, you will find this idea or remember or reminding in 1:12, 1:13, and 1:15.

He is going to do that again in today’s text. You find the word “remind” in 3:1, the word “mindful” in 3:2, and the admonition, “do not forget” in 3:8, and he does this because they were prone to forget as are we.

Peter’s reminders for today are three. First, remember that the false teachers will mock. Second, remember that the Lord is patient. Third, remember that the day of the Lord is coming.

Remember that the false teachers will mock, 2 Peter 3:1-7.

1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Peter’s reminder are certainly friendly reminders as evidenced with “Beloved.” We also are reminded that this is his second epistle. The first is called 1 Peter.

Peter’s first reminder regarding the false teachers and their mocking was originally said by the holy prophets of the OT and the apostles of the NT. Again, we are prone to forget. Therefore, we have to be reminded of what we have been taught by those that have gone before us.

What did those prophets and apostles say?

Malachi 4:1-2, 1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; And you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.

1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

There will be scoffers or mockers in the last days. The last days is the time between Jesus’ first and second comings, and to scoff or mock meant to doubt or disparage or make fun.

Specifically, these false teachers were doubting that Jesus was going to return, and they were also living like it. Notice verse 4.

Essentially, they were saying, look around. Nothing has changed. Jesus is not returning. It is a farce. You’ve been duped.

Furthermore, not only were they saying Jesus wasn’t coming, they were also living like it. Verse 3 says they were walking or living according to their own lusts. They were living as if there were no moral consequences to their actions, specifically to their sexual immorality.

Finally, about these false teachers, in verse 5, Peter rebutted their argument that nothing has changed. He reminded them of the global flood in Genesis 7.

God created the world and judged the world with a global flood. In the future, He will judge the world again. However, this time, it won’t be with water but with fire.

This truth was also testified by the holy prophets.

Isaiah 66:15-16, 15 For behold, the Lord will come with fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire and by His sword The Lord will judge all flesh; And the slain of the Lord shall be many.

Daniel 7:9-10, 9 “I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.

Remember that the Lord is patient, 2 Peter 3:8-9.

Again, Peter used that term of endearment in giving this second reminder. The Lord uses a different watch than we do. Therefore, is very patient in spite of how it seems.

In verse 8, Peter quoted Psalm 90:4. Some have taken this verse and applied in too many places. I don’t think you can use this verse to say that God took 6000 years to create the earth because one day is like a thousand years. I also don’t think you can say that Jesus has really only been gone two since one day is like a thousand years to Him.

Peter is simply saying that the Lord doesn’t measure time necessarily like we do. We look at time linearly. He looks at time eternally.

Regardless, He is not slack or slow. Instead, He is patient. That is who He is and who He has always been. Both testaments confirm this truth.

Psalm 86:15, 15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,

Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

Romans 2:4, 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

John Calvin in his commentary on 2 Peter said this, “So wonderful is his love towards mankind, that He would have them all to be saved, and is of His own self prepared to bestow salvation on the lost” (Epistles of Peter, p. 419).

Therefore, the Lord hasn’t returned not because He is slow. The Lord hasn’t returned because when He returns, there will be no more chances to turn to Him. His not returning is because of His patience and His desire for you to be saved.

The day of the Lord is coming, 2 Peter 3:10.

Peter says the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. That simile is used all throughout the New Testament to describe the return of Christ.

Matthew 24:42-44, 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

Revelation 16:15, 15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

Simply put, Jesus is coming back at a time when you don’t expect in the same way you do know when to expect a thief.

Conclusion So what does all this mean for us today? First, if you’re not saved, the Lord is patient, but His patience will be coming to an end. Call upon Him today, this morning to be saved from your sins. Stop taking advantage of His patience.

Second, if you are saved, quit living like Jesus isn’t coming again. Let that truth motivate and inspire your gospel sharing and your tithing giving and your holy living.

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This morning is a special morning as it is our annual Back in the Game Sunday. In the next few minutes, we are going to be looking back at the previous 10.5 months and looking forward to the next church year that will begin in October.

In addition to looking back and looking forward, I will also be asking this question, “Why Does EBC Exist?” We will answer that question from Matthew’s Gospel, and I will be encouraging you to get “Back in the Game!”

Looking Back

When we look back, your initial thought might be that you prefer not. I understand. 2020 was a hard year for everyone, and 2021 is turning out to be only slightly better.

However, at EBC, God was still kind. God was still good. God still blessed us, and we need to celebrate that. Specifically, we need to celebrate some individuals and some families.

In today’s bulletin, you will find a Back in the Game Brochure. Please find that and notice on the very back panel. In 2020-2021, God added 23 new members to Emory Baptist Church. Of those 23, 6 were baptized by immersion and after salvation. Praise the Lord!

Looking Forward

Not only do we want to look back, but we also want to look forward. In that same brochure from your bulletin, you will find some ministries and events that we hope you will consider joining.

First, our largest and in many ways, our most important ministry is our Sunday School Small Groups.

In this next church year, we will have 22 Sunday School Small Groups. I cannot say enough about the importance of you as an individual and family, as adults and teenagers and children, of being a part of one of these small groups that meet every Sunday morning at 9:15 all over our facility.

Beginning in September, almost all of those adult options will be studying Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about different classes teaching different subjects. You simply decide on which teacher and which class members you like the best.

I have also given you a preview of what I will be preaching and teaching this fall. That includes Sunday mornings and Sunday nights and Wednesday nights.

I am not going to be going over every detail of this brochure. However, please notice some ministries that are beginning today. Both of them are children’s ministries beginning this afternoon. That is Bible Drill for 4-6 graders at 4:30 PM and KidzPraize for K-3 graders at 5:15 PM. Both will take place in the children’s building with Bible Drill upstairs and KidzPraize downstairs.

Also, please notice some immediate ministry needs as these will be a wonderful transition to my encouragement to get back in the game. All of these ministry needs are in our children’s ministry. We cannot say we want to be an alive church with young families if we will not volunteer to minister to children. That is hypocrisy, and God will not honor it. Therefore, consider this as your sign from God to step up and get back in the game.

Why Does EBC Exist and Get Back in the Game

More than informing you about calendars and schedules, I want to answer this question of why we exist and challenge you to get back in the game at Emory Baptist Church. God’s Word tells me that EBC exists for three reasons, and these three reasons could also be considered or called our purposes.

However, they aren’t just the three purposes for our church. They are also the three purposes for every EBC member.

Therefore, we exist and you exist to love God, love people, and make disciples. Summer is over. Vacations are done. School is starting. Sports and band have begun so get back in the game.

Love God, Matthew 22:36-38

Our first purpose and expectation is to love God. In Matthew 22, Jesus was asked by a lawyer what is the great commandment in the law. In short, Jesus responded with love God. You are to love Him with everything you are. You are to love Him with your heart and your soul and your mind. Consequently, this is the first and greatest commandment.

How do we love God? The answer is worship. We love God by worship individually and worshipping collectively as a church.

Paul called every follower of Christ to worship God individually in Romans 12:1. The NLT translates it this way.

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

We are also to love God by worshipping collectively as a church. Hebrews 10:25 contains a warning for me and you.

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

This verse contains a command not to forsake the assembling of the saints in worship when they meet. In other words, make sure Sunday worship is a priority for you and your family.

May I also say this? Regular worship attendance today has dropped to twice a month. That’s not how you would play a game. You don’t just play half the game. As a player, you should be ready to play the entire game.

Therefore, don’t settle for twice a month or even three times a month. If you are a member of EBC, I want to challenge you to be here when EBC meets. Don’t forsake the assembly.

Come and worship the Lord with this body of Christ, and don’t just do it on Sunday mornings. This church meets on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights.

I know…you’re busy and tired. Guess what? You’re in good company, and moms and dads, dropping off your kids while you go and run errands or do whatever is sowing seeds that don’t want to reap.

The bottom line is that you need this church and this church needs you. Love God by worshipping Him individually and worshipping Him collectively.

Love People, Matthew 22:39-40

39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

In answering the lawyer in Matthew 22, Jesus didn’t stop with love God. He added love people too. He said the second is like the first. In addition to loving God, you must love your neighbor as well. In other words, love people.

By the way, if you struggle in loving people, the problem isn’t the people. The problem is your life for God because if you love God, you will naturally love the people that God created in His image the same way He created you.

How can you love people at EBC? You can be a part of those 24 small group Sunday School classes. You can love people through fellowship. You can love people through life experience and discussion and learning of God’s word. I said this previously, but the fact is that we need one another. See 1 Corinthians 12:14-18.

This is the body of Christ. You can love people through your participation in one of our small groups.

1 Corinthians 12:7, 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.

God has given each member a gift or manifestation of the Holy Spirit to be used in serving or for the profit or benefit of all, the entire body.

Brothers and sisters, how are you serving? Please consider our children’s ministries again. We have needs, and we need you.

However, you could also serve in the choir. You could serve in our youth ministry. Our women’s ministry needs concession stand workers for the Rains Wildcat Football Games starting in September. You could serve in our Prayer Room or Backpack Buddies or a new ministry called Little Food Pantry.

How are you loving people through service and ministry? Don’t just come and sit. Come and serve.

Make Disciples, Matthew 28:19-20

You can know what Jesus said in Matthew 28 was important because it was the last thing He said to us. Not only do we exist to love God and to love people, but we exist to make disciples.

That starts with sharing the gospel, and that is not just the responsibility or obligation or ministry of some but of all.

If you’ve been saved, the power of the Holy Spirit has come upon you. If that is true, you are to be His witnesses. Every believer is to be a witness.

On Sunday mornings in September and October, I will be preaching on “Every Believer a Witness.” We will also be offering Evangelism Equip once quarter on Saturday mornings.

We also make disciples by small group Bible studies. Again, you need to be, and please hear me, one of the best places this can happen is through a Sunday School Small Group.

Furthermore, you can see we have other small groups that meet throughout the week and throughout the month where you can be a disciple and where you can have the opportunity to disciple others.

Conclusion

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This morning, we are taking a break from your study of 1 Peter, and I want to take the opportunity not only to lead us in taking the Lord’s Supper in just a few minutes but also understanding the Lord’s Supper before we take it.

Today’s sermon will be more of teaching than preaching as I attempt to answer some of the most important questions regarding the Lord’s Supper. As a matter of fact, you might call them our Top 10 Questions about the Lord’s Supper.

Is the Lord’s Supper a sacrament or an ordinance?

When we baptize here at EBC, we are practicing one ordinance. In a few minutes, we will practice what we see as the other, the Lord’s Supper.

Therefore, Baptists recognize only two ordinances in the NT for the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

What should we call this ordinance that has many names?

There are actually several of what I would call biblical names for the ordinance that we most often call “The Lord’s Supper.”

In Acts 2:42, Luke called it “the breaking of bread.”

Acts 2:42, 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

In 1 Corinthians 10:16, Paul used the term, “communion.”

1 Corinthians 10:16, 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

By communion, we mean a mutual participation or sharing or fellowship with one another. As the body of Christ, we commune with the Lord and one another.

In 1 Corinthians 11:20, Paul used the term that is probably most common in Baptist churches, but this actually an indictment to the Corinthian Church.

1 Corinthians 11:20, 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.

They were coming together to sin rather than to take the Lord’s Supper.

Another term that is often used in more liturgical churches like I mentioned previously, Catholics and Episcopalians and Methodists and Presbyterians, is the word “Eucharist.”

It comes from a New Testament word that means to give thanks. Listen to 1 Corinthians 11:24.

1 Corinthians 11:24, 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

A final term that I want to mention that does not have its origin in the Bible is the term “mass.”

It was used as the closing blessing or benediction of any worship service.

In the Roman Catholic Church, it eventually was applied to the liturgy of the Word or preaching and the liturgy of the Eucharist or Communion.

Do we understand the Lord’s Supper to be a “Christian ordinance” or a “Church ordinance?”

In other words, are the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper given to any Christian to observe on any occasion and in any circumstance or were they given to the local Church to administer?

Historically, and I believe biblically, these ordinances were given to the local church, and here’s why. Listen to the 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 and notice the repetition of a particular phrase.

On five occasions, Paul speaks of coming together. Individual Christians don’t come together. Churches come together.

Therefore, again, I would contend along with Baptists through the years, that believers are to participate in baptism and the Lord’s Supper under the authority and administration of a local church.

Consequently, when we take teenagers to youth camp and preteens to children’s camp, we don’t go to camps that baptize and take the Lord’s Supper. Why? Because that is not the local church.

Why? Because they aren’t Christians. No, because they aren’t a local church.

When did the Lord’s Supper begin?

The Lord’s Supper began with Jesus and is recounted for us in Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22.

Let’s look at Mark’s account beginning in Mark 14:12.

As you can see from Mark 14, the Lord’s Supper is closely tied to the Passover. However, do we remember what the Passover was?

What is the Passover?

The nation of Israel was being held captive by Pharaoh of Egypt. The Lord had brought nine plagues on Pharaoh and his people in an effort to force him to let His people go. However, he still refused.

The Passover is then introduced in Exodus 11 and described in Exodus 12:12-14.

As a tenth plague, God had announced that He would take the life of every first-born Egyptian male child and animal.

Consequently, each Jewish family was to sacrifice an unblemished lamb and mark the doorway of their home with its blood.

The Lord would then see the blood and pass over that home in His looking for the first-born Egyptian male children and animals.

Therefore, the Passover and the Lord’s Supper are tied together in that the Lord Jesus is the perfect Lamb whose blood was shed. When that blood is applied to your heart by Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, the judgment of God passes over you and gives you eternal life in heaven.

What elements should be included in the Lord’ Supper?

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 mentions two: the bread and the cup.

Therefore, we normally offer unleavened bread and grape juice.

Why unleavened bread? Leaven in the Bible is most often used to symbolize sin.

The first church probably used a single loaf of a bread, and drank wine from a common cup.

When church members ask me about using real win so we can be more biblical, I ask them if they want to use a common cup as well to be more biblical.

For some reason, they usually reconsider.

Christy and I, have actually used a common cup and real wine when taking the Lord’s Supper at a Baptist church in Kiev, Ukraine. I don’t recommend it.

When should we take the Lord’s Supper?

Some of you will probably be surprised at my answer to this, but the Churches of Christ got it right.

In the New Testament, the Lord’s Supper was taken weekly…every time the church met…and probably on Sunday night.

When my family and I were in San Antonio a few weeks ago, we attended a non-denominational church that celebrated the Lord’s Supper every Sunday.

Acts 20:7, 7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

My experience growing up at FBC Venus and FBC Alvarado, the Lord’s Supper was observed on a quarterly basis.

I think that has also been true here at EBC in the past.

Personally, I prefer monthly compared to quarterly, and I understand but don’t completely agree with the argument against weekly.

What does the Lord’s Supper mean?

The answer to this question is what separates denominations.

By the way, I don’t think having denominations is bad when we separate over Biblical interpretation.

While it won’t be that way in heaven, I don’t think it is bad here on earth…especially since we can’t interpret perfectly here, but we will there.

Where did this idea originate? See John 6:53-56.

Our Presbyterian friends hold to the Spiritual Presence view of communion.

They believe that Christ is present in the Lord’s Supper, but it cannot be His literal body and blood because He ascended into the heavens.

Most Baptists believe in what is called the Memorial or Symbolic view of Communion.

This view is credited to Ulrich Zwingli who said the Lord’s Supper is taken in memory of what Christ has done, and the elements are symbolic of the Lord’s spiritual presence (Hammett, 280).

In other words, the bread symbolizes Jesus’ body. The cup symbolizes Jesus’ blood, and we do this in remembrance of Him.

Why do we take the Lord’s Supper?

We find our answers to this question from 1 Corinthians 10-11, and there are four.

First, we take the Lord’s Supper to renew our commitment to Christ and to one another, brothers and sisters in Christ who are mostly committed to one church, Emory Baptist Church.

1 Corinthians 10:17, 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

Second, we take the Lord’s Supper to give thanks.

1 Corinthians 11:24,…24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Third, we take the Lord’s Supper to remember what Jesus did for us through His death on the cross.

Fourth, we take the Lord’s Supper to proclaim the message of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:26, 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Who should be invited to take the Lord’s Supper?