Hanging out in airports and waiting for the next plane is a great atmosphere to learn patience. Maybe God designed those experiences to help us develop and cultivate the fruit of the spirit with regard to patience.
Hmmmm...
Maybe God does that with other experiences and circumstances--to develop our character and the fruit of the Spirit--to conform us to the character of Christ...just maybe...James 1:2-4
A little encouragement to pay more attention to our circumstances and ask the question: What is God teaching me in and through this?
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Faithfulness and Grace
For whatever reason, in the last couple of days, my mind has been drawn back to the difficulties and trials of the past year--mama's passing, the hospitalization of my daddy, the rebelliousness of my sister, some of the struggles we've had as a church body--they have all flooded my mind and heart.
Yet, this morning, the Lord has encouraged me through his word as I sit here preparing the devotion for Liberty Commons tonight.
Two passages of scripture have been brought to my attention by the Holy Spirit.
One is Lamentations 3:19-24 - The Faithfulness of God
And, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - God's Grace is Sufficient
Through the difficulties and trials, God's grace has been faithful to supply all that has been necessary for enduring--but, more than enduring; learning and growing through the circumstances--for me, personally, growing as a man, husband, son, father, and pastor/teacher.
All of this is what CJ Mahaney has called "evidences of grace." For all this I am grateful--even though the heartache and pain have some days difficult to bear.
Praise God for his immeasurable grace and faithfulness.
Ephesians 3:20-21
Yet, this morning, the Lord has encouraged me through his word as I sit here preparing the devotion for Liberty Commons tonight.
Two passages of scripture have been brought to my attention by the Holy Spirit.
One is Lamentations 3:19-24 - The Faithfulness of God
And, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - God's Grace is Sufficient
Through the difficulties and trials, God's grace has been faithful to supply all that has been necessary for enduring--but, more than enduring; learning and growing through the circumstances--for me, personally, growing as a man, husband, son, father, and pastor/teacher.
All of this is what CJ Mahaney has called "evidences of grace." For all this I am grateful--even though the heartache and pain have some days difficult to bear.
Praise God for his immeasurable grace and faithfulness.
Ephesians 3:20-21
Monday, April 27, 2009
The Cross
As I was reading The Tale of Three Trees to 40-50 preschoolers this morning, I was amazed at the emotion of unbelievable joy that began to rise up in me as I was reading the story.
Tears even began to swell in my eyes--and I was just reading a story...I guess the song is true...the longer we serve him, the sweeter he grows...mama would have liked that...
If you've never read the book, it is a piece of folklore that tells the story of three trees and what they want to be when they grow up. One wants to hold treasure...one wants to sail on the ocean...the other just wants to stay on the hill and point to God...each at first are disappointed at what happens to them...
Tree #1 becomes a manger...but, the one that Mary and Joseph lay baby Jesus in..."the greatest treasure in the world"
Tree #2 becomes a fishing boat...but, the one Jesus falls asleep in and then calms the storm...
Tree #3 becomes just beams of lumber...but, the lumber that forms the cross Jesus dies on...
Each tree's dream came true...but, not the way they expected.
Praise the Lord for Jesus--his life, his death, his resurrection--AWESOME!
Tears even began to swell in my eyes--and I was just reading a story...I guess the song is true...the longer we serve him, the sweeter he grows...mama would have liked that...
If you've never read the book, it is a piece of folklore that tells the story of three trees and what they want to be when they grow up. One wants to hold treasure...one wants to sail on the ocean...the other just wants to stay on the hill and point to God...each at first are disappointed at what happens to them...
Tree #1 becomes a manger...but, the one that Mary and Joseph lay baby Jesus in..."the greatest treasure in the world"
Tree #2 becomes a fishing boat...but, the one Jesus falls asleep in and then calms the storm...
Tree #3 becomes just beams of lumber...but, the lumber that forms the cross Jesus dies on...
Each tree's dream came true...but, not the way they expected.
Praise the Lord for Jesus--his life, his death, his resurrection--AWESOME!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Ten Commandments
Today, we begin a sermon series on the ten commandments. This will be a fascinating study as to the application and implications of these commandments to Christians today.
I am thankful for the privilege of being able to teach the Bible weekly. It is a joy and an honor.
Today, we are dealing with introductory issues concerning the "ten words" (Decalogue).
More to come...
I am thankful for the privilege of being able to teach the Bible weekly. It is a joy and an honor.
Today, we are dealing with introductory issues concerning the "ten words" (Decalogue).
More to come...
Operation Inasmuch 2009 Update
We had a blast yesterday--met new people--great day...it was worth the heat and the exhaustion I'm feeling right now.
Pray for God to give the increase to the seeds planted in word and deed yesterday.
Big Thank you to everyone who participated. THANK YOU!
Pray for God to give the increase to the seeds planted in word and deed yesterday.
Big Thank you to everyone who participated. THANK YOU!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
SBC Life
Check out the post over at Ed Stetzer's blog.
Excellent one concerning the declining health of the SBC.
Excellent one concerning the declining health of the SBC.
Discipline of Grace - Chapter 2
After reading this chapter, I realized that I am a Pharisee, plain and simple.
Luke 18:9-14 - We are so quick to point out, "I'm glad I'm not like the Pharisee", which in reality, makes us just like the Pharisee.
Performance based living--it's a no win situation.
"Grace, grace, God's grace--grace that will pardon and cleanse within" That same grace is what we need everyday--not just to be saved, but for daily living.
Another quote from Jerry Bridges (paraphrase, don't have the book in front of me) -- "Your bad days are not so bad that you are out of the reach of God's grace, nor are your good days so good that you are not in need of God's grace."
Why is it so hard to live by grace? It digs to the very core of our self-sufficiency and our self-righteous tendencies because we want some credit for our goodness, our good deeds, and even our obedience. We want to say, "Hey, God, you owe me."
God, grant me grace for this day--for whatever, by your sovereign providence, you allow into my life that I may encounter it resting in your grace alone by faith alone in Christ alone.
Man, I have much to learn.
Luke 18:9-14 - We are so quick to point out, "I'm glad I'm not like the Pharisee", which in reality, makes us just like the Pharisee.
Performance based living--it's a no win situation.
"Grace, grace, God's grace--grace that will pardon and cleanse within" That same grace is what we need everyday--not just to be saved, but for daily living.
Another quote from Jerry Bridges (paraphrase, don't have the book in front of me) -- "Your bad days are not so bad that you are out of the reach of God's grace, nor are your good days so good that you are not in need of God's grace."
Why is it so hard to live by grace? It digs to the very core of our self-sufficiency and our self-righteous tendencies because we want some credit for our goodness, our good deeds, and even our obedience. We want to say, "Hey, God, you owe me."
God, grant me grace for this day--for whatever, by your sovereign providence, you allow into my life that I may encounter it resting in your grace alone by faith alone in Christ alone.
Man, I have much to learn.
About Change
Ed Stetzer put this quote on Twitter:
"People & denominations never change til the pain of staying the same grows greater than the pain of change."
That's great--and, unfortunately, describes too many Southern Baptist Churches that are dying who have not realized this truth.
God, give us grace.
"People & denominations never change til the pain of staying the same grows greater than the pain of change."
That's great--and, unfortunately, describes too many Southern Baptist Churches that are dying who have not realized this truth.
God, give us grace.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Grace vs. Performance part 2
The following will be in our church's newsletter for May:
A gospel of grace or a gospel of performance? I have a tendency to preach the former, but live the latter. I venture to guess that many others do as well. In fact, by way of confession, I have been guilty of preaching the latter at times--the do better Christianity that I have heard all my life; now, I have in many ways tried to impose that on others. God, forgive me.
The Lord re-taught me this past week that the gospel is not only for un-believers, but for believers as well. I need a daily dose of the gospel of grace that evokes the response like the tax collector in Luke 18 - "God, be merciful to me a sinner" - with the realization that the blessings of God are not secured by my performance, but by grace in Jesus.
According to Jerry Bridges, this does not preclude personal discipline. What it does do is replace a faulty understanding and foundation of the purpose of personal discipline in the pursuit of holiness (1 Timothy 4:7) based upon God's grace through faith.
What I desire more than anything else is daily, consistent fellowship with Jesus and concentration upon him (Oswald Chambers) expressed within the context of all my daily activities, not a hard, fast, legalistic rule that will either push me toward Phariseeism or push me toward false guilt.
This is tough for me--my whole life has been performance based and task oriented. God, give me the grace and mercy to change.
For more on this subject, pick up a copy of Jerry Bridges' book The Discipline of Grace.
May God grant you grace.
A gospel of grace or a gospel of performance? I have a tendency to preach the former, but live the latter. I venture to guess that many others do as well. In fact, by way of confession, I have been guilty of preaching the latter at times--the do better Christianity that I have heard all my life; now, I have in many ways tried to impose that on others. God, forgive me.
The Lord re-taught me this past week that the gospel is not only for un-believers, but for believers as well. I need a daily dose of the gospel of grace that evokes the response like the tax collector in Luke 18 - "God, be merciful to me a sinner" - with the realization that the blessings of God are not secured by my performance, but by grace in Jesus.
According to Jerry Bridges, this does not preclude personal discipline. What it does do is replace a faulty understanding and foundation of the purpose of personal discipline in the pursuit of holiness (1 Timothy 4:7) based upon God's grace through faith.
What I desire more than anything else is daily, consistent fellowship with Jesus and concentration upon him (Oswald Chambers) expressed within the context of all my daily activities, not a hard, fast, legalistic rule that will either push me toward Phariseeism or push me toward false guilt.
This is tough for me--my whole life has been performance based and task oriented. God, give me the grace and mercy to change.
For more on this subject, pick up a copy of Jerry Bridges' book The Discipline of Grace.
May God grant you grace.
Grace vs. Performance
Jerry Bridges, in his book The Discipline of Grace, he quotes a friend of his saying we ought to "preach the gospel to ourselves everyday."
That's good advice for all of us to remind us that God's blessings are secured in Jesus Christ, not by our performance. It was the tax collector who went away "justified", not the Pharisee.
I am more like the Pharisee.
The gospel is not just for un-believers, but for believers. Once we are saved, the gospel does not stop applying to our lives--something I need to re-learn, by God's grace of course (Titus 2:11-14).
"God, be merciful to me, a sinner."
That's good advice for all of us to remind us that God's blessings are secured in Jesus Christ, not by our performance. It was the tax collector who went away "justified", not the Pharisee.
I am more like the Pharisee.
The gospel is not just for un-believers, but for believers. Once we are saved, the gospel does not stop applying to our lives--something I need to re-learn, by God's grace of course (Titus 2:11-14).
"God, be merciful to me, a sinner."
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Receiving Correction
It is not easy to receive correction--regardless of where it comes. Our pride rises up and our ego kicks in--even when it comes from a blog post from a more mature, fellow Christian.
Tim Challies over at Informing the Reforming yesterday gave a wonderful corrective for me personally about quiet times, spiritual disciplines, and grace vs. performance based measurements in my relationship with God. Most of his comments were reflections on Jerry Bridges' book The Discipline of Grace. It is the post from yesterday, but worth the scroll down to read it--then, get Jerry's book (think I might be reading it again soon).
Then, this morning as I was studying TW Hunt and Catherine Walker's The Disciple's Prayer Life, I began to think about my own relationship/fellowship with God and how much I, myself, measure it based upon performance instead of grace.
So, I have begun to pray--God, show me how to live by grace through faith.
I received at least a partial answer to that this morning during my study--"Fellowship/relationship with Jesus is expressed in and through all the activities I participate in through a day by grace and in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 5:15-18) primarily motivated by the exaltation and glory of Jesus and the expansion of the gospel"
That's at least a start--because, let's face it, performance based measurements lend themselves very easily toward legalism--something I grew up with, and in some ways still hinders my progress toward maturity in this area.
Heavenly Father, give me grace.
Tim Challies over at Informing the Reforming yesterday gave a wonderful corrective for me personally about quiet times, spiritual disciplines, and grace vs. performance based measurements in my relationship with God. Most of his comments were reflections on Jerry Bridges' book The Discipline of Grace. It is the post from yesterday, but worth the scroll down to read it--then, get Jerry's book (think I might be reading it again soon).
Then, this morning as I was studying TW Hunt and Catherine Walker's The Disciple's Prayer Life, I began to think about my own relationship/fellowship with God and how much I, myself, measure it based upon performance instead of grace.
So, I have begun to pray--God, show me how to live by grace through faith.
I received at least a partial answer to that this morning during my study--"Fellowship/relationship with Jesus is expressed in and through all the activities I participate in through a day by grace and in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 5:15-18) primarily motivated by the exaltation and glory of Jesus and the expansion of the gospel"
That's at least a start--because, let's face it, performance based measurements lend themselves very easily toward legalism--something I grew up with, and in some ways still hinders my progress toward maturity in this area.
Heavenly Father, give me grace.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Axioms from Dr. Akin
For a Great Commission Resurgence. We would do well to heed this call--all of us.
I. We must commit ourselves to the total and absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ in every area of our lives (Col 3:16, 17, 23-24).
II. We must be gospel centered in all our endeavors for the glory of God (Rom 1:16).
III. We must take our stand on the firm foundation of the inerrant and infallible Word of God affirming it's sufficiency in all matters (Matt 5:17-18; John 10:35; 17:17; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
IV. We must devote ourselves to a radical pursuit of the Great Commission in the context of obeying the Great Commandments (Matt 28:16-20; 22:37-40).
V. We must affirm the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as a healthy and sufficient guide for building a theological consensus for partnership in the gospel, refusing to be sidetracked by theological agendas that distract us from our Lord's Commission (1 Tim 6:3-4).
VI. We must dedicate ourselves to a passionate pursuit of the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus across our nation and to all nations answering the call to go, disciple, baptize and teach all that the Lord commanded (Matt 28:16-20; Acts 1:8; Rom 1:5; 15:20).
VII. We must covenant to build gospel saturated homes that see children as a gift from God and as our first and primary mission field (Deut 6:1-9; Psalm 127; 128; Eph 6:4).
VIII. We must recognize the need to rethink our Convention structure and identity so that we maximize our energy and resources for the fulfilling of the Great Commission (1 Cor 10:31).
IX. We must see the necessity for pastors to be faithful Bible preachers who teach us both the content of the Scriptures and the theology embedded in the Scriptures (2 Tim 4:1-5).
X. We must encourage pastors to see themselves as the head of a gospel missions agency who will lead the way in calling out the called for international assignments but also equip and train all their people to see themselves as missionaries for Jesus regardless of where they live (Eph 4:11-16).
XI. We must pledge ourselves to a renewed cooperation that is gospel centered and built around a biblical and theological core and not methodological consensus or agreement (Phil 2:1-5; 4:2-9).
XII. We must accept our constant need to humble ourselves and repent of pride, arrogance, jealousy, hatred, contentions, lying, selfish ambitions, laziness, complacency, idolatries and other sins of the flesh; pleading with our Lord to do what only He can do in us and through us and all for His glory (Gal 5:22-26; James 4:1-10).
I. We must commit ourselves to the total and absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ in every area of our lives (Col 3:16, 17, 23-24).
II. We must be gospel centered in all our endeavors for the glory of God (Rom 1:16).
III. We must take our stand on the firm foundation of the inerrant and infallible Word of God affirming it's sufficiency in all matters (Matt 5:17-18; John 10:35; 17:17; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
IV. We must devote ourselves to a radical pursuit of the Great Commission in the context of obeying the Great Commandments (Matt 28:16-20; 22:37-40).
V. We must affirm the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as a healthy and sufficient guide for building a theological consensus for partnership in the gospel, refusing to be sidetracked by theological agendas that distract us from our Lord's Commission (1 Tim 6:3-4).
VI. We must dedicate ourselves to a passionate pursuit of the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus across our nation and to all nations answering the call to go, disciple, baptize and teach all that the Lord commanded (Matt 28:16-20; Acts 1:8; Rom 1:5; 15:20).
VII. We must covenant to build gospel saturated homes that see children as a gift from God and as our first and primary mission field (Deut 6:1-9; Psalm 127; 128; Eph 6:4).
VIII. We must recognize the need to rethink our Convention structure and identity so that we maximize our energy and resources for the fulfilling of the Great Commission (1 Cor 10:31).
IX. We must see the necessity for pastors to be faithful Bible preachers who teach us both the content of the Scriptures and the theology embedded in the Scriptures (2 Tim 4:1-5).
X. We must encourage pastors to see themselves as the head of a gospel missions agency who will lead the way in calling out the called for international assignments but also equip and train all their people to see themselves as missionaries for Jesus regardless of where they live (Eph 4:11-16).
XI. We must pledge ourselves to a renewed cooperation that is gospel centered and built around a biblical and theological core and not methodological consensus or agreement (Phil 2:1-5; 4:2-9).
XII. We must accept our constant need to humble ourselves and repent of pride, arrogance, jealousy, hatred, contentions, lying, selfish ambitions, laziness, complacency, idolatries and other sins of the flesh; pleading with our Lord to do what only He can do in us and through us and all for His glory (Gal 5:22-26; James 4:1-10).
Great Thoughts from Great Men
This from Justin Taylor's web site:
From philosophy professor James Spiegel:
1. Augustine (5th century): Remember that you are a citizen of another kingdom.
2. Martin Luther (16th century): Expect politicians to be corrupt.
3. Thomas Aquinas (13th century): God has made himself known in nature.
4. John Calvin (16th century): God is sovereign over all, including our suffering.
5. Jonathan Edwards (18th century): God is beautiful, and all beauty is divine.
6. Thomas a’Kempis (15th century): Practice self-denial with a passion.
7. John Wesley (18th century): Be disciplined and make the best use of your time.
8. Fyodor Dostoevsky (19th century): God’s grace can reach anyone.
9. Dietrich Bonhoeffer (20th century): Beware of cheap grace.
10. Alvin Plantinga (21st century): Moral virtue is crucial for intellectual health.
Check it out at Between Two Worlds
From philosophy professor James Spiegel:
1. Augustine (5th century): Remember that you are a citizen of another kingdom.
2. Martin Luther (16th century): Expect politicians to be corrupt.
3. Thomas Aquinas (13th century): God has made himself known in nature.
4. John Calvin (16th century): God is sovereign over all, including our suffering.
5. Jonathan Edwards (18th century): God is beautiful, and all beauty is divine.
6. Thomas a’Kempis (15th century): Practice self-denial with a passion.
7. John Wesley (18th century): Be disciplined and make the best use of your time.
8. Fyodor Dostoevsky (19th century): God’s grace can reach anyone.
9. Dietrich Bonhoeffer (20th century): Beware of cheap grace.
10. Alvin Plantinga (21st century): Moral virtue is crucial for intellectual health.
Check it out at Between Two Worlds
Receiving Criticism
When criticism (constructive or otherwise) comes, how do we respond?
Most of the time, as I am learning, there is usually a kernel of truth in the criticism that we need to heed and pay attention to.
Therefore, responding with grace and humility is always best--putting aside our ego and pride and thinking we have arrived mentality.
Therefore, as someone else has said, let's turn criticism into coaching moments to help us grow into Christ-likeness and maturity.
This is no doubt a very hard lesson to learn because we are so egocentric and full of pride.
May God's grace give us humility in the face of criticism.
Most of the time, as I am learning, there is usually a kernel of truth in the criticism that we need to heed and pay attention to.
Therefore, responding with grace and humility is always best--putting aside our ego and pride and thinking we have arrived mentality.
Therefore, as someone else has said, let's turn criticism into coaching moments to help us grow into Christ-likeness and maturity.
This is no doubt a very hard lesson to learn because we are so egocentric and full of pride.
May God's grace give us humility in the face of criticism.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Great Commission Resurgence
I want to call your attention to Dr. Daniel Akin's sermon on a Great Commission Resurgence in our convention over at Between the Times
His main points are excellent. I pray that this will happen.
His main points are excellent. I pray that this will happen.
What do you take for your heart burn?
Here are six elements to cultivate a burning heart for Jesus:
1. A burning heart for Jesus is about relationship, not religion.
2. A burning heart for Jesus is grounded in the scripture. (vv. 25-27, 32, 44-45)
3. A burning heart for Jesus is centered on the cross and the resurrection. (vv. 26, 34, 39-40, 46)
4. A burning heart for Jesus is expressed and enlivened through community.
5. A burning heart for Jesus shines in the darkness. (vv. 47-48)
6. A burning heart for Jesus is enabled by the Holy Spirit. (v. 49)
1. A burning heart for Jesus is about relationship, not religion.
2. A burning heart for Jesus is grounded in the scripture. (vv. 25-27, 32, 44-45)
3. A burning heart for Jesus is centered on the cross and the resurrection. (vv. 26, 34, 39-40, 46)
4. A burning heart for Jesus is expressed and enlivened through community.
5. A burning heart for Jesus shines in the darkness. (vv. 47-48)
6. A burning heart for Jesus is enabled by the Holy Spirit. (v. 49)
The Burning Heart
I have always been struck by the statement in Luke 24:32 by the two men Jesus encountered on the road to Emmaus.
After Jesus revealed himself to them, they said, "Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us on the road and while he opened the scriptures to us?"
It is so easy for things to "pour cold water" on our passion for Jesus. We can get so easily distracted and caught up in so many things.
It is my desire for myself and the people whom I serve that Jesus would become the "predominant preoccupation" (can't remember who said it that way, but it's good) of our minds and hearts so much so that His life just flows through us by the Holy Spirit in and through the activities of life.
That only comes as we cultivate and nurture and feed the fire of our hearts.
That's what we'll be teaching on today.
After Jesus revealed himself to them, they said, "Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us on the road and while he opened the scriptures to us?"
It is so easy for things to "pour cold water" on our passion for Jesus. We can get so easily distracted and caught up in so many things.
It is my desire for myself and the people whom I serve that Jesus would become the "predominant preoccupation" (can't remember who said it that way, but it's good) of our minds and hearts so much so that His life just flows through us by the Holy Spirit in and through the activities of life.
That only comes as we cultivate and nurture and feed the fire of our hearts.
That's what we'll be teaching on today.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Christian Disciplines
Here is a answer to the question from Dallas Willard concerning how to keep spiritual disciplines from becoming legalistic - Christian Discipline
What applies today and what does not apply?
Click on the link to get an excellent answer from John Piper - How do we tell what applies today?
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Resurrection Sunday Sermon - Jesus is Our Hope
Easter 2009 – April 12, 2009 – Luke 24:1-12 – Jesus is Our Hope
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
(Gal 4:4-7 ESV)
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
(Rom 3:21-26 ESV)
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
(Rom 5:1-5 ESV)
The hope that does not disappoint or put us to shame has been…
• brought to the forefront emphatically,
• demonstrated clearly,
• secured & guaranteed unequivocally,
• been approved, settled, magnified, and gloriously affirmed by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
I wonder how the friends, family, and disciples waited for those three days—from Jesus’ crucifixion to his resurrection…
I wonder what thoughts went through their head…I wonder about the depth of their grief and sorrow and pain…the heartache they experienced…
Maybe those were hours of despair and hopelessness…because the one they thought was the Messiah had been crucified and killed…the one who was going to bring peace and resolution to all their worries had died…like a common criminal…
Their hopes had been dashed…they had been shattered by Jesus’ death…
Yet, in the opening verses of Luke 24, there is a building up with anticipation and excitement of the renewed hope that is about to be revealed by the writer.
As is the case with all four gospel writers’ attention given to this event, there is at the beginning some confusion and wonder and astonishment displayed by those who come to the tomb first.
Yet, there is a common thread of the hope that does not put to shame that is woven throughout each of the gospels.
In Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s gospel, it is found in the message given by the angelic messengers to the tomb visitors…
Here in Luke we find the message of hope in vv. 5-8.
Yes…there it is…hope emphatically and succinctly declared in one phrase in v. 6
HE IS NOT HERE! HE IS RISEN!
Just to hear those words…to hear the declaration of that reality…what it must have done to those first hearers…
The reality of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the ultimate and defining expression of the hope that does not disappoint…
The resurrection is the encapsulating phenomenon that solidifies the bedrock of our hope in Jesus Christ…
HE IS NOT HERE! HE IS RISEN!
Though John does not explicitly use this phrase in his account of the first resurrection morning, it is explicitly implied and demonstrated by the actions and reactions of those involved.
Therefore, this phrase serves as a common thread of the declaration of hope among all four gospel writers…
Furthermore, it is not necessarily the phrase itself, but the event to which the phrase attests and calls our attention…
Jesus has risen from the dead…the actual historical record of someone rising from the dead never to die again…in any manner—physically, spiritually, or eternally
But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
(Rom 4:23-25 ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1Pe 1:3 ESV)
“A living hope…”
“through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”
Jesus-centered hope is not like the hope we hear many people speak of today…
We hear things like, “well, I sure hope so” being said without any confidence or assurance of that which we desire to come to pass
We hear things like, “they’re only down by 10 with 5 minutes left, there’s still…hope”—we say it more out of ego than any assurance of the comeback…
We hear things like, “I sure hope things get better” as if our hope and joy and peace rested solely in the quality of our circumstances
We hear things like, “all hope is lost”--
We hear things said today that more resemble Disney’s “wish upon a star” fairy tale turn into a prince kind of wishing instead of Jesus-centered hope…
Biblical hope—gospel-centered hope—Jesus saturated hope is not like this at all…
Hope in the bible is not wishful thinking…
Rather, it is the present realization of a future expectation that transforms the way we live in and think about the present situation
Hope in the bible is living in the present with a steadfast confidence and assurance of a future expectation…
It is living in the present with an unwavering sureness and certainty based upon the rock-solid foundation of God’s promises which are “yes” in Jesus
Jesus is our hope…
He is our steadfast confidence and assurance…he is our unwavering sureness and certainty
In our day when the gates of hell seem to be prevailing, our hope is Jesus
In our day when secularism, governmentism, pluralism, and humanism are growing in our culture by leaps and bounds, our hope is Jesus
In our day when families are crumbling on every side, our hope is Jesus
In our day when the weight of the world comes heavy upon our shoulders, our hope is Jesus
In our day when the news gets so bad we can’t stand it, our hope is Jesus
In our day when the rebellious children break our hearts, our hope is Jesus
In our day when the devil is on the prowl devouring our loved ones, our hope is Jesus
In our day when the road gets long and nights get dark, our hope is Jesus
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
When darkness seems to hide his face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
That’s my hope—Jesus Christ, the hope of glory—the one crucified, the one buried, the one risen from the dead-----
Jesus is our hope in regard to our past, present, and future sins
• Jesus is the lamb of God who took away our sin
• Jesus is the lamb of God who propitiated the wrath of God against sinners
• Jesus is the advocate who is ever-presently interceding on our behalf in the presence of the Father
• Jesus is the great high priest who sympathizes with us and helps us when we are tempted and even when we give into sin’s trap
Jesus is our hope in regard to our present life
So many people are looking for hope in so many places…
• The bailout plan
• The president
• The congress
• The next stimulus package
• The lottery
• The military
• The stock market
• The bottom of a bottle
• The next job opportunity
• The next self-help book
• The next self-esteem movement
• The next supreme court decision
• The next NBA superstar
• The next recruiting class for your favorite college
• The next boyfriend or girlfriend
People are looking for something that is secure and stable and grounded and trustworthy having substance that is solid…something that will not let them down and crush their hope
You name it people are looking for hope in it—so many people have a case of the “if onlies”—if only this or if only that…
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
(Psa 121:1-2 ESV)
The mountains were a source of strength and safety and hope, but the Psalmist says, I’m not looking at the mountains for hope, I’m looking to the one who made the mountains…
Hope in this present life is Jesus Himself—the one and only—the king, the creator, the sustainer, the one with the name that is above every name
Jesus is our hope in regard to our enemy death
1Co 15:26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
The death of Jesus on the cross stands as the central reality of the gospel accentuated and highlighted by His resurrection from the dead as the final death blow to our final enemy, death…
Until the day when death is no more, the hope we have in the present to face our final enemy is found in Jesus Christ, and in him alone
From John Piper’s website, he writes a conversation between Christian and Death in similar fashion to John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress:
CHRISTIAN: Hello, Death, my old enemy. My old slave-master. Have you come to talk to me again? To frighten me? I am not the person you think I am. I am not the one you used to talk to. Something has happened. Let me ask you a question, Death. Where is your sting?
DEATH, sneeringly: My sting is your sin.
CHRISTIAN: I know that, Death. But that’s not what I asked you. I asked, where is your sting? I know what it is. But tell me where it is. Why are you fidgeting, Death? Why are you looking away? Why are you turning to go? Wait, Death, you have not answered my question. Where is your sting? Where is, my sin? What? You have no answer? But, Death, why do you have no answer? How will you terrify me, if you have no answer?
O Death, I will tell you the answer. Where is your sting? Where is my sin? It is hanging on that tree. God made Christ to be sin—my sin. When he died, the penalty of my sin was paid. The power of it was broken. I bear it no more. Farewell, Death. You need not show up here again to frighten me. God will tell you when to come next time. And when you come, you will be his servant. For me, you will have no sting.
Friend, in regard to sin—past, present, and future—in regard to the pressures of this present life—in regard to our enemy of death and our encounter with him—Jesus is our hope—steadfast, sure, confident, and never-failing
In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.
Where is your hope this morning?
In what or whom are you placing your hope?
On what or whom are you building your hope?
Friend, if you are here today expecting and trusting your religiosity, your spirituality, your morality, your karma, or your good deeds, your church attendance, your church membership, your tithing, your baptism, your communion partaking to achieve and secure for you a right standing before a holy and righteous God, you are sadly mistaken—your only hope, your only guarantee, your only security is Jesus as the all-sufficient mediator and Savior
Christian, if you are looking for satisfaction and significance and peace and happiness in the temporary trappings of this world—if you are looking for something secure and safe and hopeful from this world—if the troubles of our day are disheartening, if the struggles are tough and getting tougher—Christian, your only hope is Jesus—your only eternally satisfying hope and treasure is Jesus
I leave you with this closing blessing from Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
(Gal 4:4-7 ESV)
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
(Rom 3:21-26 ESV)
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
(Rom 5:1-5 ESV)
The hope that does not disappoint or put us to shame has been…
• brought to the forefront emphatically,
• demonstrated clearly,
• secured & guaranteed unequivocally,
• been approved, settled, magnified, and gloriously affirmed by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
I wonder how the friends, family, and disciples waited for those three days—from Jesus’ crucifixion to his resurrection…
I wonder what thoughts went through their head…I wonder about the depth of their grief and sorrow and pain…the heartache they experienced…
Maybe those were hours of despair and hopelessness…because the one they thought was the Messiah had been crucified and killed…the one who was going to bring peace and resolution to all their worries had died…like a common criminal…
Their hopes had been dashed…they had been shattered by Jesus’ death…
Yet, in the opening verses of Luke 24, there is a building up with anticipation and excitement of the renewed hope that is about to be revealed by the writer.
As is the case with all four gospel writers’ attention given to this event, there is at the beginning some confusion and wonder and astonishment displayed by those who come to the tomb first.
Yet, there is a common thread of the hope that does not put to shame that is woven throughout each of the gospels.
In Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s gospel, it is found in the message given by the angelic messengers to the tomb visitors…
Here in Luke we find the message of hope in vv. 5-8.
Yes…there it is…hope emphatically and succinctly declared in one phrase in v. 6
HE IS NOT HERE! HE IS RISEN!
Just to hear those words…to hear the declaration of that reality…what it must have done to those first hearers…
The reality of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the ultimate and defining expression of the hope that does not disappoint…
The resurrection is the encapsulating phenomenon that solidifies the bedrock of our hope in Jesus Christ…
HE IS NOT HERE! HE IS RISEN!
Though John does not explicitly use this phrase in his account of the first resurrection morning, it is explicitly implied and demonstrated by the actions and reactions of those involved.
Therefore, this phrase serves as a common thread of the declaration of hope among all four gospel writers…
Furthermore, it is not necessarily the phrase itself, but the event to which the phrase attests and calls our attention…
Jesus has risen from the dead…the actual historical record of someone rising from the dead never to die again…in any manner—physically, spiritually, or eternally
But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
(Rom 4:23-25 ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1Pe 1:3 ESV)
“A living hope…”
“through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”
Jesus-centered hope is not like the hope we hear many people speak of today…
We hear things like, “well, I sure hope so” being said without any confidence or assurance of that which we desire to come to pass
We hear things like, “they’re only down by 10 with 5 minutes left, there’s still…hope”—we say it more out of ego than any assurance of the comeback…
We hear things like, “I sure hope things get better” as if our hope and joy and peace rested solely in the quality of our circumstances
We hear things like, “all hope is lost”--
We hear things said today that more resemble Disney’s “wish upon a star” fairy tale turn into a prince kind of wishing instead of Jesus-centered hope…
Biblical hope—gospel-centered hope—Jesus saturated hope is not like this at all…
Hope in the bible is not wishful thinking…
Rather, it is the present realization of a future expectation that transforms the way we live in and think about the present situation
Hope in the bible is living in the present with a steadfast confidence and assurance of a future expectation…
It is living in the present with an unwavering sureness and certainty based upon the rock-solid foundation of God’s promises which are “yes” in Jesus
Jesus is our hope…
He is our steadfast confidence and assurance…he is our unwavering sureness and certainty
In our day when the gates of hell seem to be prevailing, our hope is Jesus
In our day when secularism, governmentism, pluralism, and humanism are growing in our culture by leaps and bounds, our hope is Jesus
In our day when families are crumbling on every side, our hope is Jesus
In our day when the weight of the world comes heavy upon our shoulders, our hope is Jesus
In our day when the news gets so bad we can’t stand it, our hope is Jesus
In our day when the rebellious children break our hearts, our hope is Jesus
In our day when the devil is on the prowl devouring our loved ones, our hope is Jesus
In our day when the road gets long and nights get dark, our hope is Jesus
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
When darkness seems to hide his face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
That’s my hope—Jesus Christ, the hope of glory—the one crucified, the one buried, the one risen from the dead-----
Jesus is our hope in regard to our past, present, and future sins
• Jesus is the lamb of God who took away our sin
• Jesus is the lamb of God who propitiated the wrath of God against sinners
• Jesus is the advocate who is ever-presently interceding on our behalf in the presence of the Father
• Jesus is the great high priest who sympathizes with us and helps us when we are tempted and even when we give into sin’s trap
Jesus is our hope in regard to our present life
So many people are looking for hope in so many places…
• The bailout plan
• The president
• The congress
• The next stimulus package
• The lottery
• The military
• The stock market
• The bottom of a bottle
• The next job opportunity
• The next self-help book
• The next self-esteem movement
• The next supreme court decision
• The next NBA superstar
• The next recruiting class for your favorite college
• The next boyfriend or girlfriend
People are looking for something that is secure and stable and grounded and trustworthy having substance that is solid…something that will not let them down and crush their hope
You name it people are looking for hope in it—so many people have a case of the “if onlies”—if only this or if only that…
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
(Psa 121:1-2 ESV)
The mountains were a source of strength and safety and hope, but the Psalmist says, I’m not looking at the mountains for hope, I’m looking to the one who made the mountains…
Hope in this present life is Jesus Himself—the one and only—the king, the creator, the sustainer, the one with the name that is above every name
Jesus is our hope in regard to our enemy death
1Co 15:26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
The death of Jesus on the cross stands as the central reality of the gospel accentuated and highlighted by His resurrection from the dead as the final death blow to our final enemy, death…
Until the day when death is no more, the hope we have in the present to face our final enemy is found in Jesus Christ, and in him alone
From John Piper’s website, he writes a conversation between Christian and Death in similar fashion to John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress:
CHRISTIAN: Hello, Death, my old enemy. My old slave-master. Have you come to talk to me again? To frighten me? I am not the person you think I am. I am not the one you used to talk to. Something has happened. Let me ask you a question, Death. Where is your sting?
DEATH, sneeringly: My sting is your sin.
CHRISTIAN: I know that, Death. But that’s not what I asked you. I asked, where is your sting? I know what it is. But tell me where it is. Why are you fidgeting, Death? Why are you looking away? Why are you turning to go? Wait, Death, you have not answered my question. Where is your sting? Where is, my sin? What? You have no answer? But, Death, why do you have no answer? How will you terrify me, if you have no answer?
O Death, I will tell you the answer. Where is your sting? Where is my sin? It is hanging on that tree. God made Christ to be sin—my sin. When he died, the penalty of my sin was paid. The power of it was broken. I bear it no more. Farewell, Death. You need not show up here again to frighten me. God will tell you when to come next time. And when you come, you will be his servant. For me, you will have no sting.
Friend, in regard to sin—past, present, and future—in regard to the pressures of this present life—in regard to our enemy of death and our encounter with him—Jesus is our hope—steadfast, sure, confident, and never-failing
In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.
Where is your hope this morning?
In what or whom are you placing your hope?
On what or whom are you building your hope?
Friend, if you are here today expecting and trusting your religiosity, your spirituality, your morality, your karma, or your good deeds, your church attendance, your church membership, your tithing, your baptism, your communion partaking to achieve and secure for you a right standing before a holy and righteous God, you are sadly mistaken—your only hope, your only guarantee, your only security is Jesus as the all-sufficient mediator and Savior
Christian, if you are looking for satisfaction and significance and peace and happiness in the temporary trappings of this world—if you are looking for something secure and safe and hopeful from this world—if the troubles of our day are disheartening, if the struggles are tough and getting tougher—Christian, your only hope is Jesus—your only eternally satisfying hope and treasure is Jesus
I leave you with this closing blessing from Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
The Pain and Agony of Gethsemane
Sermon Transcript from 4/5/09-----
Luke 22:39-46
In the Garden…Pain and Agony
Last night, thousands, maybe millions of people were watching the final four games—at least 70 thousand in the stadium itself.
Other millions were watching the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony screaming at the top of their lungs “Thank you Austin! Thank you Austin!”
What did he ever do for me—nothing!
People were riveted at the television and in the arena filled with anticipation and excitement and passion cheering on their teams sitting on the edge of their seats—they were enthralled and captivated by the hype and the hoopla—
And all of that for a temporary, non-eternal adrenaline rush of the moment that would soon fade and pass away…all for a reward that will fade and get dusty and break…all for trying to make this their best life now filled with earthly rewards…all that in light of eternity means absolutely nothing if Jesus is not receiving the glory…
I wonder if we are just as riveted and excited and captivated and enraptured by the scene in the text before us this morning…
I wonder if our hearts are just as captivated by gravity of this most sacred and glorious moment in the life of Jesus as he anticipates the cross—as he anticipates the physical pain and suffering—the abandonment of this father—and as we shall see also, the divine wrath of God for all sinners of all time in all places…
Yet, for many people, they are more like the disciples—asleep—tired of the same old story…the reality of what Jesus did for us no longer swells up within our souls and we carry on in life as if Gethsemane did not happen…as if the cross did not occur…we are asleep…
I hope this morning to re-ignite a passion in our hearts for the reality of agony and suffering of Gethsemane…which occurs before the cross…
A description of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane is recorded for us in each of the three synoptic gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke
Each gospel adds or leaves out details based upon each author’s purpose for writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
Though there are some descriptive differences, there are also some common themes threaded throughout each of the gospels
One of those common themes is the tone of the narrative.
In each of the gospels, there is a very serious and somber tone—one that the authors desire to capture the readers’ attention and imagination—one that seeks to grab the heart of the reader and place him or her in the center of what is going on with Jesus as he contemplates his impending crucifixion and death.
The serious nature of Luke’s tone is enhanced by something we mentioned last week—that is, the decisive turn that took place in his gospel in chapter 9 where Jesus “set his face” toward Jerusalem…
And, then the strategic reminders to the readers of the journey to the cross along the way—
Another way Luke sets up this serious tone is his recording of Jesus’ words in chapter 21 concerning the end of the age, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the coming of the son of Man—which is Luke’s most prominent title for Jesus
At the end of chapter 21, Jesus warns the disciples about the necessity of watching and praying in order to be ready for his coming
At the Passover meal we discussed last week, something that was supposed to be celebratory in nature took a turn in mood and prepared the reader for the seriousness of the narrative in the garden of Gethsemane
At that meal, Jesus spoke of his impending suffering with the words “before I suffer”
He stated his purpose for coming and dying as the sacrifice for the ratification of the new covenant as he declared—
“this is my body given for you”
“this is the new covenant in my blood shed for you”
In the midst of these somber moments of what is taking place in Jesus’ life, Luke records an argument that ensues among the disciples in 22:24-30.
Jesus is about to go through excruciating physical, emotional, and mental suffering and the disciples are arguing about who gets to be in charge—
They are acting like the mob boss’s right hand men jockeying for position because the boss is on his deathbed.
They missed it—
Then, Luke records Jesus’ words to Peter about his denial that would soon occur
Then, in 22:35 he instructs them to take a money bag, a knapsack, and even a sword
Back in Luke 10, Jesus had sent them out in teams of two to proclaim the kingdom—at that time, Jesus told them not to take anything with them
It is clear as we move through the narrative that the serious nature and tone of Luke is building toward the Garden because the time for the prophecies to be fulfilled is drawing very near…
As we come to the Garden, we are allowed to eavesdrop on a very intimate conversation between Father and Son
We are made privy to the intimate thoughts of the Son of God as he seeks the Father
In this setting of the Garden and through this conversation, the seriousness is intensified by all three gospel writers—Matthew, Mark, and Luke
They each describe the emotional and mental state of Jesus using words like
Agony, as here in Luke, which refers to a state of intense grief and emotional anxiety
Mark uses words like greatly distressed and troubled and very sorrowful
Likewise, Matthew uses the word sorrowful adding along with Mark that Jesus was sorrowful even unto death
Do you feel the gravity of the situation?
Are you beginning to sense just how significant this moment is in the life of our Savior?
We are told in Matthew and Mark that Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him a little farther into the garden, but then he went apart from them by himself—alone with the Father in his grief and sorrow and agony of this moment
In his aloneness, he spent his time in prayer—
Luke records his words in v. 42…
Mark records a somewhat different version… Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will
And, then Matthew… My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will
According to Matthew and Mark, he made this request to the Father at least three times…maybe this is why Paul the apostle patterned his request to take away the thorn as he prayed three times…I wonder…
In this request, this plea, notice the intimacy between Father and Son in Jesus’ words…Father…Abba, Father…My Father
In the model prayer, Jesus taught us to pray “our Father”, but now he says My Father…it is personal
He calls him Abba, like our modern day term “daddy”…it is intense
The full effect of the seriousness of this garden narrative is found in the request that Jesus makes of the Father
In Jesus’ intense and personal prayer to the Father, he makes a plea for the Father to remove and take away the cup
Much has been discussed concerning what the cup represents
Some possibilities include the physical pain and suffering he was about to go through or the abandonment of the Father upon the cross
Though each of these has its place in our understanding of the cup to which Jesus refers, the primary thing the cup represents I believe is the divine wrath of God being poured out upon Jesus on behalf of sinners
It is true that there are other things a “cup” in scripture could represent—the new covenant, the shed blood, and others
But, in the context of the upcoming crucifixion and the context of the full biblical narrative as to the purpose of the Messiah’s coming, I believe this cup is referring to divine wrath against sinners
Matthew uses language in reference to the “drinking” of the cup as a way to visualize the partaking of it
John records this as well when Peter cuts off Malchus’ ear and Jesus responds, “Shall I not drink the cup which my father has given me?”
I bring these two up because other scripture references that refer to the cup as representing the divine wrath of God and the extent to which it is poured out use the language of drinking the cup…
Let’s review a few of these…you may want to write them down and study them later…
Psalm 75:7-8 But God is the judge: he puts down one, and exalts another. For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is fully mixed and he pours it out; surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth drain and drink down
Isaiah 51:17 Stand up, o Jerusalem, you who have drunk at the hand of the Lord, the cup of his fury; you have drunk the dregs of the cup trembling, and drained it out
Revelation 14:10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength the cup of his indignation…
Revelation 16:19 and great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath
All of this talk of divine wrath against sinners refers to what is known as the penal substitution theory of the atonement
In order for a holy and righteous and perfect God to save sinners, his holiness demands that justice and the penalty of sin, transgression, and iniquity against him be satisfied—either by the sinners themselves for eternity in hell or by a substitute
Jesus enters the stage of human history as our substitute on the cross becoming sin for us and bearing upon himself the full extent of the divine wrath of God in our place, which you and I fully deserve
You and I deserve the wrath of God—we are not only undeserving of God’s grace, we are ill-deserving of his love
We deserve for God to open the floodgates of all of hell’s fury and torment and pain and horror and torture and pour it out upon us
Yet, Jesus in obedience to the Father’s will, endured the cross—he drank the cup of the wrath of God for you and me—he did it as our substitute
Isaiah 53…
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon him…
“yet it please the Lord to bruise him. He has put him to grief…
“for he shall bear their iniquities…
“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…”
Jesus bore upon himself the wrath that you and I deserve…
Therefore, in the perfect life and sacrificial death of Jesus, the holy demands of a perfect God were satisfied and the wrath of God upon us was diverted
It is as if we were standing in a valley with no way out as a rushing river of lava from an erupting volcano bears down upon us from all directions and somehow by a miracle of divine intervention someone covers us in a protective shield at the expense of their own life diverting the lava away from us to rescue us from certain death—
We deserve as sinners for the river of God’s holy and raging wrath to wash over us for all eternity because we have offended and snubbed him with our very lives
Jesus’ diversion of God’s raging wrath is the doctrine of propitiation made possible for sinners only by the sacrifice of the only perfect Lamb
Jesus is in this garden pleading for the Father to take away and remove that cup from him------
Yet, the Father says, “No, there is no other way.”
His pleading becomes so intense that Luke, as a physician, records that Jesus began to sweat drops of blood…
The anguish and agony and distress that Jesus was experiencing…
Frederick Leahy writes in his book “The Cross He Bore” – “Gethsemane is not a field of study for our intellect. It is a sanctuary of our faith.”
Have the trappings of this world and its allurements dulled our spiritual senses to the reality of the suffering of our Savior for us?
Are we glibly living our lives as if our sins are being “overlooked” by a holy and righteous and infinite God?
Are we glibly living our lives as if the cross were just some ornament of decoration that sparkles and shines?
Michael, this is not a very encouraging word—my self-esteem isn’t too high right now—I don’t like this cross and death and suffering stuff, let’s get to the resurrection, that’s happy and joyful…
Friend, we cannot get to resurrection Sunday without going to the cross…and if you do not go to the cross, you get no resurrection…
I fear that in an age of self-esteemism we have lost the gravity of our sinfulness against a holy and righteous and perfect God
I fear that we have been seduced into the “we need to feel good about ourselves” mentality of our culture that we have moved away from a biblical understanding of our plight as sinners who deserve the wrath of God balanced with the realization that in his grace and by his grace we have been given the righteousness of Jesus Christ and are seated in the heavenly places only in Jesus…only because of Jesus…only clothed in Jesus…only through Jesus
The prayer of Jesus in the garden at least helps bring us back to center away from the extremes of self-esteemism of our culture…here we see the reality of the agony of Jesus in the garden because he knew what was about to happen to him…taking upon himself the divine wrath of God as the substitute for sinners like you and me…
Hear these words from CJ Mahaney from his little book “Christ: Our Mediator”:
“As we watch Jesus pray in agony in Gethsemane, He has every right to turn his tearful eyes toward you and me and shout, ‘This is your cup. You’re responsible for this. It’s your sin. You drink it.’ This cup should rightfully be thrust into my hand and yours.
Instead, Jesus freely takes it himself…so that from the cross he can look down at you and me, whisper our names, and say, ‘I drain this cup for you—for you who have lived in defiance of me, who have hated me, who have opposed me. I drink it all…for you.
This is what our sin makes necessary. This is what is required by your pride and my pride, by your selfishness and my selfishness, by your disobedience and my disobedience. Behold him…behold his suffering…and recognize his love.”
Let’s remember what Jesus willingly did for us today as he submitted to the Father’s will and lay down his life for his friends as a perfect substitute for us…
If you are here this morning without a reconciled relationship with God through Jesus, the bible commands you to repent of your sins and turn to Jesus…the expression of that is through a public confession of that faith through baptism…will you surrender to him today?
Christian, have your eyes and heart grown too accustom to the cross…has it become just another piece of jewelry…or another symbol…have you forgotten the intensity of what Jesus did for you…ask Jesus to renew your passion for the cross…
Luke 22:39-46
In the Garden…Pain and Agony
Last night, thousands, maybe millions of people were watching the final four games—at least 70 thousand in the stadium itself.
Other millions were watching the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony screaming at the top of their lungs “Thank you Austin! Thank you Austin!”
What did he ever do for me—nothing!
People were riveted at the television and in the arena filled with anticipation and excitement and passion cheering on their teams sitting on the edge of their seats—they were enthralled and captivated by the hype and the hoopla—
And all of that for a temporary, non-eternal adrenaline rush of the moment that would soon fade and pass away…all for a reward that will fade and get dusty and break…all for trying to make this their best life now filled with earthly rewards…all that in light of eternity means absolutely nothing if Jesus is not receiving the glory…
I wonder if we are just as riveted and excited and captivated and enraptured by the scene in the text before us this morning…
I wonder if our hearts are just as captivated by gravity of this most sacred and glorious moment in the life of Jesus as he anticipates the cross—as he anticipates the physical pain and suffering—the abandonment of this father—and as we shall see also, the divine wrath of God for all sinners of all time in all places…
Yet, for many people, they are more like the disciples—asleep—tired of the same old story…the reality of what Jesus did for us no longer swells up within our souls and we carry on in life as if Gethsemane did not happen…as if the cross did not occur…we are asleep…
I hope this morning to re-ignite a passion in our hearts for the reality of agony and suffering of Gethsemane…which occurs before the cross…
A description of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane is recorded for us in each of the three synoptic gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke
Each gospel adds or leaves out details based upon each author’s purpose for writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
Though there are some descriptive differences, there are also some common themes threaded throughout each of the gospels
One of those common themes is the tone of the narrative.
In each of the gospels, there is a very serious and somber tone—one that the authors desire to capture the readers’ attention and imagination—one that seeks to grab the heart of the reader and place him or her in the center of what is going on with Jesus as he contemplates his impending crucifixion and death.
The serious nature of Luke’s tone is enhanced by something we mentioned last week—that is, the decisive turn that took place in his gospel in chapter 9 where Jesus “set his face” toward Jerusalem…
And, then the strategic reminders to the readers of the journey to the cross along the way—
Another way Luke sets up this serious tone is his recording of Jesus’ words in chapter 21 concerning the end of the age, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the coming of the son of Man—which is Luke’s most prominent title for Jesus
At the end of chapter 21, Jesus warns the disciples about the necessity of watching and praying in order to be ready for his coming
At the Passover meal we discussed last week, something that was supposed to be celebratory in nature took a turn in mood and prepared the reader for the seriousness of the narrative in the garden of Gethsemane
At that meal, Jesus spoke of his impending suffering with the words “before I suffer”
He stated his purpose for coming and dying as the sacrifice for the ratification of the new covenant as he declared—
“this is my body given for you”
“this is the new covenant in my blood shed for you”
In the midst of these somber moments of what is taking place in Jesus’ life, Luke records an argument that ensues among the disciples in 22:24-30.
Jesus is about to go through excruciating physical, emotional, and mental suffering and the disciples are arguing about who gets to be in charge—
They are acting like the mob boss’s right hand men jockeying for position because the boss is on his deathbed.
They missed it—
Then, Luke records Jesus’ words to Peter about his denial that would soon occur
Then, in 22:35 he instructs them to take a money bag, a knapsack, and even a sword
Back in Luke 10, Jesus had sent them out in teams of two to proclaim the kingdom—at that time, Jesus told them not to take anything with them
It is clear as we move through the narrative that the serious nature and tone of Luke is building toward the Garden because the time for the prophecies to be fulfilled is drawing very near…
As we come to the Garden, we are allowed to eavesdrop on a very intimate conversation between Father and Son
We are made privy to the intimate thoughts of the Son of God as he seeks the Father
In this setting of the Garden and through this conversation, the seriousness is intensified by all three gospel writers—Matthew, Mark, and Luke
They each describe the emotional and mental state of Jesus using words like
Agony, as here in Luke, which refers to a state of intense grief and emotional anxiety
Mark uses words like greatly distressed and troubled and very sorrowful
Likewise, Matthew uses the word sorrowful adding along with Mark that Jesus was sorrowful even unto death
Do you feel the gravity of the situation?
Are you beginning to sense just how significant this moment is in the life of our Savior?
We are told in Matthew and Mark that Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him a little farther into the garden, but then he went apart from them by himself—alone with the Father in his grief and sorrow and agony of this moment
In his aloneness, he spent his time in prayer—
Luke records his words in v. 42…
Mark records a somewhat different version… Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will
And, then Matthew… My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will
According to Matthew and Mark, he made this request to the Father at least three times…maybe this is why Paul the apostle patterned his request to take away the thorn as he prayed three times…I wonder…
In this request, this plea, notice the intimacy between Father and Son in Jesus’ words…Father…Abba, Father…My Father
In the model prayer, Jesus taught us to pray “our Father”, but now he says My Father…it is personal
He calls him Abba, like our modern day term “daddy”…it is intense
The full effect of the seriousness of this garden narrative is found in the request that Jesus makes of the Father
In Jesus’ intense and personal prayer to the Father, he makes a plea for the Father to remove and take away the cup
Much has been discussed concerning what the cup represents
Some possibilities include the physical pain and suffering he was about to go through or the abandonment of the Father upon the cross
Though each of these has its place in our understanding of the cup to which Jesus refers, the primary thing the cup represents I believe is the divine wrath of God being poured out upon Jesus on behalf of sinners
It is true that there are other things a “cup” in scripture could represent—the new covenant, the shed blood, and others
But, in the context of the upcoming crucifixion and the context of the full biblical narrative as to the purpose of the Messiah’s coming, I believe this cup is referring to divine wrath against sinners
Matthew uses language in reference to the “drinking” of the cup as a way to visualize the partaking of it
John records this as well when Peter cuts off Malchus’ ear and Jesus responds, “Shall I not drink the cup which my father has given me?”
I bring these two up because other scripture references that refer to the cup as representing the divine wrath of God and the extent to which it is poured out use the language of drinking the cup…
Let’s review a few of these…you may want to write them down and study them later…
Psalm 75:7-8 But God is the judge: he puts down one, and exalts another. For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is fully mixed and he pours it out; surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth drain and drink down
Isaiah 51:17 Stand up, o Jerusalem, you who have drunk at the hand of the Lord, the cup of his fury; you have drunk the dregs of the cup trembling, and drained it out
Revelation 14:10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength the cup of his indignation…
Revelation 16:19 and great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath
All of this talk of divine wrath against sinners refers to what is known as the penal substitution theory of the atonement
In order for a holy and righteous and perfect God to save sinners, his holiness demands that justice and the penalty of sin, transgression, and iniquity against him be satisfied—either by the sinners themselves for eternity in hell or by a substitute
Jesus enters the stage of human history as our substitute on the cross becoming sin for us and bearing upon himself the full extent of the divine wrath of God in our place, which you and I fully deserve
You and I deserve the wrath of God—we are not only undeserving of God’s grace, we are ill-deserving of his love
We deserve for God to open the floodgates of all of hell’s fury and torment and pain and horror and torture and pour it out upon us
Yet, Jesus in obedience to the Father’s will, endured the cross—he drank the cup of the wrath of God for you and me—he did it as our substitute
Isaiah 53…
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon him…
“yet it please the Lord to bruise him. He has put him to grief…
“for he shall bear their iniquities…
“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…”
Jesus bore upon himself the wrath that you and I deserve…
Therefore, in the perfect life and sacrificial death of Jesus, the holy demands of a perfect God were satisfied and the wrath of God upon us was diverted
It is as if we were standing in a valley with no way out as a rushing river of lava from an erupting volcano bears down upon us from all directions and somehow by a miracle of divine intervention someone covers us in a protective shield at the expense of their own life diverting the lava away from us to rescue us from certain death—
We deserve as sinners for the river of God’s holy and raging wrath to wash over us for all eternity because we have offended and snubbed him with our very lives
Jesus’ diversion of God’s raging wrath is the doctrine of propitiation made possible for sinners only by the sacrifice of the only perfect Lamb
Jesus is in this garden pleading for the Father to take away and remove that cup from him------
Yet, the Father says, “No, there is no other way.”
His pleading becomes so intense that Luke, as a physician, records that Jesus began to sweat drops of blood…
The anguish and agony and distress that Jesus was experiencing…
Frederick Leahy writes in his book “The Cross He Bore” – “Gethsemane is not a field of study for our intellect. It is a sanctuary of our faith.”
Have the trappings of this world and its allurements dulled our spiritual senses to the reality of the suffering of our Savior for us?
Are we glibly living our lives as if our sins are being “overlooked” by a holy and righteous and infinite God?
Are we glibly living our lives as if the cross were just some ornament of decoration that sparkles and shines?
Michael, this is not a very encouraging word—my self-esteem isn’t too high right now—I don’t like this cross and death and suffering stuff, let’s get to the resurrection, that’s happy and joyful…
Friend, we cannot get to resurrection Sunday without going to the cross…and if you do not go to the cross, you get no resurrection…
I fear that in an age of self-esteemism we have lost the gravity of our sinfulness against a holy and righteous and perfect God
I fear that we have been seduced into the “we need to feel good about ourselves” mentality of our culture that we have moved away from a biblical understanding of our plight as sinners who deserve the wrath of God balanced with the realization that in his grace and by his grace we have been given the righteousness of Jesus Christ and are seated in the heavenly places only in Jesus…only because of Jesus…only clothed in Jesus…only through Jesus
The prayer of Jesus in the garden at least helps bring us back to center away from the extremes of self-esteemism of our culture…here we see the reality of the agony of Jesus in the garden because he knew what was about to happen to him…taking upon himself the divine wrath of God as the substitute for sinners like you and me…
Hear these words from CJ Mahaney from his little book “Christ: Our Mediator”:
“As we watch Jesus pray in agony in Gethsemane, He has every right to turn his tearful eyes toward you and me and shout, ‘This is your cup. You’re responsible for this. It’s your sin. You drink it.’ This cup should rightfully be thrust into my hand and yours.
Instead, Jesus freely takes it himself…so that from the cross he can look down at you and me, whisper our names, and say, ‘I drain this cup for you—for you who have lived in defiance of me, who have hated me, who have opposed me. I drink it all…for you.
This is what our sin makes necessary. This is what is required by your pride and my pride, by your selfishness and my selfishness, by your disobedience and my disobedience. Behold him…behold his suffering…and recognize his love.”
Let’s remember what Jesus willingly did for us today as he submitted to the Father’s will and lay down his life for his friends as a perfect substitute for us…
If you are here this morning without a reconciled relationship with God through Jesus, the bible commands you to repent of your sins and turn to Jesus…the expression of that is through a public confession of that faith through baptism…will you surrender to him today?
Christian, have your eyes and heart grown too accustom to the cross…has it become just another piece of jewelry…or another symbol…have you forgotten the intensity of what Jesus did for you…ask Jesus to renew your passion for the cross…
Monday, April 13, 2009
Resurrection Sunday
I pray everyone had a great resurrection empahasis Sunday.
It is certainly true that for the believer, every day is resurrection day.
May we live each day in the power of Jesus' resurrection appropriated to us and in us by the Holy Spirit.
The Sermon transcript from the last two weeks will be posted later this week.
God bless you all.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from U.S. Cellular
It is certainly true that for the believer, every day is resurrection day.
May we live each day in the power of Jesus' resurrection appropriated to us and in us by the Holy Spirit.
The Sermon transcript from the last two weeks will be posted later this week.
God bless you all.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from U.S. Cellular
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Evangelism
I enjoyed the post over at Between the Times concerning "missional" and "evangelism" and "convergence".
Check it out.
Also, check out the Matt Chandler video over at Between two Worlds "Jesus wants the Rose"
Good stuff!
Check it out.
Also, check out the Matt Chandler video over at Between two Worlds "Jesus wants the Rose"
Good stuff!
Update on "The Shack"
Well, I finished it this morning on the tread mill.
First impressions after completion-------
No doubt, a very interesting and very well written book with excellent detail and storyline.
I still find myself in the middle of the road on the continuum of "heresy" or "greatest thing since sliced bread".
There are many negative aspects within the theological framework of the "identity" and "nature" of the Trinity--the being or the essence of the Trinity.
However, there are positive aspects with regard to the interaction between Mack and God that I believe many people will relate to, and do--as I did.
My guess is that the draw for many people to this book is the desire to have that kind of intimacy with God that was demonstrated in the book--something that I believe we can have through Jesus.
More to come on that...
There are some strange things that happen around chapter 15 or so that we will discuss in some later posts.
Be back soon...
First impressions after completion-------
No doubt, a very interesting and very well written book with excellent detail and storyline.
I still find myself in the middle of the road on the continuum of "heresy" or "greatest thing since sliced bread".
There are many negative aspects within the theological framework of the "identity" and "nature" of the Trinity--the being or the essence of the Trinity.
However, there are positive aspects with regard to the interaction between Mack and God that I believe many people will relate to, and do--as I did.
My guess is that the draw for many people to this book is the desire to have that kind of intimacy with God that was demonstrated in the book--something that I believe we can have through Jesus.
More to come on that...
There are some strange things that happen around chapter 15 or so that we will discuss in some later posts.
Be back soon...
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