Acts 1:4-11
6/29/08
“Power to Go”
Pray for Peggi??
Acts_1_4-11
I. The book of Acts as we said in our introduction is a historical record of the birth and early progress of the Church.
A. It is the historical record which testifies of the success of Jesus' earthly ministry, by showing how the risen savior is at work in the hearts of men.
B. An interesting breakdown of the NT to help us get a grasp on how the book of Acts fits into the whole of the NT might look like this.
Gospels are the - Proclamation of Jesus
Acts- is the propagation of Jesus Christ, the spreading of the good news, the sewing of the seed.
The epistles - are the explanation of Jesus Christ
Revelation - is the consummation of Jesus Christ.
II. As I mentioned in our last study we want to come back today and revisit verses 4-8 and look at what the Baptism of the Holy Spirit means.
Acts 1:4-8 (NKJV)
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;
5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
A. We made note that in verse-4 we see a glimpse into the doctrine of the Trinity in that God the Son (Jesus) is speaking, and He refers to the promise of the Father (God the Father), which is the Holy Spirit (God the Holy Spirit).
1. In the book of Acts you see the role of the three persons of the Godhead at work to begin Christianity.
a. By the Fathers design world-wide evangelization began.
b. Through the Holy Spirits power and a new manifestation of the Holy Spirit
c. Made possible by The Son's provision of redemption, the outworking of the resurrected Christ
d. The result is the Beginnings of Christianity.
B. As we noted last time we met Jesus gave them (disciples) two commands to "GO" and to "WAIT".
1. They were to GO ultimately into all the world with the Gospel that is the propagation of Jesus Christ the spreading of the good news or the sewing of the seed (God's Word).
2. But before they could do that they were to WAIT in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father which is to be baptized with (in) the Holy Spirit.
a. John truly baptized with water, it was a baptism of repentance
Luke 3:3 (NKJV)
3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,
(1) Christian baptism is an outward show of an inner reality i.e. that the old man has died and is buried, and the new man, the born again man, who now lives in Christ, rising out of the water (grave).
Colossians 2:12-13 (NKJV)
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.
13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)
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.
1 Peter 3:21 (NKJV)
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,
(a) Repentance born out of faith in the finished work of Christ on your behalf.
(2) Repentance is the first step in regeneration, but the Christian life is so much more, it truly is a walk, walking with Jesus.
(a) There are some here today, that need to repent, that is they need to turn and follow Jesus.
b. "but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
(1) The word baptized here is the Greek "bapteedzo" and it means to be immersed or submerged in something.
(a) When you pickle a vegetable such as a cucumber first you dip (bapto) it into boiling water, it is immersed or submerged temporarily in the water, but then it is immersed (bapteedzo) in vinegar and left there.
i) The first is temporary, the second produces a permanent change, it takes on some of the characteristics of the solution it is submerged in.
(1) While the word does not reflect this, we understand that in the process the vegetable becomes marked or identified with the vinegar.
(2) Similarly those who are baptized in the Holy Spirit in some way identify or are changed by Him.
(a) The ministry of the Holy Spirit by the way is to point to or glorify and honor Jesus, thus when we are baptized in the Holy Spirit our lives will draw attention to Him and not to us! (more in a minute).
C. The disciples pipe in with a question in verse-6 "Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
1. Really it is a great question, Jesus often talked or taught about the kingdom of God, and we need to be reminded that the corruption in this world will not always be here, and the world will not always be under the power of darkness.
a. Jesus is coming again and He will establish His kingdom here on earth, and it will be a righteous kingdom, and men will no longer be in bondage to evil.
(1) And I believe that day is soon approaching.
2. All though it is a great question and wonderful to think about God's kingdom here on earth, that is not what Jesus is talking about, He is talking about God's power to be witnesses concerning Him, so He brushes the question aside in verse-7
7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
a. He says it's not for you to know:
(1) they were constantly anticipating through the course of His earthly ministry that He would march into Jerusalem, overthrow Rome and establish His kingdom
(2) And when He was crucified and died there on the cross they were extremely disappointed, but here He is risen from the dead, so now is surely the time, but He brushes the question aside, "It is not for you to know" and instead He says in verse-8.
D. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
1. Receive power (dunamis), natural ability, general or inherent:
a. The dynamic for ordinary people to do extraordinary things
b. If you compare the lives and ministry of the disciples before they were baptized with the Holy Spirit to after, you would find that they are radically different. Boldness, discernment, skill with the scriptures, ability to effective in their witness.
2. Jesus said they would receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, this word upon is the Greek preposition "epi" and it is used here to describe a new relationship they were to have with the Holy Spirit.
a. In John chapter-14 verses 16-18 we see a two-fold relationship with the Holy Spirit
John 14:16-18 (NKJV)
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
(1) Para = with, and the Holy Spirit is here with us in the world to convicte us of our sin and show us our need to come to Christ, that Christ is the answer to our need or problem.
(2) En = in (He will be in you) that is when we become "born again" God's Spirit begins to dwell in us.
b. But now Jesus says you will receive power when the Holy Spirit "comes upon (epi) you",
(1) So now a new or different relationship from the (para and the en) relationship. ( it is an empowering experience)
(2) The purpose again is to provide the power or dynamic to be a witness to Jesus (about Jesus)
(a) Say we bought a new car we could sit in the car and make noises with our mouth and pretend we were going somewhere, or we could push the car, jump in and coast for a few feet, or we could start the engine put it in gear and let the power of the engine move us forward.
(b) Baptism of the Holy Spirit is to be overflowing with the Spirit of God
John 7:37-39 (NKJV)
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.
38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
III. Verses 9-11
Acts 1:9-11 (NKJV)
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
A. The ascension of Christ is important.
1. He had to go away in order to send us the gift of the Holy Spirit.
John 16:5-15 (NKJV)
5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’
6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;
10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;
11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
2. Secondly we know that because Jesus ascended to the Father that He is now interceding for us as our great High Priest.
3. We also see that He will come again just as He ascended.
a. In the clouds.
b. Unannounced or at any time...
c. With this in mind will you bow your heads and be in an attitude of prayer (God speak to and move in our hearts right now) we are here and in so many ways we are needy people.
B. This morning some are here and you really don't know where you stand with God, and while the focus has not been evengelistic God is dealing with your heart, they are pounding or you are arguing about your need, and it is God dealing with you, calling you to turn from your own ways and to walk with Him His way...
C. Now others of you know that you have been born again it is like your in a car but it isn't running properly the engine is running but the wheels won't turn, and it is because there is sin that you are caught up in, and you need to confess it and turn away from it, raise your hand and acknowledge that describes you and you want to let go of it.
D. Others of you your sitting in the car, the engine isn't running and you can't get the car going and what you need is for the Spirit of God to come upon you and empower you.
Luke 11:11-13 (NKJV)
11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
1. After this closing song if you want to be prayed for and ask for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, to give you power or dynamic to be a witness for Jesus, come forward and let us pray for you.
a. Not so we jump around and act weird; or be knocked down, but simply to say God I want all that you have for me, I want my life to be empowered by you so that I can tell others what Jesus has done for me, what He means to me.
Come up after this song and we will pray for you.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Acts Introduction_1_1-8
Acts Introduction_1_1-8
6/22/08
“Acting Out God’s Way”
The Book of Acts - Introduction
I. Title - The Acts of the Apostles, which is perhaps not as descriptive as it might be, in it we see some acts of some of the Apostles (really only two of them)
A. Some have suggested that "Acts of the Holy Spirit" might be a more appropriate title; as we will see that the book opens with the Church waiting for the Holy Spirit to come upon them and fill them with power to be witnesses on God's behalf through their lives and their activities.
II. Acts is unique among the NT writings in that it is the only historical sequel to the four Gospels among the canonical writings.
A. The book of Acts forms the background and setting for most of what Paul has written.
1. F. F. Bruce writes:
But it is Luke that we have to thank for the coherent record of Paul's apostolic activity. Without [Acts], we should be incalculably poorer. Even with it, there is much in Paul's letters that we have difficulty in understanding; how much more there would be if we had no Book of Acts? (F.F. Bruce, Commentary on the Book of the Acts, p. 27).
Walvoord, John F. ; Zuck, Roy B. ; Dallas Theological Seminary: The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983-c1985, S. 2:349
B. It gives a historical account though not a full history of the church up to about 60-61 A.D. and Paul in Rome waiting to appear before Caesar Nero.
1. This is the same Nero who began his infamous persecution of the Church in A.D. 64.
III. The book of Acts gives us basic information about the early church and insight into some of the problems it faced.
A. After His resurrection and just before His ascension Christ gave His disciples "The Great Commission" as stated in Mark's gospel reads:
Mark 16:15 (NKJV)
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
1. And in the 28 chapters of this book we go from Jerusalem to the uttermost parts of the world.
a. That is to say we see the church birthed in Jerusalem and we watch as it progresses all the way to Rome.
2. In it we see a history of planting the church among the Jews by Peter, and among the Gentiles by Paul.
B. As we look at the example of the early believers (saints) we should be challenged by their passion, faith, and devotion to Christ and His Gospel.
1. And in this book we find a great deal of encouragement as we see by the sovereignty of God the church advancing and growing in spite of the opposition of men and governments.
IV. Miscellaneous
A. Acts is the connecting link between the Gospels and the Epistles
B. The book divided into two main sections
1. Chapters 1 -12 where the growth of the Jewish arm of the church is predominate and Peter is the main character.
2. Chapters 13-28 where the focus shifts to the ministry of Paul and the advance of the church among in the gentile world.
3. Actually the theme of the book is found in the key verse (Acts 1:8) and provides a basic outline of the book for us.
Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
As Phillip Schaff writes in his History of the Christian Church
(Acts 1:8): "Ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you (Acts 2): and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem (Acts 3-7), and in all Judaea and Samaria (Acts 8-12), and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 13-28).
Schaff, Philip ; Schaff, David Schley: History of the Christian Church. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997
a. The main purpose of this second volume of Dr. Luke’s writings is to present the progress of the church (its life and growth), the biographical and other elements are subsidiary to this aim.
Commentary
I. Prologue
Acts 1:1-3 (NKJV)
1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,
3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
A. The former account I made refers to the Gospel of Luke which we just finished and he is addressing it to someone referred to as Theophilus
1. There are a number of theories set forth as to who Theophilus was, but the truth is we don't know who he is.
a. He may have been Luke's patron who financed his writing of Luke and Acts.
b. Another speculation is that he was a lawyer involved in Paul's defense and that these books were intended to provide information for Paul's legal defense in Rome.
c. Luke refers to him as "most excellent Theophilus" in Luke 1:3 a term that is usually reserved for high government officials, so Theophilus was probably a magistrate or government official of some sort.
d. Theophilus means "lover of God" and he was most certainly a believer; a part of Luke’s stated purpose for writing this two volume book was to confirm and instruct this man concerning the faith.
Luke 1:1-4 (NKJV)
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.
B. This former account i.e. the "Gospel of Luke" was "of all that Jesus began both to do and teach"
1. The key word is "began" this verb indicates a present infinitive linear action, that is to say the work that Jesus began to do and to teach before His ascension to heaven is a work that is still going on.
a. It is still going on through His people the church today
2. He began both to DO and to TEACH
a. I look at this statement and am challenged by it, particularly the DO aspect of it.
(1) We believe it or not have an awful lot of activity going on for a little church.
(a) There are a lot of teaching opportunities, as well as a lot of fellowship opportunities and I think this is great.
b. But when I hear about the doing part of it, I see a lot of our discipleship and fellowship centers around teaching, but I would like to see us growing in terms of discipleship that involves doing.
(1) What do I mean? (I'm not really sure myself)
(a) Activities where we are showing others how to do things.
i) Things like evangelism and outreach to the community
(1) Retirement community or the elderly
(2) The poor, orphans and widows
(3) Hospitals, prisons
(4) Substance abuse arenas
(5) Emergency response teams ???
(6) Youth activities: teaching our young people how to be servants???
ii) More missions involvement
iii) Prayer cells???
iv) “In reach”
(1) Wives teaching women how to love their husbands and children, household help
(2) Marriage discipleship???
(3) Singles stuff is happening and that is great.
(4) Financial management
c. So much of the time we are looking for the church or the pastor to give us something to do, and I think that is typically a flawed approach to the activity of ministry.
(1) Just reacting to a need is also fraught with potential trouble.
(2) What we want is for the Holy Spirit to be prompting us and showing us what and how to do things, (Let Him direct us)
(a) Activity that flows out of passion placed in the heart by God. (Acts of the Holy Spirit)
i) Example of work detail right and wrong...
3. The reference to the ascension here in verse-2 "until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen," looks back to Luke 24:49-51
Luke 24:51 (NKJV)
51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
a. Two commands were given by Jesus before He returned to heaven
(1) The first one was to wait (tarry) in Jerusalem
Acts 1:4 (NKJV)
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;
Luke 24:49 (NKJV)
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.”
(2) The second was to “Go” into the world as witnesses.
Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Luke 24:47 (NKJV)
47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
(3) Wait and Go may seem contradictory, but they are not, the waiting was for the purpose of being empowered by the Holy Spirit to enable the going and doing.
(a) Two mistakes we can make, not waiting just going (problem is it is in our own energy)
(b) Waiting and never going, (probably a heart issue, we are distracted and “don't care” or perhaps we lack faith)
C. “to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”
1. Many infallible (or convincing) proofs, it speaks of proofs that look at demonstrable evidence in contrast to evidence provided by witnesses,
Luke 24:39-40 (NKJV)
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.
1 John 1:1 (NKJV)
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—
2. Being seen by them during forty days... so for forty days after His resurrection He appeared to the Apostles and He discussed the kingdom of God with them.
II. The Holy Spirit Promised
Acts 1:4-8 (NKJV)
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;
5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
A. And being assembled together with them He commanded them not to depart but to wait for the Promise of the Father
1. The gift of the Father anticipated by Luke 24:49 is obviously the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:5 (NKJV)
5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
John 14:16 (NKJV)
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
John 15:26 (NKJV)
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.
John 16:7 (NKJV)
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
a. And here we see the doctrine of the Trinity, the Son commands that they wait for the promise of the Father to come upon them which is the Holy Spirit.
2. We will come back and look at being baptized with the Holy Spirit and what that means next time
B. But I want us all to realize today that God the Father loves us and wants to make us a part of His kingdom.
Luke 12:32 (NKJV)
32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
1. But death came through sin and we were separated from God, and as we learned in the Gospels the Father sent His Son into the world so that redemption could be provided.
John 3:14-17 (NKJV)
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
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.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
2. It is the Holy Spirit dwelling in us that is the evidence that we are His
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NKJV)
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NLT)
13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.
14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
3. But they were commanded to wait in Jerusalem until the Spirit came upon them to empower them to be witnesses.
Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
a. And if we want to be effective witnesses for the glory of God and His kingdom we too need this empowerment of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
(1) This is the theme of this book and we will see how it plays out in a real way in the life of the church as we watch it expand and grow.
(2) Will you do me a favor and pray this week that God will fill us anew and afresh with His Spirit and direct us in the things He would have us do to be a greater witness for Him in our community and through our lives.
6/22/08
“Acting Out God’s Way”
The Book of Acts - Introduction
I. Title - The Acts of the Apostles, which is perhaps not as descriptive as it might be, in it we see some acts of some of the Apostles (really only two of them)
A. Some have suggested that "Acts of the Holy Spirit" might be a more appropriate title; as we will see that the book opens with the Church waiting for the Holy Spirit to come upon them and fill them with power to be witnesses on God's behalf through their lives and their activities.
II. Acts is unique among the NT writings in that it is the only historical sequel to the four Gospels among the canonical writings.
A. The book of Acts forms the background and setting for most of what Paul has written.
1. F. F. Bruce writes:
But it is Luke that we have to thank for the coherent record of Paul's apostolic activity. Without [Acts], we should be incalculably poorer. Even with it, there is much in Paul's letters that we have difficulty in understanding; how much more there would be if we had no Book of Acts? (F.F. Bruce, Commentary on the Book of the Acts, p. 27).
Walvoord, John F. ; Zuck, Roy B. ; Dallas Theological Seminary: The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983-c1985, S. 2:349
B. It gives a historical account though not a full history of the church up to about 60-61 A.D. and Paul in Rome waiting to appear before Caesar Nero.
1. This is the same Nero who began his infamous persecution of the Church in A.D. 64.
III. The book of Acts gives us basic information about the early church and insight into some of the problems it faced.
A. After His resurrection and just before His ascension Christ gave His disciples "The Great Commission" as stated in Mark's gospel reads:
Mark 16:15 (NKJV)
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
1. And in the 28 chapters of this book we go from Jerusalem to the uttermost parts of the world.
a. That is to say we see the church birthed in Jerusalem and we watch as it progresses all the way to Rome.
2. In it we see a history of planting the church among the Jews by Peter, and among the Gentiles by Paul.
B. As we look at the example of the early believers (saints) we should be challenged by their passion, faith, and devotion to Christ and His Gospel.
1. And in this book we find a great deal of encouragement as we see by the sovereignty of God the church advancing and growing in spite of the opposition of men and governments.
IV. Miscellaneous
A. Acts is the connecting link between the Gospels and the Epistles
B. The book divided into two main sections
1. Chapters 1 -12 where the growth of the Jewish arm of the church is predominate and Peter is the main character.
2. Chapters 13-28 where the focus shifts to the ministry of Paul and the advance of the church among in the gentile world.
3. Actually the theme of the book is found in the key verse (Acts 1:8) and provides a basic outline of the book for us.
Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
As Phillip Schaff writes in his History of the Christian Church
(Acts 1:8): "Ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you (Acts 2): and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem (Acts 3-7), and in all Judaea and Samaria (Acts 8-12), and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 13-28).
Schaff, Philip ; Schaff, David Schley: History of the Christian Church. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997
a. The main purpose of this second volume of Dr. Luke’s writings is to present the progress of the church (its life and growth), the biographical and other elements are subsidiary to this aim.
Commentary
I. Prologue
Acts 1:1-3 (NKJV)
1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,
3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
A. The former account I made refers to the Gospel of Luke which we just finished and he is addressing it to someone referred to as Theophilus
1. There are a number of theories set forth as to who Theophilus was, but the truth is we don't know who he is.
a. He may have been Luke's patron who financed his writing of Luke and Acts.
b. Another speculation is that he was a lawyer involved in Paul's defense and that these books were intended to provide information for Paul's legal defense in Rome.
c. Luke refers to him as "most excellent Theophilus" in Luke 1:3 a term that is usually reserved for high government officials, so Theophilus was probably a magistrate or government official of some sort.
d. Theophilus means "lover of God" and he was most certainly a believer; a part of Luke’s stated purpose for writing this two volume book was to confirm and instruct this man concerning the faith.
Luke 1:1-4 (NKJV)
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.
B. This former account i.e. the "Gospel of Luke" was "of all that Jesus began both to do and teach"
1. The key word is "began" this verb indicates a present infinitive linear action, that is to say the work that Jesus began to do and to teach before His ascension to heaven is a work that is still going on.
a. It is still going on through His people the church today
2. He began both to DO and to TEACH
a. I look at this statement and am challenged by it, particularly the DO aspect of it.
(1) We believe it or not have an awful lot of activity going on for a little church.
(a) There are a lot of teaching opportunities, as well as a lot of fellowship opportunities and I think this is great.
b. But when I hear about the doing part of it, I see a lot of our discipleship and fellowship centers around teaching, but I would like to see us growing in terms of discipleship that involves doing.
(1) What do I mean? (I'm not really sure myself)
(a) Activities where we are showing others how to do things.
i) Things like evangelism and outreach to the community
(1) Retirement community or the elderly
(2) The poor, orphans and widows
(3) Hospitals, prisons
(4) Substance abuse arenas
(5) Emergency response teams ???
(6) Youth activities: teaching our young people how to be servants???
ii) More missions involvement
iii) Prayer cells???
iv) “In reach”
(1) Wives teaching women how to love their husbands and children, household help
(2) Marriage discipleship???
(3) Singles stuff is happening and that is great.
(4) Financial management
c. So much of the time we are looking for the church or the pastor to give us something to do, and I think that is typically a flawed approach to the activity of ministry.
(1) Just reacting to a need is also fraught with potential trouble.
(2) What we want is for the Holy Spirit to be prompting us and showing us what and how to do things, (Let Him direct us)
(a) Activity that flows out of passion placed in the heart by God. (Acts of the Holy Spirit)
i) Example of work detail right and wrong...
3. The reference to the ascension here in verse-2 "until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen," looks back to Luke 24:49-51
Luke 24:51 (NKJV)
51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
a. Two commands were given by Jesus before He returned to heaven
(1) The first one was to wait (tarry) in Jerusalem
Acts 1:4 (NKJV)
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;
Luke 24:49 (NKJV)
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.”
(2) The second was to “Go” into the world as witnesses.
Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Luke 24:47 (NKJV)
47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
(3) Wait and Go may seem contradictory, but they are not, the waiting was for the purpose of being empowered by the Holy Spirit to enable the going and doing.
(a) Two mistakes we can make, not waiting just going (problem is it is in our own energy)
(b) Waiting and never going, (probably a heart issue, we are distracted and “don't care” or perhaps we lack faith)
C. “to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”
1. Many infallible (or convincing) proofs, it speaks of proofs that look at demonstrable evidence in contrast to evidence provided by witnesses,
Luke 24:39-40 (NKJV)
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.
1 John 1:1 (NKJV)
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—
2. Being seen by them during forty days... so for forty days after His resurrection He appeared to the Apostles and He discussed the kingdom of God with them.
II. The Holy Spirit Promised
Acts 1:4-8 (NKJV)
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;
5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
A. And being assembled together with them He commanded them not to depart but to wait for the Promise of the Father
1. The gift of the Father anticipated by Luke 24:49 is obviously the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:5 (NKJV)
5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
John 14:16 (NKJV)
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
John 15:26 (NKJV)
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.
John 16:7 (NKJV)
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
a. And here we see the doctrine of the Trinity, the Son commands that they wait for the promise of the Father to come upon them which is the Holy Spirit.
2. We will come back and look at being baptized with the Holy Spirit and what that means next time
B. But I want us all to realize today that God the Father loves us and wants to make us a part of His kingdom.
Luke 12:32 (NKJV)
32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
1. But death came through sin and we were separated from God, and as we learned in the Gospels the Father sent His Son into the world so that redemption could be provided.
John 3:14-17 (NKJV)
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
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.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
2. It is the Holy Spirit dwelling in us that is the evidence that we are His
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NKJV)
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NLT)
13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.
14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
3. But they were commanded to wait in Jerusalem until the Spirit came upon them to empower them to be witnesses.
Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
a. And if we want to be effective witnesses for the glory of God and His kingdom we too need this empowerment of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
(1) This is the theme of this book and we will see how it plays out in a real way in the life of the church as we watch it expand and grow.
(2) Will you do me a favor and pray this week that God will fill us anew and afresh with His Spirit and direct us in the things He would have us do to be a greater witness for Him in our community and through our lives.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Sunday June 15, 2008 Notes
Luke_24
6/15/08
“What great news”
Happy Fathers Day!
The Resurrection
I. The Great Discovery Vv 1-12
A. First to Know
Luke 24:1-7 (NKJV)
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.’ ”
1. First to learn of the resurrection were the women who had been faithful in following Jesus.
a. And it was out of their devotion that they were first to learn of the resurrection, coming right at the break of day, at the first possible opportunity.
b. They came to more properly prepare His body.
(1) Anxious to serve Him even in death.
(a) How devoted are we, how eager serve Him?
2. The Tomb.
a. Belonged to Joseph of Arimihea who was wealthy, and so his tomb would most likely have been cut into solid rock.
(1) And it would have a heavy circular stone as a door that would roll in a groove then settle down into a channel and would require several strong men to move.
b. We know that it was very close to the place of crucifixion.
John 19:41-42 (NKJV)
41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.
(1) Perhaps a reminder to us that the cross and the resurrection are closely connected.
3. Mark's gospel tells us they were concerned about who would roll the stone away for them, but when they arrived the stone was already rolled away.
a. And instead of a body they found two men standing there by them dressed in shining garments, clearly a reference to angelic beings, which caused them to fall to the ground in fear.
Consider the thoughts that the words spoke to them would and should provoke..
“Why do you seek the living among the dead?
He is not here, but is risen!
Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying,
‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”
B. Reported to the Apostles
Luke 24:8-11 (NKJV)
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.
1. "And they remembered His words"
a. Imagine how things began to sink in, imagine the hope that began to flood their hearts.
2. So they left the tomb (nothing there for them any more) and went to tell the disciples
Hosea 13:14 (NKJV)
14 “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.”
1 Corinthians 15:55 (NKJV)
55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
a. The eleven and to all the rest!
(1) There words seemed as idle talk, i.e. like nonsense, medical writers used this word to describe the wild words spoken by those in delirium, or hysteria.
(2) They did not believe or trust the story told by the women.
(a) How many today don't believe because it is outside their logic or experience?
i) Yet it is a claim that must be investigated, and when investigated cannot reasonably be denied.
C. Peter runs to the Tomb.
Luke 24:12 (NKJV)
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.
1. Peter ran to check it for himself, looking in and not finding to body but the empty linen in which Jesus had been wrapped...
a. And he departed marveling over this turn of events.
II. Conference on the Road to Emmaus with Jesus and two disciples.
A. Two on the road to Emmaus.
Luke 24:13-16 (NKJV)
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.
1. Two of Jesus' followers were walking along the road to Emmaus a seven mile journey from Jerusalem, and as they walked they were discussing the events of the last few days including the report of the resurrection.
a. As they walked and talked Jesus walked up behind them but they did not recognize Him.
(1) Were divinely kept from recognizing, most likely to allow Him to instruct them the necessity of His death and resurrection.
B. Challenging their Understanding
Luke 24:17-24 (NKJV)
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.”
1. Jesus sets the stage for His lesson by asking two questions that draw out of them their understanding of what has happened.
a. It would appear that they have the facts straight, but they are perplexed (it all doesn't fit their theology yet), and so they are grappling with unbelief.
C. His Story
Luke 24:25-27 (NKJV)
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.
1. His rebuke is their slowness to believe and lack of understanding of the scriptures.
a. They had looked at the scriptures through the bias of traditions rather than at what the scriptures taught.
(1) We need to do our best to set our biases aside and do our best to determine what God said and meant.
2. What a bible study this must have been, as Christ taught them how all the OT scriptures spoke about Him and His work.
a. If we look we will find Jesus in some way on every page.
D. Revealed in the breaking of Bread
Luke 24:28-35 (NKJV)
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.
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.
1. As they entered Emmaus He made as though He would keep traveling farther, but they encouraged Him to stay with them there since the hour was late.
a. Then as they sat down to eat, Jesus broke the bread and gave thanks, and as He did so their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, at which point He vanished from their presence.
(1) What a cool thing that He was revealed to them in the breaking of bread.
2. “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
a. What fire is ignited in our hearts as we are made to understand the word of God.
b. They couldn't wait to get back to Jerusalem and the other disciples and confirm the reports of the resurrection and share how they had been with Jesus.
(1) Spend time with Him and you will want to tell others about it...
III. Appearance to gathered followers
A. Appearing in their midst.
Luke 24:36-43 (NKJV)
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.
1. As they were back in Jerusalem relating their encounter with Jesus, suddenly Jesus Himself is there with them, standing right in the middle of their gathering., declaring Peace to them.
a. They became terrified and thought He was a ghost, but He questions them on their fear and their doubts that it He is really their and not merely an apparition.
(1) He has them look and touch Him, and He ate in their presence all demonstrating to them that He was there in flesh and blood.
(2) This time we read that they did not believe for joy, that is to say they were so ecstatic they were in a "this is too good to be true" state of mind!
(a) The fact of the resurrection ought to fill us with joy and awe.
B. The Great Commission
Luke 24:44-49 (NKJV)
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.”
1. He had previously taught them what the scriptures said concerning Him but now He goes back over it and they get it this time.
a. And He gives them the Great Commission to get out and take this news and this instruction, the things which they had witnessed and tell it to others.
b. But they were to wait in Jerusalem until they received power from the Holy Spirit to empower them to be witnesses, as promised by the Father.
C. The Ascension
Luke 24:50-53 (NKJV)
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.
1. And He ascended into heaven as they watched, after which they returned to Jerusalem full of joy and worshipping Him, continuing thereafter praising God in the temple.
IV. And so ends volume one of Luke’s orderly account
Luke 1:1-4 (NKJV)
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.
A. And just as he intended for Theophilus to know the certainty of these things, Luke recorded them and God has preserved them foe you and I so that we could know the certainty of these things.
1. I pray they have been planted and have taken root in your hearts as God intended them too.
B. Now we will move into volume-2 i.e. the book of Acts where we will see the continuing ministry of Jesus through the Apostles, and through the church - which we will see birthed in the opening chapters, a continuing work of which we are part,
1. We “the church” are a great evidence to the reality of what we learned here in this gospel account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
“What great news” the gospel is good news have you responded?
6/15/08
“What great news”
Happy Fathers Day!
The Resurrection
I. The Great Discovery Vv 1-12
A. First to Know
Luke 24:1-7 (NKJV)
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.’ ”
1. First to learn of the resurrection were the women who had been faithful in following Jesus.
a. And it was out of their devotion that they were first to learn of the resurrection, coming right at the break of day, at the first possible opportunity.
b. They came to more properly prepare His body.
(1) Anxious to serve Him even in death.
(a) How devoted are we, how eager serve Him?
2. The Tomb.
a. Belonged to Joseph of Arimihea who was wealthy, and so his tomb would most likely have been cut into solid rock.
(1) And it would have a heavy circular stone as a door that would roll in a groove then settle down into a channel and would require several strong men to move.
b. We know that it was very close to the place of crucifixion.
John 19:41-42 (NKJV)
41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.
(1) Perhaps a reminder to us that the cross and the resurrection are closely connected.
3. Mark's gospel tells us they were concerned about who would roll the stone away for them, but when they arrived the stone was already rolled away.
a. And instead of a body they found two men standing there by them dressed in shining garments, clearly a reference to angelic beings, which caused them to fall to the ground in fear.
Consider the thoughts that the words spoke to them would and should provoke..
“Why do you seek the living among the dead?
He is not here, but is risen!
Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying,
‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”
B. Reported to the Apostles
Luke 24:8-11 (NKJV)
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.
1. "And they remembered His words"
a. Imagine how things began to sink in, imagine the hope that began to flood their hearts.
2. So they left the tomb (nothing there for them any more) and went to tell the disciples
Hosea 13:14 (NKJV)
14 “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.”
1 Corinthians 15:55 (NKJV)
55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
a. The eleven and to all the rest!
(1) There words seemed as idle talk, i.e. like nonsense, medical writers used this word to describe the wild words spoken by those in delirium, or hysteria.
(2) They did not believe or trust the story told by the women.
(a) How many today don't believe because it is outside their logic or experience?
i) Yet it is a claim that must be investigated, and when investigated cannot reasonably be denied.
C. Peter runs to the Tomb.
Luke 24:12 (NKJV)
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.
1. Peter ran to check it for himself, looking in and not finding to body but the empty linen in which Jesus had been wrapped...
a. And he departed marveling over this turn of events.
II. Conference on the Road to Emmaus with Jesus and two disciples.
A. Two on the road to Emmaus.
Luke 24:13-16 (NKJV)
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.
1. Two of Jesus' followers were walking along the road to Emmaus a seven mile journey from Jerusalem, and as they walked they were discussing the events of the last few days including the report of the resurrection.
a. As they walked and talked Jesus walked up behind them but they did not recognize Him.
(1) Were divinely kept from recognizing, most likely to allow Him to instruct them the necessity of His death and resurrection.
B. Challenging their Understanding
Luke 24:17-24 (NKJV)
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.”
1. Jesus sets the stage for His lesson by asking two questions that draw out of them their understanding of what has happened.
a. It would appear that they have the facts straight, but they are perplexed (it all doesn't fit their theology yet), and so they are grappling with unbelief.
C. His Story
Luke 24:25-27 (NKJV)
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.
1. His rebuke is their slowness to believe and lack of understanding of the scriptures.
a. They had looked at the scriptures through the bias of traditions rather than at what the scriptures taught.
(1) We need to do our best to set our biases aside and do our best to determine what God said and meant.
2. What a bible study this must have been, as Christ taught them how all the OT scriptures spoke about Him and His work.
a. If we look we will find Jesus in some way on every page.
D. Revealed in the breaking of Bread
Luke 24:28-35 (NKJV)
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.
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.
1. As they entered Emmaus He made as though He would keep traveling farther, but they encouraged Him to stay with them there since the hour was late.
a. Then as they sat down to eat, Jesus broke the bread and gave thanks, and as He did so their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, at which point He vanished from their presence.
(1) What a cool thing that He was revealed to them in the breaking of bread.
2. “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
a. What fire is ignited in our hearts as we are made to understand the word of God.
b. They couldn't wait to get back to Jerusalem and the other disciples and confirm the reports of the resurrection and share how they had been with Jesus.
(1) Spend time with Him and you will want to tell others about it...
III. Appearance to gathered followers
A. Appearing in their midst.
Luke 24:36-43 (NKJV)
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.
1. As they were back in Jerusalem relating their encounter with Jesus, suddenly Jesus Himself is there with them, standing right in the middle of their gathering., declaring Peace to them.
a. They became terrified and thought He was a ghost, but He questions them on their fear and their doubts that it He is really their and not merely an apparition.
(1) He has them look and touch Him, and He ate in their presence all demonstrating to them that He was there in flesh and blood.
(2) This time we read that they did not believe for joy, that is to say they were so ecstatic they were in a "this is too good to be true" state of mind!
(a) The fact of the resurrection ought to fill us with joy and awe.
B. The Great Commission
Luke 24:44-49 (NKJV)
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.”
1. He had previously taught them what the scriptures said concerning Him but now He goes back over it and they get it this time.
a. And He gives them the Great Commission to get out and take this news and this instruction, the things which they had witnessed and tell it to others.
b. But they were to wait in Jerusalem until they received power from the Holy Spirit to empower them to be witnesses, as promised by the Father.
C. The Ascension
Luke 24:50-53 (NKJV)
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.
1. And He ascended into heaven as they watched, after which they returned to Jerusalem full of joy and worshipping Him, continuing thereafter praising God in the temple.
IV. And so ends volume one of Luke’s orderly account
Luke 1:1-4 (NKJV)
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.
A. And just as he intended for Theophilus to know the certainty of these things, Luke recorded them and God has preserved them foe you and I so that we could know the certainty of these things.
1. I pray they have been planted and have taken root in your hearts as God intended them too.
B. Now we will move into volume-2 i.e. the book of Acts where we will see the continuing ministry of Jesus through the Apostles, and through the church - which we will see birthed in the opening chapters, a continuing work of which we are part,
1. We “the church” are a great evidence to the reality of what we learned here in this gospel account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
“What great news” the gospel is good news have you responded?
Monday, June 9, 2008
The Seventies Couples Dinner
Couples dinner 6/7/08
The Seventies
You are here because you want to build and bless your marriage and so you are investing in it, or you are here because you feel like you have to be, which is all the more reason to listen to what I have to share tonight. (THE THEME IS THE SEVENTIES)
I. The decade described:
A. Dedicated to Self: (according to Wikipedia)
1. The decade of the sixties was noteworthy as a period of social activism
2. The seventies stood out as a time of social activities centered in self-pleasure
a. The author Tom Wolfe referred to the seventies as the "Me Decade"
B. If this was descriptive of the seventies, I would suggest to you that this is even more descriptive of our world today.
1. Our world is more obsessed today with doing what it pleases than perhaps at any other time in history.
a. We no longer care what it costs or who it hurts as long as it goes my way.
(1) And if it doesn't go my way then I will make you pay for it one way or another.
C. We are obsessed with my way is the right way, and we seldom really do things God's way, which is truly the right way.
II. We come to God's word to find out what God's ways are and to let His word transform us accordingly.
Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)
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.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
A. Oh how well we know these verses, but I wonder if we are really allowing the word of God to change us from the self-life to the Christ-like-life?
B. There are two paths that we can walk on through this life, one is to live for God's honor and glory, and the other is full of self.
1. One contains eternal life, the other is full of wrath and anger and leads to judgment.
Romans 2:5-8 (NKJV)
5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:
7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
C. Christ is our supreme and most excellent example, He is the one we want to imitate.
1. Daniel prophesied concerning Jesus that He would reject the self-life to the point of death.
Daniel 9:26 (NKJV)
26 “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
a. And so He did! --- And so should we, but do we?
2. Jesus taught
John 15:12-15 (NKJV)
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
When Jesus washed the disciples feet:
John 13:12-17 (NKJV)
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?
13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
He taught us that we are to be serving others out of love
D. The secret to Joy is found in the acronym J-O-Y
1. Jesus and His glory first priority
2. Others and there well being before your own
3. You, self is last on the list
a. Nave's Topical index of the bible for the topic of self list the following aspects of sel-life:
Some negative
Self-Delusion
Selfishness
Self-Righteousness
Self-Will and Stubbornness
Self-condemnation
Self-confidence
Self-crimination
Self-deception
Self-exaltation
Self-indulgence
Selfish-ambition
Book of Esther, Haman = the flesh (self-life) ten son of Haman represent aspects of self life all must be put to death daily!
Some positive
Self-Denial
Self-control
Self-examination
b. Jesus set the will of the Father above His own, and sought to please the Father and not Himself (sacrifice was required)
John 5:30 (NKJV)
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.
John 8:29 (NKJV)
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.”
(1) To live and love the way that pleases God will require sacrifice.
III. A major road block to blessing others especially our spouse.
A. Jesus has taught and set a wonderful example for us, and though very costly, we understand that it is the way that gives life eternal life, and defeats death.
1. What a wonderful encouragement for us to follow Him in the way which leads to life and imparts life to others.
B. But it is not an easy road, and one of the major hurtles for us, especially in the context of marriage is found for us back in Romans 2 kind of where we stared, when we talked about the two paths we can walk on in this life, that either contain life and blessing, or wrath and judgment.
Romans 2:1-8 (NKJV)
1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:
7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
1. That problem is that we judge others, and we hold back from them because of it.
2919 ????? [krino /kree·no/] v. Perhaps a primitive word; TDNT 3:921; TDNTA 469; GK 3212; 114 occurrences; AV translates as ?judge? 88 times, ?determine? seven times, ?condemn? five times, ?go to law? twice, ?call in question? twice, ?esteem? twice, and translated miscellaneously eight times.
1 to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose.
2 to approve, esteem, to prefer.
3 to be of opinion, deem, think, to be of opinion.
4 to determine, resolve, decree.
5 to judge.
5a to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong.
5a1 to be judged, i.e. summoned to trial that one?s case may be examined and judgment passed upon it.
5b to pronounce judgment, to subject to censure.
5b1 of those who act the part of judges or arbiters in matters of common life, or pass judgment on the deeds and words of others.
6 to rule, govern.
6a to preside over with the power of giving judicial decisions, because it was the prerogative of kings and rulers to pass judgment.
7 to contend together, of warriors and combatants.
7a to dispute.
7b in a forensic sense. 7b1 to go to law, have suit at law.
Strong, James: The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible : Showing Every Word of the Text of the Common English Version of the Canonical Books, and Every Occurrence of Each Word in Regular Order. electronic ed. Ontario : Woodside Bible Fellowship., 1996, S. G2919
a. We find fault or perceived faults and then we hold back:
(1) Our love
(2) Our companionship
(3) From doing or acting in a way that would bless the other
(4) We blame them for our unhappiness or discontent when the real problem is us, because the source of these things is Jesus and we are looking in the wrong place for them.
(a) And we have placed on our spouse an expectation they can't meet, and a burden they can't carry.
b. There is a difference between being inadequate and refusing to do what you should.
John 9:41 (NKJV)
41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.
James 4:17 (NKJV)
17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
IV. So let me encourage you, don't be part of the ME generations, but lay down your life for the other.
Matthew 16:25 (NKJV)
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
A. Let me encourage you, do your best to give love to your spouse and leave your opinions, your judgment of them with Christ, He will bless you for it.
B. Communicate to your spouse lovingly, gently, frequently as necessary to help them understand you.
C. I join the author of Romans 12:1 and the God who inspired his words in pleading to you: 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.
1. Don't wait to start loving as completely as you can right away, squeeze the criticisms out of your thinking and give yourself fully and completely to loving your spouse.
a. You will be doing things God's way if you do, and you will be blessed as you do so, because there is life in doing things God's way and not our own way.
The Seventies
You are here because you want to build and bless your marriage and so you are investing in it, or you are here because you feel like you have to be, which is all the more reason to listen to what I have to share tonight. (THE THEME IS THE SEVENTIES)
I. The decade described:
A. Dedicated to Self: (according to Wikipedia)
1. The decade of the sixties was noteworthy as a period of social activism
2. The seventies stood out as a time of social activities centered in self-pleasure
a. The author Tom Wolfe referred to the seventies as the "Me Decade"
B. If this was descriptive of the seventies, I would suggest to you that this is even more descriptive of our world today.
1. Our world is more obsessed today with doing what it pleases than perhaps at any other time in history.
a. We no longer care what it costs or who it hurts as long as it goes my way.
(1) And if it doesn't go my way then I will make you pay for it one way or another.
C. We are obsessed with my way is the right way, and we seldom really do things God's way, which is truly the right way.
II. We come to God's word to find out what God's ways are and to let His word transform us accordingly.
Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)
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.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
A. Oh how well we know these verses, but I wonder if we are really allowing the word of God to change us from the self-life to the Christ-like-life?
B. There are two paths that we can walk on through this life, one is to live for God's honor and glory, and the other is full of self.
1. One contains eternal life, the other is full of wrath and anger and leads to judgment.
Romans 2:5-8 (NKJV)
5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:
7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
C. Christ is our supreme and most excellent example, He is the one we want to imitate.
1. Daniel prophesied concerning Jesus that He would reject the self-life to the point of death.
Daniel 9:26 (NKJV)
26 “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
a. And so He did! --- And so should we, but do we?
2. Jesus taught
John 15:12-15 (NKJV)
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
When Jesus washed the disciples feet:
John 13:12-17 (NKJV)
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?
13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
He taught us that we are to be serving others out of love
D. The secret to Joy is found in the acronym J-O-Y
1. Jesus and His glory first priority
2. Others and there well being before your own
3. You, self is last on the list
a. Nave's Topical index of the bible for the topic of self list the following aspects of sel-life:
Some negative
Self-Delusion
Selfishness
Self-Righteousness
Self-Will and Stubbornness
Self-condemnation
Self-confidence
Self-crimination
Self-deception
Self-exaltation
Self-indulgence
Selfish-ambition
Book of Esther, Haman = the flesh (self-life) ten son of Haman represent aspects of self life all must be put to death daily!
Some positive
Self-Denial
Self-control
Self-examination
b. Jesus set the will of the Father above His own, and sought to please the Father and not Himself (sacrifice was required)
John 5:30 (NKJV)
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.
John 8:29 (NKJV)
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.”
(1) To live and love the way that pleases God will require sacrifice.
III. A major road block to blessing others especially our spouse.
A. Jesus has taught and set a wonderful example for us, and though very costly, we understand that it is the way that gives life eternal life, and defeats death.
1. What a wonderful encouragement for us to follow Him in the way which leads to life and imparts life to others.
B. But it is not an easy road, and one of the major hurtles for us, especially in the context of marriage is found for us back in Romans 2 kind of where we stared, when we talked about the two paths we can walk on in this life, that either contain life and blessing, or wrath and judgment.
Romans 2:1-8 (NKJV)
1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:
7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
1. That problem is that we judge others, and we hold back from them because of it.
2919 ????? [krino /kree·no/] v. Perhaps a primitive word; TDNT 3:921; TDNTA 469; GK 3212; 114 occurrences; AV translates as ?judge? 88 times, ?determine? seven times, ?condemn? five times, ?go to law? twice, ?call in question? twice, ?esteem? twice, and translated miscellaneously eight times.
1 to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose.
2 to approve, esteem, to prefer.
3 to be of opinion, deem, think, to be of opinion.
4 to determine, resolve, decree.
5 to judge.
5a to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong.
5a1 to be judged, i.e. summoned to trial that one?s case may be examined and judgment passed upon it.
5b to pronounce judgment, to subject to censure.
5b1 of those who act the part of judges or arbiters in matters of common life, or pass judgment on the deeds and words of others.
6 to rule, govern.
6a to preside over with the power of giving judicial decisions, because it was the prerogative of kings and rulers to pass judgment.
7 to contend together, of warriors and combatants.
7a to dispute.
7b in a forensic sense. 7b1 to go to law, have suit at law.
Strong, James: The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible : Showing Every Word of the Text of the Common English Version of the Canonical Books, and Every Occurrence of Each Word in Regular Order. electronic ed. Ontario : Woodside Bible Fellowship., 1996, S. G2919
a. We find fault or perceived faults and then we hold back:
(1) Our love
(2) Our companionship
(3) From doing or acting in a way that would bless the other
(4) We blame them for our unhappiness or discontent when the real problem is us, because the source of these things is Jesus and we are looking in the wrong place for them.
(a) And we have placed on our spouse an expectation they can't meet, and a burden they can't carry.
b. There is a difference between being inadequate and refusing to do what you should.
John 9:41 (NKJV)
41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.
James 4:17 (NKJV)
17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
IV. So let me encourage you, don't be part of the ME generations, but lay down your life for the other.
Matthew 16:25 (NKJV)
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
A. Let me encourage you, do your best to give love to your spouse and leave your opinions, your judgment of them with Christ, He will bless you for it.
B. Communicate to your spouse lovingly, gently, frequently as necessary to help them understand you.
C. I join the author of Romans 12:1 and the God who inspired his words in pleading to you: 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.
1. Don't wait to start loving as completely as you can right away, squeeze the criticisms out of your thinking and give yourself fully and completely to loving your spouse.
a. You will be doing things God's way if you do, and you will be blessed as you do so, because there is life in doing things God's way and not our own way.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Luke 23 “What is your conclusion?”
Main Idea
I. Preface:
A. As we left off in our last study Jesus having been arrested at night was questioned by the High Priest Caiaphas and his father in law who had previously been high priest and as day break came the questions were put to Jesus before the whole counsel
?If You are the Christ, tell us.? (If I tell you, you won't believe)
?Are You then the Son of God?? (You rightly say that I am)
1. With His affirmative answer they declare Him guilty (though this is where a real trial with facts and evidence should have begun)
2. And the narrative resumes 23:1
II. Jesus before Pilate
Luke 23:1-7 (NKJV)
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.”
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.
A. Thus begins His civil trials (of which there are three, the religious trials have been completed)), the first is here before Pilate.
1. Pontius Pilate = governor of Judea from A.D.26 to A.D. 36, and has gone down in history as the man who tries Jesus Christ
B. Three charges are brought
1. Perverting the nation - promoting revolution
2. Forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar- inciting people to not pay their taxes
3. Saying that He Himself is Christ, a King - That Jesus claimed to be a king in opposition to Caesar.
4. All of which are patently false accusations.
5. The most serious charge is that He is a king in opposition to Caesar, and this is the one for which Pilate will ultimately ascribe to Him though he knows he is not guilty of anything worthy of death.
C. After examining Him Pilate declares Him innocent, but the chief priests became even more fierce in their accusation Jesus was the leader of inciting the Jews to rebellion against Rome.
D. When Pilate discovers that Jesus is a Galilean and thus belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sends Jesus to Herod (who was also in Jerusalem at the time), unwilling to make a decision that he found hard to make.
1. Pilate as we shall se is trying to find a loophole and shrug his responsibility in making judgment about the accusations made against Christ.
a. We all have responsibility to make a judgment about the accusations made concerning Christ (Who is He and what is MY responsibility to Him).
III. Jesus before Herod
Luke 23:8-12 (NKJV)
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.
A. Herod (Antipas same Herod that killed John the Baptist) was glad to see Jesus, he had wanted to see Him for some time, but his curiosity or interest was purely for his own entertainment.
1. So many have looked at Jesus this way, like someone who goes to see a magician, or a side show of oddity, or who view Jesus as a sort of Santa Clause, Herod wanting to see Jesus for his own entertainment and amusement.
a. I wonder how many are attending churches today and that is all the more it is to them, a make me feel good production.
B. Though Herod asked many questions of Jesus, Jesus answered Herod nothing, no doubt seeing the shallow and base nature of the man.
1. And the chief priests vehemently accused Jesus, still He answered nothing before Herod.
2. Herod failing to be entertained by Jesus, made for his own amusement and demonstrated his opinion of Jesus, by mocking and abusing Him.
C. Ultimately Herod send Jesus back to Pilate for judgment but we see that Herod and Pilate became friends that day bound together by their opposition to Jesus.
1. Herod didn't take Jesus seriously
2. Pilate understood something about who Jesus was, but he was unwilling to make what would be an unpopular stand in favor of his own conviction of Christ's innocence.
IV. Back before Pilate
Luke 23:13-25 (NKJV)
13 Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,
14 said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him;
15 no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.
16 I will therefore chastise Him and release Him”
17 (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).
18 And they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”—
19 who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.
20 Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.
21 But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”
22 Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.”
23 But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.
24 So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.
25 And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
A. Again before Pilate who brought the Jewish leaders together and for the second times declares Jesus to be innocent and affirms that Herod had also found Jesus innocent,
1. Yet he offers to scourge Him then release Him, not a light thing, but desiring to find a way out of putting Jesus an innocent man to death he looks to find a way to satiate the rulers and avoid having the blood of Jesus on his hands.
a. There was a custom that he would release a prisoner from prison (a pardon of sorts) as a means of placating the Jews and their opposition to Roman rule,
b. But the refuse instead calling out that one named Barabbas (who led rebellion, was a murder and a thief) be released instead of Jesus,
2. Barabbas means "son of the father" and so we have a sort of interesting play on words that hints to us to be on the look out that we don't embrace a counterfeit "son of God".
B. Pilate wanting to release Jesus gain cries out to the crown trying to persuade them, yet the cry out Crucify Him, crucify Him!
1. 22 Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.”
a. But again they reject Pilate demanding that He be crucified and so Pilate finaly gives in to their will and sentences Jesus to be crucified and Barabbas released.
C. Three times Pilate declares Jesus to be innocent, Luke will point out three other witness in addition to Pilate that declare Jesus to be an innocent man,
1. Herod, a Roman centurion, and one of the thieves crucified with Jesus.
2. The question stands before us as we consider the crucifixion of Jesus, why was this innocent man put to death as a criminal?
a. And the answer is sin, His was substitutionary death, the innocent for the guilty, so that judgment (death) could be averted, and fellowship with God restored.
V. As we look at the crucifixion we see the result of Sin, which is death, we see its ugly and cruel consequence.
Luke 23:26-49 (NKJV)
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.
Jesus weakened from His scourging and loss of blood was unable to carry the heavy cross beam so this man Simon was pressed into service.
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?”
It was Passover and their were many people in Jerusalem for the celebration and public executions attract crowds much the same way as accidents due.
And Jesus Himself attracted crowds many were wanting to see what happened.
These women weeping over the injustice and the terrible spiritual state of Israel and Jesus says don't wee for Me weep for those who reject Me
bacically says to them if this is the fate of the innocent (green wood) what will happen to the guilty
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.
Place of Calvary (place of the skull) just outside the city walls and ther they crucified Him with One criminal on each side of Him.
Crucifixion was a very brutal way to put someone to death
ripped open from the scourging, dirt and aggravation from the crossbeam
Nails driven through the wrists which severed the large median nerve and caused bolts of excuciating pain and often the hand to clamp like a claw.
it was basically however death by suffocation...
muscles would be cramping and stressed (shaking)
every breath would be at great effort
and again the open wounds scraping against the rough wood
bugs and birds perhaps attacking
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.
Jesus however was not a victim of circumstance but was willingly laying down His life for us, He was in control
And so it was love that kept Him there on the cross
Jesus sees the blindness of those crucifying Him, and prays for their forgiveness
we see prophesy fulfilled at they divided His garments and gambled over them.
They mocked Him but had He come down there would be no hope for us, so He stayed, and instead of saving Himself He saved others
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.”
One criminal
respected God (“Do you not even fear God)
knew his own sin ( seeing you are under the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds)
Knew Jesus ( this Man has done nothing wrong.”)
called out to Jesus as Lord (hen he said to Jesus, “Lord,)
Believed Jesus was who He said He was ( remember me when You come into Your kingdom.)
And Jesus assured Him on the basis of his faith
And in thus we see if you will a death bed conversion, but it is the only one in the scriptures, it can happen but undoubtedly rare so don't wait, don't delay!
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.
darkness over all the earth, the earth showing the agony of creation as the creator suffered
the veil of the Temple was torn in two, and thus man now has access to the throne of grace by the cross of Christ.
Jesus cried out paid in full
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.
The centurian saw Jesus for who was and is a picture of those who come to Jesus through the cross which He said if He was lifted up He would draw all men to Himself0
All who came and looked at what had been done went away sad.
VI. And they buried Him
Luke 23:50-56 (NKJV)
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.
A. Thus they buried Him in haste, and also fulfilling prophecy that He would be buried in a tomb never used.
B. If the story ended here we too would have to walk away sad, grieved by the injustice, frustrated by the unsolvable problem of out sin.
1. But the good news is that the story does not end here, we know there was a resurrection, death has been defeated, and we are offered eternal life on the basis of Christ paying the penalty for our sin.
a. But we have a choice, receive the gift by faith, or reject as we watched so many do in this chapter.
(1) What is your decision/conclusion?
I. Preface:
A. As we left off in our last study Jesus having been arrested at night was questioned by the High Priest Caiaphas and his father in law who had previously been high priest and as day break came the questions were put to Jesus before the whole counsel
?If You are the Christ, tell us.? (If I tell you, you won't believe)
?Are You then the Son of God?? (You rightly say that I am)
1. With His affirmative answer they declare Him guilty (though this is where a real trial with facts and evidence should have begun)
2. And the narrative resumes 23:1
II. Jesus before Pilate
Luke 23:1-7 (NKJV)
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.”
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.
A. Thus begins His civil trials (of which there are three, the religious trials have been completed)), the first is here before Pilate.
1. Pontius Pilate = governor of Judea from A.D.26 to A.D. 36, and has gone down in history as the man who tries Jesus Christ
B. Three charges are brought
1. Perverting the nation - promoting revolution
2. Forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar- inciting people to not pay their taxes
3. Saying that He Himself is Christ, a King - That Jesus claimed to be a king in opposition to Caesar.
4. All of which are patently false accusations.
5. The most serious charge is that He is a king in opposition to Caesar, and this is the one for which Pilate will ultimately ascribe to Him though he knows he is not guilty of anything worthy of death.
C. After examining Him Pilate declares Him innocent, but the chief priests became even more fierce in their accusation Jesus was the leader of inciting the Jews to rebellion against Rome.
D. When Pilate discovers that Jesus is a Galilean and thus belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sends Jesus to Herod (who was also in Jerusalem at the time), unwilling to make a decision that he found hard to make.
1. Pilate as we shall se is trying to find a loophole and shrug his responsibility in making judgment about the accusations made against Christ.
a. We all have responsibility to make a judgment about the accusations made concerning Christ (Who is He and what is MY responsibility to Him).
III. Jesus before Herod
Luke 23:8-12 (NKJV)
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.
A. Herod (Antipas same Herod that killed John the Baptist) was glad to see Jesus, he had wanted to see Him for some time, but his curiosity or interest was purely for his own entertainment.
1. So many have looked at Jesus this way, like someone who goes to see a magician, or a side show of oddity, or who view Jesus as a sort of Santa Clause, Herod wanting to see Jesus for his own entertainment and amusement.
a. I wonder how many are attending churches today and that is all the more it is to them, a make me feel good production.
B. Though Herod asked many questions of Jesus, Jesus answered Herod nothing, no doubt seeing the shallow and base nature of the man.
1. And the chief priests vehemently accused Jesus, still He answered nothing before Herod.
2. Herod failing to be entertained by Jesus, made for his own amusement and demonstrated his opinion of Jesus, by mocking and abusing Him.
C. Ultimately Herod send Jesus back to Pilate for judgment but we see that Herod and Pilate became friends that day bound together by their opposition to Jesus.
1. Herod didn't take Jesus seriously
2. Pilate understood something about who Jesus was, but he was unwilling to make what would be an unpopular stand in favor of his own conviction of Christ's innocence.
IV. Back before Pilate
Luke 23:13-25 (NKJV)
13 Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,
14 said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him;
15 no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.
16 I will therefore chastise Him and release Him”
17 (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).
18 And they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”—
19 who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.
20 Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.
21 But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”
22 Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.”
23 But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.
24 So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.
25 And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
A. Again before Pilate who brought the Jewish leaders together and for the second times declares Jesus to be innocent and affirms that Herod had also found Jesus innocent,
1. Yet he offers to scourge Him then release Him, not a light thing, but desiring to find a way out of putting Jesus an innocent man to death he looks to find a way to satiate the rulers and avoid having the blood of Jesus on his hands.
a. There was a custom that he would release a prisoner from prison (a pardon of sorts) as a means of placating the Jews and their opposition to Roman rule,
b. But the refuse instead calling out that one named Barabbas (who led rebellion, was a murder and a thief) be released instead of Jesus,
2. Barabbas means "son of the father" and so we have a sort of interesting play on words that hints to us to be on the look out that we don't embrace a counterfeit "son of God".
B. Pilate wanting to release Jesus gain cries out to the crown trying to persuade them, yet the cry out Crucify Him, crucify Him!
1. 22 Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.”
a. But again they reject Pilate demanding that He be crucified and so Pilate finaly gives in to their will and sentences Jesus to be crucified and Barabbas released.
C. Three times Pilate declares Jesus to be innocent, Luke will point out three other witness in addition to Pilate that declare Jesus to be an innocent man,
1. Herod, a Roman centurion, and one of the thieves crucified with Jesus.
2. The question stands before us as we consider the crucifixion of Jesus, why was this innocent man put to death as a criminal?
a. And the answer is sin, His was substitutionary death, the innocent for the guilty, so that judgment (death) could be averted, and fellowship with God restored.
V. As we look at the crucifixion we see the result of Sin, which is death, we see its ugly and cruel consequence.
Luke 23:26-49 (NKJV)
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.
Jesus weakened from His scourging and loss of blood was unable to carry the heavy cross beam so this man Simon was pressed into service.
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?”
It was Passover and their were many people in Jerusalem for the celebration and public executions attract crowds much the same way as accidents due.
And Jesus Himself attracted crowds many were wanting to see what happened.
These women weeping over the injustice and the terrible spiritual state of Israel and Jesus says don't wee for Me weep for those who reject Me
bacically says to them if this is the fate of the innocent (green wood) what will happen to the guilty
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.
Place of Calvary (place of the skull) just outside the city walls and ther they crucified Him with One criminal on each side of Him.
Crucifixion was a very brutal way to put someone to death
ripped open from the scourging, dirt and aggravation from the crossbeam
Nails driven through the wrists which severed the large median nerve and caused bolts of excuciating pain and often the hand to clamp like a claw.
it was basically however death by suffocation...
muscles would be cramping and stressed (shaking)
every breath would be at great effort
and again the open wounds scraping against the rough wood
bugs and birds perhaps attacking
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.
Jesus however was not a victim of circumstance but was willingly laying down His life for us, He was in control
And so it was love that kept Him there on the cross
Jesus sees the blindness of those crucifying Him, and prays for their forgiveness
we see prophesy fulfilled at they divided His garments and gambled over them.
They mocked Him but had He come down there would be no hope for us, so He stayed, and instead of saving Himself He saved others
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.”
One criminal
respected God (“Do you not even fear God)
knew his own sin ( seeing you are under the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds)
Knew Jesus ( this Man has done nothing wrong.”)
called out to Jesus as Lord (hen he said to Jesus, “Lord,)
Believed Jesus was who He said He was ( remember me when You come into Your kingdom.)
And Jesus assured Him on the basis of his faith
And in thus we see if you will a death bed conversion, but it is the only one in the scriptures, it can happen but undoubtedly rare so don't wait, don't delay!
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.
darkness over all the earth, the earth showing the agony of creation as the creator suffered
the veil of the Temple was torn in two, and thus man now has access to the throne of grace by the cross of Christ.
Jesus cried out paid in full
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.
The centurian saw Jesus for who was and is a picture of those who come to Jesus through the cross which He said if He was lifted up He would draw all men to Himself0
All who came and looked at what had been done went away sad.
VI. And they buried Him
Luke 23:50-56 (NKJV)
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.
A. Thus they buried Him in haste, and also fulfilling prophecy that He would be buried in a tomb never used.
B. If the story ended here we too would have to walk away sad, grieved by the injustice, frustrated by the unsolvable problem of out sin.
1. But the good news is that the story does not end here, we know there was a resurrection, death has been defeated, and we are offered eternal life on the basis of Christ paying the penalty for our sin.
a. But we have a choice, receive the gift by faith, or reject as we watched so many do in this chapter.
(1) What is your decision/conclusion?
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Lessons on Failure
Luke 22_54-71
6/1/08
“Lessons on failure”
Main Idea
I. In this chapter Luke has been relating to us instruction Jesus gave to His disciples and some failures on their part.
A. He instructs them concerning observation of communion after His departures, what true greatness is like, how Satan desired to sift Peter, and concerning the importance of prayer in the face of temptation.
B. Concerning failures:
1. He predicts His betrayer, and His prediction comes to pass with betrayal by Judas.
2. We read how they argued amongst themselves about which of them should be considered the greatest.
3. And Jesus had predicted that Peter would deny Him three times before the rooster had crowed twice that day.
a. Now we come to the fulfillment of that prediction.
II. Peter's Denial.
Luke 22:54-62 (NKJV)
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.
A. After they arrested Him they took Him to the house of the High Priest in this case that is Caiaphas.
1. John's gospel account tells us they took Him first to the house of Annas who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who had previously been high priest.
B. And we are told that Peter followed at a distance, probably outside the glow of the torches so as to not be recognized.
1. Then in the courtyard he sat down among them (the servants of the high priest and the temple guard’s really Levitical officers in charge of the temple)
a. Peter is attempting to avoid detection by fitting in with them, looking like one of them.
2. Three times in the course of Peter's time there in the courtyard he is confronted and accused of being associated with Jesus, and each time he denies knowing Him, just as Christ had predicted.
a. On the third occasion immediately upon his denial Jesus turned and looked directly at Peter and Peter remembered Jesus' prediction and went out (left the courtyard) and wept bitterly.
(1) Undoubtedly it was a knowing look, like when we get caught red handed in something shameful, how it must have stung Peter to recognize the reality of his failure and the knowledge that Jesus, whom he loved, was aware it had come to pass.
(a) We know that the scriptures declare:
Luke 8:17 (NKJV)
17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.
i) We know it intellectually, but we don't take it to heart so much of the time.
(2) Peter "went out and wept bitterly" he burst into tears and was crying audibly as a baby cries but as an expression of mourning and grief, it was a cry of bitter sorrow... and is an indicator of genuine repentance.
(a) Peter's life subsequently demonstrates the reality or fruit of repentance.
Luke 3:8 (NKJV)
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.
C. Some practical or pertinent lessons for you and I.
1. First Jesus was not caught by surprise at Peter's failure and He chose him anyway, and included him in His inner circle!
a. Jesus was working on Peter's restoration even before he failed:
Luke 22:31-34 (NKJV)
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.”
After the resurrection we read
Mark 16:6-7 (NKJV)
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.”
Just to make sure that Peter knew he was welcome and expected!
b. Jesus knows that we will fail Him, yet He has chosen us, and He willingly looks to and works to restore when we do fail.
(1) Be assured of His love for you and His willingness to accept you.
(a) Don't give up on others too quickly...
2. Secondly much has been made of Peter following at a distance, but I don't believe he was supposed to be there in the first place
a. They were to scatter, Jesus had said to those who arrested Him "if you seek Me, let theses go their way"
(1) We get into trouble when we let ourselves be in places we know we shouldn't be or we involve ourselves in activities we know we shouldn't participate in.
b. But with the idea of following at a distance, and trying to fit in and seem like one of the crowd and not be identified with Jesus we are setting ourselves up for a fall.
(1) Instead of hanging out with the other disciples gaining strength through fellowship,
(a) Peter had temporarily forsaken fellowship and was therefore weak and compromised.
(2) We need to get as close to Jesus as we can, and stay in fellowship as much as possible, yes we want to go out into the world and take the gospel, but Jesus sent them out in pairs remember.
c. Let me encourage you to practice the discipline of fellowship and let prayer be an important part of that fellowship...
III. Jesus is mocked and beaten.
Luke 22:63-65 (NKJV)
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.
A. Here Jesus is in the official residence of the High Priest, a place where official business of the High Priest was conducted, one would think that is might be a spiritual place, but what we instead discover is treated in an evil manner (actually He is mistreated!)
1. Mocking and beating Him.
a. Mock - to treat with contempt or ridicule.
b. beating Him, striking Him (pictures of someone being beaten who will not defend themselves fills us with contempt because it is so disgusting)
2. They even blindfolded Him and struck Him on the face, mocking Him with the challenge to prophecy who had hit Him.
a. Truth is He knew not only who hit Him but every secret thing about them.
(1) Yet He endured it or suffered it at their unrighteous hands.
(2) What has my sin, your sin, caused Him to endure?
IV. Trial before the Sanhedrin (this is the climax of His religious trial)
Luke 22:66-71 (NKJV)
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.”
A. Traditions tell us it was illegal for them to have a trial by night (need for witnesses and pursuit of practice of integrity).
1. If you are the Christ!
2. Are you the Son of God, to which He replies YES I Am.
a. And with that they pronounce Him guilty and they are done with their investigation where in fact now the investigation should begin in earnest!!!
V. Communion:
6/1/08
“Lessons on failure”
Main Idea
I. In this chapter Luke has been relating to us instruction Jesus gave to His disciples and some failures on their part.
A. He instructs them concerning observation of communion after His departures, what true greatness is like, how Satan desired to sift Peter, and concerning the importance of prayer in the face of temptation.
B. Concerning failures:
1. He predicts His betrayer, and His prediction comes to pass with betrayal by Judas.
2. We read how they argued amongst themselves about which of them should be considered the greatest.
3. And Jesus had predicted that Peter would deny Him three times before the rooster had crowed twice that day.
a. Now we come to the fulfillment of that prediction.
II. Peter's Denial.
Luke 22:54-62 (NKJV)
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.
A. After they arrested Him they took Him to the house of the High Priest in this case that is Caiaphas.
1. John's gospel account tells us they took Him first to the house of Annas who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who had previously been high priest.
B. And we are told that Peter followed at a distance, probably outside the glow of the torches so as to not be recognized.
1. Then in the courtyard he sat down among them (the servants of the high priest and the temple guard’s really Levitical officers in charge of the temple)
a. Peter is attempting to avoid detection by fitting in with them, looking like one of them.
2. Three times in the course of Peter's time there in the courtyard he is confronted and accused of being associated with Jesus, and each time he denies knowing Him, just as Christ had predicted.
a. On the third occasion immediately upon his denial Jesus turned and looked directly at Peter and Peter remembered Jesus' prediction and went out (left the courtyard) and wept bitterly.
(1) Undoubtedly it was a knowing look, like when we get caught red handed in something shameful, how it must have stung Peter to recognize the reality of his failure and the knowledge that Jesus, whom he loved, was aware it had come to pass.
(a) We know that the scriptures declare:
Luke 8:17 (NKJV)
17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.
i) We know it intellectually, but we don't take it to heart so much of the time.
(2) Peter "went out and wept bitterly" he burst into tears and was crying audibly as a baby cries but as an expression of mourning and grief, it was a cry of bitter sorrow... and is an indicator of genuine repentance.
(a) Peter's life subsequently demonstrates the reality or fruit of repentance.
Luke 3:8 (NKJV)
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.
C. Some practical or pertinent lessons for you and I.
1. First Jesus was not caught by surprise at Peter's failure and He chose him anyway, and included him in His inner circle!
a. Jesus was working on Peter's restoration even before he failed:
Luke 22:31-34 (NKJV)
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.”
After the resurrection we read
Mark 16:6-7 (NKJV)
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.”
Just to make sure that Peter knew he was welcome and expected!
b. Jesus knows that we will fail Him, yet He has chosen us, and He willingly looks to and works to restore when we do fail.
(1) Be assured of His love for you and His willingness to accept you.
(a) Don't give up on others too quickly...
2. Secondly much has been made of Peter following at a distance, but I don't believe he was supposed to be there in the first place
a. They were to scatter, Jesus had said to those who arrested Him "if you seek Me, let theses go their way"
(1) We get into trouble when we let ourselves be in places we know we shouldn't be or we involve ourselves in activities we know we shouldn't participate in.
b. But with the idea of following at a distance, and trying to fit in and seem like one of the crowd and not be identified with Jesus we are setting ourselves up for a fall.
(1) Instead of hanging out with the other disciples gaining strength through fellowship,
(a) Peter had temporarily forsaken fellowship and was therefore weak and compromised.
(2) We need to get as close to Jesus as we can, and stay in fellowship as much as possible, yes we want to go out into the world and take the gospel, but Jesus sent them out in pairs remember.
c. Let me encourage you to practice the discipline of fellowship and let prayer be an important part of that fellowship...
III. Jesus is mocked and beaten.
Luke 22:63-65 (NKJV)
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.
A. Here Jesus is in the official residence of the High Priest, a place where official business of the High Priest was conducted, one would think that is might be a spiritual place, but what we instead discover is treated in an evil manner (actually He is mistreated!)
1. Mocking and beating Him.
a. Mock - to treat with contempt or ridicule.
b. beating Him, striking Him (pictures of someone being beaten who will not defend themselves fills us with contempt because it is so disgusting)
2. They even blindfolded Him and struck Him on the face, mocking Him with the challenge to prophecy who had hit Him.
a. Truth is He knew not only who hit Him but every secret thing about them.
(1) Yet He endured it or suffered it at their unrighteous hands.
(2) What has my sin, your sin, caused Him to endure?
IV. Trial before the Sanhedrin (this is the climax of His religious trial)
Luke 22:66-71 (NKJV)
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.”
A. Traditions tell us it was illegal for them to have a trial by night (need for witnesses and pursuit of practice of integrity).
1. If you are the Christ!
2. Are you the Son of God, to which He replies YES I Am.
a. And with that they pronounce Him guilty and they are done with their investigation where in fact now the investigation should begin in earnest!!!
V. Communion:
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