Chardon church of Christ

Calvary - Preaching The Cross

Luke 23:33 - Matthew 27:33

INTRO: Good morning church!
The trials, such as they were, have been completed. Pilate has tried numerous times to find a way to release Jesus from His captivity, but political pressure was too strong.
He yielded to the demands of the enemies of Jesus knowing full well that Jesus was not guilty of any crime worthy of what they had planned. The words “wanting to gratify the crowd” (Mark 15:15) are some of the saddest words I know… yet they give great insight into the mind of Pilate. Furthermore and perhaps more importantly, they give us insight into the mind of human nature. Pilate released to the people the known criminal Barabbas and “… he delivered Jesus to their will” (Luke 23:25).
All of this is happening early on a Friday, and these events have been recorded for us by the Biblical writers.

They took Jesus to the place of execution ... Golgotha, or Calvary, meaning “skull”. Before the crucifixion there are some things we notice.

I. THERE WERE THE SCOURGING AND HUMILIATION

A. There was, for example, the scourging and the humiliation at the hands of Romans soldiers. In Matthew 27:26-31 – “26. Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. 27. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. 28. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!'' 30. Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31. Then when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.”[NKJV] “...and when he had scourged Jesus...”

1. As I said last week I will not go into the details of a Roman scourging.
2. There is no need for me to recount for you the awful details of this form of human torture.
3. Suffice it to say historians tell us there were those who actually died as a result of a Roman scourging. It was a horrible, horrible procedure. It came in fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah (Isaiah 53:5). I suppose that Pilate did not know that every stripe laid upon our Lord was a fulfillment of the Word of God.

B. “Then the soldiers...”

1. The Bible says that they stripped Him of His own clothing and put on Him a scarlet robe. The robe of course symbolizing royalty, and they plaited a crown of thorns and pressed it on His head. They put a reed in His hand symbolizing a scepter.
2. Then bowing before Him in mockery they said: “Hail King of the Jews!”
3. As if that was not enough, in mockery, in contempt, they spat on Him. Then they put His own cloths back on Him and they led Him out to be crucified. The routine of crucifixion was always the same. When the cross was prepared the criminal himself had to carry it to the place of execution. (Scholars tell us it was likely the cross member portion). He was placed in the middle of four soldiers. In front a soldier marched carrying a board stating the crime for which the prisoner was found guilty. The board was afterwards affixed to the cross.

II. SIMON OF CYRENE COMPELLED TO BEAR JESUS’ CROSS

A. In the next verse we are introduced to another individual about whom we know very little—Simon of Cyrene. He was compelled to carry the cross of Jesus. The Bible says in: Matthew 27:32 – “Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross.”

1. Obviously, Jesus is physically weakened. Not only has He been awake for a great many hours. He has been shuffled from place to place in all these mock hearings / trials, and He has been scourged. Doubtless from loss of blood, from physical pain, He is physically weakened, and help is needed.
2. This must have been a grim day for Simon. Palestine was an occupied country, and any man might be impressed into the Roman service for any task. The sign of impressment was a tap on the shoulder with the flat of a Roman spear.
3. Simon was from Cyrene, in Africa. I find it interesting that when a Roman soldier needed someone to help him, whatever the need, all he had to do was tap that person with his spear.

B. On this occasion, Simon of Cyrene, perhaps drawn to the situation by the tumult which is obvious, feels the touch of the Roman spear and he is compelled to bear the cross for Jesus. Who was this man we wonder?

1. According to Mark’s gospel he was a man that apparently in later days was known to the disciples. Mark 15:21 – “Now they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, (notice Mark adds here) the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.” That little notation suggests to us that in later days perhaps that Simon was a man well-known to the disciples and they knew his children, Alexander and Rufus.
2. On this occasion, on this day, he’s just an innocent traveler who has come out of the country possibly for the purpose of celebrating the Passover in keeping with the Jewish law. We might say that he is in the wrong place at the wrong time. At the moment Simon probably bitterly resented this happening to him.
3. If, indeed, this man did become the disciple of Christ, and I’m inclined in view by what is said in Mark to think that might have occurred… in later days he might have rejoice that he had been so favored.

III. THE CROSS, THE INSCRIPTION

A. Now I would like us to turn to the 19th chapter of John’s gospel. In John 19:17-18 – “And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.” “...Golgotha: where they crucified him...”

1. I will not elaborate on the process, the procedure, of Roman crucifixion. We will simply say it was a horrible way to die.
2. Today we would call it cruel and unusual punishment and it would likely be illegal in many parts of the world. Back then it was a form of punishment for runaway slaves or insurgents or the worst of criminals. A Roman citizen could never be crucified it was that horrible, and the Romans had developed crucifixion into an art. The Romans were so adept at this that we are told that there were some victims who took as long as a week to die.
3. Then I recall in Galatians 3:13 it tells us; “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree''),” That last part is from a passage in Deuteronomy 12:22-23 which says: “"If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.”
4. I’m realizing that Jesus took upon Himself, in being crucified, this curse. What this Hebrew curse meant was to be cut off from God, cut off from the land.

B. Then we go on and read in John chapter 19: John 19:19-22 –‘ ‘ “19. Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews. 20. Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. 21. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, "I am the King of the Jews.'' ‘ 22. Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written.”

1. This was an inscription which was written and usually affixed to the cross to identify the reason that the person was being crucified. It was written in three languages, the languages then current among the people.
2. It has been observed that these three languages stand for the contributions of those nations to the world. Greece taught the world beauty of form and of thought; Rome taught the world law and government; the Hebrews taught the world religion and the worship of the true God.
3. One wrote that the consummation of all these things is seen in Jesus. In Him were the supreme beauty and the highest thought of God. In Him was the law of God and the kingdom of God. In Him was the very image of God. All the world's seeking and striving found their consummation in Christ. It is symbolic that the three great languages of the world should be used to call Him king.
4. I want you to notice here that the leaders of the Jews didn’t like the inscription, and they came to Pilate and said: “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’
5. Pilate says: “What I have written, I have written.” I don’t know the mind of Pilate, but I cannot help but feel that this was done to irritate and annoy the Jews for placing him in a position were he caved in to their demand that a man he knew was innocent should be crucified.

IV. PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE

A. I want us to also look at those people who are around the cross. This could be an entire study in itself. We won’t do that, but we’ll look at some.

1. There were the Roman soldiers of whom we read in verses 23 and 24 of John 19:23-24 – “23. Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. 24. They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,'' that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: "They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.'' Therefore the soldiers did these things.”
2. The custom of that day was that the clothing of the person being crucified was given to the contingent of soldiers who carried out the execution. On this occasion there were four soldiers and they parted his garments among them, but here was this outer garment, this robe, woven without a seam we’re told. They decided: Let’s not cut it in four parts. Let’s cast lots for it.
3. Notice that John makes mention of Prophesy—Psalms chapter 22, verse 18: “They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.”

B. In Luke’s gospel in chapter 23 we discover, as all of us know, that there were two others crucified on that occasion. Luke 23:32 – “There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.” We continue reading at verse 39: Luke 23:39-43 – “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.''”

1. Legend has been busy with this robber. He is called by various names. One legend makes him a Judean Robin Hood who robbed the rich to give to the poor. There are many writings and speculations concerning this incident.
2. They were, according to one of them, guilty of transgressions and were receiving the punishment that they deserved. Then there are those remarkable words of Jesus: "today you will be with Me in Paradise."
3. That has given rise to an amazing remark by many people who come face to face in scripture with the necessity of being baptized, but for whatever reason want to say baptism is not necessary. “I want to be saved like the thief on the cross.” If you study the Bible with people for very long you’ve heard that. That’s a statement which reflects a misunderstanding of the covenant arrangement of history. This thief, as did Jesus, lived and died under the Mosaic covenant.
4. Another thing people do is equate this word Paradise with Heaven. Scripture says here “today you will be with me in Paradise”. It has been noted by scholars that "In some elements of first-century Judaism, (this word for paradise) described the spiritual abode of the soul between death and the resurrection." I suspect, this is the meaning here.
5. Now scripture says that on the first day of the week when Mary met the risen Jesus and supposed He was the gardener, He said to her “Mary” and she turned to Him and said “rabboni”, then in John 20:17 – “Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, `I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' ''” After Jesus rose from the dead, He stated that He had not yet ascended to the Father; therefore, Paradise is not identified as the final abode of the blessed.
6. A second thing I note is that scripture does not say whether or not this man was baptized by John the baptizer for whatever that may be worth. Scripture does indicate however, that many people were being baptized by John.
7. The most significant thing to me is found in Matthew 9:2-6 – “2. And behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.'' 3. And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!'' 4. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5. "For which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, `Arise and walk'? 6. "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins'' then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.''”

i. Here Jesus tells of a man who is paralytic: to take up his bed and walk. Before He tells the man to take up his bed, He tells him: Your sins are forgiven you. The scribes are incensed at this and they say only God can forgive sins.
ii. Jesus would respond to that: “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins'' then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
iii. There’s the issue. Jesus the Son of God on earth had that prerogative. He could forgive sins.

8. What we must never forget, is that the situation of the criminal on the cross is completely different from our situation, and covenant under which we live is the covenant of Christ. He sent His disciples out into the world to make disciples and to baptize them into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

C. Here at the cross there were the soldiers, the two malefactors and then there was another soldier mentioned. This soldier is identified as a centurion in: Matthew 27:54 – “Now when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!''”

1. From what history tells us, this makes sense that the group of four soldiers in charge of executing a person was commanded by a centurion.
2. A Roman centurion was an experienced soldier. Because he is quartered in Jerusalem I have every reason to believe that he has watched numerous others die by crucifixion, but he had never seen one die as did Jesus.
3. Of course, there was the earthquake and the eclipse and other physical things that surrounded the death of Jesus, but he comes to this conclusion: “Truly this Man was the Son of God!” Mark15:39.

D. There was another group of people we should notice, the women present at the cross. In John’s gospel, John 19:25-27 – “25. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!'' 27. Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!'' And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.”

1. All four gospels record that these women were present. His mother’s sister … Salome, the wife of Zebedee, and the mother of James and John, thus making James and John cousins of Jesus.
2. One of the interesting things Jesus said from the cross was to the disciple whom He loved. Apparently that’s John: “Behold your mother!” To her: “Woman, behold your son!”
3. The eldest son in that day had the responsibility of caring for his mother and if her son died she could be in a very sad and tenuous situation. Yes, there were other brothers but it is to John, a first cousin that He says: Behold your mother, and to His mother: Behold your son. From that hour John took her into his house. Women were weeping around the cross, likely not understanding what all this means, but they were there.

V. THE WORDS OF JESUS FROM THE CROSS

A. Let me hurriedly mention some of the other words from the cross. We are told of seven things Jesus said. Some are better known than others.
What were the sayings? What did they mean? We have already looked at two.
B. Of them...

1. Perhaps the best known is the saying from Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” This forgiveness is to me an amazing thing, that Jesus in the agony that He was experiencing, could think of forgiving those who are His tormentors.
2. In Matthew 27:46 we see the feeling of Jesus as He experiences a separation from the Father: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” That separation was so necessary for us. As it says in 2^nd Corinthians 5:21 – “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us…” Sin does not abide in the presence of God.
3. In Luke’s gospel again, verse 23:46 – and here is this amazing confidence Jesus has about the ultimate destiny of His spirit. “Father, `into Your hands I commend My spirit.'” This word for “commend” is the same word we studied in 1^st Peter 4:19, urging faithful disciples to commit their spirit to the faithful creator as Dale pointed out in class.
4. David said in Psalm 31:5 – “Into Your hand I commit my spirit;” Now David commended his spirit to God that he might live and not die, and Jesus used the same words to mean that He would die, but He would continue to live after the resurrection!
5. In John 19:28 – “Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!''”
6. The last one I’ll mention is found in John 19:30 - “It is finished” - the redeeming work of Jesus was complete - the atoning sacrifice had been offered - salvation could be proclaimed

CLOSE: It was on a Friday, not forgotten by Biblical writers and scholars, perhaps the best known Friday in all of human history—the Friday that the Son of God was killed.
We are sad because of the cross… yet we are glad because of the cross.

Something that we need to remember, and to remember well, is found in Romans 6:3f. There begins an incredible section of scripture in which the subject of baptism is an integral part. That passage tells us clearly that we are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ. We are baptized into the sacrifice, for it is there that the blood of Christ washes away, cleanses us, of our sins.

There are those who will hear this message that have never been baptized for the remission of their sins, never entered into the death of Christ… and because they have never entered into that death, their sins are still with them. They’ve never been remitted. If you are one, you remain in that state and that is so fatal. I urge you to listen to God’s word; believe in Jesus; repent of your sins; then confess your belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and make the decision to be baptized into His death.

If you are one who is here this morning I would urge as we sing the song of invitation that you step into the aisle and come to the front let us know: I’d like to be baptized this morning. Leave this place with your sins forgiven. Forgiven because of the cross, not because of anything you’ve done to claim, or to earn, but because of the cross and what Jesus did. Come and be forgiven.

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Adopted from Sermon by: Cecil A. Hutson

The Trials - Preaching The Cross

John 18:37-19:15 Luke 23:1-16

INTRO: Good morning church. For our reference this morning I’m going to read John 18:39-40 – “"But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?'' Then they all cried again, saying, "Not this Man, but Barabbas!'' Now Barabbas was a robber.”[NKJV]

What I want to look at this morning are the various trials of our Lord, if they may be called trials. The hearings before religious and civil leaders are recorded in all the gospel records. One of the things that we discover in examining these records is the trial before the high priest, Caiaphas, and the Jewish council was probably, according to Jewish Law, not legally conducted.

There have been scholars of Jewish Law of that time who have concluded that these were truly unlawful hearings. We should understand that the Pharisees and Sadducees were determined to have their way, and they were not very concerned with the niceties of legality. They were just concerned about being done with Jesus.

During these last hours before His death we discover several things about Jesus. One is, of course, that He is, and claimed to be, the Son of God (we find that in Luke 22:70). A second is that He is truly the Messiah, the Christ, and ultimately in His interview before Pilate that He is the King (as it says in John 18:37).

However, our focus this morning is to look just a little bit further into the last hours of our Lord before His death.

I. FOLLOWING A “RELIGIOUS TRIAL”, HE WAS TAKEN TO PILATE: Jesus first was taken before Caiaphas, the high priest that year, and Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas. After Jesus endured this mock hearing, He was then taken to Pilate, the Roman governor.

A. As the Roman governor, Pilate was the authority for that time and place.

1. Pilate was not an especially astute ruler. In fact history indicates he was a very poor governor, but one thing was certain about Pilate. He had no lost love for the Jews. Historians tell us he was rabidly anti-Jew.
2. With that as background, it seems a little bit unusual to me that the Jewish leaders would take Jesus to someone they did not respect for judgment. Why, I wonder, did they do that?
3. Since we are in our Bibles at the 18th chapter of the gospel of John. I’m going begin reading in verse 28, and I’d like you to read along with me. John 18:28-32 – “28. Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. 29. Pilate then went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?'' 30. They answered and said to him, "If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.'' 31. Then Pilate said to them, "You take Him and judge Him according to your law.'' Therefore the Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,'' 32. that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.” Here are some thoughts, and observations, about what we find here.

i. The first thing that leaps to our attention as we read this, is that we’re dealing with a group of “holier than thou” people. I note that when they came to the judgment hall of Pilate these religious leaders would not even go inside because they would be defiled ceremonially and not be able to eat the Passover. For some reason Pilate conceded this and went out to them and asked them: what is the accusation that you bring against this man? They said: Listen; if He wasn’t a bad person we would not have brought Him to you. That didn’t satisfy Pilate nor would it satisfy most people. He may not have been a great ruler, or a great judge, but he still knew that something was very much amiss with this situation.
ii. He tells them – “you take Him and judge Him according to your law”. But then they responded. Now listen… this is haughtiness gone to seed, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,''. The very next verse indicates that this is all happening in order to fulfill that which Jesus prophesied concerning the manner of His death.
iii. Here’s a little bit of reading between the lines. Was it impossible for the Jews to execute someone? Was it out of the realm of possibility? The answer is no.
iv. They had done it before and they could have done it again. If they did so though, the Jewish leaders that brought the accusation against Jesus would have had to participate in stoning Him which was the custom of their executions. What they really wanted was not to have their hands dirtied by all this. What they really wanted was some way to pass the blame for what was about to happen off to the Romans and get them to legally kill Jesus. Something else we need to note here is - they are talking about putting Jesus to death—even before any judgment is handed down.
v. You’ll notice that verse 32 tells us Jesus had already explained about His crucifixion. What had He said? “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” John 12:32 He said this in keeping with the manner of the death that He was to die. What’s happening here is that the Jews are fulfilling Jesus’ prophesy concerning His death.

B. They brought Jesus to Pilate, and as we consider Pilate we might wonder, what his impression of Jesus is. I’d like you to turn in your Bibles to the gospel of Luke next, the 23^rd chapter, where we read the first impressions of Pilate about Jesus. In the religious hearing with Caiaphas and Annas, Matthew records in Matthew 26:65 that the charge of blasphemy has been leveled against Jesus. The problem is the Romans didn’t care about blasphemy. That’s not their problem, it is a religious issue, and it’s the Jew’s problem.

1. Let’s read Luke 23:1-4 - “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. So Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?'' And He answered him and said, "It is as you say.'' 4. Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no fault in this Man.''”
2. Notice how these people misrepresented the truth of things. Remember the charge that the Jews have leveled against Jesus is the charge of blasphemy. As far as they are concerned that is an executable offense. They can kill Him for that. When they come to Pilate who is the Roman civil leader, the man with supreme authority over life and death, notice in verse two what they say. We found this fellow perverting the nation and forbidding giving tribute to Caesar saying that He Himself is Christ the King. Hmmmm that’s a shift.
3. What was it that Jesus had really said about giving tribute to Caesar? Do you recall it? We find this in Matthew 22:17-21 – here is what Jesus had really said about this issue. When the Herodians came to Jesus with the question “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”, His response was very simple. “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” That was the truth of the matter. He had never taught anything about subverting the nation, but to get a sympathetic hearing from the Roman governor they had to lie—these Jewish religious leaders. They had to misrepresent the truth to Pilate, and indeed they did. Pilate knew the Jews would follow a king, and not deliver him up. So he says he finds no fault in Jesus.
4. We go on and read just a little bit further. I want to begin at verse five and read through verse seven since here is where the whole scene is going to change. Luke 23:5-7 – “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.” - I can just imagine Pilate at this point saying; “Ah, ha! I have found a way to get rid of this issue. I know that this man is not guilty of death, but I don’t see how to deal with this without stirring up the people or offending Caesar. This looks like my way out of the whole problem. The man is a Galilean and as a Galilean He is a subject to Herod Antipas. “I have nothing to do with this” and he sends Him to Herod.

II. THE HEARING BEFORE HEROD: Now there is another hearing, and this time it is before Herod.

A. We need to understand a little bit about the political geography of that time. The area we would call the Holy Land was divided into parts. One part which was overseen (the part where Pilate was) by the Romans themselves. The part involving Galilee, Nazareth or Capernaum, all places to which we attach the name of Jesus, these are all places under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas.

1. Historically we are told, there was no “love lost” between Pilate & Herod.
2. Why send Jesus there except to wash his hands of the matter? Perhaps as a favorable overture to Herod Antipas? We are not told though there is a hint.
3. Let’s look just a few verses later at Luke 23:12 and notice; “That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for before that they had been at enmity with each other.” This gesture on the part of Pilate, sending Jesus to Herod for judgment, apparently was a good gesture as far as politics were concerned.
4. That then brings us to the actual hearing that takes place with Herod.

B. Luke 23:8-11 – “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.”

1. Herod was very interested in Jesus and very curious about Him. He had heard many things about Jesus and in his curiosity he hoped, as many curious people might have at that time, to see some miraculous thing done by Jesus. But nothing was done.
2. So, Herod questions Jesus and in the course of this questioning he gets no information to satisfy his curiosity.
3. At the end of the day what he and his minions do, is to mock Jesus, to hold Him in contempt and jest. “I don’t have to deal with Jesus. After all we’re in Jerusalem. This isn’t my bailiwick. I’m going to send Him back to Pilate, just send Him back, and let Pilate take care of this.” That’s exactly what he does.

III. PILATE IS AGAIN FACED WITH A DECISION ABOUT JESUS:

A. Neither Pilate nor Herod could find any reason why Jesus should be executed, but Jesus is delivered to Pilate again. Look a little further in Luke 23. As we read the account, we find Pilate is responding to the Jewish people and saying he finds no fault in Jesus concerning the accusations against Him. I will begin reading in Luke 23:13-16 – “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 worthy of death has been done by Him. 16. "I will therefore chastise Him and release Him''”

1. Do we see how unjust all of this is? Can we put ourselves in Jesus place for a few minutes, seeing all this going on against Him and yet Jesus is calm, like He has no despair.
2. Pilate says to the Jewish leaders: “look, your own king which is part of the political world over in the region of Galilee has said he didn’t find any cause of death in this man, and I don’t find any cause of death in this man. I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. I’m going to chastise Him and release Him.” Pilate may have been cruel, unprincipled ... but not dumb. He recognized the charges against Jesus were spurious, so he would “chastise him, and release him”

B. Let’s turn to the gospel of Mark where we read about the attempt of Pilate to release Jesus. This is the Passover season, remember. Mark 15:6-11 – “6. Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. 7. And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow insurrectionists; they had committed murder in the insurrection. 8. Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. 9. But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?'' 10. For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. 11. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.”

1. Pilate is in a political mess and he has expressed that he knows Jesus is innocent. It sounds like he tries over and over again to release Jesus, but if he does, the political mess is just going to get worse. He knows the religious leaders have trumped this up.
2. Then he remembers that at this particular season of the year it is the custom to release a criminal to these people—someone whom they asked to be released. So he goes to the people and asks: “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
3. But the priests have influenced the people, so they say “No”! The chief priests moved the people to demand Pilate should release Barabbas unto them, a murderer, an insurrectionist, and a thief.

C. There’s one other little incident that takes place in all of this. It’s something that goes almost unnoticed in all the trials and hearings that are going on. Let’s turn in our Bibles to Matthew 27:19 it says of Pilate, “While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.''”

1. To us this might not seem the least bit significant. Most of us have dreams and not too many of us care about what the dream may or may not signify or mean—probably nothing. We are not pagan people even if some of us may act that way at times. We’re Christian people. We live in a nation that is not overseen by pagan beliefs—at least not yet.
2. In the pagan world dreams matter a great deal. Dreams were very significant. Dreams were powerful influences in the lives of people. Here’s a woman, Pilate’s wife, who has a dream. Scripture has not told us exactly what the dream was. We’re not given any substance of the dream at all, but she says: It really bothered me. She was very disquieted by her dream.
3. She was so disquieted by it that she sent word to her husband: Don’t have anything to do with this man. Pilate would have been very concerned about this. You and I would not, but Pilate was a pagan, and dreams meant so much, and here’s his wife telling him—“you don’t want to have anything to do with this man. I had a dream about Him and it really bothered me.”
4. This would have been bothersome even to Pilate. What would he do? He is on the horns of a political dilemma, and now his wife has had this dream. He is likely thinking, “I need out of this situation.”

D. Let’s turn back to John 18 again to see what happens. Pilate does his very best to get rid of the situation, to release the Lord to the people, and to get rid of this entire problem.

1. Start reading at John 18:32-36 – “32. that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die. 33. Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?'' 34. Jesus answered him, "Are you speaking for yourself on this, or did others tell you this about Me?'' 35. Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?'' 36. Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.''”
2. This interview goes on as we look at John 19:1-6 – “1. So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. 2. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. 3. Then they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!'' And they struck Him with their hands. 4. Pilate then went out again, and said to them, "Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.'' 5. Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, "Behold the Man!'' 6. Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!'' Pilate said to them, "You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.''”
3. How many times does Pilate have to say this to the people? I find no fault in Him. He brings Jesus forth wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe and said unto them: Behold the man. He wants to get rid of this issue. He wants to release Him. His wife has told him that she’s had a dream: don’t have anything to do with this man.
4. Pilate thinks; “What I will do is scourge Him.” I’m not going into all the details of a Roman scourging now. It’s enough for me to say that it is one of the most terrible beatings. Pilate hopes that if he scourges Him it will satisfy the people. Pilate knew that the charges against Jesus were scurrilous. He thought that if he just beat Him badly that’s going to make everybody happy and he can be rid of Him.
5. In verse six, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out saying: “Crucify Him, crucify Him”. Pilate said to them; “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.” He’s saying: Do your own dirty work, you have my permission. You kill Him. I’m not going to do it.
6. Let’s go on reading in John 19:10-11 – “Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?'' Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.''”
7. Jesus tells Pilate that the only way you can do this is because it’s part of God’s plan. Its part of God’s agenda otherwise you would have no power over me whatsoever. The power has been given to you from above. Here’s poor Pilate, he is in a political mess and the Jews knew they had him in a box.
8. John 19:12 – “From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, "If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.''”
9. Then in John 19:15 – “But they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!'' Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?'' The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!''”
10. Wow! What duplicity, what lies they were willing to tell to get Jesus to the cross. They knew that Pilate was not a particularly popular person with Caesar. They believed that if word got to Caesar that Pilate had released a man who claimed to be King of the Jews it would be all over for Pilate—political pressure, and it was to this pressure that Pilate ultimately yielded.

E. That brings us back to another one of those little incidents in Matthew 27:24-25 – “When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.'' And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children.''”

1. In Matthew 27:19— we saw Pilate’s wife had a dream, and told him don’t have anything to do with this. Our reading in John’s gospel indicates from the time the trials began Pilate sought a way to release Jesus and he claimed over and over again, “the Man is innocent”. He’s not worthy of punishment.
2. He knew it was for envy that Jesus had been delivered to him. What does he do? Pilate took water and washed his hands and said I have nothing to do with it. I want nothing to do with it. In this symbolic act, he sought to absolve himself in this terrible drama.
3. The fact is, by the washing of his hands, he could not absolve himself of his responsibility in the unjust ending of this whole affair. We see that he wasn’t a courageous man, but he didn’t want to have anything to do with what was about to happen.
4. He washed his hands of the affair and sought a way to transfer the guilt for the injustice that was about to occur to others and they accepted it by saying: “His blood be on us and on our children.”

F. When it is within our power to change or adjust that which is unjust and wrong and we seek to wash our hands of the affair, we cannot absolve ourselves of responsibility.

1. I’ve wonder if we at times, not by a symbolic act perhaps, but by some mental gymnastics, seek to do the very same thing that Pilate did. I’m not going to do the right thing. I know I should. I’m not going to do it, —BUT— I don’t want to be seen as guilty for my behavior.
2. How many times are there that we know what we should do, but don’t? Or what we shouldn’t do, but do, with no more justification than Pilate had?

G. Finally, this morning let’s go Mark 15:15 – “So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.”

1. Listen to those words, “wanting to gratify the crowd ”.
2. Is this the reason for the conduct that takes us into places that we should not go? Is this the reason for the conduct that leads us to do things that we should not do, or causes us to not do things we ought to do?
3. Willing to gratify the crowd—that’s pressure, folks. Recognize it? In today’s world we often see it as peer pressure, social pressure.

CLOSE: How often do we find ourselves in a situation of conviction knowing what we ought to do or what we ought not to do, yet because of the people around us, the pressure of the moment, the circumstances of the situation, we are willing to gratify the world.

Pilate delivered Jesus to be crucified. All of this folks was done for us. All of this unfairness, all of these indignities, all the suffering of the sinless Savior was done for each of us. As we read and re-read these narrative events of the cross, we should more deeply appreciate and understand how much Jesus loves us because He did all of this for me and for you.

You can’t wash your hands of Jesus, my friends, and remove your responsibility toward Him. You can’t wash your hands of Jesus and wash away your responsibility for sin.
There is one place, though, where the washing can occur and will occur and that’s in baptism. It’s not the washing away of your responsibility to Jesus; it is your response to His gift. It is a washing away of your sins, and that is a gift made possible because of the cross.

You can be cleansed from your sins because of the cross. You can be forgiven of your sins because of the cross. While we’re singing the invitation song, if you have not been baptized into Jesus Christ, would you make that decision this morning and respond to God’s invitation to come?

Take this simple step and this morning before you leave this place, you will be washed, cleansed of your sins, because of the cross. Then you will be prepared to meet God in that day.

If there’s any way we can assist, we invite you to come as we stand and as we sing.

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Adopted from Sermon by: Cecil A. Hutson

Prayer

I have a sermon this morning that I have entitled simply, Prayer. We know as God's children, prayer is a very serious privilege that has been bestowed upon us. I believe the disciples only asked the Lord to teach them one thing and that was prayer. As we find in Luke 11:1-2, “…Lord, teach us to pray…”.

The question may arise, what is prayer? Some may think that the attempt to define prayer is something that is pretty difficult to do, but it's like anything that God has created, complete knowledge of it may be beyond our understanding, but we still benefit from trying to study it. Much like, for example, the human body is beyond our complete understanding, but we still study it. Just like a simple plant. People today, even though a plant is a simple form of life, people still study them. I don't think anybody has complete knowledge.

What is prayer not? I’d start out with prayer is not a bellhop to get out of trouble. Prayer is not merely a psychological release of our pent up emotions. Prayer is not a stump speech that we want to give to God, demanding or commanding him to give us our whims or our desires. Prayer is not a kind of vehicle to display one's proficient knowledge of the language or one's sufficient knowledge of the Bible, even. Prayer is not just for our desires.

What is a good definition of prayer? Someone has said prayer is a line of communication between God and man. That's a simple definition, but it sounds pretty good. Someone else has said prayer is God's love device to maintain fellowship with man. It could be said that prayer is asking, seeking and knocking. This morning, I'd like to read in the beginning here a number of scriptures to help us get an idea of what prayer is.

Starting with Matthew 7:7-8 where it says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

Now, I'd like for us to take a journey to First Kings 17:1; 18:41-46, then we will go into James. First, I Kings 17:1. “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”

Then I Kings 18:41, “And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. 42. So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43. And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 44. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not. 45. And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. 46. And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.”—First Kings 18:41-46.

Let's look at James 5:17-18. “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

One more, Luke 18:1-7, “1. And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2. Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3. And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5. Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?”

The way I understand it, the Lord wants us to be individuals that are diligent in prayer. We are not to just ask the Lord or go before the Lord just one time. We are to continue to ask our Lord. We are not just to seek Him one time. We are to continue to seek the face of our Lord. We're not to knock just one time, but the Lord will have us to keep on knocking—be persistent. Now consider the widow's conduct. This widow was one thing, at least. She was persistent. She troubled this wicked judge. This may be an individual who was without a conscience. He did not fear God. Neither did he regard man. He didn't care much about man, but this widow was not deterred because of this judge's conduct. She continued to come before this judge. She didn't give up. What we should gather from this is, unlike the judge, our God is a loving God. He cares about us. Therefore, how much more should we be persistent in our prayers before him?

Consider Elijah's prayer. This was a great man. After praying that there would be no rain, later for the first time when he prayed the first time, no rain came. He didn't quit. He prayed a second time, and again, no rain appeared, but he didn't quit. Then he prayed a third time, and, of course, no rain came at that time. He still did not quit. This man of God prayed the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh time. Then the Lord answered his prayer and there was rain. Many people probably would have given up earlier than Elijah.

Some people would have perhaps given up the very first time and began to think that maybe God does not exist. He did not hear my prayer. Some may give up thinking God don't love me, therefore I'm going to stop praying. Some may conclude that maybe they committed some sin they are unaware of, and therefore, God is not answering their prayer. Some may say or think that they're not good enough, therefore God is not hearing my prayer. We must remember that God is not like man. Peter says. “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” That's Acts 10:34-35

Notice God is no respecter of person. In other words, he shows no favoritism. He heard Elijah's prayer and he also will hear our prayers. As long as we are individuals that fear God and as long as we are individuals that work righteousness, our prayers will be heard just like Elijah's prayers were heard many years ago. This means, of course, that we're living for Christ, that we are doing God's will, that we are 100% committed to the Lord. If we want God to hear our prayers, we must constantly keep in mind His will. That's very important.

Notice what we read in First John 5:14-15. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

We must remember that prayer is not an avenue to get whatever we simply desire. There is a poet that has written these words; He says, I ask for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for help that I might do great things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might enjoy all things. I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for. Despite myself, my prayers were answered. I am among all things most richly blessed.

The author is unknown. God is out for our best, not necessarily for the things that we desire. Therefore, prayer must be within God's will. Prayer is a great privilege. Before men can fully appreciate what prayer is and what it means, I think we need to know some things about God. First, we must know God. Notice these scriptures.

“Jesus said, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.” John 8:54-55.

Again “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” John 14:6-7

One more, First John 2:13-14. “I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one”

Knowledge of God is crucial. It is crucial. It is necessary. The Jews did not know Him at least in an intimate way that should have been revealed in their lives. Knowledge is equal to access. In the general sense, without knowing God, people cannot know how best to approach God. A person may have general ideas about God. The lost may cry for mercy. The lost may cry to know God, but no man can expect God to hear him if he don't want to know God in an intimate way. Personally, I believe, to know God means that first I must know Jesus.

To know Jesus means to know God's will. To know God's will means I know how to pray. The early disciples knew Jesus, and consequently they knew the father. By knowing the father, they could go to him with confidence. They could go to him with confidence because it was according to a proper knowledge. We must get to know God.

What is your concept of God? What is your knowledge of God? Let's consider some things that should mold our concept of who God is. First, God owes His existence to no one. The Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” That's John 1:1-3.

God owes His existence to no one. There is no beginning for God. The Bible says all things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. I think that's pretty clear. Everything made was made by God the father, or you could say God the son. It was made by the God head therefore He wasn't made by anyone. We should be mindful of this. God is accountable to no one. There's no one higher than God. There's no one that we can appeal to above God. God answers to no one… You know what? Everyone answers to God. Every person, you and I, and every person on this planet answers to God, but God answers to no one.

Next God has no need to depend upon anyone. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty”. Revelation 1:8.

In life, man is born depending upon others, and he dies depending upon others. A child depends upon his parents. In essence, he depends upon God indirectly. An adult depends upon others in life. Ultimately he depends upon God as well to even help sustain him. God has never needed others. God created the earth. He did it alone. He did not need an aid or someone to help him in making the earth. He did not have helpers. Unlike man, God has no parents. God is the beginning. God has no end. There's no death for God. Everything starts with God, and everything shall end with God.

Next, God has learned from no one.

“I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.” Proverbs 8:12.

That's wisdom speaking.
Then Proverbs 8:22-30 says, “22. The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26. While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28. When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29. When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30. Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;”
A couple more, Isaiah 40:13. “Who hath directed the spirit of the Lord, or being his counseller hath taught him?”

Then First Corinthians 2:16, “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

Everybody has to sit at the feet of another. One can argue that Adam had sat at the feet of his creator, God. Every person has to learn from someone else, even those who would be considered geniuses among us. They have to learn from someone else. No one is so smart that they do not need someone else in their lives for them to learn.

Think about it. God knew all. He learned from no one… no one at all. From the beginning, He possessed wisdom. Before all His works of old, God possessed wisdom. He did not need a counselor. He did not need a teacher. He did not need someone to give Him directions. God did not have to go to the equivalent of Home Depot to get instructions on how to create the mountains or the deep. He did not need such help.

Next, with God, nothing is impossible. “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” – Mark 10:27. With God, all things, all things are possible.

Just to consider what we know that God has created is mind boggling. Think about the heavens, the space, and how it is expanding, expanding at a rate, as I understand it, faster than the speed of light. We would never be able to view or touch the end of the heavens or the space.
He's the creator of the earth, the skies that we gaze upon, the land that we walk upon, the mountains that sometimes we try to climb, the waters that we love to find ourselves within, and all the creatures that we have discovered, and not to mention those that we haven't discovered that God has created. Since nothing is impossible, you know God, if he so chose, he still can make new creatures. That's how nothing is impossible with God. He created all that we know and understand and beyond that.

God is everywhere. The Bible says in Psalms 139:7-12, “7. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”

Next, God is everywhere. He is in the heavens, beyond our reach. He is also in the depths of the ocean, in the middle of the ocean, places that we have not placed our feet upon. We can say God is there. God is throughout the earth, and we cannot run from him, we cannot hide from him, and we cannot escape His presence. That is very significant.

Next, God is all knowing. Again in Psalms 139:1-4 says, “1. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.”

God knows all about us. There's nothing about us that He does not know. God has searched me, and He knows me. God also has searched you, and He knows you. God has searched me. He understands my thoughts from afar off. God also knows your thoughts from afar off. He's acquainted with all my ways, good and bad. He is also acquainted with all your ways, whether they're good or bad.

Before a word is on my tongue, before I say a word, he knows it before I utter it. It’s the same for you. Before a word is on your tongue, He knows it all too well. Having this knowledge should impact how we view God, first of all, and also how we pray to God.

The things mentioned does not cover all that there is to know about God. There's obviously much more about God for us to understand. As God's children, we have the privilege that very few people truly have. Yes, there are hundreds or millions probably that pray daily. How many are praying according to biblical knowledge? How many, even among God's people are praying according to biblical knowledge? Unfortunately, I think we can say that probably not everybody's praying according to biblical knowledge.

A spiritual growing congregation is a praying congregation. Numbers are not always a true representation of spiritual growth. It's a congregation that looks to Christ for His guidance, looks to Christ for its strength. It's a congregation with courage to face sin when they see it. It's a congregation that has Christian character and is willing to deal with difficult problems without strife among God's people. All this starts with knowing God today.

How is your prayer life? One thing is for sure, if we're living in sin, we don't have an effective prayer life. One's prayer just goes no further than the ceiling. If one is living in sin. Sin is something that hinders prayer. It stops our prayers if we're ignoring sin in our lives. God is ignoring our prayers. Until you are willing to confess, repent, turn from your sins, your prayers will go unanswered. They will go unanswered. Basically, you're wasting your time. That's something to think about. You're wasting your time if you're in sin and you're praying to God and you never obeyed the gospel. Your prayers only reach the ceiling.

Your sins hinder your prayers from being answered. Unless you are willing to know God in an intimate way by obeying the gospel, your prayers will continue to be unanswered.

“Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.” John 9:31

“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil”. First Peter 3:12

If we choose to do evil, we need to understand that the Lord face is against us. He is not for us.

“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” That's Acts 10:34-35.

Another scripture says, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24

If you're here today and you have never obeyed the gospel, you need to know that you are in sin and you need your sins to be removed. The only way to have your sins removed is by obeying the gospel.

The gospel says, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:16

We also need to repent of our sins and to confess our sins and then be baptized for the remission or the forgiveness of our sins. If we choose to do that, the Lord will add us to His church, the body, as we find in Acts chapter 2.

If you are a member of the church and you have not been faithful, or you stand in need of prayer for any reason, we encourage you to come forward as we to sing this song of invitation. Thank you.

The Last Hours - Preaching The Cross

Luke 22:7-13

INTRO: Good morning church. Our text today is Luke 22:7-13 – “7. Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. 8. And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.'' 9. So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?'' 10. And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. 11. "Then you shall say to the master of the house, `The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?'' ' 12. "Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.'' 13. So they went and found it as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.”[NKJV]

We have, over the past few Lord’s days, been approaching the cross in our lessons. We have come now to the last hours of Jesus. At Matthew 26:18 – “And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, `The Teacher says, "My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.'' ' ''” Jesus says, “My time is at hand.” Very little time now remains before Jesus will be crucified by Roman soldiers. Yet, in the hours remaining there is so much to see and to learn. For Jesus the economy of time and the use of precious hours are so important ... and so obvious to readers of the gospel narratives. It is the Passover season. Jerusalem is crowded with worshipers. The enemies of Jesus, as much as they wanted Him dead concluded, as we find in Matthew 26:5 – “But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.''” It was an emotional time in Jerusalem. Almost anything could happen. Historians tell us that during the Passover a special contingent of Roman soldiers was posted there in the event of a disturbance of some sort. Amidst all of this, Jesus quietly, calmly eats the last supper with the apostles. We come to our view of the last supper in the 26^th chapter of the gospel of Matthew.

I. THE “LAST SUPPER”

A. It is at this supper we find the betrayer is identified. Matthew 26:21-25 – “21. Now as they were eating, He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.'' 22. And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, "Lord, is it I?'' 23. Then He answered and said, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. 24. "The Son of Man goes as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.'' 25. Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, "Rabbi, is it I?'' He said to him, "You have said it.''”

1. The betrayal “deal” had already been made as we read in Matthew 26:14-16 – “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?'' And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.”
2. Prophetically we read in Psalm 41:9 – “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” – Jesus identifies this passage from the book of Psalms as specifically referring to the betrayer in John 13:18 – “"I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, `He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.'”

B. More significant though is the “institution” of what we refer to as the Lord’s Supper in Matthew 26:26-29 – “26. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body.'' 27. Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28. "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29. "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.''”

1. Elements present at the Passover Feast were unleavened bread, and the fruit of the vine – In Exodus 12:18-20 – we read, “18. `In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19. `For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land. 20. `You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.' ''” This is the Passover Season and during this season according to what we just read in Exodus, no leaven would be permitted in Israel. It is called the feast of unleavened bread.
2. Again in Matthew 26:26 – “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body.” – In Paul’s review of the institution of the Lord’s supper in - 1^st Corinthians 11:24 – “and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.''” Though not a single bone of His body was broken, yet in His dying on the cross His body is broken for us.
3. Next at v. 27 of Matthew 26 we read of the fruit of the vine. Matthew 26:27 – “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” - “this is my blood” - In Hebrews 9:22 – we are reminded that “…. without shedding of blood is no remission.” His body, His blood. The great atoning sacrifice, memorialized in simple, unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine. Memorialize is defined as providing a memorial for, and a memorial is defined as something which brings to mind a person or an event. To bring to remembrance.
4. Now Matthew 26:29 – “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.” – This reminds me of – 1^st Corinthians 10:16 – “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” What a significant word, communion. You and I this morning have communed with the blood and the body of Jesus Christ. Communion or fellowship. You and I this very morning, with our Lord, have observed the Lord’s Supper in the Kingdom.
5. In Luke’s gospel concerning the last supper. Luke 22:19 – “And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'' - “do this in remembrance of me” - clearly, a memorial feast. We have today memorialized the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
6. Look with me now in 1^st Corinthians 11:26 – “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.” – Notice Paul says that this is a declaration of His coming again - confirmation that humanity is not finished with Jesus! We have eaten the Lord’s supper this morning not only as a memorial to the death of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice for our sins—but also as a declaration that Jesus is coming again.

II. HE WASHES THE FEET OF THE APOSTLES

A. In John’s gospel we find something very unusual took place at this feast. At the feast Jesus washes the feet of the apostles. John 13:4-5 – He “rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” - “and began to wash the disciples’ feet”

1. What is unusual in this event is at that time this was a servant’s responsibility - a menial task of lowly service.
2. I can only imagine how the disciples were taken aback by this. Jesus gets up from the table and lays aside His garment, wraps a towel around Himself, takes a basin of water and stoops to wash the dusty feet of the apostles - note Peter’s reaction at v. 8-9.

B. What Jesus did, was memorialized in John 13. Jesus gave a great demonstration, an object lesson. I know there are those that try to decipher other things from this. Does this mean we need to have a basin and be washing one another’s feet? Let’s read;
C. John 13:12-16 – “ 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?” Let’s pause here and hold that thought as we read Luke 22:24 – “But there was also rivalry among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.”

1. “Do you know what I’ve done to you” Jesus asks. As I think about that against the background showing that they are divided among themselves about who is to be considered greater; I wonder, could this strife have motivated Jesus’ action?
2. Continue in John 13:13f – “"You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 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.” – The disciples are divided. Who is more important? Jesus demonstrates to them that not a single one of them is greater then the others. He agrees that He is their master. Yet, He can wash their feet. What can we learn from this? Let me suggest;

a. If a person has a good understanding of himself, who he is, his identity, he can stoop to any kind of service.
b. Jesus uses the word we translate “as” “as I have done”. A word of comparison that indicates the service they should do is not necessarily in the literal washing of one another’s feet but “as” He has done. Taking the opportunities to serve in any way possible.
c. If the Master can serve in the most menial of ways, His servants must not think they are too good to do so. Not one of us is so important in the following of Christ, in the Kingdom, that they can not stoop to lowly service. John 13 teaches by demonstration how you and I, as disciples of our Lord are not to elevate ourselves in any way where we can not serve.

III. JESUS’ PRAYER FOR HIS DISCIPLES

A. In John 17 we read the wonderful prayer of Jesus that He makes in these last hours. John 17:4 – “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” – I wonder how one glorifies the Father? I suspect all of us have wondered that from time to time. How do we glorify God?

1. Then immediately I see that Jesus gives the answer right there in simple words: “I have finished the work...”
2. We glorify God in the careful obedience to His will - as Jesus exemplified.
3. As we read this in John’s gospel I wonder if we don’t miss the point, that this simple, sweet prayer ... is truly instructive! This, like all other things is preserved in scripture for our instruction. The first thing this prayer teaches is how to glorify God, and that is in the same way that Jesus glorified Him by accomplishing the work He has set out for us to do, by obeying His revealed will.

B. The second thing we are taught in this prayer is found in John 17:14-16 – “14. "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15. "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16. "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” - Discipleship must be lived in the real world. There are times when I could pray that it be time to go home to be with the Lord. I get tired, and discouraged, and I lose sight of the point of this life.

1. We must always remember while we are to live in this world we are not of the world.
2. The secret folks to living in, but not of, the world I find in John 17:17 - "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."  The word sanctify comes from the same root as the word we translate Holy. This word means in its root form, “different”. Make them different, different from what? Different from the worldly people whose minds are all on worldly things. Make them different “through thy truth” :” thy word is truth”
3. Later, just before Jesus is sent to the cross, Pilate will ask, “What is truth?” - The answer is clear! God’s word.

C. John 17:20-21 – “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” – He has prayed so we understand what it is to glorify God. He has prayed so we understand how it is we live a different life here in this world. Now He prays so we understand the need for unity among believers.

1. And yet, that unity has been so difficult to achieve and maintain over years of time. 1^st Corinthians 1:10 – Here the apostle writes to a church which unfortunately is much divided. “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”– He goes on to explain concerning the division there. That church was divided ... and the solution was that they all needed to speak the same thing. What is it that they, and we, are to speak? The word of God.
2. We need, you and I to do all that we possibly can to achieve and maintain unity. Not by negotiation and compromise with worldly things but unity based on the word of God. Not union but unity.

a. Too much, the religious people of this world seek union. You be this and we will be that, but we will be at union one with another. We will work together in union to accomplish some goal, some charitable need perhaps.
b. All of that sounds oh so good to our “human” minds. But folks, that is not unity based on the word of God. The only unity worthy of the name is unity that goes to the word of God. We can be one, as long as we teach, preach and practice exactly what the word of God defines.

3. One more thing about those last hours I’d like to look at. Go back with me to

IV. WELL MEANING AFFIRMATIONS BY THE APOSTLES

A. Matthew 26:31-35 – “31. Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: `I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' 32. "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.'' 33. Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.'' 34. Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.'' 35. Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!'' And so said all the disciples.”

1. Jesus, once again, speaks of His death and resurrection - He quotes from Zechariah 13:7 – “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the Man who is My Companion,'' says the Lord of hosts. "Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; then I will turn My hand against the little ones” - prophecy concerning the Messiah’s death.
2. He adds that “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night”
3. Jesus even tells them that after His resurrection He will meet them in Galilee!

B. This, of course, brings a well meaning protest from Peter and the rest.

1. “I will not deny You” - “And so said all the disciples.”
2. I do not doubt for a single minute the sincerity of these words of the apostles. I believe that when they said this they believed they could remain steadfast even to the point of their own death as Peter suggested.
3. We simply do not know what the “hour of trial” may bring - how will we react; respond when the pressure is very real. In the hour of trial when the cost may be so great… even to the cost of ones life. There was a requirement of the Roman government in the first century that every person say that Cesar was lord. Simple words. Christians were required to do the same thing. Historians tell us that there were those Christians that steadfastly refused to do so. But there were pragmatic Christians, who in the hour of trial said; “those are just words. I know Jesus is Lord and Cesar is not deity, but I’ll say those words so I can continue with my life as usual.” Think of 1^st Peter 5:8-9 – “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

CLOSE: It is interesting to me that Jesus’ last meal before His crucifixion is at the time of Passover. Even more interesting, it was the last meal before He became our Passover. I’m thinking of 1^st Corinthians 5:7 – “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.”! It was the blood of the Passover lamb which spared the children of Israel on that fateful night. It is the blood of Jesus Christ, our Passover Lamb, which can spare us from eternal death. Have you availed yourself of that sacrifice? In Revelation 1:5 John reminds us it is by the blood of Jesus that our sins are washed away. We find that word “wash” again in Acts 22:16 in connection with baptism. It should be logical to us then, that it is the blood of Jesus which cleanses us and washes us from our sins. In the washing, not the filth of the flesh, but the washing away of sins in baptism, Jesus becomes our Passover. But have we applied the blood?
If you have never been baptized into Jesus Christ you are in danger of eternal death just as the children of Israel so long ago in Egypt, were in danger of death if the blood of the Passover lamb was not applied to the doorway of the house. You can apply the blood of Christ this morning in faith and penitence as you confess the name of Jesus Christ, you can be buried with Christ in baptism. Think of where you are beneath the cross of Christ. Are you in Christ or are you just an onlooker? If you need to be baptized or if you have any other needs we invite you to come as we stand and sing.

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Adopted from Sermon by: Cecil A. Hutson

Near The Cross - Preaching The Cross

Matthew 21:1-11

INTRO: Good morning church. Our text today is taken from Matthew 21:1-11.
The time is growing short. Jesus has been on the way to Jerusalem and the cross, and it is now time for Him to “be received up”. We left off with Luke 9:51 last time where we read, – “Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,”. The Bible gives us an excellent glimpse of this time which I will call “near the cross”. The gospel records contain a treasury of knowledge about these last few days before the crucifixion. As we look at these records it is evident that these last days, this last week, were filled with events and teaching. I have the impression as I look at this, that Jesus is very aware that time is short and that there is so much yet that He needs to leave with the apostles. Spend a few minutes with me this morning looking at Jesus near the cross.

I. THE “TRIUMPHAL” ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM

A. Open your bibles to our text, Matthew 21:1-11, where we read what is often described as the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. I won’t read the entire account, but I will start at verse 8. “8. And a very great multitude spread their garments on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David! `Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' Hosanna in the highest!'' 10. And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?'' 11. So the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.''” - “Hosanna to the son of David”

1. Jerusalem was crowded for it was the season of the Passover. Some have suggested based on the recorded number of sacrifices that were offered during this period, there may have been over 2 million people in the city. It was a crowded place.
2. Against this backdrop the drama of His entry into Jerusalem could hardly have been greater

B. As I look at this “drama”...

1. I see Jesus came riding on a donkey. For us that is not particularly significant, yet for those people, against the background of prophesy, it was a deeply significant thing. If you turn in your bibles to - Zechariah 9:9 – “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” What was Jesus doing coming into Jerusalem riding a donkey? This is a time when huge crowds of people would have made it impossible to stand in one place and be heard by a multitude. His riding into the city on a donkey was a silent object lesson based on the prophesy of Zechariah that He is declaring Himself to be the King. Often we hear speculation that Jesus never came right out to say that He was the King, but there were intimations. Here is one of the times when without a word He declares, “I am the King”.
2. The crowd is shouting “hosanna” – and that word means in Hebrew “save now” – I can not help but wonder if these people, without understanding it, are declaring that Jesus is the Messiah. Look in the book of Psalms; - Psalm 118:25-26 – “Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.”
3. Then there were palm fronds, branches, clothes, that were strewn on His path. Again because of our modern, western minds we do not fully grasp the deep significance of this. This was a symbol of honor, joy, victory, and respect. By the people doing what they did they added to the drama that Jesus is declaring Himself to be the King. Revelation 7:9 – “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,”

C. Then came an important question in Matthew 21:10 – “And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?''”

1. “Who is this?” I was thinking as I studied that there were times when a crowd does something as a crowd and then begins to wonder why? Let me illustrate. Have you ever noticed in walking along a crowded street that if someone looks up into the sky, it isn’t long until someone else stops and looks up into the sky, and then someone else and so on? If you look up into the sky like everyone else you wonder, what you are looking for. Here we have the question, “Who is this?”
2. The immediate answer we find in Matthew 21:11 – “So the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.''” It is true the people had hailed Him as "the Son of David," but they still did not understand His complete identity. Christ was born in Bethlehem, but it suited the purpose of the religious leaders to stress Jesus’ home as Nazareth. The people’s emphasis upon Nazareth shows how successfully the Pharisees had done their work. Even those who called him "Son of David" were not well grounded in their conviction.
3. “…Jesus the prophet from Nazareth...” That was not the whole answer. If you turn in your bibles to Acts chapter 2 starting in verse 22 we find the real answer to the question “Who is this?”
4. Acts 2:22-24,36 – “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know Him, being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.” – now go with me to verse 36 – “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” – There is the real answer.

II. ABOUT JUDAISM AND THE TEMPLE

A. During these days near the cross Jesus also spoke of Judaism and the temple. In the gospel of Matthew 23:37-38 – “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” Look carefully at these next words. “See! Your house is left to you desolate;” – “Your house is left to you desolate;”

1. Here Jesus describes the temple as “your house”. He does not refer to it as God’s house. It was, after Christ’s rejection, no longer God’s house, but theirs! Judaism has become so corrupt, and so rebellious that God has abandoned it!
2. In the book of Ezekiel 11:22-23 you will find a picture of what is happening in Jerusalem. You will see God leaving the temple in the midst of the city and going up to the mountainside on the east. God abandons the house because of the corruption, the apostasy that is there. Then in Luke 19:41-42 – This event is described a little bit differently. – “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” He beheld the city and wept over it! The apostasy of God’s people is always cause to weep. That is the situation as Jesus looks down upon the city.
3. Jesus wept over the city and the temple. He sees it with different eyes. Eyes that see the evil, the corruption, the apostasy. Then in Matthew 24 He speaks prophetically of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.

B. Matthew 24:1-2 – “Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came to Him to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” – This magnificent work of man, this beautiful building. This building that meant so much to the Jews; Jesus says is going to be torn down. Jerusalem’s destruction is prophesied

1. With this verse, begins a section of scripture that has given rise to all kinds of speculation. People of the pre-millennial viewpoint have taken this and developed all sorts of ideas about the Lord’s return ... and signs of the end times. Jesus was talking about the end of the temple and Jerusalem.
2. Then in speaking of the end of time He says in: Matthew 24:36 “But” – “But of that day…” this references the previous verse, “But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” In Mark 13:32 Jesus adds “…., nor the Son,” He says I don’t even know.
3. The signs He was talking about were about the coming end of Jerusalem, but of the end of time we do not know. Certainly it will happen, but when we first know about it, will be the sound of the trumpet of the Lord.

III. GREAT TEACHINGS ABOUT END OF TIME AND JUDGMENT

A. Jesus did speak of the end of time and of the judgment to come. If we continue to read Matthew 24 at v.42 – “42. "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43. "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44. "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.” There are not going to be signs saying it is next week or next month or next year. This will be in a time of complacency. A time when some are not the least concerned He will come.

1. Continuing now at v.45, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.” – Oh, the Lord is going to come, and He is going to issue the great universal judgment. This will be a coming as a thief in the night. “Watch…for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”
2. Clearly, what Jesus teaches is the absolute need for constant faithfulness.

B. Look now in v.48 and notice how He describes this problem that is so common to humanity, the problem of complacency. – “48. "But if that evil servant says in his heart, `My master is delaying his coming,' 49. "and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50. "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51. "and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

1. He is putting off His coming, so I have time to do as I wish and clean up afterward, right? Did you ever do that as a child or have children do that to you? The folks are not home so we can do something we should not do, and then put everything right before they show up?
2. We had a big chest freezer in the basement of the old farm house and in it were frozen produce from the garden and frozen meat from animals. There would occasionally be those cardboard cartons of ice cream from the store. One day dad was in the fields and mom was in the garden and I, for what ever reason, was alone in the house. I went to the freezer and took out the carton of ice cream. Now I knew better then to open the top of the container and take some out. It would be obvious when it was opened next that it had been opened before. I opened the bottom! I’m really not sure what I was thinking; but you can imagine what my dad’s reaction was when he opened this “brand new” carton of ice cream and went to dig some out and his scoop suddenly fell through the “untouched” ice cream to the bottom of the container!
3. The problem of growing complacence is a real one and it develops into irresponsible behavior, and the irresponsible behavior makes us unprepared. Folks, there is no time to become prepared when that day comes. We need to be prepared for it to come.
4. The Lord insists in faithful readiness and preparation. Jesus will return to herald the judgment - but there’ll be no signs of its coming.

C. In these last days of His ministry on earth we hear the Lord talk about the foolish virgins and wise virgins, the parable of the talents, and the great judgment scene where He describes dividing the sheep from the goats.

1. All of this is in Matthew 25 – which gives us a vivid “look” at the judgment.
2. When you read Matthew 25 about such themes as preparation, or responsibility, or service to others – realize that what He speaks about are things on which we will be judged.
3. All of this, it seems to me, is critical “last minute” information from the Lord, who will soon return to His place in heaven.

IV. THE ANOINTING

A. Read with me next from Matthew 26:6-13 – “6. And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 7. a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. 8. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "To what purpose is this waste? 9. "For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.'' 10. But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. 11. "For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. 12. "For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. 13. "Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.''” “...she did it for my burial”.
B. Jesus refers to His death ... and burial in v.12 of Matthew 26.

1. Did these words make an impression on the disciples?
2. I’m not sure they did at the time – but Jesus says in Matthew 26:13 – “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” - this was an act to be remembered.
3. In this passage there is the lesson that some opportunities will come only once. Opportunities to serve, opportunities to express our love, our care and our concern. We need to take those opportunities of service in the knowledge that they may only come once.

V. THE BETRAYAL “DEAL”

A. In Luke 22:2-6 – “2. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people. 3. Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. 4. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. 5. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6. Then he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.” - “And they were glad, and agreed to give him money”

1. The scribes and Pharisees want Jesus dead - but as is indicated here and elsewhere, they feared the people. Jesus had a very sympathetic hearing from many of the people. The chief priests and scribes knew they could not arrest Him in the presence of all the people without putting themselves in jeopardy. Jesus was a popular figure.
2. We read this in Matthew 21:45-46 – “Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.” - it was necessary, then, for them to find some way to take Jesus when He was apart from the multitude.
3. Along comes Judas. The deal Judas made involved “the absence of the multitude” and 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave.

B. The big question ... why? Why did Judas do this? Why would Judas betray his Lord and his Master? Why would Judas betray this one who had done him no harm?

1. All sorts of speculation is offered ... and written (some sound credible). The bottom line is we only know what is written in the scripture.
2. Note Luke 22:3 – “Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.” – There is the answer. Why would Judas do such a thing? Because Satan held sway over his life.
3. Here we see the great contemporary lesson surrounding Judas - when Satan is in control of us, we may do the most wicked and sinful things. No wonder then that Peter wrote in 1^st Peter 5:8-9 – “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” and then he adds “Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” We need to be watchful and to resist the attempts of Satan, remain steadfast in faith. That is the answer to our not falling prey to the same kind of thing that Judas did. We may not betray the Lord for 30 pieces of silver, yet, we still may by our conduct, our manner of life, betray Him.

CLOSE: These last days of our Lord Jesus Christ on the earth are days needing our careful attention. Do we really appreciate what is going on here? We need to read about this period of time and think on it. There were friends who loved Him. There were enemies who hated Him. Which are we? Jesus reminds us in John 14:15 – “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
Sometimes we may find our love and our faith has become weak. The cares of the world get to us and we slack off in our diligence. We need to read and study the Bible more often and recharge our faith, take into our hearts the great love that God shows us. As we sing this next song we need to think on that. Do we keep His commandments and show our love for Him? If you love the Lord and want to be His true disciple then you need to listen to what He says in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:16. It is so important. We need to be ready when He comes. If you need to come we invite you to do so now as we stand and as we sing.

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Adopted from Sermon by: Cecil A. Hutson

On The Way to The Cross - Preaching The Cross

Luke 9:51, John 12:34

INTRO: Good morning church. Our text today is taken from Luke 9:51 and John 12:34. Let’s first look at Luke 9:51 – “Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,” [NKJV]. Next in John 12:34 we read, “The people answered Him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, `The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man?''”.

When we read the four gospel records, it is evident almost from the beginning of His earthly ministry, Jesus was destined to die on the cross. We saw this last time as we examined sacrifice, and saw that the sacrifices under the Mosaic Law were only a shadow of the perfect sacrifice to come, Jesus Christ.

There are numerous prophetic indications of this event. These prophetic indications, well known to us, were also well known to the people of Jesus day. Yet at that time these indications were not fully understood.

We recognize that from the beginning of His earthly ministry He is destined to the cross. We also recognize that even before He came in human form He was destined to die as a sacrifice for our sins. However when Jesus spoke of His death, reactions were varied and sometimes what He said was misunderstood.

For example, His disciples were adamant that such a thing should not befall Him. The people of that day were certainly confused about the Messiah and as we see in our reading of John 12:34 they believed that “Christ remains forever”. The passages they might have had in mind are Psalm 110:4; Isaiah 9:7; Ezekiel 37:25; and Daniel 7:14. In all of these, the everlasting dominion of the Messiah is implied or stated. This morning as we continue this series we are going to be looking at, “on the way to the cross”.

I. LET US BEGIN BY LOOKING AT PROPHECY...

A. As we do so, keep in mind that the people of His day did not understand the idea of a crucified messiah. The people’s idea was that the law said He’d abide forever and that He would establish an earthly kingdom over which He would reign for eternity. They did not comprehend that the Christ could be crucified.

1. We begin in Genesis 3:15 – Many believe this is the earliest prophetic saying about the ultimate death of Christ. Here God is speaking to Satan after the transgression of Adam and Eve and He says: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” - “you shall bruise His heel”. Satan would bruise the heel of the coming Messiah but it is not a mortal wound. On the other hand the Messiah, the woman’s seed, would deliver a mortal wound to the head of Satan. Satan was responsible for taking Jesus to the cross because of our sin. This was the bruising of the heel. Not a mortal wound, yet from the physical perspective it was, but what Jesus did on the third day was to rise from the dead.
2. Now lets look in Isaiah 53:12, in this chapter concerning Christ, we read, “Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” – Keeping that in mind, turn with me to Luke 22:37 – where Jesus says “For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: `And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things concerning Me have an end.” - “numbered with the transgressors”
3. Look at the first part of the verse of Daniel 9:26 – “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;…” Jesus taught His disciples in Mark 8:31 – “that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed,…” - “Messiah shall be cut off”
4. In the book of Psalms there are numerous prophecies. In Psalm 22:16-18 – “16. For dogs have surrounded Me; The assembly of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; 17. I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. 18. They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.”

a. We can see this in Matthew 27:35 – “Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: "They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.''”
b. Also in John 20:25, this is what is written about Thomas, “The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord.'' But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.''”
c. Next we read in verse 27 “Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.'” - “they pierced...”
d. We read in Psalm 34:20 – “He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.” And in then John 19:36 – “For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken.''” - “not one of them is broken”

5. Let’s compare Psalm 40:6-8 - “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened; Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, "Behold, I come; In the scroll of the Book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.''”

a. With Hebrews 10:7-10 - “7. Then I said, `Behold, I have come in the volume of the book it is written of Me to do Your will, O God.' '' 8. Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them'' (which are offered according to the law), 9. then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.'' He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” –
b. “I delight to do thy will”. Marvelous prophesy. Hundreds of years before Christ came in the flesh; specific things are said concerning the death of Christ. Those prophesies were then referred to by Christ and the New Testament writers to confirm that He is the fulfillment.

6. In Psalm 41:9 – we read something which to me is one of the sadist of the prophetic references, “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” … Of whom does this prophesy speak? Jesus says in John 13:11,18 – “11. For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean.''' Then in verse 18, "I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, `He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.'”
7. We turn next to Zechariah 12:10 – “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.”

a. In the New Testament John 19:33-37 – “33. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken.'' 37. And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced.''”
b. “whom they have pierced” The way to the cross was strewn with prophetic notice!

B. From our point of view in retrospect, these things seem so clear, so obvious. These were also well known to the disciples in Jesus’ day – they were known to be Messianic in nature. Yet the people had in their minds that the “Christ abideth forever”, and they applied this to a physical expectation rather then spiritual. They did not grasp that the Christ would be crucified.

1. From the very beginning we see that Jesus is on the way to the cross, and it was not a question of would He be sacrificed... but when.
2. Would you open your bibles to Acts 2:23 – In this memorable sermon on the day of Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ, the apostle Peter and others speak concerning the events in Jerusalem on that fateful day “Him, being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;” - As we look at this historically you and I are not surprised. We know about the prophecies and we look at them with a fuller understanding then did the people of that time.
3. We know that what happened in Jerusalem on that Friday was the fulfillment of prophecy. Can you imagine how staggering this must have been for them to realize that they had crucified the Messiah? The sermon that day continues and when they come to this realization they say, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” The response was they were told “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins;”.
4. Later in the book of Acts we read about this man from Ethiopia who asked Philip for help in understanding some scripture. Acts 8:32-35 – “32. The place in the Scripture which he read was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so He opened not His mouth. 33. In His humiliation His justice was taken away. And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.'' 34. So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?'' 35. Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.” - “of whom does the prophet say this”. All of these prophecies bring us to Jesus Christ and the crucifixion.

II. THEN, THERE WAS WHAT JOHN THE BAPTIST SAID We looked at this awhile ago but turn with me now to John 1:29,36 – “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

A. “…the Lamb of God”. If we had no other information, what John says here might be somewhat obscure to our modern western mind.

1. But as we realized from our look at sacrifice, to the people of that day the mention of a lamb and sin would be very clear. They knew about sacrifice concerning a lamb and sin.
2. Here we find Jesus at the very beginning of His ministry and here is the indication He is going to die as a sacrifice.

B. Let’s look at some verses in Genesis 22:7-8,13. Here we have the incident involving Abraham, and his son Isaac. We know God told Abraham to take his only son to a place He would tell him and Abraham was to offer Isaac there as a burnt offering. We also know that God had promised that though Abraham’s seed God would make a great nation.

1. “7. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!'' And he said, "Here I am, my son.'' And he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?'' And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.'' And the two of them went together.”
2. Going to verse 13 – “Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.”
3. Every time I have read this I have wondered if these words “God will provide himself a lamb...” were prophetic? Perhaps, I really don’t know, yet I do know that what God did for Abraham in providing him a sacrifice, He has done for all humanity! The lamb God provided was Jesus Christ. "Behold the lamb of God".
4. We studied 1^st Peter recently, and in these verses are some of the noblest scripture in the entire Bible. In these are references to Christ, the Suffering Servant, as depicted in Isaiah 53. – 1^st Peter 2:21-24 “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth''; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed.”

III. ON THE WAY TO THE CROSS...

A. There were three and a half years of “ministry”.

1. 3 ½ years filled with touching people’s lives. Peter’s mother-in-law who was ill, the widow whose son was being carried out for burial, over and again we see how He touches the lives of people.
2. 3 ½ years of teaching about the kingdom of God. Think of all the parables about the kingdom.
3. 3 ½ years of challenging contemporary views of religion. This religion we know was no longer the pure Law of Moses but had been changed by man.
4. 3 ½ years of growing criticism from spiritual leaders of His day.

B. It was also three and a half years sprinkled with comments about His death. His own comments. Let’s look at some of these.

1. Matthew 16:21-22 – “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!''” - We see Peter immediately rejected such an idea. His disciples refused to accept what Jesus showed them about His coming death on the cross.
2. John 2:18-22 – “18. So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?'' 19. Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.'' 20. Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?'' 21. But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.” - Again, words prophetic and misunderstood. Words that toward the end of His life that would be remembered as an accusation against Him... yet, He never was speaking of that building, that temple of stone. He was speaking of His body.
3. John 3:14-15 – “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”. - Words so easy for us to understand in retrospect ... but words that were so unwanted then.
4. John 12:32-34 – “32. "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.'' 33. This He said, signifying by what death He would die. 34. The people answered Him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, `The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man?''” – Here they understood but refuted as incomprehensible—a crucified Messiah!
5. Luke 22:19-20 – “And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'' Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” - “my body...my blood” “which is shed for you”. So clear this is to us.

C. Jesus was always on the way to the cross. There was always the cross “looming” in Jesus’ future.

1. Also in Luke chapter 9 verse 51 – “Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,” - We notice the words “when the time had come...” What we need to understand is that God had a time line. There was a schedule to keep. It is not given to us to understand the time line or the schedule, but what we can understand is that there was a time when it was the right time for Jesus to die on the cross.
2. From the beginning (yes, even from before time began) this was an appointment Jesus would keep. On the way to the cross? Folks, Jesus was always on the way to the cross!

CLOSE: I cannot imagine living and working usefully with such a thing as crucifixion looming over me. I tell you, folks, I would be a “basket case”. Jesus knew that this event would benefit all of humanity ... He knew it was necessary for Him to die as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. He willingly went to the cross in the knowledge that He would be raised the third day. That did not alter the horror of the cross ... but it made it worthwhile to Him.

He knew that the way of the cross leads home—just as it does for us. There is no way to the Father but by the way of the cross, by way of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. There is no way home but by the way of the blood of our Savior. In the marvelous wisdom of God, a plan was devised by which you and I can know that we are cleansed by the blood of Christ.

This marvelous plan of God involves death, burial and resurrection. In baptism this resurrection become ours personally, for we enter into the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ when we are buried in the waters of baptism, and through faith in God are raised to walk in newness of life. You will find this recorded in Romans 6:3-5. The way of the cross still leads home.

It is one thing to think of “on the way to the cross” as an historic event, but there is something else there for us personally. Don’t see this only as a lesson, though it is one. If we see it only as a lesson, we will miss the point of the cross. This applies to us… to you and me. We are offered the opportunity of the cleansing, of forgiveness because of the sacrifice of Jesus in atonement for our sins. He died in our place. It is up to us to respond to that. It is up to you to accept the offer that is made for cleansing and forgiveness by making His sacrifice yours, which you do when you are baptized.

God extends the invitation “come”, to everyone. To those who are in need of accepting the way, and to those who need to find their way back. If you are in this assembly and there is any way in which we can give you assistance, we invite you to come while we stand together and while we sing.

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Adopted from Sermon by: Cecil A. Hutson

Into The World - Philippi

Into The World – Philippi
Dr. Rob Sidwell
8/16/2024

Good evening once again. It’s good to see everyone out this evening. I have more to say after we're done with our invitation song. I'd like to thank you all once again for the opportunity you've given to me and the great kindness and generosity you've shown to me and the encouragement that you've given to me this week. It means a lot to me. I'll stop that right now, and get to the lesson for this evening.

We're talking about places this week. We have to do a brief review. We've learned that one can be saved regardless of where you're from. We shouldn't trust in a place to save us. We shouldn't trust in an object to save us. We shouldn't trust in the relationship our parents had or didn't have with God to save us. We should treat others well. We should treat others well not to be saved, but because we are saved. We talked about taking revenge and how we shouldn't do that. We should, in fact, show kindness, even to those who are unkind to us.

Last night we talked about how anyone and everyone who works righteousness can come, even of races as despised as Samaritans, with a history as bad as theirs. We talked about responding to Jesus in the right way. This evening we're going to talk about a city called, Philippi.

Philippi in Macedonia was the first city on the continent of Europe, as far as we know, where the gospel is preached. Thus it was privileged. This is not the same place as Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus preached. That's in Palestine. Here we're talking about the Philippi that Paul is going to visit, the Philippi that Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians to. There are lots of places called Philippi in the world today.

If anyone here is from West Virginia, you know that there's a place in West Virginia called Philippi. It was the site of one of the first military engagements of the American Civil War. So if you go down there, you see a plaque. By the way, it's not a national plaque. It's one of the state of West Virginia, Memorial historical plaques. There's a wooden bridge left that dates from the Civil War period. That's it. That's the only historical structure that remains. We were visiting civil war sites and went down there. There's not a lot. Philippi, WV was not a huge engagement in the Civil War, and so it doesn't get noticed that much. There is a town there, I should point out, and it's important to actually point this out. It's like most West Virginia towns. It's a few houses on the side of a mountain.

What about biblical Philippi? Philippi, West Virginia, is better off than biblical Philippi, because biblical Philippi also had wars that raged in and around it, and it was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times over the centuries. By the time Paul was in it, it had already been destroyed and rebuilt several times. Today, only a few scattered stones can be found. No one lives there anymore. It's not like Philippi, West Virginia, with a little few houses. Today, only a few scattered stones are left. Philippi was once a wealthy city in its day. It was near gold, as in gold you dig out of the ground, gold mines.

Turn to Acts 16. Acts 16 which tells us Paul is going to sail to Philippi. Paul That was his original plan. If you read, for the sake of time, I will paraphrase, verses 1 through 10. That was his original plan. He wanted to turn a different direction.

He wanted to go into Asia. The Asia we're talking about is the Roman province of Asia. We're not talking China and Mongolia, although that's part of the continent of Asia, but the Roman province of Asia. In verse 9 a vision then told Paul, Come over to Macedonia and help us.

Macedonia was then and where it is now, basically. There's a nation today that's called North Macedonia. It used to just be called Macedonia, and the people insisted that they add the north to it. It's more or less in the same region. It's in Southeastern Europe. This makes Philippi one of the first places in Europe, if not the first place, where the gospel is preached.

We're picking up now in verse 11, New King James. It says, Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony.

Now stop right there for a second. Philippi was a Roman colony. The place had been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times. The latest before Paul arrived would have been in the immediate aftermath of the assassination of Julius Caesar. That's the place where Mark Anthony defeated Brutus and Cassius, the ones who had stabbed Caesar, one of the many battles of Philippi that were fought over the centuries. When the Romans destroyed cities, if the site was still habitable, that's where they put their soldiers.

We talked earlier this week about Roman soldiers having a hard life, 20 years service. After 20 years, you need some land to settle. Philippi was one such place. That tells us immediately this is a Gentile city. Roman soldiers, their families, their descendants are going to make up a big part of the population.

We're in the middle of verse 12. And we were staying in that city for some days. And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

Paul is going into this prosperous city. Where did he go? To see the sights? To see the gold mines? No, it says he went to the riverside, where prayer was usually made, where people were interested in religious things, in godly ways, where prayer was customarily made, it says. Some people did worship God, like Lydia. People often ask, how do we carry the gospel into a place? A good place to start is with people who are at least interested. If you're trying to get a foothold in a community, that's probably the best place to go is not the local insert whatever den of iniquity you want here. Probably a good place to start is where people are interested in religious things or godly sorts of things.

Paul didn't erect himself a little pulpit there and stand behind it and preach. There's no indication that Paul preached here. He says, we simply sat down and spoke. They sat down. They talked to others about Jesus. You might say, I can't preach. I'm scared of public speaking. That's not my role in the church. Perhaps it isn't your role in the church, but we can all spread the gospel through what we say and through what we do. We talked earlier this week about having the responsibility to do that. We know that they discussed baptism with Lydia. What do we know about Lydia? She worshiped God and she was a seller of purple.

Colors don't mean a whole lot to us today. If you want a blue shirt, you get a blue shirt. You want a green shirt, you get a green shirt. Colors don't mean much today because we have all these artificial colorings, but 2000 years ago, purple was hard to come by. Some of you already know the story, so I will tell you the details here. As far as to say, it came from sea snails. Getting it was a long and involved process.

Here are a few things you may not know. Guess who tended to wear the Purple? Emperors. Becoming Emperor was often called donning the Imperial Purple. Within the city of Rome, only Roman senators were permitted to wear purple. How did you know, passing someone on the street, if he was a Roman senator? If he was a Roman senator, he had to hold up his toga with one arm. There was a stripe, a purple stripe, down the edge of the toga. This indicated senatorial rank. In Rome, your clothes indicated your rank. And only senators were permitted to wear the purple stripe.

The Emperor, of course, had robes of purple. Roman senators could wear a purple stripe. In other words, Lydia was not poor. Lydia's clientele was even less poor. What did she do when she heard God's word? When she heard the gospel? First she was baptized. I think it bears repeating, even though it's been repeated many times, it should be. You won't find any instance of anyone in this Book of joining the church, being saved, without being baptized, or without being, as some translations have put it, without being immersed. That bears mentioning once again. Then what? She said I've been baptized. I'm saved. We say we’re doing golden deeds. I don't need to do any golden deeds. I've already done my golden deed for my life, so goodbye. What did she do?

It says in verse 15, after she and her household had put on Christ, they were baptized, she begged us, saying, 'If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.' So she persuaded us. And they stayed. She did what she could. She would have had the room.

I thank you again for your gracious invitation, but I didn’t want to impose on anybody by staying in their house, but she had the means, and she put them to use. We ask ourselves, does our faith show itself by our actions? You don't need to have James 2 repeated to you. Hopefully you all know it. It says that faith without works is... New King James says it's dead. The ESV says it's useless. Lots of people out there will say I believe then they don't do anything with it. When the Bible says faith saves us or belief saves us, it means that it's talking about a faith that is powerful enough to actually move us to do something about it, not as simple, okay, my brain has connected Jesus with being the son of God, the Messiah, and that's it. I have that intellectual image in my head, and that's it. It's we need to actually believe in Jesus and do something with our faith. We show our faith by our good works, our good deeds, our lifestyle. Pick your version here in James 2.

Things started off well. This is Europe. The gospel has now reached Europe because Macedonia is in Europe. The situation soon changed for Paul and Silas. We're staying here in the Acts 16.
Let's just keep reading picking up in verse 16. It says, Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.
Things turned sour, as we would say, rather quickly. Back to verse 18, the slave girl followed them for many days. Why did Paul wait many days before he finally decided this is greatly annoying? He finally had enough to turn around and say I command you, come out of her. In the name of Jesus Christ, come out of her. We may wonder about this, but we can know when the things happened the timing was right in God's mind. Of course, money was involved.

Think back to Lydia. She had money. What was she using her money for? The famous philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote that money, the invention of money was the source of all evil in the world. He wrote that. Is that true? The Bible says, and of course, I'm sure we could all quote that, the love of money is the root of all evil. What does Paul write to Timothy to tell people? He said, Command those who are rich to not be rich? No, he says not to trust in their riches.

So the point is not rich people are always saved or rich people are never saved. The point is, what do we do with our money? Lydia chose to use her money to house Paul and Silas to serve God. Luke was there too, because he says us.

The owners of the slave girl clearly put more emphasis and a much higher importance on money than they did on the life of their slave girl. She made them a bunch of money. That's what they cared about. Paul and Silas ended up in prison when they were severely beaten. Then what happens?

Let's keep reading now in verse 24. Having received such a charge, you put them into the inner prison and fasten their feet in the stocks.

That's why I had to sing 222, Faith of Our Fathers. They were chained in prisons dark. How would you react? How would I react? How would we react? Were they still in heart and conscience free? Would we be willing, like many of them did, to die for God, to die for Christ? What did they do about it? Verse 25, they were praying. At midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. Has anything bad ever happened to you? Obviously. If you say no, you haven't lived on Earth. Do you feel like singing hymns to God when things that are bad happen? Are they're singing to themselves. No, the other prisoners were listening to them. Do you suppose that might have had an influence on them?

In verse 26, Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

Trouble did not cause Paul and Silas to run away from God. I'm just using this for example, obviously. Do we say but God, how could you let this happen to me? How can you let this happen to me? Did they do that? They continued to sing hymns and pray. They became closer to God through trials and tribulations. God obviously did not abandon them. That earthquake was obviously no accident. Then what happened? What would you do? You’ve been beaten. You've been chained up and you've been put in stocks. That's where they hold your ankle securely, but now there's an earthquake. The prison door is open. What are you going to do? Beat it out of there, right? Run as fast as you possibly can? Head for the hills? You're on the lam now. They'll never catch you. Let's see what they did.

Verse 27, suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

Obviously, this had an effect, a great effect on the jailer. Then Paul did what? He's going to spread the good news.

Verse 30 says, He brought them out and said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved? So they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household. (A lot of people stop right there. Let’s keep going.) And then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house, and he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately, he and all his family were baptized.

He brought them into his house. He set food before them. He rejoiced having believed in God with all his household. Paul used this opportunity. This guy was probably the one turning the keys, fastening him in chains not so long ago. Here Paul is spreading the gospel to him, giving him the answer to that question every human being should be asking, what must I do to be saved? He reacted. Note what the jailer did. He believed in Jesus, and then that was it, right? No.

We've been over this, but here it is again. He and all his family were baptized immediately. A lot of people will carry it to that step. Okay, I believe. I've been baptized. I'm done. I don't need to be doing any more good deeds. I don't need to be looking closer and getting closer to Jesus. I don't need to open that book ever again. The next time that I see the inside of a church building, they'll be carrying me in a box.

That's not, of course, what the jailer did. He then did what? He showed his faith by what he did. He then did what? He washed their stripes, and he set food before the brethren in his house, and he rejoiced. How many people react the way that most of those lepers did, that Jesus cured? They went right on their way. How many people react upon hearing that they have been saved, that they have been baptized, that they are saved people? Do they rejoice? Are they like the lame man, walking and leaping and praising God? Baptism is crucial, but so is a lifestyle.

Other people will stop right there and they won't read the rest of the story. Let’s look at the rest of the account.

Starting with verse 35And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Let those men go.” So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”
Paul was going to point out that what they had done was illegal. It was not only, spiritually wrong, it was simply illegal. It was against the laws of the Empire. Notice the reaction that we get in verse 38.

And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. 39 Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.

We give the jailer credit for being baptized. Too often when we as readers give the jailer credit for being baptized, we give the jailer credit for washing their wounds, we give the jailer credit for feeding them, but we don't give the jailer credit for stopping and waiting to listen to what Paul had to say. The jailer did not obey the magistrates. He didn't simply let them go and get them out of there. That also could have been ugly for the jailer. He had disobeyed an order from his superiors. We’ve talked about what the Romans did to those people.

Peter said by inspiration and acts, we must or we ought to obey God rather than men. Paul and Silas did leave the jail, but they went to the house of Lydia, where they encouraged the brethren. What does that tell us? There's already a church there, and it's growing. That it's more than just Lydia and the jailer. The church there is growing.

They finally departed to move on to Thessalonica as Paul's missionary journeys, as we call them, continue. That's Philippi as we see it physically in the scripture. Paul's relationship with the church of Philippi did not end when he physically left town. He wrote the Book of Philippians. that book is full of joy, reminding them and us about the joy we should have in Christ. Paul also commends the church of Philippi directly. He congratulates their members.

Turn to Philippians, chapter 1, verse 3. And while you're turning there, remember where Philippi was. Philippi was a city in an area that mined gold. There was some money there. There were people with money in Philippi.

Philippians 1:3. He says, I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.

Isn't that a nice thought? I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. I'll say, I'm certainly not the apostle Paul, but I think about you people, and I thank God for what you have done and are doing for me. We need to encourage and build each other up. We need to encourage and build each other up.

He continues on in verse 4. He says, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

That's the way he begins this letter right after he says, Grace to you and peace. Too often we skip over the first, 5 to 10 verses of most of Paul's letters. Okay, it's introductory stuff. What can we possibly learn from those 2,000 years later? We can learn the life that Christians need to have. We can learn the things that we need to do for each other. We need to pray for one another, remember each other's service to God, and encourage one another in that service. What did they do for Paul?

Please turn to Philippians 4:14. New King James says, nevertheless, you have done well that you shared in my distress.

The ESV says, It was you to share my trouble. In verses 10 through 13 Paul says they were concerned for him. Why were they concerned? Read through the rest of the Book of Acts and what he lists in 2 Corinthians. How many times has he been stoned? How many times he's been shipwrecked? How many times he's been threatened by Jews and by Gentiles alike? He had more than his share of troubles. He certainly faced dungeon fire and sword, to go back to that song we were singing.

They were concerned about him, and they did what they could to help. Are we, you and I, encouraging fellow Christians? Although words are very important, it goes beyond that. What did Jesus say? If you say to someone who needs something, depart in peace, be warmed and filled, and you don't help them, what good is that? That's no good.

He continues on, verse 15, Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.

You sent me help for my needs, says ESV. Once and again, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving except you only.

Was Paul in this for the money? Paul warned about that? Perhaps that one should stand out. We're talking today about people taking advantage of people. There are people out there who will take your money. They're in this for the money. This is a world where many people, if not most people, are much more like the owners of that slave girl than they are like Lydia. They're interested in money, and they don't care who gets hurt. What's our attitude towards things? What's our attitude toward money? Was Paul interested in money?

He says, verse 17 (ESV) Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.

What meant more to him was not the money in his purse, the money in his money bag, but the encouragement, the fact that they were willing to put themselves outward to help him and to help the cause of Christ.

Please stay in Philippians. Let's have one reference from a couple of other chapters here.

Philippians 2, verse 12. He says, Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation.

I thought people were allergic to that four-letter word. It starts with W, work. In other words, put some effort into proving that not to get saved, you can't earn salvation. Work because you to work. Work because you love God. I used to think people were allergic to that word then I started subbing in high school. I found out people are just allergic to that word. It's down right toxic to a lot of people. Work is not the thing people enjoy doing.

The Philippians church, and by extension us, we today, are supposed to put some effort into it. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you, both to will and to do or to work, ESV, for his good pleasure.

We're supposed to put some effort into it. Over and over again scripture tell us to give diligence, put some effort, and make every effort, depending on your version.

2 Peter 1 goes through that list of things that we need to add to faith. That takes work. That takes effort. We read this earlier this week, since we're in Philippians. Philippians 3:20. We said already about Paul and his citizenship, but here it is again. He says, for our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you're eagerly awaiting Jesus, what does that imply? It implies you're not too attached to things of this world. You can't wait to leave. You eagerly wait Jesus. One more reference from Philippians.

Go to the last chapter, back to chapter four verse 1. He says, New King James, Therefore, my beloved and longed-for Brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

What can we learn from Philippi and the events in Philippi? Firstly, we could learn that God's always had a plan to carry that gospel throughout the world. We'll come back to that in the last point we're going to make. Secondly, we learned what our attitude should be about money? The thing people really get attached to is money. Is having money wrong? No. Is craving money wrong? Absolutely. We need to have the correct attitude towards wealth, the correct attitude towards money that too many in the world do not have. Thirdly, Why? Faith is great, but faith alone is (James 2) worthless, useless, vain. It has to be supported by action. Our faith, the biblical faith, should be a faith that is so strong that it moves us to actually do something about it. Do something because we have faith. Serve God because you're saved, not to get saved.

Finally, building on that, what are we doing? How hard are we working for God? It is a nice lesson to end a meeting with. How hard are you and I working? There is, to quote another song we didn't sing, There's Room in the Kingdom of God for workers who are loyal to him and true. There's room in the Kingdom. There's a place in the service. Was I somebody today who said, I can't do anything anymore. There is work that we all can do.

Hopefully this series of lessons has been helpful to you. I know it's your presence and the lessons and the word of God have been helpful and encouraging to me.

I ask you now, where's your citizenship once again? Who are you working for? Are you working for money? If so, you're working for yourself? What's your alternative? Working for Jesus. Jesus said you cannot serve God and mammon. That means money or things. What's your choice? What is your choice going to be? Is Jesus going to find us watching, ready, or is he going to find us distracted by the world, distracted by its wealth, distracted by all the many distractions that are in the world?

You need to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. You need to be willing to confess your faith in him before men. You need to be willing to repent of your sins and put him on in what Lydia, the jailer, everyone else in Acts did. Put Him on in baptism. Then you need to continue to work. There's that word again. You need to continue to work, not to be saved, but because you are saved. If there's any need that you have, then please let it be known as together we stand and sing this song.

The Final Invitation

Revelation 22:17

One day in college, the teacher had stapled answer sheets to the back of every test by mistake.
A few minutes after passing the tests around, his phone rang and he stepped out. Everyone had noticed the answer sheet, and the class decided that they would all use it and then tear it off after completing their test.
Hopefully he would never notice.

So, after finishing his test, one of the top students in the class named SAM checked each of his answers to the key and noticed they were all correct except for the last one. Each student was to draw a flow chart for a process. Of course, the answer sheet stated, "answers will vary."

SAM drew his flow chart, tore off the answer sheet and walked to the front podium to turn his test in. When SAM got to the podium he was curious of what everyone else had drawn for their flow chart.
INSTEAD of DRAWING some form of a chart many of the other students just wrote the words "ANSWERS WILL VARY."

TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON A SPECIFIC WORD
• What is God's most compelling word?
• What is the word that echoes in every part of the Bible?
• What was the word that God spoke to man before He destroyed the earth with a flood?
• What is the word that prophets & apostles cried out so often?
• What is the word that brought Peter to Jesus?
• What is the word that He spoke to little children, & to the weary & the heavy-laden?
• What is the word that brings the Bible to a close with its final invitation?
• Listen to these words, which are almost the last words in the N.T.
¹⁷ And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”
And let him who hears say, “Come!”
And let him who thirsts come.
Whoever desires let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)

Yes, you have figured it out. That word is "Come."
There are commandments & warnings & promises in the Bible, for God is a God of righteousness & truth; but sounding like a refrain among all the other voices is the voice of invitation, "Come."

I. NOAH & THE FLOOD
The first time that the word "Come" is used in the Bible is when it is used with Noah. Noah stands out in the history of mankind. He is first mentioned at a time of great crisis.

The whole earth was corrupt before God. And when we see what is going on in the world around us we wonder how that world could have been more corrupt than our world today.

But today's wickedness, terrible though it is, is somewhat relieved by the lives & earnest prayers of those who are faithful to God. Were it not for that, God might indeed be ready to destroy the earth once again.

But back in Noah's day, the Bible says; ⁵ Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)

Because of this universal wickedness, God decided to cleanse the world & start all over again. Noah was commanded to build an ark to save himself & any others who were willing to be saved. In the obedience of Noah, in spite of all the ridicule he must have received, we have one of the greatest examples of faith recorded in the Bible.

Ages afterwards it was not forgotten, for the writer of Hebrews lists Noah in God's hall of fame, & says, ⁷ By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (Hebrews 11:7)

When the ark was finished, God said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you & all your family.” Then, when Noah & his family were safely in, the Bible says, "the waters rose & increased greatly on the earth . . . & all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered . . . Every living thing that moved on the earth perished . . . Only Noah was left, together with those who were with him in the ark." (Genesis 7:18-23)

ILL. If you go into the Catacombs at Rome today, where the early Christians laid their dead, the picture that you will see most often as a symbol of the Christian's hope & faith is that of the ark floating upon the waters. The ark was also the symbol of the Church.

And still the message of God to a perishing world is what God said in the beginning, "Come into the ark."

When we urge people to come into the church, remember this is not our invitation, but God's. God said to Noah before the flood destroyed the world, "Come into the ark." And in Revelation, when the long battle with sin & darkness is over, John heard the voice of God saying, "Come; the Holy Spirit & the Bride say come."

II. CHRIST & BARTIMAEUS
It was a bright spring morning at Jericho. Blind Bartimaeus finds a sunny spot against the wall & waits to see what the day will bring him. As he sits there he hears in the distance the hum of voices & the shuffling of feet. He soon realized that it was more than the usual street traffic. So, he begins asking those hurrying by, "What is going on? What is the excitement all about?"

Someone answered, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by!" "Jesus of Nazareth!" thought the beggar. "I have heard of him. Some say that He is a good man.
Others say that he is an impostor & evil. But I have heard that he is able to do great miracles, & that he has even opened the eyes of the blind. If he was able to do that for others, then why not for me?"

With hope rising in his heart, Bartimaeus waits until it sounds as if the center of the procession is near. Then, lifting up his voice, he cries out in a shout that is heard above the murmur & hubbub of the passing multitude,
"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

His cry was so loud that the Bible says that the people in the front of the procession started telling him, "Bartimaeus, keep still!" Who were these people?

Were there other beggars who were perhaps frightened that his cry might bring the magistrates down upon them?

Or could it have been the leaders of the city, whose official welcome had been loudly interrupted by the cry of Bartimaeus? Maybe they were Pharisees who didn't like the idea of Jesus getting all this attention in the first place. We don't know who they were, but I do know one thing. It's a bad thing not to come to Christ yourself, but it is worse to stand in the way of others.

If you will not come yourself, be sure that you do not hinder others.
But the more the bystanders rebuked Bartimaeus, the louder he cried, Jesus, have mercy on me." Hearing the cry, Jesus stood still. Many other shouts & voices were being sounded, but that was the one Jesus heard. "And Jesus stood still."

The moment Jesus stopped, I imagine that the chief men of the town began to make apology. "This is only one of our town beggars. We had given strict orders that all beggars be removed from the street, & we are sorry that..."
But Jesus broke in on their apologies, by saying, "Call him, & tell him to come to me." They looked at Him in astonishment, & then seeing that He meant it, hurried towards the place where Bartimaeus was sitting.

Now that Jesus had called for him, all those who had been telling Bartimaeus to keep quiet changed their tune. Now they are all civil & kind. "Here is your cloak," said one. And another, "Here is your staff." And another, "Give me your hand, & I'll help you to your feet."

But Bartimaeus jumps to his feet, & casting his heavy cloak aside, hurries in the direction of Jesus. What a scene! Jesus, the Light of the world, standing still, & the blind beggar all atremble & excited, standing before Him!

Jesus knew what Bartimaeus wanted, & yet He asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" What was the wish of Bartimaeus? Did he answer, "Lord, that you should take these rags from me & clothe Me in fine garments?"
Or "Lord, that you should make me a rich man who will never have to beg again?"

No, that was not what he asked for. What he asked for was, "Lord, I want to be able to see.” He wanted to see the sky that men say is so blue, & the hills of Moab beyond the Jordan, & the Dead Sea, & the Temple of God in Jerusalem.
“Lord, give me sight! Open my eyes." Then Jesus said to him. "Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you." The word "Come" is not used here, except when it is said that the beggar came to Jesus.
But that is what Jesus asked him to do. He called for him to come to Him,
& the beggar came. It was the last time Jesus ever went through Jericho.
If Bartimaeus had not called, if he had not come to Christ that morning, his eyes would never have been opened.

Always for someone Jesus is passing by for the last time. Maybe even for someone here this morning He is passing by for the last time. Once again He sends this message, "Call him to come unto Me." Christ invites you to come.

III. THE LAST "COME" IN THE BIBLE
There are so many other times when the invitation to "Come" is given in the Bible. ¹⁶ But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. (Luke 18:16)

Or how about His words to all those who labor & are carrying heavy loads,
²⁸ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.." (Matthew 11:28)

ILL. Often, on the final night of a revival, when the last stanza of the invitation hymn has been sung, many evangelists will ask to sing one more stanza to give someone just one more chance to respond.
So God says to the apostle John, “Don’t close the book, John, until once more I can invite sinners to come.”
Maybe God is inviting you today. Maybe He’s giving you one more opportunity to come to Christ

A. Who invites sinners to come?
1. The Holy Spirit invites. The first work of the Holy Spirit in the human heart is to convict men of sin and point them to the Lamb of God. It is He who brings about repentance and faith which culminates in our salvation.
Paul told King Agrippa that when he was on the Damascus road, “¹⁴ And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?
It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ (Acts 26:14)
What were those goads? Like a sharp stick or pin pricking the flesh the Holy Spirit had been pricking Saul.
You who are unsaved have had those same sharp pricks on your conscience, too.

2. The church invites. The “bride” invites you. We do many things in & through the church. But the chief task of the church is to win souls,
& everything we do should have the winning of souls as its ultimate aim.

3. Every hearer is to invite. “Let him who hears say, Come.” We sing about the Promised Land & ask the question, “Oh, who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the Promised Land.”
Are you going?
Are you on the way to heaven?
Then tell someone else.
You’ll become a happier & stronger Christian.

B . Who are invited?
1. Those who are thirsty are invited. “”Whoever is thirsty, let him come.”
This means everyone who is dissatisfied with life & its pleasures,
everyone who is tired of sin, everyone who wants peace in his heart.

Zacchaeus, who climbed a tree to see Jesus, was thirsty.
The tax collector who cried out, “God be merciful to me, a sinner,” was thirsty.
The sinful woman at the well was thirsty.
And the world is full of thirsty people today.
The trouble is that many are trying to quench that thirst at the wells of the world, wells that can never satisfy.

2. “Whosoever will” is invited. This is the same “whosoever will” that we find in John 3:16.
It is an invitation extended & salvation offered to anyone & everyone.

3. Those who desire to be saved are invited. If in your heart you desire to drink of the water of life, you are invited to come.

C. What is the invitation?
1. It is to take the water of life. Christ provides the water.
He offers it to you, but it is up to you to take it. When you are desperately ill & the doctor offers you medicine, you take it or you die.
When you are sick in sin & the Great Physician offers you the only remedy for sin, you take it or you die.

2. The water is free.
“Whoever wishes, let him take of the free gift of the water of life.”
If you have money on this earth you can stay at the best hotels, you can eat the most expensive food, wear the finest clothes, ride in the highest-priced cars and on the largest jet planes.
But you can get to heaven without money and without price.
God is not trying to sell you anything.
He is trying to give you salvation & eternal life.

INVITATION: Oh, what a Savior we have!
He can save the highest & he can save the lowest.
He invites you to come to Him today.
I have talked to you about the last invitation in the Bible.
It could be the last invitation for you, also.
Will you accept it?

Into The World - Samaria

Into The World – Samaria
Dr. Rob Sidwell
8/15/2024

Well, good evening, again. It's good to see everyone out this evening. It's good to see that people are willing to give of their time to God. God loves the people who give praise. We have a song, Glorify His Name.

When we hear of someone that as a child had a drug problem because his mother drug him to church services, we laugh. That's not the right attitude. We must worship and praise God because of who and what he is, the one of a true God, but also because we want to, because we love him, because he is indeed a great savior. Think about the people and things you love. If you love something, you spend time with it, don't you? We were talking about the dedicated fans that Cleveland baseball has had. They had vintage posters up there on the wall at a local restaurant. I was told about the man who climbed a tree in 1949 claiming he'd never come down until the Indians won another World Series. He'd still be there.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, that we're going to spend time with the things, with the people that matter most to us.

Matthew 6:21, Jesus says, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

We should treasure our relationship with God. Tom was telling me he is doing a series about the cross and comparing Jesus’ sacrifice to Old Testament sacrifices. I'm sure that he will talk about how hard it was to approach God. We have easy access to God. We have easy access to his word. You can get God's word for free on your cell phone or tablet. We should treasure our relationship with God. We should know what a privilege it is to possess the word of God. Hopefully, one of the things we've gotten from this week is reassurance that the Bible is, in fact, the word of God.

Sometimes people, in their many attempts to pick apart the Bible, claim that the Old and New Testaments don't belong together. The Old Testament and the New Testament, they say are different books. They're not part of the same story. What we've already talked about this week, should have busted that idea if you already had it in your head.

Turn over to First Kings. At tonight's place, we're going to discuss how it affected God's plans throughout much of human history and how the people lived in it. That place is Samaria.

Samaria was originally a city, but it became the name of a region mentioned in both testaments. Where did the name come from? What's the first time we hear about Samaria? I'll read this from the English Standard.

This is after Solomon's death, and Israel and Judah became a new Israel and Judah. Judah had a few good kings. Israel had none. Here we are in Israel, as I would call it, Breakaway Israel. Ten Tribes of Israel broke away. In the first 20 verses of this chapter you see how they're killing each other. Their kings are killing each other and those who want to be king, kill each other. We're coming in the end of that Civil War here in verse 21.

First Kings 16:21. Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts. Half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri. But the people who followed Omri overcame the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died, and Omri became king. In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for twelve years; six years he reigned in Tirzah. He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and he fortified the hill and called the name of the city that he built Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill.

From that point onward, the city of Samaria was the capital of breakaway Northern Israel, the one that had absolutely no righteous kings. That includes Omre.

Look at verse 25. Omri did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did more evil than all who were before him. For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in the sins that he made Israel to sin, provoking the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger by their idols. Now the rest of the acts of Omri that he did, and the might that he showed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

They said Omre is pretty bad. You probably haven't heard of him or at least you're may not be too familiar with him. I'm sure you heard of his son.

Verse 28. And Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria, and Ahab his son reigned in his place. In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
Archeologists have found the site of the city of Samaria. They found ruins of temples one is believed to be that temple of Baal. Ahab was the worst in all breakaway, Israel. They had 19 kings. They all served idols. Samaria became a center of evil. What happened to Samaria?

What happens to a nation, what happens to individuals who do not follow in the ways of God? It's a simple lesson, but one that needs repeating and one that needs to be shown because a lot of people threaten this. God's patience eventually runs out. If you read through some of the prophets, most of them were sent to Judah, but some of the books of the prophets, for example, Hosea, warn and plead with Israel to stop their sins, to come back to God.

Did they? Turn over to Second Kings, chapter 17 and jump to verse 6, second Kings 17:6. This is the end of breakaway Northern, 10 tribe, Israel.

Second Kings 17:6 says, ESV again, In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

That's the end of Israel. Why? Just a couple more verses will tell you.

Verse 7, And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods and walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had practiced. And the people of Israel did secretly against the LORD their God things that were not right. They built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. They set up for themselves pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, and there they made offerings on all the high places, as the nations did whom the LORD carried away before them. And they did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger, and they served idols, of which the LORD had said to them, “You shall not do this.” Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.”

It continues in this light, For the sake of time, just look at the next five words in the ESV in verse 14. But they would not listen. It continues and lists their sins there in somewhat graphic detail. They would not listen. It's a sad commentary on a people who are wicked, the people who will not serve God. We sing number 256, God is love. God is also, song 59, Holy, Holy, Holy. God is good, but God is also holy, and because God is holy, he can and he will punish sin.

We need to not forget that. It's a sobering thought. I'm not saying we should get this nation's evil, we know God's going to get them. No, no, no. Nothing of that sort, but we need to keep that in mind, though. Always God's patience has limits. Someday time it will run out. That time runs out for nations. It runs out for individuals, and it's going to run out eventually for the world. Another song that is in the book, I know it's one of my favorites. It talks about quoting the prophet Amos. We need to prepare to meet God, because we are going to do that someday.

What happened to Samaria? We're still here in Second Kings 17. When you hear Samaria, when you hear the land of Samaria what or who do you probably think of? You probably think of the good Samaritan. Who are the Samaritans? Why did the Jews hate them so much?

Second King 17:24. It says, ESV again, And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities. And at the beginning of their dwelling there, they did not fear the Lord. Therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them. So the king of Assyria was told, “The nations that you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them, and behold, they are killing them, because they do not know the law of the god of the land.” Then the king of Assyria commanded, “Send there one of the priests whom you carried away from there, and let him go and dwell there and teach them the law of the god of the land.” So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the Lord. But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the shrines of the high places that the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities in which they lived. The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. They also feared the Lord and appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places. So they feared the Lord but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away. To this day they do according to the former manner. They do not fear the Lord, and they do not follow the statutes or the rules or the law or the commandment that the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel.

Just to summarize that's the Samaritans. The Samaritans were foreigners. They were imported by the Assyrians, and they mixed with a few Jews who were left behind by the Assyrians. The two intermarried and produced the race of people known as the Samaritans. The Samaritans were part Jewish and part non-Jewish. The Assyrians had mixed them together. It didn't happen with Judah. If you read Israel and Nehemiah, that didn't happen with Judah, but it did happen with Israel.

We will talk about Jesus and his encounters with Samaritans. There's a point to be made here, too. Religiously, how are they? They are also mixed. They serve God, the Samaritans. They serve the one true God, but they also serve pagan gods. They added the one true God to their collection of gods. That became an issue in future centuries, all the way up to the time of Jesus.

Turn to Ezra. We just wanted some background here about just who are these people. We think about the Samaritans and see why is it such a, and it is going to be an enormous problem when Jesus interacts with Samaritans. Firstly, what did Samaria represent to Jews? Failure. Samaria represented the 10 northern tribes who were gone. They're lost, dispersed. Also, they represent, a mixed race of people, and there's hostility.

Ezra chapter 4, and I will just read the first six verses. Remember what happens in Ezra? Some Jewish exiles came back and began to rebuild the temple.

Here we are in Ezra 4:1. Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the Lord, the God of Israel, they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria who brought us here.” But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers' houses in Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.” Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

The rest of this chapter goes through their accusations, but we won't for the sake of time. Suffice it to say, there was bad blood between the Jews and the Samaritans. Samaria was no longer a capital of anything. Samaria gave its name to the whole region that had been Israel, north of Judah, north of Jerusalem, the land that it used to belong to, Ephraim, Manasseh, Asher, Gad, and so on.

There's a lot of hostility by Jesus’ time. Let's skip ahead to the New Testament. What does that have to do with us? We talked a little bit earlier this week about whether there people from bad places in this world? What do we do with people who are our enemies?

Let’s go to John 4:3, while you're turning there. What would we do if, say, a North Korean came in here. They're the enemy. Their government has been called a psychopathocracy because basically it exists to serve the Kim family. What would we going to do if an Iranian came in here? How do we deal with the enemy? Are they the enemy? Whose enemy are they?

How did the Jews deal with Samaritans? If you know the map of Palestine in Jesus’ day, Galilee was in the north, Judea with Jerusalem was in the south, and in between was Samaria. Most Jews traveled all the way around the east side of the Jordan River to get away from Samaria. Jews didn't even like to go through Samaria. Jesus did not.

Let's just pick it up here in John chapter 4, verse 3. We'll do this new King James. It says, He (Jesus) left Judea, departed again to Galilee, but he needed to go through Samaria.

Why do you need to? We're not told exactly why, but we can speculate here because he's going to do something that no Jewish teacher would do—interact with a Samaritan, and with a Samaritan woman.

Verse 5, So he came to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, and to the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, therefore, being wearied from his journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, 'Give me a drink,' for his disciples had gone away to the city to buy food. Then the woman of Samaria said to him, (notice the reaction) How is it that you, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman? For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

Perhaps you better understand why the Jews had no dealings with Samaritans. Here Jesus set an example. Jesus was not concerned about social standing but spiritual status. He was willing to bring the wondering ones in, regardless of whether they were Jewish or Samaritan or Gentiles. Jesus was not concerned with politics, but with purity.

I am seeing all the yard signs pop up. I support the (I mix the parties up on purpose.) Demikans or the Republicrats. If you say I support the Republicrats someone could say, you must be evil because you back them. Jesus was not concerned with yard signs. Jesus was not overly concerned with history either in the term of people's histories. He didn't let that stand in his way.

Your people have always been hostile to our people. Maybe so, but what was important was this woman's spiritual status. He was thirsty. To top it off , we already talked to this earlier this week about how Jesus was at every point, in every respect, tempted like we are. It's hot outside. You get thirsty. Jesus was thirsty.

All these concerns, social, physical, and political is what he cared about most. He showed, he cared about this woman's spiritual status. We will read through their whole conversation, which I'm sure, you've done many times. He asks her some questions, and the questions start to get a little more personal. Her private life would not bear scrutiny. She tries to change the subject. We're still John 4, now verse 19. This is right after Jesus confronts her with the fact that she had a lot of husbands.

In verse 19 says, The woman said to him, Sure, I perceive that you are a prophet.' That was her way of changing the subject. Sure, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our Father is worshiped on this mountain and you Jews say that Jerusalem was the place for one ought to worship.'

Here's where Josephus, actually, explains what this is talking about. We read in Ezra how the Jews and Samaritans fought about rebuilding the temple when the Jews came back from Babylon. The Jews said no, because the Samaritans had all sorts of pagan influences. They worshiped the one true God and a bunch of false gods, too. When the Jews refused them, the Samaritans built their own temple, allegedly, to the one true God. They built it on a mountain in Samaria called Mount Gerizim.

That's what she's talking about here. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain. She was probably referring to Mount Gerizim, yet you Jews say that Jerusalem is the place for what ought to worship. You may say that's interesting for a historian, but what use is this to us in 2024? Where can we worship God in 2024? Does it have to be in this building? If you get a new building, you're allowed to worship God there, too. Are you allowed to worship God in your home? In your car? You're allowed to worship God while you're weeding your flowers?

In verse 21 Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem worship the Father. You worship what you do not know. We know what we worship for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

It's an issue of faith, not forms. Earlier this week, we talked about not worshiping things, or places. People still do that, perhaps. Is the church building itself more than anything else. People then, as now, try to stuff God into the building. Have you ever heard the expression, this is the Lord's house? Is God contained within these four walls? He's here while we're here.

He says, were two or three are gathered my name there I am in the midst of them. When you go out those doors, do you get away from him? He's not out there. That's what people think. Everyone's seen the movie Home Alone, where the little boy Kevin is trying to hide from the burglars. This is before all the traps. He hides in the nativity scene displayed in front of the Catholic Church building. The burglars say, where’d he go? I think he went in the church. One says, I'm not going there. Me neither. That's how much of the world thinks. If you don't go in that scary church building, then God can't find you. God is everywhere. God sees everything.

You should keep that as a sobering thought, but also a joyous thought because we can worship and we should worship God every day with our lives. God is too big and too grand for anything anyone could ever build. Remember, Solomon said that when he built the temple.

In the beginning of first Kings and second Chronicles he says, (I'm paraphrasing) the heavens can't contain you much less this temple that I've built. He's talking to God. You can't stuff God into a building.

What's the proper prayer position? Should you stand? Should you kneel? Should you face upward? Should you face downward? Do your hands have to be like this? Some people actually teach that, of course. I was talking about the college that's down Southeast. It's Presbyterian. They have a chapel. Back when I was in high school, they had us assemble there to take our pictures for valedictorians and such. Their pews have a rail. They'll pull out benches that you're supposed to kneel on when you're praying. Are we supposed to do that? Do we have to do that? Nowhere in the scriptures do you find any rule about what physical bodily position you have to be in to pray.

Practitioners of yoga practice various pretzel stretches and call their names your downward dog or angry cat. The proper position for prayer should be the humble heart position, whatever that looks like. Do you know where the shortest prayer in the Bible is? It's in Nehemiah Chapter 1. It's in the middle of a conversation. The king of Persia asked Nehemiah, Why are you so sad? That could have meant Nehemiah's head being separated from his shoulders. There's a short verse. It's a part of a verse. I prayed to the God of Israel. Before he answered Nehemiah prayed to God. Right there in conversation. Was he in a temple? No, there was no temple. It had been destroyed. Did he have time to think of an elaborate, hard-sounding phrase. Probably not.

The position of prayer needs to be the humble heart position. The real issues are spirit and truth. Are we worshiping God in spirit and truth? Not gender, nationality, politics, whether or not we have PowerPoint or not. The right relationship with God is far more important than any other issue. It has eternal consequences, but most people have yet to learn that. Peter was slow to pick up on it, too.

Turn over to Acts 10. We know from what Paul said in Galatians that Peter continued to struggle with this even after he was shown what was right, but for a while, anyway, he had it exactly right.

Acts 10:27, says, And as he talked with him, Peter went in and found many who had come together? He's going into the home of Cornelius. Cornelius was a Gentile. He was a Roman soldier. Not many Jews would even go into Gentiles’ houses for fear of being contaminated by them. Peter had the same reservations at first.

Verse 28, says, Then he (Peter) said to them you know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man, common or unclean. Therefore, I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I asked them, 'For what reason have you sent for me? ' So Cornelius said, 'Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing and said, Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. Send, therefore, to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you. So I send to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now, therefore, we are all present before God to hear the things commanded you by God. Then Peter opened his mouth and said, In truth, I perceive that God shows no partiality.

The King James says, He has no respect for persons. Some versions say God shows no favoritism. He doesn't play favorites.

Verse 35 says, In every nation, whoever fears him and works righteousness, is accepted by him.

Jesus commanded us to go forth and carry the gospel, to bring them in from the fields of sin. What does righteousness mean, anyway? Jesus used several figures to describe righteousness. What's one of the most famous ones. Maybe that's the one you first thought when I mentioned where we're going to be tonight. He used a parable talking about a Good Samaritan.

Turn over to Luke, chapter 10. We'll spend most of the rest of our time discussing the parable of a Good Samaritan. That would have been a contradiction in terms. The Jews wouldn't have thought it possible that a Samaritan could ever be good. Jesus here tells a parable about a Samaritan who was more righteous than others.

Jesus had just been asked in verse 29, who is my neighbor? Why was he asking? It says, But he desiring to justify himself. Who are our neighbors? Our neighbors are, I'm using quotation marks here, good people. There's a line on a TV series in 1970s. I'm quoting, “It's nice to be nice to the nice.” Who's your neighbor? The good people? They are, yes. What about the not so good people? Jesus tells us this parable to answer that question.

Verse 30, New King James says, Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.

A priest is what? A priest is one of the religious elites. What does he do? Maybe he doesn't want to touch him. We can give him benefit of the doubt. Priests had all sorts of ceremonial cleanliness requirements, but there's no evidence that he called for help from someone. There’s evidence that he showed any concern at all. What did he do? He got as far away as he possibly could. He passed by on the other side. Okay, who's next?

Verse 32. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

He stayed as far away as he could get. The Levite would have no excuse whatsoever. Why didn't he help? Who didn't help here? The religious people, at least the Jews would have thought them so. The Jews would have thought the priests must be righteous, right? Look at the jobs they hold. Look at the family they come from. But what do they do when it comes to showing real compassion towards another human being? They don't do it.

How did Jesus summarize both testaments? What are the two great Commandments again? To love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, or with all your strength, or understanding. What's the second? To love your neighbor as yourself. There was someone sharing a picture on Facebook. It said people can’t say they love God treat other people like dirt. Paul says in Galatians lets us do good to everyone. That means the good people and the ones we think are not so good people. Who does help? You probably know who does help.

Verse 33 says, But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, 'He who showed mercy on him,' that Jesus said to him, 'Go and do likewise.'

When you hear Samaria, who or what comes to mind? How about the evilness of Israel? It doesn't come to mind now, does it? Is it the evilness of Omre and Ahab all the way through Hoshéa, through the end of the Kings of Israel? How about the people who worship God, but they don't do it correctly? Or do you think of the good Samaritan. The chosen people of God are not a nation, and they're not a race. They are those who choose to fear God and work righteousness. The apparently religious people in Jesus' parable were not the righteous ones.

Peter 2:9 says But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Is it for me, dear savior, thy glory and thy rest? Who here is weak and sinful? The scriptures making clear that we are. Is it for you and me? God's glory and God's rest? Indeed it is, if we'll do our best to follow after him. The issue is one of the heart. Are we willing to follow God with all of our heart and with all of our soul?

We all fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23, and are unfit for his kingdom. Yet, we can all quote John 3:16, God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him would not perish, would have an everlasting or eternal life.

God wants people in his kingdom. Revelation says that there are going to be people, an untold number of people. It is those people who fear God and do what is right, who are accepted by him.

As we begin to wrap our thoughts up, I ask, are you one of those people? What legacy are you leaving? What life are you living? Are you living a life of open defiance toward God like the original inhabitants of Samaria? A life of utter defiance toward God that leads eventually to the end of God's patience that will lead to destruction? Are you leading a life like too many people do? Like most Samaritans did? God is good, but the world has some stuff to offer, too. I'll just try to straddle the fence and worship God on Sundays and something else on Tuesdays and you get the idea.

Are we like the Samaritan woman who doesn't quite understand? Jesus was patient with her and he's patient with us. Are we like the Good Samaritan who did what he could to demonstrate love for his fellow man?

A couple of last references here. Matthew 28 verse 16, at the end of the Book of Matthew.

Matthew 28:16 says, ESV, Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

That commandment is to us. Did disciples follow it?

Acts 8:4, I'll read it for you. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

We're about to sing Whosoever Will. It's true, whosoever will may come. We're talking about how the gospel is for those who failed, those who know they failed, those who need help, and want help.

We all need God's help. You begin to get that by believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and be willing to confess your faith in him before men. Then be willing to repent of your sins, to turn away from them, which is what Jesus would command that Samaritan woman eventually to do. Then to be baptized, and to continue living a life of love for God, but also like the Good Samaritan, care for others.

Let's not be like Ahab. I'm not going to reject God. Let's not be like most Samaritans, most people actually, who don't follow God. They don't follow God in the way he's commanded them to follow him. Let's instead be willing to turn from our sins, be like the Samaritan woman who is willing to listen to Jesus, and be like the Good Samaritan who is willing to put faith into practice and do God's things God's way, to love God and to care for our fellow man.

If there's any need you have, make it known as we stand to sing this true song, Whosoever Will.

The Sacrifice - Preaching The Cross

2nd Corinthians 5:21

INTRO: Good morning church. Our text today is taken from 2^nd Corinthians 5:21 where we read, – “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”[NKJV]

Why is the cross so important? Why did Jesus have to die?… In a word, “sacrifice”. I have no doubt that our modern, western minds probably struggle at times with the idea of sacrifice for sin. Were we citizens of the 1st century, however, we would be very familiar with such sacrifices as atonement, or propitiation. But you and I are far removed from the religious observances of the 1st century and of the old covenant, we are far removed from the pagan sacrifices which were often to appease angry gods. So perhaps it is fitting that we think just a bit about those sin offerings which preceded the perfect offering in the form of the sacrifice of the sinless Son of God. It is difficult to preach of the cross of Christ, without thinking of the sacrifice. I would like to go back with you for a few minutes into the Old Testament, and trace a little bit of both the history and the significance of sin offerings. I invite you to turn in your bibles to the 4th chapter of the book of Genesis where I’m going to read beginning at verse 3.

I. SOME THOUGHTS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

A. Genesis 4:3-5 – “3. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5. But He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.” This in our bibles is the first recorded occasion of sacrifice. We notice in the text before us that Able brought of the firstlings of the flock.

1. Able brought to God a “blood sacrifice”. We may wonder about the reasoning for such an offering as this, and we may wonder why it was that God rejected the offering of Cain. I have read, and perhaps you have also, a number of explanations for the acceptance of one offering and the rejection of the other. Often times the explanations are focused on the character of the two individuals, – which may not be altogether out of place. Note though that Able brought a “blood sacrifice”.
2. I suggest to you that this was an atonement for sin – In the book of Hebrews, chapter 9, verse 22, in the last part of the verse, there is something said that is deeply significant with reference to sacrifice. Hebrews 9:22 - “...without shedding of blood is no remission.” Why the shedding of blood, why a “blood sacrifice” in order to obtain remission?
3. Something else we learn here about this offering. Look with me at - Hebrews 11:4 - “By faith (those are significant words) Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, …” is this offering that Able brought the response of specific instructions from God? Or did he just decide that because he was the one raising the animals that for him an offering was a “blood sacrifice”? It says By faith, Able offered. Understanding that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, I reach my conclusion that yes, the sacrifice that Able offered, not only was a “blood offering”, not only was a sin offering, but it was an offering at the instruction of God. Now then, turn in your bibles with me to Leviticus chapter 1. In verse 4 we read of sacrifice and the mosaic covenant.

B. Leviticus 1:4 – “Then he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.” – These are the sin offerings of the mosaic covenant.

1. Notice in verse 5 “He shall kill the bull before the Lord; and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar”. These are “blood sacrifices”.
2. Without shedding of blood there is no remission, Hebrews 9:22. These sacrifices are brought by the individual, to the priests, to the altar, and they are offered there as an atonement for sins. Notice the word “atonement” in verse 4. Atonement is the idea of making one again, one with God. Binding together again, that which was once broken.
3. There is something else in Leviticus 1:4. Notice it was not just enough for the one making the offering to bring his sacrifice to the priests and say there it is.

a. The text specifically says he was to put his hands upon the head of that which he was offering as a sacrifice. I wonder; why he was to put his hands on the head of the sacrifice? Is he simply saying “goodbye”?
b. Of course not. Putting his hands upon the head of the offering was identification between the person offering and that which he offered. The offering became a substitution for the one who offered. In place of himself he offers the bullock or lamb or whatever.

C. Now let’s go to Leviticus, chapter 16. We read here concerning the great annual Day of Atonement, these are exercises which are interesting historically. Look for the significance of what is being done. At verse 7 we find there are two goats involved in the Day of Atonement. “He shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.” Verse 15 tells us about one of them.

1. Leviticus 16:15,20-22 – “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.” This is the first goat. It is killed; its blood is shed, why? For the sins of the people. A substitution.
2. What about the second goat? We begin reading in verse 20. “And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat;” Remember the first goat was killed. This is the second one; he shall bring the live goat. “and Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins,” Look at these next words. I wondered; why Aaron has to put his hands upon the head of that which was being offered? It says, “putting them,” putting what? The transgressions. “on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. "The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.” Ok, here is what happens on the day of atonement for the Israelites
3. The High Priest received from the people two he-goats for a sin-offering. Note that the two goats were but one offering, a sin-offering. The two goats were presented before the Lord, in other words both goats were presented to God. Verse 8 says, “Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats:…”
4. The first goat, which had been selected by lot for this purpose, is killed; its blood is shed as a substitution for the people.
5. The second goat, this part is so interesting to me, the second goat, is brought alive, and the high priest confesses all the sins of the nation of Israel over this goat, then he puts his hands upon the goat transferring to the goat in a symbol, all the peoples sins. Then they send him away and the goat carries all of those sins away into the wilderness. Takes them away from God’s people.
6. This then is the annual Day of Atonement where there is a sacrifice made, in which one goat is killed and shed its blood and the other goat carries off the sins of the people.
7. Look now in, Leviticus 17:11- Here we see an explanation of the significance of the blood. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” – Why the blood? It is explained, the life is in the blood. What is more significant, what is a more valuable thing that can one give, then the blood, in which is the life? The annual Day of Atonement.

D. Now let us turn in our bibles to Hebrews 10:1-4 - With all of this in our minds about the sacrifices of the old covenant, I’ll paraphrase what we read; “1. The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”[para]

1. All those offerings, starting at Genesis 4 and all the way through the Old Testament, could not take away sin. They could not make the people perfect so that they had no more conscience of sin.
2. Now in Hebrews 10 at verse 1, we see that “…the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things…”. [NKJV] Those “good things to come” must certainly have encompassed that perfect offering, which could accomplish what those offerings of the Old Covenant could not accomplish. All of those offerings were a shadow. To have a shadow, something must cast it.
3. The point is, that there must be a perfect sacrifice which casts the shadow. Those offerings were but a shadow of the perfect offering to come. Not the very image the bible says, but a shadow. Shadows are similar, but not the image of the objects casting them. It is a distortion if you will. Did you ever look at your shadow and think how poorly it represents what you look like? The shadow is just an imperfect representation.
4. All of those sin offerings of animals pointed ahead to something beyond them. That something we discover as we go beyond the Old Testament into the New.

II. WE LOOK TO THE NEW TESTAMENT FOR OUR INFORMATION

A. Turn in your bibles to read at Matthew 1:21 - Here we start to get an idea of that perfect offering that was casting that imperfect shadow. The announcement to Joseph. “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Next we go to the gospel of Luke 1:31 Once again an announcement, this one is to Mary. Luke 1:31 – “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.” – Jesus, that is to be His name. Why is it His name? Because He will save His people from their sins we are told. That is the meaning of the name Jesus, savior.

1. Now read with me in Luke 2:11 - “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”– Let’s look a few verses later to what Simeon says in verse 29.
2. Luke 2:29-30 - “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation”
3. We have read several passages and not a thing yet about sacrifice ... but there are words like savior, and salvation. I begin to get a hint that maybe this Jesus of whom these passages speak, is that perfect offering casting the shadow which was imperfect.

B. Let’s go to John 1:29 – “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”– Behold the Lamb. What about all of those lambs in the Old Covenant, why were they killed, why was their blood pored on the altar and sprinkled at the mercy seat? As an atonement, a sin offering. Behold “...the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”

1. With this reference to a lamb, we begin to have a better picture of the idea of Jesus as a sacrifice.
2. Clearly, this would have been John the Baptist’s intent in the statement. To convey to the people the idea, the fact, that Jesus Christ is the sacrifice for sins which can take away the sin of the world. All of those sacrifices of the Old Testament would not and could not do that. But here is a sacrifice which can take away the sins of the world.
3. John the Baptist was a part of that old culture, and understood the purpose of sacrifice for sin. So when he refers to Jesus as the Lamb of God taking away the sin of the world, the identification of the lamb and Jesus and sin could mean nothing else but that Jesus Christ is going to be the great sacrifice, the perfect sacrifice, the substitutionary sacrifice, which will take away the sins of the world.

C. What other connection between a lamb and sins could one find? Matthew 20:28 – “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, now listen, and to give His life a ransom for many.” - “...to give His life a ransom for many.”

1. Here is another passage indicating a purpose, a ransom. Notice this time the idea of “sacrifice” is there. To “give His life” a ransom for many.
2. Notice further, this is a substitutionary sacrifice. By that I simply mean that I did not have to pay the price. Some one paid it for me. Jesus is the substitution for me. He gave His life as a ransom (purpose) for many (substitution).
3. Look at the reference about “the just for the unjust” in 1 Peter 3:18 – “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,” The just, that is Jesus, the perfect offering, for the unjust, that is me. Why did He die for my sins? As a substitution for the price I should have paid; so that I might be brought to God. All of this goes back to a passage from the Old Testament, Isaiah 53:11 – “He shall see the travail of His soul, and be satisfied. by His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.” - “for he shall bear their iniquities” There is substitution. Jesus the perfect offering, taking my place, by going to the cross.

D. Hebrews 10:5-10 - Let us read here of this perfect offering. “Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.” A body You have prepared for me. What was that body? What was accomplished by that body? The embodiment of Jesus Christ, the incarnation, that body was the sacrifice. “6. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you had no pleasure. 7. Then I said, `Behold, I have come in the volume of the book it is written of Me to do Your will, O God.' '' 8. Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them'' (which are offered according to the law), 9. then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.'' He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”– the body has been prepared. That body is Jesus Christ, and we have been sanctified, we have been cleansed, we have been set apart by the offering of that body. It was an offering that was made once and for all time. Verse 12

1. Hebrews 10:12 – “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,” - One sacrifice. Accomplishing what all of those bulls, all of those lambs and all of those goats could never accomplish. They could not take away sin.
2. This man, in the offering of His body, the perfect, sinless, sacrifice of Jesus Christ; this man, at the cross, accomplished once and for all time the taking away of sin.
3. Folks, there is no more sacrifice for sin. This was the one prefect sacrifice, which completely satisfied once and for all time, the law of God and the love of God.
4. In Hebrews 10:26 - “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,” There was just one. If you are not happy with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, there isn’t going to be another one. This is the only sacrifice we need. It is the only sacrifice there is going to be to accomplish the forgiveness of sin.

E. What does that mean to me? Colossians 1:13-14 – “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

1. The apostle explains the perfect sin offering was given for you and me.
2. These are the present possibilities folks. We can be forgiven, completely forgiven of all our sins, through His blood.
3. That forgiveness is accomplished for you and for me in our obedient baptism as we find in Colossians 2:12-13 - “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. 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,”
4. Here we see the whole reason for the cross and the sacrifice. That you being dead in sin, could claim the benefits of the sacrifice of the cross and be alive again. These verses tell us exactly when and how this all takes place. This person, who is dead in sin, needing the atonement, is buried with Christ in baptism. By reason of their obedient faith all of their sins are forgiven. Never to be remembered again. That is the good news! Going back to the 10th chapter of Hebrews one more time. Hebrews 10:16-18 – “"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days", says the Lord: "I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them", then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.'' Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.” So when a person is buried with Christ in baptism, believing that God will do what He promised to do, all of their sins are forgiven. Why is the preaching of the cross so important? So that we can understand the significance of the sacrifice for our sins.

CLOSE: It may be difficult for our modern western minds to wrap themselves around this entire subject. But here is something we can understand. Because Jesus died, you can live. It does not take much to understand that. Because Jesus died, your sins can be forgiven. That forgiveness comes when a person in their faith and obedience is lowered into the waters of baptism, in the likeness of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, to be raised clean, cleansed of all their sins to walk in newness of life.

If you are here this morning and you have never been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, there is just one way, just one way, and that is by your being baptized, immersed in water, and raised to walk, clean and forgiven, in a new life. And if your desire this morning is to lay hold on the benefits of the cross of Jesus Christ, the benefits of that blood which washes away your sins, then we invite you to come forward while we sing this song. If we can assist you in any way we invite you to come as we stand and sing.

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Adopted from Sermon by: Cecil A. Hutson