Victory over death part 6

April 9, 2020

Today is Thursday, also called Maundy Thursday (among other names). Today I want to journey through some events recorded by John.

The story of the last week of Jesus earthly life begins in dramatic fashion. “The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove.” [John 18:2 NLT] The word translated “contingent” (“band” ESV and KJV, “detachment” NIV, “company” CEB] means, in Roman military language, 600 soldiers. They had the audacity to think crucifying Jesus was their idea!

John records a detail the other Gospel writers do not: “Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave.’ [John 18:10 NLT] No other writer records Malchus’ name. John knew the man because he was “acquainted” with the High Priest (John 18:15 NLT). This also accounts for the access he and Peter had to the courtyard where Jesus was being tried. Can you imagine the High Priest’s thoughts every time he looked at Malchus? He would see Jesus reaching out to heal someone intent on His crucifixion.

Peter is asked three times if he is one of Jesus’ disciples. The woman watching the gate asks him first (John 18:16 – 17). As Peter is cozied up to the fire, someone around the fire asks if he is a disciple of Jesus (John 18:25). Finally a relative of Malchus asks if he saw Peter in the olive grove (John 18:26).  

Luke records what happens next in dramatic fashion, “But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.” [Luke 22:60 – 63]

The rooster crowed, the Lord turned and looked at Peter, Peter remembered, and then Peter left “weeping bitterly.” Peter had claimed he would follow Jesus to the cross. Now in utter shame he slinks out of the line of fire. He knows the unwillingness to pick up a cross disqualifies him from being a follower of Jesus.

Matthew 27:3 records another emotional reaction from someone else who betrayed Jesus that night. “When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders.” [NLT] In the English language “remorse” implies “repent.” But not in this case.

The result of the two men’s emotions were very different. Judas, still under the influence of Satan, hanged himself (Matthew 27:5) while Peter was restored (see John 21). Just because someone is sorry for, or feels bad about, does not lead to constructive change.

Or as Paul put it, “Godly sadness produces a changed heart and life that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets, but sorrow under the influence of the world produces death.” [2 Corinthians 7:10 CEB] Repentance means “a changed heart and life.” Judas, felt bad but acted inappropriately. Peter, felt bad but humbled himself and was restored by Jesus.

Some of us ignore the Bible’s warnings. We do what we are NOT supposed to do. We do NOT do what we are supposed to do. On top of the warning God also sends a rooster to send the alarm. This is the Holy Spirit bringing what is called “conviction.”

Next time you see your ear in a mirror, remember Jesus reaching out to heal one who would be His enemy. Next time you hear that “still small voice” that nags you when you cross the line or fail to behave the way God wants you too; remember God loves you. The question is, what are you going to do about it? A changed heart and life are the path to life.

Discipleship Ladder #2 (Knowledge)

2 Peter 1:5

Ladder of Success #1

³ His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to^[c] his own glory and excellence,^{[d] 4} by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,^[e] and virtue with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. ⁸ For if these qualities^[f] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brothers,^[g] be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. ¹¹ For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. [ESV from www.biblegateway.com]

Background:

                1.            Meet Peter, “the mess-up.”

                2.            Matured, learned a few things.

                3.            “Make every effort.”

                4.            REASONS:

                                a.            [v 8]  “keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful.”

                                b.            [v 10]  “if you practice these qualities you will never fall.”

I.             The Stalled-life is an impaired life.

                A.            Christian life:

                                1.            Start well

                                2.            Lose momentum

                                3.            Perpetual inertia

                B.            Result:

                                1.            [v 8] Ineffective (lit. inactive, lazy, useless) [Wesley “slothful”]

                                2.            [v 8] Unfruitful (Jesus said these would be cut and thrown into the fire)

                                3.            [v 10] Fall (lit. trip…. “fall, offend, stumble)

II.            The Stalled-life is an inferior life.

                A.            Christianity vs the world

                                1.            Stoics had what they called “prokope” (moral progress)

                                2.            Peter uses that wisdom and starts with “virtue” and progresses to “love.”

                B.            “Virtue” defined:

                                1.            It is an ideal…

                                2.            Excellence infused with energy.

                                3.            It is “operative and effective excellence.” (Barclay)

Moffatt – “The Christian life must not be an initial spasm followed by chronic inertia.”

                                4.            It is evidence by service to God and people.

“Good better best, never let it rest, until your good is better, and your better is best.”

III.           The Growing-life is a Christ like life.

                A.            It comes through responding to God’s initiative.

                                1.            [v 3] “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and                                                             godliness.”

                                2.            [v  4] “by which he has granted to us his precious and very great                       promises.”

                                3.            [v 4]] “so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature,                                                    having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful                                                             desire.”

                B.            The “trajectory of faith.” (my image)

                                1.            Point “A” traveling toward point “B.”

                                                a.            Faith to submission…

                                                b.            Submission to rule of the Holy Spirit…

                                                c.             Rule of the Holy Spirit to effective, fruitful, and victorious life.

                                2.            What it takes:

                                                a.            Being intentional.

                                                b.            Planning and making measurable progress.

                                                c.             Not resting until it is “excellent.”

IV.          The Growing-life is a calibrated life.

                A.            Calibrated?

                                1.            Planned.  (What are your spiritual goals?)

                                2.            Determined (What energy are you putting into those goals?)

                                3.            Measured (How will you know when you have reached a goal?)

                                4.            Modeled (What do you need to do/not do to become more like Jesus?)

                B.            What will this look like?

                                1.            Love and knowledge of God will increase.

                                2.            Intentional life of service will increase.

                                3.            Forward! (Not having to repeat past mistakes or lessons)

To Do:

                1.            Ask the Holy Spirit what ONE thing you will move forward on.

                2.            Define what that is going to look like.

                3.            Set a time to achieve it by.

                4.            Measure it: is it good, better, or best?

What happened?

Luke 23:44 – 24:12

“What happened?”

This week has been an emotional roller coaster for the disciples. Last Sunday, they celebrated the return of the King to Jerusalem... or so they thought. They had watched Jesus cleanse the temple of the money changers, severely question the religious elite’s application of theology, and had been there when one of their own betrayed Jesus. In fear, they ran for their lives instead of standing up for Jesus.

Now in fear, they had locked themselves into a room... Maybe they wondered what went wrong, maybe they questioned if they were wrong about Jesus. Either way, they were grieving because their teacher had been dead three days. But the twists and turns of this week just kept getting stranger and stranger.

The women had returned from the grave with some story about Jesus being alive. They tried to convince the disciples, tried to get them to remember Jesus’ words, tried to get them to believe. Could it be? Peter, who had denied Jesus, ran to the tomb. If the women were right... I wonder what he was thinking.

What did happen?

 

I.         The events of “Good Friday.”

 

            A.        Jesus was crucified on “Good Friday.”

 

                        1.         Why do we call it “Good” when something very bad happened?

 

                                    a.         It is good because on that day, Jesus solved our worst problem.

 

                                    b.         The problem was sin which separates us from God.

Define sin...

 

►          Sin is “trespass” or “transgress” or crossing a line. We ask what the line is there for and we step over it. This is willful rebellion against the known law of God.

►          Sin is “falling short” of God’s glory this is also considered “error.” We cannot reach God ourselves so we set up an intermediator, an idol to take God’s place, try to earn our salvation through ritual or good works, or try to ignore God on our own.

►          Sin is “iniquity” which means either foolishness, defilement, or perversity. Things like pride fit here.

►          Sin is not doing what we ought to do. [“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.” James 4:17]

Sin is ultimately selfish. What ever we do, we do for our own reasons

 

                        2.         When Jesus was crucified, the veil (around 3 feet thick) in the temple was torn from top to bottom.

 

                                    a.         The temple was laid out in a way to limit access. The courts were open with gates on four sides. The temple had only one opening. Inside the temple was another building with one opening that only the priests could enter. In that inner sanctuary was a curtain, that was the veil that kept the priests from entering God’s physical presence.

 

                                    b.         Jesus was crucified the day the Passover lambs were being sacrificed at the temple. On that day the gates of the court temple were open, the door to the temple was open, and the door to the inner sanctuary was open. In other words, if you were looking into the temple, you would have been able to see the veil and been reminded of the separation between you and God.

 

            B.        When Jesus died, He changed the spiritual dynamics of how God and people interact.

 

                        1.         Before, only one person could enter God’s presence on one day of the year.

 

                                    a.         That was called the day of Atonement. Two goats were used. One goat provided the blood, the other goat was became the “scape-goat” that carried the sins of the people.

 

                                    b.         Jesus did both. His blood “atoned” (“make amends for” – Oxford University Press) for our sin. By being taken out of the city, Jesus fulfilled the carrying of our sins.

 

                        2.         Now the way is open through Jesus only.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, [20] by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body...” [Hebrews 10:19 – 20]

 

II.       The events of Resurrection Day.

 

            A.        The women went to the tomb.

 

                        1.         Their purpose was to put burial spices on the body.

 

                                    a.         They expected to have a problem with moving the stone. [Mark 16:3]

 

                                    b.         They were doing that “last thing” for the one they loved.

 

                        2.         What they found was different than what they expected.

 

                                    a.         They expected a body, they found angels asking, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” [v 5]

 

                                                1.)       Ever notice how we do that too? We go to bars or dance halls to find acceptance, easy our pain, or distract us.

 

                                                2.)       We go to churches that major on the experience and are thin on the truth of God’s Word and behavior altering grace.

 

                                    b.         They expected more sorrow, they heard the angels say, “He is not here; he has risen!” [v 6]

 

                                                1.)       Ever notice how we do the same thing? We grind our way through the week. Punch a clock, collect a paycheck, do email.

 

                                                2.)       Somehow we miss the joy.

 

                                    c.         They expected the natural course of life, “Then they remembered his words.” [v 8]

 

                                                1.)       Jesus taught His disciples to look at life differently based on what He said.

 

                                                2.)       Events are interpreted by what we think we know. That’s why remembering changed their perspective on what they were seeing.

 

            B.        Peter is torn between grief and guilt.

 

                        1.         Sound familiar?

 

                                    a.         Grief weighs us down.

 

                                                1.)       The “Why bother, what the use?” attitude.

 

                                                2.)       Hopelessness can keep us confused and muddled up (disordered and confused state: Oxford University Press)

 

                                    b.         Guilt devalues us.

 

                                                1.)       The crushed and dirty feeling sin naturally leaves can keep us from God.

 

                                                2.)       (Ill.) Of a $20 bill... crisp and clean v a $20 bill crumpled and dirty.

 

                        2.         Peter has a choice.

 

                                    a.         Grief can blind him, guilt can drive him away...

 

                                    b.         Peter chooses to run to the tomb to see for himself.

 

                                                1.)       Great people are people who have chosen to do things that are courageous, right, just, and holy.

 

                                                2.)       Peter doesn’t know what it means, but he suspects something has happened that will change him forever.

 

III.      Running in sandals: What did happen?

 

            A.        Theological truth:

 

                        1.         Jesus resurrection forever ended the question of Jesus identity.

“And who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” [Romans 1:4]

 

                                    a.         Jesus is the Christ. “Christ” is the Greek title for the Old Testament “Messiah.” The Christ is the anointed one of Old Testament who would sacrifice Himself.

 

                                    b.         Jesus is Lord. “Lord” was the substitute for the sacred name of God (which could not be spoken). It was so sacred, if it was to be written, the scribes would bathe, change their clothes, and destroy the pen after the name was written. When it was to be spoken, they used the word “Lord.” In English texts it is symbolized by “LORD.” (All caps) This is an unmistakable claim to the divinity of Jesus.

 

                        2.         Jesus resurrection became the difference between truth and error.

 

                                    a.         Some people do not like or want the cross of Jesus... it is either a stumbling block or foolishness.

“Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, [23] but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.” [1 Corinthians 1:22 – 23]

 

                                                1.)       It has become the “in” think to write books or do TV specials to try to debunk, humiliate, refute the claims of Christ.

 

                                                2.)       People go through mental gymnastics to say Jesus was not who and what He claimed to be... They will reduce Scripture to a code and say the letters or numbers don’t add up to point to Jesus.

 

                                    b.         Its very simple. If Jesus rose from the dead (which has seldom been disputed) then Jesus is the Christ and Jesus is Lord... not a good teacher, not just a prophet, not even a visionary.

 

            B.        Personal truth:

 

                        1.         The resurrection implies a question. If Jesus is who He said He was...

“I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!” [John 8:58] (notice Jesus used “I am” not “I was” because “I am” is a translation of the sacred name of God.)

“I and the Father are one.” [John 10:30]

“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [7] If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” [John 14:6 – 7]

“Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" [62] "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." [63] The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. [64] "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned him as worthy of death.” [Mark 14:61b – 64] (Notice the people who tried Jesus seemed to understand the implications of His claim.)

 

                        2.         Will you accept Jesus’ claims and make Him your Lord?

 

                        3.         Will you truly (“to the fullest degree, absolutely or completely” Oxford University Press) celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord?

 

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