Resurrection Way- Roads Less Traveled #6

Well, we’ve finally made it to the end of our series, “Roads Less Traveled.” We began our journey on Zaccheus’ street (learning that no one is beyond saving) took a turn down Bartimaeus boulevard (which demonstrated that only Jesus can provide the life for which all humanity longs), followed Jesus on Main Street Jerusalem (discovering that true faith is loyal even under pressure), passed Gethsemane Circle (challenging our prayer lives to new heights), and witnessed a spectacle of death and suffering on Golgotha Boulevard (as Christ demonstrated the brokenness that He wants to see in His disciples for the world). Today we reach the destination we have been chasing after for these past six weeks—Resurrection Way. It took faith, prayer, and brokenness to get here, but we are finally here. However, as we look closely at Matt. 28:5-7, we observe that there still a little ways to go.

Many times, even seasoned believers can find themselves in some sort of stupor or state of discouragement that they cannot seem to shake. In these moments of self-pity and whining, I look to faithful friends to shake me from my deprivation and help point me in a more healthy and realistic direction. Many times in these humble moments, I realize that the cause of my fatigue is often failing to remember the promises of God and His presence in my life. My failure is a result of me forgetting to trust God at His Word. In a far more difficult scenario than I have ever run across, Jesus’ mother and friends had run into the same problem. Failing to remember what God had said left these women sad and grieving. However, God through one of His glowing messengers would soon shake them from their own spiritual stupor in the wake of the greatest miracle ever presented. The angel of the Lord provides supernatural encouragement and comfort to these morose matrons by means of four proclamations that I believe will also encourage us this Resurrection Sunday for these statements kill worry and annihilate fear in the lives of those who will head them.

I. PROCLAMATION #1: FEAR NOT!-28:5b

At the outset of this passage, the angel confronts the most obvious problem that the women probably had at this point. Not only had they watched their King be slaughtered and buried in the ground, but now they could not even visit the body of their beloved Savior. All things points to disparity as their lack of faith seems to begin obtaining justification. Anyone brought to this point would suffer great alarm and questions. Not to mention, the presence of an angel whose appearance “was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow,” would not do much to help calm things down. However, against all natural impulses and urges, the angel boldly prohibits fear. “Do not be afraid!”(28:5). One might assume from this clear call that the angel believes there is no good reason for fearing at this point and yet, the situation as far as the women could observe was undeniably bleak. It is to this situation that the angels then references.

The angel knew full well why the women were upset and now stricken with overwhelming grief—Jesus had been crucified. That was the simple fact. No one could deny the horror that must have taken place before these women who loved Jesus and devoted themselves to Him throughout His ministry on earth. It was this teacher, this healer, this leader, this king, who had been brutally executed. Watching a crucifixion went way beyond even some of the most gory movies or video games many are familiar with today. It was a spectacle of blood, excruciating pain, and unbelievable carnage that would have been forever imprinted on the mind of any witness. Such an act coupled with a weak faith would have driven anyone to fear. This would have been especially true of those who followed the victim, prescribed to His teachings, and believed in His saving power. However, it is in the midst of this despondency that the angel proclaims “FEAR NOT!” waking these women from their discouragement, readying them to receive the remainder of his message.

I’m not sure what you thought you would hear when you came in the door. I’m not sure what pain or trouble or confusion you are going through today. I’m not sure how bad things have become or how bleak the horizon is on your life, but I am confident that what you are traveling through now could not have been any worse than what these women at Jesus’ grave had witnessed. FEAR NOT! Allow these two simple words to awaken you to the message of hope that will follow.

The angel could prohibit the fear of these women, in part, because he was glowing and really cool-looking, but also because he recognized what they had failed to realize. This leads him to his second proclamation.

II. PROCLAMATION #2: WONDER NOT!-28:6

After describing the passion these women had witnessed and the death that they had grieved, the angel calls their attention to the empty grave, stating the arrestingly obvious detail that Jesus was no longer in His assigned burial plot. However, was this not also a cause for their concern? Was this not one of the contributing factors of their fear and discouragement? Didn’t the lack of Jesus’ body cause their alarm that fateful morning?

What these women had grown accustomed to following Jesus’ death, due to their lack of faith, was a bad case of assuming the worst. Lack of faith in a job can cause a manager to assume the worst when the boss calls for a private meeting. Lack of faith in a loved one’s health can cause a son or a daughter to panic when they get a call late at night. In the same way, the lack of faith in what Jesus said of Himself caused these women to assume the worst when His body went missing. Maybe the body was stolen, or secretly disposed of, etc. However, instead of the worst possible scenario, the most wonderful miracle took place.

Jesus had been resurrected in the proper sense of the word. He was the first to be brought back to life in an eternal sense. Lazarus, Jairus’ daughter had been resuscitated, but only Jesus had received His eternal and glorified body upon being brought back to life. The verbal sense of the words “has risen” suggests the completion of an activity. The resurrection validated the entirety of Jesus’ ministry, completed His redemptive ministry, and finished the work He had come to perform as Savior. Through His resurrection, Jesus defeated death, sin, and the world system. This act implies that those who belong to Him can necessarily conquer these elements as well. Death no longer has sting, Hell has been defeated, sin no longer is binding, Jesus had been risen! However, this should not have come as a surprise to anyone, especially the women standing speechless.

Jesus had indeed made no secret that He would die. Similarly, He dropped hints of hope that He would also be raised.

When did He say that?

Matt. 16:21-“From that time Jesus began to show 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 up on the third day.”

 Matt. 17:23-“and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day, and they were deeply grieved.”

Matt. 20:19-“and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up”

Matt. 26:32-“But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee”

Jesus time and time again desired to be taken at His Word. Ultimately, the fear and confusion of the women was constructed on weak faith—faith that believed the worst and forgot the best, faith that dwelt on the present situation and neglected to remember the hope they had for the future, faith that failed to take Jesus at His word and anticipate His resurrection.

 Unfortunately, observing these women is a lot like looking in the mirror. When God does something we are astonished or when things look bad around us we fear in large part because like these women we have failed to believe Jesus at His Word. He is mighty as demonstrated by His power over death; He is loving as witnessed in His death for humanity; He is Savior as alluded to in His life and ministry; and He IS ALIVE for the tomb is empty!!!!

When Jesus’ word was not enough for these women to believe ahead of time that Jesus would only remain in the tomb a few short days, the Angel aids their faith with a call to examine the evidence. He was not there! Truly, while all should take Jesus at His Word concerning His life and ministry, Jesus left the tomb with plenty of evidence behind in order to prove that this crucial event actually took place.

“There is no historic incident better or more variously supported than the resurrection of Christ.”-Brooke Foss Wescott. “No shred of evidence has yet been discovered in literary sources, epigraphy or archaeology that would disprove that the tomb in which Jesus was buried was actually empty on the morning of the 1^st Easter.”-Dr. Paul L. Maier. “According to the law of legal evidence used in courts of law, there is more evidence for the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ than for just about any other event in history.”-Dr. Simon Greenleaf, Harvard law professor.

The call of these women concerning the resurrection is the same call given to us. FEAR NOT! Why? Because we do not have to wonder where our Savior is. He is risen as He said and as can be proven without question! WONDER NOT! He has made good on what He said and proven to be the Savior He claimed of Himself. What now? What does one do with this knowledge.

III. PROCLAMATION #3: TARRY NOT!-28:7a-c

The angel assumed that these women would, having learned of Jesus’ resurrection, leave that place and head elsewhere with this new information. He assumes swift movement in response to such information. No doubt these women would have had quite a spring in their step after leaving the gravesite.

The theme of “going” is carried on throughout the rest of the final chapter in Matthew. The angel speaks of the going of these women to the disciples here in verse 7. Jesus speaks of “going” to the brethren in verse 10, “Do not be afraid; go…”. Finally, in the last verses of Matthew, Jesus assumes that His disciples would “go” into all of the world, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,…” (28:19).

It would appear that the natural and assumed response to Jesus’ completed work of redemption involves movement, not complacency, intentionality, not laziness, action, not inaction.  

Throughout this series we have learned the value of true faith, persistent prayer, and real brokenness for the world. However, these don’t mean a thing if as a result we are not going into the world for Christ as He has commanded of us in light of His resurrection.

In their going, the angel desired that they would accompany their steps with a message, “Jesus has risen from the dead!”  This was the very best part of the “good news.” Such a message would have brought comfort to the disciples mourning the loss of their Savior. This message continues to spread and bring similar comfort to believers today.

Going accompanies proclamation in all of the cases we perused throughout the remainder of Matthew’s book. Here, the women are charged to go and tell the disciples. In verse 10, Jesus calls them to go and take word to the brethren. In verse 19, Jesus calls His disciples to go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all that I commanded you,…” In each of these cases, the scope grows larger and larger.

FEAR NOT! Why? God is not dead! WONDER NOT! He has made good on His word and there are plenty of reasons to believe Him. TARRY NOT! There is message that needs to be taken to the world and unfortunately the church is treating the greatest news of all like it is mundane.

IV. PROCLAMATION #4: WORRY NOT! -28:7c-e

In an effort to encourage these women further, the angel brings their attention to Jesus’ movement. Already, as they were encouraged to go and tell, Jesus was running ahead of them into Galilee where the disciples were. Suggesting that Jesus’ presence would precede their arrival would have brought much peace and excitement to these women as they made their way. This is the first time that Jesus’ present location is disclosed following the resurrection.

The angel then assures them that they will indeed look upon their Savior once again. Oh what a joy this would have been for Mary and her friends, who at the beginning of the day anticipated a corpse and now had learned that they would see their Savior and King alive and glorified!

Later in Matthew’s gospel Going and telling is shown to involve Jesus’ presence in much the same way. 28:10 says, “Go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see me.” Likewise, in the Great Commission, after calling them to Go and make disciples, Jesus comforts them with a promise of His presence.

Obedience to the call to go and proclaim assures God’s presence in one’s life in a special way. This is what the angel promises these women and what Jesus later promises to His disciples. In this way, neither had any cause for worry, He would be with them every step of the journey.  

The angel ends his proclamations with an appeal to his own authority. He, no doubt, was a glowing messenger from heaven charged by God himself to give this message and because of that, the women should take him at His word (although earlier we learned they had failed to extend Jesus that same courtesy). However, this time they had learned their lesson and would obey whole heartedly.

So What?

Fear Not! Wonder Not! Tarry Not! Worry Not! This is the promise of the resurrection—a life free of fear, that no longer has to wonder about God, that  is no longer stuck or immovable in sin, and is anxiety-free. I’m not sure about you, but that is the kind of life I would like to live. However, the tragic reality is that many live without this resurrection life and because they have not placed their faith in Jesus cannot cling to these proclamations for comfort. For those without Christ, the proclamations sound a lot different: “Fear everything because you are still of the world, keep wondering because you are still without any answers to the most difficult questions of life, tarry all you want because you are stuck in sin, and keep worrying things are very grim.” If you are living in fear, wonder, and worry, know that Jesus came, He died, and He rose, to save you from these.

 

However, if you are already a believer today, how well are you doing at the going and telling part of the Christian life? How great a gift we have been given through the cross! How great a Savior we have living within us because of His resurrection! What a message to proclaim and share with the whole world! If you and I want to experience God’s presence in a unique way today, you and I need to be obedient to go and tell of Him. If we really believe our God was killed and then raised from the dead the way the Bible reveals, what are we doing sitting around quietly twiddling our fingers? Many believers do a satisfactory job at the faith, prayer and maybe even the brokenness part of the Christian life. However, it does the world no good if we are not going and telling others.

 

Though the “Roads Less Traveled” are complete as far as this series is concerned, what road does the resurrection inspire you to take today? What street are you now compelled to take as you are about the business of going and telling others about Him? What boulevard have you neglected? Allow this resurrection message to thrust you into the roads less traveled in your life and in the life of this church as we take what we have learned to this neighborhood, city and world. No longer are we playing a man down. No longer are you and I working while wounded. No longer is failure an option. We have the resurrection power of God within us! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead! That alone is enough to do wonders we could never imagine. Be encouraged believer FEAR NOT! WONDER NOT! TARRY NOT! WORRY NOT! Jesus is risen. He is risen indeed!

 

 

Golgotha Boulevard -Roads Less Traveled #5

In our travels in and around our city of Roanoke, there are those roads that you love to take and there are those roads that you avoid. Some provide beautiful scenic overlooks or are lined with gorgeous homes in safe and affluent neighborhoods like those streets that surround this church. Others are riddled with potholes, saturated with crime, and an eyesore. However, depending on where you are headed, sometimes these less glamorous boulevard are unavoidable.

Along our travels in the roads less taken thus far we have examined the results of true faith leading to restoration of life with Zaccheus and Bartimaues, the worthlessness of fickle believism with the triumphant entry and the preparatory value of prayer in Gethsemane. However, today as we narrow in on the destination that Jesus has been moving toward we are confronted with the most horrifying spectacle in all of Scripture--the dead end of Golgotha Boulevard—a road no one would choose to take unless forced. What redeemable principle can we possibly take away from Jesus’ crucifixion? What hope is there in the darkness of this most grim moment in all of history? Before we answer these questions, let us ask some of ourselves.

Faced with certain death, what would you say to God? Standing in excruciating pain what posture would you take? Interestingly enough, all of the answers to this question can be divided into two distinct categories that are represented by the two thieves on the crosses on either side of Christ. Their voices heard in the midst of their suffering are emblematic of the choices people make concerning God in light of their suffering today. Listen carefully to what you hear in between the gasps for air and vociferous cries of the spectators in Luke 23:39-43 on Golgotha Boulevard. As difficult as this road is to stomach, we will soon learn that this street is a necessary path for Christ to take in order to reach His destination. As gross and dark as this boulevard will prove to be, journeying through this text is necessary for our discipleship as we learn the invaluable role of brokenness for the Disciple.

I. VOICE #1: THE VOICE OF RAGE-23:39

Crucifixion was viewed by ancient writers as the cruelest and most barbaric of punishments. Recent historical and archaeological studies have helped bring a more realistic sense of crucifixion’s horrors. The bone fragments of a crucified individual were discovered in 1968 and revealed that his feet were each nailed laterally to the beam. In many cases, both the feet and wrists were nailed to the crossbeam the victim carried. This would have taken place after the victim was stripped of his clothes to increase the humiliation. After being nailed to the crossbeam, it would be raised high enough for the victim’s feet to clear the ground and then placed on a stake. Most guess that Jesus’ cross stood about 7 feet high. This method of execution was designed for one thing, a slow and tortuous death.  Death by crucifixion was a result of loss of blood, exposure, exhaustion, and suffocation, as the victim tried to lift himself to breathe. Sometimes, victims would linger for days in agony! After learning more about crucifixion, they can better appreciate the meaning of the word “excruciating,” which derives from the Latin excruciatus, “out of the cross.”

Though many tend to focus their attention on Jesus in the center of the Golgotha scene, it is important to remember that Jesus was one of three currently facing this unthinkable horror. Given the nature of their current predicament, it is no wonder that one of the thieves speaks up and in his rage says what he can in the midst of his ever-shallow breaths.

Though ill-advised in retrospect, one might understand how such a voice could be heard in the midst of such agony. The first thief’s voice illustrates one of choices everyone has in a situations like this-rage.  This is not a voice coming from a heart of brokenness, but a voice offered from a completely crushed heart and spirit bent against God.

In many ways this first thief represents a large sector of humanity. Those who in the face of suffering shake an angry fist at the God they  do not even believe in find a sympathizer in this man and might even be caught saying what he says here, “Are you no the Christ? Save Yourself and us!”

Although many uses of the word “save” allude to God’s work of salvation, given the context and the blasphemous nature of his remark, there is no way that this thief is making a legitimate plea for salvation. Instead, he is requesting rescue from their current predicament. In his limited view of Jesus, he sarcastically calls upon Him (in light of who he claims to be) to miraculously provide a means of escaping the death they all face.

In the last moments of life and in the midst of incredible pain, people will reach for anything to provide relief, even that which they blaspheme. However, instead of looking to Jesus in real hope of real salvation, this thief questions who Jesus claims to be and is sarcastic in his plea.

This hellacious cry echoes throughout the generations among those who fail to believe in Jesus Christ. Seeing no way of escape from their death or agony, instead of reaching out to Jesus in Faith for salvation, they question Him, His love, His sovereignty, and in their unbelief grasp only at straws.  Calvin says of this raging blasphemer, “this objection is directed against God Himself; just as wicked men, when they do not obtain what they wish, would willingly tear God from heaven. They ought indeed, to be tamed to humility by strokes; but this shows that the wicked heart, which no punishments can ben, is hard like iron.” The voice of rage says, “There is no God, look how much I’m hurting! If there was a God, why would he allow me this pain?”

II. VOICE #2: THE VOICE OF REASON-23:40-42

As we continue down Golgotha boulevard, there is a second voice crying out--the voice of reason and brokenness. The second thief cannot put up with the insistent blaspheming of Jesus while on the cross. Instead of holding his tongue or saving his breaths for himself as he too reals in pain on a cross of his own, he openly rebukes the statements being made on the other side of the skull rock. 

In what this second criminal says, the reader is made aware of another way, the proper way, to view one’s own predicament before Christ. Though in the first man’s response to pain and agony we heard the voice of a raging blasphemer, here we he the surprising and yet unmistakable voice of reason coming out of brokenness before the Lord.

The first statement uttered by this second voice is a statement of rebuke. “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?” In other words, the second thief asks the first, “Does not your present condemnation compel you to fear God?” In this statement, the second robber is hoping that the first recognizes that death is coming soon, and it is no time to be blaspheming an innocent man. Though their present predicament was desperate and difficult, it would not compare to what he would feel before God in the judgment seat. Though he was now feeling the results of being condemned by the Roman government, he would soon discover what it would feel like to be condemned by God Himself!

Though this rebuke was designed to put the fear of God into this man, there is no evidence that suggests it was successful. Instead, his hard heart hardened. This is no different than many in our world today. Instead of fearing God they abstain from Him, harden themselves, and fall into condemnation.  Any reasonable person would understand that they should most fear the God who can kill body and spirit.

Matt. 10:28-“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

The second thief understands that what they are experiencing is exactly what they “deserve.” He acknowledges here that the punishment which was common to all the three was “justly” inflicted on him and his companion, but not on Christ who had been dragged to the punishment of death, not by his own crime, but by the cruelty of enemies. He reasonably concludes, in light of his crime, that the punishment he is suffering at present is natural and expected, not something surprising or unjust. In fact, to not be punished in the manner he was currently experiencing would have been a gross injustice. Unlike his companion thief, who though God to be unjust and/or unreal, this man recognizes that the real injustice is being exercised on the man in the middle.

As alluded to earlier, this man might represent all who reasonably conclude that their present sufferings, agonies, and even anticipated death are a result of their own sinful choices, depravity, and extant wickedness that infects the entire fallen world. The difficulty they face in life and the hardships around them are understood by these as the product of sin in their lives, the lives of others, and in creation itself.  Therefore, what they are experiencing and will experience after death without Christ is not understood as unjust, but the proper penalty assigned to each of them. The only thing they can do in light of this is call upon the Lord because of their brokenness and desperation.

Calling upon the lord is exactly what is demonstrated by the second thief in this passage, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” In this phrase readers everywhere are given one of the most remarkable and striking examples of faith ever recorded! This thief, who not only had not been educated in the ways of Christ, had instead given himself up to a life of sin and endeavored to rid himself of any sense of right and wrong. However, here he suddenly rises higher than all the apostles and other disciples whom the Lord Himself had taken so much pains to instruct and adores Christ as King and calls to be invited to His kingdom! This he does while bleeding out and gasping for air on a cross! All credit for such a display of faith must go to the Holy Spirit, who, upon his understanding of his sin and necessary implications thereof, supplied the necessary faith to make this quantum leap to saving faith.

Those who in their brokenness understand their sin and the effects thereof are able to understand Jesus saving power for them by means of the Holy Spirit. In this we learn that those who place their faith in Jesus Christ are reaching a reasonable conclusion, Jesus is the only means of escaping the sting of death and have eternal life. The voice of reason says, “I am responsible for my actions, expect the consequences, and desperately need Jesus to save me.” Brokenness before Jesus demands the attention of God.

III. VOICE #3: THE VOICE OF REDEMPTION-23:43

Do not forget that Jesus is suffering under the same excruciating pain these two thieves are experiencing. He too is hanging seven feet above Golgotha boulevard and He is the source of the third voice in the unique conversation taking place above the crowd of spectators. In His response to what has been said, it is significant to notice that Jesus only addresses the second thief and ignores the first. These same kinds of responses can be expected by those who call out to Him in faith and who curse His name today! Jesus Himself responds to brokenness. What Jesus expresses to the thief of faith is none other than the voice of redemption.

To the reasonable thief Jesus says, “truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” This promise reveals that Jesus, though presently humiliated before the onlookers, was still the same powerful Savior of the world who was capable to bring life out of death and fulfilling every facet of His office. This thief could expect life after death that very death with Jesus in Paradise.

 “Paradise” is a word meaning heaven. Death is not defeat for those who belong to Jesus Christ, it the beginning of life with God in a more profound way. This is what the second thief could expect following his last breath. In fact, anyone who turns to Jesus, even in the last moments of their life, is granted fellowship with Him for eternity thereafter.

Romans 10:13-“Woever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Jesus has always been about awarding faith with grace. Here, he awards the faith of a thief at his execution with the grace of eternal life with Him in heaven. This same grace is available today to all who call upon Him, expecting to hear the voice of redemption. The voice of redemption says, “This world and its sufferings is not all that there is. Call upon me and know eternal life.”

Jesus is able to offer grace for the thief and the remainder of the world because of His own brokenness. Jesus heart broke so much for the dying world destined for hell that He decided to enter into its situation as a man, live as anyone else, and die a horrific death. Motivated by this brokenness and love, Jesus provided my salvation and gave me life and he offers it to you as well.

So What?

The sights and sounds surrounding Golgotha Boulevard draw attention to something that is far removed from many in this room today. This scene of horror and pain calls to mind the horror and pain experienced by all in this world. 13 students were stabbed while attending school the other day. The worst Ebola breakout in years is happening now in Africa. 80% of American citizens do not trust their government. 33 people died in the recent mudslide in Everett Washington. This past December a Memphis pastor was arrested for sexually abusing a 16-year-old family member. What makes this heartbreaking story even more repugnant is that church and family members had been informed about the abuse two years earlier, but failed to report the crime to the police. Instead, they decided that the best response was to simply pray for the offender and hope for the best. Why do I conjure up all of these images?--THERE IS NO BROKENNESS IN THE CHURCH!!! People in the church do not want to go down those roads and deal with things in a way that will involve their time or personally affect them in the least. For the most part we are not willing to invest in the mess of this world, dig down, and make any real difference in the lives around us! I’m hoping that our hearts might break again for the world around us.

Like these three, we are on our way to death and so is the world, living in the midst of sin and injustice, feeling the very real effects of sin along the way. In light of this, there are two choices. To those who speak of God in rage, who do not believe in God or can’t for the life of them believe that anyone would believe in a good God while there is so much pain and suffering, I say this, consider that Jesus’ own heart breaks for the world’s situation. His heart breaks so much that he was willing to travel on Golgotha Boulevard and experience the most horrific death imaginable to redeem you out of this mess and into eternal life. He died in the worst possible way and did not deserve any bit of it! We suffer because we are sinful. He suffered though He sinned not! To those who have been broken before Christ and in response have reached the reasonable conclusion that only He can give hope in the darkness, I hope and pray that your heart might again break for the world around you. If our hearts do not break for the world around us we will not reach the people that need to know Jesus Christ. If we fail to travel down the road of brokenness and like Christ, incarnate ourselves in the mess, this city will not receive the revival it desperately needs. Faith and prayer are well-lit and well paved avenues, but the dark and dangerous boulevard of brokenness is no less important in our journey as disciples.  We all look forward to resurrection Sunday; however, there would be no resurrection to life without brokenness.  Don't avoid the road of brokenness and choose only to travel on easy street. Like Christ, incarnate yourself in the mess of the world, let it bother you enough to love, move, and act on its behalf, so that many might know God.

Gethsemane Cirsle -Roads Less Traveled #4

In my own life as a pastor and a student, I have always valued preparation. Academically, knowing full well what I was called to in the ministry, I saw university and seminary as a necessity as it prepared me to stand before you as your pastor, preacher, and leader. At least for me, without having taken time to prepare myself, I know I would have struggled to do what God has asked of me week after week in this unique role. Preparation has not only given me confidence, but it has helped me deal with unforeseen difficulties, changes, and distress. How I handle the difficult moments in my ministry is a direct reflection of how well I have been prepared to face certain challenges. Thankfully, I was blessed with excellent mentors and teachers who had been in the trenches of ministry before and demonstrated how to prepare adequately for the pastorate.

However, today I do not want to talk careers, but our unique role as disciples of Jesus Christ. The best way to learn how to prepare ourselves for this unique role is to learn from the best, Jesus Christ Himself, observing what He did and how He handled difficulty and distress so that we might know how to prepare ourselves for the same in our own lives. Thankfully, Mark 14:32-42 gives us such a lesson as Jesus heads into what would be the most challenging episode of His ministry. In the next road that Jesus takes, He finds Himself in Gethsemane. While there, He gives five statements that work together to teach the invaluable role of prayer in the life of every disciple as he or she prepares to do what God has called upon him or her to accomplish for Him.

I. STATEMENT #1: “SIT HERE WHILE I GO TO PRAY”-14:32

Though many envision this scene as having taken place in a garden full of olive trees, many scholars believe that Gethsemane was a oil press located on the Mount of Olives in a spacious cave. In fact, the word Gethsemane means “oil press” in Aramaic. Such a location close to the city would have been a perfect spot to spend a chilly night (later in Mark 14:54, others are shown to be kindling themselves by fires). It provided privacy, protection from the elements, and plenty of space for Jesus and His disciples to spread out and do what He would ask them to do in this first statement.

Having been on the move for some time now (from Zacchaeus’ Street in Luke 19:1-10 out of Jericho on Miracle Way in Mark 10:46-52, and down Main Street Jerusalem in Luke 10:37-44), Jesus, after celebrating the Passover in the Upper room, moves into Gethsemane Circle and finally has His disciples “sit.” This change from movement to being stationary signals a shift in the greater story. This was the beginning of the events that would unfold leading to Jesus’ death. However, before things get underway, His requests that His disciples “sit…until I have prayed” (14:32b).

Don’t believe prayer is worth much? Feel like there are better things to do with your time? Consider that Jesus Himself stopped to pray before big events in His own life. In His final ministry moments, Jesus begins an important lesson on prayer that begins with committing oneself to stop and take time out to give oneself over to this important practice. Prayer is priority number one.

II. STATEMENT #2: “STAND BY, I AM DEEPLY TROUBLED”-14:33-34

Moving out of the cave and into the garden itself, Jesus decides to bring along with Him some of His closer associates, “and He took with Him Peter and James and John” (14:33a). These were the same disciples who had been allowed to watch Jesus heal Jairus’ daughter in Mark 5 and witness Christ’s transfiguration in Mark 9. These were Jesus’ confidants, compatriots, and those closest to Him whom He hand-picked to rely on in times like this.

On this night Jesus “began to be very distressed and troubled” (14:33b). In this particular moment, Jesus was “very distressed and troubled” (14:33b). His death was around the corner, alluding to the fact that sin needed to be eradicated in the first place. That death was even present in the world at all, and that God’s judgment rested on mankind also contributed to Jesus emotion as the climax of His ministry was now in view.

Jesus communicates as much to His close associates saying, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death” (14:34). In so many words, Jesus tells the three that His soul was overwhelmed with such sorrow that it threatened to kill Him! “The full impact of His death and its spiritual consequence struck Jesus and He staggered under its weight. The prospect of alienation from His Father [also no doubt] horrified Him” (BKC).

In light of this growing pressure and pending series of difficult events, Jesus simply asks that His disciples would remain nearby and “keep watch” (14:34). This word means to be in a continuous state of readiness so as to learn. Jesus, knowing what lies just around the corner, hoped that His disciples would learn something as things progressed on Gethsemane Circle that night.

But what could His disciples possibly learn at this point? By singling out these three and bringing them with Him to this solitary place on this night, Jesus alludes to the importance of fellowship in times of great grief. Jesus Himself looked to others for support in the dark points of His ministry, teaching all who read this that no matter how bad things get, none should proceed through the fires of life alone.

III. STATEMENT #3: “SOVERIGN LORD, YOUR WILL BE DONE”-14:35-36

With the larger group presumably praying in the warmth  of the cave, and His close associates supposedly giving their own support nearby, Jesus then proceeds “a little beyond them,” falls to the ground, and begins “to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by” (14:35). The typical Jewish prayer posture was to lift one’s hands toward heaven and to pray aloud while standing. When one was in particular distress, he or she would prostrate his or herself on the ground. Here, Jesus assumes this position, which, in many ways, resembled the posture many took before Him to make their requests. Jesus approached God on that night in the same manner as those who came before Him for healing—desperate, broken, and humble.

If Jesus approached the Lord God in this way, why don’t we? Entitlement, pride, and self-sufficiency have no place in prayer.    

After assuming this posture of humility, brokenness and desperation before God, Jesus voices His prayer before the Lord and begins with adoration, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You” (14:36a). Knowing what lied ahead and the suffering, pain, and betrayal that waited for Him outside of the garden, Jesus takes time to praise the Lord! This commitment to praise satisfies Psalm 34:1 (“I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth”) and Paul’s later encouragement in Thess.  5:18 to “Rejoice always;  pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Here, Jesus praises God because He has a close relationship with Him (“Abba”) is in total control and possesses all authority (“Father”) and is all powerful (“all things are possible for You”). 

Jesus commends God in these specific areas perhaps because these attributes were sympathetic to the nature of His supplication, “remove this cup from Me” (14:36b). Jesus asks for this in light of His intimate relationship with Him, because only the Father’s authority would authorize such a request, and because only God in His power could turn the events in a different direction than where they were headed. This cup that Jesus’ asks to be removed is the cup of God’s incredible wrath against sin—the very cup that Jesus anticipates being spilled on Him while hanging on the cross. Jesus, who had enjoyed a perfect and intimate relationship with God from eternity past did not now want that to be broken with wrath and judgment. He had never experienced God’s wrath before and more than anyone else wanted to avoid it if possible.   

However, in spite of His own desires, Jesus concludes that ultimately it is not up to Him and submits Himself to the God’s will saying, “yet not what I will but what You will” (14:36c). This is true submission. Christ-like submission recognizes that while God can do anything, preference is given to His will over our desires. The same Jesus who said "All things are possible with You" and "Let this cup pass" also said "yet not what I will but what You will."

Here, Jesus demonstrates in the most grievous and desperate situation He has faced up to this point, that there is always room for prayer. Even further, He has shown that there is always time to praise God in distress, ask for whatever it is that you want, and ultimately submit yourself to God’s will over your own desires. To pray in this way is to pray like Christ.

IV. STATEMENT #4: “STAY AWAKE, THINGS ARE GOING TO GET HARD”-14:37-39

Though we can benefit from what Jesus did by reading it here, the disciples who were supposed to be alert and learning these things for themselves firsthand were missing their opportunity, “and He came and found them sleeping” (14:37a). When all the world is about to change and the greatest challenges are about to be confronted, the disciples are sleeping on the job.

Jesus confronts this slumber head on and while incredibly frustrated, Jesus graciously asks Peter, the spokesperson and pseudo leader of the twelve, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?”(14:37b). In other words, Jesus says, “could you not even stay alert for a little while?!”

Jesus then requests, once again their alertness and involvement in prayer, saying, “keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation” (14:38a). In this request, Jesus spells out for his disciples exactly what it is that they should be doing at this time of great significance, praying. Specifically, they are supposed to be praying that they may not come into temptation. However, what “temptation” is Jesus referencing? The answer might most nearly be the very temptation that He now faced, the temptation to side with His own desires and back out of God’s will. Truly, this is at the heart of any and all sin. Sin, by definition is the rejection of God’s will for one’s own pursuits. Whether these pursuits include self-preservation, satisfying lusts, earthly success, etc., if they are contrary to the will of God, they are sin. Therefore, Jesus asks His disciples to, like Himself, pray that God would give them the strength to choose God’s will over their own, knowing full well that although the “spirit is willing” often times the “flesh is weak”(14:38b).

Immediately after waking His disciples to remind them of what they should have been doing, Jesus returns to prayer, demonstrating what He hoped to see in the lives of the twelve.

What Jesus encourages here is the very same thing He encourages of us as His disciples today—vigilant, persistent, alert prayer that God’s will, not our personal preferences, would be realized on the earth.  Anything less opens us up, as it would His disciples, to falling prey to giving in to the flesh over the spirit. We too must recognize how weak our flesh is and remain alert in prayer so that when pressures rise we may not be found asleep. Jesus looks at His church today and says “Wake up! Give yourselves to prayer! The times are desperate and things are about to get really hard.”

Romans 12:12- "Rejoice in hope, persevere in tribulation, be devoted to prayer."

Ephesians 6:18- "Pray at all times in the Spirit . . . with all perseverance."

V. STATEMENT #5: “START OUT, IT HAS BEGUN”-14:40-42

May we not be guilty of what the disciples were guilty of in verses 40-41, “and again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.” It is obvious that the disciples did not understand how serious things were, what was about to happen, and the urgency that was required.

Jesus “came the third time, and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners” (14:41). Though Jesus had encouraged His disciples to be alert in prayer, knowing full well what they were about to face, they neglected this sacred and most precious privilege in order to catch some Z’s. There was no time to fix this and soon all of them no doubt would wish they had spent their time in Gethsemane Circle more wisely.

“Get up” Jesus says “Let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”(14:42). “Start Out, it has begun” and by “it” Jesus was referring to the events that would inevitably lead down the road we will soon come upon in our series, the road to Golgotha. Having prostrated Himself before the Lord in fervent prayer, Jesus would be able to stand before His accusers, remain faithful, and proceed in the Spirit, never giving in to the desires of His flesh. However, because the disciples had neglected to do the same, one would betray Him, one would deny Him three times, and all would cower under the pressures they would soon face.

So What?

These five statements that were given on Gethsemane Circle work together to teach the priority and primacy of prayer in the life of Christ. Prayer proceeded His most difficult episode, was encouraged in a group of like-minded individuals, was offered from a heart that was humble, broken, and desperate, included adoration, supplication, and submission to the Father’s will, and was persistent in its desire to see God’s will executed over fleshly desires. Jesus succeeded in praying this way; however, His disciples, when given the opportunity failed miserably and were therefore unprepared for what was in store. Truly, all of them would soon choose self-preservation and other selfish pursuits over God’s will and demonstrate their inclination toward the flesh instead of the Spirit.

May this not be said of US! May we not be caught asleep or dreary-eyed when we should always be watchful, alert, and prayerful! May we, like Christ, adore God for who He is no matter how bad things may be, ask for Him to do incredible things on our behalf, and ultimately submit ourselves to His plan over our desires. May we always approach God out of desperation, humility and brokenness as we, like Christ, head into difficult situations in order to bring life to this dead and dying world. May we always spend time kneeling before the Lord so that we may have the strength to stand before any and all oppression, difficulty, and tribulation for the glory of God. Wake up Christian! Wake up Church! It is time to be like Christ in the way that we pray!

 

Main Street Jerusalem- Roads Less Traveled #3

A man fell off a cliff, but managed to grab a tree limb on the way down. The following conversation ensued:

"Is anyone up there?"
"I am here. I am the Lord. Do you believe me?"
"Yes, Lord, I believe. I really believe, but I can't hang on much longer."
"That's all right, if you really believe you have nothing to worry about. I will save you. Just let go of the branch."
A moment of pause, then: "Is anyone else up there?"

Faith is an easy thing to talk about but another thing entirely to practice. Even when practiced properly, the quality of faith is entirely dependent on what or who the faith is placed in.  This important theological idea has proven to be the deciding factor in every one of the episodes described on Jesus’ way to Calvary and beyond as He has taken the roads less traveled. The faith of a tax collector and a blind man have been awarded with restoration and healing because they discovered Jesus Christ. The road the follows after Jesus Christ is paved with faith. Would this theme continue as Jesus finally arrives in Jerusalem? As Jesus turns on Main Street, we see a people who, because of their “faith,” were giddy and excited. However, the responses found in this passage will reveal the true nature of the “faith” that is expressed.

I. RESPONSE #1: THE CROWD'S RESPONSE TO JESUS-19:37-40

               

As we enter into this story Jesus’ disciples have already made the final preparations for His entrance into the city. This passage describes the ascent to Jerusalem from the town of Bethany. The responses described here took place once the city of Jerusalem was in sight as they descended down from the Mount of Olives, “…as soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives,…”(19:37). This small range of mountains stands 2660ft above sea level and lies directly across from the Temple. Luke, in his own style, includes these and other details to add to the drama that is about to unfold. The more frequent use of geographical notes heightens the excitement and suggests that the anticipated key events in Jesus’ life are drawing to a close just as Jesus drew close to the city. It is almost as though the pace of the story goes into slow motion so that we don’t miss any details.

 

It is important to realize that the “disciples” mentioned in verse 37 included the “whole crowd” that had followed Jesus for some time now on the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The two Greek superlatives used to describe the immensity of the group are literally translated “the whole of the multitude of the disciples.”

Think back to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at St Paul’s Cathedral. If you rose early enough to watch or observe any of the coverage, you would have seen thousands of people lining the streets on either side, in celebration of the occasion. This is the picture we get here.  

This enormous crowd comes complete with loud cheering and joyous praise—something that Luke alone mentions (19:37d). It is clear, as Luke reveals, that their cheers found their source in God’s miraculous works. Jesus’ ministry had been characterized by a continuous demonstration of God’s power: The deaf spoke, the blind saw, the lame walked, lepers were cleansed, and the gospel was preached! Their praise was in response to these wonders they had beheld in these last three years of ministry. It was obvious that the crowd understood that Jesus was extraordinary based on what He could do. 

Luke then gives us the content of the crowd’s response, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (19:38). The use of Psalm 118:26 here depicts a leader leading pilgrims to the temple and receiving a greeting of welcome from the priests at the temple, probably on the occasion of some major victory. The key difference between these two passages is the addition of “the King.” While Luke has already made mention of Jesus’ Davidic connection in his gospel, here he explicitly calls Jesus “King.” Truly, the implication was that Jesus, the King of the Jews, was coming to reign and for the time being, these Jews were excited.

The phrase, “peace in Heaven and glory in the highest!” acknowledges God’s work in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus’ message was a message of hope for the future and peace between man and God in the present, which, in its entirety brings glory in the highest! As Jesus entered the city He presented Himself as the King who brought the nation the hope of peace for which they had so desperately longed.

While the crowd sang its praise, a few were standing in a shadowy corner in no hurry to jump on this bandwagon. Some of the Pharisees quickly tell Jesus to silence the chorus that is growing louder with every stanza, “teacher, rebuke your disciples” (19:39). This presumptuous command given by the Pharisees suggests that they were offended by the confession the crowd was lifting up. They regarded this praise as inappropriate because they could not swallow the fact that Jesus is the Messiah who has been prophesized. This is why they were quick to call on Jesus Himself to put an end to this hellacious carnival outside Jerusalem’s walls.

 

Jesus reacts to this desperate command with deep irony. In an ardent refusal to stop this messianic confession of His followers, Jesus claims that if they ceased in their praise, creation itself would cry out in testimony to Him (19:40). Creation itself is aware of Jesus! Inanimate, base, lifeless creation, is in tune with Jesus’ authority and yet the leadership of the nation of Israel was not!  (Luke is the only one of the gospels to portray the Pharisee’s rejection as a tragic stinging indictment of their lack of judgment).

 

A triumphant entry to say the least! Jesus is greeted by those already in Jerusalem with a king’s reception, songs of praise, and all of the honor due His name. Not even the Pharisees could ruin this moment! However, there is something insidious lurking under the surface of this joyful spectacle—something that Jesus alone can see when He looks out into the crowd. As the camera zooms in on Jesus we are taken into the mind of Christ and made aware of His response to Jerusalem.  

 

II. RESPONSE #2: JESUS’ RESPONSE TO JERUSALEM-19:41-44

 

Undeterred by the Pharisees, Jesus continues down Main Street. Once again the word, for drawing near appears in order to suggest that Jesus is inching closer to His destination (both physically and ministerially as He headed to the cross). However, as soon as Jesus sees the city, He weeps, “When he approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it.”(19:41). But why?

Have you ever been privy to something that others around you weren’t. Maybe you knew the outcome of some competition before the results were announced and watched all of the participants anxious and hopeful that they would win the prize. It is difficult to see. Parents, especially mothers, have you even been asked your child to do something, knowing full well they were going to disobey or divert from your instruction. I imagine it is not a fun thing to go through. This is similar to what Jesus is facing here.

However, what does know that upsets Him?  Jesus mourns because Jerusalem as a whole has missed the nature of the times. Although this day held potential for God’s restoring peace, their failure, the same failure that Jesus had warned them about, cut the celebration short. The note of sadness is introduced by this contrary to fact condition, “if you only knew,…but you didn’t.” This reference to peace is a reference to the gospel message, which, much to Jesus’ dismay would be ignored, or refused by the same people waving their branches. The Gospel, was hidden from the city’s eyes. Blindness was a result from their failure to know Jesus and instead of enjoying the peace that comes from salvation, they would be destroyed. These are the tears of one who knows that the people have already turned their backs on God’s message. Though they acted like they knew Jesus, all they pretended to understand was His works.  

Jesus, like an Old Testament prophet, suggests that important events are about to take place. This would be the payment for Jerusalem’s rejection. Just as the nation had been taken into exile after God’s judgment in the OT, Jesus predicts judgment for the generation He is staring at along the sidewalks. What was supposed to be a visitation for salvation, would become a visitation of judgment.

 “…For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you an every side…” (19:43). Jesus uses war terminology, primarily of a siege in which barricades are raised and an impenetrable perimeter is established. The historical event in view is clearly the attack that led to the collapse of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.              

Jesus follows the three descriptions of verse 43 with two more portrayals of the nation’s demise. First, the nation and its children are will die. The image invoked here of “level to the ground” is a scene of corpses filling the streets (19:44a). Secondly, the description of one stone not being on another pictures the city being completely leveled. The defeat is total. Nothing is left standing. While the stones might have cried out in praise, they are now spoken of being completely obliterated.

This is the antithesis of what God desired for his people, (peace, protection, salvation). But the choice would be theirs and Jesus knew that they would chose rejection. 

The reason for this horrific prophecy and ultimate fulfillment in A.D. 70 is that the nation missed the opportunity to respond to the moment of Christ’s visitation for all it meant. Jesus would not prove to be what they wanted Him to be, (a political figure). Although they should have welcomed Jesus as the Savior of their souls, their blindness proved fatal and less than a week later, this same crowd full of praise and love, would be cheering not for salvation but for the death of the man who triumphantly entered on a donkey days before down Main Street.

So What?

Having looked at these two responses, it is clear that praising Jesus is not enough for salvation. Acknowledging Christ for His miracles won’t bring peace to your life. Joining the bandwagon of worship will not satisfy God’s wrath. Faith must be in the person of Christ Himself after having learned exactly who He is! He is God, King, Savior, Deliverer, Messiah, and Lord. Some reading this today may be living in Palm Sunday or on Main Street. Life has dealt you a good hand, things are going well, and praising Jesus fits easily into your personality, schedule, and behaviors just like it did for these Jews for the time being. But if you really examined your life, you would discover that you do not know Him intimately. Jesus looks at you and weeps because He knows that it is just a matter of time before life changes or some event rocks your world and causes you to turn on Him and curse His name! For many, Jesus won’t be what they want Him to be, do what they want Him to do etc. and because of this, they will turn on Him. We are not called to have Palm Sunday faith (fickle faith that does not save). Do not let the spectacle of Palm Sunday fool you. For the most part, those who lined Main Street would line the path to Calvary.  We are called to resurrection Sunday faith (faith that remains when the miracles cease, when God can’t be heard, and when all hope seems lost). That is where we are headed in our series. However, there are still a few more roads we must take first.