Encouragement Around the Table

Service Notes

Introduce Jason Holt / tell there will be a Q & A with him in the evening

Bible Reading

Instead of giving a summary, I would like to read our passage from last week. 38 verses

If I would be able to travel with you all to this time and place, your best questions would be “what is going on, why does it matter, and what are we to do because of this.”

Read Luke 22:1-38.

Sermon Introduction

Question: Have any of you spend much time around the family dinner table? Rebecca Elrod

Norman Rockwell picture. / Freedom from Want

I love the idea of the perfect family meal

We are going to spend more time around the table today.

As the disciples reclined on the Passover while in the Upper Room, and the candles flickered lower and lower, they saw and heard the eager Savior of the world unlock the mystery of salvation, saying Luke 22:20 “20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”

The Dullness of the Disciples on Display

Dispute concerning position

Luke 22:24 KJV

24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

The seriousness and somberness of the moment begin to slip away as these men fought for their futures

Not the first time we had seen this request from the disciples Mark 10:37 “37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.”

As we so much fighting this was rooted in insecurity and fear.

Failure of Peter

Jesus may have addressed Peter specifically because his voice overpowered the others in the argument.

Luke 22:31–34 KJV

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

Every human life is a commentary upon the presence and power of evil in the world.

The life story of Simon Peter is such a biography.

Here are a few truths about spiritual failure.

Behind spiritual failure is a spiritual enemy. Luke 22:31 “31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:”

Behind spiritual failure is a blindness to our own weakness and the Lord’s warning of danger. Luke 22:33 “33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.” / Ride-or-Die Friend

Behind spiritual failure is our own dullness and lose sight of the fact we are in a spiritual battle. Luke 22:50 “50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.”

Behind spiritual failure is a failure of faith. Luke 22:32 “32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

When Satan attacks, he always attacks faith, because faith links us with Christ and all the benefits of our salvation.

Hebrews 11:6 “6 But without faith it is impossible to please him..

Distraught for all the wrong reasons

Done with Peter, Jesus turned again to the whole group

Luke 22:35–36 KJV

35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. 36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

Luke 22:38 KJV

38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

Luke records two earlier occasions when Jesus sent his disciples out to preach the gospel of the kingdom having no provisions. 9:3, 10:4

The new reality was his disciples would now be regarded as transgressors or outlaws.

Jesus quotes Isaiah 53:12 “12 ...he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

When the disciples responded that they had two swords, Jesus replied, That is enough. This response has been interpreted in at least four ways:

Jesus may simply have been saying that two swords were adequate for the 12 of them.

Two swords are enough to show human inadequacy at stopping God’s plan for the death of Christ. Swords could not stop God’s purpose and plan.

Some looking at Isaiah understand Jesus to mean that by possessing two swords they would be classified by others as transgressors or criminals.

Some understand the words as a rebuke to the disciples. If that were the case, then Jesus was saying, “Enough of this kind of talk!”

Luke 22:51 “51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.”

In context and knowing the rest of the story leads me to hold to this fourth view.

Transition: From Jesus saying “with desire I desire” to the immature response by the disciples.

We recognize we are every bit as self-centered, dense, and utterly sinful as these disciples. What hope do we have for anything better?

The Gracious Response of Jesus

These disciples are with Jesus today. Luke 22:28 “28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.”

Soon they will all scatter. Mark 14:27 “27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.”

Jesus calls all Peter to encourage his brothers. Luke 22:32 “32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

Some of you will be excited about a second chance, but all of us need it.

What would Peter, the disciples, and now us have to review from this story that could strengthen us today?

He identified with us, so we can find our identity in Him.

Because Jesus was willing to identify with us we can now find our identity in Him. Luke 22:27 “27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.”

God points often to the incarnation as the reason we should serve one another.

Largest section of teaching about the incarnation comes when Jesus is speaking about serving one another. Phil 2:5-8 “5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

On the cross the sinless Son of God became a transgressor, though he himself had broken no law. Consequently, we transgressors can find saving identification in him.

Jesus has fully atoned for our sins.

He not only identified with us in our sin, but he atoned for our sin.

God provides everything we will ever need. Luke 22:35 “35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.”

Things are about to change and they’re about to change in two ways.

The response by the world is going to be different.

He is preparing them for the trial that they’re going to undergo as He is numbered among criminals. Luke 22:37 “37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.”

How are our sins atoned? 1 Peter 2:24 “24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

Why did Jesus die? Hebrews 10:4 “4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

Jesus continues to make intercession for us outlaws.

Jesus makes full identification with us transgressors, and then full atonement, and continues to make intercession for us outlaws.

This happened in today’s story in Luke.

Luke 22:32 “32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

Satan had asked to sift Peter as wheat, hoping to dispose of the wheat and harvest the chaff. But Christ prayed for Peter, and through Peter’s failure the chaff blew away and the wheat remained. Peter’s vanity was sifted out, his misplaced self-confidence was sifted away, his presumption was sifted, his impulsive mouth was winnowed—and he became a great strength to his brothers and sisters in the early church. - Alexander MacClaren

This is happening today in our story.

Hebrews 7:24-25 “24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

The Old Covenant was administered by mortal priests who were themselves sinners.

Jesus is an eternal priest in the order of Melchizedek according to the eternal oath of God.

This has untold implications for every believer!

The Strengthened will become the Strengtheners

You know the early church had a delightful legend - that every time after his restoration by Jesus on the shores of Galilee, that every time that Peter heard a cock crow for the rest of his life that he wept, that he wept remembering his denial of his Savior, but he also wept remembering the grace of the Savior to change his heart, to lead him to repentance, and to restore him to the ministry.

It was his duty.

Do you not think, too, that this becomes our duty, because, doubtless, it is a part of the divine design?

When God chose his ancient people Israel, it was not merely that Israel might enjoy the light, but that Israel might preserve the light for the rest of the nations.

When God saved you, he did not save you for your own sake, but for his own Name’s sake, that he might through you show forth his mercy to others.

He was qualified.

It is one thing to weep; it is another thing to weep bitterly. Luke 22:62 “62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.”

Peter could tell them..

It will cost you dearly

Do not trust yourself.

Knowing Jesus prayed for him would be so precious.

Picture the disciples watching God use Peter on the day of Pentecost.

It was good for him.

Remind you of the ways you and I could drift.

“He fell yesterday, I may fall to-day; and if I do not fall to-day, I may tomorrow.”

All the weaknesses and follies you see in others, believe that they are in yourself, and that will tend to humble you.

It will lead you to throw out another anchor, and get a fresh hold, as you see how they yield to the tide.

How can else it might help?

If we pray for them, we will pray more than if we just pray for ourselves.

If we quote Scripture we will meditate on Scripture.

Story of testimony from couple in Dalton. They loved us too much to not encourage us to follow the Lord.

When I fear my faith will fail Christ will hold me fast When the tempter would prevail He will hold me fast

I could never keep my hold Through life's fearful path For my love is often cold He must hold me fast

He will hold me fast He will hold me fast For my Saviour loves me so He will hold me fast

Those He saves are His delight Christ will hold me fast Precious in His holy sight He will hold me fast

He'll not let my soul be lost His promises shall last Bought by Him at such a cost He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast He will hold me fast For my Saviour loves me so He will hold me fast

For my life He bled and died Christ will hold me fast Justice has been satisfied He will hold me fast

Raised with Him to endless life He will hold me fast 'Til our faith is turned to sight When He comes at last!