Sunday Service
Let's start with the word of Prayer. Are Mighty plotter. You, you do never let go when our lives are wrapped around you. You sustain us and Empower us, and strengthen us to face the struggles of life, Struggles that you allowed to come to our lives for your purposes. May we trust you in that Lord and may we follow you along the way. Father, we pray for your spirit to be powerful and mighty touching each of our hearts father. May you work deeply inside of us to help us draw near to you in this time. And father, may your spirit guide every word that I speak for its not my power, but yours that makes any difference in any life. That is here today. May you guide us oh Lord by the power of your Mighty word, in the name of Jesus Christ. We ask these things. Amen. Well, we are going to be looking at the hope that God brings us. And we're going to look at that experience today. And that last song was a great one to kind of lead us into this episode of scripture. You know, there are times when we are involved in life and the difficulties come our way and you know, God never said that, we are going to live that perfect life as much as we'd love to never have any difficulties in any struggles. That's just not the way God is playing life out and that's good. It's important for our lives to recognize those things because apart from that, There would be some missed connection to the Living God because he wants us to know that he never lets go. He carries us through those difficult situations that we will face. And we're going to look today at the Life of Christ and realize that he can identify very clearly with the difficulties we face. Just a bit of an episode. I've talked a little bit about our departure from the island of Rhodes, Greece, and how much we went through. It was just a few days before we left. I was driving a car that I just sold and gotten all taken care of at the at the testing site and I was driving home and it was a gorgeous day, this is December. I think it's December 17th. And normally by this time great storms and hit roads and everything but it was a beautiful day and I was just praising the Lord as I drove back to our home and then it just hit me. I'm not done yet, am I? We're still here on roads. We haven't Departed. So we got I got home and we heard on the news, the ship that we were having that was bringing our container that we were going to fill to with our Goods to depart roads in was landlocked, because there was a storm on the way. Can you imagine just a few miles away that ship wasn't able to go? And I thought, wow, that's kind of strange cuz it's so beautiful here. Well, it wasn't much longer before we started feeling the effects of that storm, that was moving in and that storm hit really hard that night. And we recognize our boy, this is going to be tough because we were supposed to be loading that container the next day. They were supposed to arrive and Roads at night and we'd load it. Then the next day, So we got up in the morning and the wind was just going like crazy like 40 or 50 Mi an hour of the rain was just sheets of rain, going sideways. And we were supposed to fill the container and we knew it wouldn't make it while the ship actually got going again. And it did make it and we could walk down to the to this side of the sea and look out. And there it was sitting out there on the sea, but it was anchored out because it couldn't get into the harbor. So what do we do? Well, Mary called to the shipper and said, you know, we need to do something to get this load, and he said, well, I have a container here, you can fill it, and then take it down to the port. When yours are gets into port and we can fill it there. So, okay, we have a container coming, but in this weather, how can we get anybody to come help us? So we let her friends know that we still needed to fill a container and we had 15 people show up to help us load our container with all our good since. Oh praise the Lord for that, even in that rain that it was just going sideways. They were willing to get out and get soaked so that we could get our container filled and we filled it all the way up, complete complete feeling. So it was done and that night Mary and I slept on the floor of our kitchen, And we just heard the crashing rain and thunder, and the lightning and wind all night long. And we thought, what, if this doesn't let up, our boat isn't going to get in right will. Let's keep our eyes on the Lord and continue to pray and thank him for his guidance. So we did we got up the next day and the ship couldn't make it in. It was just sitting out there in the, on the, on the seat waiting for the storm to subside. So, we went through that day. We had to go rent a cars. We did that checked into a hotel that night. We stayed there the night in the hotel and I the rain still pounding down on us. Got up the next morning and it was still raining, but the wind died down and I thought, well, Lord there is hope. And so I walk to the harbor. I am and began talking to the people that were there and they said yeah, that the ship is able to come in is coming on into the airport. Now, here's the thing, we needed to be on an airplane at 10:15 that morning.
And the lady that was coming in to sign the documents to transfer our Goods, hadn't come in yet. So so Lord help us out here. So I called her and she said, why? I was just taking the day off, we need to have you here because we need those papers signed. So, she did finally come on in at about 9:15 that morning, she signed the papers and said, it's okay. So by 9:30, we had to begin filling our container, but the ship had docked yet. It was still coming on in. And so a couple of our friends, Harry and me Holly's, came to us and said, listen, don't worry about it, we'll make the exchange. You had to the airport. Well it's 9:45 our plane leaves at 10:15, the airport is about 15 minutes away. We head to the airport, we get there and I have to turn in the car, I go to the desk and nobody's there, so I throw the keys to the car on the desk and we get to the airplane, get through customs. Get to the airplane about 2 minutes before they close the doors. And we're off. Okay, praise the Lord, we're on our way. Okay, I have we're going to have a stay over and Budapest where we'll spend a week talking with friends that we knew and I was going to speak at a youth conference. They're all things were going well, so we get to Budapest and then we get a call the next day. Our daughter, our granddaughter, our daughter-in-law Kathleen is calling and saying, Tonya is going in for surgery on the 23rd. Well, this is the 21st. So, you know, we have to work out details. We call her travel agent, who is a trustee guy that Mary befriended while we lived in Budapest, and he had gotten us through a number of things. Even visited Us in roads while we were there. And we said, we need to get on a plane on the 23rd to get back to Go to Seattle, are to Portland, actually. And he said, well, I probably can't get your both on. I mean, this is kind of late to do this, but I'll give it a shot. And so sure enough, he was able to get us on the same flight, leaving Budapest stopping through a Frankford and on the way to Seattle and we'd arrive in the Seattle, the night of the 23rd. So we actually missed the surgery for Tanya but we were able to actually get going and arrived in Seattle and Mary's mother met us at the airport in the car and drove us down to Portland. And we saw Kane and in the window and waved at them up in the, in the hospital and said, well, we will be back the next morning after we rest a little bit from our journey. But God, Open the way for us through each of those instances, we kept looking up and trusting that no matter what happened, we were in the hands of the Lord. Now we had to get out the 20th of December because the next flight that we could have gotten on with, sometime towards the end of January, think about that. And yet, God provided in all those circumstances. When it seemed a logical that we would even get out of there. Now, many of you are facing similar situations in your lives at times in your lives, where there's a struggle in USA. I don't see a resolution. I see nothing that can happen. And where is your focus? Where is your focus? And that's what God wants us to have that focus on him because he does lead us through even the most difficult of circumstances. And we're going to look today at the life of Jesus Christ as he is looking ahead to a circumstance that you and I would never want to look forward to. And that's the cross that he must be nailed upon and die.
That's a more difficult circumstance and we can imagine. And yet, God knew Jesus knew that that had to be done. It, had to be done.
And he's going to explain this to the disciples, not for the first time. We'll take a look at that, but how he would be rejected by the people. He came to save and think about that. Rejected by people whom you. Hoped. would help would be there for you, but Jesus knew that they wouldn't So here he is in Mark, chapter 10 and Jesus wants to explain the disciples once again what must happen. And it says, in verse 32, they were on their way up to Jerusalem when Jesus with Jesus leading the way and the disciples were astonished. Well, those who followed were afraid. Again, he took the 12 aside and told them what was going to happen to him. Okay, he's heading towards Jerusalem. Now remember that Jerusalem is the place where people worship God and he's going there. God is going to Jerusalem. But not to be worshipped. he's not going there to be worshipped but he's going there because
he needed to die. Isn't that amazing that he needed to die and he needed to die because you and I were lost apart. From that death will explain that a little as we go along. There's an episode in the life of Josiah. Now, maybe you don't remember Josiah so much, but he was a king in it. In Judah & few read a story. It's a fantastic story because he was probably
The king that followed God, more closer than any other king including David. Read a story, it's a fantastic story, but he was the last of the good Kings. And during his Reign, a prophetess came forward, and this is what she had to say. So, the Lord said I will remove Judah. Oh, I'm sorry, 2nd, Kings 2324 haven't. So the Lord said, I will remove Judah also for my presence as I removed, it is real and I will reject Jerusalem. The city I chose and this Temple about which I said, my name shall be there. Think about that this Providence is proclaiming the destruction of Jerusalem and it wasn't very many years later when it actually occurred. Nebuchadnezzar came with his armies. And literally levelled Jerusalem. Every wall knocked down every house, crumpled the temple. torn down to its foundation and Below even took away the foundation of the temple, everything destroyed
now looking ahead Jesus is going to Jerusalem once again and in some ways it's a condemning of Jerusalem that he's going there for because ultimately Jerusalem will be destroyed in 70 AD exactly. The same thing that happened in 586 BC. The destruction of Jerusalem takes place
There is fear in the disciples.
They are worried because
the Sanhedrin is safe during Jesus's life and John 11:57 just after the resurrection of Lazarus from the grave.
The chief priests or gather, the priests are gathering together in there talking and with the chief priests in the Pharisees and given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it. So that he might be arrested, you see everybody was seeking to arrest them. That's why the disciples were worried and all those around him say what are you doing going to Jerusalem? They're going to arrest you there. you know, and all our plans will be Go up in smoke. What was their plans? You know, Jesus had a plan and we'll read about that. But the disciples planned was this that Jesus was going to become the ruler. And they were going to be part of his cabinet, you know, that was their desire, their heart was for that. And hey, you go to Jerusalem, bad things are going to happen. Why do you go there?
You know, it's but it's not the first time he said this, you know, several times at least three times in Scripture that tells us that Jesus said to the disciples I'm going to Jerusalem jumping back, just a couple of chapters to Mark 8 31. He says he then began to teach them that the son of man must suffer, many things and be rejected by the Elders of the chief priests in the teachers of the law. And then he must be killed after 3 Days. Run is again. Multiple times he tells disciples. And they listen to what he says a little bit because Peter says no do not no way that's going to happen to you. One of the things they didn't listen to. Was that I'm going to rise again on the third day, you know, that was always part of this scenario that it would tell them hey, I'm going to rise again. But do you really believe that even after the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead? You know, when your dad your dad, right, they didn't think about that. But, you know, it had to be. Jesus, as he enters Jerusalem, he looks up at the temple and he sees the walls in the thinks about Jerusalem and he says these words that them to Jerusalem from Luke 19:40 to. If you even you had only known on this day what would bring you peace. But now it is hidden from your eyes You know speaking of more or less the people of Jerusalem instead of that but you know they didn't know that what would happen would bring them peace. Track. They had to do what they did in order for peace to actually come up on people. But it wasn't going to come for them because they had rejected. The God of this universe, Jesus Christ. And said no to him. So anyway, he continues on in the scenario when he tells them what will happen once again, Mark 1033 that he will be betrayed and he's even speaking to the one who will betray him. He says these words we're going up to Jerusalem. He said and the son of man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law and they will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles. You see it's really important for the disciples to hear this and to know this. And the reason that is is because afterward they have to look back and say, oh, he told us all this would happen. Why should it be a surprise?
And that's the same thing as you going through the struggles and it did have difficulties of life and recognized that the same Jesus, who walk to the Cross to die for your sins is the same Jesus that walks with you now and is never going to let you go. He's always going to be present in your life. He will never leave you. There is no deception there. He's always going to be there and go with you through whatever you are facing.
About the Betrayal. Judas is the disciple. He came to Jesus, he looked at Jesus as being this future ruler of the world and he was going to be part of the cabinet. But, you know, I think he was listening more than any of the other disciples to what Jesus was saying is Jesus stated at least three times to the disciples. I'm going to Jerusalem, I'm going to be arrested. I'm going to die there.
And he said, well if he's going to die, then my part of the cabinet isn't going to work because he's not going to be around for me to work, right? And so he sought a way to gain something out of it. And he goes to the Sanhedrin. And he says, what are you willing and Matthew 2613? What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you and so they counted out 30 pieces of silver Willing, to give up the Savior for 30 pieces of silver.
and so,
After the Last Supper, Jesus tells him go do what you got to do. And Judas leaves the supper. And he goes, the Sanhedrin says, I know where Jesus is going to be, and he misses out on the talk of Jesus has for the disciples. He misses out on those hours spending the garden where he is praying and Looking to God to give him strength and help through all this. And eventually, he shows up with these guards from the Sanhedrin to do his work and he says the man who might go to kiss, he's the one and it says Jesus and he goes to Jesus and Jesus replied, what you came to do, what you came for friend and then the men's step forward and sees Jesus and arrested him. Arrested Jesus in the garden, betrayed by mankind. Well, he's taken to the Sanhedrin. And as he's in the Sanhedrin surrounded by the chief priest who is the leader of the worshippers of God, right. And all those other leaders
They don't lift him up. They don't lift up the Mighty God and say we worship. You know, they can damn him. Matthew 26 3866 says, the high priest says, what do you think? And they say he is worthy of death answered. Imagine that the one who came to save the world is worthy of death.
But they can't do it themselves. They know they can't and so they have to do what Jesus said. They're going to turn me over to the Gentiles. And so that's what they do. They hold him off the pilot to room Luke 21 1, then the whole assembly Rose and let him off the pilot.
Those who pretended to worship, God, who tried to show people that they were more holy than others are the very ones who turned against him, who turned against him and called for his crucifixion. Finishing off, Mark 10 verse 34. Who will mock him and Jesus says, who will mock him myself and spit on him. Flogged, him and kill him. Three days later, he will rise. You see, they heard the horrible things, they didn't hear the good thing, we'll get to the good thing, but let's go through the horrible things. First Jesus goes before Pilate and he speaks with him and pilot sees this guy doesn't deserve to die, he doesn't deserve to go to the Cross. So I'll try to save him. You know, I release somebody to the people so I'll see if they want to release him. I'll find a very horrible convict who murdered people certainly, they'll they'll accept Jesus instead of this person and so he presents Barabbas to them Barabbas. Who slaughtered people and killed them. And he says, who are you going to take?
And here it is and they choose Barabbas over Jesus. Then he says, what shall I do then with Jesus, who are Matthew 2722? What shall I do? And with Jesus, who is called the Messiah pilot asked and answered crucify him crucify him. Calling for probably the worst worst death that they can imagine anyone to receive. They want him. Dead. Humiliated and truly, that's what happened to him because then pilot said, okay that's what they're calling for. So that's what's going to happen. So he sends him to the soldiers to get him ready for this. Now getting him ready for this. It isn't just, you know, kind of taking his clothes away and then saying, okay well let's go know, they mistreat him in every way they whip him. I don't know if you've ever heard of the whippings that the Romans did, but it wasn't very kind. It's whipping the chairs, the flesh to Pieces, but here in Matthew 27, 30, it says, they spit on him, they took his staff and struck him on the head again, and again, and remember, they crushed his head with a crown of thorn.
To wear bleeding took place. So by the time he actually was called to take that cross and carry it to Calvary. He was already almost gone. And so he groped drug-drug, that cross a part of the way. And finally, they had to get a call, somebody else to help him a man from serenay had to take his part in carrying that cross to Calvary and they hammered him on to that cross and raised it up and dropped it into place, where he suffered and suffered Luke 2646 2346 gives us the final episode hear Jesus has been on the cross. He's been bleeding, literally bleeding out. You might say because in the end when they went to take him down, they stuck a spear into his side and no blood came out. Only lick. Liquid fluid came from his body. But it says, at that time, Jesus called out and allowed voice father into your hands. I commit my spirit and when he had said this, he breathed his last, he breathed this last he gave up his life. And he did it for a purpose. Now think about that. Each of you as you're going through the struggles, that you faced in this life is it separated from God's purpose for your life. Has he forgotten his plan for you and what you're going through? No. you see, even in the worst of sufferings, he's not separated from you, he's with you the entire way. Trust that he will carry you through those circumstances.
Now, on the third day, he did what he said, he was going to do. It said after each of the descriptions of how he was going to be tortured and died, He said on the third day, I will rise again, you know, when the disciples didn't hear that. Nobody heard that except perhaps Mary Magdalene.
But everybody else didn't hear that but on the third day Jesus rose again and the reason he rose again was so that you and I would understand that we will rise again to because we've trusted in his name and in his blood. It covers our sins and heals us from our wound. Our greatest wound is the sin with. We brought into this world as we have chosen to disobey the Living God. and yet that blood covers that's in for you, and for me, But he rose again on the third day. Now, here's a episode that happened after he rose into heaven. Now, remember in Scripture, it tells us that over, 500 people saw Jesus resurrected from the dead, it wasn't just the disciples. It wasn't just a few people that saw him after his resurrection. It was over five hundred people. There actually saw him after the resurrection. Think about that, a little bit, five hundred Witnesses. Now, Peters and John have gone to the temple day to Worship the Lord. And there's a cripple this been at that gate for decades.
And in the name of Jesus Christ, they heal him and he rises up and there's a huge commotion in the Sanhedrin is worried about this. And a call Peter and John before them and Peter has a chance to explain what is going on. Now, listen to the words he says to people
Who crucified him? It says and ask for 10, then know this. You and all the people of Israel it is by the name of Jesus, Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead that this man stands before you healed. Now, think about that a little bit. He's standing before the Sanhedrin. They know that they had him killed. And yet there is no denial there. Think about that the Sanhedrin who had him killed, who wanted him to be dead for all eternity do not deny. His resurrection.
They don't believe him for being God but they don't deny the resurrection. Think about that a little bit. The people. Who didn't want him to rise from the dead? Still didn't deny it.
That's a call to each and every one of us. You know, I've, I'm trying to help us see that. There is hope that God has for our lives, no matter of what our circumstances might be, whether you're living a joyous life or where they were going through struggles, it doesn't matter. As long as you go through all of this, in the power and the strength of Jesus Christ. It's a message for you who believe who trust in him, but it's also a message for you who might be struggling at this point who haven't trusted Jesus Christ who haven't asked him. To be your lord and savior. If you're sitting here today and you are living in uncertainty about you or walk with the Living God. Jesus is offering you an opportunity to come to know him. in just a moment, we're going to have A song that is an invitation to you who have struggled with your walk. If you really want to rededicate your life to Christ come forward for you who
All run living in uncertainty, who haven't made that decision to follow. Jesus Christ. This is an opportunity for you to participate in that. And I asked you to come on, forward.
Don't be embarrassed. Coming to Noah cries for all eternity, and it's a pretty good blessing. And so that's a call to each and everyone of us. Follow Christ, this prey, Our Father in heaven. We thank you for Jesus Christ. Who is truly willing? To suffer to die for us and that through his suffering. We might understand that you use those opportunities to help us know you
And may we draw near to you. And this time, I pray for the lives of those here who have kind of, not really walk with you. Is they know they ought to I pray for the lives of those who have not trusted you that your spirit would be working in each of them to help them have the courage and strength to recommit their lives. To knowing you two walking with you. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, The Mighty savior who has done everything for us. Hey, Ben. Shall we stand?