This Is The Way: Jesus' 5 Fold Strategic Vision for Joy

Mankind is sick. Jesus is the cure. It’s time to take our medicine.

There is no reaping without sowing.

There is no arrival without going.

No pain. No gain.

Jesus’ mission was to save the world, but His strategic vision was different during different stages of ministry.

It always involved obedience to the Father’s voice.

I guess you could say humility, integrity, and obedience are some of His core values.

At the onset of ministry it was go everywhere (as led) make disciples, preach, heal, and deliver.

Now we see a turning point, where He tries to travel secretly and lays out a 5 fold ministry vision and strategic course to fulfill the words of the prophets, be obedient to God’s call, and complete the mission.

Matthew 16:21-28; Mark 8:31-9:1; Luke 9:20-27

Luk 9:20 Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of God."

Luk 9:21 And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one,

Mat 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show(Mar 8:31teach) his disciples that he (Mar 8:31the Son of Man) must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from, Mar 8:31and be rejected by, the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. [Mar 8:31after [with] three days rise again.]

Mar 8:32 And he said this plainly.

Jesus MUST GO to Jerusalem and SUFFER many things from, and BE REJECTED by … and BE KILLED, and on the third day BE RAISED.

We see here 5 things Jesus said He must do.

The first and last things He had to do.

The middle three things He must endure.

This is the first of 3 times that Jesus casts this vision with some variations...

Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:44-45

Mar 9:30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. Mat 17:22 As they were gathering in Galilee, he did not want anyone to know,

Mar 9:31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, Luk 9:44 "Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men."

Mar 9:31and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise."

[Mat 17:23he will be raised on the third day.]

Luk 9:45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

Matthew 20:17-19; Mark 10:32-34; Luke 18:31-33

Mar 10:32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve Mat 20:17disciples aside again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, Mar 10:33saying, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, Luk 18:31and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. Mar 10:33The Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles,

Luk 18:32 and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon, Mat 20:19and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day." [Mar 10:34And after three days he will rise."] Luk 18:34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

As we examine these passages together, I want to note first that they express the deafness, the stammering, and the blindness which the disciples had in regards to their lack of understanding Jesus’ words.

The healing of the deaf man (Mark 7:32-37) and the healing of the blind man (Mark 8:22-26) both represent that the disciples needed their eyes and ears opened, and their tongues freed!

In both healings:

Jesus pulled the men away from the crowds, just as He taught the disciples away from the crowds.

They lacked perception. They gained perception. Just as the Disciples lacked and would eventually gain understanding.

The healing of the blind man expressed that their understanding will come in stages.

Those healed were instructed to keep quiet about it. He didn’t want the disciples expressing that He was Messiah yet… It’s awfully hard to fulfill the vision of being tortured, humiliated, and killed when people are trying to make you king.

Each time Jesus casts this vision, He is closer to it’s happening - in time and space: 1) Caesarea Phillipi, 2) Gallilee, 3) Jerusalem

1)Jesus had to GO to Jerusalem

The mission required that His death burial and Resurrection be in Jerusalem (or just outside its walls)

A. God’s chosen place for Temple and Sacrifices - Jesus the passover lamb - the ultimate sacrifice

The place God will choose for His Name to dwell Mentioned 6 times in Dt 12. Dt 12:5

Deuteronomy 12:5 ESV

5 But you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there. There you shall go,

it is the only acceptable place for tithes, sacrifices and offerings of every kind, gatherings of the nation

The center of the “known world” - At the intersection of Africa, Asia, and Europe - Ps 74:12

Psalm 74:12 ESV

12 Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

2) Jesus had to SUFFER

He suffered torture - whipped and beaten

But why?

It’s our lot to suffer - it’s the mark of humanity

Suffering, disease, and death are each and all a part of the curse

Genesis 3:15–19 (ESV)

Opened us to attacks from Satan - made us susceptible

Pain in Childbirth - Desire - Subservience

Cursed ground - poison/ hard work/ suffering/ frustration - death

The Suffering Servant

Isaiah 52:13-15.

Isaiah 53:5 ESV

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Later on, Peter did get a full grasp of the need for suffering, and what it did for us, and how we too must endure trials

1 Peter 3:17–18 ESV

17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

3. Jesus had to be REJECTED and HUMILIATED.

Why? so we may obtain acceptance.

Such is the paradox - Man rejected their only hope of salvation that He may fully become that hope!

Isaiah 52:14 ESV

14 As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—

The full weight of the full guilt of all humanity was laid upon Him.

What did we do as people? We ridiculed Him for it!

We chose Barabbas!

We did what men do - teased and taunted - made a crown of thorns - threw a purple cloth on Him and mocked him and spat upon Him.

The ridicule and torture and rejection by the chief priests, elders, and scribes, as well as the handing over to the Gentiles to be killed also completed the guilt of the religious and political establishment.

4. Jesus had to be KILLED

Hebrews 9:22 ESV

22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

The Passover Lamb had to be killed.

Jesus laid down His life, that we may have life with Him.

This is the vision… go, suffer, be rejected, die… then truly live!

Without the crucifixion there is no resurrection!

The way of the cross is the way of LIFE!

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 3:13–14 ESV

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Jesus set the pattern.

We were exalted in the garden, but we tried to be like God.

There are no short cuts.

There is no easy way.

This is the way.

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

What was that joy set before Him that he should endure so much?

We are that joy!

Without His death, there is no remission for our sins, we have no shot, no hope.

His voluntary death was a substitute for our mandated death sentence

Because of His death we are free from sin and death!

5. Jesus had to BE RAISED

1 Corinthians 15:17 ESV

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

Ephesians 2:4–6 ESV

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

We must put ourselves aside.

We must die to ourselves - and let Him live in us and through us

Galatians 2:20 ESV

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Jesus’ 5 fold vision was the strategy for our salvation!

but it’s not a comfy cushy road!

Matthew 5:10–12 ESV

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.