The MISSION of Jesus

(S1)

Ever done something difficult, but not doing it was not an option, because doing it would serve a greater purpose?

First Funeral/Keryx (Tim)

Jesus near to Jerusalem/Gethsemane/Palm Sunday/What’s next

(S2) — Today Luke points us to Jesus’ tears...

41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it,

Jesus’ mission was nearing its end. The three gospels are very clear about one thing—Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem

Luke 9 — As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

Jesus spoke plainly about this to his disciples

Matthew 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem...

While Jerusalem was his destination, it was more—his place of great suffering

— Jesus wept—Lazarus—Gethsemane (blood)

Jesus knew the difficulty of the road ahead. But, he also knew that doing it served a greater purpose.

(S2) — SERIES

The real real reason for his tears? Was it Jerusalem the city which he wept over?

— Jerusalem was always a destination, but never the mission!

Today as we celebrate with palms…we also look to the week of passion—For it was not for himself he sheds tears, but for those who did not recognize him...

(S3) — Our Mission

JESUS’ MISSION IS OUR MISSION

PRAY—May the cause of Jesus’ deep grief help us see the URGENCY of Jesus’ mission…the mission of every follower

(S4) — History repeats itself

Jerusalem was a city headed for destruction…something that was familiar from their history.

‘Catapulta’ by Edward Poynter (1868)

586 B.C.E — The Babylonians captured the city, torched it, and exiled the Judean leadership to Babylon.

2 kings 24:19 “King Zedekiah did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done.”

Their unwillingness to repentant from their sinful ways and follow the ways of God...

Unfortunately generations latter wouldn’t learn the lessons of history — Future destruction

Micah 3:12 “Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.”

God NOT giving up on them...

Enter Jesus— born to Jewish descendants, subject to the influence and the customs of Israel. Jesus knew its history, its sacred text; laws and customs, its kings, prophets, and its successes and failures

Seeing the city—Seeing his native land—Knowing that again it would face destruction...

(S5) — Jesus Weeps

Bay City Church Fire

Just like this church, Jerusalem had great significance for its people...

(S6) — In it’s NAME (Vision of peace or prosperity)

JERUSALEM (yerushalami) — yeru meaning "flow" — Shalayim is from the word shalam meaning complete or whole — PEACE

42 “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace...

It had great significance for its people...as a place of WORSHIP—A Holy city—God’s presence on earth (Mountain of God)

“Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy.” Psalm 99:9

It also had great significance for its people as a city of REFUGE (Hill)— A physical and spiritual symbol of God’s protection

“The Old City of Jerusalem is located atop a limestone plateau in the Judaean Mountains, flanked by the Hinnom Valley to the southwest. The Kidron Valley is to the east, separating the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives.”

It had great significance for its people...it was a Light of HOPE for the people

“The central location for Israel’s self-understanding of life under God.” How they were to live under God’s covenant, as an example to all nations”

Still a light of hope for Orthodox Jews today.

Easter–Light of Hope and Resurrection

Jesus weeps and...

(S7) — Speaks of it’s coming destruction very explicitly

43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.

How the Romans would take the city — Emperor Titus (79-81) after the reign of Nero —

“Josephus claimed that 1,100,000 Jews died in the siege” (Josephus, Jewish War, 6.9.3)

Walls were not only for protection but could be used to cut off the inhabitants and isolate them from resources and outside help.

— By the time Rome attacked, the people had been mentally and physically diminished before a hand was laid on them.

The perils of war—

Satan uses sin in the same manner — Isolate, separate us from God and each other

The Covid years?

(S8) — Jesus’ words...

44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another...

The impact would be disastrous for the whole of the city, including children

Destructive habit of a father/mother

Not one stone left on another

Archaeologist left 100 or so of the stones as they were found, as a testimony to the devastation of turning away from God...

— Beautiful hand made stained glass windows would be shattered into pieces — Pews splintered into kindling — Hymnals shredded for fuel on the fires — Every memorialized gift removed and destroyed — The central place of worship a pile of rubble

(S9) — Holy Week

— From palms of PRAISE to LAMENT—Jesus WEPT!

Jesus knew what was coming for himself, yet these tears were not for his suffering, not even for the place of his people!

Jerusalem was always a destination, but never the mission...

because people are precious to God.

— Those who had rejected him…whose eyes were closed and hearts were hardened to the one God sent to redeem them

— The lost son…the Good Samaritan…the woman caught in adultery…the grieving centurion...Mary and Martha

— Those who had turned the place of worship into a den of thieves ...

People—Jesus wept for the broken and the lost — the unrepentant sinner

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

(S11) — Jesus wept…for you and me because…

YOU ARE PRECIOUS TO GOD!

“Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn't recognize and welcome God's personal visit. Luke 19:44 (MSG)

Palm Sunday—Hosanna (one who saves)

Titanic pg. 163 (Book)

Urgency of the mission

44b...”because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

(S12) — Christ’ return...

1. Urgency grows when we see the reality of a life WITHOUT Jesus!

Without Jesus—Everything we live for is temporary—work, relationships...

With Jesus we can discover our purpose—Given to us by our creator

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

(S13)

2. Urgency grows when we see the reality of facing a CRISIS without Jesus!

At some point everyone faces a crisis...

— Knowing Jesus, we have the power beyond ourselves to face them head on. Without a growing relationaship with Jesus we will face challenges with only human power.

Better world for our children—We cannot shield from the challenge's of this life, but we can lead them toward Jesus

John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””

(S14)

3. Urgency grows when we see the reality of ETERNITY without Jesus!

Story Pg. 166

Acts 16:30 (Jailer) — “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.””

The apostles urgency in their mission—They knew the end of life without Jesus…

Funeral Obit—"I want to thank the staff...who held my hand as I calmly walked the path to nowhere land.”

Are Jesus’ words...of life without him disturbing?

He wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace

Here is the truth, “If we do not allow ourselves to be disturbed about the mission, we will develop no urgency. Without urgency we will not take action.”

— LIFE WITHOUT JESUS—FACING A CRISIS WITHOUT JESUS—ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS

Jesus weeps God’s tears…his mission was always people…

(S15) — When you think of church, do you see people? Or do you only see a building?

Church fire (mission trip)

I wonder do we memorialize too much the structure and place we worship? Has the church and the mission become more about the building than the people? Are we concerned more with the way we worship, songs we sing or don’t sing more than who we worship?

Jesus knew the road to Jerusalem would be hard — But it had a greater purpose — SALVATION

— To bring people into relationship with God —To save the lost — soften harden hearts — break down walls of hostility — To unit the body of Christ on mission to bring people to himself

Jesus mission was always people and it still is for the church today!

“The church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose.” C.S. Lewis

Somethings are hard, difficult to do but when we know their is a great purpose, that the mission is always about people then it becomes easier for us to live a Jesus mission-shaped life.

Many things can destroy buildings, structures, memorializing gifts...only sin can destroy the human heart. But a heart surrendered to God, filled with the gift of the Holy Spirit, the person in love with Jesus can withstand anything...

(S16) —Jesus vision for a Jerusalem/church on mission for people

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7 (NIV)

Do you weep for those who are WITHOUT Jesus—face a CRISIS without Jesus—the reality of ETERNITY without Jesus?

“It is impossible to be like Jesus and remain disinterested in his mission when we truly understand why Jesus wept that day.

People matter to God—YOU matter to God

—Jesus’ MISSION, OUR mission matters to everyone!