SonRise Service 2024

Song - How Great is Our God

Prayer

Song - Before the Throne of God Above

Mediation

Why did Jesus come to die?

What did it accomplish?

How are we to think and reflect upon this reality throughout the days and weeks of our lives?

There are many reasons…in Fact John Piper notes at least 50.

For a few moments this moment, I would like to use his little book, “50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die” and reflect upon just three.

**These meditations are taken from John Piper’s book, “50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die.”

To Learn Obedience and Be Perfected

**Have volunteers read the scripture.

Hebrews 5:8.

Hebrews 5:8 ESV

8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

Hebrews 2:10.

Hebrews 2:10 ESV

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Hebrews 4:15 says that Jesus was “without sin.” So….

What does it mean that Jesus had to learn obedience?

What does it mean that Jesus had to be made perfect through suffering?

Jesus WAS sinless.

But…He was also human.

He endured hunger, anger (righteous), grief, and pain.

BUT, his heart was perfectly in love with God and He ALWAYS acted in accordance with that perfect love toward God.

1 Peter 2:22.

1 Peter 2:22 ESV

22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

Jesus WAS sinless.

BUT

He was also human and had to live and endure life as a human…while at the same time being God.

I am not sure we can fully grasp the complexities of this union of God and man together…but it is nevertheless one of the wonders of our God.

When scripture speaks of his learning obedience of being made perfect, it is speaking in terms of how his sinless humanity was being lived out.

Piper notes…

Therefore, when the Bible says that Jesus “learned obedience through what he suffered,” it doesn’t mean that he learned to stop disobeying. It means that with each new trial he learned in practice—and in pain—what it means to obey. When it says that he was “made perfect through suffering,” it doesn’t mean that he was gradually getting rid of defects. It means that he was gradually fulfilling the perfect righteousness that he had to have in order to save us.

That’s what he said at his baptism. He didn’t need to be baptized because he was a sinner. Rather, he explained to John the Baptist, “Thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15).

The point is this: If the Son of God had gone from incarnation to the cross without a life of temptation and pain to test his righteousness and his love, he would not be a suitable Savior for fallen man. His suffering not only absorbed the wrath of God. It also fulfilled his true humanity and made him able to call us brothers and sisters (Hebrews 2:17).

Piper, John. Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die (pp. 24-25). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

Jesus was a suitable substitute for us precisely because he lived out his humanity in perfection, enduring all the aspects of what it means to be human…yet with out sin.

But, he had to learn it.

To Show His Own Love For Us

What is the greatest act of love you have ever recieved from someone? (OR - What is one great act of love that you have recieved in your life that made a lasting impact?)

**Have volunteers read the scripture.

Ephesians 5:2.

Ephesians 5:2 ESV

2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:25.

Ephesians 5:25 ESV

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

Galatians 2:20.

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.

What is the greatest display of love that God has shown to us?

He died for us.

Rick, the main character in the “Once More with Passion Play” noted these words when the moment came that he finally understood and accepted.

Over the next five years, I would portray Jesus every summer and grow in my understanding of why He came and why He died.

It was the third year that it all changed, though.

It was during a live show actually. I was hanging there on the cross… My next line was, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do…”

How many times I had I said that line? This time, though, it was different. On that night, I realized, Jesus was praying for me. It was MY sins he was hanging there to die for. It was my selfishness, my pride, my rebellion that made it necessary for him to be there.

It was my guilt he was bearing. Mine. This was grace in its richest form. Jesus, the Son of God, dying for me, bearing my sin and shame, paying the debt I owed to God, so that I did not have to. I understood it then. I saw true love in that moment. He died, not because I deserved it, but because I didn’t, because I couldn’t, and because he desired to fix our broken relationship, and this was the only way. He wanted me. And I knew then that I wanted Him.

I knew then what was required. And while the music played, I prayed. I confessed my sin, my guilt, I poured out my sorrow of what my sin cost. And I turned, I repented. I left it behind, nailed to the cross, paid for by my Jesus. My Jesus! How sweet that felt when I uttered it in my heart. No more was this a script I was paid to recite. This was personal. Grace had found me. Forgiveness was granted to me. And I was now His, once and for all.

Yes, that was when Grace came into my life.

The greatest act of love was when Christ died in MY place for MY sins.

Piper puts it this way…

And what do I mean? I mean that he paid the highest price possible to give me the greatest gift possible. And what is that? It is the gift he prayed for at the end of his life: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory” (John 17:24). In his suffering and death “we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). We have seen enough to capture us for his cause. But the best is yet to come. He died to secure this for us. That is the love of Christ.

Piper, John. Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die (pp. 30-31). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

Jesus showed his love in the most rich and profound way possible…so that we would see him, see his glory, and find our hearts utter delight in doing so.

One more (Do not give the title yet…but have someone read the scripture)

To Create a People Passionate for Good Works

**Have volunteers read the scripture.

Titus 2:11-14.

Titus 2:11–14 ESV

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

According to these verses, what was the purpose for which grace appeared, for which salvation was granted?

To purify a people for his own possession…WHO ARE ZEALOUS (passionate) for good works.

We know we are not saved BY our works…but unto them…

Ephesians 2:8-10.

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

However, we ARE saved UNTO good works…and not just UNTO them but PASSIONATELY UNTO them.

The reason?

There are reasons why Jesus paid the infinite price to produce our passion for good deeds. He gave the main reason in these words: “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). God is shown to be glorious by the good deeds of Christians. For that glory Christ suffered and died.

When God’s forgiveness and acceptance have freed us from fear and pride and greed, we are filled with a zeal to love others the way we have been loved. We risk our possessions and our lives since we are secure in Christ. When we love others like this, our behavior is contrary to human self-enhancement and self-preservation. Attention is thus drawn to our life-transforming Treasure and Security, namely, God.

And what are these “good works”? Without limiting their scope, the Bible means mainly helping people in urgent need, especially those who possess least and suffer most. For example, the Bible says, “Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need” (Titus 3:14). Christ died to make us this kind of people—passionate to help the poor and the perishing. It is the best life, no matter what it costs us in this world: They get help, we get joy, God gets glory.

Piper, John. Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die (pp. 90-91). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

We are saved UNTO good works so that God is showcased, man is drawn to Him in repentance, and so that in living for His purpose and glory, we find a deep and rich joy.

Question is…HOW are you serving and giving your good works for His glory?

Three reasons Jesus came…

To learn obedience and be perfected through suffering

To show His own love for us

To create a people passionate for good works

How will these reflections deepen your love and devotion for God?

How will they result in more faithful obedience and service to Him?

Song - Living Hope