Our Passion for Jesus' Passion

Introduction

I am going to say a series of words, and I want to monitor your reaction to each word. What are your thoughts and feelings concerning each word?

Mountains

Mosquito

Infant

Hug

Abuse

Jesus

Could you discern your reactions? Did you have distinct feelings about each word? Were you drawn toward some words and repulsed by others? Did any of the words give you an urge or a longing to do something? [will, heart, affections, desires, passions]

As we examine today’s text, notice how different people from the cities of Thessalonica and Berea had different reactions concerning the gospel.

Acts 17:10–15 “The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.”

Sequence of Events

Opposition led to a new mission field. (Mob mentality stirred up by jealous Jews from Thessalonica caused Paul and Silas to head to Berea, where people had not heard the gospel.)

Nobility of thought prepared the Bereans to receive the word eagerly. (Eagerness to receive the word demonstrated that the Jews of Berea were more noble than those of Thessalonica.)

Daily examinations of Scriptures resulted in belief. (Eagerness to receive the word caused the Bereans to examine the scriptures daily.)

Women and men believed. (The scriptures confirmed what Paul and Silas had been telling the people of Berea, and when they linked the gospel message with the message of the Old Testament, they believed.)

Success in gospel work made Paul a target. (The Bereans were excited enough about the gospel that news spread back to Thessalonica that Paul was continuing his work. The jealous Thessalonian Jews used their old tricks to stir up a mob in Berea.)

Opposition led to a new mission field. (Paul–and later his fellow missionaries–left Berea to go to Athens, where people had never heard the gospel.)

Comparing the Jews of Thessalonica & Berea

Neither city had any Christians when Paul arrived.

Both heard the gospel from the same missionary.

In both cities, Jews and Greeks, men and women believed.

Jealous Jews from Thessalonica stirred up mobs in both cities to oppose Paul.

That’s a lot of commonality between these two cities. One difference: In Thessalonica, Jews heard on 3 consecutive Sabbaths, but in Berea the Jews searched the scriptures each day. Scripture says that the Jews in Berea were more noble than those of Thessalonica. Why? What was the difference? If we can answer this question, we can catch insight concerning how we can be considered noble as a church, Pathway.

The answer lies in Acts 17:11. “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

What did the Berean Jews do with the word?

They received the word.

In what manner did they receive the word?

With eagerness!

How much eagerness?

With ALL eagerness!

Decision: Preach on the value of scripture or preach on eagerness (passion) in the Christian life? It is possible for you to read scripture and learn it without affection toward the God of scripture. It is not possible for you to become passionate about the God of scripture without desiring to meet Him in His word.

Remember, the Bereans proved themselves noble by receiving the word with all eagerness. Their enthusiasm led them to search the scriptures and believe the gospel.

This eagerness, which we might also call enthusiasm or passion, causes me to ask: What role does passion play in the Christian life? Is it important? Does passion matter, or is it enough to let our actions be obedient, whether or not we have passion? What I think is insignificant here. I want to know, and it is my joy and my job to let you know, what SCRIPTURE teaches about these questions.

I conclude from scripture that passion is important, that it matters a great deal. My first goal in this sermon is to state the case for passion. Secondly, I want to share a bit about how to handle passion in life.

The Case for Passion

Let’s start with evidence from 4 Johns, one of whom was a Bible author and all of whom love Jesus and have saturated their lives with Jesus’ teaching.

Four Johns confirm the power of passion

John the apostle (1st century) quoting Jesus: John 3:19 “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”

John Owen (17th century): “The great contest of heaven and earth is about the affections of the poor worm which we call man. . . . That the holy God should as it were engage in the contest and strive for the affections of man, is an effect of infinite condescension and grace.”

Jonathan Edwards (18th century): “God is glorified not only by His glory’s being seen, but by its being rejoiced in.” (If you can end the sentence, “I see God’s glory” with a period, you just don’t get it. That sentence is what the exclamation mark was made for!)

John Piper (2017): “The Christian life is not, most deeply, new ideas and decisions, but new seeing and savoring—new values and desires.”

Objection

Decisions and actions are subject to judgment, but emotions and desires are not really up to an individual. Emotions and desires are automatic, and therefore they cannot be sinful. It’s only how we respond to our desires that can be sinful.

Answer: Surely we all know better. If someone gives you a compliment because he cares about you, that means much more than a compliment from someone who it trying to sell you something. The one who cares about you is virtuous, but the one trying to sell you something is manipulative. One has a passion for your good, and the other has a passion to use you. Passion matters.

And how often do we do the right thing outwardly, all the while complaining on the inside? Sin runs much deeper than we think, and therefore, God has much more transforming work to do in us than we think. Imagine living a life in which you wake up in the morning, and you always say Godly words and do Godly things because that’s always what you want to do. You never have an urge to do any selfish thing or to do anything good from selfish motives. That’s a far cry from where I am in my daily life; how about you? This just shows us how far we have to go in our sanctification.

Do you remember what made the Jews of Berea more noble than the Jews of Thessalonica?

Acts 17:4-5 “And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous…”

Acts 17:11 “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

Scripture confirms the importance of passion.

I have filled your sermon notes with other passages that teach of the importance of passion in the Christian life. This is a common theme of scripture. If you want to look further into the Bible’s teaching on passion, be like the Bereans, and search these scriptures this week to see if this is so. However, many of you may be convinced already, and so I will move on to a different source of evidence to help you understand the impact of passion: daily life experience, specifically from the perspectives of parents and lovers.

Daily experiences confirm the power of passion.

Passion matters. Affections matter. Parents know this. How many of us have told one child to apologize to another?

Now, when the apology is made, do we disregard the tone of voice and the facial expressions, or do we pay attention to them?

And why do we pay attention to them? Are we trying to teach our children to be better at faking an apology, or do we hope that they genuinely feel remorse for doing wrong?

And if we hope that they genuinely feel remorse, isn’t that because we know that feelings matter? Feelings can be right and Godly, or they can be wrong and sinful.

Passion matters. Affections matter. Spouses know this. How many of us have done something nice for a spouse with eagerness to please him or her?

Now, does that eagerness matter?

Manda picks out our groceries. Sometimes she surprises me by getting something that I like, such as tapioca pudding.

If I were to open the fridge, see tapioca pudding, and say, “You don’t like tapioca pudding. Why did you buy some?” she could say, “I think it is the duty of a wife to provide things that her husband enjoys. I got that from the store because it is a responsibility that is now checked off my list.” OR she could say, “It makes me happy to see you happy. I am glad to get you things you like.”

Either way, I get the pudding. But it will taste a lot better if I know that my happiness is my wife’s passion.

Should we be surprised to find in scripture that God cares not only about our obedience to Him but also the state of our hearts as we obey? There is no area of life in which passion matters more than it does in your pursuit of God. Likewise, there is no area of life in which apathy is more nauseating than in a person’s pursuit of God. (Same thing with more biblical language): Zeal is more fitting and beautiful when directed toward the Lord than for anything else, and lukewarmness is more disgusting when directed toward the Lord than toward anything else.

Jesus’ teaching confirms the power of passion.

What do you make of Jesus’ statement, Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”? He was telling his disciples that when it comes to passion for the different areas of their lives, He belongs in a totally different category than anything else, even family. Americans are bombarded by a lie, often even in church, that says, “God should come first in your life, and then family, and then your career.” The Bible teaches a totally different way. Live for God. He is the only goal. Family isn’t the second goal; instead, you love your family out of your love for Him. Work isn’t the third priority; you do your work out of your service to God. “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God.” “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Augustine was so right to pray, “He loves Thee too little, who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for Thy sake.” Anything that we love, we should love out of our love for God, not from another love. Our passion for God should fuel all other passions.

How to handle passion

When I have a passion other than God, what should I do with it?

I have just told you that your passion for God should not only be greater than all of your other passions, but that, in a way, it should be your only passion. Your passion for God should be so complete that every other interest you have in anyone or anything in this life should fall down at His feet and serve Him. But that’s not typically how our passions or interests behave when they first arise.

Let’s say you develop an interest in golf. You didn’t start loving golf because you love God. You started enjoying golf for itself. But once you realize this interest, you should take a look at it. Bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. You have 3 options:

1. You can pursue your interest in golf and leave God out of it. (Most people choose this option for most of their passions. This is also the worst of your three options.)

2. You can use your interest in golf as a means of pursuing your one love, God. [Like I did with bass guitar]

3. You can eliminate golf from your life. [Like I did with a CD in high school]

These options go for anything that interests you: food, friendship, entertainment, romance, playing an instrument, playing sports, drawing, school work, your career… anything.

How will a passion for God affect my time?

The Jews of Berea didn’t waste any time, did they? They didn’t hear Paul teach on the Sabbath and wait until the next Sabbath to consider the gospel message further. No, they searched the scriptures daily, wasting no time. Their eagerness drove them to fill their days with the pursuit of God. Brothers and sisters, I am eager to help you see the precious nature of the short time we have on this earth, and I pray that we don’t waste it.

If only we could catch a glimpse this morning of the reality of eternity! We will live forever enjoying the treasure that we lay up for ourselves in this short life.

1 Corinthians 3:11–15 “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

Do you realize that you have opportunities to serve God (to express your passion for Him) in this life that you will not have after you leave this life?

Here and now, you have the opportunity to express your love for God by resisting temptation, but in heaven you will no longer face temptation.

Here and now, you have the opportunity to express your love for God by sharing the gospel with unbelievers, but in heaven there will be no unbelievers.

Here and now, you have the opportunity to express your love for God by the way you invest your limited finances, but in heaven you will have infinite wealth.

Here and now, you have the opportunity to express your love for God by the way you invest your limited time, but in heaven time will never end.

Matthew 6:20–21 “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Is your heart in heaven, or is it set on this world? Jesus taught that we are scrambling to lay up treasure in one place or the other, and our hearts are always with our treasure. John Owen: “If the world be preferred before God for our affections, we shall justly perish with the world unto eternity.”

Some questions about passion will have to remain unanswered for today. Out of all of the options in this amazing world, why does Jesus deserve my passion? What should I do when I know the right thing to do, but I can’t do it with passion because I don’t really want to do it? Is passion a gift from God or a command from God? We can’t answer these this morning, but I have saved time for one more question about handling passion:

Will passion for God make me weird?

If you follow Jesus with passion, you will be different from most people. Expect that. Prepare yourself for it. You are likely to find opposition, perhaps even from within your household. Passion for God will make you stop looking weird to God and stop looking weird to the heavenly angels, but it will make you look weird to the world. What the world calls “weird” God calls “holy.” In Acts 17, we see that Paul followed Jesus with passion, and he could scarcely show up anywhere without being run off. Jesus himself lived with passion, and that led Him to face the original meaning of the word passion, which is suffering. The Latin word for suffering is passionem. Around the year 1200, the English word passion meant primarily Jesus’ sufferings in His death. If you want to see His passion for you, simply look to the cross. Eventually the word passion took on a broader meaning. In most of Middle English it meant an ailment or affliction. By the late 1300s it referred to intense emotion or desire, as in something that was worth suffering for.

In the cross, you can see Jesus’ passion for you. How does your passion for Him compare? Has He done enough to win your heart?

[Invitation to talk to Pastor Mike or me]

[Lord’s supper]

The Jewish people were enslaved in Egypt, and Pharaoh was not willing to let them go. God sent plague after plague, but Pharaoh’s heart was hard. Finally, God instructed Moses and the Jewish households to sacrifice a lamb and to prepare a meal. The blood of the lamb was to be spread over doorways to protect homes of God’s people from judgment that was coming. The bread at the meal was to be unleavened so that the people would be ready to leave in a hurry. Judgment came. The firstborn male of every Egyptian household died. Egypt mourned and begged the Jews to leave immediately.

Jesus used bread and wine to initiate a supper of remembrance for the sacrifice that He was about to make to save his disciples and to save us. The bread, He said, was His body. It was unleavened, indicating that Jesus was without sin, a perfectly innocent offering. Jesus had no sins that needed to be forgiven. The Father had no judgment to bring upon the Son for His wrongdoing. But the Son’s body was broken in judgment of our sin. By his stripes, we are healed.

[Eat the bread.]

The cup, he said, was the new covenant in His blood. In the first Passover, lamb’s blood saved God’s people from one night of judgment. In the new covenant, Jesus’ blood saves us from judgment forever. While praying in a garden before His arrest, Jesus asked the Father to take away the cup that was set before Him. That was the cup of the Father’s judgment, and someone had to drink it. Jesus graciously agreed to take that cup, so that He could hand you this cup, the new covenant, with all of its eternal blessings.

[Drink the cup, and pray.]