The Good Shepherd Come to Save

 Luke: Heaven’s Savior with a Human Touch The Good Teacher Come to Save Luke 18:18-19:10 June 11, 2017 He was not your typical Bible Seminar attender. He had big pieces of metal in his ears and a most unique haircut. It looked like he had a long piece of hair in a pony tail on the top of his head and the back was cut all uneven. He had tattoos all over his arms and neck. But there he was sitting on the floor for 8 hours a day listening to people who didn’t look anything like him speak a language that he couldn’t understand teaching him about the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ and thriving under persecution as a follower of Jesus. And I wondered…is he in. Years ago, Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Community Church and founder of the Global Leadership Summit, invited Bono, the lead singer for the band U2, to speak at the Summit. A pastor who was planning on attending that year’s Summit was not excited at all about the prospect of listening to the lead singer of a Rock Band speak at a Leadership Conference that was hosted by a Christian organization. Bono spoke about the need to be involved in helping the helpless in our world, something that he continues to be very passionate about. After Bono spoke, the pastor sent Hybels a note that simply said, “Before I heard Bono I wondered if he was a Christian. After I listened to him talk about the necessity of followers of Jesus reaching out to the poor in our world, I wondered if I was a Christian.” That’s the question of the day…who’s in? Who can be saved? It’s one of a series of questions you will find in the passage that we are looking at this morning in Luke 18…What must I do to inherit eternal life (v.18); Why do you call me good (v.19); Who can be saved (v.26); What do you want me to do for you (v.41). I know that every week, there are people in our gatherings who are relatively new to the whole Jesus in my place and Jesus lives in me message. I also know that there are people here who have been in church 1 of 13 for much of their lives and may have only experienced a very little amount of spiritual growth in Christ. So to make sure that we are at least starting out all on the same page, let me review a couple of things before we look at this passage in Luke 18. The Bible reveals God to us. It tells us who He is and what He is doing in this world. It is the story of how God created everything for His glory. And how mankind rebelled against our creator and distorted His good creation. The Bible tells us what God’s plan was to restore mankind to His original design for us through Jesus. Jesus, who is God, became a man so that He might redeem us, what the Bible calls being saved. And even now, God is preparing a place where His redeemed people will live under His sovereign rule forever and enjoy a relationship with Him forever. You could call that being in. And while all of that is going on, God is transforming the lives of His redeemed people so that when they get to His prepared place, they’ll be ready to enjoy all that He is and all that He has done for them in Jesus. And that’s what I believe God wants to say to us today in His Word… TREASURE Jesus above all for a TRANSFORMED life! The reason we need to hear this message today is because…We are constantly faced with the temptation to treasure something else more than Jesus. And that will only lead to sadness. There are times when we struggle to accept what we read in the Bible because it seems so contrary to our own understanding of the way life is supposed to work. We are more blind than we know apart from the supernatural work of God in our lives. And we desperately need to experience the transformation that only Jesus can bring. And my prayer is that because of our time together in God’s Word, we will be a… people who treasure Jesus above all because He alone is good… that we will accept all that He says in His Word about who He is and what He’s up to in this world and how He has designed life to be lived for His glory…and that we will follow Him and be generous because of the mercy and grace that He extends to us. 2 of 13 Who can be saved? 1. The one who acknowledges that JESUS IS GOD. Luke 18:18-21 If you don’t get the identity of Jesus issue right, you’re not in. In fact, you might say that Jesus is the very center of the entire Bible. All of the Old Testament points to the coming of Jesus and His work in this world. All of the New Testament explains what He did and continues to do in this world, which ultimately leads to all of creation acknowledging that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father. The first kind of person we’re going to look at is the person who believes that salvation is about what we do. As long as the good things I do outweigh the bad things I do, then I’m in…at least, that’s what this person believed… Luke 18:18–19:10 — 18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. v. 1 8 This is a person who is respected in his community. He is respectful in his approach to Jesus and he’s religious because he’s concerned about his eternal destiny. You have to at least give him credit for thinking about his life after this life. He raises the question that we could only hope that every person living on the Crystal Coast would ask…how can I be sure that I will be saved when history comes to a close? His problem is that he thinks that eternal life is something that is deserved or something that can be gained by what a person does. v. 1 9 Before Jesus responds to the ruler’s question, He has a question for him…why do you call me good? His point is that God is the One who sets the standard for good by His own character. And He’s the only One who has met that standard. Jesus is attempting to get this self-confident, self- righteous ruler to acknowledge who He is. This guy was so close to the truth. Jesus is good…because Jesus is God. Do you believe that? Have you acknowledged that? We are so quick to affirm the goodness of other 3 of 13 people. The truth is God is the only One who is good. And until we acknowledge that we’re working with a distorted standard. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” v. 2 0 Jesus refers him to some of the Ten Commandments, specifically commandments 5 through 9 that have to do with our relationship to others. And the reason why He does this is because these are commands that are easily measured in terms of our obedience to them. v. 2 1 This guy is sincere in his belief that he has kept all these commands. He believes he has kept the letter of the law. And in his mind, he’s thinking, “I’m in good shape…I’m in.” We are so often blind to our own sin. We can spot a speck of sin in somebody else’s life and miss a truck load of sin in our own lives. Here’s a guy who believed that you spell salvation “DO”. And there were probably a whole host of people living in his community that would have said about him, “If anybody’s in, he’s in. He does so many good things.” But that’s not how the Bible spells salvation. The Bible spells salvation “DONE”. Romans 3:24 — 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Who can be saved? The one who acknowledges that Jesus is God! 2. The one who TREASURES JESUS ABOVE ALL. Luke 18:22-30 So what do you say to the person who believes they are good? They believe that they have done all they need to do to be saved. You might try talking to them about their idols… 4 of 13 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. v. 2 2 This is the 10th commandment that has to do with coveting. Here’s what Jesus knows about this guy. He treasured all that he had more than Jesus. Jesus requires the one thing in which we find our earthly security. He must have first place in our lives. He must be treasured above all. That’s the one thing we need to do. This also serves as a preview of what Jesus would do for us…He will give all to redeem us. v. 2 3 This guy may have lived an exemplary life in terms of his relationship to others, but when it came to his heart, it was filled with the idol of materialism. He treasured his possessions most. Do we value material wealth more than eternal life? When can riches make you sad? When they are more important to you than Jesus. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” v. 2 4 Wealth can be a barrier to entrance into the kingdom of God because it leads people to believe that they are already blessed by God and it encourages them to find security in their wealth. v. 2 5 This is hyperbole. It’s a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to make a point and the point is clear. When you treasure anything above Jesus, you’re not in. 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” v. 2 6 The followers of Jesus believed much like we do today…if somebody has a lot of stuff that means they must be in when it comes to the blessing 5 of 13 of God. And what they are basically saying with this question is “If the rich aren’t in, then we’re all in deep weeds.” v. 2 7 If you spell salvation “DO” being saved is impossible. If you spell it “DONE” then it’s possible to be saved. God can produce repentance and faith in the heart of anyone. And your situation is not impossible because of the power of God in Christ. 28 And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” v. 2 8 Peter’s not bragging here. He’s just stating a fact. He’s also showing that it is possible to treasure Jesus above all. They had done what the rich ruler refused to do. v. 2 9 - 3 0 Treasuring Jesus above all pays off now and forever. Self-denial for the sake of the kingdom of God will be vindicated. And God is aware of the sacrifices that we make in this life and He will reward them! Who can be saved? The one who treasures Jesus above all! 3. The one who TRUSTS IN THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS. Luke 18:31-34 So here’s another kind of person and this one can’t understand why Jesus would need to die for them. They can’t accept what God has said about the necessity of a sacrifice to satisfy the wrath of God on our behalf. 31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” 6 of 13 v. 3 1 Everything that happened to Jesus had been predicted in the Old Testament. This was God’s plan. v. 3 2 - 3 3 Isaiah 50:6 — 6 I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. Isaiah 53:5 — 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. Jesus knew what was coming and He still went. And when he gets there, He will stand alone…but Jesus alone is enough! 34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. v. 3 4 This is one of those places where we read how they responded and we think…how could they miss what Jesus was saying? So let me ask you… do you ever wonder how God could use human opposition to accomplish His good will? Do you always understand the necessity of rejection and suffering in God’s plan? Have you ever had an expectation of Jesus that you didn’t think He was meeting? Have you ever been so focused on how something was going to have a negative affect on you that you struggled to understand how that could be a part of God’s good plan for your life? Who’s in? The one who trusts in the sacrifice of Jesus because they know that was the plan. Accept what Jesus says. 4. The one who ASKS FOR MERCY FROM JESUS. Luke 18:35-43 Sometimes, the best way to illustrate spiritual truth is with a physical example, and that seems to be what we have at the close of the 18th chapter of Luke. The disciples were as spiritually blind and this beggar was physically blind… 35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 7 of 13 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” v. 3 5 Here’s a man whose life is completely dependent upon the mercy of others. He at least had the good sense to scope out a good place to beg. Jericho was a prosperous town on the way to Jerusalem. If anybody was of a mind to help the needy, it would have been those on the way to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple. v. 3 6 - 3 7 And he was sensitive to what was happening around him so that when he found out Jesus was passing by, he knew this was the opportunity that he had been waiting for. v. 3 8 And just as the disciples were as spiritually blind as he was physically blind, the cure for both of them was to trust Jesus and His promises. When he addressed Jesus as the Son of David, he was saying that he believed Jesus was the One whom God had promised. He was acknowledging what the rich ruler would not. He saw clearly what so many others didn’t. 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” v. 3 9 The peer pressure on his was immense…but on this day peer pressure failed. He was persistent in his plea for mercy. He knew there was absolutely nothing that he could do for himself and that only Jesus could meet his need. v. 4 1 What would you say if Jesus asked you what He could do for you? What’s your greatest need? I should point out that the question was not an indication that Jesus didn’t know what this man needed. Jesus was calling him to express his faith and then to establish him as a witness to the authority of Jesus. 8 of 13 42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. v. 4 2 - 4 3 See…that was the word that Jesus spoke. And with a word, light emerged where darkness had previously resided. When Jesus saves you, you follow Him and bring glory to Him! Who can be saved? The one who asks for mercy from Jesus. Titus 3:5 — 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 5. The one who RESPONDS TO THE INVITATION OF JESUS. Luke 19:1-10 1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. v. 2 Tax collectors were social outcasts. As a chief tax collector, he would have been the object of special hatred in Jericho. His wealth and how he had obtained it didn't help matters. Even his name would have been a cause for ridicule - short for Zechariah which means "righteous one." He was a man lost in wealth and corruption. v. 4 What would drive a man like Zacchaeus to go to such an extreme just to see Him? Was he a fan of Jesus? Was he just curious? His curiosity about Jesus was understandable since one of Jesus' disciples had been a tax collector himself. Maybe he wondered…What would cause a man who has a good job that provides him with all the physical comforts money can buy to leave it all to follow an wandering rabbi? He just has to know. And besides, Jesus had a reputation for associating with people in his profession. 9 of 13 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” v. 5 - 6 Jesus going to the house of Zacchaeus would have boosted Zacchaeus’ profile in the community. It would have brought the profile of Jesus into question with many that day. In that culture, going to someone’s home implied that you shared in their sins. This is divine sovereignty in action. The crossing of their lives at that sycamore tree was a work of divine providence. The camel was about to go through the eye of the needle. Just as sure as Jesus was headed for His divine appointment with the cross in Jerusalem, He was right where He needed to be to accomplish His good purposes. This appointment was necessary and urgent. And Zacchaeus responded with joy. v. 7 There will always be someone who doesn’t like seeing God be gracious to others, especially when they don’t think they deserve God’s grace. Which, by the way, is the point of grace. If you deserve it, it’s not grace. 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” v. 8 His plan to give half his wealth to the poor and to reimburse generously anyone whom he had cheated testified to the genuineness of his faith in Jesus. The Mosaic Law only required adding 20% to the amount due when restitution was necessary. These were the signs of true repentance and faith. v. 9 - 1 0 Jesus didn’t say this about Zacchaeus because he was racially a 10 of 13 descendant of Abraham but because of the repentance he demonstrated and having responded in faith to Abraham’s Seed, the Lord Jesus. He gave witness to God’s grace by which even a rich man can be saved (Luke 18:27). If you had lived in Jericho that day, you would have thought that Zacchaeus was beyond being redeemed by God. He had turned his back on God’s Word and his covenant people. He was a participant in Roman oppression, a traitor. He made his money off the backs of his own people. He loved money. His cartel was the cause of much injustice. And yet, he experienced salvation that day. And he became a living illustration of why Jesus came…Jesus is the good teacher come to save. Spurgeon— Christ has also saved us from the power of Satan. The Seed of the woman has bruised the serpent’s head, so that Satan’s power is broken. Jesus has, by his almighty power, set us free from hell’s horrible yoke by vanquishing the prince of darkness, and has, moreover, saved us from the power of death, so that to believers it shall not be death to die. Christ has saved us from sin and all its consequences by his most precious death and resurrection.…I shall never forget how he won mine; how first he gained my ear, and then my desires, so that I wished to have him for my Lord; and then he taught me to trust him, and when I had trusted him, and found that I was saved, then I loved him, and I love him still. So, dear hearer, if Jesus Christ shall find you, you will become his loving follower for ever. TREASURE Jesus above all for a TRANSFORMED life! Non-Christians:There are at least four different kinds of people described in Luke’s account of Jesus’ travels on His way to Jerusalem. The common denominator for all of them revolved around the topic of eternal life and the question, what must I do to become a recipient of eternal life? How can I experience the benefits of eternal life? The rich man turned away from Jesus, sadly, because he treasured things more than Jesus. Even the most committed followers of Jesus struggled to understand the necessity of the death of Jesus for them. Every time they heard Jesus describe what was going to happen to Him in Jerusalem, they just got more confused. That didn’t match their expectations for one who would be King. The blind 11 of 13 beggar was completely dependent on the generosity of others just to meet his basic needs, but when the opportunity arose, he at least knew that the best thing he could do was ask for mercy from Jesus and he received so much more than his sight. He received what the rich ruler had rejected… eternal life. Zacchaeus had most everything this world had to offer, except the respect of his community. But when he met Jesus, his life was transformed. And then there were the crowds that followed Jesus. They tried to silence the blind beggar who pleaded for the mercy of Jesus. They made it difficult for Zacchaeus to even see Jesus and their estimation of Jesus took a big hit when He went to the home of Zacchaeus. So who are you like today? Don’t turn away from Jesus filled with sadness. Jesus is good because Jesus is God. Trust Him today. Don’t let confusion rule your heart and mind today. Listen to the teaching of Jesus about who He is and why He came. Jesus gave His life for you. Put your faith in Him today. Don’t be discouraged from seeking Jesus and crying out to Him for mercy. Trust Him today. Christian: Jesus is to be treasured above all this world has to offer. He’s good because He’s God. Find your satisfaction in Him. He knows what’s going to happen in this world and He knows how life was designed to be lived. Accept what He says in His Word. When your way seems to be obscured by the fog this world produces, He will be the light that cuts through what darkens your path. So follow Him for His glory. And remember that Jesus enters our lives to transform them, so we can be generous because of His gracious invitation to us. Our Church: Let’s make sure that our community sees what it looks like for a people to treasure Jesus above all. Let’s decide that together we will listen to and accept all that Jesus says in His Word. And let’s make sure that we don’t ever become an obstacle to others receiving the mercy of Jesus and experiencing the transformation that only Jesus can bring. (MUSICIANS COME UP) Let’s talk about the Good Teacher come to save… 1. What was wrong with the question the ruler asked Jesus (18:18)? 12 of 13 2. Why did Jesus ask about the particular commandments he did mention and not others (18:20)? 3. Why is it difficult for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God (18:24)? 4. What more have you received in this life because of your sacrifice for the sake of the kingdom of God (18:29-30)? 5. Why didn’t the disciples understand what Jesus said about what was going to happen to him when he got to Jerusalem (18:34)? 6. How was the blind beggar different from the rich ruler (18:38)? 7. How would you respond to Jesus if he asked you what you wanted him to do for you (18:41)? 8. How did the blind beggar respond after he was healed by Jesus (18:43)? 9. How was Zacchaeus like the blind beggar (19:3-4)? 10.How did Zacchaeus respond to the gracious invitation of Jesus (19:6-8)? 11. 13 of 13