Untitled Sermon

Introduction

Last week we examined

we encountered Jesus on his Journey to Jerusalem, a man who has much wealth runs up and knells before Jesus with a very importance question. Good teacher “What must I do or what deed must I do to inherit eternal life”?

Jesus responds with a question, why do you call me Good? then tells him there is none good except for God alone

The man responds to Jesus and says he has kept the commandments since he was a boy. He misses the point Jesus made there is none who are good except for God alone. The man pointed to his obedience to the law.

Jesus looks into the man and loved him it says in verse 21 you lack one thing: go and sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me.”

The man left disheartened and sorrowful because he was very wealthy.

Jesus says its impossible for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Heaven. It would be easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a sewing needle than for him to enter the kingdom. Now remember at this time people believed if you were rich it was because of God’s favor and blessing on you. The disciples were very concerned now and confused. They thought if a rich blessed man can’t enter the kingdom of God, then who can be saved in verse 26. Jesus tells them it’s impossible for man. But with God all things are possible.

Its only through the gospel of Grace does anyone enter the kingdom of God, rich or poor it doesn’t matter apart from Jesus Christ and his completed work on the cross no man or woman will enter the gates of Heaven.

if you missed last week, you can listen to the podcast on the website or go to the youtube site and follow along there

Now we will move on into our text for this week

Please stand and read the word of God with me

Jesus tells the disciples a 3 time of his death

on the road going up to Jerusalem- the road climes 3,300 feet in the twenty miles from Jericho to Jerusalem. Going up to Jerusalem is a technical term they were going to the Holy City for a most important purpose.

Rabbis usually walked ahead of their disciples- this was custom but there is something more here Jesus is leading the way. There is a hostile environment and Jesus is headed directly into it. He is leading the way in suffering and in victory. This is how we follow Jesus. He has gone ahead in suffering and in victory.

Two groups the the twelve and others in a crowd. They were amazed and afraid. WHY?

After three lessons on discipleship (10:1-31) Jesus takes the twelve alone and tells them a third time what is going to happen while in Jerusalem. He says we are going up to Jerusalem, and the son of man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes (sanhedrin) and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. Amd after three days he will rise.

When it comes to humility and suffering, Jesus not only teaches: He leads the way

In these predictions Jesus uses 8 future tense verbs to tell the disciples what will happen. How was Jesus so certain of these events? Jesus knew the scripture. In Lukes’s account of this prediction Jesus everything written in the scriptures about the son of man by the prophets will be accomplished. Jesus had complete trust in the word of God. We too should trust every word in the bible. For it will all come to pass. There is not one lie in the bible.

Jesus was determined - Isaiah says “therefore I have set my face like flint” speaking about Jesus at this time, he was rock hard focused on his mission

ps 22:

Psalm 22:6–8 ESV

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

Isaiah 50:6 ESV

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.

Because of what was already written Jesus could make this explicit prediction. This is why he was so certain of what was going to happen. And Jesus went any way with his face like flint.

He ends the prediction of the terrible things that would happen to him with hope, and after three days he will rise. This very difficult for the disciples to understand. They had a concept of a general resurrection of the dead but him rising after three days didn’t make since.

HE calls himself the son of man again instead of the messiah

CONCULSION and SO what

Jesus is going before his disciples leading the way in suffering. We must follow Him if we belong to him. We take note of His spirit as he trusts the scripture and God’s plan

Hebrews 2:10 ESV

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.

the discipleship road of Jesus can be a fearful one. There are times we tremble while looking at the path, maybe its what we don’t see that causes us to tremble or stumble. The scripture says we walk by faith and not by sight oh but how we always try to see.

Be still and know I am the Lord its in the scripture of truth we find the courage to proceed. Its in the stillness of soul the Lord strengthens us for conflict or suffering.

We are to often remind ourselves of the cross and the victory won there. Death has no sting. There is no condemnation awaiting those who are in Christ. How often do we fear man, fear not being good enough.

We are disciples of Jesus which means we are following him somewhere. Each of us has a unique stamp of glory on our heads. Jesus is leading you, are you following? You must be the one to answer these questions. If you are held up or not following, why? The scripture is a light onto our feet and a lamp for our path. Like Jesus we too are to trust in the truth and draw strength.

In our sufferings here are earth we are to always keep the resurrection on mind. This promise of eternal life must always be fresh on your mind. The scripture says on COLO to set your mind on things above and not on earthly things. Jesus knew the suffering to come but he also held onto HIS victory. Some of us give up so easily and don’t hold onto our victory in Christ. We expect our redemption in patient hope. We must train ourselves to endure sufferings