Journey to the Center of the World & BACK AGAIN
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Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
As Jesus set his face like stone, 3 times in Luke predicts His death and resurrection on the Cross and from the tomb, He has been giving them an orientation - we’ve seen the stress he puts on the time of this cetnral event evnt of world history - Passover - freedom, new kingdom, tie of atonoing sacrfice, selecting a lamb - bllod atonement by which not only forgiven, but all stand as God’s first-born on earth. But remember the sceond part of that orientation - also must know your enemey, not the Romans, not the Jews, but Satan -= and not just Satan kigndom’s this world decieved by Satan, and this new baby kingdom a spiritual kingdom - one that Daniel saaid start like small rock that will smash into the great kingdom os of this world - smash them - but grow in the midst of them to become a mountain teh mountain of God on earth - in wihch you and I can live.
As we go to the Garden f Gethsemane next, to the Trail of the Christ, the Cross and Grave, Resurrection in our world’ darkest moment - do you see Satan’s work in this world, in your life - there is Judas cooperating, entry sin that gets him rejecting and betraying Christ, there he is sifting every one of the disciples but Christ in His work interposes another plea in that contest, and He is praying for you. Satan will even make frontal attack on the Christ. But these disciples who simply have faith, though failing, Christ says,I will restore you - after my death more for you do - results of my death and resurrection - is good and necessary
Well soon our attention will turn to those key events and the key work Christ is accomplishing for us, but today we have the last of his upper room discourse, the very last part of his farewell instruction and the focus is on the disciples and what they will do after. What have you done after Christ’s death & resurrection, how has it changed your life, your mission. Jesus wants them to be crystal clear on this- even if they can’t yet understand the Cross or the Resurrection. We could call this the exit strategy from the Cross and empty tomb, and that strategy is for Christ’s ongoing mission for us today!
We could compare traveling with Jesus to Hsi Cross and Empty tomb, with that sci-fi Journey to the Centre of the Earth - imagine the father/prof gave kids all the instructions to get to the centre of the earth through crack in Iceland, they make it there - look around even find their father back, - but no provision to get back at out. So too we could say, that going to the Cross and The gracve and empty tomb not just events to visit, but new realities Chrsit accoplished, and he gives us an exit strategy to take the new relaities he has worked there at the cetnre of the world history- and the mission is to bring that to the wrold through you and me! And the strategy is here from the very lipso f Jesus before he goes to His work for you and me and the world. Will you listen to his strategy?
Key Truth: You need Christ’s strategy for life after the Cross & Resurrection, if you are to fulfill God’s mission
A. Develop a a Deep Trust in God’s Provision & Don’t Doubt His Faithfulness
Jesus begins giving the exit strategy with a rhetorical question about their past.
And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.”
And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.”
He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.
As he goes tot he Cross he wants them to think about the first stage in the kingdom he is setting up. Remember announced Kingdom of God is near, kingdom of God is in your midst. Do you remember at the beginning of his revelation to the world, his public ministry - started right at home, - in local synagogue in Nazaraeth - supernatural providence - scroll given - - Day of the Lord’s favour here - God’s hand giving sight to blind, doing miracles like that but pointing to how people seeing in Christ and in his gospel - rela healing of spiritual darknened eyes, and plugged ears - made the lame to walk - - annouced this is the year not of Gods’ vengance - that to will come and be fulfilled (LUke 21:22) ,but the year of his favour And remember his closing words as he rolled up the scroll and instead of delivering his interpretation and application, with all eyes on him he said:
And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Remember that word fulfilled! Then also at the outset of his ministry, just a few days in Capernaum He is in another neighbouring synagogue teaching - demon possessed man - I know who you are The Holy One of God. And Jesus releases him from capttivity. Now that stage of Christ’s kingdom - met with crwods, follwoing, everyone wanting in on - all these signs of the wholeness, the peace, the healing that the Son of God brings ! And remember hs heals the paralytic and says what is harder to heal or to forgive, but htat you may know the Son of Man has power to froigve, your sins a re forgiven,… Showing in acron size blueprint of his coming kingdom and what it is all about!
- remember just a dy later - He is in aother neighbouring syngague teaching - demon possessed man -
Who here this mrongin wants this kingdom? This healling, this peace, total forgiveness. life in the powr of God - under the direction and regin of God! Do you want that for your neighbours for the nations!
Jesus says not jsut for you - but I am sending you out - first to loss saheep of Israel - then to the world! First stage do you remember that sending. Happened twice, once with 12 and the next time with 72. Same words that are recroded here in Jesus fareweel adress. Turn ot the sending of the 72. Would you go, do you pray? Goign to be some oppostition some will reject the Christ and his meesage.
But look also at how just before that he sent out the 12 in
And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.
Same type of instruction, and actually same type of equipping. Jesus gave them supernatural ability to show the signs of the kingdom - healing, the wholeness, the demons cast out - and many believed the message the gospel shared that the miracles backed up.
And what was the strategy for the first sendings whent he kingdom was just a little acorn, a little egg form, not yet fully hatched? Temporary short term little missions sent out, with nothing - go to israel - rely on God’s provision through his people, don’t have to take a staff, or sword - Jesus is explicit I am the one praying for you - I am the one intiating your sending, for a time, I am the one who will miraculalouy give you power, I am senidng you out shoeless, pennyless.
And before Jesus sends them from the Cross he wants on their herats, recollecting those times when relying on God had nothing, that God’s opwer and proviion - left them lacking absoltuately nothing! God had done this before with Israel - no food not water, in the desert, 40 years God miracuosly provided before they got othe pormised land - And those words lack notihng - are Embedded in the Story of SIrael - Wilderness lacked nothing, not even sandals and our out garments wore out. , Numbers, also when they are about to physically lose the leader of th ekingom Moses.
Jesus wants them to be fully assured before the hard times come, before the miracles cease, before arrests and imprisonments happen, before he too goes tot he Cross, of God’s absolute provision - inspire that kind of trust: John’s farewell , upper room records that Jesus was teaching them this with the gift of the Holy Spirit that would result from him receiving the Spirit's reward for the Cross;
Jesus wasn’t them to be fully assureed before the hard times come, before the miracles cease, before arests and imporsionmens happen, before he too goes tot he Cross, of God’s absolture provision - inspire that kind of trust: JOhn’s farewell , upper roomom records that Jesus was teaching them this with the gift of the Hoply Spirit that would resutl from him recveing the Spiritas reward for the Corss;
And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
This is the first part of the exit strategy from the Cross - to have this kind of confidence even though battle become s more intense for a time. Why writer of Hebrews could repeat the words of Joshua when Moses had left - even though times had changed, no more miraculous provisions in the Promised Land, yet still say: The Lord is my helper I will not be afraid!
By way of application - do you ever look back and see how God’s provided? If llok way way back in biggerst way, gave his only Son - how we will he not along with him give us all things. Arm yourself with this trust as you leave the Cross!
Never forget hearing the story of a dad of a child with Special needs - it only gets harder as they get older. Shopping mall parking lot devastated. But didn't buy it. He said, many people would say,
“God never gives you more than you can handle.” True or False?
Do you think that true? Nice platitude stoically bear it, deny hard part, well meaning. But he went on to say: God often brings us to stuff that is more than we can handle, so we turn to Him and find the true strength to handle it”
Do you see it these disciples were trained in being in that spot of risking everything for the gospel and finding that God does provide for them to do their gospel calling! Do you? Jesus promised I will be with you always by the Spirit.
But now in v. 36-37 in the second half of Christ’s comparison, we come to the troubling part of Christ’s exit strategy from the Cross and empty tomb for us! This trust is now going to be exercised after the Cross and uhntil Jesus comes again for times of great trial and service when Jesus doesn’t give us the miracles and provision and plan and intiative the way he used to!
But now in v. 36-37 in the second half of Christ’s comparison, we come to the troubling part of Christ’s exit strategy from the Cross and empty tomb for us! This trust is now going to be exercised after the Cross and until Jesus comes again for times of great trial and service when Jesus doesn’t give us the miracles and provision and plan and initiative the way he used to!
B. Make Preparations, Protections, Precautions, Savings for the Church’s Mission Journey!
Look at these pictures of leather bags from Palestine. What are they used for one for money, another little more like a knapsack that’s for bread.
Jesus said earlier if you have two cloaks, not your tunic, inner garment - but longer out coat for travelling even among the poor travellers what you would sleep in - give it away. But now Jesus says, after the Cross somsehting is going to change. There was a gerenal acceptance of Jesus by the peopel - before he healed, his teaching was from above and pepoeopl knew it - but now the ehar tof the kingdom is to be exposed and its so upside down, and will involve such repenatnc eand radical reooiratating our lives toG od - that for many it will be a stumbling block. They will reject it. About to happen to Jesus but as Jesus aleady said in th gospels: as I am in the world so are you - you are sent ones, just like the father sent me, so I am sending you. If they hate you for this message rember they hated me first -
Jason and Illayna Tafff as plant church in pickering - taled to this week, love it , but it is hard, , and there is real spiritual battle. And with pain in his voice described one of the Core Group, turned out to be a sheep in wolves clothing. But do you supporse their is any congregation of Chrsit folowers that Satan doesn’t have schemes to bring down or divide and sideline?
Jesus isn’t saying will abandoned - you wil never lack if you follow Jesus in any absolute sens. - but now Jesus says, I am going away, - my provision is going to come to you in a different way, and the response to the gospel will etiher be whole hearted now, or indffierent, or real active ppsoition. Not more of this mild interest and curisiousty of the early ministry.
Now it is not just I, Jesus, praying as you go out. Jesus sasy in the gospe of John, until now you haven’t really asked anything in my name, but after I die, rise - give the HOly Spirit - it will beyou praying that will bring great advance in the kingdom, I did great work of the Cross Jesus saidin John, but you will do greater works ? Filled witht he Holy Spirit not just bring gopsel to small dusty corner of the globe, but to the nations, Now redemption accomplished wonderful and mind boglling, but after the cross and today, now it will be applied to people’s lives and families and work, redeem the world - you are invovled in that!
So Jesus says, anyone here with a travel wallet? ANyone with a knapsack - Got your cloak/sleeping bags? Don’t have sword - not soldiers, but short sword or knife, many including some of Jesus discipes traveled with - Why bandits, Go buy one of those, not for now at the trial or the Cross or to force my kingdom. But who has a travel, purse, who wers a knapsack, who has protective swrod? a Traveller.
Modern day example of this in the
China to Middle East. 10-40 Window! Mission push, taught theology and share the gospel, and cultures. But also how to escape from prison, how to get out handcuffs in less than three seconds. Sometimes witness in prision, sometimes Satan preventing spread of gospel. USe strategies, funding, invented smallest electrinic bible - pill bible! It’s being wise to using legal channels to defned the gopsel in Canada, to make use of economic opprotunities…
Chinese - Back to Jerusalem
- go on old silk road, China to Middle East. 10-40 Window! Mission push, taught theology and share the gospel, and cultures. But also how to escape from prison, how to get out handcuffs in less than three seconds. Sometimes witness in prision, sometimes Satan preventing spread of gospel. USe strategies, funding, invented smallest electrinic bible - pill bible! It’s being wise to using legal channels to defned the gopsel in Canada, to make use of economic opprotunities…
This is Jesus strategy - life of a Chrsti follower is like a nomadic life - one that for the sake of the gopsel - not building your permanent home here, - not priority of your life - got some money - got some time, go t some talents - dow’t sink it all into - and now you have got to make plan s to use it for my gospel for the world! Question asked is this world your permanent home, passing through? Are you what the Bible describes disciples as sojourner - knows this life is short, we are but creture of a day - , is your citizenship as this Jesus came down announcing in the Kingdom of Heaven,or are you just a citizen in the kingdom of Slef, your home, company , your friends.
The Bible, OT and NT is clear that the way to look at life is a path, a way, a journey - and Jesus says the strategy to leave the Cross is to make preparations for that Journey to be One of your whole life Sent out to share Christ’s gospel!
What does that look like -
Leon Tolstoy - Death of Ivan Ilyich
- - worked hard, fell in love, job as law clerk , worked his way up, irritated and annoyed with wife, not engaged with son and daughter, had done two things - social lite to get away - bridge with right people. and sank his life in to his work. Passed over, angry depressed man. Chance gets promotion, moves to estate, sinks life into furnishing it like rich mans’ home - family comes up - but empty shell,
Then gets sick -really sick, he ‘s dying, Asks God why - I did all the right things in life - asks what is life for Realizes has become a burden to those around him, and really all for nothing. Then on his death bed agrees to take communion, in flash - not able to say the whole words out loud He asks forgo , forgive me -
I suggest to you that most people go through life like Ivan -and their life isn’t a journey - and they end with questions, a darkness, and despair, grapsing… But you go to the Cross the empty tomb, you take this strategy that the Christ lays out here, that Ivan experienced in that commmunion , your life not about building permanent home for you r comfort here - but so captured by forgiveness, by rconciliation, by healig of the Gospel - give you r life for others to know Jesus and wlak in it!
We live in a culture addicted to worldly comforts, Jesus strategy is to dare you and I to use what we got for Him, for His gospel for His Glory, for our neighbours good, to make savings, plans, use of our - journey with other s to heaven! Jesus envisions his death and resurrection, not just unleashing opposition, but a whole movement of people who receive the Spirit, are built into His church and are mobilized to live for Him and His kingdom. Some of you have money bags, others knapsacks full of provision bread, others gift of teaching guiding others, others providing shelter, some fantastic doctors and healers along the way, some a rel knack for evangelizing - point is we join together and are sent for the kingdom of God to the world out there!
But this brings us to the very heart of our text, which explains the grounding of this change in streagy, the reason. Why would you give up building your own little kigdnom on earth, instead of being a sent one in this journey to the kingdom of heaven? Look at the groudning and heart of Jesus last instrcution:
C. Live for the Scandal of the Cross that Jesus is Numbered with Transgressors!
This is what fueled Christ and what ought to fuel us!
For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.”
For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.”
How do you divide the people in your lives what labels? In childhood see bad guys/ good guys. Grow to undersstand badness runs through each one of us, and even the most wicked person capable of relative good, so you divide the world into ssnob, or humble people, rich or poor, proud or down to earth. Do you know how God’s divideds people?
Hard message - transgressors and righteous! Who are the transgrssors - literally says - anomos against the law, you and I run against the law of how God made human beings. We run against the image of God all created with. Later in Luke also means pagan those with out saving knowledge of God, in the NT. And righteous doen’st mean legalistic show off Im so holy Righteousness, in the Bbile is completely different than self-righteousness - idea I measure myself better than you; Amzing how we judge others and excuse ourselves. … Biblical righteousness is a life that perfectly reflects God’ s character, HIs ways, His law , His person. Bible declare none are rigorousness not one. WHo may ascend the hill of the LORD - clean hands and aa pure heart - Only one that is Christ! Ask you were you are tempted to look for righteousness bsides Christ - what record of good deeds, character trait think you have - make you righteous?
Do you remember as a kid on the playground - someone left out - made fun of, easy pickings, or on the bus - there’s the group and there’s the one left out - body type, or skin colour, or slower - or mean spirited, clothes tattoos or earnings.. Maybe you feel that in your adult life, in your family, work, school, even in Christ’s church. Well that all of you and me - And who stands with the outcast, maybe rightly so - so mean to everyone - just let him rot in social isolation… That’s you and me with a holy God!
And here is the scandal, the goal, the whole reason came to earth - the thing that MUST BE FULFILLED - is that in this fallen world, a Saviour from heaven steps across the great divide of the playground of this world, and says, I will stand with you! Jesus numbered with transgressors. In a few short hours - between two outcasts thieves… one will turn to him - be united to him - given paradise, testimony speaks to world today! But not just bad outcasts, also transgressors who are liars, who have sexual problems they haven’t controlled hurt others offend God, people who are greedy - people who gossip - And the scandal of the gospel is that Jesus came to be counted with them. His death was not something beyond his control, sad event of history, example of how devoted he was to his cause. His death on the Cross, counted as the guilty sinner that you and I are, - was so he could take the punishment of our sin, so that rising again you could become justified and a different person. Has it happened to you?
This is how Jesus himself understood his death, more evidence than Plato, Aritstotle, Greek historian Herodotous. Really a man Jesus, really claimed to be Son of God, really crucfied, really did do miracles. Big controversy - over what his death means, whether he did indeed rise from the dead accomplishing for us what Bible said it would: Jesus is saying before he goes to the Cross: my death is God necessary - brings my msision to fulfillment. Isaia53 Suffering Servant, both king and priest and sacrice used omany times in the NT but this is how Christ himelf used it:
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Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Do you know your complete forgiveness in Christ? Only possible in him numbered with you. As the Bible says;
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Do you know your complete forgiveness in Christ? Only possible in him numbered with you. As the Bible says;
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
He had to be counted in your spot, and then he had to die, and as he bore your sin, then He rises with you made with God and lives forever to intercede for you!
Do you look to Christ as the thief who was saved does? Those who understand his atoning work - understand like Ivan did in the end that forgiveness, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world - only in Christ and being worked out in Him, and issues from Him to us to the world!
This is the big why of Christian service. Not just to be nice, or got enough live for others - but Jesus SENDS out all of us who really know Forgiveness from the Cross to this world - You know this forgiveness and you will make your life a journey in extending it to others!
D. Don’t Keep Living Like the World without Christ
This season you will journey to the centre of the World, because you are going to the Cross and the empty tomb. But how will you leave from this experience of Christ? Will the forgiveness of Christ change your strategy for living? You who are retired, you making being decisions about a vocation, about marriage, you in the middle of life discouraged because things don’t change, or stuck in - Do you see the change God is calling all of us to?
Don’t be like the disciples before the Cross -
And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”
And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”
The preparations of money bags, knapsack,s sandals, cloaks, swords - are the calling for you and me - to work together, to journey together in this mission of the gospel of real forgiveness and reconciliation in Christ . It is free to get this forgivness, but it is costly to live for it - take everything you are devoted to God and His mission -
The disciples produce to swords, as if to say we will fight by the sword to advance your cause Jesus. Peter later would indeed, not in self-defence, but in attack - slash off a slaves ear, that elicits Jesus rebuke
Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
And he sets free the slave and make shim whole even as he goes to the Cross.
But the disciples prduce to swords, as if to say we will fight by the sword to adaavnce your cause Jesus. Peter later would indeed, not in self-defence, but in attack - slash off a slaves ear, that elicits Jesus rebuke Those who live by the wrod will die by it, And he sts frre the slave and make shim whole even as he goes to the Cross.
There are those who are doing just that in New Zealand and now in Utrecht, it has happened in Montreal and Toronto. And Jesus says, enough of that, like God rebuking Moses - speak to me now more enough. . As if two swords would be enough for an armed resistance that Jesus didn’t want anyways. Could have called twelve legions of angels! But the big point the big irony is that - while self-defence., provision, travel items needed for them missionary journey - We are not to be clueless that the kingdom of darkness is’t beaten back with physical swords, but the sword of the Spirit, the gospel of Jesus and of forgiveness! Will you give yourself for that message to the world!
And the big point you can’t walk out of these doors without hearing Jesus say: That mission of forgiveness, atonement, reconciliation, it is not just the centre of History, but it is the message which you must leave the centre of the earth with. It is for this message must adopted Christ new mission strategy - and go to the nooks and crannies of your life - to speak and exemplify!
I received a little flyer this week - from Muslims - explaining The Man The mission The Movement - come to their mosque - they will explain away Christ’s crucifixion, Allah would not let him die, so Christ either into heaven before, or some like Judas - but there is no atonement - no being numbered with sinners.
argue away his bodily resurrection resurrection, his divinity, his atonement. Yes prophet of Allah, yes example of sacrifice - but they will drain it of the only hope of the world - forgiveness divine forgiveness. We have that message of peace and reconciliation for this world - renewed commitment to share it!