Be Careful Not to Fall
The Suffering of Christ through the Eyes of Matthew • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 100 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
The Apostle Paul once wrote:
So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.
Many of us have an unrealistic view of our own abilities and strengths. I remember when I was younger I believed that I was going to be one of the greatest baseball players of all-time. I was a pretty good player in the early years of Little League baseball. To one of the older kids in our church, who was on the High School baseball team, I once boasted that I would make the varsity team during my freshmen season. But then I eventually had to eat my words. This was because as I got older and they moved the mound to 60 feet instead of the 46 foot distance I had grown accustomed to, I was no longer much of a threat at the plate. I just couldn’t get the timing right. By the time I got to high school I had long given up on my dream for baseball and had switched my dreams to music. And, well, I made the same mistake with my famous last words in that department as well.
If you have not done so already, please turn to . In this brief passage, Jesus the faithful apostles by telling them that they were about to stumble. And they reacted, much like I have often done, by grossly overestimating their ability to stand up under pressure. As we look at this passage we will consider the shocking announcement, the pressure that Christ’s sufferings would bring to the apostles, the denial of the truth of the situation, and the distinction between various forms of abandonment.
Let’s read our passage together.
Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.’
But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.”
Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.
First let’s look at:
The Shocking Announcement
The Shocking Announcement
Look at verse 31 once again:
Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.’
But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.’
But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.’
The term that is translated “fall away” or “be offended” in the KJV or “be made to stumble” in the NKJV is scandalizo — it is where we get the English word scandal or scandalize. Jesus said that the reason they would stumble and fall was “because of Me.” Not because He had done something wrong, or because they were offended by something He said. But because of His arrest and subsequent death.
Notice that:
Jesus was insistent that the Scriptures must be fulfilled
This is in keeping with one of the key themes in Matthew
This was important to Matthew because it was important to Jesus
“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
This announcement was based on a prophecy from
“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, And against the man, My Associate,” Declares the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered; And I will turn My hand against the little ones.
The phrase “The man, My Associate” could be translated as “the mighty man of My union” or “the mighty man equal to Me.”
The shepherd motif is one that is used often in Scripture
The Lord is my Shepherd
I am the Good Shepherd — I lay down my life for my sheep
Shepherd the flock of God among you
All we like sheep have gone astray
In Zechariah the sheep would represent the people of Israel
Jesus used it to refer to the faithful apostles
We should note that:
The Father played a key role in the death of the Son
There are many who had a part in the death of Christ:
Judas
The Sanhedrin
The Romans
All Sinners
Jesus, Himself
It was the Father who said:
I will strike down the Shepherd...
The Father is not guilty of a crime — He is simply seeing to it that His predetermined plan is accomplished
Notice next that:
Jesus did not leave the disciples without hope
Look at verse 32.
But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
Hope is seen in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead
Hope is seen in the restoration of the apostles after they have stumbled
We have been looking at the poorly received announcement; let’ turn our attention to
The Pressure
The Pressure
which Christ’s sufferings would bring to the apostles.
Notice that:
Christ compared the disciples to sheep
What do we know about sheep?
Sheep are really dumb
Therefore they need a leader
Sheep are unable to care for themselves
Therefore they need a provider
Sheep are fearful
Therefore they need a protector
We are like sheep
All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.
When sheep lose their shepherd they scatter
Jesus was saying that the eleven would scatter just like sheep who were lacking a shepherd
Understand that the biblical terms for pastor and elder are synonomous — they refer to the same people. The term pastor literally means shepherd. It is not uncommon for people to take the week off of church when they know that “the pastor” is going to be away on vacation. This especially occurs in churches that do not have a plurality of elders to lead the congregation. Whenever the NT refers to elders within the context of the church, it always refers to them as being plural. More than one elder per congregation.
Sadly, churches who do not recognize multiple elders often end up having people scatter from the congregation when they are in between pastors.
Note that:
The disciples scattered because of fear
Their fear may have come from many directions:
Fear of the unknown
This fear strikes often when called upon to do something new
Fear of association
This fear can cause us to distance ourselves from someone or some entity
Peer pressure can have an effect on this as well as other types of fear
A teen’s embarrassment regarding their parents may be a mild form of such fear
Fear of shame
This fear causes us to try to hide just like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
Fear of reprisal
This fear keeps us from doing what we know to be right because we fear the fall back our righteous action might bring
This fear can help us to conquer our other fears — focusing on pleasing God rather than fearing reprisal
We need to understand that fear is a liar — it makes us believe things that are not necessarily true
We need to understand that improper fear does not come from God
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.
Fear of the Lord
This fear can help us to conquer our other fears — focusing on pleasing God rather than fearing reprisal
So far we have looked at the shocking announcement and the pressure Christ’s arrest created for the disciples. Let’s look now at
The Denial
The Denial
of the situation. Look at verse 33.
Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”
One obvious fact about Peter, before the cross, was that he could always be counted on to put his foot in his mouth! He comes across in the gospels as being very impetuous and brash.
It seems that Peter was comparing himself with the rest of the eleven. You know, we can make trouble for ourselves as well as for others by comparing ourselves with others. The Christian life is not meant to be a competition with others. I’m not sure that it’s fair to even consider it a competition with ourselves. Rather, the Christian life is meant to be a mutual growing experience. We are to grow in our own personal walk with Christ, and then encourage others in their growth as well.
This wasn’t the last time Peter got himself in trouble by trying to compare himself with others. In as Jesus was restoring Peter after his great fall, the Lord indicated that someday down the road the apostle would also be crucified —for Christ’s sake. Then Peter turn to John and asked Jesus: “What about him? How will he die?” To which Jesus replied: “That’s none of your business, Peter, you focus on following me!” (My paraphrase).
Peter’s brash statement, in our present text, was the result of spiritual pride. And it is worth noting that pride comes before a fall!
Note that:
Spiritual pride can cause believers to deny the truth of a situation
Spiritual pride often includes over-confidence in our ability to handle pressure
How many tend to think that we would face danger courageously — like John Wayne?
I don’t know about you, but in my day-dreams I always come out the hero
But in my night-time dreams I usually hide
Opposite pride is humility
Humility includes a proper assessment of oneself
Humility, learned the hard way, is the reason why I always bring notes of some kind to the pulpit when I preach
In our text, it almost seems like Peter put Jesus in a corner. Look at verse 34.
Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
“Okay Peter, you really think your so brave. But the truth is, you’re not merely going to abandon Me, but by three o’clock tomorrow morning you will have denied Me three times! Count them: 1, 2, 3!”
Once again Peter responded:
Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.
Not only did Peter state that he was more than willing to die for Christ, but so did the rest of the boys! And history tells us that most all of them did die for Christ’s sake. But not on this occasion.
So far we have looked at the shocking announcement, the pressure Christ’s arrest created for the disciples, and the denial of the truth of the situation. Let’s look now at:
The Distinction
The Distinction
between various forms of abandonment.
If you will recall, last week we noted how Jesus had said that for Judas, His betrayer, it would have been better for him if he had never been born. That’s how grievous his betrayal of Christ was in God’ eyes. There was absolutely no hint of the possibility of forgiveness for him. And yet we have seen today that Christ offered hope of restoration for the remaining eleven apostles. What’s the distinction?
I usually try to refrain from getting too cute with my points, but I couldn’t help myself this time. I couldn’t help but compare this to the commercial for Life-Lock. You know, “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”
Judas did not have the true Life-Lock system — he fell and there was no one to pick him up. But the eleven DID have the true Life-Lock system — they DID fall, but help was on the way!
You don’t actually need to hand Jesus over for execution to betray Him. If your reject the offer to believe the gospel and be saved then you are in the same predicament as Judas. You do not have a Life-Lock to help you get back up. Instead you are bound for eternal damnation in hell. The good news is that as long as you are still breathing you still have the opportunity to embrace the gospel and be saved. I invite you to accept and acknowledge the fact that your sin has separated you from God. And then, by faith, embrace God’s gift of grace that comes as the result of Christ’s death on the cross, and is confirmed by His resurrection from the dead.
Believer, like the faithful apostles, need to be careful not to fall. The fact is that we will often find ourselves falling from time to time. But know that for you, since you are tied to Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life, your falling will not be permanent. He promises to help you — to never leave you or abandon you — to always remain faithful to you even when you are not faithful to Him. Don’t let pride keep you from asking for help during difficult times. That is part of the purpose of the community of believers — to help our brothers and sister who are struggling. Don’t let pride blind you to your own weaknesses — we all have them. Don’t let pride drive you deeper and deeper into the pit of miry clay.
Let’s pray.
Closing Song: #139
Great is Thy Faithfulness