Christ's Suffering & Glory

Those who refuse to learn from history are bound to repeat its hard lessons. This is one reason why I have come to love traditional hymns and church history.

As I learned of James Coates, a pastor in Alberta, Canada who was jailed this week for refusing to cower to the demands of his province, I was reminded of John Bunyon’s classic Pilgrim’s Progress that was penned while jailed in the 1600’s for a similar accusation.

I wonder if persecution has increased or if our experience with liberty has changed our expectations. Are we now seeing North American examples of suffering that our African, Asian and European brothers and sisters have endured for generations?

This week my mind was taken to a hymn whose lyrics were written by a former slave trader before our country’s independence was ever declared. Then shortly after our Civil War, the music director for a traveling evangelist wrote a tune for these lyrics. This song asks rhetorical questions about our expectations of the Christian life.

Am I a soldier of the Cross—

A follower of the Lamb?

And shall I fear to own His cause,

Or blush to speak His name?

Must I be carried to the skies

On flowery beds of ease,

While others fought to win the prize

And sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?

Must I not stem the flood?

Is this vile world a friend to grace,

To help me on to God?

Since I must fight if I would reign,

Increase my courage, Lord!

I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,

Supported by Thy Word.

In the name, the precious name,

Of Him who died for me,

Through grace I’ll win the promised crown,

Whate’er my cross may be.

These lyrics by Isaac Watts put to music by Ira Sankey are born out of the statements of Jesus in our Scripture lesson today. Join be in Luke 9:18.

Jesus Draws out Genuine Faith (9:18-20)

More than Rabbi or Prophet

1. V.19 is a review of Herod’s options in vv.7-8. Last week we saw that miracles were not enough to convince Herod, he remained unconvinced.

2. In 2:11, the Angels told the shepherds a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

3. In 4:41, the demons cried that He was the Christ.

4. Jesus draws out testimony from those who had traveled with Him the closest, and Peter speaks for the group.

Where do you “Hitch your Wagon”?

Our country is divided largely because many have falsely believed that the key to social change will be found in political power.

1. Some have voted for leaders based upon promises to handle our economy and health according to a human plan.

2. Traditional marriage, Sanctity of Life, Gender confusion, Immigration, Healthcare, and access to education and financial opportunity are all issues that have prompted people to “hitch their wagon” to one leader or another, to one party or another.

3. To a minority group living in an occupied region, Jesus knew that there were VERY different expectations of what God’s Deliverer (the Messiah or Christ) would accomplish.

Application

1. More than deliverance from Rome, the people needed liberty from the Evil One. More than physical healing or feeding, the people needed forgiveness from sin. More than a cure for a virus, what our world really needs is revival.

2. It is just as true in Chase County, KS 2021 as it was near Caesarea Philippi around year 30, our greatest need for deliverance is NOT in the things of earthly life, but to trust in the Gospel of Jesus Christ that overcomes sin and death. AMEN?

Transition: John asked the question 2 chapters earlier, Peter exclaims that Jesus is the anointed one, but Jesus must clarify what anointing means; that He is set apart to die.

Jesus Prepares for Immediate Pain (9:21-27)

Jesus strictly silenced them (v.21)

1. It is almost as Jesus could predict the difference between Palm Sunday and Good Friday. People had wrong ideas of what a deliverer meant..

2. R.T. France writes, “Different groups had different notions of what sort of deliverer God would send to his people, but the kingly ideal was fundamental for most and led many to see the Messiah’s mission in essentially political terms, especially in the light of Israel’s subjection to Rome[i]”.

Jesus’ use of Power (Authority) (v.22)

1. Last week we were introduced to the difference between power (ability) and authority (rights).

2. The last 8 chapters have repeated demonstrated Christ’s power AND authority. The next 10 chapters will show us how Jesus intends to use that authority to defeat Satan.

3. Jesus clearly models that power is not to be used for one’s comfort. He shows in vivid terms what it means to surrender our rights for the good of others. (a good reminder in an age where Civil rights and religious liberties are asserted and challenged).

Many of our family, friends, and neighbors began this week a consecrated time of reflection and preparation for Easter. V.22 is Jesus’ description of the days leading up to Easter.

A daily denial & death (v.23)

1. This echoes what Paul writes in 1 Cor 15:31 that he dies daily, preceded by v.30 that describes danger as hourly.

2. Salvation is not merely an after-death destination, it is an after conversion choice.

3. Entitlement thinking is a whole-life challenge. It begins with the toddler who demands, “Mine!” It appears again in adolescence with, “I want…” In adulthood we justify life choices with, “Don’t I deserve to be happy?”, and now on the news I see Joe Namath telling seniors, “you deserve all the benefits you’re entitled to.”

4. Jesus says that if we want to follow Him, if we believe it is worthwhile to exchange what we deserve for what He offers, we will deny ourselves, we will die to self daily, and intentionally choose the Jesus way of living.

3 paradoxes of the Jesus Life

1. Save/lose (v.24) – this is the lesson of the open palm

Monkeys are trapped by placing peanuts in a hollow gourd with a narrow opening. The only way out of the trap is to release one’s grip.

2. Profit/loss (v.25) – What do you receive in the end?

I don’t have many investments besides a modest retirement account. I choose not to invest in the market because there is so much jargon and terms that get tossed around. The only reason I think a bull market is better than a bear market is because I have seen pictures of a bull statue near Wall Street and I doubt brokers want a reminder of losses. One investment term I learned is ROI – return on Investment.

· What results can you expect from specific sacrifices? This paradox assumes that gaining the whole world may require a cost that is too extreme.

3. Shame/glory (v.26) – popularity is fleeting.

This past week, Winter royalty was named at halftime of a basketball game. I don’t know how the court is selected, but my understanding is that King and Queen are chosen by ballot. These are those whom classmates choose to respect. But just like Uncle Rico in the movie Napoleon Dynomite, the glory of High School will mean little when you get down the road a decade or two.

An Inaugurated Kingdom (v.27)

1. Some believe the “kingdom of God” refers to the End Times and that this is a promise of the soon Second Coming.

2. Some believe this is a transition to the next verses where 3 see Jesus transfigured.

3. I believe this goes back to the last part of v.22. When Jesus conquered the tomb and the Temple veil was torn from top to bottom, the Kingdom of God became accessible to humanity and some who were standing in front of Jesus here got to see Him in his resurrected body.

Transition: This section began with “who do men say Jesus is” and now moves into “Who does the Father say Jesus is?”

Jesus Inspires with Ultimate Gain (9:28-36)

A Perspective on the Pain (Hebrews 12:2)

Hebrews 12:2 ESV:2016

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Philippians 2:6–11 ESV:2016

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1. This ought to make us want to shout, “Glory!”

2. The immediate pain of denial, daily death to self, surrendering one’s comfort and reputation may seem too costly…until one considers the reward.

Jesus briefly reveals limited glory (vv.28-32)

1. The mountain, clouds and brightness are more than a weather anomaly. They would remind any student of the Old Testament of God’s presence.

2. The 2 witnesses tie Jesus to the gracious redeeming act that was prophesied to benefit the remnant of the Covenant people.

3. Our Christianity has Jewish roots. The Christ event was not a “plan B”. The gospels fit into a plan that began (as Jn 17:24 states) before the foundation of the world.

Peter’s Response (v.33)

1. 8 days has passed since the 3 paradoxes of the last section. It appears that Peter’s focus has already come back to earthly needs. Peter is still thinking about what humans can contribute to the divine.

2. Too often we think too highly of ourselves. We may not say it aloud, but we have the thought that God sure is lucky that we are here to help Him out.

A Blessing Repeated (v.34-36)

1. The voice of the Father, that we last heard at Jesus baptism, is a gut-check on who and what is most important when things look dire.

2. The Father’s audible voice was last heard before any of the disciples where selected and called to follow. So this is a personal reminder of what they had only heard about.

3. V.36 mentions that they did not spread this news in those days, but it becomes clear in Peter’s letters how important this glory for suffering exchange becomes.

a. Suffering is a dominant theme in 1 Peter.

1 Peter 2:20 ESV:2016

20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

1 Peter 3:14 ESV:2016

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

1 Peter 3:17 ESV:2016

17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

1 Peter 4:19 ESV:2016

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

b. Glory is introduced in the 1st chapter of 2nd Peter

2 Peter 1:16 ESV:2016

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

Conclusion:

There is nothing more important than you coming to know Jesus for who He truly is—God in the flesh who came to be your Savior.

Jesus endured suffering and pain for your benefit and He calls us to die to self and also to live for Him and others.

Finally, the transfiguration highlights that any pain experienced in this life will seem miniscule when compared to the Glory we will experience later.

[i] R. T. France, Luke, ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton, Teach the Text Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013), 165.