I Am and I Will

In 2 corinthians 11, Paul opens up his heart about what he endures. He rattles off the hunger and thirst, the imprisonments and dangers, beatings, and sleepless nights…and then he adds in verse 28: the daily pressure on me, my concern for all the churches. Who is weak and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble and I do not burn with indignation?

Hebrews 13:17 (NIV)

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden (or “not with grief”, NASB), for that would be of no benefit to you.

They will not be perfect men or perfect leaders. Their perfection or performance is not the reason for you to follow them. But they have chosen to accept a call to serve. And that is worthy of respect. They have chosen to carry burdens that aren’t theirs and that is worthy of respect.

We as the leaders of this body are acutely aware that there will be a day when we will be called to account not only for our own lives, but for how we led those God has placed in our care.

For that reason, I ask you to do as Hebrews calls the church, Have confidence in your leaders, submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you and will have to give an account. Do this so their work may be a joy, not a burden, not a grief.

So I ask you to commit to them as they have been asked to commit to you:

Will you display confidence in your elders, that is, will you encourage them and trust in their leadership? I will.

Because they keep watch over you and will give an account to God regarding their words and actions, will you submit to their authority? I will.

Will you interact with them in such a way it will bring them joy and not grief? I will.

For this last question your response should be I do.

Do you accept this entrusting by God? I do.

Intro

“Today we are all Ukraine” (diplomatic voice)…How many times have we heard a statement like that in the midst of a crisis? I have vague remembrance of hearing that kind of thought when I was in high school and the Thurston shooting took place.

I had friends at Thurston. Lots of them. Just across town. Church friends, camp friends, and I remember wondering…Do you have friends scared to go on campus? Are you looking over your shoulder in school all of a sudden?

I don’t know who the first to use it was, but if they could have copyrighted it…they could have brought in some royalties.

It’s a natural thing to say when you are feeling some empathy or sympathy for a nation or community.But let’s ask the real question. Are we?

Today it is unlikely any of us are genuinely worried about our homes being destroyed

…now if we flew to Ukraine, put ourselves in the line of fire and lived it out…then we might be talking

Humanity from Genesis 3 onward is in a tailspin…riff

I would love to claim I thought out all this timing, but sometimes things just work out.

This is the last message in our life of Jesus series before we jump forward to remember the weeks leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection we celebrate on Easter. (we will then come back)

It is also the passage where Jesus begins things.

Up until now we have had preperation, development, and John the Baptist, but for Jesus he was born, had a moment at 12 and then he’s just been living somewhere…probably making shelves with his dad.

Waiting…preparing…and these two acts we will look at today mark the beginning of the ministry that will lead him to the cross.

So the timing is actually perfect. Because in these two acts we see something that makes what will happen at the cross all come together.

In our reading today, God doesn’t just say “I am with you…he does…he also says I will be who is needed and do what you cant. He doesn’t make a sentimental declaration, but becomes one of us

Jesus Says...

I Am

Baptism identifies Jesus with humanity

We pick up where we left off. This story is one of a handful of moments addressed by all 4 gospel writers. John has been baptizing people who need to repent. That was our conversation last week. Calling people to turn in their hearts toward God and then live in accordance with that new direction.

John then looks up and this is the exchange that happens.

Matthew 3:13-17 “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?” Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized. When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.””

You

In Christian baptism, that which we are called to participate in, we are identifying ourselves with Jesus. His death and resurrection, declaring that we are with him.

As John stammers in confusion, he recognizes, I still need repentance…you don’t...

Jesus says, “Allow it, this is the way to fulfill all righteousness” Not for himself…then for what?

In this baptism of repentance, he is identifying with us, our brokenness and need, declaring that he is with us. With you. With me.

Then in a beautiful moment, the Holy Spirit begins to descend upon Jesus and the voice of Father says, This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.

God adds to the identification and says

(God declares) You are Me

You see, for Jesus’ death to change our lives, he had to identify with us. To be our substitute, he needed to be united to us.

But in order to have the power to actually do what would be needed, it was equally essential that he be united with God.

Oh, I have and could go on about the beauty of the Trinity. I believe that a case could be made that the only kind of God that could or would make a creature like humanity would be a God that somehow, beyond our reasoning be this kind of united plural. Three in one. Father son and Spirit, distinct persons and actions and yet one in being.

When the son took on flesh, he set aside the glory and power in order to walk with us and be “us”. In order for him to do all that was before him, he needs what we were designed for, the presence of the Holy Spirit.

To summarize where we are, Jesus has declared he is with us, God has affirmed, you are still with me. This is where his ministry begins…except for one more step.

I Will

Then…Important word. In Mark the word is “immediately”

Matthew 4:1 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

He enters our mess

The act of baptism could have been the equivalent of the empty politics we started with. I am humanity! A nice gesture, but is he really?

Remember that in the beginning we were made in God’s image, called to his purpose and then what happened?

A serpent showed up and did what?

Tempted. Sowed doubt. “Well…if you really think about it…actually…it’s like this...”

Jesus, in his baptism has made his intentions clear. But in order to truly identify with us AND to then be able to save us…he had to experience the same choice we had, the same pressure…and had to make the other choice.

Verse 1 is huge…HUGE in this.

Matthew 4:1 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

Let up by?

The Devil was ready to tempt…but who set the table? Who led him out there to face it?

(quiet) I have found that there are key moments when temptation seems to come around. I used to blame satan…but I’ve realized something.

When does this happen? After the call, before the impact. The greek here is not simply tempt, but more like, Put to the test.

I have found that every significant calling in my life, in ministry, with my family, comes with a moment when I could bail. There is an offer of an easier way. When I hold fast, there is always something of great impact God will do on the other side.

When I miss, the impact level drops, the opportunity changes. And God goes back to teaching. Preparing me for the next one.

God allows testing in our lives at least in part to help us see if we are really ready to follow him, or if we are still following ourselves.

The Spirit leads Jesus to the place where three key temptations are going to be put before him. These are temptations which would plague his ministry later if they aren’t dealt with now.

Depend on God not me

Matthew 4:2-4 “After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.””

You can solve your own problem here. You’re hungry…you’re powerful…make the rocks bread.

The real issue is that Jesus is being asked is if he will trade away the calling for comfort. Will he give up the call to fast for a full stomach.

When Eve and Adam looked at the fruit in the garden they noticed it looked…good to eat.

God is not opposed to bread. He made us to need food. Jesus, who responds from Deuteronomy (all three times) points out that food is not as essential as the word of God and his calling.

Though the push of this message is that you see Jesus more clearly, as a side note, some of the most insidious temptations that derail men and women in the church today are matters of rocks and bread.

Going for satisfaction of an appetite when God has us waiting on him for good reason.

As Jesus goes about his mission, he will be faced with discomfort. At times he will in fact make miracle food…but not for his own need, but to give. He has got to be ready to put God’s call above his physical needs.

If the first was about the body, the second is about the heart.

Trust without test

Matthew 4:5-7 “Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give his angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.””

I can hear the serpent whisper to Eve, Did God really say? Is he holding you back maybe?

Satan is asking Jesus to doubt God’s love.

Take a moment, and realize there are two other ways Jesus could have responded.

(cliff jumping)

1. He could have said, fine, I’ll show you.

2. He could have thought about it, and not jumped because he wasn’t convinced God would protect him.

Both fail the temptation.

We face these temptations all the time.

Ask yourself, when are you most tempted to question God’s love for you? When things get hard? When you are alone? When you are asked to love your enemy?

Jesus turns the focus where it needs to be. On the Father. I don’t have to test what I know to be true.

If you come at me with the nonsense that 2 +2 is 5. I don’t have to fight you, I don’t have to prove anything to you. Bring your arguments, I know what is true.

Jesus knew the Father’s love. He had no need to prove it.

If Jesus was not tested here, consider how many times over the next three years that he will face rejection, pain, frustration…When we come to Palm Sunday, the triumphal entry, if that wasn’t Jesus throwing himself off the tower, I don’t know what was. The moment he let that donkey walk him into town, his death was certain. If he was always looking for extra proof of God’s care for him, he’d never move forward. He had to trust even if God wouldn’t send angels to catch him.

Physical, emotional…and now the hardest one…the straw that broke adam and eve’s resolve. Pride…control

Give up Control

Matthew 4:8-11 “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” Then the devil left him, and angels came and began to serve him.”

You think you have to go through all that to have the kingdom? I will just give it to you. Just take it.

You think you have to depend on God for wisdom and meaning?, I can just give it to you. Just take it.

Adam and Eve took it. Jesus does not.

We love control. You may not think you do, but at the heart of sin is the desire to choose our direction. God’s call of sacrificial living means giving up control. Choosing to depend on God and others instead of what we can manage ourselves.

I heard a comedian in an interview talking about his chaotic and traumatic childhood. How in the midst of all the abuse and chaos, he figured out that comedy had the ability to control…only a little, but he needed it.

He could plan out a joke or prank, and get a predetermined response from his classmates.

He built his career on that. After hearing that, I started to notice that there are some comics who can’t handle a heckler (they are taking control away) and there are some who can roll with it and can flex with the lack of control, continue to have fun, and the crowd goes along.

The desire to have control is one of the things that can get us out of control the fastest. Jesus knew that he was the king of kings and lord of lords. He knew he was all those things written up there. He knew it enough that he didn’t have to compromise to get it. He could simply be.

You too were made in God’s image. Called to increase his goodness and glory. But we can be easily sidelined into our own glory and priorities.

Jesus had the kind of control that comes when we allow God to have all control. No need to rush, no need to linger.

Jesus would not compromise his purpose or identity because of a need to control. The son had already made the choice to be obedient to the Father…obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

These moments matter for the whole rest of the story. Jesus was perfect and yet chose to identify with us in our brokenness. He then allowed the Spirit to put him in the same position Adam and Eve faced, only he trusted God instead of taking the bait.

This is why the stories we remember at Easter matter. Because God chose to take on flesh, and then to say, I Am with them. And I will face what they faced and win. And I will give them the power to do the same.

Worship team up

Conclusion

hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.”

As we go through the trials and struggles of this life, we do not have a savior who holds up a sign that says, I am human race while staying clear of the battle.

Our savior made that declaration and then faced all we faced. That day, he began the testing and trials. He faced the physical, emotional, and psychological pushes that weigh on us and try to pull us away from hope.

This is why I love Jesus. He doesn’t support me from there, but he chooses to be with me…here. And he not only can, but will be with you when you place your trust in him for salvation and for life.