Jesus Suffered on Our Behalf ILLUSTRATION

Transcription

1 Jesus Suffered on Our Behalf Background Passage Luke 19:28-22:65 Lesson Passages Luke 22:14-22; 39-46; Lesson for May 12-13, 2012 Dr. James Patterson ILLUSTRATION The illustration for today s lesson is that there is no illustration. Typically, lessons begin with a brief story that foretells or parallels the Scripture to be studied. However, there is no real-world equivalent to the sufferings and sacrifice endured by Christ in our behalf. Sports analogies, such as a sacrifice bunt in baseball are embarrassingly inadequate. Inventing a story about John and Martha s experiences cannot come close to approximating Substitutionary Atonement. At no other time in the history of the world has there ever been such an example of obedience and voluntary suffering and sacrifice by a completely innocent being on behalf of such totally depraved recipients. Could you or I have carried that cross? Could we have said, Father, forgive them for they don t know what they are doing? Or, would we have called in an army of angels early on to wreak vengeance on our torturers? BIBLICAL CONTEXT Today, we continue a study on the Gospel according to Luke. We are studying this book for 3 months, so no one will remain lukewarm in their knowledge of the third Gospel. Review: Who Was Luke? Author: Luke is not a major figure in the New Testament. He is mentioned by name only 3 times. However, as the author of both Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, he is responsible for writing about ¼ of the New Testament. He is known to have been a physician, and he consequently showed greater interest in Jesus healing ministry than the other Gospel writers. For example, he mentioned the raising of the widow s son and 4 other healings that are not covered in Matthew, Mark, or John. Luke also emphasized the work of the

2 Holy Spirit more than the other Gospel writers, and focused on Jesus concern for the plight of women and other social outcasts. Greek/Gentile: Not being Hebrew, himself, Luke highlights Jesus interaction with Gentiles and the universality of Jesus message. Instead of tracing Jesus roots back to Abraham (the father of the Jews), he traces Jesus lineage back to Adam, (the father of all mankind). Luke is one of the Gospel writers who includes the story of the Roman Centurion who exhibited such extraordinary faith, and Luke is the only Gospel writer who covered the parable of the Good Samaritan, (Luke 10) and the grateful Samaritan who was healed of leprosy, (Luke 17). He continued the theme of Gentile salvation in the book of Acts. Traveled with Paul: At three places in Acts, the narrative changes to firstperson plural we. This means that at least part of the time, he and Paul were traveling and doing something together. (Acts 16:10, 20:5, and 27:1). Bachelor: He was unmarried and had no children. He died at 84 years. Educated: Scholars tell us that the written Greek was more cultured in Luke and Acts than in any of the other New Testament books. This leads us to believe that he had more formal education than the other writers, including Paul, who we know had a wall full of diplomas. It is believed that Luke had interviewed Mary, Jesus mother, to get her detailed thoughts about her pregnancy and motherhood. He may also have visited one of the other Gospel writers, probably Mark, and perhaps one of the 12 apostles, and also James--the brother of Jesus, to acquire as many primary sources as possible. This shows thoughtful and careful research. Most importantly of all, he wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He likely completed the book around 60 AD. In the Context of the Preceding Passages Information from the preceding passages included: Luke 19:28-44 Jesus entered Jerusalem while riding on a donkey. A crowd of followers gathered around Him, chanting Scripture and praising God. When the city came into view, Jesus wept over it, as He knew it would soon lie in ruins because the people did not recognize God s presence in their midst.

3 Luke 19:45-21:4 Upon entering the Temple complex, Jesus expelled the profiteers. Offended Temple leaders began to question Jesus authority to teach in the Temple, sending spies into the crowd in an attempt to make Him look bad. Jesus warned about hypocrisy. He told a parable about a vineyard owner, alienating the religious leaders even further. They plotted His death. LESSON PASSAGE 1 Luke 22: When the hour came, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He said, Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. 19 And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me. 20 In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said, This cup is the new covenant established by My blood; it is shed for you. Verse 14: The name, Passover, recalls the deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt. God sent an angel to kill all of the firstborn sons of the Egyptians in order to persuade Pharaoh to let His people go. Hebrew families were instructed to sacrifice a lamb and smear its blood on the doorpost of their house as a signal to God that His angel should pass over them during the night of deadly judgment. During Jesus lifetime, Passover had become a pilgrim festival. Large numbers of people gathered in Jerusalem to observe the annual celebration. Thus, an unusually large crowd was on hand to take part in the events surrounding Jesus entry into the city. Like the blood of the lambs which saved the Hebrews from destruction in Egypt, the blood of Jesus, the ultimate Passover Lamb, saves us from the power of sin and death. The hour mentioned in this verse refers to that part of the Passover festival when families and other close-knit groups shared the meal of remembrance.

4 Verses 15-16: Jesus had looked to this meal as His opportunity to prepare His disciples for His upcoming sufferings. He had warned them on several previous occasions, but now the time had come for the fulfillment of God s salvation plan. Jesus would not eat another Passover meal with them before His death and resurrection. He fervently desired to teach his followers the kingdom reality that He was the unblemished, sacrificial Lamb to which the Passover pointed. Verses 17-18: The Passover meal included celebrants sharing a cup of wine, followed by a prayer of thanksgiving. Jesus instructed His disciples to share the cup among themselves as a testimony of their unified devotion. He again reminded them that the kingdom of God was at hand that is, God was ready to enact His sovereign plan of salvation through Jesus. Verses 19-20: These two verses describe Jesus establishment of the Lord s Supper. He linked Himself directly to the Passover s unleavened bread and cup of redemption as symbols of His saving work. As He blessed and distributed the bread to the disciples, He identified it with His body, which He would give as the perfect sacrifice on behalf of others. The bread of the Lord s Supper represents Jesus death as our substitute. He was utterly sinless, yet He suffered and died to atone for our sins. When we as believers partake of the bread in the Lord s Supper, we are moved to remember Jesus and to be deeply grateful that He suffered on our behalf. Likewise, Jesus also took the cup and identified it with His imminent sacrifice. The spilling of Jesus precious blood in the course of brutal beatings and the crucifixion would ratify the new covenant that the prophet Jeremiah had foreseen and proclaimed many years earlier (Jer. 31:31-34). The Book of Hebrews pointed out that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Heb. 9:22). This is known as substitutionary atonement, the process by which those alienated from God by sin are forgiven and restored. As the sinless God-Man, Jesus offered Himself as the atoning Sacrifice on our behalf. This is at the heart of the gospel the good news. LESSON PASSAGE 2 Luke 22: But look, the hand of the one betraying Me is at the table with Me! 22 For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!

5 Verse 21: Although Jesus knew beforehand that Judas would betray Him, that divine knowledge didn t lessen the pain of the experience. The betrayer even chose to sit at the table with Jesus during the Passover meal. In the first century Jewish society, sharing the Passover meal signified the highest level of intimacy and trust. Thus, Judas presence at this meal represented the highest level of betrayal. Verse 22: The Heavenly Father was at work to accomplish His divine plan, even in Judas betrayal. The atonement was not an afterthought or a Plan B, but a decree arranged by God beforehand. Both God s sovereignty and human responsibility are taught in the Scriptures. Thus, Judas would be accountable for his treachery. Jesus uttered a chilling warning to him: Woe to that man! The Gospel of John reveals that Judas immediately left the group (John 13:30). After helping to get Jesus arrested, Judas later hanged himself in bitter regret (Matt. 27:5). LESSON PASSAGE 3 Luke 22: Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest. 25 But He said to them, The kings of the Gentiles dominate them, and those who have authority over them are called Benefactors. 26 But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving. 27 For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the One who serves. Verses 22:24-27: After the announcement of the upcoming betrayal, the eleven remaining disciples began to argue about who was the leading apostle. Jesus surely felt sadness that the disciples would engage in such a frivolous dispute especially at this critical time. He will shortly foretell that Simon Peter one of those in contention to be the greatest would deny three times that he even knew Jesus. It is not wrong to seek excellence in everything we do. However, Jesus would have us consider our motivation. In this discussion, the disciples appeared to seek greatness for greatness sake, in order to lord it over others. They sought position and power as a means to personal gain, not service to others.

6 APPLICATION: To lead (or to be great ) in a Christ like way, we must take the posture of a servant to genuinely concern ourselves with the rights, the needs, and the welfare of those we lead. Christ, Himself, has provided the example of true servant leadership: not to be served, but to serve and to give. LESSON PASSAGE 4 Luke 22: He went out and made His way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. 40 When He reached the place, He told them, Pray that you may not enter into temptation. 41 Then He withdrew from them about a stone s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, 42 Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done. 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44 Being in anguish, He prayed more fervently, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When He got up from prayer and came to the disciples, He found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief. 46 Why are you sleeping? He asked them. Get up and pray, so that you won t enter into temptation. Verses 39-40: Following the Passover meal, Jesus and His followers walked down to the Mount of Olives, as was their custom. Heavy with emotional and spiritual stress, Jesus turned to prayer to fortify Himself for the suffering that lay ahead. He urged His disciples to pray, as they were about to be severely tested and tempted. Verses 41-42: Jesus withdrew from His friends for a time of private prayer. He acknowledged to the Father that he was under stress. Consequently, His request to take this cup away was not a plea for God to abandon the plan of redemption but rather an expression of Jesus emotional struggle. What follows next is the most profound nevertheless in history, followed by the most significant act of submission in history when Jesus said to God the Father: Not My will, but Yours be done. Verses 43-44: God the Father immediately sent an angel to strengthen Jesus. APPLICATION: This is one reason why prayer is so important. God

7 strengthens us as we pray, even as he strengthened His Son in His time of distress. Although Jesus was in anguish, the Divine help empowered Him to pray even more fervently. The description of His sweat becoming like drops of blood is a vivid image of intense stress. The perspiration did not run in watery streams down His brow and face, but instead formed bloody droplets that fell to the ground as from a wound. Verses 45-46: Jesus suffered further disappointment when He returned from His private place of prayer only to find His disciples sleeping instead of praying. Though warned of their need to pray, they were exhausted from their grief. Trying to comprehend Jesus upcoming death had drained them. In His most critical moment, Jesus had no one on earth to stand with Him. Jesus revealed His disappointment through the question, Why are you sleeping? With urgency, Jesus again exhorted His followers to get up and pray. They could not face the upcoming trials without renewed strength from God through prayer. LESSON PASSAGE 5 Luke 22: The men who were holding Jesus started mocking and beating Him. 64 After blindfolding Him, they kept asking, Prophesy! Who hit You? 65 And they were saying many other blasphemous things against Him. Verses 63-65: After His arrest, those holding Jesus thought it would be amusing to verbally ridicule and physically beat Him. The physical abuse included being blindfolded and struck in the face repeatedly. The guards mockingly demanded that Jesus identify who it was who had struck Him each time. The jailors added many other blasphemous things against Jesus, sparing no level of scorn or physical abuse. We may not have literally been among Jesus abusers that night, but it was for our sins as well as theirs that Jesus suffered as He did. That He would suffer for our sakes should motivate us as believers to show undying gratitude to God in worship and service.

8 LIFE APPLICATION: How will we apply the lessons learned in today s passages? We can show our gratitude through praise and prayer for all of the pain and indignities the Lord suffered on our behalf. We can refuse to do anything that might disappoint Jesus. We can stand up for Jesus and endure any stress that might come our way from being associated with Him. Most importantly, we can be good and faithful servants, leading a life that is largely dedicated to serving the needs of the Kingdom. CLOSING PRAYER: Thank you, Jesus, for the pain and suffering you willingly endured on our behalf. Let these things never leave our mind. Help us to live a life of service to You and to others. Be with us in our hour of trial, so that our actions will bring glory to You. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.