The Resurrection

                                                                  THE RESURRECTION

(Matthew 28:1-15)

 

            Tim Keller tells the following story: When my wife was growing up, every summer, her family spent two weeks at a small compound of cottages on the shores of Lake Erie. Now the cottages are all gone—that part of the beach is gone. Whenever she visits that childhood vacation spot, she weeps because she knows the beech is irretrievable.

            That sense of irretrievability is like a death. And the older we all get, the more we realize that certain losses are irretrievable; they’re gone, and that sucks the joy out of our lives. But here’s where Christ’s Resurrection offers something unique. Even religions that promise a kind of spiritual future or spiritual bliss only offer consolation for what you’ve lost. But the Resurrection of Christ even promises the restoration of what you’ve lost. You don’t just get your body back; you get the body you always wanted but never had. You don’t just get your life back; you get the life that you always wanted that you never had.

            But Jesus Christ is walking proof that you will miss nothing. Nothing! It’s all coming in the future. It’s going to be unimaginably wonderful. There is no religion, no philosophy, and no human being who can offer this kind of future. As Christians, our hope for the future is based on the historical fact of The Resurrection. So, if you are not a Christian, let me ask: Why wouldn’t you want that? Even if you don’t like different aspects of the Christian faith, why wouldn’t you want this hope for restoration? You’re not being honest with yourself if you don’t want that.[1]

            On this Easter Sunday morning, we will reflect on one of the fundamentals of our faith: The Resurrection. How do we know that the Resurrection of Christ is True? In Matthew and elsewhere in the scriptures, we find evidence that Jesus rose from the dead. We will also look at external evidence to ascertain this wonderful biblical truth of the Resurrection of Christ.

            The Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Jesus are two central pillars of Christianity. If you remove one of these pillars, Christianity will not survive. Yet, since the first century, many have tried to discredit the Cross and eliminate the fact of the Resurrection of Christ. The apostle Paul, who once tried to persecute all those who believed in Christ, says: “For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.” I Cor 1:18 Let’s examine scriptural and external evidence of The Resurrection of Christ.
1. The Resurrection of Christ was prophesied in the Old Testament
            Dead people coming back to life after being dead was a very familiar concept in the Bible. Consider these six incidents. 1. Elijah raised the Son of the widow of Zarephath. (I Kg 17:17-24). 2. Elisha raising the dead Son of a Shunamite woman (II Kg 4:32-35). 3. When a dead body touched the dead bones of the prophet Elisha (II Kg 14:20-21). Jesus not only spoke about his own Resurrection but also demonstrated it by raising three dead people: Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:21–24), the Son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:1–17 and Lazarus (John 11:17–44).

            There were 27 prophecies in the OT concerning the Resurrection of Christ. King David prophesied, “You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay” (Ps16:8-11). After prophesying how the Messiah, Jesus, would die, Isaiah predicts his Resurrection, saying, “After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.” Isa 53:11.
2. The Resurrection of Christ in the New Testament.
             Several times, Jesus predicted his own death and Resurrection in the NT. Matt 20:18-19, “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then, they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified.

            But on the third day, he will be raised from the dead.” There are other references to Jesus’ prediction about the Resurrection (Mark 8:31; Matthew 16:21, Luke 9:22). He gave a symbolic sign to the demanding crowd, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise again on the third day, referring to his own body. John 2:19
3. The Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law could not stop the Resurrection of Christ
             The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went up to Pilot with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive, that deceiver said, ‘After three days, I will rise again.’ So, give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” (Matt 27: 62-65).

4. The Empty Tomb stands as a witness to Jesus’ Resurrection.
            The tomb was tightly secured under the watchful eyes of the Roman guard. After the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. To their surprise, the tomb was wide open as an angel of the Lord rolled away the stone. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”

            The women went to the tomb with spices to anoint the body. Instead, they noticed an empty tomb without Jesus’s body. According to the prophecy, Jesus rose from the dead. In the meantime, the guards went into the city and reported everything to the Chief Priests. Jesus’ Resurrection meant the end of the Pharisee’s influence over the people, so they bribed the guards to spread a lie, saying, “While we were sleeping, the disciples came and stole the body of Jesus.” What a ridiculous rumor that was. If that was true, then what happened to the stolen body?

5. Jesus’s post-resurrection appearance to people for 40 days.
            Jesus appeared to the women and his eleven disciples on the mountain. He walked with two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus. He appeared to one of his doubting disciples, Thomas, who said to the other disciples, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

            A week later, Thomas and the other disciples were in a closed room. Jesus, through his post-resurrected body, comes right through the locked doors and meets Thomas. He invites Thomas to examine Him and rebukes him to stop doubting but believe in Him. (John 20:24-28).       After that encounter, Thomas became a devoted follower of  Christ. Church tradition tells us that Thomas was the first one to take the gospel to the subcontinent of India. Now, there is a church called The Mar Thoma Church, which sees itself as a continuation of the Saint Thomas Christians, a community believed to have been founded by Thomas the Apostle.

            Jesus not only showed himself to Thomas, but at one point, he had appeared to more than 500 people simultaneously. (I Cor15:6). Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples, teaching them about God’s Kingdom and giving them many convincing proofs that He was alive. (Acts 1:3).

            He commanded them before He was taken into heaven, saying,  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20). Taking the Great Commission seriously, many preached about the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Christ, making more disciples. How would I know Jesus rose from the dead? I know because He lives in my heart. Many here at Hope Church and millions more outside could testify that Jesus rose from the dead and lives forever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2014/march/6031714.html

The Passion of Christ

                                                         THE PASSION OF CHRIST

            Words are powerful as they evoke certain emotions and make people act or react in a certain way. Certain words like “Lynching, Execution, Assassination, and Murder” touch our core and stir up all sorts of emotions. These terms do not come close to “Crucifixion,” says Fleming Rutledge, who wrote an over 600-page book on “The Crucifixion.”

            That one word evokes “horror.” The term suggests other levels of significance as well: It is a single death that stands for many deaths; it is an innocent death that results from the evildoing of others; it is an iconic death that takes on a universal meaning. These are some of the implications in the use of the term “Crucifixion,” but perhaps most importantly, it implies an extremity of dehumanization and, therefore, of godlessness.”[1]

            In recent decades, there has been a shift of focus from crucifixion to resurrection among Christians. What is more important, Good Friday or Easter? It is like asking when making a ham and cheese sandwich, which is more important, the ham or the cheese? It is not a ham and cheese sandwich if you don’t have both of them. Moving from the ridiculous to the sublime, argues Fleming, “You can’t have the crucifixion without the resurrection and vice versa.”[2]

            The Passion and Resurrection are bound together in one narrative, notes another theologian. Tonight, for us to fully understand and appreciate the death of Christ on the Cross, we must grasp the depth of His passion leading up to His Crucifixion.

            By reading the narratives in Matthew 26:36–27:56, Mark 14:32–15:41, Luke 22:39–23:49, and John 18:1–19:37, we will get the full extent of Jesus’ heart-wrenching passion that began in the Garden of Gethsemane, continued up to Golgotha (the place of the skull) and ended with His humiliating death on the Cross. We reflect on The Passion of Christ. Mark 15:1-32.

            I would divide the Passion of Christ into three scenes in the narrative. We would have had so much gruesome graphic content if there had been video cameras. God had recorded those events with some horrific details to remind us of what it took Jesus to bring about our salvation.

I. The Passion of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Mark 14:12-42)

            On the first day of the festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover Lamb, Jesus ate his last supper with his beloved disciples. Unlike any other Passover meal, he introduced a tradition that would remain until his second coming.

            That tradition is now known as “Communion. Jesus symbolically offered his body and his blood, which would redeem humanity of their sins. No usual jubilation was associated with the Passover celebration in that room. Instead, there was sadness. He revealed to them that one of the twelve would betray Him. Peter’s pride might have been hurt when Jesus said that night before the rooster crows he would betray Him three times.

            Jesus took his disciples from the upper room to a familiar place called Gethsemane. Taking three of his closest friends, Peter, James, and John, further into the garden, he revealed to them his deep anguish, saying, “ My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. “Stay here and watch.” From that point, He had to go through the agony all by himself.

            Going a little further, he fell to the ground and prayed that the hour might pass from him if possible. “Abba Father, he said, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet, not what I will but what you will.” He prayed such anguishing prayer three times. Luke describes Jesus’ passion this way, “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” (Luke 22:43-44). Jesus poured out his deepest anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane for the sins of Adam and Eve committed in the Garden of Eden.

An angel strengthened him, but his passion continued from Gethsemane into Pilot’s Court.

II. The Passion of Christ In Pilot’s Court. (Mark 15:1-20)

            The time for everything the prophets wrote about the Son of Man was now nearing to be fulfilled. It was early in the morning when the chief priests, elders, the law teachers, and the whole Sanhedrin bound Jesus and handed him over to Pilot. Jesus remained silent against baseless accusations and the witnesses who couldn’t agree with each other.

            Pilot was amazed by Jesus’s silence and tried to release him but was prevented by the loud shouting of the crowds. The crowds that shouted earlier Hosanna, Hosanna now shouting Crucify Him. They wanted Barabbas, an insurrectionist, to be released instead. In the end, Pilot released Barabbas and handed Jesus over to be flogged and to be crucified.

            Roman flogging was a cruel act of punishment. Jesus received 39 lashes with a Roman whip, consisting of a short, wooden handle with several 18- to 24-inch-long straps of leather protruding from it. The ends of these leather pieces were equipped with sharp, rugged pieces of metal, wire, glass, and jagged fragments of bone. As if that wasn’t enough, the soldiers humiliated Jesus by putting a purple robe on him, twisting together a crown of thorns, and set on him and repeatedly stuck him on the head with a staff and spat on him.

            Luke mentions that the guards blindfolded him, beat him, and mocked him by demanding him to prophecy who hit him. Along with that, they hurled many other insulting things at him. Can you imagine how Jesus must have looked like after enduring the torture by the guards?            Isaiah 50:6, “I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard, I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.” Isaiah 52:14, “But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man." The Passion of Christ continued from the Pilot’s court to Golgotha as He carried a heavy cross that weighed approximately 165 pounds.

III. The Passion of Christ on The Cross at Calvary (Mark 15:21-39)

            It was around 9:00 A.M., and they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (Calvary), they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. It fulfilled  a prophecy in Psalm 22:18, “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garments.”     Jesus was nailed to the Cross along with two other criminals. While enduring pain, Jesus interceded for his persecutors. (Matt 23:34). In Ps 22:15, we read, “They pierce my hands and my feet.” Isaiah 53:12 reads, “Because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.”

            Around noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at 3:00 P.M., Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sbachthani? (which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?) (Psalm 22:1). With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. “Jesus fulfilled 27 Messianic Prophecies in one day. And these are some of the 300+ Messianic prophecies that He has fulfilled through His birth, life, and resurrection.”[3]

            Why did Jesus go through such passion before and during his death on the Cross? The OT law tells us that without shedding blood, there is no forgiveness. (Heb 9:22). It was not the blood of the goats and the bulls but the perfect lamb of God that was Jesus. His blood satisfied the wrath of God and offered forgiveness to sinners. Isaiah 53:3-6, “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. He was pierced and crushed for our sins. We are healed by his wounds. What would you do with Jesus, who bled, died, and rose on the third day? Will you reject Him or believe in and accept Him as your Lord and Savior? Whatever you choose today will carry eternal consequences for your life.

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[1] Fleming Rutledge, The Crucifixion, Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ, Page 80-81

[2] Rutledge, Fleming, The Crucifixion, Page 64.

[3] https://www.theycallmeblessed.org/27-messianic-prophecies-fulfilled/

Let Your Kingdom Come

                                                      LET YOUR KINGDOM COME!

            Many Christians in the World observe Palm Sunday with joy and anticipation. Christians in the East decorate their Churches with Palm branches and conduct jubilant marches in the streets depicting the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. What is the significance of Palm Sunday? Is it the Palm branches and clothes people spread on the road? Is it the donkey? Or the people shouting Hosanna, Hosanna? Or the city marveling at Jesus saying, “Who is this?” What is Palm Sunday’s message for the 21st-century Church-going believer?

I. Palm Sunday shows that God Keeps His Promises.

            There is a definite purpose behind Palm Sunday. It is documented in all four Gospel accounts (referred to by biblical scholars as “The Harmony of the Gospels”) as recorded in Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-40, and John 12:12-18. Each narrative highlights different details; for example, Ann Coble points out that only John 12:13 mentions palm branches.[1] God promised a Messianic King would come and establish His eternal Kingdom.             Daniel prophesied in 606 B.C about a divine Kingdom that God would set up, which will never be destroyed. It will crush and put an end to all other kingdoms, but it will endure forever. (Daniel 2:44). Daniel saw a distinct image of the King of God’s eternal Kingdom.

            “I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his Kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14). God’s people have been waiting for this prophecy to be fulfilled. Who is this Son of Man, and when will He come, and how will we know?

            In 536 B.C, prophet Zechariah gave a sign for God’s people to look for. Zech 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”             Hundreds of years later, when Matthew saw Jesus entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey, he said, “This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Matt 21:4-5). Palm Sunday reminds us that God is a promise-keeping God. How did the crowds and the religious leaders respond to seeing this rare sight of Jesus riding on a donkey?

II. Palm Sunday Ushered in God’s Eternal Kingdom.

            As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, he sent two of his disciples ahead of them to a nearby village with specific instructions. He said, “You will find a donkey with her colt. Untie them both, and if anyone asks, say, the Lord needs them.” Why did Jesus specifically need a donkey instead of a horse? Firstly, Zechariah prophesied the future King of Israel would come riding on a donkey, not a horse. Secondly, to usher in God’s eternal Kingdom.

            Thirdly, by riding on a donkey, Jesus exhibited the nature and the purpose of God’s Kingdom. The symbolism of the donkey may refer to the Eastern tradition that it is an animal of peace, unlike the horse, which is the animal of war. A king would have ridden a horse when he was bent on war and ridden a donkey to symbolize his arrival in peace. Christ’s entry to Jerusalem would have thus symbolized his entry as the Prince of Peace, not a war-waging king.

            Jesus said when Pilot asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus said, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my Kingdom is from another place.” John 18:36. By saying these words, Jesus disappointed Jews who looked for a king who would set them free from the tyranny of the Roman Empire. Jesus’ Kingdom was different, and so were his methods of deliverance.

            Jesus, who was humble and gentle at heart, needed a donkey, an animal of peace as He ushered in God’s eternal Kingdom. Even today, Jesus needs donkeys, not arrogant and proud horses, to advance His Kingdom. God’s children are to be like those peaceful donkeys. Jesus needs all His followers to spread the message of His Kingdom.

            Many on Palm Sunday spread their cloaks while others spread branches and shouted, saying, Vs. 9-10, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming Kingdom of our Father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

            The Hebrew word Hosanna means “save.”Whether or not the crowd realizes what is going on, their words are filled with great significance as they joyfully announce the coming Kingdom of David (Mk 11:9–10; Ps 118:25–26). The chorus of voices from the crowd heightens this expectancy as Mark pictures Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah being greeted by the people of the city. The readers of Mark already expect the imminent arrival of the Kingdom of God.

            In one sense, the Kingdom of God has already come with the birth of Christ, and more prominently, this triumphal entry into Jerusalem has fulfilled the prophecy of Zachariah. Alluding to this fact, Jesus responded to the Pharisees’ question, “When the Kingdom of God would come? He replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the Kingdom of God is in your midst. Or “Among You.”NLT (Luke 17:20-21).

            Jesus was telling the Pharisees that He brought the Kingdom of God to earth. Jesus’ presence in their midst gave them a taste of the kingdom life, as attested by the miracles that Jesus performed. His miracles prove the Kingdom has come: “If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Luke 11:20). The Kingdom of God is in your midst, indicating in the person and presence of Jesus.

            Palm Sunday ushers in God’s eternal Kingdom as Jesus changes the hearts of men, one at a time. For now, Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). One day, however, the Kingdom of God will be manifested on the earth (Isaiah 35:1). Jesus Christ will rule a physical kingdom from David’s throne (Isaiah 9:7) with the New Jerusalem as His capital Rev 21. In the meantime what is the message of Palm Sunday for us?

III. We Pray: Let Your Kingdom Come! We Work For His Kingdom.

            Palm Sunday shows that God follows through on his word, promises, and prophecies, unlike fickle people. Therefore, we can totally trust and rely upon this promise-making and keeping God. Palm Sunday ushered in God’s eternal Kingdom through the triumphal entry of Jesus. Similarly, it has invaded our lives through the powerful entry of Jesus into our hearts.    What should be our responsibility as we live in this world and await His eternal Kingdom? Our job is two-fold: One is to pray the prayer of Jesus who taught us to pray, Our “Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come, you will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10. Your Kingdom come! It means, first and foremost, we are asking God to rule and reign in our personal lives so that we might work for his Kingdom.

            Secondly, we are praying, “Dear Lord, please open the hearts of my loved ones, friends, co-workers, and neighbors to receive Your gift of salvation in Jesus Christ.” God’s Kingdom will expand as more people turn to Christ for salvation. They enter the Kingdom when they come to know the crucified King of that Kingdom. People need the gospel.

            Thirdly, When we pray, “Your kingdom come,” we ask God to shine His light into the world so that others may respond to Him with awe and reverence (John 1:1–15). Fourthly, we pray and actively participate in His Kingdom through acts of kindness and love so that many will enter God’s Kingdom and worship the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

 

 

 

 

           

 

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[1] See Ann Coble, “Palm Sunday” in Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible.

Jesus Goes After The Lost

                                                        Jesus Goes After The Lost 

            Imagine one day discovering that you were a lost, missing child. Marx Barnes—now named Steve Carter—was born in 1977, and he had no clue he was a lost, missing child until January 2011, when he searched missingkids.com. He found himself staring at a composite image created to show what Marx would look like as an adult. “I got chills,” Carter said.

            A DNA test ultimately confirmed his identity. Marx went missing at six months old on June 21, 1977, when his mother placed him in a stroller and went for a walk on one of the Hawaiian Islands. Through a strange series of events, Marx’s mother was placed in a psychiatric hospital, while Marx was placed in protective care, ultimately becoming a ward of the state.

            Marx was placed in an orphanage only 30 miles from where he lived with his parents. As an adult, Carter “never had any strong desire to locate his family. “By contrast, his half-sister had only one desire in life: to find out what happened to her brother. Her efforts—convincing officials to reactivate the investigation—led to the composite image Carter discovered online. An official from the Missing Child Center in Hawaii said, “If it weren’t for her, it would still be a cold case.” In one way, we were all lost, missing children. Apart from Christ’s love and his ultimate pursuit of us, our lives would still be a spiritual, “cold case, a dead end.”[1]

            Last week, we talked about Jesu’s historic final journey to Jerusalem. Along the way, He taught his disciples how he would suffer, be killed, and rise again on the third day. As He came near Jericho, he restored the sight of a desperate blind beggar who sat beside and cried to Jesus, “Son of David, have mercy on me.” After that, Jesus entered the town of Jericho and made his way through the town. In Luke 19:1-10, Jesus explains why he came into this World. We will see how Jesus goes after a man who was lost in sin and shame and rejected by society.

 

I. Nothing would hinder Jesus from going after the Lost

Luke 19:1-2, “Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.” Have you wondered what it was like for Jesus to walk from Jericho to Jerusalem? The journey took him through a barren desert and a lot of elevation changes, totaling 14 miles with an ascent of 3,300 feet.

In the time of Jesus, the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was notorious for its danger and difficulty and was known as the “Way of Blood” because “of the blood which is often shed there by robbers who robbed people.” None of those apparent dangers would stop Jesus from going after a lost soul, Zacchaeus, a wealthy chief tax collector. What do we know about Zacchaeus and the tax collectors during Jesus’ time? Probably in every culture, from the tax collectors of ancient Israel to the IRS agents of today, the tax man has received more than his share of scorn.

            The NT indicates that the occupation of the “tax collector” (or “publican”) was looked down upon by the general populace for the following reasons: First, no one likes to pay money to the government, especially when it is an oppressive regime like the Roman Empire. Those who collected the taxes for such a government bore the brunt of much public displeasure.    Second, the tax collectors in the Bible were Jews who worked for the hated Romans. These individuals were seen as traitors to their own countrymen. Third, it was common knowledge that the tax collectors cheated the people they collected from. Fourth, the tax collectors were well-to-do because they skimmed off the top. This further separated them from the lower classes, who resented the injustice of their having to support the publicans’ lavish lifestyle.

            The tax collectors, ostracized as they were from society, formed their own clique, further separating themselves from the rest of society. If you read through the gospels, none of this would stop Jesus from spending time with tax collectors and even eating with them. The Pharisees saw tax collectors as enemies to be shunned. Jesus saw them as his friends who were spiritually sick to be healed. The crowds rejected tax collectors, whereas Jesus accepted and offered them new life. Let’s see how Jesus went after Zacchaeus.

 

II. Jesus walks right to the place where you are.

            Vs.3-5, “He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short, he could not see over the crowd. So, he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

            Several things, such as his name, status, wealth, and height, were against Zacchaeus. But there was one thing going for him: his heart was in the right place. He wanted to see Jesus. Once he made up his mind to see Jesus, nothing was going to hinder him. He ran ahead of the crowds, climbed a sycamore-fig tree, and waited for Jesus to come on his way.

              He must have heard that jubilant crowd drawing nearer to where he was and wondered whether Jesus would stop or pass by him. More than Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, it was Jesus who was eager to meet Zacchaeus. When the crowds came to the tree, Jesus looked straight up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

            Let’s pause and see the implications of this straightforward yet strange command, like Jesus’s saying. First, this tells me Jesus knows our names, our status, and the desires of our hearts. Secondly, the creator of the universe, the great teacher who taught with more authority than the regular scholars and teachers, the one who performed extraordinary miracles, came right to the spot where a notorious sinner like Zacchaeus was hiding. Thirdly, he commands Zacchaeus to “come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” By doing so, Jesus made his intentions very clear: He wanted to spend some time in the home of a lost sinner.

 

III. Jesus Goes after the Lost to save and restore them.

            The words of Jesus, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today,” must have sounded heavenly to Zacchaeus but did not sit well with the crowds, so they muttered, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” In the eyes of the crowds, Zacchaeus was a sinner beyond redemption, whereas, in the eyes of Jesus, he was a lost soul who needed a savior.

How did Zacchaeus respond to this unusual command from Jesus? “He took Jesus to his house in great excitement and Joy.”(NLT). After that, what happened was nothing less than a miracle. Vs.8, “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now, I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” As per the law required in Exodus 22:1

What was happening to Zacchaeus was transformation. He repented of his sins and was willing to pay the restitution. Then Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a son of Abraham.” By doing so, Jesus saved him from his sin and restored him back into the family. Jesus came into this World to seek and save the lost and restore them.

Who are the lost? In the story, the crowds, Zacchaeus, and all of us are lost children today. We are like spiritual orphans in need of a family. Zacchaeus story is our story. We all have sinned and lost our way home to God.

Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Like Zacchaeus, you may feel rejected and lonely. You may be hiding away due to your sin and shame. Wherever you are, Jesus is reaching out to you with His Love.

Jesus won’t stop pursuing you until you surrender your life to Him. He is commanding you to come out of your isolation. He wants to come into your house (heart). How would you respond? As Zacchaeus did, would you receive Him with Joy? Or take offense at Him as the Pharisees and the crowds? When you receive Jesus’s love, you will never be a lost child.

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

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[1]https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2012/june/5062512.html 3-15-2024

The Way Of The Cross

                                                                  The Way of The Cross

            In a recent blog, Randy Alcorn discusses why God allows suffering in the lives of his people: Mountain climbers could save time and energy if they reached the summit in a helicopter, but their ultimate purpose is conquest, not efficiency. Sure, they want to reach a goal, but they desire to do it by testing and deepening their character, discipline, and resolve.

            God could create scientists, mathematicians, athletes, and musicians. He doesn’t. He creates children who take on those roles over a long process. God doesn’t make us fully Christlike the moment we’re born again. He gradually conforms us to the image of Christ: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Cor 3:18).

            We improve and excel in our spiritual, professional, sports, and hobbies by handling failure and learning from it. We find satisfaction and reward only in cultivating discipline, endurance, and patience. And those qualities are mostly developed through some form of suffering.”[1] God ensures a pathway that leads to greater Godliness and a life of purpose and fulfillment. However difficult it may be, if we don’t give up, we become more Christlike.

            During Lent, as followers of Christ, we may give up certain things to pause and reflect on the passion of Christ on His Way to the Cross. In so doing, we identify with Christ’s suffering; our struggles and sufferings will hopefully fall into a proper perspective. Lent should not be limited to a once-a-year, 40-day reflection for a true disciple of Christ. Instead, it should be a way of life. In Mark 8:31-38, Jesus challenged his followers and disciples to walk in The Way of the Cross. We will see that this Way of the Cross is not meant only for those disciples but also for everyone who wants to follow Jesus closer. Let’s see what The Way of The Cross entails.

            Where was Jesus on the way to the Cross when he laid out this pathway? Jesus revealed to Peter one of the greatest revelations of all time: He was the long-awaited Messiah. Right after that high moment, he made his first prediction in plain language regarding the manner of death He would go through on the Cross and the struggles and suffering that preceded His death.

            Peter couldn’t fathom that possibility, so he took Jesus aside and rebuked him, for which he received one of the sharpest rebukes from Jesus, saying, “Get behind me, Satan.” He said to Jesus, “You don’t have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Let’s watch out. As Christ’s followers, we may be overly concerned with human concerns rather than God’s.

            Then, he called the crowd along with his disciples and laid out a pathway to become His true disciples. Mark 8:34, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their Cross and follow me.” Luke adds “daily” to emphasize its ongoing nature. (Luke 9:23).

            This call has a double impact. First, it was a challenge for the crowds that followed Jesus because they saw and perhaps experienced miracles in their lives but never made a serious commitment. Secondly, all disciples must count the cost of being His true disciples.

            What does that mean for us today? Are you like those crowds who saw many miracles in their lives yet were never seriously committed to going with Jesus? Or are you one of those disciples who have believed in Jesus? As a result, their lives have been changed, yet they never counted the cost and did not know what it takes to be a true disciple of Christ. This call to Walk in The Way of the Cross is crucial wherever you are on your journey.

 

 

            Let’s not ignore it but heed the voice of the Holy Spirit. What does it mean for us to pick up the Cross daily and follow Jesus? Does it mean that you and I will be crucified like our savior, and as many other disciples did? It may mean we might be killed like the disciples for following Christ. Let’s explore what The Way of The Cross involves and how it impacts our lives today.

 

I. The Way of The Cross is a Way of Denying Oneself.

            Vs. 34. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves.” Denying yourself is an essential part of the Christian life. Jesus called upon those who wish to be His followers to reject the natural human inclination toward selfishness. The Lord Himself exemplified self-denial by putting away his authority and washing his disciples’ feet (John 13:1–17).

            What does it mean to deny yourself? The Dictionary of Bible Themes defines self-denial as “the willingness to deny oneself possessions or status to grow in holiness and commitment to God.” The words Jesus used in the original language for “deny yourself” were strong terms similar to Paul’s wording in Philippians 3:7-8: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” The purpose of self-denial is that we will gain Christ.

            Denying oneself means saying no to what we want to do and saying yes to God's will. Jesus demonstrated this in the garden of Gethsemane as He prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42.

 

II. The Way of the Cross is a Way of Ultimate Submission

            Jesus laid out this Way of Ultimate Submission by giving them a symbol of a “Cross.”  Vs. 34, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their Cross and follow me.” Mark’s original audience, the Romans, knew what picking up the Cross meant. Death on a Cross was a form of execution used by Rome for dangerous criminals.

            A prisoner carried his own Cross to the place of execution, signifying submission to Roman power. Jesus used the example to illustrate the ultimate submission required of his followers. Jesus himself carried his own Cross to model Ultimate Submission to God. Jn 19:17.

            Paul’s writing to the Philippians highlights these two aspects of the Way of the Cross: Denying oneself and Ultimate Submission. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: “Who, being in very nature^[a^] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature^[b^] of a servant,  being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself   by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Phil 2:5-8.

 

III. The Way of the Cross is a Way of Suffering

              The way of the Cross is marked with suffering for a child of God. Jesus himself laid out what was awaiting Him as he entered Jerusalem. He predicted His own Crucifixion and Resurrection, “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.” Mark 8:3. Jesus knew fully well what the way of the Cross looked like, yet He did not shy away from that path of suffering. His attitude toward suffering was one of Joy.

             Jesus invites us to travel with Him on this Way of The Cross. As you travel on this path, what is it that Christ asks you to deny or give up for His name’s sake? What is that He is calling to obey? How are you holding up in your struggles and sufferings? Hear the voices of those who have gone before us. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.

            And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the Cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3. May God give us all strength, grace, and courage to journey through this Way of The Cross.

 

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[1] Randy Alcorn, “Your Suffering Can Be the Pathway to Greater Godliness” Eternal Perspective Ministries Blog, (8-6-18)