Why was Jesus Rejected?

 Rejection is one of the worst feelings. The fear of rejection can be even worse. 

Isaiah 53:3  "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not."  Isaiah was written about 700+ years before Christ. This is known as the forbidden chapter.

I. Who despised and rejected Jesus?

    A. His own people Most of His earthly ministry was for the Jews. John 1:10-11 "He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him."  Matt. 23:37

    1. Judas sold him out

    2. The multitudes and crowds wanted to hear his message, to be healed. The shouted "Hosanna" Please deliver us, please save us. A few days later they were shouting for his crucifixion. Pilate offered up Jesus to be released, but the crowd chose Barabbas to be freed and Jesus to be crucified. Barabbas was guilty and Jesus took his place. This is a picture of what Jesus did for us. He took our place.

    B.  Romans The soldiers not centurions Matt. 27:27-31 "Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him."

    C. Religious Elite Matt. 12:14 "But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him." Matt. 16:1 "And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven." Matt.26:3-4  "Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him." The Pharisees and Sadducees did not like one another and yet agreed about Jesus and they plotted together to kill him.

II. Why was Jesus rejected?  First of all it was part of God's plan. Isaiah 53 predicted God's plan. Jesus was our substitute. He was tempted and yet did not sin.

    A. People love their sin  John 3:19-20 "And this is the judgement: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed." I know it. You know it. EVERYONE knows it, yet fails to submit. No one likes their sin pointed out.

No one is "really" an atheist, they just don't like God's rules and their sin pointed out. Romans 1:18-21 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

    B. Pride-  People just can't admit that they are wrong. The Pharisees had a wrong view of who the Messiah would be. They thought he would be a military leader. Today we sometimes have a wrong view of Jesus. We make him in "our own image" instead of submitting to who Jesus is and how he was revealed. Matt. 1:21 "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."  John 1:29 "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'"

    C. People can't admit they need help  We must realize that you can't fix dead. Eph. 2:1 "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins." Rich man, Pharisees. We are all that way

    D. People can't relinquish the throne of their heart

    1. Pharisees and Lazarus John 11:45-46 "Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them wet to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done." John 11:53-54  "So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to at town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples." Many of them saw Jesus as a threat to their authority.

    2. Aft.er healing the blind man John 9:39-41  "Jesus said, 'For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.' Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things and said to him, 'Are we also blind?' Jesus said to them, 'If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, 'We see,' your guilt remains.'" You must swallow your pride to learn from a lowly itinerant preacher from Galilee. They didn't want to relinquish control.

    E. Submitting to Jesus is hard  Pete Maravich's dad was a coach and he used his young son to humble his college players and remind them that they still had something to learn, So do we!

    1. Rich young Ruler.  Mark 10:17-22 "And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, 'Good Teacher, what must i do to inherit eternal life?' And Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.' And he said to him, 'Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.' And Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, 'You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me. Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.  Luke 18:18-23 

    2. Let me first bury my father/get my inheritance. Jesus was not was telling him not to honor his parents, but to remember that Jesus comes first. Luke 9:59-60  "To another he said, 'Follow me.' But he said, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' And Jesus said to him, 'Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.'" Matt. 10:37-39, Matt 15: 1-6

Today in our part of the world becoming a Christian is a celebration, but not so in other parts of the world, it can destroy your world. Pastor Larry in Utah he joined a LDS church because he met a woman. Larry became very involved with the LDS church and moved up in the church leadership. He became convicted that what they were teaching was wrong. He left the church and gave his life to Christ. He lost EVERYTHING, his wife, his children, his home, his job. He had other Christians walk along side of him. He planted a church and now has lead his children to Christ and is working on his ex-wife. Don't let pride keep you from Jesus.

The question we have to ask ourselves, would I sill follow Jesus if it was hard? Would I if I had to give EVERYTHING up.

   

What did Jesus Teach

 In our series before Easter we have heard Who Jesus is, the Evidence for Jesus and Why did Jesus come. Today we are looking at What Jesus Taught. Scriptures that show us Jesus' teachings include the 4 Gospels, part of Revelations and the Epistles, which are commentaries on His teaching. 

Matt. 22: 36-40 "'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?' And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.'"

These two commandments are the foundation of the rest of Christ's teaching.

I. Jesus taught us about God

    God is transcendent, he is all things, he is infinite. God reveals himself- self revelation. God also hides himself. The Old Testament was the self revelation and when Jesus came he teaches us more about God and the New Testament expands on the self revelation John 1:18

Jesus has made him known. Who is God?

1. Jesus gave us verbal lessons by what he said.

2. Jesus gave us a visual model, how God would act if human, because he was God. We see who God is by how Jesus lived, how he acted, how he responded.

So you want to know about God? What are you options to find out who God is?

1.Figure it out in your own mind. You make things up. When you do this you create God in your own image.

2. Ask others who are not biblically trained. You will get a distorted picture of who God is.

3. Seek out information from the current culture (Hollywood). This will give you wrong images of God.

4. Go to Theologians a bunch of letters behind their names who "know more" than Jesus and disciples.

5. Or you can go directly to the Scriptures and see what Jesus taught and did we will learn who God is. We will not understand everything about God.

Jesus came to reveal God to us.

II Jesus taught us about us (me, you, mankind)

 We were created in God's image, but we are a seriously flawed image because of sin. We are condemned and yet we are worth dying for. 

John 3:16-18/36 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."

So you want to know more about who you are? Here are your options.

1. Develop your own opinions. "I am a good person" "I don't need God, I can do it on my own"

2. Ask others opinion of who you are. What the "experts" say

3. Follow what atheist scientist say.

4. You can consult sociologists.

5. Or you can look in the Scriptures and see what the Word of the one who created you, the one who knows you, the one who is willing to redeem you, says about who you are. In the scriptures you can see the words of Christ and the Epistles say about who mankind is.

III Jesus taught about Himself

  7 "I am" Statements 

   1. "I am the bread of life" John 6:35/41/48/51

   2. "I am the light of the world" John 8:12 If you follow Jesus he will help you see the truth about God.

   3. "I am the door of the sheepfold." John 10:7/9 He is our protection....He is the way in and out.

   4. "I am the resurrection and the life." Joh/n 11:25 He gives us eternal life

    5. "I am the good shepherd" John 10:11/14 He leads and protects

   6. "I am the way, the truth and the life" John 14:6

   7. "I am the true vine" John 15:1/5 If your "branch" is not connected to him you will not bear fruit.

Jesus is the promised one John 4:25-26, 7:28-29, 8:56-58

John's summary of who Jesus was John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Peter's summary 1 Peter 2:24 "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."

"Bridge Illustration"

The objection that Christianity is so "exclusive" He is the only way? Really? The answer is the truth is not always pleasant. 

John 8:23-24 "He said to them, 'You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.'"

So you want to know about who Jesus is? You know what your options are.

Jesus taught us how to obtain forgiveness, redemption and eternal life.

IV. He tautht us how we should live (while we are here)

Matt. 22:34-40 "But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?' And he said to him,'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and girst commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and Prophets."

All of the laws and commandments depend on these 2 commandments. These are the foundation of our beliefs.

Love is a sentiment/a feeling, but in these verses we see love is an action. It is a "lifestyle" . An example of this is the parable of the "Good Samaritan" Luke 10:36-37. Jesus teaches us to "go and do likewise." 

Ephesians 4:1 "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called" Paul is encouraging us to live practical/active lifestyle based on the truths of Jesus' teachings.

So you want to know how to live in the here and now? Study...

  1. The words of Jesus

  2. The actions of Jesus

  3. The commentaries of His Apostles

V. Jesus taught that HE is Lord

Jesus displayed His authority with miracles, with power over sickness, diseases, nature, demons and even death! He summarizes this in Matt. 28:18 "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'"

We have 3 scenarios

  1. Your are the captain of your life. You run your life

  2. You invite Jesus into your heart, but He doesn't rule or run your life. He is only there as "fire insurance".

  3. You invite Jesus into your heart and give Him all authority over your life. He is in control of your life. He is Lord.

Granted some of Jesus' teachings are difficult to understand. But the fundamental teachings, the Primary teachings, the most important teachings are....

  1. easily discovered in His word

  2. easily understood

Why did Jesus come? Mark 5:1-20

 We have been looking at some questions leading up to Easter...Who is Jesus? What is the evidence for Jesus? And today we will be asking Why did Jesus come? Next week we will look at what did Jesus teach.

Mark 5:1-20 illustrates several reasons that answer this question. This story illustrates Jesus' "I came to" statements.

Mark 5: 1-20 tells the story of a man oppressed and tormented. Naked, no hope, no future, no peace, no joy, no friends, no family. Satan was at work in this man and had taken everything from him.

1.Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.

   1 John 3:8 "Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

   Hebrews 2:14

2. What were the works of Satan?   What he started in the garden     

    A. Lies and deception  John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

    Rev. 12:9

    B. Sin and temptation

    Gen. 3: 1-5,  Matt. 4:3

    C. Death and destruction  John  10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy."                         

3. How did Jesus destroy the mess

    A. Jesus taught the truth and in fact is the truth. John 18:37 "Then Pilate said to him, 'So you are a king?' Jesus answered, ' You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world-to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is the truth listens to my voice.'"

John 14:6 "Jesus said to him,'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

    B. Jesus paid for sin and offered deliverance from it. Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

    C. Jesus is the live and in him we live forever John 10:10 " The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

John 3: 16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

 Someday Satan's destruction will be complete and death itself will be destroyed. 1 Cor. 15:26

What Satan messed up in the Garden of Eden, Jesus is making right. He is crushing the head of the serpent. Gen. 3:15

Jesus came to fix Eden. We see this played out in the demon possessed man's life. 

4. Jesus came to draw all people to himself

Jesus was undoing what was done at the tower of Babel in Genesis 11. God dispersed the people and changed their languages so they were no longer 1 people. Then God called Abraham and all families of the earth would be blessed.

We see this demonstrated in this story in Mark 5. Jesus and the disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee to the country of the Gerasenes. The people were largely gentiles. This was part of the Decapolis Region, which was a league of 10 Greek cities east of the Jordan river.  Their purpose was to promote pagans, this can be seen in the fact that they had pigs, which were "unclean" to the Jews. There were temples of worship to Greek gods in this region. It was strange that He would come to this pagan area. Jesus didn't come just for the Jews. His ministry began with the Jews and was focused on the Jews, however He had several interactions with gentiles documented, the Canaanite woman, the Roman Centurion servant, the Centurion at the cross, the Magi, the Samaritan woman, perhaps healing of deaf and mute man found at the end of Mark 7.

Once Jesus arrived on Gentile territory He immediately has an interaction with the demon possessed man. No Greek gods had helped him, but when the man saw Jesus he cam running and fell down before Jesus. He knew who Jesus was Mark 5:7 "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." The demons begged Jesus not to cast them out of the country but begged Him to cast them into a heard of pigs. Once he did the pigs (about 2000) ran off the cliff and drown in the sea. The herdsmen witnessed what had happened and ran to the city and told the people of the town what had happened and to come see. The people were afraid and begged Jesus to leave their region.  As Jesus was getting into the boat the man begged Jesus to let him go with him. The man was willing to give up his life to follow Jesus, but Jesus had a different assignment for him. Jesus wanted him to go home and tell his friends what the Lord had done for him.

The whole town should have been excited to see this man healed, but they weren't. Why? They loved their sin, they loved their money, they loved their way of life. Some rejected Him then and still do today.

The man wanted to come with Jesus, but Jesus sent him home to the Decapolis region. Jesus seemingly came to this region for this encounter. Jesus would return to this region. 1 would become many. Jesus returned to the area and heals a deaf and mute man and then in Mark 8 we read about a crowd of 4000 who listen to His message and he performed a miracle and fed them with 7 loaves of bread and a few fish and had leftovers. How many of the were there due to the demoniacs testimony. The people were hungry to hear what Jesus had to say. We see a similar story in Mark 6 in Galilee where Jesus fed 5000 men with 5 loaves and 2 fish and had 12 baskets of leftovers. In these 2 separate stories we see Jesus treating both Jews and Gentiles the same. Jesus came to draw all people to himself.

 He came to save sinful people. Luke 19:10, Matt. 9:11-13

He came to save every nation. Psalm 22:27, Rev. 5:9, John 12: 32-33

Jesus draws all people to himself through the cross

People will argue theology, but it is hard to argue a changed life.

5. Jesus came to die

By dying on the cross He draws people to Him. His death proves God's love for us. Jesus took our place . God sent His Son to take our place and reconcile us to Himself Romans 5:8-10

Because of Jesus we are made new and we should be willing to go and share God's love has done for us.

Evidence for Jesus

 We are all searching for truth, Pontius Pilate asked Jesus What is truth? Jesus' answer "I am the truth and the way." Last week  we looked at Who is Jesus. We found that Jesus is God's son, God with us, the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for our sin. He is our Great High Priest, the ultimate prophet, our King and Perfect Savior. We found a lot of scripture for all of that. We must make a decision on Jesus.

Some people believe that Jesus never existed. They ignore the evidence. No matter what, you are accepting on faith. Christianity is not a faith that must be accepted blindly. It is good to seek truth. 

Jesus made claims for Himself. He invited Andrew and John to "Come and you will see." John 1:39

Thomas (Doubting Thomas) needed evidence of Jesus' resurrection. John 20: 24-28. Thomas was so convinced of who Jesus was that he went on to travel all the way to India sharing Christ and was martyred.

Christianity, the Scripture and Jesus can stand up to the scrutiny. There is archaeological evidence, historical evidence and the ripple effect evidence; which is, that we see what Jesus did and how it changed things. 

In Deuteronomy 19:15 we find the biblical model which requires multiple lines of evidence. "A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two or more witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established." Jesus understood this truth and He gave us many lines of evidence of who He was. John 5: 30-47 "  In this scripture we find that Jesus gives 4 lines of evidence John the Baptist, the Father, the miracles and scripture.

1. John the Baptist

Isaiah 40: 3-5 "A voice cries: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level,  and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.'"

Malachi 3:1 " 'Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek and will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming' says the Lord of hosts."

John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus and bore witness of Jesus John 1:15-18. JTB said that Jesus preexisted him even though JTB was 6 months older than Jesus according to Luke. JTB says that Jesus brings grace and truth and He made the Father know. JTB points to Jesus as the authority and divinity. When JTB saw Jesus coming toward him he said "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29 JTB shares that Jesus is the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for man. He makes it even clearer in the following vs John 1: 20-34.

There is extra biblical evidence of JTB including the writings of Josephus who wrote about JTB.

2. The Father

God the Father provides evidence of who Jesus is Matthew 3: 16-17 " And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'"

This same account can be found in Mark 1:11 and Luke 3:22.

3. Scriptures/Moses

In John 5:39 Jesus says "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, " The evidence of Jesus that we can find from the Scriptues

   A. The ruler of Israel will come from Bethlehem Micah 5:2 recorded about 700 years before the fulfillment found in Luke 2: 4-7

   B. God will call his "child" out of Egypt Hosea 11:1 recorded about 700+ years before the fulfillment found in Matt 2: 13-15

   C. Israel's King would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey Zech. 9:9 recorded about 500 years before the fulfillment found in Mark 11:10

   D. The Lord will come to the temple and refine it Malachi 3: 1-3 recorded about 400 years before the fulfillment found in Matt 2, Mark 11, and John 2

   E. God's promise to Abraham Father of Many Nations, and bless all the families of the earth and make his descendants as numerous as the stars. Genesis 12 & 22 recorded by Moses about 1400 years ( but occurred even earlier than 1400 years) Matt 1, Acts 3:35-26, Galatians 3:16

   F. The virgin will conceive and give birth to Immanuel Isaiah 7:14 recorded about 700 years before the fulfillment found in Luke 1: 26-35

You can find a lot more evidence about 113 more types and prophecies fulfilled in Christ here @ https://www.gotquestions.org/prophecies-of-Jesus.html

4. Miracles

Jesus preformed many miracles 

Made the lame to walk and the blind to see. Rose people from the dead, healed the sick. He cast out demons, calmed storms. He walked on water, cleansed the leper, turned water into wine. He fed the 5000 lunch and had leftovers and the greatest miracle....the resurrection. This literally changed everything. Plenty of other messianic figures arose, but died and so did their movement. 

The testimony of Gamaliel Acts 5:33-39 "When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. And he said to them, 'Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!'"

Just as Jesus said in Matt. 24:14 the Gospel will be preached to all nations and in AD 2025 we are still  preaching the Gospel in 2025 at Octavia Baptist Church.

5. Historical Texts

The Biblical evidence is good evidence

Matthew and John were direct eyewitness testimonies. They were 2 witnesses .

Mark was Peter's close companion and Mark's gospel was Peter's account, another witness.

Luke was Paul's companion. He was a doctor and a great journalist/biographer. In Luke 1: 1-4 he tells us why he wrote this gospel. " Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time passed, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught."

The Bible is a collection of writings. 4 gospels/4 biographies, James and Jude were 2 more written lines of evidence, Paul and Peter's  letters....2 more lines of evidence and people discount the Christian writings because they were written by Christians... By that standard all works on Caesars would be invalid because they were written by Romans. The history of Athens is unacceptable because it was written by Greeks. Ancient Egypt history is unreliable because it was recorded by ancient Egyptians. No one else is held to the same standard.

Wes Huff is an Apologist, speaker, educator and works for Apologetics Canada. He has appeared on Joe Rogan's podcast and debated Billy Carson. Link  https://youtu.be/ol8bxPMpGGA?feature=shared (https://youtu.be/ol8bxPMpGGA?feature=shared)

6. Extra Biblical Corroboration

Mara was a Syrian Stoic philosopher in 73 AD . He wrote a letter talking aboyt Jews murdering their king and being sent into dispersions

Josephus mentioned JTB, Jesus and his claims, his death and his followers beliefs in his writings.

Senator Publius Cornelius Tactus was the greatest of all Roman historians. He wrote about Nero scapegoating Christians

"Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their center and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind.

Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the sins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. Nero offered his gardens for the spectacle, and was exhibiting a show in the circus, while he mingled with the people in the dress of a charioteer or stood aloft on a car. Hence, even for criminals who deserved extreme and exemplary punishment, there arose a feeling of compassion; for it was not, as it seemed, for the public good, but to glut one man's cruelty, that they were being destroyed."

The  Apostles testimony isn't like other biographies. They were crucified upside down, speared, stabbed, stoned, beheaded, tortured, burned and boiled. Their testimony is stronger because theirs was sealed by blood. Those that wrote the biographies of Jesus were willing to lay down their lives for what the believed. You have good reason to believe in Jesus. The evidence is available.

Who is Jesus?

 Who is Jesus? This is the biggest question Jesus asked in the weeks before the resurrection. Jesus asked his disciples this question and then asked Peter the same question. We all should seek to know the answer to this question. All of the major religions have their own opinions about Jesus. They say that He was a good man, righteous teacher, even a prophet. But who do you say Jesus is?

Jesus is God's Son/God with us

Jesus is not a "created being". He shows us who God is. Until Jesus came people didn't really see who God was. Jesus came and took on flesh, born of a virgin to show us who God is.

Hebrews 1:3 Jesus is the "radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature"

John 1:1 Jesus is the Word " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God."

John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father"

Jesus claimed to be God. John 10:30-33 "I and the Father are one." He said that he existed before Abraham John 8:58 "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."

    A. Jesus accepted worship Matt. 2:11, 14:33, 28:9, 28:17, Luke 24:42, John9:38

    B. Testimony of Apostles John 20:28, Titus 2:13, 2 Peter 1:1

Jesus is our propitiation He is the atoning sacrifice. He satisfied the wrath of God. He took our place. 2 Cor. 5:21, 1John 2:2, Hebrews 9:12

John the Baptist said about Jesus when he saw Jesus coming toward him "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29  Jesus was crucified during Passover...He is the Lamb of God. Jesus gave His life...He took our place. His blood covers us and we are made right with God through His shed blood.

Additional scripture: Isaiah 53:4-7, Romans 5: 6-8, 1 Cor. 5:7, Ephesians 5:2, 1 Peter 1:18-19

Jesus is our Great High Priest 

What was the job of the high priest? The job of the high priest was to go before God on behalf of the people and offer sacrifices to God. Jesus goes before God on our behalf. Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 4:14-16

Jesus is our mediator. He was tempted as we are tempted. He understands what we go through. He empathizes with us.

Additional scriptures: John 17, Hebrews 9:11-14

Jesus is the ultimate prophet

What was the job of the prophet? The prophet delivered God's message to His people. They were hated by the people because they pointed out the people's sin. The prophets were rejected by the people. 

After feeding the 5000, the people said "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!" John 6:14. This was in reference to Moses Deut. 18:15 "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers-it is to him you shall listen" John the Baptist said "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. " John 1: 17-18

Jesus preformed the duties of the prophets John 7:16, John 8:28,  A prophet like Moses He has made God known. He speaks the Father's words. 

Jesus is King

He came into Jerusalem humble and gentle John 18:37 He came in riding on a donkey not a "war horse". He was not the "King" that the Jews wanted or expected. Matt. 21:4-5

Zechariah 9:9 said 500 years earlier "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

However His 2nd coming will be different. He will come as a conquering King. He will reign until all of His enemies are put under His feet. Psalms 110:1 "The Lord says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.'" Rev. 1:5 "and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth."

Additional Scripture: Psalms 2, Revelation 19:11-16

Jesus is the Messiah, our Savior

Messiah and Savior are not quite the same. Messiah and Christ are the same...the anointed one. A savior  is the one chosen to deliver.

What kind of man was Zacchaeus? Luke 19:10 He was a sinful man and Jesus still went to his house. Jesus wanted to "save" him. Jesus came to seek and save the lost .

The Samaritan woman at the well...what type of woman was she? Not a woman of good reputation. She had been married several times. At this time the well was where men would meet their wives.  She was surprised that Jesus was speaking to her, but He knew who she was and He knew she was a sinner. John 4: 25-26 Jesus made it clear to her who He was. He did not speak in parables to her. He revealed himself  to her and set her free from her sin. She was saved.

Who is Jesus to you?

Is He going to be your Lord? Do you confess Him with your mouth?

C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity

"I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him [Jesus Christ]: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic-on a level with a man who says he is a poached egg-or else he would be the Devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that option open to us. He did not intend to."

Jesus is either a liar, lunatic, or Lord... everyone has to decide for themselves who He is.

Live your life in such a way that people will see that there is something different about you and want to know what makes you different...Jesus.

2 Timothy 4: 9-22

 2 Timothy is a personal letter from Paul to Timothy. Paul ends his letter to Timothy with a salutation with bits of news, updates, personal observations and personal requests. This is typically how Paul closes most of his letters. All of the information in the salutation was interesting to Timothy, but is it interesting or important to us today? There is not a lot of doctrinal instruction here. It includes a lot of examples and illustration of doctrinal truths... it is important to us!

So if 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is TRUE... "All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."  then there is value in these closing words for us.

People mentioned by Paul in the salutation

Demas (vs10) "fellow worker", but loved the world. Paul calls him a partner in the ministry, but he left Paul. Not sure if he just left Paul or left the faith. Col. 4:14, Philemon 24

Crescens (vs10) Don't know anything about him. Only mentioned here.

Titus (vs10) Book of Titus...Paul sent Titus to Dalmatia

Luke (vs 11) A doctor/ beloved physician. (Col 4:14 KJV)

Mark (vs 11) wrote the book of Mark and transcribed Peter's letters. aka John Mark. Mark went with Barnabas and Paul on their 1st missionary journey and then left.  Acts 13:13 Paul was angry with him. When Paul and Barnabas were planning the 2nd missionary journey Barnabas wanted Mark to go, but Paul said no. This caused Paul and Silas to go in one direction and Barnabas and Mark to go in another direction. Acts 15: 36-40  But during Paul's 1st imprisonment Col. 4:10 Paul and Mark were reconciled.

Tychicus (vs12) "beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord." (Col 4:7, Eph. 6:21) He accompanied Paul on his last visit to Jerusalem. He carried Paul's letters (written while in prison in Rome) to Colossae and  Ephesus.

Alexander (vs 14) Not sure who he is because it is a common name. He was a coppersmith. "the Lord will repay him according to his deeds." the Lord will sort it out, but beware of him.

Priscilla & Aquilla (vs 19) Fellow tent makers, Paul first met them in Corinth. They accompanied Paul to Ephesus Acts 18. They established/hosted house churches (I Cor. 16:19) They were faithful workers. They went Rome (Rom. 16:3-4) and risked their lives for Paul. They are now back in Ephesus.

Onesiphorus (vs 19) 2 Tim. 1;16-18 all that we know about him

Erastus (vs 20) Rom. 16:23 He was "the city treasurer" at Corinth. 1929 excavation at Corinth they found paving stones (7 letters- originally bronze filled dated 150 AD) Erastus laid this pavement at his own expense. This is a historical reference that he did exist.

Trophimus (vs 20) Trusted assistant, was with Paul when he was carried off from gentile chaos to Jerusalem Acts 20:4 He was the cause of Paul's arrest in Jerusalem Acts 21:27-29 He caused the mess that put Paul in Prison.

Eubulus, Pudens, Linus and Claudia (vs 21) Unknown to us, but obviously known to them.

Col 4:10

Rom. 16: 3-4

2 Tim. 1: 16-18

Rom. 16: 23

Acts 21:27-29

Applications

1. People need people (Timothy "come to me") Paul can function without Timothy (Phil. 4:11-13) He desires his presence and assistance. He doesn't need him, he WANTS Timothy with him. Jesus at Gethsemane (Mt 26: 36-40) Jesus didn't need the disciples in the garden, He wanted them, He wanted their presence, He wanted their support.

Application....When people are in a rough patch ... DONT STAY AWAY! Don't avoid them, don't pull away. Be there for people. They want your presence. Don't avoid them because you don't know what to say. There is so much that you can do for people who are struggling.

2. People will let you down Demas abandoned Paul, at Gethsemane the disciples fell asleep

    A. People are flawed Rom. 3:23

    B. Sometimes your expectations are too high. We put people on a pedestal. People fall short.

3.You will let people down (not all 1 sided) Because you are not perfect. To never apologize is to say "I am never wrong".

    A. It's easier to overlook/forgive offenses when we see our own faults. (Mt. 7:3-5 speck/plank)

    B. The sooner you own up to this the sooner you can change for good. If you don't admit that you are broken, you cannot be fixed.

4.People can change   "bring Mark...useful to me"

 Some people start off poorly and end well...( Mark and Paul). 

Some people start off well and end poorly (Demas)

Some people start of well and end well (Luke, Timothy, Aquilla and Priscilla)

Some people will oppose you from start to finish (Alexander)

   A. You just never know...who is going to end up better, get it right... or worse... never find it.

   B. So never give up (never step back Paul and John Mark) You keep praying , you never give up

Note: 2 people changed John Mark and PAUL ( forgave /reconciled) Paul first said NO JOHN MARK! Paul changed his mind

5. People are God's most precious creation 

Imago Dei   John 3:16 Doctrinal truths are important to people, but people are the most important to God. People were created in God's image. What's left when the world 'burns up'? Nothing else remains, but people.

2 greatest commandments: Love God and love people. All the laws hang on our relationship with God and our relationship with people.

6. The Lord will NOT change

Mal. 3:6 "For I the Lord do not change"

Heb. 13:8 " Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever"

People will change, but not God

2 Tim. 4:17-18 I was rescued...I will always be rescued

2 Tim. 1:12 If you are a believer He will deliver you into His kingdom

If 2 Tim. 3:16-17 are true then God ALWAYS has something to say to us (reveal to us) even in the most OBSCURE passages.

I hope He has spoken to you this morning, IF SO what is your response? Do you respond to Him? Is He calling you to your next step?

God is in the people business, Paul was in the people business, we are in the people business

      

Reflections from the champ

 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Paul is reflecting on his life. He was a hero of the faith. Paul has a great perspective. 2 Timothy is like Paul's last will and testament. It is likely these are his last words to Timothy.

Time is precious, life is meant to be used and invested. We take in a lot of screen time; we get distracted and waste our precious time.

2 Timothy 4:6  Paul is comparing his life to a drink offering (Numbers 15, 28 and Exodus and Leviticus). He is at the end of his life's sacrifice. He knows that his time is short. For the believer our lives should be a sacrifice to God. It is all that God wants.

Five years earlier Paul wrote this same hypothetical in Philippians 2:17. He said that our whole lives were a sacrifice. Romans 12:1 In Galatians 2:20 Paul says that he is dead in Christ. He no longer lives, but Christ lives in and through him. Paul says that his passions and desires are no longer alive in him, but Christ's passions and desires are alive in him. Do we live this way? Are our passions and desires Christ's? Are we a living sacrifice?

Departure-in Greek means loosed ship. Paul saw that "life" was holding him back from God.  

2 Corinthians 12:2-3 Paul had probably had glimpses of heaven.
Philippians1:21 To live is Christ and to die is gain. Paul is looking ahead to the glory now in vs. 7  He reflects on the past.

2 Timothy 4:7 The world's view of Paul is that he was "somebody", a Pharisees Pharisee, but now he was a nobody. He is alone in prison cold and clearly miserable. Paul viewed his life much different than the world. Vs 7 is a victorious look back at his life.

Fight the good fight                                                                                                                                      Paul was faced with confrontation throughout his life, he confronted the Jews about the Messiah and the Jewish leadership wanted him killed. He confronted the gentiles about their sin, false teachers, he contended for the faith. He even confronted Peter. Paul was stoned, whipped, chained, imprisoned, harassed, hunted, was on the run, hated, mocked and abandoned, but Paul was the champ. He fought the good fight.

Are we willing to defend the faith? Are we willing to go against the grain...against the flow? Are we willing to speak truth? Are we willing to stand against the changing culture?

Finish the Race  Acts 20:24                                                                                                                          Paul finished the race well. Paul cared for the gentiles. He cared for the nations. The race brings to mind a couple of scriptures from Paul.   Hebrews 12:1-2 and 1 Corinthians 9:24, 27

Are you running the race well?   

 1. Repent and throw off sin. Throw off anything that hinders you from running the race that God has laid before you.

2.  Focus on Christ  This is our goal. To know Him and to make Him known. 

3.  Run to win. If we were keeping score would we be winning? Are you doing a good job, or are we sitting on the bench. We are too often comfortable letting someone else do it... to share Christ. Are we doing just enough to get by.  RUN TO WIN

Keep the faith  Plenty of people walked away from the faith... Judas, Demas...guys who walked out. Paul is encouraging Timothy to guard the faith, to pass it on. When things got discouraging Paul never quit...he kept the faith.

Jesus and the soils:   

Some   1. Didn't understand 
Some   2.  Fled at persecution 
Some   3.  Riches and cares of the world 
Some   4.  Bore fruit and exceedingly

2 Timothy 4:8   Crown of righteousness, Imperishable Crown 1 Cor. 9: 24-25, Rejoicing Crown 1 Thess. 2:19, Crown of Glory 1 Peter 5:4,  Crown of Life Rev. 2:10  The crowns are pointing us to the reward...the prize.

Stephanos-Stephen means badge of royalty, a prize in public games or a general symbol of honor. A wreath was placed on the head of winners. Stephen saw a bit of this in Acts 7: 55-56. Jesus was/is watching and His saints are precious to Him. Jesus was not "sitting" when Stephen gave his life.

Suffering will come in this life. No one is immune to it. Paul suffered a lot:  Rom. 8:18, 2 Cor. 4:16-18  But suffering is nothing compared to the glory to come. If you are in Christ this life is as bad as it is gonna get.

Our desire should be to run a race to please God. Don't waste life, don't reach the end of your life and regret your race. Live your life to hear "Well done good and faithful servant"

Paul was beaten and battered into nothing, but look what God did through him. Imprisoned and executed, but went out the champ.

What if we lived our lives to truly live a life that pleased God?

What would it look like if we truly lived with eternity in mind?