Lessons from Elijah: Faith, Compassion, Hope

 There is a lot that we can take from the life and ministry of Elijah.

Background: We are past the time of the Judges and we are to the time of the Kings. We are about 60 years past when the kingdom was divided. After Solomon reigned the kingdom was divided north and south. The 10 northern tribes which were called Israel and the 2 southern tribes Benjamin and Judah, which were then called Judah. Judah had a few good kings and a few bad kings, but in the north there was nothing but bad kings. Right after the kingdom split the northern tribes set up some golden calves to worship so that the people did not have to go down to Jerusalem, which was in Judah, and worship at the Temple.

The worst king that ruled in Israel was Ahab. In 1 Kings 16 we are told that Ahab did more evil in the sight of God than all the Kings that came before him and he provoked God. He set up an alter to Ba'al and a built a "House of Ba'al" in his capital city. He was drawing the peoples hearts away from God toward Ba'al. How did he get there? He was married to Jezebel and she was the daughter of the Sidonian king. Jezebel was wicked. This marriage was a political marriage, but Ahab did what Jezebel wanted and encouraged the people to worship Ba'al and Ashtoreth. The Israelites had failed to drive out the Sidonians from the land (Judges 1:31). Ba'al was the god of storms, fertility, crops and rain. They also worshiped Molech. There is some belief that they might be the same god. Those that worshiped Ba'al and Molech would sacrifice their children as part of their worship. (Jeremiah 7:31,19:5, 32:35, Psalms 106:37-38) God had specifically forbid this type of worship. (Leviticus 18:21, 20:2-5, Deuteronomy 12:31, 18:10)The one true God needs to bring his people back on the right track and he is going to do this through discipline. The news of this discipline is going to come through Elijah a prophet. Elijah was an important prophet. Elijah never died. He was taken up in a whirlwind by a chariot of fire and never died. He was seen on the Mount of Transfiguration. Elijah was a big deal to the Jewish people. God does miraculous things through Elijah.

1 Kings 17:1 (ESV) "Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, 'As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.'"

This is a pretty big statement. If they discover dew on the ground Elijah would be seen as a liar. Ba'al was the god of storms and crops so the one true God was disarming Ba'al. It should have been no problem for Ba'al if he had any power. God was showing the people that if they wanted to follow and worship Ba'al they were going to "reap what the sowed"

1 Kings 17:2-6 (ESV) "And the word of the LORD came to him: 'Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.' So he went and did according to the word of the LORD. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook."

God pronounces his judgement and then sends him away. Maybe God is keeping him safe and God provides for him. God uses an unclean raven to provide food for Elijah.

1 Kings 17:7-16 (ESV) "And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. Then the word of the LORD came to him, 'Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.' So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, 'Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.' And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, 'Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.' And she said, 'As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.' And Elijah said to her, 'Do not fear, go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.' And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah."

God sent Elijah into the land of Sidon...into the land of Ba'al to keep him from the children of Israel. The widow calls the Lord by name, "as the LORD your God lives". He is not her God. 

I. Submission to God is difficult

The trip from where Elijah had been staying was about 100 miles. No water and food.

The widow and her son were starving. She was preparing to make their last meal and a stranger appears asking for water and a cake of bread. She is a Sidonian and not Jewish. She did not worship God, but she knew him. She listened to Elijah and trusted him and his God.

Romans 12:1 (ESV) "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

Our submission to God is a sacrifice. It can be tough to submit to God. We are called to submit to God. Tithing is submission to God. Serving at Day Camp is submission to God and God can bless you through serving and submission. 

II. God Blesses Faithfulness 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

A lot of what God does in our lives does not make sense to us. If we are leaning on God's "understanding" it will not make sense to non Christians and will cause them to question what is different about you. Our life should shine in such a way that it looks different to the world around us. God blesses our faithfulness. Elijah and the widow were faithful in what God had called them to do. God continued to provide and bless them. This also happened to Daniel. Sometimes we receive clarity in our situations after we obey.

Romans 12:2 (ESV) "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

When we submit to God, he has a way of shaping and molding our minds and our understanding and gives us clarity and direction.

III. God always keeps his promises 

Proverbs 30:5 (ESV) "Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him."

We have to put our trust in God. People will let you down, but God keeps his promises.

Romans 8:28 (ESV) "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

God cares for us and he is going work out all these things out for our good and his glory! There is some place in you life that you need to step out in faith more and trust and believe that God is going to bless us.

IV. God has a special heart for widows. 

Psalms 68:5, Deuteronomy 14:29, 24:19, James 1:27

God has special heart for widows, the hurting, those in, the orphans. God has a special heart for them and we should as well. We should live our lives in a way that reflects that we care for those.

God is in the middle of disciplining Israel and he sends Elijah all the way to this widow so that he can care for her and her son during this time. God can handle a lot at the same time. He is working everywhere in different ways, but always working.

1 Kings 17:17-24 (ESV) "After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. And she said to Elijah, 'What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!' And he said to her, 'Give me your son.' And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed. And he cried to the LORD, 'O LORD my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with who I sojourn, by killing her son?' Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the LORD, 'O LORD my God, let this child's life come into him again.' And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, 'See, your son lives.' And the woman said to Elijah, 'Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.'"

The widow realizes that the God that Elijah serves is over death. He is in control of death. She also makes a connection between sin and death. (Romans 6:23) There is a separation from God because of our sin. Elijah has great compassion for her. His heart is broken for her and calls out to the Lord on her behalf.

V. Make sure your compassion button isn't broken 

People can wear our compassion out...but we need to fight against hardening our hearts.

Matthew 9:36 (ESV) "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

Colossians 3:12 (ESV) "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,"

VI. Death is our greatest enemy 

This widow is asking why. We have all been there. We have all asked why. Death will come for us all unless the Lord comes back first.

This is the first resurrection that we see in the Bible. Why here in Ba'al territory. It happens to a forgotten widow. God did not resurrect David's son after his sin. David mourned before his son died, but then worshiped God after he had died. People did not understand. David said "the child cannot return to me, but I can go to the child." There was no precedent for resurrection at this time, but still Elijah asks God to "revive" the child. In Canaanite mythology Ba'al was regularly defeated by his archenemy Mot (death) then rescued by another god...like agriculture cycle, but powerless against it. But not our God! Our God lives and gives life! 

VII. Our God gives life

1 Thessalonians 4:13 (ESV) "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope."

Matthew 15:28 (ESV) "Then Jesus answered her, 'O woman, great is your faith! Let it be don for you as you desire.' And her daughter was healed instantly."

John 11:25-26 (ESV) "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'"

Jesus raised the Canaanite woman's daughter, a widow's son, Jairus' daughter and Lazarus. We can see how some people thought he was Elijah. Eventually Jesus himself would defeat death and was resurrected, so that all that came to know him by faith would be made new, made right with God and also have eternal life through Him.

How to Hear from God

 Have you ever felt like God has been silent in your life? Have you ever felt spiritually dry and that God is far away? What do you do?

1.) Listen

1 Samuel 3 gives us an example of listening to God. Samuel was a young boy living in the temple and he heard someone call his name. He runs to Eli and Eli told him that he had not called for him. After a couple more times. Eli says to Samuel to the voice "Speak, LORD, for your servant hears." Presumably Samuel got still and quiet and listened. How often do you sit in silent and listen? 

a.) Take some time 

Psalm 42:1-2a  (ESV) "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God,"

We desire that connection with God. Lord I want to hear from you. We should desire a connection with God.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV) "pray without ceasing,"

Pray, read the scriptures....pray through the scriptures.

b.) Get rid of distractions 

Matthew 6:6 (ESV) "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

When it comes to God we must ACTIVELY listen. Be alone with God and hear from Him. If God spoke to you would you even hear Him? Is your life so loud that you cannot hear from God?

2.) Go where God speaks 

a.) Bible 

The authors of the books of the Bible were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

God has spoken and it is recorded in the Bible you just have to read it. Pray while reading through the scriptures. The more that you read it you will learn from it. We need to allow the scriptures to sink into our hearts and let them change how we think. We need to STUDY the scriptures to hear from God. Write what you learn down that you can apply to your life.

b.) Go to Church 

Sing the songs, think about them and praise God. God can use preachers and Sunday school teachers to us. 

Psalm 122:1 (ESV) "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD!'"

Are you excited to go to church? Why would you not want to go gather with other believers. 

c.) Seek close fellowship with other believers 

Pray together, share and encourage one another. 1 Corinthians 12 tells us that we are the body of Christ. Independent members of Christ. Surround yourself with the body. Let them minister to you, let them be apart of your life.

3.) Unclog your heart 

Sin is the plaque that clogs our spiritual heart. It makes us weak and ineffective and hinders our prayers and our walk. It hinders our fellowship with other believers.

Isaiah 59:1-2 (ESV) "Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot hear, but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear."

Psalm 66:18 (ESV) "If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened."

Sin can harm our walk with the Lord. It can hinder our relationship with Him and hear from Him. We can cherish iniquity. An iniquity is more of an habitual act of rebellion, deep seated, premeditated, unrepentant. Iniquity can mess with us all. It can harm our relationship with God. An example of iniquity is what David did with Bathsheba and Uriah. That event set off a chain reaction in David's life that caused a lot of problems for him. 

a.) Confess to God 

Psalm 32:1-5 (ESV) "Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,' and you forgave the iniquity of my sin."

We cannot be comfortable with our sin in our lives. We cannot be pleased with it in our lives. We must confess to God.

1 John 1:9 (ESV) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

When you confess to God, your are aligning your mind and your heart and your will to that of God's. You are saying to God that I know that these things are not right and I am aligning myself with You. I need help with that. God promises to forgive and to heal. We also should confess to each other so that you can have someone hold you accountable. Also if you have wronged someone we need to confess to them and ask forgiveness. 

James 5:16 (ESV) "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

When you confess it is like you are accepting a plea deal. Taking the power of the enemy away from him. He cannot use it against you because you have already confessed it. We need accountability in our lives. 

b.) Repent 

You cannot just say you are sorry, you have to be repentant. You have to change your heart.

Matthew 5:29-30 (ESV) "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell."

Jesus is showing us that sin is spiritually deadly. He is talking about the seriousness of sin. Whatever is causing you to stumble, remove it from your life. When we clean out our heart it becomes more sensitive to the things of God.

 If someone confesses to you their sin, then you need to look at your own heart and make sure that you are forgiving people. Unforgiveness can be a sin. Unforgiveness can clog up your heart. You should not hold on to a grudge. Nothing will tear apart a family more than unforgiveness. We have to learn to forgive one another. It sometimes can overflow into the church. 

4.) Be faithful in the little things

The parable of the talents... the servant that had been given 5 talents doubled it, the one that had 2 talents doubled it, and the one that had 1 talent buried it. When the master came back he rewarded the first two and took away from the third. When God gives you something to do, do it. Sometimes it is easy and sometimes it is difficult.

Matthew 25:23 (ESV) "His master said do him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'"

Why should God give you more direction, why should God give you more closeness, when you won't take the step with the little things. Most of us know of something that God is calling you to do or repent of but you are refusing to do it. Why should God give us something else when we are not faithful with the little things. Most of us know what we should do and don't do it.

Your feelings can lead you astray. That church camp feeling. You come home and then you think "God left", but God never left. You stopped reading your bible, you stopped praying, you stopped praising God for hours a day.

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV) "The heart of a man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps."

If we are being faithful and honoring God, then He is directing us and handling things behind the scenes.

Closing Scripture:

Psalm 32: 8-11 (ESV) "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. May are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!"

  

Post Resurrection Appearances of Jesus

 40 days of post resurrection appearances of Jesus, 11 were recorded in scripture but there were probably many more that were not recorded.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (ESV) "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me."

Acts 1:3 (ESV) "He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God."

This idea of many more appearances can be compared to Jesus preformed many more miracles than were recorded in scripture.

John 20:30-31 (ESV) "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

Just because we only have 11 recorded post resurrection appearances doesn't mean there weren't many more. The disciples didn't always pay attention or understand all that Jesus was saying during His 3 year ministry, but they were definitely listening during the 40 days of appearances.

I. What Post Resurrection Appearances did for the Disciples

1. Post Resurrection Appearances PROVED Jesus was alive!

Jesus was not resuscitated, but resurrected AND glorified. This is different from Lazarus. Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, but Lazarus eventually died again. He was not glorified.    Jesus' glorified body was no longer subject to pain, no longer subject to aging, disease or even death. It is the same body ( he had the scars from the crucifixion) but it is much more improved. His body is in a glorified state, not subject to the weakness and death that we are subject to. It is important to know that it is the same body that He died in. He ate with them and they touched him. He was not a spirit appearing before them. He had flesh and bone...a real body, a new and improved body, not just material but also spiritual.

2. Post Resurrection Appearances PROVED Jesus to be who He claimed to be!

Romans 1:1-4 (ESV) "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,"

Jesus was declared by God to be the Son of God, to be the Messiah, to be who He claimed to be by the resurrection. Jesus didn't raise Himself from the dead, God did. Jesus had God's approval and backing. You can trust Jesus Christ, because He has God's approval and backing.

3. Post Resurrection Appearances PROVED Jesus has power over death.

Matthew 28:18 (ESV) "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'"

The disciples have seen many incredible things the past 3 years. Now Jesus comes back to life after being in the grave, and not alive like Lazarus is alive to die again, but  He is alive in a glorified state. He makes it clear to them before ascending into heaven that ALL authority, everything is subject to Him. He is Lord over everything, not just blindness, not just water, all authority. He is victorious over death, He has authority even over death.

Revelation 1:17-18 (ESV) "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, 'Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.'"

At this day and time Hades was the holding place for the dead. Jesus has the keys. Death has no authority of Jesus, Hell has no authority over Jesus, the grave has no authority over Him. Death does not have the final word....Jesus does! He is Lord over death.

4. Post Resurrection Appearances show the reliability of Scripture.

We have so much scripture that prophesied about the Messiah. Isaiah 53 is a prime example of this. This is the "suffering servant" passage. Jews for hundreds of years argued who is the "suffering servant"? Is it Isaiah, is he talking about himself? After Jesus died and was resurrected it became clear that Isaiah was talking about Jesus. He suffered for our sins. This is just one of many many passages that we can see prophesies that were fulfilled in Jesus. The point of that is that you can trust scripture. Jesus showed that scripture is reliable and you can trust it. 

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV) "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,"

What if Jesus had died on the cross for our sins, but never appeared after His resurrection? The Jesus movement would have died with Jesus. The disciples would not have been able to carry it on. What good is a dead Messiah? But because He showed Himself for 40 days the disciples became bold and grew the movement and the Church is still growing today. 

II. What do the Post Resurrection Appearances do for us? 

1. Followers of Jesus can expect VICTORY over death.

We have no power over death. Death will claim you unless the Lord returns. Christians have no power over death. Jesus has power over death. He is willing to exercise His power over death on your behalf, if you choose Him as your Savior and Lord.

John 11:23-26 (ESV) "Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.' Martha said to him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.' Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'"

This is not a doctrine taught by any denomination, any church, these are Jesus' words Himself. John 14:6. Jesus set down the terms of exclusiveness. If you trust in Him, He is willing to exercise His power over death on your behalf.

1 Corinthians 15:20-26 (ESV) "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death."

Jesus is the beginning of the harvest! Jesus is willing to share His power over death with you if you believe in Him.

1 Corinthians 15:54-56 (ESV) "When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.' 'O death, where is you sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law."

Revelation 20:13-14 (ESV) "And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire."

If you are a follower of Christ then you should not fear death, maybe the process of dying, but not the state of death.

Recommend the book "Imagine Heaven" by John Burke

2. Followers of Jesus can expect a glorified body

1 Corinthians 15:42-49 (ESV)  "So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, 'The first man Adam became a living being'; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven."

We can expect a glorified body, if you are a follower of Christ.

Philippians 3:20-21 (ESV) "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."

The promise is that you will have a body like Jesus if you believe in Him. (at the general Resurrection)

1 John 3:2 (ESV) "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is."

We don't become like God, but we will have similarities. We don't understand how that happens after 2000 years in the grave.

3. Followers of Jesus can expect an eternal inheritance

Not sure what that will exactly look like.

Romans 8:15-17 (ESV) "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

We will be joint heirs with Christ. There is something for us in Heaven. No one can steal your inheritance.

1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,"

Revelation 21:4 (ESV) "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

No tears, no death, no mourning, no pain, eternal life...eternal bliss and many other things that we don't know.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV) "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

Paul is making it clear that the Holy Spirit that you receive at salvation is a deposit guaranteeing your inheritance. We compare it to earnest money put down on a piece of property. It is a promise that we will get our inheritance.

John 14:1-3 (ESV) "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

This is part of the inheritance.

4. Followers of Jesus can expect a life changing experience 

Once the disciples saw the risen Lord they were no longer afraid. Before Jesus' death/resurrection they were followers...after they were leaders. After He appeared they became bold leaders. Before they were influenced by everything....after they were influencers, the built the Church. You are not (probably) going to experience a post resurrection appearance of Christ, but you will experience a post resurrection experience of Christ. If the Holy Spirit moves you, if the Holy Spirit convicts you, if the Holy Spirit impresses you, if the Holy Spirit leads you, that is an experience. It is not an appearance like the disciples had, but an experience and you submit to it, it is going to change your life.

5. Followers of Jesus can expect Biblical Hope

Biblical hope = expectation/confidence/ anticipation/comfort. 

Christ's death and resurrecting does not (yet) remove sin and suffering from this life (from this world) but....

     A. It gives us Hope of a better world to come

    B. We have Hope of restitutions for sufferings and losses that we have experienced here.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV) "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are seen  are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Challenge:

1. Put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ

2. Learn the Scriptures. Study the Scriptures. The more you learn, the stronger your faith will be.

3. Follow Christ's teachings and prompting.

A summary of Paul concerning our resurrection...1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV) "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 

The point is...hang in there, don't give up, you will be rewarded.

Closing Scripture:

Hebrews 13:20-21 (ESV) "Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

  

Resurrection Sunday: The Evidence and Our Heart

 I. It's OK to have doubts 

You are in good company! John the Baptist had doubts too. John leapt in his mother's womb in the "presence" of Jesus (when he was in Mary's womb). He baptized Jesus and saw the dove descend on Jesus and heard God say "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:17b And still he wondered, he still had doubts. While he was in prison he doubted and he sent messengers to ask Jesus if he was the one.

Matthew 11:3 (ESV) "and said to him, 'Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?'"

It is easy to doubt in different times in our lives. We can grow from our doubts. God can handle our tough questions and our doubts.

II. God blesses the genuine seekers

Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV) "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

Proverbs 8:17 (ESV) "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me."

Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV) "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."

If you want to find God...SEEK Him! If you truly want to know God, he will make himself known to you. Even people who are trying to disprove God find him while they are studying.

Lee Stroble, a journalist and lawyer and an atheist. His wife got saved and he wanted to prove her wrong and then ended up giving his life to Christ. He has written several books, the most popular being "The Case for Christ".

Jay Warner Wallace a L.A. County homicide detective and an outspoken atheist who was determined to use his detective skills to show that Jesus was a myth and a hoax. He ended up becoming a Christian and wrote "Cold Case Christianity". 

Josh McDowell an atheist who wanted to become a lawyer and before going to law school he wrote a paper to disprove Christianity. He became convinced of the evidence and accepted Christ. He became a world renowned apologist and wrote "Evidence Demands a Verdict"

Gilbert West (1700's) from Oxford, set out to disprove the resurrection and ended up becoming a Christian and then wrote several apologetics texts.

Simon Greenleaf he played a pivotal roll in Harvard Law School. He wrote that the evidence of the resurrection would hold up in a court of law. 

If you are seeking God...keep seeking, if you are a skeptic, pray, ask God to reveal himself to you. Open the word, read a Psalm a day, a Proverb a day. 

John 18:37 (ESV) "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 of the truth listens to my voice.'"

For those who love the truth hear him.

III. Jesus offers proof 

A. To John the Baptist

Matthew 11:2-6 (ESV) "Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, 'Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?' And Jesus answered them, 'Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them, And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.'"

Jesus didn't just say yes, He offered him proof.

Isaiah 29:18-19 (ESV) "In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel."

Isaiah 35:5-6 (ESV) "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;"

It was prophesied that he would restore sight to the blind. Many people performed miracles in the bible, in both Old and New Testament scripture, but no one but Jesus restored sight to the blind.

B. To the Disciples 

Acts 1:3 (ESV) "He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God."

The disciples were convinced that Jesus was raised from the dead.

C. To Thomas 

John 20:27-28 (ESV) "Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.' Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!'"

D. To the multitudes

John 5:36 (ESV) "But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father who has sent me."

John 10:25 (ESV) "Jesus answered them, 'I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me,"

John 21:25 (ESV) "Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written."

Jesus provided all kinds of miraculous things to prove who he was to the multitudes.

E. Even to the wicked (scribes and pharisees)

Matthew 9:1-6 (ESV) "And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.' And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, 'This man is blaspheming.' But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, 'Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins'-he then said to the paralytic-'Rise, pick up your bed and go home.'"

The Pharisees were always trying to trap him. Everyone knew that only God could forgive sins. They could see what he was doing.

F. And also to you

Everyone of us have had things happen in your life that are miraculous. God has given us a lot of evidence.

IV. Can't Deny Historic Jesus 

There absolutely was a man named Jesus of Nazareth who walked the earth, had a large following, who was crucified and whose body went missing. His disciples were positive that he rose from the dead. We have so many lines of evidence that Jesus existed... the 4 gospels, the books written by Paul, Peter James, Jude and John. Writings of early church fathers... Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp. Not only were they willing to write about the life of Christ but they were willing to die for defending that.

Non Christians that wrote about the man named Jesus, Suetonius, Pliny the Younger testified that Jesus' followers worshiped Jesus as God. Mara Gar-Serapion, Tacitus mention Jesus and his followers in their writings. Thallus, most of his writings went missing, but we know that he existed because others have quoted him including Julius Africanus who was a Christian. Thallus was trying to explain away the darkness and earthquakes that happened at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus. It seems that he assumes that everyone around at this time knew that this happened. Thallus, who was not a Christian, was trying to explain away these things that happened. He was trying to say that the darkness was because of a "total solar eclipse". Julius Africanus said it was impossible to be caused by a "total solar eclipse" because the Passover was always during a full moon and you cannot have a solar eclipse during a full moon.

Josephus, a Jewish person who became a Roman historian, wrote in 90 AD "Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day."

We have an embarrassment of riches in evidence. So much archeological evidence. They have found the "bone box" that has an inscription on it that says "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus". The Shroud of Turin is evidence. A man named, Dionysius the Areopagite, who is mentioned in Acts 17:34, as Paul was preaching on Mars Hill. This man was studying in Egypt at the time of Jesus' crucifixion, according to him that at the time of the crucifixion a supernatural darkness fell over the land even in Egypt. He took note of it, it really bothered him. Later on he was serving in the high court in Athens as Paul was preaching. All of a sudden he connected the dots and became a Christian. He became a Bishop and eventually gave his life in defense of Christ. 

If Jesus didn't exist nobody existed....or as C.S. Lewis said it he was either a Liar, Lunatic or Lord, you have to choose.

V. Why should you believe in the Resurrection 

A. Believe Women 

Everyone of the Gospel accounts says that women were the first witnesses of the resurrection were women. At this time women were not seen as credible, but they ALL say the same thing so the only reason they all included it in the Gospel writings is that it must be true.

B. No body

There was no body.  All you had to do to squash this movement was to produce a body. The Pharisees tried to start a rumor that the disciples stole the body. These Galilean teenagers were going to overpower the guard (Roman or Temple). They would have had to unwrap the body, and take of the face cloth and fold gently and lay to the side. 

C. The Changed Lives

These people that encountered the resurrected Jesus; their lives were changed.

Peter was afraid, he denied Christ 3 times. At Pentecost he receives the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaims Jesus Christ. People were amazed at how his fe was changed.

Paul was a persecutor of the church who has encounter with the risen Christ and becomes the worlds greatest missionary.

James, the brother of Jesus, did not trust his brother's claims. John 7:5 says that Jesus' brother's did not believe him. Then after the Resurrection, James encountered Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:7) James became a leader in Jerusalem and he was stoned to death in 62 AD according to Josephus.

D. The Disciples signed their testimony in blood. 

The disciples proclaimed forever the message of Jesus and all except for John gave their lives for Jesus. Peter was crucified upside down, they all suffered horrible deaths, beheaded, hung, flayed, speared, stoned, sawed in 2. They tried to kill John. He was boiled in oil, exiled and then wrote Revelation. They all remained faithful.

VI. Why do some reject the risen Jesus?

Maybe for some it is ignorance. Maybe they haven't put much thought in it. But for most people it is rebellion. 

We love our Sin 

If Jesus is in fact the Son of God and raised from the dead you have to take the things that he said and taught seriously. If you do that then you will have to turn away from some things in your life.

John 3:19-20 (ESV) "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."

The reason most people reject Jesus is because the love their sin. They hate the light because it exposes their sin and darkness. The Pharisees and Sanhedrin witnessed everything. They had all kinds of evidence. It couldn't have been an intellectual thing. They saw everything, they interviewed those that saw the miracles or were those who were healed. They were a witness to the crucifixion and the earthquake, the darkness, the testimony of the guards that said his body was gone. They had all of the evidence and still did not believe. Why? The loved their sin, they loved their authority and the things of this world more than God.

What about you? There are things that we refuse to give to God. I encourage you to seek after Jesus. 

John 11 Martha's conversation with Jesus about the resurrection 

John 11:25-27 (ESV) "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?' She said to him, 'Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.'"

Palm Sunday Lord's Supper Service

 Some think that it is strange that we celebrate the death of our Savior. It is a sacred thing. The Lord's Supper is also sacred, therefore we do not celebrate the Lord's Supper often because we want to keep it sacred and special.

I. Jesus our Passover Lamb 

1. Exodus 12 describes the Passover lamb in the Old Testament. The Passover lamb was to be inspected. It could not have any blemishes, a year old male. Jesus was brought on trial by the Jewish and Roman leadership and he was "inspected" by them and they could not find any "blemishes".

2. The Passover lamb was brought into the home for 10-14 days. The family would have come to "love" the lamb. Jesus came into Jerusalem and into the hearts of the people.

3. The Israelite people were told to sacrifice their lamb and place the blood on the door frame of their home and all that were inside that home would be protected from the "Angel of Death" passing over Egypt. The people were redeemed by the blood of the Passover lamb. Jesus' blood covers our sin. All of the people who come under the blood of Jesus are saved by grace through faith. He was the sacrifice that covers all of our sins forever. His righteousness is given to us and we come into a right relationship with God through Jesus we are covered by the blood and we are saved and made new.

II. Why did Jesus die? 

1. To reconcile us to God.

Colossians 1:19-22 (ESV) "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,"

We were alienated from God and we could not reach Him because of our sin. He made away through Christ's blood.

2. To pay for our sins once and for all.

Hebrews 9:11-15 (ESV) "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant."

Jesus came to be the final sacrifice. The blood of an animal could never take away the sins of the world so God had to send His Son. Jewish tradition tells that during the time of the second temple period a scarlet thread, made from wool, was fastened to the door of the temple, and later tied to the head of the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement. Once everything was done according to the law this scarlet thread would miraculously become white. Showing that God was pleased and he had accepted the sacrifices. "The Sages taught...during the forty years prior to the destruction of the Second Temple (AD 70 which would put it about 30 AD) the lot for God did not arise in the High Priest's hand at all. So too, the strip of crimson wool that was tied to the head of the goat that was sent to Azazel did not turn white, and the westernmost lamp of the candelabrum did not burn continually. And the doors of the Sanctuary opened by themselves as a sign that they would soon be opened by enemies" (recorded in the Babylonian Talmud Yoma 39B) Their sacrifices were not being accepted by God and their sins were not forgiven. What happened 40 years before the destruction of the Temple? They did not include that the veil separating the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom at the time of Christ's death. God is offering more evidence for the people. After Christ's sacrifice it never turned white again. Why? 

The song "Jesus Paid It All" quotes Isaiah 1:18 (ESV) "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."

3. To Reconcile us to each other.

Galatians 3:26-29 (ESV) "for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise."

The Temple in Jerusalem was set up like this, the outer court was for the Gentiles, the next court was for the Jewish women, the next court was for Jewish men (clean men), the next inner court was for priests, the next was the Holy Place, and finally the Holy of Holies. There were barriers that separated each court. What Paul is saying in Galatians 3 is that in Christ Jesus the barriers have been broken down and we have a direct relationship with God through Christ Jesus. We also should be reconciled with one another. We should be closest to other Christians. Our relationship with Jesus binds us together. He has made us one. He has made us one kingdom all having access to God through Jesus. This should be demonstrated in how we treat one another.

John 13:34-35 (ESV) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

So today as we remember Christ's sacrifice on the cross what should we do today?

1. We should remember Christ's sacrifice and be grateful.

If you preached on the cross every Sunday you probably wouldn't be doing it enough. If we ever get "over" what happened on the cross, we have made a huge mistake. We can not overestimate what was accomplished on the cross. Last week's sermon went into great detail of the crucifixion. We don't know why this is how God chose to reconcile us. But Jesus said that "Moses lifted up the serpent, so must the Son of Man be lifted up" and Christ was lifted up, suspended between heaven and earth. On that cross He took on our iniquity, our sin and gave up His life for us. He did no wrong, but we did. Jesus took on our sin and our punishment so that we might be made right. He also did this to draw all the world to himself. For 2000 years God has been drawing men from all over the world to himself. Revelation tells us that every tribe and every tongue will be represented.

2. Examine our own hearts.

When you take the Lord's Supper it is a serious thing. Paul warns us that it is a serious thing. We need to examine our own hearts and repent of any sin and confess it and repent of it. Anything between us and God. And also anything between us and anyone else. We need to confess and repent.

1 Corinthians 11:27-31 (ESV) "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged."

The Lord's Supper

Matthew 26:26 (ESV) "Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body.'"

Matthew 26:27-28 (ESV) "And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'"

Closing Scripture

Hebrews 9:23-28 (ESV) "Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundations of the world. But as it is he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgement, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."

The Crucifixion of Christ

 Crucifixion had been practiced by many peoples before Rome. Crucifixion was very painful and shameful. We get the word "excruciating" from the word crucifixion. The person being crucified were typically naked and therefore publicly humiliated. Crucifixion was typically used for the worst offences and were public because they wanted to use it as a deterrent. Crucifixion was usually preceded by scourging, which in itself was life threatening. The victim was then forced to carry their own cross, either the entire cross or just the cross bar. Sometimes the victim was tied onto the cross, but the most painful was where the person was nailed to the cross. If the victim was strong enough to raise themselves up to breathe they could be on the cross for 4 days. Death was typically from asphyxiation, the result of not being able to raise oneself up to breathe. To hasten death the soldiers would often break the legs of the victim with a steel bar, just as what happened to the two thieves crucified with Jesus. There were different types of crosses, a stake, a T, an X, or the cross we typically think of on which Jesus was crucified on. This was the traditional type because they could place a sign overhead to state their crime. Jesus had a sign that said "Jesus of Nazareth-King of the Jews". There were many people crucified. 6,000 followers of Spartacus were crucified in 73 B.C. In A.D. 70 Titus (a general) had many of those who defended Jerusalem crucified. Josephus recorded that people were crucified in various positions for entertainment. Josephus had 3 friends crucified. He was friends with Titus and went to him and asked him to spare his 3 friends. All 3 were taken down, but 2 still died. Crucifixion was abolished by Constantine the Great in 337 B.C. because he was a follower of Christ.

Did  Jesus have to be crucified? Scripture suggests YES.

John 3:14-15 (ESV) "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."

John 12:32 (ESV) "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."

Deuteronomy 21: 22-23 (ESV) "And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land the the LORD your God  is giving you for an inheritance."

Cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree...Jesus was cursed for us.

His death demonstrates (for us) 

1. God's love for us

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

Romans 5:8 (ESV) "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

2. God's justice 

Romans 3:25-26 (ESV) "whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

Scripture is clear...we are REDEEMED (paid for/ bought back). Propitiation means satisfaction of a debt owed.

1 John 2:2 (ESV) "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."

1 John 4:10 (ESV) "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

Romans 3:24-26 (ESV) "and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

The concept throughout the New Testament was Jesus paid for our sins.

1 Peter 3:18a (ESV) "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous"

Is there any other way to have forgiveness of sin and salvation? Apparently not. 

Jesus in the garden in Gethsemane Matthew 26:39 (ESV) "And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as you will.'"

On the road to Emmaus Luke 24:25-27 (ESV) "And he said to them, 'O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?' And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." 

The point is there is no forgiveness apart from His death.

What about the blood? Was blood necessary? The Old Testament sacrifices brought forgiveness, but they did not pay for man's sin

Hebrews 10:3-5 (ESV) "But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, 'Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;'"

Hebrews 9: 23-26 (ESV) "Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."

All of the sacrifices of the Old Testament were pointing to Christ. This necessitates INCARNATION! He had to be human to bleed and die.

Hebrews 2:17 (ESV) "Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people."

Christ is our substitutional sacrifice  if we accept Him

1.We are forgiven.

2. Our sins are removed.

Old Testament picture of the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). 2 goats were brought to the priest for sin offerings for the people. One goat was sacrificed and the other the priest would lay hands on its head and confess the peoples sins. This goat was then taken out away from the camp into the wilderness and released (the Scapegoat). This signifies the removal of sin.

1 Peter 2:24 (ESV) "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."

1. On the cross Jesus suffered physical death. (An excruciating death!)

2. On the cross Jesus suffered the pain of bearing our sins. 

Isaiah 53:6 (ESV) "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

3. On the cross Jesus suffered abandonment

by his disciples after the crucifixion

By His Father! Matthew 27:45-46 (ESV) "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lema  sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'"e

God turned away from the sin. These word's came from Psalm 22:1 (ESV) "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning." It is a cry of despair or perplexity.

Because...

1. He knew He was going to die and be a sin bearer.

2. He knew He'd go to the Father

3. He knew He'd RISE AGAIN!

This cry of pain and anguish was physical and mental.

4. On the Cross Jesus suffered the wrath of God for our sins! 

Isaiah 53:5-6 & 10 (ESV) "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 

The Results of His Sufferings

For those who personally accept His sacrifice for them He grants...

1. Forgiveness - debt paid/debt erased

2. Removal of sin - the Scapegoat

3. Reconciliation - the Bridge Illustration

4. No Condemnation - Romans 8:1 (ESV) "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Note: This does not mean there will not be any judgement. When you stand before Christ at the BEMA. It means that even though you will be judged your sins will not keep you out of Heaven. You will be judged, but not rejected.

5. Security & Confidence of your salvation, of your standing with Christ, of your destination

6. NO FEAR OF DEATH there is a distinction between the process of dying and the state of being dead. There might be fear in the process, but there shouldn't be fear in the state of death.

The doctrine of Atonement by His death has always been ridiculed by skeptics. You have to decide if this is truth or a myth. Ask God to show you.

Next week we will have a visual reminder of this doctrine...at the Lord's Supper

Matthew 26: 26-28 (ESV) "Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take eat; this is my body.' And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.'"

You can make a public declaration of your faith.

1 Corinthians 11:26 (ESV) "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."

If you are a believer you should be here for the Lord's Supper next week.

Closing Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:16 (ESV) "Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory."

 

Road to Resurrection: Cleansing the Temple Matthew 21:12-19

 We see through scripture the person of Jesus who God is and his heart.

Matthew 21:12-14 (ESV) "And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, 'It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers.' And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them."

Why is Jesus so upset?

Jesus got upset sometimes and he was always right to! He drove out both those who sold and bought. Why was he mad at those that bought? Originally the Israelites were supposed to take an animal to sacrifice from their own flock. If they didn't have a flock to choose from, then they could purchase an animal to sacrifice. During the Passover they were supposed to choose a spotless lamb and bring it into their home for 4 days before the sacrificed the animal at the temple.  

Deuteronomy 12:5-7 (ESV) "But you shall seek the place that the LORD your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there. There you shall go, and there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock. And there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the LORD your God has blessed you."

Sacrifice is a heart check

Isaiah 1:4 & 13-14 (ESV) "Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged." "Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations-I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them."

There have always been "once a year believers" People weren't living a righteous life. They came once a year made atonement/sacrifice and believed they were "covered" for another year. What about us? Are we "once a year believers"? You cannot cover a multitude of sins by throwing a few more dollars in the plate or a yearly sacrifice. The condition of your heart matters.

Romans 12:1 (ESV) "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

The people selling (robbers/bandits/armed thief forcibly taking money)

God hates dishonest gain 

Proverbs 11:1 (ESV) "A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight."

Those selling in the temple would cheat the pilgrims by exchanging their money for an unfair exchange rate so they could pay their temple tax and purchase animals for sacrifice. They would also charge more for the animals than necessary.

God REALLY hates people taking advantage of those seeking him

In Matthew 23 Jesus quotes form Jeremiah 7

Matthew 23:13 & 15 (ESV) "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves."

The people were promised blessings for giving more. Use me to draw people to God.

James 3:1 (ESV) "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness."

We pray for our teachers, that they never be hot and cold. We as teachers need to draw people to Jesus, not push them away.

Location, Location, Location 

Jesus was upset with "where" the people were set up to sell the sacrifices and exchange money. They were set up in the "Court of Gentiles". This was the place where "non-Jews" could come to seek God and worship him. It was a sacred place and it became a stockyard and filled with "used car salesmen" It should been a place of prayer. The people coming and going in this location were watching and waiting for Messiah. The Jewish leadership, Pharisees etc. were supposed to be a light, but they failed and were hated.

Be a light to the world 

We are supposed to be a light.

Psalm 67:1-3 (ESV) "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!"

In the book of Mark we see that Jesus quotes Isaiah 56:7 (ESV) "these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my alter; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."

The Jewish leadership was allowing the temple to be profaned and hindered people from drawing near to God. 

Matthew 21:15 (ESV) "But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' they were indignant, "

Hosanna means "save/deliver us". The children were crying out "save us" Jesus. The people knew he was Messiah. They called him "Son of David." 

1 Kings 9:5 (ESV) "then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, 'You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'

The Scribes, Pharisees and Chief Priests knew that the people were close to "worshipping Jesus" and they did not like this.

Matthew 21:16 (ESV) "and they said to him, 'Do you hear what these are saying' and Jesus said to them, 'Yes have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praises?'"

Psalm 8:1-2 (ESV) "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger."

YHWH is being praised in vs. 1.

Matthew 21:17-19 (ESV) "And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there. In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it again!' And the fig tree withered at once."

Jesus was giving an object lesson. He is illustrating through the fig tree what was happening in Jerusalem. He was probably drawing from Jeremiah 8:13 (ESV) "When I would gather them, declares the LORD, there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree; even the leaves are withered, and what I gave them has passed away from them." In this scripture Judah is the fig tree. It was about March when this took place. The tree should have had small edible green buds (sweet tasting), in April large green leaves would grow and then also figs. Jesus expected to find something to eat, but there was no fruit. It had all the appearances of bearing fruit, but it was not. This is just like the temple, it was ornate, beautiful. It had the appearance of grandeur and holiness, but it was not bearing fruit. What was happening on the inside was not pleasing to God.

Are you bearing fruit.

John 15:5-6 (ESV) "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned."

vs 6 the branches that don't wither, gathered and thrown into the fire.

We should be growing in our faith and producing fruit.

There were 2 cleansing of the temple. The first one was at the beginning of his ministry and this one at the end. Some believe that by "cleansing the temple" Jesus was doing his "priestly duties" found in Leviticus 14. 

We need to examine our own hearts we can be found just like these. Where are you wanting? Are you withering? Repent! Where am I hurting the cause? Lord let me be a light! Let me always offer the right sacrifice. I want to be someone who leads others to God, not push them away.

Closing Scripture:

Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV) "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"