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How Jesus Treated People - Morris L. Venden

Mar 05, 2016

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Page 1: How Jesus Treated People - Morris L. Venden

7/21/2019 How Jesus Treated People - Morris L. Venden

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/how-jesus-treated-people-morris-l-venden 1/79

Morris Venden

How JesusTreated People

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Contents

Introduction

How Jesus Treated the Money-Changers How Jesus Treated the allen How Jesus Treated the ear!ul How Jesus Treated the "utcast How Jesus Treated the #ro$enhearted How Jesus Treated %nown &inners How Jesus Treated the 'e(on-Possessed How Jesus Treated the Poor How Jesus Treated Pu)licans and Ta* Collectors How Jesus Treated "utsiders How Jesus Treated +o(en How Jesus Treated the Hopeless How Jesus Treated His 'isciples How Jesus Treated His ,eigh)ors How Jesus Treated the eligious Leaders How Jesus Treated the Co((on People How Jesus Treated the ,on-Church Me()ers How They Treated Jesus in the arden How Peter Treated Jesus How They Treated Jesus in Pilate s Judg(ent Hall The +ay o! the Cross

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Introduction

Jesus. 1ou e heard a)out Hi( )e!ore3 read a)out Hi(3 sung a)out Hi(. 1ou ha e pondered thecontradictions o! His li!e4how He is at once the La() o! od and the Lion o! the tri)e o! Judah. #oth5d ocate and Judge. #oth Man and od. His teachings are the (ost si(ple and yet the (ost pro!ound

o! all ti(e. Tiny children reached out to Hi(3 una!raid. 1et when He ca(e to earth3 the e(pires o! theworld and o! the $ingdo( o! dar$ness tre()led and were o erco(e. The guilty sinner !inds acceptanceand peace in His presence3 while the sel!-righteous are strangely unco(!orta)le. He ca(e to this earththe !irst ti(e in po erty and reproach3 )ut He will co(e again in power and glory indescri)a)le3 toreign as %ing o! $ings !ore er and e er. ,o )oo$ can )egin to paint a co(plete picture o! Hi(. 5ll the )oo$s e er written cannotdescri)e Hi( !ully3 !or the possi)ility !or new insights into His li!e and character are as li(itless aseternity itsel!. This )oo$ o!!ers si(ply another iew o! Jesus3 a iew with one particular e(phasis in (ind4 how He treated people. It starts near the )eginning o! His adult (inistry3 where the ospel writers

)egin to gi e detailed descriptions o! His interaction with arious people or groups o! people. 5gain in this setting we see the parado* o! His li!e. The co((on people heard Hi( gladly3 )utthe priests and rulers4though they )elie ed and tre()led4re6ected Hi( in the end. He welco(ed thesinners3 the harlots3 the thie es. He treated the (inority groups o! His day with dignity. He hadco(passion on the !ear!ul and ti(id and sorrowing3 yet He re)u$ed the proud and sel!-su!!icient. 5nd the result o! His (ission o! sal ation was that no one whose li!e He touched stayed thesa(e. 7ither they accepted Hi( or re6ected Hi(3 when they saw who He was. Put yoursel! in the picture as you !ollow these scenes !ro( the li!e o! Jesus. &ee Hi( reachingout to you3 today3 and allow Hi( to )rea$ down the )arriers in your li!e. Jesus lo es people4all $indso! people4and He has a place in His heart !or you. May you co(e to $now and trust Hi( )etter as youconsider how Jesus treated people.

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How Jesus Treated the Money-Changers

5!ter Jesus had )een anointed the Messiah at the ri er Jordan3 He attended the wedding at Cana3with the !irst o! His disciples. The wedding was a !a(ily a!!air3 !or those in ol ed were relati es o! Jesus. There Jesus per!or(ed His !irst (iracle )y turning water into wine in answer to the !aith o! His

(other3 who had presented to Hi( the need o! the occasion. I((ediately a!terward3 He tra eled to Jerusale( !or His !irst pu)lic act4the cleansing o! thete(ple4which called tre(endous attention to His (ission. ecorded in John 23 this episode pro ides interesting insights into how Jesus treated people.Please notice that the chapter )egins with the wedding at Cana3 !ollowed )y the cleansing o! thete(ple3 and then the inter iew with ,icode(us in John 0. The se9uence is ery interesting. :5!ter this ;that is3 a!ter the wedding at Cana< he went down to Capernau(3 he3 and his (other3and his )rethren3 and his disciples= and they continued there not (any days. 5nd the Jews Passo er was at hand3 and Jesus went up to Jerusale(.> John 2=?23 ?0. "n the way to Jerusale(3 Jesus tra eled a(ong a large throng o! people. #ut He was so little$nown at this point that He could (ingle with the people going to Jerusale( as si(ply another personin the crowd. #e!ore long that would )e i(possi)le. #ut now you see Jesus going !ro( Capernau( toJerusale( !or the Passo er as 6ust a !ellow tra eler3 tal$ing to people who were tal$ing a)out theMessiah to co(e. :5nd ;Jesus< !ound in the te(ple those that sold o*en and sheep and do es3 and the changers o! (oney sitting= and when he had (ade a scourge o! s(all cords3 he dro e the( all out o! the te(ple3and the sheep3 and the o*en@ and poured out the changers (oney3 and o erthrew the ta)les@ and saidunto the( that sold do es3 Ta$e these things hence@ (a$e not (y ather s house an house o! (erchandise. 5nd his disciples re(e()ered that it was written3 The Aeal o! thine house hath eaten (eup.> John 2=?8-?B. +hat is a (ar$etplace 5 (ar$etplace is where you )uy and sell. 5 (ar$etplace is where youget things that you ha e wor$ed !or. 5 (ar$etplace is where you get what you earn3 and you e earnedwhat you get. 5 (ar$etplace is the wrong place !or a church3 !or a church is always to )e a gi!t shop.Jesus wants His church to )e a gi!t shop4not the $ind o! place where you buy gi!ts3 )ut where youreceive gi!ts. He doesn t want it to )e a (ar$etplace. &o this is why Jesus3 on the ery !irst day o! His pu)lic (inistry3 did so(ething so shoc$ing that

4)e!ore the day was o er4so(e people already wanted to $ill Hi(. 5s we consider what He did that day3 let s notice the groups o! people to who( He spo$e.There were (erchants3 who sold sheep and cattle and do es. There were (oney-changers3 who helped

people )uy and sell )y e*changing currency. 5nd there were religious leaders3 who ser ed od !or personal gain. In the days o! Jesus3 the o!!ice o! high priest sold !or a (illion dollars. That was certainly notwhat od intended. +ith the o!!ice selling !or a (illion dollars3 o!ten the one who )ought it hadhi(sel! in hoc$ up to his ears and had to recoup his resources. &o he would co(e to an agree(ent withthe (oneychangers and the )uyers and sellers. He would get a certain percentage on their )usiness and

pay )ac$ the loan he had ta$en out to )eco(e high priest. These things went on in the days o! Jesus3religion had )eco(e so corrupt. Then there were the disciples. Jesus treated the( to a real shoc$. Dp to this point they hadapparently seen a rather su)dued3 low-pro!ile picture o! Jesus. They could al(ost ha e 6oined the )oysand girls who sing3 : entle Jesus3 (ee$ and (ild3 loo$ upon this little child.> #ut that day3 theytre()led. 'on t tell (e that Jesus was white and e(aciated3 as the artists o!ten paint Hi(. 5nyone whohad wor$ed in the carpenter shop without power tools3 cutting !our-)y-!ours and all the rest o! it )y

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hand3 didn t loo$ at all li$e the wea$ person He is shown to )e in (any pictures. 5s He raised thescourge o! cords3 the slee e (ust ha e !allen )ac$ !ro( a (uscular ar(. #ut that isn t what i(pressed the people (ost. &o(ething else was at wor$ that day. 'i initywas !lashing through. +hen the noise and con!usion suddenly !ell o!! to a deathly stillness as the eyeso! one Man (o ed o er the crowd3 )igger !orces were o) iously at wor$. The disciples were surprisedwhen they saw it happen.

Howe er3 we (ust re(e()er that Jesus was not in the )usiness o! shouting in anger. Therewere tears in His oice when He uttered His scathing re)u$es. 5nother group in the te(ple that day was the tee(ing throng4the icti(s o! the (erit-(ongersand those who ser ed od !or personal gain. 5t !irst glance3 it (ight appear that Jesus cleansed thete(ple pri(arily to get the thie es out. #ut the truth is that He cleansed the te(ple to get the poor andthe sic$ and the halt and the )lind and the discouraged in. The cleansing o! the te(ple was !or the sa$eo! the tee(ing throng. They had )een sold a )ill o! goods. They were people who had gotten the idea that you wor$ your way to hea en4the idea that you buy sheep and you buy do es3 when the &heep is !ree and so isthe 'o e. In the tee(ing throng were poor people who couldn t )uy a sheep. 5nd they would end up lyingawa$e at night3 staring at the ceiling3 wondering i! they would e er (a$e it to the eternal $ingdo(. I! religion were a thing that (oney could )uy3 the rich would li e3 and the poor would die. Then there were the capa)le people who had the resources4the rich who could producee erything necessary to get good (ar$s at the te(ple. They slept well at night )ecause they hadsecurity. #ut it was a !alse security )ased on what they did the(sel es to earn od s !a or. 5ndso(ehow3 sooner or later3 od had to wa$e the( up to this great deception. Jesus wanted to reeducate the people who ca(e to Jerusale( 6ust !or the !east and then le!t. Hewanted to reach those with no security and those with !alse security. &o He dro e out the thie es. 5ccording to Matthew3 He said3 'on t (a$e (y ather s house a (ar$etplace@ don t (a$e it aden o! thie es. &ee Matthew 2?=?0. People were not only stealing (oney3 they were stealing glory !ro(

od3 peace !ro( the people3 and security !ro( the incapa)le. Jesus dro e the( out. #ut notice that the crowds o! people pressed in instead o! running out with the (oney-changersand the priests and the ra))is. 5nd the con!usion o! the (ar$etplace was replaced )y sounds o! praiseand adoration !ro( the sic$ who had )een healed. #oys and girls3 well now3 6oined in shouting His

praises. 7 en today people can shout and (a$e !ools o! the(sel es at a !oot)all ga(e or at the stadiu(3and e eryone considers it nor(al. #ut i! so(eone says 5(en in church3 he s considered weird. &owhen the rulers and (oney-changers who had !led the te(ple !inally slowed down3 gathered their courage3 and dri!ted )ac$ toward the te(ple3 they heard the sound o! praise instead o! the sound o! a(ar$etplace. 5nd they were distur)ed. They were !ar (ore co(!orta)le with the sound o! a(ar$etplace than with the sound o! praises to od. #ut the good news is that Jesus didn t hate the thie es. Jesus was not out to get the(. He lo edthe (erchants3 and He lo ed the (oney-changers. He lo ed the religious leaders. He would later go to!easts with the(. He would attend gatherings o! ta* collectors. He would ru) shoulders with priests andrulers. Jesus pitied the( all !or their !ear and their ignorance. He longed to reach the( with His lo e3 aswell as to (inister to the tee(ing throng. "ne thing happened that day not usually included in this story. In the crowd4perhaps )ehindone o! the pillars3 standing o!! to the side in the shadows4was a (an. 5 lone (an. He was one o! thereligious leaders4a (e()er o! the &anhedrin. He stood and watched3 and he was i(pressed. ,icode(us saw the (erchants go@ he saw the (oney-changers go. He saw the ta)les toppled.He !elt the ine*plica)le power e(anating !ro( the person o! Jesus. He saw the tears@ he heard the oicethat )ro$e and cho$ed. He heard the cries o! Hosanna. He saw the healing o! the sic$. He watched it all

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!ro( the shadows. 5pparently he didn t run with the rest. He watched. 5nd he said to hi(sel!3 I (ust see$ an inter iew with this Man. There s so(ething hereunaccounted !or )y hu(an reasoning. &o in John 0 you see ,icode(us co(ing to Jesus3 directly as aresult o! His cleansing o! the te(ple. ,icode(us ca(e !or hi(sel! to hear a)out the gi!t o! sal ation. #ut now we co(e to an enig(a4a pro)le(. Jesus wants the te(ple to )e a gi!t shop. Hedoesn t want it to )e a (ar$etplace. #ut the last )oo$ o! the #i)le spea$s o! buying gold tried in the !ire

and white rai(ent and eyesal e. Jesus Hi(sel!3 in other para)les3 says we should )uy )ecause we esold e erything to get the pearl@ we should sell e erything to o)tain the treasure hid in the !ield. +hat isHe tal$ing a)out +ell3 one thing we $now He s not tal$ing a)out is gold and sil er. old is nothing in hea en.That s what they pa e their streets withG The currency o! hea en is selling all that we are or thin$ weare4all that we ha e or thin$ we ha e. It is realiAing our own nothingness and )eing willing to get rido! our sel!-dependence. It is co(ing to Jesus and accepting His gi!ts. That s how the currency wor$s. +hen Jesus tells us to sell all and )uy the !ield3 what He is really saying is3 i e up on yoursel!

4gi e up on the thought that you can e er earn it. I! you are a (ighty (an3 He says3 get rid o! trustingin that. I! you are rich3 don t trust your riches. I! you are s(art or talented or good-loo$ing3 don t trustin those ad antages. #y ad(itting our helplessness to produce righteousness and )y turning oursel esco(pletely o er to His control3 we spend hea en s currency. Trusting in od is pro)a)ly one o! the )est de!initions we could !ind !or the o!t-used Christianword3 surrender. Trust in ol es depending upon another instead o! yoursel!. #ut surrender isn t alwayseasy. &o(eti(es we try so hard to gi e up on oursel es that we )eco(e (ore li$e oursel es. +e !orgetthat only Jesus can acco(plish this wor$. It s a gi!t. aith is a gi!t. Lo e is a gi!t. +hite rai(ent is a gi!t. epentance is a gi!t. ")edience is a gi!t.Victory is a gi!t. The 'o e3 or the Holy &pirit3 is a gi!t4which )rings all other )lessings in His train.The La() is a gi!t4the La() o! od who ta$es away the sins o! the world. 5nd surrender is a gi!t. There s so(ething else we should notice in this story. +hen we spea$ o! the Holy &pirit3 whenwe tal$ o! the wor$ od is doing in our hearts3 we are re(inded o! a great truth taught )y the cleansingo! the te(ple. Jesus was announcing there His (ission as the Messiah and entering upon His wor$3 notonly to sa e people !ore er3 )ut to !ul!ill the purpose that e ery created )eing should )e a te(ple !or the indwelling o! the Creator. #ecause o! sin3 hu(anity had ceased to )e a te(ple !or od. 'ar$ened and de!iled )y e il3 theheart o! (an no longer re ealed the glory o! the 'i ine "ne. The courts o! the te(ple in Jerusale(3!illed with unholy tra!!ic3 represented all too truly the te(ple o! the heart3 de!iled )y the presence o! sensual passions and unholy thoughts. In cleansing the te(ple !ro( the world s )uyers and sellers3Jesus announced His (ission to cleanse the heart !ro( the de!ile(ent o! sin3 !ro( the earthly desires3the sel!ish lusts3 the e il ha)its that corrupt the soul. Ha e you disco ered yet that no one can o! hi(sel! cast out the e il throng that has ta$en

possession o! the heart Ha e you disco ered yet that only Christ can cleanse the soul te(ple #ut Hewill not !orce an entrance. He does not co(e into the heart as He did into the te(ple o! old. Instead3 Hesays3 :#ehold3 I stand at the door3 and $noc$.> e elation 0=2 . He in ites you to accept Hi( not only as the La() o! od3 )ut as the High Priest in the hea enswho can )e touched with the !eelings o! our in!ir(ities and was in all points te(pted li$e as we are. Hein ites you to co(e )oldly )e!ore the throne o! grace3 that you (ay o)tain (ercy and !ind grace to helpin ti(e o! need. &ee He)rews 8=?E3 ?F. 5ll power in hea en and earth resides in the person o! JesusChrist. +ithout Hi(3 no one can hope to succeed3 )ut with Hi(3 !ailure is i(possi)le. 5ll hail the power o! Jesus na(eG Let angels prostrate !all. 47dward Perronet

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How Jesus Treated the Fallen

In the little illage o! #ethany3 a)out three (iles !ro( Jerusale(3 li ed two sisters3 Mary andMartha3 and their )rother LaAarus. 5pparently LaAarus was the )readwinner o! the !a(ily. ather and(other were gone3 so Mary3 Martha3 and LaAarus li ed together in this little illage.

1ou can see LaAarus going to wor$ e ery day with his lunch pail3 co(ing ho(e tired3 perhapscatching up on the e ening news3 and going to )ed4only to )egin all o er again the ne*t day. Martha was the Martha-typeG &he could run a potluc$3 a wedding dinner3 or a church picnic. &hewas ne er happier than when out in the $itchen3 trying a new recipe. Martha was a good person. &hene er did anything wrong. Pro)a)ly the worst thing she e er did was to chew her !ingernails when theMi*(aster didn t wor$. &he was religious. It was pretty hard not to )e at that ti(e and in that locality.7 ery &a))ath (orning she went down the )eaten path !ro( her house to the synagogue. Mary3 on the other hand3 was (ore interested in the social scene. &he lo ed people. +hene er there was a church social or picnic3 Mary was always as$ed to greet the people and help the( !eel atho(e. &he was attracti e4perhaps stunning. #ut Mary carried a secret load o! guilt and (isery that no one suspected. It had to do with her Dncle &i(on. &i(on the Pharisee. ,ow Pharisees got good (ar$s in those days. They don t today3 )ut they did )ac$ then. I! anyone was as$ed what his son was doing3 he was ne er happier than to say3 :My son is a Pharisee.> &o &i(on got good (ar$s in #ethany. He was a church leader. He was respected in theco((unity. People e en respected hi( !or his close association with the !a(ily o! Mary3 Martha3 andLaAarus. 5s their closest o! $in3 he was e*pected to loo$ out !or his relati es. #ut one day &i(on )eganto loo$ too long at Mary3 and )eing in the position he was3 he soon led Mary to gi e in to his de(ands. 5pparently no one $new what was happening. &i(on continued to lead out at the synagogue.Mary continued to s(ile and chat and char(. #ut the load o! guilt she carried was al(osto erwhel(ing. 5 !ew ti(es she tried to reason with her uncle4tried to )rea$ !ro( his control. #ut wo(enweren t listened to (uch in those days3 and it was her word against his. He threatened her with pu)lice*posure and e en death. He )la(ed her !or the pro)le( in the !irst place. 5nd Mary !inally ga e uphope o! e er )eing !ree again. 5s so o!ten happens when a religious person )eco(es in ol ed in secret sin3 Mary )egan tryingto punish hersel!. &he was constantly re(inded )y the la()s and the )lood3 )y the (orning ande ening sacri!ices3 that so(eone had to pay. 5nd i! you are trying to pay !or your own sin and trying to

punish yoursel!3 one o! the )est (ethods is to co((it the sa(e sin again. This will (a$e you !eel e enworse. 5nd (a$ing yoursel! !eel worse is a con enient !or( o! sel!-punish(ent. I! sel!-punish(ent continues3 you co((it the sa(e sin again and again and again3 until !inallythere s only one thing le!t to do4to 6u(p o!! a )ridge so(ewhere as the !inal !or( o! sel!-punish(ent. &o Mary )egan trying to punish hersel!3 and as a result she ca(e to )e $nown around town as aloose wo(an. Mothers would tal$ o er the )ac$ !ence. :Ha e you heard a)out Mary > :1es.> :+atch out !or Mary. %eep your young people away !ro( Mary.> The tal$ continued to spread until one day things got so )ad !or Mary in #ethany that shedecided to lea e. &he pac$ed her )elongings and tra eled down the road !ro( the (ountain with se enhills until she ca(e to a little illage near the sea3 called Magdala. &he was later to )eco(e $nown asMary !ro( Magdala3 or Mary Magdalene. I see her going into Magdala deter(ined to start a new li!e. &he loo$s !or wor$. &he tries thelocal dry-goods store. #ut they don t need her there. &he tries the &top- -&hop3 )ut they ha e all thehelp they need. Perhaps she e en tries the catering ser ice o! Magdala3 hoping to get )y on the !ew

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things she s pic$ed up !ro( Martha. #ut they don t need any help. 5!ter wal$ing the streets o! Magdala3 loo$ing !or wor$ and getting hungry3 one day Mary gi esin to the te(ptation to earn Kso(e easy (oney. :+hy not 1ou re already into it. There are (ore la()swhere the others ca(e !ro(.> Mary was a)le to !ind those willing to pay her price. 5nd strangely enough3 she !ound a degreeo! acceptance. #ut her load o! guilt )eca(e hea ier and hea ier. &he !ound it harder and harder to

!orget the happier days in #ethany3 )e!ore the death o! her parents3 )e!ore &i(on4the days when shehad $nown peace. "ne day a tra eling Preacher ca(e to the illage o! Magdala. He didn t go to the synagogue tospea$. There wouldn t ha e )een roo( to hold the crowds. He tal$ed to the people right out there in theopen air. He said things li$e3 :Co(e unto (e3 all ye that la)our and are hea y laden3 and I will gi e yourest.> Matthew ??=2 . :+hoe er co(es to (e3 I will in no wise cast out.> &ee John F=0B. :I a( notco(e to call the righteous3 )ut sinners to repentance.> Matthew =?0. Mary lingered at the edge o! the crowd3 listening. &he had ne er heard things li$e this )e!ore.5s she listened3 her heart was strangely war(ed. &he waited until the crowds le!t3 and then she went toHi( and poured out her great need !or help. This tra eling Preacher went to His $nees and prayed !or her to His ather3 that she (ight ha ethe help she needed. Mary accepted a new Master. The de il was re)u$ed. 5nd Mary was con ertedright there. +hat a )eauti!ul storyG I would li$e to )e a)le to say that the story ended there and that Mary li ed happily e er a!ter.#ut that s not 9uite the way it was. #ecause the Preacher le!t town3 and Mary didn t. Perhaps sheshould ha e. There in Magdala were the sa(e people3 the sa(e !riends3 the sa(e oices in the(ar$etplace who would call her na(e. 5s the days went )y3 Mary disco ered that e en though she hadaccepted the peace this Preacher had to o!!er3 the downward pull was still strong. 5nd Mary !ell. In this story we ha e one o! the (ost )eauti!ul e*a(ples in all the #i)le o! how Jesus treatedthe !allen. Jesus ca(e to town again. 5gain the crowds gathered around Hi(3 listening. 5nd again Mary!ound her way to the edge o! the crowd3 wondering4wondering i! it could still )e true. 1es. He wasstill saying3 :+hoe er co(es to (e3 I will in no wise cast out.> It was still good. &he went to Hi( and disco ered that He still accepted her. 5gain she poured out her need withtears. 5nd again He went to His $nees and cried to His ather in her )ehal!. 5nd again Jesus le!t town3and Mary didn t. I d li$e to say that was the end o! the story. #ut Mary !ell again and again and again. #utwhene er Jesus ca(e to town3 Mary was in the crowd. &he was always drawn to the "ne who said3:+hoe er co(es to (e3 I will in no wise cast out.> Then one day Mary recei ed an in itation to go to Jerusale(. Perhaps the (essengers o!!ered alarge su( o! (oney !or her ser ices. Perhaps they o!!ered arrange(ents !or a (arriage. "r possi)lythey told her she was needed at ho(e4that her Dncle &i(on had sent !or her. +hate er the (ethod3Mary was !ra(ed. 5nd the pu)lic e*posure she had !eared so long )eca(e a reality. The door to the apart(ent that had )een pro ided )urst open. Loud oices denounced her as asinner3 deser ing to die. Hard hands grasped her and dragged her out into the street. Mary closed her eyes and wished that she could die. &he was !orced through the crowds and thrown down in the presence o! Jesus. &houts o! accusation !illed the air as Mary huddled there3 tre()ling3 waiting !or the !inal )lows to !all. &urely shehad !illed up her cup o! guilt4e en Jesus wouldn t )e a)le to help her now. 5s she waited there in her !ear and sha(e3 the sounds o! the (o) grew 9uiet. Mary )racedhersel! !or the !irst stone. #ut instead she heard a gentle oice as$ing3 :+here are your accusers Hasno (an conde(ned you >

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Mary raised her head. Her accusers had all disappeared. Dn)elie ingly she heard the words o! Jesus3 :,either do I conde(n you. o3 and sin no (ore.> "nce again Mary $nelt at the !eet o! Jesus3crying out !or His !orgi eness3 !or His power. &ee John . 5nd that day Mary learned so(ething shehadn t learned )e!ore4and that we re way o erdue to learn today. &he learned that it was possi)le to !ind Jesus through His +ord4to pray to Hi( where er shewas. &he learned that it was possi)le to stay at the !eet o! Jesus e en when He wasn t in town. Ha e

you disco ered that yet It s hard to sin when you are sitting at Jesus !eet. There is power there. 5nd e en though Jesus went on His way3 Mary was ready to continue to )e at His !eet3 see$ingHi( and His presence. 5nd then Mary got a )right idea. +hy not go )ac$ ho(e to #ethany to Martha and LaAarus ,osooner did the idea sur!ace than the ery )lood )egan to sing in her eins. &urely the power o! Jesuswould )e su!!icient e en !or dealing with her Dncle &i(on. &o she pac$ed up her things and headed !or #ethany. 5s she ca(e within sight o! the town3 she )egan to hear a lonely cry co((on in those days.The closer she got3 the clearer it sounded. It was a leper on the outside o! the illage walls o! #ethany. The sound was co((on enough3 all right. In those days3 leprosy was called the stro$e4the!inger o! od. Leprosy was considered a 6udg(ent4in !act3 any sic$ness was considered a 6udg(enton account o! sin. #ut leprosy was the worst. It (ade no di!!erence whether you were the (ayor o! thecity3 a leader in the synagogue3 or a Pharisee. +hen you got leprosy3 you were pronounced unclean.1ou were pushed out o! town. 1ou sat )y the side o! the road3 pu)lishing your cala(ity )y crying3:Dnclean3 unclean3> )egging !or so(eone to throw you a (orsel o! )read. &o as Mary ca(e near3 she hardly noticed the cry3 until suddenly she recogniAed so(ething inthe oice crying3 :Dnclean.> It was &i(on3 her uncle who had led her into sin. 5nd when I heard that3 I said to (ysel!3 : oodG ood !or &i(onG Let hi( rot )y the side o! theroadG> That tells you so(ething a)out my thin$ing. Mary pulled her shawl across her !ace and went on to the illage o! #ethany3 trying to ta$e inthe !act that she had nothing (ore to !ear !ro( &i(on the Pharisee. &he was so eager to see Martha and LaAarus again. &he rushed up the steps3 through the door. 5

6oy!ul reunion !ollowed3 and tears !lowed as once again the !a(ily was united. #ut word )egan to get around. :Mary s )ac$. +atch out !or Mary.> :'id you hear whathappened in Jerusale( > :They say she s changed.> :+ell3 she won t )e changed !or long. I e heard she changed )e!ore3 and it ne er lasted.> :1ouwatch her.> That s the way people tal$ed in those days. It was hard !or Mary as they whispered and gossiped3 )ut she stayed3 deter(ined to share withso(eone else the news a)out the riend she had !ound3 the riend who always lo ed and accepted her3the riend who did not conde(n her3 )ut who ga e her power to sin no (ore. &he wanted others to !indthe riend at whose !eet she lo ed to sit. 5nd she loo$ed !orward to the ti(e when He would isit thetown o! #ethany. &ure enough3 He did. "ne day Jesus tra eled up the hills to #ethany with His twel eco(panions. 5s He ca(e into town3 He too heard the cry Mary had heard4:Dnclean3 uncleanG> It see(s al(ost i(possi)le to understand. #ut Jesus !ound it hard to go past lepers. He couldn tsee( to pass the( )y3 e en when nine tenths o! the( ne er )othered to say Than$ 1ou. &o Jesus stopped at the cry o! &i(on the leper. He touched the untoucha)le and (ade hi( wellagain46ust li$e that. He didn t insist that &i(on !irst accept Hi( as &a iour. He 6ust cleansed hi(. I used to thin$ that the only people e er healed were those a)out ready !or translation. #ut Jesushealed &i(on4the sinner3 the i(pure3 the unrepentant4when he hadn t e en accepted Jesus as&a iour. Jesus (ade &i(on whole )ecause o! who Jesus was3 not )ecause o! who &i(on was. Ha e youe er wondered how Mary (ight ha e !elt when she heard the news Perhaps Jesus reassured her that

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&i(on s power o er her was still )ro$en. #ut healing is a hea y one to lay on a Pharisee. 5 Pharisee is used to earning his rewards. Thisgi!t !ro( Jesus was too (uch !or &i(on to ta$e. &o a!ter he had gone )ac$ to #ethany and )eenreinstated in his position in the illage3 you see hi( tossing and turning )y night3 pacing the !loors )yday3 trying to !igure out what to do. He hadn t )een a)le to earn or (erit )eing healed. #ut suddenly hegot an idea. He hadn t earned it )e!orehand3 )ut why not earn it a!terward &i(on said to hi(sel!3 :I ll

pay this Man )ac$ !or what He s done. I will throw a !east in His honor.> &ee Matthew 2F@ John ?2. ,ow his (ind was going !ast. Martha would )e the one to do the catering4that would )e allright. #ut Mary wasn t in ited. &i(on was unco(!orta)le around Mary. +ho $nows The leprosy (ayha e co(e upon hi( )ecause o! his in ol e(ent in her direction4)etter not ta$e chances. +hen the night o! the )an9uet ca(e3 Mary sat at ho(e. &he would ha e en6oyed the crowdsand people3 e en though so(e o! the( were still cool when she ca(e around. #ut what reallydisappointed Mary was the !act that she couldn t see Jesus. &he had heard Jesus say3 not long )e!ore3 that He was going to Jerusale( and that there Hewould )e )etrayed into the hands o! sinners. They were going to put Hi( to death. 5t great personale*pense3 Mary had purchased an ala)aster )o* o! oint(ent to anoint Jesus a!ter His death. #ut Marydoesn t li$e the idea o! gi ing !lowers at a !uneral. &he wishes to gi e her gi!t o! lo e to Jesus now. &uddenly she gra)s her )o* o! oint(ent and hurries down the 9uiet streets o! #ethany3 planningas she goes. &he rushes through the )ac$ door and on through the $itchen. Martha tries to stop her3 )utnothing stops Mary. &he (o es 9uietly across the dar$ened roo(3 lighted with those little oli e-oil la(ps3 to the

place where Jesus is sitting. Her plan is to open the )o* o! oint(ent3 anoint Jesus !eet3 and lea e. 5ndno one will e er $now. #ut she s !orgotten so(ething. +hen you open an ala)aster )o* o! the (ost costly oint(ent3 it

screams. ,ow e ery eye is turned her way. There s &i(on at the head o! the ta)le3 loo$ing daggers at her.There s Judas and all the others. &he !u()les with the oint(ent. It spills. &he has !orgotten to )ring atowel or anything to wipe it up3 so Mary does what in those days was un!orgi a)le4only a wo(an o! the streets would let down her hair. #ut she doesn t thin$ o! that. &he lets down her hair and )egins towipe up the oint(ent with her hair. 5nd &i(on3 at the end o! the ta)le3 thin$s to hi(sel!3 :I! this Man was really a prophet3 Hewould $now what $ind o! wo(an this is.> 5)out that ti(e3 Mary hears the !riendly words o! Jesus3 :Let her alone. &he has done a goodthing. 5nd where er the gospel is preached3 this story a)out Mary will )e told.> Then Jesus turned to &i(on and said3 :&i(on.> 5nd right there &i(on got sweaty pal(s. Jesus said3 :&i(on3 I ha e so(ething to say to you.>&i(on )raced hi(sel!3 e*pecting the (as$ to )e torn !ro( his !ace. He d heard a)out this Jesus whocould read people s thoughts3 and he prepared !or the worst. #ut Jesus tells a little story a)out two de)tors3 one o! who( owed a large de)t and one whoonly owed a little. #oth the de)tors were !reely !orgi en. &ee Lu$e B. ,o)ody understood the story3e*cept !or &i(on and Mary and Jesus. #ut &i(on got the (essage. 'id he e er get the (essageG &i(on was o erwhel(ed )y the lo e and co(passion o! a Man who could ha e e*posed hi(!or what he really was3 )ut who instead eiled His (essage in a para)le and protected hi( !ro( his!riends. &i(on s heart was )ro$en. He realiAed all that Jesus had done !or hi( and that he could ne er repay it. 5nd right there3 at his own !east3 &i(on accepted Jesus as Master and &a iour and Lord. Jesusgot &i(on tooG +hat a storyG 5nd i! Jesus could accept Mary and &i(on3 surely He ought to )e a)le to accept you and (etoday and to !orgi e us and lo e us to the end.

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How Jesus Treated the Fearful

Ha e you e er )een a!raid +hen you were s(all3 were you e er a!raid when the lightning!lashed and the thunder rolled Ha e you e er )een a!raid when you were alone at night Ha e youe er )een a!raid o! growing old3 o! ha ing to ha e surgery3 or o! losing your 6o) Ha e you e er )een

a!raid o! change3 o! (a$ing new !riends3 o! losing the old Ha e you e er )een a!raid o! not (a$ing itto hea en3 o! losing out on eternal li!e ear is as old as sin. The !irst thing we notice in enesis3 a!ter 5da( and 7 e ate the !ruit3 isthat they hid the(sel es. od ca(e loo$ing !or the( and said3 :5da(3 where are you +hy did youhide > 5nd he said3 :I was a!raid.> +hy was he a!raid #ecause o! sin. The last )oo$ o! the #i)le3 the )oo$ o! e elation3 gi es !ear ery poor (ar$s. :He thato erco(eth shall inherit all things@ and I will )e his od3 and he shall )e (y son. #ut the fearful, andun)elie ing3 and the a)o(ina)le3 and (urderers3 and whore(ongers3 and sorcerers3 and idolaters3 andall liars3 shall ha e their part in the la$e which )urneth with !ire and )ri(stone.> e elation 2?=B3 3e(phasis supplied. +hat a (otley )unch o! )ed!ellows !ear shows up with. ear gets )ad (ar$s in&cripture3 )ecause od has so(ething )etter than !ear !or His people. ,ow there s an interesting episode in the li!e o! Jesus that ta$es us right into this su)6ect. It s!ound in Mar$ 84the story o! the stor( on the &ea o! alilee. :In the sa(e day3 when e en was co(e3he saith unto the(3 Let us pass o er unto the other side.> Mar$ 8=0E. ,otice that it was Jesus suggestion to cross the la$e that e ening. It wasn t the disciples idea4 their !olly. It wasn t a (atter o! their getting the(sel es into a tight place. They set out to cross the la$eat the co((and and in itation o! Jesus Hi(sel!. Jesus said3 Let s go o er to the other side. :5nd when they had sent away the (ultitude3 theytoo$ hi( e en as he was in the ship. 5nd there were also with hi( other little ships. 5nd there arose agreat stor( o! wind3 and the wa es )eat into the ship3 so that it was now !ull. 5nd he was in the hinder

part o! the ship3 asleep on a pillow= and they awa$e hi(3 and say unto hi(3 Master3 carest thou not thatwe perish :5nd he arose3 and re)u$ed the wind3 and said unto the sea3 Peace3 )e still. 5nd the windceased3 and there was a great cal(. 5nd he said unto the(3 +hy are ye so !ear!ul how is it that yeha e no !aith 5nd they !eared e*ceedingly3 and said one to another3 +hat (anner o! (an is this3 thate en the wind and the sea o)ey hi( > Mar$ 8=0F-8?. 1ou would )e awed3 too3 )y such an e*perience.#ut let s go )ac$ and try to put oursel es into the picture and i(agine what it was li$e that day. The day had )een a )usy one. Jesus had told (any para)les. He had healed the sic$. He had

)rought co(!ort to trou)led hearts. ,ow He was tired. He was o erco(e with hunger and e*haustion.od 1es. Hungry and tired4(ay)e e en (ore tired than the rest o! the(G &o they set out across the

sea to a 9uiet place to !ind so(e rest. &uddenly3 as so o!ten happened on that sea3 the wind whipped down !ro( the slopes o! adaraand churned the water into a !rothy !renAy. The wa es were lashed into !ury )y the howling winds anddashed !iercely o er the disciples )oat3 threatening to engul! it. Helpless in the grasp o! the te(pest3their hope !ailed as they saw the )oat )eginning to !ill. 5)sor)ed in their e!!orts to sa e the(sel es3 they had !orgotten that Jesus was on )oard. ,ow3seeing their la)or ain and only death )e!ore the(3 they re(e()ered at whose co((and they had setout to cross the sea. In Jesus was their only hope. In their helplessness and despair they cried3 :MasterGMasterG> The account o! this episode as recorded in Matthew uses the words3 :Lord3 save us.> Matthew

=2E. They didn t say3 :Lord3 help us.> There s a )ig di!!erence )etween the two. This really spea$s to

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the 9uestion o! di ine power and hu(an e!!ort3 i! you please. +here was their cooperation It was inco(ing to the end o! their own resources and realiAing that all they could do was to cry out3 :Lord3 sa eus.> He was going to ha e to do it all. They had already done e erything they could do. They were hardy !isher(en who had li ed alltheir li es on the shores o! this la$e. They $new alilee. They $new the hills and the winds and thestor(s. They $new a)out )ig wa es and how to $eep their )oat under control. They understood how to

distri)ute their weight and how to pull on the oars. This really wasn t Jesus depart(ent. He had )een acarpenter3 not a !isher(an. He was a preacher now3 and His 6o) was to tal$ to the crowds and heal thesic$. He had done His wor$ all day and was now sleeping. ,ow was the ti(e !or the( to handle thingsthe(sel es. This was their area o! e*pertise. #ut !inally they disco ered that they were not a)le to handle the stor(. They had triede erything they $new3 to no a ail. Their )oat was sin$ing. 5t last they turned to Hi( with the cry3:Lord3 sa e us= we perishG> ,e er did a soul utter that cry unheeded. Jesus arose. He li!ted His hands3 so o!ten e(ployed indeeds o! (ercy3 and said to the angry sea3 :Peace3 )e still.> Mar$ 8=0 . The stor( ceases. The )illowssin$ to rest. The clouds roll away. The stars shine !orth. The )oat rests on a 9uiet sea. Then3 turning toHis disciples3 Jesus as$ed sorrow!ully3 :+hy are ye so !ear!ul how is it that ye ha e no !aith > Verse8 . +ell3 what would you do under those circu(stances i! you did ha e !aith +hen you ha e !aithand you re out on the !reeway3 headed on a )eeline course straight !or a head-on collision3 what do youdo ela* and s(ile Let go o! the steering wheel Loo$ out the side window at the passing scenery Perhaps we could re(e()er the Mora ian (issionaries who were on )oard ship with John+esley. He had gone to 5(erica to con ert the Indians and had ended up !rustrated3 saying3 :I ca(e to5(erica to con ert the Indians3 )ut who will con ert John +esley > ,ow a stor( ca(e up on the 5tlantic3 and it loo$ed as i! they were going to the )otto( o! thesea. #ut the Mora ians were not a!raid. John +esley was i(pressed. He as$ed the( why they were so cal(. They said3 :"h3 we re nota!raid to die.> Just )ecause you ha e !aith doesn t (ean you won t go to the )otto( o! the sea. aith doesn t(ean you won t )e )urned at the sta$e with Huss and Jero(e. aith doesn t (ean you will )e cured o! cancer. #ut people who ha e !aith are not a!raid to die. 5nd there s so(ething else. People who ha e !aith don t loo$ at od as a last resort. In anyune*pected trial3 they turn to Hi( as naturally as the !lower turns to the sun. Two people were tal$ing a)out a !riend who was in ery poor health. "ne told o! the ariouscures and (edicines and doctors that had )een tried3 without success. 5nd he !inally ended hisdescription )y saying3 :I guess that all there is le!t to do is to pray.> To which his co(panion replied3 :5lasG Has it co(e to that > The person who has !aith ne er !orgets that Jesus is on )oard3 )ut turns to Hi( in e erye(ergency. +ell3 the disciples didn t ha e !aith. Jesus re(inded the( o! their lac$3 )ut He still sa ed the(.5nd that s good news. He sa ed the( in spite o! their lac$ o! !aith. +e ha e (any !ears today. +e ha e !ears concerning our health and our children and our houses and lands. +e are a!raid o! what others (ay thin$ o! us. The poor (an !ears !or want3 and therich (an !ears !or loss. +e ha e !ears a)out the church and a)out the !uture and a)out our ownsal ation. Just ha ing Jesus on )oard is not enough to $eep us !ro( ha ing !ears4it wasn t !or thedisciples. 7 en though Jesus was on )oard3 they !orgot Hi( when the stor( ca(e and the wa es werehigh. 5nd that is still possi)le today. +e can ha e a relationship with Jesus and still not depend uponHi( !or all things. The disciples had a relationship with Jesus. They wal$ed together3 tal$ed together3

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prayed together3 wor$ed together. They were ery close to Jesus. #ut there were ti(es when theyde(onstrated that in spite o! their close relationship with Jesus3 they still did not depend upon Hi( allthe ti(e. #ut Jesus stayed with the(. He was patient with the( and encouraged the( to trust in Hi(.5nd the ti(e ca(e when these sa(e !ear!ul disciples could !earlessly !ace )oiling caldrons o! oil3 thesword3 the !la(es3 or cruci!i*ion upside down@ !or they had learned the lessons o! !aith and trust Jesus

had tried to teach the(. The lo e o! Jesus dri es out !ear and (a$es the di!!erence. The #i)le says that per!ect lo ecasts out !ear. &ee ? John 8=? . 5t !irst glance3 you (ight as$3 +ell3 who has per!ect lo e I! we don tha e per!ect lo e3 how can we a oid !ear #ut it s not our per!ect lo e. Christ is the only "ne who has

per!ect lo e. 5nd it s His per!ect lo e that casts out !ear. I suppose (ost parents ha e gone through the e*perience o! tossing the little ones into the air when they were two or three years old. I used to lo e to toss the( into the air and watch the( laughand s(ile in co(plete peace3 )ecause 'addy lo ed the(3 and he d catch the(. "ne night we )egan a ga(e on the piano )ench. My son would cli() up on the piano )ench and

6u(p o!! into (y ar(s. This went on and on until I was e*hausted. 5nd I said3 :That s it. ,o (ore.> :"ne (ore ti(e3 'addy. "ne (ore ti(e.> 5nd !inally3 in an atte(pt to )ring an end to the ga(e3 I wal$ed away3 !iguring he would get the(essage. #ut he ne er e en loo$ed. This ti(e when he cli()ed up on the piano )ench and too$ o!! intothe air3 I was on the other side o! the roo(3 and he had a )ad !all. I !elt terri)leG #ut there s nothing li$ethe lo e and trust o! a little child. Jesus is the "ne who said it= :7*cept ye )e con erted3 and )eco(e as little children4>Matthew ? =0. 5nd He in ites us to cast all our care upon Hi(3 !or He cares !or us. &ee ? Peter E=B. #utthere s one )ig di!!erence. He ne er gets tired. He s always there. He has pro(ised3 :I will ne er lea eyou or !orsa$e you.> &ee He)rews ?0=E. #ut no one really casts hi(sel! totally upon Jesus until herealiAes that lo e and also realiAes that he has co(e to the end o! his own resources. ,otice where Jesus was during the stor(. He was asleep in the )oat. He wasn t a!raid. +ell3we re te(pted to thin$ that it was )ecause He was od. The songwriter says3 This is od3 and :nowater can swallow the ship where lies3 the Master o! ocean3 and earth3 and s$ies.>4M. 5. #a$er. #ut so(ething is here that we (ust not (iss4so(ething a)out how Jesus li ed His li!e. +henJesus awa$ened to (eet the stor(3 He was in per!ect peace. There was no trace o! !ear in word or loo$3!or no !ear was in His heart. #ut He did not rest in the possession o! 5l(ighty power. It was not as :theMaster o! ocean3 and earth3 and s$ies> that He reposed in 9uiet. That power He had laid down. He hadsaid3 :I can o! (ine own sel! do nothing.> John E=0 . He trusted in His ather s (ight. It was in !aith4 !aith in od s lo e and care4that Jesus rested. 5nd the power o! that word which stilled the stor( wasthe power o! od !ro( a)o e Hi( rather than the power o! od !ro( within Hi(. I! the disciples had trusted in Hi(3 they would ha e )een $ept in peace. Their !ear in ti(e o! danger re ealed their un)elie!. In their e!!orts to sa e the(sel es3 they !orgot Jesus3 and it was onlywhen in the despair o! sel!-dependence they turned to Hi( that He could sa e the(. ,otice here the spiritual application in ol ed in the cal(ing o! the stor(. +hen it co(es tosal ation3 how o!ten we !ind oursel es worrying a)out whether or not we will )e sa ed. 5nd all o! thisturns our attention away !ro( Jesus3 our only source o! strength. +e are in ited to co((it the $eepingo! our souls to od and trust in Hi(. &ee ? Peter 8=? . He will ne er lea e us i! we e accepted Hi( asour hope and our sal ation. +e can lea e Hi(3 )ut He will ne er lea e us. 5nd what a)out li ing the Christian li!e &o(e people can accept the sacri!ice o! Jesus at thecross3 )ut when they read e elation 0=E3 :He that o erco(eth3 the sa(e shall )e clothed in whiterai(ent@ and I will not )lot out his na(e out o! the )oo$ o! li!e3> they are ready to despair. They say3 Ican ne er do that. I can ne er )e an o erco(er. I !all and !ail too o!ten and too easily.

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How o!ten the disciples e*perience is oursG +hen the te(pests o! te(ptation gather and the!ierce lightnings !lash and the wa es sweep o er us3 we )attle with the stor( alone3 !orgetting thatthere is "ne who can help us. +e trust to our own strength till our hope is lost and we are ready to

perish. Then we re(e()er Jesus3 and i! we call upon Hi( to sa e us3 we shall not cry in ain. ThoughHe sorrow!ully repro es our un)elie! and sel!-con!idence3 He ne er !ails to gi e us the help we need. There is only one thing to !ear !or the Christian4only one legiti(ate !ear. +e should !ear to

trust our own strength. +e should !ear to withdraw our hand !ro( the hand o! Christ or atte(pt to wal$ the Christian pathway alone. #ut so long as we depend upon Christ3 as He depended upon His ather here on this earth3 weare secure. +e ha e no need to !ear as we trust His per!ect lo e.

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How Jesus Treated the Outcast

This is the story o! a (an who raised the roo! and got let down )y his !riendsG It is !ound inMar$ 2=? and onward. :5nd again ;Jesus< entered into Capernau( a!ter so(e days@ and it was noisedthat he was in the house. 5nd straightway (any were gathered together3 inso(uch that there was no

roo( to recei e the(3 no3 not so (uch as a)out the door= and he preached the word unto the(. :5nd they co(e unto hi(3 )ringing one sic$ o! the palsy3 which was )orne o! !our. 5nd whenthey could not co(e nigh unto hi( !or the press3 they unco ered the roo! where he was= and when theyhad )ro$en it up3 they let down the )ed wherein the sic$ o! the palsy lay. :+hen Jesus saw their !aith3 he said unto the sic$ o! the palsy3 &on3 thy sins )e !orgi enthee. . . . :That ye (ay $now that the &on o! (an hath power on earth to !orgi e sins3 he saith to the sic$ o! the palsy3N I say unto thee3 5rise3 and ta$e up thy )ed3 and go thy way into thine house. :5nd i((ediately he arose3 too$ up the )ed3 and went !orth )e!ore the( all@ inso(uch that theywere all a(aAed3 and glori!ied od3 saying3 +e ne er saw it on this !ashion.> Mar$ 2=?-?2. +ho was this (an who )eco(es the central character o! this story I d li$e to suggest that hewas a no)ody a)out town. He was an in alid. He was a shut-in. He didn t (a$e his (ar$ in the town

ery o!ten3 that s !or sure. He was3 on top o! that3 an outcast. 5nyone su!!ering or a!!licted or diseasedwas charged with )eing a great sinner4a great sinning sinnerG 5nd in this case3 the charge happened to

)e true. 5t ti(es Jesus said that the disease or the a!!liction had nothing to do with a person s sin. Hehad said that a)out the )lind (an in John . The disciples had as$ed3 :+ho sinned3 this (an or his

parents > 5nd Jesus said3 :,either.> 1et the )lind (an was considered a great sinner )ecause he was )lind. The (an in this storywas not only considered a great sinner3 )ut he was one. The e idence is that his a!!liction was the resulto! a li!e o! sin3 and (any #i)le co((entators consider that it was a social disease. &o he was anoutcast. "ne )y one his !riends had !aded away3 e*cept his sinning !riends. I suppose we could e encon6ecture that the ones who carried hi( to Jesus were o! the sa(e il$. This (an $new what it was li$e to ha e a )urning conscience and to push it and su)li(ate itinto the )ac$ cha()ers o! his (ind. He $new the e il o! sin )y e*perience3 not 6ust )y o)ser ation. He$new what it was to )e an outcast. He $new guilt and what the de il does in pounding a person withguilt. He $new the a)horrence o! sin3 in spite o! still lo ing it. He $new the unrest3 the unsatis!ieddesires3 the )ondage !ro( which he struggled in ain to )e !ree. He $new that e en his (oti es were not right. Why did he want to go to loo$ !or help Ha eyou e er disco ered that so(e cala(ity or a!!liction or sorrow causes the de il to )eat you o er thehead with your sel!ish (oti es !or turning to od at that ti(e It s called the theology o! despair4to

)e interested in od only when trou)le co(es. &o we see this (an co(ing to Jesus. That s the one thing he did right. He had tried other (ethods3 and he had )een let down (any ti(es. He was a)out to )e let down into a gra e so(ewhere3!or the disease had reached an ad anced stage. He had tried the doctors3 and they had let hi( down3

pronouncing hi( incura)le. He had tried the Pharisees and church leaders3 and they had let hi( down.They had said he was hopeless3 a great sinner3 an outcast )y od and (an. His !riends too had let hi(down. #ut on this last try3 when they let hi( down through the roo!3 it turned out to )e the greatest(o(ent o! his li!e. 5 large crowd o! people surrounded Jesus. Capernau( was no s(all illage4not in those days.I! you go there today3 it s rather 9uiet e*cept !or tourists with !lashing ca(eras. #ut you can see the

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ruins there on the shore o! the &ea o! alilee. 1ou can see the re(nants o! Peter s house3 where thise*perience too$ place. 5!ter Jesus had cleansed the te(ple3 He had le!t Judea and co(e to alilee to )egin His(inistry there. 5lready the de(oniac had )een set !ree3 right in the synagogue. The word o! that hadraced around town3 reaching e en those who didn t go to church. 5nd this (an too had heard. Peter s wi!e s (other had )een healed3 and later that sa(e night a!ter the sun had set3 crowds o!

people had )een healed )e!ore Jesus !inally disappeared into the hills to pray. &o(ething else had happened3 unheard o! since the days o! 7lisha. 5 leper had )een cleansed.5s that report (ade the rounds3 the crowds )eca(e so large that Jesus had to withdraw !ro(Capernau( to a desert place in order to !ind relie!. ,ow Jesus was in Capernau( again3 in Peter s house. It was so crowded there was no way toget inside. #ut at the (an s own suggestion3 his !riends carried hi( to the roo!3 )ro$e up the tiles3 andlet hi( down )etween the )ea(s. This would ha e )een e()arrassing to anyone carrying ordinary inhi)itions. Can you i(agineyoursel! doing that4putting yoursel! at the (ercy o! the 6eering crowd 7 eryone was staring at hi(as he ca(e down in !ront o! the( all. #ut he was at the end o! his own resources. +hen a person is atdeath s door3 nothing else (atters. The people were there4the eager3 the re erent3 the un)elie ing3 the curious. The spy ring wasthere !ro( Jerusale(4the Pharisees and &adducees already out !or Jesus li!e. 1ou can see the tee(ingthrong3 inside and outside o! the house3 listening through the windows and standing in the doorways.1ou can hear the sudden silence in the roo( a!ter the pounding on the roo! and !eel the tension in theair as a lone (an is let down into the ery presence o! Jesus. The story says Jesus saw their !aith. 'on t (iss the !act that the !aith o! the !our who carried the(an was also in ol ed. +e don t $now their na(es. +e don t sing a)out the( or tell the stories o! their li es. #ut they )rought this (an in the ar(s o! their !aith into the presence o! Jesus. ,ow co(e the words that )ring on the )ig (o(ent o! this (an s li!e. :My son.> My son 1ou(ean the od o! the uni erse calls so(eone li$e this His son +hat a)out the od o! 6ustice we eheard a)out +hat a)out the od who has a list and is chec$ing it twice3 trying to see how (any

people He can $eep out o! hea en God called this (an3 with his trac$ record3 :My son> 1es3 this is od tal$ing. This is od saying3 :My son.> Then Matthew adds a little phrase that Mar$ doesn t ha e in his account o! the story4:#e o! good cheer.> &ee Matthew =2.? li$e that phrase. Is it possi)le today that anyone needs to cheer up Is it

possi)le to )e )ogged down with guilt and re(orse and sin Is there anyone today who can loo$ at thisstory and see (ore than 6ust a history lesson3 who can put hi(sel! in the picture 'o we ha e those today who represent the tee(ing throng4the curious3 the eager3 the re erent3the un)elie ing 'o we ha e those today who (ay represent the paralyAed (an I! so3 then thesewords still apply4:#e o! good cheer@ thy sins )e !orgi en thee.> Jesus $new that at the top o! this (an s list was his desire to ha e peace with od. Jesus also$new that this would )ring all other )lessings in its train. &o He said3 :My son3 thy sins )e !orgi en.> This (an was so concerned a)out peace with od3 o er anything else3 that he was content toli e or die4it (ade no di!!erence4i! he could 6ust ha e his sins !orgi en. The rest o! it he was happyto lea e in od s hands. I had a !riend during college days3 a 9uiet sort3 a little older than the rest o! us. He was )ac$ !ro( %orea where he had )een in the Marines. He had )een in charge o! a platoon o! (en. "ne night3under co er o! dar$ness3 with only the stars a)o e3 they had started up a (ountain to ta$e it !or the5llies. They had understood that the hill )ehind the( had )een cleared3 )ut so(eone had done a sloppy

6o) o! it3 and a lone Co((unist (achine gunner was le!t on the hill. 5s they started up the (ountain3 suddenly the (achine gun opened !ire on the(. The gunner

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swept across the )otto( row o! his ran$3 then he raised the (achine gun a couple o! degrees and ca(e )ac$ the other way. Then he raised it and ca(e across again. He was ery cle er with his !iring. My !riend3 at the head o! the platoon3 $new he didn t ha e (uch ti(e. He heard his (engroaning and (oaning and dying )elow hi(. #ut he had grown up in a Christian ho(e. He $new a)out Jesus and the second co(ing andhea en and !ore er. He had turned his )ac$ on all o! it. #ut now3 in spite o! his wrong (oti es3 he

loo$ed toward hea en and said3 : od3 I don t ha e (uch ti(e. 5nd I don t as$ you to sa e (y li!e. Idon t deser e anything. #ut would you please help (e to co(e up in the right resurrection > That s all he was interested in4peace with od. The rest o! it could co(e or go. #ut strangely enough3 he ca(e )ac$ !ro( the hill unscathed. He ca(e to college to study to )e a(inister3 and e er since has )een )ac$ in the ar(ed !orces as a chaplain3 trying to help others li$ehi(sel!. +hy did he do it #ecause od had gi en hi( a )onus4not only !orgi eness and peace and ahope o! eternity3 )ut li!e here and now. 5nd when that happens to you3 you e got to tell so(e)odyG &o this paralyAed (an settled )ac$ on his cot or his (attress or whate er it was3 re6oicing in thegood news3 :My son3 your sins are !orgi en.> 5 new glow ca(e to his !ace. His eyes3 e en his )ody!unctions3 )egan to change. It s hard to $now at what point the !orgi eness and the healing (erge3 )uthe s a new (an. He lies there in co(plete )liss and happiness. #ut there s always so(eone in the crowd to spoil it. The church leaders were thin$ing dar$ thoughts. 5nd Jesus pic$ed up on their thoughts and their )ody language. He said3 :+hether is it easier to say to the sic$ o! the palsy3 Thy sins )e !orgi en thee@ or to say3 5rise3 and ta$e up thy )ed3 andwal$ #ut that ye (ay $now that the &on o! (an hath power on earth to !orgi e sins3 he saith to thesic$ o! the palsy3N I say unto thee3 5rise3 ta$e up thy )ed3 and go thy way into thine house.> Mar$ 2= -??. +as it easy !or the palsied (an to o)ey Jesus words4or was it hard +hen the Creator spo$e3in the )eginning3 e en the dust 6u(ped to attentionG 5t His co((and3 worlds ca(e into e*istence.+ould it ha e )een easy !or the (an to stay lying on his cot &o(eti(es we get )ogged down in trying to decide what (ight ha e happened i! the paralytichad not )elie ed. +hat i! he had stopped to analyAe3 to decide which ca(e !irst3 his !aith or (o ing his(uscles There was no ti(e !or any o! thatG I would li$e to propose that when you are in the presenceo! the Li!e i er and He says3 5rise3 ta$e up your )ed and wal$3 you do 6ust thatG 1ou don t pause !or dialogue or de)ate. 1ou rise up i((ediately in the presence o! the (ighty creati e word o! od. The (an 6u(ped to his !eet. He too$ up his )ed. 5nd please notice4now he was so(e)odyG Hedidn t ha e to go )ac$ through the roo!G There was no roo( )e!ore3 )ut the crowd suddenly !oundroo( now. The (an wal$ed out the door3 carrying his )ed3 and headed toward ho(e3 his !ace aglow withthe wonder o! the (iracle. There is no e idence that his wi!e or children had co(e with hi( this day onthis (ission. They (ust ha e seen hi( lea e ho(e (any ti(es4!or the doctors3 the (iracle wor$ers3or the latest 9uac$s. They (ust o!ten ha e watched while he returned slowly in de!eat. &o they stayedho(e. ,ow you see the( loo$ing out the window3 )etween the shutters3 or o er the railing o! the !ront

porch. They can t )elie e it. It doesn t loo$ li$e !ather3 )ut it is !atherG He s running3 6u(ping3 al(ost prancing with e*cite(ent. He has new li!e. He has (et the &a iour. They gather around hi(3 and he tells the story. The e idence is that wi!e and children !ro( that(o(ent on would gladly ha e gi en their li es !or the Lord Jesus Christ. +hy did Jesus do it +hy did He co(e to people with healing #ecause He wanted the( all to$now that He has power on earth to !orgi e sins. Jesus (ade sinners His )est !riends on earth3 and Hestill has the sa(e acceptance and !orgi eness and power today. 5 lot o! people lac$ assurance and certainty and peace today. #ut I would li$e to in ite you to

6oin the poor paralyAed (an3 who pro ed that regardless o! who you are or where you e )een or what

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you e done3 you are still accepted when you co(e to Jesus. 1ou can still )e !orgi en. This can cause you to wal$ with a new spring in your step3 with new li!e in the soul3 !or odnot only has power to !orgi e3 )ut to heal and change and ena)le you to wal$ in newness o! li!e as well.It all happens in the presence o! Jesus. How than$!ul we can )e today that we can still co(e into the presence o! Jesus3 and that He s

pro(ised to accept us and !orgi e and cleanse.

The psal(ist e*pressed it in these words= #less the Lord3 " (y soul=and all that is within (e3 )less his holy na(e.

#less the Lord3 " (y soul3 and !orget not all his )ene!its=

who !orgi eth all thine ini9uities@

who healeth all thy diseases@

who redee(eth thy li!e !ro( destruction@

who crowneth thee with lo ing$indess and tender (ercies.

4Psal( ? 0=?O8

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How Jesus Treated the Brokenhearted

Ha e you e er )een to a good !uneral 'o you thin$ it is possi)le to descri)e a !uneral as:good> %eep the possi)ility in (ind as we loo$ at the three accounts in &cripture where Jesus !acedwhat we call death. +e will consider the( to disco er how Jesus treated the )ro$enhearted.

The !irst o! these accounts is !ound in Lu$e B3 )eginning with erse ??= :5nd it ca(e to passthe day a!ter3 that he went into a city called ,ain@ and (any o! his disciples went with hi(3 and (uch people. ,ow when he ca(e nigh to the gate o! the city3 )ehold3 there was a dead (an carried out3 theonly son o! his (other3 and she was a widow= and (uch people o! the city was with her. 5nd when theLord saw her3 he had co(passion on her3 and said unto her3 +eep not. 5nd he ca(e and touched the

)ier= and they that )are hi( stood still. 5nd he said3 1oung (an3 I say unto thee3 5rise. 5nd he that wasdead sat up3 and )egan to spea$. 5nd he deli ered hi( to his (other. 5nd there ca(e a !ear on all= andthey glori!ied od3 saying3 That a great prophet is risen up a(ong us@ and That od hath isited his

people.> Verses ??-?F. +asn t that a good !uneral I li$e that oneG It didn t start out ery well3 )ut it ended in atriu(phal entry )ac$ into the illage o! ,ain. Let s try to piece together the story 6ust a little. The illage o! ,ain was a)out twenty to twenty-!i e (iles !ro( Capernau(3 on the shores o! alilee. The illage o! ,ain was only !i e (iles !ro(

,aAareth. In those days3 they did not ha e a closed cas$et. The dead person was wrapped in a linensheet and laid on a sort o! wic$erwor$ stretcher. I! the !a(ily was poor3 there would )e at least two !lute players and one hired (ourner. I! the!a(ily was (ore well-to-do3 there would )e (any !lute players and hired (ourners. This widow wasapparently lo ed )y the people o! the town3 and al(ost the whole illage was in the procession. 5s they le!t the illage3 they (et another large procession3 the crowd !ollowing Jesus. &o yousee these two co(panies o! people (eeting on the narrow pathway3 6ust outside the illage o! ,ain. "ne o! the !irst things we notice a)out how Jesus treats the )ro$enhearted are His !irst words tothis widow. He said3 :'on t weep.> +hat a strange thing !or Hi( to say. People are e*pected to cry at!unerals. Is it wrong to cry at a !uneral ,o. Jesus Hi(sel! cried at the to() o! LaAarus. &o what is Hesaying He was saying that He !elt )ad !or her. He !ound His heart touched with her grie!. He hadco(passion on her. :'on t cry.> He $new she wouldn t need to cry3 !or He $new what He was going todo. Then Jesus did so(ething unusual. He went up and touched the !uneral )ier. ,o Jew wouldha e considered such a thing. Those who carried the )ier stood still3 and the la(entations o! the(ourners ceased. Can you !eel the tension in the air The co(pany o! people gathered a)out the )ier3hoping against hope. "ne was present who had )anished disease and an9uished de(ons. +as deathalso su)6ect to His power In a clear3 authoritati e oice3 the words are spo$en3 :1oung (an3 I say unto thee3 5rise.> Verse?8. That oice pierces the ears o! the dead. The young (an opens his eyes. Jesus ta$es hi( )y the handand li!ts hi( up. His gaAe !alls upon his (other3 and they unite in a long3 6oyous e()race. The (ultitude loo$ on in silence3 as i! spell)ound. Hushed and re erent3 they stand !or a littleti(e as i! in the ery presence o! od3 which indeed they are. Then they )egin to glori!y od. Howwould you li$e to ha e )een there That was a good !uneralG The second e*perience is !ound in the !i!th chapter o! Mar$3 and this ti(e a little girl isin ol ed. +hen a little twel e-year-old girl goes to sleep3 so(ehow that s di!!erent than !or an older

person who has already li ed a !ull three-score years and ten. Let s )egin in Mar$ E=22. :#ehold3 there co(eth one o! the rulers o! the synagogue3 Jairus )yna(e@ and when he saw hi(3 he !ell at his !eet3 and )esought hi( greatly3 saying3 My little daughter lieth at the point o! death= I pray thee3 co(e and lay thy hands on her3 that she (ay )e healed@ and she

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shall li e. 5nd Jesus went with hi(@ and (uch people !ollowed hi(3 and thronged hi(.> Verses 22-28. 5s Jesus went with this ruler toward his house3 there was an interruption4the wo(an whotouched the he( o! His gar(ent was healed and co((ended !or her great !aith. The story continues in erse 0E= :+hile he yet spa$e3 there ca(e !ro( the ruler o! thesynagogue s house certain which said3 Thy daughter is dead= why trou)lest thou the Master any!urther >

Let s not (iss the i(pact o! those words. 'o you thin$ it s any trou)le !or Jesus to raise thedead 'o you thin$ it s any pro)le( !or the Li!e i er4the "ne who created us all in the )eginning3the "ne who is $eeping our hearts )eating right now4do you thin$ it s any trou)le !or Hi( to $eepgoing toward the house o! Jairus #ut the (essenger says3 :'on t trou)le Hi( any !urther.> Just i(agine yoursel! in Jesus shoes. 1ou ha e co(e !ro( the audience cha()er o! the MostHigh. 1ou ha e the assurance !ro( 1our ather that He will wor$ through 1ou and that all power inhea en and earth is a aila)le to 1ou. 1ou can spea$ the word3 and the little girl will co(e )ac$ to li!e.+ould that )e a lot o! trou)le !or you to go and wa$e her up ,oG Instead3 it would )e a lot o! trou)leto stay awayG I can re(e()er a !uneral !or a little grade-school )oy. 5ll o! his class(ates $new he was goingto die. The only 9uestion was when. "ne day Han$ went to sleep3 and we had the !uneral there at thechurch. 5ll o! the )oys and girls !ro( the school ca(e3 and one )y one they ca(e down and said

ood)ye to Han$. 5s I stood there and watched3 I re(e()er i(agining what it (ight ha e )een li$e in the days o! Jesus. "h3 how I longed !or Hi( to wal$ down the aisle3 ta$e Han$ )y the hand3 and wa$e hi( up. Jesus could ha e called attention to Hi(sel!. #ut He was so intent on )ringing glory to His

ather that He could go into the death cha()er3 call so(eone )ac$ to li!e3 and then disappear. In !act3He ended up saying3 :'on t tell any)ody.> &ee erse 80. I! we were a)le to do so(ething li$e that3 we d want to (a$e sure it hit the headlines. 5ndthat s why we can t do it. Most o! us cannot )e trusted with the power o! od3 !or it would destroy us. +ell3 the (essengers said3 :'on t trou)le the Master any !urther.> 5nd as soon as Jesus heardthat3 He said to Jairus3 :'on t )e a!raid3 only )elie e.> &ee erse 0F. That s how Jesus treated the

)ro$enhearted. He spo$e words o! co(!ort and encourage(ent. :5nd he su!!ered no (an to !ollow hi(3 sa e Peter3 and Ja(es3 and John the )rother o! Ja(es.5nd he co(eth to the house o! the ruler o! the synagogue3 and seeth the tu(ult3 and the( that wept andwailed greatly. 5nd when he was co(e in3 he saith unto the(3 +hy (a$e ye this ado3 and weep theda(sel is not dead3 )ut sleepeth.> Verses 0B-0 . Let s ne er !orget that what we call death3 Jesus called sleep. :5nd they laughed hi( to scorn.> Verse 8 . The !lute players and the hired (ourners and theneigh)ors and !riends (ade !un o! Jesus. They had seen her lying there on her pallet3 silent and still.They said3 :'on t try to tell us she s not dead.> :#ut when he had put the( all out3 he ta$eth the !ather and the (other o! the da(sel3 and the(that were with hi(3 and entered in where the da(sel was lying. 5nd he too$ the da(sel )y the hand3and said unto her3 ;Little girl<3 . . . I say unto thee3 arise.> Verses 8 3 8?. Instantly a tre(or passes through the unconscious !or(. The pulses o! li!e )eat again. The lipsun!old with a s(ile. The eyes open widely3 as i! !ro( sleep3 and the (aiden gaAes with wonder on thegroup )eside her. &he arises3 and her parents clasp her in their ar(s and weep !or 6oy. Can you i(agine the scene The "ne who treated the )ro$enhearted li$e that has pro(ised to co(e again. He still has thesa(e power o er the ene(y and o er his prison house. He still has the sa(e power to awa$en thosewho sleep and to co(!ort those who (ourn. The third instance o! Jesus (eeting death is !ound in the story o! Mary and Martha and LaAarus

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recorded in John ??. Jesus lo ed to isit in the ho(e o! these !riends o! His. +hene er He was in#ethany3 He would !ind so(e ti(e to spend with the(. #ut when LaAarus )eca(e ill3 Jesus was not in town. It was a terri)le sic$ness. The doctor loo$ed serious !ro( the )eginning. Things didn t loo$ good. &o Mary and Martha sent a (essenger o!! to !ind Jesus. It was a )ig pro6ect3 )ut they !ound Hi(. 5nd when they !ound Hi( and told Hi( a)outLaAarus s condition3 He said3 :This sic$ness is not unto death.> Verse 8.

The (essenger returned to #ethany and said3 :+e e got good news. Jesus says that LaAarus ssic$ness is not unto death.> 5nd the sisters rushed into the roo( o! LaAarus and said3 :LaAarus3 youdon t need to worry. +e got word !ro( Jesus. 1ou re not going to die.> : eally > :1es3 that s what He told the (essenger. 1ou won t die.> :&ure !eels li$e itG> 5nd he continued to hope3 )ut he continued to get worse. inally he went into a co(a4andthen he died. It (ust ha e )een hard !or Mary and Martha to accept. +hat a test o! their !aith in JesusG #ac$ where Jesus was3 He said to His disciples3 :+e re going to go )ac$ now3 )ecause LaAarusis asleep.> &ee erse ??. 5nd they said3 :5sleep > :1es3 he s asleep.> ,ow the disciples were worried )ecause they had already heard that the people near Jerusale(were out !or Jesus li!e. There was a plot on His li!e3 and they !igured that i! they went )ac$ with Hi(3they would )e in ol ed in the sa(e plot. 5!raid !or their own s$ins3 they said3 :Let s not go )ac$ there.I! LaAarus is asleep3 a!ter he s )een so sic$3 that s good. Let hi( sleep. He needs the sleep. Let s stayhere.> &ee erses -?2. Jesus said3 :I a( going )ac$3 and I a( going to wa$e hi( out o! sleep.> :"h no3 don t do thatG> 5nd at that point3 Jesus !inally3 reluctantly said what we usually say. 'on t (iss it3 please. Jesusdidn t li$e the word death. He didn t call it death. Jesus said3 !inally3 :"ur !riend LaAarus is dead.> #utHe pre!erred to call it sleep3 and I li$e that word )etter too. #ecause when you sleep3 it s not all )ad.+hen you sleep3 there is the wa$ing-up ti(e. &ee erse ?8. +hen you see a lo ed one who )elie es in Jesus )ut who doesn t ha e (uch longer to li e3 youcan 6oin Jesus in saying3 :This sic$ness is not unto death.> or the )elie er3 death is a s(all (atter. Theti(e o! (ourning can )e changed to a ti(e o! re6oicing when the lo ed one has !allen asleep in Jesus.+e do not sorrow as those who ha e no hope3 !or we $now that the one who is asleep in Jesus is soonto )e awa$ened. 5s we loo$ )eyond today3 the ti(es o! (ourning lose their sting. +e loo$ !orward to the ti(ewhen Jesus co(es to awa$e those who sleep. Here in the (iddle o! the story o! LaAarus we !ind the!a(ous erse3 :I a( the resurrection3 and the li!e= he that )elie eth in (e3 though he were dead3 yetshall he li e= 5nd whosoe er li eth and )elie eth in (e shall ne er die. #elie est thou this > Verses 2E32F. Could I as$ the sa(e 9uestion today Jesus said3 +hoe er li eth and )elie eth in (e shall ne er die. 'o you )elie e that Those who do )elie e it can ha e good !unerals3 e en though they (ightweep. or we o!ten weep when we say ood)ye3 e en when !riends lea e !or a long 6ourney. It s allright to weep. #ut we don t weep li$e those who ha e no hope. &ee ? Thessalonians 8=?0. +ell3 Jesus went out to the ce(etery with Mary and Martha3 and the crowd !ollowed the(. Hewal$ed up to the door o! the roc$-hewn to()3 and He said3 : e(o e the stone. oll away the stone.> 7 en Martha drew )ac$ and said3 :,o3 you re going too !ar.> Jesus had said that LaAarus wassleeping. #ut )y the ti(e the stone was re(o ed3 he had )een asleep !or !our days. ,o)ody could arguethis ti(e a)out whether or not he was really dead. #ut they rolled away the stone and watched )reathlessly while Jesus prayed a si(ple prayer.5nd then Jesus co((anded3 :LaAarus3 co(e !orthG> Verse 80. &o(e ha e said that i! He hadn t singled out LaAarus3 the entire ce(etery would ha e co(eali eG May)e that s true. #ut LaAarus ca(e !orth and was restored to his !a(ily and !riends. +hat a

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storyG +e can re6oice today !or the good news that what we call death is only sleep4and that Christstill has the power to awa$en us !ro( sleep and to gi e li!e e erlasting. +e can re6oice that He still has

power o er death and the gra e. +hile He co(!orts us in our ti(es o! (ourning3 He in ites us to loo$ !orward to the day when He co(es again and death is swallowed up in ictory.

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How Jesus Treated nown !inners

When I was a little boy, I sat me down to cry, Because my little brother had the biggest piece of pie. My !ather used to 9uote that erse to (y )rother and (e. 5t ti(es we needed to hear itG

"ne year so(e nice church (e()ers ga e (y )rother and (e each a )ag o! Christ(as candy3the hard candy that stays in your (outh !or hours. My !ol$s were i((ediately concerned. They didn twant us to ruin our teeth or our sto(achs. &o they (ade a rule. "nly one piece o! candy at a ti(e4andthat at (ealti(es. ,o candy )etween (eals. +ell3 that was too (uch !or a little guy. &o I got into (y )ag o! candy )etween (eals. My!ather heard a)out it and pro(ptly destroyed (y )ag o! candy. 5nd at that point I )eca(e so concerneda)out (y )rother s health that I du(ped his )ag o! candy down the toiletG +hy do we do this $ind o! thing +hy do we try so hard to $eep ahead o! each other3 whether in the e*tre(e (ani!estation o! war3 or in the (ore innocent parlor ga(es +hat (a$es !oot)all4andother sports4such a national pasti(e +hy do we rally so co(pletely around the 9uestion o! who sgoing to win3 who s going to )e on top3 who s going to )e !irst It all started with sin3 did it not It all started when Luci!er decided he wanted to )e the greatest.It see(s to )e ingrained in our ery natures. 7 en the disciples o! Jesus were guilty 3 again and again o! this tendency to want to )e the greatest. Loo$ing into their e*perience3 we are gi en a )eauti!ule*a(ple o! how Jesus treated $nown sinners. Is it possi)le !or saints to sin How does Jesus treat saints who sin Is it possi)le to sin and to$now you are sinning and $eep on doing what you re doing wrong3 and still )e a Christian I wouldsuggest that this is a ery practical 9uestion. 5nd it s a 9uestion that has an answer so e*citing I canhardly wait to present itG #ut let s try to )uild our case3 as we notice !ro( &cripture how Jesus treatedthese $inds o! people. :He ca(e to Capernau(= and )eing in the house he as$ed the(3 +hat was it that ye disputeda(ong yoursel es )y the way #ut they held their peace= !or )y the way they had disputed a(ongthe(sel es3 who should )e the greatest.> Mar$ =003 08. The ti(e had co(e that Jesus had set His !ace toward Jerusale(. The disciples were certain theti(e had co(e !or Hi( to set up His $ingdo(4His earthly $ingdo(. 5nd they had un!inished

)usiness they needed to ta$e care o!. Their un!inished )usiness was to decide who was going to )e president o! the class3 who was going to )e pri(e (inister3 who was going to )e greatest in the$ingdo(. The disciples continued their discussion along the road to Jerusale(3 ta$ing care o! their un!inished )usiness. #ut they $new what they were doing was wrong3 )ecause they lagged )ehindJesus. In !act3 )y the ti(e Jesus reached the city li(its o! Capernau(3 His disciples were so !ar )ehindthat He couldn t e en hear what they were saying. It s al(ost !unny. These disciples had )een with Jesus !or three years. They had repeatedlydeclared their !aith in Hi(3 that He was the &on o! od. 1et here you see the( trying to spea$ so!tlyenough that God can t hear the(G This teaches us so(ething ery interesting a)out sinning. It s hard to sin in the presence o! Jesus. Ha e you disco ered that yet 7 en the wea$est people !ind it di!!icult to sin in the presence o! so(eone they lo e and respect. 5nd so(ehow we ha e to !eel that we re away !ro( od3 away !ro(Jesus3 in order to continue sinning. #ut the disciples arri e at Capernau(3 and they go with Jesus to the house where they will )estaying. +hen Jesus !ound a 9uiet (o(ent3 He as$ed3 :+hat were you tal$ing a)out3 )ac$ there on theroad > The disciples )egan to $ic$ their !eet in the dust. They )egan to !idget. 5nd they didn t answer.

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The #i)le says3 :They held their peace.> It was a good ti(e to hold their peaceG +hen (y parentsas$ed (e what happened to (y )rother s )ag o! Christ(as candy3 I held (y peaceG #ut Jesus continued to press His point3 and at long last one o! the disciples said3 :+ell3 uh3ahe(4we were wondering who is going to )e the greatest in the $ingdo(.> ,ow Jesus li!e was a li!e o! hu(ility. He had e(ptied Hi(sel! and (ade Hi(sel! o! noreputation3 according to Philippians 2. He who had recei ed the ho(age and worship o! all the

hea enly hosts had co(e to )e )orn in a sta)le. He who had )een rich had )eco(e poor3 that wethrough His po erty (ight )eco(e rich. 5gain and again He had tried to get the point through to thedisciples that real greatness is )ased upon hu(ility. 5nd they hadn t gotten the (essage. 5t this point3 it see(s Jesus (ight ha e said3 : et out o! My sight3 you (isera)le twel e. i eMe another twel e to start o er with.> #ut instead3 He sat down with the( and said3 :I! any (an desire to )e !irst3 the sa(e shall )elast o! all3 and ser ant o! all. 5nd he too$ a child3 and set hi( in the (idst o! the(= and when he hadta$en hi( in his ar(s3 he said unto the(3 +hosoe er shall recei e one o! such children in (y na(e3recei eth (e= and whosoe er shall recei e (e3 recei eth not (e3 )ut hi( that sent (e.> Mar$ =0E-0B.Jesus was always using little children to show what the $ingdo( o! hea en is really li$e. Jesus was $ind to His disciples. He didn t conde(n the(. He continued patiently trying to teachthe( the lessons they needed so (uch to learn. 5)o e all3 He continued to wal$ with the(3 to!ellowship with the(. He continued to wor$ with the(3 to tra el with the(3 to trust the( with Hiswor$ and His (ission. ro( this &cripture lesson we see that the disciples were guilty o! sin. +hat sin The sin o!

pride. "h3 we say3 e ery)ody has a )it o! pride. That s what our world is )ased on. That s what (a$es aga(e o! Monopoly !unG 5nd sancti!ication is the wor$ o! a li!eti(e. Perhaps )e!ore we die we ll get ontop o! that little pro)le(. #ut i! you study it3 you disco er that pride is one o! the worst sins in od s eyes. Pride is one o! the (ost o!!ensi e to od )ecause it is so contrary to His ery nature. 5nd pride was the sin that )eganthis whole (ess in the !irst place. &o the sin o! which the disciples were guilty was not only sin3 it was a )ad sin. 5nd they $new itwas wrong3 and they $new what they were doing3 )ut they $ept right on doing it. They continued doingit the whole ti(e they wal$ed with Jesus. In !act3 they were still at it the night o! the Last &upper in theupper roo( 6ust )e!ore the cruci!i*ion. That 9uali!ies in (y de!inition as $nown sin3 continuing sin3ha)itual sin3 cherished sin3 persistent sin. This &cripture teaches us how Jesus treats sinning sinners4who $now they are sinning and yet$eep right on sinning. &o(eone has said that the pro)le( with these disciples is that they were uncon erted. #ut theyhad )een sent out to cast out de ils and cleanse lepers and raise the dead. 'o uncon erted people dothat These were the ones to who( Jesus said4when they ca(e )ac$ !ro( their (ission with these enty4: e6oice3 )ecause your na(es are written in hea en.> &ee Lu$e ? =2 . #ut John 0=0 says youcan t e en see the $ingdo( o! hea en unless you are )orn again. &o I cannot accept the pre(ise thatthese disciples were uncon erted. +hat then How does Jesus treat disciples who are guilty o! $nown sinning He (ade His classic state(entin Matthew ?2=0?= :5ll (anner o! sin . . . shall )e !orgi en unto (en.> Is that good news 5nd i! all(anner o! sin shall )e !orgi en3 then this would ha e to include $nown sin3 persistent sin3 ha)itual sin.It would include !orgi eness o! the worst sins3 such as pride3 as well as other sins3 such as (urder andadultery and you na(e it. Jesus o!!ered !orgi eness !or all sin3 and He continued to wal$ with the disciples as they learnedwhat He was trying to teach the(. It (ight )e easy to conclude that perhaps sinning is not so )ad3 a!ter all. May)e sinning is no

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)ig deal. May)e o)edience and o erco(ing are not necessary or e en possi)le. #ut we need tore(e()er what Jesus said to Mary when she was dragged to Hi(. He said3 :I don t conde(n you.>That s good news. #ut He didn t stop there. +hat else did He say He said3 : o and sin no (ore.> That is e9uallygood news. od lo es sinners3 it is true. #ut He hates sin. He has pro ided power to o erco(e sin. He has

pro ided power to o)ey4power to )e ictorious. 5nd He has also pro ided !orgi eness !or wea$3i((ature3 growing Christians4and He continues to wal$ with the(. Power is a aila)le to go and sin no (ore. #ut it is the acceptance and lo e o! Jesus3 thecontinuing relationship with Hi(3 that )rings us this power to go and sin no (ore. That s why it is ana)solute necessity !or any sinning sinner to )e a)le to count on the accepting presence o! Jesus as he isstill learning how to e*perience the power that is a aila)le. The only person who grows out o! his (ista$es is the one who $nows he s lo ed and acceptede en while he s (a$ing the(. 'oes this lead to license ,oG It is this ery relationship with Jesus thatleads to ictory. "n the )asis o! this #i)le story3 we can conclude that it is possi)le to ha e a relationship with

od going on and to ha e a $nown sin going on in your li!e at the sa(e ti(e. The disciples had arelationship with od going on and a $nown sin going on at the sa(e ti(e4true or !alse #ut e en though it is possi)le to ha e a relationship with od and a $nown sin going on at thesa(e ti(e3 sooner or later one o! the two is going to go. Judas was the s(art one. He understood this principle. He decided he didn t want his sin to go3so he deli)erately scrapped his relationship with Jesus in !a or o! the sin. ,ow we ha e co(e to the real issue in cherished sin3 presu(ptuous sin3 $nown sin. Judasunderstood what to do to o erco(e sin3 and he deli)erately chose not to do it. 5nd when so(eonescraps a relationship with Jesus in !a or o! continuing in sin3 he is on e*ceedingly dangerous ground.Perhaps you ha e (et people who didn t want to get too religious3 )ecause they were a!raid their li!estyle would change. &uch was the case with Judas. #ut the rest o! the disciples wanted to stay with Jesus regardless. John3 !or e*a(ple. He was thedisciple who was always there. ,othing could ta$e hi( !ro( the side o! Jesus. 1et it still too$ hi( threeyears to learn how to accept the ictory Jesus had to o!!er. 5nd in spite o! his pro)le(s3 which were!ully as )ad as those o! Judas3 he continued to wal$ with Jesus. 1ears go )y. John is the last one le!t4the last o! the disciples. 5ll the rest ha e died a (artyr sdeath. Perhaps !riends co(e to isit hi( there in o(e. They hear hi( say things li$e3 :#elo ed3 let uslo e one another= !or lo e is o! od.> ? John 8=B. 5nd they say3 :John3 you e changed.> John loo$s at the( and as$s3 :+ho3 (e > #ecause the people who do change are the last ones to $now it4the last ones to ad ertise it.#ut the grace o! od had )een doing its wor$ in John. John had )een $nown as one o! the :sons o! thunder3> )ut now he says3 :#elo ed3 now are we the sons o! od3 and it doth not yet appear what weshall )e= )ut we $now that3 when he shall appear3 we shall )e li$e hi(@ !or we shall see hi( as he is.> ?John 0=2. Please3 (y !riend3 (ay I re(ind you that i! you continue to $now Jesus as your personal riendday )y day4)y prayer and )y study o! His +ord4i! nothing ta$es you !ro( His side3 you will 6oinJohn the )elo ed in e*periencing a trans!or(ation o! character. +hate er sin you struggle with3 it will!ade away. &o(eti(es we get i(patient and try to put ti(eta)les on our growth. +e d )etter not. That s

od s depart(ent. That s the Holy &pirit s wor$. The principle o! Christian growth is !irst the )lade3then the ear3 then the !ull corn in the ear. It ta$es ti(e to grow !ruit. #ut lo e has its own )uilt-in sa!eguard against license. The (ore we lo e3 the !urther we go

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!ro( wanting to play cheap and loose with od s grace. 5nd while we grow3 while we learn with thedisciples to lo e and trust Hi( !ully3 how than$!ul we can )e !or the (essage o! how Jesus treated$nown sinners.

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How Jesus Treated the "e#on-Possessed

The choir had 6ust !inished singing the (orning s anthe(. +ith a so!t rustle o! ro)es3 the singersreturned to their places in the choir lo!t and sat down. 5 slight stir ran through the congregation as

people shi!ted in their seats3 see$ing the (ost co(!orta)le position to sit out the ser(on.

The church was crowded that (orning3 and suppressed e*cite(ent was in the air3 !or the(orning spea$er had a reputation !or )eing contro ersial. He wasn t o!ten in ited to e*press His iews pu)licly3 and ru(or had it that one such ser ice had actually ended in a near riot. The plat!or( elder was understanda)ly a )it ner ous as he glanced toward the guest spea$er and nodded slightly toindicate that the ti(e had co(e !or Hi( to )egin. The spea$er had scarcely reached the podiu( and opened His (outh to spea$3 when the doorsto the rear o! the sanctuary crashed open. &hrie$ing and staggering up the center aisle3 a de(oniachurled hi(sel! into the presence o! Jesus. 1ou can read a)out it in Lu$e 8=00-0F. :In the synagoguethere was a (an3 which had a spirit o! an unclean de il3 and cried out with a loud oice.> The description is a )it hu(orous4:an unclean de il>G 5!ter all3 how (any clean de ils arethere #ut at least we can assu(e that as de ils go3 this particular de il was apparently a )ad one. The de(oniac :cried out with a loud oice3 saying3 Let us alone@ what ha e we to do with thee3thou Jesus o! ,aAareth art thou co(e to destroy us I $now thee who thou art@ the Holy "ne o! od.> ,otice the pronouns4they are ery interesting. :Let us alone.> :+hat ha e we to do withthee > :5rt thou co(e to destroy us > 7 idently the de(on )egan )y spea$ing )oth !or hi(sel! and!or the (an that he possessed. #ut then he ended with3 : I $now thee.> Perhaps the (an did not realiAein whose presence he had )een so iolently placed. #ut the de(on certainly recogniAed who he wascon!ronting. This (ust ha e )een a rather ner y de(on. Perhaps he !elt especially ad enturous that daywhen he decided to interrupt the church ser ice where Jesus4the "ne who had created hi(4washolding !orth. #ut ner y or not3 he also (ust not ha e )een particularly s(art. He should ha e $nown

)etter3 )ecause he ended up in de!eat4as the de(ons always do in the presence o! Jesus. or :Jesusre)u$ed hi(3 saying3 Hold thy peace3 and co(e out o! hi(. 5nd when the de il had thrown hi( in the(idst3 he ca(e out o! hi(3 and hurt hi( not. 5nd they were all a(aAed3 and spa$e a(ong the(sel es3saying3 +hat a word is thisG !or with authority and power he co((andeth the unclean spirits3 and theyco(e out.> In the #i)le there are se en recorded instances o! Jesus con!rontations with the de(ons. #e!orewe go on to consider the second occasion3 please notice three things= ?. Jesus contact and con ersation with the de(on was )rie!. 2. The de(on was !orced to lea e his icti( i((ediately. 0. 5t least in this particular case3 no intercessor was present. ,o one was in ol ed in )ringing the a!!licted (an to Jesus or in see$ing Jesus help in his

)ehal!. He ca(e alone. In !act3 he wasn t e en capa)le o! as$ing help !or hi(sel!3 !or when he tried tospea$3 the de(on spo$e through hi(. 1et Jesus was still a)le to deli er and sa e hi(. The second case history3 Matthew =02-083 is ery short. :5s they went out3 )ehold3 they

)rought to hi( a du() (an possessed with a de il. 5nd when the de il was cast out3 the du() spa$e=and the (ultitudes (ar elled3 saying3 It was ne er so seen in Israel.> In this case there was intercession3 !or it says3 “They )rought to hi( a du() (an possessedwith a de il.> "nce again3 howe er3 the encounter was )rie!. 5nd the e idence is that the de(ons were!orced to lea e i((ediately at Jesus word. The people who )rought this (an to Jesus couldn t doanything to help hi(. #ut they $new enough to )ring hi( to Jesus3 and that s the right thing to do3don t you thin$ 5nyone today who $nows so(eone who is tor(ented or oppressed or in trou)le could!ollow the e*a(ple o! these people in )ringing that one to Jesus. He is the only "ne who has the power

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to )ring healing and restoration. Case history nu()er three is !ound in Matthew ?2. :Then was )rought unto hi( one possessedwith a de il3 )lind3 and du()= and he healed hi(3 inso(uch that the )lind and du() )oth spa$e andsaw.> Verse 22. The record continues with a dialogue )etween Jesus and the Pharisees. #ut Jesus actualencounter with the de(ons again was )rie! and again ended in their total de!eat. The religious leaders

accused Jesus o! casting out de ils )y the power o! the de il. In return3 Jesus ga e the( so(e hard-to-answer argu(ents and told a para)le a)out an e(pty house4swept and garnished4where (anyde(ons returned to ta$e the place o! one. +e ll co(e )ac$ to this3 )ut !or now let s continue to the!ourth case history. This is one o! the )est-$nown encounters4the de(oniacs who were set !ree and the de(onswho dro e the pigs o er the cli!! into the sea. It is recorded in Matthew and Lu$e . In this instance3Jesus engaged in a )rie! dialogue with the de(ons. 5ccording to Lu$e 3 He as$ed3 :+hat is your na(e > 5nd they replied3 :"ur na(e is Legion.> &ee erse 0 . In the days o! Christ3 the o(an ar(y was di ided into legions. 7ach legion was co(posed o! !ro( three to !i e thousand (en. 5pparently the de il had enough spare de(ons that he could wastethree to !i e thousand o! the( on one or two (enG 5 popular approach to the su)6ect o! e*orcis( says that you ha e to tal$ to each indi idualde(on and weasel the( out one )y one. I! Jesus had used that (ethod in this e*perience3 He would

pro)a)ly still )e thereG &o although there is #i)le e idence !or (ultiple possession3 there is no e idence that eachde(on (ust )e dealt with indi idually. +hen Jesus ga e the co((and3 they all le!t. 5 pac$age deal3 i! you please. The de ils went into the swine3 the swine ran into the sea3 and the people ca(e out and

pleaded !or Jesus to lea e their country )e!ore they lost any (ore o! their resources. In this case3 there was no intercessor. "nce again the de(ons e*hi)ited a lac$ o! 6udg(ent3 or

perhaps a lac$ o! sel!-control3 )y co(ing into the presence o! Jesus oluntarily. #ut they were percepti e enough to say3 as recorded in Matthew =0?3 : If thou cast us out3 su!!er us to go away intothe herd o! swine.> They surely (ust ha e $nown what the outco(e o! the encounter was going to )eG The !i!th case history is !ound in Matthew ?E=2?-2 . This is the story o! the Phoenician wo(anwhose !aith was so great. &he persisted3 staying in Jesus presence !or so(e o! the cru()s !ro( theMaster s ta)le. Her pro)le( was that her daughter was grie ously e*ed with a de il. 5t the conclusiono! the con ersation3 Jesus said3 :" wo(an3 great is thy !aith= )e it unto thee e en as thou wilt.>Matthew concludes his account o! this (iracle )y saying3 :5nd her daughter was (ade whole !ro( that

ery hour.> There was an intercessor in this account3 )ut the daughter who was possessed wasn t e en

present. &he recei ed deli erance in a)sentia3 we (ight say. #ut e en though she was not in Hisi((ediate presence3 she was deli ered i((ediately at His word. Case history nu()er si* is !ound in Mar$ =?8-2 . It s a long one. Jesus has co(e down !ro(the (ount o! trans!iguration. He had ta$en three o! His disciples on a special trip. The other nine were

6ealous and had )een )ic$ering a(ong the(sel es a)out who was going to )e the greatest. In that state3they tried to ta$e on the de(ons3 )ut instead3 the de(ons too$ the(. 5lthough Jesus ne er lost a case3His disciples did. +hen Jesus arri ed on the scene3 the )oy s !ather e*plained the situation to Hi(3 and said3 : If you can do anything4> Jesus replied3 :5ll things are possi)le to hi( that )elie es.> Then the (ananswered3 :I )elie e3 )ut e idently I don t )elie e enough. Please help (e with (y un)elie!.> Jesus raised up the )oy3 and there was a great deli erance that day. 5!ter the crowds had (elted away3 the disciples as$ed Jesus why they hadn t )een a)le to castout the de(ons the(sel es. 5nd Jesus said3 :This $ind doesn t co(e out e*cept )y prayer and !asting.>

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#ut Jesus3 who cast the de(on out3 hadn t )een !asting3 so !ar as we $now. It s easy to ta$e aliteral interpretation o! this and thin$ that od is so(ehow i(pressed i! we depri e oursel es o! !ood.#ut this doesn t line up with what Jesus said a)out od s )eing willing to gi e good gi!ts to Hischildren. od s gi!ts are not earned4they are gi en !reely. &o what did Jesus (ean Jesus was spea$ing o! the continuing relationship with His ather. He didn t try to rein Hi(sel! up to so(e $ind o! spiritual high 6ust !or this occasion. ather3 He spent ti(e e ery day in co((union

and !ellowship with His ather. This was (ore i(portant to Hi( than eating. It was through thisrelationship that He was $ept under His ather s control and was ready at a (o(ent s notice !or whate er de ices o! the de il He (ight )e called upon to !ace. "n the other hand3 His disciples had not spent the night3 or the early (orning3 in !ellowshipwith Hea en as He had. They had !allen asleep while arguing and scrapping a(ong the(sel es a)outwho was to )e the greatest. #y their own choice they had separated the(sel es !ro( the power o! hea en and were thus le!t to (eet the ene(y in their own !ee)le strength. I! at any ti(e we try to grapple with the powers o! dar$ness on our own3 we will surely )eo erco(e. Dnless we ha e the power o! Jesus3 it is sheer !olly e en to atte(pt a con!rontation with thede il. He is stronger than we are3 and he will co(e out on top e ery ti(e. "nly the power o! Jesus isstrong enough to o erco(e the ene(y3 and this power is a aila)le to each o! us through a dailyrelationship with Hi(. ,ot only are we incapa)le o! dealing with de il possession in its (ost e*tre(e !or(3 )ut we arealso incapa)le o! dealing with the de il s te(ptations and tric$s in our own li es. +e cannot o erco(esin in our own strength3 )ut only through the strength o! hea en3 as we co(e to Jesus and allow Hi( to!ight !or us. inally3 case history nu()er se en4!ound in Mar$ ?F= . Here we don t ha e a story3 as in theother instances. +e ha e only a re!erence to so(ething that has already happened. :+hen Jesus was risen early the !irst day o! the wee$3 he appeared !irst to Mary Magdalene3 outo! who( he had cast se en de ils.> +e could pro)a)ly speculate on this3 as to whether Jesus cast out se en de ils all at once3 or cast de ils out o! Mary se en di!!erent ti(es. I ( choosing the latter possi)ility3 )ecause o! the para)leJesus told in Matthew ?2. Let s go )ac$ there3 to erses 80-8E. :+hen the unclean spirit is gone out o! a (an3 he wal$eth through dry places3 see$ing rest3 and!indeth none. Then he saith3 I will return into (y house !ro( whence I ca(e out@ and when he is co(e3he !indeth it e(pty3 swept3 and garnished. Then goeth he3 and ta$eth with hi(sel! se en other spirits(ore wic$ed than hi(sel!3 and they enter in and dwell there= and the last state o! that (an is worse thanthe !irst. 7 en so shall it )e also unto this wic$ed generation.> +hat is Jesus saying That there s so(ething (ore i(portant than getting the de il cast out o! you. It is also necessary to $eep hi( out. Isn t that true 5nd Mary had to learn that4e idently thehard way. 5 person (ay $now a (ighty deli erance !ro( sin4e en !ro( de il possession4)ut unless he$nows a ital connection with od and a continuing !ellowship with Hi( day )y day3 through #i)lestudy and prayer3 it s not going to )e enough. &in is ne er sta(ped out )y us. It is crowded out when Jesus co(es in. +e can draw se eral conclusions !ro( the study o! these case histories. irst3 when Jesus castout the de ils3 He cast the( out i((ediately. &econd3 He cast all the de(ons out at once3 not one at ati(e. Third3 so(eti(es there was an intercessor3 so(eti(es not. 7 idently it is not essential ha e anintercessor. 5nd !ourth3 casting out de ils is no )ig dealG In Lu$e ? 3 when the se enty returned and said. Lord3 e en the de ils are su)6ect unto usthrough thy na(e3 Jesus said3 essentially3 “ o! &atan was cast out o! hea en a long ti(e ago. He is ade!eated !oe.> &ee erses ?B-2 . How Jesus treated the de(on-possessed is good news. It was good news in Palestine@ it is good

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news today. Jesus ne er lost a case The de ils screa(ed !or (ercy in His presence. There!ore3 they arenothing to )e a!raid o!3 !or the (ighty na(e o! Jesus is still the greatest power on earth. Through His

power3 we (ay )e deli ered !ro( the power o! the ene(y.

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How Jesus Treated the Poor

5 !riend o! (ine and his son were dri ing along the hot highway in Cali!ornia se eral yearsago3 and they passed an ice-crea( stand. My !riend decided his little ten-year-old )oy could use an ice-crea( cone. &o he stopped the car3 ga e his )oy a di(e3 and told hi( to run o er and get an ice-crea(

cone. In a (o(ent3 the )oy ca(e )ac$ !ro( the ice-crea( stand near tears. He still had the di(e3 andhe told his !ather the (an wouldn t sell hi( an ice-crea( cone. &o the !ather got out o! the car3 wento er to the (an3 and as$ed3 :+hat s the (atter here +hy won t you sell (y )oy an ice-crea( cone > The owner o! the ice-crea( stand said3 :+e don t sell nine-cent ice-crea( cones. 1our )oywanted a nine-cent ice-crea( cone.> Then it dawned on (y pastor !riend that his ten-year-old )oy had already dedicated his tithe!ro( the di(e to the Lord3 )etween the car and the ice-crea( stand. &o he rela*ed3 e*plained to the

proprietor o! the place what had happened3 and apologiAed !or the (isunderstanding. The (an said3 :Is that what you do with the penny !ro( your di(e 1ou gi e it to the Lord+ell3> he said3 :I ll tell you what you do3 son. 1ou gi e all o! your di(e to the Lord3 and I ll gi e youan ice-crea( cone.> 5nd he put on one scoop3 two scoops3 three scoops4until the ice crea( wasrunning down4and handed it to the )oy. "nce again the pro(ise was !ul!illed that od would open thewindows o! hea en and pour out a )lessing. od delights to honor those who honor Hi(. In Mar$ ?2 is a story a)out how Jesus treated the poor4those who had ery little )ut chose to

put od !irst in their gi ing. The story )egins in erse 8?= :Jesus sat o er against the treasury3 and )eheld how the people cast (oney into the treasury.> 1ou (ay recall that in the days o! Christ3 apparently the custo(ary way o! recei ing o!!eringswas to place a container out in the !oyer. 5nd as the people le!t the church3 they put in their o!!erings. I

personally wish we could re i e that (ethod !or ta$ing the o!!eringG #ut3 nonetheless3 that was the(ethod in the days o! Jesus. Jesus was a)le to )e there in the !oyer and watch. :5nd (any that were rich cast in (uch. 5ndthere ca(e a certain poor widow3 and she threw in two (ites3 which (a$e a !arthing.> Verses 8?3 82. 5 (ite is worth only a !raction o! one o! our pennies. 7 en the penny that (y !riend s son setaside !ro( his ice-crea(-cone di(e was worth (ore than this widow had. #ut she cast in her o!!ering3and Jesus saw her. :5nd he called unto hi( his disciples3 and said unto the(3 Verily I say unto you3 That this poor widow hath cast (ore in3 than all they which ha e cast into the treasury= !or all they did cast in o! their a)undance@ )ut she o! her want did cast in all that she had3 e en all her li ing.> Verses 803 88. This was a poor widow3 )ut I d li$e to suggest that this was a rich poor widow. The #i)lespea$s o! those who are rich in !aith. 5nd i! you had to choose )etween )eing rich in !aith or rich inthis world s goods3 which would you ta$e It (ight )e easy to gi e a 9uic$ answer. #ut which wouldyou really pre!er This was a rich poor widow3 and she got good (ar$s !ro( Jesus Hi(sel!4which she (ust ha eheard. 5pparently Jesus was in such close pro*i(ity to her that she was a)le to hear what went on

)etween Jesus and His disciples. This encounter too$ place in the (iddle o! the last wee$ o! Jesus li!e3 6ust a !ew days )e!ore thecruci!i*ion. It (ust ha e )rought encourage(ent to Jesus heart to see the !aith o! this wo(an. 5nd it(ust ha e )een encouraging to her to hear what Jesus said. Jesus o!ten ga e words o! appreciation. ro( the ti(e He was a child3 He was $nown !or spea$ing words3 o! encourage(ent and cheer. 5nd this widow (ust ha e gone out !ro( the te(ple witha lighter step3 with hope in her heart3 with courage !or another day3 )ecause o! her contact with Jesusthat day.

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&e eral lessons concerning gi ing and #i)le principles o! gi ing e(erge !ro( this story. irst o! all3 our a)ility to gi e depends upon three things= the (oney we ha e3 the possessions we ha e3 and theearning power we ha e. &o(eti(es people s (oney or cash !low gets lost in possessions. In Matthew? 3 Jesus told the rich young ruler3 : o sell all that you ha e3 and gi e.> &ee erse 2?. et rid o! so(eo! your in est(ents. The #i)le standard !or gi ing is !ound in Malachi3 where od s (ethod is descri)ed. He as$s us

to gi e on the percentage plan. eally3 that s the only !air way to (easure gi ing. &o(eti(es we can!ool oursel es into thin$ing we e gi en a lot3 6ust )ecause we e gi en (ore dollars than so(eoneelse. #ut in the story o! this widow3 we ha e another principle= od (easures our gi ing3 not )y thea(ount o! the gi!t3 )ut )y the a(ount we ha e le!t o er a!ter we ha e gi en. 5nd )y His (easure(ent3this wo(an had gi en (ore than all the rest3 !or she ga e all that she had. Let s ta$e a (odern-day illustration. &uppose a college student trying to wor$ his way throughschool is a)le to earn ? e*tra during the (onth. 5ccording to the #i)le principle o! tithing3 which is? percent3 he should return to od ? 3 which really isn t a gi!t. It s only )eing honest. It s not )einggenerous. The #i)le teaching is that ? percent o! our increase )elongs to od anyway. #ut i! that sa(e student were also to drop a 9uarter into the o!!ering plate during the (onth inaddition to his tithe3 he (ight not thin$ he had gi en ery (uch. 5nother person3 with steady e(ploy(ent and a regular wage3 (ight (a$e 23 during the(onth3 pay 2 tithe3 and drop E into the o!!ering plate. 5nd that person would ha e gi en the sa(ea(ount as the student. 5nd the person who (a$es ? 3 in a (onth3 returns ?3 in tithe3 and puts 2E in theo!!ering plate has gi en the sa(e percent as the student who ga e the 9uarter. That really tells usso(ething a)out the !airness o! od3 doesn t it It (ight )e possi)le to (isunderstand the lesson o! the story o! the widow and say3 :+e shouldgi e e erything we ha e to the church.> ,o3 that is not what Jesus is saying4and is not what He e*pects. It s all right to ha e so(ethingle!t. 5)raha( had so(ething le!t. 5)raha( was rich. 5nd 5)raha( got good (ar$s. "thers in&cripture had great wealth= Jo)3 'a id3 and &olo(on3 to na(e 6ust a !ew. It is legiti(ate to ha e a )ase!ro( which to (a$e (ore (oney3 so long as that increase does not eclipse our sense o! need and

)eco(e (ore i(portant to us than hea enly treasure. 'a id said it well in Psal( F2=? = :I! richesincrease3 set not your heart upon the(.> Let s consider another case history4the story o! the rich !ool. It s !ound in Lu$e ?23 )eginningwith erse ?F. :He spa$e a para)le unto the(3 saying3 The ground o! a certain rich (an )rought !orth

plenti!ully= and he thought within hi(sel!3 saying3 +hat shall I do3 )ecause I ha e no roo( where to )estow my !ruits > 5nd right there he (issed it. +hose !ruits were they :5nd he said3 This will I do= I will pull down (y )arns3 and )uild greater@ and there will I

)estow all (y !ruits and (y goods. 5nd I will say to (y soul3 &oul3 thou hast (uch goods laid up !or (any years@ ta$e thine ease3 eat3 drin$3 and )e (erry. #ut od said unto hi(3 Thou !ool.> 1ou re a !ool3 (an. 1ou e !orgotten who it is that $eeps your heart )eating. 1ou e !orgottenwho it is who really owns the !ruit and the cattle upon a thousand hills and the gold and sil er and allthe (ines. :This night thy soul shall )e re9uired o! thee= then whose shall those things )e3 which thouhast pro ided &o is he that layeth up treasure !or hi(sel!3 and is not rich toward od.> Verses ?F-2?. Here you ha e a contrast with the poor widow. &he ga e all she had4he $ept all he had. +hat adi!!erenceG It is hu(an nature that the (ore (oney you ha e3 the (ore (oney you spend. +e )uild )igger

)arns. #arns +ell3 (ay)e we aren t all into )arns. #ut how easy it is to use our increase !or )igger ho(es3 )etter cars3 (ore e*pensi e acations4and to !orget the needs o! the poor3 to neglect the Lord swor$3 to !orget who it is who gi es the power to get wealth. 5nother lesson !ro( how Jesus treated the poor widow is that the poorest3 (ost hu()le3 and

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unnoticed4)y worldly standards4is still o! great alue in the eyes o! Jesus. #y the standards and(easures o! their day3 wo(en were second-class citiAens. 5 wo(an who had lost the co(panionship o! her hus)and had lost (ore than 6ust that4she had lost her status in society. 5nd a wo(an who was awidow and was poor3 was a(ong the lowest o! all. The people o! Christ s day (easured spirituality )y wealth and achie e(ents. 7 en Christ sdisciples3 when Jesus told the( how hard it was !or a rich (an to enter into the $ingdo( o! hea en3

as$ed3 :+ho then can )e sa ed > &ee Matthew 2 =20-2E. It was co((only accepted that the richer you were3 the higher you stood in the eyes o! hea enand in the eyes o! (en. #ut in this story we see that the ground is le el at the !oot o! the cross. This widow3 in her

po erty and hu(ility3 was a)le to gi e (ore than all the rest3 (ore than all the rich and the honored andthe noticed. This was true not only in the percentage she ga e3 )ut also in the results o! her gi!t. #ecause o! the co((endation o! Jesus on her tiny o!!ering3 others ha e )een encouraged to )ring the little theyha e3 that otherwise they (ight ha e considered too s(all to )e accepted. 5nd while the o!!erings o! the rich Pharisees ha e long since )een !orgotten3 the two (ites o! this widow ha e )een the )eginningo! a strea( o! little gi!ts3 widening e en to this present day. &he ga e )ecause she lo ed3 and that s what (ade the di!!erence. 5nd it is the lo e o! Jesus that(a$es all o! our gi ing3 great or s(all3 o! alue in the eyes o! hea en. "ur gi ing is to )e a response to3 and a re!lection o!3 the gi!t o! Jesus. : or ye $now the grace o! our Lord Jesus Christ3 that3 though he was rich3 yet !or your sa$es he )eca(e poor3 that ye through his

po erty (ight )e rich.> 2 Corinthians = . How than$!ul we can )e !or the riches that are ours in Christ Jesus. 5nd how than$!ul we can )e!or the way He treated the poor widow in gi ing her eternal riches.

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How Jesus Treated Pu$licans and Ta% Collectors

In Lu$e ? is !ound the story o! Qacchaeus3 who was a wee little (an4a wee little (an was he.His is an intriguing story. It has all the dra(a o! real li!e. It has a co(ical side. 5nd it has a deeplyspiritual in itation to a true see$er a!ter od.

:Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 5nd3 )ehold3 there was a (an na(ed Qacchaeus3which was the chie! a(ong the pu)licans3 and he was rich. 5nd he sought to see Jesus who he was@ andcould not !or the press3 )ecause he was little o! stature. 5nd he ran )e!ore3 and cli()ed up into asyca(ore tree to see hi(= !or he was to pass that way. 5nd when Jesus ca(e to the place3 he loo$ed up3and saw hi(3 and said unto hi(3 Qacchaeus3 (a$e haste3 and co(e down@ !or today I (ust a)ide at thyhouse. 5nd he (ade haste3 and ca(e down3 and recei ed hi( 6oy!ully. 5nd when they saw it3 they all(ur(ured3 saying3 That he was gone to )e guest with a (an that is a sinner. 5nd Qacchaeus stood3 andsaid unto the Lord@ #ehold3 Lord3 the hal! o! (y goods I gi e to the poor@ and i! I ha e ta$en anything!ro( any (an )y !alse accusation3 I restore hi( !our!old. 5nd Jesus said unto hi(3 This day issal ation co(e to this house3 !orso(uch as he also is a son o! 5)raha(. or the &on o! (an is co(e tosee$ and to sa e that which was lost.> Lu$e ? =?-? . Jericho was an interesting city. It has captured the i(agination o! (any )oys and girls as the siteo! the )attle o! Jericho at the ti(e o! Joshua3 when the walls ca(e tu()ling down. The curse uponJericho at that ti(e resulted in the old city ne er )eing re)uilt. #ut later another city was )uilt3 a(odern city3 which was the ho(e o! Qacchaeus in the days o! Jesus. Jericho was a )eauti!ul city )ut was $nown !or its pu)licans and ta* collectors. There a Jewish(an could turn traitor to his own people3 gi e hi(sel! up to the o(ans3 and there)y (a$e a goodli ing. There a (an could )eco(e rich3 )ecause he was gi en a portion o! his collections. 5nd i! hiscollections were greater3 so was his portion. Qacchaeus was not only a pu)lican3 he was chie! a(ongthe pu)licans. He was the 'irector o! the Internal e enue &er ice !or the area o! Jericho. #ut he was little. In spite o! his s(all stature3 he had reached the place where he could wal$ down the city streets o! Jericho and cause people to tre()le3 )ecause o! his power and his o!!ice andauthority. He hardly see(ed a li$ely candidate !or the $ingdo( o! hea en3 at least )y our standards. #uthe had heard o! Jesus. The Holy &pirit had already )een wor$ing on his heart. 5nd Qacchaeusdesperately wanted to see Jesus. It says he wanted to see who He was4 who He was. It doesn t say he wanted to see what He didor hear what He said. He wanted to see who He was. He wanted to get to the heart o! the (atter. It sone thing to $now so(ething a)out what Jesus did and what He said. It s another thing to $now whoHe was. The truth o! the (atter is that (uch o! what Jesus said had )een said already in the ra))inicalliterature. 5nd there were (iracles in the days o! 7li6ah and 7lisha and the other prophets. ,athanaeland Philip3 two o! Jesus disciples3 had considered Jesus as so(ething (ore than the son o! Joseph!ro( ,aAareth. He was the &on o! od !ro( hea en. 5nd that (ade all the di!!erence in the world. It still does today3 doesn t it 5)raha( Lincoln did (any $ind things. +e can learn (uch !ro(the sayings o! Con!ucius or other wise (en. eligious leaders o! all ti(es ha e spo$en a)out od. #utthe thing that ga e such !orce to the words and actions o! Jesus was who He was. Qacchaeus3 s(allthough he was3 see(ed to realiAe this3 and he wanted to see !or hi(sel! who Jesus was. #ut he could not see Jesus !or the press. This o!ten happened in the days o! Christ. In Mar$ thesecond chapter we noticed the story o! the paralytic who wanted to )e healed and to ha e his sins!orgi en. He couldn t get through to Jesus )ecause o! the press4)ecause o! the crowds. 5nd they!inally had to (a$e a hole in the roo! to let hi( down into the presence o! Jesus. In Mar$ the !i!thchapter is the story o! the in!ir( wo(an who wanted only to touch the he( o! His gar(ent3 )ut al(ost(issed e en that3 )ecause o! the crowds o! people. In Lu$e the eighth chapter3 e en Jesus own (other and )rothers were an*ious to see Hi(3 )ut they couldn t get through )ecause o! the press.

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That can still happen today3 can t it It is possi)le to )e so )usy3 to )e so pressed on e ery sidewith the needs o! other people3 e en in doing the wor$ o! the Lord3 that we !orget the Lord o! the wor$.It is possi)le e en in the church that we do not see the Lord )ecause o! the press. 5nd so you see this (an Qacchaeus3 who ordinarily wal$ed with great dignity down the streetso! Jericho3 suddenly running with the street urchins !or the nearest tree. ") iously3 in see$ing Jesus hehad !orgotten hi(sel! to a great e*tent. His need was so great that in see$ing !or help he lost his usual

inhi)itions. This has o!ten happened. I re(e()er hearing a)out an earth9ua$e in Cali!ornia se eral yearsago. 'uring the (iddle o! the earth9ua$e a (an was trying to co(!ort his hysterical neigh)ors. He wasat the !ront-yard !ence3 telling the wo(en and children that they shouldn t screa( li$e that4it wasgoing to )e all right. Then he disco ered that all he had on was a pair o! shoes. He rushed )ac$ to his house and!ound that the !ront screen door was still loc$ed !ro( the inside4and there was a hole through thescreen where he had co(e out. He had !orgotten all o! his inhi)itions when li!e was at sta$e. Qacchaeus had one supre(e (oti ation. Jesus was co(ing to town. He had to see Jesus. He hadto see who He was. I! there was the slightest chance he could !ind the solution to the sleepless nightsand the guilt and re(orse3 no way was he going to (iss that chance. &o he ends up on the li() o! a treeo erloo$ing the place where Jesus was a)out to pass )y. +hen Jesus stopped underneath the tree3 He loo$ed up and ga e Qacchaeus the surprise o! hisli!e. ,ot only did He see hi( up there in the !oliage3 )ut He called hi( )y na(e. :Qacchaeus3 (a$ehaste3 and co(e down.> Verse E. ,ow this could ha e )een an e()arrassing situation. I $now a little a)out it !ro( personale*perience. +hen we were li ing in rand Junction3 Colorado3 se eral years ago3 a rodeo ca(e totown. "ur )oy4age ten or twel e at the ti(e4was e*cited. He wanted to see the rodeo. In rand Junction3 Colorado3 the rodeo is sort o! li$e a downtown )a$e sale4you $now3 the

)iggest s(all-town happening o! the year. 7 ery)ody was going to the rodeo3 including (any o! (ychurch (e()ers. Howe er3 I wasn t sure that all o! (y church (e()ers would want their pastor to go.#ut (y )oy wanted to go to the rodeo. &o !inally we decided to go to the rodeo grounds together andcli() one o! the trees ne*t to the !ence and watch !ro( there. I didn t e*pect to see other church (e()ers there in the treesG #ut to (y surprise3 no sooner were we settled where we could get a iew o! the rodeo3 when so(e 6uniors in the ne*t tree recogniAedus and said3 :+hy3 "astor #enden$%& I had lost (y inhi)itions in (y concern !or (y )oy and his desire to see the rodeo. #ut suddenlyI got (y inhi)itions )ac$ again and !ound it ery e()arrassing. Qacchaeus was so intent on seeing Jesus and who He was that apparently he didn t e en !ind ite()arrassing to )e disco ered up there with the street urchins. In spite o! the crowd loo$ing on3 the#i)le says he responded 6oy!ully and (ade haste and ca(e down. The one )ig opportunity o! his li!ehad co(e. He (ade haste and ca(e down. Isaiah said it in Isaiah EB=?E= I dwell with the one :that is o! acontrite and hu()le spirit.> Jesus said it= :#lessed are the poor in spirit= !or theirs is the $ingdo( o! hea en.> Matthew E=0. Qacchaeus was up a tree !or (ore than one reason. He was there not only physically3 )utspiritually. 5nd Jesus in ited hi( to co(e down to )ow low at the !oot o! the cross3 ac$nowledging hisgreat need. Qacchaeus ca(e down. He didn t )elong up in the tree. &o(eone else )elonged on the tree3 andHe was nailed to the tree not long a!ter. Qacchaeus recei ed Jesus 6oy!ully. 5nd when that happened3 the crowd )egan to (ur(ur andco(plain. They said that Jesus had gone to )e a guest with a (an who was a sinner. +hy did He ha eto choose this wretch to ha e lunch with +eren t there respecta)le and in!luential people in the city o!

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Jericho to whose ho(es Jesus could ha e gone The crowds co(plained a)out the sa(e thing another ti(e3 when they said3 :This (an recei ethsinners3 and eateth with the(.> Lu$e ?E=2. #ut that s good news. That s the gospel in one sentence. I! not !or the !act that Jesus recei es sinners and eats with the(3 there would )e no hope !or you or (etoday. 5ren t you glad that He is willing to )e the guest o! people who are sinners ight here co(es a strange departure in the story4one that has o!ten )othered so(e o! us.

Qacchaeus e idently )egan )eating his own (oral dru(s. He :stood3 and said unto the Lord@ #ehold3Lord3 the hal! o! (y goods I gi e to the poor@ and i! I ha e ta$en any thing !ro( any (an )y !alseaccusation3 I restore hi( !our!old.> Lu$e ? = . +hat was he doing +ell3 so(e (ight say he was tryingto earn his sal ation. #ut notice Jesus reply. Jesus said3 :This day is sal ation co(e to this house.>Verse . Qacchaeus didn t ha e to wait until he had co ered his trac$s and gi en E percent3 and restored8 percent. ,o3 sal ation wasn t in that. &al ation ca(e on the day when he recei ed Jesus into hishouse and into his heart. It is when Christ is recei ed as a personal &a iour that sal ation co(es to thesoul. 5nd the desire on the part o! Qacchaeus to restore and to gi e to those in need was an indicationthat he had already accepted this sal ation4it was not a step in earning sal ation. Is there a di!!erenceIt was the result o! sal ation3 not the cause. That day4the day Qacchaeus accepted Jesus4sal ationca(e to his house. #ut what a)out the ne*t day There is another $ey phrase in this story. Jesus said3 :Today I(ust a)ide at your house.> &ee erse E. "nce you ha e accepted sal ation3 once you co(e down !ro(your high perch3 once you e let Jesus )e the "ne to )e li!ted up3 you (ust still hear anew e ery daythose !a(iliar words. Ma$e haste today4(a$e haste to(orrow4(a$e haste e ery day to co(e downand to let Jesus a)ide at your house. It is not enough to accept Hi( once only3 no (atter how great your need. Jesus wants to a)idewith us4to stay with us. In e elation 0=2 He says3 :#ehold3 I stand at the door3 and $noc$= i! any(an hear (y oice3 and open the door3 I will co(e in to hi(3 and will sup with hi(3 and he with (e.>Jesus is still saying3 Today I want to a)ide at your house3 in your heart3 in your li!e.

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How Jesus Treated Outsiders

5 Jewish doctor in Los 5ngeles was on the sta!! o! a hospital owned )y a Protestantdeno(ination. "ne ti(e he told o! his e*periences in )eing an outsider and )eco(ing an insider. Hesaid he was a)out ready to graduate !ro( his specialty in (edicine3 and one part o! the !inal

e*a(ination was to go into the roo( o! a patient he had ne er seen )e!ore and co(e out within (inuteswith a diagnosis. The patients had )een well coached not to disclose their illness. &o this Jewish doctor went into the roo( assigned to hi(3 and here was a wo(an in the )ed. Hethought he (ight as well shoot !or the (oon to )egin with3 so he said3 :+hat do you ha e > &he said3 :1ou re the doctor4you !ind out.> &o he )egan his e*a(ination. 5!ter a !ew (o(ents he as$ed her to turn o er3 and she turneda)out an inch. He said3 :I )eg your pardon3 I d li$e to ha e you turn o er.> 5nd she turned another inch. 5t that point he )ro$e into so(e select 1iddish words3 not realiAing that his patient was alsoJewish. &he loo$ed up at hi( and as$ed3 :5re you Jewish > He said3 :1es.> &he said3 :I e got dia)etesG> 5nd he said he had ne er !elt so :in> in his li!eG +hether you re tal$ing a)out (edical practice or a)out the church or a)out the world at large3it s possi)le to )e an insider4or an outsider. In !act3 i! we were to e*ercise our (inds 6ust a )it3 wewould pro)a)ly see that it is possi)le to )e an insider3 e en though you re on the outside@ or to )e anoutsider when you re on the insideG +ith that in (ind3 it is intriguing to notice how Jesus treated the :outsiders> in His day3 todisco er who the :insiders> really are. :5 certain centurion s ser ant3 who was dear unto hi(3 was sic$3 and ready to die. 5nd when heheard o! Jesus3 he sent unto hi( the elders o! the Jews3 )eseeching hi( that he would co(e and heal hisser ant. 5nd when they ca(e to Jesus3 they )esought hi( instantly3 saying3 That he was worthy !or who( he should do this= !or he lo eth our nation3 and he hath )uilt us a synagogue. :Then Jesus went with the(. 5nd when he was now not !ar !ro( the house3 the centurion sent!riends to hi(3 saying unto hi(3 Lord3 trou)le not thysel!= !or I a( not worthy that thou shouldest enter under (y roo!= +here!ore neither thought I (ysel! worthy to co(e unto thee= )ut say in a word3 and(y ser ant shall )e healed. or I also a( a (an set under authority3 ha ing under (e soldiers3 and I sayunto one3 o3 and he goeth@ and to another3 Co(e3 and he co(eth@ and to (y ser ant3 'o this3 and hedoeth it.> ,otice this centurion had also said to the Jewish rulers3 o3 and they had goneGN :+hen Jesus heard these things3 he (ar elled at hi(3 and turned hi( a)out3 and said unto the

people that !ollowed hi(3 I say unto you3 I ha e not !ound so great !aith3 no3 not in Israel. 5nd they thatwere sent3 returning to the house3 !ound the ser ant whole that had )een sic$.> Lu$e B=2-? . Jesus (ar eled at the centurion s !aith. The ospels (ention two speci!ic ti(es when Jesus(ar eled4or wondered4and !or opposite reasons. Here3 He (ar eled at the !aith o! an outsider. Inthe other case3 He (ar eled at the lac$ o! !aith o! the insiders4the religious people o! His day. I suppose you ha e heard o! the se en wonders o! the world. The last ti(e I chec$ed there werea)out 2 o! the(G #ut let s consider se en wonders !ro( this story4se en things we (ight wonder or (ar el at3 as we consider this e*perience. The !irst concerns the centurion who sent word to Jesus a)out his ser ant who was ill. Isn t it awonder that a entile4considered a dog )y the religious people o! that day4would e en ha e thecourage to do what he did entiles were outsiders. They were not e en considered as worthy o! od snotice3 )lessing3 or sal ation. &o he (ust ha e possessed a truly (ar elous degree o! !aith e en to try

)rea$ing through the Jewish syste(.

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,ot only was he a entile@ he was a o(an. The o(ans in the days o! Christ were the $ind o! people who would stop you on the street i! it were cold and insist you gi e the( your coat. I! a o(anhad a hea y load to carry3 he would !orce so(e Jew to carry it !or hi(. o(an soldiers were not $nown!or their $indness3 courtesy3 or irtues. 5nd not only was this (an a o(an soldier3 he was a centurion3in charge o! a hundred (en in the o(an ar(y. +hat an unli$ely candidate !or one o! great !aith. The second thing we could wonder a)out in this story is the !act that this centurion was a

Christian. 7 idently his !aith ca(e !ro( a personal e*perience with od3 and he $new so(ething a)outod3 e en )e!ore he (et Jesus. In !act3 he $new enough a)out od that he recogniAed Jesus as od.7 en the Jewish people o! that day didn t do that. They were so )usy )eing good3 e*ternally3 that theydidn t ha e any ti(e to realiAe who this alilean was. #ut the centurion $new. He said3 :I ha e authority.> 5nd he went on to descri)e the li(its o! the authority he had. #ut hesaw hi(sel! as only a re!lection in the presence o! the "ne who had all power in hea en and on earth.He recogniAed in Jesus the "ne who had authority@ his !aith accepted Jesus as "ne sent !ro( od. Heapparently had no 9uestion a)out it3 and all the religious people o! his day could ha e 6oined hi(3 i! they had so chosen. The third thing I d li$e to in ite you to (ar el at3 concerning this centurion3 is that he as$ed !or no sign. People in those days were always as$ing !or signs. :&how us a sign3 and then we will )elie e.>Jesus told the( one ti(e3 :1ou wouldn t )elie e e en i! one were to rise !ro( the dead.> Later He pro ed His point )y raising LaAarus !ro( the dead3 and not only did they not )elie e3they plotted to $ill )oth Jesus and LaAarus4the one He had raised !ro( the dead. The sign (ade nodi!!erence. To the Jewish no)le(an who ca(e to Jesus3 He said3 :7*cept ye see signs and wonders3 ye willnot )elie e.> John 8=8 . How easy it is to )ase our trust in od on whether or not we recei e theanswers we as$ !or. Jesus saw in the heart o! the Jewish no)le(an a conditional !aith that would not

)elie e unless signs and wonders were produced. #ut not so with the o(an centurion. He acceptedJesus !or who He was3 e en )e!ore the signs and wonders. 5 !ourth reason why we should wonder at this story is )ecause o! the condition o! the ser ant.He was a dying (an. The centurion s re9uest was (ore than as$ing Jesus to cure a co((on cold. This(an was in deep trou)le. He was on his death)ed. 1et the centurion was willing to as$ !or what loo$edli$e the i(possi)le. He )elie ed that the Creator o! the uni erse could spea$ the word and his ser antwould )e healed. 5re you willing to as$ od !or so(ething )ig "r are you a!raid that i! you as$ !or so(ething

)ig it (ight not happen 'o you ha e only enough !aith to )ring to od the s(all re9uests "r do you3with this centurion3 )ring to od the i(possi)le re9uests 5 !i!th thing we (ight (ar el at is the !act that the centurion s !aith went so !ar as to say toJesus3 Just spea$ the word. I(agine going to a doctor today in )ehal! o! your lo ed one s serious health

pro)le(. +ould you pre!er to ha e hi( e*a(ine your lo ed one personally3 or would you )e willing tosay3 :Just spea$ the word. Tell us what (edicine will cure the pro)le(3 and that will )e enough.> This (an was gi en a choice o! ha ing the reat Physician (a$e a house call or not3 and here!used3 saying3 :That won t )e necessary. Just spea$ the word.> That ta$es a lot o! !aith3 doesn t it ight here we can see the spiritual lesson in this story. In loo$ing at physical healing3 let s not(iss the deeper lesson. +e are all aware that not e eryone who prays and as$s !or physical healing ishealed o! his physical pro)le(s today. 7 en the (ost godly so(eti(es su!!er and die in this world o! sin. #ut it is a uni ersal and ti(eless principle that od is in the )usiness o! !orgi ing sin. 5nd thereis no condition3 e*cept that we co(e to Hi( and as$. In His wisdo(3 od has a plan which does notinclude healing e eryone o! his physical diseases. "therwise He would ha e long ago de eloped aworld !ull o! :rice Christians>4people who ser ed Hi( only !or what they could get out o! Hi(. odwants a people who will )e !aith!ul unto death3 to witness )e!ore the uni erse that they will still lo e

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and trust Hi( no (atter what happens. #ut when it co(es to the !orgi eness o! sins3 He !orgi es all o! our sins3 and He does e en(ore. He heals all o! our spiritual diseases as well. +e go to the reat Physician !or (ore than!orgi eness. +e go there to get well. 5nd it is His plan that we rise to wal$ in newness o! li!e. Victoryand o)edience and o erco(ing4not (erely !orgi eness4are a aila)le to e eryone who co(es. It is His will !or each o! us not only to !ind !orgi eness !or our sins when we con!ess the( to

Hi(3 )ut also to )e cleansed !ro( all unrighteousness. That is His word3 and as we accept His word in!aith3 we !ind it !ul!illed in the sel!sa(e hour. 5 si*th reason to wonder at the centurion is )ecause o! his hu(ility. The Jewish leaders whoca(e with his re9uest said to Jesus3 He is worthy. He is worthy. I! you re loo$ing !or so(eone who isworthy3 to who( you want to gi e your good gi!ts3 we e got one !or you. He s )uilt us a synagogue.He deser es an e*tra )lessing !or that. #ut the centurion sent word3 I a( not worthy. I a( not worthy !or you to e en co(e under (yroo!. &pea$ the word only3 and (y ser ant will )e healed. There s a )ig di!!erence )etween )eing worth so(ething and )eing worthy. +e o!ten !eel we renot worth anything. That s one o! the great pro)le(s in the world today. Many people !eel worthless.Jesus at the cross pro ed that we are worth e erything. #ut that doesn t (a$e us worthy. +hen the centurion said3 I a( not worthy3 he was gi ing e idence o! genuine !aith. enuine!aith is trust in another3 and when we trust another3 we ad(it that we need another. To ad(it that weneed Jesus day )y day is an e*perience o! hu(ility. #ut it is only the person who gets low enough at the!oot o! the cross who can e*perience the )lessings o! the cross. I would li$e to 6oin the centurion today and say3 :Lord3 I a( not worthy o! the least o! 1our !a ors3 )ut Jesus le!t hea en !or (e.> 5nd Jesus pro ed that we are worth the whole uni erse3 as !ar asHe is concerned. The se enth reason we (ight wonder at the centurion today is that3 e en though he was anoutsider4a heathen in the eyes o! the Jewish leaders4he had )een trans!or(ed )y od to ha e a real

)urden !or his ser ant3 !or so(eone else. He said3 :+on t you please co(e and heal hi(3 )ecause he isdear to (e.> Can you hear an ar(y o!!icer saying that 'o you ha e so(eone who is dear unto you 1ou can co(e to Jesus today3 and say3 :+ill 1ou

please do so(ething !or this person He s dear unto (e4she s dear unto (e.> That s what (a$es a realinsider4when you ha e the co(passion and spirit o! Jesus and are (ore concerned a)out others thananything else. Can you picture in your i(agination the conclusion to the story +hen Jesus heard a)out thecenturion s ser ant3 He said without hesitation3 :I will co(e and heal hi(.> Centuries ha e now gone )y3 and we re li ing on the erge o! eternity. I can see Jesus today4 Jesus who is at the ather s right hand3 Jesus who has all power in hea en and in earth. He loo$s downupon a world in trou)le3 a world !illed with pain and death and tears. 5nd I can hear Hi( say onceagain3 :I will co(e. I will co(e and heal the(.> There will co(e a day ery soon now when He will co(e and heal all o! His ser ants who aredear unto Hi(. The contro ersy will )e ended. The 9uestion o! od s lo e and 6ustice will )e !ore er settled. 5nd Jesus will do what He has wanted to do all along. He will heal all o! us4all o! us whoha e accepted His lo e. od Hi(sel! will co(e to dwell with us and will wipe away all tears. +hat a

)eauti!ul picture. +hat a )eauti!ul hope. +hat a )eauti!ul lo e od has !or us.

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How Jesus Treated &o#en

+e ha en t seen wo(en running 6ac$ha((ers yet3 )ut wo(en are now truc$ dri ers3 gas-station attendants3 and police o!!icers. 5nd so(e people ha e done a lot o! discussing and rethin$ingconcerning the roles o! wo(en in the church. I! wo(en s rights ha e (erit in other areas3 why not ha e

wo(en as pastors and elders or those as$ing these 9uestions3 and perhaps !or others as well3 the su)6ect o! how Jesustreated wo(en is ery interesting. It should )e o! interest to at least E percent o! the readers o! this

olu(e4though I ( not 6ust sure which E percentG In recent years3 (ore than one author has descri)ed Jesus as a cha(pion o! wo(en. Is this true3according to the record o! the !our ospels I! He was indeed a cha(pion o! wo(en3 in what sense wasHe such3 and how did He contend !or wo(anhood I! we consider the cultural and social aspects o! the days o! Christ3 we will notice that thechurch leaders4the ra))is4were anything )ut cha(pions o! wo(en s rights. In !act3 a prayer that hasco(e out o! the ra))inical literature3 that (ay ha e )een used e en then3 goes so(ething li$e this= :#lessed art Thou3 " Lord our od3 %ing o! the uni erse3 who hast not (ade (e a heathen.#lessed art Thou3 " Lord our od3 %ing o! the uni erse3 who hast not (ade (e a )ond(an. #lessed artThou3 " Lord our od3 %ing o! the uni erse3 who hast not (ade (e a wo(an.> The prayer has )een changed in recent years4patched up a )it4)ut those are the $inds o! things they said and thought in the days o! Christ. 5nother e*cerpt !ro( ra))inical literature says3:Happy is he whose children are (ales3 and woe to hi( whose children are !e(ales.> ,ow please4 these are not (y wordsG I ( only trying to gi e a little )ac$ground !ro( the days o! Christ. Certainly itwas not the thing in those days to )e cha(pioning wo(en s rights. irst o! all3 let s )rie!ly consider the teachings o! Jesus. He o!ten re!erred to wo(en in Hisstories and para)les. +e re all !a(iliar with the para)le o! the wo(an who put lea en into the loa es o!

)read4a story e*plaining the $ingdo( o! hea en. +e e heard the para)les o! the lost sheep3 the lostson3 and the lost coin4a coin lost )y a wo(an and perhaps part o! her dowry. +e e heard a)out theten )rides(aids in a para)le that has signi!icance to the ery end o! ti(e. Jesus told a story a)out a persistent widow3 illustrating the i(portance o! persistence in prayer.Jesus spo$e o! Lot s wi!e in an illustration3 as well as the Rueen o! &he)a. 5nd we e already noticedin so(e detail how He co((ended the widow in the te(ple who ga e her two (ites. In Matthew 2?3 a!ter the story o! the two sons4only one o! who( really o)eyed his !ather4 Jesus said that e en harlots would enter the $ingdo( o! hea en )e!ore the religious leaders o! His day.In His ery !irst ser(on in ,aAareth3 He (ade re!erence to the widow o! Qarephath in the days o! 7lisha. +hen He tal$ed to His disciples a)out the second co(ing3 He tal$ed a)out two wo(en grindingat the (ill. Jesus o!ten spo$e o! wo(en and re!erred to the( in illustrating His teachings. ,ow let s consider a !ew e*a(ples o! Jesus actual relationships to wo(en. "ne writer hasanalyAed it this way= :In his relationship to wo(en3 Jesus li!estyle was so re(ar$a)le that one can onlycall it astonishing. He treated wo(en as !ully hu(an3 e9ual to (en in e ery respect. ,o word o! depreciation a)out wo(en as such is e er !ound on His lips. 5s the &a iour who identi!ied with theoppressed3 and the disinherited3 He tal$ed to wo(en and a)out wo(en with co(plete !reedo( andcandor.> In considering Jesus relationship to wo(en3 let s loo$ !irst o! all at His relationship to His own(other. +hen He was twel e years o! age3 at the ti(e o! His !irst trip to ca(p(eeting at Jerusale(3 Hewas separated !ro( His parents3 and they went their way not realiAing that He was not with the(.+hen they !inally !ound Hi( again a!ter searching !or three days3 they repro ed Hi(. 5nd e en at theage o! twel e3 He said3 :+hy did you loo$ !or Me 'on t you $now that I (ust )e a)out My ather s

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)usiness > &ee Lu$e 2. 5t !irst glance you (ight get the idea that He was )eing a little i(pudent3 (ay)e. #ut not so.#ecause the ospel record is that He went down with the( and was su)6ect to the( !or the ne*teighteen years. #ut the distinct i(plication here is that Jesus was4perhaps !or the !irst ti(e4realiAinga tension and a )alance )etween !a(ily loyalty and loyalty to His ather in hea en. The second re!erence to Jesus relationship to His (other appears in the story o! the wedding at

Cana. They needed (ore grape 6uice3 as you recall. Jesus (other ca(e to Hi( and told Hi( o! their need. 5nd Jesus replied3 :+o(an3 what ha e you to do with Me > &ee John 2. Many people ha e thought this was a little rude. #ut a study o! the !or(s o! speech o! that daywill show that it was not rude. In !act3 it could e en ha e )een a response o! respect. Howe er3 there isstill the suggestion that while Jesus had respect !or His (other3 He had to watch care!ully the )alance

)etween that and the wor$ His ather had sent Hi( to do. The third re!erence is set at Capernau(3 where Jesus (other and )rothers tried to see Hi( )utcould not get in4the crowds were so great. Instead o! interrupting His teaching3 He said3 :+hoe er does the will o! od is )rother3 sister3 or (other.> 5gain3 He e(phasiAed that od s ser ice cannot ta$esecond place4e en to the !a(ily relationship. 5nd His own (other3 )lessed a(ong wo(en though shewas3 could not get into the $ingdo( o! hea en si(ply )ecause o! )eing His (other. &he would need toha e her own relationship with od. The !ourth re!erence to Jesus relationship with His (other is set at the cross3 when He loo$eddown and saw her standing there with John4John3 the one who was always there. 5nd He said3:+o(an3 )ehold thy sonG> and to John3 :#ehold thy (otherG> John ? =2F3 2B. Thus He showed atender regard !or His (other to the ery end. ,ow another area o! Jesus relationship with wo(en had to do with the wo(en who were His!ollowers. :It ca(e to pass a!terward3 that he went throughout e ery city and illage3 preaching andshewing the glad tidings o! the $ingdo( o! od= and the twel e were with hi(3 and certain wo(en3which had )een healed o! e il spirits and in!ir(ities3 Mary called Magdalene3 out o! who( went se ende ils3 and Joanna the wi!e o! ChuAa Herod s steward3 and &usanna3 and (any others. ;5nd (anyothersG<3 which (inistered unto hi( o! their su)stance.> Lu$e =?-0. Jesus !ollowers consisted o! twel e apostles and a )and o! alilean wo(en. +hy did they!ollow Hi( 'id they co(e )y in itation Jesus told His apostles one ti(e3 :1ou did not choose Me3

)ut I chose you.> &ee John ?E=?F. It could ery well )e that Jesus had chosen these wo(en too. +hat did they do They acco(panied Hi(. 5nd you could well speculate on the pro)le( it(ight ha e created when they ca(e to a town loo$ing !or lodging. They supported Hi(. There ise idence that so(e o! these wo(en were well-to-do. They acco(panied Hi( to the ery end@ when thetwel e disciples too$ o!! on the hundred-yard dash3 trying to sa e their own s$ins3 the wo(en stayed

)y. 5nd they were the !irst to recei e the (essage o! the resurrection. 5nother e*a(ple o! Jesus relationship to wo(en is His !riendship with Mary and Martha. 1ou$now the story. It s !ound in Lu$e the tenth chapter. There it says that Mary sat at Jesus !eet. +hatdoes that (ean In the days o! Christ3 it was the student who sat at the !eet o! the teacher. In !act3Martha called Jesus :the Teacher> in John ??3 when she ga e the word to Mary to co(e3 saying3 :TheTeacher is here.> It was unheard o! in the days o! Christ !or a ra))i to teach a wo(an. In !act3 the ra))ishad a saying that it was )etter to teach a &a(aritan than a wo(an3 and you $now how they !elt a)outthe &a(aritansG #ut Mary sat at Jesus !eet3 and !ro( the lips o! her sister Martha ca(e one o! the greatesta!!ir(ations o! Jesus and who He was. It was at the ti(e when LaAarus had died3 and Jesus had 6ustarri ed in #ethany. Martha said3 :I )elie e that 1ou are the Christ3 the &on o! od3 He who is co(inginto the world.> &ee John ??=2B. How could you as$ !or greater !aith than that 5nother instance illustrating Jesus relationship with wo(en occurred when He was anointed.5ll !our o! the ospels record it3 and it happened at the !east at &i(on s house. +hat happened there

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would ha e )een !rowned upon )y all the Jews o! that day4Jesus allowed a wo(an to touch Hi(. Heallowed a wo(an whose hair was let down to touch Hi(. In those days3 to let down the hair wasso(ething only the wo(en o! the streets did.N ,ot only that3 )ut Jesus said3 recording it !or allgenerations3 that she had done a )eauti!ul thing. Then you ha e Jesus and the &a(aritan wo(an. In the days o! Christ3 they had a rule whichsaid3 :5 (an shall not )e alone with a wo(an in an inn3 not e en with his sister or his daughter3 on

account o! what (en (ay thin$. 5 (an shall not tal$ with a wo(an in the street3 not e en with his ownwi!e3 and especially not with another wo(an3 on account o! what (en (ay thin$.> Ma$es you wonder what $ind o! (en they had in those daysG #ut Jesus tal$ed to the wo(an at the well unasha(edly3

)rea$ing all Jewish custo(. The e*perience o! Jesus and the adulterous wo(an who was dragged to Hi( is also recorded.He stood up !or her in the presence o! those who were eager to conde(n. +hy3 the e*periences o! Jesusin relating to wo(en see( to go and onG +hat a)out Jesus healing o! wo(en He healed Peter s (other-in-law4and on the &a))ath.He )ro$e two rules at the sa(e ti(e3 !or not only did He heal her on the &a))ath day3 )ut He touchedher4He grasped her hand. 5nother instance is recorded in Lu$e ?0=? -?B4the wo(an who had )een a!!licted !or eighteenyears. 5gain3 she was healed on the &a))ath day3 and Jesus laid His hands on her pu)licly4an a)soluteno-no a(ong the Jewish people. 5lso recorded is the story o! the widow s son raised to li!e at the illage o! ,ain. Jesusinterrupted the !uneral and )rought 6oy to a trou)led heart. +hen Jairus s daughter was raised3 Jesusagain )ro$e all Jewish custo(3 touching the little girl who was dead and )ringing her )ac$ to li!e. "nHis way to that appoint(ent3 a wo(an in the crowd pressed in to touch the he( o! His gar(ent. Jesusstopped and as$ed3 +ho touched (e He called this ti(id wo(an !ro( her hiding place and a!!ir(edher as a person worthy o! healing. He ac$nowledged her !aith and deter(ination. He treated her as a

person in her own right. 5 last e*perience o! Jesus and His relationship to wo(en happened on the way to Cal ary. Thewo(en were weeping. They perhaps had not had (uch contact with Jesus )e!ore3 )ut their hearts weretouched with His su!!ering. +e ought to ha e (ore (en li$e thatG Men li$e &i(on !ro( Cyrene3 whocouldn t $eep 9uiet when he saw a Man su!!ering under a cross. #ut the wo(en wept3 and Jesusnoticed the(. ,o instance is recorded in the ospels o! a wo(an e er )eing hostile to Jesus. Jesus associated!reely with3 and presented His (essage to3 )oth (en and wo(en. +o(en were treated as e9ual ine ery sense. He chose wo(en as well as (en to )e His special !riends. He graciously accepted their a!!ection and honored it as a )eauti!ul thing. He ne er hesitated to (inister to wo(en. 5nd Hede(onstrated that it is possi)le to associate with wo(en on a high3 spiritual plane. Thus )y His ownacceptance o! the(3 He (ay truly )e descri)ed as a cha(pion o! wo(en.

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How Jesus Treated the Hopeless

The city o! Jerusale( has )een destroyed (any ti(es. Many cities and illages o! Palestine nolonger e*ist as they did in the ti(e o! Christ. " er the years3 people ha e si(ply )uilt new cities on topo! the old ones.

+hen I toured the Holy Land with so(e others a !ew years ago3 we went to isit the pool o! #ethesda. It is eighty !eet )elow the sur!ace o! the present city3 and you can step down the windingstairs to the le el o! the pool3 where it was in the days o! Jesus. +hen you get down to the !i e porches3 another stair goes down e en !arther3 in the dar$ness3to the e*isting waters o! the pool. "ne o! our group at that ti(e accidentally disappeared into the poolas he was trying to (a$e his way down the dar$ staircase. He !ound that the waters trou)led hi(3instead o! the waters )eing trou)ledG #ut the pool o! #ethesda is still there and pro ides so(ething o! a picture o! what it was li$e inthe days o! Jesus. The story o! the (an at the pool o! #ethesda is !ound in the !i!th chapter o! John= :5!ter thisthere was a !east o! the Jews@ and Jesus went up to Jerusale(. ,ow there is at Jerusale( )y the sheep(ar$et a pool3 which is called in the He)rew tongue #ethesda3 ha ing !i e porches. In these lay a great(ultitude o! i(potent !ol$3 o! )lind3 halt3 withered3 waiting !or the (o ing o! the water.> Then !ollowsa erse not included in your (ore accurate #i)le translations3 )ut here it is in the %ing Ja(es Version=: or an angel went down at a certain season into the pool3 and trou)led the water= whosoe er then !irsta!ter the trou)ling o! the water stepped in was (ade whole o! whate er disease he had.> John E=?-8. This was hocus-pocus4the (agic o! their day. The Lourdes3 i! you please3 where people couldgo to !ind health and healing4or at least so they thought. :5nd a certain (an was there3 which had an in!ir(ity thirty and eight years. +hen Jesus sawhi( lie3 and $new that he had )een now a long ti(e in that case3 he saith unto hi(3 +ilt thou )e (adewhole The i(potent (an answered hi(3 &ir3 I ha e no (an3 when the water is trou)led3 to put (e intothe pool= )ut while I a( co(ing3 another steppeth down )e!ore (e. :Jesus saith unto hi(3 ise3 ta$e up thy )ed3 and wal$. 5nd i((ediately the (an was (adewhole3 and too$ up his )ed3 and wal$ed= and on the sa(e day was the sa))ath.> Verses E- . The rest o! the chapter deals with the se9uel to this story. Jesus was called )e!ore the tri)unaland arraigned )e!ore an earthly court. Jesus3 the Lord o! the &a))ath3 was charged with &a))ath

)rea$ing. It (ight )e !unny i! it weren t so tragic. Jesus4the Creator3 the "ne who (ade e erything3the "ne who was $eeping the hearts )eating in the people who were accusing Hi(. 5n interesting sightindeed. "n si* di!!erent occasions Jesus was charged with &a))ath )rea$ing. 5nd as you study these si*occasions3 you will notice that Jesus always decided in !a or o! the person3 while the religious leadersalways decided in !a or o! the law. #ut in Matthew ?2=?23 Jesus said3 :It is law!ul to do well on the sa))ath days.> &o Jesus:)ro$e> the &a))ath in order to $eep it. 5nd the Jewish leaders3 in trying to $eep it3 ended up )rea$ingit. +hen Jesus decided in !a or o! the person3 He was really deciding in !a or o! the law as well. Thetwo are not (utually e*clusi e. It is law!ul to do well on the &a))ath day. That word lawful is ery interesting. The te*t doesn t say3 It s nice to do well on the &a))athday3 or It s your pri ilege to do well. It says it is lawful to do well. In other words3 that s what the lawre9uires. It s li$e dri ing on one o! the !reeways which has a sign that says3 :Mini(u( speed li(it3 8(.p.h.> ,ot only is it per(issi)le to dri e o er 8 (.p.h.3 )ut you will )e )rea$ing the law i! you dri eslower. To do well on the &a))ath day is what the law re9uires3 and Jesus ca(e to re eal the true

purpose o! the &a))ath. He apparently cast all caution to the winds3 too$ a giant leap across all traditionand ritual3 and showed what true &a))ath $eeping was all a)out.

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"n this particular &a))ath3 Jesus had )een wandering through the !i e porches. The people herewere hopeless cases. Their !riends or !a(ilies had )rought the( here as a last resort. &o(e had rudeshelters erected a)out the pool@ others were )rought to the pool on a daily )asis. 5ll were waiting !or the waters to )e trou)led so they could try to )e !irst into the pool. The sic$ and in!or( and witheredand wretched and hopeless were e erywhere4waiting. Jesus wal$ed alone and unnoticed a(ong the su!!ering ones. It was early in His (inistry. Later3

the people would crowd Hi( and !ollow Hi( and throng His !ootsteps. #ut no crowds !ollowed on thisday at the pool3 no wo(en pushed through3 trying to touch e en the he( o! His gar(ent. &o Jesus wandered a)out the !i e porches loo$ing at the wretched su!!erers and longing to healthe(. 5nd He wanted to heal the( allG I! I had )een there and recogniAed Hi( and $nown o! His

power3 I would ha e cried out3 : o ahead3 JesusG Heal the( allG> #ut He couldn t do it. His (ission included (any things yet3 and i! He had healed the( all3 itwould ha e cut short His wor$. In !act3 )y healing 6ust one (an3 He was to ta$e a giant step toward thecross. That s the reason He didn t heal all the lepers. It would ha e inter!ered with His greater (ission

4the sal ation o! all (an$ind. That s why od didn t )ring an end to sin long ago. That s why He can t heal the( all today4 all the sic$ and in!ir( in the hospitals and nursing ho(es and institutions. od3 in His wisdo(3 has toallow sin to run itsel! out to its ulti(ate conclusion so that all will see it !or what it really is. 5nd whenthe end o! sin !inally does co(e3 no one will ha e any (ore sto(ach !or it !ore er. #ut as Jesus wandered a)out the !i e porches3 longing to heal the( all and perhaps loo$ing!orward to the day when sin would )e !ore er ended and all would )e healed3 He saw one (ostwretched case. 5nd His co(passion got the )etter o! Hi(. Here is a (an who has )een ill !or thirty-eight years. His !riends are gone3 his !a(ily is gone3and his only ho(e is here at the pool. Jesus stops3 loo$s down at hi(3 and as$s what would see( to )ea !oolish 9uestion. :+ould you li$e to )e (ade whole > :I )eg your pardon +hat do you thin$ I ( doing here > :+ould you li$e to )e (ade whole > 7 idently He wanted the (an to say it. +ell3 you $now his response. :1es3 that is what I ( a!ter. #ut there is no one here. I ha e no(an. 5nd I ( not strong enough to get into the pool. &o(eone else always gets there !irst. It shopeless.> Jesus doesn t waste any ti(e. He doesn t (ince words. He loo$s at the (an3 and with the power that co(es !ro( the Li!e i er3 the Creator3 the "ne who (ade the uni erse4the power that causedthe dust to 6u(p to attention at creation4He co((ands3 : ise3 ta$e up your )ed3 and wal$.> ,ow please notice the intriguing se9uence here. The record is that ?N i((ediately the (an was(ade whole3 2N he too$ up his )ed3 and 0N he wal$ed. How easy !or us to wea e sel! into the picture. +e want 6ust a little credit3 6ust a little glory !or oursel es. 5nd we say3 od helps those who help the(sel es. +e want od s gi!ts to )e dependentupon our wor$ in so(e way. Perhaps you ha e heard people say that the thing which ena)led this (anto wal$ was that he set his will and gritted his teeth and deter(ined to do what Jesus said. 5nd as he

put !orth his e!!ort in that direction3 he was (ade whole and was a)le to wal$. ,ot so. Jesus healed hi(on the spot. He was !irst healed@ then he got up3 pic$ed up his )ed3 and wal$ed. The wal$ing and thecarrying o! the )ed were results o! the healing4not the cause. 5nd you see this (an wal$ing4(a$e that leaping 4away !ro( the pool. +hat does the poolrepresent The pool represents so(ething we can do to acco(plish our own healing. The pool couldrepresent so(ething we try to do to acco(plish our sal ation or to achie e our ictory or our righteousness. Perhaps a !ew3 whose sic$ness was in their (inds only3 were apparently healed )ecause theythought so. #ut this (an was wea$. He didn t e en ha e the strength or energy to (a$e it to the pool.

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He was a hopeless case. 5re you in his shoes Let s not (iss the spiritual lesson !ro( this story. +hat is your pooltoday Ha e you )een trying to earn your way to hea en4trying to )e good enough to (a$e it Is thatyour pool 1ou ll ne er (a$e it on your own. Ha e you )een trying to o)tain the ictory o er so(e sin in your li!e 5nd ha e you had no

peace 5nd are you ready to despair Is that your pool +hat a)out the church (e()ers who are trying

to do so(ething to cause Christ to co(e again Ha e you e er heard o! it Ha e you seen the (ottosand placards that say3 :Let us arise and !inish the wor$> 5nd then you hear that the world populationis growing !aster than the gospel is going3 and you are ready to gi e up hope. Is that your pool today +e ha e all $inds o! pools that we struggle to reach. Perhaps there is so(eone today who has

)een trying !or thirty-eight years3 or e en longer3 to reach your pool and hasn t (ade it yet. I ha e goodnews !or youG :There is a !ountain !illed with )lood3 drawn !ro( I((anuel s eins@ / 5nd sinners3

plunged )eneath that !lood3 lose all their guilty stains.> There is a ro)e !or those who are na$ed3 a ro)ewo en without one thread o! hu(an de ising. It is o!!ered to you today as a gi!t. It is the ro)e o! Jesus

power in place o! your !ailure. &o would you please 6oin (e today on one o! these !i e porches Jesus is passing )y. He )endso er you and as$s3 :+ould you li$e to )e (ade whole > ight here3 we get into what so(e people call a su)6ecti e gospel. They say3 :'on t tal$ a)out

)eing (ade whole. Let s )e o)6ecti e. Let s not loo$ at oursel es.> Can you i(agine Jesus )ending o er this (an at the pool and saying3 +ould you li$e to )e(ade whole 5nd the (an says3 :"h3 that s too su)6ecti e. Just put so(e righteousness to (y account inhea en. That will )e enough.> +e can )e than$!ul !or what Jesus has done at the cross3 )ut we can )e e9ually than$!ul !or what He wants to do in each li!e today. Charles &purgeon3 the (ighty preacher !ro( yesteryear3 put itthis way= :5nd now3 (y dear hearers3 I will as$ the 9uestion o! you. +ilt thou )e (ade whole 'o youdesire to )e sa ed 'o you $now what )eing sa ed is "h3 you say3 it is escaping !ro( hell. ,o3 no3 no.That is the result o! )eing sa ed. #eing sa ed is an entirely di!!erent thing. 'o you want to )e sa ed!ro( the power o! sin 'o you desire to )e sa ed !ro( )eing co etous3 worldly-(inded3 i(pure3 e ilte(pered3 un6ust3 ungodly3 do(ineering3 drun$en3 or pro!ane 5re you willing to gi e up the sin that isdearest to you :,o3 says so(eone3 I cannot honestly say I desire all o! that. Then you are not the one I a(spea$ing to today. :#ut there is one who says3 1es3 I long to )e rid o! sin3 root and )ranch. I desire )y od s gracethis ery day to )eco(e a Christian3 and to )e sa ed !ro( (y sins. Then rise3 ta$e up your )ed3 andwal$.> +on t you accept this ery )est riend you could e er ha e3 the Lord Jesus Hi(sel!3 who wal$sa(ong the !i e porches He ca(e not to call the righteous3 )ut sinners to repentance. 5nd He says3:Loo$ unto (e3 and )e ye sa ed3 all the ends o! the earth.> Isaiah 8E=22. He was willing to ta$e the ris$ !or you. His co(passion always gets the )est o! Hi(. 5nd He o!!ers to you today the spiritual healingyou so desire.

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How Jesus Treated His "isciples

Ha e you e er thought o! dying !or Christ +ould you )e willing to 5nd i! you were willing3would you )e a)le to &urely those who ha e gi en their li es !or Christ ha e had to recei e help !ro(a)o e.

'uring the #o*er e)ellion3 )andits too$ a (issionary in China to their (ountain retreat andtried to !orce hi( to gi e up his !aith. He re!used. &o they cut o!! all o! his !ingers and all o! his toes.Then they as$ed3 :,ow will you gi e up your !aith > #ut he said ,o. &o they cut o!! his hands at the wrists and his !eet at the an$les and shouted athi( to renounce his !aith in Christ. &till he re!used. inally they cut o!! his ar(s and legs3 and as hewas dying in his own )lood3 they as$ed3 :,ow do you ha e anything to say > He said3 :1es3 would you please tell (y son to co(e ta$e (y place in China > +ell3 we e heard these $inds o! stories !ro( all lands and ages. The )lood o! the (artyrs has!lowed3 !ro( 5)el to this present ti(e. 5nd in this )oo$ on how Jesus treated people3 we would )ere(iss i! we didn t consider how He related to His !ollowers4not only in !ellowship )ut in su!!ering aswell. Christ told His !ollowers3 :#e thou !aith!ul unto death3 and I will gi e thee a crown o! li!e.>

e elation 2=? . The apostle Peter learned the alue o! su!!ering. There was a ti(e when he drew )ac$.1ou (ay recall his con ersation with Jesus3 when Jesus had )een telling the disciples a)out Hisapproaching death. Peter said3 :#e it !ar !ro( thee3 Lord.> 5nd Jesus re)u$ed hi(. &ee Matthew ?F=22320. #ut Peter learned the )lessing o! !ellowship in su!!ering3 and in ? Peter 8=?23 ?03 he said3:#elo ed3 thin$ it not strange concerning the !iery trial which is to try you. 5s though so(e strangething happened unto you= )ut re6oice3 inas(uch as ye are parta$ers o! Christ s su!!erings@ that3 when hisglory shall )e re ealed3 ye (ay )e glad also with e*ceeding 6oy.> &o it s not strange when Christians su!!er. 1ou !ind a si(ilar (essage !ro( the apostle Paul inPhilippians ?=2 3 where he wrote3 : or unto you it is gi en in the )ehal! o! Christ3 not only to )elie eon hi(3 )ut also to su!!er !or his sa$e.> It is a pri ilege and a gi!t and an honor4one o! the greatest )lessings that hea en can )estow4 to $now the !ellowship o! su!!ering and to )e !aith!ul unto death. It is a (ystery to the hu(an (indwhy this is true3 )ut !ellowship in su!!ering is what Jesus o!!ers to all o! His !ollowers in one way or another. or that reason3 let s !ocus on one o! Jesus closest !ollowers3 o! who( Jesus Hi(sel! said3:,one greater has )een )orn.> His na(e was John the #aptist. Many ha e wondered at his death. John the #aptist was a (iracle child3 dedicated to the Lord !ro( )irth. He spent his ti(e in thedesert3 wearing strange gar(ents and eating caro) pods and wild honey. He learned to lo e the desertand the wide-open spaces. +hen his pu)lic (inistry )egan3 announcing the soon-to-co(e Messiah3 he didn t spare anywords. He e en re)u$ed %ing Herod a)out his (arriage. Herod s wi!e didn t li$e what he said3 so shecon inced her hus)and to throw John the #aptist into prison. Most people e*pected John to )e released )e!ore long. They were sure that the regard o! the

people and e en o! %ing Herod hi(sel! would insure John s sa!ety. #ut John the #aptist waited andwaited and waited. The con!ines o! the dungeon weighed hea ily on hi( whose li!e had )een spent inthe desert (ountains. Ruestions )egan to co(e to his (ind. He was gi en opportunity to dou)t his(ission4to dou)t the di inity o! Christ. The ti(e ca(e when he could )ear it no longer3 and he sent a (essage to Jesus3 as$ing so(e o! his hard 9uestions. 5nd the response o! Jesus reassured hi(. Then one day Herod s wi!e got her wish. &he tric$ed her hus)and3 through her daughter

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&alo(e3 and in the process John the #aptist was )eheaded4apparently !orsa$en )y od3 apparently!orgotten )y Jesus3 apparently le!t alone. Is that how Jesus treats His disciples It is hard !or us to understand that o! all the gi!ts hea en can )estow3 !ellowship with Christ inHis su!!erings is the (ost weighty trust and the highest honor. +hat $ind o! !ellowship did John the#aptist and the (issionary in China and all the other (artyrs through the ages ha e with Christ in Hissu!!erings +hat are Christ s su!!erings

In the !irst place3 we $now that Christ su!!ered )ecause o! righteousness. It was not su!!ering onaccount o! His sin. 5nd He pronounced a )lessing on those in all ages who ha e su!!ered !or righteousness sa$e. The unrighteous ha e always )een unco(!orta)le in the presence o! the righteous. 7 il (enhated Jesus !or His li!e o! purity and tried to destroy Hi( !or that reason. Those who ha e acceptedChrist s righteousness are warned that they will not always )e the (ost popular3 and so(e will su!!er

persecution and e en death !or righteousness sa$e. Jesus also su!!ered !or the sa$e o! others. He is the supre(e e*a(ple o! "ne who was willing tolay down His li!e !or His !riends3 and others in all ages ha e 6oined Hi( in that. +e ha e heard their stories. +e also $now that Jesus su!!ered )ecause He was surrendered to the (aster plan3 !or(ed )e!orethe !oundation o! the world3 that i! sin should enter3 He would co(e to o!!er an escape to (an$ind.Jesus did not de iate !ro( that plan3 )ut re(ained under His ather s control throughout His entireli!eti(e on this earth. #ut He could ha e sa ed Hi(sel!. +hen the priests and scri)es ca(e )y and said3 :He sa edothers@ hi(sel! he cannot sa e> Mar$ ?E=0?N3 they were telling the truth. #ut although He could ha esa ed Hi(sel!3 He couldn t sa e Hi(sel! and others too. Those who ha e !ollowed Jesus in !ellowship ha e disco ered the sa(e thing. In re(ainingunder the control o! od3 they ha en t )een a)le to sa e the(sel es. The (issionary in Chinaapparently could ha e sa ed hi(sel!3 had he )een willing to deny his !aith in Christ. #ut )ecause hewas deter(ined to re(ain under od s control and to continue con!essing his !aith in Christ3 he couldnot sa e hi(sel!. &o a !ollower o! Christ can su!!er !or righteousness sa$e3 he can su!!er !or the sa$e o! others3and he can su!!er )ecause he re(ains under od s control. John the #aptist e*perienced this su!!ering. ladly would Jesus ha e deli ered His )elo ed and !aith!ul ser ant3 )ut !or the sa$e o! thethousands who in later years would pass !ro( prison to death3 John was to drin$ the cup o! (artyrdo(. John the #aptist )laAed the trail !or the other disciples3 all )ut one o! who( would die a(artyr s death. 5nd the disciples paid the ulti(ate price3 )laAing the trail !or the (artyrs who !ollowedthe(. 5nd the (artyrs who !ollowed )laAed the trail !or us today3 who are still li ing in a world o! painand heartache and separation and death. +e can perhaps understand John s dying !or the sa$e o! the (artyrs to co(e4)ut why did the(artyrs ha e to die +e $now to )egin with that od designed His world so that the rain !alls on the 6ust and on theun6ust. The sun shines on the good and on the )ad. I! good things happened only to the good and )adthings only to the )ad3 it wouldn t )e long )e!ore a world !ull o! people would )e ser ing od only !or what they could get out o! Hi(. #ut od wants only the ser ice o! lo e. He has ne er pro(ised His!ollowers :s$ies always )lue.> He has not pro(ised release !ro( the trou)les that co(e !ro( li ing inthis world o! sin. There are undou)tedly (any reasons !or this. "ne (ight )e that e en !or those who are!ollowers o! Christ3 there is need to )e re(inded o! the aw!ulness o! sin3 lest we !orget its deadly natureand once again !all icti( to it. In od s plan3 once the entire uni erse is clean3 once sin and sinners areno (ore3 He wants it to stay that way. He has pro(ised that sin will ne er rise up the second ti(e. 5ndin order !or that to happen3 we ha e to see it clearly !or what it is3 so that it will ne er again )e

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appealing to us. #ut there is another reason we should consider. +e $now that the de il has constantly charged

od with )eing un!air. He clai(s that people ser e od only !or what they can get out o! Hi(. 1ou$now the story o! Jo) and how that turned out. The de il s charge was3 Jo) ser es 1ou )ecause o! theway 1ou )less hi(. &ee Jo) ?= 3 ? . 5nd the e*perience o! Jo) can )e repeated in the li es o! each o! us li ing today.

The pro(ise o! od is that there is nothing the de il can do3 no trou)le he can cause in thisworld o! sin3 )ut that od has the power to )ring us through3 still trusting in Hi(. 5nd od needs real-li!e e*hi)its that this is true. Let s get (ore speci!ic as we try to see how this principle wor$s in the great contro ersy

)etween Christ and &atan. The #i)le teaches that at the end o! the ?3 years3 when Jesus co(es )ac$ to this world !or the third ti(e3 e eryone who has e er li ed will (eet !or the !irst and last ti(e. Therewill )e so(e on the outside o! the city3 loo$ing in4and there will )e so(e on the inside o! the city3loo$ing out. "n the outside o! the city will )e so(e !ro( the days o! the lood3 when the thoughts o! (en shearts were only e il continually. 5nd they will sha$e their !ists at od and say3 :It s not !air. It was toohard to ser e 1ou in the ti(e in which I li ed.> 5nd perhaps you can i(agine a oice !ro( so(ewhere inside the city3 that says3 :,oah3 willyou please step up on the wall > 5nd as ,oah stands up3 the people !ro( the days o! the lood will ha e nothing (ore to say. I can see a group outside the city on that day who li ed at the ti(e o! Israel s apostasy. 5nd theyga e in to the pressure and )eca(e worshipers o! #aal. They sha$e their !ists at od and say3 :It wastoo hard to ser e 1ou when I was li ing on the earth. +hy3 I would ha e )een al(ost the only one whodid.> 5nd od as$s 7li6ah to stand up on the wall3 and they ha e nothing (ore to say. I can see people !ro( the early church3 when persecution was at its height3 who are on theoutside o! the wall and who sha$e their !ists at od and say3 :It was too hard to ser e 1ou in (y ti(e.They were going to $ill (e i! I spo$e out )oldly !or Jesus Christ.> 5nd od sends &tephen to the wall3 and they ha e nothing (ore to say. I see a group !ro( the Middle 5ges who are sha$ing their !ists at od3 and Huss and Jero(e areas$ed to stand up. I see so(eone !ro( China3 !ro( the days o! the #o*er e)ellion3 on the outside o! the wall3 and the (issionary we noticed earlier is called !orth. I see so(eone in our day4a icti( o! cancer who su!!ers !or (onths and !inally dies. 5nd

)e!ore he dies he )eco(es angry with od and )la(es Hi( !or all o! his trou)les and curses od anddies. or so(eone li$e that3 on the outside o! the city so(eday3 od (ay need to ha e one on theinside who su!!ered a si(ilar trial3 )ut who still lo ed and trusted Hi( regardless. +ell3 does this (ean that od is the "ne who )rings all this su!!ering ,o3 no. &u!!ering isin!licted )y &atan3 )ut is o erruled )y od !or purposes o! (ercy. The disciples as$ed Jesus3 :+hosinned4this (an or his parents > Jesus said3 :,either4)ut watchG ,ow you will see the glory o! od.> &ee John =0. 5 day will co(e when the glory o! od will triu(ph and the !ollowers o! Christ who ha esu!!ered and ha e ser ed Hi( !or His sa$e4not 6ust !or their own4will ha e their reward. Jesus has

pro(ised to (ore than (a$e it up to us !or any incon enience we su!!er as a result o! )eing )orn herein this world o! sin. 5nd od s plan in the great contro ersy is proceeding in such a way that e en those on theoutside o! the city4e en &atan hi(sel!4will !inally ad(it that od has )een !air and 6ust. +hat a day that will )e3 when the pro)le( o! sin is !ore er settled and we can )e with Christ in!ellowship !ore erG

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How Jesus Treated His 'eigh$ors

The word tra eled 9uic$ly !ro( one to another that Jesus was co(ing to town. ,ot that He had )een away !ro( town !or that long. or al(ost thirty years He had )een 6ust one o! the neigh)ors therein ,aAareth. It was less than two years now since He had pac$ed up His tools3 said good-)ye to His

(other Mary3 and le!t on a strange (ission. eports had !iltered )ac$ !ro( the ri er Jordan3 !ro( the capital city o! Jerusale(3 and !ro(other towns and illages in alilee. Jesus had )een doing (ysterious things. "!ten )y the illage wellor in the (ar$etplace3 the (en and wo(en in ,aAareth discussed the latest ru(ors a)out Jesus. Most o! the stories sounded 9uite out o! character with the Jesus they had $nown. There in the town o! ,aAarethJesus had )een a hard wor$er3 a $ind listener3 a good neigh)or. He had )een so(ewhat eccentric3intensely interested in the things o! od and going out o! His way to )e help!ul to those around Hi(.#ut now suddenly He sounded li$e so(e sort o! !anatic3 radical3 or Aealot. He hadn t )een gone ery long )e!ore the townspeople heard a)out His cleansing o! the te(pleat Jerusale(. He had ne er tried anything li$e that at the local synagogue in ,aAarethG #ut a!ter all3(ay)e Jerusale( needed that $ind o! treat(ent. Things were pretty corrupt there at the nation shead9uarters4or so it was said. Jesus had tra eled 9uite a )it a)out the countryside3 and a growing nu()er !ollowed Hi(where er He went. eports increased o! (iracles3 healings3 and e*orcis(s. ,o one $new !or sure whatto )elie e3 )ut all were interested in learning a)out the Ho(etown #oy (a$ing good4or was theHo(etown #oy (a$ing trou)le +ell3 now they d !ind out !or the(sel es3 !or Jesus was co(ing )ac$ to ,aAareth !or a isit. :Jesus returned in the power o! the &pirit into alilee= and there went out a !a(e o! hi( throughall the region round a)out. 5nd he taught in their synagogues3 )eing glori!ied o! all. 5nd he ca(e to

,aAareth3 where he had )een )rought up= and3 as his custo( was3 he went into the synagogue on thesa))ath day3 and stood up !or to read.> Lu$e 8=?8-?F. The people o! ,aAareth watched with !ond pride as Jesus was gi en the honor o! reading thescripture that &a))ath (orning. It was nice to ha e Hi( ho(e again. It was nice o! the local elders togi e Hi( the pri ilege o! )eing on the plat!or(. Can t you hear so(eone whispering to his neigh)or3:This is Joseph s son3 you $now. He used to li e 6ust down the street !ro( us.> John the #aptist had proclai(ed Jesus to )e the &on o! od. His disciples )elie ed Hi( to )ethe Messiah. Multitudes had accepted Hi( as a great teacher or prophet. #ut here in ,aAareth3 He wasthe son o! Joseph. 5nd i! there was anything to the reports o! the (iracles and wonders He had

per!or(ed in other places3 wasn t ,aAareth entitled to a special show 'idn t they ha e a right to the!ront-row seats Hadn t they :$nown Hi( when> They leaned !orward to catch His words. :5nd there was deli ered unto hi( the )oo$ o! the prophet 7saias. 5nd when he had opened the

)oo$3 he !ound the place where it was written3 The &pirit o! the Lord is upon (e3 )ecause he hathanointed (e to preach the gospel to the poor@ he hath sent (e to heal the )ro$enhearted3 to preachdeli erance to the capti es3 and reco ering o! sight to the )lind3 to set at li)erty the( that are )ruised3to preach the accepta)le year o! the Lord. 5nd he closed the )oo$3 and he ga e it again to the (inister3and sat down. 5nd the eyes o! all the( that were in the synagogue were !astened on hi(.> Lu$e 8=?B-2 . Perhaps (ost o! the people o! ,aAareth (issed the e(phasis. They $new this particular passageo! &cripture was a Messianic state(ent3 and they thought o! the Messiah to co(e. Perhaps a !ew were

)eginning already to put two and two together4and to )e unco(!orta)le. #ut !or all o! the(3so(ething in the air pre ented the ser ice !ro( continuing3 !or the #i)le says the eyes o! all were!astened on Hi(3 e en a!ter He sat down. Then Jesus spo$e again3 in erse 2?= :5nd he )egan to say unto the(3 This day is this scripture

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!ul!illed in your ears.> 5nd now the rest o! the !aces grew dar$. Jesus was essentially saying3 :I a( theMessiah.> Pretty hard words to accept when spo$en a)out your ne*t-door neigh)or. #ut there wasso(ething e en harder to accept. I! Jesus was saying3 :I a( the Messiah3> He was also saying3 :1ou

people are poor. 1ou people are capti es. 1ou people are )lind and in prison.> +hat a way !or Jesus to treat His neigh)orsG 'idn t they deser e His respect and honor Hadn tthey treated Hi( politely +hat a way to respondG +hy4i! He wanted the( to )elie e in Hi(4didn t

He )egin )y healing the diseases and a!!lictions o! all o! His old !riends and neigh)ors +hy4i! Hewas the Messiah4didn t He )egin )y o!!ering the( $ey positions in His new $ingdo( they had hearda)out How could He )egin )y insulting the( and then go on to e*pect their support and acceptance In spite o! the interest in Jesus as the Ho(etown #oy who had (ade it )ig in Jerusale( andCapernau(3 in spite o! the gracious words He spo$e3 in spite o! the strong in!luence o! the Holy &pirit

present that day3 the seeds o! re6ection were strong. The people said3 :Is not this Joseph s son > Verse22. +hat were they saying They were saying3 :He s one o! us.> o ahead3 Jesus3 stri$e out againstthe corruption at Jerusale(. Let e ery)ody $now a)out the sin!ulness o! the heathen and the&a(aritans. e)u$e the harlots and ta* collectors. #ut this is ,aAarethG 'on t treat your neigh)ors li$ethisG 1ou re one o! us. +e helped (a$e you what you are. 'on t put on airs with us4we 'now you. +e$now your parents and !a(ily. +e $now you re 6ust the son o! Joseph. #ut Jesus wasn t !inished yet. :5nd he said unto the(3 1e will surely say unto (e this pro er)3Physician3 heal thysel!= whatsoe er we ha e heard done in Capernau(3 do also here in thy country.>Verse 20. 5nd He proceeded to re(ind the( o! the ti(e o! 7li6ah3 when there was no rain !or three anda hal! years and3 in spite o! the (any widows in Israel3 7li6ah was sent to a widow in &arepta3 a city o! &idon4to an outsider. od had passed )y His people o! that day and had gone to the heathen. ,ot onlythat3 Jesus re(inded the( o! ,aa(an the leper3 who was healed )y 7lisha3 while none o! the lepers inIsrael were healed. 5nd now Jesus was suggesting that the sa(e thing would happen again in ,aAareth.It was too (uch to ta$e. :5nd all they in the synagogue3 when they heard these things3 were !illed with wrath.> Verse 2 .

(ll o! the(G +ait a (inute4these were people Jesus had grown up with. These were people who had playedga(es with Hi( in the streets4when they were playing ga(es that Jesus would play. These people hasseen Hi( as a )oy3 lea ing the illage o! ,aAareth in the early (orning or e ening hours with a scrollunder His ar(3 going out into the hills !or a 9uiet ti(e with His ather. These were people who hadseen His per!ect li!e3 who had )een gi en a cup o! cold water )y His hands3 who had shared His lunchwhen they were hungry. Mar$ tells us that His own !a(ily was there as well3 though we would surelywant to hope their reaction was the e*ception. #ut it says all o! the( were !illed with wrath. They :rose up3 and thrust hi( out o! the city3 and led hi( unto the )row o! the hill whereontheir city was )uilt3 that they (ight cast hi( down headlong. #ut he passing through the (idst o! the(went his way.> Verses 2 3 0 . Can you see Hi( wal$ing away !ro( ,aAareth3 alone Can you see His )owed head3 the tearson His !ace These were His !riends !ro( earliest childhood. &urely He lo ed these people in a specialway. #ut they had re6ected Hi(4and not only that3 they had tried to $ill Hi(G 5nother heart)rea$ hadco(e to this Man o! &orrows who was ac9uainted with grie!. His own neigh)ors and !riends3 and e en

perhaps so(e o! His own !a(ily (e()ers3 had re6ected Hi(. +hat was the )asis o! their re6ection It went (uch deeper than the ri alry o! His owntownspeople and neigh)ors. They re6ected Hi( )ecause He was pure and they were sin!ul. The ungodlyha e always )een unco(!orta)le in the presence o! the godly. They re6ected Hi( )ecause they $newthey would ha e to accept change i! they accepted His teachings. They re6ected Hi( )ecause their national pride had )een dealt a hea y )low. They did not wish to consider the "ld Testa(ent account o! ti(es when heathen and outsiders had )een honored a)o e the chosen people. They re6ected Hi(

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)ecause He did not gi e proper respect to their religious li es3 to their religious custo(s3 or e en totheir religious leaders who( they re ered. They re6ected Jesus )ecause He was li$e the(4and yet Hewas not li$e the(. &o Jesus was !orced to wal$ away !ro( His neigh)ors at ,aAareth and to disappear down thedusty road with the tragic realiAation that !or (ost o! the(3 the re6ection was !inal. He $new that once

people ha e re6ected od3 to continue re6ecting Hi( is al(ost ine ita)le. Hu(an pride resists e er

ad(itting that it has )een in the wrong. +hen we e once ta$en a position3 we don t li$e to )ac$ down.5nd !or (ost o! the neigh)ors o! Jesus3 this re6ection at ,aAareth was ne er re ersed. 1et e en in ,aAareth3 there were a !ew. Mar$ F indicates that He was a)le to heal a !ew. In thechosen nation3 !ro( a(ong od s special people3 there were a !ew. There ha e always )een a !ew whoaccept3 and I desperately want to )e a(ong those who accept Hi( today3 don t you Jesus ca(e to preach the gospel to the poor. There were a !ew poor !isher(en who acceptedHi(. +ouldn t you li$e to 6oin the( today Jesus ca(e to heal the )ro$enhearted. There were a !ew

)ro$enhearted ones3 li$e Mary and Martha3 who learned to sit at His !eet. Jesus ca(e to preachdeli erance to the capti es. There were a !ew who heard the words o! Jesus a)o e the roar o! de(onsin their dar$ened (inds and accepted the deli erance He o!!ered. Jesus ca(e to gi e sight to the )lind.5nd there were a !ew3 li$e )lind #arti(aeus3 who cried out !or the help He longed to gi e. There werea !ew o! the spiritually )lind who sensed their need4who reached out !or Jesus and whose sight wasrestored as well. There were a !ew who had )een )eaten and )ruised )y the ene(y3 who ca(e to Jesusand accepted His deli erance and shouted His praises. #ut there were only a !ew. 5s you see Jesus going down the road3 !orced away !ro( those who ha e re6ected His lo e3don t let Hi( go alone. 'on t let Hi( go alone today3 )ut wal$ )eside Hi( and say3 :'ear Lord3 count(e in. I ( on 1our side. I don t want to turn 1ou down.> He is still loo$ing with great longing !or the !ew who will accept the )lessings He is waiting to

)estow.

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How Jesus Treated the (eligious )eaders

5re you a Pharisee "r are you a &adducee I! you ha e had e en a little e*posure to the #i)leaccount o! the li!e o! Christ3 you would pro)a)ly not want to )e identi!ied with either groupG #ut in thedays o! Christ3 to )e a Pharisee or &adducee was a (ar$ o! distinction. 7 en the apostle Paul spo$e o!

)eing a Pharisee as honora)le. In those days3 i! you (et up with an old !riend who as$ed3 :+hat is your son doing now > you were proud to say3 :My son is a PhariseeG> #ut today we thin$ o! Pharisees and &adducees largely in negati e ter(s3 e en though so(e o! the pro)le(s they had (ay )e pro)le(s we !ind in our own hearts. Let s loo$ at what (ade these

people tic$3 and perhaps we will see how we can )e sa ed !ro( the (ista$es they (ade. +ho were the Pharisees They were the conser ati es. They were rigid legalists. They weretraditionalists. They went to a great deal o! trou)le to uphold the standards and doctrines and practiceso! the church. They were icti(s o! the co((on pro)le( o! those days4sal ation )y wor$s. Theywere trying to sa e the(sel es )y their own e!!orts. They were the larger o! the two groups o! religiousleaders and !ound their security in the standards o! the church which they upheld. The second group o! church leaders were the &adducees. They were the li)erals o! the days o! Jesus. They were still legalists3 )ecause they were e9ually icti(s o! the idea that you can sa e yoursel!

)y your own e!!orts. #ut they !ound their security in the standards o! the church which they a)andoned. The &adducees clai(ed to )elie e in :sola scriptura3> as opposed to the Pharisees3 who openlysupported so(e o! their doctrines )y tradition. #ut in !act3 the &adducees had their own traditions aswell. 5nd e en in their e(phasis on the &criptures3 they were o!ten ery selecti e as to which to acceptand which to lea e out. 5(ong the &adducees were Jesus worst ene(ies. They were the s(aller o! the two groups )utthe (ore power!ul. The position o! high priest was usually awarded to a &adducee3 and they controlledthe &anhedrin. In sur eys ta$en in the Christian church today3 it has )een shown that the (a6ority o! religiousleaders and people ali$e are still trying to get to hea en )y their own wor$s. This per(eates allChristian churches. It has long )een the co((on deno(inator o! all world religions3 )ut it has )eco(eco((on to the Christian !aith as well. 7 ery church struggles with the disease $nown as sal ation )y wor$s. The (a6ority o! so-calledChristians ha e no ti(e !or od3 no ti(e !or prayer3 no ti(e !or the study o! His +ord. 5nd anyoneli ing li!e apart !ro( od day )y day3 yet hoping !or hea en at last3 is a )elie er in sal ation )y wor$s.+hich (eans that we ha e a high possi)ility that Pharisees and &adducees are a(ong us today. The Pharisees and &adducees had other things in co((on in addition to the hope !or sal ationon the )asis o! their own e!!orts. They had a co((on pro)le( o! (isinterpreting &cripture. They(isinterpreted the law and its purpose and !unction. They (isinterpreted prophecy3 including the

prophecies o! the Messiah to co(e. They (isunderstood the $ingdo( o! od and what was in ol ed inthe good news o! His $ingdo(. 1et they were great on 6usti!icationG The )lood ran li$e ri ers at their !easts and religious !esti als. They were daily in ol ed in the sacri!ices o! la()s and cattle and do es.#ut in spite o! their co((on )elie!s and interests3 little unity e*isted )etween the two groups. Theywere constantly in ol ed in contro ersy and de)ate. "!ten their argu(ents were o er the resurrectiono! the dead@ +hen Jesus ca(e along3 He didn t treat the( ery well3 according to their standards. He notonly didn t honor the( and their !or(s and cere(onies3 )ut He was actually insultingG It s hard tounderstand how He could ha e spo$en to the( as He did and still ha e tears in His oice3 )ut that s theway we are told He was. In Lu$e ?2=?3 He called )oth the Pharisees and &adducees hypocrites. Theywere )oth wrong. They were )oth trying to appear so(ething di!!erent on the outside !ro( what theyreally were on the inside. In Matthew 20 Jesus used an interesting illustration o! their pro)le(3 tal$ing

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a)out the cup and saucer which were clean on the outside )ut still unclean on the inside. 7 en (ore se ere was His illustration a)out the to()s o! the prophets3 in Matthew 203 erses2B-0 . He said3 :+oe unto you3 scri)es and Pharisees3 hypocritesG !or ye are li$e unto whitedsepulchres3 which indeed appear )eauti!ul outward3 )ut are within !ull o! dead (en s )ones3 and o! alluncleanness. 7 en so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto (en3 )ut within ye are !ull o! hypocrisyand ini9uity. +oe unto you3 scri)es and Pharisees3 hypocritesG )ecause ye )uild the to()s o! the

prophets3 and garnish the sepulchres o! the righteous3 and say3 I! we had )een in the days o! our !athers3we would not ha e )een parta$ers with the( in the )lood o! the prophets.> ") iously they were icti(s o! e*ternal righteousness. They $new how to )eat a path !ro(their ho(es to the church or synagogue. #ut Jesus said3 in His &er(on on the Mount3 that unless your righteousness e*ceeds the righteousness o! the Pharisees3 there s no chance !or the $ingdo( o! hea en. These hypocrites were tithe payers3 they were rigid &a))ath $eepers3 they were healthre!or(ers. They wouldn t e en eat a gnat in the soup. They were good on wor$s4especially the wor$sthat could )e seen )y others. They were great on !asting and could pray long prayers. They were(eticulous a)out their cere(onial washings and lo ed the !irst place in the synagogue. #ut they

)rought to others )urdens i(possi)le to li!t3 and Jesus said to the( that when they succeeded incra((ing their religion down so(eone else s throat3 they (ade their con ert :two!old (ore the childo! hell than yoursel es.> Matthew 20=?E. Jesus said3 :I3 i! I )e li!ted up !ro( the earth3 will draw all (en unto (e.> John ?2=02. #ut thereligious leaders said3 :I! we draw all unto us3 then we will )e li!ted up.> 5nd that is precisely whatthey tried to do. These religious leaders didn t li$e Jesus !or a nu()er o! reasons. irst3 Jesus recei ed sinners3and they didn t. &inning sinners didn t stand a chance with the Pharisees and &adducees. They put the(out o! the synagogue3 they tried to stone the(3 and they would not associate with the(. #ut Jesusrecei ed sinners4and that s good news e en today3 isn t it 5ren t you glad that Jesus recei essinners 5nother thing they didn t li$e a)out Jesus was that3 according to their rules3 He )ro$e the&a))ath. They considered Hi( a li)eral3 )ecause He didn t !ollow their rules and traditions. Theydidn t li$e the way Jesus went a)out teaching without the proper authoriAation. They didn t li$e thelac$ o! respect He ga e their high o!!ice. They didn t li$e the na(es He called the( and the unsparingre)u$es He directed their way. They didn t li$e His (iracle wor$ing and the way the co((on people!loc$ed a!ter Hi( and shouted His praises. They said3 :The whole world is gone a!ter hi(.> John?2=? . 5nd they !eared !or their own power and authority o er the people. In short3 they were en ious and co etous3 and when the lonely cross arose as a result o! their deter(ined hatred o! Christ3 they ca(e )y and wagged their heads and said3 :He sa ed others@ Hi(sel! He cannot sa e.> They had spent their li!eti(es trying to sa e the(sel es3 and the !act that Jesus ca(enot to sa e Hi(sel! )ut to sa e others was a slap in the !ace. Jesus could ha e sa ed Hi(sel!3 )ut that snot why He ca(e. He ca(e to sa e others3 including you and (e3 and so long as He did that3 He couldnot sa e Hi(sel! as well. &el!-surrender was the essence o! Jesus teachings3 and this was particularly o!!ensi e to thereligious leaders. They were )ig enough to handle their own li es. They could do it the(sel es.7specially were the &adducees o!!ended3 !or they did not )elie e in a od who was personallyin ol ed in the li es o! His children. &o they were o!!ended )y the teaching and e*a(ple o! JesusChrist. Paul spea$s o! these religious leaders in ? Corinthians 2=B3 . :+e spea$ the wisdo( o! od ina (ystery3 e en the hidden wisdo(3 which od ordained )e!ore the world unto our glory= which noneo! the princes o! this world $new= !or had they $nown it3 they would not ha e cruci!ied the Lord o! glory.> Jesus suggested the sa(e thought in His prayer at the cruci!i*ion4: ather3 !orgi e the(@ !or they $now not what they do.> Lu$e 20=08. 5pparently there was so(e ignorance in ol ed3 and had

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they $nown He was the &on o! od3 they wouldn t ha e cruci!ied Hi(. #ut why didn t they $now The shepherds $new3 and the wise (en !ro( the 7ast $new. Thehu()le !isher(en $new3 and e en the de ils $new and said3 we :$now thee who thou art.> #ut not thereligious leaders. Perhaps we can !ind a clue as to why they didn t $now in Matthew ??=2E= :5t thatti(e Jesus answered and said3 I than$ thee3 " ather3 Lord o! hea en and earth3 )ecause thou hast hidthese things !ro( the wise and prudent3 and hast re ealed the( unto )a)es.>

Jesus was than$!ul that these things were hidden !ro( the wise. +hy +hat do wise people dowith truth They ta$e the glory to the(sel es. The tendency is to ta$e glory to oursel es i! we can !indthe slightest e*cuse !or doing so. 'id od sit up there on His throne and say3 : i e it to the !isher(en and the shepherds3 )utdon t let the Pharisees ha e any truth > "r do we ha e !urther &cripture to e*a(ine on this point Loo$ at Matthew ?03 )eginning with erse = :+ho hath ears to hear3 let hi( hear. 5nd the disciples ca(e3and said unto hi(3 +hy spea$est thou unto the( in para)les He answered and said unto the(3#ecause it is gi en unto you to $now the (ysteries o! the $ingdo( o! hea en3 )ut to the( it is notgi en.> 'on t stop there4read onG : or whosoe er hath3 to hi( shall )e gi en3 and he shall ha e (orea)undance= )ut whosoe er hath not3 !ro( hi( shall )e ta$en away e en that he hath. There!ore spea$ Ito the( in para)les= )ecause they seeing see not@ and hearing they hear not3 neither do they understand.5nd in the( is !ul!illed the prophecy o! 7saias3 which saith3 #y hearing ye shall hear3 and shall notunderstand@ and seeing ye shall see3 and shall not percei e= !or this people s heart is wa*ed gross3 andtheir ears are dull o! hearing3 and their eyes they ha e closed@ lest at any ti(e they should see with their eyes3 and hear with their ears3 and should understand with their heart3 and should )e con erted3 and Ishould heal the(. #ut )lessed are your eyes3 !or they see= and your ears3 !or they hear.> Verses -?F.Their ears they ha e closed. Their eyes they ha e closed. &o then it wasn t od who ar)itrarily ga e understanding to so(e and not to others. It was thedi!!erence in the people. The sun shines on the wa*3 and the sun shines on the clay. The wa* so!tens@the clay hardens. +hy It s the sa(e sun shining on )oth. +hy did they close their eyes and ears Jesus3 co(ing the way He did3 threatened their pride o! status. He )ypassed the religious leaders and chose the peasants and !oreigners to deli er His (essage.Pride o! status had )een threatened. &econd3 their national pride had )een dealt a low )low. They had e*pected a Messiah to co(e atthe head o! ar(ies and an9uish o(e. Instead3 He ca(e in hu()le guise and o!!ered His gi!ts to Jewsand entiles ali$e. 5nd third3 their personal pride was threatened. The sinners and the harlots and the thie esaccepted Jesus3 and He accepted the(. How could this )e3 when the religious rulers !elt nothing )utunco(!orta)le in His presence &o they closed their eyes and set their course away !ro( Hi(. 5nd 6ustli$e the people o! ,aAareth3 once they had ta$en this stand3 they were too proud to change their

position. In spite o! their di!!erences3 the Pharisees and &adducees !inally got together. They could ha e!ound unity in the acceptance o! Jesus had they )een willing to surrender their pride and co(e to Hi(3!or it is in co(ing to Jesus that we are drawn close to one another. #ut instead they got together in their re6ection o! Hi( and (et in unity in the 6udg(ent hall o! Pilate and at the cruci!i*ion. +hat i! you see yoursel! when you loo$ at these religious leaders !ro( the days o! Christ 'oesthis (ean your case is hopeless ,o3 there is good news3 !or you can 6oin with those who were thee*ception to the rule. ,icode(us3 a Pharisee and a (e()er o! the &anhedrin3 was too proud e en to approach Jesus

)y day3 )ut instead sought Hi( under co er o! dar$ness. 1et he accepted the new )irth Jesus sosole(nly e(phasiAed and )eca(e a !aith!ul !ollower in the end. &i(on3 also a Pharisee3 too$ the long route to Jesus. 7 en )eing healed o! his leprosy was notenough to turn hi( around3 yet the ti(e ca(e when Jesus was a)le to reach his heart4at his own !east

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4and &i(on surrendered to the lo e that would not let hi( go. 5nd John ?2=823 80 spea$s o! :(any> who )elie ed in Hi(. There were (any who learned the!utility o! their own e!!orts to sa e the(sel es and ca(e to accept the sal ation Jesus had to o!!er. TheyrecogniAed that they could not cleanse the te(ple o! their own hearts3 and they in ited Jesus to co(e in3not once only3 )ut day )y day. Jesus is still o!!ering the sa(e sal ation to each one o! us3 and we canchoose to accept. +e can choose to enter into a ital relationship with Hi( as we learn to $now Hi(

)etter as &a iour3 Lord3 and riend.

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How Jesus Treated the Co##on People

'id you e er play the ga(e o! !ollow-the-leader when you were s(all 5nd as you played thega(e3 did you e er !ind yoursel! going into the swi((ing pool with all your clothes on3 wadingthrough (ud puddles3 or 6u(ping o!! the garage roo! I! so3 you pro)a)ly learned to seriously 9uestion

the ga(eG &heep are notorious !or !ollowing the leader. In a slaughterhouse in ,ew 1or$ City3 they hadtrained a goat to )e the leader. His na(e was Judas. He would go through the gate as soon as it opened3and all the sheep would !ollow hi( )lindly. 5t the last (inute3 the goat slipped out through a little sidegate3 and the sheep continued to their !ate while the goat went )ac$ !or another load. "ne o! the shortest para)les spo$en )y Jesus is on the su)6ect o! the dangers o! playing !ollow-the-leader in a spiritual sense. It s !ound in Lu$e F=0 3 8 . :5nd he spa$e a para)le unto the(3 Can the

)lind lead the )lind shall they not )oth !all into the ditch The disciple is not a)o e his (aster= )ute ery one that is per!ect shall )e as his (aster.> Jesus o!ten co(pares His !ollowers to sheep3 and we are in ited to !ollow where He leads. &othe pro)le( is not with the !ollowing3 )ut with who it is that is leading you. In the days o! Christ3 thePharisees and &adducees were accepted as leaders )y the ast (a6ority o! the co((on people. 5s wenoticed in the last chapter3 the Pharisees were the traditionalists3 the conser ati es@ and the &adduceeswere the li)erals. #oth groups were legalists3 )ecause )oth groups depended on their own e!!orts tosecure sal ation. 5nd the people lined up )ehind their leaders4their blind leaders4and 6oined the( inre6ecting Jesus in the end. It is a tragic !act that people seldo( rise higher than their (inister or teacher or leader. TheJewish people perished as a nation )ecause they !ollowed their leaders into error. They did not searchthe &criptures !or the(sel es and did not decide !or the(sel es what was truth. 5nd is not this a greatdanger !or us today How easy it is si(ply to !ollow3 rather than to study and search and pray !or oursel es to $now the oice o! the true &hepherd. 5nother si(ilar te*t concerning !ollowing leaders is !ound in Matthew ?E=?03 ?8. This ca(eright a!ter Jesus had said so(e hard things to the religious leaders o! that day. 5nd His disciples as$edHi(3 'id 1ou $now that the Pharisees were o!!ended when they heard what 1ou said 5nd then Jesus:answered and said3 7 ery plant3 which (y hea enly ather hath not planted3 shall )e rooted up. Letthe( alone= they )e )lind leaders o! the )lind. 5nd i! the )lind lead the )lind3 )oth shall !all into theditch.> 5pparently it is possi)le to !ind leaders e en in a religious co((unity who are not planted )ythe Lord. ,ot all who are outwardly (e()ers o! the )ody o! Christ are trees o! righteousness. 5nd theti(e will co(e when those who are not planted )y the Lord will )e uprooted. I would li$e to (a$e a disclai(er at this point. +hen we tal$ a)out !ollowing the leaders today3we are not spea$ing 6ust o! +ashington3 '.C. The practice o! !ollowing the leader is not li(ited to thechurch head9uarters. This is )y no (eans ta$ing potshots at +ashington. People pic$ their own leaders

4depending on how they wish to li e. 5nd you can always !ind so(eone3 so(ewhere3 who will leadyou in the direction you want to go. od has ordained leadership as a (eans o! guiding in His wor$ and His church. Leadership has a alid purpose and !unction. The point here is that it is dangerous to!ollow anyone )lindly. 5ccording to a aila)le sur eys and statistics3 only one out o! !our or !i e in the church today isspending any ti(e at all in personal !ellowship and study o! od s +ord. I! that is the case3 then weha e a lot o! )lind !ollowers today as well. &o let s not 6ust loo$ at this as a history lesson )ut see wherewe can pro!it )y the lessons Jesus tried to teach the ran$ and !ile o! His day. &o it was in this setting that Jesus ga e the para)le teaching that it is possi)le to !ollow a leader right into the ditch. +hy was this so +hat was the trou)le with the co((on people3 the crowds that!ollowed3 that (ade the( so easily decei ed

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irst3 they were not con erted. They had ne er e*perienced the supernatural wor$ o! the Holy&pirit on the hu(an heart. Their attitude toward od had not )een changed. They had ne er allowed

od to gi e the( a new capacity !or $nowing Hi( that they did not possess. They spent little ti(e in personally see$ing od )ecause the capacity wasn t e en there. In the days o! Christ3 they tied )its o! &cripture around their wrists and heads as a su)stitute !or hiding it in their hearts. 5ll o! their religiousacti ity !ocused on sel!. They were co(!orta)le with an e*ternal religion and accepted the !or(s and

cere(onies3 )ut their hearts were untouched )y the grace o! od. These people had no relationship with od. They were icti(s o! sal ation )y wor$s3 and their (oti e in their religious e*ercises and standards was to secure te(poral )lessings. They li$ed the ideao! the grasshoppers stopping at the !ence line o! the one who paid his tithe. They were interested inhea en and the o!!er o! li ing !ore er. They were i(pressed )y the loa es and the !ishes4and thediseases that were )anished )y a !ew 9uiet words !ro( Jesus. #ut in John F3 when Jesus spo$e o! the

)read o! li!e3 they were trou)led and said3 :This is an hard saying@ who can hear it > Verse F . The people in the days o! Jesus ga e Hi( only a li(ited acceptance. They were willing toaccept Hi( as a great Teacher. They were willing to accept Hi( as a wor$er o! (iracles. They werewilling to )elie e He was a prophet. #ut they re!used to accept Hi( as &a iour or Lord or od. 5ndtheir li(ited acceptance ended in total re6ection. The people then had pro)le(s with accepting the spirit o! prophecy. 1ou !ind this in Lu$e?F=? -0?3 where Jesus uses a well-$nown o(an !a)le to teach se eral truths4the condition o! (an$ind a!ter death ,"T )eing one o! the(G #ut the rich (an3 as you recall3 was in tor(ent. 5nd heas$ed that LaAarus3 the )eggar3 )e sent to spea$ to his !i e )rothers and warn the( !ro( the sa(e !ate. :5)raha( saith unto hi(3 They ha e Moses and the prophets@ let the( hear the(. 5nd he said3

,ay3 !ather 5)raha(= )ut i! one went unto the( !ro( the dead3 they will repent. 5nd he said unto hi(3I! they hear not Moses and the prophets3 neither will they )e persuaded3 though one rose !ro( thedead.> Verses 2 -0?. ,ot long a!terward one was raised !ro( the dead4and his na(e was LaAarusG ,ot only didthey re!use to accept that e idence3 they plotted to $ill )oth Jesus and LaAarus who( He had raised. &othese people had a hard ti(e with Moses and the prophets. Matthew 20 says they garnished the to()s o! the prophets3 yet they were the children o! thosewho had $illed the prophets3 in spirit as well as in lineage. Paul spea$s a)out this in 5cts ?0=2F3 2B.Here Paul is preaching3 and he says3 :Men and )rethren3 children o! the stoc$ o! 5)raha(. . . . Theythat dwell at Jerusale(3 and their rulers3 )ecause they $new hi( not3 nor yet the oices o! the prophetswhich are read e ery sa))ath day3 they ha e !ul!illed the( in conde(ning hi(.> They read e ery&a))ath !ro( the writings o! the prophets3 )ut they did not accept or understand what was read. &tephen said this in 5cts B=E?-E0= :1e sti!!nec$ed and uncircu(cised in heart and ears3 ye doalways resist the Holy host= as your !athers did3 so do ye. +hich o! the prophets ha e not your !athers

persecuted and they ha e slain the( which shewed )e!ore o! the co(ing o! the Just "ne@ o! who( yeha e )een now the )etrayers and (urderers= who ha e recei ed the law )y the disposition o! angels3and ha e not $ept it.> That was too (uch !or the people there3 and they rushed at &tephen3 dragged hi( out o! the city3and a young (an na(ed &aul stood and collected the coats as the stones )egan to !ly. #ut &tephen3loo$ing up toward hea en3 saw a ision o! Jesus3 standing at the ather s right hand. I e always li$edthe story. Jesus wasn t going to ta$e this sitting downG He was standing3 on &tephen s side3 and &tephendied in peace3 praying !or his ene(ies. #ut he had spo$en the truth a)out these people. They pro!essedto accept and re ere the prophets3 )ut in reality they re6ected )oth the prophets and the "ne !oretold )ythe prophets. This is also e idenced in their relationship to John the #aptist. In Matthew 2?3 the religiousleaders !ound the(sel es in a hard place3 )ecause Jesus had 9uestioned the( as to how they regardedJohn the #aptist. 5nd they re!used to answer3 )ecause they $new that the people )elie ed John to )e a

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prophet. #ut they ga e John the #aptist only a li(ited acceptance3 !or they did not accept Jesus as the"ne to who( John the #aptist had pointed. 'id Jesus try to tell the co((on people that they did not need leaders ,o. There is a purpose!or leadership. #ut is the purpose o! leadership to hand truth to people without as$ing any !urther in estigation on their part ,e erG The purpose o! leaders and teachers and preachers is to encourageand (oti ate people to understand truth )y searching it out !or the(sel es. 5n old adage says3 :1ou

can gi e a (an a !ish3 and !eed hi( !or a day. 1ou can teach a (an to !ish3 and !eed hi( !or a li!eti(e.>I don t $now i! you could call that a egetarian illustration3 )ut it s a good one nonethelessG 'id Paul teach truth He certainly did. 'id Jesus teach truth He did. 'id His disciples teachtruth 1es3 and the #ereans chec$ed it out to see whether it was truth4and were co((ended !or their insight. Jesus did not as$ the (asses to !ollow Hi( )lindly. He as$s no one to !ollow )lindly. #ut Hedid as$ !or the( to !ollow Hi(. The (a6ority o! the co((on people in the days o! Christ did not accept. #ut there weree*ceptions3 and they gi e us courage and inspiration today. ,ot all o! those a(ong the (asses were !ic$le. ,ot all 6oined those who sang His praises at thetriu(phal entry and then cried3 :Cruci!y Hi(G> a !ew days later. The wo(an at the well was see$ing!or so(ething to satis!y her soul. &he accepted Jesus as Messiah and con inced a whole town o! Hisworth. LaAarus3 a wor$aday (an not distinguished at the synagogue3 !ro( the ti(e o! his !irst (eetingwith Jesus lo ed Hi( with a lo e that ne er waned. The thie! on the cross turned his head a(idst the

pain and sha(e and cried3 :Lord3 re(e()er (eG> I ( glad !or the e*ceptions3 aren t you +e can 6oin the e*ceptions today3 as did the disciples at the end o! Jesus discourse in John F.The crowds were lea ing3 and Jesus as$ed3 5re you going to lea e too &ee erse FB. 'on t you want to 6oin the disciples as they say3 :Lord3 to who( shall we go +e )elie e thatyou are the Christ3 the &on o! the Li ing od.> &ee erse F . #elie ing in Jesus was not popular. It wasnot the :in> thing with the crowd to continue !ollowing Jesus when He was here4and it still isn t. #utI would li$e to in ite you to a two!old e*perience that will $eep you !ro( )lindly !ollowing anyone and

)eing (isled. irst3 a relationship with Jesus !or yoursel!. &econd3 an intelligent understanding o! thetruth on which that relationship is )ased. Those two are e9ually i(portant. "ne without the other is notgoing to do it. #ut we can accept today the pri ilege o! $nowing Jesus and $nowing truth !or oursel es3as we see$ Hi( in His +ord and through prayer. 5nd we can continue to see$ Hi( until He co(esagain.

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How Jesus Treated the 'on-Church Me#$ers

5 whole carload o! students were riding ho(e !ro( college one ti(e !or spring acation. 5s werode along3 we passed a sign that said3 :'on t read the other side o! this signG> ,o)ody said anything3

)ut as we passed3 e ery head in the car turned to read the )ac$ o! the signG ,egati e pu)licity can )e a

ery e!!ecti e !or( o! ad ertising. May)e e en od can use it on occasion. 5s Jesus ca(e to the close o! His li!e and (ission here in this world3 things didn t loo$ erygood. There was a lot o! )ad press4)ad pu)licity. Many people were !orsa$ing Hi(3 e en !ro( a(ongthose He had healed. ,ine out o! ten lepers accepted only the physical )lessings3 while re!using theo!!er o! spiritual )lessing. or a while the crowds had !loc$ed to hear and see Hi(. #ut as His ti(e here on earth nearedan end3 His whole (ission had the appearance o! cruel de!eat. The case see(ed hopeless. Jesus hadapparently done little o! the wor$ He had co(e to do. 1et in spite o! apparent !ailure3 He could sit on the top o! Mount "li et3 loo$ across to another (ountain that loo$ed li$e a s$ull3 and say3 This gospel that I teach will go to all the world. 5s !ar ashu(an resources were concerned3 there wasn t a ghost o! a chance. He had only a !ew disciples and ahand!ul o! wo(en as His !ollowers4and e en His disciples too$ o!! on a hundred-yard dash when thecrucial (o(ent ca(e. It see(ed apparent to e eryone that He would ne er )e accepted )y the churchleaders. &uccess loo$ed i(possi)le. #ut we ha e li ed to see the !ul!ill(ent o! His prediction4or at least the potential in our ownday !or its !ul!ill(ent. Today the church too is getting a lot o! )ad pu)licity. #ut od can also turn thisaround3 e en as the dis(al prospects were turned around in the days o! Jesus !irst ad ent. #ad

pu)licity is still pu)licity. #eing told not to read the other side o! the sign can cause people to read theother side o! the sign. &o there are lessons to )e learned today !ro( the apparent !ailure (ar$ing thedays 6ust prior to the cruci!i*ion o! Jesus. Let s )egin )y reading John ?2=2 and onward3 where an episode is recorded that )roughtcourage to the heart o! Christ. :5nd there were certain ree$s a(ong the( that ca(e up to worship atthe !east.> Jesus was present at the !east3 standing in the court o! the te(ple4the narthe* o! the church3i! you please4a)out to turn and lea e it !or the last ti(e. They :ca(e there!ore to Philip3 which was o! #ethsaida o! alilee3 and desired hi(3 saying3 &ir3we would see Jesus. Philip co(eth and telleth 5ndrew= and again 5ndrew and Philip tell Jesus. 5ndJesus answered the(3 saying3 The hour is co(e3 that the &on o! (an should )e glori!ied.> John ?2= 2?-20. Then )egins a paragraph that at !irst glance (ay not loo$ too rele ant )ut on second glance

)eco(es ery (eaning!ul. :Verily3 erily3 I say unto you3 7*cept a corn o! wheat !all into the groundand die3 it a)ideth alone= )ut i! it die3 it )ringeth !orth (uch !ruit.> Verse 28. Jesus was indicating thatHe was going to )e glori!ied )ut that He (ust !irst die. Then He (a$es the application to His !ollowers.:He that lo eth his li!e shall lose it@ and he that hateth his li!e in this world shall $eep it unto li!eeternal. I! any (an ser e (e ;or shall we say3 )eco(e My ser ant<3 let hi( !ollow (e.> ollow whereJesus was headed !or the crossG :5nd where I a(3 there shall also (y ser ant )e= i! any (an ser e (e3hi( will (y ather honour.> Verses 2E3 2F. &o Jesus was indicating that in order !or us to )e glori!ied3we (ust !ollow Hi( to the cross. :,ow is (y soul trou)led@ and what shall I say ather3 sa e (e !ro( this hour.> +e understandthat as !ar as Jesus was concerned3 i! He d had His pre!erence3 He would 6ust as soon not ha e gone tothe cross. #ut then ca(e His i((ediate su)(ission to the will o! His ather and the plan o! sal ation=:#ut !or this cause ca(e I unto this hour. ather3 glori!y thy na(e. :Then ca(e there a oice !ro( hea en3 saying3 I ha e )oth glori!ied it3 and will glori!y it again.The people there!ore3 that stood )y3 and heard it3 said that it thundered= others said3 5n angel spa$e to

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hi(. Jesus answered and said3 This oice ca(e not )ecause o! (e3 )ut !or your sa$es.> Verses 2B-0 .od ga e one (ore opportunity3 one last chance3 !or the( to listen. #ut notice that od s oice sounds

li$e only thunder to so(e people. :,ow is the 6udg(ent o! this world= now shall the prince o! thisworld )e cast out. 5nd I3 i! I )e li!ted up !ro( the earth3 will draw all (en unto (e.> Verses 0?3 02. +hat an encourage(ent it (ust ha e )een to the heart o! Jesus when these (en !ro( the +estca(e and said3 +e would li$e to see Jesus. This was one o! the !ew encouraging notes at the end o! His

li!e3 !or He was under the shadow o! the cross. He had predicted it3 e en though His !ollowers didn tli$e the idea. #ut the appearance o! these (en ca(e as a !ul!ill(ent to a prophecy recorded in Matthew=??3 ?2. Jesus had 6ust healed the centurion s ser ant and co((ended the (ilitary leader !or his great

!aith. Then He had (ade this state(ent= :Many shall co(e !ro( the east and west3 and shall sit downwith 5)raha(3 and Isaac3 and Jaco)3 in the $ingdo( o! hea en. #ut the children o! the $ingdo( shall

)e cast out into outer dar$ness= there shall )e weeping and gnashing o! teeth.> Jesus predicted a trade3 a ti(e in which His own pro!essed people would lea e Hi(4and other

people would co(e !ro( the east and west and Lu$e adds3 !ro( the north and south as wellN and sitdown with 5)raha( and Isaac and Jaco). 5t the ery )eginning o! Jesus (inistry3 the wise (en ca(e!ro( the 7ast and as$ed3 :+here is he that is )orn %ing o! the Jews !or we ha e seen his star in theeast3 and are co(e to worship hi(.> Matthew 2=2. Then3 at the end o! His (inistry a group ca(e !ro(the +est4the continuing !ul!ill(ent o! this prophecy. 'id you notice Philip and 5ndrew They had their radar on. Their ears were tuned to thesearching soul3 and they saw the ree$s who had entered the te(ple courtyard. +ay )ac$ at the

)eginning3 it was 5ndrew who )rought his )rother Peter to Jesus. 5nd you can see 5ndrew sitting onthe )ac$ row o! the synagogue while Peter is up !ront preaching. 5nd 5ndrew says to hi(sel!3 :+hat awonder!ul day it was when I )rought Peter to Jesus.> 5ndrew was willing to )e on the sidelines. Hewasn t always up !ront and tal$ati e. #ut he was always )ringing so(eone to Jesus4e en i! 6ust a )oywith !i e loa es and two s(all !ish. Philip3 one o! the !irst disciples o! Jesus3 had )rought ,athanael3 in iting hi( to :Co(e andsee.> &o here they are again3 Philip and 5ndrew3 )ringing so(eone to Christ. The ree$s certainly had the right (oti ation4:+e would li$e to see Jesus.> They didn t as$ to hear the results o! the (issionary 6ourney the se enty disciples had )een on. They didn t as$ !or atour o! the synagogue or !or a discussion o! so(e theological point. They wanted to see Jesus. 5ndtheir re9uest was granted. In this passage o! &cripture a classic state(ent o! Jesus is recorded@ :I3 i! I )e li!ted up . . . 3 willdraw all . . . unto (e.> The li!ting up o! Jesus draws people to Hi(. Jesus li!ted up on the cross was ano!!ence to the people o! His day4and it is an o!!ence to so(e in our day as well. The early church hadto put up with a lot o! negati e pu)licity in ha ing a od who had )een cruci!ied. That was )ad press.The gods o! those days were !oreign to the concept o! :He sa ed others@ hi(sel! he cannot sa e. :Paulspo$e in Corinth o! the !oolishness o! preaching the cross. 1et therein was the power o! od. 5nd these ree$s were a)le to go straight to the heart o! the (atter3 as$ing !or and accepting are elation o! Jesus in a ti(e when others were closing the door o! sal ation to the(sel es. +e re told that the church at the end o! ti(e3 6ust )e!ore Jesus co(es again3 is going to appear as i! a)out to !all. #ut it does not !all. Instead3 there is to )e once again this strange trade4with thoseinside lea ing and those !ro( the north and south and east and west co(ing in. ,otice that 5)raha(and Isaac and Jaco) don t lea e the church and go out to 6oin the people !ro( the north and south andeast and west. It s the people !ro( the north and south and east and west who co(e in. 'on t (iss thatG &o you ha e3 in the organic church at the ery end3 a great e*odus o! people who ha e the sa(e

pro)le( as the religious people in the days o! Christ. They turn Hi( down. 5nd as these lea e3 greatnu()ers co(e in and ta$e their places. +hy does this trade ta$e place The apostle Paul descri)es the situation and gi es the answer.5nd i! it was good !or that day3 why not !or today

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:+hat shall we say then That the entiles3 which !ollowed not a!ter righteousness3 ha eattained to righteousness3 e en the righteousness which is o! !aith. #ut Israel3 which !ollowed a!ter thelaw o! righteousness3 hath not attained to the law o! righteousness. +here!ore #ecause they sought itnot )y !aith3 )ut as it were )y the wor$s o! the law. or they stu()led at that stu()lingstone@ as it iswritten3 #ehold3 I lay in &ion a stu()lingstone and roc$ o! o!!ence= and whosoe er )elie eth on hi(shall not )e asha(ed.

:#rethren3 (y heart s desire and prayer to od !or Israel is3 that they (ight )e sa ed. or I )ear the( record that they ha e a Aeal o! od3 )ut not according to $nowledge. or they )eing ignorant o! od s righteousness ;here s the pro)le(<3 and going to esta)lish their own righteousness3 ha e not

su)(itted the(sel es unto the righteousness o! od.> o(ans =0 -00 and ? =?-0. They hadn t gone to the cross yet and 6oined Jesus3 who would not sa e Hi(sel!. They hadn tco(e to the place where they realiAed they could not sa e the(sel es. 5nd Paul !inishes his argu(entwith these words3 : or Christ is the end o! the law !or righteousness to e eryone that )elie eth.> Verse8. The real issue in sal ation )y !aith and sal ation )y wor$s is the di iding line )etween thosewho accepted Jesus3 along with the ree$s3 and those who re6ected Hi(3 along with the Jewish leaders.People who ha e achie ed through their own e!!orts want (erit and credit3 and they !ind Jesus astu()lingstone and roc$ o! o!!ence. The legalist is o!!ended at Jesus and will lea e Hi( in the end !or

precisely the sa(e reason. Can t we 6oin Paul when he says3 :#rethren3 it is (y heart s desire that ;how (any <4should

)e sa ed.> 5ll. +e don t want to see thousands !ro( our church go out into dar$ness3 when odHi(sel! would want e ery one o! us to stay. +e can all )e there to sit down with 5)raha( and Isaacand Jaco)3 along with the (ultitude that no one can nu()er who co(e !ro( all nations and $indredsand tongues and people. +e cannot sa e oursel es !ro( )eing o!!ended3 !ro( stu()ling at thatstu()lingstone3 e*cept )y one (ethod4and that is )y !alling on the oc$ and )eing )ro$en )y our own !ree choice. +e can choose to enter into a relationship with Jesus today3 to !ollow Hi( and tosu)(it to the truth that we cannot sa e oursel es. +e can 6oin the ree$s )y 6oining with the( insee$ing to see Jesus today.

:+e would see Jesus@> !or the shadows lengthen

5cross the little landscape o! our li!e@

+e would see Jesus3 our wea$ !aith to strengthen

or the last con!lict3 in this (ortal stri!e.

:+e would see Jesus@> this is all we re needing4

&trength3 6oy3 and willingness co(e with the sight@

+e would see Jesus3 dying3 risen3 pleading3

&oon to return and end this (ortal nightG

45nna #. +arner

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How They Treated Jesus in the *arden

+hen I was a )oy in Michigan3 we used to ice-s$ate a lot. "ne night when I was a)out twel eyears old3 (y preacher !ather was going across town to gi e a #i)le study. I $new he was going near a

par$ where there was a good ice-s$ating la$e3 so I tal$ed hi( into ta$ing (e and dropping (e o!! at the

la$e while he went on to his #i)le study. They (ust ha e )een studying a)out the (illenniu( that nightG He was gone !or so long thatthe par$ closed3 e eryone else le!t3 the lights went out3 and I was alone in the dar$3 on the la$e3 tryingto s$ate enough to $eep !ro( !reeAing. 5!ter what see(ed li$e an eternity3 I !inally decided (y !ather had !orgotten (e and gone ho(e without (e. I was too cold to s$ate any(ore3 and I 6ust huddledagainst a tree that ga e a little shelter !ro( the wind. ,ow twel e-year-old )oys don t cry4)ut they do tooG I had all $inds o! !eelings4!eelings )adand sad and (ad. #ut 6ust )e!ore I died3 I saw the !riendly lights o! (y !ather s car co(ing up the road.I was ne er so o er6oyed in (y li!eG #ut in preparing this chapter I re(e()ered that e*perience o! !eeling !orsa$en )y (y !ather. +ith this chapter3 we (a$e a transition !ro( considering how Jesus treated people to ta$ing aloo$ at how people treated Jesus. +e ha e studied so !ar (any o! the groups o! people with who(Jesus wal$ed and wor$ed4and how He treated each person with un!ailing lo e and $indness. ,ow3 aswe study the closing scenes o! His li!e3 we see in tragic display how people responded to His li!e and(ission. Let s loo$ at the description o! how they treated Jesus in the garden. :Then co(eth Jesus withthe( unto a place called ethse(ane3 and saith unto the disciples3 &it ye here3 while I go and prayyonder. 5nd he too$ with hi( Peter and the two sons o! Qe)edee3 and )egan to )e sorrow!ul and eryhea y. Then saith he unto the(3 My soul is e*ceeding sorrow!ul3 e en unto death.> +e would pro)a)lysay3 :I !eel li$e I ( going to die.> :Tarry ye here3 and watch with (e. 5nd he went a little !arther3 and !ell on his !ace3 and prayed3saying3 " (y ather3 i! it )e possi)le3 let this cup pass !ro( (e= ne ertheless3 not as I will3 )ut as thouwilt.> Matthew 2F=0F-0 . Put the scene together as you recall it. Jesus had spent so(e ti(e with His disciples in the upper roo(. They had cele)rated the Passo er. He had gi en the( so(e encouraging lessons3 so(e wordsconcerning the ine and the )ranches3 and He had prayed !or the( with strong prayer4not only in

)ehal! o! His disciples there were only ele en nowN3 )ut also !or His !ollowers o! e ery age. Together they had le!t the upper roo( and started toward the garden3 which was one o! Jesus!a orite places !or prayer and co((union with His ather. 5s they wal$ed along toward the garden3Jesus was o erwhel(ed with a great )urden. The disciples noticed that the hea iness was so great thatJesus swayed as He wal$ed3 as though He were carrying a hea y load. His steps were la)ored as He

pain!ully placed one !oot in !ront o! the other. They drew closer to Hi(3 longing to help Hi(3 e enthough they did not understand His sorrow o! spirit. +hen they reached the entrance to the garden3 (ost o! the disciples stayed3 )ut Jesus chosethree to acco(pany Hi( !urther. Then He proceeded to one o! His !a orite places o! prayer3 while thedisciples who were with Hi( waited a little distance away. How o!ten we ha e loo$ed at pictures o! this scene4Jesus $neeling3 praying in the garden. This was the night when Jesus soul was e*ceedingsorrow!ul3 when He !elt as i! He were going to die. In considering this e*perience in ethse(ane3 let s !ollow through and notice how di!!erentones related to Hi(4how di!!erent ones treated Hi( in the garden. irst o! all3 consider His own ather. In the plan that had )een laid )e!ore the !oundation o! theworld3 Jesus and His ather had chosen a course that Jesus was now deter(ined not to de iate !ro(3 inspite o! the pain. Hu(anly spea$ing3 He shran$ !ro( the terri)le ordeal. The ti(e had co(e when His

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ather3 according to &cripture3 had laid on Hi( the ini9uity o! us all. It was an o erwhel(ing )urden. There is no way we can understand how hea y a )urden it was3 )ut thin$ !or a (o(entconcerning so(e !ailure in your li!e3 so(e ti(e in your li!e when you !ell hard3 and the ene(y ca(e inand )eat you o er the head with guilt. Can you thin$ o! a ti(e in your li!e when you !elt the !arthest!ro( od4the (ost separated4and e*perienced the weightiest sense o! re(orse and pain on accounto! your sin I ha e tal$ed with people who !elt such a )urden in this sin!ul world3 in reaping the results

o! their own li!estyle3 that they wanted to end it all. Li!e wasn t worth continuing )ecause o! the guiltand pain. 5ll right3 ta$e that e*perience in your li!e3 and then add to it e ery other ti(e in your li!ewhen you e*perienced guilt or !ailure or sin. Then (ultiply that )y the nu()er o! people in the world3with all o! their accu(ulated guilt. 5nd a!ter you ha e done that3 (ultiply that hea iness )y all the

people !ro( e ery age. This is the guilt that Jesus too$ upon His shoulders. This is why we cannot e en )egin to i(agine or understand the )urden Jesus !elt when od laid upon Hi( the ini9uity o! us all. 5nd the a(aAing thing is that Jesus was 6ust as (uch in ol ed in this plan as was His ather.

od did not place these )urdens on Jesus against His will. The #i)le tells us that the ather and the &onwere together in this reconciliation. 5nd e en though od lo es the sinner and has always lo edsinners3 od hates sin. Jesus hated sin. The )urden o! the sin o! the world was crushing out His li!e3 yetJesus willingly too$ that )urden that od (ight )e 6ust and also the 6usti!ier o! the one who )elie esand accepts the sacri!ice pro ided. In this ti(e o! trial in ethse(ane3 when Jesus died )e!ore He died3 there was an apparentseparation )etween Jesus and His ather. This was the separation the sinner will !eel i! he persists inre)ellion against od and is !inally lost !ore er. &o(eti(es we get the idea that when Jesus ca(e to this ti(e3 He was dependent upon His ownstrength. +e see that all through His li!e He had li ed in dependence on His ather4in closerelationship with His ather. #ut now3 in ethse(ane3 and on through to the cross3 it loo$s as i! His

ather is gone3 and Jesus is le!t to struggle with sin all alone. ight here we need to ta$e a second loo$ 4!or e en though Jesus felt !orsa$en3 He was not !orsa$en. Jesus had predicted His great sorrow inJohn ?F=023 when He said3 :#ehold3 the hour co(eth3 yea3 is now co(e3 that ye shall )e scattered3e ery (an to his own3 and shall lea e (e alone= and yet3 I a( not alone3 )ecause the ather is with(e.> Jesus $new His ather was going to )e with Hi(3 )ut He also $new that He would feel a)solutelya)andoned and separated when the crisis ca(e. The !eelings were as real as i! He had not $nowndi!!erently. Jesus !elt that )y sin He was )eing separated !ro( His ather. He !elt that od s wrathagainst sin was so great that His unity with His ather was destroyed. #ut od was there. The ather was there3 :In Christ3 reconciling the world unto hi(sel!.> &ee 2 Corinthians E=? . Jesus was a!raid. He was !ear!ul. He !eared He would not )e a)le to go through with this3 whenHe !elt separated !ro( His ather. He !elt alone. He $new He was hu(an. +e could spend a lot o! ti(especulating on the e*act details o! the hu(an nature o! Christ. #ut we do $now this (uch4He $new

)y e*perience the wea$ness o! hu(anity a!ter 83 years o! sin. He was not as strong as 5da(4andHe well $new how 5da( had !ailed the test. He !elt alone and !orsa$en3 and it is no wonder He clungto the ground3 not wanting to )e separated any !urther than He already !elt. ,o wonder He cried3 andsweat and )lood ca(e out o! His pores. ,o wonder this death struggle o! Jesus in the garden can only

)e descri)ed with words such as despair and horror and blac'ness. ,o sorrow can )e co(pared withthe sorrow o! Jesus. How hard it (ust ha e )een !or Jesus4and also !or His ather. Let s consider so(eone else at this hour. oing to the other e*tre(e in the picture3 let s consider &atan. How was &atan wor$ing in this hour o! dar$ness &atan was co(ing to his )ig (o(ent3 whene erything was at sta$e. 5ll through Jesus li!e &atan had tried to con9uer Hi(4to cause Hi( to !ail. Itstarted way )ac$ )e!ore His )irth. +hen Jesus was 6ust a )a)y3 all o! the )oy )a)ies in #ethlehe( hadlost their li es as &atan (ade his a)orti e atte(pt on the li!e o! Jesus. &atan had (et Jesus in the wilderness and al(ost succeeded in ta$ing His li!e3 )ut an angel hadco(e and strengthened Jesus when He was dying in the wilderness o! te(ptation. &atan and his i(ps

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had challenged Jesus on (ore than one occasion3 screa(ing at Hi( and saying3 :+e $now who youare3 the Holy "ne o! od.> ,ow &atan ca(e to te(pt Jesus to thin$ that His ather had le!t Hi( !or good. Jesus had said3:My ather has not le!t Me3> )ut &atan said3 :1es3 He hasG 1ou re all alone. This separation that 1ou re!eeling is the real thing. 1ou ll ne er see 1our ather again. The separation 1ou are !eeling is eternal3so what point is there in 1our going through all o! this pain 1ou re supposed to )e sa ing the world3

)ut the world has re6ected 1ou. 7 en 1our own people are interested in destroying 1ou. "ne o! 1our disciples has already turned traitor and has )etrayed 1ou. +hy don t 1ou gi e up +hy don t you go )ac$ to 1our ather and stop wasting 1our e!!orts > Jesus was te(pted to return to His ather. Very interesting. "ur )ig te(ptation is to li e a li!eapart !ro( od. Jesus )ig te(ptation in the garden was to get )ac$ with His ather. Ruite the opposite!ro( us3 wasn t it &atan was pulling out all the stops3 doing e erything he could to con ince Jesus tolea e the world in his hands. He $new that his own !uture was teetering in the )alance. ,e*t let s consider the angels. How did the angels react that night as Jesus struggled in thegarden They were silent. 5ngels $new that the )ig (o(ent !or the uni erse had co(e. There was nosinging in hea en. ,o harps were played. The angels were a)sor)ed in watching the dra(a. Theywatched4and $new what was in ol ed. 5nd the angels4whose entire li!eti(e had )een !illed with the

6oy o! ser ice4were !rustrated that night. Can you see the( pacing )ac$ and !orth3 loo$ing at thescene3 then turning away3 wanting to rush on swi!t wings to )ring help3 )ut )eing una)le to do so They loo$ at Jesus in the garden. They loo$ at the ather. "h3 i! only they could get the nod!ro( the ather to go and help. inally they ha e to hide their !aces !ro( the aw!ul scene. More people are in ol ed in the plan o! sal ation than 6ust those o! the earth. There are un!allenworlds. 'o you )elie e that other worlds are inha)ited Ha e you read e elation ?2 lately : e6oice3ye hea ens3 and ye that dwell in the(.> Verse ?2. 5 nu()er o! clues in the #i)le (a$e it 9uite clear that other worlds are inha)ited. I suppose we could speculate a)out how (uch o! what happens onearth they are a)le to see. Perhaps they ha e the sa(e ision the angels ha e. I dou)t that they ha etele ision with the si* o cloc$ news and so(e $ind o! hea enly 'an ather. #ut when the world wascreated3 the (orning stars sang together3 and all the sons o! od shouted !or 6oy. &ee Jo) 0 =8-B. Theywere aware o! what was going on. 5nd they were also wondering what the outco(e would )e. +hen &atan )egan his re)ellion3 he (ade two charges against od. irst3 that it is i(possi)le to$eep the law o! od3 and second3 that i! the law is not $ept3 !orgi eness is i(possi)le. I! he was right inhis charges3 then the whole uni erse would )e in 6eopardy. &o the un!allen worlds3 as well as theangels3 were loo$ing on3 !ascinated and )reathless3 ta$ing in the scene there in the arden o!

ethse(ane. ,e*t let s consider the disciples. They were sleeping. Ha e you e er gi en the( )ad (ar$s !or sleeping Jesus went to the( !or sy(pathy3 !or Jesus was hu(an3 and one o! the great principles o! thehu(an heart is the longing !or sy(pathy in su!!ering. It s all right to want co(!ort when you rehurting. It s legiti(ate to want to hear so(eone say3 :I ( with you4I ( here.> &o Jesus stu()led !ro( His place o! retire(ent and went to the disciples !or a word o! encourage(ent. #ut they were sleeping. They stared at Hi( !or a (o(ent3 )ut could not e en rousethe(sel es su!!iciently to gi e Hi( any response. Then they slu(ped )ac$ into sleep. #ut notice what the &cripture says a)out what $ind o! sleep it was. There are di!!erent $inds o! sleep. There is the sleep o! physical e*haustion3 when you e wal$ed the dusty roads o! alilee all daylong and are tired. There s the sleep o! )oredo(. 5nd there is also the sleep spo$en o! in Lu$e 22=8E=:+hen he rose up !ro( prayer3 and was co(e to his disciples3 he !ound the( sleeping !or sorrow.> Thesleep o! sorrow. +hat is the sleep o! sorrow 7 en psychologists3 who study the hu(an (ind3 tell us a)out

people who use sleep as an escape !ro( so(e terri)le sorrow. Most o! us ha e e*perienced a )it o! it inour li!eti(es. The disciples were icti(s o! that $ind o! sleep. They $new Jesus was su!!ering. They

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had heard Hi( spea$ o! trial and death. They had tried not to hear3 )ut they were a!raid. They had heardHis groans and cries o! agony there in the garden. They were hurting )ecause their )elo ed Teacher was hurting3 and sleep ca(e as a )lessed relie! !ro( too (uch pain. The disciples were sleeping thesleep o! sorrow. Jesus $new that3 and we ought to re(e()er it too. Jesus $new their spirits were willing3 )ut thattheir !lesh was wea$. In a sense3 it wasn t a sleep o! !orgetting Jesus@ it was a sleep o! identi!ying with

Hi( so strongly they could not handle the pressure. That s why they were sleeping. &o the third ti(e Jesus went )ac$3 alone3 to His place3 crying out once (ore to His ather3 :I! it )e possi)le3 let this cup pass !ro( Me. #ut i! not3 Thy will )e done.> ,ature was the only co(panion o! Jesus in that hour. The oli e trees wept as they dropped their dew3 the cypress trees )owed in sy(pathy3 and the silence o! the night was shattered )y the cries o! thesu!!ering &a iour. Jesus struggled to the last (o(ent3 apparently alone and !orsa$en )y hea en andearth. 'on t e er e9uate Jesus struggle in the garden with anything we e er go through. +e are ne er in the sa(e category with Jesus as He was on this night. +e ne er will )e. +e will ne er )e calledupon to )ear the weight o! a whole world s sin. #ut as Jesus struggled and wept and prayed and !inally!ell dying3 the picture changed. a)riel4who too$ Luci!er s place3 who stood in the presence o! od4had )een pacing )ac$ and !orth3 loo$ing at the ather3 loo$ing at the garden. &uddenly3 the ather gi es a)riel the nodG 5nd

a)riel lea es at supernatural speed4the speed o! the uni erse4!or a !light o! ? E trillion (iles or (ore3 which he will (a$e in less than three (inutesG I can hear all the hosts o! angels shouting3 : o3

a)rielG> a)riel goes. He arri es at the side o! Jesus. He li!ts Jesus head !ro( the dirt. He holds Jesushead against his shoulder. 5nd he points to the open hea ens !ro( whence he has co(e. He has co(eto re(ind Jesus o! His ather s lo e. He tells Hi( o! the souls who will )e sa ed eternally as a result o! His sacri!ice. He assures Hi( that the ather is greater and (ore power!ul than &atan and that the$ingdo(s o! this world will )e won !or the saints o! the Most High. He tells Hi( that this aw!ulsacri!ice will )e worth it3 worth it !ore er3 )ecause o! those !ro( our race who will )e with Hi( inhea en throughout eternity. 5nd Jesus stands up !ro( His place o! prayer. He holds His head high and wal$s out o! thegarden to (eet the (o). He holds His head high3 li$e the %ing He is3 !ro( that (o(ent straightthrough to the cross. 5s they push and sho e Hi( all the way to Cal ary3 He has a strength and aco(posure that is supernatural. He has accepted His ather s lo e and power )y !aith alone. 7 enthough He feels alone on the cross and cries out3 :+hy ha e 1ou !orsa$en Me > He is not alone. 5t the

ery end He says3 : ather3 into Thy hands I co((it My spirit.> &ee Lu$e 20=8F. 5re you glad !or the story o! Jesus 5re you glad !or what He went through 5re you glad thatyou can )e one o! those who are eternally sa ed )ecause o! Hi( +hy not than$ Hi( again today !or His a(aAing lo e

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How Peter Treated Jesus

To span$3 or not to span$3 is a 9uestion that all parents !ace. &tudies ha e shown that the $ind o! discipline is not nearly so i(portant as that a child $now he s lo ed and accepted along with thediscipline. #ut (y !ather chose to span$G

+hen we were s(all3 he used so(ething light. "ne day3 a!ter I had e*perienced a span$ing3 Ica(e to (y (other with a s(ile on (y !ace and said3 :That didn t e en hurtG> That was one o! (y )iggest (ista$es. #ecause she told (y !ather what I had said3 and he (ade sure !ro( then on to do itrightG #ut the worst span$ing I e er got was the ti(e when (y !ather didn t e en touch (e. +e were on acation on an island in the (iddle o! ull La$e in Michigan. My )rother and Iwere at it again3 !ighting. That was our !a orite pasti(e. +e were spoiling the acation !or oursel esand particularly !or our parents. My !ather tried e erything he could thin$ o! to get us to stop. He triedta$ing away our dessert. He tried sending us to )ed without supper. He tried (a$ing us stay in theca)in. He tried span$ing. ,othing wor$ed. inally the (o(ent ca(e when he called us in )e!ore hi(again3 there in the ca)in3 and he was trying to thin$ o! so(e other way to go. #ut he was o) iously atthe end o! his ideas. 5nd then I saw the tears )egin to co(e. &eeing tears on the !ace o! (y )ig3 strong!ather was so(ething new to (e. I realiAed I had caused disappoint(ent and heartache to one wholo ed (e3 and I couldn t stand the tears. I could ta$e any $ind o! punish(ent )ut that. &uddenly3 I reallywanted to change. It was the worst lic$ing I e er gotG This was a lesson Peter learned. +e le!t o!! in the last chapter in Matthew 2F4the e*perienceo! Jesus in the arden o! ethse(ane. The angel had returned to hea en3 and Jesus is telling Hisdisciples to go ahead and sleep now. :5nd while he yet spa$e3 lo3 Judas3 one o! the twel e3 ca(e3 andwith hi( a great (ultitude with swords and sta es3 !ro( the chie! priests and elders o! the people.>Verse 8B. :In that sa(e hour said Jesus to the (ultitudes3 5re you co(e out as against a thie! withswords and sta es !or to ta$e (e I sat daily with you teaching in the te(ple3 and ye laid no hold on(e. #ut all this was done3 that the scriptures o! the prophets (ight )e !ul!illed. Then all the disciples!orsoo$ hi(3 and !led.> Verses EE3 EF. The disciples had )een suddenly awa$ened3 there in the garden. Judas had led the (o) to Jesus3gi ing the $iss that was a sign that this was the "ne. Peter had ta$en up his sword and a(putated theear o! the high priest s ser ant@ 5s Jesus spo$e )rie!ly with the(3 an angel stepped )etween Jesus andthe (o)3 and !or a (o(ent it loo$ed as i! their plans were de!eated. #ut the angel departed again3 andthe disciples3 who had owed that they would ne er !orsa$e Jesus3 !led into the dar$ness. 7 en Peter4 who had )een the (ost ehe(ent3 saying3 :The rest o! the( (ay lea e3 )ut I won t3>4e en Peter !orsoo$ Hi( and !led. 5nd then the (o) too$ Jesus to the palace o! Caiaphas. There they tried to !ind !alse witnesseswho would co(e up with the $ind o! charge that would (a$e Jesus worthy o! death. #ut the !alsewitnesses con!licted4and their testi(ony did not agree. Jesus waited patiently3 not spea$ing a word3until at last Caiaphas was desperate. He co((anded Jesus3 under oath3 to tell whether or not He wasthe Christ3 the &on o! od. 5t that point Jesus did not re(ain silent. He said3 :I a(.> 5nd as e ery ear listened to Hisad(ission under oath )e!ore the high priest and e ery eye )eheld3 the !ace o! Jesus shone with ahea enly light. Then Jesus added so(ething Caiaphas hadn t as$ed !or. He said3 :Herea!ter shall ye seethe &on o! (an sitting on the right hand o! power3 and co(ing in the clouds o! hea en.> Verse F8. Caiaphas shouted3 :#lasphe(yG> 5nd the (o)3 aroused3 )egan to push and sho e and spit uponHi(. It was aw!ul that night in Caiaphas s 6udg(ent hall. They put an old rag o er His head and struc$ Hi( and as$ed3 :I! 1ou re a prophet3 why don t 1ou tell who hit 1ou > They spit in His !ace. 5ndJesus was treated as cruelly and un!airly as e er a prisoner was treated. #ut a deeper anguish ca(e to Jesus that night. It s this deeper anguish we need to consider3 !or

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it in ol ed one o! His closest !ollowers. The disciples had ta$en o!! on a hundred-yard dash through the garden when the (o) had ta$enJesus3 )ut at least two o! the( had turned around and !ollowed at a distance as the crowd (ade their way )ac$ to the hall o! Caiaphas. They were Peter and John. They couldn t stay away !or ery long. +hen they entered the hall3 John !ound a place as near to Jesus as he possi)ly could3 )ut Peter

6oined the crowd )y the !ire3 war(ing hi(sel! in the cool night air and trying to pretend. It s a !a(iliar

story. #ut so(eti(es we don t stop to consider care!ully the steps Peter had ta$en to )ring hi(sel! tothe place where he could deny his Lord. The !irst step ca(e when Jesus tried to warn Peter o! His danger. Jesus had said3 :5ll ye shall

)e o!!ended )ecause o! (e this night= !or it is written3 I will s(ite the shepherd3 and the sheep o! the!loc$ shall )e scattered a)road.> #ut Peter answered3 :Though all (en shall )e o!!ended )ecause o! thee3 yet will I ne er )eo!!ended.> Jesus said3 :This night3 )e!ore the coc$ crow3 thou shalt deny (e thrice.> Peter insisted3 :Though I should die with thee3 yet will I not deny thee.> Matthew 2F=0?-08. Hewas sure o! hi(sel!. He !elt strong. He was sure he had enough willpower and )ac$)one to (a$e theright decision and !ollow through with it. He considered hi(sel! a sel!-disciplined (an4one who(Jesus could count on. He did not realiAe his danger. That s the !irst step anyone ta$es in denying hisLord. His second step toward the denial was to gi e in to the te(ptation to sleep when he should ha e

)een praying. It s an easy step to ta$e when you are !eeling sel!-su!!icient. +ho needs to pray whenyou can do it yoursel! +ho needs a higher power i! you ha e plenty o! power and strength yoursel!I d li$e to propose that one o! the (ain reasons the (a6ority o! Christians do not spend (uch ti(e in

prayer is that they do not !eel the need o! help !ro( od that o!ten. They re doing all right )ythe(sel es. They !ind it easy to turn o er !or an e*tra hour o! sleep in the (orning rather than spendingti(e in co((union with Christ3 !or they don t !eel the need o! prayer that (uch. 5nd that leads to thene*t step. The third step Peter too$ was to )egin to !ight his own )attles. He thought he was )ig enough tota$e on the ene(y in his own strength. He tac$led the whole (o) with his one sword. #ut all he gotwas one ear4and it wasn t e en a particularly i(portant ear3 e*cept to the high priest s ser ant towho( it )elongedG +hen we ha e separated oursel es !ro( the source o! strength3 we !orget that we are ne er to!ight the ene(y oursel es. +e !orget that od is the only one who can !ight our )attles !or us. He s theonly one strong enough. 5nd when we )egin swinging our swords3 the ine ita)le result is de!eat andsha(e. The !ourth step Peter too$ that night was to try to sa e hi(sel!. Jesus didn t 6oin in with hi(and help hi( !ight his own )attles in the way Peter e*pected. &o he started running. I! Jesus wasn t )igenough to sa e hi(3 then he d )etter sa e hi(sel!. 5nd Peter too$ o!! into the dar$ness. The !i!th step Peter too$ was to !ollow Jesus a!ar o!!. His trust in Jesus had ta$en a )eating. Hewasn t ready to co(pletely and per(anently cut hi(sel! o!! !ro( Christ3 )ut he was )eing care!ul now.He didn t want to get too close. He deli)erately $ept so(e distance )etween hi(sel! and Jesus. 5nd sohe !ollowed Jesus !ro( a!ar. #ut the night was cold. The night is always cold when we !ind oursel es !ar away !ro( Jesus.Ha e you disco ered that yet &o Peter too$ the si*th step o! see$ing war(th and co(!ort where theworld !inds war(th and co(!ort. He 6oined the rest o! the (o) )y the !ire3 trying to war( hi(sel! there. #ut he !ound hi(sel! strangely unco(!orta)le in that setting3 which led hi( to ta$e the ne*t step3the se enth3 o! assu(ing a !alse identity. He wasn t !itting in too well. +hen the rest o! the ra))lewould laugh as Jesus was (istreated3 Peter !ound hi(sel! wanting to cry. #ut that would draw attentionto hi(3 and they d notice that he wasn t really one o! the(. &o he !orced hi(sel! to laugh louder than

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any o! the(. +hen the rest o! the crowd would curse and 6est3 it 6arred on Peter s spirit. He was playinga part and not doing too well3 )ecause it wasn t long )e!ore he was noticed. 5nd that s when he !ound hi(sel! at the !inal step o! denying Jesus altogether. +hen a personhas separated !ro( Jesus and is !inding his war(th and acceptance in the world and so(eone says3:5ren t you one o! the( > he says3 :,o3 I ( notG> That s the way it goes. +hen the heat was on andthey were pointing the !inger at Peter3 he too$ the !inal step as he )egan to curse and swear and to deny

with an oath that he e er had $nown Jesus. ight at that (o(ent3 Jesus turned and loo$ed at Peter. Jesus turned !ro( where He was )eingsho ed and pushed and crowded. Jesus4wearing the crown o! thorns and with )lood dripping 9uietlydown4turned and loo$ed at Peter. There are di!!erent $inds o! loo$s. +hen Jesus loo$ed at Peter3 itwasn t a loo$ o! anger or disgust. It was a loo$ o! pity and lo e !or His poor disciple. +e pro)a)ly wouldn t clai( Peter as a disciple o! Jesus right then. 7 en Peter was denying it.#ut Jesus saw that Peter was still His. Peter wasn t a hypocrite. He had really (eant it when he said hewould die !or Jesus. #ut Peter was wea$. 5nd Peter had )een led away3 step )y step3 !ro( the side o! Jesus3 !ro( trusting !ully in Hi(. Peter hadn t e en noticed the process until now. The de il alwayswor$s this way. He doesn t ta$e us in one gigantic leap o!! the cli!!. He $nows we d see our danger andcall upon Jesus i((ediately. &o he ta$es us !ro( here3 to here3 to here3 in little tiny steps that are asinnocent-loo$ing as possi)le3 so we won t realiAe our need. Jesus loo$ed on Peter with lo e and disappoint(ent and sorrow. I! Jesus e er needed a !riend3 itwas then. I! He e er needed so(eone to let Hi( $now they were still with Hi(3 still on His side3 it wasthen. That is why the greatest anguish to the heart o! Jesus ca(e that night3 when one o! His closest!riends denied e en $nowing Hi(. 5s Peter s gaAe (et that o! Jesus3 a !lood o! (e(ories swept o er hi(. He re(e()ered the call

)y the sea3 when Jesus had said3 I will (a$e you !ishers o! (en. He re(e()ered the night on the la$ewhen he had al(ost drowned )ecause o! his presu(ption3 )ut Jesus had reached out His hand andsa ed hi(. He re(e()ered how Jesus had co(e to his rescue in the hassle o er the te(ple ta*. Here(e()ered how 6ust a !ew hours )e!ore3 Jesus had washed his !eet3 patiently e*plaining away his

protests. He re(e()ered how Jesus had said to hi(3 :Peter3 &atan has desired to ha e you3 that he(ight si!t you as wheat. #ut I ha e prayed !or you. I ha e prayed !or you. I ha e prayed !or you4> &eeLu$e 22=0?3 02. 5nd as Peter saw the pale3 su!!ering !ace o! Jesus3 the 9ui ering lips3 the drops o! )lood3 hecouldn t stand it. He )ro$e !ro( the scene and ran out o! the courtyard and down the streets o! thedar$ened city o! Jerusale(. He ca(e to the golden gate and ran down the hill and across the )roo$ %edron. He ran up the other side to the arden o! ethse(ane and groped around until he !ound thespot where Jesus had prayed and cried and sweat )lood drops that night. 5nd Peter !ell on his !ace andwished he could die. He $new that o! all the pain Jesus had )orne that night3 what he had done had cutthe deepest. 5nd that $nowledge cut Peter to the ery heart. Peter was ne er the sa(e again a!ter that night in the garden. The crisis o! his li!e had passed.The lo e and !orgi eness o! Jesus ga e hi( hope3 and e er a!terward he was a)le to spea$ withassurance and certainty o! the good news o! what Jesus was willing to do !or e en the wea$est o! Hischildren. 5nother that night also wished he could die3 and he was a)le to succeed in the atte(pt. Hisna(e was Judas. Judas was pro)a)ly the s(artest o! the twel e disciples. He had understood theteaching o! Jesus a)out the $ind o! $ingdo( He planned to set up3 and he wal$ed away !ro( it a!ter one !inal3 desperate atte(pt to !orce Jesus into his way o! wor$ing. 5t the !eeding o! the (ultitude3Judas had tried to !orce Jesus to set up His $ingdo( with earthly power. ,ow he tried again to !orceJesus to the throne. Ha e you e er fought to put Jesus on the throne in your li!e Judas had hatched a (aster plot. It really went (uch !arther than the thirty pieces o! sil er herecei ed !ro( the Jewish leaders. His real purpose was to !orce Jesus to set up an earthly $ingdo(4to

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put Hi(sel! on the throne. He thought that i! he )etrayed Jesus into the hands o! the religious leaders3He would )e !orced to wor$ a (iracle to sa e Hi(sel!3 and there)y the $ingdo( o! Jesus as the newMessiah would )e esta)lished. Judas was certain that out o! respect !or his cle er (ethods3 Jesus wouldappoint hi( pri(e (inister. 5ll went well until the ti(e in the garden when Judas )etrayed the Lord with a $iss. Then hesaid to the priests and rulers3 :Hold Hi( !ast.> He !ully e*pected that Jesus would !orce His ene(ies to

their $nees3 !ree Hi(sel! and His disciples3 and ta$e o er the throne o! Israel. #ut instead3 Judas watched !ro( a distance as Jesus was led as a la() to the slaughter. He sawthe hands o! Jesus )ound. He saw Hi( a)used in the (oc$ery o! a trial )e!ore Caiaphas. 5nd as thetrial drew to a close3 a dread )egan to sweep o er hi( that he had sold Jesus to His death. Then ca(e one o! the (ost dra(atic (o(ents in the trial o! Jesus. Judas couldn t stand it anylonger. The scene is descri)ed in the )oo$ The )esire of (ges* :&uddenly a hoarse oice rang throughthe hall3 sending a thrill o! terror to all hearts= He is innocent@ spare Hi(3 " CaiaphasG :The tall !or( o! Judas was now seen pressing through the startled throng. His !ace was paleand haggard3 and great drops o! sweat stood on his !orehead. ushing to the throne o! 6udg(ent3 hethrew down )e!ore the high priest the pieces o! sil er that had )een the price o! his Lord s )etrayal.7agerly grasping the ro)e o! Caiaphas3 he i(plored hi( to release Jesus3 declaring that He had donenothing worthy o! death. : KI ha e sinned3 again cried Judas3 Kin that I ha e )etrayed innocent )lood. >4Pages B2?3 B22. Then he cast hi(sel! at Jesus !eet and pled with Jesus to sa e Hi(sel!. #ut all that Jesus repliedwas3 : or this hour I ha e co(e into the world.> +ell3 you $now the rest o! the story o! Judas. Later3 on the way to Cal ary3 the 6ostling throngwere stopped in their trac$s at the !oot o! a tree where lay the )ro$en )ody o! Judas3 now se ered !ro(the rope he had used to hang hi(sel!. The trial )e!ore Caiaphas closed 9uic$ly a!ter the con!ession o! Judas )e!ore the asse()ly. Hisad(ission o! guilt in )etraying Jesus had put the high priest in an unco(!orta)le light3 and Caiaphaswas eager to escape the 9uestioning loo$s and e()arrass(ent. It was early (orning now3 and whate er they could hope to acco(plish (ust )e done 9uic$ly. Itwas riday4the )eginning o! the Passo er4and the (o) spirit which had carried things along this !ar was already )eginning to wane. I! they were !orced to wait until a!ter the &a))ath3 they could ha e littlehope o! pushing through to their goal. &o the trial o! Jesus )e!ore the highest religious leaders o! od s chosen nation was )rought to aclose. These priests and (inisters o! His own te(ple had e*a(ined Hi( and conde(ned Hi(. Theynow declared Hi( worthy o! death. +onder3 " hea ens3 and )e astonished " earthG

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How They Treated Jesus in Pilate+s Judg#ent Hall

“Then led they +esus from aiaphas unto the hall of -udgment* and it was early and theythemselves went not into the -udgment hall, lest they should he defiled hut that they might eat the

passover.& +ohn /0*10.

+hat a scene !or the uni erse to witnessG The Judge o! all the earth was )rought to trial. He wasthe "ne who had created hea en and earth. He had created the ones who pushed and sho ed Hi( allthe way to the 6udg(ent hall o! Pilate. He was $eeping their hearts )eating in their chests e en as theyaccused Hi(. 5nd He stood there silently3 !ully realiAing that the day would co(e when those ery

people would stand )e!ore Hi( and hear His sentence pronounced on the( !or ti(e and eternity3 whenHe would )e the Judge o! all. Ha e you e er worried a)out the day o! 6udg(ent Ha e you e er )een a!raid and perhaps triednot to thin$ a)out it3 )ecause the ery thought (ade you uneasy Just re(e()er three things as youloo$ !orward to the co(ing 6udg(ent. irst3 re(e()er that you will )e 6udged !airly. +hen Jesus was )rought to 6udg(ent3 He had to!ace the e*perience $nowing that He would not )e 6udged !airly. He $new that those who accused Hi(were loo$ing !or any e*cuse to conde(n Hi(. 7 en (ore than that3 not !inding any alid e*cuse toconde(n Hi(3 they would conde(n Hi( anyway on !alse charges. The court )e!ore which He stoodwas corrupt and rotten to the core. In spite o! the !act that all they really had against Hi( was that Hissinless li!e was a reproach to those who were so sin!ul3 not one oice was raised in His de!ense. Hedidn t ha e a ghost o! a chance o! )eing !ound innocent3 according to their standard o! 6udg(ent. +hen you are )rought to 6udg(ent3 you will )e 6udged !airly. Is that good news or )ad news5re you innocent or guilty 5re you a sinner or not I! you are )rought to a !air and 6ust court3 to )e

6udged as to whether or not you ha e )een a sinner3 what will the decision )e ,o wonder we o!tenloo$ !orward to the day o! 6udg(ent with apprehension and concern. +e $now that i! we are 6udged!airly3 we will )e conde(nedG +e will )e !ound guilty. +e don t ha e a ghost o! a chance o! )eing!ound innocent3 when (easured )y the law o! od3 His standard in the 6udg(ent. #ut don t stop yetG There is a second thing to re(e()er in considering the 6udg(ent. +henJesus was )rought to trial3 He stood alone. There was no one on His side. ,o one was de!ending Hi(against the charges )rought against Hi(. The prosecution was there in !ull !orce4)ut the de!ense wasstrangely a)sent. There will )e a prosecution3 in the day when we stand )e!ore the 6udg(ent )ar o! od. #ut wewill also ha e a 'e!ender3 an 5d ocate with the ather3 Jesus Christ the righteous. +e won t ha e tostand alone )e!ore the accusations o! the ene(y. There will )e "ne who will stand )y our side. 5nd Hehas not only )een te(pted as we ha e )een te(pted3 He has also )een )rought to trial. He has also )eenconde(ned. 5nd He has paid the penalty that He didn t deser e3 that He (ight now place His ownrighteousness to our account so that we (ight )e ac9uitted3 which was what He deser ed. He stood trial

for us. He was conde(ned for us. He was punished for us. 5nd o! course3 the !inal thing we need to re(e()er when we thin$ o! the co(ing day o!

6udg(ent is that this sa(e Jesus who is our 'e!ender and who has stood trial !or us and has ta$en our punish(ent !or us3 is going to )e our Judge as well. +hat (ore could He do to insure that we will )egi en e ery opportunity !or pardon #ut !or Hi(3 on that day )e!ore Pilate3 there was no hope o! pardon3 no (ercy3 no 6ustice. TheJewish leaders who dragged Hi( )e!ore Pilate wouldn t e en co(e into the 6udg(ent hall. Theywanted to )e cere(onially clean !or the co(ing Passo er3 which pointed to His death !or the(. &o theyinsisted that He )e conde(ned to death !ro( the outer court so they could )e ho(e in ti(e !or the

)eginning o! the Passo er wee$end. &in does strange things to our hu(an 6udg(ent3 doesn t it :Pilate then went out unto the(3 and said3 +hat accusation )ring ye against this (an They

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answered and said unto hi(3 I! he were not a (ale!actor3 we would not ha e deli ered hi( up untothee.> In other words3 'on t 9uestion usG +e are the ones in charge here. +e are the leaders o! thisnation. 'on t you $now who you are tal$ing to :Then said Pilate unto the(3 Ta$e ye hi(3 and 6udge hi( according to your law.> He said3 I! you re in charge3 then why are you )ringing Hi( to (e :The Jews there!ore said unto hi(3 It is notlaw!ul !or us to put any (an to death= that the saying o! Jesus (ight )e !ul!illed3 which he spa$e3

signi!ying what death he should die. Then Pilate entered into the 6udg(ent hall again3 and called Jesus3and said unto hi(3 5rt thou the %ing o! the Jews Jesus answered hi(3 &ayest thou this thing o! thysel!3or did others tell it thee o! (e Pilate answered3 5( I a Jew Thine own nation and the chie! priestsha e deli ered thee unto (e= what hast thou done Jesus answered3 My $ingdo( is not o! this world= i! (y $ingdo( were o! this world3 then would (y ser ants !ight3 that I should not )e deli ered to theJews= )ut now is (y $ingdo( not !ro( hence.> John ? =2 -0F. ,otice particularly the phrase3 :My $ingdo( is not o! this world= i! (y $ingdo( were o! thisworld3 then would (y ser ants !ight.> Judas had )een deter(ined to !orce Jesus to the throne4to !ightto put Hi( there. That was his style. He )elie ed in !ighting !or what he wanted. He )elie ed in putting!orth e!!ort3 in trying to (a$e things happen !or hi(sel!. He didn t )elie e in waiting !or od to wor$.He wanted to do it hi(sel!. #ut Jesus says3 :My $ingdo( is not o! this world. I! it were3 then would (y ser ants !ight.>#ecause His $ingdo( wasn t o! this world3 then His ser ants were not supposed to !ight to acco(plishtheir goals. Could it )e that we are not supposed to !ight to )ring ictory in the spiritual $ingdo( aswell I! you trace the usage o! the word 'ingdom in the ospels3 you disco er that Jesus is spea$ingo! either the $ingdo( o! grace4or the $ingdo( o! glory. He used the ter( 'ingdom, or 'ingdom of heaven, repeatedly. "!ten His para)les )egan with the words3 :The $ingdo( o! hea en is li$e unto4> The $ingdo( o! grace includes )oth od s !orgi eness and His power. 5nd !or neither o! thesegi!ts are the ser ants o! od supposed to !ight. +e cannot earn or (erit our way to hea en. ,or can we!ight to o)tain ictory and o)edience and o erco(ing. I! Jesus $ingdo( were o! this world3 then Hisser ants would need to !ight sin and the de il3 !ight to o)ey3 !ight to surrender3 !ight !or ictory. #utJesus said3 :My $ingdo( is not o! this world.> The )lessings o! the hea enly $ingdo( are to )e recei ed as gi!ts. orgi eness is a gi!t.

epentance is a gi!t. Victory is a gi!t. ")edience is a gi!t. 5nd you don t !ight !or what is gi en to youas a gi!t. Peter had (isunderstood. He had swung his sword and then run away !ro( Jesus when he sawthat !ighting was not where it was at. ,ow he was !acedown in the garden3 wishing he could die. Judashad (isunderstood. ,ow he lay in a li!eless heap under the )ranch o! a tree along the road to Cal ary.Pilate (isunderstood and chose to gi e attention to the cla(or o! the (o) rather than to the 9uiet wordso! Jesus3 who o!!ered hi( the gi!t o! a $ingdo( where !ighting would not )e necessary. Then he tried toe ade the pain!ul decision )y sending Jesus to Herod3 who had also (isunderstood the nature o! Christ s $ingdo(. Pilate decided to pass the )uc$ to Herod. :+hen Herod saw Jesus3 he was e*ceeding glad= !or he was desirous to see hi( o! a longseason3 )ecause he had heard (any things o! hi(@ and he hoped to ha e seen so(e (iracle done )yhi(. Then he 9uestioned with hi( in (any words@ )ut he answered hi( nothing.> Jesus did not spea$ asingle word to Herod. :5nd the chie! priests and scri)es stood and ehe(ently accused hi(. 5ndHerod with his (en o! war set hi( at nought3 and (oc$ed hi(3 and arrayed hi( in a gorgeous ro)e3and sent hi( again to Pilate.> Lu$e 20= -??. +hen I !irst read this story3 I was happy. Herod was the one who had $illed John the #aptist4 the one who3 at his drun$en party3 had (ade the rash oath to &alo(e. &o !or a long ti(e it see(ed e en

hristian to re6oice in seeing the cold treat(ent Herod got !ro( Jesus that dayG That was (y reaction.That s the way to treat Herod3 LordG ood !or HerodG Ignore hi(. &nu) hi(. #e indicti e. I was glad

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to realiAe that to )e thus ignored would ha e )een the hardest )low Herod could ha e recei ed. #ut then I ca(e to understand that Jesus is not that way. Jesus ca(e to die !or Herod3 as well as!or you and (e. &o you don t see Jesus standing there with His chin out3 getting e en. Instead3 you seeJesus with His chin 9ui ering3 with silent tears !lowing3 )ecause another one o! His )eauti!ul created!riends has turned Hi( down. 1ou see Jesus with )rea$ing heart accepting the decision that Herod hadalready (ade.

How did Herod co(e to (a$e this decision against Christ #y re6ecting the spirit o! prophecyGHow do you li$e that 1ou didn t e*pect that to show up here3 did you #ut it s trueGN John the #aptistwas one o! the greatest prophets. In !act3 according to the ospel record3 John the #aptist was (orethan a prophet. He was called the Lord s (essenger. 5nd the tragic conclusion o! the story o! Herod isthat i! you are un!riendly to the Lord s (essenger3 un!riendly to the prophets3 you re going to )eun!riendly to Jesus as well. The two always go together. :I! they hear not Moses and the prophets3 neither will they )e persuaded3 though one rose !ro(the dead.> Lu$e ?F=0?. Herod had re6ected the truth spo$en to hi( )y the prophet3 and no other (essage was to )e gi en to hi(. Jesus accepted Herod s choice3 )ecause there was no other way toreach his heart. In anger and hu(iliation3 Herod sent Jesus )ac$ again to the court o! Pilate. Let s pic$ up thestory in Matthew 2B. This ti(e we ha e Mrs. Pilate co(ing into the picture. :+hen he was set down onthe 6udg(ent seat3 his wi!e sent unto hi(3 saying3 Ha e thou nothing to do with that 6ust (an= !or Iha e su!!ered (any things this day in a drea( )ecause o! hi(.> Matthew 2B=? . Perhaps it had )een wee$s or e en (onths earlier. Pilate and Mrs. Pilate were sitting down atthe )rea$!ast ta)le. Pilate was eating his rolls and drin$ing his co!!ee3 and Mrs. Pilate was helping hi(to the (orning paper3 the Jerusale( Times G &he called his attention to the headlines and the notices hereand there that had to do with Jesus !ro( ,aAareth. &he (ust ha e heard o! Jesus and had a so!t spot inher heart !or Hi( )e!ore this ti(e. &he (ust ha e )een see$ing !or truth. &he was the $ind o! person od could co((unicate with3 and she had a drea( which causedher su!!ering. &he saw Jesus on trial in the 6udg(ent hall. &he saw that her hus)and did not release Hi(as he should ha e done. &he saw the cross o! Cal ary and the )leeding )ody o! Jesus stretched )etweenhea en and earth. &he heard His cry3 :It is !inished.> Then she saw e en !urther into the !uture3 to theti(e when Jesus returns to the earth in power and (a6esty. It was then that she awo$e and sent theurgent (essage to her hus)and3 warning Hi( !ro( the (ista$e he was a)out to (a$e. #ut still Pilate went straight ahead3 unwillingly3 wishing !or so(e way )oth to release Jesus and

paci!y the angry crowd. #ut in the end3 he ca ed in and sacri!iced Jesus to try to $eep the appro al o! the (ultitude. +hich ta$es us )ac$ to John ? again. Pilate is trying one last desperate tric$ with the(o) and its leaders. He says3 :1e ha e a custo(3 that I should release unto you one at the passo er=will ye there!ore that I release unto you the %ing o! the Jews Then cried they all again3 saying3 ,otthis (an3 )ut #ara))as. ,ow #ara))as was a ro))er.> John ? =0 3 8 . ulton "ursler3 in his )oo$ The Greatest tory 2ver Told, depicts #ara))as as a Aealot4adagger (an against o(e. He was well $nown as a thie! and ro))er. #ut the religious leaders chose#ara))as3 which was in essence choosing lawlessness. In choosing #ara))as3 they were choosing onewho did not )elie e that the law (ust )e o)eyed. I! they had chosen Jesus3 they would ha e chosenrespect !or od s law3 !or o)edience and o erco(ing. How su)tle that the sa(e issues ha e arisen e en within the church today. "nce again we !indthe choice )etween Christ and #ara))as. +hich are you choosing in your li!e 5re you accepting!ellowship and co((union with Christ as a way o! li!e3 as the (ethod !or recei ing His gi!ts o! !orgi eness and ictory "r are you choosing #ara))as3 !ighting your own )attles and settling !or a

)elie! that the law does not need to )e o)eyed The people o! Israel had (ade their choice. They chose #ara))as. The decision was ne er re ersed.

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:Then the soldiers o! the go ernor too$ Jesus into the co((on hall3 and gathered unto hi( thewhole )and o! soldiers. 5nd they stripped hi(3 and put on hi( a scarlet ro)e. 5nd when they had

platted a crown o! thorns3 they put it upon his head3 and a reed in his right hand= and they )owed the$nee )e!ore hi(3 and (oc$ed hi(3 saying3 Hail3 %ing o! the JewsG 5nd they spit upon hi(3 and too$ the reed3 and s(ote hi( on the head. 5nd a!ter that they had (oc$ed hi(3 they too$ the ro)e o!! !ro(hi(3 and put his own rai(ent on hi(3 and led hi( away to cruci!y hi(.> Matthew 2B=2B-0?.

5nd Jesus3 who as Creator o! the uni erse could ha e in a (o(ent su((oned the assistance o! ten thousand angels to release Hi( !ro( the aw!ul scene3 continued to su)(it to death3 !or your sa$eand (ine4e en the death o! the cross.

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The &ay of the Cross

Pretend you are &i(on. 1ou ha e co(e on a long 6ourney to reach Palestine. 1our ho(e is in ,orth 5!rica3 )ut you andyour wi!e and two sons3 5le*ander and u!us3 now li e so(ewhere near Jerusale(. "n this particular

(orning you are co(ing in !ro( the country early in the (orning. That s rather unusual. 5s you $now3 people in this part o! the country wor$ outside the city walls )y day3 tilling the soil3 and return at nightto the sa!ety o! the city. Perhaps on this particular day you ha e !orgotten your hoe or so(e other toolneeded !or your wor$. #ut you enter the city 6ust at the right ti(e to (eet a strange procession. 1ou see soldiers trying to control the (o)3 priests and rulers in their long ro)es3 and people o! all ran$ and !ile. They are !ollowing three (en who carry crosses. 1ou see nine (en !ollowing at adistance3 with sha(e and sorrow on their !aces. 1ou loo$ (ore closely at the three (en who are o) iously conde(ned. Two o! the( arethie es. They are well-)uilt3 (uscular3 hard-!aced3 and struggling with the soldiers who are !orcingthe( along. They are well a)le to carry the )urden !orced on their shoulders. The third Man is also strong3 well-)uilt3 and (uscular. He has wor$ed in a carpenter shop3without )ene!it o! power tools3 !or (ost o! His li!e. #ut there s so(ething di!!erent a)out Hi(. There san e*pression on His !ace that catches your attention. He is )ruised and )attered. He has )een throughso(ething the other two ha e not. &ince the day )e!ore3 He has )een without !ood and drin$. He hasstruggled alone in the arden o! ethse(ane3 in con!lict with the powers o! dar$ness. He has stoodtrial no less than se en ti(es. He has )een a)used )y the (o). He has twice )een scourged. 5nd nowHis hu(an nature can )ear no (ore. 5s you watch3 He !alls !ainting )eneath the cross. "! the nine (en who are His !ollowers4surely one o! the( will step !orward in this crucialti(e. Three o! the original twel e are (issing. "ne lies (angled and dead at the !oot o! a tree a little!urther up the pathway. 5nother is still !acedown in the garden called ethse(ane3 with a )rea$ingheart !or ha ing denied his #est riend. 5nd a third will show up a little later3 (uch to our surprise and

6oy. #ut these nine (en are holding )ac$. They are !illed with grie!3 )owed down with disappointedhopes. They $eep their distance. They are !illed with sorrow o er the pain o! their Master3 yet they stayaway3 gi ing in to !ear and sha(e. ,ot one o! the( is willing to o!!er Hi( assistance. 5nd you3 &i(on3 are a(aAed and dis(ayed. 1ou are not the retiring type. 1ou don t $eep things

)ottled up inside o! you. &o you e*clai(3 :This is incredi)leG +hy doesn t so(eone help this Man > The soldiers hear you. They ha e )een at a loss to $now what to do. It is apparent to all whowatch that it is i(possi)le !or Jesus to )ear the cross any !arther. He can scarcely stand4e en withoutthe load o! hea y ti()ers. &o the soldiers gladly seiAe this opportunity to ta$e you )y !orce and placethe cross o! this third (an on your shoulders. Perhaps your !irst response is to thin$3 :+ell3 that s what I get !or opening (y (outh.> #ut asyou ta$e the cross and 6oin the procession3 you hear the na(e o! this "ne !or who( your sy(pathy wasaroused. It is Jesus. JesusG 1our two sons3 5le*ander and u!us3 ha e told you a)out this Man. Theyha e seen Hi( )e!ore. They ha e heard His teaching. They ca(e ho(e3 e*cite(ent on their !aces3telling you that they )elie ed Hi( to )e the Messiah. 1ou had always intended to in estigate !urther3

)ut had ne er ta$en the ti(e to !ollow through. ,ow you are )eing !orced to carry His cross. ight here3 I would li$e to pause !or a (o(ent in this story. I would li$e to in ite you who readto consider4ha e you e er )een !orced to carry the cross 5re you a second- or third- or !ourth-generation church (e()er3 whose parents and grandparents ha e !orced you to carry His cross 5reyou a young person !ro( a Christian ho(e3 !orced to carry His cross 5re you e(ployed within thechurch as a teacher3 (inister3 or so(e other church e(ployee3 and you !eel that in order to $eep your

6o) you are !orced to carry His cross I would li$e to re(ind you that that s not all )ad. Please watch

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!or the )lessing o! &i(on as we continue the story. 1ou continue to carry the cross up the road toward Cal ary3 and you )egin to loo$ around you atthe people in the crowd. The priests and rulers ha e 6oined in with the lowest o! society3 throwinginsults and (oc$ery in the !ace o! Jesus. They are hooting and howling with the rest o! the (o). Thesoldiers with their whips and swords continue trying to $eep the procession on the road3 although younotice that !re9uently one o! the( will turn toward Jesus with a lingering glance.

The (o) is (ade up largely o! those who lo e e*cite(ent3 no (atter what the source. They are people who can 6oin the triu(phal procession one day3 and shout3 :Hosannah to the %ing>4and then 6oin in crying3 :Cruci!y Hi(>46ust )ecause it s the popular thing to do. They are the ones who !ollowwhere er the crowd goes in its e)) and !low. They don t thin$ !or the(sel es )ut !ollow oices3 6oiningin with the oices that shout the loudest at any gi en (o(ent. &o(e in this crowd ha e )een healed )y Jesus3 which pro es that it ta$es so(ething (ore thana (ere (iracle to (a$e you a )elie er. &o(e ha e ta$en their lo ed ones to Jesus and recei ed the helpthat He ne er re!used to gi e. #ut now they are 6ust part o! the (o)3 indistinguisha)le a(ong thethrong. The procession pauses. ,ear)y is a group o! wo(en4wo(en who possess sensiti e natures.+o(en whose tears !low easily when con!ronted )y sorrow and pain. These wo(en are the only onesJesus see(s to notice. 5nd He stops to spea$ to the(. +e would li$e to thin$ that these wo(en were true )elie ers in Jesus3 that they accepted Hi( asthe Messiah and were weeping !or Hi( as their Lord and &a iour. #ut the e idence is that they wereweeping si(ply !ro( the dra(a and e(otion o! the (o(ent. It is possi)le to weep today i! the right

)utton in the ner ous syste( is pushed. Tears can !low and then cease to !low3 and the person re(ainsunchanged. Perhaps that s why Jesus said to the(3 :'on t weep !or (e3 )ut weep !or yoursel es and!or your children.> He tries to point the( )eyond the e(otion o! the (o(ent to the real need o! their hearts. &uddenly you spot the third o! the (issing disciples. It s John4the disciple who has always

)een there with Jesus. He had not a)andoned Jesus in this ti(e o! crisis. He is supporting Mary3 the(other o! Jesus3 in her hour o! need. &urely John would ha e carried the cross o! Jesus i! he had notalready underta$en this i(portant tas$. ,ow he wal$s with Mary as she !ollows as close to her &on asshe can. 1ou watch Mary !or a !ew (o(ents. Her !ace is co ered with tears. &he leans on John !or support3 )ut !ollows deter(inedly in the !ootsteps o! her )elo ed &on. Perhaps she is re(e()ering theday the angel ca(e3 telling her o! the &on soon to )e )orn to her. Perhaps she is picturing a little eight-year-old )oy ta$ing the scroll under His ar( and heading out to the hills in the early (orning !or anuninterrupted ti(e o! co((union with His hea enly ather. Perhaps she recalls the day He closed upthe carpenter shop3 $issed her good-)ye3 and le!t on His strange (ission. 5nd perhaps she isre(e()ering3 with sin$ing heart3 His words predicting this ery e ent. &he (ay ha e heard again thewords o! &i(eon in the te(ple3 :This child is set !or the !all and rising o! (any in Israel3 and the swordshall pierce through thine own soul.> &ee Lu$e 2=083 0E. 7 en now the sword is cutting and hurting. #ut all along the way to the cross3 the "ne you watch (ost earnestly is the "ne whose crossyou are carrying. 1our heart is torn as you see the intense agony He su!!ers. 1ou see His stu()lingstep3 His )ent !or(3 His )lood drops endlessly !alling. 1ou see the loo$ o! peace and acceptance3 e ena(id the pain. 1ou see His willingness to struggle along the road to Cal ary. The thie es !ight and try to escape. The soldiers (ust constantly watch to $eep the( in line. #utthis "ne whose cross you )ear is di!!erent. He goes willingly3 e en though He can scarcely put one !ootin !ront o! the other. 5nd you watch and you wonder3 until !inally the destination has )een reached. The thie es are o erpowered )y the o(an soldiers and placed on their crosses. #ut Jesus(ee$ly su)(its3 lying down and stretching out His hands while they )ring the ha((ers and nails. 1ouhear the so)s o! Jesus (other3 the curses o! the thie es and soldiers3 the insults o! the (o). 5nd then

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you hear Jesus own oice3 and you )end to catch His words. 1ou hear Hi( say3 : ather3 !orgi e the(3!or they $now not what they do.> &uddenly your heart is )ro$en with lo e !or this Man. 5nd you cry out3 ather3 !orgi e (e too.

orgi e (e !or waiting. orgi e (e !or putting o!! the decision to !ind out (ore a)out this Man.orgi e (e !or dou)ting when (y sons told (e a)out Jesus. 5nd !orgi e (e !or resenting ha ing to

carry His cross.

5nd as you loo$ down at Hi( through your tears3 He says to you3 :Than$ you3 &i(on. Than$ you !or carrying My cross.> 5nd as you loo$ )ac$ at Hi(3 you say3 :Than$ 1ou. Than$ 1ou3 Lord.> 1ou ha e seen a little o! how Jesus treated people. 1ou ha e seen how people treated Jesus inreturn. There are only two choices in the end. 1ou can 6oin the soldiers in nailing Jesus to the cross3cruci!ying Hi( a!resh. "r you can 6oin &i(on in carrying His cross. "nly two choices4and the choiceis up to you.

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