Drew’s Blog - Drew Boswell

Starting Over – John 21:15-19

Starting Over

John 21:15-19

Scripture Reading: John 21:1-14

Introduction

Last year for vacation we went to Port St. Joe, Florida, and we went to the beach as much as we could. One of the days I decided to build a sand castle. So I started to big and built layer upon layer of intricate sand sculptures. As my three oldest saw what I was doing, they made their way from swimming in the ocean and began to join me. Kimberly and Isaac (my five year old) had gone walking down the beach looking for seashells and to chase sea gulls.

With the smell of salt in the air, and the sound of crashing waves, the sand castle building project stretched out over 12 feet and we began to have roads to various buildings, there was a mote, and a lake in the middle where we dug down to water. The children took sticks and began to carve the shape of rocks in into sand.

It was a thing of beauty.

About a hundred yards off, Isaac saw our building project. In his five-year-old mind, he suddenly became a giant sea monster who was going to attack the tiny sand people – so he began to run with all his five-year-old strength toward the sand castle. Before we realized it, the sea monster was upon us and within seconds had stomped and knocked over our thing of beauty. All of our work seemed wasted.

What happens when we think about our lives, and things of more importance than a sand castle? What do we do when we like a sea monster have kicked over our marriages, when we have breathed fire all over our testimonies at work, or when we have stomped our ministries? What do we do when sin comes in and has wrecked something we greatly value? Is there any way to recover, does God hate us forever, does He leave us to suffer under the weight of our guilt for the rest of our lives?

Prayer – Jesus, show us a glimpse of your mercy and grace that you freely pour out upon your children. There are people here and within the sound of my voice who have fallen and in shame they now live under a heavy weight. Show us the truth of your Word this morning, and how we should then live – We pray this in Jesus’ name; Amen.

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Our story today begins at the trial of Jesus. Jesus had told Peter before that he would betray him three times before the rooster crowed. In John 18:26-27 “One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.” Peter emphatically said in Matthew 26:33, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”

As Peter stood and watched the trial, he heard the crowd yell, “crucify him!”, did he lower his head, did he cover his eyes? He followed him, in the crowd, out to Golgotha where he was crucified. Did he weep? How did Peter deal with this horrible event?

While he went through that horrific day of seeing his Teacher and dear friend tortured, he now also had to bear the crushing weight that he had betrayed Jesus. He had denied being his disciple of the man whom had loved him with an eternal love.

Peter was one of the twelve, one of the apostles, he sat at Jesus’ feet and heard all the sermons, and even went out from him to share the good news to others. He had heard Jesus say on multiple occasions, “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”[1]

After the resurrection Jesus specifically appeared to the disciples two times in the Upper Room, and in today’s passage on a beach.

Do you have a time in your life where you have betrayed Jesus? Do you have a sin that when it comes to your memory, you drop your head and you feel the weight of regret and your betrayal to the one who has done nothing but pour out His love upon you? Do you put your head in your hands and cry out, “why did I do that?”

God does not want to leave us there – He desires to lift your head and for you walk in honor before Him. Psalm 3:3 “But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.”

God was not going to leave Peter with this crushing weight of guilt. God does not want to leave you where you are; He wants to take the weight away. Jesus went to this beach to talk with Peter. God has come to you this morning and wants you to hear His Word.

Life for Peter was more than living in the guilt of the past, Jesus wanted to use him greatly now. This morning, in spite of all that we have done, God still desires to have a restored relationship with all of us, and to use us for His kingdom work. Would you like to just start over? How do we start over?

Remember Jesus Has Called You (v. 15)

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

Peter was the leader of the disciples. He was the one who spoke on their behalf most of the time, and where he went the rest followed. Even, in this story he had said, “I’m going fishing,” and the rest followed.

Now, he has gone back to what he was doing before he ever met Jesus. Peter was called by God to preach and share the gospel – but now he has returned to what he knew before Christ. Fishing for Peter didn’t require spiritual courage, supernatural empowering, or steps of faith.

Matthew 4:18 “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” They were fishermen before Jesus called them to be disciples, so they go back to their previous life.

Jesus gave them a glimpse of how their lives could truly and genuinely make a difference in the world – They even had a season where Jesus had to guide them through this reality and their own sinful natures. Matthew 20:20-21 “Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him [Jesus] with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Peter had walked on water, and seen the transfigured Christ.

When Christians feel that they have betrayed Jesus, and are feeling crushed with guilt, they withdraw to what they knew before Christ. They return to their default setting. You naturally have a talent, skill set, gifting, interests, etc. that is built into your personality.

Satan’s ploy is to get believers out of service, out of worship, out of church, get them away from what they were created to do. He lies to them and persuades them that God really does not love them, or can use them anymore. He desires to pull them away from courage, empowering, or faith – he lies and says, “that’s just not your thing.”

When we live in this place, there is no peace. God loves us enough to not leave us there. So Jesus comes to Peterto take off this weight of guilt and to get him back on track.

When Jesus says, “do you love me more than these?” Who or what are “these?” Why the miracle of catching so many fish? If Jesus could just speak and let them know that it was Him. I believe that Jesus allowed them to catch a great number of fish, so that he can turn to them as say, “these (fish).”[2]

The large number of fish would have been worth a lot of money for the fishermen. So, Peter had returned to working as a fisherman, with a potentially lucrative amount of catch – and now a return to a calling by the resurrected Christ to go back to leading as an apostle.

He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” – Peter was not called by Jesus to be his disciple so that he could fish, he was to love Jesus more than anything else and do what Peter was created before the foundation of the world to do – “feed Jesus’ lambs” – to preach the gospel, “tend Jesus’ sheep” – take care of the people. Peter had a calling from the Lord, a very special task or ministry to accomplish – and so do you.

Remember that Jesus Knows Everything (vv. 16-17)

16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Why does Jesus ask Peter the question three times? It mirrors Peter’s three times of denial. Peter is grieved because Jesus keeps asking him “do you love me?” So Peter acknowledges that Jesus knows everything. Peter knows in his mind, and Jesus moves that knowledge to his heart by getting him to repeat it again and again.

Jesus knows everything. Jesus Christ is sovereign and omnipotent and in that he knows that we will deny him. He knows that we will fall into temptation, and sin.

John 13:36-38 “Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.”

Jesus knows what we are capable of, the greatness of our sin and depravity. He can see into the future and knows all our mistakes, our stubborn times of rebellions, and denying him with our actions– and he says, “but you will follow afterward.”

Jesus knows everything. Jesus Christ is sovereign and omnipotent and in that he knows that we will serve him. That there will be moments when we shine and give the Father and the Son glory with our actions.

He sees into the future and knows all the time when we get it right, our obedient times of submission, and proclaiming him to the nations – and he says, “Feed my sheep” Do what I created you to do. Despite our stumbling or triumphs His love for us never wavers, it never changes. He also knows that we love Him.

Remember that Jesus Promises that You Will Finish Well (vv. 18-19)

18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.)

Jesus had called him to be a disciple, had predicted that he would deny him, had told him that he would follow once more, and now he is telling him that he will die for Him. “When you are old . . .” Wherever he would fall along the way, in all the ways he would sin over the years, when it was all said and done – he would finish well.

This is not sentimentality, or some false way of trying to encourage Peter, Jesus says, “truly, truly . . .” At the end of his days on earth, Peter would glorify God. It is so encouraging to know that when we fail, Christ will come after us, and has promised that He is still at work in our lives.

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Then Jesus says to Peter, “And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

In all three of the times where Jesus asks Peter, “do you love me” the question is preceded by, “Simon, Son of John” in verse 15 – there are only two places where Peter is called “Simon, Son of John” here, and when Jesus originally called him to be a disciple.

Matthew 4:18 “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”

John 1:40-42 “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus9 was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).”

By calling him “Simon, Son of John” and by saying to him “Follow me” Jesus is taking Peter back three and half years to when they first met, to the beginning. Peter, Let’s start over.

I remember the first time I met Jesus. I was a nine years old child who was afraid of dying. I remember telling my mother, “the Mormons believe this, and the Buddhists believe this – what is the truth?” “If someone dies, where do they go? Is heaven real?” I was afraid.

At VBS that summer the preacher came and shared the gospel to our class and asked if anyone wanted to talk more about salvation and eternal life to step into a side room. I put my craft down, pushed my chair back, and walked into the room. After, that day I have never feared death. I can tell you what decorations hung on the wall, what the room smelled like, who sat next to me, what I wrote inside the little paper box I made.

Do you remember when you first met Jesus? Do you remember the excitement and passion? Do you remember when you said things like, “Jesus, I will die for you!” “I will do anything you ask, I will go anywhere you say!” Do you remember the joy of your salvation?

But time passes, years go by, life happens, and perhaps today Jesus desires to take you back to that day. Years of guilt and feelings of failure have caused you to drift away from your calling. This morning, hear the truth of God’s Word, and lay your weight at the foot of the cross. Jesus died, so that you can be set free.

__________

Isaac, after the sun was beginning to hide behind the horizon, as we sat on the beach, asked “can we build a sand castle?” So there among the piles of sand that he had destroyed, we began to rebuild castles, as a family.

Jesus is waiting for you this morning to say, “Jesus I want to start again, I want to rebuild.” He has told us in His word the answer will always be, “yes my precious child, let’s rebuild.” Lay the weight of guilt at the foot of the cross, and say to Jesus, “I want to start over.” Do it today, do it right now. You don’t have to live with the weight any longer.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

_______________________

[1] Matthew 10:33

[2] Clifton Allen, General Ed., The Broadman Bible Commentary, Volume 9, Luke-John (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1970) 374.

The Power of a Praying Church – Acts 12

The Power of a Praying Church

Acts 12

Introduction

Last week we looked at how Jesus taught the disciples to pray, and what has become known as the “Lord’s Prayer.” And I challenged you (and myself) to begin praying through the booklet “40 days of Prayer.” As of today we should be on day 7. If this is new to you, that’s fine, just jump in with us today. The booklets are outside the sanctuary.

Today we will look at the power of the church, prayer. Prayer has been described as the electricity to the toaster. The appliance with worthless until it is plugged into the wall socket. We can have great dreams, good plans, but unless God leads the way, changes our hearts, and guide our decisions through prayer then we are like an unplugged toaster.

Also, when you have a church family you do not have to go through hard times alone. One of the ways that we support and love one another is that we pray for and with each other. So prayer is not a program or even something we do once a month at a meeting – it is the lifeblood of the local church and believers.

Prayer – so before we jump into today’s passage, let’s pray. Jesus, we come before you today in recognition that apart from you we would be nothing, can do nothing, and will accomplish nothing. We call out to you, to show us what you would have us to do, to be, how to think, how to serve You and our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We also pray that you will show us the importance and power of prayer this morning. Amen.

The Power of God Displayed in Impossible Situations (vv. 1-4)

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.

The Herod in these verses is Agrippa I, a nephew of Herod Antipas who beheaded John the Baptist. Herod Agrippa through political maneuvering had managed to expand his kingdom to about the same size as his grandfather’s, Herod the Great;[1] who killed baby boys at the time of the birth of Jesus.

Herod Agrippa had James the “son of Zebedee” beheaded and, because it delighted the Jews, he intended to kill Peter. Polling data told him the majority of the citizens approved of that action so he captured Peter.

Herod Agrippa was a politician who desired to look good before the Roman Empire – one of the ways to look good was to keep the peace. So, if it pleased the Jews to kill Peter, this would help maintain the peace. He was also careful not to break the customs of the Jews by executing a man during the Passover.[2]

The Passover was the first of the three great festivals of the Hebrew people. It referred to the sacrifice of a lamb in Egypt when the people of Israel were slaves. The Hebrews smeared the blood of the lamb on their doorposts as a signal to God that He should “pass over” their houses when He destroyed all the firstborn of Egypt to persuade Pharaoh to let His people go.

In New Testament times, Passover became a pilgrim festival. Large numbers gathered in Jerusalem to observe this annual celebration. Jesus was crucified in the city during one of these Passover celebrations.

He and His disciples ate a Passover meal together on the eve of His death. Like the blood of the lamb which saved the Hebrew people from destruction in Egypt, His blood, as the ultimate Passover sacrifice, redeems us from the power of sin and death.[3]

There was a political tension between the Jews and the Romans – So Herod is holding Peter as an “ace up his sleeve,” if something were to happen during the Passover feast. The Jews were looking forward to his death. In v. 11 we see “from everything the Jewish people were expecting (NIV says anticipating).”

The Power of God is Dispersed By Interceding Saints (vv. 5-12)

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. 6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.[4]

Knowing that Peter had allies, Agrippa took extra precautions against any attempt to free the prisoner – as Peter had already escaped from prison before. Four relays of soldiers took turns guarding him: four guards at a time, one on either side of him (to whom he was chained) and two at his cell door.[5]

I love this picture of Peter. He has taken his sandals off and they are lying by his bunk. He has stripped down to his underclothes and is soundly sleeping – while chained to Roman guards. Did peter’s snoring keep the guards awake? What was it that gave Peter so much resolve to endure the pressure and threat of death that he was able to be sound asleep? So soundly, that the Angel had to strike him?

His Relationship With Christ

Peter was able to sleep so soundly because first, he had seen the transfigured Christ; Luke 9:28-33 “Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, [2] which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said..”

Peter had seen the resurrected Lord; John 21:2-4 “Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.”

Peter spent three years with Jesus, he had been with Him constantly – He saw the miracles, he experienced the masterful teaching, Peter was amazed at Jesus’ servant heart when he washed his feet. Peter denied him, heard the rooster crow, raced to the tomb after the resurrection, he knew the heartache of doubt. He saw the resurrected Christ on the seashore, and in the upper room.

Peter slept because he had a relationship with Christ – He knew that if he were to die, he would be with Christ. If he were to live, then he could continue to live for Christ. Another apostle had such a faith while facing death.

Paul in Philippians 1:18-21 “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Sometimes we think the worst thing that can happen to us is to die – but Peter and Paul show us that is far more devastating to the believer to forget why he is here, and the all-important relationship they have with Christ.

Experience

Acts 5:18-20 “. . . they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

Peter had already been rescued one time by an angel – if it were God’s will, He would do it again. That is the wonder of Christianity – through our relationship with Christ, and daily experiencing his power, we have hope and faith for tomorrow. If your execution was in the morning could you sleep tonight? In light of all the ways God has provided for you, and shown you that He loves you would you rest easy?

He Knows His Church Is Praying

Peter is shackled with two chains, he is chained to two guards, he is surrounded by specially trained soldiers, who knew if the prisoner were to escape it would cost them their lives. Peter is in a barred room, within the Roman prison. For an average man, escape would have been impossible.

But this man had a very special group of people on his side. His church is praying for him. The church is praying for their pastor. They knew that if God does not step in a do something Peter is going to die, just like James. The church knew that there was no hope for Peter, other than prayer.

The Church’s Prayers Are United

There prayers were united because they were “gathered together.” Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” When believers gather together there is power.

James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” Within our unity of prayer, there must also be purity in the congregation. Then the prayers of the righteous are (NIV) “powerful and effective.”

The Church’s Prayers Are Earnest

They were “praying” – this Greek word was used to describe a muscle that has been stretched to its limit. They were straining in their prayer; they were stretched in their prayer. This was not a flippant prayer, but a prayer that pushed them to the point of strain, praying with all their might.

The same Greek word used here of the way in which the followers of Jesus were praying for Peter is used in Luke 22:44 for the way in which Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.[6] Luke writes, “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”

The Church’s Prayers are Unceasing

“Unceasing” – they had prayed through the night, late into the night. They kept on praying until they heard that God had done something. Other translations have fervent. The origin of the word used here references the pleads of one being tortured on a rack that pulls them apart. The pleadings are urgent.

The church had prayed perhaps for days, and now on the eve of Peter’s execution – their prayer continues. We must not stop our prayer, even if the situation seems to already worked out before us.

Could their pleadings not only have been for his life to be spared, but also that he would not deny Christ as he had done earlier in his life? Peter had denied knowing Christ three times after Jesus’ arrest, and then the rooster crowed.

The Angel led him only the length of one street, he left him all alone in a city that wanted his head. It would only be a matter of time before they came looking for him – where would he go?

He went to a place where he knew he would be safe, a place where he would be loved, taken care of, those who knew his history and prayed all the more fervently for him, – he went to this family’s home because it was a home that was known to be a house of prayer.

It is not the craftiness of Peter that got him out of jail – Peter was asleep when the angel came. It wasn’t the sympathy of the jailers that enabled Peter to find deliverance – they would later lose their lives over Peter’s escape! There was no explanation for Peter’s escape except for the power of God!

It was the power of God that sent the angel! It was the power of God that loosed the chains! It was the power of God that opened the iron gate! It was the power of God that had changed the heart of a fisherman from coward to fearless apostle!

Once free Peter came to his senses and arrived at the same conclusion. In verse 11 we read, “When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” It was the power of God!

Also, just as an aside, In Acts 5 the popularity of Peter and the apostles is so prevalent that when the Roman soldiers are ordered to arrest them, Acts 5 says, “Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.” But by Acts 12 the Jewish people would have been delighted to see Peter executed. We don’t share the word of God based on its popularity – but because it is our mission.

The Power of God is Doubted and the Saints are Surprised (vv. 13-17)

13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James[7] and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

When Peter arrived at Mary’s house the followers of Jesus were still praying. They had been up all night long praying for Peter. I don’t know what they were praying about. I haven’t a clue if they were praying for Peter to be comfortable, for the living conditions to be cordial, or for Herod not to kill Peter.

I believe that they were praying for Peter to be spared, released, comfort but when he showed up at the door they didn’t believe the young lady who said, “He’s here!” They ignore the answered prayer when it’s right at their door. They try to rationalize the answered prayer, They said, “You are out of your mind!” They even try to explain awaythe answered prayer by saying, “It is his angel!”[8]

The followers of Jesus were praying, they were even praying earnestly, but they weren’t praying with expectation. When you come to know the desires of God’s heart for your situation (and for our church), ask for Him to move in the situation, and pray as though you know He is listening – and when the answer knocks on the door, answer the door.

Conclusion

The purpose of prayer is to draw us close to the heart of the Father so that our wills, our deepest desires, our passions will be those of the Father and not our own. When we draw close to the heart of the Father then He will be glorified through our lives, our words, and our works done for His glory! Then when we know God’s will and pray accordingly we should expect Him to do great things.

You have been challenged with the 40 Days of Prayer, so how do you bring it about? You begin with prayer.

___________________

[1] Frank Stagg, The Book of Acts, The Early Struggle for an Unhindered Gospel (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1955) 128.

[2] Clifton J. Allen, The Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 10 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1970) 76.

[4] J. Jeremias, TDNT, III, pp. 175ff. There were other ancient stories of doors opening and fetters falling off as a story motif. Sudar Singh was thrown into a dry well for execution. FF. Bruce, 236.

[5] F.F. Bruce, The New International Commentary, The Book of Acts (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Eerdmans Publishing, 1988) 234.

[6] I. Howard Marshall, Tyndale New Testament Commentary, Acts (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Inter-Varsity Press, 1980), 208.

[7] This is James the brother of Jesus. James the “son of Zebedee” had already been killed by Herod.

[8] The Jewish people believed that people had a guardian angel, and that this angel resembled the person they watched over. (Allen, 77).

How Do I Please God With My Life? By Spending Time With Him John the Baptist: Part 4 Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-13

How Do I Please God With My Life?[1]

By Spending Time With Him

John the Baptist: Part 4

Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-13

Introduction

Abraham Lincoln once said about prayer, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day.”[2]

*Matthew 6 is given as part of the sermon on the mount, and it’s given publicly. Luke 11, also called the Lord’s Prayer, is taught later in Jesus’ ministry and was done privately, just the disciples. Both are Jesus’ instruction on how we should pray, both emphasize different aspects of prayer. Today we will weave in and out of both but primarily focusing on Luke 11.

Prayer

The Disciples Want to Be Religious (Luke 11:1)

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

It was a regular practice for Jesus to go off and pray, and we don’t know if he could be heard, but there was something different about Jesus’ prayer life when the disciples compared it to their own prayer lives, or those rabbis they had seen before.

We know right away what the prayers would not have been like. In Matthew 6:5-8 Jesus says, “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” The way that Jesus prays and the teaching He gives on praying is radically different than all the Jewish religious teachers.

By the time of Jesus, there were over 24 sections of the Jewish faith. We know of the Pharisees, and Sadducees from the gospels, and the Essenes from historians such as Jospehus and Philo. So, each of these sects would have prayers that they would offer, morning, mid-day, and in the evening. “Jewish religious leaders and their followers customarily had their distinctive prayers.”[3]

The disciple asking Jesus for instruction on prayer would have known the public prayers which he and the other worshippers would have recited at the services. But such prayers were not adequate for the new life which Jesus was leading his disciples.[4]

The disciple also adds, “as John taught his disciples.” John taught his disciples to pray, and it would have been different than how the Pharisees or Sadducees would have taught their disciples to pray. But Jesus, when He teaches the disciples to pray, is going to throw them for a loop. He will break from generations and generations of rabbinical teachings.

Jesus Instead Focuses Them on a Relationship (Luke 11:2)

2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.

Who Are We Praying To?

Jesus gives this teaching with the Sermon on the Mount, and here again much later in his ministry in Luke 11. Jesus, stops right there, gathers the rest of the disciples and begins to teach them how to pray. ““When you pray, say: “Father” Jesus’ instruction begins with a declaration, a calling out of Father, In Luke’s account of Jesus’ teaching on prayer he does not add, “in heaven” as in Matthew 6:9 just to emphasize the importance of this first word. He also leaves off, “Our” father to emphasize the personal nature of the relationship.

“The variations in the Lord’s Prayer come naturally from Jesus’ desire to teach a pattern for prayer rather than a rigid insistence on form.”[5]

The Jewish people had referred to God as Father, but it was the father of the nation, or even as Matthew says, “father who is in heaven.” The focus of the Jewish father was sovereign and transcendent (far above and more powerful than all). They would not even say His name, instead they combined two titles for God into Jehovah to use instead.[6]

Jesus on the other hand only referred to God as “Father.” In the Gospels he uses “Father” more than sixty times. This is the dramatic difference between the Old and New Testament – No one in the history of God’s people ever prayed liked this, the way Jesus prayed.

In the Old Testament, the word “Father” is used only fourteen times, and it was as a corporate Father of Israel – never as an individual or personal To the Jewish people hearing Jesus say God as a personal Father would have been shocking.

In Greek, it is the word Abba, and in English the closest translation is the loving term “daddy” but it has a more reverent flavor, so “dearest father” may be more accurate.

For Jewish families the name given to a child was considered to indicate character.

Can We Trust Him?

That God who is our dearest father, our daddy, His name is to be honored. “hallowed be your name” Jesus could have picked any name that God has revealed Himself to us in Scripture – Elohim, the Creator God; El Shaddai, God Almighty; there are many names that Jesus could have given, but here he says that disciples are to hallow the name of their “dearest father.”

Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” The God who we trust and whose name we honor is our dearest father, our beloved daddy.

What Is He Focused On?

“Your kingdom come.” John the Baptist and Jesus preached the same message, “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is here.” It is a present reality and a future reality at the same time. As our father’s kingdom expands on the earth, His name will be honored, and as Matthew 6 says, “your will be done . . .”

Why would we pray for God’s name to be honored, and for His kingdom to expand? Is Christianity the best way to live? Will it make a difference in our world? Would you neighbor who doesn’t know Christ, would their life be any better off?

The first part of this prayer assumes a level of commitment. Christianity is not something you dabble in, or take parts of it and add it to something else. It’s all or nothing. Either Christ is who He said he was, or he a charlatan fanatic and a liar – who is not worthy of our time. We are on this planet to make known the name of Jesus. Bellevue Baptist Church exists to make known the name of Jesus.

Luke 9:62 “Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Jesus wants his disciples to understand their relationship with God, and to have a proper view of their purpose before they begin to turn to their own concerns. Our lives must line up behind God’s plan for our lives or our prayers will be all over the place.

How Do We Approach Him? (Luke 11:3-4)

With Our Daily Needs (v. 3)

“3 Give us each day our daily bread,” – Once the disciples understand who they are praying to, and His purpose for their lives, they then must turn their thoughts to living out that calling and purpose. Jesus then instructs his disciples to ask their loving father for the everyday things that they need for their daily living to live-out their calling. The emphasis seems to be on the day-to-day; or the bread I need for today (not tomorrow, not storing up bread for weeks or years, just today).

Children go to their father to ask for what they need in their daily lives. “Dad, I’m out of face wash, or dad, I need some gas for my car, or dad, I need some toothpaste.”

Jesus goes on to teach about our daily needs in Matthew 6:25-26 ““Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Your loving father will take care of your daily needs. You don’t have to worry on those things, instead focus on the purpose and calling He has put before you.

We Approach Him With Our Sin (Luke 11:4)

“4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” – daily bread is linked to forgiveness of sin with the word “and”. We need both daily bread and forgiveness of sin in order to live in such a way that pleases the Lord.[7]

Sin is described as a debt that is owed to God. Jesus shows the disciples that in order to be forgiven of sin, they must themselves forgive anyone who has sinned against them. It is described as a debt owed, and the debt is forgiven. But it is clear that followers of Christ must be a forgiving people.

Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Matthew 18:32-35 “Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,11 until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

We Approach Him With Our Weaknesses (Luke 11:4)

And lead us not into temptation.” – the final part of Luke’s account of the Lord’s Prayer deals with temptation. It is a recognition that they have weaknesses and are asking God to give them strength in their weakness.

It is a pattern for the disciple to follow where they recognize that they need help, “I am weak and there are some situations where I need help.” We see as an example in the moments before Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane right before the crucifixion.

Jesus talking to his disciples says in Mark 14:38-42, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Jesus then moves from the topics of prayer or the pattern to a parable that talks about the attitude of prayer.

We Approach Him With Boldness (vv. 5-8)

5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.

After a long fight of getting the kids to bed, drinks of water, teeth brushing, baths, and stories read, everyone is finally settled down for the night. The kids are asleep, the wife is asleep, the dog is asleep, nothing but the sound of snoring. Your head slowly sinks into the pillow, and then there is the sound of knocking. Drew, “I need three loaves of bread.” You say, “no, everyone is asleep.” But he just keeps on knocking. The kids start rolling over. The dog starts barking, Shhhhhh. So you get up and get your friend the bread.

“because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs” – it literally means shamelessness. It’s not the amount of times we say a prayer, it is the attitude the posture, that we make our requests.

We Approach Him With Increasing Severity (Luke 11:9-10)

9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

The request begins with asking alone. Then an action is added, to the request, to seek. The idea is not just to express our need, but to get up and look around for help. It involves effort.[8] “Knock” includes asking plus acting, plus persevering – like someone who keeps pounding on the door.

But is not about some religious repetition of words but the attitude of the heart. It will be given to you, you will find it, it will be opened – for you his precious child. They deal with reliance not empty religion.

In the Old Testament, Hannah really wanted a son so she went to the temple to pray, “Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.” (1 Samuel 1:14,15) Hannah prayed from her soul.

We Approach Him As A Good Father (vv. 11-13)

“11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Jesus begins his teaching of prayer with saying, “Father.” Here He concludes the teaching by explaining that you know what is a good gift for your children, now putting God in proper perspective, begin to understand how much greater your heavenly father will answer your prayers.

_____________________

[1] Week One: By Repenting of Sin and Drawing Close to Him. Week Two: By Accepting My Place in His Universe. Week Three: By Persevering in the Face of Difficulty.

[2] http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/p/prayer.htm

[3] Kent Hughes. Luke, That You May Know the Truth (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Publishing, 2015) 413.

[4] Clifton J. Allen, Ed. The Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 9, Luke-John (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1970) 96.

[5] Hughes, 414.

[6] Ibid, 415.

[7] John A. Broadus. An American Commentary on the New Testament, Matthew (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; Judson Press,?) 137.

[8] Hughes, 431.

How Do I Please God With My Life? By Persevering in the Face of Difficulty John the Baptist: Part 3 Matthew 14:1-12

How Do I Please God With My Life?[1]

By Persevering in the Face of Difficulty

John the Baptist: Part 3

Matthew 14:1-12

***In the beginning of the sermon my IPad was very slow in booting up, and at the end it died very suddenly. So I skipped some of the notes at the end. Just some insider baseball to explain why this sermon was a little more extemporaneous than normal.

Introduction

Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”

The book Ordinary Men by Christopher Browning is the true story of Reserve Police Battalion 101 of the German Order Police, which was responsible for mass shootings as well as roundups of Jewish people for deportation to Nazi death camps in Poland in 1942. By the end of the war they had killed over 83,000 Jews. Browning argues that most of the men of RPB 101 were not fanatical Nazis but ordinary middle-aged, working-class men who committed these atrocities out of a mixture of motives.

How is it that ordinary, working class men go from being ordinary citizens of a nation to ferocious killers of unarmed men, women, and children? They were not closely tied to the Third Reich, Nazism. These actions are one small step followed by another, and then another.

Prayer

I Can Please God by Telling the Truth (vv. 1-5)

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison[2] for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.

After Herod the Great died (Matthew 2:19 ff.) his empire was divided among his sons. So “Herod the tetrarch”[3] was the son of Herod the Great, was named Antipas, and he ruled for about thirty-two years over the area that Jesus and John the Baptist were preaching and ministering.[4]

“Herod the tetrarch” is hearing about the fame of Jesus. After Jesus raised a man from the dead the people began to say “. . . A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.” (Luke 7:16-17).

So he goes back to an event that happened earlier – The death of John the Baptist. He superstitiously believes that John has been raised from the dead; that is why this person performing the miracles has power.

In verse five we see that Herod the tetrarch was concerned about the people and what they thought of him. He didn’t want any riots or uprisings, so he was careful in what he did with John. So even though he wanted to kill him, he just kept him imprisoned. Matthew 4:12 helps to get a time line that it was about a year since John’s imprisonment.

Wanting to keep the people happy and calm, it seems that Herod brought in John the Baptist in order to endorse his marriage.[5] Here’s where things get sticky – Herod the Great had three sons that the empire was divided amongst; Antipas, Archelaus, Philip. Antipas (the Herod mentioned in Matthew 14) took Philip’s wife (Herodias) as his own wife – and he wanted John to endorse that marriage, so that it would potentially be ok with the people (since John was very popular). “For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. . .” and they already have a child together.

Levitical law required the marriage of a deceased and childless brother’s wife, but here the brother was still living and they had a daughter.[6]

Instead of endorsing the marriage, John kept on saying, again and again ““It is not lawful for you to have her.” Luke 3:19-20 tells us that not only did John go after Herod because of his marriage, but also many other things as well, “But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.”

Mark 6:18-20 adds some details, “For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.”

From the Greek verb usage we can tell that John kept on saying that what Herod was doing was wrong, and preached against “all the evil things that Herod had done.” Yet “he heard him gladly.” All the verbs here are in the imperfect tense, describing actions continued or repeated from time to time.[7] John was faithful to not water the sin down, and to keep sharing how it was wrong.

So if we take the Gospel accounts together, Herod was originally angry with John and had him imprisoned with the intention of killing him. But because he feared the crowds, he just kept him in prison.

Then over time as John would appear before him and preach against him, Herod begins to respect and fear him as a prophet, even listening gladly to what John had to say, even protecting John from Herodias. Herodias, on the other hand, as John preached again and again, held a grudge and become increasing angry and was waiting for an opportunity to kill him.

Everyone has a conscience. It is our internal warning system that something is right or wrong. When we violate our conscience we feel shame or guilt, and when we do what we feel is right, we feel satisfaction or relief. Like a altimeter in an aircraft that tells you how far you are off the ground. If you get too low, an alarm goes off.

But that altimeter could be calibrated incorrectly and you could fly right into a mountain with no warning. What calibrates our internal warning system in the Bible. We can also not listen to our conscience, essentially turning off the warning system, by ignoring, and over time you no longer hear the warning alarm.

I Can Please God By Completing My Calling (vv. 6-12)

6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, 7 so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. 10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.

Matthew 4:11-12 is the description of the end of Jesus’ temptation which was around 40 days. His temptation immediately followed Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. “Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. 12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.” So now after being in prison for around a year, we reach the last day of John’s life.

“the daughter of Herodias danced” Salome is the daughter’s name and she is around 12 years-of-age. Herodias’ daughter (by her previous marriage to Philip), danced before the crowd and Herod at his birthday celebration. Typically, dancing girls could be hired for such an occasion, but they were “of ill repute.” Here, instead of prostitutes dancing around it is Herod’s step-daughter.

What gives this a sense of horror is that a mother has sent in her child, probably mostly naked into a room of drunken men who would then watch her dance. Her dancing pleased Herod (again horrible), and he made a rash vow to Salome.[8]

Mark 6:22-23 gives us a little more detail, “And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”[9]

The girl goes and consults with her mother Herodias and they plan the execution of John with the proof to be presented to them on a platter. If Herodias had bet that by sending in Salome the king would react this way, makes it even more diabolical. Even coaching her daughter to ask for the murdered head of a righteous man.

“And the king was sorry” this is the first time in the text that Herod the tetrarch is referred to as king, almost to emphasize that he could, as king, do whatever he wished. He immediately “was sorry” that he had offered the vow because he was trying to protect John the Baptist from Herodias. He probably realizes that he has been played by Herodias.

Herod once again feared what people would say. Weak men fear of being thought of as weak, so he doesn’t do what is right.[10] Herod had no moral problem about his incestial and adulterous relationship with Herodias, nor did he had a moral issue about killing John, nor did he had a moral problem with his 12-year-old step-daughter dancing around, probably nude in a room full of men – here he does not want to break his word. Suddenly, he feels he needs to do what is right.

So Herod upon hearing John’s preaching was aware that his conscience was directing him – he knew John to be righteous, and holy and “he kept him safe.” He gladly heard what John was saying. His conscience was being pricked. We are told that “he felt sorry” for his actions, but it is the same kind of sorry that Judas felt. He was filled with remorse but was not repentant. Instead of severing his relationship with Herodias, he severed John’s head from his body.

Worldly sorry is to feel bad because of an action or decision you have made. Repentance, is to change in your mind how you feel about a particular action. 2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” There are many today who seek to drown out the sorrow in our hearts, to ignore it, mask it, or to be even busier so we don’t feel anything – but that is the spiritual warning system that guides us to a right relationship with God.

“So repentance begins with an intellectual recognition and confession of sin, but it does not end there. There is also a “change of heart”—an emotional component in which the genuine believer mourns over having sinned against the God whom he loves. That is why in the classic psalm of repentance, Psalm 51, David says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”[11]

“People who have worldly sorrow are often defensive about their sin and attempt to justify it or explain it away; whereas godly sorrow causes you to own your sin and make no excuses. You know you are experiencing worldly sorrow when you are grieving for yourself—for the embarrassment you’re suffering and the pain you’re feeling—rather than mourning over the grief you have brought to the Holy Spirit for dishonoring the grace of Christ and belittling the glory of God.”[12]

“To murder a man you know to be good and righteous and to show no remorse – we call such people psychopaths. But Herod was no psychopath. He was just an ordinary guy who made one small foolish step after another – a small step toward a woman who was not his wife, another step behind his brother’s back, a momentary moment of lust at a birthday party, and the next thing you know there’s John’s head staring at you, served on a royal platter.”[13]

In that culture people, especially at celebrations like a royal birthday, the meal would have lasted late into the night. So, more than likely, John would have been in his cell, asleep in his bunk, when the soldiers[14] came in and hastily beheaded him. There were still some that were considered “John’s disciples” even though John had pointed them to Christ who came a collected his body.

In John 3:29-30 there is a discussion about how John’s ministry related to Jesus’ ministry, and John the Baptist responds, “Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” John completed his task of being the forerunner of the Messiah, he preached “repent for the kingdom of heaven his here.”

Broadus says, “For many years he lived a life of hardship and loneliness, that he might be better fitted for his work as a reformer.”[15] John the Baptist didn’t just preach about repentance, but the way he dressed and the food he ate and even where he chose to do his ministry – all pointed to his message of repentance. He lived out what he preached down to the last detail and he died in a prison because he faithfully spoke the truth.

For John he boiled his life down to one word – repentance. How he dressed, what he ate, where he went, all pointed back to his calling and it gave constant direction to his life. All too often we are split in thousand different directions because we can’t narrow our calling down, if we even take it into account at all.

In “A world where Herod sits in the festival chamber, and John lies headless in the dungeon, needs some one to set it right.”[16] And his disciples [Johns’] came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus What do we do in light of such injustice? We go and tell Jesus. Jesus understands what is like to lose those he loved.

In Jesus’ parable of the sower Herod is an example of the seed that fell among the thorns.[17] “Herod hears the word, but “the cares of the world” (he has a kingdom to run and important people to impress), “the deceitfulness of riches” (he’s not about to give up his position and the wealth that goes with it to follow some hermit from an obscure little town in Judea or some traveling peasant from Nazareth), and lusts for other things (women, power, you name it) enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful (13:22). So it never grows.”

We must be careful to cut ourselves free, through the convictions of the Holy Spirit, from the sin that entangles us. We must keep our consciences calibrated with God’s Word, and keep it clear.

Baby Jessica’s Rescue Oct. 16^th, 1987

____________________

[1] Week One: By Repenting of Sin and Drawing Close to Him. Week Two: By Accepting My Place in His Universe

[2] “The place of confinement is said by Josephus (Ant. 18.5.2) to have been Machaerus a fortress on the eastern side of the Dead Sea.” W.N. Clark, An American Commentary, Mark (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; Judson Press, 1881) 88.

[3] Matthew 2:19ff. Archelaus, Antipas, and Philip

[4] John A. Broadus, An American Commentary on the New Testament, Matthew (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; Judson Press) 314.

[5] Broadus, 314.

[6] Broadus, 317. Lev. 18:16; 20:21

[7] Ibid.

[8] Craig Blomberg, The New American Commentary, Matthew (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1992) 230.

[9] Esther 5:3, 6; 7:2

[10] Plumptre

[11] https://blog.tms.edu/sorrow

[12] Ibid.

[13] Kent Hughes. Matthew, All Authority in Heaven and on Earth (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Publishing, 2013) 387.

[14] Mark’s account tells us that he was an “executioner.”

[15] Broadus, 321.

[16] Lewis, 359.

[17] Hughes, 388.

How Do I Please God With My Life? By Accepting My Place in His Universe John the Baptist: Part 2 Luke 7:18-35

How Do I Please God With My Life?[1]

By Accepting My Place in His Universe

John the Baptist: Part 2

Luke 7:18-35

Introduction

While in seminary a friend of mine asked me to drive him to a doctor’s appointment. He was having headaches and so we went to have a MRI of his brain. We went and on the return trip from one part of Raleigh, NC to across town we got lost on the outer loop. These were the days before GPS, so around and around we went for about an hour.

In the meantime the hospital had called his wife and told her that my friend needed to return immediately that they had found a mass and needed to do further imaging. It was discovered that he had a brain tumor. We were in our twenties, so with prayer and chemo he would be fine, so I thought. Who dies of a brain tumor in their twenties?

Now adding to this was the fact that they were seminary students who lived in a very bad part of town, on purpose – so that they could minister and do Bible studies in this impoverished and crime ridden neighborhood. Months went by, chemo treatment after chemo treatment and my former college wrestler and bulked up man, slowly began to waste away to a living skeleton. I went and setup their Christmas tree because he was too weak to move from his laziboy chair. Eventually, he passed away leaving behind a widow. Doesn’t God answer prayer? Why would God take someone who was serving Him with such passion?

If you live long enough, you will have to endure God doing something that makes no sense to you. You will have some hard questions, you will doubt, and you will not understand. That’s what we will look at this morning.

Prayer

Lord thank you for your word, because without it we would be lost. This world is so confusing, and filled with malevolence. You have not left us without a witness of your love and compassion. Help us to trust you more today as we lean in to your character and unchanging presence. Amen.

I Can Please God With My Life By Asking Him the Hard Questions (vv. 18-23)

The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’”

Luke doesn’t tell us where John the Baptist is when he receives the report from his disciples or sends two of his disciples to talk with Jesus, but Matthew 11:2 tells us that he was in prison.[2]

John the Baptist was there at Jesus’ baptism and heard the voice from heaven saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (John 3:22)

John’s disciples reported to John what the people of Judea were saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” John clearly understood his role as the person who would prepare the people’s hearts for the coming Messiah. But he was confused about Jesus and what He was doing. John says, ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Jesus did not fit his expectations.

While John preached and baptized, people began to think maybe he was the Messiah. Luke 3:16 “As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

So far there was no Holy Spirit appearing, no fire, no winnowing fork, no burning the chaff. John’s expectation of what the Christ would do, and what Jesus was actually doing didn’t match up.

The Romans showed no signs of going anywhere, Herod and the Herodians were living it up, and the religious leaders (Sadducees and Pharisees) were just as self-righteous and arrogant as ever.[3]

Jesus is focused on mercy, grace, forgiveness – where is the judgement and fire?[4] John seems to feel that he is running out of time – “shall we look for another?” before its’ too late.

John the Baptist has doubts about Jesus.

In May 2020, Jon Steingard, the front-man for the very popular Christian band Hawk Nelson said that he no longer believed in God. Steingard said there were things in the Bible that didn’t make sense to him. There were things in Christian culture that made him feel uncomfortable. He had questions, “Why is there evil in the world?”, “Why doesn’t God do anything about it?”

This year, Kevin Max of the band DC Talk said that he was an “exvanglical.” And there are several others like Joshua Harris of “I kissed dating goodbye,” and the comedians and Air Biscuits podcast hosts Rhett & Link[5]. Many very famous and popular people are deconstructing their faith.

Deconstruction is a movement among those inside Christianity that are seriously struggling with their faith. 67% of young adults are praying more and thinking more than before the pandemic. They want to know how the church is dealing and reacting to racial injustice and sexuality.

Is it wrong to ask questions and to have doubts? Let’s see how Jesus deals with John’s doubt.

21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Jesus responds to John the Baptist’s question with empirical and Scriptural evidence that he was the Messiah.

John 4:17-19 “And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” In Jesus’ response to John the Baptist, He references four different texts from Isaiah.[6] Jesus points to Scripture, and then shows how He is living out the Scripture.

Jesus also doesn’t demand belief, he presents the facts and lets John make up his own mind. Jesus’ asks John’s two disciples to simple state what they have seen and experienced, and from that John can draw his own conclusions.[7] God gives dignity to man by slowing down long enough to allow us to put the pieces together, on our own. God doesn’t become angry when we question, he addresses our questions with facts.

Jesus does not tell John that he would be delivered from prison and he doesn’t say anything about the winnowing fork, or burning chaff, or unquenchable fire. But He does give evidence that He was the Messiah, the Christ. Jesus deals with John the Baptist’s doubts by showing him that He is the Messiah.

Jesus doesn’t promise us that he will take the pain away, cure the disease, or follow the plan that we want to see happen. He just keeps pointing people to Himself. Jesus is who he said He was and in that we have hope.

Jesus is God who put on human skin, fulfilled prophecy in his birth and life, preformed miracles to prove his identity as the Christ, taught and explained how his kingdom was different from all the earthly pharaohs, and would eventually rise from the dead. He reaffirms in John’s life that he is who he said he was.

Jesus closes his remarks to John by saying, “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”[8] Or blessed is the one who does not fall away because of the way I do things. John was convinced that the Messiah was going to free Israel from Roman oppression, get rid of the religious phonies, and execute judgement – But Jesus wasn’t doing any of those things. If we are not careful, our preconceived notions of how God acts, and beliefs about what He should do, will keep us from being apart of what he is actually doing.

God is God and He will run His universe the way He sees fit, but if we stay the course then we will be blessed. Life still happens, even to those who believe in Christ.

But God’s Word never changes and God never changes.[9] There was a time when the Catholic Church punished Galileo because he believed that the earth revolved around the sun[10] – does the Bible teach that the sun revolves around the earth, no it does not. So, while God’s word does not change, some interpretations of it do change. Our humbleness to admit that we don’t know or may get some things wrong is important to a watching world.

I Can Please God With My Life When I Humble Myself Before Him (vv. 24-36)

24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Jesus asks the crowds, “why did you go out to the wilderness?” Were you looking for a trend leader (someone moving back and forth), a fancy dresser (soft clothing), yes they were going out to see a prophet.

Jesus recognizes John the Baptist as the pre-runner of the Messiah, John fulfilled the Scriptures referencing him and his ministry of preaching “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is here.” Jesus also praises John in v. 28 saying “none is greater than John.”

But a new day has arrived, and Jesus says, “Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” John is the last prophet from the Old Testament, and Jesus is beginning a New Testament where those of this new day are apart of the kingdom of heaven. Both are God’s Word, and both are needed to understand God’s message to mankind. The OT is needed to understand the context of the NT.

There are two ways of doing ministry, John representing the Old and bridging the gap into the New, and Jesus representing the New.

29 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

Luke in parentheses compares those who humbled themselves, repented, confessed their sin, and were baptized by John. He even singles out tax collectors, even those horrible sinners – they declared God just in pointing out their sin.

The Pharisees and the lawyers did not believe that they had any need to repent, confess their sins, or humble themselves to be baptized by John the Baptist. They rejected the purpose of God for their lives, which is to “bear fruits in keeping with repentance.” (Matthew 3:8)

“31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ 33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”

Jesus uses a child’s song to make a point. One group of children are trying to get another group of children to play. There were “people of this generation” who rejected both John’s and Jesus’ ministries. John’s message of “repent and be baptized” was ignored (no weeping), and Jesus’ ministry of good news of salvation was ignored (no dancing or rejoicing).[11]

John’s not eating certain foods (bread) or drinking certain drinks was an outward expression of his mourning and message of repentance. He is literally living what he is preaching. They even called him a demon for living this way. Jesus’ eating and drinking was an expression of his celebration that the king of heaven was here, and Jesus was called a glutton, a drunkard, and a friend of sinners.

Both Jesus and John’s message was the same, “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is here.” But their presentations were different. The people rejected both. There will be people, that no matter how eloquent or humble the presenter, they will not respond to the gospel. No matter how well laid out the facts may be, they refuse to humble themselves before the Lord.

The religious people who refused to repent, confess their sins, and were not baptized are missing the fact that “the kingdom of heaven has come near.” John’s whole message was for people to prepare their hearts, so that they would not miss the appearing of the Christ. And here we see a group of people who refused to humble themselves and they don’t know what to do with John or Jesus’ message. They are missing the kingdom of heaven that is literally staring them in the face.

“Yet wisdom is justified by all her children” Those that follow the religious leaders (rejection of the need for repentance, and the rejection of the coming of the kingdom of heaven) and those that follow Jesus and John’s message of repentance of sin – one group will be shown to be right, one group will be justified.

God can handle any questions you may have, and He will provide the facts you need, but at the end of the we all have to make a decision to choose Jesus and what He has done for us on the cross or have faith in ourselves and our own abilities to save ourselves. Both can’t be right, and at the end of time one way will be justified. Which do you think is right?

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[1] Week One: Matthew 3, By Repenting of Sin and Drawing Close to Him.

[2] Robert H. Stein, The New American Commentary, Luke (Broadman Press; Nashville, Tennessee, 1992) 226.

[3] Kent Hughes, Luke, That You May Know the Truth (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Publishing, 2015) 275.

[4] Leon Morris, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Inter-Varsity Press, 1990) 156.

[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujtXatJVeN0

[6] 26:19, 29:18ff, 35:5ff, 61:1 (referenced above)

[7] Clifton J. Allen, Gen. Ed., The Broadman Bible Commentary, Luke-John (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1070) 67.

[8] “The verb rendered takes offense is picturesque. It derives from the trapping of birds, an refers to the action that depresses the bait-stick and so triggers off the trap. It is a colorful way of referring to the cause of trouble.” Leon Morris, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Intervarsity Press, 1990) 156.

[9] Immutable.

[10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_affair

[11] Craig A. Evans, New International Biblical Commentary, Luke (Peabody, Massachusetts; Hendrickson Publishers, 1990) 119.