Grace Community Church

In My Place Condemned He Stood

Luke 23:13-25

Introduction

Pilate finds himself up against a rock and a hard place.  Part of him wants to do the right thing and serve as a just judge over Jesus, yet he knows that he also must keep the peace.  It was an easy job, simply keep the peace.

Pilate, however, had made some bad choices so far in his rule over the Jews.  When he entered Jerusalem the first time he came with an attitude that he would show them who was boss.  He came with the full pomp and splendor of a Roman Ruler with banners with Roman symbols and mottos.  One such motto was Hail Caesar another was Hail Caesar God.  He specifically rubbed the Jew’s noses in it and from the beginning they did not like Pilate.

He even had the arrogance to place Roman banners in the Temple.  This act caused the Jewish leadership to go to the Emperor and complain.  Tiberius, after hearing the Jew’s complaints made Pilate remove the banners from the Temple.  This act gave the Jews the idea that if they scream loud enough and threaten Pilate, they could get their way.

On one occasion it is reported that Pilate even spent money that belonged to the Temple treasuring for one of his building projects.  Then there was the event reported in Luke 13 when Pilate massacred Jews right inside the Temple.  These acts also caused the Jewish leadership to go to Tiberius and demand that something be done about Pilate.  Continue Reading

Jesus the King

Luke 23:1-12

Introduction

From last week’s text, we learned that Jesus is Divine, Messiah, Son of Man and Son of God.  The religious leaders were concerned with the fact that Jesus declared Himself to be God’s Son.  They determined that this claim could not be true and for Jesus to make this claim was blasphemy.  We learned that when Luke records this he is also declaring Jesus to be all of the above because one cannot blaspheme a mere man but only God.  Jesus is God’s Son and today we discover that He is also God’s  King.  It was this claim to be the Son of God that created such uproar with the Jews.  They were not willing to see the truth but rather would not play their Messiah card on Jesus because He wasn’t the kind of Messiah they wanted.  They wanted a political leader who would usher in heaven on earth.  They wanted things to be like they had been during the time of King David.  They wanted someone who would over throw Rome and restore power to them.  They wanted to be in charge and wanted a Messiah that would do that for them.  They only wanted Jesus if He could give them what they wanted.

The ruling counsel of the Sanhedrin had just condemned Jesus and sentenced Him to death.  But there is one problem; they couldn’t carry out the death sentence it must be sanctioned by Rome because the Jews have no authority in any civil matters.

Notice how quickly these Jews switch gears.  They know that they have no power to kill Jesus legally.  It must be done or sanctioned by Rome.  They also know that Rome could care less about Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God.  So they switch the charges to be more in line with what Rome would care about.  No longer is being the Son of God an issue but being a King.  Being another King would possibly be a threat to Rome and be something they would care about.

Primary Claim

Jesus is God’s anointed King who must be reckoned with. Continue Reading

Luke 22.63-71

What Further Testimony Do We Need?

Luke 22:64-71

Introduction

Last week, we saw the Roman cohort along with the scribes and elders bind Jesus and take Him to Annas the former high priest for what many would call a pretrial hearing.  Next Annas had Jesus taken to Caiaphas the current reigning high priest for further questioning.

In the midst of these two false trials, Peter was cowering in the shadows making his three denials.  At the third, the rooster crowed and Peter saw the Lord looking straight at him and he remembered everything Jesus had said and Peter ran away weeping and repenting.  Satan’s sifting had produced within Peter a humble and contrite heart.

In our text today as we go to yet another trial, we are shown the four titles for Jesus:  He is Jesus the divine Lord, the Christ, the Son of Man, and the Son of God.  I pray we learn what each name means and how each demands our allegiance.  We’ll also learn today how we should handle….

Primary Claim

Jesus is fully God and fully man; to slander Jesus is to commit blasphemy against God.

Human Condition

One great sin we must fight against is to think that we are the authority over God.  When we state it like that, we all probably would deny the suggestion altogether that we would ever think of ourselves as the authority over God.  Do we ever disregard God’s Word?  Do we ever do something God has clearly said not to do?  Or, do we ever not do something God has told us we should be doing?  These are all indicators that when we sin, we are disregarding God and placing ourselves over Him.

Then, believe it or not, there are times when we believe God should answer to us.  We may read God’s Word and tell ourselves that this cannot mean what it says and so I will act according to what I think God says.  To think that God should answer to us is a great sin and one that affects all areas of our lives.  To be the judge over God is extreme self-centeredness and the height of human depravity.  This is exactly what has been going on the night before our Lord’s crucifixion.  Sinful man was acting as judge and jury over the Creator God.  They were saying that Jesus had broken their laws and was disserving to die as a result.

Do you ever place yourself over God and act as His judge?  Have you ever read what the Bible says and understood it and disregarded it?

In our text today, I want you to notice with me a few things.  In this false trial, this mockery of justice where sinners were pronouncing the death sentence on the King of heaven, we learn a few very important things about Jesus:

We learn He is divine, we learn He is the Messiah; we learn He is the Son of Man, and the Son of God.  We also learn that left to our own ways, we would be right there condemning God along with all the others. Continue Reading

Bitter Sorrow Over Sin

Luke 22:54-62

Introduction

Last week we saw the betrayal of Jesus, Judas identifying Him with a kiss.  We saw the power Jesus had, with just saying I Am He, all the soldiers, some 600 plus and all the others fall to the ground.  We saw Peter in action as he drew the sword and began swinging it at whoever and whatever was in his way.  Peter was very confident.  Finally, we saw Jesus heal Malchus’ ear.  Now there is no more resistance, Jesus is bound and led away…

Primary Claim

The Repentance and sorrow that leads to eternal life is a gift from God.

Human Condition

In general we are way too confident in ourselves.  Peter had always had a problem with self-confidence.  Jesus has already on at least one occasion and possibly two predicted Peter’s denial.  Peter was not buying it.

We’ve already a number of weeks ago read Luke’s version, but to show just how prideful Peter was, let’s read Matthew’s account. Continue Reading

luke 22.47-53 click here for audio

Our Lord’s Betrayal and Arrest

Luke 22:47-53

Introduction

Jesus and the disciples have left the upper room and have traveled the short distance to the Mount of Olives.  Last week we learned the importance of prayer as Jesus prayed in advance in order to remain perfectly in His Father’s will.  His great need was to be completely in God’s will and in full agreement with it.

We also learned that while Jesus prayed in sorrow even to the point of death, the disciples slept in their sorrow.  Twice they were entreated by the Lord to pray so that they would not fall into temptation.  He prayed and they slept and we’ll see the difference that Jesus’ prayer made.

In our passage today and from here on out in Luke, we’re going to bring in a lot from the other Gospels so that we get a fuller account of the events leading to and surrounding our Lord’s crucifixion.

Primary Claim

Jesus Christ dominated His betrayer and those who arrested Him, willingly submitting to the Father’s will.

Human Condition

One great need we have is to understand and trust that our Lord is always in complete control of every situation.  Do you believe this morning that God is in complete control of everything?

So often when we are pressed by our circumstances we react in fear and unbelief.  We worry or get anxious because way down deep, we think that our future depends on us.  Way down deep we think we’re in charge and that if things are going to get better, I’m going to need to act.

The best way to handle trials and struggles is to remember God is sovereign and in control and we are not.

This text is rich with theological truth.  What I’d like us to see today is the power and control God has even in this dark trial.  Jesus is fully aware of everything about to happen and fully in charge.  He is letting them arrest Him.

I pray today, when we run into events that cause us to move toward anxiety, we will remember this passage.  No one takes Jesus’ life but He is laying it down freely for His people. Continue Reading

Numbered With Transgressors

Luke 22:35-38

Introduction

This is a very important passage for us to consider this morning.  Jesus is warning His followers that there will be trouble and there will be resistance when you go and preach the Gospel in the world.

I’ve heard accounts from many of you and it’s always a blessing to hear that you are engaging the world with the Gospel.  It’s a blessing to me as your pastor to hear your stories and to be able to pray for you as you go and witness to the saving power of Jesus Christ to those God places in your lives.

Sometimes when we engage our culture with the Gospel we meet with resistance.  Sometimes we may even meet up with hostility.  But we must still be brave and valiant for the Gospel because if we are ashamed of the Gospel, our Lord tells us He will be ashamed of us.

Resistance from the world should be expected and not come as a surprise when we experience it.  I’ve had doors slammed in my face and gospel tracts wadded up and thrown back at me.  I’ve been told not to preach the Gospel or use the Bible so much.

These really were not examples of the kind of persecution many face in other places in the world today.

It’s very odd that seemingly without cause, when you engage people with the Gospel you will meet resistance.

In the lives of the Apostles, there was a time when most everyone accepted them, even lost people.  We have the account in Luke 9 and 10 about Jesus sending out His Apostles first and then later the seventy to preach the Gospel.  As they went, they were told not to take provisions.

Luke 9:1

  And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, ² and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. ³ And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. ⁴ And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. ⁵ And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” ⁶ And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. ^[1]

Later in chapter 10, we also see a very similar scenario.  Jesus appoints 70 to go on ahead of Him preaching the Gospel.  Here He tells them that He is sending them out as sheep among wolves but they never experience resistance.

Primary Claim- When we engage people with the true Gospel we should expect resistance and even hostility. Continue Reading