Exploring God’s Word with Brad Thurston

The Abrahamic covenant has two parts: redemption and reconciliation: (Genesis 12:1-3) blessing in Psalm 67:2 reads salvation, or wholeness. This is found in the finished work of Christ, the work of the cross.

The Unfinished work of Christ or the second part of the covenant is: through those blessed to bring blessing to others, or reconciliation to God through us. This Gods intentional purpose and the story of his mission in the world. It is oft repeated in various forms throughout the Bible (395 times).

A covenant is God making a promise and asking his partners to make a commitment in order for this partnership to reach others. The end of the story is clear: Rev. 7: 9,10

Now why is this important? Because Jesus is the fulfillment of all the promises of God!

There are two main themes of the covenant, the finished work and the unfinished work; the redemption or salvation of people and the restoration of relationships with God (reconciliation) are summarized in this passage! This is God’s strategy, God’s purpose, vision, plan, method, and ways!

1. Jesus opens  the minds of his disciples  to understand that the main purpose of the history of Israel, was for God to reach the world! This is how we must interpret scripture! 
2. The finished work
3. The unfinished work

Conclusion:

Now he gives them a promise and the clothes! He looks for a commitment from us to fulfill the unfinished task!

His work finished, Jesus departs to work in partnership with his people to reach all ethnic groups – everywhere.

Introduction:

Food is an interesting unifying factor in community life.  Baptists are well known for it! Here are some interesting insights into different cultural interactions with food that we have enjoyed over the years!

1. Germans and their breakfasts – meals in a home are a special event: The eye eats along with it.
2. France, reserve a table and it is yours for the evening!!! (Many courses of small amounts, and restaurants are required by law to have a full meal available at a reasonable price so all can afford to eat.)
3. In Spain you ate late because you had to sleep after lunch 9 PM was a usual time to eat out.
4. In China, all eat with chop sticks from a center turntable
5. In Uganda, we ate with fingers - not just smell good, taste good, but it must feel good as well!)
6. In the middle east we ate with bread from a central dish - or even from your own plate. Show how it was done.
7. Eating is more than nourishment, it is a community, or family event.

Step 1: Trying to understand.  The two of them belong to the “rest of them” from verse 9.

Step 2: Jesus joins them and is very pastoral in both listening to their struggle and explaining the purpose of the scriptures to them.

• Separation of the us and them who crucified Jesus. Luke lays the blame at the feet of the chief priests and elders
• They were still hoping for the redemption of Israel (vs. 21) but bewildered by the report of the resurrection
• Others, not just Peter, went to the tomb and found it empty. This is critical to the narrative as it is repeated several times which is significant.  We are not just dealing with a philosopher, or a good man, or a great teacher, but one who is powerful and eternal and possessing all authority in heaven and earth!

Step 3: Jesus begins to explain from the scriptures who he is!  All scripture is prophetic concerning him and his suffering and death and resurrection.  The OT cannot be properly understood apart from it being prophetic in nature, pointing to Jesus.

Step 4: Knowledge is not enough for salvation.  Look what these disciples had:

• Reports from the tomb by the women and others,
• The angels report
• The scriptures 
• The teachings of Jesus
• The acts of Jesus

Step 5: Fellowship with Jesus when he takes control. The event that opens eyes to see him, alive and full of grace and truth. Eyes that go beyond just enjoying what is set before us, but to see the eternal impact of knowing Jesus. It is an encounter that transforms from the inside out. It wants to move away from sin to being filled with the love of God. From being right to being compassionate. From anger to being forgiving. From being a slave to evil to seeing God at work in all things to bring about his goodness in and through us.

The change begins with repentance, but it grows with trust, and obedience, and right choices. It begins to move out of our own self-centeredness and moves us to being available to those who need us.  The burning heart was not enough, it was the revelation of Jesus that reignited them and their passion for things greater than themselves.

Step 6: Look at the results:  It happens in community, not in being alone. It must be shared to enjoy! And the way in which it is reproduced leads to multiplication.  It does not happen all at once, but with the patience of Jesus it will expand.  Jerusalem first and then beyond. The change is here in our hearts, and then it will reach the ends of the earth.

The responses around the cross are sickening with their abuse, mocking, blasphemy, and a blatant disregard for justice.  The only bright spot is the thief on the cross. But after Jesus dies we see 4 other responses:

The centurion

The people beating their breasts

The council member

The women from Galilee: and here are some of their names: “and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” Luke 8:2-3 NIV

The key issue here is the fact that the women are present from the beginning, at the crucifixion, the burial, at the resurrection, at the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost, and ministering in the early church!

They fulfill the requirements of Luke 1: “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” Luke 1:1-4 NIV

They are the only ones who have been eyewitnesses to all events and become ministers, or servants of the Word!  We read their accounts here! It is consistent with God’s purposes to choose the “foolish” things of the world to confound the wise: He goes to a defeated people, to a borrowed manger attended by angels and of all things shepherds, escapes to Egypt and returns to Nazareth from whence no good thing comes, picks uneducated followers, walks to hills of Judaea and Samaria, feeds the hungry, heals the sick, delivers the oppressed, but does nothing that we would claim to make him special. He is condemned as a rebellious blasphemer and is executed though innocent, laid in a borrowed grave and changes the whole world over Centuries! Most of all, the ones who were eyewitnesses to this account are those who were considered non persons, just owned by men and abused by the rich and famous.  These are the ones upon whom we rely for our faithful reading of the word! They were catapulted from nobodies to those who are highly esteemed by God!

They looked for rewards, not on this world, they endured much suffering, and still they are respected from on high! But they get 

What really counts? 

Who gets into the best record book? Those who are full of faith and faithful.  Those who believe and trust in Jesus!  It is the ordinary, the unimportant and those who are loved by Jesus. It includes you and all who become witnesses to the resurrection by knowing the forgiveness of sin.

Finally, the women rested on the Sabbath. After the finished work on the cross, we all need to rest from our labors.  Faith is critical to receiving the forgiveness and grace. 

The many aspects of this text: 

1. Crucifixion: the evil of it and how one dies: fulfilling Psalm 22:7,8; 14-18 (a Psalm of David)
2. Keys to the Lord’s Prayer, the Key to Christian living: forgiveness and Kingdom coming 
3. Two more who declare the innocence of Jesus, who are sinners 
4. The response of the multitude there, witnesses to the type of death Jesus died.
5. The veil torn in two with access to God and the priesthood of all believers

Let us look at the dual meaning of the words “save” and “King”

The big idea and the focus of this passage has to do with salvation. The Angel to Mary: call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins – he will sit on the throne of David and rule over the house of Jacob, and his Kingdom shall have no end – today is born a Savior who is Christ the Lord – JB: Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (At the time of the offering in the temple!). There are three references to salvation:

1. The rulers who sneered: He saved others, let him save himself, if he is the Messiah (vs. 35) (see Luke 4:23 physician heal yourself)
2. The soldiers mocked him: if you are a king, save yourself (vs. 37)
3. The criminal: Are you the Christ? Save yourself and us

The the light of this the other criminal responds with wisdom and and a plea for Mercy – Look at how he addresses the prophet and the healer: “Jesus”! The Lord saves! Remember me.  He confesses his guilt to all, and appeals to the One who saves! He takes a step of faith, just as Jesus does in his faith in God who will raise the dead!  Salvation or Judgement?

1. The others judge Jesus by mocking, criticizing, making their own way seem right
2. But Jesus judges the one who has faith as accepted
3. God judges Jesus with our sin. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord! Rom 6:23
4. The Judgement of God bypasses the one who puts their faith in Jesus! Jesus pays the penalty and the judgement for our sins.

Judging texts:

“Everything that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out.” John 6:37 NASB2020

““Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NASB2020

“for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” Romans 10:13 NASB2020

“And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him.” John 3:14-15 NASB2020

“All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the wrongdoing of us all To fall on Him.” Isaiah 53:6 NASB2020

Trials 2,3, and 4

Pilate to Herod to Pilate

Lies and deceptions, pressure and rioting of the mob prevail over justice

Herod finds no fault, Pilate declare Jesus innocent 3 times:

            Innocent of charges brought against him of insurrection against Rome

            Innocent of leading people astray

            Innocent of anything deserving death

The rioting mob

Look at the people involved: Barabbas and what he experiences

Simon and the cross

The weeping women

Those not involved, both multitude of people and secret leaders

The evil doers are not named!

The two criminals who observed what was happening

All in the space of ca. 8 hours – not even 24 hours have passed from the Passover meal they had shared.

In this time Jesus responds to Pilate once to say what others say, not what he is saying about himself. He is not denying it but also leaves it up to each individual to make that decision!  He still does!

He then speaks to the Women and the multitudes differently: he is back in prophet mode, and the women are a type of Jerusalem and what will happen, fulfilling the prophecy of Hosea 10:8.

What are the effects on the people involved?

1. We cannot shift the blame to the Jews or Rome, averting the consequences of an innocent one dying for our sins.  The blame falls squarely on sinners, as Jesus becomes sin for us!
2. Pilate is making a judgement call that is expedient due to the circumstances, not based on fact or truth
3. The leaders know that they are lying and hiding from facts, outright sin with consequences
4. The mob is bloodthirsty, (followers of Barabbas?) and caught up in the emotion of the hour
5. The soldiers are doing duty and want to keep crowd control
6. Herod wants to see miracles that he had heard about, but find no fault, is just disappointed
7. Multitude is impotent to do anything, fear and grief stricken
8. Simon is honored as a proselyte to carry the cross – not the disciples who said they would and could. The blood of Jesus soaking him
9. The women who are grief stricken, but also powerless
10. The two thief’s who observe all that is going on
11. Barabbas who is set free who knows his sins are worthy of death.
12. The reader who is brought into the scene who cannot escape their own compliance with their own sin.

How do we react when our sin is so clearly before us? Do we hide it, shift the blame, get depressed, or do we face it with brokenness and repentance? What do we do with the sin which separates us from God?

Three parts:

Peter’s Denial

What went on in his mind? How could he so easily have turned away from the one he was so eager to defend? And what happened when Jesus saw him? What remorse, what a failure. From arguing as to who was the greatest to being the most broken. In the end, his loyalty was only to himself.  For all his wild ideals, his great revelations, his encounters with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration, his special times with Jesus being taught, encouraged, from the boat encounter on Galilee, to this moment of greatest failure. Now, of all times, when Jesus needed a friend, he left him alone with his enemies. The tears are of a depth of remorse that all his values and strengths could not restore. His hope was gone. The loss was becoming clearer as he remembered the last 3 years of following Jesus and now he had failed the only one who had the words of eternal life!  Had he not David, where shall we go? We won’t leave you? The eyes of Jesus looking at him are burned into his memory, and leave him broken, lost depressed and unable to do anything. See his coward ness from the sleep of sorrow and the results of not praying about entering into temptation.

The persecution of Jesus

The beatings begin, the mockery, the cruel jokes and humiliation of Jesus.  His reaction is silence and allowance of these events. They blindfold him yet they are the ones who are blind. It is his willing participation in identification with us all in all our troubles and sorrows.  Peter is not left out.  His loving eyes are about to show him just how much he is committed to Peter in spite of his denial.  

The first trial of Jesus: the Sanhedrin 

The chief priests and scribes made up the Sanhedrin. There were 71 members. These will include all those who have been interacting with Jesus who have been exposed by him, and who have been platting his death as their authority among the people has been diminished. Here is a difference in that Luke wants us to see first who is to blame for the death of Jesus and second, the lack of a proper trial which demonstrates Jesus willingness to die for the sins of the world.  A good lawyer could get him off easily, and the house was filled with lawyers on whom this was painfully obvious. 

The importance of prophecies fulfilled

The key here is two-fold:  First Jesus is not just any prophet, he is the prophet who ushers in the very presence of God, and infuses life with truth, removing darkness and making all things new. 

Second his words are true and eternal as in 21:33: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”

Let us know that he keeps his word. The situation appears to be hopeless at the moment, but it will not remain that way.  Victory is coming!

Peter: “And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest.” Luke 22:24 

“But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!”” Luke 22:33 

Beatings and trial: 7:29-30 - “When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God’s justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.”

His condemnation of the leaders: “And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake” Luke 20:45, 47 

“Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon,” Luke 18:31-32

The focus of Luke’s account is Jesus. Unlike the other gospels, he does not name the 3, or Peter who cuts off the servants ear, or the name of the servant. Luke does not have Judas kiss him, but only approach him to do so. John’s account is much more detailed.  But as concise as Luke’s account is, it is also extremely powerful.

Again, we have the perspective of hind sight, even as Luke did in telling us this critical section of the story. We know the outcome. The disciples at that time did not know what was going to happen, but are still caught up in wondering about it. As they head out, without Judas being present, it surely curious as to where he is and what was he doing?

Pray before temptation or testing. 2 x 

The Prayer of Jesus: sweat like drops of blood.

The agony of the weight of what is about to transpire: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

2 Corinthians5:21ESV

Definition

Nevertheless is a bridge between two opposing ideas or sets of facts, the first of which cannot invalidate or even dilute the latter, cannot ever make it less true.

Jesus sees the agony of the cross, the pain, the death and the grave.  His human side says I prefer life, nevertheless – on the other side: Thy will be done!

We stand on the sidelines, crying out, Jesus don’t back out now, don’t desert us.

The sorrow of the disciples: that word implies fear, anxiety, cowardice.

They did not pray as in the Prayer Jesus taught them: in the good times prepare yourselves for the spiritual battles that lie ahead. Twice he warns them. Do we sleep, ie, take things for granted when all is well? Do we begin our prayers in earnest when all falls apart? Or do we prepare beforehand by praying earnestly for those who are lost or misguided?

Do we listen to the arguments that call sin ok? We have a weapon against that which we need to use. We may not know the answers, we may not be smarter than the professors or leaders, but we do have a powerful weapon against all the forces of evil and against all the demons of hell: it is one word: Nevertheless.

The difference between Jesus who prayed and was strengthened by the Angel is different from the disciples reaction when the mob comes: it is so clear:

Jesus continues his healing ministry, loving his enemies, proclaiming the Will of God and standing with confidence, compassion, authority, and perhaps a slight bit of humor? I was with you daily, but you come in the night with armed guard to arrest a teacher? Your fear and your lies and deception are so apparent in the light of day. But this is your hour, because the Will of God will be done.  I am committed to it in my life. For this cause, for this purpose I have come. Nevertheless is a strong word when backed by the Will of God.  

Invitation: consider what the will of God is for your life: 2 Thess. 1:11,12:

“To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 NASB1995

Hebrews 5:7-9

“In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,”

Hebrews 5:7-9 NASB1995

How do we get things so wrong? Misunderstandings lead to arguments, questioning our own motives and the motives of others. In our frustrations we want to quit and don’t see any answers to the situations we face. In deed in our instant society, qualities like Persistence and endurance to push on through with our convictions seem to quickly evaporate in favor of the route of least resistance.  Much has changed it seems:  early Christians managed to find a way through much more difficult situations than we face.  There is a difference in centuries of American culture:  We went from being a “culture of character” in the 19th . century to becoming a “culture of personality” in the 20th. Even in the church, the preachers who promise the most with the least investment on our part seem to be the most popular. Life qualities like repentance, holiness, sacrifice, submission, honor, are replaced with: I deserve respect, My opinions are at least as valid as yours, who are you to tell me what to do, what to believe, how to act? What is important is what I want, what I need, what I think. And then comes an event so transcending that we are faced with the folly of our own decisions, our own folly. Such is the case here in Luke 22:

How do you move from wondering who is going to betray Jesus to who is the greatest?

Look at the context these disciples are living in and the key moment they have with Jesus. Think about their reactions based on the teachings and the life example that Jesus brings to that moment in time:

See it in the context of Moses, or David at the end of their lives and their final instructions.

See how Jesus repeats himself from other teachings he has taught them.

Focus on the end, “you still don’t get it”

He is not concerned that the teaching didn’t sink in when he taught it.  He knows a secret, he knows that there is a time coming when the Holy Spirit will be their teacher. He is keenly aware that knowledge and wisdom are part of our growing in our experiences with God. It is not like just filling our brain with facts, but living life in relationship with a loving God. Our faith and out trust in God grow through our mutual experiences, which result in the changing of our hearts and minds. This is much more than just inputting data into our cerebral computers! 

So what does he give them? Keys for living in a difficult and complex world full of pain, disappointments, dissensions, arguments, and confusion.  Here are the key lessons:

The greatest is the persevering servant – Don Richardson

The trials (restored) of a Christian – the response that Jesus has: he does not criticize Peter, but is compassionate, and coming through results in effective service: 

Non excessive provision for ministry.

My experiences with communion:

Foot washing at seminary; people who got saved while taking communion, those who have been healed, those who take it daily, those who take it weekly, all revel actions of God in the process of communion: conviction of sin, worship, thanksgiving, understanding of truth, and many other events. It has been a rich and varied experience throughout my life with both deep and worshipful insights.

Look at the text:  why two cups? Same cup twice? Are they 4 cups for a ritual that Jesus performed? I also heard of a special spot reserved for the Messiah? Did Jesus take that cup?  Ask him when we get to Heaven. But there is meaning in Luke’s presentation: 

1. See this as an act of a servant, who is serving his closest friends, and drawing them into his greatest confidence and trust. In this act he is preparing them for not just the days ahead but also for their eternal future and gave the historical event of the Exodus new meaning.  Review the meal sequence
2. He states he will suffer
3. He ate a meal with them 
4. He takes a cup and tell them to share it among themselves
5. He breaks bread and gives it to them
6. He takes the cup and inaugurates the new covenant
7. He reveals the betrayal.

Meaning to each event, but the focus is on the covenant in his blood, once and for all.

Paul’s admonition to do this often

The churches early practice was that it was a regular event and one of the pillars of the church

Admonition was to not abuse the meal, but to consider others as more important than yourself. We serve each other in the meal.  Welcome to our meal where we will break bread together!