Emory Baptist Church

The Three Days of Easter

If you have your Bibles this morning, please find Mark 15:42.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “The Three Days of Easter.”

 

As you are finding our text, I am reminded my annual Easter joke of Brother Billy when he preached his Easter sermon at Main Street BC.  In the children’s sermon that morning, he asked them, “Can anyone tell me what happened on Easter?”  No one answered.

 

He persisted by saying, “Now I know that someone here knows what happened a long time ago for us to celebrate Easter today.”  Again, no one answered. 

 

Now frustrated, Brother Billy exclaimed, “Somebody please tell me about Easter Sunday!”  Little Johnny slowly raised his hand and said, “They killed Jesus!”  Brother Billy praised Johnny, “That’s right!”

 

“And then what?”  Little Johnny answered again, “They buried him, and he was in the tomb for three days.”  Brother Billy praised Johnny again, “That’s right!”

 

“And then what?”  Little Johnny answered a third time, “And on Easter morning, Jesus came out of the tomb!”  “That’s right,” Brother Billy exclaimed. 

 

Then Johnny blurted out, “And if he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter.”

 

Little Johnny’s account of Easter is mostly true.  However, I want to remind you of the Easter story this morning that is completely true, and it revolves around the three days of Easter.

 

 

1. Good Friday, Mark 15:42-47

42 Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. 45 So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.

 

For us, we celebrate Good Friday, and it was good for us that Jesus died on the cross in our place and for our sins.  He became sin who knew no sin so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

 

As for Good Friday, notice first of all, Joseph of Arimathea. We pick up in verse 42 just before sundown on Friday.  The Sabbath started at sundown on Friday and went until sundown on Saturday. 

 

We know that Jesus died on the cross on Friday.  He was put on the cross at approximately 9 AM.  We know it got dark around 12 noon.  We know Jesus died, and the temple veil was torn in two at approximately 3 PM.

 

Because of the Sabbath, we know that He had to be taken down sometime before 6 PM.  Why?  See Deuteronomy 21:22-23.

 

22 “If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.

 

Therefore, it seems to be probably between 3-4 PM.  Verse 43 introduces us to Joseph of Arimathea.  He was a prominent member of the Jewish Sanhedrin or council. 

 

Mark’s gospel said he was waiting for the kingdom of God.  Therefore, we know had recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah. 

 

Joseph was also very courageous because he came to Pilate to request Jesus’ body.    Pilate was not a fan of the Jews and felt like the Sanhedrin forced him to execute an innocent man.

 

Second, on Good Friday, notice Jesus who died.  Pilate verified that fact with the Roman centurion in verses 44-45.  He confirmed that Jesus was dead, and Joseph wrapped His dead body in linen and placed Him in a previously unused tomb.  Therefore, we have at least three individuals who confirmed that Jesus’ death was a fact and not a figment of someone’s imagination or made up: Pilate, the Roman centurion, and Joseph. 

 

Verse 46 tells us that Joseph buried Jesus’ body.  We know from John’s gospel that Joseph and Nicodemus prepared Jesus’ body with probably close to 100 pounds of grave clothes and placed Him in a family tomb belonging to Joseph. 

 

Verse 46 also tell us that the tomb was sealed.  The stone was circular and on a track and was rolled down an incline and into place to protect the body from grave robbers and wild animals. 

 

It was not as difficult to get the tomb sealed.  However, it would take a supernatural act to move that stone.

 

In verse 47, we see the Marys followed Joseph and Nicodemus to the tomb.  That fact will be important as we move from Good Friday to Silent Saturday.  

 

 

2. Silent Saturday, Mark 16:1

1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.

 

On Saturday, the disciples were afraid.  That is understandable right? 

 

They had just witnessed their Lord, their Savior, their Messiah brutally murdered.  If the Jews and the Romans did that to Jesus, what would they do to them?

 

Jesus was still dead.  We don’t hear a single word from Him because He literally died.  He literally was in the tomb, and the tomb was literally sealed.

 

However, we do read again about the Marys.  Because they didn’t understand what Jesus had told them about His resurrection, they He would still be dead, and they bought spices on Saturday night to anoint Jesus’ body early on Sunday morning after Sabbath was over.

 

How would they know where to go?  Go back to 15:47.

 

47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid. 

 

Now, let’s move from Silent Saturday to Resurrection Sunday!

 

 

3. Resurrection Sunday, Mark 16:2-8

2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.  6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”  8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

 

Verse 2 says the Marys came to the tomb on Sunday morning, the first day of the week, to anoint Jesus’ body to keep it from stinking.  Again, the end of chapter 15 says they saw were Jesus was laid.

 

As they were on the way to the tomb, they began to get worried about who would move the stone.  As I said previously, this would have been a round stone that would have been rolled down an incline into a track.  Therefore, while it was easier to put in place, it would have been difficult to move and would have required the efforts of multiple men.

 

Matthew’s gospel tells us that a localized earthquake dislodged the stone, and an angel moved it.  Keep in mind that Jesus was already gone.  Therefore, moving the stone was to allow the witnesses in, not to let Jesus out.

 

When they arrived, the stone had been rolled away, and they were greeted by an angel.  Again, the other gospels tell us there were two angels, but only one of them spoke.  However, these women were deathly afraid which is the common human response to interactions with angels in the Bible.

 

Beginning in verse 6, we see the angel announced a message to the women. He informed the ladies that Jesus was in fact alive.  The Jesus they were seeking, who had been crucified, had been raised. 

 

The NKJV says He is risen.  In other words, Jesus was alive!

 

The angel then invited the ladies to look at the place where Jesus had been laid.  He was gone.  He was not there. 

 

In verse 7, the angel told the ladies to go and tell the disciples that Jesus would be awaiting them in Galilee.  Not only was He alive, but they would get to see Him again. 

 

Verse 8 says they left the tomb amazed at the prospect of Jesus, whom they saw die with their own eyes, living again.  These women came, and saw, and were sent.

 

BTW…Look back at verse 7.  Remember that Mark’s gospel is Peter’s eyewitness accounts that were written down by Mark. 

 

Verse 7 is talking about the same Peter who back in Mark 14 denied any association with the Lord on three occasions.  Then the rooster crowed.

 

However, in this verse 7, we see the foreshadowing of Peter’s restoration from a mistake and for ministry.  Again, Peter didn’t just deny the Lord once or even twice but three times. 

 

It was a huge mistake, but the Lord wasn’t done with Peter.  He would later use him mightily in the book of Acts preaching and seeing thousands saved and as a prominent leader in the early church.

 

Some of you are here today and the devil has told you that your time and opportunity for the Lord using you is done because of mistakes in your past.  I want you to know that the Lord can and will restore you for future ministry if you let Him. 

 

Tell the Lord that you’re sorry for those mistakes and ask for His forgiveness.  Then, ask Him to restore you and use you again in ministry for His Church. 

 

 

Invitation

I have two invitations this morning to give to you.  If you are a follower of Christ, I invite you to come again to the empty tomb on the pages of Scripture and see that Jesus is alive, and like the Marys, live sent…pointing others to Jesus as Lord and Savior with your words and your life.

 

My second invitation is for those who have never believed.  Today, I invite you to come to the empty tomb on the pages of Scripture and see that Jesus alive and call on Him this morning to save you.

 

The empty tomb is what separates Jesus and Christianity from every other world religion.  Jesus is alive!

 

Girded and Guarded

The Christian and His/Her Possessions

Please take your Bibles this morning, and turn to Luke 12:22.  I want to speak to you this morning about the Christian and His Possessions or the Christian and Her Possessions. 

 

If you were here last Sunday, you remember that Jesus was talking to His disciples, but He was interrupted with a request from the crowd.  He then took that opportunity to encourage His disciples and the crowd to beware of coveting riches. 

 

Do you remember why we shouldn’t covet riches?  The main reason is because they tempt us to forget God. 

 

Jesus illustrated His message with the parable of the rich fool.  Jesus called this rich man a fool because his riches had caused him to forget God.  He presumed that he was in control of his life instead of God. 

 

This morning, we are going to continue talking about riches or possessions.  Jesus is refocusing His attention to His disciples.

 

Today’s text will sound a lot like Jesus’ sermon on the mount.  We are going to see three “do not” statements, and each of them will be countered with a “do” statement.

 

One more thing to keep in mind today.  Nothing that Jesus says today means Christians shouldn’t work hard or Christians should save for the future.  Both diligence in our work and discernment for the future are commended in the Bible.

 

 

1. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT POSSESSIONS! Luke 12:22-28

22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

 

Again, verse 22 begins with Jesus refocusing His attention to His disciples.  He then gives our first imperative or command related a Christian and his possessions.

 

Do not worry!  Do not worry about what?  Do not worry about this life and our food or our clothes. 

 

Why not?  Life is more than food and clothing.  Then Jesus gave three reasons why Christians should not worry about our possessions.

 

First, God takes care of the birds of the air, and we are more valuable to Him than them.  Look at verse 24.  

 

God also takes care of the flowers of the field.  Look at verse 27 and 28.  We are more valuable than them.

 

Second, look at verses 25-26.  We should worry because worry doesn’t accomplish anything.  It can’t add time to your life.  It can’t change the situation, and it certainly can’t help. 

 

Third, look at verses 29 and 30.  We shouldn’t worry about possessions because that is what lost people do. 

 

I mentioned when we began that every “do not” statement is offset by a “do” statement.  Instead of worrying about possessions, we should remember these reasons why not to worry. 

 

 

2. DO NOT SEEK AN ABUNDANCE OF POSSSESIONS! Luke 12:29-31

29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

 

Remember from last week, money is not the root of all evil.  It is the love of money.

 

In a similar way, possessions aren’t bad in and of themselves.  It is coveting them or seek an abundance of them that crosses the line.

 

Just like we should not worry about possessions, we should not seek an abundance of possessions.  Of course, this doesn’t mean not working hard, and it doesn’t mean not saving for the future.

 

However, instead of seeking an abundance of possessions, we should seek first the kingdom of God.  Making Jesus your first priority.

 

Why?  Verse 30 says God knows what we need like food and drink, and when we seek Him, all these other things will follow.

 

 

3. DO NOT FEAR THE ABSENCE OF POSSESSIONS! Luke 12:32-34

32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

The last “do not” statement is in verse 32.  Jesus addressed His disciples as little flock.  He charged them not to worry about the absence of possessions. 

 

Why?  Our good, heavenly Father wants to give the riches of His kingdom. 

Jesus then said the unthinkable.  He told them to sell their possessions.

 

I wouldn’t take this as absolute for all disciples to sell all.  However, if you’re struggling with coveting, and you’re afraid of the absence of possessions, you might want to consider this antidote.

 

Instead of fearing the absence of possessions, we should invest in eternity.  That is what He means when he says provide for yourselves money bags that don’t grow old. 

 

Invest in the gospel.  Invest in missions.  Invest in growing God’s kingdom in heaven.

 

 

Invitation

Verse 34 is an invitation.  It is an invitation to give your heart to Jesus.  Make Him the treasure of your life.

The Danger of Riches

Today, we return to Luke 12.  If you have your Bibles, please find Luke 12:13.  I want to share with you a message entitled, “The Danger of Riches.”

 

In today’s text, we are going to look at what has been known as the parable of the Rich Fool, and this parable is unique to Luke.  Remember, a parable is an earthly story with a spiritual or heavenly meaning. 

 

Simply put, Jesus’ warning for us can be found in verse 15.  Beware of covetousness.

 

Your translation may say greed.  This word means an unusual desire for riches.  Implied is a strong desire to acquire more and more material possessions beyond your needs.

 

I can remember dealing with covetousness as a teenager as well as early in my marriage.  First, when I was teenager, I remember only being willing to wear a certain brand of clothing. 

 

I was willing to wear these certain clothes multiple times a week.  I would just ask my mom to wash them again.

 

Consequently, I refused to wear clothes or even shop at certain stores.  Ironically, my entire wardrobe today is from that store that I refused to shop at as a teenager.

 

As an adult and early in our marriage, I developed a very unhealthy preoccupation with televisions, and I fell victim to football season every year.

 

Do you know what I mean?  Every August, all the televisions go on sale.  For about 4 or 5 years in a row, I bought a new television thinking I had to have newer and bigger than the year before.

 

I was guilty of covetousness.  I was guilty of greed.  I was actin a fool.

 

 

1. The Explanation to Flee Covetousness, Luke 12:13-15

13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”  14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” 

 

In Luke 11, Jesus was speaking to the crowds.  At the beginning of Luke 12, He narrowed His focus to His Disciples.

 

Verse 13 introduces an interruption from the crowd.  It was a brother asking Jesus to settle a dispute between brothers.

 

The brother who spoke addressed Jesus as Teacher or Rabbi.  It was common for Jewish religious leaders to settle disputes or even arbitrate conflicts.

 

Even though only who brother spoke, we can assume the other brother was close.  It seems to that it was the younger brother who was speaking.

 

In the Old Testament, the older brother would receive 2/3 of the family inheritance, and the younger brother would receive 1/3.  This younger brother may have been looking for half, and he didn’t want Jesus to arbitrate as much as he wanted Jesus to rule in his favor. 

 

However, Jesus’ mission wasn’t to settle disputes. His mission was save souls.  Therefore, in verse 14, He declined to get involved.

 

He declined to get involved in the dispute.  However, He took the opportunity to teach a lesson. 

 

He warned against covetousness. He went on to declare that life is more the accumulation of possessions. 

 

 

2. The Illustration of the Foolishness of Covetousness, Luke 12:16-20

16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

 

Jesus often used parables to illustrate His point.  That is true here. 

 

Remember, a parable is earthly story with a spiritual or heavenly meaning.  Jesus introduced this parable in verse 16 to illustrate how foolish coveting is.

 

The parable begins with a rich man.  It is important to remember that this man is already rich when the parable begins.

 

He is a farmer, and he had an exceptionally good year.  He had an abundance of crops on his hands.

 

Verse 17 reveals an inner conversation.  He had more crops that storage.  What should he do?

 

He could have given to the poor.  He could have given to the needy.  However, he decided to do otherwise.

 

To get a little foreshadowing of what was to come, notice the use of the first person pronoun “my:” my crops, my barns, my crops, my goods, and my soul.  Also, notice I: I do, I have, I will do, I will pull, I will store, and I will say.

 

He decided to tear down his existing barns.  In their place, he would build bigger barns to store all of his crops and goods. 

 

Then, thinking he had many years to live, he would take it easy.  He would eat, drink, and do whatever he felt like doing. 

 

BTW…It was true for this man, and it is true for us.  We aren’t in charge of how long we live.  God is, and we aren’t privy to God’s timetable. 

 

In verse 20, look at what God said to this man in response to his plans. He called him a fool, and told him that he would die this day.

 

He would have to give an account of his actions.  Consequently, his new barns and all his crops and goods would be of no value to him. 

 

He would leave them behind. You’ve never seen a funeral coach with a U-Haul in tow.

 

Proverbs 23:4-5, 4 Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease!  5 Will you set your eyes on that which is not?  For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.

 

 

3. The Application of Forsaking Covetousness and Honoring Chris, Luke 12:21

21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

 

Listen and listen closely. You are fool when seek after riches and material possessions at all costs because the danger of riches is that they cause you to forget God.

 

Deuteronomy 8:11-14, 11 “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, 12 lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

 

 

Conclusion

Instead, trust God to provide for your needs and seek after being rich toward God.  How do we do that?

 

First, prioritize Jesus first.  See Matthew 6:33.

 

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

 

Second, ask the Lord to help you be content.  See 1 Timothy 6:6-10.

 

6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

 

Third, use your material blessings to invest in eternity.  See Matthew 6:20.

 

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

The Bible's Most Famous Verse

Introduction

• In most of the English translations represented here this morning, including the NKJV and the NIV, it is 25 words.
• For years and years as a little boy, I saw its reference on televised professional football games at every extra point attempt and every field goal try.
• This morning, I want to remind you of the most famous verse in the Bible: John 3:16.

 

Consequently, I believe it is the most famous verse in the Bible because it speaks to the heart of God.

 

 

1. The Motivation of God’s Heart is His Love.

16 For God so loved the world

 

Remember the context of this verse.  Jesus was talking with Nicodemus.  Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of Jews who came to Jesus at night time. 

 

He knew Jesus was different and even recognized Him as being from God because of the signs or miracles He had done.  Jesus told Nicodemus that in order to be saved, you had to be born again.

 

Nicodemus was an intelligent man, but he didn’t quite understand what it meant to be born again.  So he asked how to be born again, and Jesus gave him the answer in John 3:16.

 

Verse 16 begins with God.  It is the God of creation.  He is the eternal sovereign, and for His children, He is their heavenly Father. 

 

We then see what God did.  He so loved. 

 

The word in the language of the NT is the word agape.  It means a perfect and complete love that considers others before it considers self.  It is an unconditional love.

 

Then notice the object of God’s love.  It is the world. 

 

Here is the word kosmos.  It means everything and all things.  When Christ died on the cross, He provided the possibility for the entire world to be saved.

 

Jesus’ words probably caught Nicodemus off guard.  He knew that God loved Israel as seen clearly from the OT. 

 

However, what Jesus is saying here is that not only does God love Israel, but He also loves Gentiles.  He loves the entire world’s population, which is approximately 8.2 billion people. 

 

You could line up every human being alive today, and I believe that God would say I love you to each one of them. 

 

God loves both Jew and Gentile.  He loves both male and female.  He loves both black and white.  He loves both Republican and Democrat.  He loves both blue-collar and white-collar.  He loves both Aggies and Longhorns.

 

Furthermore, He loves every sinner.  He loves every racist and every adulterer and every liar and every thief and every homosexual and every murderer and every rapist and every child molester and every addict and every alcoholic. 

 

God loves every person who has ever lived because every person who has ever lived was created in the image of God.  Love is the motivation of God’s heart.

 

 

1. The Demonstration of God’s Love is His Son.

that He gave His only begotten Son

 

How did God demonstrate or prove His love?  He gave. 

 

He gave freely.  He gave with no strings attached.  He gave knowing what would happen. 

 

What did He give?  He gave His only begotten and unique Son.  He didn’t have another Son.  He had only one Son. 

 

This Son was unique in that He was fully divine.  Even though born in a feeding trough for cows, He was born fully God. 

 

Jesus described Himself in this verse using the word “monogene.”  Mono means one.  Gene is seed. 

 

There is only one seed like this.  There are no others. 

 

He didn’t give His house or His car or His wallet or His investment portfolio or His most prized toy.  God gave His only Son to die by the cruelest means of execution that humanity has ever known, and this is the demonstration of God’s love.

 

You have heard the cliché that the proof is in the pudding.  Actually, it has been shortened from the proof of the pudding is in the tasting.  In other words, you know if the pudding is good by tasting it. 

 

You know that God loves you when you read or remember John 3:16. He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross and in your place and for your sins. 

 

 

• The Invitation to Receive God’s Gift is to Believe.

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

 

God invites us to receive His love, but He will not force us.  God gives us an option.  We can receive this gift, or we can reject this gift. 

 

What would it mean to receive it?  Remember, it is a gift.  Therefore, it can’t be earned. 

 

To receive it means to believe in Jesus.  However, it is not merely mental ascent.  To believe means to trust in, to cling to, and to rely on Jesus. 

 

A person can believe with his mind by trusting that Jesus is the promised Messiah.  He can believe with his heart by clinging to Him as the only way to heaven.  He can believe with his life by relying on Him to enable you to repent of your old ways of life and living a life that is surrendered to Him.

 

On the other hand, to reject Him is to say no thanks.  However, you are also rejecting Him if you do nothing at all. 

 

On occasion, it may be appropriate to be a something, such as apolitical.  However, you cannot be asalvation or aeternallife because that is not an option. 

 

Your options are to receive or reject…no others, and to reject is to perish, to die, to have your soul destroyed, to be spiritually lost and separated from God for eternity, but to receive Him is to have eternal or everlasting life. 

 

 

Conclusion

The story is told of a little boy living in an orphanage who was a hand full to manage or may be even two hands full.  The workers in the home were even looking for an excuse to move him to another orphanage. 

 

One day, they saw the little boy running across the yard, and he climbed up in a tree, and they watched him leave a note posted on one of the branches.  After he climbed down, they immediately went and checked it out.  The note said, “If anybody finds this, I love you.” 

 

Today, if you are within the sound of my voice, John 3:16 is a note from God, and it says, “I love you.” 

 

Will you respond today by receiving God’s gift of eternal life?

 

Following Jesus 101

Introduction

If you have Bibles this morning, please take them and find Luke 12:1.  I want to share a message with you this morning entitled, “Following Jesus 101.”

 

If you are familiar with college classes, they usually have a title and a number.  For my experience, 100 level classes were for freshmen, 200 level classes for sophomores, 300 level classes for juniors, and 400 level classes were for senior.

 

To attach 101 to something is to it is the beginning or the foundation.  It is the most basic starting point. 

 

In today’s text, Jesus was speaking to His disciples, and He gave them some beginning instructions.  These were some basics for following Jesus.

 

 

1. Avoid the Pharisees’ Hypocrisy, Luke 12:1-3.

1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. 

 

Verse 1 says that there were A LOT of people had come to Jesus to see Him and hear him.  The text literally indicates thousands.

 

However, Jesus had some specific words for His disciples.  Therefore, He changed audiences from chapter 11 where He was talking to the Pharisees.

 

The end of verse says beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. Just in case you didn’t understand His figurative language, He said to avoid their hypocrisy.

 

Most of the time, leaven in the Bible is not good.  It is evil. 

 

Leaven is akin to yeast.  It makes bread rise.

 

BTW…Why do we use unleavened bread for the Lord’s Supper?  The bread symbolizes Jesus’ body.  Jesus’ body had no sin, no evil, whatsoever. 

 

A little leaven is all you need to make bread rise.  A little leaven goes a long way as it permeates the entire loaf.  The hypocrisy of the Pharisees had permeated or infected every area of their lives. 

 

What is hypocrisy?  It literally means wearing a mask.  It was a theater term that described actors.

 

It means to be two different people.  You act one way around some folks and act a completely different way around others. 

 

Or, your talk out of both sides of your mouth.  You say nice things to someone’s face and bad things when they aren’t around. 

 

Why did Jesus say beware or avoid this behavior?  Because all that is hidden will eventually be revealed. All that is said in private places will eventually be made public. 

 

In other words, it is illogical. At the final judgement, there will be no secrets. 

 

Therefore, avoid that behavior now.  Conversely, live authentically or genuinely.  Be transparent and an open book.

 

 

2. Fear the Personal Deity, Luke 12:4-7.

4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!  6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

 

And I say to you in verse 4 marks a new section.  The instruction here is not to fear men.  They can only take your physical life.

 

Instead, fear God or fear Deity.  Fear God because He is in charge of your eternity. 

 

The word fear means to revere or respect or live in such a way that you honor Him by obeying Him. 

 

Before you speak, is that what God wants?  Before you act, is this what God wants?  Before you respond, is this what God wants?

 

Why does this matter?  The one who doesn’t surrender his or her life to God will spend an eternity in hell without God. 

 

The word hell here is the word Gehenna or the Valley of Hennon.  In the OT, this was where pagans sacrificed their children by burning them.

 

By the time of the NT, this was the city dump outside of Jerusalem.  Trash was burning day and night.  You could see and smell the smoke.

 

In the same way, hell is a real place. It is a real place where real lost people go when they really die, and where they will experience real physical and real spiritual pain for a real eternity. 

 

However, this deity is not just any deity.  He is the Personal Deity who loves you and wants a personal relationship with you.  His name is Jesus.

 

Verse 6 says that sparrows are cheap, but God loves them.  Why?  They are part of His creation.

 

Consequently, the Personal Deity, Jesus, is and wants to be intimately acquainted with the details of your life.  He knows the number of hairs on your head.  On average, that is more than 100,000.

 

God loves His creation?  Who is the pinnacle of His creation? 

 

You are.  He loves you.  Fear the Personal Deity!

 

 

3. Confess Jesus Publically, Luke 12:8-12.

8 “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.  10 “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.  11 “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

 

The last instruction of following Jesus 101 is confess Him publically.  We find that in verse 8.

 

The word confess means to say the same thing.  To confess Jesus is to say that you are His.  He would then say the same thing about you.  You are His.

 

If we confess Jesus before men or publically, Jesus will confess us in heaven.  However, if we deny Him publically, He will deny us in heaven.

 

Speaking of heaven, how does a person go to heaven when he or she dies?  He or she goes to heaven and is forgiven of sin by not blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

 

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is the unpardonable or unforgiveable sin.  It is not suicide or divorce or any other thing that folks have made up through the years.

 

To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is give credit to the devil for doing what only God can do.  Don’t think that the devil can do what only God can do.

 

In chapter 11, the Pharisees said that Jesus cast out a demon by the power of the devil.  However, only God can do that, but they were giving the credit to the devil.

 

How do we do that today?  Only Jesus can save you.  You can’t be saved any other way. 

 

However, when you reject Jesus as Savior, you are saying with your actions that there is another savior.  That is not true. 

 

You are giving the devil credit for only what God can do.  This is the unpardonable sin. 

 

And when you stand for Jesus, there will be persecution.  However, don’t worry.  In that moment, God will give you exactly what you should say and what He wants you to say.

 

 

Invitation

If you are here this morning and you’re committing the unforgivable sin, stop.  Repent. 

 

Only Jesus can save. Call on Him.

 

If you are saved, are you living a life of authenticity?  Are you fearing God?  Have you confessed Jesus publically through baptism and with your daily life?

 

 

 

Glorious Dishwashers

This Little Light of Mine

We are in Luke 11.  Remember that Jesus is talking to some scribes and Pharisees after they accused Him of being demonic instead of divine.

 

Last week, we saw Him chastise them for asking for more signs instead of obeying what they already knew.

 

He used two examples to shame them.  One was the Gentile Queen of Sheba who traveled far and wide to hear Solomon.  The other was the Gentile Ninevites who repented at Jonah’s preaching.

 

Jesus said He was greater than Solomon and right in the front of them.  They didn’t need to travel hundreds of miles.

 

He also said He was greater than Jonah.  He was implying that they should repent at His preaching.

 

Today, we are talking about light.  That word is in today’s four verses six times.

 

Many of you, if not all of you, are familiar with that song.  However, is the light yours? And, are you letting it shine?

 

 

Exposition

In Luke 11:33, Jesus told a parable.  A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

 

In this day, a lamp was what we might call an oil-burning lantern.  I think the KJV uses candle.

 

When one was lit, it wasn’t put in a secret place or cellar or under a basket. It was put on a lampstand in the middle of the room to light up the room.  This was not a mystery.

 

Verses 34 and following are the heavenly meaning.  Jesus said our lamp is our eyes.

 

If your eyes are good or healthy or clear or doing their job, then we can see and do whatever our body needs for us to do because we have light.  That may be to walk or sit or climb or eat or stop. 

 

However, when your eye is bad or can’t see or unhealthy, then we don’t know.  It is dark.  Imagine what our blind brothers and sister’s lives are like. 

 

Verse 35 is the action point.  Therefore, make sure that your light is not darkness.  Make sure your eyes are doing their job correctly so that you can behave correctly. 

 

When the light comes in your eyes, it lights your whole body.  Then you are like the lamp or lantern that gives off light from verse 33.

 

 

Application

First, remember from verse 34 that the light is outside the body, and has to be let in or allowed in through the eye.  As Jesus is the light of the world, have you allowed Him to come into your life?

 

Remember the original hearers.  They were unbelieving Jewish Pharisees.  Jesus was inviting them to be saved.  I am inviting you to be saved this morning.

 

Don’t turn away from the light!  Receive the Light.  The little Light can be yours today.

 

Second, while not the primary point of this text, there are multiple applications for Christians and followers of Christ.  For example, are you allowing the Light, Jesus, shine in your life and direct your paths? 

 

In verse 35, Jesus wants our bodies to be full of light.  He wants to and has shown us how to live in His word.  Are we following His light for guidance in our lives?

 

Next, if this little Light is yours, are you letting it shine?  If you’re not, do you really have the Light?

 

It is illogical to light a lamp and put it under a basket.  I would suggest that God has saved you and kept you on earth for no other reason than to be witness for Him and point others to Christ!

 

Finally, last week, we talked about obeying what you know.  So let’s talk about obedience. 

 

If you aren’t living a life of obedience to Christ, do you genuinely have the Light?  Look at verse 36.

 

If you have light, you will shine it.  If you are a Christian, you will be obedient.

 

If you’re not living a life of obedience, are you really saved?  Remember James 2:14-26.

 

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.  25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?  26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

 

Do you have the Light?  Are you letting it shine?  Story of unlit lantern.

Stop Asking for Signs...And Start Obeying What You Know!

If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 11:29.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “Stop Looking for Signs, And Start Obeying What You Know!”

 

We are continuing this morning in Luke’s gospel, and we are studying it verse-by-verse, and chapter-by-chapter.  Last Sunday, Jesus reminded us of the key to God’s blessing.  Do you remember what it was?  It was and is obedience.

 

Two Sundays ago, Jesus exercised a demon from a demon-possessed man.  Consequently, the Pharisees attributed what Jesus had done to the power of the devil.  Instead of seeing the miracle as divine, they saw it as demonic.

 

 

1. The Solicitation for More Proof, Luke 11:29a & Matthew 12:38

29 And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign,

 

Remember that Jesus had removed a demon from a man.  Also, this demon-possessed could not speak. 

 

Verse 29 says the crowds were growing.  They were seeking a sign, and we know from Matthew’s account of this story that the Pharisees asked specifically for another sign.  See Matthew 12:38.

 

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

 

What were they asking for?  What is a sign?

 

A sign was a miracle that would prove or affirm Jesus’ message.  In other words, they wanted Him to do the miraculous on command so as to prove He was divine or prove He was the Son of God or prove He was the promised Messiah. 

 

As a result, Jesus called them an evil generation.  Certainly, He was including the scribes, the Pharisees, and the crowds.

 

BTW…How much more proof does a person need?  Hadn’t Jesus just exercised a demon from a man?  In Mark’s gospel, Jesus has given no less than 14 signs before this story.

 

1:26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.

 

1:31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

 

1:42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.

 

2:12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

 

3:5 And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

 

4:39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

 

5:13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.

 

5:42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.

 

5:34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

 

6:42 So they all ate and were filled.

 

6:51 Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.

 

7:30 And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.

 

7:35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.

 

8:8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments.

 

Sometimes, we do the same.  We say, “God prove to me that you love me.”  Then, we suggest to Him what that sign might look like.  Take away this hurt.  Heal my loved one.  Fix my marriage.  Pay this debt. 

 

In other words, we say, “Lord, prove to me what You have already told me in Your Word.”  Or, we say, “Lord, write it in the clouds.  Send a messenger to me with Your exact message.”

 

This was a solicitation or request for more proof.  They wanted Jesus to prove one more time that He was who He said He was by giving them a sign.

 

 

2. A Demonstration of Messianic Proportions, Luke 11:29b-30

and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.

 

By calling them an evil generation, Jesus issued a stinging rebuke to these Jews and their religious leader refusing to surrender their lives to Jesus.  That meant they were failing to recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.

 

They had requested this sign for Jesus to prove His power and authority, but Jesus said they would not receive another sign.   As a matter of fact, no more signs would be necessary except the sign of Jonah.

 

Do you remember that story of the minor prophet?  God told him to go to Nineveh to preach His message to them, but Jonah refused and sailed to Tarshish.  As an act of discipline, God caused a great storm to overcome Jonah’s ship. 

 

The Gentile sailors on the ship eventually threw Jonah overboard to stop the storm.  However, Jonah was swallowed by a great fish, and there he stayed for three days and three nights until he repented.  The then fish vomited up Jonah on the shore.

 

When Jonah was given another chance, he didn’t waste it.  He went to Nineveh to preach, and the entire Gentile city turned to God as a result of Jonah’s preaching. 

 

With this example, Jesus foreshadowed and compared His own future death, burial, and resurrection with Jonah’s experience.  Like Jonah, He would also be in the earth for parts of three days: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before He was resurrected never to die again.

 

BTW…There have been a thousand questions asked about this particular story.  However, Jesus’ reference to it tells us that Jesus believed the literal meaning of Jonah and the whale or great fish, whichever you prefer.

 

The resurrection of Jesus was the ultimate sign. It emphatically proved that He was the promised Messiah.  An individual resurrected to never die again had never before and has never happened since. 

 

 

3. The Condemnation for Missing the Point, Luke 11:31-32

31 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

 

In verse 31, He also reminded His congregation of a story from 1 Kings 10 involving the queen of the South or the queen of Sheba.  She had heard of Solomon’s wisdom, but needed to see it for herself, and she did, and recognized God’s hand on Solomon.

 

In verse 32, Jesus remind the Jewish religious leaders not only of Jonah’s resurrection, but also how these Gentile Ninevites responded to Jonah’s preaching.  Unlike these Jews and the scribes and Pharisees, these Gentiles repented.  Consequently, they would one day stand in judgment over Israel who didn’t recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah.

 

Notice how Jesus compared Himself to both Jonah and Solomon, but He said more.  He said He was greater than both.  He wasn’t just a prophet of salvation like Jonah. He was the instrument of salvation. 

 

He wasn’t just a wise man like Solomon.  He was the source of Solomon’s wisdom.

 

The irony with these two examples is biting.  These Gentiles believed and trusted God’s messengers in Solomon and Jonah, but these Jews, the people of God, were not trusting Jesus, the Son of God, right in front of them.

 

 

Application

So how do these verses apply to us today?  In a similar way, the Church, the people of God, often are looking for affirmations or sign to confirm what God has already told us. 

 

If you want God to give you a sign to be baptized, He has.  If you want God to give you a sign to join a local church, He has. 

 

If you want God to give you a sign that you need to start tithing, He has.  If you want God to give you a sign to sacrificially and unconditionally love your spouse, He has. 

 

If you want God to give you a sign that you need to keep your children in church, He has.  If you want God to give you a sign, children, to obey mom and dad, He has.

 

Stop asking for signs and starting doing what the Bible already has said.

 

If you are here this morning and you’ve never been saved and you’re asking God for a sign as to whether He loves you, look no further than the cross.

 

Romans 5:8, 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

Look no further.  Wonder no more.  Ask for no more signs. 

 

God loves you and wants a personal, relationship with you.  Will you call on Jesus to save you from your sins?

 

 

God's Blessing is Right in Front of You!

If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 11:27.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “Blood is Thicker Than Blood!”

 

“Blood is thicker than water” is a proverb that can be dated back to 12^th Century Germany.  Many of you are familiar with it.

 

In English, it means that biological family relationships are more important and more significant and stronger than other earthly relationships.  However, how do biological family relationships compare to spiritual relationships?

 

Or, how SHOULD they compare?  I would suggest to you that in today’s text that Jesus says that His blood and the blood of the body of Christ is thicker than yours and my biological family blood. 

 

In other words, spiritual family is more important and more significant and stronger than biological family.  Therefore, Jesus’ blood is thicker than my family’s blood.

 

 

Exposition

Verse 27 begins with “And it happened.”  However, please remember this, nothing just happens.

 

Everything in this life is under the complete control of the eternal sovereign God.  Therefore, everything that happens in your life is either for God’s glory and our good, or it is our loving heavenly Father disciplining His children.

 

Regardless, whatever is “happening” in your life this morning, remember God’s word.  See Romans 8:28 and James 1:2-3.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

 

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

 

Verse 27 continues remembering that Jesus just finished speaking.  What did He say?

 

He answered the accusation about Him being part of demonic activity.  He explained about spiritual rivalry, and He reminded His congregation and our congregation that you can’t be religiously neutral. 

 

You are either for Jesus or against Jesus.  There is no middle ground, and you have to decide whose side are you on.

 

We are also introduced to a certain woman.  This story is unique to Luke, and we don’t know her name. 

 

However, she was a voice in the crowd that offered a blessing in contrast to those also in the crowd who were accusing and testing Jesus.  Her blessing was for Mary, Jesus’ mother.

 

I want to take this opportunity to clarify a little about Mary.  We know who she was, but there is some confusion that needs to be explained.

 

Mary certainly deserves this blessing.  Why? 

 

She was surrendered to God’s plan even though she didn’t understand it completely.  See Luke 1:38.

 

38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

 

She was humble and grateful that God had chosen her.  See Luke 1:48.

 

48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

 

She was obedient and did all that God had directed her.  See Luke 2:22-24, and Luke 2:39-40.

 

22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

 

39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

 

Mary was certainly blessed and deserved those blessings.  However, Mary was also not, and we need to understand that.

 

Not what?  Mary was not a savior because she was human only.  Mary was not perfect because she was a sinner.  Mary was not divine and doesn’t deserve any prayers.

 

In verse 28, Jesus didn’t correct this woman’s statement.  He added to it.

 

Mary was blessed because she obeyed, and obedience to God’s word should matter most to the child of God and the follower of Jesus.  Jesus said, “Blessed are those that hear the word of God and keep it.” 

 

To that I say, “Amen and amen.”  Brothers and sisters, we must not only hear God’s word but obey it.

 

That is what we have been saying in 2025 every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night.  We are deceiving ourselves if we are hearers only and not doers.

 

Matthew 21:28-32, 28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ 29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?”  They said to Him, “The first.”  Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.

 

Obedience should be a defining characteristic of a follower of Christ.  Obedience puts us in the family of God, and obedience to God’s word makes our spiritual family more significant that our biological family.

 

 

Conclusion

So what area of your life needs your obedience right now?  Do you need to obey and call on the Lord to save you?

 

Do you need to obey and follower Jesus in believers’ baptism?  Do you need to obey and join this local church?

 

Do you need to obey and leave behind a relationship or a behavior?  Do you need to obey and start reading you Bible or tithing?

 

God is calling you to obedience today!  How will you respond?