Emory Baptist Church

Badgers, Locusts, and Spiders, Oh My!

Why is Disobedience Bad?

This morning, we come to the end of Luke 6.  In the past several Sundays, we have been looking at one of Jesus’ sermons.

 

It may be Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount.  There certainly are some similarities with Matthew 5-7. However, there are more differences.  Therefore, it is most likely another sermon with similar material.

 

This sermon began with 4 blessings and 4 corresponding woes.  Next, Jesus articulated the Golden Rule in positive terms.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

 

In a lost world, live unnaturally with your deeds, your words, and your prayers.  In other words, love your enemies.

 

Finally, last week, we looked at some of House of Faith Rules.  Because our relationship with brothers and sisters in Christ is based on our relationship with Jesus, we should treat them differently…differently in a good way. 

 

Today, we come to the invitation of this sermon.  Jesus will give us two choices.

 

BTW, Every biblical sermon must have an invitation.  However, an invitation is not the same as an alter call. 

 

Sometimes, people say to me that a church they visited didn’t offer an invitation.  What they mean is that the church didn’t offer a “walk the aisle” alter call or come to the front alter call.

 

Every sermon must have an invitation, an opportunity to respond.  However, every sermon doesn’t have to have an alter call.

 

 

Exposition

Today’s text begins in verse 46, and Jesus asked a question.  It’s one you probably remember as it was our verse of the year for 2023, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I say?”

 

This congregation included the Twelve Disciples.  It included the Pharisees, Jewish Religious Leaders.  It included those who said they were followers of Jesus, but didn’t live like it.  I would presume our congregation today is made up of similar groups.

 

The term Lord means master and boss.  A person’s Lord is the one who calls the shots, make decisions, who is in authority.  It makes no sense to address someone as such and not treat him as such.

 

Beginning in verse 47, Jesus told a parable.  A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly or spiritual meaning.  This first century congregation would have identified personally with this story.

 

The one who comes to Jesus and hears what Jesus is saying and then does what Jesus says is like a man who built a house.  In building this house, the man dug deep into the ground and laid a secure and firm foundation on the rock.

 

Consequently, when this house was subject to rain and flooding and torrential storms that beat vehemently on the house, it withstood the storm.  Why?  It withstood the storm because of the foundation that was dug deep and on the rock.

 

However, this parable included another man.  He also built a house.  The parable implies in the same area because this house also experienced the same rain and the same flood and the same storm.

 

It also beat vehemently against the house, but the result was different.  This house fell and fell immediately.  Why?  It fell because this man built his house without a foundation. 

 

Verse 49 says he just built his house on the earth.  We there this today, and his folly is obvious to us.

 

What is the spiritual and or heavenly meaning here?  The first builder is like a man who comes and hears and is obedient to Jesus.  Today, you are invited to come to Jesus and hear Jesus. 

 

BTW, Can I give you some tips when it comes to hearing Jesus on Sunday mornings here at Emory Baptist Church?

 

First, be intentional.  Come ready to hear.  Come committed to listening.  Come with your Bible. 

 

Second, pray for yourself.  You hear me pray this most Sunday mornings, but pray for eyes to see and ears to hear.  The Bible says those are gifts from God, and pray for a heart that is receptive. 

 

Also, pray for no internal distractions and no external distractions. Internal would be worries or concerns that occupy your thoughts.  External would be within our Sanctuary with the noises or sounds or folks getting up and down in the service.

 

Third, take notes.  We provide for you a notes sheet in each bulletin.  They don’t have to be exhaustive or comprehensive, but I usually try to give you three main points or so.

 

This first builder is like the one who comes to Jesus and hears Jesus and is obedient to Jesus.  The second builder may come to Jesus and hear Jesus but isn’t obedient. 

 

 

Application

Now, let’s move to why disobedience is bad.

 

First, it is illogical.  We see that back in verse 46.  It is makes no sense to call Jesus Lord, your boss, the one who calls the shots in your life and then not obey?  Is He Lord or isn’t He?

 

BTW, The idea that you can have Jesus as your Savior and not surrender to Him as Lord is foreign to the New Testament.  That idea is a misnomer.

 

Second, disobedience for the follower of Christ is unwise.  Whether you are a Christian or not, you will experience the storms of life.  They will happen, and they will be severe, and they will beat on you.

 

It may be death or disease.  It may be financial loss or an unfaithful spouse. It may be prodigal children or caring for aging and elderly parents. 

 

The only way to survive is with Jesus as your foundation.  You will not survive otherwise. 

 

Third, and related to the second, disobedience in the life of a Christian is unsafe.  Verse 49 says the second house fell, and the ruin of the house was great. 

 

A common consequence of disobedience in the life of a Christian is God removing His protection from you.  You expose your health.  You expose your marriage.  You expose your family.  You expose your finances. 

 

 

Conclusion

As I conclude, for the Christian living in disobedience, repent.  Don’t be like this description from Arthur Pink:

 

They bring their bodies to the house of prayer but not their souls; they worship with their mouths, but not “in spirit and in truth.”  They are sticklers for immersion or early morning communion, yet take no thought about keeping their hearts with all diligence.  They boast of their orthodoxy; but disregard the precepts of Christ.  Multitudes of professing Christian abstain from external acts of violence, yet hesitate not to rob their neighbors of a good name by spreading evil reports against them.  They contribute regularly to the “pastor’s salary,” but shrink not from misrepresenting their goods and cheating customers, persuading themselves that “business is business.”  They have more regard for the laws of man than those of God, for His fear is not before their eyes.

 

However, for others this morning, you have heard Jesus’ words to repent and believe and you have not.  Storms are coming, and your greatest storm will be the storm of judgment in Revelation 20:11-15.

 

Revelation 20:11-15, 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

Will you repent and believe today?  The decision is yours, but you only two options.  One option takes you heaven.  The other sends you to hell. 

 

House Rules

If you have your Bibles, please find Luke 6:37.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “House Rules.”

 

Many of you know what I mean when I say “house rules.”  There are some instances when special rules are allowed in a certain location or under special circumstances in sporting events.

 

For example, some basketball tournaments that Caroline plays in plays 4 quarters like high school ball.  Others play 2 halves like college ball.  Some use a regular clock.  Others use a running clock.  Some allow 5 fouls.  Others allow 6 fouls.

 

If you have ever played Uno, some families have special house rules.  For example, when multiple Draw 2 Cards are played consecutively, does the person have to only draw 2 or the sum of the consecutive cards played?

 

Last week, Jesus reminded us of our ethic as followers of Christ for the world.  He gave us the Golden Rule in positive terms.  We are to treat others as we want to be treated.  We are to love our enemies. 

 

Today, how are we to treat our brothers and sisters in Christ?  What are the rules or guidelines or instructions for this house of faith?  What are our house rules?

 

 

1. Be as gracious as you can be, Luke 6:37-38.

37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” 

 

It is interesting to note these four imperatives.  They are don’t judge, don’t condemn, pardon, and give. 

 

If you follow the instructions, Jesus said God will then treat you accordingly and others will most likely treat you accordingly. 

 

Verse 38 then ends with a picture of this idea of reaping what you have sown.  If you don’t judge or don’t condemn and pardon and give, God will or THEY will pour into your lap. 

 

They will pour into your laps a good measure into your jar.  You will then shake it up and let it settle further down, and they will give more to the point of running over.  You then have an abundance.  By your standard of measure it will return to you.

 

As it relates to folks in this house of faith, let’s be as gracious as we can and not judge and not condemn.  Let’s be as gracious as we can be forgiving and giving.

 

Why?  Because what is how we want to be treated.  That is how we want God to treat us and how we want others to treat us.

 

However, nothing that Jesus said here precludes biblical Christian accountability and biblical Church discipline.  If you sin publicly and egregiously and with an unrepentant heart and attitude, you should be held accountable by this house of faith because you will be held accountable by your Father in heaven. 

 

I will talk more about the multiple New Testament passages that speak to Christian accountability on Wednesday night.  However, generally speaking, we want to be as gracious as we can be with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  That is a house rule.

 

 

2. Stay in your lane, Luke 6:39-42.

39 And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. 41 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye. 

 

In verses 39-40, Jesus asked some rhetorical questions.  Can a blind guide lead anyone?  No, he can’t.  Will anyone who follows a blind guide end up in a ditch?  Yes, they will. 

 

This parable hit home with all of the Pharisees in the congregation.  For a follower of Jesus, He is the ultimate leader to follow. 

 

In verse 41, Jesus returned to our next house rule, but He used a humorous illustration. It is the example of a speck and a plank or a speck and a log. 

 

Humorously and logically, you can’t take the speck out of someone else’s eye when there is a plank or log or beam in your own.  You just can’t do it.  It is silly to try it. 

 

First, you have to take the log out of your own eye.  Then you can see clearly in helping your brother.  Therefore, stay in your own lane.

 

At the end of John’s gospel, Jesus gave this stark reminder to Peter.  See John 21:18-23.

 

18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”  20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”  22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”  23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

 

Brothers and sisters, let’s make sure we worry the most about the person in the mirror.  Let’s trust the Holy Spirit to take care of those around us.  Let’s stay in our own lane.

 

 

3. Guard your heart, Luke 6:43-45.

43 “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

 

The last three verses of this text speak of a tree and its fruit.  The reality is this.  Trees produce a specific type of fruit. 

 

Apple trees don’t produce oranges some of the time and apples the rest of the time.  They produce only apples.  The same is true for peaches or pares. 

 

That applies to you as well.  If you are good or saved, you will produce good fruit or the fruit of the Spirit.

 

If you are not saved, you will produce fruit of the flesh.  If you are producing fruit of the flesh but you think you are saved, you might want to check again. 

 

This specifically applies to what you say with your mouth.  It also applies to what you say with your fingers on social media.  From your mouth and with your fingers, you speak what is in heart.

 

We have to make sure and guard our hearts or otherwise we produce unwanted fruit.  See Proverbs 4:23.

 

23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

 

 

Charlie Woolwine

1. Started attending on Sunday morning, Sunday nights, and Wednesdays.
2. Came to my office to talk about joining; told me he was a registered sex-offender, but he still wanted to join.
3. I listened to his story, and told him the congregation would have to know. He agreed.
4. He stood with me during a member’s meeting, and I told the congregation his story. I told them he could never be in our children’s building or memorial hall for any reason.  They were to watch for him.
5. They voted him in and agreed to hold him accountable. He went on to be a faithful member even singing in the choir until he moved.

 

We tried to be as gracious as possible.   We wanted to stay in our lane but understood our lane to be the good of Emory Baptist Church.  We want to guard our heart because sin breaks God’s heart as Charlie’s sin broke guards heart.

Is the Golden Rule in the Bible?

In our culture today, there are a lot of sayings that attributed as being in the Bible, but are not.  For example, you will not find any of the following as God’s Word in the Bible: money is the root of all evil; God helps those who help themselves; and follower your heart or be true to yourself. 

 

However, is the Golden Rule in the Bible?  Actually, the Golden Rule predates the Bible stated negatively.  However, for the first time, Jesus stated what we know as the Golden Rule, in Luke 6:31:

 

31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

 

Normally, we say, “Do unto others as you want other to do unto you.”  Therefore, let’s look closer at the Golden Rule and how it applies to our lives.

 

Last Sunday, we saw multitudes coming to Jesus for healing.  While in His presence, Jesus preached to them the Beatitudes of Luke 6: blessed are the poor, blessed are the hungry, blessed are those who weep; and blessed are those who are hated for being a follower of Christ. 

 

Jesus then followed those beatitudes with four woes.  Woe are the rich.  Woe are the full.  Woe are those who laugh, and woe are those who are spoke of well.  Of course, all of these beatitudes and woes need to be understood in context. 

 

 

1. The Explanation of the Golden Rule, Luke 6:31

31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

 

As I said previously, the Golden Rule predates the Bible.  However, Jesus was the first to state it positively. 

 

Also, please understand that it is not treat others how they treat you.  That is an eye for an eye, and we will talk more about that in a moment. 

 

The Golden Rule for the lips of Jesus is to treat others the way you want to be treated.  Also found in Matthew 7:12, Jesus said:

 

12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

 

 

2. The Illustrations of the Golden Rule, Luke 6:27-30

27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.

 

To be clear, the golden rule is unnatural.  It is unnatural to love your enemies.  However, that is what Jesus has called His followers to.  He has called us to unnatural deeds, unnatural words, and unnatural prayers.

 

As for deeds, do good to those who hate you.  As for words, bless those who curse you.  As for prayers, pray for those maliciously use you and take advantage of you. 

 

Furthermore, in verse 29, when it comes to your means and your resources and how God has blessed you, give and give and give. 

 

Again, the behavior is not normal.  It is not natural.  It is abnormal and unnatural.

 

I mentioned an eye for an eye a moment ago.  That was the standard for the Old Testament Law.  The Latin is Lex Talionis.  That means the punishment should match or fit the crime.

 

In other words, it is the law of revenge or retaliation.  Brother and sisters, while that was the standard for the Old Testament Law, Jesus Christ offers us a higher law, a higher standard.  That is the Golden Rule. 

 

And Jesus knew what He was talking about.  He wasn’t just offering an opinion.  He spoke absolute truth, and lest you think Jesus doesn’t know your situation or hasn’t walked in your shoes, remember the Thursday night of Passion Week.

 

John 13:1-5, 1Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.  2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

 

John 13:21-27, 21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.  23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.  25 Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”  26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”

 

On the very night that Judas betrayed Him, Jesus washed Judas’ feet.  He did unto Judas what He wanted Judas to do unto Him.

 

I have tried to practice this in my own life, and I can tell you, it works.  Consider Thera Lou Adams.

 

3. The Justification for the Golden Rule, Luke 6:32-36

32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

 

Being obedient to our Lord Jesus should be all the motivation we need.  However, He also gave more reasons to live out the Golden Rule here in Luke 6:32-6.

 

First, to not do so is how the lost world acts.  Lost people love those that love them.  Lost people do good to those who are good to them.  Lost people lend money to those they know will repay them.  Be different than the world.

 

Second, to live out the Golden Rule will be rewarded.  Our reward is that we will be known as children of God.  Obeying the Golden Rule doesn’t make us children of God, but it proves that we are such.

 

Third and finally, live out the Golden Rule because that is how God loves you.  Be merciful just as your Heavenly Father has been merciful to you.

 

 

Conclusion

We live in such a divided world today.  We have drawn so many lines in the sand.  It seems we are at odds with someone all the time.

 

We are divided over our Presidential Choice between President Biden and President Trump.  We are divided on whether Ukraine and Israel or just Ukraine needs any more financial support from our country.  We are divided over the war in Israel and who deserves that land, and that conflict has made its way to our soil and our college campus.  

 

We are so divided.  Yet, Jesus calls us to a higher standard.  He calls us to the Golden Rule.  Do unto others as we want others to do to us.  Love our enemies.

 

And if we think we can’t, remember Romans 5:5. 

5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

 

The love of God has been put in your heart by the Holy Spirit. If it hasn’t, are you saved? 

 

 

The Good News about Bad News

The Big XII

Here in the middle of Luke 6, we find a list of the twelve disciples or as some like to call them…the Big 12.  Therefore, we are not looking at an athletic conference this morning, but the 12 apostles.

 

This list is not only found here in Luke 6.  You can find this list and another similar to it in Matthew 10:1-4, Mark 3:13-19, and Acts 1:12-13. 

 

You might wonder what in the world can we learn from a list like this.  However, there is much more here than you might have originally thought.  I am going to share with you a few 5 observations, and then an application for everyone. 

 

 

Observation #1-6:12

12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

 

Verse twelve tells us that Jesus went off to the mountain, and He spent the whole night in prayer.  It seems that He was alone.  Why would He do this? 

 

Simply put, it was to be alone with His Father.  Remember that Jesus was fully God and fully man.  However, there are times when His own knowledge is restricted by God the Father. 

 

Perhaps, this was one of those times. Therefore, He went away to ask God whom He should choose from His followers to be in His inner circle. 

 

Notice also that He spent the whole night in prayer.  That would have been anywhere between eight and ten hours.  Can you even imagine it?  Spending an entire workday in prayer is mind-boggling. 

 

Consequently, if Jesus needed to spend time in prayer before decisions were made, shouldn’t you and I be committed to the same?

 

Not to do so would demonstrate our folly or our arrogance.  Which is it for you? 

 

Even though Jesus tells us to pray and teaches us to pray, prayer is often not popular for us, the church.  How do I know?  Your pastor struggles with prayer.  We struggle to staff our prayer room.  Wednesday night prayer meeting is often our smallest gather of the week.

 

Brothers and sisters, help me and allow me to help us be more committed to prayer.  Pray before we act.  Pray before we talk.  Pray first and pray last.  Pray for the little, and pray for the big. 

 

 

Observation #2-6:13a

13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.

 

Notice in verse thirteen that Jesus called His disciples to Himself.  Then He chose the 12 from the whole. 

 

What does that mean?  There were more than twelve.  A disciple is a follower, learner, and student.  Is that true of you? 

 

Do you consider yourself a disciple of Jesus or is that a term reserved for those radical Christians?  The reality is that every Christian is a disciple.  Let’s make sure that we are living like it.

 

 

Observation #3-6:13b

13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.

 

From His disciples, He chose twelve to be His closest followers.  He would pour His life into them for three years and then send them out with His authority as apostles. 

 

The word “apostle” mean sent one.  It also assumes that you are carrying a message. 

 

In one regard, we are all apostles if you have been born-again.  We are commissioned to carry the gospel everywhere.  That is true for pastors and church staff and deacons and each and every church member.

 

In another sense, these men were special.  These men were Apostles with a capital “A.” 

 

They were Jesus’ inner circle.  They witnessed the resurrected Christ, and many of them went on to write books of the Bible.  In that regard, these type of Apostles no longer exist today.

 

Why 12?  I believe this “twelve” corresponds with the twelve tribes of Israel.  They led God’s chosen people. Consequently, this twelve would lead the bride of Christ also as God’s chosen people. 

 

 

Observation #4-6:14-16

14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

 

The twelve apostles were ordinary and uneducated men.  BTW, Peter is always listed first as he was their unofficial leader.  Judas was always listed last as the traitor.

 

At least four were fishermen: Peter, Andrew, James, and John.  One was a despised tax collector: Matthew. 

 

Another was a political activist who would have hated the tax collector: Simon.  Matthew worked for Rome, and Simon the Zealot hated Rome. 

 

There was nothing special about these men.  They weren’t popular.  They weren’t intelligent.  They weren’t wealthy by the world’s standard. 

 

As a matter of fact, most of them were poor and would become poorer in following Jesus, and yet, they changed the world.  What does Jesus want from you?  I would say He simply wants total surrender, and He can use you to change the world. 

 

Oswald Chambers said, “God can achieve His purpose either through the absence of human power and resources, or the abandonment of reliance on them.  All through history God has chose and used nobodies, because their unusual dependence on Him made possible the unique display of His power and grace.  He chose and used somebodies only when they renounced dependence on their natural abilities and resources.”

 

 

Observation #5-6:16

16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

 

Judas Iscariot with was Jesus for three years.  He ate, slept, walked, fished, did ministry with Jesus and the other eleven. 

 

He fooled them, and he fooled plenty of people beyond them, but he didn’t fool God.  When Judas died, he was immediately separated from God and Christ in hell for eternity. 

 

You may be a member of EBC, and you may have been married for fifty plus years.  You may have fooled your family and your friends and all of Emory and Rains County, but if you died today, you would spend an eternity in hell because you have never been born-again.  Today, I invite you to be saved. 

 

 

Application for All

11 But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

 

Go back and look at Luke 6:11. The Pharisees were outraged at Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, and from this point forward, were looking to take Him down.

 

What do you do when opposition comes?  What do you do when problems occur?  What do you do when trouble ensues?

 

Consider this.  Pray through it.  Gather a team.  Expect to change your world and maybe even the entire world! 

Who Needs a Rest?

If you have your Bibles, please find Luke 6.  As we continue in our verse by verse and chapter by chapter study of Luke, I want to share a message with you entitled, “Who Needs a Rest?” 

 

The answer to that question is all of us do.  God created us this way, and He created a Sabbath for us.

 

Sabbath is a word found throughout the Old and New Testaments, and it literally means an interruption for rest.  It is related to a word that means to cease or to desist.

 

I feel like this is a fairly well-known fact, but in case you didn’t know, God created the Sabbath in Genesis 2 after creation.  See Genesis 2:1-3. 

 

1 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

 

Therefore, God rested on the seventh day or what we know as Saturday after six days of work creating everything.  He didn’t rest because He needed it, but He knew we would need it and thus provided an example.

 

In the OT, the Sabbath was on Saturday or literally sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.  It was a day of rest and worship for the nation of Israel, and had specific instructions attached to it.  The most well-known would be those found as part of the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20:8-11. 

 

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

 

Consequently, the OT also contains a lot of laws pertaining to the Sabbath and what could be done and what shouldn’t be done.  With that in mind, look at Luke 6:1.

 

 

1. The Interrogation of Jesus by the Pharisees about the Sabbath, 6:1-2

1 Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went through the grain fields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. 2 And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” 

 

It was the Sabbath on Saturday, and Jesus and His disciples were walking through a field picking and eating grain.  Some Pharisees saw them and accused them of violating the Sabbath. 

 

How so?  Was it wrong to eat the grain?  No, it wasn’t wrong to eat the grain. 

 

In the eyes of the Pharisees, what was wrong was what happened before they ate.   What did they do before they ate?

 

They had to have picked and rubbed the heads of grain in their hands.  That amounted to harvesting and was prohibited work on the Sabbath. 

 

Were they not aware of Deuteronomy 23:25?

 

25 When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain.

 

Surely, they were.  However, they considered work to have happened regardless. 

 

 

2. The Explanation from Jesus to the Pharisees from God’s Word about the Sabbath, 6:3-5

3 But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?” 5 And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

 

Jesus answered them with the Bible.  Jesus reminded the Pharisees of a story about David from 1 Samuel 21. 

 

BTW, King David was a type of Christ.  What does that mean?  In many ways, but not all, King David foreshadowed Jesus Christ. 

 

David was with some of his army, and they were hungry and needed to eat.  Therefore, they entered the temple and ate some bread that was supposed to be for the priests only. 

 

However, it was the priest who gave David the bread and authorized his eating along with his men.  In effect, Jesus was saying if David could reinterpret the Law, and I am greater than David, then it is ok to for my disciples and I to pick grain and eat it on the Sabbath. 

 

Notice verse 5.  He said, the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.  Who was the Son of Man? 

 

It was Jesus.  He was claiming to be God, and claiming to have the authority to reinterpret the Law as He sees fit.

 

 

3. An Illustration of Mercy that took place on the Sabbath, Luke 6:6-11

6 Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. 8 But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?” 10 And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. 11 But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

 

Verse 6 takes us to another Sabbath or Saturday.  Jesus went to a local synagogue and was preaching.  There was also a man whose hand was withered.  We might say atrophied.

 

This is significant because the left hand was considered evil in Jewish culture, and therefore, this man could not work or hold a job if his only option was working with a withered right hand. 

 

The scribes and Pharisees watched Jesus closely.  They were like predators ready to pounce on their prey.  However, Jesus knew their schemes and their evil desires, and so He asked them a question about the man before He healed him. 

 

BTW, How did Jesus know their thoughts?  He knew their thoughts because Jesus was God, and God is omniscient or all-knowing.  

 

And, remember the Pharisees have their own idea of work.  The text seems to indicate that they would have considered healing as work and violating the Sabbath.

 

He asked in verse 9, “Is it lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath, to save a life or destroy it?” 

 

Understand what Jesus did.  He equated good with saving a life and evil with destroying a life.  They were speechless.

 

Consequently, Jesus acted…on the Sabbath.  He did good to this man.  He mercifully healed his hand and restored life to him enabling him to work and live normally in society. 

 

How did the Pharisees respond?  Look at verse 11.  The Pharisees were filled with rage because Jesus decided to save a man’s life…even on the Sabbath. 

 

 

Conclusions

What does all of this mean for you and me this morning, and how does it apply to our lives?

 

First, the Sabbath is important.  We need to rest.  It doesn’t have to be on Saturday, but it needs to be 24 hours in a week.

 

Exodus 23:12, 12 Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed.

 

Exodus 31:12-17, 12 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 14 You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”

 

Exodus 35:1-3, 35 Then Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said to them, “These are the words which the Lord has commanded you to do: 2 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. 3 You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”

 

However, the Sabbath is not only important for the Christian, but the only true rest that any person can every have is in Jesus.  Stop trying to work your way to heaven.

 

Matthew 11:28-30, 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

 

This is an invitation to be saved.

 

Second, Jesus is God, and how He interprets the Law is right.  He can reinterpret the Law.  He can heal a withered hand, and He can save your life today.

 

Third, whether it is the Sabbath or any other day, when you have the opportunity to do good, do it.  That doesn’t mean we skip corporate worship for service and ministry projects.

 

However, we need to remember Proverbs 3:27. 

 

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.

 

It has also been well said, “Good omitted is evil committed.”

 

Will You Believe?

This morning, we join Christians all over the world celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We’ll see that in just a minute from John 20.

 

However, I want to begin this morning reminding you why Jesus’ resurrection is different than every other resurrection.  The reason is that, truthfully, while there have been multiple resuscitations, there has only ever been one resurrection. 

 

What’s the difference?  Someone who has been resuscitated eventually died again.  That’s not true with Jesus.  He was resurrected never to die again.

 

In the OT, there were multiple resuscitations before Jesus.   Elijah resuscitated a widow’s son.  Elisha resuscitated the Shunammite’s son, and a dead man was resuscitated when his body touched Elisha’s buried bones.

 

1 Kings 17:21-22, 21 And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.” 22 Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived.

 

2 Kings 4:20, 20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

 

2 Kings 4:32, 32 When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed.

 

2 Kings 4:35, 35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

 

2 Kings 13:21, 21 So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

 

In the NT, there were multiple resuscitations after Jesus.  Peter resuscitated Tabitha.  Some believe Paul was resuscitated, and Paul, himself, resuscitated Eutychas.

 

Acts 9:40-41, 40 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.  41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

 

Acts 14:19-20, 19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

 

Acts 20:9-12, 9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” 11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.

 

There were even multiple resuscitations in the NT by Jesus.  He resuscitated Jarius’ daughter, a young man at Nain, and His friend Lazarus.

 

Mark 5:41, 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”

 

Luke 7:15, 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.

 

John 11:43-44, 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

 

And it was the resuscitation of Lazarus that set the stage and foreshadowed the RESURRECTION of Jesus!

 

John 11:25, 25 Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

 

Now, turn your attention to the Resurrection Morning of Jesus, and honestly answer this question, “Will you believe?”

 

 

10. John believed because of what he envisioned, John 20:1-10.

1 Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”  3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.  11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.

 

John 20 begins on Sunday morning after Jesus had been crucified in John 19 and laid in a garden tomb.  It was still dark, but Mary Magdalene came to the tomb to finish preparing Jesus’ body in their embalming process.

 

When she arrived, she found the stone already rolled away, and this sent her into panic.  She thought Jesus’ body had been stolen.

 

Out of fear, she ran to tell John and Peter.  When they heard, they then ran to the garden tomb to see for themselves. 

 

Peter went in first and examined the grave clothes.  Then John joined him, and verse 8 tells us that John believed after he saw or envisioned what had happened. 

 

In fact, Jesus had been resurrected just like He said He would, and now John got it.  It sunk in.  It clicked.

 

We see some really obvious evidences for the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection in these first few verses.  First of all, we see how history has evolved.  Because Sunday was the day that Jesus was resurrected, the Christian church began worshipping on Sunday rather than Saturday, and has done so for approximately 2000 years. 

 

Second, the first witness of the empty tomb was a woman.  If this was a fictional story, that is not how it would have been written in the first century. 

 

Third, the tangible evidence was overwhelming.  The stone had been moved, and the body was gone.  John believed because of what he envisioned.  Will you believe?

 

 

18. Mary believed because of who she encountered, John 20:11-18.

11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”  She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”  14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”  She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”  16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!”  She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).  17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”  18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

 

Unlike Peter and John, Mary didn’t go inside the tomb, and evidently didn’t talk with Peter and John when they exited.  Therefore, she was still under the impression that Jesus’ body had been stolen. 

 

In verses 12-13, we see Mary’s conversation with the angels who were there at the tomb.  Mary eventually saw Jesus even though she didn’t recognize Him at first. 

 

She thought He was the gardener of the garden tomb, but when He said her name, she believed because of who she had encountered.  She had encountered the resurrected Jesus.

 

In verse 17, not wanting to lose Him again, Mary grabbed Jesus around the legs, but Jesus reminded her that He still had to go to His Father.  Therefore, she couldn’t continue to hang on to Him. 

 

Mary then went to the other disciples to let them know who she had encountered, and she believed because of who she encountered.  Will you believe?

 

 

• Thomas believed because of what he experienced, John 20:19-29.

19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”  24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”  So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”  26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”  28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”  29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 

 

In verse 19, it was Sunday night, and this group of disciples was hiding for fear of their lives and what they had seen happen to Jesus.  When He joined them in the room, He showed them His hands and feet where the nails had pierced His body.

 

They rejoiced when they saw Him alive.  However, at this time, Thomas wasn’t with them, and verses 24-25 record his response to their report.

 

Fast-forward to approximately a week later in verse 26.  Thomas was with them now, and Jesus came to them again.

 

In verse 27, He had Thomas put his fingers into the actual holes in His body.  Because of what Thomas experienced, He then believed crying out, “My Lord and my God” in verse 28. 

 

Thomas believed because what he experienced.  Will you believe?

 

 

Conclusion

John believed because of what he envisioned.  Mary believed because of who she encountered.  Thomas believed because of what he experienced.  What about you? 

 

Did you know that this gospel was written for that very purpose?  Luke recorded these events in great detail so that you and I would believe.  See 20:30-31.

 

30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

 

This morning, will you believe and be saved? You can do that by admitting that you’re a sinner, believing that Jesus died on the cross for your sin, but He didn’t stay dead.  His resurrection affirms all that He said.

 

Now, will you call on Him to save you and confess Him as your Lord and Savior?

Jesus is Superior!

Take your Bibles and turn to Luke 5:33. I want to share a message with you this morning entitled, “Oil and Water Just Don’t Mix.” 

 

Oil and water don’t mix because of their molecular properties.  You have probably observed such in a science fair project, and we have certainly seen this reality in oil spills in the oceans around the world. 

 

In today’s text, Jesus reminds us that Judaism and Christianity don’t mix.  This is because Jesus is Superior! 

 

 

1. A Comparison of Students, Luke 5:33

33 Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?” 

 

Look at verse 33.  It seems that the Pharisees asked the question of why Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast and pray like the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees. 

 

These comments were probably a reference to Jesus’ disciples eating and drinking at the reception thrown by Levi or Matthew in honor Jesus.  They were seen as party animals by the scribes and Pharisees.

 

The Bible is full of different types of fasting which is the abstention from food.  Most of the time, the occasions were sorrowful or mournful, and fasting was seen as demonstration of God providing during a difficult time with His presence than actual food.

 

 

2. Jesus’ Comments on Sorrow, Luke 5:34-35

34 And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”

 

Beginning in verse 34, Jesus answered the question about His disciples and their not fasting with an analogy about weddings.  In short, He said this time was not a time of sorrow with fasting but one of celebration like a wedding.

 

In first century Jewish culture, newly married couples didn’t go on a honeymoon immediately following the wedding ceremony.  Instead, they joined family and friends for a wedding reception that usually lasted seven days.  It was a multiple-day event that was an occasion for celebration. 

 

Therefore, while the bride and groom are present, let’s celebrate.  Jesus was making Himself out to be the groom, and His disciples, or the church, was the bride. 

 

In verse 35, Jesus went on to say that when the groom is taken away from the wedding party, that will be a time to fast and mourn.  This is veiled reference first of all to Jesus’ death by crucifixion and second to His ascension and departure from the earth. 

 

When He is present, don’t demonstrate sorrow with fasting.  Celebrate His presence with joy!

 

 

3. Christ is Superior, Luke 5:36-39!

36 Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. 39 And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’”

 

Our last section is the continuation of Jesus’ words with three parables.  Each parable begins with the words “no one” in verses 36, 37, and 39.

 

Remember that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.  Jesus gave three very common and well-understand illustrations of the truth that Judaism and Christianity just don’t mix. 

 

The first parable is found in verse 36.  If you have an old garment, and it develops a hole, don’t patch the hole with a new garment. 

 

Why not? When the new garment patch is washed, it will shrink and tear away from the old garment.  Also, the new garment won’t match the old garment.  New and old just don’t mix, and Judaism and Christianity just don’t mix.

 

The second parable is found in verse 37.  It involves wineskins.  Wineskins were animal skins that were used to hold grape juice while it fermented. 

 

As the juice fermented, it expanded the wineskin.  Then the empty wineskin would dry and become brittle.  Therefore, you would not put new grape juice that had not fermented into an old wineskin that had already expanded once, had then dried out, and was now brittle. 

 

Instead, you should put new wine into new wineskins.  Why?  If you didn’t, the old wineskin would bust when the new win expanded during fermentation. 

 

You would lose the wineskin and all of the grape juice.  New and old just don’t mix, and Judaism and Christianity just don’t mix. 

 

The final parable is in verse 39.  However, it not only is a parable, but it is also a condemnation. 

 

Jesus said that once you drink old wine or fermented juice, you will not settle for new wine or unfermented juice if old wine is what you’re wanting.  You will say that the old is good enough.  Old and new just don’t mix, and Judaism and Christianity just don’t mix.

 

 

Conclusion and Application

So what does all this mean?  The Pharisees were wanting to take a few of Jesus’ practices and teachings and ad them to Judaism, and then everything would be just right. 

 

Here’s the problem.  Judaism and Christianity just don’t mix.  Old and new just don’t mix.  Oil and water just don’t mix.  Why?  Jesus is superior!!!

 

Now, let me conclude with three very specific applications.  First, if you’re here this morning, and you have yet to call on the name of the Lord to be saved, and you’re thinking that you will add a little of Jesus to your morality. 

 

It won’t work.  Oil and water just don’t mix.  Jesus doesn’t need any help in saving you.  When it comes to forgiveness of sins, heaven, and eternal life, it is only Jesus saves.  Will you call on Him today?

 

Second, Christians today often try to mix the ways of the world with the ways of the God.  It won’t work.  Oil and water just don’t mix.  See 1 Corinthians 10:21.

 

21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.

 

This morning, as it relates to salvation and sanctification, Jesus is superior.  Therefore, trust in Jesus alone to save you and sanctify you making your more like Himself.

Can We See Strange Things Happen at EBC?

I invite you to find Luke 5:17-26.  This morning’s sermon is entitled, “Can We See Strange Things Happen at Emory Baptist Church?”  That question will make more sense after we read today’s text. 

 

Just for your information, this same story is also found in Matthew 9 and Mark 2.  In our sermon series through those books, I have shared a sermon entitled, “Four of Kind Beats a Full House.” I wish I could take credit for that sermon title, but I actually heard it from Steve Stroop, pastor of Lakepointe Church in Rockwall.

 

Let me take just a moment to trace that thought.  As it relates to how poker hands rank, I know that the best hand possible is a Royal Flush.  That is a ten, a jack, a queen, a king, and an ace all in the same suit.  The next best hand is the Straight Flush.  That is something like 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 in the same suit. 

 

Just under a Straight Flush is four of a kind.  That could be four 2’s or four 7’s or four 10’s.  And just under four of a kind is a full house, which is three of a kind and one pair.  Four of a kind beats a full house.  Four of a kind beats a full house in poker and in today’s story from Luke 5.

 

 

1. Jesus’ Audacious Claim, 5:17-20

17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.  20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

 

Verse 17 begins with Jesus teaching.  Even though Luke doesn’t specify, we know from Mark that this occasion happened in an individual’s house, and as you will see, it must have been a large house due to the size of the crowd. 

 

In this house, along with common folks, were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting and listening to Jesus.  They had come from every village of Galilee and Judea. 

 

These were Jewish religious leaders.  They were known for their strict and literal understanding of the OT.

 

The end of verse 17 tells us that the power of the Lord was present for Jesus to perform healing.  We have seen Him heal previously and will continue, but keep in mind that this occasion begins as one devoted to teaching as that was Jesus’ primary ministry on earth.

 

In verse 18, we are introduced to some more individuals in this story.  Luke says some men were carrying a paralyzed man on a bed or mat.  Mark says it was four friends.  Evidently, they heard about Jesus’ ability to heal and were trying to get their friend to Jesus. 

 

However, verse 19 says they couldn’t get through because Jesus was in the middle of the room, and the crowd was too thick all the way around Him.  This was a full house.

 

BTW, this is the way it should always be.  When there is preaching, the house should always be full, and that should be true regardless of the preacher.  Why?  Because the preaching of God’s Word is more important than your day off.  The preaching of God’s Word is more important than your “honey-do’s.”  The preaching of God’s Word is more important than your hunting, fishing, or golfing, and the preaching of God’s Word is more important than your child’s extracurricular activities.

 

Therefore, they went to plan B.  They used an outside ladder to carry their paralyzed friend on the roof.  They then begin to take the roof apart in order to lower him down setting Him at Jesus’ feet.  Can you even imagine the scene? 

 

In verse 20, Jesus had stopped teaching and spoke directly to the paralyzed man.  However, notice how Luke worded this verse. When Jesus saw THEIR faith, He spoke to the man.

 

In this text, we see the power of intercession.  We see how absolutely essential it is that we act on behalf of others.  We must pray for them.  We must go to them.  We must bring them. 

 

This is the picture of four of a kind beating a full house.  It does in poker, and it did here when these four men brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus. 

 

These four had cooperation.  When was the last time you picked up 175 pounds of dead weight?  It’s not easy. The cooperated together and carried this man who was helpless otherwise. 

 

These four had determination.  They couldn’t get him into the house.  Did they give up?  Did they wait?  Did they ask Jesus to come outside?  No, they made their way to the roof, dug a hole, and lowered him down and placed him at the feet of Jesus. 

 

These four had motivation.  They knew Jesus could heal their friend. 

 

However, first, Jesus saved him, and when the words of forgiveness came from Jesus’ mouth, the Pharisees were in disbelief.  This was an audacious claim.

 

BTW, look at exactly what Jesus said.  Your sins are forgiven. 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, did you know that your sins separate you from God?  God is holy, and He cannot have fellowship with sinners.  See Romans 6:23.

 

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Our sin is a stench in His nostrils.  Our adultery deserves death.  Our arrogance deserves death.  Our gluttony deserves death.  Our greed deserves death.    Our laziness deserves death.  Our selfishness deserves death.

 

However, when we receive God’s Son, Jesus, as our personal Lord and Savior, God can and will have fellowship with sinners through His sinless Son, and He gives us the gift of eternal life in heaven.  The OT has wonderful word pictures of what forgiveness means.

 

Psalm 103:12, As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

 

Isaiah 38:17, Indeed it was for my own peace That I had great bitterness; But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

 

Jeremiah 31:34, No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

 

Micah 7:19, He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities.  You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

 

 

2. The Pharisees’ Appropriate Question, Luke 5:21

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

 

They were thinking that Jesus had just committed blasphemy.  That is to put yourself in the place of God. 

 

They knew that only God could forgive sins…and they were right.  So, do you know what Jesus was saying?  He was saying, “I am God!”

 

 

3. The Paralytic’s Amazing Conduct, Luke 5:22-26

22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”  25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”

 

Jesus knew what the Pharisees were thinking, and so He posed a dilemma in verse 23.  Is it easier to say a person’s sins are forgiven or to say get up and walk? 

 

It is certainly easier to say a person’s sins are forgiven because you can’t see that.  Nobody knows if they are or aren’t. 

 

However, if you say to a paralytic, “You are healed,” and yet, he can’t walk, you are a fake.  You are a fraud.  Therefore, it is much easier to say a person’s sins are forgiven. 

 

However, Jesus didn’t leave the situation.  He not only saved the man, look at what He also did. 

 

Look at verse 24.  In order to verify that in fact He was God, Jesus told the man to get up and walk.  You know what?  He did. 

 

Verse 25 says he immediately got up and picked up his bed and went home glorifying God.  God had saved him and healed him instantly. 

 

Verse 26 says all who saw this miracle and heard this miracle were amazed.  The paralytic’s conduct was amazing.  He couldn’t walk, but now he walked.   

 

The story ends with the crowd including the Pharisees and teachers of the law being in awe of what they had just witnessed with their own eyes.  They were glorifying God as well and saying, “We have seen strange things today.” 

 

That phrase literally means paradox.  A paradox is a statement or experience that seems to contradict itself.  In this instance, the paralytic came into the house unable to walk.  However, he left the house walking on his own power.  Another paradox is that most of the crowd would have thought this man had committed some really bad sins, and as a result, God punished him with paralysis.  However, he left the house having been saved with his sins forgiven.  That is a paradox. 

 

 

Conclusion

So here is my question.  Can we see strange things happen at Emory Baptist Church?  Can we see terrible sinners gloriously saved?  Can we see the deathly ill miraculously healed? 

 

It depends.  It will depend a lot on you.  Remember what verse 20 says, “Seeing their faith…”  Much of what happened to the man involved the faith of his friends.

 

Last Sunday, we had Friend Day at EBC.  Thank you for inviting friends, and thank you to friends for coming.

 

On March 24, we will celebrate Palm Sunday, and our Celebration Choir will be sharing their Easter Music Presentation.  Will you bring someone with you to church?

 

Easter Sunday will be March 31.  In 2021, we had 390 on Easter Sunday.  In 2022, we had 410 on Easter Sunday.  In 2023, we had 440 on Easter Sunday.  

 

In 2024, I am challenging you to have pack this auditorium with 500 people.  Here’s why.

 

The point of this story is that Jesus could forgive sins because Jesus was God.  He was omnipotent in verse 17.  He was omniscient in verse 22.  He was omni-benevolent in verse 23. 

 

Jesus was God, and only God can save and forgive sins and give eternal life, and that is the message that we want to share at Easter.  See John 11:25.

 

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.