The Book of Ephesians is a Theological Treasure Trove!
(Note: The message is in two parts around our sharing the Lord’s Table)
Two weeks ago in Chapter 1 we saw: Four Uniting Foundations OF MIDTOWN CHURCH
Unity In God’s Word as understood and applied consistently for 2000 years.
Unity In The Biblical Gospel Of Jesus Christ
Unity In The Biblical Indwelling Of God’s Spirit
Unity In The Biblical View of God’s Sovereignty / Authority
Our text today gives us critical truth regarding the Biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ and how that creates The New Testament Church / Christ’s Body.
Elements of The Biblical Gospel contained in Ephesians 2:
We all are born in a condition deserving God’s wrath for our rebellion and disobedience. We all need to be converted, BY GOD and only by God into His spiritual family. Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection are central and essential. On the cross Christ takes the wrath we deserve. In His resurrection we are united by His grace, making us alive with Him eternally.
He does it all from His unfathomable grace and love. We are the recipients of the faith to believe He has made peace for us and with us.
He saves those far from Him and near to Him, bringing us tog dies’ / ‘Local Churches’ that are built on the foundation of those He chose to reveal Himself through with Christ being the cornerstone. For 2000 years, followers of Christ have read this book and applied it the same way. God is the basis, power, determiner and enactor of our being placed into membership in the body of Christ (this body). Committed Membership is an essential environment in which we apply this Scripture.
EPHESIANS CHAPTER 2
1 Once you were dead in your condition of disobedience and sin. 2 You lived based on the order of this world, obeying the ruler of an unseen world, the spiritual force that actively empowers unbelief.
- Pointed directly at each individual in audience: ‘The Truly-Yielded In Christ’
- In order to be ‘In Christ’ you must recognize that you were once ‘Not In Christ’
- Whether overt sin or unseen attitudes, Scripture says we all obeyed Satan!
3 All of us once lived this way, serving the passionate desires and inclinations of our flesh. We were born in this condition and subject to God’s wrath, as is all humanity.
- Commonality of our condition makes us all the same degree guilty of rebellion
- Scripture states we don’t have to learn how to sin, it is our base condition
- Scripture declares every human is deserving of God’s wrath / punishment
If we accept this as The Truth about our condition BEFORE God rescues us, then we shall also recognize that we have no remedy for this situation…
4 But God in His unparalleled mercy and unending love, made us alive together with Christ, 5 even though we were spiritually dead because of our sins! It is only by God’s grace that we have been saved!
- But God!
- May all those God has bought with His blood & placed His Spirit into rejoice!
- Incomprehensible Mercy! Love that is Eternal and Omni-Everything!
- Grace: Unearned Favor! That is what saves you and I, God in His GRACE!
6 He raised us from the dead in Christ and gave us eternal life because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 For all eternity God will demonstrate the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
- God’s eternal animation of our Souls comes from our being made one W/ Christ
- Those God redeems are the eternal legacy of His favor based on His goodness
8 You are saved by God’s grace through faith. This is not your doing; it is the gift of God. 9 This salvation is not the result of anything we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, fashioned in Christ Jesus, to do the virtuous things He foreordained.
- What saves each of us is one thing and one thing only: Grace (redundant)
- This grace is understood, experienced and lived out based on faith
- We don’t do the grace part & we don’t do the faith part. Both are gifts of God!!
- If you think you made it happen…then you don’t have it!
- ‘We’ refers to those Christ has made to be His church, to continue His legacy
11 Remember you Gentiles were called uncircumcised by those who were circumcised in man made ways.12 Remember you were without the intervention of Christ. You were excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenant promises God made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.
- Don’t ever forget how far you have come! (‘Unchurched’ is today’s equivalent)
- However you were raised you can be the recipient of God’s grace
- Until God makes us His we are truly without hope!
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 Christ himself is our peace. He united Jews and Gentiles when, in his own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us from God.
- Being far from God can be overcome, In Christ!
- How does it happen ‘By The Blood’??? God sheds His own ‘Life Force’ for U!
- The person of Jesus Christ is stressed, our faith is not in doctrine, it’s in Christ!
- The surrender of Jesus’ body removed the barrier (Sin) between us & God
15 This abolished the law of commandments and statutes so He could create in Himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together, Christ reconciles both groups to God and to each other, by means of his death on the cross.
- Christ’s death on the cross rendered the Mosaic Law unnecessary
- The law divided ethnic groups, Christ’s death make one new group
- Christ’s death on the cross makes reconciliation with God and others happen
17 Christ came to announced this Good News of peace to those alien to God, and peace to those near to God. 18 Now all people can have access furnished by the One Spirit to the Father. 19 You are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people.
- The message of the Biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ is for all people
- The indwelling of The One Spirit connects us to God, He unites with us
- All who biblically convert to Christ’s Lordship belong equally to a community
- This is Jesus’ church, it’s a big deal
20 Together we are members of God’s spiritual family, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 We are purposefully joined together in Him, becoming a holy temple in Christ The Lord. 22 Together were are becoming the dwelling place of God’s Spirit.
- We each ‘convert’ to God’s family as an individual; surrendering to His call
- That call and our surrender is informed by those God revealed Himself through
- Christ is the apex of God’s revelation, the cross & resurrection are crucial
- True salvation only come from a biblical response to the biblical message
- This unity of being makes us God’s Temple, we each house His Spirit
- As Christ’s Church our unity is based on Scripture (not feelings or social norms)
SUMMARY
We all are born in rebellion against God, living under the rule of Satan, deserving ‘God’s Justice’.
God came to our world, His death & resurrection unites us in eternal life with Christ.
Those God saves by grace, are an eternal demonstration of His mercy, love and kindness.
Christ’s Biblical Church are His ‘humbled handiwork’, living in grace by faith, doing God’s will.
All spirit filled believers are united to each other and to God through Christ’s death & resurrection forming God’s Spiritual Family / Christ’s Body / The New Testament Church.
Each local group of believers exists based on Scripture and in unity worship & honor their Lord.
APPLICATION:
Based on this passage what is your role in becoming saved from God’s wrath by Christ’s death & resurrection?
How do you consistently express the gratitude you have for Christ uniting you to God?
What are some examples of how you lived differently before and after surrendering your life to Jesus Christ? Have you begun the good work God has appointed you to?
If you are a member of this church, how well are you living up to the commitment you made in signing the member covenant?
John 14:1-6
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
We must trust in the care and wisdom of God when tempted to be anxious.
How do we trust God when our hearts are troubled?
#1: We believe in the character of God
- V. 1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me”
# 2: We look beyond our current trouble
- V.2-3 “In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.”
# 3: We embrace our all-sufficient JESUS
- V. 5-6 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Midtown church is here today because of the word of God, nothing more, nothing less! The only way we will continue to be God’s church is by keeping the word of God in it’s proper place. You notice I said ‘Keeping’, we are upholding the Apostolic Foundations of Christ’s Church, the church founded buy HIS disciples.
We have not and we will not be jumping on the bandwagon of the current day’s thinking; the latest new way to be a Christian, a redefining of Jesus message and all of Scripture. There’s been plenty of new ways to be a Christian throughout the last 2000 years, at some point these groups have all committed heresy . Why does it get deemed heresy? Because it contradicts the word of God.
The Biblical Understanding that Jesus built His church upon has not changed in 2000 years. The Apostles formed their beliefs from Jesus Christ, the Church formed it’s beliefs from The Apostles, we continue to believe what they believed 2000 years ago.
Midtown church is not goin g to buy into some ‘new understanding’ of scripture, deciding that you and some others in the past 30 or 40 years have now figured out what God was ‘really’ saying is a lie. At that point your belief falls into only one of two possible categories. Either all the Biblical / Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ has been wrong for 2000 years, or YOU are wrong…
Building Biblical Culture is how we stay clear of starting down the road of redefining Scripture to fit our need to ‘feel’ one way or another. Looking clearly at the Scriptures, in their intended context, is how we see what God’s standards are, upon which HE built the foundations of HIS Church. But we must not give lip service to these foundations we must apply them to our lives and live out a biblical culture of honoring God.
Since the founding of Midtown Church eleven years ago, we have always affirmed four crucial beliefs, taken directly from Scripture, that are key foundations of the New Testament Church. These four doctrines guide our culture. They put us on the same page as we join God in His redemptive work. They create the basis on which we honor Him, this is how we are united with His will.
Four Uniting Foundations: 3 We see directly in the todays text, 1 guides us to the text. Unity In God’s Word as understood and applied consistently for 2000 years. Unity In The Biblical Gospel Of Jesus Chris. Unity In The Biblical Indwelling Of God’s Spirit. Unity In The Biblical View of God’s Sovereignty / Authority
Ephesians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Paul’s humble understanding of himself: ‘I am who I am because of God’s will.’
- This is written to an established & mature body of Christ
- He recognizes the gift of grace & peace they have from God (Indwelling Spirit)
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. 4 Even before He made the world, God chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.
- He has given us everything (He is everything) SO He gets all praise
- He blessed us in His perfect plan, pre-creation, choosing to forgive us ‘In Christ’
- This is the biblical gospel of Jesus Christ: God choosing to forgive His followers
5 In love He predestined to adopt us as His own, bringing us to Himself through Christ Jesus. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace He has freely given those who belong to Christ.
- What does predestined mean? The greek word is ‘proorizo’ ; Used 6 times N.T.
- It means: to limit or mark out beforehand; to design definitely beforehand, ordain beforehand, predestine
- Adopted ‘through’ Christ…He planned it, He did it, He liked it!
- As recipients of this glorious grace of eternal adoption we respond with praise!!
7 According to the abundance of His grace, He purchased us with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered grace on us, from His all encompassing wisdom and insight.
- His unchanging character is to extend grace in ways we can’t quite fathom
- He bought us by blood sacrifice: His way since the beginning
- Story of workers being paid: Matthew 20:1-16 ‘Last will be first, first will be last’
9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ, intentionally enacting His purpose. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will unite everything under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.
- The mystery revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Christ (& return)
- It all points to the future when Christ will return; crucial aspect of biblical gospel
11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, having been predestined according to the purpose of the One who works all things according to his plan.
- Paul and the Ephesian church are already united with Christ as we can be
- Being united with Christ means being a ‘heir’ as Christ is
- Redundancy of the term ‘predestined’ is used with intention
- Those of us God has chosen to unite with Christ are united in God’s will
12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, you were marked with His seal, the promised Holy Spirit.
- Constantly scripture teaches that all things happen by God’s will and purposes
- This is telling us God is in total control of all events everywhere
- Trusting the truth: God being so authoritative & yet so forgiving
- The Good News that unites us is that while we deserve wrath God gives mercy
- At the moment your belief is given to you by God, He also gives you His Spirit
- It is an eternal change of your person at every level: “mind, soul & strength’
- It is a mark given by God that is irrevocable, fulfilling numerous prophecies!
14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify Him.
- When God gives us salvation He wants us to be sure about it
- God indwelling those He has predestined for salvation is an amazing gift
- An foretaste of eternal life, God places us ‘In Christ’ by placing Christ ‘In Us’
- Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God. Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood!
- We are united by God’s Spirit living in us, it is a foundation of His church!
15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, 16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.
- The Spirit of God in His purchased saints unites them in love for God’s people
- It gives us an appreciation of God’s work in others and gratitude to God for it
- It gives us the desire to pray for other believers to grow in maturity
- It motivates the Great Commission
18 I pray that the eyes your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He called—His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance.
- What are the ‘Eyes of Your Heart’?
- Light stands for illuminated understanding of what God has done for you!
- The Spirit of God living in us lets us know we have hope for eternity with God
- It is not a physical / mental understanding…it is a spiritual understanding
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
- Paul is praying for all ‘spirit indwelt’ believers to ‘make it real’
- The Spirit of God is the bringer of new life, eternal life… that is what we have!
- If we have been given eternal life we are to live based on that, not this world.
21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
- Christ is God’s expression of love and forgiveness AND His authority
- You can be compassionate and be uncompromising regarding the truth
- Being under the authority of Christ is the best possible thing for us
- Christ’s authority has not changed over time, this is what Midtown believes
- There is no ‘new revelation’ or new understanding
SUMMARY:
The Biblical Gospel states that before creation God chose the objects of His grace and forgiveness. He purchases them with Christ’s blood and gives them an inheritance of eternal life. He does everything!
All those God predestines for eternal life He indwells with His Spirit as a downpayment on eternity. Through God’s Spirit living in us; we are assured of our salvation as well as given spiritual power, wisdom and insight.
All this was done exactly as God promised and planned under His complete authority. As Christ’s church we are exceedingly blessed to be under that authority, we were meant to be His body with Him at the center of everything.
Jesus’ church is united under Christ’s authority by the Biblical Gospel, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the unchanging truth of Scripture, that we would give Him praise and glory!
The message of Scripture is unchanging. Midtown Church will read and apply all of Scripture exactly as it has been read and applied by Jesus Christ’s Church for two thousand years, not based on current trends and thought.
APPLICATION:
How much time have you put into understanding what the people who have followed Jesus Christ for two thousand years have believed about the Old & New Testament Scriptures?
Why is it important for us to be united as a church around the Biblical Gospel?
What are the benefits you experience from being indwelt with God Spirit? Does your experience match up with Scripture?
How does the authority of Christ in your life affect how you function as you are meant to in HIS body?
The Road to Emmaus and The Ascension
We’re still on Easter Sunday at this point. Jesus does not come out and show who He is right away. One of the questions we’ll try to answer is why does Jesus beat around the bush? We’ll see how Jesus reveals what has happened, but only after giving it the context it deserves to be fully understood. Jesus coming back to life is incredible, but we’ll read how it is made even more impressive and transformational when weaved into God’s big picture.
Luke 24:13-53
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
- Some weird stuff is going to happen. The flesh of Jesus has died and resurrected, and a lot of physical limitations aren’t a thing anymore.
- People are kept from recognizing him, He appears and disappears from places.
- These people here knew Jesus, maybe not well, but they were in the entourage. Clearly supernatural that they do not recognize him.
- Luke probably got this account first hand from one of these disciples.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;
- Jesus is a funny guy. Knows exactly what has been going on, but wants them to tell him.
- Reminds me a little of the first sin in the garden. God asks them where they are and what happened.
- Luke is name dropping who this is, so that people reading this will connect more to it.
21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
- Todd spoke of “hope” last week. The women at the tomb maintained their hope, but these men seem to have lost it. vs 21 “had hoped”
- BUT, their hope in Jesus was not based in scripture, it was their own desires.
- The greek word for “redeem” here means to liberate from ransom, from roman rule.
- They wanted a political revolution, Jesus to become a physical earthly king.
- V. 23 They did not believe the testimony of others. the women saw the angels, but they still don’t believe.
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
- God told Abraham his lineage would bless the world, specifically Isaac and Judah
- God told David the throne of his ancestor would be eternal
- “When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:12–13).
- The prophet Isaiah clearly stated how the messiah would be born
- “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). (God with us)
- Isaiah 53:5-6 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
- Jesus explains what scripture says the messiah will look like, what he came to do. Jesus had to do this; it was the plan from the beginning.
- Jesus uses scripture, vs 27 “expounded” (Dier-men-euo) implies sticking close to the text. When Jesus explained things concerning Himself in the Old Testament, He didn’t use fancy allegories or speculative ideas.
- He is using the actual words of God to explain it. Do we believe that it is sufficient? Jesus considers this an authoritative text, do you?
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
- V. 29 Some translations say “constrained him”. they might have been pulling at his clothes, holding him close. Another word would be prevailed upon, to impose your will. Why would they do this? They didn’t know he was the Christ, but the truth He spoke was so magnetic, they needed to be around him.
- V. 31 “eyes were opened”, is a passive verb, God is the one doing the opening.
- These men didn’t know about the last supper, they weren’t there. Somehow that act opened their eyes to who Jesus was.
- Maybe the pierced hands that gave the bread. Maybe the blessing. Whatever it was, God used it to open their eyes.
- It says their hearts were burning, and their minds were opened. You can know scripture, but unless Jesus opens your mind you won’t understand.
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
- While this has been going on, it appears that Jesus also appeared to Peter.
- This is now multiple witnesses confirming the resurrection.
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.
- Jesus makes it abundantly clear that he has a physical body. He has actually come back to life. Examples of spirits coming back like Samuel.
- This is the same body that was beaten and hung on the cross.
- The marks on his body remain as trophies of His great work on the cross.
41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
- The scene is unreal. The man you saw die on a cross is standing in front of you, eating, talking, teaching
- V. 41 “they still did not believe BECAUSE of joy and amazement”. How??
- God wants from us a faith that is reasoned and thought-out, not a giddy belief.
- In both cases, seeing the miracles themselves did not produce belief. It needed to be seen within the context provided by the scripture.
- “I am not excusing, the unbelief of the disciples, but I claim that their witness has all the more weight in it, because it was the result of such cool investigation.” (Spurgeon)
- To get all the way there, it can’t just be all emotion. It must be combined with reason and understanding as well.
- We can be excited about it, but without the scriptures, it will not manifest into belief. We need the scriptures.
- But do not forget! These men knew the scriptures well, but needed Jesus to “open their minds” so they could perceive clearly the scriptures.
46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
- This is as clear Jesus has been to this point. Tells us why he died, and for who.
- The cross is not an obstacle that needed to be overcome, it was a needed part of God’s plan of redemption.
- The gospel message includes repentance and remission of sin only by the virtue of His name.
- He also gives a command to stay in Jerusalem until the spirit is imparted.
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
- We know from other gospels and Luke’s second volume called Acts, that Jesus continued to appear to people for 40 days, so no longer on easter here.
- The blessings of Jesus aren’t a “hope it works out!” thing. There is power in it!
- There is a finality in this goodbye. Unlike when he would disappear other times. Beginning of a new chapter in history.
- They were obedient, and (V. 52) “with great joy” means they really believed.
SUMMARY
Jesus died but did not stay in the grave!
Jesus wanted the men on the road to understand God’s big picture before they saw Him for who He was.
The word of God has pointed to Jesus from the very beginning, laying out specifically what needed to be done.
The body of Jesus was physically resurrected, and maintained the proof of the work He had accomplished. He died for our sins!
Jesus tells us we need the word of God, to ignore it is short sighted, prideful, and foolish.
You can read the bible a hundred times but unless Jesus opens the eyes of your heart, you won’t understand. It isn’t something we grasp on our own.
This event fundamentally changed the relationship between mankind and God, and will result in a dramatic change in the actions of the lives of his followers.
APPLICATION
Is your hope in Jesus the Messiah based on scripture, or your own desires? What can we do to truly know Jesus more?
Do you consider the texts authoritative, the way Jesus did?
How well do you know the old testament? Do you think it’s important toward your relationship with Jesus?
If the events surrounding the death and resurrection hasn’t changed your actions, what does that say about your belief in it?
The way we see Jesus is by spending time in the scriptures, and practicing and remembering his sacrifice. Is this a reality in your life?
Christ’s Death, Burial & Resurrection Gives us Grace, Purpose, Hope & Trust
What do you need this morning? Really, what do you think and believe you need? If you need grace and forgiveness, Christ offers you grace without shame! If you need purpose & meaning in life, Christ offer you an eternal legacy of love! If you need hope, Christ offers you hope you can live on! If you need to trust & believe in something beyond yourself, Christ offers you Himself
If you need a car, a job, an apartment or various ‘things’, you’re in the wrong place!
LAST WEEK: We ended with the second thief owning up to his sin and asking Jesus to be included in His kingdom
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
- Christ made this promised to a repentant sinner who believed He was God
- He makes that promise to YOU AND I today if WE repent and believe.
- Here is the grace we can all have, no shame only forgiveness!
Luke 23:44-56 & 24:1-12
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
- It doesn’t say it got real cloudy, it literally says ‘The Sun Failed’
- THE Curtain…torn in two means down the middle, top to bottom
- The barrier to God’s mercy was removed from the top (Only God could do it)
- It was finished! And He made the final surrender as the incarnated Christ
- In all His humanity, staring death in the face, He entrusts it all to The Father
- And in all His humanity He died. A physical death just like each of us will face
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”48 When all the people who had gathered for the spectacle saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
- Why does the centurion say this? To show that God can make anyone believe
- The Jews gathered for nothing more than the spectacle that it was
- They did what they were supposed to do, outward show of remorse
- This show how the Jews could be unconvinced while a Roman soldier was
- Then there are Christ’s followers, all the way from Galilee to The Cross
- The followers heard the heartfelt declaration of the soldier
- The followers saw the jews ‘go thru the motions’ of religion
- How are you responding to the reality of Christ’s sacrifice today?
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.
- Joseph of Arimathea was not complicit in the evil actions of The Sanhedrin
- From the birthplace of Samuel, near Bethlehem, most likely an Ephraimite
- Waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God = On the lookout for the Messiah
- By going ‘All in’ with Jesus, Joseph left an eternal legacy: talk about meaning!
- He didn’t have all the answers but he acted, sacrificed and risked for Christ
52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
- Because of his faith, Joseph took great risk and sacrificed much
- He used his status to do what he could for the kingdom
- Joseph had purpose and meaning serving Christ as best he knew how
- Provided an honorable grave to compensate for such a dishonorable death
- It is widely believed it was to be his own personal tomb, in upscale cemetery
- God said: “Go to Pilate, get the body, put it in your tomb.” And Joseph did it!
- I went in that tomb! (I believe it was)
- Normally the work of getting the body ready for burial would happen
55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
- The women kept following Jesus from the Cross to the Tomb
- They kept putting their hope in Jesus even though total uncertainty
- They had to do nothing for 36 hours…
Sundown Friday the Sabbath begins, the sabbath during Passover. Nothing happens for 36 hours or so it seems…God was content to wait for it all be revealed. Did God have His own Sabbath?Did God want to demonstrate Jesus was Fully Dead. Maybe He was building the hope in His followers.
1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
- It’s Sunday morning, they endured the Sabbath of inaction, waiting & hoping
- Can you imagine how they felt when they see the empty tomb?
- When your hope is being fulfilled your heart skips a beat
4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; He has risen!
- How is the stone moved? Where is Jesus’ Body? What’s happening… BOOM!
- Two big guys dressed in ‘lightning’… that is the literal translation
- They’re a little freaked out seeing the tomb empty, imagine seeing these guys!
- They don’t know what to do besides fall prostrate before the Angels
- The Angels are like: “Of course He is alive, why would He not conquer death?”
- They basically say: He is God, He is more powerful than death!
Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” 8 Then they remembered his words.
- Holy Spirit Flash Back!
- The gift of seeing God do what He says: Trust and believe it when God speaks!
- The story of Easter was foretold by Christ Himself
- He is bigger than these events, He is the Author of these events!
- Jesus is worthy to trust in and believe on because He is God!
9 Returning from the tomb they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
- They were not ready to believe, we have all been there…
- They would put it all together soon.
12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, reverently contemplating what had happened.
- Peter, just like you and me, wanted grace, purpose and hope he could trust in
- He found an empty tomb and he looked to God to explain it
SUMMARY:
God graceful promise of forgiveness and eternal life is for all who repent and believe: it’s never too late, no one is too sinful!
Jesus of Nazareth, The Christ, The Messiah actually died a physical death as each person must.
How you react to Christ’s death is what matters, not what motions you go through.
There is eternal meaning and purpose to be found in serving God, it’s not about getting some master plan, it’s about doing what He asks when He asks it.
In the middle of the most amazing story in all human History, God has everyone honor the Sabbath, showing not the abolishment of the Law, but it’s fulfillment!
Hope in Christ is rewarded with God’s faithfulness and in that we learn how to trust and be part of something transcendent: Christ’s Kingdom!
If you can’t quite make sense of what God has done, run to the empty tomb and see for yourself!
APPLICATION:
How aware are you of your soul’s need for forgiveness?
What specifically gives your life meaning and purpose?
How would you rate your capacity to hope?
Do you completely trust God that God has provided grace, meaning and hope for eternity in your heart and soul?
IF NOT, RUN TO THE EMPTY TOMB!
What Christ did for each of us changes everything.
In today’s passage I see three people who I am because of Jesus Christ. I am going to testify to this scripture, I hope you can and will too!
I Am Barabbas, I Am Simon, & I Am The Second Criminal!
In Luke’s Gospel we see God’s sovereign plan to bring full and permanent redemption to the human race. In the midst of Christ laying down His life He interacts with three men. All of these men are examples of how we are to be with Christ.
Last Week:
23:11&12: Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. (Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.)
Luke 23:13-43
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.
- It can be assumed that when they brought Jesus back he and Pilate talked
- When Pilate was done talking to Jesus he told the Chief Priests
16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” 17 Every year at the Passover Feast, Pilate had to release one prisoner to the people. 18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
- Pilate says: I will do my passover ceremony release thing and call it a day
- The crowd, led by the Sanhedrin will not take NO for an answer
- The ‘whole crowd’ was willing to put a killer back on the street, why?
- The work of sin, in the chief priests and the sinful crowd (any crowd)
- Sin in the leaders and the crowd condemn The Christ to die (God’s Plan)
20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”
- It has kind of blown up on Pilate, he had no idea this was going to cause unrest
- The city was packed to the gills full of Israelites who came for Passover
- Pilate’s #1 job as a Roman Governor: KEEP THE PEACE!
- Three times pilate has tried to release Jesus
23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
- Pilate’s 3rd & final attempt to release Jesus is met with: ”Crucify Him’!
- The crowd had been won over by the Jewish religious leaders
- The threat of a riot was real so Pilate pronounced judgement
- Barabbas was to be put to death for Rebellion.
- Jesus was put to death in place of Barabbas, though totally innocent
- Barabbas was set free even though he was clearly guilty
- I AM BARABBAS! If Jesus Christ died in your place then so are you!
- God laid out a perfect illustration of what salvation would look like
- He would die in the place of those who were guilty of sin and deserved it.
- Barabbas was the 1st of many Jesus The Christ would die in place of.
- Christ doesn’t’ die to save You from earthy death…
- Christ dies to save you from eternal death!
- I wonder what became of Barabbas…
26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
- There is this guy, on his way in from the country… minding his own business…
- Jesus must have been unable to carry it, the soldiers need to get to the ‘Skull’
- Very harsh & super random being called to serve like this (life changing)
- He is mentioned by name most likely because the readers of this know of him
- His son’s are mentioned in Mark’s Gospel (Mark usually has less detail)
- God uses Simeon to paint the picture of discipleship as Jesus had described it
- Luke 9:23, where Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me”
John Piper says: “Carrying the cross behind Jesus is a beautiful and painful picture of our calling as disciples… The call to suffer for Jesus is often sudden and costly and seemingly random.”
27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’
- The walk is an event, and it was recorded, it was know, it is historical fact!
- Via Dolorosa: The Way of the Cross
- Jesus addresses the crowd of Jews as ‘Daughters of Jerusalem’
- It will be so bad for Israel that people will be better if they didn’t have kids
- Children were such a blessing; it had to be brutal conditions to not want them
30 Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ (Hosea 10:8b) 31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
- Asking the mountains & hills to cover you means, what is coming is worse than being buried by an avalanche! Doom is coming! The Wrath of God!
- The nation of Israel has lived in God’s favor & under His Judgement: 2nd Exile
- Another translation renders this: If these things are done to me, the living tree, what will happen to you, the dry tree?
- Without belief in the Messiah the nation of Israel becomes a dry tree
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
- These guys were slated to die today with Barabbas…
- The skull was just outside the ‘Old City’, I stayed close to it (Damascus Gate)
- Jesus was the focal point, and when all three were up there The Christ Says:
- The roman soldiers who were doing the deed had no idea
And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
- Very unusual for someone to get to Crucification with anything of worth on them
- The soldiers commit this thievery because the crowd was so against Jesus
- The chief priests took the chance of becoming ‘ceremonially unclean’ to mock!
- The religious leaders mock Jesus just like occupying soldiers do!
- The sign really disproves those who say Jesus never declared Himself God
- God put that sign there. He is my king…I am a Jew (Spiritual Israel)
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
- This guy who is dying on a cross gets in on the mockery!! (Sin loves company)
- The other criminal is like: ‘Really?” While you are dying you are gonna mock?
- He reminds his partner in crime that they got caught ‘red handed’
- He gets revelation of who Jesus actually is! The Christ.
- He speaks God’s words (scripture) “This One is blameless”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
- Remember my knowing you as God…remember me knowing you are King!
- Jesus Christ gives the promise to all who make Him Lord: Eternal Life!
SUMMARY:
The Sanhedrin getting the crowd to insist on having Jesus killed was no accident, it was God allowed, it was God’s will and it was God’s justice.
God orchestrated Pilate releasing Barnabas to demonstrate how One who was truly blameless took the place of another who deserved to die. I am Barabbas!
Awhile following Jesus Christ, you may have your life unexpectedly invaded as God sees fit. If you surrender to it, your obedience will change your lifestyle. I am Simon!
The fate of the nation of Israel is proclaimed by Christ and it has truly come to pass.
Religious rulers, soldiers and even a criminal mocked Jesus. If you don’t mock Christ, yet never convert like the 2ndcriminal, you still have the same eternity as the mockers. I am the 2nd criminal!
As Christ followers we are directed by scripture to live out the identity of Barabbas, Simon and the 2nd Criminal. That is the identity of a Disciple of Jesus The Christ!
APPLICATION:
Do you believe in a fully sovereign or partially sovereign God? What is He not fully in charge of?
If you were facing death and someone else took your place how would you react?
How have you carried Christ’s Cross and how has it transformed you?
Have you fully believed on Christ’s divinity, sovereignty and ability to grant eternal life like the 2nd criminal did?
Friday AM: Denied, Mocked & Interrogated
Three Days that changed EVERYTHING: history, politics, culture & cultures, social constructs, community relations and world wide values…everything! What happened two thousand twenty odd years ago on a Friday, Saturday & Sunday in Jerusalem changed our the story of humanity like nothing before or since. Do we properly understand exactly what transpired? Do we grasp the significance and spiritual impact of what occurred? Do we live based on the reality of what God did that Friday, Saturday and Sunday? Putting all the pieces together can enable us to fully celebrate Easter this year. And it can also enable us to walk in faith with God at a deeper level having a greater appreciation for what Christ did!
Doctor Luke is going to be our guide through these three days… we have other information but we will focus primarily on what Luke depicts and nail that information down.
Thursday is the beginning of Passover, the upper room was prepared, Christ celebrates the ‘Last Supper’. Jesus washes the disciples feet, Judas moves to betray Jesus, Peter says: “no matter what, I won’t deny you Jesus!” Jesus say, ‘Not once but three times!” Jesus and The Eleven leave the upper room, go to the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prays, the disciples can’t stay awake…
As we join the story it is the middle of the night, the wee hours of Friday, what will forever be known as ‘Good Friday’. But it seems anything but good: Judas has led a group of temple guards to where Jesus and the disciples have been praying in Garden of Gethsemane. Judas identifies Jesus and then Peter thinking he needs to defend Christ, cuts off the ear of the High Priest’s servant. Jesus heals the man’s ear and gives himself up.
The last thing Jesus says before they take him away: 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”
Gospel of Luke 22:54-71 & 23:1-12
54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them.
- All of this is going on under the cover of night…
- Evil works in secrecy; when you have something to hide, you hide it
- The temple guards took Jesus to the house of their boss for safekeeping
- Peter tries to be part of the crowd
56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” 57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. 58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
- Upon close examination, Peter is called out twice as having been with Jesus
- Second time he is emphatic in his denial of being a follower of Jesus
59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” 60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
- He is accused a third time of being with Jesus, he is marked as ‘Galilean’
- As Peter is talking, the rooster crows, meaning the sun is about to come up
- Jesus had been in the courtyard the entire time, He heard all 3 denials
- Peter recalled the exchange from the previous evening (12 hours ago)
- Why did Peter do it? He had not yet been indwelt with The Holy Spirit
63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65 And they said many other insulting things to him. 66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them.
- They were at the home of the High Priest’s for 4 or 5 hours by this time
- They taunted Him because He they didn’t believe He was God
- Then about 6am the ‘Sanhedrin’ is ready to meet
67 “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”
- As a criminal they question Him
- Their goal was to get Him to declare Himself The Messiah
- If He declares Himself Messiah then they can put him to death
70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.”71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard I t from his own lips.”
- They try to get Him to say it another way
- He uses the phrase ‘I am’ (He has done this before)
- They take that as an admission of guilt
1 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.” 3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
- They took Him to the Governor; only he could put someone to death
- They then characterize the charges as being a direct affront to Roman rule
- Pilate’s question is a form of mockery
- Jesus being ‘King of the Jews’ would still make Him have to answer to Pilate
4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” 5 But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”
- He proclaims to everyone (there is a crowd gathered) no reason to charge Him
- The Sanhedrin will not take no for an answer
- They need to get rid of Jesus because He threatens their power
- They claim He is creating unrest (Roman rule was all about order)
- They identify Jesus as being from Galilee…
6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
- Pilate figures out how to pass the buck, He is not inclined to Judge Jesus
- By sending Him to Herod Pilate avoids the Sanhedrin’s pressure to kill Jesus
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.
- Herod Antipas was a figurehead, a puppet of Rome
- He was curious about Jesus, viewed Him as a ‘spectacle’ or ‘performer’
- Jesus does not dignify him with any response because he was a fraud
10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.
- The agenda of ‘The Chief Priests’ is driving Herod to act
- Because of Jesus’s silence & Sanhedrin insistence; Herod gets on board
- If Herod backs the Sanhedrin, then Pilate will order Jesus’ death
- All the Jewish authorities bless this execution but Pilate is the one in charge
- They were enemies, but in Jesus’ death they will collaborate (by the will of God)
- This series of events is happening based on God’s sovereign control
SUMMARY:
The events that lead up to and include Jesus Christ’s death reveal God’s humility, justice and sovereignty. They also reveal the sin that each member of the human race must deal with.
The Religious Leaders have to capture Jesus at night because they know they are wrong in doing it. Corruption and the work of satan takes place behind closed doors in secrecy.
The denial of Christ by His right hand man was part of the humiliation He suffered. Peter’s denial sets the stage for his transformation once God’s Spirit indwells him.
The Jewish religious establishment was corrupt and responded to Jesus’ threat to their power with the exercise of their power. Part of that was public mockery, a true display of humans capacity for evil / sin.
The way Christ is interrogated is meant to help us see how we insincerely interrogate God. We are unable to fully understand God’s sovereign justice and think we can question why God has done something.
APPLICATION:
What is the difference between privacy and secrecy in your life?
How have you been transformed by your conversion to following Christ and the indwelling of God’s Spirit?
Have you seen God mocked in our world today and how have you responded to it?
Would you consider the enacting of God’s will to be perfectly just? If not, why?
In the final chapter of Song of Songs the Bride recalls the importance of family and exclusiveness. The Bride expresses her dependance on her darling, and declares their emotional and physical oneness. She and the community affirm the value of her physical purity and in perfect unity the Bride & Groom go to a life of sweetness together!
Song of Songs 8
(Bride) 1 I wish you were my brother, who nursed at my mother’s breast; then, if I met you outdoors, I could kiss you, and no one would look down on me.
- This is like calling him ‘Brother Groom’, like he called her ‘Sister Bride’
- It speaks of a love that is as strong as a sibling’s loyalty
- She longs to express her love fully in public.
- She cares about the community and wants to be in unity with it
(Bride) 2 I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house, and she would instruct me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, fresh juice from my pomegranates. 3 His left arm would be under my head and his right arm around me. 4 I warn you, daughters of Jerusalem, not to awaken or stir up love until it wants to arise!
- This is the ideal of marriage God’s way: it is a family affair
- She is going to seek the wisdom of one who has been where she is going
- This wisdom will be like wonderful refreshment for her Groom
- They would be in the perfect position to awaken the fullness of love
(Guests) 5 Who is this, coming up from the desert, leaning on her darling?
- The ‘Who is this’ speaks that transformation has occurred in the Bride
- The community is recognizing the Bride has been in the ‘desert’
- She comes up out of the desert only with the help of her darling
- She has learned to fully lean on Him
(Groom) I awakened you under the apple tree. It was there that your mother conceived you; there she who bore you conceived you.
- The apple tree is a symbol of ongoing goodness, consistent and abundant
- The awakening of the Bride’s love was in the community of her family
- Your Mother conceived and bore you in the community of her family
- This is God’s plan for marriage, that it is blessed by the family (sin ruins ideal)
- Twice in the final chapter is the tie in of family to this marriage being ideal stated
Everything is ready now for the union to be consummated. The lessons have been learned, the fruits have been kept, the obstacles overcome, the community and family are on board.
(Bride) 6 Set me like a seal on your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, passion as cruel as Sheol; its flashes are flashes of fire, a flame of Yahweh. 7 No amount of water can quench love, torrents cannot drown it. If someone gave all the wealth in his house for love, he would gain only utter contempt.
- A seal such as a bracelet on the arm meant you belonged to someone
- This is the uniting, the consummation
- The Bride says: I want join with my beloved emotionally and physically
- She is now ready…She know what love is (She has learned & lived God’s ideal)
- Strong as death! Death ends each & every life on this earth… Not eternal life
- The cruelty of Sheol is that it is final, every time, for every one
- The flame of love is God’s flame. If you misuse what is His, you get burned
- The passions of love can engulf you… consume you
- Love is unquenchable, it is beyond your control (just like everything else)
- Strong as death…only thing stronger than death is God / Christ / Holy Spirit
- If you think love’s power is for sale, you’re a fool, you shouldn’t take seriously!
This next exchange is an expression of how the community plays a role in marriage. Now that this ideal marriage is happening they are giving some of the back story on how it happened.
(Guests) 8 We have a little sister; her breasts are still unformed. What are we to do with our sister when she is asked for in marriage? 9 If she is a wall, we will build on her a palace of silver; and if she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
- While the girl is yet a woman the community will keep her from marriage
- When the time is right the community will affirm the ideal bride as pure
- The ‘palace of silver’ gives honor to her, for being a wall, allowing none to pass
- If she has been accessible, she is cared for and enclosed by the community
- She is just not put out there as en example. GRACE!
(Bride) 10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers; so in his view I am like one who brings peace.
- Here the Ideal Bride declares that she his barred all access
- Her intimate parts are out of reach, untouchable, inaccessible
- Because of this, her beloved sees her as THE source of peace (Shalom)
- This is God’s ideal for marriage: The exclusiveness is how it was meant to be!
(Bride) 11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-Hamon, and he gave the vineyard to caretakers; each of them would pay for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver. 12 My vineyard is mine; I tend it, myself. You can have the thousand, Solomon, and the fruit-caretakers, two hundred!
- Baal Hamon means: Overlord of Abundance
- Land owner would use share-croppers to tend their lands (common property)
- She is expressing how her abundance is not ‘farmed out’, she keeps it close
- The world (Solomon) can have everything else, she saves herself for the groom
- This is the final declaration of the Bride that she is the groom’s and his alone
(Groom) 13 You who live in the garden, friends are listening for your voice. Let me hear it!
- Now that they are one flesh they literally ‘live in the garden’
- The community wants to affirm their union, the Groom calls His bride to confess
(Bride) 14 Flee, my darling! Be like a gazelle or young stag on the mountains of spices!
- Now the union is complete
- Bride saying: ‘together we go, to live out the ideal
SUMMARY:
In a biblical marriage or relationship with Christ, we can have a ‘Familial’, sibling type bond, that transcends attraction.
In following Christ & doing marriage God’s way, we are to lean on our spouse and/or our Savior to get through life’s deserts.
God’s way of marriage & relationship with Him is meant to be experienced within the blessing of family.
God’s ideal is that our attachment to our spouses or God is meant to be all-encompassing.
Love is a passion rooted in the very existence of God and meant for His purposes, otherwise it can be deadly.
The community of God’s people has a role to play in setting standards and helping to protect the purity of young people.
We should value ourselves in a way that we save our intimacy for our God given spouse as we are to keep ourselves for God alone.
When united with our spouse or God, His way, we go to a place of sweetness unique to this life.
APPLICATION:
How might you relate to Jesus more as a ‘perfect’ brother or sister?
How well do you lean on your spouse? How well do you lean on Your Lord & Savior?
How can you treat your marriage or your walk with Christ with more awe and respect?
How can you participate in forming and affirming cultures of biblical marriage and Christ following here at midtown?
We continue with our two track reading of song of Songs.: The ultimate example of God gifted marriage & relationship with Christ
Last time on Song of Songs…
Our Bride is remembering a time when she was younger
She was swept up into a chariot, the chariot of a Prince!
The community / God’s people were concerned for her
They warned her as she went, about even the ‘appearance of evil’
So now she is presumably alone with the Prince:
Song of Songs Chapter 7
(Prince) 1 How beautiful are your feet in sandals, you daughter of princes! The curves of your thighs are like a necklace made by a skilled craftsman. 2 Your navel is like a round goblet that never lacks spiced wine. Your belly is a heap of wheat encircled by lilies.
- His praise is tied to man made things: sandals & necklaces
- The ancient beginnings of the importance of women’s shoes…
- The prince starts at the ground & goes up: Shepard started at the top
- He is quick to focus on a certain area…
- The belly is symbolic of the desire of the flesh
For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven… ~ Philippians 3:18-20a
(Prince) 3 Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle. 4 Your neck is like a tower of ivory, your eyes like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bat-Rabbim, your nose like the tower of Lebanon overlooking Damascus.
- Same description of breasts, must have been a popular comparison
- Ivory Tower has connotations of aloofness, detached…promotion of vanity
- These were fish pools outside the gates of the capital of the Amorites
- These gates were known for the multitudes that passes through them
- The tower is figurative, Lebanon was meant to be part of the ‘Promised land’
- It represents something desired but not obtained, another form of aloofness
- The promotion of
(Prince) 5 You hold your head like Mt Carmel, and the hair on your head is like purple cloth — the king is held captive in its tresses. 6 How beautiful you are, my love, how charming, how delightful!
- He calls himself ‘The King’, and he is ‘captivated’ by posture & appearance
- He is enamored by the ‘Image’ she projects, who she is from a distance
- He is not looking at who she really is, just her image
- Beautiful / Charming / Delightful… Bla bla bla! Empty flattery
- It is all promotion of self-centered image-consciousness
(Prince) 7 Your appearance is stately as a palm tree, with its fruit clusters your breasts. 8 I said, “I will climb up into the palm tree, I will take hold of its branches.” May your breasts be like clusters of grapes, your breath as fragrant as apples, 9 and your mouth like the finest wine.
- The world says: ‘Your Appearance’, not who you are, is what matters
- He mentions her breasts again, still no mention of the eyes…
- Now the prince states his intention, ‘I will climb’… ‘I will take hold’
- This is not about anything but his desires
- This is how this world does relationship: it is about what I can get out of it
(Bride to Prince) May the wine go straight to the man I love and gently move the lips of those who are asleep. 10 I belong to my darling, and his desire is for me.
- The wine, her kisses have only one destination: straight to the man I love
- As they go to their proper and single destination, that will gently change the speech of the prince who is ‘must be dreaming’ if he thinks she willing to dance for his army
- In case the Prince didn’t get the more veiled comment she make it very clear
- I belong to the groom because he cares about 1st and foremost about ME!
That is the end of the scene…
SUMMARY UP UNTIL NOW
The bride & groom (Christ & His Church) declare their love and devotion
They begin the process of uniting, but when the groom came for His bride…
She was unresponsive, caught up in herself
She let the world / sin get between her and her beloved…
But she admitted her wrong, and in doing so repaired the relationship
And she declared her allegiance and their unity
She resisted great temptation to ‘Dance for Two Army camps’…
The glitter and riches wanted to have their way with her, she chose to be faithful
She would will have many more temptations to resist as a faithful Bride
So we are back to where the bride and groom are ready to approach union
(Bride to Groom) 11 Come, my darling, let’s go out to the country and spend the nights in the villages. 12 We’ll get up early and go to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, to see if their flowers have opened, or if the pomegranate trees are in bloom. There I will give you my love.
- She wants them to go away together, to a simple, basic and undistracted place
- Together they will see that everything has blossomed and now is the time
- It is the setting where she will give herself fully to her groom
(Bride to Groom) 13 The mandrakes are sending out their fragrance, all kinds of choice fruits are at our doors, fruits both new and old, my darling, which I have kept in store for you.
- The fragrance of the Mandrakes announces the time is right
- The garden is fully in bloom, the consummation of their union is near
- The fruits of their love are at the door, not quite there, just over the threshold…
- All kinds of fruits: physical, emotional & intellectual
- Old & New: the bride and groom bring their past and anticipate the future
- What make it all perfect is that she has kept it all in store for just her groom
- The value of their love is bound up in the exclusivity of it
BIG IDEAS:
Our world promotes self-centeredness, which divides our marriages & our relationships with Christ.
Image-consciousness turns relationships into nothing more than self-fulfillment; the opposite of what biblical marriage & biblical relationship with God are about.
In a biblical relationship with Christ you trust He cares for you! In a biblical marriage you trust your spouse cares for you.
The full depth of love with Christ & in biblical marriage happens in simplicity; devoid of self-centered image-consciousness.
The exclusiveness of what is kept for our Lord or our spouse, is what brings all the richness to the relationship!
APPLICATION:
What things, activities or relationships promote self-centeredness in you?
How image-conscious would you say you are? What makes you image-conscious?
What has happened in your life that makes you not trust Christ cares for you?
Where in your life is there a lack of exclusiveness with God or with your spouse?