Upside Down
Notes
Transcript
A. Rapport for the time
From a Christian view the outside world is upside down. Meaning the world is not going the way we think it should go. But understand the world looks at us and the message of Christ and believes we have things upside down.
B. Reading of the text
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”
4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.
6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”
8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things.
9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
C. Review of the text
D. Relevance of the text
I. A misunderstood savior
I. A misunderstood savior
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”
From Philippi to Thessalonica is about 100 miles. We don’t know how long it took them to travel but you can be sure if they did it only by foot would have taken 3 days. Now Paul take his pattern of visiting the synagogue and stays 3 Sabbath, so three weeks, reasoning with them. (4-6 months in total in Thessalonica)
Vs. 2 From Scriptures—OT is what he is talking about
vs. 3 explaining and proving—NECESSARY for Christ to SUFFER, and rise from the dead
Suffering one..
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?
9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
Resurrection
7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
This is not what the Jewish people are looking for at the time of Christ. Which is why Paul is using their scriptures that they themselves trust but misunderstand to prove what the bible says about the Christ. You see things are UPSIDE DOWN. They want to think of the Savior as one that will save them in the hear and now as a warrior King. Much like what it will look like when Christ returns to pronounce judgement upon the world. But that is not how the Christ would come this time.
46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
He has come to be a lamb sacrifice for you and I this time not the warrior that they expected. The word necessary is the word that really sticks out in the passage. It is necessary to Christ to suffer because the bible says that he would but also why is it necessary for him to suffer? BECAUSE YOU AND I DESERVE TO BE PUNISHED FOR OUR SINS!
39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
The cup of wrath was held by Christ for us.
On the Road to Emmaus.
25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
We serve a righteous God that can’t simply look over our sin.
26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Propitiation—A sacrifice that bears God’s wrath to the end and in so doing changes God’s wrath toward us into favor.
Beloved it was necessary because of you and I..The word necessary is there because of us.
T.S. Having been told of the necessity for our lord to suffer and to be risen from the dead the Response to the message of Christ is not what you may anticipate
II. Response to the message of Christ
II. Response to the message of Christ
4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.
persuaded—to convince someone to believe something and to act on the basis of what is recommended
You have Jewish people and Gentiles-God fearers who hang out in the synagogue coming to know the truth. But not only just knowledge but they trust in Christ place their faith in him. We have this group of people who hear the truth of scripture and come to know the Lord but immediately in vs. 5 you have anther group that is jealous.
Jealous—set one’s heart on something that belongs to someone else—to covet
Why would they need to be jealous? They can submit to the authority of Christ and in repentance come to know him as savior and Lord. They desire their own way more than the truth that they have just heard from Paul. They read the same scriptures and hear the same words but decide not to follow. They simply hear the word of God and become jealous and lash out at a man name Jason.
We do not know much about Jason but obviously it was known that he was housing Paul, Silas and Timothy. So more than likely, like Lydia and the Jailer, He was converted on this trip to Thessalonica and ask for the group to stay with him.
App..This seems upside down also doesn’t it. A Jealous mob doesn’t want the love of the Lord and price paid for their sins so they will come out angry at Jason not showing any love at all(because they don’t even know what that word means).
T.S. look how the entire World is upside down in vs. 6
III. A World of Upside Down
III. A World of Upside Down
6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”
8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things.
9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
The group drags Jason and others before authorities claiming
Turned the world upside down—caused trouble all over the world
Jason was harboring these troublemakers
Paul-Silas and Jason as their host were defying Caesar’s decrees—saying they are declaring another ruler beside Caesar
These are the same claims that have been made about Jesus.
2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”
3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.”
4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.”
12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”
15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
Acts (1) Acceptance and Rejection in Thessalonica (17:1–9)
Jason was required to post bond, depositing a sum of money that would be forfeited should there be any sequel to the civil disturbance. That meant the absence of Paul and Silas. Paul may have been referring to this ban in 1 Thess 2:18 when he spoke of “Satan’s hindrance” to his returning to the city.
18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.
vs. 9—this is like a bond that would be forfeited by Jason should Paul and his companions cause more trouble. As a result they had no choice but to leave Thessalonica.