Do You Need Jesus' Prayer?
Our Journey to the Cross & Empty Tomb • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 31 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We are not as strong as we think we are. I wonder if that is the reason why Jesus took children put them in the centre of his circle of disciples and said unless you receive the kingdom f God like a child, can’t enter in. That dependence that trust, recognition of weakness on our part but trust in God’s strength. While this sermon is not about baptism per se, so clearly see the dynamics of what it means to be baptized into Christ - to make his death and resurrection , his cross and the empty tomb - risen life - our idenity by faith! Last Sunday we were orinetated to take this trip - by paying attention to great facts : The TIME, and the ENEMY. The time is the PASSOVER - something humbling about that for every OT believer on night of the Pasvoer around those tables, why is this night more special than others - WE WERE SLAVES - this is an acknowledgment a confession of from where we spring - of what’s in our heritage, even in our genes. And it is so interesting that Jesus only here calls Peter by his pre-Christian name … only in hs call before He follows Jesus is Peter called Simon, who was called Peter. Luke calls him Peter through out the book, but here just after they have argued about who’s the greatest - Here just when Petper is about to say - I don’t need your prayer Jesus, I don’t need your strengthening. Jesus, I will go to prison and even to death standing with you. Thanks but no thanks I am fine on my own. But Jesus has dire sad hard news for Peter before he heads to the Cross. It is a devestating annoucement that Jesus is making not just to Peter, but in fact to all in that room, and all in this room: Look at it in the original language You PL. . As we follow Jesus to the Cross this morning, you need to hear Him alerting you to the central crisis not for Jesus in his tiral or going to the Cross, but of your own soul with th devil And you need to be alerted to the only solution to that crisis that each one of us must face with the devil!
Key Truth: Satan will sift us all, but Jesus’ prayer and interecession will save us and send us to strengthen others!
A. Satan has an Ultimatum Against You
A. Satan has a Legit Ultimatum Delivered to God that Would Sink Us and Our World into Separation from God
Imagine Peter’s shock - got a new name - ahead of the others in faith, jumped out of the boat, and in recognizing Jesus as the very Son of God and the Messiah of the world. Ahead of the others in recgonizing suffering and ready to go there with him. He feels pretty good about himself. And actually as the represetnative of faith, of all the apostles, as the one who on the day of Pentecost would be the key witness explain - what noone could get from Scirpture - Crucified, DIed, RISEN! So much rides on Peter and these apostles.
But when you see the kingdom of Satan and the Kingdom of grace like Jesus does, and then you look at someone like Peter or you or me. When you see like Jesus does, got to say, Peter, Harry , Payton, you me - you are not as strong as you think you are! And Jesus calls Peter by his pre-Christian name - Simon, Simon. So much affection and intimacy in that double name - Like Martha, Martha, or Saul, Saul - but Jesus is also saying, I know your nature - what’s behind the facade you put up to the others… , and exposing that nature, Jesus then goes on to inform him in most dramatic fashioin that Satan has written up a ticket - a charge, that demnds God Almighty Judge of All - to sift and bringi nto judgment.
Ever get a parking ticket butnot find it - wonder are they going to tow my car, Happened to me - outstanding fine and didn’t even know it! And imagine those consequences wer more severe, Imagine had a twin separated at birth, caught on tape murdering someone, and he disappears but they want you! Well, Jesus is annoucneing to Peter that he doesn’t have a twin , but Satan who, both in Job, but also in later Judaism - is the accuser, He is a heavenly being that actually serves a legal function for God, and Peter he has demanded, that I surrender you to God’s justice.
Well do you think that it is any different for us, it is ‘
‘You-all’ plural
Revelation calls Satan the accuser of God’s people. Do you knot think that you too must under go this trial. Listen to
Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
And Satan he has the outcome in mind that you can’t resist without Christ:
Sifting:
Do you know how sifting worked back then. Winnowing really - ANE - even today: have big circlular net: in goes the grain with the husk and some stones and dirt and dust from the ground. And up it goes and the dust and some of the dirt fly away in the wind. And up it goes again but this time right to left motion, and there goes the heavier stones to the outside, thier goes the heaveirr chaff so that tht egood grain stays in the middle. And Satan applies to do this to us, already got Judas, he wants all of us now too, this is Staan’s biggest delight to separate God from the people he loves. IE C S Lewis Great Divorce Hell pictured as a place people want to get as far from eahc other as they can - and especially God. And even strong Peter is stuck in that kindo f spearation from God in Satan’s trial - Jesus doesn’t pray to stop that trial - Peter must udner go it - and boy does He ever hurt Jesus, grieves the Holy Spirit - so do you and I - live life without God whtiut Christ. And boy is he ever alone and teatering in despair at his failure.
And so in this kngdom battle, in this context of the plea of Satan the SAccuser, against us must - accept what Jesus is doing and saying: Satan has this rightful plea against us. - First work of the Holy Spirit - bring conviction of sin - and can say to Satan, yes even more than you know.
This one thing that baptism teaches us, like OT sign of the covenant of grace, of salvation that is by faith and not works. Both have a sgin of this judgment and death in them The flesh, the old nature, the sinful nature - Smion Simon part of your life and my life, is seen as needing to be cut away and off and thrown away as unclean. Blood and pain. And in baptism - we have a sign of Christ dath here too - like going down into the water - die to sin, drown it, water is a picture of the once for blood spilled - sacrfice - now no more blood - but union with the death of Christ.
And in our baptism, just like with Payton this morning, we are acknowledging that’s Satan ultimatum his charge against is real and we are helpless against it - not just those who have done really really bad things, but all of us in this trial would go under - sinful nature, corrupt, root and radux of ou life - and we would be subject to the wrath yea the condemnation of God -DO you acknowledge this? Jesus is about to go to the Cross, and this is what is foremost on his mind after the Supper. He is showing that unless smoething else happens, by grace and by faith, we are lost forever to Satan and separated from GOd, and our faith and standing with Jesus cannot stand!
What is this something else, why don’t people immersed in baptism stay down in the water - why do they rise , what is the point that says, no not just sinner and sin justly and fully punished, but paid in full , new life? What is the symbolism of this water falling like the HOly SPirit that Peter on the day of Pentecost said in baptism, this promises is for you and your children, and for all who are far fof whom the Lord our God will Call. See that there is more at the Cross than condmenation for us!
What is it
B. Jesus Interposes on Satan’s Plea to Save Us
Imagine it now, you have that legal charge against you in God’s court, there’s the evidencemy sinful nature, liek that parking ticket and there is Satan like lacherous lawywer thining got you tied up in knots you are mine. Away from Jesus, away form Life. But suddenly the doors at the bac of the court house wing open and in walk s Jesus with another piece of official looking paper. And here we must see that the story of Job, whom God allowed Satan to test, needs a better ending, a gospe ending.. As a OT shadow its there in part - Elihu steps in and sasy something so different than those false counsel of Job’s friends, Look at that how Elihu mildly rebukes JOb not for sining and that’s the reason for his suffering, but for questioning God’s mercy. Elihu paintss a picture of us suffering adn then our soul being dragged down tot he pit, but then he says:
Elihu says in
If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him, and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom;
Why JOb propehtiecally I think cries out:
Job says in
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,
Many think this is speaking of Jesus at the final resurrection, but listen. Now with the same trial facing each of us, Jesus at the centre of history not the end, now in the flesh the Redeemer has come - and this Jesus is ready to take on the spiritual litigation that Satan is holding like flimsy parking ticket, Do undertand what Jesus is announceing to Peter. Staan may have a claim against you as Simon, but Peter, the thing that makes you different han Judas - the reason why Satan can not have his vicotry with you, is what: Says in Gk with empatic I - the big deal isn’t Satan’s claims but what the Messiah does in repsonse! CAn you come to the Cross longing to see this?
but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Nothing in Peter’s character, record or strength. But everything in Jesus - and Jesus has prayed for him that what - Peter’s faith may not fail.. That’s the difference Judas had no faith. And even Peter’s faith would fail if Jesus would not interpose HIs plea and pray for Him. This was the reason the Son of God had to come into the world for our salvation:
Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.
Jesus was coming paying the ransom on the Cross - he comes paying the aquital. Understand that this prayer that Jesus has for His people, for all who’s faith is in him, This is the real sifting. Satan wanted to take the good kernels out and destory them away from God. But God is the one who really does the sifting and it is through times of trial - and those times of trial would eat us up, if not for our Redeemer. But look at what the OT prophesied about this sifting. Satan deosn’t do the sifting but God.
“For behold, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes with a sieve, but no pebble shall fall to the earth.
The context is that in the trial God would not allow one of HIs dear follwers to fall away. Jesus has prayed that our faith would not abate, that we would keep trusting God in the trial, even and especially when we fall. Oh Jesus would be thrown out of the seive for us, he would under go the spearation beteween God and ma, hell - on the Cross… but
Just like Satan’s plea definite particular time, so too is Jesus prayer, - not a continuous action, but on basis of His work on the Cross, definite prayer , intercession that changes everything!
C. Jesus’ Sustaining our Faith & Granting Repentance, Sends us on Mission
And that is why The end of is not a question, it is not a maybe - it is when , when you turn - repentance… given - turned back to me, may fail but not ultimately afll, may loose a battle but never the war…
C> And that is why The end of is not a question, it is not a maybe - it is when , when you turn - repentance… given - turned back to me, may fail but not ultimately afll, may loose a battle but never the war…
but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
This is the other thing that baptism pictures not just the condemnation of our sins on the Cross of Christ, but this return from the Cross where Christ won our acquittal, this turning again - in new life to serve him. And the interesting thing here is that though, Christ prays for all who truly believe in general, for all HIs people, he dies according to
Who did Jesus see & whose names are written on his heart?
with your name on his heart. Inscribed there - hem akes his payment for you - sees you flourishing in new life. There is animportant question - didJesus just die with no in particularl on his mind, or did he have the names of every redeemeed sinner on his heart: he prayed for you, he saw you truipmhing as he took on your sin:
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
In HIs prayer Jesus is saying, ven as He would on the Cross, don’t do it them, do it to me. THough the you’s in v.31 are all plural - for all believers who will go through the trial. With vs. 32 we also see that Jesus prays for each one of by name indivdiually and partiuclarly, This you is singular. It is particular. None of us could sustain faith without Jesus prayer for us perosnally - we say like the man who came ot Jesus I believe help my unbelief.
saying don’t do it them, do it to me. THough the you’s in v.31 are all plural - for all believers who will go through the trial. With vs. 32 we also see that Jesus prays for each one of by name indivdiually and partiuclarly, This you is singular. It is particular. None of us could sustain faith without Jesus prayer for us perosnally - we say like the man who came ot Jesus I believe help my unbelief.
Baptism is no gaurantee of faith, but it is the call to faith and union with Christ as a new believer or a child of a believer enters into the covenant commjnity the church of Jesus Christ. It is the poromise to the convert and the child of a bleiver, that when they and we are united to Christ by faiht, we can be assured that turning to HIm, He has drawn us and nothing can tear us out of His hand, not our failure, not our faultering faith.
What will not be eclipsed?
There is a beautiful picture in what Christ reports praying for each of his own. That word fail is actually the word for eclipses. It is the word Luke uses in the next chapter when the sun stopped shining for the 3 hours of darkness on the Cross. That’s what will happen to your faith and mine if Jesus didn’t rpay for us. Why the picture of bpatism is not first of all about my commitment to Christ, but it is to picture Christ commitment proimsed to me in the gospel! And here is the stronges comofrt, Jesus interecedes for me, - that my faith will never cease, stop, that I will not forsake, but stick with.
If you are a believer with a tender conscience, you need to hear htis, if you are a believer who has back slid, not grown in your faiht, need to hear this It is true that Jesus said:
Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
The big deal isn’t whether you are or I fall, but whether we get up and keep walking in that directino with Jesus. And this is guaranteed for all who truly come to Jesus… none lost, all that you gave me…
From youngest age, pray brought to faith, - but it is not just BELIEVE inspirational, or even believe in God - But believe in what batpism pictures. Jesus said, Believe in God believe also in ME! Trust in Jesus intercession - his work and even this prayer for her.
But there is one last thing with the guaranteed new life for all who turn to Jesus even through there stumbles and falls, and that is also pictured in baptism. Payton whole Christina life that she is called to live into by faith, is pictured here. The pattern of Christ life - dying to sin, rising to live unto God as we saw last baptism in is the call here to as Jesus takes His disciples to the Cross where salvation is not only worked but taken hold of.
Do you see it
but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Petera s representattive of the 12, and of the whole church, Jesus saved and prayed for not just so - sceure, but saved to service. From baptism - we taught evertying the lord commanded. Not just tempoarily give people a pat on the back - word strengtheened here means to fix firmly - to establish poeope in the faith.
And though we stumble look at the very last verse of our text. Do you see achange,
Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
That’s pure grace, that’s secutiry ,not YOUR NAME - teach Payton - Christ entereed into the throne room of God, to interpose for His people, that her salvation - is all about Christ and His intercession - He entered into her need, All her struggle and even her failures, he was so sentsitve too - in love pure love - he took it all - went to the Corsss - and living from the Cross she too can rise with him - with every temptation and test, trail and veven death itself - unable to eclipse - the faith in Jesus that is a pure gift. What a gift to Peter this was - it cahnged his life - though he utterly fail and he denie his Lord in his weakness, still Jesus informs Peter of his turning and repentnace back and assigns him great work for the kingdom of Chris in this world!
May it be that this is the faith and the new idnenity and new life -you hold before Patyton, maybe it be that each of us do. In this world it so incredibly easy to fall into one of two errors. YOu can either be so about your accomplishments that you don’t think you need Jesus - article in the recent times - about helicopter paretns way to get your kid to succeed… athletic scholarships - new trend parent wears - No question we cwant our kids to succeeed, but never that they think the main part of life is upto them and their accomplishments - do you know how much pressure that puts kids under… unrealistic because weare all peole who struggle , cetianly with thing s beyond our cotnrol, and certainkly with spiritual forces of darkness. This is the error Peter was first living in, and it would have sunk him had Jesus not prayed for him.
But the oppostive and equally devestating erro is with those who refuse to come ot the Cross after their failures become apparent and they will - bodies grow weak and so do our minds, riches are fleeting, and reputations with peole are fickle things. Peter after his denials, still didn’t want to come to the Cross and Empty tomb with faith. He in himself could not accept that his dienity was not his accomplishments, no his failures. So Jesus not only praying forhim, but coming right up to him, calling him to that fire on the beach, to the meal - turnis aisde with just him - do you live me 3x, and at first pretending a perfect love, but hten acknoelwdging with each repeated question, Lord you know .. you know my weakness - and Jesus then loving says Yes, yes I do - But that is not your name.
What name does Jesus use for after the sifting?
Parens and Jacob and Kim in partiuclar today as you have entered into covenant with Payton and our Lord - millions of people out there never could get approval of their parents - never measured up to success, or in their failure cut out and not loved. Even Christian parenting techniques and programs, and just way kids are wired to think it’s all about their perfemorance, rewards, punshiemnts, But you have covenanted today that in terms of her idenity, the rock bottom foundation of your home and childreaering - will not be works righteosuness - but this grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. That every successs you trace back and glorify ihim with - and every failure you joining with Jesus in prayer plead HIs work for Payton. And so she will know the name she can live into and up to - by faith is not SImon Simon, or Payton in the old nature, Payton in the old nature, - Payton in Christ - Christian by faith, Christian by faith.
Mercy Me’s lead singer - grew up with the condmenation part, the perform or be rejected part, mother left his father, father, rough tough wanted only football - but he was a singer. Felt condmened and unwanted , even by God. Writes a song, Greater, that captures what it means to claim this prayer of Jesus for yourself -
Bring your tired and bring your shame
Bring your guilt and bring your pain
Don't you know that's not your name
You will always be much more to me
And everyday I wrestle with the voices
That keep telling me I'm not right
But that's alright
'Cause I hear a voice and He calls me "redeemed"
When others say I'll never be enough
And greater is the one living inside of me
Than he who is living in the world
In the world
Bring your doubts and bring your fears
Bring your hurt and bring your tears
There'll be no condemnation here
You are holy, righteous and redeemed
And every time I fall there'll be those
Who will call me "a mistake"
Well that's OK
'Cause I hear a voice and he calls me redeemed
When others say I'll never be enough
And greater is the one living inside of me
Than he who is living in the world
Friends, its not just Kim and Jacob who need to bring this news to Payton, and live on the vbasis of this gospel of Jesus. Nor was it just Peter. It is the whole church, all who have experienceed this grace, go out to people who are wracked with doubts, fears, hurt, guilt, who think their life is a mistake - and teach them that in Christ they can be redeemed. And treat them with that same love that Jesus did with Peter, And pray for them, joining Jesus who ever prays and intercedes
Does Payton needs Jesus prayer and intercession? Begin with praying besdie Jesus for her. Do you, your children, neighbours - Listen to how Jesus is described:
What is Jesus ongoing job in heaven for us?
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
That is our caling too - join with him in payer for those who are far off, for those in your life not yet with the Saviour, whether those be children with this water calling them, or adult frineds and neighbours - let us pray for each other like Jesus here! ANd let us follow through with that prayer - that each one of us experiencing this grace, now live the life of a disciple.