He That has and Ear Let Him Hear What The Spirit is Saying
Notes
Transcript
Luke 23:39-43
Luke 23:39-43
Jesus Suffering
Jesus Suffering
1. His Silence Reflected Their Hardened Hearts (vv. 12-13)
John 3:18-20 says, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”
Jesus, the Light of the world, exposes the filthy souls of all of humanity. For those who didn’t hide their need for forgiveness, he brought hope, life and mercy to them; but the light also exposed the sin of those who paraded their own holiness before the world. The religious leaders were among the greatest offenders. Instead of going to the Light of the world to have their sins cleansed and forgiven, they chose the opposite remedy—snuff out the Light. This would allow them, at least temporarily, to continue in their darkness. But as John 3:18 says, those who reject Christ are condemned because of their refusal to believe.
John 15:23-25 says, ““Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’”
Jesus connected the hatred that the world has for him with a hatred for God the Father. By exposing their sins, Jesus brought upon himself the wrath of the religious hypocrites. What had he been guilty of? Verse 25 says, “They hated me without cause.” Their hardened hearts refused to accept that they were sinners in need of a Savior. And they likewise refused to believe that Jesus was the Savior prophesied in the Old Testament. This was in spite of all facts to the contrary. Their hatred was rabid, showing their own sinfulness. And the object of their hatred--Jesus, the Son God-- was totally innocent of any stain of sin. He had demonstrated the power and words of God, yet showing them the truth only made them seek his violent death. Why should Jesus answer their accusations? Was there any more he could say or do? They had enough proof. He would say no more.
2. His Silence Was Prophesied (John 23:13-14)
As such, Jesus' silence was prophesied in the Old Testament and was additional evidence of his claim to be the Messiah. God’s Suffering Servant would not cry out in protest of his innocence like a common criminal. He would not appeal for help from the crowds. He would not defend what his life clearly demonstrated—that he was perfectly righteous. He would remain silent.
The prophet Isaiah wrote, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7, ESV)
As one person wrote descriptively, “Meekly and without protest the Servant accepts sentence to death and suffers execution. Although innocent, he is given a felon’s grave.”[1] The Israelites were well aware of the submissive nature of sheep. They had seen many sheep sheared for their wool or killed as sacrifices. Jesus, as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), quietly submitted to His death. He did not try to stop those who opposed Him; He remained silent rather than defend Himself.[2]
And in so doing, he fulfilled another prophecy regarding the Messiah. It is impossible to point to the Old Testament prophecies in order to discredit Jesus as the Christ. He fulfills the picture of the Suffering Servant to a “T” because Isaiah prophesied about Jesus. One last reason that Jesus our Savior was silent as he went before his accusers and to the cross.
3.His Silence Pointed to His Commitment to his Mission (v. 11)
Matthew 20:28 says, “even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” Even though the disciples often forgot about their mission to be servants, Jesus never forgot. He did not come to be exalted—that would come later. He did not come to build an earthly Kingdom, despite what the Sanhedrin said in their accusations against him (See Jn 18:33-38).
After Jesus went into Jerusalem during the week of his passion, John records these beautiful words of our Lord, “And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”” (John 12:23–28, ESV)
This is why even in the most trying times in Jesus’ ministry, he had the cross always before his eyes. He would not run and hide. He would not stray from his message or his mission. This was why he came! If Jesus would not call on his Father to save him, why would he beg Pilate to save him?
Hebrews 12:2 says, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” For the joy!! The cross was not joy—it was the most brutally terrifying act to ever occur on this planet in the history of mankind. But what came after the cross made it all worth it! Jesus set his eyes on the final goal—the redemption of sinful men who, once they were reconciled to the Father would eternally give Him glory and honor. O what joy!
Jesus would complete his purpose and be crucified. He would not respond to the evil men who had brought him there. Their time had passed for asking questions. He would remain silent, just as the prophets had foretold. He was the Lamb of God, and as he went to be sacrificed, he would remain silent. He would not cry or beg for mercy. He would not seek to change Pilate’s mind by arguing with the accusers. The plan of God was in place—as evil as the plans of wicked men were, God would use it for His glorious and perfect purposes—to redeem a people for himself! And that brought Christ joy, to see the will of the Father fulfilled. Christ did this for you and me. How will you respond? Will it be with joy because you have been set free? Will it be in living for His glory? Will it be by placing your trust in Christ alone for salvation?
What Happens When We Die?
What Happens When We Die?
Death
Each day that passes brings us one day closer to death than before. We are warned: “it is destined for people to die once, and after this, judgement” (Heb 9:27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:. Death comes for us all. Neither wisdom nor wealth can prevent it. As Psalm 49:10 states, “For he sees that the wise die, together with the fool and brute they perish, and leave their wealth to the next generation.” James also comments on the inevitability of death: “you who do not know what will happen tomorrow, what your life will be like. For you are a smoky vapor that appears for a short time and then disappears” (James 4:14). We all face the same end, unless Jesus returns first.
Why DOES Death Exists
It seems that death exists because of sin. The thief on the cross said, “And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for what we have done”(Luke 23:41). Romans 5:12 agrees: “just as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death spread to all people because all sinned.” While Genesis is not precisely clear that following sin, death came to the world, it seems based on Paul’s thoughts that when sin entered, death stayed. Death exists not because God doesn’t love us or isn’t powerful enough to destroy it; it exists because of sin.
Death, though, does have one advantage—it leads toward resurrection one day: “flesh and blood is not able to inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruptibility” (1 Cor 15:50). Physical death will one day lead to us believers in Jesus living forever in glorified bodies with God.
Also, death itself will one day be destroyed forever; it will be “thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:14). Revelation 21:4 promises that eventually, “mourning or wailing or pain will not exist any longer. The former things have passed away.”
What Happens After Death
Judgment ultimately comes to all, to the believers comes resurrection to life and to unbelievers resurrection to death (Rev 21:11–15). This is why death is such a pressing matter: life is the time to make a decision for Jesus. Joshua 24:15 “14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Jesus told the thief at His side on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Not only did the thief receive eternal life, he received eternity with the Lord himself. Jesus also taught that the moment we die physically, eternal life with God continues (Luke 16:22; John 11:26; Phil 1:23). After believers in Jesus die, they are forever and always with Jesus.
In 2 Corinthians 5:8, Paul said, “We … prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” Following death comes the experience of Jesus’ victory over death.
Believers in Jesus will ultimately gain imperishable, glorified, spiritual bodies (1 Cor 15:42–44) and be like Jesus in this way (1 Cor 15:49). We will know God and each other as we are known (1 Cor 13:12). And we will eat of the tree of life and live forever (Rev 22). For those who trust in Christ, there is hope after death.
JESUS IS MOCKED
JESUS IS MOCKED
, FIRST, BY THE PASSERS-BY
(For this particular we are indebted to the first two Gospels.)
Matt 27:39-40; Mark 15:29-30: "And they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads" - in ridicule: see Ps 22:7; 109:25; and compare Job 16:4; Isa 37:22; Jer 18:16; Lam 2:15
SECONDLY, BY THE RULERS
We have this in the first three Gospels, but most fully-as might be expected-in the first, the peculiarly Jewish Gospel.
Matt 27:41-43; Mark 15:31-32; Luke 23:35: "Likewise also the chief priests, mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save." In this, as in other taunts (such as Luke 15:2), there was a deep truth. Both things He
John 19:24
THIRDLY, BY THE SOLDIERS
We have this in the third Gospel only.
Luke 23:36-37: "And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him, and offering Him vinegar, and saying, If thou be the King of the Jews, save thyself."
FOURTHLY, BY ONE OF HIS FELLOW-SUFFERERS-ADDRESSES TO THE OTHER, IN ANSWER TO HIS PENITENT, BELIEVING APPEAL, THE SECOND OF HIS SEVEN SAYINGS ON THE CROSS
This is the only one of the four cases of mockery which is recorded by all the first three Evangelists; but the inestimable details are given only by Luke.
Matt 27:44; Mark 15:32; Luke 23:39-43: "The thieves also, which were crucified with Him, cast the same in His teeth."
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Cor. 15:3-4)
Because Jesus said not a word in order to fulfill God’s Word, by faith you are taken from death to life, from being dead in sin to being alive in Christ. Thus, in faith, we come to realize that Jesus muzzling himself was his powerful love to make you his own.
Indeed, Jesus was not silenced forever by the evil crowd; he rose to speak again the healing and hopeful words of resurrection.
It is now our turn to speak.
It is now our turn to speak.
Jesus rose to make us those who speak about his resurrection. In fact, in the narrow sense here, we are told not to imitate our Lord. Back in Luke 21, Christ told us that when we are dragged before rulers for his name not to worry about what to say, for the Spirit will teach us what to say
The Spirit will give us the words to speak for Christ. Thus, before our accusers, we testify about Christ. Before the noisy hostilities of the world, we gather on the Lord’s day to sing and speak that Christ is the Son of God at the right hand. One of our highest privileges is that we get to speak well of our Lord and we can sing forth his praises.