The Struggles of the Ordinary

 

·         The Man Who was Lame for 38 years – John 5:1-16    July 22, 2007 ………...PP Web Presentation

·         A Crippled Woman – Luke 13:10-17                                      August 19, 2007 ….…PP Web Presentation

·         The Feeding of the 5000 – John 6:1-15                               September 23, 2007 .PP Web Presentation

·         Peter Walks on Water! – Mat 14:22-32                                October 21, 2007 …...PP Web Presentation

·         Bartimaeus - The Blind Beggar – Mark 10:46-52              November 18, 2007...PP Web Presentation

·         Malchus – John 18:2-12; Luke 22:47-53                                     December 23, 2007...PP Web Presentation

·         Peter Disowns Jesus – Mark 14:27-72; John 21:3-17            January 20, 2008….....PP Web Presentation

·         Pilate, the Relativist – John 18:33-38                                     February 17, 2008…..PP Web Presentation

·         The Blind Man’s Courage - John 9:23-41                             March 23, 2008……….PP Web Presentation

·         The Killers See the Light! – Mat 27:54; Mark 15:39             May 18, 2008……….….PP Web Presentation

·         The Friends of the Paralytic Man – Mark 2:2-12             June 22, 2008……….….PP Web Presentation

·         A Desperate Father – Mark 9:14-29                                        July 20, 2008………..….PP Web Presentation

·         The Widow’s Offering – Mark12:41-44                                 September 21, 2008 …PP Web Presentation

·         The Samaritan Woman at the Well – John 4:1-39         October 19, 2008 …..…PP Web Presentation

·         Doubting Thomas? – John 20:24-31                                        November 23, 2008 ….PP Web Presentation

 

The Man Who was Lame for 38 Years – John 5:1-16

 

John 5:1-16 ESV After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda (house of mercy), which has five roofed colonnades.  3 In these lay a multitude of invalids--blind, lame, and paralyzed [waiting for the moving of the water; 4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred the water: whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had.] 

 

1.      Jesus visits a place where usually no one wants to go

a.       Where the invalids brooded (felt sorry for themselves)

b.      Where the blind groped (fumbled about)

c.       Where the lame lay (for lack of mobility)

d.      Where the paralyzed hoped (in the stirring of the waters)

2.      The people here had come because there was hope in the water

a.       An angel stirred the waters at certain seasons

b.      Whoever stepped in first after the stirring was healed of whatever disease they had

c.       It was a miraculous healing – a manifestation of God's mercy

d.      It was a ray of hope in the grey, languid life of those who were considered subpar by the world around them

 

5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.  6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?"  7 The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me." 

 

1.      This man had been lame for a long time

a.       We don’t know what caused him to be lame, or if he was lame since birth

b.      The man was lying there for a long time! Maybe he had lost hope of being healed!

c.       He had no friends to even help him

d.      He had accepted his condition and limitations with some bitterness, probably harboring some jealousy towards those who were “whole”.

2.      Jesus wants to know if he wants to get well

a.       Perhaps the man thought it couldn’t be done

b.      Perhaps the man was not interested in resolving his problem any longer

3.      He made excuses for himself

a.       He talked about what he wanted to do

b.      When it came time to act, he was bogged down by his limitations and dependencies

c.       He had defined himself by his disease

d.      He was a slave to his disease – he had succumbed to it

4.      When the Son of God asks you if you want to get well there are no excuses to be made! Either you want to get well or not! It is entirely up to you!

 

8 Jesus said to him, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk."  9a And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

 

1.      With Jesus there are no valid excuses or dependencies

a.       What matters is weather you will believe Him at His word

b.      What matters is your trust in Him

2.      Healing is immediate and thorough!

a.       There is no weaning off of your crutches or dependencies

b.      There are no follow-up visits

c.       It is not a temporary feeling of well-being

3.      If the story of the lame man ended here it would be a nice positive happily ever after story

a.       There’s more to this story

b.      Let’s see what we can learn from the man after he was healed

 

9b Now that day was the Sabbath.  10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed."  11 But he answered them, "The man who healed me, that man said to me, 'Take up your bed, and walk.'"  12 They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?"  13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 

 

4.      The healed man did not really know Who healed him

a.       He had believed Him

b.      He had followed His direction

5.      But the man did not really know Jesus

a.       He knew of Jesus

b.      He still shifted blame

c.       There was no conviction about Jesus even though he was healed by Jesus!

 

14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you."  15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.  16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

 

1.      The man was physically well, but not spiritually well

a.       He was probably out doing all the things he could do that he never got to do in those 38 years!

b.      He did go to temple though – that’s where Jesus found him and confronted him

c.       Perhaps he was playing the part? Hypocrite?

d.      His morality had taken a back seat to his fleshly curiosity

e.       The flesh was awake and tempted

2.      He had learned nothing of depending on God through his 38 year trial!

a.       This is what convinces me that he spent those 38 years sulking (anger in silence)

b.      He was still dependent on the flesh even though he should have learned not to depend on it!

3.      What’s’ worse than being physically sick or incapacitated for life? Try being separated from the source of all life for eternity! Try eternal death! That’s what’s worse!

4.      The man recanted his ignorance of Jesus

a.       He went and told him rightly so that it was Jesus who had healed Him

b.      He started to learn to give the glory to God

1.      Many of us are like this man

a.       We have carried a disease for a long time

b.      We’ve defined ourselves by this disease: we are slaves to it

c.       We’ve succumbed to it

d.      We have tried to put our trust in man to no avail

e.       We have played the part – pretending all is well when we are really empty inside

f.       Seeking to be filled with things we may not be able to get

g.      We are sick and lame and we don’t even know it!

2.      Jesus is asking you the question! Do you want to get well?

a.       There is hope in the water because there is hope in Jesus!

b.      Some of you have gathered here to await a stirring of the waters

c.       Some of you have waited a long time for some water to be stirred in your life to give you an opportunity to get well

d.      Some of you have missed opportunities and have blamed your situation or your dependencies or lack thereof

e.       That’s not what’s going to get you well!

3.      Jesus can make you whole through the Gospel

a.       You need to die to your self

b.      Join Jesus at His death – Romans 6:3-4

c.       Then you will have new life with Him!

d.      This is done through the water in baptism!

e.       By being buried in water you die with Jesus and come out having new life!

f.       You will be clean and new, born again!

 

Index

 

A Crippled Woman – Luke 13:10-17

 

Luke 13:10-17 ESV Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.  11 And there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 

 

1.      A woman has a disabling spirit (pneuma astheneias: A spirit that caused the weakness she was experiencing (astheneias, lack of strength) like the spirit of bondage (Rom 8:15) Paul says we’ve been freed from through Christ)

a.       Satan’s (vs. 15, or evil) spirit delights in limitations, bondage and weakness

b.      He wants us to use these as excuses for not serving God

                                                              i.      Satan wants you to excuse your won'ts with your can'ts

                                                            ii.      God can work through your can’ts if your won’ts are turned to wants.

c.       Because you may have a weakness you stand to glorify God even more than the next person

                                                              i.      Don’t let your material can’ts disable you

                                                            ii.      Don’t let your health can’ts stop you

                                                          iii.      Certainly let Jesus straighten the won’ts into wants!

d.      It is your faith that will make you well – not depend on your weakness or disability any more

                                                              i.      If only… is only for the materially minded

1-      I had more time

2-      I had more money

3-      I was healthy

4-      I was better educated

5-      I had thought things through better

                                                            ii.      Don’t focus on what can’t be done but on what you want and will do

                                                          iii.      Regret is another disabling spirit

2.      She’s been bound (limited) for 18 years

a.       The woman was not feigning her disease

                                                              i.      The bones of her spine probably fused together over time

                                                            ii.      There was no known cure for this

                                                          iii.      As time progressed the curvature was more and more pronounced

                                                          iv.      She could not hide this disfigurement

                                                            v.      She was not ashamed to be seen in worship

b.      Time, which is immaterial, becomes our best excuse at times!

                                                              i.      I’ve been sick for 18 years… surely the expression demands sympathy and pity.

3.      She was bent over and couldn’t straighten herself

a.       How uncomfortable to not be able to straighten up!

b.      This woman surely didn’t allow this disability to keep her from assembling for worship

c.       Surely we often get bent out of shape

                                                              i.      We become so rigid we lose perspective

                                                            ii.      We are imprisoned by our can’ts because we don’t understand they are won’ts and can be changed in Jesus!

                                                          iii.      Something rigid is bound to break unless made flexible! (1 Co 10:12)

 

12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your disability."  13 And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. 

 

4.      Jesus frees the woman

a.       Jesus’ physical illustration through this miracle helps us understand that he can straighten out the most tangled emotional messes you’ve made in your life!

b.      If he can heal something people on earth could never do, surely He can help us get straight on the things we can straighten out like:

                                                              i.      Attitudes

                                                            ii.      Emotions

                                                          iii.      Spirit - character

5.      She was made straight

a.       Jesus merely addressed the woman and she is loosed!

                                                              i.      He did it publicly and it manifested instantly! The healing was thorough!

                                                            ii.      How powerful and remarkable our Lord is that with words He takes away what is impossible for man to take away.

                                                          iii.      Can you trust such a man? All He wants to do is straighten you so you can walk comfortably!

b.      The woman wanted to be straight and did not prevent her disability from assembling with the church of from pursuing the things of God.

c.       Her attitude was always straight! Jesus only straightened her physically!

d.      We will all be straightened out in the things we can't straighten out if we let Jesus help us straighten out the things we can right now!

6.      She glorified God!

 

14 But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day." 

 

7.      The ruler is indignant (offended)

a.       Good things offend the hypocrite

b.      Misery loves company

c.       Hypocrites delight in sickness, sadness and are jealous of healing and success, because they are the most crooked of all!

8.      He believes following rules is what will make everyone happy

9.      He wants to be in control (Lord over people)

a.       He wanted faith to be about following clear guidelines

b.      Really trusting God could be out of control for someone like this!

 

15 Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it?  16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?"  17 As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

 

10.  Jesus calls the ruler of the synagogue a hypocrite

a.       Jesus does not indulge hypocrites

b.      Jesus is not sensitive to hypocrite’s sensibilities

c.       Jesus miracle publicly showed who really had a crooked heart, and it was not the woman – it was the synagogue ruler

11.  Crooked hearts don’t follow rules at their convenience

a.       Breaking rules is about the only thing they can do right!

b.      This proves the rules are meant as controls

c.       They are always sad and frustrated because in all reality they cont control anyone and that makes them feel out of control!

12.  Crooked hearts want other people to follow rules at their convenience

a.       Law and order is a good thing

b.      We learn in Romans 13 how God established law and order

c.       Laws are for those who want to break them

d.      This is why crooked hearts get all in huff about someone breaking the rules for the benefit of a soul

13.  God is more interested in people’s welfare than in following man-made rules

a.       Even though the Sabbath was not man-made, the importance and spin placed on it was

b.      God wanted us to remember that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27)!

14.  Truth is as plain as day

a.       Those who oppose truth are put to shame

b.      Those who love truth rejoice

 

Index

 

The Feeding of the 5000 – John 6:1-15

 

John 6:1-15 NIV Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias),  2  and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 

 

1.      People wanted to follow Jesus

a.       They saw the great miraculous signs

b.      They saw people getting healed

c.       They were like sheep without a shepherd

2.      We have a need for being led

a.       We follow those who inspire us

b.      Sometimes we follow for selfish reasons

c.       We need to learn to follow the Good Shepherd and submit to His leadership

 

3  Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.  4  The Jewish Passover Feast was near.  5  When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"  6  He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 

 

3.      Jesus was looking for an occasion to rest with the disciples

a.       He wanted to have some intimate fellowship with them

b.      It is important to have a moment to rest and gather your thoughts with those who work in the kingdom with you

c.       You don’t know when you will get another opportunity!

4.      The people didn’t let Him rest

a.       The searched him out!

b.      They were fascinated with Jesus

5.      Jesus felt compassion for them (Mat 14:14; Mat 15:32)

a.       It was late and he didn’t want to send them home on an empty stomach

b.      He knew their needs despite their motives

c.       What a great host!

6.      He tests the disciples, starting with Phillip

a.       God is always testing us (James 1:2-4)

b.      Everything in this life is a test, remember that

c.       We are tested that our faith may prove itself solid

d.      This should produce in us perseverance (not quitting) so that we may be mature

e.       Those who quite are not cut out for God's Kingdom (Luke 9:62)

f.       We are not quitters but winners in Jesus! (Hebrews 10:39)

 

7  Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"  8  Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up,  9  "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" 

 

7.      Two profiles emerge: Complaint due to Perceived Insufficiency and Self-Reliance & Acceptance due to Perseverance and Reliance on God

8.      Philip had a hard time trusting in what he couldn’t see. John 14:9 NIV Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?

a.       How do you react when you are tested? What’s your first thought?

b.      Do you focus on the problem?

c.       Do you think about what you lack?

d.      This causes you to complain

9.      On the other hand, Andrew looks for what is available. Andrew brought people to Jesus: John 1:40-42 NIV  Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.  41  The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ).  42  And he brought him to Jesus…

a.       He spoke up. Perhaps he was shy. He knew Jesus asked Philip, but he also knew Philip wasn’t focusing on solving the problem – he was being negative.

b.      Andrew gives what he has to Jesus, knowing Jesus can solve the problem.

c.       He wonders how Jesus will solve it – he has no idea how, but he still gives what he has to Jesus.

d.      That’s called trust – that’s perseverance! That produces hope because you are waiting in anticipation for how God will work through the problem.

10.  Worry and complaint are the fruit of shortsightedness:

a.       Relying on self

b.      Trying to solve the problem yourself.

c.       Make no mistake, sometimes you may be able to solve the problem, but in the end it will be a temporary resolution if you are not depending on God.

d.      A drug addict may rob a store to get money for his vice, but that doesn’t solve his deeper problem of addiction. Eventually he will crash and burn, literally.

11.  Hope and character are the fruit of perseverance:

a.       You persevere because you believe God is in control

b.      Since God is in control you can focus on what He has put in your hand to contribute to the solution of your problems.

c.       Most of the time we are waiting on the Lord. It is hard to wait!

d.      We stand because Jesus literally hung in there for us.

e.       We don’t hang on as if our success depended on us, but Jesus enables us to stand firmly (Rom 14:4).

 

10  Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them.  11  Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.  12  When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted."  13  So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 

 

12.  Jesus wants them to sit back and watch Him work!

a.       God is always in control!

b.      God makes something out of nothing!

c.       God gives hope to the hopeless

d.      God has compassion

13.  Jesus wants to give you as much as you want – God is the God of plenty – Acts 14:17 NIV  Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.

a.       True joy comes from hoping in God, not from the things God can give you.

b.      True fulfillment comes from persevering through tests, not from the final result of the test.

c.       It is the process that builds your faith up, not the end result.

14.  Jesus doesn’t want anything wasted

a.       I cringe at the amount of food that is wasted in this country of ours.

b.      I am encouraged by those who make an effort to give of what they have (whether a little or a lot) over to those in need – that is compassion.

 

14  After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world."  15  Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

 

15.  It seemed these people formed a conviction due to what Jesus did for them

16.  They found Jesus was the answer to their struggles

17.  But they still were looking at him from a worldly perspective

a.      2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NIV  16  So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.  17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

b.      John 6:26-29 NIV  Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.  27  Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."  28  Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"  29  Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

18.   We cannot have Jesus and the world

a.      We need to be made new in thinking and living – Luke 13:3

b.      We need to embrace the truth and reject evil – 1Peter 3:11

19.  Obeying the Gospel is the answer

 

Index

 

Peter Walks on Water – Matthew 14:22-32

 

Matthew 14:22-33 ESV  Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.  23  And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.

 

1.      This happened after the feeding of the 5000

2.      Jesus wants to give the disciples a break and sends them ahead of Him.

a.       Sometimes you need to be alone – you and God

b.      Jesus needed to be recharged – show His thankfulness in private

3.      Jesus also needed alone time from the disciples – time to spend praying and meditating.

a.       Time to be refocused

b.      Time away from the hustle and bustle

4.      How much alone time do you give yourself and God?

a.       How much alone time do you give to yourself and your wife?

b.      How much alone time do you spend with your kids?

c.       If you do it with you and the Lord you will have perspective to do it with the members of your household

 

When evening came, he was there alone,  24  but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.  25  And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 

 

5.      It was already evening by the time Jesus began to feed the 5000.

a.       This is the “second evening”, when it is already pitch black outside.

b.      It was the fourth watch of the night when the disciples saw Jesus coming to them on the water. Probably after 3:00am.

6.      The boat, where the disciples were, was far away from the shore

a.       Jesus watches them struggle with the wind against them. The wind made the waves beat against the boat

b.      He was never far from them as they struggled

c.       How was Jesus going to make it in the pitch black darkness?

7.      The Amazing Jesus walks on water to get to them

a.       Jesus comes to us in the middle of our storm

b.      He’s always watching

c.       You are never alone

d.      He will do something amazing to let you know He’s there with you

e.       When you think you’re going down – Jesus comes walking on the water

f.       Don’t give in to fear – believe!

g.      You won't sink when you keep your eyes on Him!

 

26  But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear.  27  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." 

 

1.      The disciples were trying to contend with the wind and the waves beating against the boat

a.       They were fearful

b.      They couldn’t control the wind and waves that were against them

c.       They were probably wondering where Jesus was!

2.      The disciples see something they cannot understand – they react in fear

a.       They see someone walking on water

b.      They thought this was the end for them

c.       How would you react?

d.      Fear is a response to ignorance and unbelief

3.      We often think even God is against us when we feel His hand heavy upon us through difficult times – Psalm 32

a.       Guilt weighs heavy

b.      Our loves flash before our eyes

c.       We are aware we are but a mist – so fragile and futile our ways

4.      Jesus says – “Don’t be afraid, it is Me”

a.       Take heart means – Be bold! Be courageous! Don’t whimper! Be a man!

b.      Do not be afraid

                                                              i.      It’s hard when you’re feeling afraid isn’t it?

                                                            ii.      But Jesus just simply says – don’t be afraid – I'm here.

                                                          iii.      Fear cannot make you perfect

                                                          iv.      Fear enslaves

                                                            v.      Fear has to do with punishment

                                                          vi.      Fear controls (manipulates) you

c.       Jesus is not about fear

                                                              i.      He is about love – the cross of Calvary

                                                            ii.      He is about trust – “Do not let your hearts be troubled; trust in God and in Me” – John 14:1

d.      Right smack in the middle of your storm and your whimpering Jesus says – “Hey! I'm here, chill out!” With a smile on His face.

 

28  And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."  29  He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 

 

5.      Peter cannot believe this is Jesus, His Lord! – he challenged the ghostly form

a.       Often we challenge God's hands as they mold us

b.      Shall the clay tell the potter what form it needs to be? – Jeremiah 18:6

6.      He put his trust in Jesus when he asked for the impossible

a.       His trust in Jesus helped him overcome the fear he felt

b.      Fear paralyzes, trust enables

c.       Faith does the impossible! – Peter walks on the water!

7.      When we walk towards Jesus without losing sight of Him we walk on water!

a.       Faithless people cannot walk on water

b.      Some Christians have given up trying

c.       Some will try to get to Jesus using a boat, a life vest or some other man-made dependency to get to Jesus in their time of trial

                                                              i.      You need to take off your training wheels to exercise and mature your faith!

                                                            ii.      The dangers are real but the blessings far outweigh the reality of the temporary dangers!

d.      We need to have the faith that comes from desperation – and that faith comes through difficult and overwhelming trials – but with that faith you will walk on water!

 

30  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me."  31  Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 

 

8.      For a moment Peter loses focus

a.       The dangers are real

b.      They will cause you to stumble

c.       They will cause you to be afraid again

9.      He calls out to the Lord again – this time he knows it is God right there next to Him

a.       He finds comfort in the embrace of Jesus

b.      God teaches us not to doubt

c.       Don’t get distracted

d.      Don’t lose your focus

10.  Your faith will enable you to walk on water!

a.       Fear and faith don’t mix!

b.      Fear and doubt come from man

c.       Faith comes from God’s Word – Romans 10:17

d.      Doubt will cause you to stumble

e.       Fear will cause you to sink

f.       Faith will cause you to walk

 

32  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  33  And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

 

11.  The wind and the waves will be over soon

12.  We will be reunited with Jesus

13.  By worshipping Jesus now in our lives we ensure we will worship Him forever!

a.       Worship is by faith – in spirit and truth

b.      You cannot worship in fear

c.       You cannot worship with doubt

d.      Believe and trust!

e.       Be amazed by Jesus!

 

Index

 

Bartimaeus – The Blind Beggar – Mark 10:46-52

 

Mark 10:46-52 ESV  And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.

 

1.      Jesus visited Jericho with His disciples

2.      As He was leaving, a great crowd gathers around Him.

a.       Jesus is leaving town with a great crowd surrounding Him

b.      Probably a situation not a whole lot of us has experienced!

3.      Bartimaeus, the blind beggar was sitting on the roadside outside Jericho

a.       Since he was a beggar he was probably not allowed in the city

                                                              i.      He was excluded

                                                            ii.      He was ostracized

b.      His blindness probably left him feeling excluded

                                                              i.      He felt alone – disconnected from others

                                                            ii.      He was probably hungry

                                                          iii.      He didn’t have much human contact

                                                          iv.      He hungered not only for food and drink, but for relationships

c.       He was probably with another blind man

 

47  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 

 

4.      Jesus passes by and Bartimaeus hears about it

a.       People who lack one of the senses usually make up for it by an increased acuity in their other senses

b.      Jesus fame had grown

                                                              i.      His name was well known

c.       Bartimaeus knows about Jesus’ work

                                                              i.      He probably heard about other blind people being healed

d.      He cannot let this opportunity pass him by!

e.       He hears the number of people – he knows it is a huge crowd so…

5.      Bartimaeus cries out to Jesus

a.       Jesus is his only hope!

b.      There’s no way to go about this politely!

c.       There’s no PC way to go about getting Jesus attention

6.      Bartimaeus knows the legacy of Christ

a.       He knows His genealogy: “Son of David”

b.      He knows the Messiah has come to save the lost

c.       He knows mercy is what awaits him with Jesus!

 

48  And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 

 

7.      Bartimaeus gets flak from the crowd

a.       He got everyone’s attention, he surely gets Jesus attention!

b.      It’s not proper to be shouting above the din of the crowd! How rude!

c.       He must be a crazy man!

d.      People with disabilities usually act weird, right!?

8.      Bartimaeus only wanted Jesus to respond so he keeps crying all the more: “Have mercy on me, Son of David!”

a.       Calling Him by His prophetic genealogy!

b.      All the flak just strengthened his resolve to seek Jesus out

 

49  And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart. Get up; he is calling you."  50  And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 

 

9.      Jesus stops

a.      Jesus stops for you

b.      He doesn’t keep going

c.       His agenda is you!

10.   He calls Bartimaeus over

11.    Now the people around Bartimaeus change their tune.

a.      “Hey, you got His attention!”

b.      “Get up and go!”

12.   Bartimaeus can't believe it, but can he?

a.      Usually people who traveled with an entourage didn’t stop for him, no matter how much he cried out to them!

b.      But in the back of his mind he knows Jesus will stop. This is the Son of David!

c.       He springs up and gets over to Jesus as fast as he can

 

51  And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Rabbi, let me recover my sight." 

 

13.   “So Bartimaeus, what do you want?”

a.      Jesus knows what Bartimaeus wants but wants to hear from him

b.      Jesus is not just there to supply our every need without us ever asking

c.       Jesus wants to hear from us

d.      Bartimaeus cried for Jesus

e.      Now Jesus asks: “What is it you want?”

f.        Assertiveness is important in having healthy communication and therefore a healthy relationship

14.   Bartimaeus knows what he’s wanted for so long

a.      He wants his sight recovered

b.      This probably means he could see at some point

c.       Having sight and then losing it is worse than never having it at all

d.      Perhaps this is why Bartimaeus was so relentless in wanting to get Jesus attention!

 

52  And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

 

15.  Bartimaeus had faith

a.       Faith made him pursue Jesus

b.      Faith made him ask Jesus

c.       Faith made him stand up in the face of opposition

d.      Faith healed him!

16.  He recovered his sight

a.       Immediately!

b.      As soon as he regained his sight he knew where he had to go – to follow Jesus!

 

Index

 

Malchus – Servant of the High Priest – John 18:2-12; Luke 22:47-53

 

1.      Jesus celebrated the Passover feast with them

2.      He washed their feet

3.      He shared with them he was leaving but sending them the Holy Spirit

4.      They went to the garden of Gethsemane

5.      It was very late and they fell asleep while Jesus prayed

6.      Now they are about to be tested again

 

John 18:2-12 ESV  Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.  3  So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.  4  Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?"  5  They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.  6  When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.  7  So he asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."  8  Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go."  9  This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one."  10  Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)  11  So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?"  12  So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him.

 

Let’s think about Malchus for a minute:

 

1.      Malchus was the high priest’s servant, a coveted and prestigious position

2.      He takes pride in being servant to the most powerful Jew in Israel.

3.      When he ventures out of the temple into Jerusalem proper, people who know of him treat him with respect.

4.      His special talent is listening, hearing.

a.       As reigning high priest in an intensely political environment, Caiaphas has many enemies.

b.      Malchus is indeed his ear in the city.

 

Picture the political turmoil amongst the Jewish government in that day. Perhaps Malchus had been dispatched to learn about Jesus, prophet of Nazareth, who was visiting for Passover.

Malchus listens as Jesus teaches in the temple colonnade called Solomon's Porch.

 

·         "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life," Jesus is saying. "No one comes to the Father, but by me."

o   What arrogance! thinks the servant. He moves among the crowd incognito, ear open for a seditious comment he can report back to his master.

·         "Come to me, all you who are weak and heavy laden," Jesus continues, "and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. For I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

o   Strange, thinks Malchus. How does arrogance fit with gentleness and humility? Malchus sees arrogance and pride up close every day. What is this?

·         "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them," Jesus is saying now.

o   Not only Gentile rulers are like that! reflects Malchus. All rulers want to flex their muscles and make others jump – at least the rulers he's familiar with.

·         "Not so with you," Jesus continues. "Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your slave, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

o   Strange words! Amazing words to this slave. So Jesus sees himself as a servant, not a would-be dictator. So different from Caiaphas!

·         "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost," Jesus concludes.

o   “Who's lost?”, wonders Malchus.

 

Gradually, he begins to recognize the Teacher's followers. An astute observer of body language, Malchus focuses in on one man, Judas. Ambivalence is written all over him. So Malchus befriends him and arranges for a discreet meeting with Caiaphas.

 

Now it is night, Passover night, and Malchus goes on a hush-hush mission with temple soldiers – and Judas. They move into the Garden of Gethsemane. Suddenly, they encounter someone and soldiers converge, their torches casting eerie dancing shadows among the gnarled olive trees. Malchus, breathing hard, catches up.

 

Luk 22:47-53 ESV  While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him,  48  but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"  49  And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"  50  And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.  51  But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him.  52  Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?  53  When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."

 

Malchus is struck, blood gushing from his head. The blade has sliced his ear clean off. He clutches at his head to stop the bleeding and drops to one knee. Blood is pouring down his neck, drenching his cloak. He begins to wobble, blackness is engulfing him.

 

Then a sudden warmth cloaks him. Pain ceases, and the flickering light of the torches reappears. Jesus is kneeling before him, right hand covering his wound. All Malchus can see is the man's eyes filled with a gentleness and love that melts all enmity.

 

"You'll be all right, now," Jesus assures him.

 

A soldier jerks Jesus to his feet and the spell of the moment is broken. Malchus reaches up to feel his head. The ear is there -- all of it. His ear is whole, the bleeding stopped, only his blood-soaked cloak to indicate that there ever was a wound.

 

But the crowd has moved on now, torchlight diminishing, voices receding. Malchus is alone.

 

"You are my ear, boy."

 

Oh, yes! He must run to report what had happened. He must get up and run.

 

Somehow he cannot. The drive to please his master is gone. He cannot forget those gentle eyes boring into his soul. He cannot forget the hand on his face. He hears Jesus' words again, "You'll be all right now." Words of concern -- for him, an enemy, deeply involved in the plot to silence the Teacher. He is an agent of Jesus' arch enemy, yet Jesus heals him. It doesn't make sense.

 

Finally, Malchus gets to his feet and returns to the palace. The courtyard is stirring with news of Jesus' capture. "The Nazarene is inside being interrogated right now," says one. "The elders have gathered to try him."

 

Malchus returns to his room and removes his stiffening cloak and tunic. He washes the caked blood from his shoulder, arm, and face, and soaks his hair and beard to dissolve the remaining blood. All the time he stares at his ear in the mirror. It is whole, undamaged, without pain.

 

What have I done to this kind, gentle man? Malchus asks himself.

 

The rest of the day is a blur. He follows the multitude to Pilate's quarters, hears the Roman's pathetic attempt at washing his hands of the matter, and goes behind as the crowd surges up the narrow streets to Golgotha, just outside the city. By the time Malchus arrives on the hilltop, Jesus is hanging from a cross, his body and face mutilated almost beyond recognition.

 

Malchus is aghast at what he has done, at his part in this ugly business. Jesus' words flood back, "… To seek and save the lost." Surely, I am lost, says Malchus. I have shed innocent blood.

 

Now Caiaphas arrives, puffing, strutting, taunting. So vengeful, so petty, so filled with hatred.

 

Malchus burns with shame. He kneels, but no one is watching as he pours out his agony and begs forgiveness. Thunder cracks. Wind blows. As Malchus strains his ear -- his whole ear -- he can hear Jesus' unbelievably gracious answer to his cry: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

 

Malchus rises. The man they call "the ear of Caiaphas" is different, for this slave's ear is now listening to a new Master.

 

Will you listen to the call?

 

Rev 22:12-17 ESV  "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.  13  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."  14  Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.  15  Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.  16  "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."  17  The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

 

Portions of this lesson come from a lesson by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

 

Index

 

Peter Disowns Jesus – Mark 14:27-31, 53-54, 66-72; John 21:3-7, 15-17

 

After Jesus institutes His supper and plainly spoke to them about what was to happen they had sung a hymn and then went to the Mount of Olives. It was already dark outside.

 

Mar 14:27-31 ESV  And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'  28  But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."  29  Peter said to him, "Even though they all fall away, I will not."  30  And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times."  31  But he said emphatically, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." And they all said the same.

 

1.      Peter was sure of himself.

2.      In his mind he would never abandon Jesus

3.      He was hurt Jesus doubted his loyalty

4.      He wanted to reassure Jesus

5.      But he was still depending on himself

6.      If he really was depending on God he would have thought that what Jesus was saying was a possibility and would have answered: “With the strength of the Lord I wouldn’t want to do that.”

7.      Here's what happened:

 

They went to the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus wanted to pray with them. They couldn’t pray with Jesus for they were very tired and weak. When trouble is imminent and you choose not to reinforce your loyalty to the Lord, Satan will lull you to stupor emotionally, mentally and physically. Giving into the flesh is a sign that your loyalty is already misplaced. In his mind he's still saying: “I will never leave you!” and yet going back to sleep. Isn’t that hypocrisy?

 

Mar 14:53-54 ESV  And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together.  54  And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.

 

1.      We know Peter's initial reaction to the trouble that followed was to draw his sword and attack the servant of the high priest, Malchus.

a.       This is what he knew to do

b.      This is what the world had trained him to do

2.      After that he ran away along with all the rest.

a.       This shows unpreparedness

b.      When you are unprepared you breakdown

3.      Here we see him following at a distance.

a.       He was unprepared for this challenge

b.      He had been reactive instead of proactive

c.       There was no script he was trained to follow except to follow his heart

d.      Now, unsure of himself, he just follows behind

e.       He doesn’t know how to reconnect

f.       Satan has convinced him he is disconnected

4.      Peter is coming to his second crossroad

a.       The first one he chose to rely on himself by the statement he made

b.      Now he will prove where his loyalty is with his heart and mouth

 

Mar 14:66-72 ESV  And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came,  67  and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus."  68  But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you mean." And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed.  69  And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, "This man is one of them."  70  But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, "Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."  71  But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know this man of whom you speak."  72  And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.

 

1.      Already trailing and flaking out, Peter actually cements his disloyalty more so than his outspoken loyalty to Jesus.

a.       He cannot deal with the honest questions poked at him

b.      Pride comes before the fall

c.       Pride is at its highest right about when you are going to fall flat on your face

2.      The rooster crowing helps him come to his senses

a.       He is connected back to reality

b.      He remembers what Jesus said

3.      Now his dependency on himself has totally broken down

a.       He accepts he has been proud

b.      He accepts he has been a hypocrite

c.       He breaks the fleshly pattern

4.      Now he's ready to come back!

5.      Some of you who may find themselves at this juncture may still choose to continue depending on yourself even though the fruit in your life is showing total breakdown

a.       Broken relationships – marriage, children, jobs, friends, church fellowship

b.      Your past trailing at a distance, you are wallowing in your own mire and you don’t know it!

6.      The longer you continue on this path the harder it will be to come back

 

Heb 10:19-31 NIV  Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,  20  by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,  21  and since we have a great priest over the house of God,  22  let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  23  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  24  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  25  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another  --and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  26  If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,  27  but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.  28  Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  29  How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?  30  For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[4] and again, "The Lord will judge his people."[5]  31  It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

When your confidence and reliance is on the Lord you will

 

1.      Draw near to God

a.       With sincerity

b.      With full faith – trust in Him

c.       How do we know we are trusting in him?

                                                              i.      Because your confidence is not in your own righteousness

                                                            ii.      Your confidence is in Jesus righteousness!

1.      Knowing you’ve been cleansed of a guilty conscience

2.      Knowing you’ve been baptized and have died with Jesus

3.      Knowing He is now living in you!

4.      This is full faith! - Jesus said, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." – John 6:29

2.      Hold unswervingly to the hope you profess

a.       Because you know Jesus is faithful

b.      He didn’t bring you this far to leave you

c.       You know He wants to see you and you want to see Him!

3.      Consider how we spur one another on toward love and good deeds

a.       You will love receiving encouragement and admonishment

b.      You will seek it by being transparent

c.       You will give it in love and not in judgment

4.      Not give up meeting together

a.       You will put kingdom things above any other appointment on your schedule

b.      You will seek fellowship

c.       You will give fellowship

5.      Encourage one another

a.       You will keep the talk centered on Jesus

b.      You will keep the focus on the day to come

c.       You will be an example in sharing the Gospel

d.      This is how to keep it real!

 

Heb 10:32-39 NIV  Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.  33  Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.  34  You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.  35  So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  36  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.  37  For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay.  38  But my righteous one[6] will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him."[7]  39  But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

 

The Hebrew writer reminds the Christians about the zeal and confidence they had at first:

 

1.      They stood their ground

2.      They were not ashamed to be public about their faith

3.      They sympathized with those who were hurting or suffering

4.      They joyfully accepted challenges and troubles, because they were sure of their hope

a.       When your hope is secure you don’t retaliate, you accept challenges joyfully

b.      To complain is to indicate you trust yourself.

c.       Remember how the people complained in the desert after the exodus!

d.      God wanted to teach them to rely on Him!

5.      Don’t throw away your confidence!

a.       Reaffirm it every time your faith is challenged!

b.      This is done by persevering

c.       We persevere by doing God's will, that which we know is right; not what feels right

d.      By obedience we show where our hope is and who we are trusting.

6.      Jesus is coming soon!

a.       Shrinking back brings destruction

b.      Believing in Jesus, doing the work of God, brings salvation!

 

John 21:3-7 ESV  Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.  4  Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.  5  Jesus said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" They answered him, "No."  6  He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.  7  That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.

 

1.      Peter proves that deep down his loyalty had not been damaged.

2.      He shows he will not shrink back

a.       He did not buy into Satan’s illusion of disconnectedness

b.      He did not fall back on himself

3.      He runs to Jesus!

4.      He doesn’t want to hold himself back from the one who saves

 

John 21:15-17 ESV  When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."  16  He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord;