A tale is told about a small town that had historically been “dry,” but then a local businessman decided to build a tavern. A group of Christians from a local church were concerned and planned an all-night prayer vigil to ask God to intervene.

            It just so happened that shortly thereafter lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground. The owner of the bar sued the church, claiming that the prayers of the congregation were responsible, but the church hired a lawyer to argue in court that they were not responsible.      The presiding judge, after his initial review of the case, stated that “no matter how this case comes out, one thing is clear: the tavern owner believes in prayer and the Christians do not.”

            Do Christians really believe in the power of prayer? That is the subject of today’s sermon.

Pressed in the Garden

After Jesus and his disciples celebrated the Passover and ate their last supper together in the upper room in Jerusalem, they retreated to the Mount of Olives just outside the city. It was Jesus’ custom to teach in the Temple in Jerusalem during the day and then he would retire to his campsite on the hill of olive trees. We can imagine many evenings when the disciples sat around the campfire singing joyful psalms of praise to God, listening to Jesus’ hopeful stories about the Kingdom of God, and spending time in peaceful prayer with their heavenly Father.

Although it was their custom to convene there every evening, this night would be unlike any other night. An ominous quietness overtook the camp and an eerie tension filled the air. The storytelling and singing ceased, and even though there were olive branches all around, there was no offer of peace on this night. Judas had already disappeared to do his dastardly deed, and for the first time in their lives, the disciples saw an unnerving anxiety in Jesus’ eyes.

Can you see Jesus sitting there in the darkness with the campfire flames reflecting off his solemn face? Can you smell the smoke of betrayal that was about to befall him? Can you feel his hands warming over the fire, the same hands that would be pierced for our transgressions the following day?

For just a moment, think about the darkest place you have ever been. Think of the place of anguish and pain, discouragement and despair. Think of the place where you were alone in your suffering and your worst fears were about to come true. Think of the place where the one thing you wanted was the one thing God determined you could not have. Think of the place where you felt trapped and there seemed to be no way out. Think of the place where you were pressed from every side and you felt crushed under the weight of worry. Think about the place where things got so bad that you thought you were going to die, and maybe you almost did. (Ryken 498) That is the place where Jesus was going!        

The disciples followed Jesus to the foot of the Mount of Olives where he entered the Garden of Gethsemane. The name “Gethsemane” comes from an Aramaic word that literally means “oil press.” It was a small flatland that was likely used for pressing olives into olive oil. Ironically, it was in this location, where olives were routinely pressed into oil that Jesus would experience the most intense pressure of his life. It was here where Jesus would endure the full weight of what was about to happen to him. It was here where the hypostatic union of Jesus’ divinity and humanity would be challenged. It was here where he would offer his most pressing prayer to his Father in heaven. Allow me to highlight three aspects of this prayer for us today!

1.) Prayer and Temptation (40)

As Jesus arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane and prepared to enter a time of solitary prayer with the Father, he gave his disciples the simple command: “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.” The specific temptation that Jesus referred to here was the possibility of denying him. He knew that he was about to be arrested and that this would ultimately lead to his crucifixion. During this time, the disciples’ courage would endure its most severe testing. To remain loyal to Jesus, they would have to face the fear of torture and death. It was a tremendous spiritual challenge. Jesus knew exactly what they were up against, so he told them to pray.

In this one statement, Jesus shows how much he believes in the power of prayer. He knew that temptation is overcome only by continued dependence on God. He had already modeled this for them in the Lord’s Prayer when he said, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Prayer is a primary defense against temptation.
Thank God that most of us will never face the kind of pressure to deny Jesus that his disciples did, but we all struggle with some type of temptation to sin, which is still a form of turning our backs on Jesus. The medieval monk, Thomas a Kempis, who wrote the spiritual classic, The Imitation of Christ, once said, “We usually know what we can do, but temptation shows us who we are.”
Some people struggle with moral weaknesses in the areas of pride, lust, or greed. These flaws make them susceptible to specific besetting sins like selfish ambition, compulsory spending, and pornography. Others possess less visible vulnerabilities, but they still wrestle with periodic temptations. For instance, feelings of loneliness and insecurity can entice people to engage in illicit relationships. Envy and jealous may tempt individuals to gossip and slander about other people. Arrogance and ignorance may produce postures of prejudice and overt acts of racism. Undue pressure and unresolved anger often leads to alcoholism and substance abuse.

            How about you? Do you have any moral weaknesses? Do you struggle with any besetting sins? Do you see any spiritual blind-spots in your soul? If so, I wonder how often you pray about these liabilities? I wonder how fervently and faithfully we pray and specifically ask God to help us overcome these temptations? Jesus told his disciples to pray because he knew that prayer was a primary defense against temptation. Do we?

2.) Prayer and Agony (41-44)

After Jesus charged his disciples to pray, he walked about a stone’s throw away from them to pray through his own temptation. He bent down on his knees and prayed the most agonizing prayer of his life, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” He is asking if there might be some other way for God to accomplish what lies ahead. Like the prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah before him, Jesus used the term “cup” as a metaphor for judgment. He asks to be delivered from drinking the cup of God’s wrath. He did not want to bear the pain of torture and crucifixion, but he was willing to submit to the will of the Father. He draws on the wording from the Lord’s Prayer “your will be done.”

These verses draw us into the deep mysteries of the incarnation, when God became human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. Philip Ryken comments on this remarkable passage:

In Gethsemane we see the human will of Jesus wrestling with the divine will. Humanly speaking, Jesus did not want to suffer on the cross, which was evil was itself and deadly painful. I say “humanly speaking” because we see his true humanity as clearly here as we do anywhere in the Gospels. As a human being, Jesus had the same instinct to preserve his life that anyone has. No one loved life more than he did. How could it be his will, therefore, to suffer the torture of his body and the curse of death? Jesus was averse to death. Everything in his humanity recoiled against it. It was his natural preference to live. So in the agony of his soul he asked the Father for some other way to bring salvation. (Ryken 501)

It is no wonder Luke uses the term “agony” to describe Jesus’ prayer. Even though the Father sent him an angel to strengthen him in his distress, Jesus prayed so earnestly that sweat beaded down his face and fell to the ground like drops of blood. This graphic metaphor depicts the utmost extremity of human anguish.

            None of us could ever fully understand the severity of Jesus’ suffering, but many of us know what it’s like to agonize in prayer over something. It is not difficult to identify with the conflict of doing God’s will versus doing our own will. Does this ever happen to you? Have you ever known exactly what God wanted you to do, but you didn’t want to do it? Or have you ever wanted to do something so badly, and yet, you knew God didn’t want you to do it? We face situations like this all the time. Perhaps you are facing a situation like this in your life right now! The war of the wills is absolutely agonizing!

            Whenever we agonize in prayer over something, I hope that we will come to the same conclusion that Jesus did! I hope that we will be able to sacrifice our instincts, desires, aspirations, and submit our will to God’s will, no matter how torturous the task is before us! God’s will is always the right thing to do and it’s always what is best for us, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time.

            Consider this: it was God’s will for Jesus to die on the cross to provide atonement for our sins; it was also God’s plan to resurrect his son from the dead. This was the best possible outcome for the whole world! Had Jesus not obeyed the will of the Father, we would all still be dead in our sins and would have no hope of salvation.

            Do we really trust God’s will for our lives? Even if it includes suffering? Every Sunday we pray “thy kingdom come, thy will be done,” but do we really mean it?

3.) Prayer and Lethargy (45-46)

After Jesus finished his agonizing prayer meeting with the Father, he returned to the place he left his disciples. Instead of finding them in fervent prayer about resisting temptation, his eyes gazed upon their motionless bodies sprawled out all over the ground; they were fast asleep. They seem to have finally reckoned with the fact that their Lord was going to suffer, which lead to their fatigue. Even though exhaustion from sorrow is a real phenomenon, they failed to obey Jesus’ command. So, he subtly rebuked them for their spiritual lethargy by asking the question, “Why are you sleeping?” Then he renewed his command to get up and pray so they would not fall into temptation.

            Like Jesus’ disciples, it is easy for us to slide into spiritual lethargy, especially when we are enduring dark days. The times when we need to pray the most are often the most difficult times to pray. How often do we say to ourselves, “Oh, I really should spend some time in prayer about that,” but then we get distracted or tired or just lazy?

            I wonder what would have happened to the disciples if they would have remained vigilant in prayer? I wonder if Peter would still would have denied Jesus three times? I wonder if the rest of the disciples would have stayed with Jesus through his suffering instead of disappearing when he needed them most? I wonder if we would be more faithful to Jesus if we were more faithful in prayer?

            When Martin Luther’s puppy happened to be at the table, he looked for a morsel from his master, and watched with open mouth and motionless eyes. Luther said, “Oh, if I could only pray the way this dog watches the meat! All his thoughts are concentrated on the piece of meat. Otherwise he has no thought, wish, or hope.”

            This passage, that highlights Jesus’ pressing prayers, teaches us to pray for strength to overcome temptation, for our will to be conformed to the Father’s will, and to avoid spiritual lethargy!

            It is customary to offer a condemned death row prisoner one last meal of his or her choice just prior to execution. Various countries have different traditions in this regard. Historically, the “little glass of rum” is granted to the condemned in France. In America, most states give the meal a day or two before execution and use the euphemism “the special meal.” In Florida, the food for the special meal must be purchased locally and is limited to $40. In Oklahoma, where folks are more frugal, the cost is capped at $15.   

            In September 2011, the state of Texas abolished all special-meal requests after the condemned prisoner Lawrence Russell Brewer requested a huge meal that included a plate of two chicken-fried steaks with gravy and sliced onions, a triple-patty bacon cheeseburger, a cheese omelet with ground beef, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, jalapeños, a bowl of fried okra with ketchup, a pound of barbecued meat with half a loaf of white bread, three fajitas, a meat-lover’s pizza (topped with pepperoni, ham, beef, bacon, and sausage), a pint of Blue Bell ice cream, a slab of peanut-butter fudge with crushed peanuts, and three cans of root beer. After he received all this food, he didn’t eat any of it. He said he wasn’t hungry.

For just a moment, imagine that you are on death row and you are going to be executed tomorrow. What thoughts might roll through your mind? And if you could choose one last meal before you depart from this world, what would you eat?

Even though he did not commit any crimes and Pontius Pilate had not yet sentenced him to die, Jesus was already on death row. As a matter of fact, Jesus was on death row before he began his ministry—even before he was born in Bethlehem. It was God’s plan to send his son to die for the sins of the human race at least since the fall of Adam and Eve when they ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Do you remember the prophecy that God spoke to Satan way back in Genesis 3:15? “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Jesus was condemned to die before he was even born, and Luke now describes his special meal the night before his execution. Today, Jesus’ “special meal” is commonly called the “The Last Supper.”

As Jesus prepared for his last meal on earth, he used the occasion to teach his disciples some final spiritual lessons. I don’t have enough time to share all of them with you in one sermon, but allow me to highlight four of them for you. And I would like to serve them to you in the metaphor of a four-course special meal.

1.) First Course: Divinely Directed Details (7-13)

The day of Unleavened Bread had arrived and Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare for the Passover feast. This was the commemorative meal where the Jewish people ate special foods to remind them of how God delivered their ancestors from 400 years of slavery in Egypt. Among other things, the meal included unleavened bread, roasted lamb, bitter herbs, and red wine.

Peter and John already had their grocery list, but they did not know where they were supposed to prepare the meal. When they asked Jesus about the location, he gave them strangely specific instructions to follow a man carrying a jar of water who will lead them to a certain house with an upper room that would already be furnished for their feast. And sure enough, the two disciples found things just as Jesus said.

            This passage shows how Jesus divinely directs the details of people’s lives. Through his sovereign foreknowledge and providence, he had already prearranged the details of the Passover meal, right down to the man carrying the water jar the furnished upper room.

            Just as he did for his disciples here, Jesus divinely directs the details of our lives too. He knows all things and he is in control of every aspect of our existence. We often use the cliché: “Everything happens for a reason.” This is true! Even when things don’t make sense to us, we can trust God’s plan for our lives and for the whole world, down to the very last detail.

2.) Second Course: The Last Supper becomes the Lord’s Supper (14-23)

As Jesus and his disciples sat down at the table to eat, he told them that he was eager to eat this special meal with them before he suffered. He knew that this would be his last Passover meal before his crucifixion and he wanted to celebrate it with his apostles. He also knew that the feast was about to find its fulfillment. Passover was a time to look back and remember how God had saved his people in the past. Just as the lamb’s blood was sprinkled on the door posts to provide salvation in the original Passover, now Jesus, the lamb of God, would be slain to atone for the sins of the human race once and for all.

So, as Jesus ate his final Passover meal, he inaugurated a new Christian tradition. He transformed the last supper into the Lord’s Supper. He took the bread and the cup, gave thanks, and distributed them among the disciples. These elements were meant to be symbols of Jesus’ body and blood that he freely gave for redemption. He commanded his disciples to do this in remembrance of him.

Jesus tuned the last Supper into the Lord’s Supper; and therefore, we celebrate communion on the first Sunday of every month by eating the bread and drinking the cup together. Jesus did not specify how often or in what manner this ordinance should be observed, but it is meant to be regularly practiced in the church until the Kingdom of God is consummated when Jesus returns. Contrary to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church (that believes the elements actually become the body and blood of Christ), the bread and wine are symbols to remind us of Jesus’ body that was broken and his blood was shed for us.    

To say that Jesus died “for you” is to say something more than he died for your benefit; it is to say that he died in your place, suffering the death that you deserved to die. This can be illustrated by something that happened not long after the Civil War ended, when a man in farm clothes was seen kneeling at a soldier’s gave in Nashville, Tennessee. A sympathetic bystander asked him, “Is that the grave of your son?” “No,” the farmer replied, “I have seven children, all of them young, and a wife on my poor farm in Illinois. I was drafted into the Union army, and despite the great hardship it would cause to my family, I was required to serve.”

            But on the morning I was to depart, the man who now lies in this grave—my neighbor’s oldest son—came over and offered to take my place in the war.” When the farmer stepped away, the bystander could see the words he had written on the gravestone. They simply read, “He died for me.” This is the testimony of every believer in Jesus Christ: we have a Savior who offered himself in our place. Whenever we break bread and drink the cup at his table, we say “He died for me.” (Ryken 468)

3.) Third Course: An Awkward Argument (24-30)

During the feast, Jesus had already sparked tension in the discussion by publicly stating that one of the disciples sitting at the table was going to betray him. What an uncomfortable conversation that must have been for Judas, as the rest of the disciples began wondering which one of them was going to do this?

To make matters even worse, a dispute arose among the disciples as to which of them was the greatest. What an incredibly awkward argument this was; didn’t they realize that Jesus was sitting right there? Didn’t they understand that this was exactly the type of arrogance and competition that Jesus despised? I can only imagine the disappointment on Jesus’ face as he listened to his beloved disciples spoil his special meal by bickering over whose best. (This is like the couple who went out for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner and spent the whole evening arguing over which one was going to pay the babysitter.) The disciples still had so much to learn about the kingdom of God.

So, Jesus draws a comparison between greatness in the eyes of the world and greatness in the eyes of God. He points out the worldly perception of greatness is attached to power, authority, wealth, and fame, but God defines greatness by humility and servanthood. This is exactly what Jesus modeled throughout his ministry.

This is still a powerful lesson for us today! Our world continues to define greatness through the lens of power, wealth, and fame, and it is easy for us to be influenced by this type of thinking. Like Jesus’ disciples, we can fall into the trap of measuring success by our bank accounts, possessions, and titles. But we must remember Jesus’ teaching: True greatness is measured by how much we are willing to sacrifice and serve others!

            Do you want to be truly great in Jesus’ eyes? Don’t talk about how great you are! Be humble! Put others before your own needs and desires! Serve the people who are in positions that are lower yours! Then you will be great, like Jesus!

4.) Fourth Course: The Sifting of Simon (31-34)

As the dinner conversation continued, Jesus singled Simon Peter out for special attention, because Satan has zeroed in on this disciple, asking to take him through a sieve. Like wheat separated from chaff, Satan asked to test what Peter is really made of. (Some of you may remember that Satan did this to Job in the Old Testament.) But Jesus has prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail. This does not mean that Simon would succeed in the short-run, for Jesus goes on to note that when Peter has “turned back,” he will be called on to strengthen his brothers.” This implies that there will be temporary failure before final restoration. (Bock 560)

Well, Peter doesn’t like hearing that he would fail, and in a classic case of overconfidence, he declares to Jesus and the rest of the disciples that he was willing to face imprisonment and even death. But Jesus responds with the simple rebuke: “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

            Once again, we must remember that we are all in a cosmic spiritual battle. Satan still seeks to sift Jesus’ followers through a sieve by testing their faith. He uses the old tricks of childhood trauma, tragic loss, disease and debilitation, pressure and pain, fear and loneliness to get people to doubt God and turn their backs on him. If Peter could succumb to Satan’s sifting, we should certainly not be overconfident about our faith! Instead, let us humbly ask Jesus to sustain us by his grace.

            And finally, even if we do fall into temptation and our faith fails, let us not linger there forever! May we quickly confess our failure, repent from our sin, be restored, learn from our mistakes, and then get back to serving and strengthening our brothers and sisters!

            As I mentioned earlier, there are many other lessons we could learn from Luke’s account of Jesus’ special meal, but these must suffice for today. I encourage you to read this passage again and meditate on its meaning for your life and faith! And may we always remember:

 Jesus divinely directs the details of our lives!

1. Communion commemorates the fact that Jesus died for us!
2. True greatness is defined by humble service!
3. Even when Satan sifts our faith, Jesus sustains us by his grace!

 This should give you enough to chew on for a while!

And he’ll tell her – He’s working late again, But she knows to well there’s something goin’ on.
She’s been neglected – and she needs a friend, So her trembling fingers dial the telephone.

And Lord, it hurts her – doin’ this again, He’s the best friend that her husband ever knew.
When she’s lonely – he’s more than just a friend, He’s the one she loans her body to.

Daytime friends and nighttime lovers  Hoping no one else discovers
Where they go – What they do  In their secret hideaway

Daytime friends and nighttime lovers  They don’t want to hurt the others
So they love – In the nighttime  And shake hands in the light of day.

And when it’s over – there’s no peace of mind, Just a longin’ for the way things should have been.

            This old Kenny Roger’s song was a #1 hit on the US country charts back in 1977. It is one of the countless country songs that describes the bitterness of betrayal, which is a common motif in country music. Whether it is a cheating spouse, a boyfriend breaking a promise, a parent walking out on a child, an employer offering an empty expectation, a coworker usurping an opportunity, or a so-called friend stabbing you in the back, betrayal is one of the most excruciating of all human experiences. Unfortunately, most people have tasted the bitterness of betrayal at some point in their lives. Have you?

            Betrayal is such a bitter pill to swallow because it involves deception from an unexpected source. Open opposition from a known enemy is hard enough, but all forms of unfaithfulness and disloyalty are downright devastating. And some of us, even many years later, are still struggling with the lingering effects of such treachery.

            If it is any consolation, even our Lord Jesus Christ tasted the bitterness of betrayal. Luke 22:1-6 records the events that led to the biggest betrayal in human history, where Judas Iscariot, turned his back on the Son of Man. One of his closest companions made a deal with the devil and conspired with the chief priests to get the Son of God crucified.

The Satanic Conspirator

As most of you already know, Judas Iscariot was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. By this time, he had spent over three years with Jesus and had heard his teachings and witnessed his miracles: he watched Jesus walk on water, feed 5000 people with a couple fish and a few loaves of bread, and raise Lazarus from the dead. Judas had every opportunity to become a fully devoted disciple of Jesus Christ, but there was always something about him that wasn’t quite right.

Now it was the last week of Jesus’ life, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (or the Passover) was rapidly approaching. This was the annual holiday when Jewish pilgrims flooded into Jerusalem to celebrate God’s deliverance of the Israelites from 400 years of slavery in Egypt. Jesus had been teaching in the temple every day that week since he had entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were fed up with Jesus and now they were actively looking for a way to get rid of him privately because he had become so popular with the public.

It was at that very moment that Luke tells us that “Satan entered Judas.” When Luke said this, he reveals the diabolical dimension behind this scheme. Satan himself—God’s ancient enemy, the devil, reenters the biblical story and tries to get rid of Jesus once again. This was not just some run-of the-mill demonic possession; Judas Iscariot was possessed by Satan himself. This is the only scriptural reference to Satan taking possession of someone’s body. Instead of resisting the devil and trusting in Jesus, Judas opened the door for the devil to come in, and Satan pounced on the opportunity.

At the very least, this verse reminds us of the devil’s power and craftiness. Satan is the prince of darkness and he has the authority to manipulate and afflict people’s lives here on earth. Even if we don’t always acknowledge it as such, we see the effects of satanic influence all around us: drug addiction, domestic violence, child abuse, shootings, terrorism, and genocide, to name a few.

            If Satan could weasel his way into Jesus’ inner circle and take advantage of a disciple who was weakened by his own sinful desires, how much more should we be on guard and build up our spiritual defenses? Like Judas, if we leave ourselves open to the power of the devil by refusing to fully devote ourselves to Jesus, Satan loves to capitalize on an opportunity. But we can resist the devil through the power of Jesus Christ. May we always walk closely with Jesus!

The Bitter Betrayer

Even though Judas’ betrayal was influenced by Satan, we still must ask the question, “Humanly speaking, why did Judas betray Jesus? Maybe he was disappointed with Jesus, as most people were. Most Jews were hoping for a military or political Messiah to lead a rebellion against Rome and liberate their people from the oppressive regime. They were looking for an earthly king of a worldly kingdom. But by now, especially after Jesus’ prophesy of the fall of Jerusalem, it had become clear that Jesus was not this type of Messiah. So maybe Judas felt betrayed because Jesus failed to live up to his expectations. (Ryken 452)

What about you? Has Jesus ever failed to live up to your expectations? Have you ever been so disappointed by Jesus that you were tempted to betray him? Maybe he allowed you to experience some tragedy that you felt like you didn’t deserve or maybe he didn’t answer your prayer the way you wanted? Maybe he didn’t deliver you from some physical or emotional burden, and you lost your confidence in him? Disappointment often leads to betrayal!

Or maybe Judas betrayed Jesus purely for monetary profit. For his part in the conspiracy, the chief priests agreed to give him money. And we know from Matthew’s gospel that Judas was the one who brought up the subject of compensation for handing Jesus over, and they agreed to pay him thirty pieces of silver. (Matt. 2615-16) Later, when Judas felt remorse for what he had done, the first thing he did was give the money back. (Matt. 27:3-5) This fits in with what we have learned about Judas from the gospels. All along Judas had been helping himself to the disciple’s treasury. (John 12:6) Money certainly appears to be a leading cause of Judas’ betrayal. The ancient church father, Cyril of Alexandria said, “Those who seek to be rich, fall into numerous and unprofitable lusts, which sink people in pitfalls and destruction. The disciple who became a traitor is clear proof of this, because he perished for the sake of a few miserable coins.” (Ryken 452)

The pursuit of profit can cause people to do strange and horrible things. Money can gain such a hold on people’s hearts that it compels them to betray their friends and even their own family members.

One of my all-time favorite cinematic depictions of monetary betrayal comes from the Coen Brother’s 2000 film “O Brother, Where Art Thou,” where three fugitives are on the run from the authorities. After finding refuge and hospitality at the home of Washington Hogwallop, Pete’s cousin, they are awoken in the middle of the night and find themselves surrounded. The leader of the trio, played by George Clooney, says: “Pete’s cousin turned us in for the bounty.” Pete responds, “The hell you say! Wash is kin!” Washington Hogwallop then shouts, “Sorry, Pete, I know we’re kin, but they got this depression on. I got to do for me and mine.” Pete: I’m gonna kill you, Judas Iscariot Hogwallop! You miserable, horse eaten’ son of a…”

            Sometimes it doesn’t matter if one is family or not: coin trumps kin! This is one of the reasons why the Apostle Paul said, “The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil.” (I Tim. 6:10) Do you know anyone who has ever sold out a friend or family member for money? Betrayal is bitter, indeed!

The Betrayer in All of Us

In addition to Judas, the Bible recounts many bitter betrayals. The archangel Lucifer betrayed God. Cain betrayed his brother Abel and murdered him in cold blood. Delilah betrayed Samson and got his eyes gouged out. Job’s friends turned their backs on him when he lost everything. King David betrayed his wife Michal by hooking up with Bathsheba and becoming her baby-daddy! King Herod betrayed his own Jewish people by becoming bedfellows with the Roman Empire.

There have also been many biter betrayals throughout non-biblical history. Marcus Brutus betrayed Julius Caesar (Et tu Brute)—Henry VIII betrayed five of his six wives, not to mention that he beheaded two of them—Benedict Arnold famously betrayed the American Army during the revolutionary war—Lebron James betrayed the Cleveland Cavaliers by defecting to the Miami Heat, and then he betrayed the Heat by going back to the Cavs!

But among all the betrayers in human history, Judas’ is the worst! He committed his treacherous act against the only perfect person who has ever walked on earth. He turned his back on the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. With a two-faced kiss, he betrayed God in human flesh, the very one who was about to die for his sins on the cross.

            Well, I thought Judas’ betrayal was the worst of all time! That is, until I began to think about all the times I chose momentary pleasure, monetary improvement, and imposturous power over following Jesus. That is, until I began to think about all the times I betrayed Jesus with my sinful thoughts, words, and deeds. That is, until I thought about my own selfish ambitions and hypocritical attitudes. When I thought about all these things, I came to the sad realization that I am just as bad, if not worse, than Judas Iscariot. Who am I to cast judgment on Judas as the worst betrayer in the world—when I am just like him?

            If we are brutally honest with ourselves, there is a bit of betrayer in all of us. Sure, Judas’ betrayal kicked off the chain of events that put Jesus on the cross, but we all bear some sinful responsibility for Jesus’ bitter death. Many of us have been the victims of betrayal, but may we never forget that we are guilty of betrayal too!

            So, how should we respond to this? First, I hope that we will always remember that Jesus died even for all sins of betrayal. If Judas had humbled himself before Lord and repented from his betrayal, Jesus would have fully forgiven him. Like his fellow disciple, Simon Peter, who denied Jesus three times, he could have been restored completely. But his guilt got the best of him and he hung himself on a tree.

            Some of us are still struggling with guilt from a past betrayal. Confess it! Repent! And give it to Jesus so he can wash it away with his blood once and for all. Learn from your mistake and move on! May your guilt be transformed into gratitude for what Jesus has done for you!

Second, if you are still struggling with the pain of a past betrayal, take comfort from the fact that Jesus is familiar with your anguish and forgive as Jesus forgave you! Betrayal is always bitter, but you don’t have to hold onto the bitterness anymore! Jesus shed his blood for this too. Who betrayed you? Your mom, your dad, your brother, your sister, an aunt, an uncle, a boyfriend, a girlfriend, a spouse, a friend, or someone else? Give it to Jesus right now! When you truly experience God’s grace, you can offer grace to the guilty!

Last April, Jennifer and I went to New York City for a few days to celebrate our 15^th wedding anniversary. We had a wonderful time at the opera, Broadway, and exploring the many treasures in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The only disappointing part of our trip came when we visited the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, which is the largest cathedral in America and the fourth largest one in the world. The cathedral is categorically colossal—it covers 121,000 square feet (601 ft. long, 232 ft. wide, and 124 ft. high). Construction began in 1882 but it wasn’t completed until 1941, spanning almost 60 years.

            Even though the cathedral’s gothic revival architecture was impressive, the stained-glass was stunning, and the tapestries were striking, the building’s interior left us with a hollow and empty feeling. After touring the structure, we decided to attend the morning mass. Unfortunately, it was one of the worst worship services we have ever witnessed. The Episcopal rector mumbled the Scripture reading, murmured an unemotive prayer, and muttered an unintelligible sermon. It was apparent that the priest didn’t put any preparation into his presentation. We had no idea what he was talking about, and neither did he! His words were as empty and lifeless as the cavernous cathedral. And it’s no wonder that this church averages less than a hundred people at its weekly worship.

            Later, when I read the history of the cathedral, I discovered that the primary motivation for building it was to rival the Catholic St. Patrick’s Cathedral on the other end of town. It is a shame that tens of millions of dollars have been spent on “keeping up with the Jones’,” or in this case, keeping up with the Catholics. Tragically, this “ministry” is all about the building. Therefore, allow me to make a recommendation to you: If you ever in New York City and you have a chance to visit the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, go and see “Wicked” instead! It will be a more edifying experience for you!

Our encounter at the cathedral was much like Jesus’ experience at the temple in Jerusalem. In today’s Scripture reading, Luke reveals that Jesus wasn’t impressed by architectural achievements or empty religion. Instead, Jesus uses his disciple’s admiration of the temple structure as an opportunity to announce God’s judgment on the Jewish people for missing the Messiah. As Jesus approached his death on the cross, he announced God’s future judgment on Jerusalem and the whole world. This pivotal event would unleash the beginning of the end.

            So, if you happen to be an end times junkie or you are just curious to know what is going to happen in the future, this passage is for you. Let’s look at it together!

Coming Judgment and Destruction

Remember Jesus was teaching in the temple just days before his crucifixion, when he overheard some of his disciples talking about the temple structure and admiring its beauty. The temple was magnificent! With its massive marble platforms, gold covered platelets, and gem studded walls, the Jerusalem temple was one of the most beautiful buildings in the history of the world. The Jewish historian Josephus describes the features—they “glittered so dazzlingly that they blinded the eyes of the beholders not less than one gazed at the sun’s rays themselves.”

But rather than joining in the admiration of the architecture, Jesus took the occasion to continue to prepare his disciples for his ensuing departure. He utters the shocking prophesy that the temple would be destroyed and not one stone would be spared. This prophecy would have been hard to believe, since the temple was in the middle of a 50 plus year grand renovation program.

Amazingly, Jesus’ disciples didn’t dispute his improbable prediction, but they did want to know when this was going to take place and what would be the sign that these things were about to take place. They wanted Jesus to give them a type of divine “heads up.” But Jesus gives them much more than a simple warning; he launches into a full-on dramatic discourse about God’s future judgment.

Jesus’ prophecies address both the immediate question about the destruction of the temple and the bigger question about the end of the world. On one hand, these prophecies of false Messiah’s, wars among the nations, earthquakes and famines, pestilences and persecutions would be fulfilled in A.D. 70 when the Romans would sack Jerusalem and destroy the temple. Verses 20-24 specifically refer to this event, when Jerusalem would be surrounded and trampled by Gentile armies.

But on the other hand, Jesus’ prophecies also have a far fulfillment. This refers to the final judgement at the end of the world. But in verse 9, Jesus says “but the end will not be at once.” This means that God’s judgment on the world will take place over a long period of time. Jesus’ death and resurrection would be the cataclysmic event that would put all of this into motion. This is precisely why there have been many false Messiah’s, wars among nations, earthquakes and famines, pestilences and persecutions over the past 2000 years and they will continue until the day the Son of Man returns in a cloud with power and great glory, as Jesus describes in verse 27.

            Allow me to share an abridged list of the fulfillments of Jesus’ prophecies. As for false Messiah’s, we have Simon Magus in the first century. His story is recorded in Acts 8 in the Bible. We also have Ann Lee in the 1772. She was a central figure in the Shaker movement and she claimed to be Christ’s female counterpart. (The Shakers made excellent furniture, but they weren’t very good messiahs.) And who can forget the cult leaders Jim Jones and David Koresh in the 20^th century. (These false messiahs are the reason why I refuse to drink Cool Aid or live in Texas.) And there will be more false messiahs before the real Messiah returns!

              How about nations rising against nation? In addition to the thousands of wars that took place in the early and middle ages, allow me to remind you of some of the wars you have learned about: the 100 Years War, the 30 Years War, the War of the Roses, the American Revolution, the French Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, the Iraq War, and the Syrian Civil war that we read about in our headlines today. And guess what, wars won’t end until Jesus returns!

How about earthquakes and famines? From the ancient earthquake in Antioch, Turkey (A.D. 526) where 250,000 of its 300,000 inhabitants died to the tsunami in Sumatra, Indonesia that killed another quarter of a million people 2004, earthquakes continue to devastate our world. And from the Irish potato famine in the 1840’s to the great famine in North Korea today, starvation has claimed the lives of millions of people throughout history. Do you know when earthquakes and famines will cease? That’s right, when Jesus returns!

            And for pestilence and persecution, do you remember reading about the black death plague that wiped-out half of Europe’s population from 1347-1351? Or how about the SARS epidemic in 2004? I wonder what the next world health pandemic will be? And the history of Christian persecution goes back to the Christians who were burned by Nero in Rome to the modern persecutions in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It is said that there were more Christian martyrs in the 20^th century than all the other centuries combined. Unfortunately, none of this will end until Jesus comes back.

            Jesus’ prophecies in this passage really do mark the beginning of the end. But thanks be to God that Jesus will one day return in all his power and glory and bring final judgment and redemption to the earth. We don’t know the day or hour this will take place, but we know that it is coming! The most important question is—are we ready for his return?

Readiness for the Return of Christ

            Within this long discourse about the destruction of Jerusalem and God’s judgment of the world, Jesus imbeds five clues to help us prepare for his return!

1.) Be Alert (8)

            In verse 8, Jesus warns us to be alert because many false messiahs will come claiming to be the real Christ. There are many imposter prophets out there claiming to know when the end of the world will come. Don’t believe any of them or follow! Jesus is the only true Messiah and his return will be unmistakable!

2.) Be Courageous (9)

            In verse 9, Jesus encourages us to be courageous as we endure the end time conflict. These things must take place before the end comes, but there is no reason to be terrified because God is in control. The souls of true believers are protected and secure for eternity, no matter what happens in this life!

3.) Bear Witness (13-15)

            In verses 13-15, Jesus tells us that trials and persecutions increase our opportunities to bear witness to him. When we oppressed for our faith, we should not be concerned about what we should say. Jesus himself will give us the words and wisdom to bear witness to Christ and what he has done for us.

4.) Be Faithful (16-19)

In verses 16-19, Jesus highlights the fact that some Christians will even be hated by their own family and friends, and some may even be put to death. Sadly, the persecution of Christians is still rampant around the world today. But Jesus calls all o his people to stand firm in their faith, and he promises eternal life to all who do so!

5.) Be Encouraged (25-28)

            And finally, in verses 25-28, Jesus speaks of the apocalyptic events that will take place in the sky and on the sea at the end of the end. While non-believer’s faint from the fear of God’s final judgment, believers should be encouraged because our redemption is drawing near! Christian’s have the hope of heaven in their hearts, therefore we can lift our heads and look toward the clouds and rejoice that our suffering will one day come to an end and we will be redeemed once and for all!

            Allow me to summarize these five principles and conclude my sermon with a brief story. 

Under the rule of Emperor Claudius the Cruel, Rome was involved in many unpopular and bloody campaigns. The emperor had to maintain a strong army, but was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. Claudius believed that Roman men were unwilling to join the army because of their strong attachment to their wives and families.

            To get rid of the problem, Claudius banned all marriages and engagements in Rome. A young priest, realized the injustice of the decree, and defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.

            When the priest actions were finally discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. The priest was arrested and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. The sentence was carried out on February 14, on or about the year A.D. 270. The priest’s name was Valentine!

            Legend also has it that while in jail, Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine.” For his great service, Valentine was named a saint after his death.

            As St. Valentine waited for the return of Christ, he endured the harsh persecution and hostility that Jesus spoke about in this passage, but he remained alert, courageous, faithful, and encouraged. He also used the oppression to bear witness to Jesus Christ. As we await the return of Christ, may we do the same!

A little boy wanted $100.00 very badly, so he prayed for two weeks but nothing happened. Then he decided to write God a letter requesting $100.00. When the postmaster received the letter addressed to God, U.S.A., she decided to send it to the President.
The President was so impressed and amused that he instructed his secretary to send the boy $50.00. Mr. President thought that this would appear to be a lot of money to the little boy.
The little boy was delighted with the $50.00 and immediately sat down to write a thank you note to GOD that read: “Dear God, thank you very much for sending me the money. However, I noticed that for some reason you send it through Washington, D.C., and, as usual, those devils took half of it.”   

            This little story illustrates the way many Americans feel about taxes and politics—that our tax system is unfair and that our government is filled with scoundrels. The story also highlights the way many Americans approach God—as a cosmic Santa Claus who should give us whatever we ask. This is why so many people believe that “God is on my side but the government is against me!” This is obviously a false dichotomy, but one thing is for sure: the relationship between politics and religion has always been complicated.

Philip Ryken, the former senior pastor of the Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia and the current president of Wheaton College in Illinois, says:

            If you want to start a good argument, start talking about religion, or politics—either one. But if you want to start a war, then bring your religion into your politics.

            Few things seem to cause more difficulty than an unholy alliance between political power and religious faith. This is as true of Christianity as it is of any other religion. Think of the Crusades, or the Inquisition, or apartheid. Or think of the way Christianity was used to defend slavery. Then think of all the trouble we have doing evangelism today because when people hear about Christianity, they immediately associate it with a political perspective.

            In America, the close identification between the evangelical church and conservative politics makes it more difficult for secular people to give a fair hearing of the gospel. Then when we go abroad, where America is typically regarded as a Christian country, we find that people’s attitudes about Christianity are deeply affected by their opinion of U.S. foreign policy—often to the detriment of the missionary work of the gospel.

            My point is not to advocate this or that political philosophy, but simply to say that it is hard to get politics and religion right, and that when we get them wrong—as people often do, including Christians—it causes not end of trouble. (Ryken 362)

            It certainly is difficult to get the relationship between politics and religion right. We have seen this very clearly during this election cycle. But, in this morning’s Scripture reading, Jesus goes a long way to help us resolve the issue!

Trapping a Lion

Let me remind you that Jesus is now in the final days before his crucifixion. He has already ridden into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and the people have hailed him as the king who comes in the name of the Lord. He cleansed the temple of thieves and robbers who were extorting the peasants who came to worship the Lord. He taught publicly in the court of the gentiles and everyone hung on his every word. The religious leaders were jealous and felt threatened, so they began to challenge his authority. Jesus rebuked them with a scathing parable that exposed their hypocrisy and predicted their culpability in killing the Son of God.

As you can imagine, the religious leaders were livid, and as fire flamed in their eyes and smoke seeped out of their ears, verse 19 tells us, they sought to lay hands on him that very hour. How dare this country preacher from Galilee challenge their religious and political authority!

But the problem was that Jesus had become so popular with the people, that they could not get dispose of him and maintain their outward reputation. They needed to find a clever way to discredit him. So, they sent some spies from their ranks to infiltrate Jesus’ band of disciples so that they might catch him in something that he said and bring charges against him in front of the Roman governor, who had the authority to pronounce a sentence of execution.

These spies were crafty. They set their trap by buttering him up with empty words of flattery, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God.”

Let me pause for a moment and give you some free advice: Always beware of the motives of someone who strokes your ego and fills your head with words of flattery. My wife does this to me all the time. She says, “Have I told you lately how smart and handsome…? And I interrupt her mid-sentence and say, “What do you want this time?”

Then the spies show the depth of their guile by asking him a question that is not only politically charged and religiously controversial. How do you make a public figure uncomfortable? Back them into a corner where the walls of politics and religion meet! And this is exactly what they did to Jesus when they asked him, “Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?”

This was an explosive question in those days, and the answer one gave was potentially fatal. (It was worse than asking Hilary Clinton about her e-mails or Donald Trump about his tax returns!) The tribute was the basic Roman tax imposed upon every Jewish citizen—the price one paid for the privilege of living and working in the Roman Empire. The tax was highly unpopular, as most taxes are. This was not just for economic reasons, but also for political and religious reasons. The tax, to some extent, forced the Jews to participate in an oppressive government and a pantheistic religion. Thus, some zealous Jews considered the payment of the tribute to be a sin because the Romans were robbing money that rightly belonged to God. That is why, on occasion, the imposition of the tax had stirred up violent uprisings in Israel. (Ryken 364)

This question was a catch 22 for Jesus. It set him between the proverbial rock of religion and the hard place of politics. If Jesus supports paying the Roman tax, his allegiance to the Jews will be questioned. If he sides with the Jews, then the Romans would be called.

Although the spies devised a brilliant plan, once again they did not realize who they were dealing with. They were not clever enough to outfox the Son of God. Their nets were not strong enough to trap the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Jesus saw right through their smoke and mirrors and turned the tables back on them when he asked them to show him a denarius and asked, “Whose likeness and inscription does it have on it?”

The Roman silver coin, used for paying the tax, bore the portrait of the emperor and inscription “Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus, Augustus.” Strict Jews therefore regarded it as idolatrous and so refused to use it; copper coins were available for daily commerce. By getting the religious leaders to produce a denarius, Jesus exposed their supposed patriotism as nothing more than hypocrisy. Their money proved that they were part of the Roman economy, and thus that Caesar had a claim on their economic lives. (France 321)

Then Jesus gave his dramatic response to their diabolical question: “Then render unto Caesar what is Caesars, and to God what is God’s.” Once again, Jesus silenced his foes and slipped through their trap. During the process, he also established the proper Christian attitude toward the relationship between politics and religion. The people could hardly object to giving Caesar the coin that already bore his image, but not the worship he tried to claim by using a divine title. Although Caesar’s image was inscribed on the coin, God’s image is inscribed on every human being. Jesus is saying that it is possible to be both a faithful Christian and a responsible citizen: the kingdom of God can coexist with the Roman Empire.

Therefore, my friends, Jesus wants his people, both then and now, to first and foremost, be faithful to God; and we also need to be good and responsible citizens of the state, even if we don’t like it or disagree with its leadership, policies, or practices. So, what does this practically mean for us? Let me highlight a few implications of Jesus’ famous statement by asking what is Caesar’s and what is God’s?

What is God’s?

            Since it is easier for us to identify, let’s begin with what belongs to God. As Christians, we already know that everything belongs to God, but sometimes we need specific reminders about Christian trifecta: time, talent, and treasure. How are we using the resources that God has given us to love and serve him? He is our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer, and we own him everything!

What is Caesars?

1.) Pay Our Taxes!

            This is the most obvious and immediate application of Jesus’ words. If Jesus advocates for the Jews to pay taxes to Rome, which was far more cruel and oppressive than most governments throughout history, he certainly wants us to do this today. For those of you who may protest because our government is using our tax money to promote ungodly policies, get over it! You may hate that some of your money goes to support war, abortion, or some other activity that you find morally repulsive, but that is not your decision! That being said, if you don’t like something, I encourage you to get involved in legitimate ways of changing it! So, if you want to honor Jesus, pay your taxes!

2.) Pray for Our Leaders

We all know how easy it is to criticize our political and civic leaders when we don’t walk in their shoes. It is much harder to humble ourselves and get down on our knees and pray for our leaders, especially the one whom we didn’t vote for. The New Testament calls on all Christians to pray for their governing officials. So, if we want to honor Jesus, pray for our political leaders!

3.) Practice Civil Obedience

            God wants us to respect and obey the laws of the land, even the ones we find ridiculous or trivial. This is how an orderly society is maintained. In the words of the Augsburg Confession: “The Gospel does not introduce any new laws about the civil estate, but commands us to obey the existing laws, whether they were formulated by the heathen or others, and in this obedience practice love.” (Article 16) There are, of course, times when the government may force Christians to act against God’s Word and moral law. Civil disobedience should only be considered as a last resort, when all attempts to honor the law have been exhausted!

4.) Participate in Public Life

            God has called his people to be salt and light for him everywhere we live, work, and play! For too many Christians have adopted a “Christ against culture” philosophy where they barricade and isolate themselves from society with the hopes that their “holy huddles” will prevent them from being influenced by the evils in the world around them. To render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s includes Christians serving their broader communities; not just their churches. Jesus is honored when Christians serve in civic positions, public schools, healthcare fields, justice initiatives, agricultural enterprises, and a host of other ways. How are you participating in public life? At the very least, I hope you will vote on Tuesday!

In the light of Jesus’ words here, let me conclude this sermon by offering a brief reflection on Tuesday’s election: For those of you who think our country is doomed in Hilary Clinton is elected, fear not! For those of you who think that our society will fall apart if Donald Trump is elected, take courage! Jesus, the Son, is still seated on the throne! And if the kingdom of God could endure the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Nero, Domitian, and a host of other tyrannical political leaders throughout history, it will certainly endure four years of Clinton or Trump! So, cheer up and remember that God is in control!

How many of you remember the television show M*A*S*H (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital)? When I was a kid, I hated M*A*S*H, but my Dad loved it, which meant that we watched the show all the time.

In one of the earlier episodes of M*A*S*H, the doctor known as “Trapper John” gets diagnosed with a stomach ulcer. Although initially upset about having to deal with a hole in his gut, Trapper John soon beams with joy when his bunkmate Hawkeye reminds him that according to Army regulations, Trapper was going home! His ulcer was his ticket out of the misery of the Korean War. 

            As the episode progresses, they arrange a huge farewell party for Trapper John. But minutes before Trapper shows up for his party, he is informed by the Company Clerk, Radar, that the Army had recently changed its regulations and his ulcer would have to be treated right there in Korea. Trapper goes to the party anyway and allows the festivity and joy of the evening to proceed for a good long while until he’s asked to give a final speech, at which time he tells everyone the truth: he’s not going anywhere after all.

            But throughout the party, both Trapper John and Radar have a look in their eyes that betrays the truth, if anyone had looked close enough to notice. Trapper John smiles and even laughs during the party at times but it’s a bit muted and the sadness in his eyes tells the reason why: it’s a nice party but it’s not going to end the way he had hoped or the way all the other partygoers were anticipating.

I wonder if someone had looked deep into Jesus’ eyes on Palm Sunday if they might have seen something similar. Like the other gospel writers, Luke portrays Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem as a joyful celebration of the arrival of the king, but Luke’s version includes some dark events and some ominous words. I wonder if the sorrow in Jesus’ eyes said, “This is a nice party but it’s not going to end the way all the partygoers were anticipating.” Let’s take a look at Luke’s version of the triumphal entry story!

The Humble King (28-38)

As Jesus approached Jerusalem, he began to direct the events. Near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, some two miles from Jerusalem, he tells his disciples to procure an animal for entry into the capital. Luke describes the animal only as a previously unridden colt, but the other gospel writers specify the colt as a donkey. The disciples must untie the animal, and if anyone asks what they are doing, they are to simply say that the Lord needs it. This may seem a bit strange to us today, but in this culture it was customary for dignitaries such as rabbis to use people’s property for personal reasons. (For instance, if your pastor tells you that he needs to borrow your vacation home or time-share for the Lord’s work, don’t ask any questions!) The owners had no objection to the disciples taking the colt once they knew that it was needed for the Lord’s service.

Once the donkey was secured, Jesus’ disciples fashioned a makeshift saddle out of their cloaks and mounted him on the beast. As he rode along, the a large crowd of people gathered and laid their cloaks on the ground to create a type of royal red carpet; they waved their palm branches in patriotic fervor; and they sang their hosannas of praise to God and shouted the words of Psalm 118:26: “Blessed is he who come in the name of the Lord.” Their king had finally come, and it was time to celebrate. But the whole time Jesus knew it wasn’t going to end the way the crowd was expecting; for he was not the type of king they were expecting.

Jesus’ choice of animal to ride for his coronation celebration shows us what kind of king he would be. A common donkey, a beast of burden, symbolized peace and gentleness. Kings typically rode on war horses, which symbolized pride and power. Jesus rode a donkey because would not succumb to the expectations of the crowd. He was not a political or military king. His mission was not to conquer the Romans or deliver the Jews from physical oppression. He was a humble king who came to conquer Satan and deliver the world from the penalty of sin.

            It is so sad, but people treat Jesus the same way today! It is easy to get excited about Jesus when we think he is going to give us what we want, but it is just as easy to turn our backs on him when he disappoints us. We love to pray to Jesus when we or a loved one is sick, but if Jesus doesn’t heal, we don’t want to pray anymore. We are quick to serve Jesus when we think he supports our personal agendas, but we want nothing to do with him when we find out that his plans are different from our plans. 

Jesus’ actions at the triumphal entry show what kind of king he is and isn’t! The irony shows us Jesus’ kingship is not a political or military, but it is spiritual. Jesus is no one’s political advocate or military conqueror; he is a humble king who came to Jerusalem to die for the salvation for our souls. Have you received Jesus as your savior and king?

Singing Stones (39-40)

Well, not everyone was celebrating the arrival of the king. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, Luke tells us that a group of Pharisees approach Jesus and ask him to reject the claims of kingship and rebuke his disciples. These claims were offensive to them. They did not even believe that Jesus was a genuine prophet from God, let alone the promised Messiah or Son of God. They saw only a false prophet riding on a donkey. They thought the crowd’s claims were blasphemous and they demanded that Jesus to put a stop to it.

But Jesus refused to silence the people’s praises. Instead, he rebukes the Pharisees when he says, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” By this, he is saying that if his disciples do not speak, the rest of creation will. He is implying that the inanimate creation knows more about what is taking place than they do. The Pharisees do not understand the nature of the God they spend so much time talking about. But for those who do see the king, praise is the only appropriate response!

            Like the Pharisees, we all have to make a decision about Jesus! Is he the King of Kings or a false prophet riding on a donkey? Was the crowd shouting words of blasphemy or words of worship? Do you understand the nature of the God you talk about? Have you made a decision about Jesus Christ?

If Jesus really is the King, our only appropriate response is praise and worship! When we consider who he really is and what he has done for us by dying on the cross for our sins, praise should leap from the depth of our souls to the tips of our tongues! Therefore, I say to you today: If Jesus is the king, speak his praise from your mouth! If Jesus is the king, shout his praise with your lips! If Jesus is the king, proclaim his praise with your whole being! Because if you don’t, the rocks will!

A Crying King (41-44)

As Jesus approached Jerusalem, Luke gives us a unique look at Jesus’ heart. As Jesus looked up at the holy city in the distance, I wonder what thoughts went through his mind? Perhaps he thought about the glory of King David when he established Jerusalem as Israel’s capital a thousand years earlier. Perhaps he thought about all of the words that the prophets had spoken about this city. Perhaps he was thinking about how in just a few days his hands and feet would be nailed to a wooden cross and he would be lifted up to die in that city. One thing we can be sure of it that he thought about how the Jewish people had waited so long for the arrival of the Messiah, and now that he was here, they had rejected him.

All of the emotions of Jesus’ humble humanity came to him at once; deep sorrow filled his heart and tears began to stream down his face. Amid all of the shouts and cheers of this Palm Sunday celebration, he began to weep over the city. Jesus was a crying king!

Like the weeping prophet Jeremiah from the Old Testament, with tears in his eyes, Jesus declares pending judgment for the nation. Though some individuals had responded to his call, the nation as a whole had rejected him. Rejection of the divinely selected king will cost greatly. The nation of Israel missed the Messiah who could bring them true peace, and now it was time for him to go. The consequence for missing the Messiah was physical destruction. Here Jesus looks ahead to A.D. 70 when the Roman government would have enough of the Jewish rebellions and would destroy Jerusalem. They would rampage the walls, demolish the temple, and murder the children.

            As we see Jesus’ tears trickle down his cheeks and consider Jesus’ prophecy of judgment on Jerusalem, it ought to cause us to stop and think about what we have done with the Messiah; both individually and as a nation. Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ as your savior or have you been holding him at arm’s length? Have you accepted him as your king or have you been rejecting the call of his kingdom? I plead with you to bow your life before the king today! Rejection always leads to judgment!

            And for our nation, I don’t know about you, but I fear for a nation that would reject Jesus with its attitudes, law, and policies. I fear for a nation that has the audacity to declare something right when God has called it wrong. I wonder about the consequences for a nation that has been visited by God but has missed him. Missing the Messiah always leads to judgment!

            It was thirty or so years after Jesus uttered these words before Jerusalem was destroyed. I wonder how long it will be before…

            Well, as we worship together today, remember that Jesus is a humble king who came to die to atone for our sins! Remember to wave your palm leaves, shout your blessings, and sing your praises to the king; if you don’t, the rocks will! But while you celebrate, make sure to remember to look at Jesus’ face. Make sure you see his tears of rejection and impending judgment. Make sure you know what will bring you true peace! Make sure you recognize the time of God’s coming to you! Make sure you hear the call of the crying king!

How many of you have heard the expression “use it or lose it?” This common idiom obviously refers to the phenomenon whereby if you don’t continue to practice or use a skill, you might lose the ability altogether. This phrase can apply to many facets of life. For instance, if you have learned a foreign language, but don’t use it for a long time, there is a good possibility that you will forget it. How many of you took a foreign language in high school? How many of you can still speak the language? That’s what I thought! Use it or lose it!

            The phase can also apply to more general cognitive functions. When I was in the eighth and ninth grade, I was pretty good at algebra. But if I ran across an equation now, I would be completely clueless. Likewise, I consider myself to be a pretty good driver (at least above average), but I doubt if I could pass a written driving exam. How about you? Use it or lose it!

            You have probably also heard this slogan used to describe vacation policy at work. Many employers have a “use it or lose it” policy which means that once an employee accrues a certain number of vacation days, they must use the vacation time or lose the vacation time.

            Another area where this saying unexpectedly pops up is sexual health. Did you know that a recent Finnish study showed that men who had sex at least once a week were half as likely to develop erectile dysfunction as men who had sex less frequently? Well, you know what they say, use it or lose it!

            Although most of you are familiar with this phrase in these areas of life, did you know that the concept of “use it or lose it” also applies to our spiritual lives in the kingdom of God? This is the subject of today’s scripture reading from Luke 19:11-27, where Jesus tells his disciples the parable of the ten minas.

Now that Jesus has passed through Jericho, he is rapidly approaching Jerusalem and his ensuing suffering and death on the cross. Since his time on earth was quickly coming to an end, he felt the urgency of preparing his disciples for life and ministry after he was gone. So, he tells this parable to help them understand that the kingdom of God will not be fully revealed when he enters Jerusalem. Instead, he will depart and return to consummate his kingdom at a later time. In the meantime, the disciples are to be about the king’s business!

The King’s Context

To properly understand this parable, we must know the historical context. The Jewish historian Josephus tells us the story of when Herod the Great died in 4 B.C, it was obvious to almost everyone that his son Archelaus would take over his throne in Judea. However, there was only one man in the entire world who had the authority to crown Archelaus as king: Caesar, the Emperor of Rome. Although Archelaus began to rule immediately upon the death of his father, his royal authority had to be officially recognized and ratified by Rome. So Archelaus made the long journey to Rome, where he expected to be crowned as king.

Unfortunately for Archelaus, there was active opposition to his monarchy, and when he arrived in Rome, he discovered that some of his own family members were vying for the throne. Even worse, a delegation of fifty Jewish leaders came all the way from Jerusalem to persuade Caesar that Archelaus was unfit to be king. (This is similar to how the political pundits push how certain presidential candidates aren’t fit to govern our country.)

As it turned out, Caesar gave Archelaus the opportunity to prove that he was worthy to be the king. Not surprisingly, when Archelaus returned to Judea, he executed swift punishment against the men who rebelled against his rule. He went away as a contender, but he returned as king ready to exercise his royal authority.

            This famous episode from Israel’s history happened not long after the birth of Jesus Christ. It was still fresh memory thirty years later and since the king’s old winter palace was on the road from Jericho to Jerusalem, it was only natural for Jesus to think about Archelaus, and it seems to form the backdrop for the parable that Jesus tells here about his own kingship. (Ryken 316)

The King’s Departure (12-14)

Jesus introduces his parable by saying that “a man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king.” Before he left, he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas (one for each servant) and told them to put his money to work until he returned. A mina was a form of currency that represented a little more than three-months wages. It wasn’t an enormous sum of money, but it wasn’t chump change either. The servants were commissioned to multiply the master’s money until he returned.

In addition to the servants, there are subjects who hate the ruler and do not want him as king. As the Jews did with Archelaus, the subjects in this parable send a delegation to those making the selection to inform them of their complaint.

As with all of Jesus’ parables, the characters and storyline represents real people and events. In this case, the man of noble birth who becomes the king represents Jesus. The journey to a distant country represents Jesus’ departure from earth after his death, resurrection, and ascension. The servants represent his disciples (both the original disciples and anyone else who follows Jesus). The subjects who rebel against the king’s authority represents the Jews who rejected Jesus as king (and anyone else who has rejected Jesus as king). And the minas and mission to multiply the kingdom represents the resources that Jesus gives his disciples for ministry until he returns to earth.

The first point of this parable is that there is a distinction between servants and subjects in the kingdom of God. Servants are those of us who have willingly bowed to Jesus’ authority over our lives—those of us who have freely submitted to the King’s sovereignty—those of us who have repented from our sins and trusted in Jesus Christ for the salvation of our souls—those of us who desire to serve him out of gratitude for everything that he has done for us.

            But there are many people in our world today who are still living as subjects rather than servants in God’s kingdom. These are the people who flat out reject Jesus’ authority over their lives—they refuse to submit to his sovereignty—they either don’t believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection or they don’t think that it is important for them—they insist upon living life on their own terms and forming their own spirituality. They don’t want anyone else telling them how to live their lives.

            Actor Brad Pitt recently gave an interesting interview to the German magazine Bild in which he opened up about his spiritual life–or lack thereof.
BILD: Do you believe in God?
Brad Pitt (smiling): “No, no, no!”
BILD: Is your soul spiritual?
Brad Pitt: “No, no, no! I’m probably 20 percent atheist and 80 percent agnostic. I don’t think anyone really knows. You’ll either find out or not when you get there, until then there’s no point thinking about it.
Earlier this year Pitt also opened up about religion when he spoke to Rolling Stone about how he felt “stifled” growing up in a religious community (he was raised Southern Baptist). “It was too much of what you shouldn’t be doing instead of what you could be doing. I get enraged when people start telling other people how to live their lives. It drives me mental.”
            How dare anyone tell Brad Pitt how to live his life, even God! How about you? Have you submitted to God’s sovereignty or are you still rebelling against it? Are you a subject or a servant in the kingdom of God?

            The second point of this parable is that while Jesus’ servants wait for his return, he wants us to use all of the resources he has given us to expand his kingdom. He wants us to recognize that everything we have is a gift from him and he wants us to invest our time, talent, and treasure in ministry to the people around us. He wants us to be involved in the ministry of the church and to be engaged in our communities. He has called and commissioned every one of us to serve him? Do you sense God calling you to some specific ministry? Will you do it?

The Kings Return (15-27)

As the parable continues, Jesus gives us great incentive to be faithful servants of God’s kingdom. When the nobleman returned as king, he demanded that each of his servants give an accounting of their service while he was gone. The first servant reported a tenfold multiplication of the mina and the king rewarded him with the governorship of ten cities. The second servant reported a fivefold multiplication of the mina and the king rewarded him with the governorship of five cities.

The third servant handed the king his same mina and offered him an excuse and an accusation. His claims that the king was a hard man and reaps what he does not sow were completely unfounded. The king’s treatment of the first two servants shows that he is anything but a hard man. This lack of loyalty shows that this “servant” isn’t really a servant at all. He doesn’t know the king for who he really is and doesn’t have a real relationship with him.

So, the king judged this wicked servant by calling his bluff, “If you knew I was a hard man, why didn’t you deposit it in the bank where it could earn at least a little interest?” You see, this servant was really just lazy and careless.

Then the king told those who stood by to take the man’s mina and give it to the one who had ten. He offers a lesson in spiritual capitalism when he says, “I tell you that everyone who has, will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Do you see what Jesus is saying here: use it or lose it!

And he concludes with a dramatic declaration of judgment for those subjects who did not submit to his authority. The image of being slaughtered represents spiritual death in hell. This is, indeed, the bitter end for everyone who rejects Jesus—eternal separation from God in hell!

Friends, this parable is showing us that when Jesus returns to the earth, there will be a great day of reckoning and we will all stand before the him and give a report on our service to him. He will look us in the eye and ask the question, “What did you do with what I gave you?” How will you respond?

            Will we meet him with reports of faithful and fruitful service? Or will we spit and sputter with excuses and accusations?

            Will he reward us for our service or will he discipline us for our carelessness? Will we gain abundantly more than what we already have, or will lose what we’ve already got?           The choice is ours: use it or lose it!

            A judge was interviewing a woman regarding her pending divorce, and asked, “What are the grounds for your divorce?” She replied, “About four acres and a nice little home in the middle of the property with a stream running by.”
“No,” he said, “I mean what is the foundation of this case?” “It is made of concrete, brick and mortar,” she responded confidently.

            “I mean,” he continued, “What are your relations like?” “I have an aunt and uncle living here in town, and so do my husband’s parents.”
He said, “Do you have a real grudge?” “No,” she replied, “We have a two-car carport and have never really needed one.”

            “Please,” he tried again, “is there any infidelity in your marriage?” “Yes, both my son and daughter have stereo sets. We don’t necessarily like the music, but the answer to your questions is yes.”
“Ma’am, does your husband ever beat you up?” “Yes,” she responded, “about twice a week he gets up earlier than I do.”
Finally, in frustration, the judge asked, “Lady, why do you want a divorce?” “Oh, I don’t want a divorce,” she replied. “I’ve never wanted a divorce. My husband does. He said he can’t communicate with me.”         

            Have you ever had the experience where you explained something to someone so that it was perfectly clear, and they still didn’t get it? Have you ever labored in language to paint such a vivid picture of an event or situation, and they gave you that deer in the headlights look as if they had no idea what you were talking about? (That image of a deer caught in the headlights look is an interesting one. You are barreling down the highway at 55mph and the deer jumps out and looks at you like you are the one who is doing something wrong.) But seriously, have you ever walked someone through a simple step by step process, and they responded to you with a shoulder shrug and the three-letter slang “Huh?”

            Well, if you have ever had any of these experiences, you know how it feels to be a preacher! No, I’m just kidding! Actually, I was trying to think of an example of this type of miscommunication from my own life, but I didn’t want to embarrass my wife in public! Wait a second, what I meant was that I didn’t want my wife to be embarrassed by me embarrassing myself in public!

            But when you stop and think about it, it is utterly amazing how someone can speak with absolute clarity, and the listener completely misunderstands the meaning of the message. This is exactly what is happening in this morning’s Scripture reading!

Spiritual Blindness (31-34)

As Jesus neared the end his journey to Jerusalem and came a few steps closer to his death, he continued to prepare his disciples for life and ministry without his physical presence on earth. Thus, he takes this occasion to pull his disciples away from the crowd and explain his coming death again. This is now the fourth time he has mentioned this to his disciples (Lk. 9:22, 44;17:25), but the disciples still didn’t understand what he was saying. And this time, he even added two new pieces of information to clarify the nature of his coming death.

First, Jesus explains that his death will be a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 contain the most detailed descriptions of the Messiah as a suffering servant. Hundreds of years earlier, the prophets predicted that the Messiah would be forsaken by God, mocked by his enemies, tormented by thirst, pierced through his hands and feet, despised and rejected by men, wounded for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities, until he was poured out unto death. These prophecies emphasize the fact that the events about to occur have been part of God’s divine plan all along and that they must take place.

The second piece of new information is that Jesus will be handed over to the Gentiles, who will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him. Jesus’ previous predictions alludes to the role of the Jewish leaders in his suffering, but now he mentions that it will also include the Gentiles. After all, we now know that the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate, found him innocent of all charges, but he caved in to political pressure and sentenced Jesus to be crucified.

Even though this is the fourth time that Jesus had predicted his death and make the details of it perfectly clear, Luke tells us that the disciples didn’t understand any of this. The problem was not with Jesus’ communication; he couldn’t have made this message any clearer. The problem was with the disciple’s eyes and ears.

The disciples were unable to see what God was doing because they were blinded by their own expectations. They could not discern his plan of salvation because it did not conform to their plan of liberation. They were so focused on Jesus being the king of glory that they could not comprehend a Messiah that was a suffering servant. The disciples’ physical sight was fine, but in many ways they were spiritually blind.

If the disciples were so slow to see what God was doing, I wonder how well we understand God’s plan for the world and for our lives. Like them, we often cannot see God’s plan because we are blinded by our own expectations. In our entitled desire for peace and prosperity in this life, we struggle to understand why God would use suffering or death to accomplish his plan on earth.

            Have you ever wondered why you suffer from physical or emotional pain? Have you ever wondered why God would allow someone who you love to suffer or die? Have you ever wondered why God allows the wicked to prosper and evil to persist?

            Well, just think about God’s plan for his own son: If God did not plan for the Jesus’ suffering and death, there would be no atonement for our sins. If God didn’t allow his son to face the nails, thorns, and spear, he could not have been resurrected to new life and we would not have any hope for eternal life. If these events didn’t happen just the way the prophets had predicted, then all humanity would one day be torched by the flames of hell. But thanks be to God for his wonderful plan of redemption where his perfect son would sacrifice his own life on the cross for sinners like us!

            The disciples didn’t understand or accept this plan for Jesus! How about you? Do you understand God’s plan of salvation? Do you see how God used suffering in his drama of redemption? Do you comprehend why Jesus had to die? Do you see how God uses tragedy to bring about a greater triumph? When you stop and think about God’s perfect plan for his son, don’t you think you can trust his plan for your life?

            I want you to think about God’s plan for your life right now. It is easy to get upset, anxious, or discouraged when our expectations are broken and things don’t work out the way we hoped, but maybe God’s plan is different than our plan. We often ask questions like why didn’t get into that college, why didn’t I get that job, is my marriage so difficult, why did I receive that diagnosis, why did my loved one die? These are all expectation questions. If you are struggling with any of these types of questions, I challenge you to step back and look for the big picture of God’s plan in your life. How good are your spiritual eyes?

Spiritual Sight (35-43)

Luke goes on to tell us that as Jesus approached Jericho, there was a blind man begging by the roadside. Back in these days, there was no assistance or social services for the blind, and they were usually forced to beg for food, money, and the most basic provisions for life. The blind were truly at the mercy of others.

When the beggar heard Jesus’ posse passing by, he asked someone what the commotion was all about. Someone told him that Jesus of Nazareth was coming. Now this man had surely heard of Jesus’ mercy and his ministry of miraculous healings. And somehow, this blind man knew something about Jesus’ true identity, for in his plea for mercy, he acknowledges Jesus as the Son of David. This title recognizes the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy that the Messiah would descend from the royal line of David. This distinguishes Jesus as the Messiah—the Savior whom God had always promised to send. Other people, perhaps even the disciples, saw Jesus as a preacher and miracle worker, but the blind beggar saw him as the Savior. He believed that Jesus could not only restore his eyesight, but he could also save his soul.

Therefore, the blind beggar used his only resource—his voice—to shamelessly shouted above the crowd and beg Jesus to show him mercy. But some in the crowd, most likely the spiritually impaired disciples, were embarrassed by this spectacle and rebuked him and told him to be quiet. It appears that they hadn’t learned anything from the incident when they rebuked the parents for bringing their babies to Jesus. They were still blind to the fact that Jesus loves the weak and has compassion for the outcast.

Jesus put a stop to all of this and ordered the man to be brought to him and he asked the simple question, “What do you want me to do for you?” But notice how the beggar replies, “Lord, I want to see.” He addressed Jesus as Lord! What incredible faith!

Jesus heard his plea for mercy and immediately restored the man’s sight, and he credited the man’s faith as the source of his healing. The former beggar became a follower of Jesus and the while crowd joined him as he praised God!

What an incredible story of deliverance and redemption? Did you catch the divine irony: the disciples had physical sight but were spiritually blind; but this beggar was physically blind but had spiritual sight!

            I wonder how many of us are in this same position? I know that most of you have pretty good eyesight, but how is your spiritual sight? Do you know that he is the Messiah who can heal your body, restore your mind, save your soul? Have you confessed him as Lord of your life and begged him for mercy? Have you made a decision to follow him or are you still wandering around in the darkness of sin? Have you really put your faith in Jesus? Will you continue to live the life of faith and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus? Can you see? Can you see? Can you see?

            Someone once asked Helen Keller, “Isn’t it terrible to be blind?” Now what kind of insensitive imbecile would ask a blind woman a question like that? If you ever catch yourself at the brink of asking a stupid question like this, just stop and walk away! But do you know what she said? “Better to be a blind person and see with your heart, than to have two good eyes and see nothing!

            This is exactly what Jesus wants us to see!