Luke 9:51-62: What I Now Fight To Maintain

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village.

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

He said to another man, “Follow me.”

But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” - Luke 9:51-62

"As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem." Jesus is headed home. His deadline is approaching. 

The first group opposes Jesus, because they are Samaritans and he's going to the "wrong" holy mountain.

The second man claims to be willing to follow Jesus, but he hasn't really considered the cost. He is like the plan that springs up quickly but dies back due to shallow roots.

The third man claims to be willing to follow Jesus, but he says he will do it later. Like those who say they will do what God wants after they retire.

The fourth man claims to be willing to follow but still has a lingering attachment that prevents his whole hearted commitment.  

The last phrase from Jesus summarizes this dilemma: No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. We all have our ideas of what our service should look like and it usually involves looking back at what we are giving up. There are things that I am accustomed to that I now fight to maintain. Am I willing to serve God and give those up or am I always going to be looking back. God willing, I  will look to where Jesus is going, not where I am coming from.

 

Luke 9:57-62: Risking Rootedness, Responsibility and Their Good Opinioin

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

He said to another man, “Follow me.”

But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” - Luke 9:57-62

Inspiring leaders have too many followers. When someone speaks the truth in a compelling way, it is like a doorway is opened in your mind. So you want to be near that leader, to always be able to drink in the transforming words or, if nothing else, to repay him in some way. In these verses, Jesus encounters three men who wanted to transition from the crowd to the closer knit group of disciples who stayed with Jesus and went with him everywhere. But he turns away each of them because he knew they were not ready.

For the first, there was a cost of discipleship that the man was not ready to pay: the sense of home-of rootedness in a place. Jesus was an itinerant teacher and he expected the same from his followers. In fact, in Luke 10, he sends a larger group of disciples from village to village, never being truly home again. There was a necessary change where home became wherever Christ sent them. The word apostle literally means 'sent one'. For us, it means that Jesus could decide to uproot my life for is purposes, and I should prepare for that. 

For the second, there was a cost of discipleship that the man was not ready to pay: the sense of responsibility to family-a commitment. Jesus was building a community based on a relationship with him and his disciples were made up of those with a shared commitment to him. For us, it means that Jesus could decide there are other relationships that are necessary, and I should prepare for that.

For the third, there was a similar cost of discipleship that the man was not ready to pay: the sense of approval from those whose opinion he valued. He wanted Jesus' good opinion and the good opinion of those he was leaving. He was a man whose heart was divided. For us, it means that Jesus could decide to make me choose between others' opinion and his opinion and I should be prepared to lose their good opinion.

Luke 9:37-50: Avoiding The Epic Fail (Redux)

[This sermon was preached on January 31, 2016 at Cornerstone Christian Church, El Dorado Hills. It is a significant update of a previous sermon from January 2013 that you can find here.]

Avoiding the Epic Fail

Luke 9:37-50

Introduction

A few years ago, when my family and I were riding a bus in Ireland to our destination, a man boarded and sat immediately in front of me, disheveled and smelling of sweat. I remember thinking, “Here is someone in desperate need of the grace of soap.” My mind wandered: soap is readily available, surely he noticed, who goes out in public without an armpit double-check. Then it hit me: we all stink. Stores spend aisle after aisle stocking products designed to conceal this pungent, fundamental fact. Deodorant, anti-perspirant, cologne, perfume, air freshener, etc. In fact, if we weren't all so focused on spraying or wiping or spreading or applying these products every waking 24-hour protection moment, we would probably be used to the fact that we all stink and would be unaware. But once the first person tried to hide it, no one wanted to smell our body odor.

In many ways, we try to apply this strategy of the grace of soap to our spiritual lives, trying to hide the fundamental fact that we all sin--that we all stink. Dallas Willard, in his book The Divine Conspiracy, calls it the gospel of sin management. We ignore it, we hide it, we mitigate its effects, we try to only enter situations where it won't show, we excuse it, we emulate the lifestyle of the stink free. All of the while, denying the fact that we are all stinkers. When we see sin break through, in all of its destructive power, in someone's life, we all think: they should have applied more soap--more forgiveness--more careful rule following.

But the strategy of Christ is fundamentally different. It is the grace of regeneration. As Paul says: "...since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." (Colossians 3:9-10)

The problem with the gospel of sin management it that it accepts that sin (stench) is fundamental and that the means of better life is keeping sin under control. But Jesus offers a different strategy: regeneration.

We miss out when we settle for a limited, spiritual life of stink-regulation! God’s plan—his kingdom—involves so much more. Here’s how Paul described it:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen - Ephesians 3:20-21

Got that? Now, if you want the epic fail, do the opposite:

1.    First, you dream small dreams instead of God’s dreams.

2.    Second, power those dreams by yourself instead of with God’s power.

3.    Third, promote yourself instead of God.

Ok. That's it. You can sleep now, you’ve got the main point.

You know I work in computers. One of the most difficult types of failures to debug is called a “priority inversion” It is will a low-priority program grabs ahold of computer resources and then won’t let them go when a high-priority program needs them. Priority inversion has taken down the Mars Rover, it has taken down Windows, it has taken down banking systems, it has taken down my job performance…and let me tell you—priority inversion can take down your life. We let little dreams sabotage God’s dreams for us. We hold so tightly on to our resources that we are not free to grab ahold of God’s resources. We are so worried about our maintaining priority, that we never let God’s priority be promoted in our lives.

It can happen to us. It happened to Jesus’ best friends in the second half of the 9^th chapter of Luke’s biography of Jesus. Four times in fourteen verses, his disciples will fail.  From a Bible point of view that’s not a very good track record. So what happened?

Well, let’s take a look. Turn to Luke, 9^th chapter, starting in verse 37. Jesus is on his way down from the mountain where he was praying, and when he gets down, there is a huge crowd and lot of noise, because of the first of his disciple’s epic fails.

Fail #1: Want To Appear Competent (vs. 37-40)

It says:

³⁷ The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. ³⁸ A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. ³⁹ A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. ⁴⁰ I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”

Jesus’ disciples could not cast out a particular demon. Failure #1. The story only makes sense if you look back at the very start of chapter 9, where it says: “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases.” (Luke 9:1) Notice the word “all”. Something has happened. Jesus is frustrated by this, and says so, and then heals the boy and restores the family.

Before we look further at this first failure, just a side comment about demons. When we read passages like this, we might wonder whether this young man’s problem was something like epilepsy and those in Jesus’ time just thought it was caused by a demon. Certainly Christians have been guilty of assigning demonic causes to ordinary events. But look carefully at verse 42. Luke (the author) is a doctor and he notes that Jesus “rebuked” the demon and then healed him. That is, there were two problems: a spiritual problem and a physical problem and Jesus recognized them both. Sometimes, in America, we are so fond of ‘natural’ causes, that we miss the spiritual side of things that many other cultures are aware of.

Why is Jesus frustrated? Look what he says:

⁴¹ “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “How long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

What was the root cause of the disciple's epic fail with the demon? He mentions two keys to their failure: first, the disciples were a part of an unbelieving generation. That is, even though they had all of the power and authority they needed to do this job (see verse 1), and they had practice (see verse 2) and they even had success (verse 6), they had slipped back into not believing—or not trusting—God.  They failed.

Second, they were a part of the perverse generation. This means that their desires—their want-tos—their motives—were off-the-mark. They had switched from “look what Jesus can do” to “look what we can do”—they wanted to appear to be competent. Casting out the demon has become about their competence--their abilities--not God's abilities.

Now before we get too hard the disciples, what about us? Most of us aren’t demon caster-outers. Our version of the Serenity Prayer goes: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the firepower to make the difference.” We want to appear like we’ve got it all together. We don't just want to help someone, but we want to be appreciated as the type of people who help, or the type of people God uses to help. I am a master of hinting at what I’ve done and hiding or excusing what I didn’t, and so are you. Our want-to is broken. Jesus gives us the keys to the kingdom, and we drive off on the victory lap as if it is ours.

Do a little experiment with me: Breathe in. Breathe out. Try it again. Where do you get the power to take that breath? From God, that’s right. Where did you neighbor get the power to take his or her breath? That’s right—same place--from God.

It is not religious, spiritual, church-related, demon-exorcism tasks that require God’s power. It is every task. Taking one breath without God is about as effective as taking one breath without oxygen. Very unfulfilling.

In fact, there's a bit of misinformation floating around among Christians. We often hear: “I tried to do it in my power, and not in God’s power.” It’s all God’s power, start to finish, beginning to end.

Look at this a different way: You have exactly enough strength to do everything God wants you to do tomorrow. You have exactly enough time to do everything God wants you to do tomorrow. Because God gives it to you.

We fail when we want to appear competent, on our terms. We win when we humble ourselves, throw away our plan, follow God's plan and allow God to be competent:

 “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” – 1 Peter 5:5b

Fail #2: Want To Appear Smart (vs. 44-45)

Let’s look at failure #2.

⁴² Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father.  ⁴³ While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, ⁴⁴ “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.” ⁴⁵ But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

Luke tells us that while everyone was excited about the external miracles, Jesus repeats His message to the disciples about His suffering and death, and they still don’t get it. Jesus is trying to prepare them for the time when he is gone, and they must continue the job that he started. Their failure is not so much that they didn’t understand (what’s new?), but that (in verse 45) they were afraid to ask about what they didn’t understand. They looked around, and none of the other disciples were raising their hands, so they didn’t raise theirs. 

What were they afraid of?

·       Maybe they were afraid of Jesus, after he had just chewed them out.

·       Maybe they were afraid to hear the answer, because it might contradict what they wanted. They were afraid of the truth.

·       Maybe they were afraid to look dumb in front of the others.

There are so many things that I don’t understand. There is such a huge gap between God’s understanding and my understanding. But we can ask.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. – James 1:5

How often I have relied on this verse! God is the creator of good ideas. We just discover them. This is true in my job. It is true in my relationships. It is true in this church. Jason LaRock, is an inventor, with a couple of patents to his name. I've got some. I have a friend, Vincent, who has over 300 patents. Was God surprised by what we came up with? Did God go, “Gee, I never thought of that?” No! But when we delight in what we find--what he’s already thought of—he draws us in and say, “Let me show you what else I’ve got.” Why not draw upon the genius of God?

We do not fail for ignorance. We fail for holding on to ignorance and not asking God.

We fail when we want to appear smart. We succeed when realize and rely on God as the smart one.

Fail #3: Want To Appear Important (vs 46-48)

First, we fail when we know what to do but don’t trust God enough do it.

Second, we fail when we don’t know what to do and don’t ask.

Let’s look at the third failure, found in verses 46-48:

⁴⁶ An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. ⁴⁷ Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. ⁴⁸ Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest.”

The third failure comes when we want to appear important. Jesus just told them he will be betrayed, suffer and die. But the disciples skip right over that because they have their spiritual calculators out, punching in the numbers of converts, demons cast out, sick healed and prayers answered, trying to determine who has the highest score. But that misses the point.  We don’t win. God wins. And those points on the scoreboard? They are God’s. He draws people to himself. He rebukes demons. He cures sickness. He answers prayer. It is God’s grace from start to finish.

But then we ask…who got more grace points? [sound of Jesus smacking his own forehead]

We even see this in the church.

Francis Chan a pastor from Simi Valley exploded onto the evangelical scene a while ago when podcasts of sermons he gave at his flourishing, 4,000-member Southern California church went viral. But then in late 2010, he up and quit, saying, "I just want to disappear for a while." One thing that bothered him, he said, was that "even in my own church I heard the words 'Francis Chan' more than I heard the words, 'Holy Spirit.'[1]

Pastors don’t need to hear “What a great sermon!” They need to hear “What a great God!”

It happens to pastors, it happens to us.  We advertise our virtues on the job, so that others notice us. Only the beautiful pictures end up on FaceBook. You spend time with the cool people, so that you’ll at least look cool, too.

Instead of making the mission about me, we need to make the mission about God.  We don’t need to be important, we want God to be important. Here’s what I want to highlight:  lives changed, books written, relationships healed, communities revived, symphonies performed—by God. Does the stories you tell at work or school—or FaceBook--tell a story where you are the hero, or where God is the hero?

We fail when we want to appear important. We succeed when we want God to appear important.

Fail #4: Want To Appear Special (vs. 49-50)

This same attitude of “making the mission about me” led to the fourth failure, in verses 49-50:

⁴⁹ “Master,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” ⁵⁰ “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Here is the irony. The disciples notice a man driving out demons in Jesus’ name—the very same thing they failed to do back in verse 38—but he is succeeding and they want to stop him!

Why? “Because he is not one of us.” They seem to say: “if we fail, so should they!”  Spiritual envy.  “If at first we don’t succeed, neither should anyone else.”

They are embarrassed and outdone, so they won’t give any credit. The Bible says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15) but the Tim Lewis translation says: “Criticize those who rejoice; make fun of those who mourn.” Some of you have read my translation.

This happens to us. Do you thank God for another church’s growth, another believer’s growing life of faith, another marriage’s closeness or another co-workers promotion? Or does their success immediately cause a critical remark or thought in you?

The disciple’s motto was “Anyone who is not with us is against us.” But Jesus’ motto was “Anyone who is not against you is for you.” Jesus just redefined the win. The win is not what Cornerstone does for God. The win is what Sun Hills and Vintage Grace and Lakeside and Lake Hills and Cornerstone do and beyond, for God. The win is not what Tim does, or Max does or Randy does for God. The win is when God appears uniquely as God.

We fail when we want to appear special or unique. We succeed when we make God appear special and unique.

Conclusion

Imagine an app on your phone that decided that the phone exists for its benefit. That inverts your phone’s mission so that instead of serving you, it serves itself. What do we call an app like that? A virus.

The virus of selfishness and pride always tries to hijack our lives away from God and towards ourselves. The results are destructive. We fail because we take the life that God has given and repurpose it for goals for which it was never intended.  The Bible says:

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. – James 3:16

We know this to be true. The worst and ugliest moments of our lives are the results of our pride. But somehow we return again and again to pride’s destructive influence. It was only the selfless act of Jesus, the innocent son of God, wrecked on the cross which can combat it and restore our broken soul.

Imagine for a moment if we could be genetically re-engineered so that the pores in our skin no longer secreted stench-generating liquids. Not all at once, but gradually. Fundamentally changing who we are and how our body works.

This is exactly what the gospel does. It brings to bear God's life-giving, regenerating Spirit in our lives so that, bit by bit, sin is not the natural product of our lives. Paul said it this way: "For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." (2 Corinthians 2:15)

Yes, we still need to wash. But we can cooperate with the Spirit's transformative work, not settling for sin-as-the-new-normal in our lives. 

Here is the win: God love me. It is God’s grace, I can’t take any credit.

·       We don’t need to appear smart, because God loves me.

·       We don’t need to appear important, because God loves me.

·       We don’t need to appear special, because God loves me.

·       We don’t need to appear competent, because God loves me.

“Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” – Romans 10:11b

Maybe you’ve realized that your 2016 new year’s resolutions were your plan, self-powered and self-promoting.  Maybe for 2016 you can ask God

1.    To follow God’s dreams and plans instead of yours.

2.    To power those dreams with God’s power instead of yours.

3.    To promote God’s reputation instead of yours.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen - Ephesians 3:20-21

That is the epic win.

Some material from the sermon “Getting It Wrong” by Steven Simala Grant, http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/getting-it-wrong-steven-simala-grant-sermon-on-faults-137584.asp?Page=1 retrieved on January 8, 2013

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[1] The Relentless Passion of Francis Chan, Mark Galli, Christianity Today, posted January 4, 2013. Retrieved on January 12, 2013

               

Good Friday 2015

This was first used as a series of devotions for Good Friday at Cornerstone Christian Church, April 3, 2015. Each devotion corresponded to a location on the church property. The response card mentioned can be found at the end. The locations were the Mount of Olives, The High Priest's Courtyard, Pilate's Courtyard, The Road to Golgotha and Golgotha

Station #1: The Mount Of Olives

During our short walk, we will visit six stations that represent six scenes from the final 24 hours of Jesus’ life. At each station, we will read a small section from the records of Jesus’ life, and think about the impact of that 24 hour journey towards the cross. We have a chance to come clean with God about the rust that has accumulated from this life, and claim the renovated life He offers. Let us pray.

We come first the Mount of Olives. Jesus and his disciples have just eaten the Passover meal together. Two unexpected things happened: Jesus was more open with them than he had ever been and Jesus had just told them that he was leaving. Luke’s biography of Jesus records what happened next:

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Luke 22:39-26)

The Bible tells us that Jesus was tempted in every way like we are tempted. Here we see it. There was alternative narrative—another plan--one where Jesus became king without the agony of the cross, the humiliation before his people, the betrayal and desertion of his friends and the blackness of the world’s sin. So compelling was this narrative that the devil used it to tempt Jesus—so forceful that Jesus was in anguish—so intense that he sweat blood. Asking for any alternative within the Father’s will, he nonetheless returned to this simple phrase “Not my will, but yours be done.”

Not my will. Not my agenda. Not my plan. Not my dreams. But your agenda. But your plan. But your dream, oh God. Jesus taught us to pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10)

Spent any time dreaming this week? For your career, for your kids, for your friends, for your security, for your ministry, for your health? Was there ever a time when you have to give up what you really wanted in order to do the right thing? Write that down on your response card.  

God has a bigger dream for us, but we cannot always welcome it when our hands are full of our own dreams. Perhaps less prominent, less visible, less secure, less comfortable, or less respected—but ultimately bigger, more impactful, more joyful and more satisfying.

If you are able, will you kneel with me here to pray? If you cannot kneel, place your heart in an attitude of kneeling before God. Now, life your closed hands toward heaven. Let us pray (as they pray to open their hands to let go of their dreams, and welcome of the aspirations and dreams of God)

Station #2: The High Priest's Courtyard

We are standing now in the High Priest’s Courtyard. Witnesses after witness, come following Jesus’ nighttime arrest to give their conflicting testimony to the chief priests and temple officials. Nearby, another crowd of servants and temple guards gather around a fire to warm themselves. Peter, Jesus’ disciple, mingles anonymously nearby. Luke’s biography of Jesus records the scene:

Then seizing him [Jesus], they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” 

But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Peter’s dreams and aspirations were built around Jesus. Not the actual Jesus. Not the arrested and condemned Jesus. Not the suffering servant, love-thine-enemy Jesus. No, his plans were built around the successful Jesus, the conquering, kick-Roman-butt, iconoclastic, king Jesus. Now, miserable, he came to this courtyard to see what would happen. Knowing Jesus was a sort of liability. As in, he was liable to get arrested himself.

Jesus is an uncomfortable word in our vocabulary. Not because we don’t know who he is, or what he has done. We are free enough within our circle of the friends of Jesus. But, like Peter, we worry how the stigma of his name will carry over to us. Are we weird? Are we pushy? Are we negative? What will people think if they know we are with Jesus? So we mutter our prayers, muffle our thanks and mumble about the source of our strength and guidance. Jesus is a Sunday word, or a swear word, but not the name of a friend mentioned in polite company.

On your card, list one scene in your life, where it was tough to talk about Jesus, even though you knew you should. You were unnaturally quiet about Jesus. Work? Friends? Family? School or after school? Clubs?

Pray (ask them to join you in saying the name Jesus).

Station #3: Pilate's Courtyard

We’re standing in Pilate’s courtyard. While the chief priests could convict Jesus of all sorts of trumped-up charges, only Pilate, the Roman governor, could authorize the death sentence. I’m going to read a portion of Matthew’s biography of Jesus that records the scene, but I need your help. When I come to a certain point in the story, I will raise up my left hand, and you should shout out “Barabbas” and when I raise up my left hand, you should shout out, “Crucify him.” Let’s practice that. etc.

Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”

But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”

Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

Are we innocent? The funny thing is, everyone in this scene knew one truth: Jesus was innocent. Pilate knew it. The chief priests knew it. The crowd was led away from it. The guards didn’t care. Even Pilate’s wife knew it. But somehow, at the end, despite that innocence, Jesus is led away to be crucified.  Why?

Because they settled. The priests should be the point people for God, but settled for staying atop the garbage heap religiously by pushing Jesus down. Pilate should be governing with an even hand, but he settled for the upper hand by sticking it to the priests. The crowds had been shouting for Jesus Messiah “Hosanna. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” just the day before, and now they settled for Barabbas. The guards, well, they were bored and, when you don’t believe in anything yourself, you settle for making fun of those who do believe. Jesus was standing right in front of them! But they settled.

Have you settled? Maybe you once were excited about the future, maybe excited about where God was going, maybe excited about this new life of faith in Jesus. The truth burned within you. But then something happened, maybe you couldn’t see how it was going to work out, maybe you got in a relational cold war, maybe you felt threatened, or just tired and burnt out and so you backed off. You settled.

Settling traps you, but:

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

God has shown you great things, but think of one area where you’ve settled, where you knew what was really true, but did nothing about it and settled. Then pray with me. 

Station #4: The Road to Golgotha

We are following the road from the governor’s palace, out of the city of Jerusalem, towards the place of execution, Golgotha, perhaps a mile away. We read in Luke’s biography of Jesus these words.

As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. (Luke 23:11-12)

This is the second time during these last 24 hours that Jesus’ physical strength has failed him. First, it was in Gethsemane when he prayed. Angels came while his disciples slept. Simon Peter has denied Jesus and fled, but now the Roman soldiers escorting Jesus conscript Simon, a spectator, an outsider to carry what was probably the cross-beam, weighing as much as 100 pounds. 

Jesus’ mission was uniquely his own, but it was not his to do alone. When other disciples fell away, others were found to walk behind Jesus.  Why wasn’t Jesus strong enough? Why weren’t more angels dispatched? It was to leave a gap, so that Simon could be a participant in God’s plan, rather than just a spectator. Jesus said:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

God has left a gap; left something undone—not because he couldn’t arrange to do it for himself, but because he want us to participate, not spectate. Maybe someone else should have done it or could have done it. Not because it is natural or a good fit or convenient for you or me. But because we want so desperately to go where Jesus goes. Will you take up Jesus’ burden and follow after him? He said:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Has God left a gap for you-for you to participate? On your response card, list one area where God has left something for you, but it would require a big change. Then, pray with me. 

Station #5: The Cross

Now we come to Golgotha, the place of the skull. Jesus is stripped naked, his arms stretched out and nailed to the crossbeam, the crossbeam lifted and attached to the upright, his legs bent slightly and nailed to the post. Luke records it this way:

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:33-34, 44-46)

Why did Jesus go there? Why the cross?

Each of us carries secrets. Memories of things we’d rather forget. Helping hands withheld. Words that we should not have spoken. Things we wish we’d never done.  Thoughts that we can’t unthink. We like to think better of ourselves, but our secrets would tell a different, shameful story. 

That’s why the cross. Jesus knows those secrets. He took the shame, the humiliation, the punishment you deserved for your secrets on that cross.  The Bible says:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)

No one can say, “Not good enough” or “Used up” or “Damaged” When we trust him, those secrets no longer control today or tomorrow or forever. The Bible says:

He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:13b-14)

Maybe you have secrets. Never shared. Will you let God take the shame from you? Write a word on your card, fold that card in half, and with the other words you’ve written this evening, take a nail, take the hammer and agree with God by nailing it to the cross. Take the freedom he offers through that forgiveness.

Response Card
The boxes were for stamps that were present at each station for people to record their progress. They were originally meant for children, but proved as popular with adults.

Missed Opportunities (Luke 9:51-62)

Missed Opportunities

Luke 9:51-62

Introduction: Determination

In a garage in 1976, a group of guys started a computer company that would change the world. You've probably heard of the two Steves involved: Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. However, there was a third founder of Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) who wrote the first partnership agreement, wrote the manual for the Apple I and even drew the first Apple logo. That man was Ronald Wayne.

The reason why you probably never heard of Wayne is that less than two weeks after founding Apple and receiving a 10% stake in the company, he sold his Apple stock for $800. (He reportedly got another check later for $1,500 to forfeit any claims he had against the company going forward.) Today, his stock would be worth more than $55 billion.

Why would Wayne bail on Apple so early? He had been burned before. An earlier venture of Wayne's buying and selling slot machines fizzled and left him paying back creditors for two years. When Jobs began taking out loans to fulfill their first order, Wayne, who as a partner would be liable for any debts incurred, got skittish and sold his stake.[1]

Ever regret a missed opportunity? Ever wonder about a “what if”? There was a glimmer of possibility. We saw it just for a moment, had an instance to choose, and then it was gone. We are haunted by what could have happened.

What made you miss? Maybe it was a previous bad experience (like Wayne at Apple) that made you want to play it safe.  What made you miss? Couldn’t decide quickly enough. You thought about it, but then you were too busy. Or maybe the path to opportunity was too difficult. We all have those moments. What would have happened if we had taken the other path?

Jesus met a lot of people like us. Ordinary people. He told them about his plan—he called it the kingdom of God—with him at the center. He made extraordinary claims: that he was God’s chosen one—the Messiah—God in the flesh. Then he made an offer: come and follow me.

What an opportunity! Some joined Jesus, but others let him pass by. Why? What was their reason? If we can see their excuse, maybe we can recognize it in our own lives before and accept Jesus’ offered opportunity.

We pick up the story in Luke, the third of four biographies of Jesus found in the Bible, in the 9^th chapter, starting near the end, in verse 51:

⁵¹ As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

First, Jesus had determination. Luke says he “resolutely set out”. Christmas started the plan, but Passover was the conflict, Easter the climax and Pentecost the resolution.  Jesus’ life was not an accidental juxtaposition of personality, religious ferment and political turmoil. Jesus knew his place, he knew the promises, he knew his part in it and he was determined to push through to the end.

Second, he had a deadline. Luke says, “as the time approached” The “time” that Jesus was concerned about was the annual festival of Passover, a celebration of God’s rescue of the nation. It was a time of annual pilgrimage. Jews from all over the Roman Empire would return to take part. Jesus’ disgrace on the cross would be public, his return to life would be public and many of these Jews would witness this and carry it home with them.

Third, he had a destination: Jerusalem. He “set out for Jerusalem.” Jerusalem was the center of religious and political life for the nation of Israel. The temple was there. The Jewish leaders were there. The Roman governor was there. The crowds were here.

This is Jesus’ story. His story has a theme—a message—a story that says to God: “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

At some point, Jesus’ story intersects our story. He invites us, “Come. Follow me.” Join my story. Change the world with me. We have a choice, to join him or turn him down.

People do turn him down. In these next few minutes, let’s take a portrait of those who turned Jesus down in the last part of this chapter. Who were they?

Don’t Like His Destination (vs. 52-53)

Sometimes people turn him down because they didn’t like his destination. Take a look starting in verse 52.

⁵² And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; ⁵³ but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.

Jesus was determined to get to Jerusalem for the festival of Passover. But he did most of his preaching and healing in northern Israel, called Galilee, and southern Israel, around Jersualem. In between north and south, was Samaria, inhabited by Samaritans. The Samaritans believed that Passover should be celebrated at Mount Gerazim, not in Jerusalem. So, they weren’t interested in Jesus and his story because they didn’t like where he was doing—his destination.

We like our where and when and how. We like to be the main character in our own story—our own movie. Deliberately or accidently, we move Jesus into the role of best supporting actor, or extra, or non-speaking part and remove him from the credits.  But any other story than Jesus’ story leads to disappointment.

Maybe, we have centered our life around successful career, or healthy family or secure retirement or experience. Jesus invites is to put his plot—his story—his purpose at the center. “Come. Follow me.”

Get Distracted By Pride (vs. 54-56)

Sometimes people turned Jesus down because they didn’t like his destination. Others tended to be distracted because they want to be “right”. Look at verse 54:

⁵⁴ When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” ⁵⁵ But Jesus turned and rebuked them, ⁵⁶ and they went to another village.

They wanted respect. They decided to be Jesus’ enforcers. Notice how they divide the world into “for” and “against” “in” and “out” “with us” or “against us” We are with Jesus. We are special, ‘cause we saw the trans-fi-gur-ation. We are “in” You don’t welcome Jesus. You are “out” You are second-class kindling.

Notice how they are distracted? This is no longer about Jesus and his mission. It is about us and our mission to appear important. Those Samaritans didn’t respect us Jesus, so let’s toast them. Earlier, it was John who was worried that other disciples were able to cast out demons in Jesus’ name (Luke 9:49). Later, it was James and John who wanted the prime seats next to Jesus in the kingdom (Matthew 20:21)

We do this, too. We like being right. We like to appear right. Because it means that they (whoever “they” is) are wrong. We are so angry at “them” Most people don’t think of Christians as loving so much as angry.

Every ounce of improvement in our character is grace. If we could improve due to our willpower, our purity of character, or our superior smarts, then we might have some reason to brag, saying we worked harder or better. But we and they are fundamentally unable to improve without God’s grace. We are all together, humbled by our inability, but blessed by God’s ability.

Encounter Discomfort (vs. 57-58)

People turned Jesus down because of his destination. They distracted by wanting to be right. Next, some turn away from Jesus because of discomfort:

⁵⁷ As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” ⁵⁸ Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

Tonight, when you get back to your house, there is a knock on the door. Outside are men, obvious foreigners, unshaven, dirty. Some are obviously enforcer muscle types but one says he’s a preacher.  They ask if they can spend the night.

Remember, Jesus didn’t get welcomed by the Samaritans. So they went to the next village.  Maybe nobody opened the door there for the son of God. They don’t want Jesus and they certainly don’t want his scruffy friends. So you sleep out on the porch, or in a doorway, or maybe in the barn or under a tree.

How many of us abandon Jesus’ story because we don’t like the way people look at us when we say we are Christians. We’re embarrassed. Or we don’t like that God leads us through a tough time. Or asks for first dibs on our time and resources.

Is God more important than your comfort, or is comfort your God? [Lent]

Demand Other Priorities (vs. 59-60)

Some don’t like his destination. Some get distracted by pride. Some find it too difficult—too much discomfort. Others try to demand priorities. Look at verses 59 and 60:

⁵⁹ He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” ⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

This incident is not about a funeral or respect for parents. This incident is actually about who is “first”

Jesus says to him, “Follow me” and the first words out of his mouth are, “Lord, first let me…” Don’t you see the contradiction built in to those words? He calls Jesus “Lord” But when you “follow” someone you are not first. You are, by definition, second.

He wants to set the terms of his “follower”-ship. He wants to dictate to his “Lord” the where and when. He wants to fulfill his own mission, then he’ll tack Jesus’ mission on to the end. First, Jesus, let me make sure my situation is stable. First, Jesus, let me have my fun (because the life with you is uncomfortable and/or boring). First, Jesus, let me make a name for myself. Then I’ll join you. But don’t wait up for me, because there might be a little delay.

Jesus says to us:

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33

Doubt Our Choice (vs. 61-62)

We don’t like his destination. We get distracted by pride. We find it too difficult—too much discomfort. We demand other priorities. Finally, we doubt. Look at verses 59 and 60:

⁶¹ Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” ⁶² Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

There’s that word “first” again. This incident is not about family. This is about doubts. Jesus called this man’s name, “Come! Follow me.” Initially excited, but then he starts to have second thoughts. Discerning his thoughts, Jesus tells him: you can’t serve the past and the future at the same time.

I am not a farmer. But Helen grew up in and among rice farmers and she told me that when you plow a field, you place a stick at the end of the row. You get a straight row when you line up the handle of the plow with the stick between the horns of the carabaw (water buffalo). But looking back over your shoulder will produce a crazy, wavy line.

Barry Cooper, in his article in Christianity Today, asked: Would you prefer to make an ironclad, no-turning-back choice, or one you could back out of if need be? Do you ever find that you're afraid to commit? Do you reply to party invitations with a ''maybe'' rather than a ''yes'' or ''no''? Do you like to keep your smartphone switched on at all times, even in meetings, [because you might miss the other conversation you could be a part of] …  Will you focus on the person you're talking to after a church service, or will you look over her shoulder for a better conversation partner? If so, you may be worshiping the god of open options. – Christianity Today, [2]

In Jesus, your best days are in front of you. Where you are going is not found desiring where you have been. Leave that behind. Grab ahold of Jesus with both hands and don’t let go.

Conclusion

Let’s wrap this up. We have lots of excuses why we don’t pursue Jesus whole-heartedly. But that’s what they are: excuses. We will all be asked: “What did you do with Jesus?” Sorry, God, too busy. Sorry, God, too hard. Sorry, God, got distracted. Sorry, God, wasn’t sure. Jesus passed by and we missed him.

Mike Smith was an executive in charge of evaluating talent for Decca Records when he traveled to Liverpool, England, to listen to an up and coming band. He was impressed. The band had unmistakable talent, so he brought them to Decca's London office for an audition on New Year's Day 1962. The band played 15 songs, went home and waited for an answer.

When they finally heard the answer, Decca's famous reply was that, "guitar groups are on the way out" and "the Beatles have no future in show business".[3]

How would you like to be Mike Smith? Or Decca Records? Well, Jesus is more famous than the Beatles. Today Jesus is passing by. Today, you have the opportunity to join him. He is inviting you now, just like he did then: “Come. Follow me.” The Bible says:

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. – 2 Corinthians 6:2b

Where will he take me? I don’t know. My life has already been unexpected. And I get it wrong. But I do know that every time I am troubled, I search for Jesus and line myself up behind him.

Imagine for a moment. What would your company look like if God was running it? Would your products change? Would your salaries change? Would your profit margins change? How about school? What would it look like? Would the subjects change? Would the goals change? Now, your entertainment, your family, your marriage, your church. Take this opportunity to follow Jesus, so he can transform them by his presence in you.

Where Jesus is going is where I want to go. What he is doing I want to do. Pray with me: “Jesus, I want to take advantage of the opportunity you give me, to find my part in your plan. But Jesus, I am easily distracted and easily discouraged. Today, give me the willpower and the strength to overcome anything that comes between me and you in every part of my life. Thank you that your life and death provided the way for me to do that. Amen.”

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[1][1] 5 Costly Missed Business Opportunities, Brian Reed (April 26, 2012), http://www.investinganswers.com/personal-finance/rich-famous/5-costly-missed-business-opportunities-4244, retrieved on February 12, 2013

[2] Are You Worshiping the Idol of Open Options, Barry Cooper, Christianity Today Online (February 15, 2013), retrieved on February 17, 2013

[3][3] 5 Costly Missed Business Opportunities, Brian Reed (April 26, 2012), http://www.investinganswers.com/personal-finance/rich-famous/5-costly-missed-business-opportunities-4244, retrieved on February 12, 2013