Surprise!!!

A Series on the Milestones in Jesus’ Life

Luke 22:1-5; Luke 22:14-23; Luke 22:24-26

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2022%3A1-5%3B%2014-23%3B%2024-26&version=NIV;NLT

 

Life is full of surprises. Just recently, my wife gave me multiple surprises for my birthday. First, she posted on her Facebook page that it was my birthday, and how great it would be if everybody bombarded me with emails. I heard from a high school class mate, another friend who I haven’t seen in thirty years; and at least a dozen other family and friends.

 

Then, as if that wasn’t enough, she surprised me that night at a church meeting by showing up with cake and ice cream for everybody. Surprise!

 

Sometimes a milestone is reaching a certain age. Sometimes it’s just a matter of finally reaching a destination. Jesus had set his sights on the Passover at Jerusalem for quite some time; and he finally reached that milestone. But there were surprises in store.

 

First, was Judas’ betrayal for greed. He had been stealing from the treasury for a while and for whatever reason, he decided that he was done with following Jesus. Maybe he believed Jesus was worth more to him dead than alive.

 

The second surprise was the disciple’s desire for power. There are several occasions when we read that the disciples came to Jesus and asked who would sit at his right and his left. This time they asked about which was considered to be the greatest.

 

Finally, Jesus had two surprises for his disciples out of his love for them and his Heavenly Father. One was his revelation about the new covenant of his body and blood to be sacrificed for them. The other was revealing that one of them would betray him. They all denied it of course, including Judas.

 

I believe that God still works through surprises. That way we can’t take credit for it; whatever “it” is.

 

Do you think He has a surprise in store for you? If so, how will you respond? Will it be like Judas? The disciples? Or Jesus?

 

 

 

Surprise!

 

 

 

The Taste That’s Worth the Wait

A Series on the Milestones in Jesus’ Life

Mt 21:1-11

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2021%3A1-11&version=NIV;NLT

 

In the 1979 classic Heinz Ketchup commercial, two little boys complain about how slow the Ketchup comes out of the bottle onto their hamburger. As it does, the Carly Simon song, “Anticipation”, plays in the background. The final tag line is, “The taste that’s worth the wait”. (A link for the commercial is at the bottom of the page.)

 

Up until now, Jesus had always been reticent about proclaiming who he was; even to the point of telling others not to say anything about a miracle he performed, or being recognized as the Messiah. It wasn’t a matter of humility, but of timing. It hadn’t been the right time for him to claim his rightful place as the Son of David… until now. It was a milestone.

 

⁹ Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
    righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.              Zechariah 9 NIV

 

By riding the donkey into Jerusalem, Jesus not only fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah, but also made a powerful statement! He was claiming to be the king who would fulfill the promise of David’s reign! This only served to increase the anticipation of his arrival.

 

Other events leading up to Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem included raising Lazarus from the dead; the Pharisees planning to kill Jesus and Lazarus; Jesus and his disciples laying low in the countryside; and large crowds of Jews gathering in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. It was a chaotic time; and the anticipation was palpable.

 

Think of this Palm Sunday story as a metaphor. Jerusalem represents your life. Just like Jesus brought the Kingdom of God into Jerusalem, he brings the Kingdom of God into your life, every day.

 

He’s the Son of God, and can change your life. He can also use you to make a difference in the lives of others. Will Jesus ride into your life today as king? What are you anticipating for him to do?

 

 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoLoyg3JKRQ

 

 

 

 

The Mountaintop

A Series on the Milestones in Jesus’ Life

Luke 9:28-36

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%209%3A28-36&version=NIV;NLT

  

When I was in college, our church would hold a retreat for all the students.

We would be gone for forty-eight hours, and during that time we had a speaker, singing, games and fellowship. Usually, I would come home excited about my Christian faith. It was a mountaintop experience; but nothing like the one Jesus had.

 

² …Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. ²⁹ And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. ³⁰ Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. ³¹ They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.   NLT

 

Although Peter, James and John were there, they had fallen asleep. When they woke up, Peter started talking without thinking, and suggested building a memorial for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. What happened next was nothing short of miraculous.

 

³⁴ While he (Peter) was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”       NIV

 

Consider this interpretation of the story.

Jesus knew that he was about to go to Jerusalem; he knew what would happen to him there; he knew that he was about to experience the most painful part of his life. He also knew, that this was why he had been chosen.

But before going, he asked his closest disciples, and friends, to pray with him on a mountain. He wanted them to be with him; and he needed to be with his Heavenly Father. While there, he was transformed physically, emotionally and spiritually. It was a mountaintop experience; a milestone in his life.

Now he was ready to face whatever waited for him.

 

I’ve never come away from a retreat where my face has been transformed or my cloths became dazzling white. But I have come away knowing that I have been in the presence of God; feeling stronger in my faith; sensing greater purpose and mission in my life; and being ready for whatever was in my future.

 

You don’t have to go on a retreat to be in the presence of God.

 

 

But it’s important for us to make time to go to the Mountaintop; to spend extended time in His presence; to listen to His still, small voice; and to be transformed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turning Point

A Series on the Milestones in Jesus’ Life

Mark 8:27-37

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%208%3A27-37&version=NIV;NLT

 

“Who do people say I am?”

When I asked this question of my daughter, her response was…

 

Joe, Dad, Grandpa and a Michigan State fan. All of these are true. You could probably also add insurance agent, Christian and a nice guy. Jesus casually posed this same question to his disciples as they were walking to a village.

 

 

 

²⁸ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” ²⁹ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”       NIV

 

I’m not sure that Jesus really cared what other people thought about him. However, he most certainly cared what those closest to him thought. And although Peter had the right answer, he had the wrong expectations. Jesus explained that the “Son of Man” must suffer, be rejected and killed; but would rise again.

 

³² As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.  NLT

 

Peter’s expectations of the Messiah didn’t match up with what Jesus told them. But Jesus needed to make sure that his disciples understood; not only who he was, but also what that meant for him, as well as them. He had to reeducate them to prepare them for the future.

 

³⁴ Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. ³⁶ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?            NIV

             ³⁷ Is anything worth more than your soul?       NLT

 

The series of events in this passage, were a turning point in Jesus’ life and ministry; a milestone if you will. From this point forward, he headed to Jerusalem. This was his purpose; his destiny.

 

What turning point are you facing in your life? What is your purpose; your destiny? How have you answered Jesus’ two life changing questions: “Who do you say that I am” and “Is anything more important than your soul”?

 

As a follower of Jesus, your answer to those two questions are critical. They shape how you live your life; how you make decisions; what your priorities are. They are the turning point of your life.

 

 

 

 

 

From Ghost to the Son of God

A Series on the Milestones in Jesus’ Life

Matthew 14:22-36

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2014%3A22-36&version=NIV;NLT

 

If you were to choose between the following two metaphors as a picture of your spiritual journey; which would you choose? A sales graph that shows a steady increase in production; or a graph of the stock market with its ups and downs, but overall increase? Which represents your spiritual journey?

 

The story in Matthew picks up the spiritual journey of the disciples following the miraculous feeding of 5000 men, plus women and children. Afterwards, Jesus sent the disciples by boat to the other side of the sea. However, in route, they ran into a sudden squall with strong winds and heavy waves. Here’s what happened.

 

²⁵ About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” ²⁷ But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”           NLT

 

Literally translated, Jesus said, “The ‘I am’ is here”. This is the same name that God told Moses to use when asked by the Israelites, “Who shall I say is sending me”. By using this name, Jesus identified himself as God. Peter, in his excitement, acted impetuously and tried to walk on water like Jesus.

 

³⁰ But when he (Peter) saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” ³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”          NIV

 

This was the first time that the disciples had called Jesus the Son of God. It was a milestone for them, and for Jesus. It showed that the disciples were making some progress. For Jesus, his ministry included preparing the disciples for what was to come.

 

From fear of a perceived ghost, to worshipping Jesus as the Son of God; I’d say that the disciple’s journey fit the metaphor of the stock market graph.

 

How do you view Jesus? Is he a ghost to you; or the Son of God? Are you growing in your faith and knowledge of him? Is your faith stronger today than yesterday? Have you tried walking on water recently?