Meeting Jesus - The Garden and Temptation
So I’ve been involved in ministry here at beachCHURCH for a little over 22 years…and in that time, I have participated in a lot of church-wide projects, led several mission trips, and my wife Marlene and I have had the blessing of leading the Celebrate Recovery ministry for the past 19 years. And over that time, I have seen people experience some really incredible spiritual highs in their lives-they’ve had those “mountain top experiences” and I have seen those same people walk through some really tough spiritual lows, through some really deep and dark valleys. That’s not necessarily been by fault of anything they’ve done and it’s not an uncommon thing in ministry…even Jesus experienced those moments in His life as well.
After Jesus left His hometown of Nazareth, He has been traveling around Judah and Galilee teaching the Gospel in the towns and villages along the way. But now He’s arrived in Jerusalem. And when He first got there, He was celebrated. In the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John-they refer to His arrival as a triumphant entry because He was basically celebrated as a king.
The people loved Him, they cheered for Him and laid their garments and palm branches on the ground before Him as He rode into town. But things change pretty quickly for Him because the things He was teaching and the views He was expressing about the religious establishment of the time upset the people in power-because they considered themselves the religious authorities.
Because Jesus was being proclaimed as the Messiah and the Savior, the religious leaders were plotting to kill Him-because He was a threat to their authority.
This was during Passover, a festival where the Jewish people celebrated their freedom from slavery in Egypt. And on the night before His crucifixion, Jesus gathered up His disciples for their Passover meal-which we refer to as the Last Supper.
After Jesus had this really significant moment with His disciples in the Upper Room, Jesus went from a Spiritual High, to a Spiritual Low...
At the Last Supper, everything was amazing.
Jesus and His disciples celebrated the Passover
Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper
He washed his disciples feet
But now – in Luke 22, they would leave the intimacy and joy in Upper Room, and Jesus would experience such an incredible degree of temptation and internal agony, that blood would begin to drop out of his body like sweat.
Luke 22:39-46
Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.”
He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened Him. He prayed more fervently, and He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.
At last He stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. “Why are you sleeping?” He asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”
So there in verse 44 we see that Jesus was “in agony” And right before that, in verse 43, we see that an angel appeared to Him from heaven and “strengthened Him.” In these passages we get a clear glimpse of Jesus’ humanity…
Over the course of history, there have been a lot of twisted and distorted views of Jesus. Some people or groups have tried to minimize Jesus’ humanity, claiming that He was only spirit and His body was merely a shell or not even real at all. But look at Jesus in these verses. He is extremely troubled. Again, there in verse 44 we see that “He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.”
Jesus is troubled to the point that He sweat blood. This is actually a very rare condition that is called hematidrosis and this condition has been observed by doctors on occasion when people face extreme distress. It’s a real condition, you can look it up on WebMD.
So just why was Jesus so troubled?
It was because He knows the sheer amount of pain and suffering He is going to face. In the Garden of Gethsemane we see Jesus facing the consequences of choosing to become a human. In Philippians 2 it describes how Jesus gave up His divine rights and willingly became a human, even when He knew it would lead to death on a cross. Jesus becoming a human was always leading to this very point in time when He would take on the suffering and sin of the world. He knew this very clearly. But even though He had this knowledge-it didn’t make it any easier. In fact, this knowledge made it that much more difficult.
We’re all familiar with the old saying that, “ignorance is bliss”-but sometimes ignorance is a whole lot easier... If Jesus hadn’t known in detail what was going to happen to Him, He would not have been so troubled.
But He knew. He knew every scourge of the whip, every hit with the rod, every prick of the crown of thorns, every hateful insult they would throw at Him, every hammer of the nails, every bruise, every cut, and worst of all, He knew the weight of the world’s sin and sorrow was going to fall on His shoulders. Jesus knew exactly what He was going to experience. And that’s what made it so much harder for Him.
So this wasn’t your ordinary religious, churchy kind of prayer…this was Jesus pleading with God that He would not have to suffer the things that were to come.
If I asked you if you would be willing to die for your faith, some of you would probably say, “yes.” But if we as Christians started being persecuted and we actually faced torture and death right in front of us, that decision would be much harder to follow through with, wouldn’t it.
Would we finish the fight?
Would we keep the faith?
At that moment, facing real persecution, actually doing it is harder than just saying “yes”.
That is the decision Jesus faced now. He could see in crystal clear detail exactly what He would face. Imagine again if you could view a large high definition screen of your own suffering and death ahead of time. That would be terrible-wouldn’t it?!?
And to Jesus His own death and suffering was seen and understood even more clearly than watching it here on this big screen. He knew every detail…
So it’s important for us to see Jesus’ humanity here. And the reason is this:
JESUS’ VICTORY AS A PERSON GIVES US HOPE.
Jesus was not an alien. He wasn’t some kind of super human being or something like that...
He had feelings as we do. He experienced pain as we do. He experienced temptation as we do.
So just what was the temptation that Jesus was so concerned about?
It wasn’t that His disciples were spending too much time on their cell phones on TikTok or Facebook or Twitter getting all wrapped up in the drama.
Or that they were struggling with porn addiction or lust issues, because they were looking at inappropriate websites on their tablets and computers…
They hadn’t taken Kevin Hart up on his $200 offer on Draft Kings and gambled away all the money they had made off of the big haul of fish that Jesus had blessed them with that one day…
Yes, they struggled with pride and their egos-wondering which one of them was going to be most important and seated next to Jesus in heaven; but it wasn’t like they were fighting with each other or gossiping and bashing each other on social media (I mean, they weren’t politicians…!).
No, the temptation that Jesus worried about, that He was was cautioning His friends to not give in to was the very same temptation that He was in agony over.
There in the Garden…in that period of humanity-Jesus faced the temptation to do what HE wanted to do, rather than follow through with what God wanted Him to do.
Jesus was in agony to the point that He was experiencing hematidrosis. Blood was seeping out of His pores, like sweat- because He wanted to be obedient to God; but He didn’t want to have to walk out what lied ahead of Him…
He was in agony because He wanted to obey God, but He didn’t want to have to bear His cross.
He wanted to obey God, but He didn’t want to be arrested, beaten , and tortured. He wanted to free us from our sins, but He didn’t want to be crucified.
That is why Jesus sweat blood.
He was torn between what He wanted and what He knew that He had to do...
JESUS FACED TEMPTATION WITHOUT HIS FRIENDS.
The only thing that Jesus asked of His friends was that they would stay awake and pray. And you know, these guys were more than just friends, they were the group that He had “done life” with for the past three years.
He had poured into them.
Jesus had healed Peter’s mother in law.
He laughed with them, spent time with them, and He invested in them even when nobody else would have thought twice about them.
He gave them hope and He showed them God’s love.
And now, when Jesus just simply asked His friends to pray, they couldn’t even stay awake.
So, Jesus faced the worst time of His life without His friends…
Maybe you know what it is like to face challenges, temptation, losses, and fears all alone. Maybe you don’t have any friends that will come alongside of you and pray with you as you walk through struggles in this life.
For whatever reason, you’re in this place of isolation; having walked the road of recovery for over 25 years now, I know that’s not a good place to be in. I have seen people overcome the worst of situations when they are connected.
I’ve watched homeless addicts put their lives back together…
I have seen families that have been torn apart by adultery or other addictions restored…
I’ve seen so many people overcome the brokenness that brought them to their knees and into recovery-because they got connected and they walked out their recovery journey together in a community of people who loved them and came alongside of them in that brokenness and poured into those people the very same experience, strength and hope that had been poured into them, by someone else…
God has a circle of friends waiting for you. People who will help you learn to trust in God during those challenging seasons and times of change.
And you need to understand that if you are serious about following Jesus, you need to realize that…
TEMPTATION OVERTAKES ALL BELIEVERS
But in spite of that, sometimes we convince ourselves that other believers have it all together and that WE are the only ones who struggle with sin.
We know everyone struggles with the temptation to sin – but we’re sure that they don’t struggle like WE DO.
We think, “They read their bibles all the time, they go to church every Sunday, they’ve got their act together-they don’t struggle like me…So something must be wrong with me…”
I’ve seen some of those same people that have had incredible recovery experiences lose it all-because they got complacent and they disconnected. They became isolated and when they faced new challenges and temptations, they did it without friends…they went into those dark places all alone…
And when temptation overtakes them and they give into that temptation and choose to sin rather than to obey God’s will..They find themselves thinking:
I was on such a good run…
Things were going so well…
I had my family back…
My marriage was back on track…
I can’t believe I did this….
How did I wind up back here all over again…?
Why am I at this bottom AGAIN…?
I think that a lot of it has to do with the memories of our past.
Our MEMORIES can stir up our desires and temptation to sin.
Think about it. Jesus was and always will be God. Jesus existed long before He became a human. He knew what it was like to EXIST as LORD over all. Before He became a human, He could do all He wanted to do.
But when He became a human, He gave up His rights as God…He experienced and felt things, just like we do and there in the Garden…Jesus was tempted to TAKE UP His rights once again.
His MEMORIES of His LIFE AS GOD stirred up this DESIRE He faced now, to take control of His own life and do what He wanted to do. Not what God wanted Him to do…
And you and I need to understand that…with certainty:
MEMORIES OF SIN CAN STIR UP TEMPTATION
Memories of sin can stir up temptation in our hearts…
Memories of those “good times” can stir up temptation in our hearts…
God doesn’t cause us to be tempted, we’re reminded in
James 1:13-14
“God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.”
We are only going to be tempted to do something that we find pleasure in. I’m never tempted to go to the opera…but I love a good Christian Concert. I’m never tempted to walk around with club in my hand and chase after a little white ball…but put a gun in my hands and send me out in the woods and I’ll chase after an animal all day long! I promise you that I have never in my life been tempted to eat broccoli or cauliflower, I think I could probably do a 40 day fast and still not be tempted…but Ice Cream or French Fries, I’m all in on that one-Father forgive me, for I have sinned!!!
A DESIRE to sin occurs only because we have EXPERIENCED it or something SIMILAR to it before…and we liked it! It made us feel good…
Maybe the experience came through people, places, or your past.
Trust me, there are things I don’t do and there are places in Myrtle Beach from my past, that I need to stay away from and guard against. Places and things that I used to find pleasure in-before I found my way back to Christ…I have to stay on guard against those old memories…
Memories of experiences or places that appealed to us in the past, can stir up temptation in our present and future. If we liked it in the past, our flesh tells us we will like it again. Put up guardrails to help you stay away from those kind of temptations.
WITH PRAYER AND FRIENDS EVERY TEMPTATION CAN BE OVERCOME.
If you feel like you have been walking blindly and stumbling into temptation after temptation…strengthen your prayer life. Pray more, and pray harder!
Begin to pray on a regular basis what Jesus prayed in the Garden – not my will, but your will be done.
Ask God for His will to be done in your marriage, with your children and how you parent them, at your work…Ask God to help you be content and trust in His plan for you. You’ll be amazed at just how much better His plan is-than anything that you ever could have planned or imagined...God’s not trying to tease you.
God’s desire is to BLESS you not to MESS with you.
The brother of Jesus writes in
James 4:7-8 (NLT)
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”
This passage is what we see Jesus demonstrate there in the Garden…
He humbled himself before God. He bared his soul. He resisted temptation and God strengthened Him.
God gave Him the willingness and courage to face what laid ahead of Him…
Jesus walked away from His prayer differently. He was no longer distressed and troubled. He walked away as a man on a mission!
He was resolved. He was assured. He was confident.
His prayer didn’t change the outcome, He still was tortured and crucified; but He knew His Father had a plan and He knew it was a perfect plan.
Jesus will strengthen you today.
-Whatever it is that you are facing.
If you surround yourself with friends. If you begin to pray like never before and humble yourself to God…Every temptation you face in life CAN be overcome. You have Jesus on your side fighting for you…
Since He himself has gone through suffering and testing, He is able to help us when we are being tested. (HEBREWS 2:18)
He has given us friends, He promises to help us himself.
God does not promise to deliver us out of our difficulty. He may not save you out of your trial. But if you come to Him in prayer, He will give you what you need to get through it and to be victorious.
Meeting Jesus - Triumphal Entry
Well. It is spring time – that means Spring Breakers are here – and it means my girls are playing softball. Naomi has made the Softball team at Carolina Forest, and Jessica is playing rec league. For the last couple of seasons, I was able to help coach one of my daughter’s teams, but this year, I get to help out the team by simply serving as the Announcer at the Home Ball games. So – I am not coaching, just practicing embarrassing my daughter by using my “Announcer Voice.”
I like to watch the kids step up to the plate with their bat, and face the pitcher. For one brief moment, each kid is standing alone at the plate, and all parents and players are watching them. When I was the girls age, I played Little League. Whenever a good hitter went to bat, the coach of the opposing team would yell to his outfielders to “back up.” If they were a great hitter, the coach would tell them to back up to the fence. Whenever I stood up to bat, they always yelled, “Everybody move in!” Everybody would shift in.
The players and coaches responded differently based on who was at Bat. I wasn’t allowed to wear my glasses – and I had terrible eyesight. I couldn’t see the ball…
I could never tell if the pitcher threw the ball or was waving at his family…but I always swung the bat.
And the coaches and players knew it and responded appropriately. Since I couldn’t hit the ball, there was no need playing defense deep. They knew I would always swing. They knew I would never connect and whether we realize it or not, people have an internal response whenever they see you and I today.
When you walk enter a room. People have an internal response to you.
When you enter your home. When you arrive at work. When you walk into an office people will react and respond to you, based on what they know about you.
I know that because, you and I respond and react to the people around us based on what we know about them…
When you see an old friend, you might run up, grab them and give them a hug.
When you see a friend you see every day, you might barely acknowledge them.
If you see somebody you do not like, you might avoid eye contact with them…
That’s why it is so remarkable to see how people responded and reacted to Jesus when he entered Jerusalem.
He had been changing lives.
Working miracles.
Teaching about forgiveness.
Hope and second chances.
For three years, he had been telling people about God’s love and care for them. He had been reconnecting people with God. And, for three years, he had ticked a lot of the Religious Leaders off. As we have seen so far in our “Meeting Jesus” series, Jesus always seemed to rub religious leaders the wrong way. He got under their skin. He ruffled their feathers. He ticked them off.
The core of Jesus teaching was one way to a relationship with God…
The core of the religious teachers was hundreds of rules to get to God…
So, the Religious leaders had had enough of Jesus.
In John 11:57 – the Religious bullies had made a public order that every Jew that saw Jesus must report where and when they saw him, so they could arrest him.
John 11:57
Meanwhile, the leading priests and Pharisees had publicly ordered that anyone seeing Jesus must report it immediately so they could arrest him.
They had placed the highest level of a Jewish arrest warrant out on Jesus, and they made every Jewish person accountable to give the information to them. Jesus responded – by walking right into the Religious Leaders playground! They issued an arrest warrant – and instead of hiding and running – Jesus did something he had not been accustomed to doing – he made himself the center of attention.
We will begin reading in Luke 19.
Luke 19:28-40
28 After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. 29 As they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. 30 “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. 33 And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?” 34 And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” 35 So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on. 36 As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. 37 When they reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. 38 “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” 39 But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” 40 He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”
I love how the disciples and the crowd treated and honored Jesus. They didn’t know that in less than a week he would be betrayed, beaten, humiliated and paraded through town naked carrying a cross. They didn’t know he would suffer and die on a cross and pay the price for sin.
All they knew was that Jesus wanted to ride into town on a colt or a donkey – and they made it happen. They borrowed a donkey. They put their cloaks on it for Jesus to sit on.
The crowd spread out their cloaks on the ground…and they called Jesus, KING.
They didn’t treat him like a King because he had told them to, they treated him like a King, because for three years, Jesus had treated each of them like they were a King. He talked with the tax collectors, prostitutes and notorious sinners not just because he loved them, but because they were important and had value. He healed the lepers, the blind, the sick, and brought hope to the brokenhearted because he loved them and they mattered to him.
Now, as Jesus entered Jerusalem, his followers had a chance to treat Jesus the same.
Like ROYALTY.
During this time, a KING would enter into a town in two different ways.
During wartime, King would ride into town on a horse. This symbolized to the town that King brough conflict. He entered the town on a horse, because he was going to defeat it. During peacetime, a King would ride into town on a Donkey or a Colt. This symbolized the Kings intention were to bring peace, or continue the peace.
If there were any rumors flying that the King was going to invade the land, the entering King put all fears and worries aside by entering the town on a donkey, and the people would rejoice.
Jesus desires to BRING you and I PEACE
This entrance stands out to me as one of the most incredible examples of courage in history.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem…
JESUS DEMONSTRATED COURAGE AND DEFIANCE TOWARD RELIGIOUS BULLIES (John 11:57)
When I think about defining moments of courage, I think about TANK MAN. The man that stood in front of the line of invading tanks in Tiananmen Square and refused to move. I think about the United States Marine Memorial with Marines holding up the American Flag during WW2 at the battle of Iwo Jima.
I think about the men and women who rushed into the World Trade Center on Sept 11, 2001, to save the lives of strangers.
And, I think about Jesus entering Jerusalem.
He knew there was an arrest warrant out for him.
He knew what the religious bullies were planning.
He knew one of his followers would betray him.
But, Jesus didn’t slip into Jerusalem at night in the shadows. He didn’t hide in a cart filled with supplies.
He entered Jerusalem with the highest level of visibility possible.
But…he did not enter Jerusalem as the Conquering King that brings war.
He entered Jerusalem as the King who brings peace.
Crowds of people gathered around him. Other gospel writers tell us that they waved palm branches in the air as they shouted “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!”.
The religious bullies that tried to control people’s behavior had a “hero of the people” to contend with. The people cheered. They hugged one another.
They celebrated the CHAMPION who had celebrated them.
They cheered for the one who had cheered them on.
They socially elevated the status of the one who had elevated them.
They BLESSED the one who had BLESSED them.
They brought words of peace to the one who had brought them peace.
So,
LIKE JESUS, BRING AND LEAVE PEACE.
Do you bring peace to others when you enter a room?
Do you leave peace when you exit a room?
We have the ability to bring comfort, peace, hope and encouragement to those around us. We can use our words to help or hinder others. We can use our body language to help or hinder others.
Are you a peace bringer?
Or, do you leave rooms in conflict?
Do you help make people better through words of encouragement or do you enhance conflict with words of division?
Does your opinion matter more than others?
Does your opinion always need to be expressed?
Are you always right?
These questions are difficult for all of us. As a parent, sometimes I feel like I make matters worse when I jump into disagreements with the girls at the house. Instead of making things better, sometimes I feel like I make things worse.
I am going to ask a series of questions – and I want you to let the answers linger in your mind for a little bit:
If you are married, when your spouse sees you, do they brace themselves for conflict or are they relaxed and relieved?
Children, when your brother or sister see you coming, do they hold their breath and wait for the insults to begin, or do they light up when they see you coming?
Employers, are you harsh with the people who work for you and “rule with an iron fist” or are they motivated to work hard for you because they know you work hard for them?
Parents, do you constantly criticize and overwhelm your children with their failures or are you searching for areas to encourage them and are you building in them a healthy biblical self-image?
The reason I ask these difficult questions is because:
PEOPLE RESPOND TO PRESENCE BASED ON PATTERNS
As people lined up that day to celebrate the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem, they were celebrating, waving palm branches, cheering, and elevating his social status based on the pattern of life he had been living. Look at v. 37
Luke 19:37
As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen…
People responded to the presence of Jesus based on the pattern of his life. Crowds of people did not gather around Jesus because he was rude, selfish, and always had to have his way. People responded to Jesus based on the pattern of peace he had already demonstrated. So how do we establish a PATTERN of PEACE in our lives? It will only happen when we:
CHOOSE JOY BECAUSE OF JESUS
He entered Jerusalem thinking about what he would soon endure.
The betrayal.
The beatings.
The scourging.
The nails.
The cross.
He knew what he was going to have to endure, but he did not limit his attention to the pain.
Hebrews 12:2B
Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Although Jesus knew he was about to experience UNBVELIEVABLE pain and suffering, he focused on what he would experience AFTER the cross.
AFTER the hostility.
AFTER the embarrassment.
AFTER the public humiliation.
AFTER the shame.
His suffering would bring you and I forgiveness of sin.
His suffering would reunite the Creator with His Creation.
His suffering would bring forgiveness of sin.
His suffering would bring joy.
And that is what he focused on! He didn’t not focus on the pain, he focused on the joy. That is so hard to do.
When we walk through the hard of life. When we walk through the pain in life. When we walk through confusion, betrayal, and loss…its difficult to not see it. Its difficult to not see the hopelessness, the loneliness, the confusion and the pain. So see it – but also see what is beyond it.
Look beyond the hard to focus on the joy!
We can do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
If we want to be joyful when we walk through the hard, we keep our eyes on Jesus.
Jesus is the one who brings hope.
Jesus is the one who brings peace.
Jesus is the one who brings healing.
Jesus is the one who forgives.
Jesus is the one who gives second chances.
And third chances…
And fourth chances…
Jesus is the one who is the great life changer.
If you want peace, fix your eyes on Jesus.
If you want healing, fix your eyes on Jesus.
If you want forgiveness, fix your eyes on Jesus.
If you want another chance, fix your eyes on Jesus.
If you want to be triumphant, fix your eyes on Jesus.
Will I really get all that by fixing my eyes on Jesus?
I do not know for sure, but I know it is the only place to start.
Meeting Jesus - Receiving What We Give
In High School I had long hair, bad acne, and mostly did what I wanted to. 😊 I rarely studied for tests. I did my homework if I felt like it. With no effort, I was a straight B student. I was suspended from school for 15 days for going to school drunk on moonshine. Another time I was suspended for fighting.
One month after I graduated HS, I gave my life to Jesus. I began growing in my faith, reading my bible daily, and living for Him. After roughly FOUR years, I had a desire to go to College – but I didn’t know where to start. Even though I had been out of High School for four years, I scheduled an appointment with my HS Guidance Counselor.
I explained to her that I had given my life to Jesus right after I graduated…I was a Sunday School teacher, a youth volunteer, and I had served for one year as a church planter in Ohio…AND NOW…I needed some help and guidance from the only person I knew who could help me. My Guidance counselor looked at me and made a judgement based on my past life. She did not see the new life I had begun living. She only saw the Sophomore that came to school drunk on moonshine and threw up everywhere. She did not see the SS teacher. She saw the boy that got suspended from school for fighting.
She only saw my past and politely said to me, “Joe. Some people aren’t meant to go to college…”. In that moment – I realized that some people will never let you move on from your past. But my guidance counselor is not the only person guilty of judging other people – I have been guilty of Judging others as well. And I bet you have too.
Luke 6:37-42
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” 39 Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? 40 Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher. 41 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 42 How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
First, I want to make sure we understand what JUDGING is.
JUDGING IS NIT-PICKING THINGS THAT DO NOT MATTER.
Nit picking can kind of look like how my youngest daughter eats her food. She will not eat her food if it touches something else on her plate. All the food on her plate is going to get squished about by her teeth, smashed with her tongue, and digested by her stomach…but she won’t eat her toast if it touches her scrambled eggs.
That is nit-picking! Most of the time when we make initial judgements about other people, we judge them based on things that do not matter:
We focus on their hair style.
Whether they have too many tattoos.
Whether they do not have enough tattoos.
Their clothes.
Their educational level.
Their occupation.
Their former occupation.
Their family.
Their marriages.
Their past lives.
Whether they drink.
Whether they smoke…
That is nit-picking.
None of these things matter.
As followers of Jesus, it is our purpose to LOVE GOD and LOVE OTHERS…and it is impossible to LOVE people if we nit-pick them to death. But this passage has so much more that we need to apply to our lives than judging others…
We can also learn…
WE REAP WHAT WE SOW, SO SOW LOVE GENEROUSLY.
Luke 6:37
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.
Have you ever wondered why people criticize you?
Have you ever wondered why other people give you the elevator eyes?
Have you ever wondered why people gossip about you, spread rumors about you, and speak negatively about your character?
I have.
And – the hard truth in this passage is “we reap what we sow”. If I judge others, I get judged by others. If I condemn others, I get condemned. If I nit-pick other people – other people are going to nit-pick me.
BUT – If I sow LOVE to others, I will receive love from others. If I sow grace and forgiveness, I will receive grace and forgiveness.
I have been told to wear certain types of clothes when I preach. I have been told to wear a tie. A suit. I have been told to wear Jeans, get a different haircut, shave my beard, grow a beard…
Nit picking others stinks – so sow love generously!
It is a very simple practical step of faith. If we claim to be a follower of Jesus. If we have asked Jesus to forgive us for our own arrogance, our own pride, our own selfish sinful behavior, then as recipients of HIS GRACE we ought to treat all others with GRACE and KINDNESS. It only makes sense. We have been forgiven – we ought to give REAL forgiveness to others. We have been shown MERCY – we ought to show REAL mercy to others. So – we still have this little Judge living inside of us…so what do we do with our judgmental behavior?
In verse 41 Jesus asked…
Luke 6:41
“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?
That means…
WE ALL HAVE A BLINDSPOT.
Within the last week I have seen three fender benders in about the same spot at 501 and Forestbrook. Shifting lanes and merging with traffic is hard. Our minivan has a blindspot monitoring system. If I begin to shift lanes and a vehicle is in my blind-spot, lights on my dash blink and a noise alerts me. While shifting lanes, I have to continually stretch my neck around to make sure that another driver isn’t in my blind spot. My little cars f=do not have that feature. I almost ran one driver off the road and cut off another driver who waved at me with one finger as he passed.
We all have BLIND SPOTS of sin in our lives. Sin that other people can see from afar, but it is so close to us personally it is harder to see.
It could be bitterness.
Resentment.
Unforgiveness.
An ambivalent attitude toward sin.
An unloving spirit.
A gruff and harsh tone with other people…
An addiction.
A lack of self-control…
Are you aware of your blind-spot? Are you aware of that speck that “log” in your own eye?
Listen to what Jesus said:
Luke 6:41-42
“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 42 How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
We ought to be our own harshest critic.
Instead of JUDGING others, we ought to JUDGE ourselves.
We ought to examine our own heart. Our own motives. Our own actions. Our own lives.
We should never ignore SIN when it begins to take root in our lives. We ought to turn our nit-picking onto ourselves. On a regular basis, we ought to sit down with a copy of God’s word that we can read and understand and allow it to speak to us and change us.
We should not fear being transparent and honest before God. Jesus has already paid the penalty for your sin. For my sin. God is not going to punish you for your sin – we couldn’t bear it if he did. Rather, as a follower of Jesus God desires to continue to bring CHANGE to you. Regardless of your age. Regardless of your past.
See – If I am a liar and I sit down with God on a regular basis – God is going to change me from a liar to an honest person. His character is going to RUB OFF onto me.
If I am a drunk and sit down with God’s word on a regular basis – God is going to rescue me and sober me up. His character is going to sharpen me.
If I am a thief and sit down with God’s word – he is going to change and transform me. His Character is going to gradually make me more like HIM.
As God reveals those BLINDSPOTS in my life and I confess and remove them – THEN I can help other people who have been where I have been.
So can you! I believe God wants you to…
INSPIRE OTHERS BY CELEBRATING YOUR WINS.
I love the story of the OVERCOMER. Maybe you are the overcomer.
I love the story of an individual who has been beaten down by sin and by life yet somehow God has given them victory. Those stories are inspirational and motivational. If God can work in restoring “their” life, then maybe it is not too much of a stretch that HE is able to work in my life.
You are the inspirational story that another follower of Jesus needs to read! That marriage that God redeemed and rescued – somebody needs to hear how you and your spouse overcame.
That addiction that God rescued you from. There is an addict sitting in our church that needs to hear your story of breaking free!
That cancer diagnosis? That depression? That anxiety? Somebody needs to hear about your win!
Be willing to share your win!
When you share your win, you share HOPE! You help those who are struggling understand that they are not alone and that they too can overcome through the love of Jesus.
Consider getting involved with Celebrate Recovery. They lean on one another in a non-judgmental way. They celebrate wins together and they stick with one another through losses and failures.
Whether we share it in a sermon or on Social Media, countless people can be impacted through hearing your story of how God removed the log from your eyes.
Will you communicate how God has given you that second, third and fourth chance, open your mouth and begin to speak about His Grace in your lives to help others?
Meeting Jesus - Loving Our Enemies
I have four daughters, and my youngest Jessica is 9 years old. And she is just as sweet as my other girls were when they were 9 years old…Jessie is like Tigger. She is full of energy, joy, and is always bouncing around. She smiles. She laughs. She brings a lot of levity to our home.
Jessie said something one night while we were eating that surprised us all. As we were enjoying our family night dinner, one of the girls mentioned that a classmate had “told-on” one of the other students for doing something wrong. Without hesitating, my sweet, innocent, Jessie Lee said,
“Snitches get stitches.”
I could just imagine Jessie being part of the 3rd Grade Mafia on the playground at the private Christian school she attended…pounding her fist in her hand…and warning the other kids: “Snitches Get Stitches.”
But – “snitches get stitches” actually reflects how many people feel today. Maybe we get our feelings hurt, maybe somebody does something to us to intentionally cause harm and we think:
Since you hurt me, I am going to hurt you back... OR
Maybe, If you hurt me, I will ignore you.
Maybe, If you hurt me, I will look the other way when I see you coming.
Maybe, If you hurt me, I will smile and nod – but things will never be like they once were.
Or maybe, if you hurt me, I will humiliate you and gossip about you and tear you down behind your back.
We know quite well the Old Testament passage: “An eye for an eye and tooth for a ______”
Think about a toddler. When a toddler gets hit by another toddler, most of the time, they choose to hit back. Ask the toddler why they hit somebody, and they will typically say, “Because they hit me first…”
The toddler is not thinking about self-preservation or self-defense. They want to hurt the other kid because they got hurt.
And, parents, grandparents, and everybody who has a pulse, we struggle with “paybacks” as well. We struggle with paying people back when they hurt us…
So, how do followers of Jesus respond when we get hurt?
In Luke 6, Jesus was teaching and he said:
Luke 6:27–36 (ESV)
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
What is Jesus teaching us here? Is Jesus teaching us that we are simply supposed to stand still and take it when we are hurt? Are we supposed to allow “evil doers” to get away with the harm they have caused us? As a follower of Jesus, the first thing we need to understand about this passage of scripture is:
RADICAL LOVE OVERCOMES HATE, HURTS, AND HUMILIATION.
As always, it is important that we understand the context so that we understand the application. In the Gospel of Matthew, Matthew brought more clarity to this passage.
Matthew 5:39 (ESV)
But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Slapping somebody communicates they are insignificant, and you are not worried about their retaliation. A punch is designed to inflict more physical damage, but a back-handed slap is designed to cause deep personal hurt, shame and embarrassment. So…here is the message that Jesus wants you to hear. Whenever you are deeply and personally hurt…when you are devastated, embarrassed and feel so ashamed somebody chose to hurt you…
When you are wronged - don’t pay other person back! Do not seek revenge…
Don’t grumble about them.
Don’t take their private sin against you, and make it public.
Then, Jesus talked about TUNICs and CLOAKs…
The tunic was a very thin garment worn under the clothes and closest to the skin. Most Jewish people had two tunics.
The cloak was an outer garment worn during the day, and used as a blanket during the night. The Jewish people only had ONE of these. Anything more was considered excessive.
Now it gets interesting.
If a person had been sued for their shirt and their coat…the law allowed that the coat and shirt could be taken, but the law also demanded that the coat be returned to the individual before night so that they had something to keep them warm. It was within the rights of every person to retain their coats. The law insisted that coats were always returned to individuals…
See, as followers of Jesus, you and I should be willing to lay down our rights and expectations so that others are blessed. Live with the mindset that everything you are entitled to, is in reality, entitled to others because God owns it all. That is Radical Love that loves our neighbor as ourselves. And Radical love overcomes hate, hurt and humiliation.
Then, Jesus goes on to explain why you and I as followers of Jesus are supposed to treat others with forgiveness and radical love.
The reason why followers of Jesus are supposed to demonstrate RADICAL LOVE to others is because:
GOD LOVES THE UNTHANKFUL AND WICKED – THAT’S ME.
The reason why we are supposed to be kind to those who hurt us, humiliate us, and hate us is because GOD LOVES the wicked and the unthankful. Look at verse 35:
Luke 6:35 (NLT)
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.
I know that might surprise you if you are visiting today. You might expect the Pastor to stand up and say, “God loves the righteous. God loves the Holy people. God loves Christians.”
That’s true…but
God loves and shows kindness to the people who do not believe in Him.
God loves terrorists, murderers, and abusers.
God shows kindness to people who are not kind to others.
One of my Core Values is Uncomfortable Grace. I believe that followers of Jesus SHOULD give the same limitless grace they have received from God. That means we demonstrate radical love. Not paying back evil for evil. Not seeking to hurt others who have hurt us.
We should go out of our way to demonstrate Grace that sometimes makes us and others a little uncomfortable…that means we love others and forgive our enemies in such a way, that we see them as God sees us, without one single fault.
Colossians 1:21-22
This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
You were God’s enemy…but God showed kindness and forgave you and you now stand without one single fault because Jesus paid the price for your sin. According to Paul, you are already in God’s presence, and you stand before him without one single thing wrong with you. No faults. No sin. As a follower of Jesus, because of God’s Kindness, we want to forgive our enemy in such a way, that when they are in our presence, we see them without one single fault.
So…
ACT LIKE A CHILD & LOVE LIKE YOUR DADDY.
In verse 35, many translations read:
Luke 6:35 (NLT)
“…you will truly be acting as children of the Most High…”
Let’s take one more look at children and toddlers interaction with each other. One minute two kids can be playing together on the playground, the next second, they are fighting. then the next second, they are playing together again. Most children under 4-5 years old, do not hold grudges. They let go of their hurt quickly, forgive and move on…because they would rather play and laugh than fight and argue. That’s how we all need to be.
Luke 6:32–34 (NLT)
“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
Jesus is teaching that even selfish, self-centered, people without Jesus can be kind, nice, and giving to those who are kind, nice and forgiving to them.
Only selfish people are nice to those who are nice to them.
Only selfish people love those who show to love them.
Only selfish people pray for those who pray for them.
Only selfish people give to those who give to them.
Only selfish people forgive those if they forgive them.
But the true mark of a follower of Jesus is love for all. The more we learn to love others and care for others, the less you are going to be offended by them.
1 Peter 4:8 (NLT)
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
So, let’s be like our heavenly father. Let’s act more like children. Let’s forgive quickly and love others deeply. Let’s be more like our Heavenly Daddy who created us. Let’s show uncomfortable grace to all those who have hurt, humiliated, or hate us…
When we do, great is our reward in Heaven.
Meeting Jesus - Jesus Parties With Sinners
Some people believe Jesus is a republican, a democrat, or an independent. Some people believe that Jesus is like a Genie in a bottle–if you rub the lamp through prayer, you get whatever you want. Still, some view Jesus like a Mascot the church rallies around once a week.Over this next year, we are going to seek to understand who Jesus really was,what he was really like, and how you and I can become more like Him.
Jesus, Partied.
That’s right.
Partied.
Just before Luke 5:27, Jesus had healed a paralyzed man whose friends had brought him to Jesus. They climbed the ladder, ripped off the roof, and lowered him down to Jesus.
Jesus said, pick up your mat and go home, and the man was healed. He left celebrating, praising God and the people were all amazed. And as Jesus headed out of town, he ran into Levi the Tax Collector.
Let’s read:
Luke 5:27-32
27 Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. 28 So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. 29 Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. 30 But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?” 31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”
After Levi decided to follow Jesus, he threw a Party with Jesus as the guest of Honor. According to the Pharisees, Jesus was surrounded by low lifes they considered scum of the earth. Sexually immoral people. Corrupt tax-collectors. And according to Jesus response, Jesus seemed to enjoy being there!
Maybe it makes you more comfortable attended the party only to lecture the people. You want Jesus to be the chaperone. You want Jesus to have a clipboard with a list of rules.
For many religious people today, it is easier to think of Jesus as the guy that shuts down the fun and laughter at the party with a devotional about sexual purity. While there is music, dancing, eating and drinking, Jesus is the guy running around separating dancers when they get too close. “Make sure there is room for the Holy Spirit.” or tapping people on the shoulder when they have had too much to drink. He has his arms crossed, shaking his head “no”
Maybe you think Jesus would attend a party and probably ruin it. He is the Debbie Downer. He is like the preacher attending a Superbowl party that preaches a sermon at halftime instead of watching the commercials. But in the Bible, it seems that Jesus became known for attending parties.
In John 2:1-2 Jesus attended a wedding and turned water into wine.
In John 12:2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus honor.
Jesus said in Luke 7:34 (NLT2) 34 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’
In Luke 15:2 the religious leaders complained that he was always associating with sinful people and eating with them…
Jesus often attended parties, banquets, and celebrations. People invited him into their homes.
BECAUSE he was FUN!
It’s not because he was a Debbie Downer or because he was there to place limits on the fun.
So Jesus partied often. He is the creator of LIFE and he enjoyed LAUGHING and Celebrating with people.
He drank alcohol – but he wasn’t a drunk.
He stuffed his face with good food – but he wasn’t a glutton.
He never sinned – but he ate, drank, and enjoyed the company of sinners.
Jesus was the type of person that many people had a glass of wine with. Now – let’s talk about the guy that threw the party.
Levi would later become known as Matthew…
He would later write the Gospel of Matthew…
and historians tell us that Matthew would be stabbed to death in Ethiopia for telling people about Jesus.
Jesus changed Levi’s life.
BUT
He did not have leprosy.
He was not paralyzed.
He did not have a disease.
He was worse. 😊He was a TAX COLLECTOR. 😊
Tax collectors were viewed as the lowest of the low and the worst of the worst.
They were greedy people that betrayed their own people by working for the occupying Roman government. With the enforcement of the Roman Military, a tax collector could charge as much as he wanted, give the Romans what they wanted, and keep the profit for himself.
At the toll booth, as people passed by they could be taxed any amount the tax-collector desired. HE would observe the tiniest details about those that passed by…if they had a bag of money fastened to their belts…if they wore fancier clothes hidden under rags…they taxed per axel, per cattle, per wheel…
Because of the TAX COLLECTOR, the POOR were kept poor and the wealthy were PROVEN POWERLESS. That is why they were hated so much.
The Jewish people viewed them as traitors. The Romans did not respect them because they betrayed their own people. The Religious Leaders would not even allow Jewish tax collectors to worship! Levi was a wealthy, educated, and sharp businessman – but because he was a tax-collector he was never good enough for other people. Then, Jesus invited Levi to become one of his disciples!
So, if you view yourself as the worst of the worst, and the lowest of the low…you are just the type of person that God can use and the type that Jesus wants to hang out with! If you let him, Jesus can change your life! Because Jesus invited Levi to be one of his disciples, we find an important truth.
SAYING YES TO JESUS MEANS LIVING YES FOR JESUS.
28 So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. 29 Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them.
Saying YES to Jesus is not just a one-time decision. Levi said yes, then he stuck with his decision to follow Jesus.
All Levi had ever down in his life was TAKE TAKE TAKE.
Now, because he said yes to following Jesus, he would GIVE GIVE GIVE.
No longer would he be known as a greedy man – now he would be known for his generosity. The very first thing he did was to throw a party with Jesus as the guest of honor.
This party – this was the mother of all parties! Eating, drinking, dancing, celebrating…because he wanted to introduce his old-friends to his new friend, Jesus.
If you have recently become a follower of Jesus.
Meaning. You believe that God created you and loves you. But your sins separated you from God. You believe that Jesus paid the price for your sin. That he died on the cross and he rose from the dead and that one day he will return…and you surrendered your life to Jesus and said “YES.”
Keep living in the YES by introducing your friends to Jesus.
Don’t abandon them. Don’t dismiss them. Don’t go out and find a whole new friend group. Sometimes new followers of Jesus are told they need to stop running with the people they once ran with. Keep those friendships!
I was told to stop running with my old friend because evil company corrupts good habits – and I walked away from many friendships I had with people because I was making new friends who were followers of Jesus. I love those friends to this day – but I lost my influence with my old friends because I walked away from them.
Maybe that is what you experienced. People with good intentions wanted something more for your life and they were afraid that the crowd you once ran with you tear you down and cause you to lose your faith in Jesus. They had good intentions. They loved you. They wanted to see you grow in your faith…and were worried about you falling back into your old way of living.
But – Levi seemed to do just the opposite.
Jesus had shown Levi acceptance, grace, and mercy and Levi wanted his old friends to experience Jesus too.
So…my advice:
THROW A PARTY TO CELEBRATE FORGIVENESS.
What if you invited friends and family over to your home. The churched. The unchurched. People who understand the mission of Jesus and people who don’t.
What if you bought drinks, played music, smoked ribs, laughed and celebrated to the early hours of the morning…to celebrate FORGIVENESS! What if, while you were having a great time, you told them about how Jesus met you where you were, forgave your sins, and made you a different person? That would be AMAZING!
I want Beach Church to continue to reach people – so let’s have fun, celebrate, laugh and enjoy our relationship with God and with others – because life is too hard if we try to be live like the pharisees!
And while we celebrate forgiveness, we need to remember the lesson that Jesus tried to teach the Pharisees.
As followers of Jesus, we need to…
TREAT SINNERS LIKE SICK PEOPLE IN NEED OF HEALING,
NOT CRIMINALS THAT NEED TO BE CONDEMNED.
Like me, I am sure you have noticed that throughout the years, the church has hurt people “in the name of Jesus.”
Rather than treating sinners like sick people in need of healing, the church has treated sinners like criminals that need to be condemned. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus accused the Pharisees and religious leaders of being hypocritical, uncaring, and said they did more harm then good. My concern is that the way Jesus viewed the religious leaders then, is the way Christians are viewed today.
Do you know what unchurched Americans believe about Christians today? According to the book UNCHRISTIAN:
85% of Americans believe Christians are hypocritical.
87% of Americans believe Christians are too judgmental
91% of American believe Christians hate homosexuals
And 75% believe Christians are too political
The Pharisees LOVED to condemn the tax collectors, the sexually immoral, and the notorious sinners of their day. In many ways, the church today has become known for condemning and judging those caught up in sin.
But Jesus partied with them!
Jesus said:
Luke 5:31 (NLT2) “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.
Both Jesus and the Pharisees were in agreement that the people Jesus was with were sinners. But their approach to change their lives were radically different. The Pharisee approach was to condemn them, marginalize them, shun them, and to treat them as the worst of the worst. Jesus approach was to talk with them, celebrate with them, and to show them that GOD did love them and that God wants a relationship with them.
The approach that Jesus took would lead them to life.
The approach of the Pharisees would push them further into sin.
By sitting down with the tax collectors and sinners, Jesus proved that God was not out to condemn or hurt people. It was a sign that he ACCEPTED and LOVED them. He was not merely hanging out with them, but he was intentionally celebrating with them.
So even if you have made the wrong choice and pushed people further away from God in the past, change. Choose to love your neighbor as yourself. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Choose to lead the world to a life-changing relationship with Jesus through your LOVE, not through condemnation.
Keep pursuing a relationship with God. Keep walking in obedience to Him. Never compromise your faith – but choose to love those that disagree with you. Otherwise, we look more like the Religious leaders than true followers of Jesus.