Old Greenbrier Baptist Church

Blog for Week of April 1, 2018

Living Like Jesus

Luke 24:1-12

You are on camera everywhere now—stores, banks, traffic intersections, etc. Big brother is watching. I wonder what we might have seen, if there had been a surveillance camera inside Jesus’ tomb. Would we have seen Jesus wake up, take off the wrappings, fold them, lay them to the side, push back the stone, and walk out of the tomb? Would we have seen a great flash of light and then seen the picture return to normal to reveal the grave clothes lying limp and empty? Perhaps we would have seen Jesus’ body simply disappear from one frame to the next. However, it happened—the good news is that Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed! I believe that we can be like Jesus as we live in his resurrection power. Let me read Luke’s account of Jesus’ resurrection and then we will consider its implications for us.

¹ On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵ In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷ ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” ⁸ Then they remembered his words.

⁹ When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹ But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. ¹² Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened (Luke 24:1-12 NIV).

 Good News—Jesus Is Risen! (1-12)

The women were up at the crack of dawn to complete the burial of Jesus that had been delayed by the Jewish Sabbath. (1) They found the stone rolled away from the tomb entrance and the body of Jesus gone. (2-3) Why was the stone rolled back? Was it to let Jesus out, or to let the women and disciples in? The women were astonished by two men, angels, in dazzling apparel. (4) They naturally reacted with fear and respect as they bowed with their faces to the ground. (5-7)

The first angel asked, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? (5b),” and then made the awesome declaration, “He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee.” (6) “He has risen” (Gk., egerthe – passive = “has been raised”). Jesus had predicted his death and resurrection on several occasions as recorded in the gospels. “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Lk 9:22, NIV). Jesus was raised by the power of God the Father. Paul says Jesus “. . . was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead . . .” (Ro 1:4, NIV).

The women “remembered” what Jesus had said, and this brought conviction about the reality of his  resurrection. The women believed and went to tell the good news to the disciples. (8-9) The disciples did not receive the good news with joy. They doubted and thought the story “nonsense.” They did not immediately believe. (10-11) Peter RAN to the tomb; SAW the empty grave-clothes; and left WONDERING what had happened. (12) Peter’s “wondering” was a positive, questioning response to the resurrection. The resurrection rocked his world. he wondered what would happen next. What were the implications in his life of the reality of Jesus’ resurrection? Are you like Peter? Are you wondering about the implications of Jesus’ resurrection for your life almost 2K years after it took place? What does Jesus’ resurrection mean for us today?

What Does Jesus’ Resurrection Mean For Us?

The reality of Jesus’ resurrection is central to our mission and ministry as a church. Jesus’ resurrection is the theme of Luke 24 and occupies a central place in Acts. Proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection is still at the heart of our witness and preaching today. Christianity is at its core a religion of resurrection. There is an icon of the Phoenix bird in the stained glass of our central window. The mythical Pheonix is an ancient Greek sign of resurrection.

The reality of Jesus’ resurrection is central to our new life in Christ. When we place faith in Jesus, we are raised up by the power of God to live in Jesus’ resurrection power. Our water baptism symbolizes our spiritual death, burial, and resurrection to new life in Jesus. Paul puts it this way, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Ro 6:4, NIV). You see, our eternal life actually begins the moment we believe and not when we die.

The reality of Jesus’ resurrection is central to how we live our resurrection lives in him each day. Jesus’ death and resurrection validates the whole of his teaching. What He said must be accepted as truthful and must be followed by his disciples. We must be like Jesus and live like Jesus as much as possible. Paul says, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brothers” (Ro 8:29, NIV). He also says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Ro 12:2a). During the season leading up to Easter I have challenged you to be like Jesus in several ways:

• We can lead others like Jesus by being ready with God’s help to meet the physical and spiritual needs of those God sends our way.
• We can face temptation like Jesus by preparing to face it with prayer and the Word of God as we trust God to provide, put God first, and submit ourselves to God’s plan.
• We can be patient like Jesus by not rushing to judge others but by repenting of our own sins in order to bear kingdom fruit to the glory of God.
• We can face rejection like Jesus by persevering instead of collapsing, by showing compassion instead of hatred, and by taking a long-term kingdom view instead of a short-term worldly view.
• We can seek the lost like Jesus by placing great value on sinners, by taking risks to reach out to them, by showing great compassion for them, and by rejoicing when they come to the Lord.
• We can pray like Jesus by pouring our hearts out to him for help in overcoming temptations and by allowing him to change our will to his will.
• We can live like Jesus because we have his resurrection power.

The reality of Jesus’ resurrection must lead us to live uncommon lives. The word uncommon means “extraordinary, special, distinguished.” Truly, what Jesus did at Calvary and what the Father did by his power in raising Jesus from dead are uncommon—extraordinary, special, and distinguished! Jesus can never be associated with the ordinary or common. his life, death, and resurrection are extraordinary and uncommon. An important implication stemming from the uncommon thing that God has done for us by raising Jesus is that our individual lives and our shared life together as a church should be—uncommon.

The reality of Jesus’ resurrection must cause us to look no longer look for the living among the dead but to take the resurrection life of Jesus to those who are dead in their sins.

The reality of Jesus’ resurrection must cause us to remember each day what Jesus taught and to allow that teaching to direct everything we say and do.

The reality of Jesus' resurrection must cause us to declare like the angel, “He is not here; he has risen.”

Let us arise and live like Jesus each day!

Blog for Week of March 25, 2018

Praying Like Jesus

Luke 22:39-46

Why do you pray? When do you pray? For what do you pray? What happens when you pray? “The Big Bang Theory” is a CBS sitcom about four, young, egg-head scientists and their flighty blond neighbor who live in LA. The four  nerds have many relationship issues that are often quite comical. In one episode, Sheldon, the PhD physicist leader of the group, had a visit from his Bible-thumping, fundamentalist mother from Texas (Series 05 Episode 06 – The Rhinitis Revelation). When Sheldon’s friends took his mother on a tour of Hollywood, she wanted to visit churches more than the homes of the stars, the Hollywood walk of fame, and Rodeo Drive. While inside one of the churches, she had each of Sheldon’s friends pray. The mother prayed a very pious, self-righteous prayer that brought glory to herself. Penny, the blond, prayed for her brother to stop cooking meth but without police intervention. Leonard, prayed to be taller. Howard, a Jew, didn’t pray but simply said, “I’m just trying not to burst into flame here.” Raj, a Hindu, prayed to lose the last five pounds on his diet. Leonard quickly scolded him and told him he should have asked God for help with finding a girlfriend. When Raj tried to change his prayer, Leonard said, “No. You can’t. You only get one wish.”

Why do we pray? When do we pray? For what do we pray? If we are honest and look at our prayers, often we pray very much like those in the sitcom. Like Sheldon’s mother, we pray to make ourselves feel righteous or at least better than others. Like Penny, we pray for God to fix our lives or the lives of our loved ones that are suffering due to sin. We don’t deal with the sin; we want things to be miraculously made right with no pain or fuss. Like Leonard, we pray for a self-centered miracle of our choosing. Or worst of all, like Howard, we do not pray at all. These are not good reasons or ways to pray. These prayers are not good models for us to use concerning why, when, and what we should pray. Jesus gives us the best models and example of why, when, and what we should pray. Today, we want to learn how to pray like Jesus.

Just before today’s text, Jesus and his disciples had their Last Supper together. Jesus knew that in the early  morning he would be arrested, tried, and crucified. We pick up the action as they leave the supper.

³⁹ Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” ⁴¹ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” ⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.^[a]

⁴⁵ When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶ “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (Luke 22:39-46 NIV).

 Why Should We Pray? (39-40)

The text says “Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, Pray . . .” Prayer is a critical, recurring theme in Luke (21 times) and Acts (25 times).  Going out to pray was Jesus’ custom—something he did consistently, constantly. Jesus also called his disciples to pray with him. Prayer is a vital and necessary part of the Christian’s life both individually and corporately. If Jesus, the Son of God, prayed constantly and called his disciples to prayer, then certainly we should follow his example and obey his command to pray.

When Should We Pray? (39-40)

Again, prayer was something that Jesus did consistently, constantly. Jesus taught his disciples how to pray; consistently modeled it; and constantly led them to pray. In fact this passage begins (v 40) and ends (v 46) with Jesus calling on his disciples to pray. Jesus prayed on a regular basis—“. . . Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Lk 5:16). Jesus prayed at critical times in his life and ministry—He prayed at his baptism (Lk 3:21); before choosing the 12 disciples (Lk 6:12); prior to Peter’s confession of him as the Christ (Lk 9:18), on the Mount of Transfiguration (Lk 9:28-29); before teaching his disciples how to pray (Lk 11:1-2); twice while giving his life on the cross (23:34, 46); and he is recognized by his followers as the risen Lord when he prayed (24:30-31).

Paul summarizes the times we should pray this way, “Pray continually” (1 Th 5:17).  Prayer is not just for use when we face crises; not something used in desperation or for luck in the moment; not the weapon of last resort when all else has failed. We should engage in prayer constantly as we live in God’s presence and seek his direction and strength. Our lives should be lived out as prayers before God as in each moment we communicate with our Heavenly Father about what is happening and how we should respond to his glory.

For What Should We Pray? (40b-42)

Jesus’ disciples asked him this very question in Luke 11:1c –“Lord, teach us to pray . . .” Jesus replied,

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil (Lk 11:2-4).

Jesus was consistent in what he asked in prayer. See how he applied his model prayer. “Father, . . .” (v 42). – He communicated personally, intimately, with his Heavenly Father. “Pray that you will not fall into temptation” (v 40, 46). “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (v 42).

We should pray for God’s help in overcoming temptations (Gk, periasmos = both sins, trials). We need God’s help to resist our “own evil desire” that arises from within (cf, Jm 1:14). We need God’s help to resist the temptations that come from the world outside. We need God’s help to resist losing our faith when the tests and trials of this life overwhelm us.

We should pray and let God hear our heart’s desire. The “cup” is an Old Testament image of suffering, especially God’s wrath (cf, Ps 11:6, Is 51:17, Ezk 23:33). Jesus knew the horrible death ahead and his human nature shrank from it. It was not so much the physical death as the manner of that death. Jesus, who knew no sin, would be made to be sin for us all (cf, 2 Cor 5:21). But note how Jesus centers on God’s will over his being spared from death.

We should pray not to change God’s will to ours but to change our wills to his. In Luke 4:1-13 we saw how Jesus overcame Satan’s temptation by using the Word of God. Lk 4:13 says, “. . . [the devil] left [Jesus] until an opportune time.” I believe Satan returned here to tempt Jesus once again. The real battle of the cross was fought in Jesus prayer time in Gethsemane. Jesus submitted his will to the Father over his human will here in the garden. Although it was an agonizing prayer and an agonizing task lay ahead, the Father provided the strength Jesus needed to arise from prayer and to complete the plan for our salvation. Jesus found and accepted God’s will in prayer.

What Should Result From Our Prayers?

While the disciples were sleeping, Jesus was praying. Jesus arose ready to face the test of the cross; knew God’s will; and was strengthened to do it. The disciples arose from sleep unprepared for the tests that lay ahead. Are we praying and prepared for life or asleep and vulnerable to life’s temptations and tests? Like Jesus, we must be prepared by prayer for action in God’s service each day as we seek with the Father’s help to bring his kingdom to earth in everything we say and do to his glory.

Praying Like Jesus

Why should we pray? Because Jesus both modeled and commanded it When should we pray? Consistently and constantly. For what should we pray? For God’s help in overcoming life’s temptations and trials; and ultimately with the purpose of submitting our wills to God’s will. What should result from our prayers? We should discern God’s will, gain his strength to do his will, and be prepared to act in doing his will. Are you praying like Jesus? He is praying that you will.