Sunday, January 10,
2016, 8:43 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Near the Cross.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Matthew 20:17-28 (NASB).
Mock, Scourge and
Crucify (vv. 17-19)
As
Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by
themselves, and on the way He said to them, “Behold, we are going up to
Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and
scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over to the
Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be
raised up.”
Jesus Christ, God the Son, the second person of our triune
God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – left his throne in heaven, came to earth, was
conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of a young woman, and was born as a
baby, i.e. he took on human form. When Jesus walked this earth he was fully God
yet fully man (human). He suffered like we suffer, and he was tempted in like
manner as we are tempted, yet he was without sin. When he was around the age of
thirty he began his ministry on the earth. He called twelve disciples to follow
him, to learn from him, and to join him in the work of his ministry. He healed
the sick and afflicted, fed the hungry, raised the dead, delivered from demons,
comforted the sorrowful, and encouraged the weak and oppressed. He also
preached repentance for the forgiveness of sins and for eternal life with God
in heaven.
Jesus preached the gospel of our salvation, that he would
have to be crucified but that he would be raised from the dead. He taught that
if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily
and follow (obey) Jesus. He said if we hold on to our old lives (of living for
sin and self), we will lose our lives, but if we lose our lives (die with
Christ to sin), we will gain eternal life. [His NT apostles taught the same
message.] He confronted sin in sinful humans, warned of divine judgment, and
called people to repentance and faith in him. Repentance literally means a
change of mind, but in most all biblical references it refers to turning away
from sin, being changed (transformed) in heart and mind, and turning to God/Jesus,
to follow him in obedience, and in surrender to his will for our lives.
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day did not like him. In
fact, they hated him, were jealous of him and were resentful of him. They were
threatened by his popularity among the people for they feared their own
positions of power and influence over the people were at risk due to Jesus Christ’s
ministry - his teachings and his healings. They didn’t like it that he
confronted them with their sins, and that he told it like it was, i.e. he was
honest. As well, they were offended by the fact that he claimed to be God,
which is who he is. They were also insulted that he did not follow their
religious rules and regulations, i.e. their traditions handed down to them from
the elders, and that he healed people on the Sabbath, even though they had no
problem rescuing a lamb on the Sabbath if it had fallen into a pit. So, they
plotted his death, and handed him over to non-Jews to have him beaten and
crucified.
When Jesus died on that cross, he who knew no sin became sin
for us. He took on himself the sins of the entire world. When he died our sins
died with him, and were buried with him, but when he rose from the dead, he
conquered sin, Satan, hell and death. By God’s grace, through faith in Jesus
Christ, we can be delivered of our sins (both the penalty of and bondage to),
be transformed in heart and mind of the Spirit of God, and be given new lives
to be lived for Christ in his holiness and righteousness, all in the power and
working of the Spirit of God within us. Coming to Christ means death to sin and
living to righteousness, no longer walking according to our sinful flesh, but
by the Spirit putting to death the deeds of the flesh, and now walking
(conducting our lives) according to the Spirit of God.
Drink the Cup (vv.
20-23)
Then
the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and
making a request of Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to
Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your
right and one on Your left.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are
asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to
Him, “We are able.” He said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My
right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it
has been prepared by My Father.”
James and John, or perhaps just their mother, aspired for
themselves to be given seats of honor next to Jesus in his kingdom, but Jesus
responded by telling them that they did not know what they were asking. Then,
he asked them if they were able to drink the cup he was about to drink. It is
obvious from what transpired at Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion that they really
had no idea what he was asking them, but they evidently thought they did, for
they responded in the affirmative. Jesus did not squabble with them concerning
their response to his question, but he did affirm that they would indeed drink his
cup.
So, what is this cup that he was about to drink and that he
said they would also drink? It was the cup of his suffering and death, which
included rejection, false accusations, persecution, false arrest, mocking,
beatings, abandonment, betrayal, and denial of him. Jesus told his disciples at
other times that they would be hated as he was hated, and that if he was
accused of being of Satan, so would they. He told them they would be falsely
accused, arrested and brought to trial because they believed in him, and for
their testimonies for him and for his gospel of salvation. And, his NT apostles
taught the same things to us concerning what it means to be followers of Jesus
Christ. We should expect that if we are standing firm on our faith, and if we
are sharing the full gospel of salvation, that we will be hated, persecuted,
falsely accused and even killed for our faith in Jesus Christ.
Yet, many people today are not preaching this message. They
are preaching a softened or diluted gospel which reduces what Jesus did for us
on the cross to merely an escape from hell and a promise of heaven when we die.
Yet scripture is real clear in its teachings that Jesus died that we might die
to sin and live to righteousness; that we might no longer live for ourselves,
but for him who gave himself up for us; and that the righteous requirement of
the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not according to the flesh, but who
conduct our lives according to the Spirit (See: 1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Co. 5:15; Ro.
8:1-14). The Christian life is a crucified life. It is a life submitted to
Jesus Christ and his cross (the cup he drank). It is a life which honors God as
the holy God that he is, that forsakes a life of living for sin and self, and
that is surrendered to Jesus Christ and to his will for our lives. Because of
this, we will be hated and persecuted, and some of us will be put to death for
our faith in Christ.
Be a Servant (vv.
24-28)
And
hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called
them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it
over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way
among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,
and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son
of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom
for many.”
What Jesus was saying here, in essence, is that it is the
way of the world to have worldly leaders over the people who act superior to
those underneath them, and who often use their positions of power and authority
over the people to lord it over the people, i.e. to exercise dictatorial (tyrannical;
oppressive) rule. A dictator is “a ruler who is not effectively restricted by a
constitution, laws, recognized opposition, etc.” (thefreedictionary.com). The
people of the world are presently experiencing such a tyrannical rule from what
is commonly referred to as the New World Order, which is a conglomerate of
world powers, the elite, the wealthy, bankers, and CEOs of corporations, etc.
who are the ones effectively ruling the world. This is being realized in a
one-world dictatorial government and one-world religion, which are still in the
process of being formed. In other words, the beast of Revelation is rising and
it won’t be long before all the world comes under its power.
Yet, this is not how followers of Christ are supposed to
behave toward one another, though many who call themselves Christians do act
just like this, and that is very sad indeed. We are to be servants to one
another instead. We are to be humble and to be willing to help others in need,
and to do what is loving and kind towards others. We should never see ourselves
as superior, but as servants of the Lord in ministering his love and grace.
Near the Cross
Fanny J. Crosby /
William H. Doane
Jesus, keep me near the cross;
There a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calvary's mountain.
Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.
Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o'er me.
Near the cross I'll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand
Just beyond the river.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever,
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
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