One Week (March 24th, 2002)

Eschatology of Christ

Message

Series

Generally, each sermon is a part of a series, that deals with applying the Bible to real-life issues.  Don't worry if you've missed part of a series.  Each Sunday will work together with the other sermons, or can stand alone to help you deal with the things life brings each day.

The Last Words of Christ (March 31st, 2002)

The Aftermath of Christ (April 14th, 2002)

where nobody stands alone

The Eschatology of Christ sermon series Title:  Part I,  One Week ** Pray Play the clip of Jesus entering in Jerusalem from the Jesus of Nazereth movie Read John 1: 3 – 5 I. Purpose of Christ in the last week a. John 5: 24 – 27 i. He didn’t come to condemn ii. He came to give world eternal life 1. eternal life that begins at the moment of accepting Christ. b. To Fulfill prophecy i. John 5: 45 – 47 c. To be the Messiah i. John 4: 25 – 26 d. To be the Son of God i. John 5: 18 – 26 e. John 1: 4 i. Lamb for slaughter ii. Substitution iii. To give us hope f. He came to die, as an atoning sacrifice for us. i. Hebrews 2:17 1. 17For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. ii. Phil. 1: 21 – We are to live in Him 1. 21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. II. Events of Christ in the last week (As we study the exact days of Christ’s last week here on earth, I would like for you to examine this past week of your life.  Write down, in your program to the corresponding day, at least one event of Christ which corresponds to that day.  And then jot down a significant that you did on that same day this past week) a. Sunday – Palm Sunday i. Jesus enters Jerusalem 1. John 12: 16 a. crowds and disciples don’t understand His purpose ii. He look around temple and does nothing 1. Mark 11: 11 iii. He goes back to Bethany to lodge for the night 1. Mark 11: 11 b. Monday i. He heads back to temple ii. He curses fig tree 1. Mark 11: 12 – 14 2. Mark deliberately sandwiches the tow parts of its narrative around the story of the temple cleansing.  The two events are menat to be interpreted together.  Just as the land producing no fig trees often stood for judgement against Israel in Jewish literature (Micha 7:1, Jer. 8: 13), and just as Jesus had earlier told a parable of a fig tree threatened with destruction (Luke: 6 – 9), so now he uses an enacted parable or object leson to demonstrate the imminent doom of the current Jewish nation if it does not repent. iii. Temple is cleansed 1. Mark 11: 15 – 19 c. Tuesday i. Fig tree has withered 1. Mark 11: 20 – 21 ii. Third day straight that Jesus enters into temple iii. Jesus teaches in temple 1. Mark 11: 27 – 12: 44 2. temple authorities question who He is a. Mark 11: 22 – 33; Matthew 21: 28 – 32; 12: 1 – 12; 22: 1 – 14 3. tribute to Caesar 4. Ridiculing the Resurrection 5. The Greatest Commandment a. Mark 12: 28: 35 – 37; Matthew 22 6. The Question about David’s son a. Mark 12: 35 – 37 7. Warning and Wars against Jewish Leaders a. Matthew 23 8. Widow’s Mite a. Mark 12: 41 – 44 9. Olivet Discourse a. The conversation of Jesus with disciples on the Mt. of Olives. b. They talk about the destruction of the temple and the 2nd coming of Christ. d. Wednesday i. Nothing is noted ii. Mark 14: 2a e. Thursday i. Upper Room and Gethsemane ii. The Last Supper iii. After Sundown 1. Last Supper 2. Prayer in Garden 3. Betrayal and Arrest iv. Nighttime 1. Custody 2. Hearing before Annas 3. Trial before Caiaphas 4. Peter’s Denial v. Farewell Discourse 1. John 14: 1 – 17: 26 2. remarks following Passover Meal a. Jesus’ departure and return i. John 14: 1 – 31 ii. Verses 15 – 21 – Introduction of Paraclete Passages 1. Parakletos in Greek means comforter, counselor, advocator, strengthener, and exhorter. 2. Holy Spirit will replace Jesus 3. functions as a helper a. 14: 16 4. interpreter a. 14: 26 5. witness a. 15: 26 6. prosecutor a. 16: 7 7. revealer a. 16: 13 iii. The Paralete will help disciples by not leaving them when they are orphaned by Christ. b. Vine and Branches i. 15: 1 – 17 c. Hatred from the World i. 15: 18 – 16: 4 d. Jesus’ Departure and Return i. 16: 5 – 33 e. Lord’s Prayer i. 17: 1 – 26 vi. Prayer and Arrest in Garden f. Friday i. Trials and Cruxificion 1. Jesus before the Sanhedrin ii. Early Morning 1. Sanhedrin completes deliberations 2. Jesus sent to Pilate 3. Hearing before Pilate 4. Jesus sent to Herod 5. Return to Pilate iii. Late Morning/Noon 1. Jesus Nailed to Cross iv. Midafternoon 1. Jesus dies v. Near Sundown 1. Jesus buried g. Saturday i. Nothing mentioned in gospels h. Sunday i. Ressurrection ii. Great Commission 1. Matthew 28 III. Mission of Christ in the last week a. To save you b. John 10: 10 i. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. c. John 3: 16 i. 16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. d. Phil 3: 17 – 21 i. 17Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. e. Christ did all of this in at least one week of His life for you.  What have you done for him this past week of your life?

Sermon Series The Eschatology of Christ Part II Title:  Last Words ** Pray I. If you had one last word to say, what would it be? a. Would it be meaningful? b. Funny? c. Sentimental? d. What would your last word be? e. Jesus’ last words were for you. Some can deliver a message that is over powering and has meaning.  Play clip of Jesus on the cross in Jesus of Nazareth. Tape 3 – 1:57:45 – 1:59:39 II. Read Luke 23: 33 – 49 III. Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing a. Luke 23: 34 b. He who had taught love for one’s enemies models it even as they kill him. c. Jesus’ prayer does not mean that all the Jewish and Roman leaders involved in his death will be saved, but it paves the way for their forgiveness should they repent. d. Acts. 2: 38 (NIV) i. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” ii. The prayer is answered by his death, which brings the forgiveness of sins. e. 1 Peter 2: 23(NIV) i. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.  Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. IV. Speaking to John and Mary, “Dear woman, here is your son … Here is your mother.” a. John 19: 26, 27 b. These words strongly suggest that Joseph has died. c. Jesus demonstrates a concern for those closest to Him and a commitment to incorporating his biological family into his spiritual family. d. Jesus was not in a convenient spot in life yet he served others. e. We say… i. We don’t have time ii. Just a minute iii. Be right there. iv. Hold on. v. Matthew 22: 37 – 40 1. 37And He said to him, ""YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' 38"This is the great and foremost commandment. 39"The second is like it, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' 40"On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." f. Jesus says, here I am. i. Revelation 3: 20 1. 20"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. ii. John 11:25 – 29 1. 25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" 27She said to Him, "Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world." 28When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." 29And when she heard it, she got up quickly and was coming to Him. V. I tell you the truth; today you will be with me in paradise. a. Luke 23: 43 b. Here Jesus affirms that heaven is available to believers immediately upon death and that he will go there at once in spirit to be with this one “deathbed” convert. c. This shows that our deeds don’t save us – our faith in Christ does. i. Ephesians 2: 8 – 9 SECTION II Play Jesus of Nazareth clip – Tape 3 -  2:06:11 – 2:07:45 VI. My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” (Eloi, Eloi, lama sabaxqani?) a. Matthew 27: 46 b. Mark 15: 34 c. Psalm 22: 1 d. NT writers understood this as the moment that he bore the sins of the world and experienced the wrath of God that we deserved instead. i. 2 Corinthians 5: 21 e. The close, unbroken communion with the Father he had experienced throughout his life has been suddenly interrupted. f. This was the moment that Jesus dreaded. i. When He prayed in the garden and wanted the cup to be taken away from Him (Matthew 26: 39) ii. The physical agony was horrible, but even worse was the period of spiritual separation from God. 1. Part of Jesus being the sacrifice meant that He had to be separated from God the Father. a. He had to pay our debt in full. b. If we had to pay it, then we would be separated. 2. Jesus suffered this double death so that we would never have to experience eternal separation from God. VII. I am thirsty a. John 19: 28 b. They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall i. Prophecy fulfillment of Psalm 69: 21 ii. He would not drink 1. Indicates that Jesus refused any mitigation of His sufferings on our behalf. c. No doubt literally true, this statement probably struck John as even more significant, spiritually speaking. d. One more attempt at offering a mild sedative is rebuffed; Jesus will endure the worst until the end. VIII. It is finished a. John 19: 30 b. The word finished literally can be translated as “paid in full.” i. Jesus came to finish God’s work of salvation (John 4: 34, 17:4) ii. Up to this point a complicated system of sacrifices existed for atoning sins. iii. Multiple sins required multiple sacrifices. iv. Jesus became the final and ultimate sacrifice for sin. c. Christ will drink little if any of the wine vinegar, but again the spiritual import of Jesus’ words proves more crucial. d. His life is over, but so is the crowning accomplishment of his career – dying an atoning death for the sins of humanity. e. What is finished? i. He cried out with a loud voice. 1. This was a shout of triumph, and yielded up His Spirit. 2. In other words, having born the wrath of God’s judgment against sin, He knew He had triumphed over Satan and the curse of sin. ii. When He said it is finished, the sin problem had been solved then. 1. Jesus didn’t just figure it out with a shout of Eureka! 2. He knew how to solve the sin problem from the get go. 3. He shouted out Victory! iii. Mark 15: 38 1. The temple veil hung between the Holy of Holies (the sanctuary of God’s very presence) and the rest of the temple. 2. The veil separated the people from the presence of God. (Hebrews 9) a. It was a somber reminder of the separation between God and man. b. Tearing of the veil indicates that Christ’s death makes possible free access for sinners to the holy and almighty God. iv. Our struggle with sin was finished. v. Matthew 27: 54 – salvation was just initiated. 1. Truly this was the Son of God. 2. Salvation was possible from this point onward. vi. Sin was solved. vii. Jesus did not need to go to hell to take care of the sin. f. Where is Jesus? i. 1 Peter 3: 19 ii. 2 Peter 2: 4 iii. Jude 6 IX. Invitation a. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit i. Luke 23: 46 ii. Psalm 31: 5 b. Strikingly, he who has just experienced divine abandonment echoes this prayer of trust in his seemingly absent heavenly Father that would later become the standard Jewish child’s bedtime prayer. c. With these words, he breathed his last.

Title:  The Aftermath of the Cross ** Pray I. Logistic Aftermath a. Evidence of Resurrection i. Jesus being see by over 500 eyewitnesses ii. An empty tomb iii. Jesus’ disciples would not change their story in the face of execution iv. The birth of the church v. Sunday became the day of worship to celebrate the resurrection vi. Jesus was from then on worshipped as God vii. Falvius Josephus (c.a. 37 – 97 A. D.), Jewish Historian, wrote in Antiquities 18: 3 1. “He (Jesus) was the Christ … He appeared to them alive on the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other things concerning him.” b. Archaeology - The rocks have cried out the name of Christ i. Luke 19: 39, 40 1. 39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." 40But Jesus answered, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!" ii. Over 25,000 sites have been discovered that have connection to the Old Testament period. 1. Not only have these discoveries provided external confirmation to hundreds of scriptural assertions, not one archaeological discovery has ever contradicted a biblical reference. iii. Historical Verification 1. Discovered in 1947 at Qumran the DEAD SEA SCROLLS  confirm the reliability of the biblical text. a. These scrolls, dating from 3rd century B.C. to 1st century A.D., are the earliest copies of Old Testament books.  Their predicated and fulfilled prophecies provide evidence for the divine origin of the Bible. iv. Archaeological Evidence 1. Mari Tablets a. Over 20,000 cuneiform tablets, many explain the patriarchal traditions of Genesis. 2. Ebla Tablets a. Over 20,000 tablets, many containing law similar to the Deuteronomy law code. 3. Temple Walls a. Karnak, Egypt Signifies a tenth century B.C. reference to Abraham. 4. Gedaliah Seal a. Gedaliah is spoken of in 2 Kings 25: 22 Play clip of Joe Dirt – “We’re gonna get so busted” II. Commanding Aftermath a. Read Matthew 28: 18 – 20 i. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." b. Luke 24: 45 – 49 i. Witnesses need to preach repentance and forgiveness c. John 21: 15 – 25 i. Follow me and feed my sheep 1. feed my sheep a. evangelize them b. disciple them c. fellowship with them d. 1 Peter 4: 16 i. Do not be ashamed of Christ and the Cross, live for them. e. Paul says live as Christ lived i. Colossians 3: 3 III. Redeeming Aftermath a. Before Jesus, redemption was a complicated system. i. P. 188 – 189 People of Covenant. b. Romans 8: 1 – 5 i. Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. IV. 1 Peter 1:6 – 7 a. 6 You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials 7 so that the genuineness of your faith--more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire--may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. b. John prophesied that we will be baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire. i. The Baptism of Fire stands for judgment. ii. Gold and other earthly things could not stand up to this fire, only the blood of Christ made it possible for us to withstand it. According to 1 Peter 1: 7 iii. Craig L. Blomberg notes in the Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology 1. Baptism of Fire or the Baptism of the Holy Spirit a. As John the Baptist preached in the Judean wilderness, he declared, "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who … will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire" (Matt 3:11; cf. Luke 3:16). 2. Baptism of Fire a. Throughout Scripture, fire often represents judgment (Gen 19:24; 2 Kings 1:10; Amos 1:4-7; Matt 7:19; 2 Thess 1:8; James 5:3), including everlasting punishment (Matt 18:8; Jude 7). But it can also have a positive, purifying effect on God's people (Isa 1:25; Zech 13:9; Mal 3:2-3; 1 Cor 3:13-15; 1 Peter 1:7; Rev 3:18). b. In the context of John's preaching, it is natural to associate the baptism of fire with judgment (cf. Matt 3:10, 12; Luke 3:9, 17). On the other hand, John is first of all addressing believers—those who are receiving his water-baptism. So some think of the fiery tongues at Pentecost as the fulfillment of his prediction. But the grammatical construction in Greek (the use of one preposition to govern two objects) is most naturally taken as referring to only one baptism that involves both blessing and judgment (cf. esp. Isa 4:4). Pentecost may well represent the firstfruits of purgation for believers, but the baptism is not complete until all people experience final judgment. V. We can have redemption for who we are: Romans 3: 19 – 31 a. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 24 They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. b. The New Testament. By the first century a.d. the concept of redemption had become eschatological. Redemption of Israel from Egypt was but the foreshadowing in history of the great act of deliverance by which history would be brought to an end. In rabbinic expectation the Messiah would be the Redeemer of Israel, and the great Day of the Lord would be the day of redemption. It is possibly due to the nationalistic expectation that became attached to the concept of the coming Messiah-Redeemer that Jesus is never called "redeemer" (lytrotes [lutrwthv"]) in the New Testament. Fundamental to the message of the New Testament is the announcement that Jesus of Nazareth is the fulfillment of Israel's messianic hope and that, in him, the long-awaited redemption has arrived. Deliverance of humankind from its state of alienation from God has been accomplished through the death and resurrection of Christ (Rom 4:25; 2 Cor 5:18-19). In the New Testament, redemption requires the payment of a price, but the plight that requires such a ransom is moral not material. Humankind is held in the captivity of sin from which only the atoning death of Jesus Christ can liberate. Although the concept of redemption is central to the New Testament, the occurrence of redemption terminology is relatively limited. When reflecting on the work of Jesus Christ, New Testament writers more frequently utilize different images (e.g., atonement, sacrifice, justification). The concept of redemption is nevertheless conveyed in the New Testament by the agorazo and lyo word groups. These terms have in mind the context of a marketplace transaction with reference to the purchase of goods or the releasing of slaves. In using these words, New Testament writers sought to represent Jesus' saving activity in terms that convey deliverance from bondage. Most of these words infer deliverance from captivity by means of a ransom price paid. The noun "ransom" (lytron [luvtron]), however, only appears in three locations in the New Testament (Matt 20:28; Mark 10:45; 1 Tim 2:6). Redemption language is merged with substitutionary language in these verses and applied to Jesus' death. Pauline usage of the noun "redemption" (apolytrosis [ajpoluvtrwsi"]) is limited and generally conveys the meaning of deliverance (Rom 3:24; 8:23; 1 Cor 1:30; Eph 1:14; 4:30), although substitutionary meaning is evident in Ephesians 1:7, where Christ's blood is depicted as the means of redemption. Jesus conceived his mission to be that of the Son of Man, who came to offer himself in obedience to God's redemptive plan. He applied to himself the things said in the Old Testament of the Servant of the Lord concerning his rejection, humiliation, death, and resurrection (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34). Likewise, New Testament writers apply to him the Servant texts and terminology from the Old Testament (e.g., Matt 8:17; 12:18; Acts 4:27, 30; 8:32-33; Rom 15:21; 1 Peter 2:22-25). An important text with regard to Jesus' understanding of his redemptive work is mr 10:45, in which Jesus declares that his mission not only includes self-sacrificial service, but also involves giving his life as a "ransom" for many. Thus, Christ's death is portrayed as the payment price for the deliverance of those held captive by Satan (the ransom metaphor must be understood in the light of Jesus' offering of himself in obedience to the Father, however, and not interpreted as a payment to Satan). As the means of redemption, the death of Jesus provides a deliverance that involves not only forgiveness of sin (Eph 1:7; Col 1:14), but also newness of life (Rom 6:4). Even though Christ's redemptive work is perfect (Heb 9:25-28), the redemption of the believer will not be complete until the return of Christ (Luke 21:28; Rom 8:23; Eph 4:30). c. David Rightmire writes:  The central theme of redemption in Scripture is that God has taken the initiative to act compassionately on behalf of those who are powerless to help themselves. The New Testament makes clear that divine redemption includes God's identification with humanity in its plight, and the securing of liberation of humankind through the obedience, suffering, death, and resurrection of the incarnate Son.