Passion of the Passover

Introduction: Illustration - A pastor received a Christmas card with a note in it, from a lady in his congregation. He said she was very complimentary about his preaching and compared him with Chuck Swindoll. She finished by writing, "I think you are one of the really great preachers of all time." Later that day, when he showed the note to his wife, she asked, "Who is that woman?" He replied, "She is a very intelligent woman in the congregation who loves great preaching." He then asked his wife, "How many great preachers do you suppose there really are in the world?" She replied, "One less than you think."

Today of course is known as Palm Sunday, and often times a message will be preached on the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. As Jesus enters the city the laying of the palm branches by the people becomes a jubilant celebration, and the reason for the name of Palm Sunday. Today, however, I want to carry us on a little further past that entrance to a scene in an upper room.

READ TEXT

Luke 22:24–30 NASB95

24 And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ 26 “But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. 27 “For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. 28 “You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; 29 and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Luke 22:24–38 NKJV

24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. 28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” 31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.” 35 And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.” 36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” 38 So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”

PRAYER

In the shadow of the cross Jesus is spiritually focused upon surrendering to his suffering, but the disciples are temporally focused upon elevating self. So, Jesus takes one last opportunity to teach and guide those he loves.

Transitional Sentence and Keyword: Today I want to examine with you the elements in Luke’s account: Jesus’ passion, the Disciples’ problem, and Satan’s plan.

Passion

This English word comes from a similar sounding Latin word for suffering or enduring. It is the term used in Christianity for the short but most significant time of Jesus’ young life and ministry. Most people today are probably familiar with it by way of Mel Gibson’s movie a few years ago, “The Passion of The Christ.”

Its beginning is the entry into Jerusalem described a moment ago, and its climatic ending comes upon the cross on that hill called Calvary, so passionately penned in that old hymn we sing:

On a hill far away, stood an old rugged Cross The emblem of suff'ring and shame

In the old rugged Cross, stain'd with blood so divine A wondrous beauty I see For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above To pardon and sanctify me

So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross Till my trophies at last I lay down I will cling to the old rugged Cross And exchange it some day for a crown

What we

The account we just read comes somewhere in the middle of that short period around the table of the passover meal or last supper of Jesus and his disciples. In the shadow of the cross Jesus is spiritually focused upon surrendering to his suffering, but the disciples are temporally focused upon elevating self. So, Jesus takes one last opportunity to teach and guide those he loves.

I. Jesus’ Passion was His purpose and is intended to become our Passion and purpose.

Transitional Sentence and Keyword: Today I want to examine with you the elements in Luke’s account: Jesus’ passion, the Disciples’ problem, and Satan’s plan.

I. Jesus’ Passion was His purpose and is intended to become our Passion and purpose.

His passion was His purpose. In we see Jesus saying how he longed to gather the people of Jerusalem unto himself, but they were not willing. They turned him away and soon would turn him over to be crucified.

Matthew 23:37 NASB95

37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.

Back in our text in v.19 - Jesus explains the passover saying He is giving himself for them unto death. v.37 - Jesus quotes from and the Suffering Servant passage, saying the time has come for Him to complete all that God the Father’s purpose for Him. The word “accomplish” carries the meaning of finish or pay. Jesus paid the penalty owed by us as a sinful race to a Holy God.

v.37 - Jesus quotes from and the Suffering Servant passage, saying the time has come for Him to fulfill or complete all that God has said about Him throughout scripture from as the seed until the NT as the Savior. It is in Jesus that all the OT prophecies find their fulfillment.

This is the very purpose for which God the Father sent Jesus to not to be served but to give his life a ransom for many, and the passion of Jesus is to please the father and bring Him glory. This verse is another one pointing us to the theological doctrine of the Substitutionary or Representative Atonement of Christ. He takes our place to accomplish what we could not. The word accomplish carries the meaning of finish or pay. Jesus paid the penalty owed by us a sinful race to a Holy God.

In Jesus declares this as the very purpose for which the Father sent and the Son went, “not to be served but to give his life a ransom for many,” and the passion of Jesus was to please the Father and bring Him glory.

Mark 10:45 NASB95

45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:28 NASB95

28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:28 NASB95

28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

to not to be served but to give his life a ransom for many, and the passion of Jesus is to please the father and bring Him glory. In a similar passage about Jesus teaching on the true meaning of greatness, , He makes it plain, that He did not come to be served but to serve by giving His life for us.

In 5 different passages, 4 Gospel and Acts; , , , , and , we find different times where Jesus conveyed to His followers that once He went back to the Father and the Holy Spirit came to give them power, they were to carry that message of the old rugged cross to all peoples, tribes, nations and tongues.

Christian theology broadened it to include the love of Christ for mankind. Now, the passion of Christ means that he willingly suffered and died for us. We sing about our belief in this truth in that Old Hymn:

In the old rugged Cross, stain'd with blood so divine A wondrous beauty I see For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above To pardon and sanctify me

So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross Till my trophies at last I lay down I will cling to the old rugged Cross And exchange it some day for a crown

He says that faithfulness will be rewarded in the coming Kingdom at the end of the age.What is it about believing Jesus was passionate about us enough to sing about it church, yet not enough to say it to lost people? Where does the disconnect happen? Do we really not believe it but just sing it, or is it that we have not let it penetrate our souls deep enough to where we become as passionate as Christ was? What stands in our way?

If we believe Jesus was passionate about us

Do you believe Jesus was passionate about saving your soul from hell and forgiving your sins?Do you believe you are loved by a Holy God? What we believe determines what we do. Our core beliefs drive our daily behavior, but what is it about that belief that causes us to sing about it in church, yet remain silent around lost people who are not forgiven? Where is the disconnect? Do we not believe Hell is real? Have we have not let it penetrate our souls deep enough to move us to be as passionate as Christ was about unbelievers? What stands in our way?

Problem

The problem of the disciples hindered them from seeing the reality of the cross and His purpose for them. This problem did not end with the disciples.

II. The Disciple’s problem often becomes ours hindering us from completing our purpose.

Their problem is our problem. Their problem was Adam and Eve’s problem. The problem was the problem of Samson, David, and generations of Israelites. Why? Because it is Satan’s problem, and he is the enemy of our soul, seeking to destroy us with that problem.

v.25-27 - after Jesus’ says I am dying for you, they are self focused. After Jesus stooped to wash their feet, seen in John’s account, they are self focused. After Jesus says one of you will betray me, they are self focused. These two verses are known as Discipleship statements in the NT. A discipleship statement is one made by Jesus when he gives His followers a description of how He expects them to behave, and it’s not with pride in our hearts.

Worrying about greatness or worrying about self is a worldly concern. God’s kingdom is a role reversal. In the ancient world it was accepted that the older you were the more privileges you got to enjoy, so needless to say the youngest got little to nothing and served last.

With Jesus so close to the cross, his disciples were so far from Him in spirit. They wanted to know who was about to get the best spot in what they thought was going to happen on earth, but Jesus was kingdom minded and kingdom focused. They were not, but he tells them here they better become kingdom focused. Worrying about greatness or worrying about self is a worldly concern.

God’s kingdom is a role reversal. In the ancient world it was accepted that the older you were the more privileges you got to enjoy, so needless to say the youngest got little to nothing and served last.

Reminds me of a fish fry years ago, when I was 19. We were at my cousins house cooking up the catch from our recent deep sea fishing trip in Destin, FL. I had left to go pick someone up and bring back. About the time I was coming back down the driveway to his house, my dad comes flying out in his truck nearly crashing into me.

Come to find out, when time to eat the fish had arrived, my cousins wife proceeds to fix plates for all the kids who were now screaming they were hungry. Well, my dad had grown up as the baby boy and next to youngest of 5 kids. He always ate near last and only ever got a neck bone or back piece from the Sunday chicken. He believed kids were to eat last, and since he had paid for the trip and was probably the oldest there he should eat before anyone else. That lead to arguments and him storming out.

The teaching here is don’t look for how you can be taken care of by the church, only look for opportunities to take care of others in the family of God. Contentedness in faithfully serving even in a lowly place/position, (even if its for life), is itself true greatness. (We have a church full of great people!!!) Jesus teaches the disciples and us that a Christian’s faithful service is promised a fruitful reward at the banquet table by a faithful God. God’s kingdom is currently present in and through the hearts of all Committed Christ followers, but it is in a progressive state until perfected.

Plan

Satan seeks every day to stop or slow down that progression.

God’s kingdom is currently present in and through the hearts of all Committed Christ followers, but it is in a progressive state until perfected. Satan seeks every day to stop or slow down that progression.

Satan seeks every day to stop or slow down that progression with His plan.

III. Satan’s plan for the Disciples is still the same, keep you and all Christ followers from fulfilling our purpose.

v.31-34 - Peter’s fall, denying Christ, was Satan’s plan to bring about the apostacy of them all. Peter, in all of his pride thinking he is the best Christ follower, the most committed and loyal of all, doesn’t see the seriousness of Jesus’ warning. He doesn’t even recognize his weakness, nor was he flattered by the fact of Jesus praying for him.

Illustration: The woodpecker is methodical. He starts pecking away at the tree, and when the tree is solid there or there is no sign of worms he moves around to another spot until he finds a weak spot and worm, then he drills further into the tree to make his marks and do his damage. Satan begins pecking and poking until he finds the weak spots.

The point of attack for Satan was Peter’s faith, and he was going to use his pride in his flesh to destroy him. Satan does the same for any of us who boastfully proclaim our commitment to Jesus. Satan knows if he can take away our faith then we are no longer pleasing to God.

Jesus warns the disciples of the coming process. Times were easy before but not in the coming days. The phrase, “shift like wheat” signifies the coming of great trials from the plan of Satan. There is something satan doe not know though.

The words “shift like wheat” signifies the coming of great trials from the plan of Satan. There is something satan doe not know though.

Satan’s plan is God’s preparation of his children for usefulness in His kingdom.

Illustration: The crops we grow in our fields, such as wheat, barley, and rye, are only partly edible. We can use the seeds at the top of each plant (known as the grain) to make products like bread and cereal, but the rest of the plant (the chaff) is inedible and has to be discarded. Farmers now use Combine harvesters do the whole job automatically: they cut, thresh, and clean the grains using rotating blades, wheels, sieves, and elevators. The grain collects in a tank inside the combine harvester, while the chaff spurts from a big exit pipe.

All the working parts inside one are quite amazing but horrendous looking as they move. Let’s just say a person being run through one is the thing of horror movies. But...

The literal process separates the real wheat from the fake wheat. The spiritual process separates the true disciples from the false. It also shakes the true disciples to rid them of the rubbish in their life and prove their faith. When we are prideful and self centered, when we are not content to serve but desire to be served, when we want to be seen as important in Jesus’ church, when we become hard hearted or mean spirited, God needs to run us through the combine to get rid of the chaff or junk in our hearts, minds and lives. We are made Holy through this process.

Hope in the Midst of Trials

Like I said, no human could physically survive going through the combine, but in this passage their is hope.

Conclusion: Like I said, no human could physically survive going through the combine, but I want to finish with the hope I see in this passage. In v.31 - Jesus says that Satan had to ask for permission to do this. What is in the mind of Satan for us never happens without passing through the hand of God. Jesus did not pray for Peter to be removed or kept from satan’s plan, but Jesus does encourage Peter he will not fail completely. Jesus prayed or interceeded for him personally, the pronoun is singular.

Christian I want you to know Jesus’ intercession for you personally is more powerful than Satan’s temptation intended for you. Look at your life. Look at your crisis. Look to God, and thank Him for the process and protection that will make you more holy, more mature. Jesus doesn’t pray for us to be freed from trouble, so why do we always pray something for ourselves that Jesus is not willing to pray for?

Even if we fail it doesn’t have to be complete. Jesus promised that Peter could and would return to Him. In Jesus had breakfast with Peter by the sea, and Peter returned. Jesus recommissioned him to his purpose of caring for the sheep and preaching the gospel message of the old rugged cross. He then had a “fixedness” that he passed on to other disciples and followers. You can do the same.

The church is not a gallery where we exhibit the finest of Christians. No, it is a school where we educate and encourage imperfect Christians.

Once you finish the trial, once you reach the mountain top you can look back and see how God has carried you and trained you. He wants you to take those experiences and pour wisdom into the lives of others, especially you senior adult longtime Christians.

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