Luke 9:51-56 - Orientation to the Cross

Well this morning we are continuing on in our sermon series on Luke. Every title this sermon orientation to the Cross orientation to the Cross, but perhaps even you this morning or thinking what I thought when I wrote title down the word orientation is a bit odd. But I use it intentionally. See orientation speaks to two things your orientation or to orient yourself is to determine your position in relation to a specific place or a specific object. I think that's what the passage is about today, but it's not just that it is also to ascertain one's true position with respect to one's attitude ones judgments one's thoughts and affections and desires. It's both of those things and both of those things apply to our sermon today. This passage in Luke is initially about Jesus's spatial orientation in regards to a specific object in a specific place. And the place is Jerusalem in the object is lacrosse. This is the beginning of Jesus's path to Jerusalem. This is the place and Mark where we get an indication that Jesus is beginning to move to to orient himself to a place Jerusalem and to a particular thing the cross. However, it's also a passage about Jesus has orientation that is his attitude. His judgment is thought to the affections and his desire in regards to that cross and not just him but but how others Orient themselves to the Cross of Christ in will see a response from a Samaritan City in which we get a picture of the world's orientation to the cross. Through the reaction of James and John we learn a little bit about how disciples Orient themselves in relation to Jesus's work on the cross. But really this morning it raises a question for us.

And here's the question. What is your orientation in relation to the work of Jesus on the cross at Calvary? What is your attitude? What are your judgments? What are your thoughts affections and Desires in relation to Christ and to his death? Until I believe that's the main idea of this passage ones orientation towards the cross is of power of Paramount importance that is one's attitude and one's judgment and thoughts and affections in Desires in regards to the Cross of Christ is of Paramount importance until let's look this morning at Luke chapter 9 verses 51 through 56 and see this idea of orientation in regards to the cross. Open up your Bibles and follow along there. You can also follow along in the screens behind me or in the back of the insert that you'll find in your Bulletin.

When the days Drew near for him, that is Jesus to be taken up. He set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent Messengers ahead of him who went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem and what is disciples James and John saw that they said Lord. Do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them? But he turned and rebuked them and they went on to another Village. Let's pray father God. We thank you for your word. We Know by its own testimony that your word is is milk and meat to us it is our sustenance and so we pray father God that you would help us this morning by your spirit To as it were eat of your words. We need your help in this.

Help us to engage in this morning with your word in such a way that we understand it with our minds and we embrace it with our hearts. Knowing that in doing so you will change us. I pray for the god that you would help me to Proclaim your word this morning in a way. That isn't that is helpful in regards to those ends. As always help us to see Christ help us to see him more clearly Elvis to see him and all his Beauty and in all his glory. I pray this in his name a man. So we're going to consider orientation to the cross and let's begin by thinking of the orientation of the world. The orientation of the world in regards to the Cross is one of rejection. We see this in the example of the Samaritan Village. Another world rejection of Christ may come from ignorance. It certainly comes from insolence. But either way it excludes any notion of Innocence. We read that he sent Messengers ahead of him who went and entered a village of the Sumerians to make preparations for him, but the people did not receive him. Because his face was set towards Jerusalem.

It's a pressing question in light of the Samaritan villagers reaction. Why why did they reject them? Why did they not receive him? And the only clue we have is in verse 53 the people did not receive him because his face was sent toward Jerusalem. There seems to be two possible explanations here. Both of these explanations were proposed in the numerous commentaries. I read neither one of them that were conclusively proven in my estimation explanation is one of ignorance. They didn't know they weren't aware of who Jesus was and they weren't aware of what he was doing. He sent Messengers ahead of him, but then they just went there to prepare lodgings for him on his way to Jerusalem and the Sumerians who were in The Village simply rejected him because he was a Jew heading to Jerusalem to worship and we talked about some errands before in our sermon series The Book of Luke they had hostility between them and the Jews there was animosity there. And the Samaritans believe that people worship should take place not in Jerusalem, but where they were in Samaria and so because of that hostility, perhaps when they heard about Jesus who was going to Jerusalem to worship. They said no, we don't know who you are. We don't know what your about but we don't watch it here. That could be one that could have been ignorance. But it also could have been insolence. It could have been disrespect and rudeness and contempt towards Jesus. Another explanation The Messengers who went to for him to prepare for him actually address. The people told them who Jesus was told them what he was about and told him what he would be doing.

And so they knew who he was and I had a sense of his plan and they rejected him and they rejected what he planned to do. Either way both of these things paint a picture. In regards to how the world Orient itself to the Cross into Christ. We seeing scripture that ignorance is a legitimate explanation of rejection of Christ 2nd Corinthians Chapter 4 verses 3 and 4 and even if our gospel is veiled Paul writes it is veiled to those who are perishing and their case the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of a gospel the glory of Christ. Who is the image of God. I think we see this in the world. We see this with people who don't know Christ when we tell them of Chrysler's ignorance there. They don't get it. They don't understand. If you were able to couple Sunday night to go to attend and hear the report from the team that went to Angola you saw a much different picture and their testimonies. They told stories of communicating the gospel to tribes people in Angola and then asking if they wanted to respond and put their faith in Christ, and they said of course we do who wouldn't want to who in the right mind would choose death instead of Life. Why wouldn't we choose this wonderful savior? Why would we choose light instead of Darkness? But we don't hear that response too often at least in our culture. They don't know they can't see. But we also know that even in regards to the ignorance underneath that there is insolence. There is contempt there was disagreement read and John 15 Verse 18 if the world hates you, this is Jesus speaking if the world hates, you know that it has hated me before it hated you there's animosity or in 1st Corinthians 1:18 for the word of the Cross is folly to those who are perishing. It's foolishness. They see it as foolishness. Numbers 23 we preach Christ crucified a stumbling block to Jews and Folly to the Gentiles. And so that's one way in which the world Orient itself to the cross. It rejects it through ignorance and threw insolence. Let me say this morning if you're here and you're not a believer in Christ, you never entrusted your life to him. You never turn from your sin and turn to him to repentance and Faith. This is the most important issue for you and for your life. This question of how you Orient yourself in regards to the Cross. What's your orientation in regards to Christ's sacrifice? What are your attitudes? What's your judgment? What are your thoughts and affections and Desires in regards to that?

Understand if that's you that ignorance is no excuse. But even if it was the scriptures made clear that. Ignorances is created and born out of insolence and therefore an appeal to innocence is unfound. Name of the last I can dispel some of your ignorance this morning. Maybe you just don't know what I'm talkin about. Let me share with you this morning what it is we're talking about. We believe that God created this universe. It says early on in Scripture that God created the heavens and the earth a phrase. That means he created everything in this universe including Mankind and he created mankind with an intention. What's an attention to be in relationship with him and with her and to have them live under his reign? Enjoying him obeying him.

In accomplishing what he had for Humanity, but we read in the early chapters of the Bible that Humanity rejected that they rejected his plan and they rejected their God their creator and every human being who is Ever lives to save one. Jesus Christ has made that same decision in the evidence of rejection of God is seen in our sin and the things that we do that are contrary to his law to who he is and what he has commanded every human being has rejected their creator. In rejecting our creative that left us under his Wrath. He's angry with sin and I left us under his judgment which means certain death and eternal punishment. That was the condition of every human being that ever was to be born. However, God did not leave Humanity at that place with no recourse in regards to send know he sent his son who was fully God to become human and Jesus Took on flesh. She was born and he lived among men and he lived a life of perfect obedience to God. Part of that obedience is were talking about this morning was for Jesus to go to Jerusalem and to die on a cross and to pay the penalty for Humanity since they just did that.

And we can Avail ourselves of the Salvation that Jesus worked in The Cross by turning from our sins and turning to God repenting of all the wrongdoing that we did it look into Christ into his work on the cross for the Forgiveness of our sins for reconciliation with our creator. and for Life Everlasting that is the story of the Cross of how Christ saved Humanity from their sin and reconcile them. To God my encouragement to you if you've never believed is to orient yourself to the cross. In faith and Avail yourself of what Jesus has done.

We don't just see in this passage the orientation of the world. We see orientation of disciples as well. And in what we can say about these two disciples James and John at best. They were misguided. It could be worse than that depending on what we think their motivation was, but at best they were misguided they knew Jesus they had seen him in action and Jesus himself had informed them of who he was that is the Messiah and they had heard him preach the good news, and they had seen him demonstrate his power. And recently in Luke we know he did inform them about the cross.

And yet they have a certain orientation in regards to the cross in regards to what who Jesus was and what Jesus would do that then really earned them a rebuke from Jesus. And it had to do with their posture. They took a posture of a media judgement instead of a posture of grace and mercy, we read the people did not receive him. That is Jesus because his face was set toward Jerusalem and when is disciples James and John saw they said Lord. Do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume?

But he Jesus turned and rebuked them and they went on to another Village. I think there are some positive things in here in regards to the disciples response. They were clearly zealous for Jesus's message and his mission. They were clearly zealous. They had faith in the power of Jesus. I think they believed that if Jesus had to say, yes, they were going to see this Village go up in Flames. They believe that Jesus could do this. I think they also had an accurate apprehension of the importance of the message and the mission of Jesus. This is important. I think they saw that they also saw and understood that rejecting that message had consequences. And yet their desire for instant judgment is misplaced. This the time and that posture Desiring immediate judgment is not a proper orientation to the cross. Properly positioning one's attitudes and beliefs and affections and judgments and understand in regards to the Cross should result in grace and mercy not immediate judgment the use of the word rebuke clearly indicates. Jesus is strong displeasure with their orientation in regards to the Samaritan Center what he was about and what he would do. What are the commentators made note of something quite interesting Jesus had already told the disciples that city or town rejected them? What did you tell them? He told him to shake the dust off your sandals. If you're rejected Shake the Dust off your off your sandals instead. They wanted to turn the whole village to dust and it wasn't the proper response for disciple and light of who Jesus was and what Jesus has done and we need to learn from this this morning. We as people through God's word have had the Revelation the full revelation of who Christ is and what Christ did on the cross we need to learn for this we need to understand. That we each one of us will put our faith in Christ. We have been shown Mercy. Ephesians 2 verses 1 through 9 says this and you were dead in trespasses and sins in which you once walked following the course of this world following the prince of the power of the air the spirit that is not work in the sons of Disobedience among whom we all once live. In the passion of our flesh carrying of the desires of the body in the mine and were by Nature children of Wrath like the rest of mankind.

But God being rich in Mercy because of the great love with which he loved us. Even when we were dead in our trespasses made us alive together with Christ by Grace you have been saved. If you are here this morning and you are a disciple of Jesus, you are a believer in him and availed yourself of his work and then reconciled to God you have been shown mercy. God has been merciful to you and that and therefore we ought to show Mercy to others. Our first inclination shouldn't be to look for immediate judgment or desire immediate judgment. We have been shown Mercy. We have to show Mercy. We read in Jude verses 17 through 23, but you must remember Beloved the predictions predictions of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you in the last time there will be scoffers following their own ungodly ungodly passions it is these who cause divisions worldly people devoid of the spirit, but you beloved building yourself up in your Most Holy Faith and praying in the Holy Spirit keep yourselves in the love of God waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life and have mercy on those who don't save others by snatching them out of the fire to others show Mercy with fear hating even the Garment stained by The Flash. If we is disciples have properly oriented ourselves to the Cross if we if we taken a position that's appropriate in regards to our thoughts and our desires in our affections in our judgments. We should be people who extend grace and mercy to others.

What orientation do you have in regards to the cross and how you interact with? Others. Do you desire to see immediate judgments?

Are you extend mercy and Grace?

That's what a proper orientation to the cross and all that Christ has done is 4 disciples. We've seen two examples of an orientation of the cross that isn't what it should be in in the world example of the Samaritans and the disciples examples and James and John will let's look to Jesus because he had an orientation to the Cross to

His one his orientation to the Cross was one of absolute resolution. He was resolved. We read in verse 51 when the days Drew near for him to be taken up. He set his face to go to Jerusalem. This one sentence is Rich with significant about Jesus is orientation to the Cross. Let's begin with this phrase when days Drew near hit uses a verb that means to fulfill. Hit points to these events being of Divine Design.

What are the commentary said there's the verb is used to express the idea of a Divine timetable for the unfolding of the Salvation history to which Luke attach a tassel could easily be translated as the days were being fulfilled. So Jesus has an understanding of that what's going on here is part of God's plan is Divine Design and him going to Jerusalem and going to the cross. As the days were being fulfilled when the date room near for him to be taken off. There's another interesting phrase. Another part of this passage where there's two meanings, but I think both these meetings are intended by Luke. The phrase taking up when it's spoken particularly and religious settings means to die. It's like the phrase when we say someone has passed on.

What is the euphemism for death? And that's what this is but it's not just that it's also a phrase which conveys the sense of being taken up into God's presence taken up into Glory. We see this in a translation like The New American Standard which which is translated this way when the days were approaching for his Ascension being very specific that it's talking about Jesus going up to the right hand of the father both of these are applicable. Jesus was heading to Jerusalem to be taken up in the sense of to die. He knows that. But he's also heading to Jerusalem. Because following his death you would be resurrected in the Sun to the right hand of the father. So is these things were being fulfilled as as the days Drew near that God had orchestrated? For him to die if we're going to be taking up to the father. We read that Jesus set his face. To set one's face is to have a fixed purpose, especially in the prospect of difficulty and danger. This is the way Jesus maintain his life from this point on we re later on and Luke Luke Chapter 13 31 to 33 at that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him get away from here for Harold wants to kill you and Jesus said to them going tell that fox behold. I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow and the third day. I finished my course he was going to see it through because none of the last I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day falling for it cannot be that a profit should perish away from Jerusalem. He had set his face towards Jerusalem. He had set his face to the cross.

Get resolved. The follow God's design for his life in spite of the fact that it meant his rejection is suffering and his death.

This idea of resolve is an interest one interesting one. If you want to my office, you'll see on the wall a large print of Jonathan Edwards resolutions things that he was resolved to do was a gift from Dave Smith. Hanging in my office. 70 resolutions V70 things that Jonathan Edwards was resolved to do he wrote when he was 18 years old.

He began in the winter of 1722 and finished in August of 1723.

And there's a process that the 70 resolutions begins with and it goes like this being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help. I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these resolutions so far as they're agreeable to his will for Christ's sake. What is an 18 year old doing writing out 70 resolutions?

Why would he do that? Why would he take these things and put them on paper? I resolve I resolve I resolve I resolve what what's going on in his life.

Will a professor and theologian and historian on Jonathan Edwards said this he said he was a young man unsure of his future. He had many gifts and not a few options before him his father and grandfather were ministers as we're uncles and others in the family tree. He had a first-rate education one of the finest of the day, so he was well prepared for a future in the halls of the economy should so choose. He even had a penchant for Science and perhaps could have had it off in that direction. But for the time being he was a pastor a young Pastor that 18 going anointing himself far from his native soil of the Connecticut River Valley in the throes of a church split and a Presbyterian Church in New York City. You've been invited to Pastor the minority faction somewhere along the docks of the city's Harbor. New York City wasn't nearly as busy and 1722 the year in question is it is now the population Hubbard around just under ten thousand yet for young man from the idyllic setting of a small town in New England. It was a place unlike any he had ever seen and amidst all this uncertainty influx this young man. Jonathan Edwards needed a place to stand and a compass for some Direction. So he took to riding he kept a diary or any pain some guidelines, which he came to call his resolutions these resolutions wood supply both that place for him to stand and a compass to guide him at his as he made his way. We might say in this sermon. That's those resolutions that resolved. gave him the orientation that he needed to pursue a God had called him to they helped him Orient his life in regards to what he was facing. And they clearly help him determine to accomplish those things. No similarity, but obviously to an infinitely greater degree. It was Jesus's resolve that oriented himself to what he would face and to what he would accomplish. He was resolved to do the will of the father in to redeem his people. That was his compass. That is how he orient's himself. Opposed to the place that he was going Jerusalem and to that object that he would die on the cross.

He resolved to be a faithful son. Cuz I was contemplating this a verse from the book of Hebrews came to mine. The writer of the letter to Hebrews tells us in the 12th chapter that we are to look to Jesus who for the joy that was set before him. Enjoy the cross.

What was his resolve? Who is his Compass? How did he Orient himself in regards to a God was calling to him. He looked to the Joy. He looked to the joy that was set before him. It was a result of that that he injured the cross were tolls. Was I thought about that verse I thought what was that Joy? What was the joy that was set before him? Whereby he could injure the cross that you could resolve to keep going to Jerusalem to keep pursuing that cross that he would die on for the sake of his people. What was that? Joy and answering that question. I went to John olwin. One of I believe Christianity is greatest theologians. He has a a commentary on the book of Hebrews and he answers the question. What was this joy that was set before Christ by which he injure the cross. He says this Joy which was set before him was the glory of God in the salvation of the church the accomplishment of all the councils of divine wisdom and grace to the eternal glory of God was set before him. And so was the salvation of all the elect these were the two things that the mind of Christ valued above life and honor reputation all that was dear on to him. These were the things that gave him his orientation to the cross. These are the things that gave in the resolve to keep going towards Jerusalem to set his face to his own death. audacity died for the sins of other people

Christ set his face to Jerusalem to suffer to die. But also to be raised an exalted so that God might be glorified. It might be glorified in the salvation of his people. glorious savior

in light of that it why does this passage in Luke and light of the erroneous orientations of the world and the disciples and most importantly light of Jesus is orientation. What orientation should we have to the cross? Let me suggest that we ought to have the same one that Jesus had that our Compass should be the glory of God in the salvation of God's people we should set our face each day towards the cross and look to it and be read minded and remember what Christ did on our behalf and out of that God's glory even as Jesus did we should have that resolution be resolved that we are going to seek God's glory. And see it in the salvation of God's people. How do we do that? How do we resolve to seek the glory of God to see that God would be glorified and salvation? Well, first of all, we Avail ourselves of that salvation even as I spoke about earlier on in this sermon. If you've never availed yourself of the work of Christ do so. And then it God will be glorified in your salvation believe in him and turn to him.

But how else can we do it how can we do it if we've already availed ourselves of that salvation? We can begin by seeking God's glory and salvation by sharing the gospel with other people. There is a world out there of people who are ignorant of the Gospel. They don't know they haven't heard.

I don't understand that they're even their ignorance comes out of a rejection of who God is and what God has done and we need to tell them we can seek God's glory and salvation by sharing the gospel with our family members with our friends with people at work with people in our community. What people at our school's tell them of The Marvelous work of Christ on the cross for the Salvation of sinners?

and finally We can seek God's glory. in the salvation of God's people by doing what Christ the few verses earlier instructed his disciples to do and let's take up our cross and follow him. You see we have been saved but also we are being safe presently and we will be saved completely in the future. And so we are called to see God's glory and salvation by taking up that cross and following him.

Avail ourselves of the work of Christ on the cross share the good news of Christ work on the cross and take up your own cross and follow him and doing him and doing so we can share the resolve of Christ that God will be glorified in Salvation. Let's pray.

Father God we thank you for your word this morning. We thank you that Luke communicated this story to us and which we can learn about how people are oriented to the cross. I pray father God for any here who have rejected Christ that they would open their lives up to him that you by your spirit would unstop their ears and remove the veil from their eyes that they may see the glory and the beauty of Christ and salvation. The name of the veil themselves of his work on the cross and I pray for my brothers and sisters here today Father God that you would help them. Posture themselves in regards to the cross in a way that they understand that immediate judgment. Isn't an appropriate response, but rather because we have been shown Mercy. We will show mercy and our interaction with others as others would be seasoned with Grace. We need your spirit help in that.

Father got most of our overall would you help us to have an orientation to the Cross like Jesus that is we would be resolved to glorify God.

And we would do so in regards to Salvation.

Help us to share this good news with other people help us to take up our own cross and follow Christ.

Ask for your help. In the Name of Christ. Amen.