Abandoned Series

INTRODUCTION

• As we continue our series today, we will dig into an area of testing that is one most, if not all of us, have experienced or will, at some point in our life experience.

• Have you ever been in a situation where you felt alone and abandoned?

• What did that feel like?

• The thought of being abandoned is one of the tests we will face in life.

• When you are in that position, where will you turn?

• The feeling of abandonment is a powerful tool of the enemy because when we feel isolated and alone, we start listening to those small voices in our heads that keep getting louder and louder.

• Think of Jesus for a moment.

• Who came calling when Jesus was alone, tired, thirsty, and hungry in the wilderness?

• When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, what did Jesus do?

• Jesus cried out to God to find another way, the temptation to avoid the cross was something He faced.

• In the most powerful verse on the subject of feeling abandoned, listen to Jesus.

Matthew 27:46 (NET 2nd ed.)

46 At about three o’clock Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

• ELI, ELI, LAMA SABOTH IN EYE.

• Jesus felt the pain of abandonment on the cross.

• This morning's text takes us to a time when Jesus spoke to His closest disciples.

• This event takes place shortly before the crucifixion.

• After spending time with Jesus, the disciples are told that their relationship will soon be severed.

• Jesus tells them of His coming departure and that it will be soon.

• At this point, the disciples are in a state of shock and disillusionment.

• Their best friend and mentor will no longer be with them, and they're taking the news very hard.

• Most would have reacted the way the disciples did.

• We probably would have reacted this way because we lacked the entire scope of Jesus's plan.

• Out of context, this reality seems so harsh, unnecessary, and even faulty.

• If we were to drive to work every day and observe the daily progress of a unique building being constructed, we might be a little judgmental about its progress.

• Our lack of ability to see the blueprints makes us doubt whether it will ever be finished.

• Similarly, the disciples didn't understand the big picture of what Jesus was trying to accomplish.

• We can act like that, too, when we can't see what God is doing in our lives.

• Without answers, we tend to object to the process we're going through.

• Our BIG IDEA FOR THE MESSAGE TODAY IS:

› When Christ warned the disciples that he'd be leaving them, they didn't take the news very well. He left them with words of comfort and admonition to help them overcome this test in their life.

• Let's begin with John 16:16-17.

John 16:16–17 (NET 2nd ed.)

16 In a little while you will see me no longer; again after a little while, you will see me.”

17 Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What is the meaning of what he is saying, ‘In a little while you will not see me; again after a little while, you will see me,’ and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?”

SERMON

I. The sorrow brought by abandonment.

• In verses 16-24, Jesus is with the disciples, and He speaks of the joys and sorrows they will face in the coming days.

• Even though Jesus had talked about His death and subsequent resurrection, the disciples were deeply saddened by the statement that Jesus made, telling them they would see Him no longer.

• I have heard stories of children having one or both parents abandon them.

• It was a heartbreaking time.

• This plays out in divorces, where typically, the father is nowhere to be found after the divorce.

• This leaves emotional scars the children carry with them for the rest of their lives.

• In my volunteer work at the Small Animal shelter, it is heartbreaking to see dogs and cats who had homes be dumped at the shelter.

• Whoever thinks animals cannot love and get attached has no clue.

• I saw a cat at the Sierra Vista shelter a year or so ago whose owner died.

• The poor thing just looked so sad.

• Abandonment brings sorrow.

• The disciples were sad; they had no clue what was happening with Jesus.

• Verse 17 shows that they had no clue.

• When we lose people around us, we feel abandoned.

• When we feel abandoned, it can affect our desire to live life.