Closing In On The Cross Of Jesus Christ - Part 3: How To Triumph Over Our Troubles Series

Closing in on the Cross of Jesus Christ

Part 3: How to Triumph over Our Troubles

The Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 26:30-35

Sermon by Rick Crandall

(Prepared March 31, 2023)

BACKGROUND:

*Today in Matthew 26 we are closing in on the cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus and His disciples had just finished their last Passover meal together, and the Lord had led them through the very first Lord's Supper.

*In those dark hours, Jesus had the weight of the whole world on His mind. But the Lord was just as concerned about His disciples. Jesus knew that they were as troubled as they could possibly be. He knew that they were confused about the horrible turn of events.

*The Lord also knew that His disciples were about to stumble in a huge way, -- especially Peter, so Jesus talked to them about these things. And in today's Scripture, Jesus shows us how to triumph over our own troubles. Please think about this as we read Matthew 26:30-35.

MESSAGE:

*Jesus never promised Christians a trouble-free life. On this same night, in John 16:33 Jesus told His disciples, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.'' The original word for "tribulation" there is also translated in our Bibles as "affliction," "persecution," "burdened," or "anguish," as when a pregnant woman is in labor.

*The original word carries the idea of being pressed hard, and everyone will find out what it's like to be under pressure. Everyone will go through troubles in life. And no doubt, every time we have church there are some troubled people here. Some are having huge problems with their spouse or their children. Some have lost loved ones to death or divorce. Some have been hurt by their friends, and they don't know why. Some are dealing with the failing health of mom or dad. Some are dealing with their own health problems. Some don't know how they are going to pay the bills next week. On top of that, all of us struggle with temptation on some level. And today's Scripture shows us that even the people closest to the Lord can stumble.

*Life can bring all kinds of trouble, but there is victory in Jesus! And this most troubling night shows us how to overcome our own troubles.

1. FIRST: WE HAVE TO WAKE-UP TO OUR SHORTCOMINGS.

*Wake-up to our own shortcomings. That's hard to do when we are never wrong. Right? And that's part of the problem. In vs. 31, Jesus tried to tell His disciples that they were all going to be made to stumble. That's what "be offended" in the KJV means. It's the idea of being tripped, or trapped, or lured into sin.

*But in vs. 33, Peter just didn't get it, and told Jesus, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.'' In vs. 34, Jesus tried again to get Peter to wake up. There Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.'' Here the Lord was crystal clear. Not "you might stumble sometime down the road." But "this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.''

*Jesus Christ can write our life story before it happens! But even that wasn't enough for Peter and the other disciples. So in vs. 35 Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!'' And so said all the disciples.

*The disciples would not wake-up to their shortcomings, and it's hard for us too. This problem started all the way back in the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they tried to hide, because they realized they were naked.

*And in Genesis 3, the LORD said:

11. . . "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?"

12. Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."

13. And the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

*Adam blamed Eve. But Adam was also trying to blame God, when he said, "It was the woman You gave me, LORD." That was the last thing Adam should have done. We must not try to blame God for our sins. Eve was more on target when she blamed the devil, because he and his servants try to tempt us many ways. But ultimately, we are responsible for our own sin. And it's hard for us to admit our shortcomings.