Maundy Thursday - He Thought Of Me

“He Thought of Me”

Hebrews 12:2

The words that I just shared with you out of the Gospel of Matthew {reading Matt. 26:26-29, 36-46}tell part of the story about what happened to Jesus on the evening of that first Maundy Thursday. We know that He instituted the Lord’s Supper. We know the story about how Jesus washed His disciple’s feet, and how Judas picked up and left the room to go out and betray Him for 30 pieces of sliver.

Actually, Jesus had a lot to say and a lot to teach that evening. The Gospel of John dedicates five chapters; almost ¼ of the entire book of John describes what happened and what was said during these last few hours in the Upper Room and before the Garden of Gethsemane.

I think of these hours as a last minute cram course that Jesus provided His disciples. It must have been impossible for them to take it all in. It had to feel like trying to take a drink from a fire hydrant. Jesus taught them about His betrayal and death, about how their grief would turn into joy - - it was an emotional lesson Jesus had to teach them. No wonder those disciples were exhausted and later on, fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane. Luke gives us this interesting detail when he says in Luke 22 they were “. . . . . . . . . . .exhausted from sorrow.” (v.45)

As Jesus experienced each of these events – that evening - and up through the Cross on Good Friday- - - as He pressed on, faced evil, persevered, and fulfilled Scripture and His Father’s will - - - I wonder what was on Jesus’ mind?

What do YOU think about when you face suffering and unfair treatment, or wickedness? What do you think about when you are weak or afraid or sick or tired or depressed or angry? Or when you feel like you are carrying a heavy load on your shoulders? Do you think about God? Are your thoughts about God complimentary? What do you think about Him? Do you think He is fair? Do you lose patience with Him? Do you harbor doubts or resentment toward Him? Do you ever wonder what God wants to do with your life?

Last year the BBC conducted a poll where they asked 10 thousand people in ten different countries what they thought about God. The poll was titled: “What The World Thinks of God.” Wouldn’t it be great if you could conduct a follow-up poll titled: “What God Thinks of The World.” But you know what? - - -If we could prove that we conducted an interview with God - - - I wonder how many people would care? How many people would be willing to change - if what God said - - went against what they wanted?

Well - - you & I both know that - - we already have that interview with God, we already have a record of What God Thinks About the World - - - and story is recorded right here [HOLD UP BIBLE].

One of the central messages of the entire Bible is - - that God is thinking about you. Starting all the way back with the creation of Adam and Eve, and through the life boat God made for Noah & his family. And the calling of Abraham and singling out of Israel, the giving of the Ten Commandments and God’s rescue through Moses and the crossing of the Red Sea and the covenants and the promise of the Messiah all the way through the Old Testament history, all the Prophets and all of God’s miracles and words - - we can see that God was thinking of us - - leading all the way up to the Birth of the Baby Jesus in Bethlehem - - Actually - - the incarnation of God is the greatest testimony that God is thinking of us. And you see it in Jesus’ lifetime, His words and miracles - - and all the way to the Cross and Easter morning.

That is exactly what God is saying to us in Hebrews 12:2. In Hebrews 11 God just presented 40 verses worth of examples from the Old Testament- - telling us about faith and God’s faithfulness - - - and then the Bible says this:

Hebrews 12:2 “(fix your) eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

God is saying to us in this Bible verse, “take a long hard look at Jesus.” He didn’t enjoy the Cross. It says here He “endured” it, and He “despised the shame” of it. But what kept Jesus going? What kept Him on task? Was it the support of His disciples? No. Was it that Jesus somehow perfected mind over matter? No. Was it that Jesus had a supernatural pain tolerance? No. Was it just the sheer tenacity of Jesus character? No. What kept Jesus on task? What kept Him going? Jesus sees the Higher Goal. What does it say in Hebrews 12:2 “(fix your) eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame. . .”