Jesus Brought HOPE
INTRODUCTION
Last Lord’s Day we examined the text of Luke 24 which records the discussion of Jesus with the disciples traveling on the road to Emmaus where He says in verse 26: “Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?"
In our lesson today we look at why the Christ had to suffer these things.
Healing
A.He came to provide healing
1.And I’m not talking about physical healing, although the gospels clearly document His miraculous healings.
a.He healed the lame, the blind, and the demon possessed. He even raised the dead.
b.But the healing He came to provide, which only He could provide, was to heal the rift between man and God.
Isaiah 59:2 (NASB) But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
Romans 8:7 - 8 (NASB) because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Proverbs 3:32 tells us that the “perverse person is an abomination” (extremely disgusting and detestable) to the Lord
Illustration: Ginger the dog meets a skunk
c.The design of Mosaic Law was to impress upon the Israelites and through them all people of the world the offensiveness of sin to God.
1)All the object lessons on defilement, blemishes, separation of the unclean from the congregation, sacrifices and atonement, washings and purifications were to typify the corruption of sin.
2)And from that corruption the necessity to purge it from the heart in order to please a Righteous Jehovah.
2.Jesus came to seal this rift, to heal that which separated us from God.
Matthew 1:21 (NASB) “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
a.God required a sacrifice so perfect that His righteous justice would be satisfied.
Read Hebrews 9:18-23
1 John 2:2 (NASB) and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
Hebrews 10:11 - 14 (NASB) And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
Obedience
A.He came to bring us into obedience
John 14:15 (NASB) “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
1.The greatest commandment tells us:
Mark 12:30 (NASB) 30and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
2.And so loving God we are to keep His commandments.
3.But Jesus did not just tell us to be obedient; He modeled obedience for our sake.
1)Matthew 6:10 teaching prayer: Thy will be done.
Matthew 26:42 “Thy will be done.”
2)When the Apostles were contending with each other over who would be greatest in the kingdom,
Mark 10:43 - 45 (NASB) “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
3)Read John 13:12-16
Philippians 2:8 (NASB) Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Peace
A.He came to give us peace.
John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid".
1.The peace the world offers is always temporary and dependant on our circumstances.
John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world".
Philippians 4:7 (NASB) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
2.The peace of God can act like a soldier on guard to protect our heart and mind.
a.We can experience perfect inward peace and tranquility in the midst of the most trying circumstances and severe tribulations. This does not seem possible or rational. But, that is why Paul says that “the peace of God… surpasses all comprehension.”
Eternal Life
A.He came that we might have eternal life
John 3:16 (NASB) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Read Revelation 21:1-8
Conclusion
Jesus had to come to bring us Healing, Obedience, Peace, and Eternal life. Jesus came and brought us HOPE.
Invitation
