JUST JESUS: CHAPTER BY CHAPTER THRU LUKE
Born to Die Part 2 of 3
LUKE 23:44-49
#borntodie
CHRISTMAS SERIES INTRODUCTION
As Christians, there are some distinct truths that we believe in and because of those beliefs there are philosophies or ways of thinking about life and living we DO NOT believe in. Let me give you several examples.
* Christians do not believe in karma: We do not believe that there is an impersonal force creating balance between good and evil in this life and with our previous lives.
* Christians do not believe in destiny: We do not believe that life is a series of disconnected or even connected coincidences that create a person’s direction in life or their fortune.
* Christians do not believe in fate: We do not believe in a predetermined set of actions or course that creates an unchangeable future that happens no matter what.
Well, Christians do not believe in karma or destiny or fate, what do we believe in when it comes to life and living? We believe in the will of the Eternal Holy God Almighty the Undisputed Righteous Maker of Heaven and Earth Who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Christians believe in God’s eternal will. It is God’s eternal will that sets forth what will happen on the eternal stage and within our lives for certain because His will is done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Some things are immovable points of existence because it is the will of God. Christians also believe in God’s permissive will. It is God’s permissive will that allows free-will and choice and chance to exist, but never outside of His sight or prevue to intervene because nothing is ever out of God’s control. Some things are up to us and happen out of our control because God allows it in His permissive will.
Today we are continuing our march towards Christmas 2023, but we are going to continue to work our way through the Gospel of Luke chapter by chapter (as we have been doing for 22 weeks!). We have two chapters left in Luke and we have two weeks until Christmas. That is not happenstance, but by design. For the next two weeks, we will dig into Jesus and the undisputed fact that it was God’s will that Jesus was born to die. Jesus was born to die.
THE RABBIT STORY (p)
Once upon a time, there was a big fluffy rabbit with two big ears and a huge fluffy tale. A cute rabbit. An innocent rabbit. Normal in every respect except it was the hugest rabbit ever born. Biggest eyes anyone had ever seen. Biggest feet anyone had ever seen. A big ol’ rabbit. This rabbit decided to take a walk down the street of his town. It was a nice day for a walk.
The rabbit started down the street and was enjoying his walk. He greeted his neighbors and they greeted him. He got to the end of his block and the neighbor that lived closest to him was sitting in his front yard… just sitting there in the grass looking dejected and sad. “What is the matter neighbor?” the big ol’ rabbit asked.
The neighbor looked up with sadness. “I have had a run of bad luck. Now I know it was my own fault. My wife left me. My children don’t like me. My truck broke down. Even my dog died. Yes, my life is a sad country music song.” Now as the neighbor was telling the tale of his woes and bad luck, he began to get a small smile on his face.
“Gosh,” the rabbit said in response, “I am so sorry. I wish there was something I could do.”
“Well,” the neighbor said getting up on his feet and eyeing the rabbit’s feet, “you know rabbit’s feet bring good luck. Everybody knows you are the biggest rabbit ever born and so the good luck one of your feet would bring me is worth two lifetimes.”
The rabbit stared.
The neighbor stared.
“Yes, I will.”
With that, the neighbor cut off one of the rabbit’s feet and reveled in his newfound luck. He went back in his house as happy as he could be leaving the three-legged rabbit in his front yard. The rabbit hopped on three legs down the street and continued his walk through the town. More neighbors saw him and greeted the ol’ rabbit.
The rabbit got a few blocks down the street and some other neighbors were on their porch. They were crying and trying to console one another. “What is the matter neighbors?” the big ol’ rabbit asked.
The neighbors looked up with tears in their eyes. “Our roof is leaky. Every time it rains the water leaks into our house and drives us crazy! We cannot fix our roof. It drizzles. It drips. It drops. A big rain is coming tomorrow and we don’t know what to do!” Now as the neighbors were explaining about their roof, they began to get small smiles on their faces.
“Gosh,” the rabbit said in response, “I am so sorry. I wish there was something I could do.”
“Well,” the neighbors said getting up on their feet and eyeing the rabbit’s ears, “you know you are the biggest rabbit ever born and your ears are the biggest rabbit ears ever. One ear could cover the front of our roof and the other ear could cover the back of our roof. We could cover our roof with your ears and our roof would not leak.”
The rabbit stared.
The neighbors stared.
“Yes, I will.”
With that, the neighbors cut off both of the rabbit’s ears and immediately slung them over their home to cover the leaks in their roof. They went back in their house happy as could be leaving the three-legged no-eared rabbit in their front yard. The rabbit hopped on and continued his walk through the town. More neighbors saw him and greeted the ol’ rabbit though some began to stare.
The rabbit continued his leisurely walk down the street though now it was much more difficult. The rabbit slowly went down the street and came to another townsperson at their mailbox. She was getting her mail and was just shaking her head in despair. “What is the matter neighbor?” the big ol’ rabbit asked.
The neighbor looked up with sadness. “I have a cleaning business to run and I just don’t make enough to pay my bills. I could work harder, but that would not help. I am just stuck and just can’t run my business in a way that is profitable. My bills are all coming due and I cannot pay.” Now as the woman was telling the tale of her business woes, she began to get a small smile on her face. “Gosh,” the rabbit said in response, “I am so sorry. I wish there was something I could do.”
“Well,” the woman said coming around her mailbox to the wounded ol’ rabbit, “you know you are the biggest rabbit ever born and your bushy tale is the biggest and bushiest. I could use your tale to clean lickety-split and my business would be profitable.”
The rabbit stared.
The woman stared.
“Yes, I will.”
With that, the woman cut off the rabbit’s big bushy tale and went back into her house happy as could be planning how she might expand her cleaning business. The rabbit hopped on and continued his walk through the town but was dragging along now more than hopping and was moving very slow. More townspeople saw him and greeted the ol’ rabbit though some began to stare and many pointed. Some shook their heads.
Arriving at a crossroad the rabbit was waiting for the light to change so he could cross and continue his journey though it was becoming more and more difficult to hop or move. As the big ol’ rabbit was waiting for the light to change, a young girl walked up beside him and was waiting as well. They stood. They waited. They both had to cross the busy street. She was shivering for she had no coat. The girl looked at the rabbit and eyed the warm fur. The rabbit looked at the girl and noticed her shivering.
The rabbit stared.
The girl stared.
“Yes, I will.”
With that, the girl skinned the rabbit and took the rabbit’s skin for a coat. The light changed. She walked on and crossed the road not shivering. The rabbit was left at the crossroad. He could just barely move and so had to wait for the next light to change. People walked by and saw the skinned rabbit. Many ran quickly past. Some ignored him completely. Others shielded their children’s eyes. Some felt sick at his appearance. Some were offended. The light changed and the rabbit slowly moved across the road and continued on his journey.
The skinned rabbit was slowly limping and sliding along the sidewalk when he heard some steps behind him. He turned as best he could and saw a whole family walking behind him. The ol’ rabbit hopped forward and the family would follow. The dad looked haggard. The mother’s face was sunken in because she had not eaten. The son and daughter looked like they had not eaten in awhile and needed a good meal. The ol’ rabbit hopped forward and the family would follow. The rabbit turned a corner. The family turned the corner as well and followed. The rabbit turned to face the family.
The rabbit stared.
The family stared.
“Yes, I will.”
With that, the family killed the rabbit and took him home, cooked him, ate, and had their fill.
The End.
REFLECTION ON THE STORY
As we think about this story, there are several questions that come up that need to be answered.
#1 What kind of story is that?
It doesn’t make any sense what so ever. The story is about some big rabbit walking down the street being taken advantage of by people of the town. The rabbit is talking. The rabbit loses parts of itself and continues on. The rabbit never went home and just kept going. The whole story really doesn’t make any sense if you think about it.
#2 Why was the rabbit willing to give and give?
The rabbit gave his foot, his ears, his tail, his skin, and his very life. Most of the trouble the townspeople were in was of their own making. The rabbit was born with what they needed, but there is no explanation in the story why there was willingness on the part of the rabbit to give parts of himself and eventually give his life. For this particular story, there is no answer for the willingness of the rabbit to give so much. We see the giving, but there is no explanation.
#3 What did the rabbit provide?
This is one question that is easily answered when we think about the story and out of all the questions we can answer this one. The rabbit’s foot provided favor. The rabbit’s ears provided protection. The rabbit’s tail cleaned. The rabbit’s skin covered. The rabbit’s meat fed hungry bellies.
TRANSITION
Let me tell you another story. This is not a fictional story that I made up, but rather the most important true story you will ever hear. It is true. It is meaningful. It is a story that bears weight on our souls.
It is the story each one of us needs to share with those we love.
It is the story each one of us need to share with those we hate.
It is the story each one of us need to share with those we know.
It is the story each one of us need to share with those we don’t know.
This is the most important story you will ever hear.
THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS
READ LUKE 23:26-49 (ESV) [!slow down, point out things as the Spirit leads!]
26 And as they led Him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed Him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for Him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with Him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on His right and one on His left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide His garments.
35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He is the Christ of God, His Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up and offering Him sour wine 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over Him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 43 And He said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!” And having said this He breathed his last.
47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this Man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all His acquaintances and the women who had followed Him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.
REFLECTION ON THE STORY
As we think about this passage of Scripture, there are several questions that come up that need to be answered. To be consistent and fair, they are the same questions we asked of the other story.
#1 What kind of story is that?
This story doesn’t make much sense whatsoever. There are so many questions when we think about the story of Jesus Christ. Why would God come to Earth and part of it? Why would God send His Son here to save us? Why be born a baby? Why would Jesus willingly die for all of us? Why would He not come off the cross and show who He really was? The answer to these questions all comes down to one word: Love. God loves you with an unconditional eternal love and desires you to accept Jesus’ substitutionary death for you that you might be with Him in Heaven forever. That sounds like some kind of default answer, but it is true. The motivation for the birth of Jesus and the motivation of Jesus dying on the cross is the same: love.
READ 1 JOHN 4:10 (ESV)
“Now this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
#2 Why was Jesus Christ willing to give and give?
Jesus Christ gave up Heaven to be on Earth for us. Jesus gave of His time to teach and preach. Jesus gave His compassion. Jesus gave of His power and healed and did many miracles. Jesus gave Himself over to the plan God had in place. Jesus gave His dignity. Jesus gave His body. Jesus gave His blood. Jesus gave His life as a ransom for any who come to Him in faith and accept Him. Why did Jesus give and give? Jesus gave and gave because we keep sinning and sinning. Jesus gave and gave because Jesus was and is the only plan for you and I to receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God and He was obedient to God from the time of His birth to the time of His death.
READ GALATIANS 2:20 (ESV)
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
#3 What did Jesus provide?
Oddly enough, Jesus provides the same thing as the rabbit in our story at the beginning.
Jesus provides favor with God.
Jesus provides protection for our souls.
Jesus provides a clean heart.
Jesus provides covering over our sin.
Jesus provides eternal food for our souls.
READ 1 PETER 2:9-10 (ESV)
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
We owe the fact that we have favor with God, protection of our souls, a clean heart apart from condemnation and shame, payment for our sin, and constant care for our souls all to Jesus. Jesus did all of that for us and more.
CHRISTMAS SERIES CONCLUSION
As we look forward to Christmas, we will keep Jesus at the center of our Christmas. Yes, Christmas is all about focusing on the birth of Jesus and the miracles and fulfilled prophecy that His birth brings. It is all about that! But Christmas is also about understanding that Jesus was born to die. We are so thankful that Jesus chose to obey God’s will and to take on our sin for us.
Thank You, Jesus for being born of Mary!
Thank You, Jesus for living a sinless life!
Thank You, Jesus for dying on the cross for us!
Thank You, Jesus for rising on the third day!
Thank You, Jesus for ascending into Heaven!
PRAYER
INVITATION
The song we will sing in a moment is “the First Noel.” “Noel” is a word that means “to be born.” One of the verses of this Christmas song says: “Then let us all with one accord, Sing praises to our heavenly Lord, That hath made Heaven and earth of nought, And with His blood mankind hath bought.” That phrase, “and with His blood mankind hath bought” is everything we have been talking about this morning. Please understand that it was not a “mankind out there” that Jesus bought with His blood, but each and everyone one of us in here. Jesus’ blood bought you. Please accept Him! Jesus gave and gave and gave that you might be saved.
