“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. . .”
Jesus faces evil, so that I can face eternity. Jesus climbs to the Cross, so that I can claim heaven. Jesus feels the press of evil, so that I can feel the presence of His Spirit, and the power of His love.
Simply put- - - the bottom line is: He thought of me.
There in the upper room, Jesus said, “Take and eat, take and drink, this is my body and my blood given for you, for the forgiveness of sins.” He thought of me. He made provision for me, to receive the forgiveness of sins, to find a way in this crazy mixed-up world - - to find the healing, repair and recovery from the brokenness that we suffer from so much of the time because of the mortar shells of sin - that keep exploding in our lives.
On that night Jesus prayed, “My prayer is not for (these disciples) alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.” (John 17:20) Jesus reached through the centuries, across the thousands of miles and the generations - - as He projected His thoughts right here to Arlington Heights and to this church this evening. And He said, “before I step out and go to the Cross- - I’m thinking of you. - - And what I am about to do - - I’m thinking of you and what your soul needs, and how much forgiveness you need, and what stands between you and heaven.”
Jesus prayed, “Father help me to do this for them.”
IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE, when Jesus said, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death . . . (Matt.26:38) and when He prayed and His sweat was like drops of blood, (Luke 22:44), - - - - Jesus said to His Father, “. . .if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matt. 26:39 - - Jesus was thinking of His Father and fulfilling His will - - - and Jesus was thinking of you.
And as the disciples slept when Jesus needed them the most, and as Judas betrayed Him with a kiss, and as Peter drew his sword, and finally as everybody ran away and deserted Him- - - Jesus could have turned His back and walked away too. Think of all the “outs” Jesus could have taken? He could have said, “Nuts with this” – “is this the kind of appreciation I get around here for what I am doing?” But that is not what Jesus said or did – because He thought of you.
Jesus said to the soldiers who came to capture Him, “Am I leading a rebellion that you have come with swords and clubs?” (Luke 22:52) Let me tell you, Jesus could have led a rebellion if He wanted to. But when Peter draws his sword, He says, “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” (John 18:11); and Jesus said, “Don’t you think – if I wanted to - that I could ask my Father to give me 72,000 angels and He would deploy them and set up a perimeter right here to defend me? But if I did that, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled, that say this must happen to me?” (Matt. 26:53) In other words, Jesus says, “I am thinking of you, and the salvation rescue mission of the world - - stand out of the way- - this must be done.” Then we find Jesus arrested – and - -
WHEN THE RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL LEADERS PASSED JUDGMENT ON HIM - - Jesus could have passed judgment, right there, on the entire human race. The Bible says, “. . .the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son.” (John 5:22)
“. . .He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.” (Acts 10:42)
As Jesus stood there - - and the High priest said, “Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” - - Jesus described Himself with imagery picturing Him returning as judge: “In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matt. 26:64) The authority, the power was in His hands - - - but- - - - He thought of you and me.
And I wonder how it felt- - - when - - -
PETER DISOWNED JESUS Earlier in the upper room Jesus said to the disciples, “You will all fall away. . .” And Peter says, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” (Mark 14:27, 29) And Jesus says to Peter, “Let me clue you in Peter, tonight before the rooster crows you will disown me three times.” (Mark 14:30) And Peter says, “No way Jesus, I will die first, before doing that.” And then the events of that night unfold. Peter’s life has been turned upside down. He’s behind enemy lines out there in the courtyard of the high priest, warming himself at the fire, and he denies Jesus once, and then twice, and three times, and as the words slip out of his mouth- - off in the distance a rooster crows - - and at that precise moment, Jesus turned around and locks eyes with Peter - and a chill raced up Peter’s spine.
I wonder how it felt for Jesus – at that moment - - to look out, and not to be able to count one friend. He could have denied us. When it felt like all of earth was turning against Him - - He turned toward us - - and remembered you and me. As God promises us in the Bible, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6)
The hours tumble by so quickly now- - - and
JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS - - - - Indescribable physical pain is inflicted upon Him. He could have just taken care of Himself, who would have blamed Him. But instead He takes care of everyone who nailed Him to the Cross: “Father forgive them.” (Luke 23:43); He takes care of the Thief : “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”(Luke 23:43; He takes care of His mother: “Woman behold your son. “(John 19:26-27); - - - And when the physical tank was on “empty”, heaven turned it’s back on Him- - - and He took the hit, the full body slam of all sin hit Him.
“My God, my God!” He screamed, “Why did you abandon me!” Never have words carried so much hurt. Never has one living being ever been so lonely. More than the abandoned child, the divorcee, the widow standing at a grave. The moan is in a minor key: “My God!”
I can’t understand it. Why did Jesus do it? I know- - - to fulfill prophecy. But there is something more here - - - something personal - -Why did Jesus do it? - - - - - - - Because He thought of me.
Your life was traded for the life of God’s only Son. You are the only treasure God considered valuable enough – for Him to mobilize a rescue operation to save. You are worth dying for.
No matter how much it seems that God loves others - - - He couldn’t possibly love anyone else more than He loves you. God makes no promises that you will always “feel” loved, and He doesn’t promise that your circumstances in life will make it “obvious” that you are loved. God simply promises, - - - you are loved!
No matter how much it seems that God couldn’t forgive you - - - He couldn’t possibly forgive anyone else more than He forgives you. God can’t find a person on the entire planet, more forgiven than you.
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring, - - - - - - - - and a sunrise every morning. You are His masterpiece. Not all masterpieces are recognized by people. Sometimes, it takes years for others to appreciate their true beauty. But that doesn’t mean that the beauty wasn’t there in the first place- - - because God put the masterpiece in you from the start.
The Bible says, “Jesus made himself nothing. . .He humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:7-8)
At that one moment in time, all history stopped and pointed to a single hill outside of Jerusalem, where God appointed a Savior to pay the penalty for your sin and mine.
And now, - - - God’s face lights up when He looks at you. No one can take your place in His heart. Why? Because He thought of you. Amen.
{Close by singing "Above All" by Lenny LeBlanc & Paul Baloche}
