Parkwood Baptist Church

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17)

“He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised and we esteemed Him not.  Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  But He was wounded  for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:3-6)

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4, 5)

When we read the beatitudes it is easy to see it as another “list” of rules or requirements that are impossible to keep.  Once again we are set up for failure.  “I cannot possibly measure up to this description of a disciple of Jesus”.   Many will even say that this is a description of the believer after they get to heaven.  It is a lofty goal and one day, when we all get to heaven, we will be like this.  It is true that Jesus is talking about the citizens of the Kingdom, but He is referring to the character traits and blessings of the believer now…today!

The disciples were also overwhelmed by these words and Jesus reassured them that He had come to fulfill the Law and to empower them to do what they could not do on their own.  “Yes,” Jesus is saying, “I know you fall short of these principles…I know you are weak, but I came so that you might be reconciled to God and transformed by MY power that lives in you.  The Scripture says that He came at just the right time according to God’s plan.  Jesus’ death on the cross is the fulfillment of our salvation.

The Cross.  The cross is the fulfillment of the Law.  It is the answer our frustration with our shortcomings…How can an imperfect…sinful…rebellious…self-centered people have fellowship with a Holy…Righteous…Perfect God?

The Cross.  The death of Jesus on the cross.

Today, as we remember the final hours before the crucifixion, hear these words from the Apostle Paul,

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses…God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.  This He set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13, 14).

Believer, it is not up to you alone.  The beatitudes become possible because of Jesus and the forgiveness that has been made available through His death on the cross.

“Blessed are you when others shall revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Matthew 5:11)

“So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked Him, saying, ‘He saved others; He cannot save Himself.  He is the King of Israel; let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.  He trusts in God; let God deliver Him now, if He desires Him.  For He said, I am the Son of God.'” (Matthew 27:41-44)

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

We have seen that the persecution we experience as Christians can be harsh as we give up our self-centered lifestyle and swim against the current of the world around us.  As we pursue the life God has created us for and calls us to, people will resist the light and ridicule us for being “holier than thou” etc.  But there is another persecution that comes when we begin to share the reason for our life change…when we share that the reason for this change is our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Now the intensity of the persecution increases and the focus of the ridicule becomes the crucified Redeemer.  “How can you believe in a god who was killed by his own followers?”  Suddenly the shame that Jesus experienced on the cross 2000 years ago is as fresh as a conversation at work or school.  “If he saved others why couldn’t he save himself?”, they ask us.  “This is a sign of a weakness not strength.”  “Why doesn’t he come down from the cross and then we will believe?”  The mocking of the chief priests at the foot of the cross is still heard today.  They are different words but the same refusal to believe…”If there is a god why doesn’t he reveal himself by ending world hunger?”  “I will believe when He brings an end to the suffering in this world.”  “If God exists let Him come down and show me now!”

The word of the cross is foolishness to the world.  But, our God is not a tyrant ruler who desires a kingdom of slaves who will cower before Him.  He is a compassionate God who is looking for a relationship with the creation He loves.  This is not accomplished by some act of conquest but only by an act of selflessness.  The cross was not a sign of weakness but the clearest expression of love ever given.  We believe in the God who created us…loves us…and desires fellowship with us!  Yes, we followers of Jesus run to the cross and gladly bear the shame with our Savior for it is in that act of self-sacrifice that we see who God is and find life and fulfillment.

Persecution will come as we live the life we are called to live in the beatitudes but it will also come when we identify ourselves with the cross of Jesus.  The same Jesus who was crucified…buried…and now lives that we might experience the abundant life He came to give.

Today let us proclaim without shame the Gospel message…there is a God who loves you so much that He went to the cross for you!  Now that is good news.  That is the power of God!

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account…You are the salt of the earth…you are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket.” (Matthew 5:11-14)

“‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’  He said this to show what kind of death He was going to die.” (John 12:32, 33)

“Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Council, who was also himself looking for the Kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.” (Mark 15:43)

The cross of Jesus has a certain magnetism that pulls at the heart of every soul upon the earth.  It is a bold proclamation, as we have discussed, of the unfathomable love of God for His creation.  Jesus courageously went to the cross and endured the shame that we might be free to courageously come to Him and experience reconciliation.  Jesus told the disciples that if He was lifted up He would “draw” all people to Himself.  Scripture tells us that He was referring to the cross.

When we read the brief story of Joseph of Arimathea we see that his encounter with the cross of Jesus transformed him from being a “secret” disciple (John 19:38) to being a courageous follower of His Lord and Savior!

Joseph was a member of the Council, the same Council that condemned Jesus to death…the same Council that publicly humiliated, mocked, and beat Jesus.  Scripture tells us that he did not consent (Luke 23:51) but it implies that he did nothing to show his support for his Lord.  Then, came the cross.  Jesus was “lifted up” and sacrificed…The Light of the world…”a city set on a hill” called Golgotha.  This brought a boldness to this low profile believer!

“If Jesus would so boldly sacrifice His life for me then how can I remain silent any longer?!!”

Suddenly this man who had only served from the shadows went before Pilate and revealed his devotion to the Romans…the Council…and to the world.  Maybe Joseph remembered the words of Jesus when He said,

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?  For what can a man give in return for his life?  For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed…” (Mark 8:36-38)

We do not know whether Joseph lost his seat on the Council.  We are not told of the repercussions of his “coming out”…but, we do know that he did.  What about you?

Can I challenge you today, O Believer, to boldly come to the cross unashamed and courageously proclaim your faith in our Jesus!  Yes, you may be reviled and persecuted, but you will experience blessing of the Kingdom of God!

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11)

“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?  But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.  Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.  For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”     (1 Peter 3:13-17)

We are now entering the final week of our Lenten journey.  We have been looking at the cross through the lens of the beatitudes which Jesus gave us in the Sermon on the Mount.  He has described to us the characteristics of a faithful disciple the blessing that follows it.  We have recognized them in the life and death of Jesus on the cross as well.

All of these “attitudes” are not only for our personal benefit and character development, but also as a witness to God’s mercy and grace to others.  In other words, to be blessed is to be a testimony of the transforming power of Jesus Christ.  Our lives should be a proclamation of God’s love to those around us…friends and enemies…just as the cross was God’s demonstration of His love to us “while we were yet sinners” (Romans 5:8).  Jesus said, “If I be lifted up, I will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32).  The cross of Christ makes possible our salvation and our participation in His redemptive plan.  Our part is to live out these “attitudes”.

In the verses above, Peter says that people will notice and we need to be prepared to share with them the reason for our behavior.  Even our response to persecution can be a powerful witness for the Lord if we do it with “gentleness and respect”.

Two things for today…we are called not only to live a blessed life but we are urged to give a verbal testimony of why we do it.  Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16).  We must let people know that the goodness that they see in us is due to the grace of Jesus.  Second, we should proclaim it with gentleness and respect not in judgement or self righteousness…”speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).

Let your light shine today!  Proclaim the love of God in your life, your attitudes and…your words!

“Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation!  Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!  For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.  In His hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are His also.  The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.  Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our maker!  For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.  Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.  For forty years I loathed that generation and said, ‘They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.’  Therefore I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.'” (Psalm 95)

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.  For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.” (Psalm 32:1-4)

On this Sixth Sabbath, Palm Sunday, let us rejoice in the Lord and cry out, “Our God is an awesome God!”  We worship today.  This is a day that the Lord has made for us to enjoy fellowship with Him.  That is how we know that only those who know the God who Created Sabbath can experience its benefits.  We cannot reap the rewards of God’s “rest” and “refreshment” unless our hearts are right with Him.  The celebration described in Psalm 95 is beautiful but closes with the hard reality that those whose hearts have gone astray from the Lord will not enjoy the rest God has to offer.  David describes his lack of rest in Psalm 32 when he holds on to his sin.  He doesn’t experience the blessing of forgiveness and is miserable.

Sabbath is not only for perfect people.  No, Sabbath is for forgiven people.  It can only be experienced when we come before the Lord…confess our sins and shortcomings to Him and accept His tender mercy and grace.  Enjoy your palm Sunday today.  Celebrate the forgiveness you have through Jesus Christ our Lord!

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12)

“And the robbers who were crucified with Him also reviled Him in the same way.” (Matthew 27:44)

“One of the criminals who were hanged railed at Him, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!’  But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God…this man has done nothing wrong.’  And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'” (Luke 23:39-42)

As we have meditated on this “blessedness” of persecution we have discovered that this type of ridicule from the world is unavoidable for the follower of Jesus.  We have also seen that there are several purposes for this suffering that God allows us to endure.  The suffering and shame that Jesus experienced on the cross, for example, illustrated that through His selfless sacrifice on our behalf during His life here on earth and through His death brought us salvation.

Our personal experience with Jesus, therefore brings us into the same persecution by those around us.  The purpose, according to Scripture is to build endurance, character, and a reliance upon God for all that we need.  It is also something that identifies us with Jesus as His disciples.  But, the kingdom work is not just about us!  In our world it is easy to become so focused on self improvement that you forget about others.  We get so focused on growing ourselves and being a better disciple that we lose sight of our God issued calling to reach the world with the Gospel.  As someone said, “We become so heavenly minded that we become no earthly good”.

We must remember that there is a greater part being “blessed” in this beattitude.  It is the witness that it proclaims to those who are persecuting us!  This is a powerful message to those who see it for the very same reasons that we struggle with it…it is not a natural.  There is something supernatural going on when a person encountering persecution and suffering shows “blessing”.  Today’s Scriptures show that Jesus was being “reviled” from every direction as He hung upon the cross.  Even the thieves crucified with Him were participating.  But, then something happened.  As one of them saw the way Jesus suffered he was transformed.  His heart softened and light came into the darkness of his condemned soul…He realized this was not of this world.  There is another Kingdom and he wanted to be a part of it.

O Beloved Church, we are not just persecuted for our own strength and development…our response to the persecution is a testimony that can bring the very ones who are persecuting us to Jesus.  To love our enemies is the best way to preach the Gospel to them.  After all, like the unnamed thief, we were an enemy of Christ transformed by that same love.

Go and do likewise.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)

“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death” (Matthew 26:38)

“…He prayed saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me.  Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done’…and being in agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood…” (Luke 22:42, 44)

Let us be sure that persecution and suffering, though inevitable for the believer, is not something to be craved.  There is a great difference between experiencing God’s blessing during suffering and enjoying the suffering.  The first is a healthy perspective which focuses on our God who gives us strength and the later focuses on self with an unhealthy mindset which leads to destruction.  We are not “victims” at the mercy of a sadistic god who gets joy from watching us suffer.  Neither are we to seek out persecution or ridicule deliberately in order to gain rewards from a bloodthirsty God.  There is a difference in suffering for the sake of righteousness and suffering to gain righteousness.

Jesus willingly went to the cross and endured the suffering that was there in obedience to the Father.  “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8).  His words in the garden revealed a sorrow and agony over the events that were going to take place.  Jesus suffered for our sake.  His pain was supposed to be ours.  It was an act of selfless love…a sacrifice.  It was not some self-serving act of mutilation that resulted in a dramatic suicide.  This was an act of love and obedience that endured the pain and, therefore, found blessing in being persecuted for righteousness’ sake…in spite of the suffering.

When we desire to live a godly life, the world will react against that with persecution…this is a blessing.  But it is not a blessing when a believer seeks out suffering or persecution so that they may gain more favor in the eyes of God.  This is a harmful deception which harms the believer and distorts the testimony of our loving heavenly Father.

Our challenge is to bring a consistent testimony of a loving, merciful God to a dying world in all circumstances.  This will not be easy and we will, at times, suffer for it.  But, although the persecution may be agonizing and painful, we will find blessing if we remain faithful to the God who has done the same for us.

Today, thank Jesus for going to the cross for you and enduring the pain that you might have the life you were intended to experience…that you might know that He loves you…and that you might trust Him enough to follow Him.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” (2 Timothy 3:12)

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (James 1:2, 3)

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you…if you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (1 Peter 4:12, 14)

“Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.” (1 John 3:13)

Today the verses above carry exceptional authority as they are from Peter, James, John, the Apostle Paul and Matthew, who is quoting Jesus.  They are all addressing the same issue…persecution for righteousness’ sake.  Why?  Because persecution is a reality in the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ and we should be prepared.  Like the early Christians we have a false expectation that when we live a godly life that we will be appreciated by the world around us.  These disciples are saying nothing could be further from the truth.  These verses bring us face to face with reality of the persecution that comes to the follower of Jesus.  Their message is consistent and it approaches two problems with our worldly viewpoint of this type of suffering.

First, don’t be surprised!  It is amazing that we think the world will love us if we desire to live a godly life.  Paul says that it is quite the contrary and history proves him right.  Looking at this beatitude over the last few days has helped us to understand that the world hates anything that exposes it’s imperfections and threatens its sinful pursuits.  Those who embrace the darkness of their self centered lifestyles will not only resist the light…they will persecute it.  Don’t be surprised!  It’s not something “strange” or new.  It isn’t because you are not doing it right.  In fact, quite the opposite, it can be evidence that you are doing it right.

Second, our panel of disciples tell us to consider it a blessing…”a joy”, according to James.  This turns our view of suffering upside down.  For most of us “blessing” is good health, comfortable living, and good friends.  These are truly blessings, no doubt, but we are challenged to see even our trials as blessings from God.  Especially those that come because we desire to live a godly life.

So today don’t be afraid to live the godly life that God has called you to live and…don’t be surprised by the reactions of the world around you.  It might not be what you expected, but if we believe the words of these faithful disciples, we should consider it a blessing.

Blessings.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)

“When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’…but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done…So from that day on they made plans to put Him to death.” (John 11:43, 46, 53)

“When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of Him but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.  So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.” (John 12:9-11)

Yesterday we were reminded that not everyone liked Jesus.  In fact, He made people uncomfortable.  The light and love that He brought into this world exposed our shortcomings and our need for a supernatural solution…a Savior.  It seemed that each time He would heal or forgive the opposition would grow more intense.  They were going to have to get rid of Him.

Today we think about one of Jesus’ most dramatic and graphic miracles…the raising of Lazarus from the dead.  This miracle was about more than Lazarus.  This illustrated what Jesus could do and wants to do for everyone who will hear His voice.  He calls us out of the tombs of our sin to walk in new life!  But, as stated earlier, the clarity of the Gospel served only to strengthen the resolve to kill Jesus and…believe it or not, Lazarus too.

WARNING:  Hanging out with Jesus can be hazardous to your health.

You might ask, “What did Lazarus do?”  He was a walking and breathing testimony to Jesus…the Resurrection and the Life.  He was living proof that Jesus had power over life and death.  People were coming to Jesus and believing in Jesus because of him!  He was not a preacher or miracle worker.  He was simply an example of the redemptive work of Jesus.

WARNING:  Hanging out with Jesus can be hazardous to your health.

Historical records and traditions tell us that most of the early followers of Jesus lived under the constant threat of danger.  It seems that the closer you were to Jesus the higher on the “hit list” you were.  Even Lazarus made Jerusalem’s Top 10 Most Wanted list.  He didn’t ask for it.  He had done nothing to deserve it.  He was a threat because of what Jesus did for him.  What about you?

Are you a reflection of the resurrection power of Jesus?  It is much easier to quietly serve Jesus from the shadows.  You may be able to escape persecution there, but that is not His purpose for you.  God has blessed you…saved you…not only for your own good, but so others might see what He can do for them as well.  To do this is to become visible…to become associated with a Radical Jesus who brings life…who loves us and forgives us.  It is rocking the boat of the “status quo” and becoming dangerous and often persecuted by those trapped in darkness.

Come out!  Come out, O children of God, that the world may see what Jesus has done for you.  It may be dangerous but, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake…”

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you…If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.” – Jesus (John 15:18-25)

I have always been unnerved by the intensity of the anger and hate of the crowd toward Jesus during His trial.  All four Gospels make me squirm in discomfort as I hear their shouts, “Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!”  Where does such a bloodthirsty passion come from…and why…why point this poisonous attitude toward an innocent man?  What kind of world do we live in?

Maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised that we persecute righteousness.  After all we live in a society that has to pass laws protecting people who want to do the right thing.  People who see wrong and want to speak out are ridiculed.  Those who want to help others in trouble are under threats of lawsuits.  Why do we have such a problem which righteousness?

Even as children we ridicule those who want to follow direction and do the right thing as “teacher’s pet” or “goodie-goodie two-shoes”.  As we grow older we use terms like, “whistle-blower” or “holier than thou”.  What is wrong with us?  We applaud those who are unrighteous and we minimize those who attempt to live a better life.

Jesus gave the disciples a heads up…some insight…in the upper room just hours before they would witness the gross injustice of the cross.  “People hate Me and people will, therefore hate you”.  You see, everyone is OK until righteousness shows up.  When the light is turned on we are exposed and the filth of our sin is revealed.  This does not feel good.  We have two options…resist or repent.  To resist means that we somehow have to put out the light.  We must eliminate the righteousness that highlights our shortcomings.  To justify our selfishness and pride we must deny the truth and crucify Jesus.  Or…we can repent.

To repent is to admit that we are lost and that we are headed to destruction without the intervention of a holy God.  It is humbling ourselves before our Creator and calling out to Him for forgiveness and rescue.  This is the hard choice.  This is the narrow road less traveled.  Otherwise, we are more inclined to stand in the crowd and shout with them…”Crucify Him”.

Before we can begin to unwrap the meaning of this next beatitude we must first realize that the cross reveals that we are first guilty of being the persecutors of this righteousness.

Today, let us humble ourselves before God and ask forgiveness for persecuting Him and those who strive to be like Him.

Blessings!