The Gospel Project Session 9 – Jesus: The Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word January 20, 2013 Maranatha Grace Fort Lee Daniel Lee

Recap Jesus is the faithful Son who obeys God’s Word. Jesus obeyed where we failed. His perfect record of obedience – his acceptance, is ours, by faith. Jesus is the faithful teacher who explains and fulfills God’s Word. Jesus fulfilled the law where we break it. Jesus interprets the law by pointing to the heart of its author. Jesus laid out God’s expectations, and met them.

Introduction Jesus is the faithful Servant who submits to God’s Word.

Introduction “What Would Jesus Do?”

Introduction

Introduction Charles Sheldon, In His Steps (1897).

Introduction Charles Sheldon, In His Steps (1897). Reverend Henry Maxwell

Introduction Charles Sheldon, In His Steps (1897). “Our motto will be, ‘What would Jesus do?’ Our aim will be to act just as He would if He were in our places, regardless of immediate results. In other words, we propose to follow Jesus’ steps as closely and as literally as we believe He taught His disciples to do. And those who volunteer to do this will pledge themselves for an entire year, beginning with to-day, so to act.” 

Introduction GP: Christians too often apply this “imitation of Christ” only to ethical situations. The unintended result is that Jesus gets reduced to just a teacher of morals. 

Introduction “We cannot see Jesus as an example unless we see Jesus as a substitute.” You cannot see Jesus as Lord unless you also see Jesus as Savior. Jesus is both Substitute and Example, both Savior and Lord.

Introduction Imitation of Christ requires meditation on Christ. GP: “Therefore, if we are to imitate Christ, we need to ask a different question—not just “What would Jesus do?” but “What has Jesus done?” Once we understand what Jesus has done, we can best understand how to represent Him and follow Him faithfully.”

Introduction In today’s lesson, we will consider Christ’s perfect response to God’s Word through His death and resurrection. Jesus obeyed the Father’s word and submitted to His will, even though it brought great suffering and shame. But in Christ’s willing submission, He secured our purification from sin and was thus exalted to the right hand of the Father.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word 1. Christ submitted to the Father’s will, even though it brought great suffering (Mark 14:32-36). Two weeks ago, we saw that Jesus came as our substitute. He obeyed God at the very point Adam rebelled. Now we see Jesus in Gethsemane. Again, through great suffering, Jesus chose to obey the Father’s word and to submit to His will.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word Mark 14:32-36 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word How does Jesus feel? What words clue is in? Distressed Troubled Sorrowful, even to death “if it were possible, the hour might pass from him” – he’s asking for escape. Remove this cup from me – in his humanness, Jesus cannot bear what God has in store for him.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word Jeremiah 25 – the cup of wrath: This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. Then after seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, declares the LORD, making the land an everlasting waste… Thus the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. They shall drink and stagger and be crazed because of the sword that I am sending among them.” So I took the cup from the LORD's hand, and made all the nations to whom the LORD sent me drink it: Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, its kings and officials, to make them a desolation and a waste, a hissing and a curse, as at this day….

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word The cup of wrath. Words that clue is in: Disaster A curse Recompense – distribution of justice; payment for evil (or good) Desolation “Fall and rise no more” – death Sword – a symbol of God’s punishment “Punishment”

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word The cup of wrath: The cup of wrath represents God’s intense anger and wrath against sins, and the punishment that results. It means complete death and devastation. It means being cut off from God.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word Jesus faced “the cup” of God’s wrath, and he drank it. GP: At the cross (the “hour” that Jesus spoke of), God the Father poured out the full cup of His wrath on His own Son as a judgment against sin. Since Jesus took on our sin, He was forsaken and abandoned (Mark 15:34).

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word GP: In the end, however, unlike Adam, Jesus submitted to the Father’s will with an emphatic “Not what I will, but what You will.” Jesus knew that there was no way to fulfill the Father’s Word other than to submit to the Father’s will. God could only take this cup away from His people by pouring it out on His righteous Servant (Isa. 51:17,21-22). Jesus received the wounds we deserved, and by faith we receive forgiveness (53:1-12).

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word Our Obedience should be Cross-Shaped. GP: Only when we meditate on Christ’s life and death (what He has done) are we able to imitate Christ. If we fail to ground our efforts to be like Christ in the good news of what Christ has done for us, we will throw up our hands and give up! The cross is what makes possible our obedience. And the cross shapes what our obedience looks like.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word Christ’s suffering does two things: It gives us a model for the Christian life. In following him – in imitating him – in submitting to the Father’s will, we too face suffering. Our suffering is LIKE his. It gives us power to follow suit. How? Because our suffering is UNLIKE his.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word Our suffering is UNLIKE Jesus’s suffering: Jesus’s suffering was a payment for sins. It was substitutionary. The suffering of Christians is not a payment for sins. Our sins have been paid for by Christ’s suffering. Jesus’s suffering was an expression of God’s wrath. The suffering of Christians is an expression of God’s love. Our suffering is ultimately for our good.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word Our suffering is UNLIKE Jesus’s suffering: Jesus’s suffering was a payment for sins. It was substitutionary. The suffering of Christians is not a payment for sins. Our sins have been paid for by Christ’s suffering. Jesus’s suffering was an expression of God’s wrath. The suffering of Christians is an expression of God’s love. Our suffering is ultimately for our good. In his suffering, Jesus was abandoned by God. God never abandons us in our suffering.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word 2. Christ submitted to the Father’s will, even though it brought great shame (Phil. 2:5-11). Philippians 2:5-11: Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word The Doctrine of the Incarnation: In Jesus of Nazareth, God the Son took on human nature. “emptied himself” does not mean God the Son stopped being God Subtraction by Addition Jesus emptied himself of the glory of divinity by “taking the form of a servant” – by taking on human nature.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word The Doctrine of the Incarnation: In Jesus of Nazareth, God the Son took on human nature. GP: Jesus had all the privileges that came with being God. Yet in submitting to the Father’s will, He set those privileges aside in order to become human for our salvation. Jesus did not empty Himself of deity; He took on a lowly status and position as He took on humanity. Jesus had to step out of the glories of heaven, become a servant, and take on flesh. According to the Father’s plan of redemption, Jesus had to become like us in order to rescue us.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word Why did God the Son become man in Jesus Christ? Hebrews 2:14-18 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word Why did God the Son become man in Jesus Christ? He did it “that through death he might”: Destroy the one who has the power of death – the devil Deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery – the offspring of Abraham Become a merciful and faithful high priest Make propitiation for the sins of the people – he might appease the wrath of God.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word Why did God the Son become man? God the Son became man in order to die, and in his death absorb God’s wrath, so that that wrath might be deflected from us. Illustration: The good King, the evil King, the rebels, and the good prince.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word Jesus is the Righteous Prince sent by the righteous King to rescue rebels held captive by Satan and welcome them into the Kingdom of his Father. He bears the shame of human nature, and ultimately, he hangs on a cross – condemned as a sinner, though he was innocent. In submitting himself to God’s will, he ends up with shame.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word But the story doesn’t end there. Christ’s shame leads to his glory. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 ESV)

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word 3. Christ’s submission leads to our purification and His exaltation (Heb. 1:1-4). Illustration: Thor. Exaltation through humiliation.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word Hebrews 1:1-4: Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word In the Old Testament, God revealed himself “by the prophets” – through: fire smoke direct word prophecy dreams visions angels theophanies (pre-Incarnate divine appearances)

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word But “in these last days” – God speaks through Jesus. Jesus is the climax of God’s special revelation: the final word from God “the radiance of the glory of God” “the exact imprint of his nature” In Jesus, we see God more clearly, more accurately, more intimately than ever before. GP: “To know Jesus is to know God; to see Jesus is to see God.”

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word This revelation of God in Jesus finds its greatest expression at the cross and in the resurrection: They reveal God’s holiness and justice: The cross reveals God’s justice against sin. GP: At the cross, the Father’s righteousness was revealed as He judged sin in Christ; God is both just and the justifier of sinners. Christ’s death revealed that God takes sin seriously, and so must we. Forgiveness may be free, but it is not cheap. The resurrection reveals God’s justice. On the cross, when Jesus cried, “It is finished!” he declared that he had made full payment for sin. And because sin had been paid for, God could raise Christ from the dead.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word This revelation of God in Jesus finds its greatest expression at the cross and in the resurrection: The cross of Jesus reveals God’s power and authority over Satan: GP: “Christ came to crush Satan and to set us free from his power. The cross, which at first appears to be Satan’s victory, is actually Satan’s downfall.” The cross of Jesus reveals God’s grace and mercy toward undeserving sinners.

Session 9 – Jesus is the Faithful Servant Who Submits to God’s Word As the exalted One who is crowned King of kings and Lord of lords (Phil. 2:9-11), Jesus is superior to: the angels (Heb. 1:4-5,14; 2:2-3,18), Moses (3:1-6; 11:23-29,39), Joshua (3:7–4:10), ] Aaron (5:4), Melchizedek (chap. 7), the priests (chaps. 8–9), the sacrifices (10:1-18), and yes, even Thor.

Conclusion & Application The right response to what Christ has done – and what God has done in Christ – is repentance and faith. Repentance is turning away from our rebellious ways. Faith is turning to Christ as Savior and as King, submitting to his rule.

Conclusion & Application The right response to what Christ has done – and what God has done in Christ – is repentance and faith. Repentance and Faith is how we enter into saving relationship with Christ, but it is also what our relationship with Christ grows every day. “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, "Repent," he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” - Martin Luther, The 95 Theses

Conclusion & Application 2. Our suffering as Jesus’s disciples. You will suffer for following Jesus: Your family or friends may turn against you. Luke 14:26-27 You will have to abandon or forsake the love and pursuit of worldly wealth and status as an end in itself. Rich young ruler (Mk 10:23-31); cannot serve two masters (Lk 16). You will be considered foolish – stupid – for following Jesus. The gospel is a message of foolishness to the world. “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 1:18-19 ESV)

Conclusion & Application 2. Our suffering as Jesus’s disciples. How to Respond: God will use our shame to accomplish his end of bringing life to those who believe. The gospel that is folly to the world is also the message of life. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. (2 Corinthians 2:15-16 ESV)

Conclusion & Application 2. Our suffering as Jesus’s disciples. How to Respond: Jesus knows what we have suffered, and he promises a hundredfold reward. The Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:28-31 ESV)

Conclusion & Application 2. Our suffering as Jesus’s disciples. How to Respond: We bear shame with Jesus, the one who bore our shame. We grow closer to him; we get to know him better. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. (Hebrews 13:12-15 ESV)

Jesus I My Cross Have Taken Jesus, I my cross have taken, All to leave and follow Thee. Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou from hence my all shall be. Perish every fond ambition, All I’ve sought or hoped or known. Yet how rich is my condition! God and heaven are still my own.

Jesus I My Cross Have Taken Let the world despise and leave me, They have left my Savior, too. Human hearts and looks deceive me; Thou art not, like them, untrue. O while Thou dost smile upon me, God of wisdom, love, and might, Foes may hate and friends disown me, Show Thy face and all is bright.

Jesus I My Cross Have Taken Go, then, earthly fame and treasure, Come disaster, scorn and pain In Thy service, pain is pleasure, With Thy favor, loss is gain I have called Thee Abba Father, I have stayed my heart on Thee Storms may howl, and clouds may gather; All must work for good to me.

Jesus I My Cross Have Taken Soul, then know thy full salvation Rise o’er sin and fear and care Joy to find in every station, Something still to do or bear. Think what Spirit dwells within thee, Think what Father’s smiles are thine, Think that Jesus died to win thee, Child of heaven, canst thou repine.

Jesus I My Cross Have Taken Haste thee on from grace to glory, Armed by faith, and winged by prayer. Heaven’s eternal days before thee, God’s own hand shall guide us there. Soon shall close thy earthly mission, Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days, Hope shall change to glad fruition, Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.