Good morning church. How good and pleasant it is when God’s people be in the presence of God. Amen bah!
Last Sunday, we talked about “THE PROMISE OF SUFFERING” that He will comfort us when we have trouble so that we can comfort and minister to others.
Despite tensions that are rampant in this world God was able to give us an inner peace not as the world gives. And God will remain faithful to be with us in times of suffering and reward us of our loyalty and faithfulness to Him.
This morning, I’m going to share with you entitled, “THE ULTIMATE SUFFERING OF JESUS”
John Piper a prominent pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. tells the story of an indigenous missionary in India who walked barefoot from village to village sharing the gospel.
After walking a long way, he finally came to a village where he was rejected for his message. Being tired and discouraged, he went out of the village and fell fast asleep under a tree.
When he awoke, all the villagers were there, anxious to hear his message. The head man of the village said that they had been looking him over while he slept, and when they saw his blistered/infected feet, they concluded that he must be a holy man.
They were sorry for rejecting one who had endured so much to come to tell them of Jesus.
Moral lesson:
Wow, it’s wonderful to see people come to realize the ultimate suffering of Christ is worth value for the salvation of our soul.
THREE TRUTHS ABOUT THE ULTIMATE SUFFERING OF CHRIST
I. WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT
It is hard to fathom the unique plan of God because our mind could not grasp the mind of our Almighty Father.
God was intentionally revealed it in a progressive way to mankind by showing his lavish love through the suffering of His Son Jesus on the cross.
It was in the mind of God that He would rescue humanity. As a matter of fact, after the fall of men, the Lord has promised a Savior to redeem mankind a Great Deliverer to be born in the Seed of David.
Gen. 3:15 New King James Version And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”
This was a long line prophecy in the Bible that there would be blood battle between the seed of the woman and the serpent.
However, the ultimate SEED of the woman which is Jesus Christ incarnation, His suffering, burial, and death was designed by God to let the world know that His plan was not changed despite moral failure.
Satan was defeated by Christ on the cross of Calvary. The Bible says,
Romans 16:20
New King James Version
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with you. Amen.
Note: Please bear in mind that without suffering from Jesus Christ there would be no total scenario of repentance of mankind.
For the reason that the suffering of Christ all people realized that God is good, kind, and faithful.
II. TO SHOW GOD’S GREATNESS OF LOVE
There would be no Christianity today if Christ did not die on the cross. People oftentimes wearing crucifix as necklace and earing just to beautify their body, but they never understand the true meaning of why Jesus truly died on the cross, and what was the reason for it?
Unfortunately, many so-called Christian today but when they asked about what the meaning of the cross is? they nodded you and smiles at you and thumbs up.
Christ’s suffering had a reason. He never died on the cross without a purpose. Honestly, we are the reason for His suffering and pain. We are the reason that He gave his life, suffered, and died because He wanted to know all of us that His love was not changed.
I want you to know that the ultimate suffering of Christ on the cross was the greatest evidence that God indeed loves us so much while we yet sinners.
Romans 5:8
New King James Version
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God proves His genuine love in what way? By action. Am I right? And where? On the cross. Amen bah!
God knows that the world needs to be displayed by His love so that they can feel and realize how much they love us by God.
It’s just like a parent if they wanted to develop their children quickly of what being taught, they need to show up their love by their actions.
TRANSITION:
Let me ask you a question, what kind of suffering you have suffered today? Arthritis, Rheumatism, kidney problem, heart disease, tuberculosis, migraine, underarm problem, bad breath, rejection, hard work to support the family?
You can name it all the suffering that we have been gone through but all the pain and misery that we have it is because of our bad choice.
Our suffering in this life cannot compare to the sacrifice of Jesus that has been suffered because of our sin. In other words, Jesus suffered much because of you.
Just tell the person next to you, is your suffering has a reason? Hala ka ikaw maoy hinungdan?
III. TO BRING SALVATION TO ALL HUMANITY
God is seen in the real need of all the people in the world. The need of the people was not a computer to provide information. Not a comedian for us to be entertained. Neither food for us to be satisfied with our tummy. Nor weapon for us to be protected from evil people but SALVATION in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
I wonder why people are not interested when you invited them to join life groups or Bible sharing? for that reason, probably
1. Excuses they have many chores to be done at home
2. what their looking for is benefits.
3. People are insulted God because they believe in their minds. After all, salvation is free ever. And because salvation is free, they are thinking that it is cheap/low-cost. Salvation made it free by God because someone paid for it.
I want you to know that God offers for free salvation to all mankind because we cannot afford to save ourselves and our human effort cannot reach the high standard of God to obtain salvation.
What I observed here in Cebu, people are responded to the gospel in a shallow mood. They are interested in your offer if they have subsidies. In other words, they are looking for benefit does not commit or admit that we are sinners need to be saved from the judgment of hell
Don’t you know why Jesus rejected by His people because they were expected that their coming Messiah would be born in a royal family, suddenly their expectation was failed because God’s plan was opposite behind their anticipation?
Jesus was underestimated by His people because of living in a squatter area called Nazareth. In other words speaking, people are looking at the outer part and used to basically in the standard of this world.
The Lord Jesus Christ took in human form and lived a low-profile life, serving the people so that you and I will come to know that His service is the symbol of His love for us
TRANSITION:
God was willfully choosing to be born in a poor family so that our attraction is not on prestige, power, possession, miracles, and blessing but sincerity and charity of the heart. Amen bah!
Let me ask you a question, what does entice us in Jesus of coming to Him? Are you persuade Him because there is judgment when we neglected Him, are we convinced for the reason that Jesus suffered much for our sin instead of us, Are we attract Jesus because we love Him?