INSTRUCTOR - THE CERTAINTY AND
NECESSITY OF SUFFERING
GET
ACQUAINTED - Ask for volunteers to relate either what hindered them most
in coming to Christ or one of their struggles as a Christian.
THE
SUFFERING OF JESUS
List the statements of fact and progression of
events described by the verb forms in Mk.9:31. Jesus was teaching His disciples that (1)
He was going to be delivered to the power of men (2) who would kill
Him and (3) He would rise from the dead.
Notice
that the same facts are stated in Mt.17:22-23.
[Gk.-mello - a statement of fact, of certainty - "is about
to, is going to, will, will certainly"]
In
Mt.17:10-13, what did Jesus compare
His sufferings to?
The
treatment of John the Baptist [mello]
·
The Bible not only gives us truth (statements of fact rooted in
history, subject to verification), it also gives us reasons (coherent
explanations subject to the laws of logic).
What
does Jesus describe as a "must" in Lk.9:22?
His own
suffering, key events of the Gospel [dei - description of
a stage in the way God's plans have to unfold for the program to continue. It is comprehensible and cannot be otherwise
for very good reasons - "It behooves us, it is necessary, we must"]
What
points did the angels make to the women at the empty tomb, Lk.24:6-7?
(1) He is
risen, (2) just as he told you, (3) It was necessary
for the Gospel events (deliverance, crucifixion, resurrection) to take place
Later,
on the road to Emmaus (Lk.24:26),
How does Jesus put the rhetorical question to the disciples?
Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer
these things and to enter into His glory?
What
does Jesus do after asking that question and how does he proceed (v.27)?
He shows
them how the Scriptures refer to Him by going through the Old Testament from
the beginning and correctly interpreting its history and teachings.
What
was the disciples' response (v.32)? Their hearts burned within them [not from seeing
miracles]
because they recognized that Jesus had truly opened the Scriptures to them and
they saw the necessity of His death.
Describe
what happened when Jesus later appeared to His disciples (v.44-45). He reminded them that He
had spoken to them of the necessity
for everything written about Him in the OT to be fulfilled and He opened their
minds to understand the Scriptures.
·
Lk.24 is one place where
Scripture impresses upon us that the substantiality of our faith is rooted in
and grows out of actual verifiable history, is logically understandable and
sensible.
EXERCISE - Spend some time
thinking through history as presented in the Bible and write out your
observations related to the question, Why were Christ's suffering, death and resurrection necessary? Being created in His image, we were made to
correspond to God. We were obliged to
recognize His sovereignty over all things.
We rebelled and were sentenced.
God is holy (cannot dwell with sinners) and will do right (punish
sin). My only hope is that He will
accept an appropriate substitute. (see also Heb.2:8b-18)
Comment
on the concept of necessity in Jn.3:1-15
at verses 7b and 14.
A new birth
is necessary for anyone (me) to enter the
Why
isn't confession and forgiveness of individual sins enough?
Eph.4:22-24, "Put off your old self… put on your new self, created
after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
Eph.2:3, By
nature children of wrath
Col.3:10, New
self renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator
Rom.8:29, Conformed to the image
of His Son, in order that He might be firstborn among many brothers [all in the same family]
Our
very nature is independent and contrary to God and therefore we are
incompatible with Him. There can be no union
between God and my old man. The human
condition is that we are contrary to God in our very core. He gives us a new nature compatible with His
- "I will put a new heart within you" - "born from above" -
"born again" - we become "a new creation"
THE SUFFERING OF HIS PEOPLE
How are we to view suffering because of our
faith in Christ, Mt.5:10-12?
"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."
·
In God's plan, suffering was the path to glory not only for Jesus,
but is also the path for those who follow Him.
Christians suffer persecution for identifying
with Christ (following Him) in the practice of (1) calling themselves by
His name, (2) witnessing to His glory, (3) living righteously
unto Him.
Explain
Lk.11:47-51. Jesus condemns the generation rejecting Him by
showing that rather than honoring the prophets [as they saw themselves doing], they were complicit
with those who murdered them. In fact
that generation was liable for the prophet's blood shed by all previous
generations. Is this not what
Stephen condemned the not-true Israelites for (Acts 7:51-53)? Yes.
How
does the parable at Lk.20:9-19 dramatizes
EXERCISE - Think through the
history of the persecution of the Church and write out your thoughts. Bring a specific or personal instance to
share. Many of the disciples
were beaten, stoned and murdered.
Christians had to move to other areas to escape persecution [diaspora
Acts 8:1, 3]. Throughout the years to this very day,
believers in Christ have been harassed, jailed and murdered by family,
neighbors, countrymen and governments.
They have been marginalized, hated, abused, ridiculed, intimidated, embarrassed,
shamed, silenced, slandered, their property stolen and vandalized, etc. For what? -
doing good, believing in Christ, speaking truth.
If
Christ suffered for me, why do I have to suffer? Why is suffering part of God’s plan for His
people? Follow the argument in Rom.8:15b-39. If we
are God's children, then we are heirs [inheritors] (v.17a) "since
we are suffering with him in order that we may also be glorified with Him"
(v.17b). ["Since", here commonly translated "if"
or "provided that," means "since it is true that." It does not state a
condition, but a fact in a logically connected sequence of facts
in which the truth of the first certifies the truth of all - you have been
adopted by God the Father, given an inheritance with His natural son, Jesus,
you are suffering with Him and you will be glorified with Him (v.15b-17).] The present
suffering (v.18) has to do with our
struggles brought on by the conflict between our old and new natures (chap.6-8). We have been raised and conditioned as slaves
to sin, just as the Hebrews whom Moses led out of
Come
prepared to discuss one of the following passages. Phil.1:27-30, Don't break under the pressure of opposition, but together
exert pressure of your own by proclaiming the Gospel. Understand that persistent opposition to the
Gospel is a sure sign of their eventual destruction, and your courage is a sure
sign of your salvation. You have been
granted the privileges of both believing and suffering for Christ.
1
Pt.4:12-19, "Do not be
surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you, as though something
strange were happening to you. But
rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings that you may also rejoice and
be glad when His glory is revealed."
Jn.15:18-21;
16:1-3, People of the world
inevitably hate and persecute the disciples of Jesus because they recognize
their foreignness [they don't belong]. His disciples are
alien to [stand out from] those who do not know the Father or Jesus and will be
persecuted as was Jesus.
Mt.10:16-39, Jesus' disciples will be persecuted for His sake because
the Gospel causes division among people by exposing what men would keep
hidden. We must live unto and fear God
in whose hands are all things.
2
Tim.3:10-14a, "In fact, all who
desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted [certainty]."
Acts 14:22, "Through many tribulations we must [dei] enter the
Jn.16:33, "I have said these things to you that in Me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation.
But take heart; I have overcome the world."
1
Thes.3:2b-4, "We sent
Timothy…to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by
these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this."
1 Cor.10:1-13, The Israelites crossing the desert serve as examples for
us. "No temptation has overtaken
you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be
tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the
way of escape that you may be able to endure it."
1 Pt.1:6-7, "Now for a little while, if [as or when] necessary, you have been
grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith - more
precious than gold…- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at
the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Further
Study Recommended - cassette
- "The Resistance Leader Knows What He's Doing"
by Os Guinness