I’ve been reading through the Gospels since the beginning of 2018 and I’m intentionally going much slower than I have before, wanting to spend more time in each book. Consequently, I feel as though in recent weeks, as I study the Gospels of Luke and John, I have seen a thread emerging bringing deep conviction, devotion, and awe for our amazing God. I want to attempt to share it with you today.
In 2017 Christianity Today published a poll, asking Americans if they considered themselves sinners and this is what they found:
Americans tend to fall into three categories when it comes to sin, according to LifeWay Research’s representative survey of 1,000 Americans.
A third (34%) of Americans say they are sinners and are working on being less sinful, while a quarter (28%) say they are sinners and rely on Jesus to overcome their sin. Meanwhile, 1 in 10 Americans say sin doesn’t exist (10%) or that they are not sinners (8%), while a larger share (15%) prefer not to say if they are sinners at all. Only 1 in 20 is fine with being sinners (5%).
Two-Thirds of Americans Admit They Are Sinners BOB SMIETANA – FACTS & TRENDS, AUGUST 15, 2017
God’s Word tells us in Romans 3:23 (ESV), for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Billy Graham defined sin this way: A sin is any thought or action that falls short of God’s will. God is perfect, and anything we do that falls short of His perfection is sin.
The purpose of this blog is not to convince people that we are sinners. I am hoping most of my readers have already come to grips with that. But in light of our sin, there is great news!!!
I just want to take you through some snapshots from Luke and John that struck me as I read the familiar account of Jesus’s journey to the cross. These moments I jotted in my journal, really painted a picture of God’s deep, deep love; Jesus’s great, great sacrifice; and my wicked heart.
Yes, I said it – My wicked heart. And it is.
Maybe you’re saying, “Whoa, wicked heart?” Isn’t that wording a little harsh? Shouldn’t it be saved for serial killers and the like? This is where accepting that we are sinners is necessary.
If my own thoughts and actions didn’t prove I struggle against wickedness in my heart, Jeremiah 17:9 says, The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
There is no sugarcoating here in this verse. It says, the human heart is the most deceitful of all things. Yikes. It says it’s desperately wicked.
And, in order for us to see the lengths of His redemption, we must see how far He had to reach. Humanity really is a mess.
Some recent passages in my quiet time really brought home this reality for me and as we take a look at some notes from my journal, I want to take you through some scriptures that gripped me with the understanding of His great rescue.
Honestly I have asked the Lord, “Why did you do it? How could You love us so much?”
I would’ve bowed out in disgust early on but God in His love pursues us.
It started as I was reading the account in Luke 22:14-16 of the Last Supper. Jesus is with his closest companions. He has had the room prepared and He is getting ready to tell His disciples that this would be the last time He would dine with them before He would go to the cross – a heavy announcement:
14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
Let’s put ourselves there. This must’ve been a somber occasion. The air must’ve been thick. The usual laughter gone. This was an important meal. And he had just shared some sobering news. But the situation is even more grave.
While He is breaking bread and setting up what would from then on be called “The Lord’s Supper,” He goes on to tell his closest friends someone among them would betray Him. v 21-23
As if it wasn’t bad enough that He was getting ready to face this immense suffering, He would also be betrayed. Lied about. Sold out. The disciples questioned among themselves who could do such a thing. Doesn’t this seem to be a conversation to break up an evening altogether?
What would seem to be the likely next scene in this memorable moment? Tears of sadness? Remorse? Fear? Perhaps…
But certainly not an argument over who would be the greatest among the disciples, right? That’s exactly what happened. You can read it in Luke 22:24-27.
I thought to myself, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” The wheels were coming off. (I mean in no way to make light of this encounter but I think of intended special moments I plan with my kids and how quickly something special can go south because of their behavior.)
So Jesus is facing the cross, at His last meal before innocently dying for the sins of mankind. He is betrayed. He endures a ridiculous conversation about which disciple is the greatest and it doesn’t stop there.
Next we see an exchange between Jesus and Peter, His dear friend. He tells Peter that he will deny Him before sunrise.
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
In the passage we see that Jesus knows Peter will deny Him. Not once but three times. Jesus in fact says He prays for Peter. He looks forward to Peter’s repentance and his testimony to others when he returns to Him.
I try to imagine it. Not a great night. I would’ve been out the door.
The picture painted a much clearer understanding of how sinful we are and how intentional and loving our Savior is.
I notated in my journal other verses that painted the picture of the heart of man. Here are some of the things I jotted:
~Jesus goes to trial in Luke 23 and Herod says that he is eager to talk with Jesus because he wants to see Jesus do a miracle, as if Jesus is some sort of novelty. Luke 23:8
~Once Jesus is on the cross, He cries out (after being mocked, beaten, spit upon and jeered) “Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34
~Shortly after that, one of the criminals next to him arrogantly says, “If you really are the Messiah, save yourself and us!” Luke 23:39
~Looking over to the first chapter in John. John 1:9-13 says, that Jesus came to the world and the world wouldn’t receive Him.
9 The true light (Jesus), which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
He was rejected by the world and even His own people. But He makes His invitation available to ALL who will receive Him.
What a contrast: His love. Our sin.
Shouldn’t He, after looking at just this short account in my journal, say it’s not worth it?
In fact, John 2:23-25 tells us that many of the people saw the miracles Jesus could do and they began to follow Him. Not all followed because He had eternal life but for what He could do for them here and now,
23 Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. 24 But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. 25 No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart. (emphasis mine)
Record scratch right here!
Jesus knew what was in the heart of man but that would not stop Him from loving us.
Romans 5:7-8 says,
7It is rare indeed for anyone to die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Frankly, I identify with some of the encounters and people I have shared today. And yet, Jesus died for me. He pursues me. He prays for me. He loves me.
He loves you too, my friend.
How can it be?
This morning my passage was a familiar one.
John 3:16-17 16“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Did you catch that last part? Look how the passages I shared today condemn the behavior of man. Over and over, sin emerges from the heart of man, but Jesus didn’t come into the world to condemn us. Our own behavior condemns us! Instead, He came that we, through Him, might be saved.
That is a love I cannot comprehend.
So where do we stand? Jesus made the sufficient sacrifice for our sin on the cross but there is still a great dilemma facing mankind. For those who believe, we are no longer condemned. But there is a warning for those who continue to reject Him. The passage in John 3 continues:
“18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21But whoever does what is true comes to the light,”
I leave you with lyrics to one of my favorite songs by Stuart Townend
How Deep the Father’s Love For Us
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.
