JOURNEY TO THE CROSS
JESUS MEETS THE DISTRACTED AND THE SUPERFICIAL
Luke 23 is the dividing line of eternity.
Luke 23:1-3 Then their whole assembly rose up and brought him before Pilate. 2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” 3 So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.”
Pilate: The Preoccupied.
Luke 23:4 “4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.”
Pilate is more concerned with appeasing the crowd than he is doing right by Jesus.
Pilate’s is not so much a rejection of Jesus as it is indifference to Jesus.
DISTRACTION sends far more people to hell than disbelief ever did.
The most important reality is who God is, and if you know him, and if you’re prepared to meet him, and if you’re living out his plan.
Luke 23:5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”
Luke 23:6-7 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.
Herod was the Jewish puppet king that Rome had placed over the rural parts of Israel
Herod is--The Superficial
Luke 23:8-9 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer.
Herod is curious about Jesus on a superficial level.
Herod represents the person today that comes to church but never really gets serious about Jesus because that would cost too much.
The good news: Jesus can forgive every sin. Break every chain. Through the power of the resurrection he can reverse every curse.
Joel 2:25 “I will restore to you the years the swarming locust have eaten.”
You may think that your sins have so destroyed and disqualified your life that there’s no returning, but you’re wrong.
Never underestimate his power to forgive, heal and restore.
The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to ALL who will receive it.
The hard news is that you’ve got to come to him on his terms, and that means honesty,
transparency, and surrender. Real repentance. Surrender. No more games.
Continuing on in sin deadens you; it’s like a dark cloud that chokes out your spiritual life.
Luke 23:11-12 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
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