The Relentless March to the Cross
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Jesus solves the tension between God's holiness, His justice, and redemption by His Grace alone.
Text: Luke 18:31-34
Date: 12/22/2024, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 175
Description:
As Jesus and His disciples make their approach to Jericho, He takes the opportunity to tell His closest disciples (the twelve) for the third time how He will suffer, be killed and rise again once they reach Jerusalem. We will analyze the various aspects of this Passion-announcement, paying particular attention to the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament. We will study this profound sequence of events in the context of the important principle we have learned from Luke's recent stories and parables-- that Redemption is by grace and grace alone. But salvation by grace alone raises what some see to be a Theological dilemma. In other words, how can God be merciful and just at the same time? Does not one preclude the other when punishment for sin is demanded by His holiness? Luke brilliantly positions this story to answer that question as Jesus reveals His relentless march to the Cross-- not just in this Gospel, but all throughout God's history of Redemption.
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 18:31-34.
A. Context
1. The stories of salvation by grace, Luke 18:27.
2. Jesus' prior revelations, Luke 9:11,44-45,51.
B. The third announcement of Jesus' Passion.
1. The fulfillment of prophecy, vs. 31.
a. Setting the scene.
i. A private conversation, Luke 9:21; Matt. 20:17.
ii. A scene of courage, Mark 10:32; John 10:30-31, 11:16.
b. Returning to Jerusalem.
i. The Providential destination.
ii. The elevation.
1) The physical elevation.
2) The spiritual elevation.
c. The prophecies.
i. Looking at the words.
1) The "Son of Man", Luke 24:6-8, 24:27.
2) The reliability of Scripture.
3) Accomplishing Redemptive History.
ii. Chronicling the relentless march to the Cross.
1) The Protoevangelium, Gen. 3:15.
2) The promise to Noah, Gen. 8:21-22.
3) The promise to Abraham.
a) The promise of worldwide blessing, Gen. 12:3, 22:18, 15:6.
b) The Lamb of God, Gen. 22:2,7; John 1:29.
4) A prophet like Moses.
a) The Passover Lamb, John 1:29; 1Cor. 5:7.
b) The sacrificial system, Lev. 23:27.
c) Introducing Jesus, Deut. 18:15; John 5:46-47.
5) The Kingdom of David, 2Sam. 7:12-13.
6) The prophecies of old.
2. Jesus' prophecy of His suffering, 32-33, Matt. 27:46.
a. Combining the announcements.
b. Analyzing the aspects of the Passion.
i. Delivered into the hands of men, Luke 9:44.
1) Rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, Luke 9:22; John 1:11.
2) Delivered over to the Gentiles, Isa. 53:6; Rom. 8:32; Eph. 5:2; Acts 2:23.
ii. He will suffer many things, Luke 9:22.
1) He will be mocked, shamefully treated and spit upon, Luke 22:63-64; Matt. 27:28-31,41-42.
2) He will be flogged, John 19:1 .
3) He will be killed, Matt. 26:24.
iii. On the third day He will rise, Luke 24:5-6.
3. The blindness of the disciples, vs. 34.
a. The obduracy of the disciples.
b. A compassionate blindness, John 2:22, 16:12-13.
III. Application
A. The answer to the "tension".
B. The fulfillment of the "Suffering Servant", Isa. 53:2-12.
IV. Conclusion
