Metro Youth Network

Wednesday, July 15
Read: Luke 24

Can you think of a time when you had to trust someone completely? Maybe it was when you played a part in one of those ridiculous trust-fall exercises. You know, the ones where you fall backwards, hopefully into the arms of your partner and not onto the solid ground? So many times when that game is played, people are so hesitant to trust their partner completely, assuming that they’re going to bust their head on the ground for sure.

When people think about doubt and the resurrection, most quickly remember Thomas. However, when you read Luke 24, it’s obvious that Thomas wasn’t the only one that doubted Jesus’ resurrection. Quite the contrary, it seems like he was in good company.

The chapter starts with “the women” going to the tomb with “the spices they had prepared” so that they could preserve Jesus’ body. If they were going with spices for the body, that means that they weren’t expecting the body to not be there. They were expecting Jesus to still be laying lifeless in his burial cloths. Needless to say, they were pretty afraid to not only find that Jesus wasn’t there, but to be greeted by two angels. The interesting thing is that the angels themselves point out to the women that they should have expected to find no body!

The angels said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you In Galilee: The Son of Man must be delivered in to the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”

The women rushed back to tell the apostles what they had seen, but then the apostles don’t believe them. In fact, they thought their story was “nonsense”. The Greek word for “nonsense”, leros, was the same word used to refer to the crazy stories very sick people told or to the tall tales told by those who had trouble perceiving and grasping reality. Verse 12 is the one dim glimmer of hope in this passage of doubt, as Luke describes how Peter ran off to the tomb based on the women’s testimony. However, even though he finds the tomb empty, Scripture records that he went away wondering what had really happened.

Then there are the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus enters in on the scene, but his identity is “kept” from them. Darrell L. Bock suggests that Jesus did this intentionally, but not out of cruelty. His purpose was to slowly reveal himself to them so that they could learn about trusting God’s promises. Nevertheless, as the disciples tell their new friend on the road what had happened over the last few days, they are also told that they shouldn’t have been surprised. Jesus sets them straight, telling them that everything that happened was written in the prophets long ago.

Jesus finally makes an appearance to the Eleven, who seem to be finally getting it now. That is, until Jesus shows up in the flesh. As everyone gathered together, reports kept coming in about how Jesus was indeed alive, and that he had even revealed himself to Simon. Everyone probably started to get extremely excited, when, out of nowhere, Jesus appears, saying, “Peace be with you.”

Almost immediately, thinking they were looking at a ghost (or spirit), and quite obviously frightened, Jesus reassures them that he is indeed the real deal. As he eats some fish to prove to them that he was a real man, he again reminds them how he told them that he was going to be tried, crucified, and then risen from the dead. Jesus opens their minds so they could understand the Scriptures, and they finally, finally, get it.

Process:

- The consistent theme in this passage is definitely how the disciples were surprised about Jesus’ rising from the dead, even though Jesus and Scripture had foretold them it was going to happen anyway. What are some promises in your life that God has made to you? Why is it so easy to doubt what we know to be true?

-Even though this is the last chapter of Luke, Luke is not done with his story for Theophilus. Verses 47-48 are really a brief synopsis of the first few chapters of Acts, one of the key ideas being how the disciples will preach forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name. Take the time to pray for the people you know that need to be saved.

-Read Ephesians 1:18-23. That same power that God used to raise Christ is available to us daily. In what areas of your life do you need to live out the victorious resurrection of God? Take time to pray over each other, asking God to allow you to live in his power.

Tuesday, July 14
Read: Luke 23

“Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free. For God the just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me.” (Charitie L. Bancroft, Before The Throne Of God Above)

There is no doubt that the underlying theme of this section is Jesus’ innocence. The amount of times that this is emphasized throughout all the ensuing trials makes this unmistakably true.

To recap a bit, the council that convened in Luke 22:66, made up of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law (collectively known as the Sanhedrin), were able to judge internal Jewish matters on their own. They had their case against Jesus in the bag in verses 70-71 (as Jesus admitted that he was the Son of Man), but they needed the Roman government to approve any sentencing resulting in death. Enter Pilate.

Unwaveringly believing from the get go that Jesus deserved death, the “whole assembly” hurled charge after charge against Jesus to Pilate: He’s subverting the nation, not paying taxes (which wasn’t even true), and claims to be the Christ, a king.

Attempts to make Pilate concerned about these charges fail (even though Jesus agrees to being the king of the Jews), and declares that he could find no reason to sentence Jesus. “But they insisted” anyway (verse 5). Finding out that Jesus was from Galilee, not wanting to deal with the Sanhedrin pressing him, and not really having a basis to sentence him, Pilate passes the buck to the Jewish ruler Herod.

Quite pleased to see Jesus, Herod hopes for a magic show as he had wanted to see Jesus “perform” for some time. And even though Herod asked Jesus many questions, Jesus never answered (Isaiah 53:7 says, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”). It seems as though Jesus is done dignifying their questions. Even still, the chief priests and teachers of the law continued to point the finger at Jesus, trying to get what they wanted: Jesus dead. As Herod finds no reason to accuse Jesus either, he mocks Jesus’ true kingship (something they obviously had not discovered) by parading him around in an imitation royal robe. Now two men have declared Jesus innocent.

Jesus’ return to Pilate’s court doesn’t immediately amount to death, but it does serve as a good portrait of Jesus’ innocence being trampled over without care. As Pilate tries to settle the crowd by offering up a hearty serving of punishment (most likely a sever beating with a whip leaving the accused just barely on this side of life), in unison the crowd cries out for the release of Barabbas, a convicted murderer. Pilate tries to defend Jesus again, but the crowd still wants him crucified. Almost bewildered, Pilate shouts back, “Why? I have found no grounds for the death penalty!”

“But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.”

The crowd had won. They pushed and they pushed until the sinless Savior was finally condemned to death. The innocent Jesus, the perfect, spotless righteous one was tried, found guiltless, and yet was still sentenced to die. The sinner walked away a free man, while the blameless had only begun his journey to the cross.

Perhaps the most amazing thing of it all is that Jesus’ conviction leads him to show kindness, compassion and mercy to his enemies. After Jesus tells the weeping women to not feel bad for him (and instead mourn for those who reject him as Savior), he is crucified along with two men who rightfully deserved their judgment. Yet even though they deserved this death, Jesus’ first words on the cross were, not only to them but to us all, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

The rulers and soldiers began to slaughter Jesus with insults, making fun of him saying that if he was the Christ of God, he should just save himself. Then one of the criminals joins in, agreeing with their remarks. And then finally, after hours of humiliation, torture, and down right injustice, truth comes from where it’s least expected. The second criminal silenced the other saying:

“Don’t you fear God since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Process:

- Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. How does it make you feel to know that Jesus became sin for you so that you could be reconciled to God?

-Now read 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. Knowing that Christ died for you, how do you think you should live?

-Talk about what it must have felt like for Jesus to love his enemies while he was being beaten and killed. Then read Luke 9:27-36. Who is God calling you to love and be merciful to?

Monday, July 13
Read: Luke 22

We are reaching the end of Luke and the beginning of the passion story of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. After the Passover meal, Jesus is trying to warn the disciples of the importance of guarding their hearts in a time of temptation. Jesus knows that the enemy is doing what he can to try and altar the faith of the disciples and of Jesus. When asked which is the greatest amongst the apostles, Jesus answers that it the one who sees himself as the youngest. During the time of Jesus, the young ones were considered the least significant. This was Christ’s way of telling them that greatest are the ones who humbly serve God. This is not a new theme in Luke’s gospel, yet Jesus is trying to stress this importance right before a time of temptation (he already warns them that one apostle will betray him and another will deny his name).

We then get this interesting incidence of the swords (v. 36-38). Jesus is urging the apostles to have a sword and even suggests that they sell their cloak for one (cloaks and garments for the night were considered of high importance). But when the disciples pull out two swords, Jesus reaction is to tell them, “this is enough” (v.38). It is important to know that Jesus is not saying the two swords are enough, instead he is ending the conversation with frustration because the apostles are not understanding the point he is trying to make. Jesus is not talking about a literal sword but of figurative spiritual sword. Look at Ephesians 6:11-18. In this passage Paul is a talking about equipping ourselves with what is necessary for spiritual battle with the enemy. “Take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). The sword that Jesus is referring to in Luke 22 is the sword of the Spirit! In no way is Christ trying to suggest the use of violence. Jesus never preaches the coming of the kingdom of God through violence. Instead, Jesus is telling his apostles to hold onto the teaching that he has given to them. The temptations of Satan are approaching and it is the word of God that can help them overcome that.

We even get a little glimpse of Jesus being tempted. In versus 41-44 we get to hear a prayer from Jesus to the father. Yet, he pleads with the Father, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from yet not as my will, but as yours be done” (v.42). Jesus is asking the father to remove this cup, which he is referring to as the suffering he must go through. Simply put, Jesus is afraid and not looking forward to going through such harsh pain. Yet, he never looses site of the importance of the Fathers will! Jesus death is the will of God, but instead of just telling that to Jesus, He sends an angel to strengthen Jesus.

This is one of the most human sides we see of Jesus in all of the gospels. It is important to remember that Jesus was both fully God and fully Human. He felt temptations the same way we did, and the enemy was always ready to attack him. Here was a moment when Christ would rather not have to go through such suffering for God will to be done. He would prefer another way. Yet Jesus is strengthened through his prayer! And although he was still “anguished” Jesus prayed more earnestly. This meant that he was accepting the fact of Gods will for him rather than praying for a new will. This is why he urged his disciples to pray, so that they may be strengthened just as he was. And this is another reason why we must pray continually! God strengthens us through prayer!

Process

-In Luke 22:49-51, the disciples saw a moment where they believed violence was a justified act. Yet Jesus response is to stop the fighting and to heal the servant of the high priest, an enemy of Jesus. Jesus is showing how we are to truly love our enemies! No where in the teachings of Christ does he ever preach the use of violence or war, yet it is still a very real thing in our world. How do humans sometimes justify war as being acceptable by God? Is war and or violence acceptable under Christ’s teachings?

-What other worldly things do human try to justify as acceptable by God?

-Jesus urged his disciples to pray for strength and he even prayed to strengthen himself. BOS is reaching its last week and it will be different stepping away from such a strong community of Christians. This is a time when the enemy really likes to attack. Take some time to pray for one another, pray that God will strengthen you now and when you return home.

Sunday, July 12
Read: Luke 21

This passage of scripture may seem like Jesus is just talking about end-time events, when He will come back. But in reality he is talking of two similar events; the fall of Jerusalem and of His return. Both these events mirror each other, meaning that they will be similar. Let’s talk first about the fall of Jerusalem.

In verses 5 and 6 the disciples marvel at the sight of the temple. This is the temple that has been throughout all of Scripture, the temple of the Lord, the center of Judaism. This temple is actually in the middle of being rebuilt. This time the building started in 20 AD and it is now 33 BC, so it is in its 53rd year of building. It gets finished in 63 or 64 BC.

Okay, so the Jews lives revolved around this temple, for this is where God dwelt, this is where their sins were atoned for and where feasts (like Passover) were celebrated. Jesus is telling them here that this temple will be destroyed. Along with its destruction will come many other events. He is saying there will be wars, rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, famines, earthquakes, pestilences, etc. He warns them as well that they will be persecuted. In verse 14, 15 and 19 He basically tells them that if they abide in Him they will not have to worry about their fates. In verse 20 He lets them know how it will happen when nations surround Jerusalem.

This prophecy came to fruition in the year 70 AD, about 37 years after Jesus’ death. In 66 AD the Jews led a revolt against the Roman Empire that ended in 70 AD when the Romans breached the wall surrounding Jerusalem and set fire to the city, resulting in the destruction of the temple.

Starting in verse 25 we read about the second event Jesus describes as His return when He comes to call His saints home, resulting in the end of the world as we know it. This event, as Jesus depicts, is going to mirror that of the destruction of the temple, but will not be exactly the same.

Similar to the destruction of the temple we read about the signs that will take place. What were the signs Jesus describes? (v. 25-27)

Someone read verses 19 and 28. How are they similar? Are they both in reference to the same event or the two different events? What do you think these verses mean? How do they, particularly verse 28, pertain to you?

Jesus’ words are in warning; first for His disciples, and then for us. Back while Jesus was alive He thought to warn us of what we are to expect. Just as Israel was awaiting the birth of their Messiah, we are awaiting His return.

In the following passage, v. 29-36, Jesus gives words of warning, confirmation and encouragement.

Process:

- Verses 19 and 28 both mention standing firm. This is Jesus’ encouragement for us to abide in him and when this time comes we’ll be able to stand strong and persevere. Scripture is full of these same encouragements.

Ephesians 6:10-18, 1 Timothy 4:15-16, 1 Corinthians 15:58 and 16:13-14, 2 Corinthians 1:20-22, Galatians 5:1

Read over these with your cell or by yourselves. Take some time meditating on these and praying them over yourselves that when the day of trial comes you would stand firm in your faith.