Ready for Return? (24:35-25:30

Last week I argued that Matthew 24:1-34 wasn’t about the end of the world, but about the destruction of the Temple in AD70 (when Jesus came in judgment of Jerusalem). In Matthew 24:35-25:46, though, we are given the warning to be ready for the yet future Second Coming of Christ.

7 Facts You Need to Know
To Be Ready for the Return

1. The Day of Judgment looms on the horizon (35)


2. No one on earth knows when that day will be (36)
- So we should stop crying wolf

3. Life will be going on as usual when He comes (37-41)
- In this context, you WANT to be 'left behind'

4. It is, therefore, appropriate to be ready now (42-44)
~ Parable of the 10 Bridesmaids (25:1-13)

5. The way to get ready is to be good stewards (45-46)
~ Parable of the loaned money (25:14-30)

6. Rewards await the servants of God(47)
~ 25:21, 23, 28b-29a

7. Punishments await the rebels against God (48-51)
~ 25:26-28a, 29b-30

Isaiah 7-8

“Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me.
We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty”
(Isaiah 8:18)
The Situation
As the Assyrian Empire grew in power, regional kings began to make alliances to better protect themselves. But when Ahaz (King of Judah) rejected an offer of alliance from Pekah (King of Israel) and Rezin (King of Aram), they marched up to fight against Judah in hopes of replacing Ahaz with another man. This caused the hearts of Ahaz and his people to be shaken.

The Child
Name: Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz
Nickname: Immanuel (God is with us)
Meaning: Quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil
Message: The alliance will…
Not defeat you (7:4-7)
Be defeated (7:8-9)
Be defeated quickly (7:10-16, 8:1-4)
Be defeated by Assyria (7:17)
Be defeated soundly (7:18-25)
Be defeated for rejecting God (8:5-7)
Be defeated b/c God is w/His people (8:8-10)
*It is proper, instead, to ally with God (8:11-17)

The NT Usage
The NT writers pick up on this OT prophecy as see an even greater fulfillment in Jesus Christ:
1. A literal virgin (Mary) gave birth to a son (Jesus) who was literally ‘God with us’ (7:14  Matt 1:22-23).
2. Jesus is the LORD (8:13  1 Peter 3:14b-15a, etc).
3. Jesus is the stone/rock (8:14  1 Peter 2:4-8, etc).

Isaiah 5-6

The Song of the Vineyard
~ Israel belonged to God (5:1)
~ Israel was meant to be fruitful (5:1-2)
~ Israel had everything necessary (5:2)
~ Israel failed to produce good fruit (5:2)
~ Israel was going to be destroyed (5:3-7)

Woe to Those
~ Who add and add and add (5:8-10)
~ Who drink and drink and drink (5:11-13, 22)
~ Who mock and mock and mock (5:18-21)

The Call of Isaiah
~ He was given a vision of the Holy God (6:1-4)
~ He recognized his own uncleanness (6:5)
~ He was given an assurance of atonement (6:6-7)
~ He heard and responded to a call from the Lord (6:8)

The Message of Isaiah
~ Hardening will come upon Israel (6:9-10)
~ Hardening will last until destruction (6:11-12)
~ Hope will exist only through the tiny remnant (6:13)

Isaiah 1-4

Wednesday Night Prayer Group

The Book of Isaiah

7 Sins
Neglect of relationship w/God (1:3)
Political Injustice (1:23a)
Neglect of Poor (1:23b, 3:14)
Idolatry (1:29, 2:6, 8, 18-20)
Materialism (2:7)
Pride (2:9-17)
Vanity (3:16-24)

7 Comparisons
Rebellious child (1:2b, 4c)
Dumber than an ox (1:3)
A disgusting body (1:5-6)
A building in peril (1:8)
Sodom & Gomorrah (1:10)
Harlot (1:21)
Foe (1:24)

1 Hope
Not religious activity (1:11-15)
Through Genuine repentance (1:16-20)
A renewed kingdom (2:1-5, 4:2-6)

The Ascension

THE ASCENSION
“It is for your good that I am going away”
(John 16:7)

The Ascension is discussed a number of times in the Bible, recorded in Luke-Acts, and part of the Apostle’s Creed. Nevertheless, it has been my experience that it is largely ignored in the contemporary church. What is the significance of The Ascension? Above all, why is it for our good that Jesus went away?

Part 1 The Announcement

John 13:33+36
Somewhere we can't go on foot (another realm?)
John 14:1-6a
Going to prepare a place for us
He will come back
We can do even greater things
Jesus will come to us
Going to the Father
John 16:5-11
So the Spirit will come

Part 2 The Ascension

Luke 24:49-51
1. Sending of Spirit
2. Blessing them as taken
3. Left them (Active)
4. Taken up (Passive)
5. Into heaven

Acts 1:4-11
1. Sending of Spirit
2. Delay of kingdom
3. Hidden by cloud
4. Future return

Part 3 The Advantages

1. It means Jesus is at right hand of Father (power, intercession, preparation, building, etc)
2. It means the Spirit comes (omni-presence, conviction, transformation, etc)

The Appearances

THE APPEARANCES

Post-Resurrection in Matthew
28:8-10
Greets the women coming from tomb
Accepts worship from the women
Instructs women to not be afraid
Instructs women to tell disciples to go to Galilee
28:16-20
Accepts worship from disciples
Claims to have been given all authority
Commissions them to make more disciples
Promises His enduring presence

Post-Resurrection in Mark (disputed text)
16:9-11 Appears to Mary Magdalene
16:12-13 Appears to 2 disciples on road
16:14-18
Appears to the 11 as they ate
Rebukes them for their lack of faith
Rebukes them for not believing witnesses
Commissions them to preach the good news
Tells them sings that will accompany them
16:19 Ascends to heaven
16:20 Works with the disciples

Post Resurrection in Luke-Acts
24:13-35
Meets with 2 disciples as they traveled
Rebukes them for foolishness/unbelief
Explains OT in light of Himself
Breaks bread in their home
Disappears from their sight
24:36-53
Meets with the disciples in peace
Offers evidence of His physicality
Opens their minds to understand OT
Commissions disciples as witnesses
Instructs them that He will send the promise
Instructs them to stay in Jerusalem until then
Taken into heaven as He blesses them
1:1-9
Instructs them to wait in Jerusalem for gift/Spirit
Commissions disciples as witnesses
Ascends until hidden by cloud

Post-Resurrection in John
20:14-18
Appears to Mary Magdalene
Tells Mary not to hold on to Him
Tells Mary to tell the disciples He’s going to God
20:19-25
Meets with the disciples in peace
Offers evidence of His physicality
Sends the disciples
Breathes on them the gift of the Holy Spirit
20:26-29
Meets with the disciples in peace
Offers evidence of His physicality to Thomas
States blessing over those who believe w/o seeing
21:1-23
Appears to disciples as they were fishing
Provides them with a miraculous catch
Ate with the disciples
Talked with Peter

Holy Week

HOLY WEEK
MATT MARK LUKE JOHN

SUNDAY
Triumphal Entry
21:1-11
11:1-11
19:28-44
12:12-19

MONDAY
Temple Turn-over
21:12-17
11:12-19
19:45-46

TUESDAY
Cursing of Fig Tree
Controversy w/Leaders
Prophetic Teaching
21:18-22
21:23-23:39
24:1-25:46
11:20-26
11:27-12:44
13:1-37
19:47-21:4
21:5-38

WEDNESDAY
Anointed w/Perfume???
Judas Agreement???
26:1-13
26:14-16
14:1-9
14:10-11
22:1-6
12:1-3
12:4-11

THURSDAY
Last Supper
Gethsemane Prayer
Arrest
26:17-35
26:36-47
26:48-56
14:12-31
14:32-42
14:43-52
22:7-38
22:39-46
22:47-53
13:1-17:26
18:1
18:2-11

FRIDAY
Trials
Crucifixion
Placed in Tomb
26:57-27:31
27:32-56
27:57-61
14:53-15:20
15:21-41
15:42-47
22:54-23:25
23:26-49
23:50-56
18:12-16a
18:16b-37
18:38-42

SATURDAY
Guards Placed
27:62-66

SUNDAY
Tomb Found Empty
Appearances
28:1-7
28:8-10
16:1-8
16:9-14
24:1-12
24:13-43
20:1-9
20:10-20

It's NOT the End of the World

The Gospel According to Matthew
Jesus for President (Part 61: It’s NOT the End of the World)

The most popular interpretation of Matthew 24:1-34 is that Jesus is providing us with a list of signs that the end of the world is at hand, but is that really what Jesus is talking about in this passage?

Reasons why this passage is NOT about the end…
1. The 1st question was about the TIMING of the destruction of the 1st century temple (24:1-3a)
2. The 2nd question was about the SIGNS which would precede that destruction (24:3b)
3. The SIGNS that Jesus provided came to pass between AD30 & AD70 (24:4-33)
- False Christ’s (24:4-5)
- Wars & rumors of wars (24:6-7a)
- Famines & earthquakes (24:7b-8)
- Persecution & martyrdom (24:9)
- Apostasy & false prophets (24:10-13)
- Gospel preached to whole world (24:14)
- Temple desolation (24:15)
- Christian exodus from Jerusalem (24:16-19)
- Great tribulation (24:20-22)
- False claims/signs/miracles (24:23-26)
- Jesus coming in judgment (24:27-28)
- A catastrophic end (24:29)
- The vindication of Jesus (24:30)
- God’s people gathered/protected (24:31)
4. The TIMING of the destruction was promised to be their own generation (24:34)

The Show Must NOT go on

The Gospel According to Matthew
Jesus for President (Part 60: Bad Religion)

1. It doesn’t practice what it preaches (3)

2. It ties people down with guilt (4)

3. It is most interested in prestige (5-12)
~ Wide Phylacteries (5)
~ Long Tassels (5)
~ Seats of Honor at Banquets (6)
~ Most Important Seats at Synagogue (6)
~ Being Greeted in Marketplace (7)
~ Being Called Rabbi/Father/Teacher (7)

4. It prevents genuine spiritual seeking (13-14)

5. It corrupts its adherents (15)

6. It creates arbitrary exceptions (16-22)

7. It neglects the most important practices (23-24)
~ The Gnat: No Tithing (23)
~ The Camel: No Justice/Mercy/Faithfulness (23)

8. It is only interested in appearances (25-28)

9. It Will be Judged Harshly (29-36)

10. It is Invited to Genuine Relationship (37-39)

Emmaus Road

Where are you on Emmaus Road?
Luke 24:13-35
* We know one is named Cleopas, the other may be his wife (Mary, John 19:25)

1. The Point of Disappointment (13-21)
- They were downcast b/c the story had ended wrong
- But they didn't realize that Jesus was with them even at this point

2. The Point of Discovery (22-27)
- They had heard rumblings of hope, confused but learning
- Gained a new perspective, a new way of reading the story

3. The Door (28-29)
- They needed to take action and invite Jesus in (He won't force Himself in)

4. The Point of Dining (30-32)
- Once inside, Jesus takes charge
- They may have been present at the last supper
- It became obvious looking back that Jesus was there all along

5. The Point of Declaration (33-35)
- So urgent they traveled during the night
- Told the 11 what had happened 'on the way'

At every point of this road, Jesus was present
- Even when they didn't recognize Him
- Even when He disappeared
- He was with them, and with us, to the end of the age

Resurrection

THE RISING OF JESUS

1. It explains the rise of Christianity

What else could turn...
- The Fearful into Fanatics
- The Persecutor into an Apostle
- Brothers into Believers


2. It demonstrates the power of God



3. It was a final sign of His authority



4. It shows that the cross worked



5. It makes Christianity unique

Other worldviews (This way, full tomb)
Christianity (I am the way, empty tomb)

6. It gives us a new perspective on our past



7. It gives us a glimpse into our future

-An imperishable body
-A glorious body
-A powerful body
-A spiritual body

8. It makes this realm matter

Death

THE DEATH OF JESUS
- How Does Jesus’ Death Work? -

Ransom Theories
- Early Church, Eastern Orthodox, Pentecostals
- Deal with the problem of Satan’s power
- God trades Jesus for mankind, but gets both
- Mark 10:45, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Timothy 2:6
- Illustrated by The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe
- Satan wins? God deceives? Other Scriptures?


Satisfaction Theories
- Roman Catholics, Conservative Protestants
a) Commercial (Roman Catholic)
b) Political (Protestant- Arminian)
c) Legal (Protestant- Calvinist)
- Deal with the problem of God’s justice
- Man is in debt to God, Jesus volunteers to pay
- Leviticus 16:10, 21-22, John 10:18, 1 Peter 3:18
- Illustrated by The Last Sin Eater
- Violence? Justice? Other Scriptures?


Moral Influence Theories
- Liberal Christians
- Deal with the problem man’s inability
- Man is selfish, Jesus shows the way of sacrifice
- Romans 5:8, Philippians 2:5-8, 1 John 3:16
- Illustrated by Pay it Forward
- Depravity? Grace and works? Other Scriptures?



7 Sayings from the Cross

1. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34)


2. I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43)


3. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matt 27:46, Mark 15:34)


4. Dear woman, here is your son… Here is your mother (John 19:26-27)


5. I am thirsty (John 19:28)


6. It is finished (John 19:30)


7. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46)