The Strength of The Shepherd Who Will Be Struck Down

About this sermon

Introduction: One of the things we appreciate about the Word of God is that it gives us the truth about the people of God. It gives us the truth about the apostles. We see their weaknesses. We at times hear their foolishness. We see them stumble. The question, however, is how do we see OURSELVES when we look at THEM? Do we sometimes see ourselves as SUPERIOR to them? Do we think that we are ABOVE the kind of foolish thoughts and foolish words that are sometimes on display in them? AND JUST AS THEY COMPARED THEMSELVES AMONG THEMSELVES, do we find ourselves not only boasting in comparison with ancient disciples, but also in comparison with contemporary disciples? Do we look at them and look at others and think that we are strong? Do we think that we are wise? Do we think that we are loyal in a way that we would never stumble where others have fallen? We come this morning to a passage that reminds us that NO DISCIPLE EVER SAVED HIMSELF. We come to a passage that reminds us that the story of DISCIPLES is not the story of HEROES, but the story of PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN RESCUED and KEPT. We all must humbly give our praise where praise is due. ESV Jude 1:24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. This was on display in the night when the Great Shepherd told His disciples that they would soon fail Him — but that He would keep them. On a night when there is glaring failure on display in the disciples, there is glorious dignity and strength on display in the Savior. We will look at this under three headings. (1) The Great Shepherd informs (vs.31-32) (2) The Great Shepherd corrects (vs.33-34) (3) The Great Shepherd is silent (vs.35). I. THE GREAT SHEPHERD INFORMS (vs.31-32) They have made their way from the upper room and are on their way to the place called Gethsemane (vs.36). On the way Jesus tells them what is coming. The Great Shepherd is the Divine Prophet. He doesn’t just warn them in general terms, He tells them in SPECIFIC terms — even down the number of times that Peter will deny Him — exactly what is about to happen. What will take place? A. THE SHEPHERD STRUCK DOWN Jesus quotes Zechariah 13:7. If you look at this in context, beginning with Zechariah 12:1, the prophet is given a burden that tells of Israel’s ultimate deliverance and salvation. So, the entire section looks forward to the fulfillment of Kingdom promises. As is not uncommon, within that prophecy, you find some things nearer than others. Some of what he says looks to the first coming of Christ, some looks to the very end and the second coming of Christ. Within that prophecy, the Lord’s Shepherd, the Messiah, is spoken of as being struck down and His sheep scattered. What is amazing is that the sword that is called forth to strike the Shepherd is called forth by the Word of God. The sword is the Lord’s judgment. As Peter declares on the day of Pentecost, sinful men are responsible for their actions against Jesus, but they carried out what God had predetermined for our salvation. ESV Acts 2:22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know-- 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. Jesus tells His disciples, that He is that Shepherd and they are the sheep who will be scattered. B. THE SHEEP STUMBLING The sheep scatter because of what happens to Jesus. “Fall away” is a form of the word σκανδαλίζω. They will stumble, they will fall, they will fail, “because of Jesus.” Leon Morris — “It is not easy to find an adequate translation for the verb I have rendered brought down.64 Some translations have “fall away” (NIV); others, “lose faith” (REB, JB); and still others, “take offence at me” (Cassirer). But Jesus is not saying that they will really fall away or abandon faith in him. He is indicating that they will have a grievous lapse, even though it will be a lapse out of character. They will fail him … But that does not mean that they will cease to be disciples or that they will no longer trust him or for that matter that they will be offended at him (cf. Lenski, “The disciples took no offence because of Jesus. . . . They were simply caught [trapped] and overwhelmed by what happened to Jesus,” p. 1034). … This is written in Scripture, so it must be fulfilled. But there is comfort in that thought, too, for it makes clear that what will happen will be in fulfilment of the divine purpose.”

Topics

• Leadership
• Strength in Hard Times
• Victory Over Fear