JESUS’ INVOLVEMENT IN THE LIVES OF HIS FOLLOWERS

Luke Chapters 22-24 (selected passages)

Jesus is at work in the lives of those who follow Him.

The six events relating to the Savior’s cross in the gospel of Luke, are important to us, in that, they show the Savior at work in our own lives. In chapters 22-24, the first event is the TABLE, and the last event is the TRIUMPH. In between, we have the TEARS, the TRIALS, the TREE, and the TOMB.

First, we will consider . . .

1. THE TABLE (Luke 22:1-38)

The table around which we gather to participate together in the Lord’s Supper, speaks of FELLOWSHIP and RELATIONSHIP.

1) Fellowship. The last night of Jesus’ life was spent with His disciples. Around the table, Jesus spent precious moments with His friends.

“ . . . reclining at the table . . . Jesus said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22,14,15).

Rather than thinking about Himself, and the suffering He faced, Jesus focused on His friends. This time afforded Him the opportunity . . .

-to manifest His love to them

-to instruct their minds

-to commend them to God in prayer

-to prepare them fully for His departure

The table still remains as a place of fellowship in our homes where Jesus is the head. As our invited guest, as it was with the Emmaus disciples in Luke 24, He becomes the host. It was at the table, Jesus made a promise to His disciples, and to us, “For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes”(Luke 22:19).

Hymn: “Jesus has a table spread where the saints of God are fed - He invites His chosen people come and dine . . .”

2) Relationship. The table also speaks of relationship. Jesus was establishing a new relationship with His followers as He moved beyond the Passover, to the institution of the Lord’s Supper. He said to His disciples . . .

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20).

2. THE TEARS (Luke 22:39-53)

From the upper room Jesus and His disciples go to the Mount of Olives to pray. It was here that Jesus experiences the travail of His soul. The Bible says . . .

“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44).

According to the writer of Hebrews, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears” (Hebrews 5:7).

As a man, Jesus cried. He wept over Jerusalem” (Luke 19:41). He wept at the grave side of Lazarus” (John 11:35). Perhaps His most heart rendering cry of all was from the cross . . .

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani? that is, My God, My God, why hast thou Forsaken Me? And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.”

For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Neither has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard” (Matthew 27:46,50).

The Psalmist said . . .

“Thou hast taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Thy bottle; Are they not in Thy book?” (Psalm 56:8).

The tears of Jesus speak of His submission to God, His compassion for a lost world, and His willingness to give His life as a ransom for many.

3. THE TRIALS (Luke 22:54-23:31).

The trials Jesus faced after leaving the garden unfold in this section of Luke, and speak of the abuse He willingly bore. In Isaiah’s Servant Song, we get a glimpse of the abuse he bore...

“He was oppressed and he was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.

By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living, For the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due?”(Isaiah 53:7-8).

As Jesus was not alone in His trials, according to Psalm 22:24...

“For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Neither has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard” (Psalm 22:24).

Neither will we be alone in our trials, according to Isaiah the prophet . . .

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you” (Isaiah 43:2).

We, like Jesus, are to face our trials with courage knowing that He is with us, and that we too will triumph at last.

4. THE TREE (Luke 23:32-49).

The tree upon which Jesus died speaks of many things. . .

1) Forgiveness. From the cross Jesus prayed for those who were crucifying Him . . .

“But Jesus was saying, Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves” (Luke 23:34).

From the cross, Jesus gave the repentant criminal, who was dying with Him, this promise, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise”(Luke 23:43).

In response to the repentant sinners prayer, one writer said, “It is not too late to pray this prayer while the body has breath. The sinners prayer was answered. You can pray the same prayer in faith and be sure He will answer.”

Song: “I saw one hanging on a tree in agony and blood . . . O, can it be upon a tree, a Savior died for me . . .”

The tree speaks loud and clear of forgiveness.

2) Obedience.

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although, He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:5-8).

3) Access. The tree speaks of access into the throne room of God . . .

“And it was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour” (Luke 23:44).

4) Trust. The cross speaks of trust . . . Jesus prayed, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (v 46).

One writer said, “This is the most trusting prayer that any human ever prayed at death.”

5. THE TOMB (23:50-56). In that great old hymn, “Tell Me The Story of Jesus,” we have these words about the tomb, “Tell of the grave where they laid Him . . .”

The tomb speaks of both an ending and a beginning. Someone has said, “Death closes the door to this life, but opens the door to eternal life.”

Praise God! The grave is not the end.

“Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” (I Cor. 15:51-52)

6. THE TRIUMPH (Luke 24:1-53). The tomb gives way to the triumph. “Tell how He liveth again . . .” the song continues.

That is what the Emmaus disciples did in Luke 24 . . .

“And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Luke 24:52).

CONCLUSION: There is room at the Cross for you . . .

C – Jesus died on the Cross to purchase a place in heaven which he offers as a free gift.

R – He Rose from the grave victorious over death, hell, sin, and the grave.

O – He Offers everyone who will believe the free gift of life.

S – He came to Seek and to Save the lost.

S – Will you now turn to Him and be Saved?