St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church – Watertown, WI
Pastor Mark Gartner
Sermon for Lent 4 – March 10, 2001

Dear Friends in Christ,

With the surge of the NCAA tournaments in the air, there sure has been a rash of people making predictions on who is going to win and why, myself included, Duke is going to win. Just a prediction, Don't hold me to it. That is one thing that is inevitable in the world we live in. There are predictions of all sorts. There are predictions on the economy. There are predictions on who is going to win the NCAA basketball tournament. There are predictions for every walk of life, but they all have that one common ground. There is no way that every prediction will come true, because we cannot look into the future.

This morning as we look at these words from the gospel of Matthew, we see Jesus making predictions. But these predictions were far different than picking the winner of a basketball game. These predictions were telling the disciples about the events that were going to happen in the near future and on to the end of the world. These predictions were completely true, and were meant to prepare the disciples for what was coming. These predictions also are meant for all Christians including you and me. Sure we know from God's Word that the first part of Jesus' prediction came true, his suffering death and resurrection, but we can see that his second prediction was directed to the disciples as well as for us to prepare us for our lives on this earth. Today we will use the theme:

Jesus was winding down his ministry on this earth. He realized that now was the time that needed to be spent preparing and teaching the disciples about the coming days. After all, they were going to be the ones to continue telling others about Jesus. Our text is one of those teaching moments as our text tells us, "He took the twelve disciples aside and said to them." It is what he said to them that is very important. He reminds them of why he is on this earth.

Jesus tells them what his mission was when he says, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and they will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life." This was actually the third time that Jesus had told the disciples about his mission. This however was the most detailed of the three instances. What a prediction this was to be coming from his mouth! It was the complete plan of God's salvation for all mankind. Jesus in these words was making the perfect prediction of what was going to happen in his life. We all know the story of Jesus' death and resurrection, but today let's take a closer look at what Jesus did for us.

Jesus called himself "the Son of Man" which shows us that he came for one reason and that was to be the Savior for man. He came in human nature and died a human death as the Son of Man. Look how detailed these predictions are. Jesus speaks of being betrayed and by whom he was being betrayed. He talks about the chief priest and teachers of the law which were the Pharisees and members of the Sanhedrin. And then Jesus speaks the words that state the real purpose for us and all sinners. They condemned him to die. This killing of Jesus would be done by the Gentiles, namely through Pilate and the roman legions who placed him on the cross. Seems like Jesus was laying it all out plainly for the disciples. But he does not end with is death. He ends on a note of joy. As we stated in the beginning Jesus makes a prediction about his life. When we see these words about being raised to life on the third day, we see the true hope that we have from our sins. He was able to wipe away our sins, and conquer Satan and death which was reassured to us as Jesus rose physically from the grave. What a glorious prediction this is.

This is the message of salvation that we are able to take out into the world. There are many in the world who do not believe and who do not know of these words that Jesus spoke to his disciples and to all mankind. Think of the many people who claim to know the truth but disregard these words of Jesus and are still looking for a Savior. Think of the many people who have set up their own Savior who could never have done what Jesus has done for the world – to suffer and to die for our sins and to be raised from the dead on the third day. Think of the many people who say that this is all foolishness and that God would not stoop to such a foolish plan to save people. There are people who say that God wants us to work for our salvation, instead of placing our trust in this simple plan. But through all that Satan tosses into the picture let us focus on that prediction Jesus made and on the fulfillment of that prediction on the cross at Calvary. What a glorious statement these words are. They are more than just predictions. They are our salvation and eternal life. Let our hearts be filled with joy and comfort each and every day of our lives as we remember his death and resurrection.

Our story goes on to include Jesus' prediction for the lives of his disciples which includes all of us here this morning. James and John and their mother came to Jesus and asked him a question. They wanted to know if they could sit on Jesus' right and left in his kingdom. These were the positions of power and prestige. Jesus never answered their question directly, but with his response he leads all Christians to realize what their lives are like and will be like until the final day. Jesus was looking ahead to the cross and his death on that Cross. Jesus says, You don't know what you are asking, Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" Jesus asks them a questions which is intended to lead them to see that their request is foolish. As Jesus looked at the cup he was going to drink, he was talking about being the Substitute for the sins of all mankind. Obviously there is no way that any man could drink this cup, because we are all sinners. But at the same time Jesus means something else by these words. He is directing the disciples to think about what it means to be a follower of Jesus. He was directing Christians of all ages to realize that they will have a cup to drink, and this cup is going to come in the form of suffering and persecution. It is not going to be easy. Being a Christians is not a license for a simple uneventful life on this earth. Satan and sin will makes sure that this will not happen. Jesus tells us the disciples, "You will indeed drink from my cup." We will suffer to proclaim God's Word to all people.

We can see this especially in the lives of the 12 apostles as they took up where Jesus left off after the Pentecost. At every turn they were imprisoned or at the very least harassed for preaching about Christ's work. Many of the apostles were martyred for the preaching of the Christ. They indeed were drinking from the cup of suffering. Jesus by these words of our text intended to warn Christians of all ages that this is what the gospel can bring. It can bring hatred and suffering from the wicked world around us. There are so many times that this same cup is evident in our lives. It may not be as harsh as what the disciples suffered, but Satan is still working to bring suffering to those who follow the cross. There are those who verbally make fun of us and call us names, because we go to church or don't follow the ways of the world. There are many hate groups directed at those who hold onto God and his Word. There are those who may get angry at us for having the gall to take up their time with the telling them about Christ. It is not going to be easy.

Then Jesus gives us something similar to a job description. Have you ever wondered what a job description for a Christian would look like? As we look at Jesus' words to the disciples we begin to see how we will act and what will show itself in our lives. Jesus says, "Instead whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave." Seems like Jesus has got it all mixed up. Why would any one want to become a slave or a servant? We all know that if we want to accomplish anything in our lives, we need to make a name for ourselves and become the best we can be. What does Jesus mean by these words? Does he mean that we all should sell our belongings and become slaves and servants? Does he mean that we should all become last in our society, meaning we do not say anything? Nothing could be farther from the truth. If we look to the reason why we act like this, we can see exactly what Jesus means, "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Those words are the heart and soul of who we are and what we do and why we do anything. God is not telling us to put everything aside, but he is telling us that he wants us to remember what makes us so wonderful. Our jobs and money don't make us great. Our houses and clothes do not make us great. Our friends and anything else that the world considers great does not makes us great in God's eyes. We need to remember that we are great because God has made us part of his kingdom. We should never feel that some part of God's work is beneath ourselves. It is all God's work. We are all united as servants of God's Word, which shows itself as we are united to preach about the first part of our sermon that Jesus did die and that this is a fact which is for all people. We are servants of the one and only Savior of the world, and we know this through faith in words and promises like the one we have looked at this morning.

When we look at the job description of a Christians we see the word servant, servant of Christ willing and eager to serve God in our words and action and all that we do. Jesus' blood has paid the price for our sins. With this in mind we live for that blood of Christ out of love and thanks for all that he has so graciously done for us. God willing as we have looked back at these predictions of Jesus for his disciples we have been led once again through the power of the Holy Spirit to see the wonderful picture of Christ and his death for us. We also have been led to see that we belong to God's kingdom where we are all servants of Christ. This doesn't mean that while we are on this earth we will not suffer. Sin is still all around us and is still in us in our Old Adam. This is the cup that Jesus tells us that we all drink as members of God's kingdom. Not until we are with God in our eternal home will we be rid of all that the world has done to make us suffer. With this in mind let us once again realize what Jesus has done for us, and let this lead us every step of the way to our eternal home. Amen.