Luke 18:31-34 (NIV84)

Jesus took the Twelve aside … we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He will be handed over to the Gentiles, they will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him. 33 on the 3rd Day he will rise again 34 The disciples did not understand any of this …

First, does it ever amaze you that Jesus would take us into the family of God let alone into his plan for the Kingdom?  We are talking life and death, blessing and curses stuff here and God brings us into that mission WOW

Jesus didn’t need the disciples.  He doesn’t need me.  But he takes us.  That means he considers all our failures, our strong points, HA and he takes us.  That is what he has always done.  He made man out of DUST … so I think he can take the dirt I bring and make something beautiful.  

Psalm 78 is a picture of God’s History with his people.  He took Israel, he used them.  V70 says he CHOSE David, he TOOK him from the sheep pens v71 he BROUGHT him to be the shepherd of his people.  

So, Jesus went to the disciples and said “follow me”.  But Jesus’ message was the same for all.  He came in Matthew 4 saying, “Repent … here is the Kingdom”  Repent means stop that way, let me help you go this way.”

So here we are, serving the Lord Jesus has taken us aside from the path we were on and brought us into this.  Jesus said “we are going up”  It is alays GOING with Jesus.  Blackaby says you “can’t stay where you are and go with God.”  So where is he going?  Here he was going to Jerusalem, not Bethlehem, not Galilee, not Cesaerea, but Jerusalem.  There they will mock, insult, spit, beat, and Kill him.  “Well Lord, let’s go somewhere else”  No it is FOR this reason that I have come.

God has called us in and brought us into his work and his work is HERE.  And you know if we go WITH we get WHAT … so if we come with and it rains, we get rain.  If sun, we get Sun … Mock … Insult … Spitting … Flogging … wait stop right there … no that is not our right … we aren’t planning the trip, we are going WITH … so if it means all of that AND KILL … well do not be surprised if the world hates you Jesus says because they hated me first (John 15:18)

So we Go …. why, because what must be accomplished for this season can’t be accomplished anywhere else.  They couldn’t go anywhere but Jerusalem because it was time for sacrifice and sacrifice happened in Jerusalem.  

Lord, am I where you want me?  If no, then I need to follow him into his purpose.  If yes, then Lord what is our purpose here?  v34 says the disciples did not understand.  Lord help me understand.  Help me endure.  Help me embrace mocking, insults, spitting, beatings, even death.  

The life of the Christian, Bonheoffer says, is a call to come and die.  Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ in me. I live this life strictly by Faith in the one who loved me and gave himself for me.  Does Jesus Love you?  Look at the Cross.  You can see there HOW MUCH.  Do you trust, have faith, in the one who loves you that much.  Then live in that faith, follow with that faith.  

Go aside even when you don’t understand say “yes Lord”  But I’ve left everything for Jesus … God … do you trust him?  Peter said v 28 “we have left everything.”  and Jesus, the one who truly left everything, laid aside his glory to serve us to life through death (phil 2) says in vv29-30 I tell you the truth … no one who has left home, wife, brothers, parents, children, for the Kingdom 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Take me Lord, aside from my plans, aside from personal glory, aside from rights, aside from desires

Take me to fulfill your purposes

Though mocking, take me Lord

Though insults, take me Lord

Though spitting, take me Lord

Though beatings, take me Lord

Though death, take me Lord

Because the Resurrection is Coming

Life is now, Life is Eternal, Take me Lord