“Do Not Weep for Me” (Part 2 of 2)

In chapter 23 were introduced to a man named Simon, a man who was forced to carry Jesus cross what our responsibility as we think about the cross of Christ Jesus isn't looking for sympathy from us when it comes to his crucifixion on the cross is calling for something much greater is Alastair back on Truth for Life. My first heading was simply a strange thing happened on my way to the city. These words I'm putting into the mouth off Simon, who is the principal figure here in verse 26 and 27. He was presumably a Jew living and part of the Diaspora in Tripoli and Libya in Cyrene and when he left his home in order to journey to Jerusalem. He surely could not have had in mind.

What would take place in his life. On this particular visit and as he made his way finally is Luke tells us from the country into the city of Jerusalem. He was confronted by commotion and not only was he confronted by this crowd. Following this, sorry individual who was at this point bearing the cross beam of his symbol of execution, but he was grabbed by the soldiers and they said to him hey you candidates before he knew what was involved.

He was walking behind the bloodied body of this Galilean carpenter, whom if he had not known before.

He quickly discovered was none other than Jesus of Nazareth.

What we have to recognize is that Simon caddying this cross behind Jesus is a reminder to us in these final moments of what it means actually to be a believer, the disciples of Jesus is what identified as being the people of the cross, the disciples of Jesus were cross carriers, at least metaphorically.

If we are going to make an impact in our culture along the lines that Jesus says to do in the gospel, then this picture of Simon moving behind Jesus under the burden of the cross is a good picture to have in our minds as we anticipate another Monday morning because it is to our shame that we present to our culture across less Christ that we are tempted to present to our culture across less Christianity. What would a crustless Christianity look like it would be expressed in terms suggesting that real Christianity means being successful, having it all together, knowing all the answers to the questions never making mistakes and striding through the world as if we owned. In other words, my dear friends crustless Christianity is a lot like contemporary evangelical whereby our presentation to our culture is largely made in terms of the categories I have just given you, and it is an act futile useless dangerous and catastrophic because it conveys to our culture as standard by which none of eyes live right now. What use do they have been a crustless Christianity. What is it have to say to them, nothing. Yes. Strange thing happened on my way to the city. I took up my cross and I began to follow Jesus. Secondly, I wrote in my notes don't weep for me Jerusalem.

If it sounds like don't cry for me Argentina then your mind also is warped and works like mine. Yes, that's it.

The shouts that an incoming from the crowd of crucify, have now abated their mission is been successful pilot that sent him to his execution, and now you only have the ambient sound of the interaction of the people the shuffling through the streets.

The pressure into the narrow thoroughfares there around the via Delarosa as they begin to move into the street that will lead them. Finally, to skull Hill and in the middle of the throng that follows him. There is says look a number of women among the people and these women were morning and wailing for Jesus.

There is no suggesting here that these are the peculiar of friends of Jesus. Remember that there are a number of women who accompanied the disciples minister to Jesus and all kinds of practical ways.

There's no indication from Luca that she was here rather that these are simply being addressed as ordinary inhabitants of Jerusalem. He turns to them and addresses them in that way doctors of Jerusalem. He says children of Jerusalem people of Jerusalem and they have been stirred there sensibilities have been shocked by the way in which this itinerant preacher who never did anybody any wrong I was. What people would've said he didn't do anything to anybody. I don't know why they're doing this to him why they authorities are treating them so mercilessly, so as no surprise that hearts that have been touched and moved in that way would express it in their mournful whales now would be no surprise if Jesus were to have acknowledged what they were doing and the sounds that were emanating from them.

If through his fast closing eyes. As a result of the scourging.

He's just received. If you are simply to have glanced at them and and squeezed out of his eyes some kind of acknowledgment for sympathy in the midst of so much spite and hatred, but he does more than he actually stops and he turns to them and he speaks to Simon was bowled over by having been unceremoniously grabbed and thrust into action.

He could have been no more amazing than these ladies wear when from the lips of Jesus.

He says do not weep for me weep for yourselves and for your children.

In other words, he says them. Your sympathy is misdirected. You should be weeping for me always. Not saying that it is wrong for them to do so, but rather what he saying is that there is something else for which they need to weep with a far greater concern, and you will remember from our studies that Jesus in his entry to Jerusalem and wept over Jerusalem because of the judgment that was going to fall upon he said, how often would I have gathered you as I and gathers her chicks but you refuse to come to me. He said if only you Jerusalem not known what made for peace, but your eyes are closed and your ears are are are are our stuff to me.

So he says to these women don't weep for me ladies your weeping for the wrong reason. Indeed, a tender compassion towards the sufferings of Christ could actually prevent them from seeing what awaits Jerusalem. If the inhabitants, including themselves, persist in their unbelief striking statement. Back in 1990s Carter turn to for myself. You and you necessarily turn to it. But when he speaks about the destruction of Jerusalem and look 1944. He says they will dash you to the ground and the children within your walls and they will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to these ladies recognized enough to extend their sympathy towards the buffeted and broken body of Jesus, but they did not recognize the time of God's coming to the recognize that this was a sorry sight that this was wrong, that this was a travesty of justice that no person should ever be treated in that way the very dignity of man demanded that this should not be taking place, and as a result of that all of their emotions are stirred and their sympathy is poured out in the morning and there wailing sources. Jesus, the reason that you should weep for yourselves and for your children is because the coming calamity. Verse 29 is going to be so severe that it will change the way you view everything, including the way in which you view the blessing of children in that day. People instead of commiserating with childless women who contractually childless women instead of say on very sorry Mrs. Levi that you have no kids will say to one another is not fantastic. Mrs. Levi no children because although you are about to be destroyed in the moment you do not allude to look on your children and recognize that they are about to experience the same destiny.

Indeed, he says dad will be preferable to the terror that awaits the they will say to the mountains fall on us and to the hills cover's not calling on the hills so that they can heighten their calling on the mountains so that they will kill them.

And of course as you know within a relatively short period of time these orders were to become actual in the destruction of Jerusalem. So then a strange thing happened on my way to the city.

This picture of a cross that marks the followers of Jesus, and I don't weep for me Jerusalem the danger of misdirected sympathy and finally a puzzling punchline. Verse 31 for if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry. What in the world is that me. I honestly don't know. I'm going to give you my best shot. But I don't know. I think I got some kind of indication of what it means when last week along with many of you I was picking up sticks. As a result of the winds that have come through the previous week and brought down many different bits and pieces in our yard out. We went and found that bending down is not just what it used to be. And as I made my little pile not as tidy as my neighbor to steps down. I I did my best. But what I did not do. I did not breakoff any sampling. I didn't get carried away by the gathering of steaks and when I finally exhausted the supply that was lying there dry and broken and are ready to crumble. I decided why marriage is going breakoff a few other branches out from the vibrant parts of the tree would've been very strange, but the dry stuff was ready. That's why it had fallen. I think that's the way into this enigmatic statement.

It is just as it is unnatural for Greenwood to be burned in the fire so it is contrary to nature that the innocent man, Jesus should face suffering and death means contrary to nature, why, why is this innocent man dying pilot knew he was innocent.

The Jewish people knew he was innocent. Many bystanders had a feeling that it was innocent and that he was innocent.

It is contrary to nature that the innocent should die that the Greentree agreeing to shoot should be burned up and destroy, but if that is going to be the case if that is what happens if that is how and when the guiltless suffer what will it be than for the guilty nation which like dry wood is ready for the impending judgment or in an attempted paraphrase, if the innocent Jesus meets such a fate. What will be the fate of a guilty Jerusalem and this is whether going to do to an innocent breathing is going to happen in the end, when true judgment is poured out upon the guilty element to say a word and wrap this the words of Jesus to these women and through them if you like to the inhabitants of Jerusalem need to be seen for what they are. They are essentially two things the word of warning. They are a word of warning look out you don't want to go there as we say, don't get caught up in weeping for me. Let me tell you what you should be bemoaning and wailing about, namely the impending judgment which will fall on the unbelief of men and women I'm I'm giving you here. He says a word of warning, and I'm giving you at the same time, a word of invitation. You don't need to go to that place of judgment, I'm telling you this now in order that I might direct you in the proper way in order that I might direct you to the place of repentance and faith. You see now as they Jesus is not calling us to sympathy. He's calling us to faith. You made me one of these people.

You certainly will know one of these individuals a very religious person. They will have religious art in their home.

They may have books on their coffee table that depict the sufferings and passions of Christ. They may routinely put themselves in a place where pictures or poor traits or sculpting of a crucified Messiah are there for their focus on for their attention and it is not unusual for them to be stirred to great paroxysms of emotion to be concerned as they look upon this Christ and realize what a dreadful thing to place reminding us that it is clearly possible to have an interest in Jesus which is if you like nothing more than a condescending sympathy, but without ever believing in him as my Lord and my Redeemer and my Savior and my friend, Jesus doesn't need anybody sympathy Jesus is not on the cross this morning Jesus is the right hand of the father on high and next up on his calendar of events is his return in power and great glory. To receive those who are ready to meet him at the bandage for all eternity. Those who like the stiffnecked residence in Jerusalem. When he called them as I hand would gather Jake's said we don't want to come. We'd rather feel sorry for you and keep you at arms length than face up to the fact that we need to feel sorry about our predicament and come to you in repentance and in faith. That's why you see religious art can only take us so far. That's why films that depict the passion of Christ unless they are framed within the prophecies of the Old Testament and the clarifications of the epistles will have people coming out of cinemas weeping and wailing and moaning and saying that I was so dreadful. I was so I can believe that even happen. Okay then one will I don't know what will.

Jesus is don't weep for me Cleveland weep for yourselves if you remain in the position of on belief four on that day, and indeed the very same terminology is used interesting and with this I finish in Revelation 6 when John looks forward to the seals being opened and the great seal of judgment is opened and then it says then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich and the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains and the call in the mountains and the rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of them sits on the throne and from the wrath of the line for the great day of the wrath is come, and who can stand see on that day there will be no refuge from him. There is only refuge in less the best I can do these verses. A strange thing happened on the way to the city a picture here of what it means to have a Christianity that is about the cross don't weep for me Jerusalem the danger of a condescending sympathy that makes us feel that because we somehow or another feel something in our tummies are in our hearts about what Jesus did upon the cross, that we must ipso facto be believers when upon a fight. We are no more believers.

II can convey. This is not my job to convey that I can only tell you this is what the Bible says it is only the spirit of God that will convince you, my dear, stubborn and rebellious unbelieving dear attender parks a church. It is only the spirit of God that will convince you that you have an appointment with God that you must face and it is only the spirit of God that will convince you that Jesus died on the cross not to induce your sympathy but to take your place, and he calls you to repentance and faith. I can only do my best to tell you that that's what the story is that this gospel, that's what Luke is articulated, but I cannot convince you, you should cry to God and ask him to convention then asking to convection Alastair back with the call to us to repentance.

This is Truth for Life be back in just a minute to close with prayer so please keep a list. Today's teaching provides us with a clear explanation of the gospel.

Jesus died on the cross to take our place to pay the penalty for our sin. This is the central message of the Bible. It's why we talk about so often here on Truth for Life. Well, it's not uncommon to be asked the question why did Jesus have to die. In fact, the question we often hear around this time of year as we head toward Easter. The answer is explained clearly and straightforwardly in a book titled the cross in four words. This book brings a brief but eye-opening history lesson on how sin entered the world and how God dealt with it. First, by providing temporary solutions in the Old Testament, and then by providing a once for all solution in Jesus Christ.

The cross in four words gives us a clear, easy to read explanation of God's eternal plan to provide freedom, forgiveness, justification and purpose to all who believe. We invite you to request your copy of the book the cross in four words would you give the support the mission of Truth for Life. You could do that online the Truth for Life.org/donate or you can call us at 888-588-7884. Now here's Alastair with the closing prayer our God and our father the line.

It is drawn in the curse.

It is cast. The first will be last in the last forest. Thank you for the defining nature of the work and words of Jesus, although by our many words. We may run the risk of confusing the issue. The clarity of who Jesus is and what he said is unmistakable and ultimately undeniable, save us from the misdirected condescending sympathy and bring us to faith save us from a smug, self-satisfied crustless Christianity that makes liars of us and removes us from those who are crying out for help.

And when we come to the puzzling parts of the Bible help our puzzlement only to reminders of fresh the main things in the plain things in the plain things are the main things and the rest again and the wonder of your redeeming love and make grace and mercy and peace from the Father and the son and the Holy Spirit rest upon and remain with each one who believes today and forevermore about Lapine for joining us today. Be sure to listen again tomorrow as we learn more about the purpose of Christ's death on the cross what it means for you Bible teaching of Alastair Beck is furnished by truth or lying where the learning is poorly