Choose Jesus' Way
Jesus is calling us to trust Him and follow Him on the way of suffering and endurance, even when we don't understand His ways, because it is in this path that we will experience His power and glory.
In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that when Jesus appears to be powerless and does not immediately come to our aid, it is because he has a special purpose. He urges believers to maintain their trust and faithfulness in Jesus, even when they do not understand his actions. The delay in his help is necessary for him to accomplish something greater for us. The preacher encourages followers of Jesus to expect something extraordinary in difficult situations, as strength arises from weakness and victory from apparent loss. Jesus is seeking disciples who are willing to endure suffering and trust that he will bring victory out of defeat.
Full Transcript
God lives and works today, and nothing brings Him more joy than to find people who are willing to really follow Jesus. What does it mean to follow on the way of Jesus in everyday life? The answer is in today's meditation by Basilia Schlenk called Choose Jesus' Way. When did Jesus receive the greatest power of authority? When He was arrested in Gethsemane and committed Himself to being powerless.
His hands were bound, and He couldn't work at all. Yet, with His hands nailed to the cross, He accomplished the greatest deed of all time. On the cross, He accomplished our redemption.
When Jesus was arrested, His disciples lost their confidence in Him. Jesus had told them on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane that they would all fall away. Why? Because He did not act as they thought He would, in power and glory, but rather in weakness and powerlessness.
We too experience this. We ask Jesus to prove His power in our sickness, in financial or family problems, in emotional conflicts and temptations. Yet Jesus seems to be powerless.
It seems as though His hands are bound. He is silent when we cry, It is just the same as it was at the arrest. There He did not speak the word of power that would have made the earth open and swallow up the soldiers.
Yet the hours of His Passion were hours laden with the greatest power, power to redeem the whole world. Love that endures, suffering in silence, has power over all things. But this power will only be revealed in His time.
When Jesus seems to be powerless, when His hands seem to be bound and He doesn't come to help us, He has a very special purpose. He is entreating us, When I don't come to help you immediately and you do not understand me, have faith in me. Expect me to bring you the help and the solution that you need.
Trust that this delay is necessary in order that I might accomplish more for you than if I had answered immediately. Expect something special in this situation. Strength arises out of weakness, light out of darkness, a glorious victory and resurrection out of defeat and apparent loss.
But who believes this? Who trusts Jesus when He seems to be bound with chains? Jesus is looking for souls who will not lose confidence in Him when He veils His power. He longs for souls who will trust that He will reveal His power in His time. He waits for those who will believe that in the end, the answer will be even more wonderful than that which they had expected.
Jesus is seeking disciples who will go the way of suffering and endurance in the knowledge that glory comes from suffering and victory from apparent loss. Jesus went the way of the Lamb, enduring everything in silence. But this way of chains has become a majestic way because it was taken by the King of all kings.
Jesus will also bring victory out of defeat for all who will go this way with Him. Here on earth they will have great power, and above they will be seated on thrones. Let me, Lord, go along with you.
Both joy and sorrow share with you. Close at your side forever. KANAN.ORG
Sermon Outline
- I. The Power of Jesus in Weakness
- A. Jesus' arrest and crucifixion demonstrate His power in powerlessness
- B. His hands were bound, yet He accomplished the greatest deed of all time
- II. The Importance of Trusting Jesus
- A. Jesus is entreating us to have faith in Him when He seems powerless
- B. Trust that His delay is necessary for a greater outcome
- III. The Way of Suffering and Endurance
- A. Jesus went the way of the Lamb, enduring everything in silence
- B. This way of chains has become a majestic way because it was taken by the King of all kings
- IV. The Promise of Victory
- A. Jesus will bring victory out of defeat for all who follow Him
- B. Those who go this way with Him will have great power on earth and be seated on thrones in heaven
Key Quotes
“Love that endures, suffering in silence, has power over all things.” — Basilea Schlink
“Strength arises out of weakness, light out of darkness, a glorious victory and resurrection out of defeat and apparent loss.” — Basilea Schlink
“Jesus is seeking disciples who will go the way of suffering and endurance in the knowledge that glory comes from suffering and victory from apparent loss.” — Basilea Schlink
Application Points
- We must trust Jesus and follow Him on the way of suffering and endurance, even when we don't understand His ways.
- Jesus is seeking disciples who will go this way with Him, and He promises victory out of defeat and great power on earth.
- We can experience the power of Jesus in our lives by having faith in Him and trusting that His delay is necessary for a greater outcome.