120 likes | 219 Views
Jesus Repeatedly Announced His Impending Death!. John 2:18-21 John 3:14. Matthew 16:21. Matthew 17:22-23. Matthew 20:18-19. “ Lord, Is It I?” Matthew 26:20-23. V. 20 : “ Now when the even was come, He sat down with the twelve.”
E N D
Jesus Repeatedly Announced His Impending Death! • John 2:18-21 • John 3:14. • Matthew 16:21. • Matthew 17:22-23. • Matthew 20:18-19.
“Lord, Is It I?”Matthew 26:20-23 • V. 20: “Now when the even was come, He sat down with the twelve.” • V. 21. “And as they did eat, He said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. • V.22. “And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto Him, Lord is it I? • V. 23. “And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
Matthew 26:24-25 • V. 24. “The Son of man goeth as it is written of Him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born. • V. 25. “Then Judas, which betrayed Him, answered and said, Master is it I? He said unto him. Thou hast said.” • Parallel References: Mark 14:18-20; Luke 22:21-23; John 13:21-27.
A Startling Announcement! • Matt. 26:21: “One of you shall betray me!” • Imagine what would be our response if the Lord, just after we observed the Lord’s Supper, were to appear before this assembly and say, “Verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me!”
The Varied Responseof the Disciples: • Matt. 26:22. “They were exceedingly sorrowful..” • John 13:22, “the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom He spake. • John 13:23. Peter beckoned to John and urged him to “ask who it was of whom he spake.” • Matt. 26:22. Initially “every one of them” began to say, “Lord, is it I?”
Observations: • The Disciples to whom Jesus spakewere a select group of men. • Matt. 10:1-4, chosen early in his ministry. • Went on Limited commission, Mt. 10:5-7. • They had witnessed many miracles. • Peter had already confessed that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” Matt. 16:16. • They did not began by accusing each other; each said, “Lord, is it I?”
Fact: There are Times When We Should ask, “Lord, is it I?” • Because, it is possible for one to “think himself to be something when he is nothing,” Gal. 6:2. • Because it is possible for one to “think of himself more highly than he ought to think,” Rom. 12:2. • Because most people spend a lot of time judging others. • Because we are commanded to “examine” ourselves, 2 Corinthians 13:5.
Some Occasions When We Should ask, “Lord, is it I? • When it relates to sins of Commission, Exodus 20:12-17; Matt. 5:28; I John 3:15. • When it relates to sins of Omission, James 4:17. Have I: • Neglected to give as I should, I Cor. 16:2? • Failed to attend as I should, Heb. 10:25? • Failed to study as I should, 2 Tim. 2:15? • Failed to pray as I ought, I Thess. 5:17? • Failed to be the proper example, I Tim. 4:12? • Neglected to share the gospel, 2 Tim. 2:2?
This Question – as it Relates To the Local Church • “Lord, is it I” who is at fault when the local church seems cold and unfriendly? • To have friends we must show ourselves friendly, Prov. 18:24. • “Lord, is it I” who is at fault when brethren are discouraged? • Be a Barnabas! Acts 4:36; 9:26-27; 11:23. • Don’t be like the ten unfaithful spies!
This Question as It Relates to The Local Church (con’t) • “Lord, is it I” who is at fault if the Bible classes fail to accomplish their intended purpose? • Teachers need to be prepared, Prov. 15:28. • People need to be present! • Students need to be prepared, Prov. 15:28. • Students should be ready to make the necessary changes in their lives as they learn the scriptures, Acts 2:37!
This Question as it relates to The Local church (con’t) • “Lord, is it I” who is at fault when the unity of the local church is threatened? • There must be unity of understanding, Eph. 4:4-6; Amos 3:3! • But many “splits” have occurred when brethren were in doctrinal agreement! Unity is threatened when: • Brethren do not resolve personal differences! • People murmur and complain, I Cor. 10:10. • Brethren are not knit together in love! Col. 2:2
Conclusion: • There are many occasions in life when people should sincerely ask, “Lord, is it I?” • There may be those in this assembly who need to “respond to the invitation.” • Judas responded in the wrong way to the Lord’s words, John 13:30, and later returned leading the enemy to Jesus, John 18:3! • In Acts 13:46 some judged themselves “unworthy of eternal life!” Don’t make that mistake! Come to Jesus on His terms!