Episode 5

The Road to the Resurrection: Pain and gain (North OC)

In this sermon, Daniel Sumoge continues the series 'The Road to the Resurrection' by discussing the relationship between pain and spiritual growth. Reflecting on passages from the book of Luke, Daniel explores Jesus’s journey and the immense physical, emotional, and spiritual pain He endured, emphasizing how this pain led to greater gains such as hope, healing, and redemption. The sermon encourages believers to lean into God during times of suffering, rather than retreat or seek quick fixes, and to support each other in prayer and presence. The message culminates with the importance of Jesus’s sacrifice, inviting the congregation to partake in Holy Communion while remembering the love and surrender that ultimately brought salvation.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:36 Series Overview: The Road to the Resurrection

01:06 Understanding Pain: A Personal Anecdote

02:08 The Concept of Pain and Gain

03:29 Jesus' Spiritual Pain in the Garden of Gethsemane

14:34 The Betrayal and Denial: Emotional Pain

24:58 Jesus' Physical Pain and Endurance

29:39 Practical Steps to Respond to Pain

31:30 Communion and Closing Prayer

Click here to donate to the program

Click here for more sermons

OC Church of Christ

Transcript
Daniel:

Amen.

2

:

I appreciate that.

3

:

Thank you guys so much.

4

:

Good morning church.

5

:

How are you guys doing this morning?

6

:

Great.

7

:

That is awesome.

8

:

I wish I can say the same.

9

:

Um, I'll get into it a little

bit later in the sermon, but

10

:

overall I'm doing well though.

11

:

There's, you know.

12

:

Health and everything.

13

:

We're doing fine.

14

:

My name is Daniel Samoy,

along with my wife Savannah.

15

:

We help serve the high school

ministry here in Orange County.

16

:

We've been doing this for a

little over a year and a half now.

17

:

Savannah, we've been married, uh,

a little over a year now as well.

18

:

And, uh, if it's your first time

here with us, if you've returned,

19

:

you're, you're a long time member.

20

:

Thank you for being here once again.

21

:

Uh, you've caught us in the

middle of a sermon series.

22

:

We're actually at the tail end of it.

23

:

Uh, this is the second to last one.

24

:

It's called The Road to the Resurrection.

25

:

And we've been going

through the book of Luke.

26

:

We're looking at the final week of Jesus.

27

:

And we started all the way back in Luke

19, which I believe is the beginning

28

:

of Holy Week, Palm Sunday, where we

talk about Jesus returning, right?

29

:

He's coming down from Mount

of Olives to Jerusalem and,

30

:

and everyone's praising him.

31

:

The king has returned.

32

:

And that's what we are,

uh, that's what today is.

33

:

But uh, today what we're gonna

talk about actually is something

34

:

I think that we all go through.

35

:

Right.

36

:

It's something that we don't like,

I dunno about you guys, but I know

37

:

I don't like, and that's pain.

38

:

Raise your hand if you

like to feel some pain.

39

:

All right.

40

:

A few.

41

:

Alright.

42

:

Most of us one I should say.

43

:

But for the most part, we

don't like to feel pain.

44

:

Right.

45

:

You know, as I mentioned, uh, a few

minutes ago, I was like, man, I, I,

46

:

I'm not doing that well right now.

47

:

I'm in pain.

48

:

Uh, for those who don't know, we

know it's tax season and Savannah

49

:

and I, for the first time ever,

we're filing taxes together jointly.

50

:

And Savannah and I, we

had this assumption.

51

:

We were like, oh man, so what's the

money we're gonna do with, with the

52

:

returns and everything we're gonna

put into savings, a little bit of

53

:

this and that, and next, you know.

54

:

We owe the government money.

55

:

We're like, whoa, wait.

56

:

What is this?

57

:

This is not real.

58

:

And we're like, there's

something wrong with it.

59

:

And we like, we go to three

different sites and it's like, wow,

60

:

I guess this is what we have to do.

61

:

The pain right there that I had

on Friday, just thinking that,

62

:

wow, okay, we gotta do this.

63

:

Let's do this, right?

64

:

But we live in a world where

pain is inevitable, right?

65

:

There's so many different types

of pain that you can have.

66

:

You can have financial pain, kind of like

what I'm going through with the taxes.

67

:

You can have emotional pain,

you can have spiritual pain.

68

:

Even have physical pain.

69

:

And often when we have these types

of pain, what do we like to do?

70

:

Try to avoid at all costs, right?

71

:

We don't want to experience these pain.

72

:

And whether it's the pain of

disappointment, the hurt of a broken

73

:

heart, or a broken relationship,

or even weight of personal

74

:

struggle, we all experience it.

75

:

Now, who here has heard of this term?

76

:

Those who are, uh, gym rats like,

uh, Travis up there doing AV or Dale

77

:

over here who has heard of the term?

78

:

No pain, no gain.

79

:

Oh yeah, everyone has heard of that term.

80

:

You know, we hear it in

the form of sports, right?

81

:

I know for me, you know, being a

Dodgers fan, you know, for there was

82

:

these years where we just couldn't

get over the hump and I experienced

83

:

so much pain and the team did.

84

:

But guess what happened?

85

:

We won the World Series

and that was our game.

86

:

We used it in the sports context.

87

:

We used it for striving for success.

88

:

But in God's kingdom, the

principle of no pain or no gain

89

:

is more than just building muscle.

90

:

It's more than just having

personal success or challenges

91

:

that win does something temporary.

92

:

It's about growth.

93

:

It's about spiritual transformation.

94

:

It's about gaining something eternal.

95

:

And this is what Jesus knew as

he was on his journey towards the

96

:

cross, on the road to resurrection.

97

:

He had to face immense pain spiritually,

emotionally, physically, but through it

98

:

all, he brought us the greatest gain.

99

:

Not only through his victory over

death, but the way he shows us how

100

:

to walk through the pain as well.

101

:

And today for my lesson, we're gonna be

walking through the pain that Jesus had

102

:

that was leading up for him on the cross.

103

:

The title of my lesson today is called

Pain and Gain, because on the road

104

:

to the resurrection isn't about just

getting to the glory, it's about

105

:

understanding the pain that Jesus

endured and how that pain is the very

106

:

thing that brings us the greatest gain.

107

:

Hope, healing, redemption,

and a new life in him.

108

:

So if you could turn your Bibles

with me to Luke chapter 22.

109

:

We're gonna be in Luke

chapter 22, uh, verse 39.

110

:

All right.

111

:

Here we are.

112

:

It's Jesus prays on the

mounts of olives and it reads.

113

:

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount

of Olives as his and his disciples

114

:

followed him on reaching the place.

115

:

He said to them, pray that you

will not fall into temptation.

116

:

He withdrew about a stone throw

beyond them, knelt down and prayed.

117

:

Father, if you are willing to

take this cup from me, yet not

118

:

my will, but yours be done.

119

:

An Egypt from Heaven appeared to him and

strengthened him and being in anguish.

120

:

He prayed more earnestly and his sweat was

like drops of blood falling to the ground.

121

:

When he rose from prayer,

he went back to disciples.

122

:

He found them asleep.

123

:

Exhausted from sorrow.

124

:

Why are you sleeping?

125

:

He asked them, get up and pray so that

you will not fall into temptation.

126

:

You know, we see here that going back

to ever since Jesus has entered the

127

:

region, he's been teaching in Jerusalem

by day and then retreating back to

128

:

the Mount of Olive by night to rest.

129

:

And on this, uh, this sermon series is

actually on the road to the resurrection.

130

:

We've seen how the mounts of

olives is a place of significance.

131

:

Here in, uh, going back to Luke 19,

we see Mount Olives being a place

132

:

of praise, prophecy, and pain.

133

:

You know, at Marcel when we first kicked

off the lesson, he talked about, uh, Jesus

134

:

coming in, entering the kingdom as king.

135

:

He's writing into Jerusalem from

the Mount of Olives on a donkey,

136

:

fulfilling the prophecy right there.

137

:

And then Eric, a few weeks after that,

preached on Luke 21 about the prophecy.

138

:

The destruction of ends time.

139

:

You know, having false teachers rise,

having the war, uh, this world be

140

:

plagued with war and Jesus will return.

141

:

And today we're gonna talk about

the pain here in Mount Olives, the

142

:

pain of the garden of Gethsemane.

143

:

It's here at the Mount of Olives.

144

:

And Jesus feeling the weight

of the world sin on him.

145

:

Now let's break this scripture down

here in Luke 22, as you see here.

146

:

Oh, first.

147

:

First point is the spiritual pain, right?

148

:

The Garden of Gethsemane.

149

:

And here we see the first uh, verse here.

150

:

Jesus went out as usual to pray, and

I found that this was not just an

151

:

occasional practice for Jesus, right?

152

:

It wasn't based on circumstance, but

he always went out to pray as usual.

153

:

Now, in this moment here in

the garden, Jesus is faced with

154

:

overwhelming weight of what's to come.

155

:

He knew exactly what was ahead, the

cross, the humiliation, the rejection,

156

:

the intense physical suffering.

157

:

But most of all, he knew about the

spiritual agony, the spiritual separation,

158

:

that he was soon faced with his father,

you know, in his humanity, because Jesus

159

:

is fully God and fully human, we see

that he pleads with his father in prayer.

160

:

Father, if you're willing to take this cup

from me, see, there's no pretending here.

161

:

Jesus is like, man, I

don't want to do this.

162

:

I know what's to come.

163

:

I know about the prophecies, but God,

if there's another way, please remove

164

:

this cup as we see this cup here.

165

:

This cup, uh, was used this, this term.

166

:

The cup was used in many scriptures,

especially in the Old Testament.

167

:

The cup was used to

describe someone's faith.

168

:

You know, to drink the cup is to do what

God has already determined as necessary.

169

:

You know, the Cup is also

representative of Jesus's.

170

:

Uh, or of God's suffering and wrath.

171

:

You know, there's mentions of, as we

see in Isaiah 51 verse 17, it says,

172

:

awake, awake, rise up Jerusalem.

173

:

You who have drunk from the hand

of the Lord, the cup of his wrath,

174

:

you have drained to its drags the

goblet that makes people stagger.

175

:

We see the cup representing the harsh

experience that God's people will face.

176

:

The cup of his wrath shows us the

consequences when we disobey God and

177

:

Jesus knowing the wrath that he will soon

face, he pleased with his father, man,

178

:

I know what this cup is gonna be like.

179

:

God, please remove this cup.

180

:

I don't wanna drink from this cup.

181

:

You know, as I think about it, if

I was in that position with Jesus,

182

:

there's no way I'm doing that right.

183

:

I'm trying to get rid of that pain.

184

:

But one thing that I love

that Jesus does here.

185

:

It's that even in the agonizing

spiritual pain where every weight

186

:

of sin is on him, Jesus surrenders.

187

:

He says, yet not my

will, but yours be done.

188

:

Jesus has trust in his father.

189

:

It's a decision to surrender to, not

to uh, his will, but to his father's

190

:

will, to his father's desires,

his fears to God's greater plan.

191

:

And in this moment, despite the deep pain.

192

:

Jesus decides to lean in to the father's

will, he begins to drink that cup.

193

:

You know, the amazing thing here is as

he, you know, leans into that, right?

194

:

We see here that an angel appears

and we see that the angel here

195

:

appears to comfort Jesus, right?

196

:

But notice this, notice that even

when the comfort was there, the

197

:

pain was still there as well.

198

:

I think it's so important for

us to remember that man, God's

199

:

gonna be there when we're in pain.

200

:

He's gonna try to comfort us, right?

201

:

But it doesn't mean that

pain is gonna go away.

202

:

You know?

203

:

We see Jesus here having

an angel, being with him.

204

:

He was still being anguish.

205

:

He prayed more earnestly.

206

:

His sweat was like drops of blood.

207

:

You know, I think for us, that

can be a hard concept to accept

208

:

sometimes about how God is gonna

be there with us through the pain.

209

:

He's not gonna remove us from

the pain, but he's gonna be

210

:

there to walk with us through it.

211

:

You know, we want a quick fix.

212

:

I know I do.

213

:

We want the storm to stop, not just

the courage to stand in the storm.

214

:

We want healing to happen without

going through the process.

215

:

We want a breakthrough without

even having to wrestle for it.

216

:

But Jesus here, Jesus shows us that

God doesn't always take us outta

217

:

the pain, but he meets us in it.

218

:

He gives us exactly what we need,

not escape from the pain, right?

219

:

But endurance for the pain.

220

:

Not avoidance of the

pain, but assurance in it.

221

:

Not comfort that eliminates pain, but

comfort that carries us through the pain.

222

:

So maybe today you're asking

God to remove something away.

223

:

Maybe there's something heavy going

on in your personal life right now

224

:

that you've been wrestling with, and

maybe he hasn't taken away yet, but

225

:

that doesn't mean he's not with you.

226

:

Amen.

227

:

That doesn't mean he's

not hearing you out.

228

:

That doesn't mean he hasn't heard you.

229

:

It just means he's giving you strength

for the moment and comfort that

230

:

sustains rather than removes the pain.

231

:

And what's incredible about that

is that even while carrying that

232

:

kind of pain, even in the middle

of his own spiritual agony, Jesus

233

:

doesn't turn to himself right.

234

:

What does it say here?

235

:

He says he turned to God

obviously in prayer, but he

236

:

also turned to his disciples.

237

:

And what were his disciples

doing during that time?

238

:

Guys?

239

:

What They were sleeping.

240

:

His disciples were sleeping.

241

:

And I know for me, when I'm overwhelmed,

when I have a lot of things going

242

:

on in my life, my first instinct

isn't to turn to God in prayer.

243

:

It isn't to get open to the

brothers or even my wife.

244

:

My first instinct is to look at myself

and really to just think about how can

245

:

I get out of this myself throughout

my, uh, with my own strength here?

246

:

How can I numb this feeling?

247

:

What can I do?

248

:

Maybe I can take a nap

and sleep away my problem.

249

:

Maybe I can watch TV all day and

hopefully that problem will go away.

250

:

But that's not what Jesus wants for us.

251

:

He invites us to stay awake, right?

252

:

The disciples were sleeping, but

Jesus, he wants us to stay awake.

253

:

He wants us to be present.

254

:

He wants us to be in prayer, not just

for ourselves, but also for each other.

255

:

Because here's one thing, the disciples,

they weren't just sleeping on Jesus.

256

:

They were also asleep towards one another.

257

:

They weren't looking out for each other,

they weren't encouraging each other.

258

:

They weren't just trying to get, they were

just trying to get through the moment.

259

:

And we can do the same, you know,

we can show up to church, we can

260

:

be part of our family groups.

261

:

We can show up to events

physically present, but

262

:

spiritually, man, we can be asleep.

263

:

We don't check in, man.

264

:

We don't ask deep questions.

265

:

We can assume people are okay,

but maybe they're really not.

266

:

Maybe they're hanging on by a,

a life, a lifeline, right there.

267

:

Man, we cannot be a people around,

let people around us suffer in that

268

:

we have to stay awake spiritually.

269

:

Church, we have to be engaged in prayer.

270

:

We have to be present with

him and also with each other.

271

:

We do not want to be a people that

lets other people, lets other brothers

272

:

and sisters suffer in silence.

273

:

Let's not sleep in those moments.

274

:

We're meant to support one another.

275

:

Let's be a kind of church.

276

:

Let's continue to be a kind of church.

277

:

That tries to see that, try to listen,

that praise, that show up physically,

278

:

but also spiritually as well because

Jesus, he didn't give up on his disciples

279

:

and he's not giving up on us as well.

280

:

Jesus call is clear.

281

:

Don't let the pain, uh, don't turn away

from the pain when it's overwhelming.

282

:

Instead, lean into God, lean

into prayer during this time,

283

:

we see Jesus do this constantly.

284

:

We see it right here.

285

:

Even in the moments of pain and

agony, he leans in to the Father.

286

:

He has trust in them.

287

:

Even if he doesn't have the answer,

he still continuously trust in him.

288

:

Church, when we find ourself in spiritual

pain, whether it's doubt, whether it's

289

:

fear or confusion, will you lean in?

290

:

Will you bring your pain to God?

291

:

When the answers aren't immediate,

even when the circumstances don't

292

:

change, will you lean into God?

293

:

Will you lean in?

294

:

Will you join Jesus in the garden of

prayer and let God meet you in it?

295

:

You know, we see Jesus.

296

:

Jesus here is wrestling with God and

after talking, uh, to his disciples

297

:

who fell asleep on him while he was

praying, Jesus then started to be

298

:

approached by a crowd of people.

299

:

And we'll pick up here in verse 47.

300

:

And we pick up on the emotional pain that

comes next, we see betrayal and denial.

301

:

In verse 47, it reads, while he was

still speaking to, uh, speaking, a crowd

302

:

came up and the man who called Judas,

uh, one of the 12 was leading them.

303

:

He approached Jesus to kiss him,

but Jesus asked him, Judas, are you

304

:

betraying the son of man with a kiss?

305

:

When Jesus followers saw, uh, what

was going to happen, they said, Lord,

306

:

should we strike with our swords?

307

:

And one of them struck the servant of the

high priest cutting off his right ear.

308

:

But Jesus answered no more of this, and

he touched the man's ear and healed him.

309

:

Then Jesus said to the chief priest,

the officers of the Temple Guard and

310

:

the elders who had, uh, come for him.

311

:

Am I leading a rebellion that you have

come with swords and clubs every day?

312

:

I was with you in the Temple Courts

and you did not lay a hand on me, but

313

:

this is your hour when darkness rains.

314

:

So we see here the emotional

pain hits hard, right?

315

:

Judas.

316

:

Now, Judas is one of the 12.

317

:

Judas was a friend of Jesus.

318

:

Judas followed Jesus everywhere,

and he got to see the miracles.

319

:

Jesus invested.

320

:

He poured himself into Judas.

321

:

And yet we see Judas here enter the

picture and he kissed Jesus, right?

322

:

And a kiss man that is so intimate a

kiss shows like, man, I really love you.

323

:

But here, this kiss wasn't

a sign of love for Jesus.

324

:

This kiss was a kiss of betrayal.

325

:

And think about how Jesus, knowing

that everything he'd done for him

326

:

had to experience this from Judas.

327

:

Yeah, I mean, think about that.

328

:

That must have been a slap in

the face to Jesus right there.

329

:

And what's worse is it's because

it came from someone Jesus had

330

:

poured in and invested into so much.

331

:

Imagine the pain that Jesus.

332

:

Not just the physical pain of being

arrested, but the emotional betrayal.

333

:

The sting of seeing one of his

own disciples turn on him even if

334

:

he knew he saw this coming, but

still having to to go through it.

335

:

What would you do in that moment?

336

:

I know for me, I'll be

quick to fight back.

337

:

Right?

338

:

I'll be quick to start, you

know, calling for justice, man.

339

:

I'm like, man, this is not right.

340

:

What are you doing?

341

:

But we see Jesus, he doesn't fight back.

342

:

He doesn't scream in anger.

343

:

He doesn't lash out on Judas.

344

:

Instead, what he does is he,

you know, tells people, Hey,

345

:

enough of this, no more of this.

346

:

Stop this.

347

:

And in the process he heals the,

the high priest's ear right there.

348

:

You know, when I think about this,

when we think about Judas here, sorry.

349

:

There it is with Judas.

350

:

What's incredible about Judas though?

351

:

What we see right after he betrays him.

352

:

You know in verse, in Matthew 27, verse

three through five, it says, when Judas,

353

:

who had betrayed him saw that Jesus was

condemned, he was seized with remorse

354

:

and returned the 30 pieces of silver

to the chief priests and the elders.

355

:

I have sinned.

356

:

He said, for have betrayed innocent blood.

357

:

What is that to us?

358

:

They replied, that's your responsibility.

359

:

So Judas, through the money

into the temple and left.

360

:

Then he went away to hang himself.

361

:

Think about this Judas story right here.

362

:

It ends right there.

363

:

He ultimately decides to hang himself

story that that is all that we hear

364

:

from Judas and we see that this betrayal

that he did, that he did it for money,

365

:

obviously, but then he realized like,

man, oh, I, I shouldn't have done this

366

:

rather than in his own pain, turned to

God and asked Jesus for forgiveness.

367

:

Instead, he thought there

was nothing else he can do.

368

:

So instead he decides to end it all.

369

:

I think that he, he didn't let Grace

meet him where he was at, right?

370

:

Grace was right there in front

of him in Jesus, but instead he

371

:

decided to end it all right there.

372

:

You know, I think about that.

373

:

I think about how maybe

the fear got to him, right?

374

:

Maybe the doubt got to him right

there, and we see the tragic ending

375

:

of Judas, but there's also another

thing that Jesus goes through.

376

:

It wasn't just the kiss of

betray, kiss of betrayal.

377

:

We also see the denial of him, you know,

and picking up in Luke 22, verse 50 54.

378

:

Here, it says, then seizing him.

379

:

They let him away and took him

into the house of the high priest.

380

:

Peter followed at a distance and

when some, uh, some there had

381

:

kindled a fire in the middle of the

courtyard and sat down together.

382

:

Peter sat down with him.

383

:

A serving girl saw him seated

there in the firelight.

384

:

She looked closely at him and

said, this man was with him.

385

:

He denied it.

386

:

Woman, I don't know him.

387

:

He said a little later someone else saw

him and said, you are also one of them.

388

:

Man, I am not.

389

:

Peter replied about an hour later,

uh, another asserted certainly this

390

:

fellow was with him for he's Galilean.

391

:

Peter replied, man, I don't

know what you're talking about.

392

:

Just as he, uh, just as he was

speaking, the rooster crowed, the Lord

393

:

turned and looked straight at Peter.

394

:

Then Peter remembered the word

of the Lord had spoken to him.

395

:

Before the rooster crows,

you'll disown me three times.

396

:

And he went outside and

he, uh, wept bitterly.

397

:

Now we see that Peter

denies Jesus three times.

398

:

And with each denial, I

think Peter begins to crack.

399

:

He's not just protecting

himself from danger.

400

:

He's dis disconnecting

himself from the one he loves.

401

:

Fear, shame, doubt.

402

:

They started to take control of him.

403

:

And then the rooster crows.

404

:

I dunno if you guys saw this, but

it says, uh, the Lord turned and

405

:

looked straight back at Peter.

406

:

I dunno about you guys, but Jesus was

going through a lot that day, right?

407

:

He had the spiritual pain.

408

:

He didn't want to take this cup.

409

:

He's been betrayed and

now he's been denied.

410

:

Now I think about how, what was the look?

411

:

What, what look would I give

to Peter if I was Jesus?

412

:

I know for me, I would probably

give the look of anger.

413

:

Come on, dude, you just, you

told me not too long ago that

414

:

you'll be with me even if I died.

415

:

I'll be disappointed in him being like,

man, I invested so much in you, man.

416

:

I thought you would be with

me here for the long run.

417

:

But knowing Jesus though,

thank goodness Jesus is not me.

418

:

I tend to believe that Jesus looked at

Peter with love, with compassion, and

419

:

looked at, said, Peter, I still see you.

420

:

I still love you.

421

:

That looked broken as we see that Peter

went outside and he and he wept bitterly.

422

:

But I think when he wept bitterly,

I don't think it was out of

423

:

guilt of, oh man, I got caught.

424

:

Jesus caught me.

425

:

Oh my goodness.

426

:

I think that weeping of bitterness

right there was out of wow.

427

:

Jesus still loves me.

428

:

He still sees me, despite

me turning my back on him.

429

:

He still loves me and church.

430

:

Maybe that's where some

of us are right now.

431

:

Maybe some of us feel like we, we

are denying Jesus like Peter did.

432

:

I want you to know that Jesus

has not given up on you.

433

:

He didn't give up on Peter.

434

:

He has not given up on you.

435

:

Maybe you guys are like Peter because,

or we are like Peter because it says

436

:

Peter also followed at a distance.

437

:

Right?

438

:

And I think for me.

439

:

I think of falling outta distance.

440

:

I think, man, I'm gonna be an earshot.

441

:

Like I'm still gonna hear what

Jesus is gonna say, right?

442

:

But I'm still gonna be far enough where

I can be in control of my own life.

443

:

Now, maybe you've pulled back

because of fear and you've

444

:

distanced yourself because of that.

445

:

Maybe you convince yourself that

you're not worthy, you're not

446

:

strong enough, or you're not ready.

447

:

But I need to ask you, church, are

you following at a distance because

448

:

Jesus is still looking at you?

449

:

Not with condemnation,

but with compassion.

450

:

Not to shame you, but to call you

back to remind you, I still see you.

451

:

I still love you, and

I'm not done with you.

452

:

You know, Peter's story here

doesn't end at the courtyard and

453

:

yours does not have to either.

454

:

There is grace still waiting for you.

455

:

There is purpose on the other side

of your pain, but the question

456

:

is, will you come close again?

457

:

There was a season in my life

where I definitely felt like I've

458

:

followed Jesus as a di at a distance.

459

:

And it happened actually last

year around, you know, January,

460

:

February, uh, you know, I was, uh.

461

:

Working with the team ministry, I

also got engaged during that time.

462

:

I picked up extra hours at my job.

463

:

We're planning a wedding and there

was just so much stuff going on.

464

:

I remember just waking up in the

morning saying a quick prayer and

465

:

just kind of going out the door and

just saying, alright, uh, I'll, I'll

466

:

get back on track spiritually soon.

467

:

Right?

468

:

Like, but I kept kicking that can

further down the road and then one day

469

:

I remember just sitting in my household

and then I remember actually Justin

470

:

and I, we had a quiet time together

and I was so grateful for that.

471

:

And we're reading Isaiah 30 and it

in there it said, uh, and repentance

472

:

and rest is your salvation and

quietness and trust is your strength.

473

:

And I just sat there

just so convicted, right?

474

:

Thinking about how, wow, God doesn't

really care about the busyness I'm in.

475

:

He just wants me to be there

with them in this moment, right?

476

:

That moment.

477

:

Remind me that.

478

:

God has always welcoming back with

open arms that, but I have to choose to

479

:

continually, continuously be close to him.

480

:

So let me ask you this today, church,

are you following Jesus at a distance?

481

:

Not because you stop believing in

him, but because maybe life pulls

482

:

you in a thousand directions.

483

:

I know some of us, we have kids,

you, we have families, we have work.

484

:

There's so much stuff going on financially

around this world that man, we can be

485

:

pulled in so many different directions.

486

:

But through that, are we following Jesus?

487

:

At a distant, as I mentioned, Peter's

story didn't end in the courtyard.

488

:

We, Peter actually went on to be one of

the greatest leaders in church history.

489

:

But there is grace waiting for you.

490

:

There is purpose on the other side of

your pain, and with that, you know, with

491

:

the other purpose outside of your pain,

it brings us to where we're gonna get to,

492

:

especially next week for Easter, which

is the physical pain, the suffering.

493

:

Going to the cross.

494

:

But even before that, we see in

verse 63 through 65, it says, the men

495

:

who were there or who were guarding

Jesus began mocking and beating him.

496

:

They blindfolded him and

demanded prophesy who hit you.

497

:

And they said many other insulting things.

498

:

And we see now Jesus is in

the hand of the soldiers.

499

:

He's being mocked, he's being

rid, ridiculed, he's blindfolded,

500

:

they're, they're humiliating him.

501

:

All of this to make him feel

this small, to make him feel so

502

:

powerless to make him feel alone.

503

:

What does Jesus do in that moment?

504

:

He endures.

505

:

He takes every blow,

he takes every insult.

506

:

He doesn't fight back.

507

:

He doesn't cry out for

justice or a revolution.

508

:

He simply endures.

509

:

And in this silence, that silence,

that strength, we get to see

510

:

Jesus heart for his mission.

511

:

You know, we often think that

responding to pain means fighting

512

:

back or maybe retreating or resisting

at all costs, but Jesus shows us

513

:

something radically different.

514

:

He, uh, retaliate.

515

:

He didn't retaliate obviously, and maybe

people think of that as weakness, but

516

:

it was actually a sign of his strength.

517

:

It was a sign of his commitment of

fulfilling the mission God has gave him.

518

:

You know, when we face pain, it can

feel like it's gonna break us right?

519

:

Church, it can make us wanna stop

moving forward or to retreat back.

520

:

But Jesus shows us that pain

doesn't have to define us,

521

:

it doesn't have to defeat us.

522

:

In fact, when we surrender our pain to

God, he can do something far greater

523

:

with our pain than we could ever imagine.

524

:

I mean, think about some of

the people in the Bible who

525

:

had experienced so much pain.

526

:

I think about Hannah, who really

wanted to bear a child, but she

527

:

couldn't, and she wrestled with God.

528

:

She prayed that she could have a child,

and God delivered them that promise,

529

:

and that child turned out to be Samuel.

530

:

I think about David, who always

started off with, with, uh, maybe

531

:

with some insecurities, but now

he became strong because of God.

532

:

Think about Job who lost everything,

his family, his wealth, and yet

533

:

he still had the heart of you.

534

:

Give and take away Lord.

535

:

Blessed be your name.

536

:

You know, Jesus didn't

run from his pain, right?

537

:

He endured every ounce of pain.

538

:

He endured all this for a reason.

539

:

For you and for me.

540

:

Yep.

541

:

His pain led to our healing.

542

:

So I want to ask you today,

what will you do with your pain?

543

:

Jesus didn't run from it.

544

:

He leaned into it and he trusts

God had a greater purpose and

545

:

he calls us to do the same.

546

:

Now, rather than avoiding

pain, he calls us to endure it.

547

:

Maybe you're facing some

spiritual pains today.

548

:

Maybe you're facing some physical pain

today, emotional pain, or any type of

549

:

pain today, maybe emotional pain because

you're feeling betrayed or rejected.

550

:

Maybe you're facing relational pain.

551

:

Maybe you have a strained

friendship, a broken relationship.

552

:

Maybe you're distanced

from the ones you love.

553

:

Maybe you followed.

554

:

You're starting to follow

Jesus at a distance.

555

:

But I wanna remind you where you

guys are at today, that Jesus

556

:

understands he's been there.

557

:

He's walked through it all.

558

:

He knows what it's like to suffer.

559

:

He knows what it's like to be betrayed,

to be abandoned, and still he's calling

560

:

on you not to retreat, but to come closer.

561

:

So, church, will you come closer?

562

:

You know, here, I'm not sure if

this is what the gar, uh, garden

563

:

of Yosemite really look like By

picturing it's, it's nighttime, right?

564

:

So imagine stepping into

the garden with Jesus.

565

:

Imagine.

566

:

Coming to that sacred place,

surrendering everything to God.

567

:

It's a place where he

didn't hide his pain.

568

:

He poured it out to God.

569

:

Will you church step

into that garden today?

570

:

Will you move into that place

of surrender, honesty and truth?

571

:

It's a place where we can

meet God in our pain, knowing

572

:

that he has a purpose for it.

573

:

Jesus's pain didn't push

him away from the father.

574

:

It drew him closer.

575

:

And in the same way, your pain doesn't

have to push you away towards God.

576

:

It can bring you closer as well.

577

:

And here's the incredible thing, right?

578

:

His pain was the price and

our gain was the reward.

579

:

He bore the weight of this, of, of

sin so we could walk in freedom.

580

:

He suffered the garden.

581

:

So we get to stand in grace.

582

:

So what will you do with that pain?

583

:

Will it let it, will you let

that pain push you away from God?

584

:

Will you let it.

585

:

Draw closer to God in the

garden where healing begins.

586

:

So how do we respond to this?

587

:

How do we take what we've heard and

what we felt and actually live it out?

588

:

You know, let's really get practical here,

because I think Jesus didn't experience

589

:

pain for us to admire from a distance.

590

:

He invites us to respond, to

take action, to walk with him.

591

:

So here are a few steps this week.

592

:

We get practical here.

593

:

One is we gotta commit

to a time of prayer.

594

:

Set a set time aside to have a

deep, honest conversation with God.

595

:

And I know it may seem difficult

at first if you're new to this, but

596

:

I promise you it's gonna be great.

597

:

God invites us to come with our

raw emotions and our feelings,

598

:

with our doubts and our fears.

599

:

So I challenge you this week to carve

out a quiet moment, to talk with

600

:

God about what you are facing next.

601

:

We gotta reach out for support.

602

:

You know, Jesus wanted his disciples

to be with him in the garden.

603

:

And we're called to be there for

each other during times of hardship.

604

:

If you're struggling, I encourage

you to reach out to a friend, reach

605

:

out to someone you trust that you

love, that you maybe see as a mentor.

606

:

Let them know what you're going through

and allow them to walk aside, aside

607

:

you in prayer and encouragement because

I believe that that God really, uh,

608

:

wants us to share our pain with each

other so he can bring healing and

609

:

others can bring healing to us as well.

610

:

And then lastly, let's

choose to follow closer.

611

:

Peter struggled.

612

:

With Jesus by following him at a distance.

613

:

And sometimes we wanna keep God at

arm's length when things are tough,

614

:

but this week let's commit to move

closer to him when times get hard.

615

:

Let's not retreat.

616

:

Let's lean in to God.

617

:

You know, as we think about the pain

Jesus endure and how he responded

618

:

to it, let's remember the ultimate

gain that came through his sacrifice.

619

:

Jesus entered into pain for you and

me, and he endured what we couldn't

620

:

so we could experience forgiveness.

621

:

Restoration healing.

622

:

Know we're gonna right now take,

uh, prepare to take communion.

623

:

And communion is a time where we need

to remember Jesus as we take the bread

624

:

that represents, uh, his body and

the juice that represents his blood.

625

:

As we prepare to take communion, we

have an opportunity to respond to him.

626

:

In one Corinthians chapter 11, verse 23

through 24, it reads, for I received from

627

:

the Lord what I also passed on to you.

628

:

The Lord Jesus on the night he was

betrayed, took bread, and when he had

629

:

given thanks, he broke it and said,

this is my body, which is for you.

630

:

Do this in remembrance of me.

631

:

Let's take this moment to remember the

pain he endured, but also the gain we

632

:

receive because of his love and sacrifice.

633

:

Let's pray.

634

:

Uh, God, as we, uh, prepare to take, uh,

communion this morning, pray that we get

635

:

to remember your son Jesus in the garden.

636

:

Remember the weight he carried, the

spiritual agony, the loneliness,

637

:

the sorrow that he experienced.

638

:

Lord God, I'm so grateful

that he endured it all.

639

:

He could have walked away,

he could have chosen another

640

:

path, but he decided to stay.

641

:

God, I pray that we can, uh, practice

the example of your son, not your, uh,

642

:

not our will, but your will be done.

643

:

He surrender to the pain because

of the love and because of us.

644

:

And we thank you God, that Jesus

didn't turn away from suffering and

645

:

that in his pain became the price and

our salvation became the reward that

646

:

in his broken body and his spilled

blood, we find healing, hope and grace.

647

:

Help us God, not follow you at a

distance, but really to lean into

648

:

you during times of pain and trouble.

649

:

Lord, we take this bread, we take this

juice and remembrance, uh, of you.

650

:

And we remember the love that

stayed, the love that surrendered,

651

:

and the love that saved us all.

652

:

But we thank you.

653

:

In your son's name we pray, amen.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

About the Podcast

Show artwork for OC Church of Christ Sermons
OC Church of Christ Sermons
Hear the latest sermon from the OC Church of Christ

Listen for free