"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" (John 8:58)

Behold The Man!

Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, "Behold the man"! (John 19:1-5 KJV)

Krystal Meyers - The Beauty of Grace

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Living Beyond Myself
The Power of Doing Good
Matthew 20, Romans 12
April 09, 2006


Matthew 20:17-23 (Monday)
“Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!" Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. "What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” (NIV)
1) The disciples (and obviously their mothers) just didn’t get it! Jesus could not have been any plainer when he told them of His betrayal by the hands of the very priests and teachers of the law who were learned in the scriptures and prophecies concerning Christ and who should have been preparing the people for His kingdom—not in gaining more and more power for themselves and dragging others down with them! These same “leaders” would conspire with Judas to hand Jesus over to unbelieving Gentiles (who truly knew no better!) to be crucified! If we give the disciples any credit for understanding Jesus, impending death, then we must also fault their failure to be heartsick over His unspeakable suffering! In fact, if they understood Jesus’ death, it almost seems that they were satisfied that when He was raised back unto life, everything in the world would be immediately set right! Jesus would be their earthly King and they, of course, would rule along side of Him! Hunger for power has laid low many a man and/or woman! What is the driving force behind seeking personal power?
2) I like what this week’s study helps has to say about this drive for power:
“Satan had sought a throne (Isa. 14:12-15) and had been cast down. Satan had offered Jesus a throne and had been refused (Matt. 4:8-11). Satan magnifies the end (a throne) but not the means to that end. Jesus warned Salome and her sons that the special thrones were available to those who were worthy of them. There are no shortcuts in the kingdom of God.”
3) This was not the first time Jesus had spoken of His coming death. However, here in Matthew, Jesus goes into much deeper detail as to the exact means of His death—the cross! Jesus also offers words of great encouragement to His disciples. What are they?
4) The sons of Zebedee (James and John) were called the sons of thunder because of their rough behavior and outspoken ways! (It appears that they might have inherited some of those attributes from their mother!) Do you think she was within hearing range when Jesus spoke of His death? Do you think this would have changed her request?
5) At least she knelt when she made this bold request! What does that suggest to you?
6) Just picture this scene. Jesus has stolen away with his closest friends (one of them, His betrayer--Judas!) I can almost see them in a kind of huddle, or perhaps Jesus’ disciples sitting around Him, while Jesus sat on a stone or rock, explaining to them His Father’s will. Before the shock could wear off, and probably before the full force of the truth could soak in, up comes the mother of James and John! What a request! Oh, be sure, this was strongly motivated by the mother, but her sons really took to the idea! Read Mark 10:32-37! This was truly a family affair!
7) What was the intent behind this question? Can you see any positives behind the motive for this request? How about any negatives?
8) You just have to know that Jesus knew exactly what she was going to ask, but He allowed her to ask it anyway. Why do you think He did so?
9) The cup Jesus was referring to was God’s will for Him. What was His cup going to be?
10) Do you think the disciples fully understood what drinking the same cup as Christ would mean for them? Do you know how most of Jesus’ disciples did indeed end up drinking from that same cup?
11) Do you think all Christians are called to drink from the same cup of Christ? To what extent?
Matthew 20:24-17 (Tuesday)
“When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave…” (NIV)
1) Now, why do you suppose the other disciples were “indignant?”
2) What do you think it means to be someone else’s “servant” or “slave?”
3) Did you notice the transition from servant (one who is “great” in the kingdom) to slave (one who is “first” in the kingdom?) What is the difference, or do you think there is there one?
4) Have you ever allowed yourself to assume the role of a servant or a slave? What was your own personal reaction to being in such a position? Did it have an effect on the other person(s)? Please share.
5) Does serving necessarily make you feel like you are a “greater” or a “first” in God’s kingdom? Does it change your current position in this life in any way? What if it never does?
6) What would happen to the church if everyone starting “lording” over everyone else their own personal gifts and talents?
7) Is our spiritual worth in our gifts, talents and/or abilities, or in Christ? How does this question speak to our boasting and/or our “me first” mentalities?
Romans 12:3-8 (Wednesday)
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” (NIV)
1) I don’t know about you, but thinking soberly and judging my own self takes a lot of guts—it is heart wrenching and it’s not pretty! I can get puffed up, proud, think the things I “do” have everything to do about me and nothing about God—stealing His glory! More often than I care to admit, I’m a “me first!” I fall so short of God’s holiness! I am just so thankful for Jesus because without Him, I would be so lost!
2) Did you read that we “belong” to each other? We are each necessary to the other—none can stand alone! We need each other! Do you feel this responsibility to “belong” to your church family? Why or why not?
3) What are some “first steps” we can take in stepping away from ourselves and learning to give to and serve others?
Romans 12:9-16 (Thursday)
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. “ (NIV)
1) Have you ever experienced someone’s insincerity? How was it made obvious to you? How did it make you feel?
2) How devoted do you think others are to you? Your family? Your church family? Your workplace? How devoted are you to them? How do you show or demonstrate true devotion?
3) I think this is where being a “servant” or a “slave” comes in—honoring someone above yourself! Paul gives us a key to this “Christ life” here in this passage—what is it?
4) We are given several commands in regard to our relationship with our brethren:
a) Be devoted
b) Honor others before ourselves
c) Share with God’s people
d) Practice hospitality
e) Bless others
f) Rejoice with others
g) Mourn with others
h) Live in harmony with others
i) Do not be conceited
5) Now you can see why our love has to be sincere. Our human natures fight against this kind of love! This is the kind of selflessness that enabled Jesus Christ to walk those lonely steps to Calvary for you and me! He is not asking us to do one thing that He Himself has not already done before us!
6) What is meant by “low position?”
7) Do you ever go out of your way to make someone who doesn’t “fit” feel welcome? What are some ways we can make others feel comfortable, accepted and loved?
Romans 12:17-20 (Friday)
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” (NIV)
1) Even scripture tells us that living in peace (harmony) with everyone can be very, very difficult! How would you interpret the words, “as far as it depends on you…?”
2) What ultimate path do you think God’s vengeance will take in the life of an individual that has caused harm to one of his children or blatantly refused to follow Him? Knowing that our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), does it comfort you to know that God will avenge wrongs? Why or why not?
3) How do we leave room for God’s wrath?
4) Have you ever heaped burning coals on someone’s head? Or, had them heaped upon your own? What was their response? Yours?
5) This week’s lesson is really centers on love! Christ has shown us that it can be done! He loved his disciples and us until the very end—the cross (John 13:1 KJV!) Dare to join Him! Love God, love your neighbor! Simple commandments. How can each of us begin to put God’s kind of love into action today?

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