• in the context of the Lord’s Supper
• preceding the prediction of Peter’s denial

• not the first time (Matt. 20:25-28, Mark 10:42-45)
• a distracted dispute about greatness
• connection to John 13:1-5

• custom of the culture
• emphasizing a striking contrast
• specific command supported by example

• gracious assessment
• staggering assignment
• heavenly joy and holy vocation

• Since greatness in God’s sight means humble service, take your cues from Jesus.
• Cultivate gospel humility. (Phil. 2:5-11)
• Remember that you’re not home yet.
• “Then I shall bow in humble adoration…” (Hine)

• plot to kill Jesus (1-2) and betrayal by Judas (3-6, 21-22)
• Passover preparations (7-13) and biblical backdrop for 14-20

• to eat this Passover with you before I suffer
• redemption through substitution (Jn. 1:29, 1 Cor. 5:7, 2 Cor. 5:21)

• not eat it until it is fulfilled…
• And He took a cup…
• foretaste of a greater gathering (Rev. 5:9-10, 19:6-9)

• institution of the Lord’s Supper
• bread: My body
• cup: My blood (Ex. 24:8)
• take and eat (Mt. 26:26-28)
• verbs of salvation

• Because the sacrifice of Jesus is the sacrifice to which all sacrifices point, receive and remember it.
• Bank your hope on the body and blood of Jesus.
• Magnify the ministry of the Lord’s Supper to your own soul.
• “He took my sins and my sorrows, He made them His very own; He bore the burden to Calvary, And suffered and died alone…” (Gabriel)
• “Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power, Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more…” (Cowper)

• entering, weeping and cleansing (19:28-48)
• public debate with religious leaders (20:1-21:4)

• a question from the religious leaders
• Jesus answers with a question
• caught on the horns of a dilemma

• landowner hires out vineyard (Isa. 5:1-7)
• messengers sent and treated shamefully (Acts 7:51-53)
• beloved son sent and killed (Heb. 13:12-13)

• Jesus poses a question and answers it
• response of the target audience
• Jesus points to a prophecy about Himself (Psa. 118:22, Isa. 8:14-15, Isa. 28:16)

• Because the Lord’s authority prevails, flee to Him for refuge.
• “There is no refuge from Him-only in Him.” (Kidner)
• Savor the Lord’s strange strategy that overcomes the world.
• Reject the sentimental syrup and the postmodern virtue of universal tolerance.
• “Mine, mine was the transgression…” (Bernard of Clairvaux)

• exclusive to Luke and reflective of his focus
• passing through Jericho with 18:31-34 on His mind
• basic structure: verses 1-5 (found) and verses 6-10 (changed)

• The Crowd: could not see, small in stature (3)
• Response of Zacchaeus: ran ahead, climbed sycamore tree (4)

• Zacchaeus, hurry and come down
• must stay: divine appointment
• joyful reception

♦ half of my goods to the poor
♦ fourfold restoration (2 Sam. 12:6)

• salvation to a son of Abraham (Gal. 3:7-9)
• to seek and save the lost

• Because of the mission of Jesus, meeting Him means never again being the same.
• “He will happily trample on the prejudices of others to rescue someone from sin.” (Maclaren)
• “O for the wonderful love He has promised, promised for you and for me! Though we have sinned He has mercy and pardon, pardon for you and for me…” (Thompson)
• “Drown yourself in the immensity of God.” (Spurgeon/Begg)

• reminder: gospel I gospelized
• reception and reliance
• no careless contemplation

• delivered…received
• died, buried, RAISED, appeared…
• caravan of witnesses
• for our sins
• in accordance with the Scriptures

• life for a “wretched specimen”
• undeserved/unmerited favor of God
• opposed to earning and not to effort
• good news to celebrate

• “While passing through this world of sin…” (McKinney)
• “Either this man was, and is the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.” (Lewis)
• Remember that “the corner has been turned.”

• preceding our text: Zacchaeus (19:1-10) and Ten Minas (19:11-27)
• moving toward Jerusalem and the cross: three symbolic acts that highlight the identity of Jesus

• two disciples dispatched
• prophetic fulfillment (Zech. 9:9-10)
• disciples rejoice and praise (Psa. 118:26)
• objection from some Pharisees
• stones that cry out: inevitable praise

• compassion/emotion of Jesus
• a peace hidden from their eyes (John 1:11)
• prediction of demise due to visitation insensitivity
• stones that fall down: inevitable destruction (Hab. 2:11)

• denunciation of Temple practices (Mal. 3:1-4, Isa. 56:7, Jer. 7:11)
• daily routine in the Temple
• objective of the religious establishment
• people “hanging on His words”

• Because Jesus Christ has authority over all creation and alone can rescue it, hang on His words and join the chorus of His praise.
• “I hang upon the Savior, as actually perishing without His unbounded mercy and unintermitted care.” (Simeon)

• misplaced trust
• mistreatment of others

• a religious performer: his attitude, actions and articulation
• a spiritual pauper: his attitude, actions and articulation

• Only those who acknowledge the extremity of their need may enjoy the exaltation of intimacy with Jesus.
• A repeated NT theme: 1 Peter 5:5-7
• Recognize that self-justifiers remain unjustified.
• Understand the peril of religious performance.
• “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me…” (Toplady)
• Serve Jesus with broken-hearted joy.

• identification of target audience in 15:1
• intensification in the three parables of Luke 15
• inclusion of 15:25-32

• man with two sons
• younger son requests inheritance
• division of property

• squandered his property in reckless living
• severe famine and need
• feeding pigs

• when he came to himself
• contrasting his status with hired servants
• rehearsal of speech

• the father’s actions: saw, felt, ran, embraced, kissed…
• the younger son’s confession
• robe, ring, shoes and festive celebration

• informed of his brother’s return
• an angry protest and an embellishment
• the father’s response

• Because of God’s heart for the lost, extend His compassion and join His celebration!
• “And so through all the length of days Thy goodness faileth never; Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise within Thy house forever.” (Baker)

• transparent motivation
• crucial question
• correct response
• diversionary tactic

• avoidance: fear of contamination and complication
• engagement: distinguished by compassion
• expression: through care, courage and commitment

• identifying a neighbor
• modeling of mercy
• called not to calculate but to care
• called not to sentimental feeling but to sacrificial action
• called not to achieve but to receive
• from the Good Samaritan to the Great Shepherd

• In light of the matchless mercy of Jesus, remember that loving your neighbor begins with the dimensions of your heart rather than the dimensions of your neighborhood.
• “If the truth were known…” (Miracle of Mercy by Stephen Curtis Chapman)
• “Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer; But this I know with all my heart-His wounds have paid my ransom.” (How Deep the Father’s Love for Us by Stuart Townend)

• defining providence
• distinguishing providence from fate

• Job suffers and his “friends” respond
• Job wants a meeting to present his “case” (31:35)
• Job is given a series of “knowledge” tests (38:3)
• Job gets a guided tour of the created order (38:4-39:30)
• Job is left speechless (40:1-5)
• The “lesson” continues (40:6-41:34)
• The reminder from 41:11
• repentance, rebuke and restoration (42)
• connection to Christ (Phil. 2:5-11)

• Remember that you are not in control (Deut. 32:39)
• Worship only Me (Isa. 45:22-23)
• View your circumstances from My perspective (Psa. 34:18-22 and Isa. 40:8)
• Think bigger thoughts of Me (Isa. 55:8-9)
• Maximize the “mist” that is your life (James 4:13-17)

• The pervasive providence of God points us to the necessity of Christ being our pervasive reality.
• “The same sovereignty that could stop Covid yet doesn’t is the very sovereignty that sustains our souls in it.”
• “When your by-and-by is beautiful and sure, your here-and-now will be sweet and fruitful.”
• “This is not a season for sentimental views of God.” (Piper in Coronavirus and Christ)
• “He’s got the whole world in His hands…” (Warner)