Lesson 37

STRONG TEARS

(Audio Transcript)

Scriptures Cited:
Hebrews 5:5-9, Luke 22:39-46, Luke 23:27-28, Luke 23:29-46, Luke 24:1-9, Luke 24:39-52, Acts 2:22-41

Good morning. It’s good to be here once again, to study another portion of God’s word, to hear what He has to say to us. And today’s going to be a little bit different. We’re not going to bounce around as much in the scriptures, and it’s interesting the song selection there – it’s very fitting for where we’re going to go today. So if you would turn with me in your Bibles, we’re going to start off in Hebrews chapter 5. And like I said, we’re not going to quite bounce around as much after we get started here. Basically, after this first scripture there’s going to be 5 passages of scripture after this that I want us to look at, and really let the Bible speak for itself. And you know, I may make a few comments, commentaries here and there but really we’ll let the Bible speak.

And so, we’re going to start here in Hebrews chapter 5, and we’re going to read verses 5 through 9. But in particular, it’s verse 7 that I want to hone in on, maybe 7 through 9. And that’ll get us started for where we’re going to go today. So in Hebrews chapter 5, starting at verse 5 it says:

Hebrews 5:5-9
⁵ So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. ⁶ As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

⁷ Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

⁸ Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
⁹ And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

And so, I wanted to start there and like I said, really hone in on that verse 7 where it says that “…and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death...” And to really think about the sincerity and the heartfelt passion that Jesus had in these prayers, for the condition of what He was going to have to go through. But also in those prayers, He was praying for us as well; for those who would be saved by what He was going to do. And it says with “strong crying and tears”. And so, I wanted to look and start there, and like I said we have 5 passages of scriptures that I wanted to go through. And where I want to start is when we see this strong crying and tears that He offered up to the one that was able to save Him from death.

So, if we go back into the gospels and we’re going to go to Luke chapter 22. Like I said, the song selection was spot on today. Even in the song book, the passage that – you know the little scripture that’s there with the title of the song, is right here in Luke 22. So in Luke 22 and we’re going to start at verse 39 and I’m going to read it through to verse 46. So, starting in verse 39 it reads:

Luke 22:39-46
³⁹ And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. ⁴⁰ And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. ⁴¹ And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, ⁴² Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. ⁴³ And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

⁴⁴ And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. ⁴⁵ And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, ⁴⁶ And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

So, here is just one of the accounts – we also see it in the other gospels as well, when Jesus went off in to the garden of Gethsemane to pray before He was going to be taken before the high priest. He gave this prayer like we read there in Hebrews, it was a strong prayer of crying and tears. And here we see in verse 44 “…and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” And so this was intense, this was what this man was about to go through, what this man was going through for us. For each one of us, He went through this type of agony and this was before the actual physical punishment of what He would suffer. And He did this literally for each and everyone of us.

And so, if we continue – we’re going to actually stay here in Luke. And I’m not going to read all of this, but right after He gives this prayer, that’s when they showed up to arrest Him if you’d say. That’s when Judas shows up and betrays Him, which is another awful thing to have to go through – to be betrayed by one that you took in… someone that you loved as well. That He was going to actually suffer this for all of us, Judas being included. But obviously it wouldn’t help him in this situation.

So, we see that Jesus is taken before the high priest and He’s questioned there at the high priest. And we’re going to go ahead and skip over some of this and go over into Luke chapter 23. And this is after He was taken to the high priest, He was beaten there, then they handed Him over to Pilate where He was beaten and mocked there. We see that towards the end of chapter 22. But in chapter 23, starting in verse 27 this is as they were leading Him off to be crucified. It reads:

Luke 23:27-28
²⁷ And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. ²⁸ But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

And I kind of want to put a pin in that there. We know this anguish and this agony that Jesus was going through at this moment. And when He saw them crying for Him though, the presence of mind that He had was to say to them ‘Don’t weep for me. Weep for yourselves’. That lets us know what the condition we really are in. If He was in that condition and He said ‘No, it’s not Me you need to be worried about – you need to be worried about yourselves…’ but I’ll go ahead and continue in verse 29.

Luke 23:29-46
²⁹ For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. ³⁰ Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. ³¹ For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

Note: Once again, He’s telling us what the condition is. If this was the condition of mankind when Jesus the Son of God was here, what will it be like in the dry season when He’s not here? And we can kind of look on the news and kind of get an idea of how bad it’s getting. But I’ll go ahead and continue in verse 32.

³² And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. ³³ And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. ³⁴ Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

³⁵ And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. ³⁶ And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, ³⁷ And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

³⁸ And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews. ³⁹ And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. ⁴⁰ But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. ⁴² And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. ⁴³ And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. ⁴⁴ And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. ⁴⁵ And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. ⁴⁶ And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

And we see there, that is one of the accounts of the actual crucifixion of Jesus. And when we come and we partake in the Lord’s supper, in that communion, this is what we are to remember. When He said ‘this is my body‘, He broke the bread – this was the breaking of His body. And when He said ‘this is my blood which is shed for the remission of sins’ this is when He shed that blood and He said that we partake of those emblems in remembrance of this – of what we just read. Of this suffering, and this death that He went through, once again for each and everyone of us.

And so, we see there that as it said, He gave up the ghost. That’s when He died. And we’re going to continue reading – if we were to finish the rest of that chapter, it talks about His burial. But then I want to go to chapter 24, starting in verse 1. And I’m going to read verse 1 through 9. It says:

Luke 24:1-9
¹ Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. ² And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. ³ And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

⁴ And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: ⁵ And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, ⁷ Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

⁸ And they remembered his words, ⁹ And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

And so, there we see that not only did He suffer and die for us and was buried… but here we have testimony that He arose; He was resurrected unto life. And as we read in other places, ‘never to die again’. So, we could continue to read here – this was after the resurrection, and the beginning of the spreading of the gospel, the good news of this resurrection of Jesus. And we’re going to go all the way staying in chapter 24 here, but picking up in verse 39. And this is when Jesus had appeared to them while they were out fishing, and once again proving His resurrection. We’ll see in verse 39, saying to His disciples:

Luke 24:39-52
³⁹ Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. ⁴⁰ And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹ And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? ⁴² And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. ⁴³ And he took it, and did eat before them.

⁴⁴ And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

⁴⁵ Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶ And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: ⁴⁷ And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

⁴⁸ And ye are witnesses of these things.

⁴⁹ And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. ⁵⁰ And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. ⁵¹ And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. ⁵² And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: ⁵³ And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

And so there we see Jesus’ ascension up into Heaven. But we see that the last thing that He says to them there is, this was all prophesied in Moses and in the prophets, and in the Psalms. And the thing that He accomplished was that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name, beginning at Jerusalem. And if we know from looking at the other gospel accounts, repentance and remission of sins are all connected with the baptism – the way of the Lord that John instituted… and that, that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem.

And then, if we continue into verse 49 is where we see Jesus telling them to go and wait in Jerusalem until they be endued with power from on high. And actually in the beginning it says, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you..” so what Jesus is telling them there, is that as we will find out here when we go to the book of Acts – that the Holy Spirit was going to come to the apostles. And they were told to go and wait in Jerusalem for that to happen. So, the last passage of scripture that we’re going to read now, knowing also that this is the book of Luke that we’re in – and then, the continuation of this is in the book of Acts, because Luke also wrote the book of Acts.

So we’ll go to Acts chapter 2, and we’re going to read about the fulfillment of this promise that Jesus tells them right before He ascends. As we know, they went to Jerusalem, they were waiting… if we were to begin reading this whole chapter, it basically lets us know – as they were waiting there was a sound of a mighty rushing wind and the Holy Spirit came upon all the apostles. And Peter was the one to stand up and begin to preach that day under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, keeping in mind all the things that Jesus had taught them before. And so, if we look in Acts chapter 2 and we’re going to start at verse 22 – and this is Peter speaking. This is the first gospel message, the first gospel sermon. And I think like I said last week, it’s just very good that we have the actual words of these sermons recorded.

And so in verse 22 of chapter 2, it reads:

Acts 2:22-41
²² Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: ²³ Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: ²⁴ Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

²⁵ For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: ²⁶ Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: ²⁷ Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. ²⁸ Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

²⁹ Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. ³⁰ Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; ³¹ He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

³² This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

³³ Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. ³⁴ For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, ³⁵ Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

³⁶ Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? ³⁸ Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ³⁹ For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

⁴⁰ And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. ⁴¹ Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

And with that, we’re going to end it right there. And we see that this being that first gospel message – the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ was preached by Peter here on the day of Pentecost when the Holy spirit came upon Him. and when the people heard this message and they believed it and they were pricked on their heart… and they wanted to know what they should do, the answer that Peter gave: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

And you know, we talk a lot in class about the condition of the world and people – how much time does someone have to be right with God. And this command given here is the command given to be right with God. And it’s interesting you know, I think I told you guys I’ve been working on the website with some of these lessons and reviewing them. And it was sobering to me this week – I gave a lesson back earlier this year that was called “What are the Odds?” And in that one it was kind of based around numbers, and we went to a verse that said you know ‘ Lord teach us to number our days’, and we were talking about – that we only have so many days here. We only have so many days to get right with God and to be right with God.

And the sobering thing that hit me this week was – as I was listening/re-listening to that, in order to get it transferred over… and I realize that the person who actually recorded that message, when I calculated it out from that day when that message was recorded, the person recording it had 108 days left. That was the number. You know, we can always look back and see that, but you know it just hit me a different way that that message was preached about ‘this is what you need to do’, and to be mindful of our days, to make sure that we’re right with God because we do, truly have a certain number. And we want to make sure today that we are right with God. And what we see here, this command given by Peter – is the way. That’s the way that John the Baptist came and he began it – Jesus fulfilled it. And Peter instituted it here on the day of Pentecost.

And so what I will say here today is if you haven’t obeyed this command of Peter through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to ‘repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins’, I would implore you to do it today. Those tears and that agony, and all of that that was suffered by Jesus was literally for each and every one of us. And it would be ashamed for us to let that go, and not lay claim on what He suffered and died for. So with that, whatever your spiritual need might be today, definitely make it known and we will meet you where you are and get you where you need to be as together we stand and sing.